All ladies of Crossway are invited to a baby shower for Molly Zulick to be held on October 13th at 12:00pm at the home of Beth Bostwick. Molly is registered at Babies R Us and Target. RSVP to Chris Oliver at chrisno@ptd.net or 626-5468 by October 6th.

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Just One More Time

“I would love to go to the beach just one more time in my life,” Jean Griswold said.  Sam and Chrissy Ovalle heard her desire and knew that, to Jean’s surprise, they could make her dream a reality.

It was a beautiful September morning when Sam called Jean to see how she was feeling.  The Ovalle family had planned to take her to the Ocean City, NJ, that day and grant her wish to sit by the ocean just one more time.  The night before, however, Jean wasn’t feeling well and she didn’t think she would be able to make the trip.

Sam’s phone call that morning was answered with a bright voice and a cheerful tone.  “I’m ready to go,” Jean said.  Moments later they were on the road—Sam, Chrissy, Jean and the Ovalle children.

When they arrived at the beach, Sam pushed Jean in her wheelchair until they reached a place where she would have to walk through the sand.  Then, he firmly held onto her and helped her walk to a location that was perfect for the children to play and for Jean to enjoy the relaxing overture of the waves lapping against the shoreline.  Chrissy situated her wheelchair in the sand, and Jean sat for three hours, thanking God for the glorious day He had given her.  She loved being with the children, and even told Sam and Chrissy to go take a walk and spend some time alone.  Jean was all smiles.

For dinner, the family went to a “fancy seafood restaurant,” as Jean described it.  It was crowded, so Chrissy dropped Sam and Jean off at the door while she and the kids looked for a parking space.  When Chrissy entered the restaurant she couldn’t find Sam and Jean.  To her surprise, they were already comfortably seated at a table.

“Sam, how did you already get a table?  There are tons of people out there waiting to be seated!” Chrissy asked.

Sam didn’t know why the hostess sat them.  He simply went up and said that he needed a table and they were seated immediately.  “I think God did that for Jean,” Sam stated.

They enjoyed a fine dinner and then walked on the boardwalk.  Jean happened to mention that she remembered having delicious frozen custard cones at the beach.  While the children were off buying candy, Chrissy took Jean to the custard stand.  “I’ll have a small vanilla cone, please,” Jean ordered.  Chrissy put the money on the counter and joyfully handed Jean her ice cream.  However, Jean couldn’t get over the price.  “It cost four dollars for an ice cream?!  FOUR DOLLARS!!!” Jean exclaimed as she told the story later.  “And Chrissy just put the money up there and paid for it.”

Jean couldn’t wait to get to her Care Group on Wednesday night to share the blessing of her day at the beach, and how a young family in the church blessed her.  “Sam and Chrissy treated me like a queen.  I can never repay them and I will never forget it.  This church is my family and I’m just so grateful.  I had such a great day.”

The whole Care Group agreed that the NEXT TIME Jean goes to the beach, the whole group wants to go!

Thank you Julie Garner for writing this post and sharing this story.