Thankful

Ø My Heavenly Father & His Love & Faithfulness

Ø My Wonderful, Incredible, Unbelievable Husband

Ø My Family & their love and support throughout the years

Ø Our Tater, he’s a sweet kitty and adds so much to our lives, he’s so darn cute

Ø Our jobs – they pay the bills

Ø The Beauty of our life…it’s not always Beautiful like we’d expect but it is indeed Beautiful

Ø That God is not done with us yet – He’s only just beginning

Ø That time is winding down as I am so Ready to get started on this journey

Ø That when things fall apart and we can no longer control them God simply says FINALLY now I can do what I’ve been trying to do all along

Ø For moments that sustain us

Ø For encouragement

Ø For Sunshine

Ø For the Thankfulness I feel in my heart

Ø For the realization that we are truly Blessed with so much

Ø For the ability to run & for a hubby to run with

Ø For my marriage – I waited so long and wondered if it would ever really come – It came & I love every minute of it – God is SO faithful

Ø For Prayer – It shakes foundations – it too is BEAUTIFUL

Ø For a church body that has taught me SO much

Ø For our home & how good it feels to be there

Ø For friends who I can pick right back up with where we left off as we all have busy lives and we all understand that

Ø For our new sofa & chair – they are just what we were looking for & we were so Blessed to find at such a Steal

Ø For the way God works things out because He can see the bigger picture & I cannot

Ø That I can give HIM all of my concerns and anxieties and He will work them out & I will be surprised at how He does it & I will feel silly for spending too much time being anxious over it

Ø Many many other things i.e. grocery shopping, freshly washed laundry, a clean house, Strawberry candles, a back door that is functional, DVR, wireless internet, journals, a rounded shower curtain rod, and just many many more.

Today I am just really Thankful. Thank You Faithful Heavenly Father!

Weekend Review:

Friday:

We went to Hallmark to get a few gifts for sweet people who helped with our wedding. Terribly & Embarrassingly late gifts. But better late than never!!

We ate at Moe’s which I never liked before but have begun to love!

We went grocery shopping – which is one of my favorite things to do!!

We can home and put away groceries & then changed into our running gear and hit the track for a great 2 ¼ mile run!

Saturday:

I got up and studied for Sunday School. We learned about being “Living Sacrifices”.

I worked on wrapping gifts and writing Thank you notes to go with them.

When Mr. Wonderful woke up we cleaned out our clothes closets and the hall closet. I felt so accomplished!

We headed out to run errands: Mr. Wonderful dropped me off to get a much needed long past due hair cut. A new look! He headed off to return a shirt at Kohl’s, clean the car, and have the windshield filled (a rock hit it last week and made a pit), and to fill the car up with gas.

We headed back home to get ready for an evening of Baseball and Mr. Wonderful’s college friends. We lost the game but got to hang out with fun people and see fireworks.

We were supposed to run when we got home but it was way past my bedtime so we just went to bed.

Sunday:

We headed to church where I gave one gift away first thing. I taught my sweet preteen kiddos about being Living Sacrifices while Mr. Wonderful when to his Sunday school class where they are doing the book “Crazy Love”.

We were both in big church this week so we worshipped with the adults. Sadly I had the beginnings of a headache and did not enjoy holding my head up for the sermon but it was still good.

We had a nice Mexican lunch with my brother before heading home for a much needed nap! I was pooped and had a nasty headache.

Woke up late for small group but went anyway. We were the only ones to show (our group is struggling a bit), but we had fun playing Mexican train dominoes!

Went by my parents to drop off some clothes we borrowed on Easter and visited with My Neesie for a few minutes.

Then we headed home and ran a mile before bed.

That was our weekend start to finish! It was a very nice weekend aside from the nasty headache I had yesterday! It’s nice to have clean closets and a clean car! Lot’s more cleaning and reorganizing to come in the near future :D!!

Assuredly Not!

Hebrews 13:5 (Amp)

…For He God Himself has said,

I will not in any way fail you

Nor give you up

Nor leave you without support.

I will not, I will not, I will not

In any degree leave you helpless

Nor forsake you

Nor let you down

(or Relax My hold on you)!

Assuredly Not!

If there has ever been a time in my life that I needed this kind of assurance it is now.

God is Faithful and He has proven that to me time and time again.

I will continue to trust Him.

It sure is good to have this reminder straight from His love letter to me.

This past and current year have probably been some of the most stressful in my life.

But again God truly is Faithful and over and over again He has shown His Faithfulness to me.

I know that we will continue to see God’s Faithfulness. I want to always acknowledge it as well.

I think acknowledging the good in our lives as God’s hand increases our Faith.

It’s easy to get prideful and want to give the credit to ourselves or others but ultimately it is God.

It is God who places people in our lives or blessings in our lives or favor in our lives.

When we belong to Him, it is Him who provides.

We belong to Him. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.

My Husband and I love our Faithful Lord and we seek after Him.

We will acknowledge His work in our lives and not give credit to ourselves or others or this world.

In doing so I believe our faith will be increased and God will continue to be faithful to us because we are willing to give Him the credit that ONLY HE Deserves.

John 1:16

“From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.”

Hebrews 11:1

“Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

The verse from Hebrews at the top is absolutely true.

Yet it does not mean that we won’t face hard times, that we won’t shed tears, that we won’t feel at times as if the very world itself is crashing in around us. We simply must remember that in those times God is teaching us something, strengthening our faith, our walk, and preparing us for what only He knows lies ahead. Just like any parent would equip their child for things to come.

“Sometimes God uses the fight to strengthen muscles we’ll need at the next level in our lives. If yesterday’s wimp is going to become tomorrow’s warrior, something has to happen today.” (From a Blog I read last week)

Just like a good parent would not shelter their child from any and all danger because that would debilitate the child, neither does our Heavenly Father promise that life will be perfect and wonderful and neither does He shelter us from any and all danger. We must learn by experiencing things. God is a good God, and He will never give us more than we can handle but He will allow us to learn and grow so that we may 1. Grow closer to Him and 2. Become stronger in our faith and convictions and 3. Share that faith and Him with the world around us.

Randoms.

Randoms.

Spring.

Love.

Encouragement.

Happiness.

Enduring.

Ready.

Sunshine.

Home.

Jesus.

Flip Flops.

Hubby.

Family.

Journey.

Soon.

Ready.

Calling.

Trusting.

Learning.

Growing.

Sunshine.

Friends.

Jesus.

Worship.

Love.

Home.

Life.

Sounds of our lives...

So I was sitting in our lil apartment last night and I began thinking about all the nights I had sat there before alone. I sat quietly and listened. I heard the sounds of my sweet husband downstairs making us dinner (one that consisted of my favorite dish that he created – Spinach Casserole). I realized while I was sitting there that I had grown quite accustomed to the sounds of our marriage. The sounds of him making dinner or taking out the trash. The sound of ESPN on the television or the sound of the bean bag when he and Tater are ready for a nap. The sound of his snoring in the mornings or the sound of his shower getting ready for work. The sound of him doing laundry or working at the computer. The sound of his laughter (usually always directed at me). The sounds of him praying or answering Jeopardy questions. The sounds of our lives.

I can remember sitting in that same spot and the apartment being so still and so quiet. I can remember the lonely feelings that I felt wondering when it was going to be my turn to find my soul mate. I remember pleading with God to hurry up. I remember praising God and praying to God and Trusting God even when I felt the loneliness. I remember the only sounds were Tater and myself and the support of my family and friends’ encouragement as they waited with me.

As I sat last night in our lil apartment I remember once again how Faithful God is. Faithful to allow me the lonely times in my lil apartment and to allow me the proper amount of time to grow with Him and seek Him and find Him. How Faithful God is to bring my soul mate in His perfect timing and not my own. How Faithful God is to protect me from myself when even I could not do so.

My heart fills with Thankfulness for my Heavenly Father. My Father who knows best, who sees the bigger picture and loves me enough to hold back, discipline, teach me, and most of all to love me No Matter What, and No Matter how many times I mess up or don’t do things right or don’t spend enough time with Him, or don’t have the right attitude or words. True Unconditional and Everlasting Love. Yes I am filled with Thankfulness for my Faithful Heavenly Father and the many sounds he has brought into my life and for the many silences He has also brought into my life to transform me into who I am now and for the many sounds and silences He will bring into my life as I spend all the days of my life trying to serve and love Him as best as my lil human self can.

I am Thankful beyond words for the things and people that My Heavenly Father has blessed me with. I would not be who I am today without them all.

I am Thankful for my Heavenly Father, Husband, Mother, Neesie, Dad, Jared, Daniel, for our small women’s group, and my closest friends and too many others to name. I am Thankful.

Spinning & Standing & Going

Spinning

The world keeps on spinning & spinning

Some things simply repeat themselves

Others change willingly & unwillingly

Sometimes there are things that try to stand in the way

Knowingly or Unknowingly

But yet the world spins

For I (The Lord) know the plans I have for you (His child) says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

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Standing

Desire not to be caught up in the spin

But to stand in direct opposition

While the world blurs by

Standing as a clear force focused and bright

Holy (To be set apart)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world (spinning) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (standing in opposition as a clear force focused and bright). Romans 12:2

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Standing

Understanding comes & sometimes it doesn’t

Faith Stands

As the world spins at a rapid pace

Faith Stands

Sometimes I have Faith & sometimes it’s lost

In the spinning of the world

Desire not for Faith to be lost

But to always be Strong

Now Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

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Going

What matters in all of the spinning

What matters in all of the standing

What matters in all of the world

That is a question left up to us

Can we decide

Can we grasp

Can we free ourselves from the things standing in the way

Can we free ourselves from the spinning to stand

Can we Go and do the things He has for us to do

Not allowing anything to stand in our way

Are we that brave

Are we that strong

Are we that sure

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (that means all of His children). Romans 8:28

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God Flooding me with Peace...

Deuteronomy 33:12 (emphasis mine)

“Let the beloved of the Lord (that’s us) rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves (that’s us again) rests between His shoulders.”

This verse brings me so much peace every time I read it. I have been meditating on it a lot lately because I want to be flooded with God’s peace and need to be flooded with God’s peace.

I love this whole verse it says so much in only a few words.

Let the beloved of the Lord…it calls us His beloved and that is TRULY what we are. I know I HAVE to be reminded of this ALL the time and I still forget and sometimes just can’t bring myself to believe that I am HIS beloved at all. I am though…WE ARE HIS BELOVED…all of us…righteous and unrighteous.

…rest secure in Him…It tells us to rest secure in God, gives us permission to rest secure in him. Now I don’t know about you but sometimes it’s like I NEED permission to rest in Him. It’s because I’m a fixer, but I’m really supposed to let Him be the fixer and to REST SECURE in Him. When I look back on my life since asking Jesus to be my life I can see the times I took over and really messed things up; but the times when I let go and let God are the times He was able to fix things. That makes me think; maybe if I stopped taking over so much God wouldn’t have so much fixing to do and could really do some neat things. Hhhhmmm food for thought.

…for He shields him all day long…WOW! Ok when I think about this part and the truth that there is a CONSTANT spiritual battle going on for my soul everyday this Floods me with peace!! You know our enemy NEVER gives up, he never stops his plot to win us over not for even a second, he is always up to something even when it feels like he has taken a break, that too is a lie he’s formulated and hopes we’ll believe. This part of the verse says that God SHEILDS HIM ALL DAY LONG…we need God’s shield all day long. We need to be looking for His shield too so that we can acknowledge Him and thank Him and praise Him for all He is doing. We need to be conscious of our Lord who is ALWAYS conscious of us. It’s so easy to go through our days and never acknowledge Him once. Last week I went a whole week without reading His Word one time. Sure I can argue about how tough the week was and busy and this and that…not once had God ever been too busy for me or you. Hhhhmmm…He shields him ALL DAY LONG.

…and the one the Lord loves…OH HOW HE LOVE US, OH HOW HE LOVE US…unconditionally, meaning completely without condition. Our little minds find that very hard to compute because that’s not how we love at all. This world doesn’t teach us to love that way…but God does. He loves us when we are lazy, mad, ugly, angry, sinning, bashing, gossiping, cursing, lying, hating, coveting, being jealous, being selfish, etc. The list goes on and on and on. The bible says NOTHING can separate us from the love of God…except OUR OWN sin. But then God stands ready to forgive and remove that separation. I can imagine his utter heartache until we finally allow the separation to be removed. OH HOW HE LOVES US.

…rests between his shoulders…another part that just absolutely FLOODS me with PEACE. I imagine a baby after being soothed and rocked to sleep laying on it’s mother or father’s chest…eye’s closed, mouth open, drool pooling, body COMPLETELY relaxed, not a care in the world. Fed, Soothed, Rocked, and RESTING BETWEEN HIS SHOULDERS. I imagine a time when I laid prostrate on the Kids Camp Chapel floor while chains broke off of me, while I RESTED BETWEEN HIS SHOULDERS. I imagine the moment I knew my husband was the one and I fully understood what God meant two years earlier when He told me that I would have to give my husband back to him, I see that moment when I wept tears of utter joy and pain as I realize that was happening in that very moment…and I RESTED BETWEEN HIS SHOULDERS. I imagine a time when sitting at my desk I felt completely calm and collected only days after an anxiety attack like no other and I was RESTING BETWEEN HIS SHOULDERS.

Yes I love this verse. It speaks to me. It was always meant to speak to me. God wrote it for me. God wrote it for You.

Deuteronomy 33:12

“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between His shoulders.”

I want...

...to be warm

...more of YOU Jesus, more of YOUR face, more of YOUR glory in this place

...to spend my life ministering to children and watching God's faithfulness

...a Peace that transcends All understanding

...to see the Spirit move like it did on Sunday EVERY Sunday & for lives to continue to be changed

...to learn

...to be a better me

...to be saturated in the Father's presence

...the weekends to be LONGER

...to get started

...2010 to be a truly Wonderful year

...to have a fireplace

...to clip coupons

...chocolate chip pancakes

...to be rid of headaches FOREVER

...to be skinny

...spring to arrive

...to bless

...to want less

...to sleep in

...MORE OF JESUS

Father, You are so faithful and I am so undeserving. Thank you Father for your faithfulness, love, forgiveness, hope, strength, life, call, miracles, healing, Word, confidence, Peace, and for being the most incredible thing to ever happen to me. Thank you for rescuing me from the pit and that you are not through rescuing me yet. Thank you for all that is to come. I love you Heavenly Father and I am thankful to you and for you. I am in awe of you. I desire more of you and to be more like you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Favorite Things

My Wonderful Hubby.

Warm Socks.

My Audio Books.

My Snuggie.

My Incredible new Chocolaty Sheets.

Children's Ministry.

My Study Bible.

:D

Dreamy

Dreamy...describes my bed!!!

Okay so I do not love our bed. I have missed my bed which now resides in the guest bedroom. It really is the best bed EVER (Thank You Neesie - I love it!).

I have had slight back problem ever since getting married and sleeping in my hubby's bed.

But...Last weekend my hubby and I bought a mattress pad and new sheets for our bed.

Now I have to admit I want to be in our comfy bed all the time now. I DO NOT want to get out of the bed in the mornings!!!

I told my hubby that we were going to have to get rid of the mattress pad and sheets cause I simply do not want to get up for work anymore.

So I now love my comfy DREAMY bed!!

Oh and the sheets are the color of pure mild chocolate and they feel Amazing!!

I love my Chocolaty DREAMY bed!!

It's so DREAMY!!!

Life...Together...

Life.

Together.

This week another piece of the puzzle that we call Life fell into place.

The news I received brought an incredible excitement with it. Not news I would have ever before been excited about. God brought about this excitement in me, as Only He could have in His timing.

Many have tried to build that excitement in me and steer me in a certain direction for many many years but I couldn't see it or accept it. No, it would be Only in the Father's timing that I would not only accept this new direction but embrace it Completely and feel this kind of excitement.

Excitement of knowing God has a plan and a purpose, and of getting to see a glimpse of the bigger picture and then to watch as the pieces fall one by one into place.

I don't mean to leave you in such great suspense. I am just not yet ready to reveal it all...not just now...not just yet. But soon.

I am however almost as excited about the next several months and years as I was about marrying Mr. Wonderful. I am excited that we together are about to embark on the journey, the Life...that is - God's plan.

God's plan IS for Mr. Wonderful and I to do this together, and I did not see that or understand that before, I couldn't for Only God knew. I only knew that I couldn't make myself go in the direction that many thought I should.

I wondered many times if my heart simply was not open enough, or if I was just too controlling to really allow God's plan. But I just never had peace when thinking about it like I do now.

Not that the peace came over night. No, like may other things it came piece by piece or rather Peace by Peace as God allowed and as He revealed.

I while single was so incredibly blessed to get to do many great things and never let being single stop me from doing anything God was calling me to do. I loved loved loved loved my time just God and me. I lived Life to the fullest.

However, there was always a desire to be married and to build a family and walk this journey with another...together. God knows the desires of our hearts and He knows the plans He has for us. And our Heavenly Father is patient and faithful. I am thankful for his patience and faithfulness.

I know that our Heavenly Father brought Mr. Wonderful and I together for such a time as this and for such times as Life brings to us.

I am excited and I cannot wait to walk this journey called Life...together.

Solution to Traffic Hatred

Ok so since getting a new job in June that I spend two hours of my day commuting to in HORRIBLE RIDICULOUS traffic, I have developed a very deep HATRED for traffic. ANY TRAFFIC!!!

**edit...when I say I spend two hours of my day commuting I don't mean at one time, that is the total. It's an hour there and an hour home. Just to clarify. **

However just before Christmas I came up with a plan to hopefully help with my traffic issues.

I asked for a book on CD to listen to while driving in said HORRIBLE TRAFFIC. My commute home was seriously stressing me out SO bad!!!

So I am happy to report that I now LOVE LOVE LOVE traffic. Why? Because it gives me time to listen to my book!! I am absolutely addicted!!! So addicted that I have almost finished my first book already.

I was completely panicking about this until I came home today and my WONDERFUL husband told me that he had already ordered me another book on CD that is the sequel to the one I am about to complete!!

I am so excited and my traffic hatred has been completely solved!!!

So if you have a traffic filled commute, I highly recommend books on CD, preferably by your favorite authors!! (Ladies, I recommend Karen Kingsbury or Kristen Billerbeck for Christian Chick Lit)

A big Thank You to my WONDERFUL hubby for getting me the first book on CD for Christmas and for being so wonderful and ordering me another already. I can't wait to continue the series!!

Top 9 from 2009

#1 - Getting laid off from my job of 9 years

#2 - Getting to work Kids Camp

#3 - Getting engaged to Mr. Wonderful

#4 - Getting to go Wedding Dress shopping with my Mom, my Neesie, & my two mother-in-laws

#5 - Getting to go to the beach with my family

#6 - Getting married to THE ONE God created just for me

#7 - Getting to go to Mexico for our Honeymoon

#8 - Getting to change my name

#9 - Getting to begin building a home & life with my Wonderful Husband

Yep most of my year revolved around the Wedding. I waited SO long for this year - 2009!! God faithfully waited with me!

I know my number one seems a bit odd, but it truly was one of the best things that happened in 2009!! It lead to a decision that I will talk more about in the coming months!

My life is changing and I feel like it's taking flight. Not that I haven't flown before because my life as a single woman was nothing short of incredible. But there are dreams that are being realized. I am excited and scared all at the same time.

I would label 2009 as The Year of God's Faithfulness. We saw God be faithful to us when we lost our jobs, when we were deciding where to go next, when we were planning our wedding, when sickness came into our lives, when we doubted, when we were scared, when it looked like things could not be worked out, when we didn't know where to turn, when we were let down, when things were good, & when things were not so good. Yes, 2009 was most definitely a year of Faithfulness!! We are beyond Thankful! Thankful to God and our families and friends. We could not have had the year we had without each and everyone of you!

I believe 2010 will be the year of Flight. I believe we are ready to fly with God as our Pilot. We are ready to fly to the places and things He has for us. We are ready to take flight in HIS will.

Christmas 2009.

Jesus.
Family.
Giving.
Wrapping.
Singing.
Married.
Traveling.
Visiting.
Shopping.
Caroling.
Eating.
Worshipping.
Lights.

Thankful for the things of Christmas. Praying that though this year is a bit tougher than others that Joy is found by all. Praying for strength & health in our families and friends this season as it is needed.

Father oh Father how we need you. You know better than I exactly what is needed, and I know you are already at work, but Lord cover our families with your amazing Strenght and Peace and Hope and Health. There are such incredible needs right now. Thank You Father. In Jesus name. Amen.

Success at last!

Finally after months and months of searching and failing...

I found the perfect pair of black shoes...

Behold my new favorite pair of black shoes...perfect height...perfect toe...so comfortable

Oh the things that I do...

I did not go into the men's bathroom at Walmart

& did not come out of the stall to see a man washing his hands

& did not convince him that he was in the wrong bathroom

& he did not come back in to tell me that I was in the wrong bathroom nope that did not happen

& I was not completely embarrassed!!!

Serious Apprecitaion...

This weekend Mr. Wonderful and I came to visit his mom in Mobile & to have Christmas with this side of the family!! So excited to give our gifts!! I love that feeling, being excited to give a gift. I don't always get that cause I am not always successful at finding a gift I know someone will love, especially on a budget. But anyway headed off on a rabbit trail with that one.

Let me get to the real reason for this blog post, what my serious appreciation is for...

So we came to Mobile to have Christmas with family and to work. Mr. Wonderful had taken up his mom's district to help out and to make a little extra money. We had decided that this would be the last time he would do this since the drive is so hard on his car (it's very old but still going and we need it to continue to go!!). Last time we were down (Thanksgiving) I went and worked with him so that we could get through quicker. It was kind of fun. It was work but I got to be with my hubby so that made it so bad.

This time coming down we knew it would be the last time and we had alot of stores to do. I volunteered to help again. I had now idea what I was getting myself into this time. We got up and out the door at 5:30am. I didn't work the first few hours of the day I got to have coffee and some quiet/devotional/fun reading time. But when the work began...PHEW.

Let me just say that my sweet little hubby...PUT ME TO WORK!!! We had so much to do and together as a team we got it done. We finished the last store for the day around 7:30 pm. Boy oh boy was I tired.

So I started this blog post out with a serious appreciation for one thing and now my serious appreciation has totally changed...

My first thought of a serious appreciation was...for my desk job!!! Cause wow were my feet mad at me for being up on them ALL day!!! My feet were killing me so bad.

As I was writing this blog my serious appreciation and heart changed a great deal. My serious appreciation is for my Wonderful husband and how hard he works to provide for us. How his heart was directed at holding his mom's job for her when she could go back to work. My serious appreciation if for and incredible God who put the two of us together to make a GREAT team. We can work side by side and get the job done. We work well together and enjoy being with the other. I think we are VERY blessed in that way. Especially from hearing many many stories of husbands and wives that are so separate in their lives. We truly are a GREAT team. So my heart and my appreciation changed as I thought of what we accomplished together in a day and a half of work. (We worked 12 hrs straight yesterday and another 5 hours today.)

So today I appreciate a hard working Wonderful husband. I appreciate my desk job or rather my feet appreciate my desk job. And I appreciate a Heavenly Father who one gave me this Wonderful husband and two put together such a great team.

Father I appreciate you and your faithfulness and loving kindness and your plan for our lives!
Mr. Wonderful I appreciate you and all your hard work and how you take care of me and for all you do for us!
Desk job my feet and I appreciate you as well.

Today I am feeling serious appreciation! Now for a nap maybe, shower definitely, & then CHRISTMAS fun for the rest of the day!!

Hope

"Hope can see heaven through the thickest clouds."

~Thomas Brooks

This came from our devotion last night and it really stuck with me. I think we could all use a little boost of this kind of hope.

God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

The Perfect Saturday

I am sitting her right now experiencing the perfect Saturday...

Spent the morning with my amazing kiddos from Children's Church practicing the Christmas musical and amazing youth and adult workers!

Now I sit nestled on my couch with my laptop catching up on blogging.

My hubby is in the chair engrossed in Alabama football...occasionally screaming like a wild banshee and clapping wildly.

My Christmas tree is lit up as well as my lil Christmas village.

My belly is FULL of my hubby's incredible chili.

I'm warm, full, & happy.

This could be the perfect Saturday.

I seriously cannot wait to see my kiddos rock the Christmas musical tomorrow!!

Thank You Father for a great day, I really needed one of these! I am SO Thankful.

When it rains it pours...

So there has really been A LOT going on in my family lately!!

Let me start by saying that our families really got us through our wedding. They were all so helpful and we really could not have done it without them, which means that they put a lot of their time, effort, heart, & money into that.

Now it seems like things have just gone crazy! Hubby and I are praying so hard for everyone and everything that is going on.

The rain started shortly after the wedding when my mother informed me that she has had Pleurisy and probably bronchitis again, since the week before the wedding. She is battling that still. She runs out of energy very easily and has not been to church in quite some time. This makes me very sad as I do not want her to pull away from God just when she is getting a good hold on Him and starting down the path of healing. Immediately began praying for healing and strength in her body and the desire to rejoin the church body.

The down pour started with a Saturday morning phone call from hubby’s mom. It’s the phone call you never want to get. The cancer has returned. Immediately began to pray for healing and strength as she begins Chemo. Three rounds right here during the holidays. We found out the day after her first treatment the doctors gave her three times the amount she should have had. Immediately began praying for health.

The down pour continues as we find out Neesie is diagnosed with Lupus. Lupus is an auto-immune disorder that takes quite a toll on a person. And it has taken a toll on Neesie. She has been a champ though and has just kept on keeping on. I don’t know how she does it. Immediately began praying for healing as she begins medication to stabilize the disease.

Pouring still as we find out Dad’s Aunt who has Alzheimer’s can no longer live by herself and will need to be moved here and they’ll need to find an assisted living facility for her to live at, but until then she will be at my parents house. That is on top of Neesie already taking care of mammaw, her mom, which has been an already full-time and very emotionally and physically taxing job as mammaw becomes less and less mobile. Immediately began to pray for strength, peace, and blessings.

And then a torrential down pour as I finally can get in touch with my mother on Tuesday and find out that she is on the way back from Texas with my grandmother and uncle in tow. This is not a good thing. My grandmother was very abusive to my mom when she was growing up and she is not a nice lady now and my uncle who has recently been released from prison where he’s been the majority of his adult life does nothing but drink and I mean quite literally does nothing (not even eat) but drink. I know my mother feels like she is doing the right thing but I am not convinced of that. I do not think that she is in a place to be able to handle this. Immediately began praying for God’s protection and wisdom as she takes this on.

Sometimes it feels like the world is spinning out of control. But then I know our God has everything in control. He is Faithful and Mighty and will never leave us or forsake us. We are holding onto Him. We trust Him. We will keep lifting our families up to Him and know that He is in control when we feel like EVERYTHING is out of control.

Father I love you and trust you. I know that you see everyone’s big picture and you know things that we cannot know. I trust you. I give you all of these needs and the needs unseen and ask You to minister as only you can. I ask you to provide all the things that Mom, Neesie, Ms. Darlene, Dad, and the other’s involved need to make it through each and every day. I ask you to bless beyond what they can imagine. I ask you to provide Your peace that surpasses All understanding. I ask that you Heal bodies, hearts, and lives. I love you Father. In Jesus name. Amen.

2009

I was thinking on my way home this evening about this year...

I know it's a little early but here is a run down of 2009

I had my first Valentine's date with the man created just for me.

It was super sweet.

I got laid off from my job of 9 years.

It was incredibly shocking and sad, but changed the direction of my life forever.

I turned 28.

It wasn't so bad.

I made a big decision about my future.

I can't wait to get started.

I got to do tons of Children's Ministry at camp.

First time ever I didn't have to get up before the sun and drive to a job, instead I got to spend the whole day at camp with the team.

I got to be on staff at Kids Camp.

Seriously something I thought I'd never get to do but has been a dream of mine. It was wonderful!

I got engaged.

On our 1 year anniversary. I was exhausted and grumpy and he asked me anyway. One of the best nights of my life.

I got a new job.

So thankful God opened a door for a paycheck.

I took a trip to the beach with my family.

Spent quality time on the gorgeous beach at a gorgeous condo. Had a GREAT time!

I bought a wedding dress.

One of the most emotional and extraordinary days of my life. Surrounded by moms and my best friend and the most beautiful dress EVER!

I planned our wedding.

Could not pay me to do it again but it turned out to be the absolute funnest, happiest, and BEST days of my life!!!

I got married.

Again the funnest, happiest, and BEST day of my life!!

I went to Mexico with my new husband.

Had the sweetest most wonderful time just the two of us!!

I found how just how incredible my family and best friends are.

No way this year could have been as wonderful without any of them. Definitely could not have made it through the wedding with out any of them! Love them all!!

I'd say this has been one of the most incredible years of my life thus far.

Wow!!

I can't wait to see what God has in store for 2010.

I truly can not wait Father to see what you have for us in 2010 I love you and trust You completely. Give us Peace and Strength to do Your will! I'm Ready Now, I'm Ready Now! Thank You Father for all you did this year You blessed me beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Thank You for what I know You are going to do in the coming year. Let our lives begin! Thank You Father for your love and incredible faithfulness. Thank You for your plan which is much better than ours and Thank You for my incredible husband, family, and friends. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am so very very blessed, beyond anything I could ever imagine and it is all because of YOU Father. I would have NONE of this were it not for YOU and Your love, salvation, redemption, and Faithfulness. I am so thankful to you and I truly cannot wait to see what YOU have in store for us. I love you! In Jesus name. Amen.