Embrace YOUR Life: Sarah

Showing posts with label Sarah. Show all posts

Monday, June 18, 2012

God's Love

Sarah is a Christian wife and mom of two girls. I love life and am learning how to give thanks in all things. I enjoy blogging as a way to share with others the blessings and joys in life that are out there if we just look around! You can find her blog here and shop here. Read more posts from Sarah here.

I was very fortunate to attend a retreat at church this past weekend for our "Sisterhood" women's group. There were over 150 women in attendance. It was the icing on the cake of an 8 week course on learning how to break free from the bondage we find ourselves in that is preventing us from having a full relationship with God our Father. While I could go on for a very long time about the amazing retreat that I attended, I won't. What I do want to share is one of the core messages we received. If we cannot fully love ourselves, we cannot fully appreciate God's love for us. We cannot fully embrace life if we can't fully embrace ourselves. We cannot fully embrace life if we cannot fully embrace all that God is and all that He has to offer us. Some of you might be saying, yeah, but I'm this big sinner and I did this, that or the next thing that God just cannot possibly forgive. You might think that for whatever reason you aren't deserving of His love - or at least not as much of it as He is willing to give. You may feel distant from Him. You may think that because of your circumstances you are unlovable. I'm telling you right now that none of that is true!! God loves you without fail and without question. He loves you unconditionally. He loves you immeasurably. God loved you before you were born and He loves you as the person you are right now. God loves you no matter what circumstances you are in today. He loves you whether you are choosing to embrace life or whether you are doing all you can do cast Him out of your life. God forgives you for all you have done - if you are willing to accept that His son died for that purpose, forgiveness is yours! No matter who you are, where you are, or what are doing or what you have done, God has 100% love for you. 100% outrageous love. Once you know that and experience that, you can fully embrace life and all that God has intended for you. I'd love to share this video with you. It is something we had an opportunity to view during our retreat this past weekend. I would love for you to watch this. The message is so powerful.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

When Facing Challenges

When life starts throwing you curveballs, it can be really challenging to figure out how you are supposed to embrace your circumstances. We've had challenging past few weeks and, honestly, it's had me in a funk. For whatever reason, I seem to be having a hard time lately trying to figure out the "why" behind the "what" of our circumstances.

But God knew what I needed to hear. Twice in the past week, He has reminded me in big ways about something I need to know and remember always. Jeremiah 29:11 says:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This verse was preached on at my church twice within the past week - once at our First Wednesday service last week and towards the end of our message this past Sunday. In both messages, the pastors discussed the fact that we may find ourselves in circumstances that are beyond our understanding. We may even wonder where God is in all of it. We may be begging him to tell us why this is happening {or not happening, depending on your issue}. We just can't seem to find the answers and we may be having a hard time seeing Him through it all.

This verse says it all. GOD knows what the plan for our lives is - even if we don't. We need to trust in Him that HE knows what the plan is. We need to trust in Him that there IS a plan! Sometimes we just can't even fathom how our circumstances could be used for anything good at all. But we need to trust God. As our pastor said, whether the circumstances are good or bad, we aren't able to see the entire picture. It's just not possible. We can't always see the purpose He intends for us in the middle of the situation. But there is a purpose.

So, this is a challenge to myself and to any of you who may also be facing some challenges right now. I know it's not easy, but when you cannot see the "why" for the "what" that you currently find yourself in, try to remember Him. Just hold on to His promise that He has a plan. It hasn't been forgotten or abandoned. He knows what the plan is and He will use your circumstances for His good. When you are having a hard time embracing your life, at the very least, embrace that promise!

"Peyton's Field of Flowers" - a piece done by a local worship artist for my special needs daughter.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Sweet Moments

The countdown is on. By the time you are reading this, we're probably within 24 hours of my 8 year old little girl finishing up second grade. Finished school for another year. I feel like I've been saying this a lot lately - I have no idea where the time has gone!

My daughter loves singing - mostly when she thinks no one is listening. I love eavesdropping as she sings her little heart out. Quite often I'll hear her singing worship songs in the shower. It really and truly blesses my heart to know those are the songs she likes to sing. If not worship songs, then it's usually some of the typical second grade rhyming-type songs.

I'll often lay with her as she's trying to go to sleep. She lays there chatting for a while, doing everything she can to avoid actually going to sleep. Sometimes she'll sing. It struck me recently that it's not going to be long before a couple of things happen. First, this beautiful "little kid" singing voice isn't going to sound like this forever. Second, she may outgrow this thing before I'm ready for it! Rather than disrupt her singing and tell her she needs to go to sleep, I let her sing. And I lay there listening.

I find myself lately just trying to soak this all in because my 8 year old daughter isn't going to be this way all that much longer. She'll hit that "big girl" stage - the one where she'll start to look a lot less like a kid, be more interested in bigger kid things than little kid things, and maybe even be less interested in me.

I'm trying to soak this all in and enjoy it - just embracing this moment.

I want to treasure these sweet moments always!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Focusing on Him

Every month we are going to have one week dedicated to a certain topic. This week the writers of embrace your life are sharing how we keep focus in life.

It is not difficult at all for me to think of how I should maintain focus in my life.

For me, there are two ways.

First, being in the Word.

At the core of everything is the fundamental truth that resides in the Word of God. I'm so guilty of not knowing the Word. I'm trying to improve in that area. I want to be able to call up a Bible verse from memory during any given situation. I can't. I have a few that I can reference, but I need to do better than that. During some very difficult seasons in my life, it was the resounding truth found in the Word that made me turn my focus back to Christ. It allowed me to see that my God is a loving, kind, and compassionate God. He did not put trials in my path so they would destroy me. Being in the Word is part of what gives me the strength I need to push forward.

Second, giving thanks.

In order to maintain focus in the midst of my daily struggles, I have intentionally been trying to seek out the blessings in them. It is so hard, but I promise you, the blessings are there if you look for them. When I focus on the blessings, I am better able to see God in all things. In the difficult times and in the not so difficult times. If I focus on the negative, guess what?? I'm going to wind up in a spiral of negativity leading to a path of destruction. I know this first-hand. When I shifted my focus to what was good - the joys and the blessings - my life changed for the better. I have learned that I must give thanks daily so as to honor and glorify God, even in the difficult times.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Celebrating Life

This week I spent some time reflecting and celebrating - embracing - life.

My little girl, Peyton, turned six on Tuesday.

Six.

An incredible milestone for this precious child of God.

Six years,

when we didn't even know if we could get one!

Each year, a precious gift from the Father.

Six years ago we entered the "special needs" world.

A little after that, we entered the "medically fragile" world.

It's a difficult place to be.

But it's a place where I've found so many blessings,

not the least of which is in the gift of Peyton herself.

Peyton has blessed our family beyond measure.

She has taught us far more than we could ever dream of teaching her.

Yes, she is completely and utterly dependent on us, has multiple brain malformations {including a partial piece just being completely missing}, and is developmentally like an infant of about 6 months of age, give or take {depending on what you're looking at}.

But somehow this precious child has taught us more about life than we could imagine.

We have truly learned what it means to give thanks in all circumstances.

We have learned that every person has a purpose in life, no matter what their limitations might seem.

We have learned the measure and depth of our love and the strength that we have to endure all things.

We are truly blessed and grateful or the opportunity that God has provided us to take care of His precious daughter for as long as He is willing. She is His, on loan to us. So long as He allows us to have her, we will continue to embrace life in a very special way.

"Peyton's Field of Flowers" by April L. Knight

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Thoughts on Faith

Every Sunday the writers of embrace your life are going to share their thoughts on a certain topic. This week's topic is Faith.

First we would like to wish a Happy Mother's Day to all you mommas out there!

Cassie

Faith is something that gets me through each day. I am strong in my faith, it is apart of who I am. I have faith that hard times won't last forever and that good times should be celebrated. Having faith makes it to where I can look at a bad situation and find the beauty in it. I know that God is always by my side and with him I can do anything and I can get through anything. Having faith keeps me going. Having faith means I can look at the bumpy roads and know I can make it through them.

He knows the plans he has for me, which makes my faith even stronger. Because I know something good comes out of everything. There is a rainbow after the storm.

Digger

Faith is essential in my life. "Faith is things which are hoped for and not seen" (Ether 12:6) Faith is the hope that good will come from what happens. That there is always a light somewhere to be seen. That hope, that's what grounds me. That's what sees me through the hard times, and what pushes me to help others through the good times. Faith is how I conquer the day and how i make decisions not only for myself, but for my children and my family.

"Faith is knowing the sun will rise, lighting each new day. Faith is knowing the Lord will hear my prayers each time I pray. Faith is like a little seed; if planted it will grow. Faith is a swelling within my heart. When I do right, I know"

Skye

the cornerstone of my faith is Jesus and i never really knew how strong that faith was until my mom passed away. the days, weeks, and months following her death were a whirlwind of crazy emotions. the only thing that kept me sane and stable was knowing that she is in Heaven with my Jesus and that i know, without a shred of doubt, that i will see her again. i always tell myself that she got there, saw her mom and dad, and will turn around to see us standing there as well. i believe there is no time in Heaven and that she will never truly feel like she has missed any amount of time with us.

i don't know how people without faith in Jesus can cope with the world as it is today. sometimes it just disgusts me how torrential the downpour of sin has become but knowing that if i can fight the daily battle with my Jesus umbrella i have this amazing place awaiting me that makes our world here seem meaningless. that faith is hard to keep up and i definitely struggle with it. i question God and some of the things that happen. i worry sometimes that all my faith and fighting will be worth nothing. but then something happens - God answers a prayer or i see people selflessly helping each other and my faith is restored.

what are things in every day life that restore your faith? where do you turn when your faith is shaken?

Sarah

Having faith has become an incredibly important part of my life. I could not do life with a special needs child without it. I tried for a while - blaming God and saying "why me???" for too long. Life became this downward spiral for me. It got to a point in time where my daughter's health deteriorated so much that the only thing I could possibly cling to at that point was what little faith I had. I turned things over to God and allowed Him to be in control for once. After all, I'm not really in control at all in this life, now am I?! I found this passage to be helpful in my faith:
1 Peter 5:6-9 (NLT)
6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 9 Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your Christian brothers and sisters all over the world are going through the same kind of suffering you are.
When you read this passage, it sure sounds difficult, doesn't it? Humble yourselves. Watch out for the enemy. Tough stuff. But look beyond that. Friends, this scripture is a promise from God. He is asking us to humble ourselves before Him. To submit to Him. Why? Because He desires that we would follow Him because He loves us and cares for us. He cares about us enough to ask us to give up all of our worries. He is offering to take up the burdens for us. There is also reassurance in this passage because we are being told that we are not alone in our troubles. No matter how much it feels like we are - we are not.
Take heart and know that God is with you in all your triumphs but also in all your struggles as well. Have faith that He is there for you. He has never and will never leave your side. I know my life improved tremendously when I finally realized this! This is a hope and a promise in all of this - that God will ease your load. Have faith!

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

A small moment

This past Sunday, we went for a little outing after church. We decided to go to the waterfront and walk out on this pier where there were all kinds of people sitting watching the water or even fishing. As we were walking along, my older daughter found a ladybug. She picked it up and held it. She let it crawl along her arm. She would gather it in her hands and stare at it, marveling in the beauty that she saw in it.

My daughter walked with us along this pier, all while holding on to and admiring this little ladybug. She was absolutely fascinated by it. She laughed and giggled as she felt it crawling up her arm. She would let it hang from her fingers and then let it loose to craw back up her arm again.

Now, I'm not one for having little bugs crawl all over me, but I couldn't help but look at her in awe myself. There was my daughter with this little creature - just taking it all in, completely captivated by one of God's tiny little creatures, and simply enjoying the moment.

It left me wondering - when was the last time that I truly reveled in something so simple and so small? When was the last time I truly delighted in something like this? When was I last taken captive by something so seemingly insignificant, but through which I found so much joy and happiness?

I then thought, if I'm having trouble coming up with an answer to any of those questions, then maybe it's time to slow the pace down just a little. Maybe it's time to take more notice of the little everyday things which surround me. Maybe it's time to free myself from the "grown up" burdens, even if just for a moment, so I too can revel in some of the small and wonderful things that are part of God's creation.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Being Content

Sarah is a Christian wife and mom of two girls. I love life and am learning how to give thanks in all things. I enjoy blogging as a way to share with others the blessings and joys in life that are out there if we just look around! You can find her blog here and shop here. Read more posts from Sarah here.
This week on my own blog, wrote a couple of posts on the issue of contentment. I shared how there are times or situations in my life were I experience a certain amount of discontent. Times where I feel like everything is working against what I would have wished for in my life or would have hoped for in a particular circumstance. I then wrote a post about what to do about that.
What I discovered through these reflections was that living in a spirit of discontentment means that you are unable to truly embrace life. How can you truly appreciate the little things in life when you're too caught up in the big picture and how it is dragging you down? I discovered that it is quite possible that much of my discontent is of my own making and could actually be avoided in the future if I learn to recognize certain patterns in my behavior and attitude towards things so that I can nip it in the bud.
What I really learned through this discovery is that you truly can embrace life in a season of difficulty. You must work harder sometimes to figure out how make it work for you, but I'm thinking now that it can be done!!
We have a special needs child. She's not just special needs - she is also medically fragile, which just adds a whole other level of complexity to our situation with her. It also makes simple things like "date nights" next to impossible. Or that is what I keep telling myself. It also means that we can't do things as a "foursome" {me, my husband and both our girls}. Or at least it seems next to impossible to do so. I could really get down on myself for a number of things that won't ever happen where our special needs daughter is concerned. She won't ever walk {or even crawl, sit or stand}, much less play soccer, dance, run, and play with other kids. But I can relish in the smiles that I get from her and her laugh that is so infectious. And I have to swallow that bitter pill of what she can't do and accept that while allowing our other daughter to experience all those things because she can do them. She just finished up her third soccer season and we truly enjoyed some great moments with her.

My Moira - the little blonde girl front and center!

In reality, what I need to do is to embrace this life that I have been given. I need to utilize the resources we have {such as home nursing} and schedule such that my daughter has appropriate in-home care while my husband and I do something with our older daughter. Here's the key - it has to be without guilt feelings. I find myself taking on so many guilt feelings whenever we do something that excludes the one child because it's not practical to bring her. In reality, we have another daughter who just wants our time and attention and for us to do things with her that she will remember - that will have meaning for her one day.
We need to embrace all of our life - even the trials that make the seemingly ordinary "family things" that others seem to be able to do effortlessly - so that we can enjoy this time. The more we are able to enjoy the season we are in, the more content will will find ourselves with life in general.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Faith

Sarah is a Christian wife and mom of two girls. I love life and am learning how to give thanks in all things. I enjoy blogging as a way to share with others the blessings and joys in life that are out there if we just look around! You can find her blog here and shop here. Read more posts from Sarah here.
When thinking about what to write for this week, I honestly had a hard time. If you've come to know me and learn my story a bit, you know that our daily life is fully of many challenges while we raise an 8 year old girl and her almost-six year old sister who happens to be special needs and medically fragile. I am so caught up in the grind that I often neglect the "me" time. Yes, I devote time to blogging and getting words out there, but I am talking about the solitary "me" time. The time to connect with God.
When I set aside the business and chaos of my life, and I think about my relationship with God, that is truly where I find my inspiration. It comes in different forms, but it all leads to Him. Aside from Scripture itself, I think my main source of inspiration comes from worship music.
When I'm in the car I will either have the radio tuned to our local Christian station or I will have a Christian music cd playing. I honestly couldn't tell you what is current in mainstream music these days. Not a clue. None. But I love Christian music. It's what we hear in church and it's what I listen to in my daily life. I often come home from church when a particular song has struck me and I find it on youtube and play it non-stop. My Pandora station is all-Christian. Every now and then something secular sneaks in and I skip over it.

My life journey is one that is moving towards God and I find that in the music I listen to, there are often times where a word or a line will really resonate with me. I feel like I can connect with Him with this music playing. So, if you're wondering who I listen to, you'll find me most often listening to Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman {who just played at our church a couple weeks ago!}, Steve Fee, Jesus Culture, Hillsong, and even music from our church - Martin Chalk.
I am in the worship choir at church. We sing with the worship band every now and then {maybe once every month or so and for some special occasions}. When I am worshiping at church, particularly when it's with the choir, I feel so overwhelmingly inspired. Inspired to be a better child of God. Inspired to be closer to God. Inspired to live my life for Him and not worry needlessly about the things of this world that I have no control over.

Easter 2011 - Seacoast worship choir singing along with the worship band

Worship music calms my spirit. It lifts me up. It frees me from the bondage of the challenges I may be facing that day.
It connects me to God.
As I journey on this road, I will continue to look for the things around me that inspire me to draw nearer to Him.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Finding Inspiration in My Children

Every month we are going to have one week dedicated to a certain topic. This week the writers of embrace your life are sharing things that inspire us.

Perhaps one of my greatest inspirations in life comes from my daughter. I speak about Peyton all the time on my blog. She is just a few weeks away from her sixth birthday. That in itself is amazing because we didn't know if she'd make it to her first! She was born with multiple special needs and she is also medically fragile. As she has gotten older, we continue to add to the laundry list of medical issues she has.

This is a child who is very much like an infant in her development, so one might wonder - how could I be inspired by her? I've said over and over and over again in her short little life that she has probably taught me far more than I could ever teach her. The list of things I have learned from her continues to grow.

But how does she inspire me?

She inspires me to be a better mom. I have an 8 year old daughter as well. It's not easy dealing with all family issues when one issue {i.e. the special needs/medically fragile child} occupies the vast majority of our time. But Peyton inspires me to want to try to be better. She inspires me to model to my older daughter, Moira. You see, while I don't always have all the time in the world for everyone else around me because of the demands on my time that Peyton has, Moira is watching me and she is learning from me. I have an incredible opportunity here to show Moira many things.

Peyton was my inspiration to begin blogging. There were so many difficult times in our lives when I began blogging. I couldn't focus on anything but the negative side of thing. Peyton inspired me to look at all the good and positive things that are happening right under my nose. All of those things can be attributed to her. She inspired me to look at our situation with new eyes - to view our days with her as blessing and not burden. She inspired me to seek a better and closer relationship with God. About a year later, Peyton continues to be my inspiration in my blogging.

Peyton inspires me to help others. I blog because I want to share the joys and blessings in the life of a special needs family, but she has inspired me to want to go beyond that and really try to reach out to people. I know there are people out there who are hurting. Maybe my situation isn't going to be the same as yours or the next person's, but maybe part of our story resonates with something you are going through. Maybe, just maybe, something I have shared could be an encouragement to you. Peyton has given me that drive and desire to reach out to you through my blog.

I'm also inspired by Moira. As the older sibling to a special needs child who has been in and out of the hospital more than anyone should ever be in a lifetime, I am inspired by her strength. I know our situation cannot possibly be easy on her. I know how much she needs me and that I need to do a better job of devoting more time to her in these early years. I know it is at this stage in her life when she will remember her childhood when she looks back 20 years from now. But I am inspired by her and the character she is developing at such a tender age. Moira is so compassionate. If she sees someone hurt, she is right over at that person's side wanting to help. She will put her arm around them or just be there looking on with compassionate eyes. I am inspired by the fact that a small child could have the depth of character that she has. I am inspired by her because despite everything going on around her, she is a really bright kid. She is a voracious reader and eager learner. She can talk on just about any subject...and she will. This girl is so not the shy kid that I was! I am inspired by her openness and gentle spirit.

As our family continues on this journey, I will continue to guide my daughters by the hand, hopefully leading them along the right path. I am sure I will continue to be inspired by them as we travel this road. Despite all the challenges we face, it is amazing that we can find inspiration and a source of strength in our children!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Be Christ

What an Easter weekend!

It was wonderful. It was different.

Back in March, I wrote here about "First World Problems". I had participated in an adopt a block volunteer opportunity at an outreach of our church last month. I talked about how the things that I think are "needs" really aren't "needs" at all - they're "wants" for the most part. During this outreach, I saw people with real needs. We reached out to these people and brought them information on programs that could help them. We prayed with them. Hopefully we touched someone's heart.

This past weekend, my family participated in adopt a block again. It is the first Saturday each month, and it just happened to be Easter weekend. This weekend, the volunteers put on a block party for the neighborhood we serve. We brought food - burgers, hot dogs, chips, water, sodas, and all the fixins! I didn't count, but there were probably around 100 people there.

I knew that I wanted to go back after that first adopt a block experience. I know now that I still want to go back each month to serve. This block party really got to me. Last month, it was seeing the conditions that people just 15 minutes from my home were living in. It was seeing children living in those conditions. It was seeing a pregnant mama with two littles and thinking about how this precious new little one was going to be brought home into this environment.

This month was a little different.

I saw some of the same people - including the pregnant mama - and many new faces. I watched these people walk through the line for food. I saw their faces. I heard them timidly ask for food. I saw despair in their eyes. When they came back through the line a second, third, and fourth time, I still saw it. When I realized the food line wasn't as long as it was because there were that many people continuing to file into to line, and that it was because the same people were returning again and again, it really struck me. These people weren't coming to the table in greed or selfishness. No. They were coming to the table out of hunger.

I heard one person ask why we were doing this - like they couldn't comprehend why anyone would do something like this for them. The answer is really quite simple. We are called to be Christ to others. We are called to serve. We are called to help those in need. This entire neighborhood {and others like it} is desperate for love and desperate to be shown God's grace and mercy. I happily served food until there was no more to be served. It broke my heart when I had to tell people we were out. I thanked God for the opportunity for my family to serve in this capacity. I hope and pray that these people felt His presence through the ministry of this outreach. I hope and pray that some of them came to know Him through this experience.

When Easter came the following day, I couldn't help but think about these people and how those burgers and hot dogs may have been their Easter feast. I wondered - Was that their only "meal" that weekend? Was that the biggest meal they'd have for a while? How do they sustain themselves on a day to day basis? They aren't homeless, but they don't have much.

I scolded myself over and over as I frantically tried to find an outfit for church on Easter Sunday. We don't have extra money for new clothes. I haven't personally purchased any new clothes in probably about two years. I was mad because I had "nothing" to wear, and my wardrobe was further limited by the fact that my last light-colored bra bit the dust a few weeks back and I haven't been able to get a replacement. $$$$ I was mad because a new bra is apparently a luxury item in my home. I was mad that I had to wear dark colors on Easter. Then I was mad at myself for worrying over a bra and having to wear dark clothes! I have clothes in my closet. They're not perfect. Certainly not new. Definitely not something I'd do a "what I wore" post with. But I have clothes.

My daughter didn't get a new Easter outfit either. And she was totally happy. The issue of her not having a new outfit wasn't even brought up. She just wore what she had because that's what I put out for her. In truth, it was a dress she got a couple years ago which has never fit. I figured this has to be the year! Aside from the pockets being around the back practically, it's looking pretty good now!

As I sat back and re-examined my own situation, I thought how lucky I had it. Here I was worrying about something I had no business worrying about. Clothes. I reflected on the people I'd met the day before and thought how lucky they might think I am for what I have. And I am - I truly am lucky. We are very fortunate to have what we do have. While our situation isn't 100% ideal financially speaking, we have so much more than we deserve. In fact, this weekend is making me see how necessary it is to give up a little of what I do have so that someone like the people in this neighborhood could have a little more than what they have now.

It's not about what's in your closet. It's not about what's on your table. It's not about the "things" you own. It's about your attitude towards the less fortunate.

It's about taking a step outside your comfort zone {maybe it's more than one step outside it!}.

It's about being the hands and feet of Christ for others.

It's about being an example to them.

It's about being a light to them.

It's about bringing hope to them.

It's about bringing God to them.

Rejoice in what you have!

Spread that joy with those who have not.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Giving thanks always

I have been so blessed lately.I recently had an opportunity to attend a conference where Ann Voskamp was the speaker. If you aren't familiar, she wrote the book One Thousand Gifts. It's an incredible book and she is an amazing speaker.
In my blog life, I strive to seek out the blessings and joys in my life - a life which includes the struggles and challenges associated with having a special needs child. I don't mean that she is a burden. Not at all. Any life that is not textbook "normal" is going to have challenges, whether they be financial, emotional, health or other. I suppose no life is "normal" - we all face challenges of one sort or another.
But when life throws you a curve and things become incredibly difficult to manage, it's hard to cope sometimes. I found in my own life that the only way to not spiral down into this bottomless pit of despair was to actively and intentionally write out the things that I was thankful for. This was long before I'd ever heard of Ann Voskamp and her notion of keeping a journal where you can write out the things that you are thankful for. I forced myself and eventually, I began to climb out of that pit. I intentionally embraced the positive things in my life - the things that had been so distant and so difficult to see before I began blogging.
Life is still challenging. Every day challenging.
But I'm still trying. I fail sometimes. But I'm trying.
I have been hosting a "Thankful Thursdays" link up on my blog for several months now. I am trying to implement some of the things I've been learning from Voskamp. Eucharisteo: joy, grace, thanksgiving. I'm still listing all the blessings in my life that I'm seeing, but I'm trying now to intentionally list the hard things in life in which I can find things to be thankful for.
As only God can do, He provided something for me that was really tangible last night. We had our First Wednesday service at church last night. It's a time of worship and praise through song followed by a message from our pastor. Then they move into a "response time" where we can reflect on the message, receive communion, seek prayer, etc. while soft music continues. This week, the service was different. We had Christian artist Matt Redman in the house leading worship. It was amazing. The whole service was. We didn't have the usual "message" portion, but we did have all other normal aspects of the service. Matt sang a song that I had not ever heard before and now I cannot stop listening to it:

All I could think of during this song was about this spirit of "thanksgiving" that God has been pressing on my heart lately. I've been intentionally being thankful about things on my blog on a weekly basis as I said. But since hearing Ann Voskamp, I feel like God is asking me to re-think how I do this. I feel that I'm supposed to embrace this concept in a new way. I still don't know exactly what that looks like, but when I heard Matt sing this song, it was such an incredible reminder of what it means to embrace a spirit of thanksgiving at all times in life. I am embracing this even more so now and I am going to work harder on really listening to God and what He's trying to tell me through this.
Here are the lyrics to 10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord) by Matt Redman:

Bless the lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship you holy name

The sun comes up 
Its a new day dawning
Its time to sing your song again
What ever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship his holy name
Sing like never before 
Oh my soul
I worship your holy name

You're rich in love and you're slow to anger
Your name is great and your heart is kind
For all your goodness i will keep on singing
10,000 reasons for my heart to find

Bless the lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Soon my soul sing your praise un-ending
10,000 years and there forever more

Bless the lord oh my soul 
Oh my soul
Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship your holy name

Bless the lord oh my soul 
Oh my soul
Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship your holy name (repeat 3x)

Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship your holy name (repeat 3x)

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Treasure These Moments

By Sarah - Her blog is The Fontenot Four You can learn more about her here. You can read all posts from Sarah here.

Time is marching on. It seems to be moving faster and faster these days. I want desperately for it to slow down - at least for a little while. Just to give me a chance to catch up and take a breath. That's not really how it's working out though!

I have a daughter, Moira, who turned 8 a couple weeks ago. She's such an amazing little girl. She's funny. She's super smart. She's really an awesome kid. She's still my little girl and she still looks like a little kid.

But she's growing up....too fast!

Yesterday, all the second grade classes participated in a "wax museum". They were to choose a real person and do a biography of them. Then they were to put a presentation of their character on a tri-fold board. In addition, they'd be dressing up in character for the wax museum. They had their presentations in their class in the morning. In the evening, they went back and families were welcomed in to the school to walk the halls where all these characters would be in place as their wax figure.

Moira chose to be Cleopatra. I think she had a friend or two who had decided that's what they'd be, so that's what she wanted. She and I had fun working on her presentation which, in my opinion, was a far bigger project than any I ever did in second grade!! Wednesday morning, she got dressed in her costume and I did her make up. Here is Moira as Cleopatra:

She's 8.

Friends, when I looked at her - and when I look at the pictures I took - my jaw hits the floor. There isn't much of a hint of my little girl here! Where did she go?? I have no clue, but I want her back!! I'm not ready for this!

I thought to myself that I really need to do everything I can right now to embrace that 8 year old little girl and enjoy this time with her right now. When I see girls who are a year or two older than her, I am struck by the physical differences in just that little age difference. It is a sign of what's to come for us. This is going to be huge when it happens for us. It's one thing to watch your child grow up all this time, but that time of losing the "little kid" look in favor of a "young lady" look is not as far away as I would really like it to be!

I think this was a bit of a wake up call for me to just stop and treasure these moments we're in right now!

What are you being called to stop and treasure?

Friday, March 16, 2012

Time to Smell The Flowers

By Sarah - Her blog is The Fontenot Four You can learn more about her here. You can read all posts from Sarah here.

I don't know where you all live, but here in Charleston, SC the weather this week has been absolutely DIVINE!! It has been gorgeous. Seriously folks, spring is in the air!!! I couldn't be happier to shake off the winter blahs!!

I am a creature of habit. While I love it outside, I have a tendency to stick close to home. I'm in a season of life where I'm so exhausted all the time. Not looking for sympathy or saying "woe is me" or anything. It just is what it is. That said, I so need to get myself out of the house.

Spring is in the air that that means the beauty around me is going to be increasing tremendously in the next few weeks as everything begins to bloom. I am already excited about the trees budding and blooming. I want to get out in this beautiful weather - I do. I think I may need for someone to force me out of the house though.

I was reminiscing about a time last year when I went out with a great friend of mine and we took pictures while wandering around downtown Charleston because the flowers were in full bloom and everything was just looking gorgeous. These pics were taken on March 23rd of last year. I nearly choked when I realized how long ago it was that we'd done that.

I need to grab my friend and get out there again this year and just embrace life and all this new Spring season has in store for me!

If you're a little further north than I am, well, then just enjoy these pictures - your turn is coming soon. Promise!!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

A little rain

By Sarah - Her blog is The Fontenot Four You can learn more about her here. You can read all posts from Sarah here.

When I think about the ebb and flow of life, I think to myself that it really isn't a beautiful picture all of the time. There are storms in life. Seasons of change. Seasons of disappointment. Seasons we just don't understand. I thought to myself this morning "into each life a little rain must fall" and wondered to myself, "Who said that??" Here was my answer:

The Rainy Day
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
The vine still clings to the mouldering wall,
But at every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and dreary.

My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the mouldering past,
But the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast,
And the days are dark and dreary.

Be still, sad heart, and cease repining;
Behind the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be dark and dreary.

Source: google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

I thought to myself, well that isn't very uplifting at all. But I thought a little more about it. No, life isn't going to be all sunshine and lollipops. For a lot of us there is a dark and dreary reality to our lives. Maybe it's not the primary thing that people see. Maybe we've got it hidden really well. But for some of us, there is a sad and dark reality. And I wonder, how can this possibly be a good thing??

When there is a little rain, if you will, in our lives, it makes us see things differently. It changes our perspective. Rain changes the landscape. The colors are enhanced. Things look more vivid. We see things in a way that we don't ordinarily see them when the sun is shining.

Source: google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

If there was no rain in our lives, then we would fail to grow. We need the rain - unfortunately it comes with gales of wind, thunder, lightning, and storms - but we need it. If we are to grow, then we need watered right where we are planted. Sometimes God plants us right smack in a field of thorns, but He desires for us to learn and to grow and to see Him in it all.

Source: google.com via Sarah on Pinterest

Sometimes we don't understand the purpose. And it may not ever been known until you're through the storm and on the other side. But it's there. I'm not saying that these rainy seasons of our lives are going to be fun by any means. However, rather than focusing on the rain during that season, try to focus on Him because He put you there in that moment for a reason. While that season of rain may be longer than you feel like you can bear, just trust in Him. He will lead you through it. You will get to the other side.

Somehow, some way....if you can, during that stormy season, try to look for even the simplest things that speak of Him and His goodness. It's there. I can't say what it is for you, but I have been through some pretty serious storms - and I'm here to tell you that even in the midst of storms, there is much goodness - if you only take a moment to embrace the storm you are in and see for yourself. It's there.

I promise!

Source: zac-e.com via Sarah on Pinterest