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BEAUTIFUL

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That’s what I call her when I answer the phone. That’s what I feel about her in my heart. That’s what her eyes communicate. But ,most importantly, that’s how God views her! Today, my beautiful wife turns 36! So, I thought I would take a moment to tell you all what she means to me.

We have been married for 13 years this August and we have known each other for 20 years now!!! When we were in high school, I told her that I didn’t believe in love so young. I said that people were too immature and foolish to fully understand what “love” really is! But, you know what, she LOVED ME anyway! And she taught me (thru her life) what love could be…the kind that can only come from Jesus.

I’ll never forget how intimidated I was by her when we first met…she had a presence about her, a light, a confidence that filled a room. The joy and love in her eyes spoke volumes of her soul. She was always quick to point out the positives in others. She was always willing to cry with a friend who needed her. She always stood up for what she believed in. She was a person of quiet integrity. She deeply cared about others. She had an inner strength and conviction that commanded an audience. She had a voice that poured beautiful songs from the depths of her heart.

This was the girl I fell in love with way back then…and this is the woman I’m MORE in love with today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAUTIFUL! I LOVE YOU LIKE JESUS!

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38 Responses »

  1. Jenny, thanks for smiling when you’d really rather not. Have a stupendous, splendiforous birthday!!!

    Reply
  2. Michele Newhouse

    And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, dear Jenny! What a delight to read Robert’s posting.

    I grinned from ear to ear when I I read, “She was always quick to point out the positives in others. She was always willing to cry with a friend who needed her. She always stood up for what she believed in. She was a person of quiet integrity. … She had a voice that poured beautiful songs from the depths of her heart.” I thought, “That’s a PERFECT description of the Jenny I know!!!”

    May God bless you today with a special awareness of His presence and love,

    Michele (Newhouse)

    p.s. Matt is engaged! (No date set yet.)

    Reply
  3. Mindy Worley

    Happy Birthday Jenny! You really are a beautiful woman of God, I feel blessed to know you! Have a fantastic day!!

    Reply
  4. Happy Birthday Jenny! Hope #36 is enjoyable. Please go eat some Albanian ice-cream (or what I like to call “glory”) for your birthday!!! I love you and agree with all the attributes Robert wrote about you!

    But quick question… how did KYLE CANTRELL make your blogroll and not Barnett???

    Reply
  5. Lindsey Chasteen

    Happy Birthday Jenny! I am so thankful that I got the opportunity to get to know you all this past summer! I love your family so much and I miss you all. It is incredible how much you taught me in just the short time we were in Albania, God showed me what it means to be a true servant to Him and others through you. You are so compassionate and you always seem to put others before yourself. I have no clue how you do it, but you are incredible and I admire you so much! I hope that I can come visit you all soon, and I hope you have a wonderful day. I love you Jenny, and you all are in my prayers! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

    Lindsey

    Reply
  6. Lauren Houston

    That is the sweetest blog ever… I can’t think of a more lovely couple than the two of you. I am so happy I have been blessed to know such a wonderful woman of God like Jenny. Her selflessness and encouraging words have truly made an impact on my life.
    Happy Birthday Jenny! I love you!!

    Reply
  7. First off, Jenny must be an amazing lady to handle the fact that you posted her age on your blog! My wife would kill me for that!
    Otherwise, although I don’t know Jenny very well I do know that she has a confident faith in God & His direction in your family for the move, transition from Journey to the field, and just dealing with your crazy husband!
    From our terrific short term trip to Honduras last Fall and serving throughout our ministry history I know that we love nothing more than ministry TOGETHER. Blessings to you guys today on a special birthday. – Herschel

    Reply
  8. Happy Birthday Jenny! I hope you have a fantastic day today and that you find rest and pamper yourself a little bit too. I’m so blessed to have you as a friend and even though you are so far away, I’m continually blessed by the stories and experiences you share through your website. It challenges me in my tiny world of diapers and toddler trials to try to find opportunities to make a difference for the Kingdom- to reach outside my world a little bit. You are a beautiful person, mother and friend to many- and I’m thankful to me too. Have a great day girl!

    Reply
  9. Lindie Slater

    Jenny, how I miss you, reunion sister! The love and wisdom you share is so amazing and refreshing! Enjoy your day and year, Happy Birthday! I miss you and love you, Lindie

    Reply
  10. Happy Birthday, Jenny! Lenita & I wish you a beautiful Birthday and hope it is very special, although almost over by the time you see this! We just want you to know how special you are to us and how proud we are to have you as our 2nd daughter. We LOVE you so much ! You are a blessing to our family and an amazing wife to our son, Robert, and an amazing mom to our grandchildren. We stand in awe of how you handle all the daily tasks required just to run a household in Albania and also still be an important part of the ministry in Albania. We know how challenging it is after visiting you last fall in Albania and see what you have to do daily. You are truly amazing and God has blessed Robert and us richly and you are a wonderful mom to our 3 grandchildren and they are blessed to have you as their mom.

    WE LOVE YOU, Jenny, and know that God will always bless you because of your caring heart! You are a precious daughter, wife, and mother, and a blessing to all who know you !!! God bless you and keep you so that you can be a blessing! Mom & Dad Wheelis

    Reply
  11. My sweet Jenny friend. . .How I cherish the memories I have with you. . . sitting on my living room floor on Coopers Hawk solving the world’s problems, game nights with the boys, birthday parties. . I love you so much and would absolutely LOVE to be with you to celebrate you today. BUT, I am not, so imagine I am taking you out to a really nice lunch and a fabulous pedicure, hugging your neck! Please know how much I love you and that I am thinking about you today!!

    Reply
  12. Stewart Snider

    What a tribute, Happy Birthday Jenny, you deserve it not because of anything other than because you follow God’s laws, rules, commandments. It is awesome what you do for others and for caring for your family. You are an inspiration for others and don’t let the enemy suggest otherwise. Remember that rewards are stored in Heaven, so have a happy birthday and watch out for the birthday spanking.

    Reply
  13. The Baker Family LOVES Jenny Wheelis!!!!
    Happy Birthday….

    I admire how you depend on the Lord and love on your family!!!

    Brad

    Reply
  14. Andrea Barnett

    Jenny~
    I hope you have a blessed Birthday this year!! You’re such an amazing woman and I’m so blessed to know you. You truly set an example of what a great wife, mother, and fellow believer should look like. We love you and miss you and can’t wait to see your beautiful face sometime soon!!
    Love,
    Andrea

    Reply
  15. Beautiful Jenny! I love you not only for you but for everything you have taught me about being a fully devoted follower, a wife, and a servant. Your faith journey has been such a wonderful testimony and I feel blessed that the Lord has placed you in my life. Happy Birthday beautiful friend!

    Reply
  16. Happy Birthday Jenny! What a wonderful tribute to you from Robert. God has blessed you with an even stronger presence and beauty as you have grown in His Love and in your family and church. I am proud to be your Aunt. Will give you birthday hugs when I see you this summer. Stay safe and hug the family for me.
    HAVE A GREAT DAY. Love Aunt Barb

    Reply
  17. Amanda Peery

    Jenny!!!

    Happy Birthday!! I hope that you have a wonderful day and feel the love of God through people around you! You are so special to my heart and I have been so blessed by your family. It’s so incredible to hear about all the things the Lord is doing through you. You are such a joy and your spirit is contagious. I’m praying for you guys and love you SO much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! miss you!

    Reply
  18. Lisa Robinson

    Jenny-
    Wishing you a fantastic 36th! It is with tears in my eyes that I read your blog Robert….what a sweet & wonderful tribute to your sweet & wonderful wife! My life is richer because of both of you….Jenny you are a blessing to so many in so many ways! Thank you for being my friend….I love you!

    Reply
  19. Jenny!! I wish you a fantastic birthday. When I think of you, I think of a smile that brightens a room. I think of an amazingly strong woman to take care of a family in Albania without all of the comforts of living in the USA.
    Love,
    Katy

    Reply
  20. Hi sweet friend!
    You are an incredible gift in my life, too…Thanks for being who you are. I love the way you love your family, setting a godly example of wife and mother. I enjoy your joyful, generous way of leading others. I appreciate your honesty and desire to grow in His grace.
    Jenny, you are a joy! Happy birthday!
    Love you!
    De

    Reply
  21. Nancy Hughes

    Jenny,

    Happy birthday from another Monday Night Chick! You are so special and I truly treasure our friendship. Your faith journey is such a witness and I know I am blessed to be a part of it. Love, Nancy

    Reply
  22. Hi Jenny,
    Happy Birthday to you!! I love you and hope you have had a blessed day! I’m amazed at how you’ve adapted to life’s changing situations and know that God’s love is magnified through you and your heart for people. What a wonderful example you are.

    Reply
  23. Harold Armstrong

    HAPPY BDAY SWEET JENNY!!

    You are truly one of my favorite ladies in the whole world. When I think of you I always see your beautiful smiling face emiting the love of Jesus. You are truly a Prov 31 wife, mother & friend!

    You & Robert will always be loved and admired by us.
    Harold & Linda

    Reply
  24. Mom. Daddy, Gr'ma

    Happy Birthday from all of us
    Hope you had a day of wonderful memories, smiles
    and beautiful moments.
    Love from us all

    Reply
  25. Chrissy Marsee

    Dearest Jenny,
    You are the first person I really connected with from Journey and you are the first person I truly mourned secretly inside when God called you away. I miss you and your family tremendously and think of you often. Your light is one that has a way of making a bad day turn around. You are very gifted at listening and not trying to fix things. You offer support in such a way that always points to God and He always receives the glory. I thank you for your impact on my life and I look forward to the day when we can hang out again. 36 huh? I will always be a year older than you. Hugs on your big day!
    < Chrissy Marsee
    Proverbs 31:8-9

    Reply
  26. Chrissy Marsee

    CALLING OUT TO AMY WOPSLE! Email me sister and tell me how you are your hubby are doing!!!
    marseec@aol.com
    < Chrissy Marsee
    Proverbs 31:8-9

    Reply
  27. Amanda Potter

    Jenny-

    You may never know how much I have learned just by watching you over the years. You live out Jesus’ s love in your life and have been such an amazing role model and friend to me. Although we are far apart and haven’t spoken directly very much, you hold such a special place in my heart. I know that when I see you next it will be as though we were never apart and that nothing has changed.

    Thank-you for loving me and showing me how to love. You are so awesome. Happy Birthday!!! Love, “Potter”

    Reply
  28. Jenny, Happy Birthday! The joy of the Lord just absolutely radiates from you, lovely lady! It is such a blessing to continue to be a part of your life even though so many miles separate us. Love, Nancy

    Reply
  29. Jenny….thank you for serving….thank you for your blog that challenges & encourages me! THANK YOU for praying for our boy Crosby….it is comforting to know that when I am up typing late at night my sister is praying half way around the globe! AWESOME! YOU inspire & amaze me….Happy Birthday!!!!
    blessings to you & your dear family,
    Meredith

    Reply
  30. Sorry I didn’t post this yesturday… things were busy at work and I didn’t get a chance, but Happy Birthday!! I can’t wait to see you this summer. I am counting down the days! I hope you had a wonderful Birthday. You diserve the best!

    Love you tons!!
    Cori

    Reply
  31. Linda Armstrong

    Dearest Jenny, Happy belated birthday!!! I thought of you so many times yesterday and prayed for a wonderful day filled with blessing. What a fantastic idea Robert had in doing this for you. You truly have been a blessing and a joy in my life. I cherish the growing time we had in the Lord together! Harold and I are so proud of you and Robert because of the way you have been so obedient to God’s call and the fruit it is producing. Although the road has not always been easy…you have been faithful and blessed and inspired all of us by your love and example. We look forward to seeing you this summer…let’s make it happen. I love you dearly,
    Linda

    Reply
  32. Marcus Rhoads

    Jenny,

    Sorry I was a day late, but HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! You guys have always been an encouragement to me on how to live out a God-centered marriage, and how to be just all around cool people. So thanks for being there and having some amazing children for me to hang out with.

    -Marcus

    Reply
  33. precious Jenny ….sister you are amazing! you are such an inspiration to me. you are such a beautiful example of what God intended a wife, mother, friend and women to be. i want you to know that i love you and miss you so much! Happy Birthday!!!
    ~stac

    Reply
  34. Marissa Alberty

    Jenny ~ Wow!!! It’s hard to believe how much has happened since you were my Bible study leader when I was 11!!!! Don’t freak out . . . but that was almost 10 years ago!!! You impacted my life so much and I am so blessed to have been discipled by you at such a young age. You are such a beautiful woman of God and it amazes me how the Lord has used you and Robert to impact so many lives in Edmond, Norman, and Tirana, Albania!!! Being able to spend time with you all last summer was amazing . . . He has truly given you all a great mission to impact Albania. He is so good!! I cannot wait to see what the Lord continues to do in your life . . . and I hope I get to continue to be a part of it!! I love you so much!!!!

    ~Marissa

    Reply
  35. Kara Strittmatter

    Happy Birthday Jenny and sorry for the late post! Although we (your Ohio/PA/KY families) did not see you as often as we would all like to over the years, I have always been impressed with your outlook on life. Unconditional love for God and Family is not always easy to find in folks these days. We are all looking forward to seeing you and your lovely family this summer! Safe travels — love you lots!
    - Kara, Joe, Corey & Sara

    Reply
  36. Hey Jenny!
    I am so happy what for what God has done through you here in Albania and for what he is going to do in the future. I am so happy to hear from you \r mouth that you couldn’t live in a different way your life now seeing what God has told you here in our country. I am so happy that all the time you do something i can see your heart being fully committed to that .
    Jenny really thank you for everything and for letting God to do through here and you have been a very big blessing to us.
    Thank u for bean part of my favorite American family in Albania.
    GOD BLESS YOU SO MUCH.

    Reply
  37. JoAnne Egolf

    Just saying hello, Jenny. Hope your birthday was the best!
    I think you are an amazing and wonderful person. You do such a great job with all the challenges in your life.No matter what, you are always positive and smiling.
    Looking forward to seeing you this summer.

    Reply
  38. Karrel Stevens

    I have always believed in spreading out birthdays as long as I possibly can, so Happy Birthday late, Jenny!
    You are precious in God’s sight, as well as so many others who you have touched with your loving heart and kindness and compassion. We continue to hold you and your family in our prayers as you are in ministry each day.
    One of your other ‘moms” – Karrel

    Reply

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