Happy Valentine's and Month of Love

February message: We Love Because He First Loved Us

In February we celebrate Valentine's which is filled with the exchange of gifts, cards, messages and acts of love. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring a priest named Valentine and his story became a sacrificial legend. 

In 3rd-century Rome, Emperor Claudius II banned marriage for young men, believing single men made better soldiers. A priest named Valentine defied this decree, secretly marrying Christian couples in defiance of the Emperor. Eventually, Valentine was discovered, imprisoned, and sentenced to death, with his execution set for February 14th. While imprisoned, Valentine healed his jailer's daughter and, before his execution, sent her a note signed "From your Valentine". Valentine became a martyr for love and the sanctity of marriage, with February 14th becoming his feast day.

In Roermond, Netherlands, there is an old brick wall stretching between the Protestant and Catholic graveyards. On each side, against the wall stands two identical towering headstones: one for a Protestant husband and one for his Catholic wife. During the 19th century, cultural rules required that they be buried in separate cemeteries. Atop each headstone is a sculptured arm reaching out to the other, clasping the other's hand. The couple refused to be separated, even in death.  King Solomon explains how powerful true love is. "It burns like a blazing fire. True love never surrenders, won't be silenced, and can't be destroyed. Many waters cannot quench love," writes Solomon. "Rivers cannot sweep it away."

Both St. Valentine and this couple displayed that true love conquers all. Not even death can separate us from the love of Christ because God's love is eternal. Therefore, let's continue to share the love of Christ with others because He first loved us.

Scripture verse: 1 John 4:19  We love because he first loved us.

Wishing everyone His many blessings!

In peace and love,

Brenda

Please remember and pray for families who have a child with cancer as they face many ongoing daily challenges including extra financial burdens and stress due to hospital stays.

We thank all of our "Angel" sponsors! Our Golden Sponsor is Johnston Orthodontics. If you or your child needs an AWESOME orthodontist, look no further, and call 864-877-2929 or visit: www.johnstonorthodontics.com. We are so thankful for the excellent care that they provided to Bella and our family.

Also, our other Golden Sponsor is Intra-Cloud Dynamics by Alicia Keener. To advance your consulting skills, let Alicia share her Microsoft Dynamics D365 F&SC expertise with you! For more info: www.intraclouddynamics.com

Our Silver Sponsor is D&D Motors. If you are looking to buy or sell a vehicle, please don't look any further for excellent service and contact them at 888-253-5950 or visit: www.ddmotors.com. Also, Five Star Foundations, phone: (864) 848-1441, is a concrete contractor that services builders in the Upstate and are the founders of Skyla Strong Foundation, an amazing 501(c)(3) nonprofit that helped us during Bella’s cancer journey.

We are truly humbled and blessed to be on this journey of faith and have a Prayer tab on our website for anyone needing prayer. If you would like me to add your name to the prayer list, please email me at: brenda@angelheartofhope.org and I will update the prayer list regularly. You can also email me with any specific prayer requests that you want me to pray about privately. Please pray for our ministry, the families we serve and the medical teams that care for children with life- threatening illnesses.

Hera Lainey has legally changed her to name to Thomasin Grace. She is a music singing artist and a dear friend who created a single "Some People Never", written and sung by her in memory of Bella. It is available for purchase on itunes and various music sites. It is a beautiful tribute! Thomasin's website is still: www.heralainey.com. 

PRAYER SECTION:

Please pray for continual peace, comfort and strength for the families- Muntean, Mellott, Donelli, Rightenour, Witt, Forcier, Lurtey, Gleason, DiStefano, Gosnell, Kocis-Brown, Heos, Coffman,Gibble-Wavle, Hickman, Daniel, Irish, Edwards' families, Murphy & Broome Families, Ginny's family, Travis Miller's family,Mildred, Kim Green, Dixie Neff and family, Donna Turner, Murray, Strasser, Turner , Wargo, Lupas, Foster, Greene, Perry, Cummings, Wrobel, Kim Stepp, Marrow, Geer, Wiggins, Jones, Johnson, Scarborough/Biggerstaff, Smith, Dixon, Jones, Fickell, Manwaring, Kojah, Franzen, Glen, Ginger Wray's family, Regina Boyter's family, Amphan, Misty Johnson's family, Cotos, Hicks, Brianna Hyman, Corinna Cochran's family, Grant, Mullen, Buterbaugh, Linn, Daniels, Watkins and Smith families, Robinson, Creech , Gallman, Steep, White, Lancaster, Cotos, Griffin, Moore, Hook, Robert's, Matson , Frady, Mund, Hunter, Tierce, Criscione, Grodecki, Guthrie family, Kristen, Jack and Ryan Dunne, Mike Smith's families, Fisher, Cojacariu, Daniels, Foster, Hope Towsey plus all of the families who are forever hurting because of losing a child or loved one.

Also, please pray for complete healing and needs for our dear friends: Samantha Stacy,Steve Pollard, Molly Gritt, Pam Melton,Julie and Hayden Pare, Dorin, Linda Creel, Suzanne Greene, Doris Howell,Sally Hooch,Sam & Elaine Brown,Christian Rhett, Jaras Amphan, Katie,Chumpon Tantawanichpisal,Tricia, Louisa, Judy,Pam,Gary,Florence,Hailey, Isaiah,Sidney,Jeff, Jordan, Kelli Myers, Abbi and McKinley, Marian,John, Christopher, little Kylie &Char, Carrie, Licita Rogers and sister Tomeka Hall, Gerry DiStefano, Deborah DiStefano-remission from cancer, Jennifer Woolman, Paulette, Julie, Larry Spivey, Sue, Wanda,Fanny and Flavio, Annette Hunter, Walter and Holly Kondracki,Kristen and Steve, Dendall Wood, Eric-to be seizure free, Brian, Casey O'Brien-Minnesota Gopher battling osteosarcoma cancer, Trina, Lauren Keraga, Anabel, Sandy, Laura, Liliana Maysonet- complete healing from cancer,Laurenda,Cindy,Michael,Bobbie, Jesse, Roger, Kelly Arnold, Noah, Stanley, London, Paula Blair, Jordan, Ken Isaacson,Lisa Bryson, John, Sharon Ditto, Larry,Lisa,Melinda, Karla, Priscilla, Nancy Watson and Darrell,Linda,Sandra,Dawn,Nathalie, Melanie, Tess,Cameron, Kim Stepp, Will (remain cancer free forevermore), Janice,Ella,Hannah, Alyssa, Brady, Bonnie, Stephanie, Jillian Woodring-leukemia, Whitney Williams-8 yr old with afibrinogenemia, Michaela & Tyler Shelley,Sarah, Jada-6 yr old in remission from cancer, Lawson (14 yr old recently diagnosed with cancer),Avery Magliorisi (for proper treatment and complete healing of her eating disorder and for the family), Brigitte, Collene, Gabby, Silvia, Ingrid, Missy, Demere and Laura, Ralphaelo, Doug Edwards, Paul, David, Susan, Janice Hammond, Selah Henderson-child in remission from cancer, Addie Freeman-child in remission from cancer and Amari Kalu-child in remission from cancer,Lucca,Jameson, Diego, Tristan, Miss Peyton-cancer, Master Peyton-cancer, Elizabeth, Caillyn(remain cancer free forevermore), Ally, 5 yr old Carter, Valentina-child cancer, Hazel, Isaiah, Evie-child with cancer,Abbie Barnette-in remission from cancer, Maddie Barnett-in remission from cancer, Sylvia, Terry, Kostas Halkias, Kim,James Green, Gunner, Kayla Graham, Lucas, Frank Tocci, Keane, J.C. Schow, Cailin, Stanley,Christopher, Doug,Joyce Galloway , Anna-IBS, Ritsuko, Carla, David Freed-remission from cancer, Jaceon-child with sickle cell anemia, 6 yr old David William Krieger-Robinson complete healing from cancer-A.L.L. Leukemia, David-15 yr old with cancer, Jeanette, Rosalie, Ollie, Skylar Legano-teen with osteosarcoma (bone cancer), Raluca Christina, Kim, Simona Buliga, Alonzo, Ben Armstrong,Mary Catherine, Chris who has a brain tumor to be completely healed, Bob, April, Scott, Chad, Mick, Angela, Charite, Jammie-healing from ovarian cancer, Obadiah Hall, Sue, Ariel Griffith. Alyssa Jones (in remission from cancer),Jarrod Holt, Nyleek, Anahi, Levi, Keandre, Kieli, Kenzie, Violet, Jayden, baby Lindsey, Chloe Bella, Allyson Pack-Adair,, Valerie, Judy, Kristy, Tyler, Lila, Joe Kane, John Hampton, Vivian Laws, Faith, Nancy, Cosmin Florian, Mikel Lee, Dave Sherman , Laylah, Dakota, Jaicee, Taryn, Kelly Malena, Betty, Addidlyn Holmes,Mark Gomol, Don Smith, Dee Hook, Hunter, Brandon, Izzy Dugle, Tommy and Wanda Norris, Jim, Donna, Caroline Kirk, Dorothy, Connie, Walker, Richard, Saroja Sunkari, Anika Karp, Ramsey Gaines and the Gaines family, Travis B, Alvin Mwenda, Tish Cleveland, Anthony, Deanna, Gracie & family, Logan, Lettie, Leonard, Kathy, Tripp, Tudor, Grant, Mia, Noah Tyree, Amanda, Ezekiel, Erika and Hezekiah Spann's family, Isaiah Johnson, Leonard, Frank, David Williams, Brandon Elliott, Paul, Al, Emma, Frank, Cindy Dill, Jane, Mike Macgregor, Janet Cruz, Hannah, Steve, Monna, Kathryn, AJ, Alejandro, Sara, Myron, Cory, Egypt, Sebastian, Connor, Aydin, Danielle, Maverick, Zack and Carly, Veenie, John, Sandra, Mary, Rev Bob & Erma Cato, Jerome, Jasmine , Bill Melton, Janelle, Tarlok Singh, Dylan, Calvinetta,Rickie, Regina, Ayaan, Lainey, Elena, Don Wagler, Ethan, Janice, Kendrick, Tim, Bethany, Bill, Candace, Sandra, Alana, Joan, Kami, Maxine, Brenda L, Cindy W, Lila, Naomi Anderson, Vick, Renee and Trevor, Edward, Kabir Taino- Instagram@btaunk, Linda Kirby, Agnes, Anca, Judy, Foster, Tom Cassels, David, Christian, Jeffrey, Linda, Bob & Linda, Kiel, Nancy, Laurie, Andrew, the White family, Lisa, Kyler, Brianne, Kay, Bill, Rhody, Glen, Barbara, Denise, Zaiden, Aubrey, Amarjit, Levi, Christian, Mircea, Judy, Malia, Cassidy, Denian, Patricia,Tony Feeedman, Bella, Amy Baker, Trish, Marcela, Maria, Becky, Branston, Al and Wanda Buckley, Patrica, Rose, Ja’na, Mary Jo, Margaret and Pauline, Zachary, Lindsey plus all of the families along with wisdom, good health and guidance for the doctors and staff who care for them:) Please don't stop praying! We need and believe in prayer!!!! Prayer is sooo powerful and we thank you!