Category: lulu

Friday Praise & Prayers

This weekend D, O & I head up to Camp Wild. This will be D & my 4th year & O’s 1st year. It is an amazing week of praise, prayers & fun. And weather-wise, it sounds like it will be filled with sun (and lots of it) this year. 130 kids will be packing their sleeping bags & flashlights and heading to camp this year. It is a place where the Holy Spirit is present & the kids are covered in prayer & can learn what a deeper relationship with Jesus is all about.

My prayer today is for everyone going, from the parents bringing the kids to camp, the campers, the AMAZING counselors, the lead team (my role this year), or to the Wesley staff. Would you please join me in prayer for all these people who help make this week happen for a group of kids who are our next world-changers.

I also want to say thank you to all the spouses & families that stay home & keep things going while we are serving – you are just as much a part of Camp Wild as us! (Thank you, babe, for supporting me in this ministry that is so very dear to my heart this season in my life & to our kiddos that stay at home while mommy goes away for a few days to serve. I can’t wait for you all to experience this wonderful place – I luv you!)

This year we will have a special time to honor one of our veteran counselors who moved home to heaven earlier this year. Chuck, camp will be so different without you here, but oh the joy you are experiencing in heaven, I can only imagine! 

Isn’t this pic fun? This is our 1st year of camp…this little guy is now 10…10! What good memories we are making. Another prayer request I am asking for is just for my mind to continue to stay steadfast on Christ. This summer I’ve had A LOT of thoughts of last summer, with my pregnant belly & what our busy family of 7 would be like in the fall. Now, this summer, as I think of & pack for camp, my mind instantly goes back to me being pregnant a year ago & what that was like. It brings tears, to think that this year I don’t have a baby at home for daddy to take care of while I’m gone.

It will be a great week with God whispering to me daily, but my heart is still heavy.

My praise this week is a praise in advance for what God will do while we are at camp, because I believe He ALWAYS does great things.

What are you praying for these days?

What are you praising God for?

Birthday Girl

Today our little girl turns 4!

This is our Boo… fingers in her mouth & picking her belly button.

Yep, that’s how our GIRL does it.

Even if it drives some people crazy (sorry Uncle Wes).

Boo, you exhaust me every day…

And I love every minute of it!

Good Things

I am always amazed as I read the kids devotion to them (which unfortunately I don’t always do a regular basis) and how often more times than not, it is such a fitting devotion for me, too.

This morning it was entitled “Good Things” & it talked about how just like parents, we give our children things that they NEED, even if it is not things that they WANT, our heavenly Father does the same for us. We can (& should) pray & ask God for our needs & our wants.

 He is teaching me to trust Him even if our needs & wants are not the same. We prayed for 62 days that we would be able to keep Lulu here with us, we prayed that she would be the miracle baby that would teach her medical care-givers about Jesus.

And although I didn’t get what I “wanted”, I DO believe that His plan was (& still is) greater than mine & that the “needs” of my life will be fulfilled by Him.

Matthew 7:11 says “Surely your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask Him”, so continue to ask Him.

We were given a very good gift indeed. He could have chosen any other family to give Lulu to, but we are blessed to call ourselves her daddy, her mama, her brothers, her sister &  her family.

 

Friday Praise & Prayers

I’ve been thinking a lot this week about my friends that are struggling through their grief. My prayer today is for them. I pray that they will be able, even if it is for just a moment, to turn their thoughts on Jesus and let Him carry them. May their hearts be held gently by our King and may they feel Him close everyday. (That is my prayer for me, too).

I am praising God today for my husband, who even though I am sure would like to “fix me” and make me “all better”, lets me walk out my mourning one step at a time.

What are you praying for this week?

What are you praising God for?

Stepping-Stones

I wanted to show you how the stepping-stones turned out…

Here’s Lulu’s tree…

And the stepping-stones…

Don’t they look like the little heart candies you get for Valentine’s Day?

I think they are so cute!

Summer Past/Summer Present

Last summer I was pregnant.

Last summer we took the kiddos to a drive-in movie.

Last summer we played in the water.

Last summer we went to camp.

Last summer I had never felt grief.

This summer we will do a lot of the same things…

watch movies

play in the water

go to camp (it is Owen’s first year & he is so excited)

eat ice cream

go on vacation

cuddle in bed in the mornings after daddy leaves for work

And as far as our grief? Today I am leaning on the scripture that says…

“”So with you, now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” John 16:22

Blowing Bubbles for Lulu

9 months ago tonight my little girl you were born into our family and 9 months ago tonight my little girl our hearts exploded with so much love for you. I was so excited when I found out we had another girl AND that we would get to name you Lulu Grace, have I told you how much I love your name? It is so beautiful…as you are.

Tonight we went to get some things to make your stepping-stones we will put next to your tree at the playground. I found this pink bird and oatmeal heart soap that reminded me of you…hearts & birds. You have always reminded me of a little bird. So I scooped them up & brought them home.

Daddy worked on the small heart-shaped stones. I can’t wait to put them out at the memory garden.

Today as I think about 9 months, I think about the 9 months that you were in my belly & how wonderful it was for me to have you so close to my heart. Just know, Lulu, now you are in my heart forever. I love you my little Lulu Grace.

Dear Lulu

 

Dear Lulu,

My sweet baby girl, I need to write to you tonight, nothing else will do. I need to tell you a few things that I am feeling. I am broken, deeply. My tears continue to fall and I long to hold you for just one more moment, to kiss your fuzzy cheek, to watch you sleep with one eye part-way open. Sometimes at night, I imagine you are sleeping next to me on my pillow and I hear your daddy snoring and it reminds me of the little snoring sounds you made, as you slept. I look at Owen’s dark dark eyes and see how much your eyes are like his. I look at Boo’s perfect little nose and it makes me think of your perfect little nose, placed just right on your face. I hear Dylan singing a song and think about him holding you and singing to you. I hear Simon ask me questions, and it reminds me of all the times he asked to hold you in his arms. I miss you Lulu, so much, I miss you.

Weekend

I recently read a quote… “Crying is not a sign of weakness…it is a sign that you have been stong for too long.”

This past weekend was a tough one for me.

We celebrated Father’s Day – which was good.

But it was a weekend that I couldn’t figure out what I needed.

I didn’t want to be alone, but I didn’t want to be with people, either.

I took my time, minute by minute.

And cried a lot for my little girl.

 

Sometimes when it rains, I feel like all the earth is crying with me.

And missing Lulu with me.