tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15412780645801366352024-02-02T06:31:06.906-06:00Be Strong in the LORDAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345846592910383513noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-26814857235877782312014-07-06T21:37:00.000-05:002014-07-06T21:57:33.797-05:00Endings, Beginnings & Puppy Training<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<b><i><br /></i></b>
<b><i>Endings</i></b>:</div>
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I had a lovable hound dog, Copper, for eleven, short
years. Copper was a wonderful gift from
God that I did not pick for myself. God
taught me a lot about Himself and His faithful love through that dog. The chapter of life that Copper, God and I
went through was rich and full with plenty of its share of ups and downs. Some of life’s greatest joys (marrying the
love of my life and my best friend, the birth of my son) and greatest
heartaches (watching my son go to be with Jesus) were shared in that chapter. We had a very special bond, and my heart was
broken when Copper had to go. I was not
ready for that story to end. I wanted
God to let me keep my gift and physical comforter and keep learning those sweet
lessons on faithfulness and love.
However, God said it was time to move forward. The Copper chapter was ending.</div>
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<b><i>Beginnings</i></b>:</div>
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After Copper was gone, I did not want another dog any time
soon. I knew I enjoyed being a dog owner
and would eventually want another dog, but I wanted to wait a while, possibly a
few years, savor the memories, and in a way, hold onto the old. However, God had other plans in this as
well. So, He gave me another dog and the
Lily chapter begins. </div>
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Lily is so incredibly different from Copper. She is full of energy with selective hearing
and does not really come across as cuddly or loving. It’s snips, jumps, and more training after a
hard day of work. I still miss the
Copper days of hugs and snuggles. Copper
was very laid back and easy going and gave lots of hugs, especially toward the
end of his life. It would be easy to get
angry at Lily because she does not act like Copper, but once again I am seeing
God show me some things about Himself and myself through this different, energetic
dog named Lily.</div>
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<br /></div>
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She is a working class dog, a shepherd by breeding, an Anatolian
Sheppard/Great Pyrenees mix to be precise.
Have you ever thought about how many references there are to shepherding
in the bible? That’s a thread to follow
on another day, but I’m starting to ponder it.</div>
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<b><i>Puppy Training</i></b>:</div>
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I have been watching videos and reading everything I can on
how to train Lily to be a balanced and well behaved dog. We want her to be able to live with us - that
includes being able to go on vacations, go to the beach, and mingle with guests
when they come over. </div>
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She is incredibly smart.
I mean, she is pure impressive.
However, she is also very strong willed with that selective hearing.</div>
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One day last week, while I was working on training her through
running her, I was also praying, and it was like God asked me if I was listening
to what He was saying through this puppy.
The following is what I heard.</div>
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When I am training Lily, I know where I am going, and I know
the best and safest route. I don’t stop
and ask her opinion or which way she wants to go. Similarly, God is my leader. He knows the best and safest route for me to
go, and I must trust His leadership. </div>
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<br /></div>
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When I am training Lily, I do not act like I care about her
wishes or how she feels. I don’t ask her
opinion or let her lead part of the time.
However, I do care very deeply about her well being, safety, and
feelings. I love it when I catch a
glimpse of love, thanks, and admiration in her gaze as we run. </div>
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Just because God is not letting me chose the path I want
(and right now I would not pick the path we are headed down) does not mean that
He is unconcerned. Sometimes He leads
beside the still waters. Sometimes He
leads through the valley of the shadow of death. Either way, He is a caring and strong leader
worth following, and He delights in my looking to Him with thanksgiving and
admiration.</div>
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I need to trust my alpha leader the same way I am asking
Lily to trust hers.<br />
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Until next time.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345846592910383513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-69013729562087316312013-04-11T20:45:00.002-05:002013-04-11T21:21:24.122-05:00Let the Praise Music Begin!<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<b><i>Jesus Washes Over Me... </i></b><br />
<br />
I find myself avoiding music. </div>
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I find myself walling myself in with focus on duties...</div>
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Work, laundry, cooking, housework...<br />
Upbeat that doesn't reach deep inside...<br />
Celebrating every small accomplishment...<br />
Avoiding music and real emotions...<br />
<br /></div>
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Then I force myself to listen to what I was avoiding.</div>
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I choose to praise no matter my circumstances or emotions.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Then Jesus washes all over me.</div>
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Then the tears start.</div>
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<br />
I wish I could hold Nehemiah again.</div>
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I wish I could see his little lips go "Ohhhh" </div>
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as I tell him stories and sing him songs<br />
about how wonderful Jesus is.</div>
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<br />
Then Jesus washes over me like a wave.<br />
Then He soothes me like a salve.<br />
And I realize...<br />
Ohhhhh, how true the songs were.</div>
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<br />
As Jesus washes over me...</div>
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As the tears flow....</div>
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I realize just how really, truly wonderful Jesus is...</div>
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<br />
I am sad,<br />
and I am happy...</div>
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Jesus is so, so very, very.... </div>
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<br />
He is all I promised Nehemiah He was.</div>
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And one day... </div>
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I will live with them.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345846592910383513noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-18121036193810282332013-03-31T00:18:00.003-05:002013-03-31T00:27:27.664-05:00Easter 2013<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">With
Easter on the horizon, my thoughts and emotions have been all over the place.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">I want tomorrow to be a Holy experience with
God, but it is hard for me because last year was such a hard, yet, special Easter.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">I fear that all others will pale by
comparison.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">Last
year, Nehemiah was in the hospital in Birmingham. Josh was in Mobile having gone back to work
and having become sick with a stomach virus and unable to come see Nehemiah and
I. Last year on the eve of Easter, I was
splitting my time between the Ronald McDonald House and my son’s hospital room
in the RNICU. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">But,
last year was such a very special year.
God was so very, very near to me as I told my son of the baby that was
born a little baby like him but grew to be a big man like Daddy and died on a
cross so we could all go live with him & his father in a wonderful place
one day. I felt like I could reach out
and touch God because He was right there in the room with me, and I never felt
alone. I missed Josh and my family
tremendously, but I did not feel alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
year is so very different. Josh and I
have spent the day together. We had a
relaxing morning lazing around and eating pancakes. Then we cleaned house together, and finished
the day off with a date to one of our favorite restaurants. There is a part of me that feels like I
should feel so much more blessed this year than I did last year because things
are going “good” this year. But, I know
that last Easter was an especially BLESSED Easter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
have spent a lot of time over the last year thinking about what “blessings” are
and what we really pray for when we pray for blessings. In her song “Blessings” Laura Story sings:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">“<span style="background-color: #ccccdd; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">When friends betray us</span><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="background: #CCCCDD;">When darkness seems to win…</span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="background: #CCCCDD;">'Cause what if your blessings come through
rain drops</span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="background: #CCCCDD;">What if Your healing comes through tears</span></span><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="background: #CCCCDD;">What if a thousand sleepless nights are what
it takes to know You're near</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="background: #CCCCDD;">Is the revealing of a greater thirst this
world can't satisfy</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="background: #CCCCDD;">What if trials of this life</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="background: #CCCCDD;">The rain, the storms, the hardest nights</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="background: #CCCCDD;">Are your mercies in disguise”.</span></span><br />
</div>
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<span style="background-color: #ccccdd; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">What if my greatest disappointments or the aching of this life</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
have spent a lot of time thinking about that.
The first time I heard the song, I knew there was a message there that
resonated with me. Blessings did come to
me in the form of events that caused me to shed a lot of tears. I had to wonder if that was what blessings
really were, and I struggled with anger when I thought that it was. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">We
pray for blessing because we want good things for us and good things for our
family and friends. We pray for
blessings because we want to be happy and we want the difficult time to end for
us and our loved ones, but what if God has something else in mind? So, I turned to scripture, and this is what I
found Jesus teaching about blessings:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">“God blesses those who are <b>poor</b> and realize their need for him,</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
<span class="woj"><span style="background: white;">God blesses those who <b><i>mourn</i></b>,</span></span><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">for they will be comforted.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
<span class="woj"><span style="background: white;">God blesses those who are <b>humble</b>,</span></span><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">for they will inherit the whole earth.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
<span class="woj"><span style="background: white;">God blesses those who <b>hunger and thirst</b> for justice,<b><sup>[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%205:1-12&version=NLT#fen-NLT-23217b" title="See footnote b"><span style="color: #b37162;">b</span></a>]</sup></b></span></span><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">for they will be satisfied.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
<span class="woj"><span style="background: white;">God blesses those who are <b>merciful</b>,</span></span><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">for they will be shown mercy.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
<span class="woj"><span style="background: white;">God blesses those whose <b>hearts are pure</b>,</span></span><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">for they will see God.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
<span class="woj"><span style="background: white;">God blesses those who <b>work for peace</b>,</span></span><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">for they will be called the children of God.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
<span class="textmatt-5-10"><b><sup><span style="background: white;"> </span></sup></b></span><span class="woj"><span style="background: white;">God blesses those who are <b>persecuted</b> for doing right,</span></span><br />
</span><span class="indent-1-breaks"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span class="woj"><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” --
Matthew 5:3-10<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">And,
it occurred to me that the things God blesses and the blessings he bestows are
not really what I am most often thinking of when I pray for blessings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">It
caused me to stop and think more as I pray. When I am thinking of praying for God to bless a friend, do I mean help
them be humble, help them hunger and thirst, help them work for peace, mourn,
or be persecuted for doing right? Not
usually. I usually mean to ask God to
take some of the burden off of them and to make their life easier, but maybe I
should pray for them to experience God in the blessings He knows
to be best for them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
mean I would like for my life over the last year to have turned out
differently. I would have loved to have
spent last Easter and the last year at home with my wonderful husband and
beautiful son. I still physically ache
for Nehemiah. But, if we had gone home
from the hospital in February and all been healthy, I probably would not have
experienced God on the level that I did.
I probably would not have felt Him so real in the room with me. I would be a different person, and I would
not have the testimony of how very true that verse four is when it says those
who morn will be comforted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
year, Easter means THANKSGIVING to me.
Thanks to Jesus for coming to this earth and enduring all He did so I
can go live with Him and my son one day.
Thanks that he gives me comfort and strength to carry on here on earth
while I wait for the time I can go live with Him. Thankful that He lived and died and arose...
very, very thankful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span class="woj"><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;">Happy
Easter, everyone.</span><span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Verdana; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345846592910383513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-81674694546296471152013-02-23T16:56:00.002-06:002013-02-23T16:56:20.067-06:00103 Things I Love About My Husband<i>I usually write this list for our anniversary. This year after the death of our son, I have been a little slow on getting things done. Sorry, My Love. It is not a reflection on my love for you. It is just a side effect of how I was wounded when our precious Nehemiah went to live with Jesus.</i><br />
<br />
103. The way he smells after a shower.<br />
102. The way he hugs me tight in
bear hugs.<br />
101. The way he likes to hug me.<br />
100. The way he prays over
me.<br />
99. The way he cries when he worships God to Rich Mullins.<br />
98. The
way he desires to provide for our family.<br />
97. The way he takes his word
seriously.<br />
96. He loves sci-fi.<br />
95. He reads to me.<br />
94. He likes to play games.<br />
93. He is not competitive when he plays games with me.<br />
92. His kiss.<br />
91. He loves my iron skillet Brussels Sprouts.<br />
90. He likes my artichoke chicken.<br />
89. He loves my roasted asparagus. <br />
88. He raves over my salad dressing.<br />
87. He encourages me to paint.<br />
86. He raves over how wonderful all my craft projects are.<br />
85. He likes my paintings.<br />
84. He thinks my paintings should be worth a lot of money.<br />
83. He buys me paints.<br />
82. He surprises me with flowers.<br />
81. He encourages me to sew.<br />
80. He cares about my dreams.<br />
79. He really loves God.<br />
78. He reads his bible every day.<br />
77. He likes NCIS.<br />
76. He likes Star Trek.<br />
75. He loves his mom.<br />
74. He loves his sisters.<br />
73. He's best friends with his borther.<br />
72. He makes me a priority.<br />
71. He texts me a hundred times a day.<br />
70. He Google Chats with me.<br />
69. He video chatted every night when he couldn't be with Nehemiah and I in Birmingham.<br />
68. He cares if I have had a bad day.<br />
67. He loved Nehemiah.<br />
66. He supports my grief over Nehemiah... even the ways that are different than his.<br />
65. He grieves Nehemiah with me.<br />
64. He values his friends.<br />
63. He loves making stuff.<br />
62. He loves fixing stuff.<br />
60. He changes the oil in my car.<br />
59. He fixes my car's breaks.<br />
58. He respects my dad.<br />
57. He likes my brother.<br />
56. The way he is Susanna's special uncle.<br />
55. The way he laughs with Leah.<br />
54. The way he loves his nephews.<br />
53. The way he supports me in supporting my friends.<br />
52. The way he supports my love of my nieces.<br />
51. The way he took care of me when I was pregnant.<br />
50. The way he fixes me breakfast in bed.<br />
49. The way he is excited to tell me everything.<br />
48. The way he shares his day with me.<br />
47. The way he takes my side.<br />
46. The way he loves my family simply because they are my family.<br />
45. The way he lets me love Copper.<br />
44. The way he helps me take care of Copper.<br />
43. The way he is proud of his sister.<br />
42. The way he is proud of the accomplishments of his friends.<br />
41. The way he is learning to be a better man... growing in God, getting stronger.<br />
40. The way he supports the things I do to try to better myself.<br />
39. The way he leads us to church.<br />
38. The way he loves our Sunday School class.<br />
37. The way he helps me be early to church on the days I teach Sunday School.<br />
36. The way he helps me study to teach Sunday School.<br />
35. The way he has my back in any life situation.<br />
34. The way his skin feels.<br />
33. His eyes.<br />
32. His hands.<br />
31. The way he rubs my head when I have a headache.<br />
30. The way he held Nehemiah.<br />
29. The way he loved watching me hold Nehemiah.<br />
28. He tries to buffer my stress.<br />
27. The way he read to Nehemiah.<br />
26. The way he loved to hear me sing to Nehemiah.<br />
25. The way he helped me nurse Nehemiah.<br />
24. The way he stands so strong for things he believes to be right.<br />
23. The stand he takes on movies.<br />
22. The stand he takes on TV shows.<br />
21. The stand he takes on book content.<br />
20. To hear him sing in church.<br />
19. The compromises he makes over music vs. TV in the evening.<br />
18. The way he lets me decorate.<br />
17. The way he wants to make our house and home a reflection of us.<br />
16. The drive he has for quality workmanship.<br />
15. The way he cleans the floor.<br />
14. The way he helps in the kitchen.<br />
13. The way he does the laundry.<br />
12. The way he really wants to get me all the things I need or want.<br />
11. The way he likes the beach.<br />
10. Biking with him.<br />
9. We love the same restaurants.<br />
8. Worshiping with him.<br />
7. Hearing him talk about the latest thing he read in the bible.<br />
6. The way he helps me set up for Saturday programs.<br />
5. He volunteers at my work just for me.<br />
4. He thinks I am the best at my job.<br />
3. Swimming with him.<br />
2. His love of sunsets.<br />
1. The way he out of the blue just says, "do you know I love you?"Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345846592910383513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-41310802371303530982013-01-01T13:02:00.001-06:002013-01-01T13:28:21.268-06:002013 New Year Goals<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
2012 has come to an end.
My Love and I wish it a bittersweet farewell. 2012 held extremes in highs and lows for
us. We experienced the blessed joy of
the birth of our first son along with the soaring joy of holding him in our
arms. Then we experienced the deep, deep
sorrow and pain of his leaving us to meet Jesus face to face. So, we say, “Farewell 2012.” We will always remember 2012 with a mixture of
fondness and heartache, but we are ready for the hope of the unknown of 2013.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I do not usually set New Year resolutions or goals. I have used it as a time to evaluate my
devotional time and to get back on track after what might have slipped during
the November/December Thanksgiving/Christmas hectic schedule, but as I seek
healing and recovery from 2012 in 2013, I have decided to do things a little
differently. This year, I am setting New
Year Goals. As I do so, I am looking at
the priorities I want in my life. As
2013 starts, I want to take the opportunity to check my priorities and set
reasonable goals for achieving a lifestyle that reflects these priorities.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That said, HAPPY NEW YEAR!
And, here are my 2013 Goals:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal">Read two full chapters (one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament)
from the bible and ask God what He wants to say to me everyday.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Thank
God for at least 10 things everyday.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Pray
for My Love and our marriage every morning and evening.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Purposefully
do at least one special thing each week to make My Love a priority and
show my love for him. Be creative
with it, and do a variety of things throughout the year. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Do at
least one thing a week to pamper myself or just for my enjoyment because I
am special to God.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Integrate
principles from Messies Anonymous (<a href="http://www.messies.com/">www.messies.com</a>)
to organize our house, improve the flow of our house, and lesson the
stress of housekeeping for My Love and I.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Make
exercise like going to work, eating breakfast, and brushing my teeth. That is, make it something that I just
do everyday. Stop thinking of it as
an extra something. It makes the
rest of my daily activities easier and hurt less. It is necessary. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Pray
daily that I reflect God and honor Him in how I do my job and relate to
others (staff & public) at work.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Evaluate all the "Rules" that I live by: are they biblical, are they beneficial to both Josh and I, why do I think I "have" to do this.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Seek
ways to show my love and appreciation for all the wonderful people God has
placed in my life.</li>
</ol>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345846592910383513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-18371099460567001802012-05-27T18:42:00.001-05:002012-05-27T18:42:40.219-05:00Happy Birthday, Nehemiah<p><a href='http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Vq5moqfRCAw/T8K77WvR5dI/AAAAAAAAAKM/ZxbWeR5c62k/s0/2012-03-01_15-26-27_987.jpg'><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Vq5moqfRCAw/T8K77WvR5dI/AAAAAAAAAKM/ZxbWeR5c62k/s400/2012-03-01_15-26-27_987.jpg' /></a></p><p>Three months ago today God blessed us with a beautiful son we named Nehemiah. Hard to believe it has only been three months. Our lives were so forever changed by God through him. Thank you, Jesus, for Nehemiah. Give him a kiss from Mommy and Daddy.</p> <br/> <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345846592910383513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-23853782929054826322012-05-25T08:59:00.001-05:002012-05-25T08:59:13.271-05:00Keep asking ...<p><a href='http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9L5Yh0OOUiI/T7-QLxhTStI/AAAAAAAAAJs/ozhCTM3UWVk/s0/2012-04-07_11-57-10_898-1.jpg'><img src='http://lh6.ggpht.com/-9L5Yh0OOUiI/T7-QLxhTStI/AAAAAAAAAJs/ozhCTM3UWVk/s400/2012-04-07_11-57-10_898-1.jpg' /></a></p><p>I have been having a bad week.  I was ready to give up and crawl in a hole.  I did not feel God.  I miss my sweet baby.  And, I just did not feel connected to My Love.  But, a friend reached out to me and shared this scripture.  I read it and asked again for a touch from God and for His help in connecting with My Love.  He answered with a great night with My Love and the strength that connecting with him brings, and I feel I might can face another day.  I am still begging Him [Jesus] to stay close to me and to ease the pain, but He gave me hope just when I was ready to give up and crawl in a hole.</p> <br/> <p>Thank you God for the answered prayer, thank you for strength from my husband, thank you for my husband, and thank you for using my friend to reach out to me with your word.</p> <br/> <p>Scripture :</p> <br/> <p>Luke 11:9-10 New Living Translation (NLT)</p> <br/> <p>“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."</p> <br/> <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345846592910383513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-64730469424777618942012-05-16T22:02:00.001-05:002012-05-25T09:15:18.475-05:00HE will Rejoice over Me with Joyful Songs...<a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WwAjXfZ7ziM/T7RqNQRUP6I/AAAAAAAAAJU/JDvsZFX-GJ4/s0/2012-03-25_17-00-12_20.jpg"><img src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-WwAjXfZ7ziM/T7RqNQRUP6I/AAAAAAAAAJU/JDvsZFX-GJ4/s400/2012-03-25_17-00-12_20.jpg" /></a><br />
“For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”” Zephaniah 3:17 NLT<br />
<br />
Could Jesus be rocking Nehemiah and singing over me like I used to sing over Nehemiah? That is a comforting thought even though I would really like to be the one holding Nehemiah. Oh how I ache for him! But, he and Jesus could be singing together. That's a nice thought.<br />
<br />
<div style="clear: both; font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;">
Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.4</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345846592910383513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-39823026544106432122012-05-08T01:48:00.000-05:002012-05-08T01:48:20.237-05:00Glory Baby.... Nehemiah<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">I discovered a new song
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The title is <i>Glory Baby,</i> and it
is by Watermark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can find a play
button on the bottom of my blog to hear it for yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I played it over and over today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It speaks just what my heart is feeling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How I long for my baby, Nehemiah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, how I long for my home in Heaven!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel so out of place here!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">I never understood how
people longed for heaven… before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
would wonder how we were supposed to long for a place we did not know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did not long to die, and that is what longing
for heaven made me think of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heaven felt
so far away, and I wanted to participate in life here with the things I
knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean, singing praise songs is
great, but I was not ready to do that full time, so I did not long for
Heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">But, I have changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still don’t long to die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not suicidal (don’t worry, My Love), but
I long for Heaven because precious Nehemiah is there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My arms ache to hold him!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know Jesus is holding him, and I know Jesus
is perfect and all that, but it doesn’t feel right for his mommy not to be
holding him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am his mommy, and everything
in me feels like I should be holding him… </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Thank you, Jesus, for letting me hold him... Thank you for the sweet times we had. Thank you for sharing him with us... even for such a short period of time... That time introducing him to praising you in the NICU and RNI was the sweetest, most precious time of my life. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;">Anyway, by the second time
I heard this song, I swear, I did not hear the word baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My brain and heart change the words instantly
now, and I hear Nehemiah’s name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So,
what I hear is more like this…</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Glory Nehemiah you slipped
away as fast as we could say Nehemiah… Nehemiah… <br />
You were growing, what happened dear? <br />
You disappeared on us Nehemiah…Nehemiah... <br />
Heaven will hold you before we do. <br />
Heaven will keep you safe until we’re home with you… <br />
Until we’re home with you… </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Miss you everyday, <br />
Miss you in every way, <br />
But we know there’s a<br />
day when we will hold you. <br />
We will hold you. <br />
You’ll kiss our tears away, <br />
When we’re home to stay. <br />
Can’t wait for the day when we will see you. <br />
We will see you. <br />
But Nehemiah, let sweet Jesus hold you (just like we talked about)<br />
‘till mom[my] and dad[dy] can hold you… <br />
You’ll just have heaven before we do. <br />
You’ll just have heaven before we do. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Sweet little Nehemiah, it’s
hard to<br />
understand it ‘cause we’re hurting. <br />
We are hurting, <br />
But there is healing. <br />
And, we know we’re stronger people through the growing. <br />
And in knowing- <br />
That all things work together for our good. <br />
And God works His purposes just like He said He would… <br />
Just like He said He would… </span><br />
<br />
BRIDGE: <br />
I can’t imagine heaven’s lullabies,<br />
and what they must sound like. <br />
But, I will rest in knowing, heaven is your home…<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TI6KpoB2bVlEr_MhWNs14RRQEB9D3fdgP1kbwctVfGauXDKvugWltpPMHPyjW3XkrhTKSvPzf64Z6GR480z38XsFkVe5D8jEVijtuLu2A8FrGercCj60vsw22rn3kJ7JsJjYOGIT7ds/s1600/IMG_0376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TI6KpoB2bVlEr_MhWNs14RRQEB9D3fdgP1kbwctVfGauXDKvugWltpPMHPyjW3XkrhTKSvPzf64Z6GR480z38XsFkVe5D8jEVijtuLu2A8FrGercCj60vsw22rn3kJ7JsJjYOGIT7ds/s320/IMG_0376.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345846592910383513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-76257415562667795902012-04-30T12:18:00.000-05:002012-04-30T12:33:52.172-05:00Hope & Thanksgiving<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I put my hope
in you LORD. </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Psalm 31:24</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Be
strong and courageous all you who put your hope in the LORD.”</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Psalm 33:22</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">“May your faithful love rest on us
LORD, for we put our hope in you.”</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Psalm 38:15</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">“I put my hope in you LORD; You will
answer, Lord my God.”</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">Psalm 39:7</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: Arial;">“Now, LORD, what do I wait for? My hope
is in You.”</span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank
you for Nehemiah, and thank you for the time we had with him. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank
you for My Love. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFgyP8110VnvZAFqCgNWrcPNaq_0jvlo6xUzwo7k5CbKZmvU3kTGlaZ3wI7txlANmyllO1thpXw2NoqIoEsd100BaKQaeE2GdMMjDQcRkIK3N5tMHqeuiyAIzv2QtkgTI3G5luwilIZU/s1600/2012-04-29_19-43-15_558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFgyP8110VnvZAFqCgNWrcPNaq_0jvlo6xUzwo7k5CbKZmvU3kTGlaZ3wI7txlANmyllO1thpXw2NoqIoEsd100BaKQaeE2GdMMjDQcRkIK3N5tMHqeuiyAIzv2QtkgTI3G5luwilIZU/s320/2012-04-29_19-43-15_558.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank
you for the day we had together loving each other yesterday. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWgPO7ytzWgh7yCWeS__-tg3FEgZ_wM1kjp9ZfQNtiNTt5uskSlCsEyYUFkZcWUyZoE0k7hvbX_STr2jhYWcKp-Mfwq0tzYqz_8-NQChoL1QHzRZxSrCeAASEySwUA5lP1eAvHczPlec/s1600/2012-04-29_19-45-18_405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWgPO7ytzWgh7yCWeS__-tg3FEgZ_wM1kjp9ZfQNtiNTt5uskSlCsEyYUFkZcWUyZoE0k7hvbX_STr2jhYWcKp-Mfwq0tzYqz_8-NQChoL1QHzRZxSrCeAASEySwUA5lP1eAvHczPlec/s320/2012-04-29_19-45-18_405.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank
you for being with us and loving us. <b></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> <b>Thank you for HOPE.</b></span><br />
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345846592910383513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-75767857379325200452012-04-30T11:45:00.000-05:002012-04-30T11:45:04.014-05:00If I Stand...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Life feels empty and shallow without my little man,
Nehemiah.<span> </span>Oh what I would give to still
be taking care of him!<span> </span>But, he has gone
home to rock with Jesus, so I can’t.<span> </span>I
miss him so terribly.<span> </span>I miss rocking
him, kissing his forehead, changing his diapers, praying over him, singing to
him, telling him bible stories, and telling him stories of dreams of life
outside the hospital.<span> </span>He used to look up
at me like, “Really Mommy?<span> </span>I want to do
that and anything else with you, Mommy.<span>
</span>Anything with you must be great, Mommy.<span>
</span>Keep telling me stories, Mommy.”<span> </span></div>
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I used to tell him about the sun and what it feels like and
how it is fun to go to the beach and feel the sun kiss your skin.<span> </span>I told him that it feels like God is reaching
down and touching you and giving you a kiss.<span>
</span>He now knows what it feels like to be held and touched by God… much more
than I do.<span> </span></div>
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My love and I went to the beach yesterday for a
day-cation.<span> </span>His daddy needed to get away
from work, and we needed to connect and comfort each other.<span> </span>As we were there, I thought of Nehemiah and
the stories that I used to tell him in the hospital.<span> </span>I thought of Nehemiah up there with Jesus,
and I thought maybe he and Jesus were loving me and wanting to touch me as I
felt the sun touch my skin.<span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YfxMthWNYcSqra1NNpiG1sjHnEO9C7miO3d5lDh0h_ChyU9R3xH1GrLVeI76vW_XA8I7O-BkPD7ogIHeQsiEAXCarPekL6a6rdOyL6D3q80lq06eTAW1pegCYE6yIa8kkOgClCavU8g/s1600/2012-04-29_19-15-45_778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3YfxMthWNYcSqra1NNpiG1sjHnEO9C7miO3d5lDh0h_ChyU9R3xH1GrLVeI76vW_XA8I7O-BkPD7ogIHeQsiEAXCarPekL6a6rdOyL6D3q80lq06eTAW1pegCYE6yIa8kkOgClCavU8g/s200/2012-04-29_19-15-45_778.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Jesus, </div>
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Would you please tell Nehemiah again how much his Mommy
loves him and that I long to see him again one day.<span> </span>Thank you so much for the time you gave me
with him.<span> </span>I know that you and heaven are
better for him that me and earth.<span> </span>His
body was so week, and he had so much pain in his short life here with me.<span> </span>You can comfort him more than I could, but I
need you to comfort me now that he is with you because he has left a huge hole
in my heart.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9mqyiemIL-Jt-VJi8Q5E6rqD99IHkbBZrZWpF0fFeqLswZTVOvL46psMhM1djhZ20ciEQe4OxGhFYYzN49MdU_DIeYbwIHPtQ3TzmEkFBea_tkZMRGPNDtc7ozILvRALSsEPrPnQBJE/s1600/2012-04-08_11-16-18_276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9mqyiemIL-Jt-VJi8Q5E6rqD99IHkbBZrZWpF0fFeqLswZTVOvL46psMhM1djhZ20ciEQe4OxGhFYYzN49MdU_DIeYbwIHPtQ3TzmEkFBea_tkZMRGPNDtc7ozILvRALSsEPrPnQBJE/s200/2012-04-08_11-16-18_276.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Josh bought me a necklace last night.<span> </span>It is a special reminder of a good day that
we had together missing Nehemiah and loving each other.<span> </span>It has a tree and a pearl on it, and it
reminds me to stand strong and live strong rooted in Jesus Christ.<span> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfj7vWQ3LZtdA255HHYLpcCGsxLlSBVdFWAJVY-BBEjAeG1EIRJr5hE1Jxtc3wUP0JP4u4ntM5VwPvX9nrGDBhYVbMqJKtAWyHL3q0fDpbkeQ-WhFys5R92FDK_4ND00d4YVrvTWmdrs/s1600/2012-04-30_10-38-55_36(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibfj7vWQ3LZtdA255HHYLpcCGsxLlSBVdFWAJVY-BBEjAeG1EIRJr5hE1Jxtc3wUP0JP4u4ntM5VwPvX9nrGDBhYVbMqJKtAWyHL3q0fDpbkeQ-WhFys5R92FDK_4ND00d4YVrvTWmdrs/s200/2012-04-30_10-38-55_36(3).jpg" width="138" /></a></div>
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Rich Mullins wrote and sang:</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">“So if I stand let me stand on the promise <br />
That you will pull me through <br />
And if I can't, let me fall on the grace <br />
That first brought me to You <br />
And if I sing let me sing for the joy <br />
That has born in me these songs <br />
And if I weep let it be as a man <br />
Who is longing for his home”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">This is my
prayer today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;">Jesus, if I
stand let me stand on the promise that you will pull me through as I long for
baby Nehemiah.<span> </span>And, if I can’t, let me
fall on the grace that first brought me to You.<span>
</span>Not if, but as I weep for Nehemiah, let it be as a mommy who is longing
for her home with You.</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-TgyCds3jDM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86H3_p7nwghDY6iWagBZbo5LYiZUWrhFerZPPS6uwCYJvElPOUL8XLs4chvUS7IFnPYFK1RX1E_oV4-TqHPrv3zBxgMQzoFyTZEFizogxNEYfx4eACdKu_FMgSrR5mM8u0UpocWZJvh4/s1600/2012-03-25_17-00-03_877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86H3_p7nwghDY6iWagBZbo5LYiZUWrhFerZPPS6uwCYJvElPOUL8XLs4chvUS7IFnPYFK1RX1E_oV4-TqHPrv3zBxgMQzoFyTZEFizogxNEYfx4eACdKu_FMgSrR5mM8u0UpocWZJvh4/s400/2012-03-25_17-00-03_877.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345846592910383513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-22305199786693696482012-04-22T00:10:00.001-05:002012-04-22T00:10:35.047-05:004/13/12<br />
<br />
On April 13, 2012, Nehemiah, <i>my precious, perfect, gift from God</i>, died in my arms when I was trying to feed him. <u><b>It was the worst day of my life.</b></u><br />
<br />
I am trying to forget those moments and remember all the good times we had together... all the times that I told him about Jesus and introduced them so that Nehemiah would know Him when he went "Home." When Nehemiah met Jesus for the first time, I wanted him to say, "Oh, I know you. My mommy loved you and told me all about you."<br />
<br />
I took several videos while Nehemiah was living. I knew his life would not be long on this earth. Doctor after doctor warned me of that, and I did not want to regret not taking videos. A friend put the videos together for me to show at the funeral so that I could share my little man with all of his friends and family who never got to meet him in person.<br />
<br />
And, here he is...<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_1263826562"></span><span id="goog_1263826563"></span><br />
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<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/5sIvYwCAx5o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-60533709447135188202012-04-21T13:11:00.001-05:002012-04-21T13:11:31.912-05:00Baby RhodesJosh and I had to go to a specialist yesterday for a special ultrasound. The results were not what we wanted to hear, but I want to share and ask you to pray for our precious little one and us as we make decisions in the next few weeks and months. Josh and I are trusting God with the final results.
<br />
<br />
The specialist found what he calls four markers that he wants to watch. They are in the baby's brai...n, kidney, heart, and umbilical cord. At this point, it could be serious or it could not. We just don't know. They want to do more testing to try to further determine what we are facing, but Josh and I wanted to digest the information they gave us before making more decisions. The doctor said that was fine. This specialist group we saw was very good about being concerned with how we were taking it and what we as the parents needed.
<br />
<br />
We are trusting God with the outcome and we would still love for you to pray with us.
<br />
<br />
Thanks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-9872815810643001442012-04-21T11:57:00.000-05:002012-04-21T12:44:32.129-05:00Nehemiah Jonathan RhodesNehemiah Jonathan Rhodes<br />
“Comforting Gift from God”<br />
<br />
What is in a name?<br />
Sometimes the hand of God…<br />
<br />
“The king granted my requests, for I was graciously strengthened by my God. … I told them how the gracious hand of my God had been on me… And they were encouraged to do this good work.” (Nehemiah 2:8,18 HCSB)<br />
<br />
And God graciously strengthened and encouraged with each day of our little Nehemiah’s life.<br />
<br />
God said, “Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9 HCSB)<br />
<br />
And, He has been with us... and will be with us…<br />
<br />
“For… not even death…will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 8:38-39 HCSB)<br />
<br />
We will always love you, Nehemiah. You were our perfect, comforting, gift from God.<br />
<br />
With Love,
Mommy and Daddy<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujgmZ5HjdOrLOuTIDBGSql-55ejSXnSztzxUgKEdTzgjPRZQEt_Yw4ncZHVlRMOgvK38dNxI10RMHFQHK6w8OjeST2qxffy0D5ie77pYzbzE-FF3TAKeCs7EBBA42kUaYN0UkvhyphenhyphenCeD-G/s1600/2012-04-10_23-09-24_108+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujgmZ5HjdOrLOuTIDBGSql-55ejSXnSztzxUgKEdTzgjPRZQEt_Yw4ncZHVlRMOgvK38dNxI10RMHFQHK6w8OjeST2qxffy0D5ie77pYzbzE-FF3TAKeCs7EBBA42kUaYN0UkvhyphenhyphenCeD-G/s200/2012-04-10_23-09-24_108+%25282%2529.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-77478360608280308782012-04-21T11:54:00.001-05:002012-04-21T12:44:49.542-05:00Easter 2012Ponderings from one thankful mother’s heart:<br />
<br />
Over the years my dad has been known to ask questions like, “What does Christmas mean to you this year?” So this weekend I have been thinking about Easter and what Easter means to me from a whole new perspective and with great appreciation.<br />
<br />
Three big things stick out to me this year.<br />
<br />
One:<br />
I have been reading through the bible at a slow pace for quite some time. My readings these days are from Leviticus. There are pages and pages or rules and laws that are humanly impossible to keep. It would be impossible for me to have a good relationship with God and ask for any help from Him if I had to keep all of those rules. I couldn’t keep it all straight. Jesus came and changed that though. So, as I ponder Easter, I am thankful for what He did, and that I can have relationship with my Heavenly Father because of Him.<br />
<br />
Two:<br />
As I sit here typing, I am missing Josh terribly. He has had to work and has been sick, so he is not with Nehemiah and I. I know God is with me. (Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us. That is one area God has abundantly blessed me. He has let me feel Him close through all of this.) But, I feel alone because I miss Josh so terribly. As I feel this and think about Easter, I keep remembering how Jesus asked the Father why he had forsaken Him. (Matthew 27:46) He understands what it is like to feel so alone. He did it for me, so that I could come to Him and the Father and have a relationship with Him. It makes me so very thankful for what He did. I couldn’t and wouldn’t do it for someone who wasn’t even born, yet.<br />
<br />
Three:<br />
Nehemiah has had a bad day. He has had a tummy ache most of the day that has left his heart rate racing dangerously high, and it has been very hard for me to watch him suffer so and not be able to do anything about it. He is my only son. As I ponder Easter this year, I have a new understanding and appreciation of John 3:16. God gave His only son to suffer so that if I believe in Him, I have eternal life. Wow. He sent his only son to suffer so that I could live. Nehemiah is my only son. It kills me to watch him suffer, but God knows how I feel. And, I can have the comfort of that from Him because of what He and Jesus did.<br />
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<br />
Jesus loves Nehemiah this I know, <br />
For the bible tells me so. <br />
Little ones to him belong, <br />
They are week but he is strong.<br />
<br />
Yes, Jesus loves Nehemiah.<br />
Yes, Jesus loves Nehemiah.<br />
Yes, Jesus loves Nehemiah,<br />
The Bible tells me so.<br />
<br />
Jesus loves Nehemiah when he’s good,<br />
When he does the things he should.<br />
Jesus love Nehemiah when he’s bad,<br />
Even though it makes Him sad.<br />
<br />
Yes, Jesus loves Nehemiah.<br />
Yes, Jesus loves Nehemiah.<br />
Yes, Jesus loves Nehemiah,<br />
The Bible tells me so.<br />
<br />
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<br />
Nehemiah is doing amazingly well. We are actually hopeful that we will go home soon. Just a few days ago they were talking about transferring us back to the NICU in Mobile, but now they are talking about educating me and just sending us home.<br />
<br />
Josh and I are amazed and humbled at how God is working in our lives.<br />
<br />
Nehemiah is recovering from the heart surgery quite well. The surgery did not go as well as we had hoped, but it was still good. The surgeon had hoped for a better result from the PA (pulmonary artery) Band. He was not able to restrict the flow of oxygenated blood into the lungs to the degree that he had hoped, but he was able to make things better for Nehemiah.
Nehemiah is breathing on his own. He came off of the respirator over the weekend and was placed on a nasal canella. Yesterday, he came off of all respiratory assistance, and he has done great.
Today, the nurse turned off Nehemiah’s bed. This means that he is not receiving any heat from the bed. He has tolerated this great. We tried this over the weekend, but he couldn’t tolerate it. His core body temperature dropped, but he has done great today. His temperature has been good at each assessment.
Nehemiah’s only tube is the nasal feeding tube. He is trying to take a bottle, and he is trying to learn to nurse. But, both of these methods wear him out before he has taken enough food to grow and not go hungry.<br />
<br />
So, we are looking at going home with the feeing tube.
The doctor and nurse practitioner are looking into methods of home health so that we can just be released from here to our house. Part of this will be teaching me how to use the feeding tube and introducing me to a nurse that will make regular home visits.<br />
<br />
Josh and I are ecstatic and scared. We are thankful to God for the mighty work he is doing in Nehemiah’s life. Nehemiah has surprised the doctor’s each step of the way. It is because God has chosen to work in Nehemiah’s life this way.<br />
<br />
Thank you for petitioning God with Josh and I. You have blessed Josh, Nehemiah, and I greatly. Thank you.<br />
<br />
The next obstacles that Nehemiah faces are learning to eat, getting strong enough to eat all of his food through his mouth, growing and gaining weight, and a hernia. If the hernia does not heal or go away, he could be facing another surgery at some point. This will mean going on the respirator again, and each time he goes on it there is a fear that he will not come back off or his lungs will be damaged too much to come off again. The doctors and nurses tell us that all of these obstacles are common for babies his size and especially with his condition, but they are large obstacles for Nehemiah, and the doctors do not really give us any hope that he can do it. We know he can not by himself, but if God chooses that it is His will for Nehemiah to do it, he will. We are praying for our little man and the obstacles he faces. We ask that you please continue to pray with us.<br />
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Thank you for all the support you have given thus far. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. We just can not say it enough.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-2017549859029703102012-04-21T11:42:00.001-05:002012-04-21T12:55:14.308-05:003/5/12 Nehemiah Update3/5/12<br />
<br />
We have been talking to doctors for days. It is amazing how many doctors Nehemiah has. We have spoken to a geneticist, several neonatologists, and a cardiologist, so far. There may be more to come, but these doctors are treating Nehemiah’s most pressing issues.<br />
<br />
I have tried to think of the best way to tell you what they have told us, but there just doesn’t seem to be a good way. The prognosis is not good. The neonatologist says that the daily management of his care is not too difficult, and there will be good and bad days, but in the end, long term good results are much more difficult to achieve.<br />
<br />
The geneticist told us that Nehemiah has a genetic defect called Trisomy 18. It caused the heart defect which is causing the lung problems. There are, also, other defects it has caused. It is a problem that he has had since conception, the reason he is so small, and the reason he did not have enough nutrients coming through the umbilical cord (which caused him to have to be born by emergency c-section). The statistics on children with Trisomy 18 are staggeringly awful. It is a miracle that he was alive when he was born and that he has lived to be one week old.<br />
<br />
The heart defects are VSD and PDA. VSD stands for ventricular septal defect. I can not remember what the cardiologist said PDA stood for, but both of these defects make it difficult for the oxygenated blood to make it out of the heart and lungs to the rest of his body. That is why there is such a blue tent to his skin. Doctors call the non-oxygenated blood “blue blood”. His “blue blood” is making his skin look more blue. The oxygenated blood is the scarlet red that we are all used to seeing. There is a surgery or series of surgeries that they can do to try to fix his heart, but he is not strong enough for it at this time, and the Trisomy 18 is going to make it hard for him to grow and get strong enough.<br />
<br />
Because so much of the blood is not flowing the correct direction, he has a problem with fluid. Fluid collects around and in the heart and lungs because they are trying to re-oxygenate blood that has already been oxygenated. They are currently giving him laysix to try to help him get rid of some of this fluid. So far, it is helping him.
They have recently started feeding him through a feeding tube into his stomach trying to help him gain weight. And, we are trying to get him strong enough to come off of the respirator. The respirator damages his lungs the longer it is in.<br />
<br />
Josh and I just don’t know what to do. We are having to make some very hard decisions. We pray for God to give us the wisdom we need to follow Him. We pray for His will to be done. We do not want our little baby boy to suffer. We love him so very much. We want him to have a chance at life, and we cherish every minute God gives us with him.<br />
<br />
Thank you all for your prayers and support. We do not know what we would do without them. We know God is answering your prayers and helping us through this time, and we know that we have had the sweet moments we have had with our son because God has answered your prayers. Thank you.<br />
<br />
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Nehemiah had a long day of fighting for his life yesterday.<br />
<br />
We received partial results for two of the tests that were run Monday.<br />
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He has a large VSD (Ventricular septar defect) in his hart as well as some small ones. The cardiologists will be giving recommendations as needed. Right now they are just watching him.<br />
<br />
One of his kidneys is larger than the other one, but so far, he is having normal output, and that is a good sign.<br />
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He developed a problem with his blood yesterday. It was described to me as being like jaundice. They put him under a UV lamp to treat that. Josh had to have sunglasses to hang out with him.<br />
<br />
I still have not gotten to see him again, and I am finding it hard to get the doctors to talk to me. None of them have been by since they took him to the other hospital, and the one that I tracked down on the phone talked way over my head. My doctor (OB/GYN) went to see Nehemiah yesterday, and this morning he explained some of the things the other doctor had said. I am thankful that God led me to him and that I have had him as my doctor. I am hopeful that I will be recovered enough to be released from the hospital soon, so I can go see Nehemiah and maybe get to talk to his doctors face to face.<br />
<br />
Thank you all for your prayers and support. This has been very hard to deal with, and we cherish the prayer support. I know it has been helping us. We can feel it. Thank you.<br />
<br />
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Until next time...<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<b>Eastern Orthodox Prayer For A Woman With Child:</b></blockquote>
<blockquote>
O Sovereign Lord Jesus Christ our God, the Source of life and immortality, I thank Thee, for in my marriage Thou has blessed me to be a recipient of Thy blessing and gift; for Thou, O Master, didst say: be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth. I thank Thee and pray: Bless the fruit of my body that was given to me by Thee; favor it and animate it by Thy Holy Spirit, and let it grow a healthy and pure body, with well formed limbs. Sanctify its body, mind, heart, and vitals, and grant this infant that is to be born an intelligent soul; establish him in the fear of Thee. <br />
<br />
A faithful angel, a guardian of soul and body, do thou vouchsafe him. Protect, keep, strengthen, and shelter the child in my womb until the hour of his birth. But conceal him not in his mother's womb; Thou gavest him life and health. <br />
<br />
O Lord Jesus Christ, into Thine almighty and paternal hands do I entrust my child. Place him upon the right hand of Thy grace, and through Thy Holy Spirit sanctify him and renew him unto life everlasting, that he may be a communicant of Thy Heavenly Kingdom. Amen. </blockquote>
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<br />
But, then we went to the exam room to be examined by the doctor and see what he had to say about the ultrasound. He didn't say much. In fact, he did not say if it was good or bad. What he did say was that he wanted me to go see a specialist for a special ultrasound. I thought, "But... you are the specialist." I didn't say it though. I just found out what I needed to know to go to the specialist and went. The baby was flipping and twisting every which a way while we were having the ultrasound before talking to the doctor. My Love was convinced that this was why we needed to go to the specialist. He believed, and had me hopping, that they just couldn't get the pictures they wanted with the baby moving the way he was. <br />
<br />
So, on October 24th we went for a special ultrasound with a group of perinatal specialists. I want to share what we found out. My Love and I trust God intends this for good, and we are choosing to trust Him with the outcome. <br />
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The specialist found what he calls four markers that he wants to watch. They are in the baby's brain, kidney, heart, and umbilical cord. He found two fluid sacks on the baby's brain, an enlarged kidney, blood in the heart flowing up when it should be flowing down, and only one vein going out of the umbilical cord where there should be two. He said each of these would be minor if it was the only thing he found. The thing is, he found four. That changes things. At this point, it could be serious or it could not. We just don't know. They wanted to do more testing to try to further determine what we are facing, but My Love and I wanted to digest the information they gave us before making more decisions. The doctor said that was fine. This specialist group we saw was very good about being concerned with how we were taking the news and what we as the parents needed.<br />
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I have an appointment with my regular OB/GYN on November 4 (this Friday), and we go back to the specialist on November 17 for another special ultrasound and to let them know what we have decided about the testing. <br />
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We are still praying and trusting God with the outcome. I could see the things the doctor saw on the ultrasound when he pointed them out. I believe they were there. I don't believe that the human body just fixes itself. I do believe that God forms and can fix the human body. I believe that God can choose to let our baby have these problems &/or others for His purposes that I don't have to understand, or He being God can choose to heal our baby. My prayer is that He heal the baby He has formed in my womb and given us, but I choose to accept whatever He decides is best for us as a gift from Him. He is love and gives good gifts. <br />
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Until next time...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kUSrR0haFq8wuIhfFvskMFFH-6eOnEEMMLvK33jevmFDmgVsyNEH1MJUp3mZ63a5qG05TZ-5RFq0Q8LKfeWcR_UlaNDKkhIStm5ifFw19fLQWzORGVTJ7gbiuM2xD2pY2drhkt4u_-HG/s1600/2011-10-13_17-52-02_185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2kUSrR0haFq8wuIhfFvskMFFH-6eOnEEMMLvK33jevmFDmgVsyNEH1MJUp3mZ63a5qG05TZ-5RFq0Q8LKfeWcR_UlaNDKkhIStm5ifFw19fLQWzORGVTJ7gbiuM2xD2pY2drhkt4u_-HG/s320/2011-10-13_17-52-02_185.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-51042798665496442872011-10-27T08:59:00.008-05:002012-04-21T13:10:58.999-05:00God Answers Prayers: A Ten Year Milestone in My Walk with GodFor almost as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a wife and mother. Then the unthinkable happened, or at least, that is what my emotions tried to tell me it was at the time. <br />
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Ten years ago the doctors told me that I had some problems that could prevent me from getting pregnant and that they would get worse as I aged. My doctor said that if I was married he would recommend that I start trying to get pregnant right away if I wanted kids because he did not know how long he could preserve my fertility. However, I was not married, and he respected that. So, he did what he could to preserve my fertility, and I started a long journey with God learning to trust Him with my dreams in a whole new way.<br />
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Two years ago, August 2009, I got married to a wonderful man who loves the LORD and seeks to follow Him. We did not feel that it would be the right thing for us or God's will for us to have children right away. We wanted to work on our marriage... to work on developing a strong foundation for our future whether it involved kids or not. So, that's what we did. We worked on growing closer to God and closer to each other, and I continued working with the doctors to preserve my fertility and working with God to trust Him with my dreams.<br />
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Then this past January, January 2011, My Love and I decided that it was the right time to stop my treatments and see if we could get pregnant. We had prayed and waited until we both felt like we had a Word that the timing was right. We decided not to be aggressive and get all bent out of shape looking for it each month. We very purposefully left the timing to God. It took six months.<br />
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Right after July 4th my sister-in-law, SIL, came down to our house and brought our nieces. We were so excited about the visit. I felt like a kid again. I was so excited about their visit. So, I planned this beach trip. We took the whole day to go down to the island. We took the girls to the Sea Lab. Then we had a pic-nick at a park with lots of huge oak trees. After lunch we went to the beach and swam and looked for sea shells. We ended the day by going out for sea food at a famous local restaurant. It was a glorious day. <br />
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I was expecting my "monthly visitor" though, so I kept running to the bathroom to make sure I was covered. It never came. This made me suspicious, but I continued to watch for it for about a week. I did share with My Love what was going on right away, but we were both in a fog of disbelief and scared to get our hopes up. So, we kept waiting. <br />
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Right before my SIL left I told her I was going to take a pregnancy test because I was usually never late but this time I was a week late. She was not scared to get excited and by this time My Love was losing the battle with it, too. This raised my excitement. <br />
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I decided to take the test the morning my SIL and nieces were leaving. I got up early to take it before everyone left the house, but you have to go the bathroom to take it, and I was too excited to do it. I just couldn't! That's never happened before. So I waited. After everyone was gone, I took the test. It was positive! <br />
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I couldn't believe it. I took a picture and texted it to My Love. He was SO excited! Then I texted my SIL that it was positive, called my mom, and called the OB/GYN to make an appointment. I had to wait two weeks for the appointment, but when I went, the doctor confirmed what the home test had said. <br />
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We walked on cloud nine for a few more days, and then the "morning sickness" and other early pregnancy symptoms started kicking in. It was not just in the morning. At the peak, I was sick all day long. The worst was at night, but I was sick all day long. I had to work, so I did. But, I did not do much else. My Love has had to take over everything around our home, but he has been a champ. He has taken it all in stride. I'm so glad that he is my husband. He is such a hard working man, and he takes good care of me. <br />
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God answers prayers. First He answered my prayer for a child and a husband by telling me to wait and be OK even if he said no in the end. Then He gave me a wonderful husband. Now He has given us a son to be born March 17, 2012. He ask me to give my dreams to Him and to do it with an acceptance that He might say no. And, He ask me to love Him the same even if He said no. It was HARD. There is no way to say how hard it was. And, it did not reach my emotions overnight. I had to keep making the decision over and over again. When God provided my husband, he did not understand my acceptance that I might not have children or my need to accept it. But, God worked on my husband, and he came to the same place I was... hoping but accepting. Then to our utter delight and amazement, He our most awesome and loving LORD, provided us a son. He answers prayers on levels that I never could have dreamed of or understood before He brought me down this path He has taken me down for the last ten years. <br />
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God is good... all the time... God is good... even when we don't think we like what He is saying.<br />
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Until next time...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJgVTZ3Bdlx4jPEhUaxbdZobkwiRY3V9pYVRpTU3nARO334JlJxy1jENOtq9X869iJSpFF9qgYSihAtifNjJ6bqQPlLgZCwdpTmDTMmPc4PTJ3vw-xlb7QJshXlgP2OLGQSB1rUS9PNs-/s1600/IMG_0292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHJgVTZ3Bdlx4jPEhUaxbdZobkwiRY3V9pYVRpTU3nARO334JlJxy1jENOtq9X869iJSpFF9qgYSihAtifNjJ6bqQPlLgZCwdpTmDTMmPc4PTJ3vw-xlb7QJshXlgP2OLGQSB1rUS9PNs-/s320/IMG_0292.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-42145880468969109352011-09-08T16:47:00.003-05:002011-09-12T15:45:01.331-05:00102 Things I Love About My Husband 2011This is an annual list for me. I started it our first fall married. It grows each year as I grow more and more in love with My Love, my husband. These are in no particular order. This is just the order they came to me as I sat down to write. I love you with my whole heart, My Love.<br /><br />102. He does my laundry.<br />101. He washes the dishes.<br />100. He cleans the house with me.<br />99. He keeps our grass cut.<br />98. He is cleaning out to make room for a baby.<br />97. He took over all the chores when I got too sick to handle my part.<br />96. He doesn't complain about all he has to do.<br />95. He does the shopping for me when I can't.<br />94. He helps me get ready for work in the morning.<br />93. He helps me get the sleep and rest I need... which is a lot since becoming pregnant.<br />92. He goes to the doctor with me.<br />91. He sets goals for our family to love and honor God.<br />90. He stringently makes sure the tithe is given to God.<br />89. He makes sure bad TV shows and movies stay out of our house.<br />88. He has dreams of supporting our family so that I don't have to work.<br />87. He puts our family first.<br />86. He is tall.<br />85. He has broad shoulders.<br />84. He loves to hold me.<br />83. He cares that I approve of how he dresses for church.<br />82. He really likes our Sunday School class.<br />81. He really likes our church just like I do.<br />80. He loves Star Trek.<br />79. He hates Harry Potter.<br />78. He hates Twilight.<br />77. He fights to keep vampires out of our home.<br />76. He wants to say the hard stuff that I'm too polite to say.<br />75. He takes my needs seriously... even if they are silly little girl needs.<br />74. He is still romantic after two years of marriage.<br />73. He loves to bring me flowers.<br />72. He loves to provide for me.<br />71. He loves to say, "I'll get it."<br />70. He is tender and takes care of me.<br />69. He supports my dreams for our house.<br />68. He is helping encouraging me in my dream to paint.<br />67. He likes red.<br />66. He likes blue.<br />65. He likes small cars.<br />64. He only wants to drive a stick shift.<br />63. He pulls for Auburn just for me... he doesn't care for football himself.<br />62. He watches football just for me.<br />61. He likes America's Funniest Videos.<br />60. He lets me go see movies that are too sappy for him.<br />59. He loves my dog.<br />58. He recognizes the role my dog takes in my life.<br />57. He makes my dog a priority just because of what it means to me.<br />56. He takes care of my dog when I am too sick to do so myself.<br />55. He <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">howls</span> with Copper (my dog) and I.<br />54. He gives me money to spend.<br />53. He gets upset if I am without money.<br />52. He gets upset if I am driving around without my phone.<br />51. He texts me all day long.<br />50. He calls me if he can't get me by text or chat.<br />49. He does not want a job that will require him to travel away form me.<br />48. He believes I'm beautiful.<br />47. He tells me I'm beautiful.<br />46. He gives back rubs.<br />45. He hugs me in public.<br />44. He likes any event (within reason of his moral standards) that makes me hug up against him.<br />43. He remembers the anniversary of when we went on our first date.<br />42. He remembers the anniversary of when he proposed.<br />41. He remembers our wedding anniversary.<br />40. Our wedding anniversary is a special day to him.<br />39. He is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sentimental</span>.<br />38. He loves his mom and sisters.<br />37. He wants to be a positive male role in his sisters' lives.<br />36. He is passionate about music.<br />35. He loves sunsets.<br />34. He can watch a sunset from start to pitch dark with me.<br />33. He loves to photograph sunsets.<br />32. He loves photography.<br />31. He does not throw photographs away.<br />30. He is loyal to his friends.<br />29. He makes friends for life.<br />28. Making time for his friends is important to him.<br />27. He keeps in touch with his friends even when they move away.<br />26. He buys me gum.<br />25. He will go out and get anything I crave.<br />24. He bought me strawberry ice cream in the middle of the night.<br />23. He will go to a fast food <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">restaurant</span> with me (that he hates) just to get me a burger when I am craving it.<br />22. He tries to eat healthy.<br />21. He is rigid when it comes to his beliefs... not easily swayed.<br />20. He likes to take care of his mom when he can.<br />19. He loves Holidays with family.<br />18. He couldn't love our nieces any more.<br />17. He changes his driving <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">habits</span> just for me.<br />16. He hates Halloween.<br />15. He likes to take me clothes shopping.<br />14. He likes to buy me shoes.<br />13. He comes to the library and sets up the Meeting Room for me.<br />12. He comes to work with me on Saturdays and gets the book drop in for me.<br />11. He volunteers at kick-off just for me.<br />10. No matter what job he is doing, he tries to the best of his ability to do it with excellence.<br />9. He cleans my bathroom.<br />8. He loves our baby. He was on cloud nine for a week after the first ultrasound.<br />7. He is good with computers.<br />6. He talks about his work with me.<br />5. He listens about my work... even though it only frustrates him because he can't fix it.<br />4. He loves God with more than just words.<br />3. He loves me with more than just words.<br />2. He wants to be real.<br />1. He reads God's work daily.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-11443174215429758492011-03-17T15:22:00.004-05:002011-09-12T14:57:30.360-05:00<a href="http://www.crosswalk.com/finances/11646875/"><em><strong>How to Fight Fair about Money</strong><br />Matt Bell, Author of "Money & Marriage"</em><br /></a><br /><br />Every healthy relationship involves conflict. In fact, psychologist John Gottman, who has spent more than twenty years studying what makes marriages last, believes that “fighting . . . can be one of the healthiest things a couple can do for their relationship.”<br /><br /><br />Gottman says that how couples fight is “one of the most telling ways to diagnose the health of<br /><br />your marriage.”<br /><br /><br />So, don’t try to avoid conflict. Instead, learn to fight fair. Here’s how:<br /><br /><br /><strong>Complain, Don’t Criticize</strong><br />A complaint focuses on the other person’s behavior; criticism focuses on their character. An example of a complaint is “You overspent your clothing budget again this month.” It becomes criticism when you blame or verbally attack the other person by adding a comment such as, “That was really selfish of you.”<br /><br /><br /><strong>Avoid Contempt</strong><br />Even worse than criticism, contempt insults or psychologically abuses your partner. An example: “What’s the matter with you? Don’t you ever think before you spend?”<br />Be especially vigilant about not letting these types of comments creep into your relationship. Think about the words you use and avoid any that convey contempt.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Listen Well</strong><br />When you’re on the receiving end of a complaint, your instinct will be to respond quickly. Go against that instinct. Instead, listen actively to what the other person has to say. Make sure you understand the issue by asking clarifying questions and mirroring back what you hear.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Speak Non-Defensively</strong><br />Defensiveness, which includes denying responsibility and making excuses, only turns up the heat on arguments. When she says, “I think you’re spending too much on golf,” it won’t help to storm back with, “I have to spend sixty dollars whenever I play; that’s how much it costs!”<br />Try this instead: “Well, let’s take a look at our budget and see how much I’ve spent this month compared to the golf budget we both agreed on. If I’ve spent too much this month, I’ll make up for it next month by finding some less expensive places to play or by playing less often.”<br /><br /><br /><strong>Stay With It</strong><br />Gottman says men are especially are likely to bail out of an argument. Even if they don’t grab the remote in the middle of the conversation and switch on SportsCenter, they may check out by responding with silence. Guys: stay focused.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Two Keys to a Great Marriage</strong><br />Gottman has drawn two simple, powerful conclusions from his years of studying what makes for a healthy marriage. <em>The <strong><span style="color:#990000;">first</span> </strong>is a straightforward mathematical formula: “You must have five times as many positive as negative moments together if your marriage is to be stable.”</em> <em>The <strong><span style="color:#993300;">second</span></strong> is this: “Most couples I’ve worked with over the years really wanted just two things from their marriage—love and respect.”<br /></em><br /><br />While men and women both need love and respect, women especially need to feel loved by their husband and men especially need to feel respected by their wives.<br /><br /><br />This point about love and respect would make for some especially helpful conversations.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#333300;">Women, ask the man in your life, </span><br /><br /><br /><ul><br /><br /><li><span style="color:#333300;">“What do I do, financially speaking, that makes you feel respected?” </span></li></ul><br /><span style="color:#333300;">And, </span><br /><br /><br /><ul><br /><br /><li><span style="color:#333300;">“What else could I do?” </span></li></ul><br /><br /><br />Guys, ask the woman in your life, “What do I do, financially speaking, that makes you feel loved.” And, “What else could I do?”Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1541278064580136635.post-82340520018055569092011-02-15T09:24:00.007-06:002011-02-15T10:19:19.350-06:00His Needs/ Her Needs...Bob Barnes, in his book "What Makes a Man Feel Loved," lists these "Men's Needs" and "Women's needs."<br /><br />Mens' Needs<br />1. Sexual fulfillment<br />2. Recreational companionship<br />3. An attractive spouce<br />4. Domestic support<br />5. Admiration<br /><br />Woman's Needs<br />1. Affection<br />2. Conversation<br />3. Honesty and openess<br />4. Financial support<br />5. Family commitment<br /><br />Kevin Leman listed 3 needs each in "7 Things You Need to Know But He'll Never Tell You".<br /><br />Leman's His Needs:<br />1. Respected<br />2. Needed<br />3. Fulfilled<br /><br />Leman's Her Needs:<br />1. Affection<br />2. Honest, open communication<br />3. Commitment to family<br /><br /><span style="color:#663300;">A combined list from the way I understand them would look like this:</span><br /><span style="color:#663300;"></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#663300;">His Needs:</span></strong><br /><em><span style="color:#663300;">1. Respect & Admiration</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#663300;">2. To be Needed</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#663300;">3. Sexual Fulfillment</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#663300;">4. Recreational Companionship</span></em><br /><span style="color:#663300;"><em>5.</em> <em>An Attractive Spouce</em></span><br /><em><span style="color:#663300;">6. Domestic Support</span></em><br /><span style="color:#663300;"></span><br /><strong><span style="color:#663300;">Her Needs:</span></strong><br /><em><span style="color:#663300;">1. Affection</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#663300;">2. Conversation</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#663300;">3. Honesty and Openess</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#663300;">4. Financial Support</span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#663300;">5. Commitment to Family </span></em><br /><em><span style="color:#663300;">6. Needs met without always needing to be asked</span></em><br /><br />Here is a quote from Barnes' book. It is where my #6 under her needs comes from.<br /><br />"Recognizing and meeting these needs for one another will mean a stronger marriage and the ability to get through the rocky times that come. A wife benefits greatly when her husband recognizes her needs and does his best to meet them - without always having to be asked!"<br /><br /><span style="color:#663300;"><span style="color:#663300;"><span style="color:#663300;"><span style="color:#663300;"><span style="color:#663300;">I do not really have any controle over the if, when, or how of my dear husband meeting my needs. But, I do over the if, when, and how of my meeting his. I choose now to purposfully meet his... no matter how I feel. Some of them are pretty hard for me to meet. They do not come naturally. But, with the LORD's help, I will do him good and not harm all the days of his life.</span><br /></span></span></span></span><br />Until next time...<br /><br /><p></p><blockquote><p></p></blockquote>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0