A Summer with Sarah is a series of journal entries from the summer Sarah turned 18.

Reflections in Virginia Beach

It’s Tuesday, June 14th, 1994. We arrived in Virginia Beach earlier today and are staying in a motel apartment just half a block from the beach. It’s pretty nice.

Mom and Dad just got back from shopping at the commissary. I can hear the others in the living room and kitchen. They’re all excited because they saw on C-SPAN that the Senate is in session. We visited that room yesterday when we went to Washington, D.C. We even took some pictures while we were there.

My favorite part of the trip was the art museum. I love Mary Cassatt’s paintings and Gainsborough’s. I could imagine them, hundreds of years ago, stepping back to critique their finished work, having no idea that in 1994, a young lady named Sarah Janisse would also be stepping back to admire their wonderful masterpiece.

At the Museum of National History, I found myself dreaming of watching the First Ladies and their dresses dancing with the President at the Inaugural Ball 200 years ago.

Something really pierced my heart as I walked past the Vietnam War Memorial, with its wall engraved with the names of thousands of men who died. My dad said his name could have very well been on that wall too. It was the first time he saw it, and he was really touched. He looked like he might cry.

A Conversation on the Subway

On the subway back to the parking lot, I sat beside a lady named Joyce. She was a small Black woman in her early 30s—very sweet—and we talked. She had lived in Washington, D.C. her whole life. She asked where I was from and where I was going, so I told her.

She asked me about college, and I told her I planned to go to art school and Bible college. She asked a few more questions, and I was able to share a little about how I’m a Christian and how believing in the Bible is so important in life. I didn’t say much, but I pray the Lord will use my witness to inspire her to read the Bible and come to know Jesus.

A Prayer for Provision and Blessing

I hope and pray that this will be a very successful art show. Lord, bring people to buy more paintings. Please provide for our needs. But I don’t ever have to ask—you always provide, so I’ll just thank you instead.

Father, I thank you now for abundantly meeting all of our needs. You are so faithful. Thank you that I can trust in you to give me all that I need. Thank you for caring. I will lack nothing.

A Prayer for Josh and His Family

I’m going to call Josh sometime and give him the number here. Lord, work it out and make a perfect time for me to call him. Pour your blessings on him and his family. Give them joy. Show his dad where to go on vacation—you know just what would be best—so let your will be done.

Thank you for working everything out. I’m not quite sure how Josh’s parents expect me to act, but I want to please them as I please you. Work it out. Let it come naturally for me to be a blessing to them. Please, Jesus, don’t allow me to be a burden.

I want to be helpful, not in the way. I want them to be happy to have me with them. Let me be someone they enjoy, not just someone they tolerate. I love Josh, and it’s important that his family loves me.

Let them see that it’s your plan that Josh and I are together. Let them accept the fact joyfully and receive me as I am, in your time.

A Prayer for Josh’s Sisters Becky and E (E is his foster sister). The are both young teens.

Use me in the lives of Becky and E to draw them closer to you. Let me be an encouragement to them to follow you with all their hearts. These girls will be part of my life forever—let us love now.

I know that you love Becky and E so much, just as you love me. Use me to show them your love. Work in their hearts. Use me.

Bless Josh now with your peace.

Be glorified. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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