God's Child

This weekend my mom and I went looking for a few things for Christmas. One of them was an ornament for the baby we miscarried. It was very sweet of her to think of that. It hadn't crossed my mind and meant a lot to me actually. So, we had looked at a few and then came upon this ornament. I don't know if I would buy this ornament for any other child but the one God took early. It seemed perfect to me. The reason it is blue is not because we thought it was a boy but because last we knew it was the size of a blueberry and so we kind of go back to that when thinking of that time.

My mom asked what I wanted to write on the back of it (b/c we have an ornament from every year of our life that is written on)...My first thought was "we found out we would miscarry on May 18 so I guess May 2009"...and then it hit me...May 18? Really?...let me double check my calendar, so I did. Yep, May 18. Now, as I have proclaimed over and over through the last 2 years and have tried to believe whole heartedly in is "The Lord Gives and He Takes Away". The reason the date May 18 hit me so strong is because our current baby is due May 19.

The Lord did not have to orchestrate things in such a way to work out as they did. The current baby could have been due on any other day, we could have lost the other one on any other day but that isn't what He intended. We will forever have a reminder of the Lord's faithfulness, once again, during the month of May. When he turned mourning into dancing, a crown of beauty instead of ashes, and a garment of praise instead of the spirit of despair. And as we read the day we had a little ceremony back in May, Isaiah 35:1-4 was also written on the back of the ornament.

So sweet. Thanks Lord....and p.s...there is a bloom on our tree this morning. A blue bloom :)

Strollers...asking for opinions

Come one come all...I need your opinion....

Blake and I are already looking at a few things for the baby to see if we want to ask for any items for Christmas. We dropped by a store today and looked briefly. Maybe we should borrow a baby and go to the store :) A few questions about strollers....you can also add your comment about any other item if you would like.

This is what I want to know:

What Stroller do you use?

Do you love your stroller?

What is the most important thing to you about your stroller?

Do one of your friends have a stroller you envy?..what kind is it?

What do you hate about your stroller?

Tell your friends, even if I don't know them...to tell you what they use, love and hate!

Good Read...

My dad wrote the following post. I read it and originally thought "so that's where I get it from"...keeping notes, my love for words of encouragement, boxes and boxes of highschool notes (i finally threw away)...etc. Then I too, thought of the people in my life who have impacted me in such a way by a simple note, including my parents. I'm thankful for the time they took out of their schedule to put thoughts down on paper. I actually keep a little board in my kitchen with notes on it from sweet friends of mine. It's probably a lost art. I have not been good about doing this recently and would like to be better about it again. So read the post below and think of someone who would enjoy getting a note from you in the mail!

Making an Impact in People's Lives

So what are you thankful for?

I went to my file drawer and pulled out a folder with notes and cards written to me that I have kept for over 30 years. It's not an ego thing on my part to keep notes, but I remember years ago a 'sage' I respect encouraged me to keep a file on notes of appreciation sent to me. They would be important to read when days of discouragement come and to remind me I have made a difference in someone's life.

Some are from kids who used to be in my youth group like Keith Rogers, Trudy McKesson, Denise Herndon, Kim and Kerri Simmons, Dan Sides, Angela McGinn, Daryl Zeller, and many more. There were notes from some parents who encouraged me as I tried to be a person of influence in their son or daughter's life like Kay Lashley, Linda McHaney, Pat Morrison, Bruce Moran, Peggy Means, and Ronnie and Marsha White.

I have notes from individuals I have worked with in the past like A.B. Morris, Patty Weaver, Danny Mize, Johnny and Susie Davis, Steve Dominiak, Pattye Moore, and Josh Landry. Some like Harrold Owen, Peggy Means and Debbie Bradshaw have signficant meaning to me because they have since died. Still their spirit lives on with the words of encouragement on the page.

And finally the best ones are from three people I admire most: Becky, Erynn and Ryan. They are the notes who touch the very core of who I am and want to be.

So what's the point? The point is true leadership is about impacting people's lives. One significant way to do that is to tell them. Write a note. Before email there was 'slow' mail. Today it's too easy and common to just sent an email to someone you appreciate. Do you really want to make a difference in someone's day or life? Take the time to write a personal note, put it in an envelope and send it 'slow' mail. Send it to their home address. I realize you have to be careful as a professional in writing words of encouragement to other people who work with you but what's wrong with just a 'post it' note? Or a card written by you?

Be thankful. Tell them you appreciate them for something or for just making your life better.

I have kept the cards and notes because they mean more than just cards and notes. They represent real, live people whom I have had the joy of sharing life with. And for each individual it's an incredible memory to be thankful for.

Have a great Thanksgiving.

rb

and showing

So here are a few pic's of the baby and one of me. I want you to see what we got to see today. The pregnancy resource center needs volunteers to practice doing sonograms on! So, lucky for them, I'm a great volunteer :) Blake and I got to watch the baby for about 30-45 minutes today.

Thank you Lord for this sweet little one.

Here you can barely see but it points out the hand and knee. It's a profile picture.

Here you can see the hand right next to the face. A little bit more of what the face looks like and it's little legs up in the air. I have one of the baby's hands up over it's face but there is no way it would show up on here.

And this one is for my mom, as you can tell my face is expanding as quickly as my "bump". My back looks swayed too so maybe the bump isn't this big. To which Blake said while taking this picture: "Are you sucking in?"...It does get bigger as the day goes on, sadly, that is not b/c of the baby growing so rapidly but just my own body.

The Really Good News...

So I have been reading through the Old Testament for a very long time-don’t ask how long, just trust me…a very long time. I just finished the Old Testament, even making it through Zechariah (need to re-read that with help) and I am really excited to start my journey through the New Testament.

While I have been reading through the OT, I’ve been reminded of who my God was. I say was b/c when we sing songs today about who he Was, Is, and Is to come it takes my thoughts to the God of OT, NT (and now) and of Who Is To Come…Anyway, so the God of the OT could be kind of mean right. Faithful- but mean at times. He was powerful, all knowing, and cared deeply for his children. But the deal is, His children had to sacrifice A LOT of things in order to gain favor, they couldn’t talk directly to Him and the Son of God had not yet come. I love the stories of the OT, but today, I couldn’t wait to start the NT. I think b/c I know what is to come.

At church on Sunday we had an awesome service. It was titled “Jesus: Who Do You Say He is and Why It Matters.” The whole service was song and scripture proclaiming the name of Jesus and the power behind His name. We also prayed for unbelievers that we know at the end and it made me so sad to think of those I know who do not know Christ-what a different world this would be for them. I also thought why the heck I don't talk to them about Christ at family gatherings or pray for my friends/family more often.

So today I started Matthew. Here is the one and only sentence that mattered today: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, b/c he will save his people from their sins.” That's it folks. That is what matters, that is the GOOD News!

Thank you Lord for sending your Son so that today I can talk to you directly, today I am saved by Grace not by works (Eph.2:8-9) b/c your Son died on a cross for me, today I am free in Christ, and today I can proclaim the power behind Jesus’ name. This is one of my new favorite songs, thankfully we've been singing it at WM too!

Revelation Song: (video might be cheasy but listen to it)
Worthy is the,
Lamb who was slain
Holy, Holy, is He
Sing a new song, to Him who sits on
Heaven's Mercy Seat
[Repeat 2x]

(Chorus)
Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And I will adore You…!
Yeah!

Clothed in rainbows, of living color
Flashes of lightning, rolls of thunder
Blessing and honor, strength and
Glory and power be
To You the Only Wise King,
Yeah

(Chorus)

Filled with wonder,
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery
Yeah...

(Chorus)

Holy, Holy, Holy
Is the Lord God Almighty
Who was, and is, and is to come,
With all creation I sing:
Praise to the King of Kings!
You are my everything,
And – I - will - adore YOU…

Come lift up His Name
To the King of Kings…
We will adore YOU Lord…
King of heaven and earth
King Jesus, King Jesus
Aleluya, aleluya, aleluya!
Majesty, awestruck Honor
And Power and Strength and Dominion
To You Lord,
To the King, to King
To the King of Glory