12 Days...

We had a wonderful 2 days with family to celebrate the birth of our King. After getting back from my in-laws today, we arrived home to find a gift bag on our front stoop. (This always makes me amazed at the Lord for keeping things safe. We've had stuff stolen from our step before, but amazingly it was returned to us in a bag about a month later!) We had a lot to unload from our truck (including people), but I felt like I should rescue whatever was waiting for us, so I left the rest and charged into the house to set the package safely on the table. I knew that I needed to help unload our truck, so I glimpsed inside and saw my name written and some gifts wrapped up inside. I flew fast to throw kids and gifts in the house so I could see what little treasures awaited me! :)

Inside again, I sat down to look at the gift that some unknown friend blessed me with. On the paper with my name was a history of the carol, The 12 Days of Christmas. For some reason I always thought that the 12 days of Christmas were leading up to Christmas Day. I never knew that it actually starts on Christmas (or the day after) continuing to the day before Epiphany. I actually thought that once Christmas was over, so were any festivities. I'm excited to look more into this little history lesson! :)

What was in the 5 packages? Well...

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree (some really yummy Anjou Pear moisturizing soap).

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, two turtle doves (Dove raspberry and dark chocolate bars)

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 3 french hens (Dunkin Donuts French Vanilla Coffee)

On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 4 calling birds (a daily devotional called, Jesus calling)

On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me, 5 golden rings! (gold fingernail polish--which was really cool b/c I've been wanting to paint my nails for the past 4 days)

I only thought (after the fact) that maybe I should have opened them up each day instead of tearing them open like some 5 year old kiddo on Christmas morning...hmm....well, I'm only 33 and it is the day after Christmas. Jesus, please give me more self control. :)

Dear friend, if you are reading this, please know that you have indeed blessed me. It was an already great day, but this definitely pushed it to the next level (to wonderful) just to know that someone was thinking about me and loving on me.

I am so grateful to serve Jesus, who knows what I need before I even think of it. That He has placed the most amazing friends in my life. That His love for me is evident and everlasting. Thank you Jesus. Thank you dear sweet anonymous friend. You have touched my heart. May Jesus bless you and keep you.

Praying for whoever is reading this to be blessed! His extravagant love is amazing...and He wants to love on you too. :)

(I'll try to remember how to post pictures tomorrow--then get them up on here. :)

Unprepared...

Juggling isn't easy sometimes. I've been working more hours than I have in a LONG time along with volunteering, schooling and trying to run my household. Needless to say, I've been a little emotional over the last 2 weeks. I was so excited to finally have a girls night out with some friends.

We had a great time. There was too much food (as always), much laughter and so much fun. It felt good to talk without having someone interrupt your every word. It had definitely been too long. Release is so good. Thanks girls. Can't wait to do it again soon. :)

After being gone for almost 6 hours, I came home and hubby went with a friend to practice for worship for today's service at church. I had a little quiet time, so I decided to check out my email and then I checked on a friend's CaringBridge (free websites for people facing serious medical conditions--a great way to keep everyone informed). What I saw I was unprepared for.

B. had set up the website for her son, N. who may have been 19 or so when he was diagnosed with spinal cancer. Our family has tried to keep updated on how sweet N. has been doing, praying together for complete recovery for him. Well, last night I saw that he passed away on September 17th. The same day that our little lovely had a birthday. My heart is broken. He died just 12 days before his 22nd birthday. I can't even imagine.

As I sat there in tears reading past posts about this amazing young man, I began to wonder. If I could talk to B., what would I say? How could I be an encouragement to her? I knew then that there would be nothing I could say (except that I will be praying) to encourage her. I knew that because of her faith in her Creator Jesus, she would be the one comforting and encouraging me.

The Lord met her and showed her that she needs to look to Him, not for N. That N. was safe with Him, no longer suffering. That was such a comfort for her. And even though they will continue to grieve (I don't think a person actually ever "gets done" grieving), Jesus will meet her and her family every step of the way in the process. The pain will get to be less over time and there will be further time between the bouts of heart-wrenching sadness. He is ever faithful. I pray for a full, yet as quick-as-possible recovery. I truly feel speechless.

New Chapter...

Transition is not always easy. In fact, it's often uncomfortable and seems to be long. In labor, it's one of the most intense parts. The part when you want to throw in the towel and just leave the baby in there and wear maternity pants for the rest of your life. There's no stopping it. That baby's coming, and what a prize it will be when it comes. In the meantime though, you've just got to hang in there.

I love my church. I mean L-O-V-E. my. church. I have lived in PA for almost 11 years and next month, we'll be at our beloved church for 10 years. That's a long time. (For a 32 year old at least.) My man and I have gone through many hardships in our 10 years of marriage, as well as many happy ones. Through that time, our church, has become a family. One that we like. One that we love. I have experienced friendships that I never dreamed possible. I love each one of them wholeheartedly.

This past Monday night was an exhausting one (not just b/c it was McGyver's birthday). C & I went to bed after crying out to the Lord for wisdom about what to do in an area of our life. When we woke up the next morning, he asked me if I felt the Lord telling me anything. "I don't know... maybe", I said. "Why, do you feel him telling you something?" He said yes, but said I needed to go first. I sighed and went on. "Well, I think I heard a voice maybe telling me that we should go to this other church" (a church that our church planted) "instead of our church." Then I waited for him to tell me, "Nope. That's not it." Instead, he said, "Yep. That's what the Lord told me too."

It was exciting. C & I hearing from the Lord individually, but also together. I was elated. Later in the day, it began to feel surreal. Was this really happening? C & I talked about it, and we both felt that we needed to do this asap. I have learned from past experiences that when the Lord says something, we need to jump on it. Otherwise, the rewards may be less sweet as time goes by. Kind of like a harvest. When you know it's time to bring in the harvest, you don't wait for the fruit to fall to the ground and get all squishy and bug-filled. You get out there to get the ripe, succulent fruit.

This morning though and all through the day, I felt so extremely sad. I felt like I was in mourning. I know that we're not moving to Mexico or anything, but it is just such a change I'm trying to wrap my heart (and my mind) around it all at the same time. A couple of times at work today I began to feel tears slide down my cheeks as I kept thinking how hard this would be. How much I will miss my family. It truly felt like grief.

Tonight, as I was putting the boys to bed, I read about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (from their children's Bible). While reading to them, Holy Spirit began to show me the sacrifice that Jesus made for me. I mean, really, show me in my heart. So much so, that I began to weep uncontrollably. I realized that He left everything that was perfect and good with the Father, to come here. To be ridiculed, to be tormented, to be tortured and crucified. All for a people who did not receive Him. We, on the other hand, are being called to a church that is amazing. People there who only know how to love, and who are generous and good. I realized then, in my grief, that I needed to thank Jesus, let the grief go, and give Him praise for the new chapter in our life.
I am reminded of King David. After days of praying and fasting, his firstborn son died. He immediately washed his face, changed his clothes and began to eat again.

So, now I wash my face, thank Jesus for His amazing love, and the new chapter in our life. I won't get to give most of you a "proper good-bye"in time for this Sunday, but I am sure that I will see you again (sometime soon I hope!). These precious friendships that I treasure I want to keep going. I simply can't lose touch. It'll just take a little scheduling. :)

I am excited to see what the Lord has for our family through this act of obedience. Since we said "yes", C has already had 4 new projects begin...and that's only since yesterday!

Alright. Time to turn the page. Thank you for this "baby", Lord. Thank you that it's coming and oh, what a sweet day it will be.