First let me say I am sorry it has taken me so long to give this update.  As you will see opening up in this way really does place Mike and I both back into a spin some.  That is not always bad.  It gives us more perspective into Scott’s death and also allows us to process it more.  It is just hard and painful…

So the benefit was AMAZING!!!  I know I will not do it justice BUT I will try.  First off this church was transformed into the most lovely and classy dining experience.  Sharon’s team is amazing.  It was elegant and beautiful without being over kill.  Mike and I were both so impressed how they turned this room into such a place of beauty.  It was also comfortable and the food was delicious.  We were seated with Diane Smith and her husband Bill.  Two dear friends of the Betters and another couple who’s daughter had just been murdered a month before.  That was a challenge for Mike and I to show this couple that there is hope and healing in God’s grace.  We did speak with both of them and I pray that we were able to point them towards the great healer.  I just need to say here that Diane Smith spoke about the breast cancer CD and did such an amazing job.  She was poised and very clear and it was very evident that her strength and hope come from God.  She just did an amazing job and I was blessed by her.  Michael Card was incredible.  We sat right in the front because we were speaking at the intermission.  He is an awesome musician and funny.  Very entertaining.  Mike, my hubby, loved watching him play.  It was such an honor to be there with him.  At intermission Chuck Betters called us up.  He wanted to “interview” us instead of just having me speak.  Chuck really wanted Mike to speak.  Mike agreed…Now those of you who know my hubby know he does not like to speak.  Really at all he is not much of a talker…well so he says.  There are times he just runs with it…LOL  Those are actually the times when God is controlling what he is saying.  That is what happened this night.  Mike was amazing…he was honest and transparent.  He cried while talking about Scott he gave God the glory BUT was honest with his struggle to trust God…It really was a Holy Spirit moment.  I actually said very little.  Believe it or not…LOL  Mike just said it all so wonderfully when Chuck asked me to share I was at a loss for words.  I fumbled through something in the midst of my tears…It was just so powerful for me to see my husbands heart soften and say he still does not understand why God allowed Scott to die maybe it was just for this…meaning the ministry.   The whole night was very surreal and you could actually feel God among us.  The benefit was a great success.  Here is a comment Sharon wrote on my blog.  I just wanted to share her perspective of the night with you…Remember to God be the Glory!

Donna, I just found your blog! For all your friends, you and Mike were absolutely wonderful at the MARKINC Ministries Spring Benefit! My husband, Chuck “interviewed” Mike and Donna. I knew we were seeing God do an amazing work as Mike took the lead in answering the questions! He went from being Donna’s chauffeur to speaking! His strength was supernatural. The men in the audience were especially moved by his transparency. We had pictures of Scott and the family in the background. We consider Mike and Donna treasured friends as a result of this connection. I imagined our boys high-fiving each other when I got my first BIG bear hug from Donna, knowing God was going to weave us together. We raised over $126,000 in pledges and gifts that night! The most ever. We are now working on production of a Coming Home from War CD for returning military and their families. Thank you, Mike and Donna!
Much love, Sharon Betters

Now since that night Mike and I both have been missing Scott so much it hurts to breath.  Now of course we have had Father’s Day and my birthday.  We went away just the two of us for a week.  All of those things add to the missing.  BUT sharing our story does require that we relive it some.  We are always, well maybe not always, willing to talk about Scott and his death because we know that God will use it to help others.  We have seen that and we know that is our “ministry”.  Is any ministry without sacrifice?  No whether it is changing diapers or potty training or walking a teen through “life” or trying desperately to get adult children to see their need for the Lord.  It all requires sacrifice.  So we will continue to share as God asks us and we will continue to miss our son.  We will want to always bring God the glory for we truly know that there is NOTHING in us that wants any of this to be.