Hey Guys, it's me, Jolly!

Ok, so my name isn't actually "Jolly".  My name is Jill Crowder.  For years I've been known as "Miss Jill" as I've taught in my own daycare center and a variety of children's ministries in the churches we've attended.  I've recently retired from childcare to take a breather before I jump with both feet into the role of grandmother.  As such, I fully intend to be referred to as "Jolly".  Though I have no reason to believe I won't one day be sharing the gospel with the next generation, tomorrow isn't promised for any of us. I started writing the "Jesus Stories with Jolly" series so I could teach the next generation and all those who follow about Jesus whether I'm still around or not.  The original idea was only for my grandchildren, but how selfish would that be?  Thanks to printed materials, social media, and ever-changing technology, there can be enough Jolly for everyone because there most definitely is enough Jesus to go around!

I've been married to my wonderful husband, Cale, since 2002.  We met when I wondered into his church after moving from Kentucky to Georgia.  I had just been diagnosed with a fertility problem, and all the dreams I had for my life came crashing down.  God showed up and cleared the path for me to move from my home in Kentucky to start a new life and career in Georgia.  Little did I know that fertility problem would be the very instrument He used to get me to the father of my 3 children.   

Though my reproductive issues remained, there was a 9-year window in my suffering that allowed us to have 3 amazing babies; Hannah Grace, Emily Hope, and Will.  All 3 with their "God name" (as my son referred to it) because the world needed to know of His grace, His will, and the hope that can only be found in Him. 

At the age of 6, I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart as my Lord and Savior.  Though at times I've been very unsuccessful, I've always tried to live a life pleasing to God.  In my life, thus far, I've only been members of 3 churches, I was raised at Penrod Baptist Church in Kentucky.  There I grew up learning the Bible as I sat in Sunday School under one of the most fun yet passionate Christian ladies I've ever known.  She could slide Jesus into every conversation in a way that opened my eyes to the truth yet didn't feel like I was being bashed over the head with it.  Her desire to reach everyone for Christ made a lasting impression on me and the way I witness to others.  

At 19 years old, I moved my membership to Parkway Baptist Temple in Georgia where I met my husband and we started our family.  There I really started to jump with both feet into children's ministries both at the church and in my childcare center.  

At 28, we felt God was leading us back to Kentucky where we rejoined Penrod Baptist Church.  We continued in children's ministries, and it was there my husband was called upon to become a deacon.  During our time at Penrod, we welcomed our last child and then began our journey as foster parents.  

Our foster journey only lasted 3 years, but in that time, we welcomed 9 children into our home, some only staying a few weeks and some staying several months.  Though our family was blessed through fostering, the ever-changing lives of our own children proved that we needed to keep our focus on the family God had given us.  My heart will forever be in foster care, and we may one day return to that field but for now, God has other plans for us.  

When I was 37, we felt God calling us to leave the familiar walls of Penrod Baptist not knowing what He had in store for us.  We resisted His calling for several months until it was undeniable that He was pulling us to go somewhere else and do other things.  Now we are members of Dunmor Baptist Church where Cale and I have taken on new roles as co-teachers of the College and Career Sunday School class.  Going from preschoolers to young adults was an out-of-my-comfort-zone leap, but God was in it.  Our daughters serve as children's Sunday School teachers and Will has found his place as the smallest of the ushers.  Though we resisted this move, God has more than proved that our family needed to relocate so He could use us all in a variety of new roles. 

Church membership, however, doesn't prove my faith.  Though I am loyal to my church and my church family, it is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ that is the entire story of my faith.  I believe that I am a sinner.  I believe that at 6 years of age I was a lost sinner on my way to a devil's Hell and my eyes were open to the sin in my life.  Even as a child I understood that I could not pay my own sin debt and that Jesus was the only way.  I believe that God sent His perfect son to walk up on the earth, living a sinless life, to one day give his life as he was crucified, thus paying for my sins and the sins of the world.  I believe that death could not keep him, and 3 days later, he rose from the dead proving that he was God.  I believe that he is now sitting at the right hand of the Father preparing a place for me and all those who put their trust in him.  And I believe he is coming back someday soon.  My future is secure in heaven with my Savior but as long as there is breath in my lungs, I'm going to be doing everything I can do to tell the world about him so they too can come to know and love him the way I do.