Category: family

Joy Dare

Still filling my notebook with thanks for all the gifts He continues to give.

Just a sidenote on my gifts notebook…

It is a good place to go and to be encouraged as I read and am reminded of His faithfulness to me.

{Why are you downcast, o my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Psalm 43:5}

Sometimes I let my mind wander {too much} with troubles and then I have to reign those poisonous thoughts back in. Having several different resources to go to, is very helpful to me.

But back to my gift today…

Today I am thinking about & thanking God for time away with this guy…

It’s been too long – let’s sneak away again soon!

You bring me much joy, babe.

I also want to say thank you all for your continued prayers for my cousin, Jenn. I talked to my aunt on Saturday and they were hoping to move Jenn out of ICU to a private room, so that she could see her baby boys. She is needing to be with them very much. Please continue to pray for her physically and emotionally. God is continuing to answer prayers.

Friday Praise & Prayers

 His mercies are new every morning…

They are new for you.

They are new for me.

And His promises are sure.

That is what I am praising God for today.

Today I am praying for my cousin, who gave birth to twin boys a week ago & was just hospitalized with a blood clot in her brain.

Will you please pray for her with me?

Friday Praise & Prayers

‘I am with you & for you. You face nothing alone – nothing! When you feel anxious, know that you are focusing on the visible world & leaving Me out of the picture. The remedy is simple: fix your eyes not on what is seen but what is unseen. Verbalize your trust in Me, the Living One who sees you always. I will get you safely through this day & all your days. But you can find Me only in the present. Each day is a precious gift from My Father. How ridiculous to grasp for future gifts when today’s is set before you! Receive today’s gift gratefully, unwrapping it tenderly & delving into its depths. As you savor this gift, you find Me.’ – Jesus Calling

This is for me today, I am sitting here in our warm, safe, beautiful  house. Watching Boo jump from couch cushion to cushion. She’s not thinking about our next house. Not concerned about our house selling. Not wondering when the ‘right one’ will come along.

But I am. I am using my thoughts to bog down my mind with worry. Worry that is not helping the situation at all. And worry that is keeping my thoughts off of God.

But Boo,

 She is playing…

laughing…

enjoying her moment here.

Isn’t it amazing how little ones can teach us a thing or two?

This is how I am going to change my thoughts…

 praising God for being with me right here, right now.

He IS enough.

Today I am praying for 2 of my friends that lost their mother 1 year ago on Monday.

And my sweet friend from Texas whose young son has been gone for 2 years, on Monday.

{I luv you, Teri}

I am praying for a friend that lost her husband a year ago on Wednesday.

You all will be in my prayers this weekend, as I know sometimes the’ leading up to dates’ is just as difficult as an actual date.

What are your prayers & praises today? And if you get a chance, let a little child teach you something new today.

Time

It’s been quiet over here {or at least as quiet as it can be with 4 kiddos home from school & family visiting & a trip away}.

As I think back over our Christmas & New Years, I know I want to be intentional with time as I start 2012.

The time that we have been together recently has reminded me so much of the time we had with Lulu…

Slowing down & just soaking in everything.

Time with my husband, time with our kiddos, time with family & friends,

And most importantly time with God.

I may have to remind myself daily, but I want this new year – this fresh start to be more than ‘just a resolution’.

Merry Christmas

Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your heart be light

From now on, our troubles will be out of sight

May your heart be full of gladness, and the peace that covers sadness

May you have yourself a merry Christmas now

Through the years we all will be together if the fates allow

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough

May your joy be overflowing, and your many blessings growing

May you have the time you’ve longed for, with the people that you love

May you have yourself  a merry Christmas now…

{source}

Remembering John

This month my cousin’s family will have more than Christmas on their minds.

This is the month that just a short year ago changed forever.

They celebrated John & his twin brother’s birthday on the 8th.

And then just 3 weeks later, December 29, they said good-bye to him here on earth.

This family is AMAZING!

Shelly, you have said more things to help me than you may ever know.

I will remember John with you this month.

Snow

The snow started falling yesterday afternoon.

When the kiddos got home from school we went out to play.

 The best part of playing in the snow?

– besides building a snowman…

– and besides doing donuts in the golf cart

{cause we’re hillbilly like that – I wanted to take a picture of Jason doing the donuts, but I was laughing too hard}

 Anyway…the best part?…

Hot cocoa with a whipped cream hat.

This week

This week my mind is all over the place. This week is already heavy with memories from a year ago that are keeping me from the moment. This week my mind is crammed with thoughts and leaving no room for much else. This week, a year ago, consisted of dedicating our daughter, a doctor’s appointment, a lot of snuggling, a nurse check-up, a night out for mama & daddy, a good-bye that we never wanted to say. This week takes me to a place I haven’t completely let myself go.

This week is here.

This week He is with me.

This week His promises are still true.

This week I WILL rest in His presence.

This week His peace will be sufficient for me.

This week He is good.

This week He holds my daughter,

and He holds me.

SHINE

We took the kiddos to SHINE {Share His Incredible News Everywhere}.

Our church has a community outreach after the traditional trick or treat, where we hand out candy as you go through different stations sharing stories of Jesus {this year the stories were all about the 10 commandments}.

It really is an incredible thing.

D – the gangster

O – black spiderman

S – incredible hulk

A – our little dragon

Last year we went & took Lulu . As we walked through this year, it was {as with so many things right now} just “different”. I know in my head we need to continue making new memories, but I feel in my heart that I want to hang on to the past & not move forward.

Here are the kiddos from last year.

As Lulu was tucked away in her stroller.

We had a big bow to wrap around her, she was our gift. She slept right up until it was time to go through SHINE and then she woke up to eat, so I got to stay inside the warm church and feed and cuddle Lulu, while daddy took the other kiddos through.