My KA DNA – Leesa Bellesi

What can I say… when I picked up the Gokey Girls (all 4 of Danny Gokey’s Sisters) at the Airport in Orange County I was in for a good time. It was the first time EVER that they have been on a vacation just the 4 of them.  They love taking pictures, they love laughing, they love laughing, they love their families and they are understandably super proud of their brother Danny.   Their parents did a fantastic job raising them… I could not believe how much they liked each other… the pictures say it all.

I insist…first stop… Frozen Banana’s on Balboa Island…

I think they have done this before Tracey, Gina, Janell and Angie

Pretty in white… Babies due to Tracey and Janell in a few months… praying for easy labors girls.

I don’t know how this picture came to be… but I love it and the moment was hysterical… as you will see in this next picture… these darling girls became my trick ponies… I would say come on girls let’s do this and they would enthusiastically say… okay let’s do that…

Seriously… they did this over and over again…. I was like… Girls, you’re pregnant …  and they would say let’s do it again nice form… huh!!

Long (happy ending) story after Janell’s purse is stolen out of my car at Saddleback Church.  Thanks to the excellent Security work… purse, wallet (sans money), perpetrator found… quite a bonding adventure wasn’t it girls…

Later that night… Danny with his Sisters… Happy B-Day Danny!

Hollywood and Highland… 

Let’s jump with Danny… okay

Happy!!!   Girls… Mama Lee, as you named me loves you and I miss your wonderful, rich, true, honest, infectious laughs and sweet faces.  Your ability to find humor and beauty in everything makes me smile daily… come back soon

Sophia Martinez  Gokey was one of  four Sisters.  We got the privilege of hosting another Sister, Margarita with Ivan, Petto and Marilyn (Mari)… Don’t miss the jumping shot… it is one of my favorites…

Whoa!  Nice height  :-)

See below to meet more of Sophia’s family.  And please check out Sophia’s Foundation at:  www.sophiasheart.org

What fun it was to share our story about the Kingdom Assignment, WELL DONE Awards and the AI Ministry on the Rich Buhler Show, Talk from the Heart, KBRT AM 740…

After the interview we joined Rich and his wife Dianne for dinner and a night of sharing our stories of how we met our spouses and how we came to a relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Lots of laughter and tears… one wonderful evening with great friends.  Amen!

P.S.  Denny and I are about to celebrate our 35th Wedding Anniversary…. what?!!!  I thought that was just for old people… oh yea… it is for old people….

My favorite thing is to be with my fantastic family… every chance I can steal a kiss from any of them it makes my day…

A stop at Swirls Yogurt or as the Grandkids call it Squirrels… after a great day of watching Caeden play on his Baseball team… 

Game Ball… After playing an amazing game… I turned to Brooke and said “there is no way they are going to give him Game Ball two weeks in a row”…. but sure enough Caeden was honored with the Game Ball two weeks in a row… 3rd this playing Season… Caeden you’re blessed and humble… your Bobo and Papa love you!

And not to be out done Camy does an excellent and consistent headstand… seriously Camy your getting so brave… we are so proud of you.  We now call her Cirque Du Soliel.

Sweet Baby Girl Emily enjoys the wonder of water… Growing up is so fun Love this face… so happy… so joyful… so perfect.  Almost walking any day!

Day by Day Devotional with Billy Graham for April 19th 

I advise you to OBEY only the Holy Spirit’s instructions.  He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won’t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to.  Galatians 5:16 (TLB)

To walk in the Spirit is a challenging and inspiring exercise, for it combines activity with relaxation.  To walk means to place one foot in front of the other.  If you stop doing this, you are no longer walking – you are standing still.  Walking always implies movement, progress, and direction.  Sin shall no longer rule or dominate you when you are allowing the Holy Spirit to live Christ’s life through you.  It is living by faith, living by trust, living in dependence upon God.  If we look to our own resources, our own strength or our own ability, as Peter did when he walked on the water, we will fail.  You cannot live the Christian life by yourself.  The Holy Spirit must live in you and express Himself through you.  Living for Christ is a day-by-day experience.  It is a continuous dependence upon the Spirit of God.  It is believing in His faithfulness.

______________________________________________

The fruits of the Spirit and the marks of a Christian are:

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control… I ask myself everyday “do people see these things in me?”

The same power that conquered the grave lives in me… if you know Christ… lives in you!

What began as an unspoken dream and a silent prayer has now become a full blown ministry, proving God hears our thoughts and listens to our wildest of prayers. Forgive me as I reflect on the last four years and how God has brought something my way that only He could of done in the most beautiful and creative of ways.  As of today Denny and I and our ministry partners have had the privilege of meeting the needs of 9 American Idol contestants families affecting over 75 people with flights, lodging, meals on the road, meals in our home, game nights (Apples to Apples , rides to and fro, gasoline to make it from state to state, lots of prayer circles, scripture bracelets to remind of God’s love for them… all round good stuff.

A big thank you to:  Janet and Dave Brown, Nicole and Earl Reed, Dee Dee and Paul Dirks and their kids, Deborah and Gary Harter, Margie and Brad Fogal, Diana and Jerry LaMont, Suzette and Charlie Schafer for their faithfulness to this ministry.  Couldn’t do it without you… no way!

Prayer requests:  Please pray for Scott MacIntyre’s Sister Katelyn.  On Friday April 17th she will be having kidney transplant surgery.  Please pray for Katelyn’s and her donors quick recovery.  Continued support of Sophia’s Heart Foundation.

Below are some of my latest favorite pics…

Danny Gokey’s In-Laws at Saddleback Church with the coolest, Youth Director….Josh Griffin…

 Us jumping for joy… you go Josh… nice height…. truly  Everyone… nice effort!

Sweet and wonderful, Ana (Sophia’s Mom) Damadis (Sophia’s Sister) Sophia’s Cousins, Amadis and Kimmy.  At the Montage Hotel… had to show them the view… I love these ladies … ahh I miss you girls… but you’re coming back soon!

Friends we met along the way after a day at American Idol… what a blast… Oklahoma, Illinois, San Diego… we all still stay in touch.

Cinderella and Amber even came and stayed the night before their 24 hour trip back home to Okalahoma… home for Easter morning…. sweeeeet!

A night of fellowship and great preaching at the Dream Center in LA.  Danny’s family with Dream Center Pastor Matthew Barnett.

Picked up Carole MacIntrye, Katelyn MacIntrye from LAX last Wednesday.  They met up with Scott’s Music Teacher visiting from Canada when they checked into their hotel.  Fantastic, gracious and precious people they are… if you look up “nice” in the dictionary the MacIntyre’s family picture is there  Return trip thanks to Dee Dee and Paul Dirks… thanks guys!

What a warm and gracious guy… just like you see him on TV… authentic and real!

Being a part of a Ministry family can take us all in different directions on Easter (Crossline, Coastline and Rock Harbor), but when all the chairs are put away we all made it back to home sweet home for good food, the Master’s and our traditional Easter Egg Hunt.  My parents even joined in the fun  Praise Jesus for family!