Reflections/Prayers

I'm up early before church to capture a few "me" moments before the family begins to stir. My heart is heavy for a few people that are in my life that shall remain nameless, God knows who they are though. Today before church I'd like to say (type) my specific prayer, some skeptics say "really" typing prayers??? I know that in any form God hears and knows them b/c he knows my heart and feelings even as I think things, so I guess really getting them out is for me and to help heal the heaviness I'm been feeling about these specific people/things.

I know there are people around me carrying anger, hurt, resentfulness and bitterness. Probably more than I actually know, heck sometimes I even struggle with these things. Today I send myself a reminder that it doesn't have to be this way, God offers you shelter and as he states many times in the Bible "DO NOT BE AFRAID". Do not be afraid to let go of old hurts and pain. God wants you to feel the relief of being at peace. It really weighs on my heart for people that I deeply care about to feel these things. Some carry it all over them and being around them for one minute you know that they have these feelings, some carry it deep inside and it only rears its ugly head every once in awhile. Either way, my prayer this morning is that myself, when I have these feelings, and the people in my life that are hurting with carrying these burdens are released. (Even the ones that I don't know feel this way) Today as I head to church I'm reminded of the lyrics of a song, "break my heart for what breaks yours" (Hosanna) and I can honestly say my heart breaks for these things and people. Regardless of who you are, I hope today you feel the arms of peace wrap around you and I hope that you know that the Father offers you an "out", its up to you to take a leap of faith and truly accept him. I type these things as a reminder to myself also and I pray that I will keep my eyes on Him when I feel the evil one trying to creep in and steal my joy.

Matthew 6:9-15
This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one;For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Mark 11:25
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

The last verse I'd like to share is
James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

Maybe God has this on my heart today b/c I needed to confess that I was having feelings of resentfulness hurt and bitterness. I'd say that's probably true. If anything hopefully my words can help someone else. I've said it before and I'll say it again, we are a family of Christ Followers, we lead a blessed life, its not perfect by any means and we sure don't claim it to be but its a good life.

Have a great Sunday!! :)

Thankful

As I reflect over the past few days of my life (Thanksgiving weekend), my eyes tear up. What an amazing few days. Thursday we picked the girls up at 2 and got ready to go see Megamind. BUT not before Patrick taught Megan how to ride her bike - it was so sweet. He was so patient. It warms my heart to watch him be a daddy! Then Friday decorating the house for Christmas with all of the kids helping. Aubrey helped from her exersaucer. Saturday we had family over for Thanksgiving dinner, the first one that I've hosted and cooked for. Patrick fried the turkey and I made mashed potatoes, my first dressing, my first pecan pie, a corn souffle and green bean casserole and pinto beans. I was very proud of myself and thankful that everyone came over.

This morning as I sit here after feeding Aubrey and am looking through pictures of when I was pregnant and when she was born, I realize how much life has changed for us in the last year. I can't remember life before her. The time passes so fast already. I love watching her grow into a little girl with a big personality and giggles and kisses for everyone. I had no clue at all how much of a blessing babies are. No clue that my heart could hold so much love, hopefulness and excitement for one little girl!

Oh and just for a chuckle, Aubreys fave toy now is an old Comcast remote....its hilarious she tries to eat it!

As this Thanksgiving passes I count my blessings more this year than ever, their names are Patrick, Emma, Megan and Aubrey! We definitely lead a blessed life, not a perfect one by any means but definitely a blessed one.

Thankful Mondays

Today (I missed a week I know...new job) I'm extremely thankful for my good friend Ali. She's smart, funny, extremely loyal and a great friend and mom.

I look back at our friendship over 15 years and am absolutely amazed at the women we've turned into. Not that we are always perfect (close tho) but how we've matured into wives, mothers and friends. I have lots of "friends" and a few close close friends...but honestly Ali you are the closest. You know everything about me. You know the ins and outs and can tell if something is wrong from just one word no matter what that word is.

Back in high school we shared many laughs in class and riding West Main and other things we'll keep off the internet (HA). Now we share laughs about the husbands we have and the cute little things our children are doing. As your Mom says "if I could've flashed forward to this 15 years ago...I wouldn't have worried so much". Man ain't that the truth. I'm thankful for you and your family (even Michael) everyday. You're like my own family maybe even closer.

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!"
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 New King James Version


Thank you for being a friend
Traveled down the road and back again
Your heart is true your a pal and a confidant.
And if you through a party
Invited everyone you ever knew
You would see the biggest gift would be from me
And the card attached would say thank you for being a friend.

Thankful Mondays

I've come to realize that just about everyone despises Mondays, regardless of professions. So I'm going to try to spin Mondays to the positive. I'm going to start something here on my blog I'll call Thankful Mondays. Every Monday (hopefully, fingers crossed) I'll post something that I'm thankful for or a blessing thats been received.

Todays blessing is Patrick. I woke up this morning kinda slow....all of us are fighting off colds so today was slower than normal. Aubrey is stuffy and Patrick and I both have sore throats. Just like every morning Patrick helps me all he can before he leaves for work; this morning was no different. He likes to wake up Aubrey and change her diaper so he can play with her for a few minutes before he goes to work. He then passes her off to me for her breakfast feeding and he's out to work. I then continue to get ready and play with Aubrey for about an hour longer. Then right before I was leaving to take Aubrey to Mrs. Jamie's I panicked that I hadn't packed lunch yet and we had zero leftovers from last nights meal. I open the fridge to see what I could grab in a hurry. There on the top shelf is a bag with my lunch in it. Patrick had made it before he left. This is just one of the things that he does for me that I sometimes take for granted. Made my morning. I really am lucky to have him as a husband. SOOOO there's my sappy story for today. Thank you honey for doing something small like making my lunch and making me feel special. I love you!

**You strive to live this word from God and you are truly an inspiration to me daily**

Ephesians - Chapter 5:25-33

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church for we are members of his body. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery-but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself

For Gigi and Pop Charlie

Hello and Miss you from Aubrey - video taken on 8/18 -

Aubrey Update

Well Aubrey is approaching the 4 month mark (WOW the time flies)!!!! She's ooing and awwing constantly. She's discovered her feet and laughs amd giggles alot. I love her personality. She's such a hoot!! She's also stubbron just like me. If you want her to look at you - she'll intentionally look away. Stubborn with a capital S!!!! She's such a blessing to our already blessed family! Emma and Megan are OUTSTANDING children and to add Aubrey has just caused our cup to runneth over. We are chugging right along.

I recently returned to work on September 1st after 15 weeks off. (Thanks Patrick for working so hard so I could stay home longer than the traditional 8 weeks) We are both doing great. Some days are harder than others, but we are making it. Aubrey loves Mrs. Jamie and loves getting to play with Jack (he's 3, they're buddies) all day and Anslee and Trace when they get home fromschool. I'm blessed that I found someone to watch Aubrey and to love her as much (well almost) as I do.

We've recently taken her 3 months pictures along with a few family pictures (taken by us with a timer and tripod at Fiddlers Grove) with all 3 girls. Here are a few of them!!! (These are just how they were taken, I haven't had a chance to retouch any of them with photoshop...not too shabby I think)

Hope everyone is doing well!! We are just living the dream. What a blessing to be able to live the life we live!! Praise God!

Struggles

In the last couple of weeks my outlook on this war we are fighting has been tested to say the least. Two weeks ago tomorrow my good friend Stacy Greer received the call that her husband Daniel had been injured by an IED in Afghanistan. Stacy and Daniel haven't been married long (2008) and have a little son that will be 2 soon, Ethan, but to say that their love was anything but absolutely amazing would be an understatement. I've never seen two people love each other so much. From the very beginning it was evident that these two were soulmates. Daniel has since went to be with Jesus and Stacy and Ethan and family and friends are left with this hole in our hearts that is absolutely unfillable. Its absolutely surreal. You hear of this happening to other families (thousands of them now) but to actually know the hero is just so unbelievable.

It is now the Muslim Holiday of Ramadan. Its the 9th month in the Muslim calendar and its a 30 day fasting period with many rules to be followed. As we've seen over the last almost 10 years at war the violence escalates against our troops during this time. The leadership and elders at my church, The Journey (www.thejourneytn.org) are currently using the Ramadan period to pray for the Muslims and their salvation. I praise them for having the strength to pray and honestly until two weeks ago it would've been an easier task for me. When Robbie mentioned this at church this past Sunday I shook my head in anger and looked and Patrick and said "I just can't pray for them Patrick I can't". I know this is not what God would want for me; the anger and hatred I feel right now, but I'm human. I look into the eyes of one of closest friends and I see the biggest hurt I've ever seen. I look into the eyes of their son Ethan and see a little boy that will never know his father. I think of all the struggles for their families and the fact that the hardest part is yet to come for them. AND WHY?? Because of hatred and ignorance. I know that Daniel wanted to be a Marine loved being a Marine, but I also know that he loved being a father and a husband more. I'm just so angry that its been all taken away.

I say all this to say, I'm struggling right now with doing what I know God would want me to do. I know that in order to begin to heal and feel his comfort all involved will have to forgive the ones that have done this. I'm just not ready and I'd dare to say there are alot of people that feel the way I do; those that loved Daniel and love Stacy and Ethan and both of the families. I wish I could take away the pain and hurt from my dear friends but I know that this a wound only God can heal.

I pray and I ask for prayers that Stacy and family everyone that loved Daniel will feel the warm and comforting arms of Jesus as they deal with saying goodbye to our fallen hero and that moving forward they will feel his comfort in the dark times to come. I also pray for my own heart that I will do what Gods will is concerning the forgiveness of the responsible parties.

Today is the visitation for Daniel and tomorrow is the funeral. We may be saying goodbye to him here on earth but I know that he is in Heaven watching and enjoying his time with Jesus until we see his face again. RIP Cpl Kristopher Daniel Greer, your memory will always be remembered. A great husband, father, Marine, firefighter, man and hero. When we look at Ethan we will always be able to rememeber your smile.