Easter in color. These are some moments from lying on the front yard during a beautiful Easter Sunday. Abby was a ham for me as I played with my new camera. And of course I had to get a shot of my little man! Notice Abby's white tongue from the coating of chocolate Easter eggs... mmmmm... looks nice!

I love the Sepia editing function! Here is Easter in Sepia! And Abby took the picture of me... she is ALWAYS wanting to take pictures. I think I am going to let her start taking some with my old camera now that I have a mac daddy from Fly Boy! I would love for her to start nurturing that side of her creativity.

Wishful Wednesday

I wish I could wake up in this bedroom, walk through this hallway, into this kitchen and have a great cup of coffee while the birds sing outside and play on my bird feeder... A girl can wish!

Hallway photo is by John Bressler.

Tuesday Tip...

OK. So my giveaways didn't work out the way I had hoped. I was trying to add some fun to my blog. So... I am just going to share a tip on Tuesday's now.

Today's tip is on how to have fabulous curtains for little money! Curtain panels can be so expensive and they are now mainly sold in single panels instead of packs of two... they are so clever. You may buy two panels at 19.99 each but buying a pack of two for $40 would seem like a lot more!

Here is tip number one. Buy one curtain panel, fold in down the middle, iron it, cut it in half, and hem. You now have two panels for the price of one. This works even better today than a few years ago because they are making panels super wide! I did this with our curtains in the Master Bedroom and took the "new pair" to our lake house... for free!

Tip number two is to buy a cloth shower curtain that you like and cut it in half to make two curtain panels. They have the holes in the top already that you can tie ribbons in to connect them to your rod or you can hang them with curtain clips. They usually have great detail and you can get a great shower curtain for $20 - $25 or less!

Tip number three comes from the famous Layla at one of my favorite blogs, the lettered cottage. She used painters drop clothes from Home Depot for curtain panels! They are made with heavy fabric, are neutral in color, and are hemmed on all four sides! How cool is that!? You probably could cut one of those in half too and make two panels from them. And they are just $10 each!

So hopefully being creative and saving money is fun for you too! Do you have a cool money saving trick you want to share during this not so flourishing economic time? Please leave a comment and share with us!

WOO WHOOOO!

Yes, that is a "Woo Whoooo!" I officially finished my LAST batch of taxes for my former business, Georgia Jewels! NO MORE BEAD COUNTING EVER!!!!!!!! I much prefer selling my decorating services! No counting needed... just shopping with friends, picking paint colors and decorating with them! LOVE IT! Mary Jane is my favorite "client" but her mom is a close second! :0)

In addition, Abby's MRI and MRS have come back clean/normal. This is always good news BUT we were hoping a specific thing was going to show up on the MRS because then we could treat it... but it wasn't there... still a blessing. She has been having a seizure a week but is coming up on a two week mark... I think. I have been taking melatonin to sleep and may have slept right through one. She had a DNA blood test done last week that may show us something... we'll see. As for now, she is loving school (PRAISE) and doing pretty good!

We had the home inspection done on our house today... one of our two major hurdles. We should hear something back by tomorrow. Once that is done and the appraisal is done... I can start packing. I am collecting boxes now from my friends at Anne Taylor Loft!

And the adoption is still hanging on out there. Seriously. I haven't shared much because I wasn't sure what was happening but the family is begging us to take him. We told them they had to come clean with the birth father's name and he has to be served with papers to sign. He is in Texas and "should" be served this week. He has 30 days to respond. Mercy. It's going to be a long and crazy month but we keep TRYING to keep our eyes on the Lord and take it ONE DAY AT A TIME.

Happy Monday. I hope to post something fun tomorrow and someone is making a link button for my blog!

He Reigns

Amidst all the drama of my life, I am struck and must write about this time of year. My life would be nothing if it were not for the gracious and living love of my Lord and Saviour.

"And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"- which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Mark 15:34
"With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God." Mark 15: 37-39

To celebrate the resurrection of Christ, you have to slip back and revisit his crucifixion. Christ died for every man who believes in Him. It was not an easy death. It was a prophesied death. It was a necessary death. It was the most important death of all time. It was a very painful death.

Christ knew he would die. He was deity made man... and yet he implored God to let this cup pass from him. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, "he said to them. Stay here and keep watch." "Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father, " he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Mark 14: 34-36

He was Jesus. He was Christ. He was God's son. And yet he is facing the most horrible thing and he has done NOTHING to deserve. And to top it all off, He is doing it for people who are spitting at him, mocking him, stabbing him, and rejecting him. Can you even try and imagine?

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" Luke 24: 5

This is the most beautiful picture of God bringing beauty from ashes. Christ is risen and salvation is made possible. True relationship that was lost with the fall of Adam and Eve is made available again. Eternal life is offered. Can you not keep from raising your hands and praising His almighty name!?

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Glory in His Holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek his face always." Psalm 105: 1, 3,4

"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show his incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:7

When we become a believer and are buried in baptism with Christ, we are raised up out of that water and raised from the dead... just as Christ rose from the dead. We were walking dead in our sins and are raised into new life with Christ. The symbolism here is one of the most beautiful in Christianity!

Yet, it does not stop there. We are called to die daily to ourselves and to live for Him. THAT is the biggest spiritual battles we face each and every day. "Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life." Romans 6: 3, 4

And that is what brings me to this post. I try not to be preachy. But I DO strive to live my life for the Lord and I pray that He is glorified and that others can see Him alive in my life and want the same in theirs. I walk through sufferings, challenges and trials with the Lord by my side... with Him carrying me at some points, and I pray that anyone who knows me can know that this very same and one and only God can and wants to do the same for them.

I have my good days. I have my bad days. I have days where my faith is strong and my soul is energized with the strength of the Lord but I also have days when I am depleted and I fall to the ground and beg the Lord to stop. I am only human.

But the beautiful thing is the Lord loves me on the good days and he so loves me on the bad days. The Lord is there for me on the good days and he is so there for me on the bad days. How lucky I am, we are, to have a God who loves us as a Father loves his young child.

So I was a bit preachy today... and I don't apologize. I wrote this as a reminder to myself what this holiday is really about. As I continue to walk this challenging path, I am humbled that God's son walked one harder than mine... for me.

I pray you can fall onto your knees today and rejoice in a God who sent His son to die for us. I pray you can rejoice in the fact that Christ is ALIVE and so very active in our lives today. And I pray that you are reminded that HE REIGNS!

Happy Easter my dear and precious friends. I LOVE your comments. I makes me feel that our blog friendship is a two way friendship. I give in the posts and you give in the comments. They make me smile. They make me feel loved. The comments from people I have never even met, yet God has brought here, hold a very special place in my heart (Jill, Donna, Colleen) and many more.

Love and hugs to you all!

photo by http://www.musecatcher.etsy.com

I Love It!

Yeah... something worked out! I love it. I was so nervous the super blonde parts were going to turn black (they have in the past) but I have learned that Feria is a great product!

It's actually a tad lighter than I wanted... but that's cool since I can always do it again a few weeks from now and maybe darken it up some. I left it on for 45 minutes instead of the recommended 25... thankfully or I would have had some major red tones going on. It always takes my hair longer to process.

This is my 500th post, by the way. What better thing to blog about than new hair!

So what do you think...? Seriously... I want comments... and more than three! Have a wonderful Wednesday.

All The Important Things...

Amidst all the chaos, I am considering two "important" things.
1.) Paint colors for the new house
2.) Going back brunette

Now, number two is seriously happening tonight. After my last appointment of highlights came with a $130 price tag... I said, "No More!" So, the roots are way out and I just purchased "Moonlit Tortoise" by Loreal "Feria" for a whole $9.99. So... we'll see if I am up to posting a picture tomorrow or if it will have to wait for a few washings. Wish me luck...

Hmmmmm... wonder if I am going to look like her when it's done!? Did I mention I am VERY VERY VERY nervous!?

Monday and such...

Well, this week has started with a BANG! We sold our house Sunday and got a contract on the one we wanted to buy. This should bring excitement BUT there is still much to be done. We are nervous about our appraisal as they are way down in this less than fabulous economy. We got a great offer on our house and so now we just need the appraisal to match! (Prayer request number one!) I KNOW the Lord can do anything!

We are also trying to get some last minute maintenance items finished before the home inspector comes out on this one. One of which is replacing all the gutters. We had someone lined up to do that and then they just called today to say they can't do it for the amount they quoted us and want $300 more. Fly Boy will have to deal with that one tonight. (Prayer request number two!)

We are having the home inspection done tomorrow on the one we are buying and are hoping that everything is fine there. (Prayer request number three!)

Lastly, THANK YOU all for your love and your prayers. God reaches out to me through you and I am so touched by your words of encouragement and emails of kindness and love. Thank you for walking this emotional path with me, with my family, and supporting us. I love you all so very much.

There are some new issues that have presented themselves in this adoption situation... can you believe it? I am not going to write about specifics now as Fly Boy and I are in prayer and much conversation about them. God has shown us that HE remains in control and HE can be glorified that by us walking away... untruths on the part of the birth family have been brought out of the darkness and into the light. I KNOW without a doubt that this was part of God's plan and His will in how things happened and it excites me to the depths of my soul to see my Savior's sovereignty in action! I will share when I can... until then... because I know you have nothing else to do... you can add this as prayer request number 4!

P.S. This is a card I have made for a friend and I wanted to share it with all my blog friends as well! Hugs...

Have a beautiful day.

Sunday... A New Week

Flowers For Me...

I am sad today. I was ok on Tuesday. I felt God was in control and as prayerful as we have been through this whole process (over the past year and a half)... I had peace in that. I felt even better about it Wednesday. Thursday we drove home... with an empty carseat... and we decided to close this door and move on with our lives.

Just hours after being home, the lawyer called to say the birth mother again wanted to sign. We said we were not going to move forward.

Now I am overwhelmed with doubt and frustration and plain out anger... sprinkled with deep sadness of what may have been and complete exhaustion.

So I am looking for God's peace to return and I am angry it is gone. I am angry to be so manipulated. I am sad for the little one. His name is Marc. We were going to keep that name and change his middle name to Jacob. He was going to be Marc Jacob Sullivan and we were going to call him Jake.

I am praying that God has another family waiting who will not have to go through all this drama and just be able to swoop in and love him. I am praying my peace will return soon as I am rocking in wild waves of an angry storm.

So these flowers are for me today... I am giving them to myself... hoping the beautiful colors and textures will bring a smile to my heart.

Tuesday...

She is not signing today. We are going to the beach to rest for a few days. God is in control and we have comfort in that truth. Thank you for your prayers and love.

Sunday...

I can not believe we are leaving in the morning to go to Florida. We are meeting the birth mother tomorrow night. I am very nervous about that. As of now, everything is still on. She is supposed to sign the papers Tuesday morning and then our precious little one will join our family. Then we are off to the beach while the paper work is done between Florida and Georgia. It could take 7 to 10 days.

My stomach ache has returned. I am copying the last part of the paper work needed after my 8 page personal study on myself disappeared. Abby is packed. A bag is packed for him. Five copies of our adoption package are complete. The car is half loaded. And my fly boy is at Target getting some last minute items.

We said goodbye to our dear friends today who are leaving for Montana in the morning. They will be greatly missed.

I have a feeling I will be taking my melatonin again tonight. I'll be updating from the road. Your continued prayers, of course, are still so needed and appreciated. Love to you all.

P.S. The FBI fingerprints came in Friday afternoon!

Abby's MRI and MRS went GREAT! She did it without going under and we were so proud of her for lying still that long! Her bloodwork will have to be done another time. But it was a gift to not have to sedate her! Thank you Lord.

We also had two offers last week on our house. One was for full price but was contingent on the sale of their house. Can't do that since we want another one already. Neither are going to work but we showed it again yesterday, this morning, and have someone else coming Tuesday. AND someone else who saw it last week is "supposed" to make an offer when we return. CRAZY!

Friday...

Friday is here. The last work day before the weekend before the day we leave. The FBI fingerprints were not expedited. So we went back and paid more money to have them done electronically and they were "supposed" to be back within 24 hours... "almost always" come back in 24 hours. They are not back. And we have to pick them up in person. No one else can pick them up and then fax them to us in Florida. So...... we are to call back after lunch and see if they are in.

Abby's MRI and MRS is this afternoon. I have a SLAMMIN headache in addition to the stomach ache that won't go away. I haven't slept in three nights. I will be taking something tonight and if that doesn't work... my Fly Boy may get his chance to knock me in the head with a skillet. I HAVE to sleep tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have baby clothes in the dryer. More are on the way from another friend.

We are simply 2 days away from the day we are going to meet our new son and 3 from the day he joins our family. I am spinning. Of course, it could change... three days after we have him... it could still change. Breathe......

Taxes are still not done. I HATE taxes. I have to go back to them. My little tax fairey never showed up.

(my email is allfromhim@bellsouth.net... for those who have asked)

Wednesday of Planning...

We are cautiously walking forward and planning today. We are looking at hotels and planning our stay in Florida. It is hard to be excited and so cautious at the same time.

I also have several friends bringing by baby clothing for us to borrow. It will take extra effort to stay cautious with baby clothes for him in the house!

I am also working to try and get my taxes done (for the LAST time!!!!!!!!) for Georgia Jewels... I HATE bead counting and pricing. I am actually down to several pages of inventory sold with the business that I just have to find the invoices for to get the prices from and calculate.... UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I have a massive stomach ache today that started yesterday... massive acid build up in there... hmmmmmmmm... wonder why!?

We are one day closer... just four more days until we meet... that is CRAZY WONDERFUL! (in a cautious way of course)

Tuesday of Prayers...

"How precious is your loving kindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of your wings." Psalm 36: 7~

"For You will light my lamp: The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him." Psalm 18: 28-30~

"Blessed be the Lord, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him." Psalm 28: 6,7~

"... that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe..." Ephesians 1:17-19~

"Be anxious in nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ." Philippians 4:6~

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5,6~

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can not be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts, knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:26-28~

I LOVE to pray the very inspired words of God back to Him. There is something so powerful in that. And I think God likes it too. But what I like even more than that, is how active and alive the Holy Spirit is in our lives and how He guides, comforts, and directs us. I have always been moved at how the Holy Spirit HIMSELF prays FOR us to our Lord God when we don't know exactly how... according to God's will. THAT is powerful. THAT is intimate. THAT is precious. THAT is a gift. THAT is what I love today... the Holy Spirit and I are in prayer together and that is just too cool for words.

One of the MANY things I am praying for today is an MRI and MRS Abby has scheduled for Friday. Her seizures have been about once a week for a while and last week she had two. She is reacting poorly to an increase in one of the medications and we are trying to tweak that. The MRS is the test we are hoping may shed some light on Abby's chemical situation in her brain. There is one thing we are looking for in particular. I won't go into details now but your prayers for God to just HIGHLIGHT anything that needs to be seen and to open and direct the eyes of the doctors are much appreciated.

Love to you all... I am praying prayers of thanksgiving for you all today!

"A man who has friends must himself be friendly, BUT there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24~

Proceeding with Caution...

Just got a call. The date is set for next Monday at 6 p.m. to meet with the signing of papers Tuesday morning.

Now... I am not jumping for joy yet. A LOOOOOOOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTT can change in one week with the past history of this situation. So... still on the knees... fasting again tomorrow... and proceeding with much emotional caution.

LOVE to you ALL! Your support to me right now is so VERY helpful... you just can't even know how your comments and emails of love, support, and prayers bless me so!

Sunday

Nothing on the adoption.

I am sick.

Allergies have my head feeling like a pounding balloon, my ears and eyeballs are on the verge of exploding, my throat is raw and angry, and I just want to lie in a ball in bed all day.

We have a sweet couple coming today to make an offer on the house.

We are having a farewell dinner for our dear Montana bound friends tonight.

Going to be a busy, pounding, and emotional day.

Thank you for your kind words and prayers right now. They really do help during this uncertain time.

Friday...

After not moving forward Thursday... we took some steps back... called in the emotions and tried to get back into that "safe happy place". Friday we enjoyed the weather and did yard work. Then at 2 p.m. we got another call. It would be this Sunday (tomorrow) or next Sunday and she'd call back by 5 p.m. to let us know what the birth mother decided.

5 p.m.

6 p.m.

7 p.m.

8 p.m.

9 p.m.

10 p.m.

No call.

Saturday...

9 a.m. no call. no email.

Doesn't look like it's tomorrow...

Looks like we'll simply enjoy the day again today...

and wait.

Wednesday

It is in times like this that resting in God's sovereignty takes every bit of spiritual strength you have in your entire being... and it is not restful... thank you very much... it is exhausting.

Yesterday, we got the call, after the meeting, that the birth mother was ready and we could be going to Florida as soon as Friday or Monday. After the initial roll of emotion, I went to check through our home study profile package and found that half the documents we need had expired just a few months ago.

Initial panic set in, one being FBI fingerprints that normally takes weeks to get back! Then no one we work with was available. So we went from what we thought was ready to totally not! We are also having a very difficult time with someone we are working with that has added some stress and much disappointment and frustration.

So after numerous phone calls and emails, printing of about 20 documents total, and hours filling stuff out... we went to bed thinking the birth mother was going to let the lawyer know what day she wanted to meet and sign papers.

Thursday.

She didn't. No email, no phone call. So we cancelled our trip to San Antonio that we were supposed to leave for today (for Cynthia's graduation from Air Force training) and spent the day doing fingerprints, filing and mailing paperwork and getting new physicals. Still no word on the date.

Finally a phone call from Florida just to say... still nothing.

So we are hanging on by our fingernails right now and praying... trying to rest and trying to trust.

Tuesday of Prayer...

Monday Morning

We got a phone call from the lawyer in Florida that she had spoken with a family member of the family seeking adoption and they are ready to move forward. They asked to meet with her Wednesday at 1:15 p.m. Your prayers during this time will be appreciated so very much.

This is the furthest we have been in any of the domestic adoption situations that have presented themselves. It is a hard place to be. I am trying to stay in my "happy safe place". My mind wonders over to thoughts of the possible future and then I reel them back into the "happy safe place"... trying not to go there yet.

This is a hard thing to pray for as well. My prayers are for the mother. If this is right for her and the child, that the decision will be made as soon as possible, for everyone's sake. And if it is not right for them, that they will know and the door will be closed quickly.

I am also praying for the heart of this little one. Prayers for protection, healing, God's presence, and for him to be able to see and accept our love are top on my list. I am also praying for our hearts, as well as Abby's.

Thank you all, again, for lifting us up during this time.

Prayer Requests For The Weekend

This is a day late... but much needed. First of all, I LOVE the way a few of you posted your prayer requests last week in the comments of this one! And I did pray for you!

Thursday, we got a phone call from a lawyer in Florida about an adoption situation for a 13 month old little boy. There are a couple things that need to be worked out on that end BUT it could happen soon. My heart is SO trying to stay in a "safe" place but it is full of longing and dancing around much excitement and hope. PLEASE pray for this situation, for the birth mother and the little one!!!!

We also have the 7th "looker" coming to the house today and so prayers for God's will and timing are also appreciated!

Much love to you and have a great weekend. xoxoxoxo

Want Encouragement?

Listen to the words of this song... and be blessed. (song playing on my playlist... turn up your volume)

Your Love Never Fails

"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. ... "Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me." Psalm 63: 3,4,/7, 8 ~

I have had a really bad week. Blogs can be filtered information... only stories of the best things, the pretty things, the chosen things. But I have suffered something this past weekend that will forever affect my soul, my thoughts, my heart... and will linger on me for the rest of my days.

I do not share for certain reasons. But I can say that God has walked every step with me and surrounded me with a few of His precious children to comfort and love me. I have seen HIM allow me to continue to walk forward and I am so very thankful for His hand on me, His love filling me, and His grace surrounding me... and yes... His sovereignty giving me hope.

In the midst of this, comes Abby's school dilemma. This morning I chose to go to class with her and stayed for the first two hours of class. First of all, she had courage that just blew me away. We talked about it yesterday and I was surprised at how excited she was about another change so soon.

She walked into class this morning with smiles and purpose. She was being so brave I had to fight back tears. Then the blessings started poring down from her precious Father above. A little girl, who had been waiting for her to arrive, greeted her with smiles, sweetness, and hugs. The entire mainstream class was waiting for her with excitement. "Abby's here" they said to each other as she walked into the door. Then they started coming up to her and introducing themselves. One precious boy said, "She's just like us!" It was so precious... I REALLY had to fight the tears and I am proud to say I held them all inside!

Abby noticed her name was on a shamrock on the door, like everyone else. She pointed it out to me and smiled so big! PRECIOUS. Her seat was all ready with her name on her chair. "Isn't Abby so sweet," said one little girl to her friend. "Yes," he nodded with a smile. Another little girl asked if she could walk with her up the hall to turn in the lunch count and then took her hand and walked down the hall with her. To a mother... this, the kindness of other children to your child, is a precious gift.

She was in class with them for over an hour before you went into the self-contained classroom for one on one help with math, reading, and other skills. She transitioned beautifully. She'll be back in the other mainstream class for morning time, 2 story times, snack, lunch, recess, and afternoon specials like art, music, computer, and gym.

I am thrilled with how the morning went and I could see she felt very accepted. The bonus in all this...? There is another little one in her class who has seizures. They are going to be told today so they can share that with each other.

The entire class has a feeling of love all over it. It reminds me totally of how Mrs. Osborne ran her class when Abby was in kindergarten. Loving others and kind hearts are taught above the academics. When you walk into a class like this... you know!

So my dear Lord, I am sending you a thank you note. Your love and your generosity continues to overwhelm me at the most important times. You have brought me much hope and comfort today. You are so loving and thoughtful and I am so grateful for how audacious you are in our lives when we seek you, look for you, rely on you, bring our pain and joys to you, love you and trust you. THANK YOU. (and thank you for all your precious prayers!)

photo from http://www.leafiecalligraphy.etsy.com/

My Dream Room

I think I could have quiet time in this room. I think I could entertain in this room. I think I could get up early enough to catch the sunrise in this room. I could nap in this room, dance to my loud music in this room, sit for hours and stare out the windows in this room, have a birthday party in this room, pray in this room, rejoice in this room, LIVE IN THIS ROOM!

What's your idea of a perfect room?

photo from coastalliving.com

My closest friend is moving... far away... soon

My heart is so sad as the days draw nearer... nearer to the departure of a very dear friend. It is rare you find a friend you can laugh with, cry with, pray with, be real with, shop with, clean with, dine with... all the "withs" really. Add in your husbands getting along and children getting along and you have one wonderful package.

My friend has held me when I have cried over Abby. She has laughed with me to tears. She has prayed for me and guided me and called me and written me precious notes.

I am sad she is leaving.

Another Day... Another School... Another Try

Abby will be starting another school tomorrow. It's been a crazy week. Actually, that's an understatement.

I attended a meeting at 7:30 a.m. today with school faculty from Abby's current school and another school that offers a self-contained classroom. I knew they were going to suggest she go. But I had peace.

Abby's past days at her current school have been filled with emotion. I was so nervous to send her... to leave her. I was so afraid her heart would be hurt by other children. It has been. She is also hurting from having been singled out and frustrated with trying to learn.

So tomorrow we will try another school with another way and PRAY she fits in better. I went to the school today and met her new teachers to be as well as visited in the classrooms and I have new fears... fears she will feel too different. But I am clinging to HOPE... Hope that she will be in an environment to succeed and bloom... Hope she can transition again... Hope she will be accepted by her new classmates... Hope for her heart to be protected.

I am also holding on to thankfulness... thankfulness she can walk into class, thankfulness she can talk to her teachers and classmates, thankfulness she can laugh... thankfulness that she can be with us another day.

"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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity." Jeremiah 29: 11-14 ~

Two girls and some earrings

Since there were two pairs of earrings I posted last week, and two girls interested... I am giving both pairs away to you! Thank you for your love and participation. Since both of you have moved... I need both addresses. You can email me at allfromhim@bellsouth.net and I'll mail them to you. Missed you last night Erica!

Prayers for the weekend

It is hard to believe, as I sit here with the sun shining and the day warming up to the 70's, that it snowed like crazy on Sunday. It was a wonderful treat. We "played" in the snow like kids, and that was a treat. It's been EONS since I have played in the snow. Even though it was perfect for Sunday, I enjoyed sitting on my deck yesterday with a friend in the sunshine while our girls played in the backyard. I am officially ready for Spring now.

I have just started sharing prayer requests with a dear friend once a week. We share prayer requests and then pray for each other. I do not in any way need to be convinced about the power of prayer, the enriched relationship with God that comes from it, as well and precious real and true friendships is confirmation enough for me!

I have been trying to figure out how to start a prayer blog... where friends can log on anytime and share prayer requests and pray for each other. I LOVE it when daughters of Christ and sisters in Christ pray for each other... I think it is beautiful.

Anyway, until I can get a prayer blog going, I have decided to share prayer requests on Fridays. I KNOW I have several friends who read my blog and truly pray for me and my family. Some of you email me prayers, call me and pray with me on the phone, or just comment that you are praying. THAT is SUCH a gift to me... to us. I am HUMBLED that God has brought people to this blog that I have never even met who pray for me and my family.

Colleen is one of those people. I have never even met you... but we have sick children and our love for the Lord in common and you have come along side me and become a friend and prayer partner... THAT is only a gift from God... and I thank you so much for your kindness. Donna... you are another one. The love you shower over me, having never met me, is overwhelming. It just leaves me in awe of God's generosity in a time when I really need it. I have friends here... where I live, who have stepped away or back... and God has sent you in... from miles away... to minister to me and I am just overflowing with thankfulness to you all.

So, sorry for the shout outs... and there are MANY more of you that I keep in my heart. Thank you. Here are my prayer requests for this weekend. I thank you so much for going to the Lord on our behalf and for your love and friendship... I do NOT take it for granted.

Although I have MANY requests... I'll try and keep it as short as possible. I'll just give you four of my twenty! :0)

1.) Abby started school yesterday. The school faculty is SO KIND AND GENEROUS in spirit. Abby is the most special needs child in the school and they are scrambling to try and meet her needs... with graciousness and thoughtfulness. My prayer for her at school is that God will give her a little friend to connect with... soon. I pray the faculty will be guided with wisdom in how to meet Abby's needs and what we can do for her. I also pray they are touched by Abby and can see God's hand all over her. I pray her heart is protected and that HE touches her mind, opens it, clears it, and gives her the ability to learn. THANK YOU.

2.) We have two more realtors showing our house this weekend. We pray that love can be felt in our home and that the right family will want to buy it. We pray for God's will and his timing in this situation and His hand over any offers and transactions that may take place. We also pray that the house we want remains available and for patience and peace.

3.) We are grieving what Topamax is doing to Abby. We have exhausted all anti-seizure medication possibilities except for a new one that just came out this year. There is much risk in decreasing and changing medications. But we HATE Topamax. Please pray God will guide us, direct our thoughts and conversations on this matter with each other and with the doctors we are working with. Please pray that Dr. Cohen at the Cleveland Clinic will be able to give us some possibilities, direction, and ideas that may help Abby and her quality of life. (We are going there in May.) Of course we pray for her seizures to stop (it's been 4 days since her last one) and that God will continue keep her protected from decline. Please pray that we will be able to accept what life may be for Abby while we spend hours researching anything to help her... it's a very exhausting balance act. Pray that God will just restore her fully and be glorified.

4.) Lastly, there are a couple adoption situations we are "waiting" to find out about. We received a call last week that grandparents of an 18 month old in Florida were considering us and their lawyer was going to call us that day. We have not heard from the lawyer and there has not been any more information. This is such an emotional roller coaster... for many reasons. But please pray for God's perfect plan to unfold and that we will be patient and have peace... and strength. There are two other situations that we have inquired about but also haven't heard anything back from... which seems to be the norm in this process. Prayers for emotional energy, spiritual renewal, TRUST, and HOPE are also appreciated.

THANK YOU. Be blessed and have a wonderful weekend. Much love to you all...

Fundraiser for Peru Missions Trip- Number One

And He said to them,"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15~

I am so very excited about going to Peru this July. It will be my second missions trip out of the country and I feel, in my spirit, it will be even more amazing than the last one. There is something so intimate about traveling to remote parts of the world and sharing God's love with people you don't even know. There is something primal about it, something that excites the Holy Spirit inside of you with satisfaction and thirst for more. It's what we were created to do.

What's even more amazing to me is how you, yes... you dear blog follower, can be apart of and on this trip with me. Just by praying for this trip, you have become a part of it. You have connected your spirit with God's intent and plan for this trip. I am sorry, but that is exciting! The more you pray for this trip and for God's plan in it, the more you become a part of it! That's just too cool!

The other way you can become a part of it is by contributing to the funds needed for me and the team to go. I will be sending out letters for support to my friends and family but I also wanted to use my blog to do another thing. I wanted to give you the opportunity to "bid" on items that you can purchase and all the money will go towards my mission trip. I am hoping that God will be so abundant that I will have some to share with others... as one sweet girl on our teams has a husband who just lost his job. By "bidding" on an item, you then will have something tangible to remind you of your presence in Peru with us! I was hoping that would be cool to you too.

So here is my first item for "auction". It is another pair of earrings that I have hand made. They were some of my favorites so I made extra pairs! This is the last pair I was saving to use as a gift. They are made with faceted rectangles of aqua glass and topped with several pieces of faceted rose czech glass. They are too cute and very light weight. They are on sterling silver french ear wires.

The "rules" for the auction are going to be kept loose. I am going to leave it to God. There is no minimum bid and you can increase your bid in any increment. The auction of these earrings will close at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10th. The highest bidder will win and I will get with you on where to send your check. Your donation will be tax deductible.

Thank you so much for your emails of encouragement and support already. I am so excited to photograph and document the trip. I can't wait to see what God has planned!

Give A Way Day!

It's back... the number two gift of the give a way mood I am feeling! No, it's not a pair of used socks or even an old cool magazine... it's a pair of earrings from Georgia Jewels! The french ear wires are sterling silver for those of you with sensitive ears.

I had to save some things from my old business and this little pair of faceted smoky quartz earrings is one of them. They can be worn all year round and go with everything... brown is the new black! Or it is Gray? Can't keep up... anyway, just make a comment and they can be yours! I'll randomly draw a name on Tuesday, March 10th. If you win, I'll contact you and send your little gift in the mail. Be blessed!

* You can also check out new Georgia Jewels items at http://www.gajewels.etsy.com

Could this be our new home?

Here it is... the house we are HOPING to buy if ours sells. It's not the cottage house of my new dreams, they really don't exist in this little town. BUT, we love the stone on the front and it has the perfect space for a front porch to be added... with some exterior paint over the white, some shingle and some craftsman columns! Oh... and the wood and glass front door.

We haven't heard anything from the realtor that called the night before last night. WAITING is so hard and we do it A LOT! I am still hopeful but we'll see. I am trying to remain calm as my mind is already adding moldings, taking down cabinet doors and placing furniture in the above house!

This is the feel I want the new house to have. This picture makes me HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!

I found it on one of my favorite blogs and literally sighed when I saw it... HOME. Couldn't you just be there forever and never leave? I've always been a "color on the walls" kinda girl but something inside is shifting to the CALM neutrals with pops of color... Don is struggling with the concept of cream walls... I am working on him.

I LOVE my blue dinning room with our black table and chairs so we have agreed to a blue dinning room again (with white craftsman moldings). I am thinking color in the powder room but CALMMMMM everywhere else... we'll see. We may just be calmin right here where we are in this market! So we are praying for a buyer to come soon and for the above house to wait for us! We'll see...

I have lots of news. Part 4

Abby starts school tomorrow. It's a really CRAZY story (of course it is) and so I'll wait until I am not brain fried. I will also post my next GIVE A WAY tomorrow and post my first item to be auctioned for my missions trip! And yes, Erin, sweet patient Erin... it's on the way baby!

We also may be having an offer come in our our green house for sale! The realtor called last night asking for some more details just hours after his clients looked at it and asked where he might send an offer... we have our fingers crossed!

Where is my blog?

I have a lot of news! Part 3

Our house is for sale! Yes, finally, it's on the mls! It's really bitter sweet as we love our neighborhood and our friends and neighbors. I also love many things about our house but there are too many that we are not happy with that will take too much money for us to change.

We have found another house just five minutes away and so we got our house ready in a week! We still have some gutters to replace and then we are praying a buyer will some along and love it.

It's not the best time to sell, at all, but it is a pretty good time to buy. The house we want is empty and so I am seriously nervous! Pray, Pray, Pray!

I have a lot of news! Part 2

OK. Since I have another spare moment... I am going to keep going here with the news. Abby's hospital visit went ok. She did not have a seizure... but she did this morning. Ughhhh. We kept her up late and tried having her sleep in and still didn't get one. We really wanted one so that part was/is really disappointing. It would have been very helpful to have that when we go to the Cleveland Clinic in May... but what can you do? Trust.

But we had the unexpected gift of a neuropsych evaluation while we were there and it gave us a lot of information about Abby. Just talking with the psychologist gave me a lot of confirmation of things that were bouncing around my head. We are going to be getting her back in speech and occupational therapy as well as looking into a private school. Home schooling is not working for a lot of reasons.

One of the biggest reasons is that it is blurring the relationship between Abby and myself and that is killing me. I have always been her champion, her biggest supporter and her cheerleader. Becoming her "teacher" has put me into the role of the person who makes her frustrated and feel bad about not being able to do her work. It's been really tough. She hates not being able to do something and her ability to learn is just almost totally blocked by this horrible drug she is on. It makes us both feel like failures and has just been--- bad--- really bad.

So I have accepted that I can not be all things to her right now, as badly as I would like to be. She has SO many needs and there just has to be some help. And I am trying to accept that that is ok... and that I have not failed. So we have had a conversation with a private school we are looking into but may need to put her back in public school to finish the year. We'll have more conversations tomorrow and so we'll know more later. She is very excited about the possibility of being in school again. She misses it very much. We will keep praying.

I have lots of news! Part 1

I have so much news to share. Where do I begin? I am very excited to announce that I am going on a 9 day mission trip to Peru in July! I will be photographing and documenting the trip as well as working in the children's ministry part and lovin on some great kids in the orphanage! I'll be starting my fundraising soon and will be auctioning off some items right here on my blog to raise some of the funds!

It's a medical trip with eye glasses being provided to many poor people in remote villages in the mountains. A dentist from another church found out about the trip and is also going to give dental care! How exciting is that! I am SUPER excited and can't wait to look into the eyes of these precious people! Your prayers for the team, the people we will be meeting and loving on, and fundraising for everyone during this tough economic time will be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!
* Photo by oneworldartistry.etsy.com
** I'll update on Abby and more new news tomorrow!

"You have been blessed by the unfolding of a greater plan with a new life. This is a gift and a responsibility! Rejoice in the understanding that your lives have been brought together for a reason. Much will be shared and much will be learned. You have exactly what this child needs to grow in God's light, and this child will contribute to your spiritual growth. The bonds you will form are everlasting."

This is from a card we were given when Abby joined our family. I cut it out and kept it on the fridge forever... it's words just bouncing around my soul for days. Today, the words mean more than I could have ever imagined and I am so glad to have them.

I promise to update next week... with lots of new things!

Hospital Stay Starts on Monday

We are going into the hospital with Abby on Monday for a three to four day stay of testing. Your prayers are coveted. We are working with a new doctor who has an approach we like a bit better. He wants us to sleep deprive Abby to try and get a seizure instead of plummeting her meds. She actually had gone about 23 days without a seizure until two mornings ago. So we are now back to one night seizure free... that makes me feel better about trying to cause one in a few days. Funny side note: I had told God that if she had one before we went in, I'd feel like He was telling me it was ok. Smile... He is so cool like that.

We are also hoping that if we can get a seizure captured on the EEG that the information will be helpful for our trip to the Cleveland Clinic in May.

I'll be back next week. Love to you all.

Dates Booked

We booked our trip today to go to Florida next month. I am super excited and counting the days!

In the meantime, I am about to start attacking this house with projects! Oh yeah... it's time to "freshen". What to do first? I think lightening up the Master is the first must. Then tackle the lamps Mom gave me for my birthday. Then paint a chest cream and the bottom of the coffee table, and THEN on to the outside... making jar candles for the deck and to hang in the trees... paint some pots... here we go!

Meeting Hannah

We were so blessed to go to Brunswick this past weekend and meet the very precious Hannah Faith Castor. Abby was in love at first sight. It was so cute. She must have said, "Isn't she adorable?" at least 20 times?

She watched her sleep, jumped at each little noise she made and ran over to check on her, gently rubbed her and talked to her. She was smitten. Actually, I think we all were... I mean look at those precious tiny toes! And she is such a good baby to top off her cuteness.

One of the sweetest moments came when Hannah was napping. Abby very gently slid her favorite bear in the whole wide world, Marvin (the girl bear), under the blanket next to her and asked, "Do you like Marvin baby Hannah?" PRECIOUS. Thought I was going to cry.

We were also blessed to be there for Hannah's dedication at church. As a gift from God, she is presented back before Him as His and everyone commits to keep her before the Lord as they raise her in His glory and presence. It is a very beautiful thing.

Of course we had a wonderful time with Daniel and Jennifer too. They are going to be wonderful parents. And of course I got my baby fix in too! I could have sat and held her for days. We'll definitely be going back soon! Love you guys!

Congrats ERIN!
Abby has drawn the name of my first give-a-way winner and it's Erin! Even though I am always sad both teams can't win... there will be more opportunities for free goodies.
I was silly to think I could make and give something away each week and SO I am going to try once every two weeks! So next week there will be another item up for grabs... I already know what it is and I am excited.
Love to you all... keep an eye out for the mail man Erin.

And I'll be posting photos of our weekend with baby Hannah Banana (and her precious parents)soon.

A Valentine Note:

"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." Ephesians 5: 25-27~

My husband loves me. It's not a feeling... it's a verb... it's an action... it's a decision... and the feeling is the added bonus... the gift that follows. And to know my husband loves me, and to the be the recipient of that love is one of my greatest gifts.

Each year I am amazed at how God allows and gifts us with the blessing of our love

growing deeper and richer. It has and continues to just blow me away.

We are challenged, we endure, we obey, we grow, and we reap huge blessings from above.

This is one of my greatest gifts... ever.

The gift he gave to me this year was wonderful in many ways.

He blew me away with the gift of a Nikon D-60 camera. This is a camera I have had my eye on for a while and almost bought on a Day after Thanksgiving sale... but didn't... even though it was $100 off!

Now I know why I didn't... why I felt it was not the right time... I would have taken away this wonderful opportunity and moment that God had planned for me through my husband.

Our weekend at the beach gave us a lot of time to talk about a lot of things. As I was playing with my camera (my Nikon that I love) I talked to him about wanting to pursue my passion for photography a little more since I now have time to pursue other creative passions. I was planning on using some of the money from the sale of my business to buy this new camera that's about three to four steps up from the one I have.

So this Valentine's Day he presented me with a "coupon/IOU" for the purchase of this camera.

My jaw dropped. Then the best part of his gift was given. "I wanted to give you something special today, something that you really wanted and are passionate about."

Now if this statement doesn't seem extraordinary... let me reveal the true gift behind it.

1.) My husband has been pursuing me... seeking my heart... listening to my heart... to my dreams and desires.

2.) He is encouraging me in something I love to do.

3.) He is being very generous and selfless by giving me a gift that is nowhere in our budget right now.

4.) He is whispering the love of Christ to me... not by "buying" me something... but by all of the above.

5.) He is leaving me feeling known, considered, appreciated, cherished, seen, heard, and LOVED.

All of that... in a sincere and precious statement from the heart that was better than the camera itself. THAT was and will always be my best Valentine's gift ever.

I love you Fly Boy! Thank you for loving me.

Sadness

My heart is broken for the families and friends of the passengers and crew members in the tragic plane crash last night. Please lift them up in your prayers over the next weeks, every time you see a plane in the sky.

I praise the Lord of Lords for protecting my precious and loving flyboy every time he flies... thank you Lord for your gracious hands of protection around him.

Give-A-Way Handmade!

So without having jewelry orders hanging over me anymore, I have all this wonderful time to make other things! I am becoming a feltaholic! I have been making pins and hair barrettes and am working on a pillow, as a gift for someone, and so pictures will come later!

Anyway, in the spirit of "Love Week", I am giving away a felt heart pin! They look really cute on denim jackets, pinned to a curtain in your little one's room, or to a pillow!

All you have to do is comment on this post and you are entered. I will draw a name on Monday, Feb. 16th after we return from a weekend jaunt. Here is the kicker... the cherry on top... if you are a follower of this blog, your name will be entered twice! AND if you have a little one, I'll include a felt barrette! If your name is drawn and I don't have your address, I'll contact you for it.

Have a Happy Thursday! Hugs...

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17~

I will be posting a Give-a-way later today! I am thinking about giving something away once a week... why not?!

Banner of Love...

I have seen these banners in magazines and blogs for months... so I decided to let some creativity flow and make one today. I am pleased and think it's pretty cool. It's a gift... I hope she likes it! It was also super easy and so I am thinking I may be making more!

Dreamin and Wishin...

Thinkin and a Prayin...

So here is my dream house in Florida. I am so in the zone... ready to start packing!

The amazing oak trees with Spanish moss swinging from the branches, walks on the beach at least every other day, the salt moving through the air, the breeze, the warmth of the sun, the wonderfully delightful craftsman houses with tons of character and my "oh so favorite" arched doorways and deep front porches... LOVE IT.

Did I mention gardening year round and afternoon thunderstorms? Maybe an orange tree or two in the back yard... oh... and avacado! Yep... I am ready.

We are going back for a week in March. Dusty gets to go this time. It's time he met the mighty ocean and played in the sand.

I could handle this house too... or this one... they are calling me...

Dreamin and wishin... thinkin and a prayin...