Guest Post: Meet My Mom {Part 1}

Over the course of the next few weeks I am going to have some guest posts by someone very special in my life.  Not only has she impacted my very being, but she has been my core mentor, my life cheerleader, and main supporter through life.  I wrote about how very special she is to me awhile back in this post.  So click here to meet my mother.  And then read on to meet someone whose story just might change the way you look at things today.

My Mama and I
photo by lizziebeephotography.com

MY PHOENIX

Guest Post by Candace Gaeta

Early this morning, while finishing up my Bible Study, I sensed the nudge to look up the meaning of the word “Phoenix”.  I thought it was just another early morning distraction to my study plan. I continued in my lesson only to have the same impression wash over me again. This time it was too strong to ignore.  

I could not have been more surprised as I began to digest the words. I knew the Phoenix was sort of a mythical bird but the when I began to read the actual meaning I was completely dumbfounded.  

Phoenix: the thing or person that has been renewed or 

restored after suffering calamity or apparent annihilation. 

I’m currently involved in a Beth Moore Bible study, “Believing God”. Over the course of the study, one of the assignments was to divide our life into 5ths and to describe our difficulties, but more importantly, how we saw “God stops” through that particular season.  

Over the past weeks my mind and heart had been revisiting the second 5th of my life when my family had moved to Phoenix in the late 60’s. My father had accepted an Associate Pastor position at a large church.  At that time I was a wide-eyed, naive 15 year old, ready for a new adventure. We moved into a parsonage next door to my sister and her husband and my precious nephew and newborn niece.  

Life was good, exciting, and was the adventure I was hoping for. All was going well until the senior pastor asked me to categorize his library books in exchange for him making a missions pledge on my behalf.

Candace Gaeta is a wife, mother, Nana, and women's counselor/mentor. She also enjoys speaking at women's retreats when she can find the time to get away. She has served in the ministry for the last 40 years and now that she is 'retired' will continue to serve where ever she is needed. Her heart is with her grandchildren as she is now living the dream of every grandparent only steps from 6 of them, and across the park from the newest addition. Candace desires to live as a light in darkness and will tell anyone who asks about her story of God's redemptive love.

Click here for {Part 2} of Candace's story.