So Much

So much is spinning around in my head these days... so much. Too much to try and write down. So much that the Lord is speaking to me - calling me to - wooing me to become.

I don't want to say that "I'm busy". Not because I am just sitting around twidling my thumbs, watching TV and eating bon-bons. That is so NOT what I do with my days. But I don't want to get caught up with the idea that I just can't do anything else. I want to SLOOOOOOW down. In fact, the Lord has spoken to me about sloooooowing down a number of times over the years - and somehow, everytime He has said that - my life seems to speed up - what is with that???!!!

But as I was talking to someone I very much respect the other week about something the God has called me to start up. He said to me ' with all the other responsibilites you have ..... you are going to start something else?'

To which I believe that the Holy Spirit responded - even though it came out of my mouth -
"When God calls you to do something, even if you feel/believe that you don't have time, room _____ (fill in the blank), to NOT do it is death." Not a literal death, but something in you dies when you don't fulfill God's calling. Because let's face the truth, whatever God calls you to do, ultimatly brings LIFE. So in moments when Iwant life to slow down, maybe I need to pick up thse things God has said will bring me life - regardless of how crazy it looks from the outside.


So here's to being CRAZY.

Almost a year

My really good friend and I decided )spur of the moment no less) to do a photo shoot of our daughters before her second child arrives. It just HAD to be super hot and muggy and both the girls refused to take their afternoon naps. Sounds like a recipe for disaster with a capital "D". Here's a few of the shots - you tell me??!!!

The wash tub is a heirloom from my dad's family. The dress Addie has on is one that was crocheted for my mom was she was a little girl. Needless to say my sister's and I all wore it, my nieces and now my daughter.

I love the laugh that accompanies the face.

Etched in the side of the washtub is my dad's family name ...I love heritage shots!

The BIG Snow

The view from our front porch the morning after the Big Snow...

Speachless

Yeah, I know, hard to believe that anything could make me speechless. The last time I was rendered speechless - it was when my husband proposed to me and I was so speechless that he wondered if I was going to say "yes" - but that's another story for another day...Recently something happened that left me speechless and blessed beyond words. I struggle, even now, to put my thoughts and feelings into words...

In my last post, I shared with you about the amazing gift my thoughtful husband gave me the day our daughter was born. It was so sweet that I purposed in my heart that whenever someone commented on my necklace that I would honor him by sharing the story.

Not long ago, I was talking with a lady I know. As we approached our destination, she commented on my necklace. I proceeded to share with her the beautiful story of where it came from.

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Now I love jewelry, and one of my most favorite things is to purchase jewelry in conjunction with a special event, a trip etc. For example, I have a beautiful pair of handmade silver and peridot earrings that I bought at a cute shop when I went to a friend's wedding in Old Town Alexandria. So every time I wear the earrings, I think of her and her family and another dear friend that I re-connected with - so many great memories. I have a necklace that my husband bought me when we were in Venice - so every time I wear that, I think of the wonders & sights and sounds of Italy, as well as the good friends we were traveling with. I share this so that you can understand why the story behind my necklace is so important to me as well as the story that follows...

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My friend was genuinely excited for me as I shared the story of my necklace-for the birth of my daughter, and the thoughtfulness of my husband & all the emotions that come with the birth of a child . We parted ways for the afternoon. About 10 minutes later there was a knock on the door. This dear lady was standing at the door with her hands behind her back. She proceeds to tell me that she had something to give me - that she had bought a pair of earrings, but when she thought about wearing them she said God told her she was going to give them away this weekend. She shared with me that as she listened to my story she believed that God wanted me to have these earrings.

When she handed them to me, I was speechless.

Overwhelmed.

Blessed beyond words.

For in her hand was a pair of silver Tiffany&Co. earrings that would match my necklace.I am exceedingly blessed. No words. Just thankfulness.....and an overwhelming sense of God's love expressed through this awesome lady and her gift. Now, every time I wear these earrings, I will think of this sweet lady, my friendship with her and a God who endeavors to bless me in so many ways.

Welcome Baby Girl!

Glenn and I welcomed Addison Elizabeth early Friday morning (August 7) at 2:17 am! She was 7lbs & 3.8ozs and 20" long. Not bad for being a week + overdue!

I would love to share her birth story - but it's a long one and at the moment I'm really tired and think that I might fall asleep here as I type! Suffice it to say that it started with my 41 week appointment (Wednesday afternoon) that included an ultrasound to check my amneotic fluid levels and a non stress test to check out Addison's heart rate... and ended with her birth Friday morning at 2am with the midwife commenting that Addison's labor/delivery was 'unconventional'. Through it all we saw God's provision, favor, mercy and grace at every turn!

We are blessed beyond measure - Addison is a gift the is exceedingly, abundantly beyond anything we could have imagined!

Blessings..

So recently I have been feeling VERY blessed. I've posted before about the blessings my friends and family have heaped on me with wonderful gifts for Baby Girl. But I wanted to take a moment to recognize some random blessings I have received:

One being a brand new Sony 19" flat panel TV that won from Costco! Wow - was I ever surprised. I remember sitting thanking - Lord, it would be really nice if I won that TV - next thing I knew, they were calling my name as the winner! Wow - thanks Lord ;)

Another being this:

A beautiful bassinett for the living room. Someone that my husband knows insisted that we take the bassinet that she was done with...this was so, so beyond anything I could have imagined when my husband had told me about it.

And for those of you who would like to see the latest tummy...

Baby Showers :)

Detail from the amazing Carousel Baby Cake :)

So this past week end I had 2 baby showers! The first was one that the ladies from work had for me - it included home made pizza and a naked baby cake (more on that in another post when I have pics to go along with the explaniation)

The other one was one that several dear friends from church did. It was beautiful! And such fun... I'll let the pictures speak, for they are so much better than any words :)

How cute, cute is this fruit stroller! My sister-in-law Joy made this.See the belly? This too cute dress was from ,y younger sister Lara along with adorable red shoes!

What a beautiful table!My sister-in-law April made this diaper/toy wreathAnd a true belly pic for all those who have watching for one - me at 33 and 1/2 weeks!!!!

I left the shower feeling amazingly blessed and much more prepard for the arrival of Baby Girl - thanks to all who made the day a wonderful time with friends.

Land HO! Part II

As mentioned in the previous post - things were moving quickly! After securing a loan, what with all the weirdness with the banks ( they practically asked for my first born - you know then one that wasn't concieved yet?!) but no problems, just a lot of excess paperwork.



Anyway, we were (notice the word WERE) scheduled for an end of October closing. The seller had pushed to get the access road (right of way) in to the property so that we could close and we were under way - last thing to do before we could go to closing was that the seller needed to get the deed approved by the powers that be.



Enter an appearent set back.



Without going into lots of detail lets just say that governmental agencies took their time to approve the division. When faced with a screeching halt to fast moving plans - yikes!
"ummm Lord, what's going on here? I thought this was your blessing, your favor... this situation doesn't look like favor." My husband and I chose to believe that God was still in this. That in the midst of this God would show more favor and we kept confessing that in the end we would see where this turned out for good for us. Because, really, we weren't planning to build right away, so what's the rush. The biggest inconvience was that we were left with loose ends - we were 1/2way land owners. We couldn't call it ours - because it wasn't but in a way it was ours because of the contract and out intent to buy - life, where the land was concerened, was in limbo.



I don't know about you, but I HATE, yep, you read that right - I HATE limbo. And guess what, we were living in limbo. Not that it has been the first time we've been in a peroid of exteneded limbo and I'm sure won't be the last. But maybe we learned something from the last time, because this time around, limbo wasn't so bad. Maybe it was because we chose to REST in God and believe the He was ACTIVELY working on our behalf. We started to choose to look at anything positive concerning the limbo peroid. Things like, we wouldn't have payments until later, we really were not in a hurry, we wanted to extend grace to the seller who was in an even more difficult place. And wouldn't that be nice for the seller not to have paranoid buyers breathing down his neck over a situation that was beyond his control??!! Hmmm... maybe there was opportunity to call down God's favor not on just ourselves, but on the seller as well.



Needless to say, God showed favor. God worked everything out. God brought us to closing. As we left the closing, our realator tells us that this was one of the most complicated and oddest land closings he had seen. And not because of us, not because of the seller - we were all good - just other factors beyond any of our control - but as it turns out NOT beyond the long arm of the Lord.



This whole situation reminds me of something I heard Grahm Cooke say in a message regarding our inheritance. He said " Sometimes you have to fight for it!" I believe that was something great God was teaching us - how to fight for our inheritance. We believed we had heard from God concerning this piece of land - and so we fought for our inhertiance - one way was not by throwing a temper tantrum when things were weird, but by showing grace (a fruit of the Spirit which are mighty weapons of spiritual warfare), resting (rest is a weapon) and believing that we were in the middle of God's favor and confessing that God would cause things to turn out better than before.



So how did God make things turn out better????


We don't start payments until March, we were able to save up extra durring the months we were waiting to close and we ended up with a better interest rate in January than we would have had in October.

So this is part one of a dream - a dream bigger then us. But then God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond what I can ask for or even dream. Lord, I want to dream big -

Land HO!

Once upon a time, last July......

Randomly, Hubby and I have been on the lookout for land. Not hunting like Captin Ahab. Just casualy looking ~ dreaming really.

Sometimes God has a way of making reality better than dreams.

Exhibit A:

While keeping up with listings on the MLS, I came across a property that was a little bit bigger than what we were looking for BUT still in out general price range and the general area we would want to be. We drove out one evening, and while hubby liked the general area, he wasn't overly impressed by the lot. But we did have a random question about it. So wifie called the listing realtor to ask questions.

Enter Exhibit B:

Realtor answered said questions but then chose to mention that there happened to be another parcel not yet listed because they just divided it off a larger tract. Interestingly, it was more secluded ( a fact that Hubbie liked, which means we drove back out to take a look)

As we pulled onto to lot, we liked the fact that it had 2 groves of walnut trees and was gently rolling which would bode well for a walk-out basement (something we would love to have in a house) After hiking up to the top of the hill, I turned around to see what kind of views the parcel offered ....

Stunned. Amazed. I uttered one word - wow!

Now, I do realize that when purchasing real estate, it is always good to go back for a second or even 3rd visit. So we did. We got others people's opinions, their thoughts on the good, the bad and the ugly concerning the lot.

Interestingly, the more we visited, the more we fell in love with the place. We weren't all 'head in the clouds' , we were looking at all the potential downfalls of the property too...and wondering about potential neighbors....

Enter Exhibit C:

Driving back to measure how long the driveway might need to be, we passed the person who would be our next door neighbor.... this person looked familiar to me.... this person WAS familiar to me.... this potiental future neighbor is in fact our accountant.

Hmmmm....makes you think doesn't it?

Things have been moving fast, or at least it feels fast.

This has been a whirl-wind, but then God is in the whirl-wind.

To be continued......

Hubby walking on the land - this would roughly be the view from the back of the house.

A Taste of Favor

Pollyanna.

Did you ever see that Disney movie? A young orphan girl, living with an aunt, adapting to life with a smile on her face. What I have always liked about this young girl was her ability to not only find the good in any given situation but to search for it in all situations.

As I have been pondering the idea of living under the Favor of God, I've come to realize that I have for a long time been IN God's favor. I'm just now in a season of me learning to recognize His favor that is already there and to ask for more. To search for His favor that I know must be there because He already said that it was. And what God says IS truth.

Anyway, all that to be able to share a neat little bit of favor God showed me yesterday. My mom and I had just returned from a nearby thrift store where I had been hoping to maybe find a few maternity clothes, cheap :) Now a dear friend had already loaned me some of hers, but I felt I needed a few more pieces since my due date isn't until the end of July and hers was last spring. No sooner did I get back from a disappointing excursion (meaning I didn't find anything!) When the same dear friend called with an offer.

Friend: "Are you busy? Could you get away from work?"

me: "yep - not too bad we're all caught up"

Friend: " Well, Kohl's is having 30%-40% off their maternity AND I have a 30% off in addition to that coupon"

Me: " I'm on my way!!!!!"


I mean, wow, clothes on sale AND an extra discount a friend was willing to share. As it turned out, they didn't have a large selection BUT I found several summer pieces for less than 5$each!!! (Thanks friend!!)

I mean really, capri maternity pants for 3-4$
A couple of summer maternity tops for 2-6$

It was unreal , it was great ..... it WAS God. The neat thing about all of this is just the small ways God takes care of me. He knows that in the spring and summer I work most Saturdays, so I can't really go to yard sales - so it was like God provided me with a January yard sale via Kohl's.

I know it is easy to see God in that bit of favor, but my prayer in the coming months is that I will search out His favor. That I will ask and keep asking for His favor in all areas of my life. And not just for me, but for my extened family, friends, customers, people I come in contact with - because Pollyanna changed a town by having a "Pollyanna view" of life. One that looks for and searches out the good in all situations, one that has a happy, joyfull heart. One that looks for the good in everyone, who sees light and life. All the things that God is.

I want to be like that.


Just call me Pollyanna.

Finding Rest...In the Midst of Activity

This seems to be a reoccuring theme for me lately. Rest durring activity. Hmmmm... for some reason those two words 'rest' & 'activity' don't seem to go hand in hand - they might seem more comfortable across from each other on different ends of a tug-o-war rope. Have you ever felt that way? The feeling of being pulled in 2 seemingly different directions by the need/desire to rest and the activity that you find yourself imersed in? For me this seems to have been a struggle over the past - oh, I don't know - MY WHOLE ADULT LIFE (tee hee hee)



But if I think about it - why not rest in the middle of activity? It's obviously not something I can bring about myself. And somehow I thrive in the middle of activity. I love activity. So how do I obey the command from God to rest when sometimes I'm most at peace when I'm active?


Interestingly enough, our bodies are in constant activity even when we are at rest (and sleeping) Hmmm.... so maybe, God DOES have the ability to grant rest in the middle of Godly activity. Because I know that things done in my own strength just wear me out. But there is something about doing things in God's strength that is just energizing. For example, tonight, I was really, really tired. I had planned on going to a ministry night at church - but I felt too tired and worn out to go. Now from past experience, I KNOW that if I make myself go I'll be blessed. And blessed I was! In fact on my way home I again marveled at a thing that I have noticed about me before - Prayer energizes me. Talking about the Lord energizes me. Being around people who challange me to go deeper into the heart of God energizes me.

As I look back over my life, I can see a distinct difference on the inside of me. I can remember being overly worried and a bit high strung (on the inside). I think I worked really hard at not letting it be seen on the outside. But nowadays, I know there is a peace that only comes from God. A peace that can and does reign in the midst of chaos. So I just love this phrase - 'rest in the middle of activity' it speaks to me that God can and will provide rest and peace for me as I go about the activity of my day. That maybe His word to me of 'slow down' is more of slowing my innerself down. To speak to my soul to be quiet and know that He is God. To stay in that place of rest on the inside even when life demands otherwise.

So today, I will be at rest .... in the middle of work. Today, I will be at rest..... when things appear chaoitic. Today I will be at rest with 2 phones ringing off the hook as we get ready for the Thanksgiving rush. Today I will be at rest.

Today - I WILL be at REST.

Because, Rest is a weapon.
(and that is for another post ;)

What a whirl-wind weekend. Is it really Monday?. Is it really time to go back to work? Recently my weekends have been short - really short. As in, a mere 4-5 hours short. You may think I exagerate - that maybe it only feels like it's short. Nope. I truly mean 4-5 hours short. Typically I work Monday-Saturday, with weddings or other events on Saturday. But last month, I had a wedding or event just about every Sunday. I have had more Sunday events this year than ever before. And while it's nice - it does make for a short weekend with my husband.



This weekend though, was a little different. I was able to take Saturday off and head out of town with ladies from my church for a retreat weekend. It was awesome. I saw the Lord show Himself in incredible ways to these precious ladies all weekend long. There really is nothing that can compare with seeing God love on people you know in real, tangible ways. It makes me teary eyed to think about those times this weekend.



So even though I had to rush back Sunday afternoon, go straight to work (didn't even go home first) asnd then go decorate for the March of Dimes Chefs Auction, then come home rush around and get ready to attend said fund-raiser. I would do it again - in a heart beat. Just to NOT miss the amazing things God was doing in all of our lives this weekend.
*Just to NOT miss the connection with other ladies.
*Just to NOT miss being challanged in my Faith.
*Just to NOT miss the joy I saw released in hearts this weekend.
*Just to NOT miss playing spoons with a group of ladies who LOVE to laugh (you guys did my heart good! how fun to act like little girls, and enjoy the monemt!)
*Just to NOT miss watching a group of ladies bless lepers in India with shoes and such, because they caught the vision of the power of blessing.
*Just to NOT miss seeing seeds of life sprout all over the place.

Thanks Lord for not letting me convince myself NOT to go. I know that I personally so NEEDED that time away. And even though this morning, I'm tired - I know that there was a deeper refresing and rest that took place in my inmost being that words cannot even begin to describe.

I know that each person's experience is their own. This is mine. I know without a shadow of a doubt, that God, in His wisdom, set a choice before me. In my case, this weekend was about sacrificing a much needed weekend of physical rest, to press in to God for spiritual rest. For me, it was a choice of trusting God to give me the rest I needed - in the midst of activity. A visiting speaker recently said, God is a God of rest BUT He rests in His ACTIVITY. I have been meditating on that recently, and I believe God gave me a taste of that this weekend. Lord, I ask that you bring on more or your REST in me in the midst of ACTIVITY!