Roosevelt's Birthday

"Alive at 45!" was the theme of our last birthday celebration with Roosevelt. I wondered how I would manage through this birthday without him? It started out overwhelming and frustrating. Why did I have to face such a day? Haven't I endured enough? Everybody told me that this first year would be difficult. I know I could have allowed my mind to wonder about my great loss, to meditate on how drastic my life has changed not only for me, but for our kids.

God went above and beyond to extend his love that day. Many of you texted me reminding me that I would not face the day alone. On his birthday, I was able to find a buyer for Roosevelt's car which I had been trying to sell for 3 months now. As I was driving with my sister in New Orleans that evening, I looked up and saw that I was stopped at a street called Roosevelt. I could sense Rho with me. A day that could have been so challenging for me was conquered. That evening I found myself dancing and praising God for what he had miraculously done.

Now as I am going into the Christmas holidays and I am reminded that although the enemy will plot to rule my unstable emotions, and take my comfort and joy....The Grinch cannot steal my Christmas! As I cherish the gift of having Roosevelt for the past 16years, I can truly say It's a Wonderful life!

Guest Speaker: Roosevelt Hunter...oopse...Eileen Hunter

A sweet friend and musical artist, Vicki Yohe, asked me to take a little time off and travel with her on some concert tours and ministry dates. I was overjoyed at the fact that I could go and breakout of my normal routine. Although she offered, I certainly was not able to go to all the dates; due to my commitment at home. I prayed and asked God to go to one event. I was compelled to travel with her on October 6th to a conference for pastors and leaders in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I knew the pastor's that were hosting the conference and thought it would be a nice but quick break.

When I arrived to the campus, Bishop Schatzline kindly invited me to share that evening after the concert. He said, "The Pastor scheduled to come was detained and could not make his air flight in". My heart racing... I said "Yes!" I only had a couple of hours to get ready and be there. As we got in the car, the pastors said, "I'm sure you knew the conference you'll be speaking at tonight, Roosevelt was scheduled to speak and open the conference. And the speaker that was detained tonight was his replacement". In awe, I shouted "What?! Really?! This is why I was to come here!"

As I got up to share with these wonderful leaders, I shared my journey. God used it and we spent several hours at the alters. God was transforming hearts and changing lives. My journey is starting to make sense now.

This month I will be traveling to Toronto, Canada speaking, praying and asking God to touch hundreds of ladies as they watch their Heavenly Father transform them as He has done so faithfully for me!

Today marks exactly two months since my beloved slipped into eternity. Intentionally this was a very busy day for me so that I could just float through without much thought. It seems that the shock is wearing off and I am opening new doors that were slammed shut. Every 10th of the month, the children and I do a memorial to honor their father. As we began watching a DVD, Trinity was flooded with memories. It just hit her once again that Daddy would not be back, "to tuck her in, pray the Our Father, and most importantly no more snuggle times in bed". The weight of that became unbearable. She reminded me of the time she broke her arm in a discovery zone play area and how Dad picked her up and brought her to two emergency hospitals because the first one was not satisfactory. "She said Mom, the last time I held his hand was in Mexico I didn't know it would be over after that". The weight of that caused her to respond with such difficulty. All I could do was hug her in hopes that she could remember how it feels to be embraced by him. I held her till we prayed and she fell asleep.

Israel said, mom it's taking such a long time for God to let us see dad, "I wish I could just die and go to heaven". We began to talk and he understood that God did not leave us here because He wants to punish us. We have a purpose and we must stay on earth till He decides. We have a wonderful call on our lives and we must finish our task, just like Dad.

There was a sudden calm in the midst of our chaos. It's not always perfect in The Hunter Home, but it is always peaceful.
Thank you for the continual prayers. We need them!

My Red Balloon from Heaven

This morning I decided to step out for a drive and get some much needed coffee. It initially fuels me as I spend time with my heavenly father then try to conquer my daily to do list. Upon my return home this morinig, I noticed a red balloon hidden in the floor board of my car (the back pasenger's seat). It was full of air, but no helium as if it was supposed to stay grounded. I was flabergasted. Where did it come from? I later asked my family but no one could tell me of its origin. I thought it would be good to just send it up to Roosevelt, but when I released it it came right back to me.
I came inside and read a card that shared how Roosevelt was telling so many people in heaven about me including God. It was the first time in a long while, but I decided to cry on the corner of my desk knowing that Roosevelt would have shared wonderful stories about our love for each other.
Then it dawned on me that this red balloon was from God. He loving reminded me how he would watch over me and the kids. We had every reason to celebrate not only Rho's life, but our lives too. How I feel God with me. God.

A SUPERNATURAL VISITATION

It has now been over one month since Roosevelt's departure and so much has happened since then.

Let me begin, by asking you to receive my sincerest THANK YOU, to all those who have interceded daily, written letters, texted kind words, blogged, twittered, made phone calls, and sent us generous gifts. All that you have done for us has served to boost our spirits, and keep our family moving forward. Through you, the floodgates of Heaven have remained open, and the Lord has given us sufficient grace as we forge forward towards uncharted territory.

People often ask me how I am doing. There are times I honestly do not give myself the luxury of answering that question. There have been days when we have needed supernatural intervention; in those moments we have had to shut everything down in order to hear and received from God alone. He has done great things for me that I wish to impart.

One of the greatest challenges I ever had to do; was to tell my 7 year old daughter Trinity, and my 4 year old son Israel, that Roosevelt, their father had died. The news was shattering enough, but God had gone before us to supernaturally provide answers to my children. I wanted to share some experiences that happened to me in order to reinforce God's love in our lives.

That night after Roosevelt's death, I returned physically and emotionally exhausted to the hotel room where my children slept. The Holy Spirit woke Israel up during the night and gave him three visitations. His first vision of Roosevelt was an in depth description of a beautiful butterfly fading away into heaven. The second vision was a meticulous story of daddy's disappearance; and then the last vision was a vivid description of Roosevelt's journey through life which concluded with Roosevelt crying out for God to take him away. Each vision was given with such great detail and clarity. It did not stop there! As the sun rose early that morning, my precious little preschooler held my face and told me daddy loved me and continued to be in my heart. What was mind boggling was that I had not yet told my children about their father's passing.

Days later, after arriving to the United States and back to or home in Louisiana, I was ready to share with my children about Roosevelt's departure. Trinity opened the conversation with something God had shown her. She had a visitation the night before about dad's complete healing. She clearly saw him in a dream, healthy, whole, and out of the hospital. This opened the door for me to tell them what had actually happened. When she heard the news, she screamed, then cried, and then she said, "this is the best day of my life". It shocked me!

I recalled that 2 months prior to our trip to Mexico, Roosevelt had a talk with the children. He told them that there may come a time when he would hand deliver some balloons to his mother, Grandma Hunter. Mother Hunter had died on September 17, 2007. He spoke to them about having a big celebration in Heaven and that the party may be so inviting that he might just need to stay there. Trinity and Israel understood and they pleaded with him not to go. He then took a moment to explain the beauty of Heaven; and how once you see it, you would rather be there than anywhere else.

One morning I took time to recall daddy's story and share the news with the children, I had purchased 3 red balloons for dad and 1 purple balloon for grandma. I took the children to a certain location and we all wrote messages on the balloons; we had prayed together, then released them. Unfortunately, the wind was blowing contrary. Just then Israel prayed with so much boldness; asking God to send a great big wind to lift these balloons up to daddy toward Heaven. When our balloons were first released they actually dipped down in the opposite direction. In that moment, I felt the need to cover for God, just in case these half filled latex balloons did not take off. The Lord came through for us. Suddenly a great big gust of wind swept the balloons up into the heavens; and out of plain sight. With their disappearance we danced, shouted and rejoiced over Dad's Victory Party.

Roosevelt would often quote, "Any life considered worth living is lived to the fullest." My husband sowed his life to this generation. He truly emptied himself and poured the love of God to all who came in contact with him. Roosevelt's life has gone up as a memorial; but I still found myself seeking the Lord for answers. What's next for me? I too have made a convenient with you, Lord. God clearly showed me that I was to "live life on purpose".

The reason I remain here is because there is a plan, and an assignment for me yet to fulfill. As I continue to journey through my grief, I am compelled to write, travel, and be a voice of God's love to others. NuNation, a ministry to train and equip others, is no longer a dream but now becoming a reality. In October I will have updated news regarding all that will be happening and how you can be a part of it.

This would not be possible without your love and prayers. I have a marathon to run before me, but my eyes are fixed on the prize, the Lord Jesus Christ. I desire to broadcast a ministry to women and single parents. I will continue to make available Roosevelt's timeless messages, and also a message I preached the day after his funeral called "The Assignment". Look for these in October 2009.

Life is only worth living to the fullest! I anticipate great miracles in the days ahead, and I am glad to have you run with me, as I remain single minded for Christ. I love you!

Your sister and friend,
Eileen Hunter
http://www.rooseveltonline.com/