Life right now...

...is not going the way we had planned. 

Doesn't God like to throw in surprises and trials that seem unbearable? 

When the dark stretches out and we can't see the end- we don't know where the end is- is He still the same, the kind, living, holy God?

He is.

----------

Monday (the 26th) when my Mom was packing up at my grandparent's house, she fell coming out of their front door and broke her foot. We drove home (3 hours) and my Dad took her to the ER when we got home around 10 that night. She has a cast and crutches. and ironically, she fell at my grandparent's house in the same place and broke the same bone 7 years ago. So we are expecting the same 6-8 weeks of not walking. 

 Which means that our house is running on my dad and I. Dad is off work until the 3rd, which is giving us some time to adjust. Adjusting has been... interesting. It's hard for Mom not being able to carry anyone or anything and hard for us not to call "Hey Mom! I think the twins locked themselves in the bathroom."

So prayers for her healing and patience are appreciated. Also, prayers for my family. and I suppose the real reason I'm writing this is to ask for prayers for me. It was crazy to me how soon Satan started attacking me after I heard the news. "You know that's three meals a day and laundry for 8 people along with keeping the house clean and taking care of the twins and there's this thing called school. Oh and remember Wonka starts in 3 weeks." It took a walk in the snow to brush away the tears that insisted on coming and to say "Back away from me Satan. You shall not have this ground." The short of it is, I'm overwhelmed. But my God is good. I am feeling the peace of Christ as I strive for patience and joy. I'm not naturally a very patient person. :)

So prayer, if you can spare the time, would be wonderful.

 I'm going to try to post here sometimes, but if you don't hear from me for awhile, you'll know why. I'll be cooking supper, reading to 3 year olds and trying to grab bits and pieces of geometry during my spare time.

Thanks for understanding.

{quotes from an email I sent to my friends prayer warriors last night.}

note: if you know me personally, I would love to add you to my email update list. just leave me a comment or shoot me an email to let me know. if you don't live nearby or are not an hpa person, for privacy reasons, I won't be able to add you. sorry.

Breath of Heaven

I had never heard this song until recently, when my piano teacher brought it for me to learn.

I. love. it. (just so we're clear on that.)

The music is gorgeous, so soft and delicate and the lyrics are strong and amazing. I'm posting the video and words below.

 Breath of Heaven

Amy Grant

I have traveled many moonless nights
Cold and weary with a babe inside
And I wonder what I've done
Holy Father, You have come
And chosen me now to carry Your Son

I am waiting in a silent prayer
I am frightened by the load I bear
In a world as cold as stone
Must I walk this path alone?
Be with me now, be with me now

Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy
Breath of Heaven

Do you wonder as you watch my face
If a wiser one should have had my place?
But I offer all I am
For the mercy of Your plan
Help me be strong, help me be, help me

Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy

Breath of Heaven, hold me together
Be forever near me, breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven, lighten my darkness
Pour over me Your holiness for You are holy
Breath of Heaven, breath of Heaven
Breath of Heaven

Just Remember...

Source: craftily-ever-after.blogspot.com via Lindsey Marie on Pinterest

Rak Chazak

No words tonight. I've been watching Eric Ludy and God is speaking through him in so many ways in my life. Just take a look at this.

And be blessed.

My heart is full.

~L

After All the Hairspray Washes Out...

On Saturday, my family was so blessed to attend the wedding of Miss Elizabeth, our darling, gorgeous, assistant director for HPA. Now I haven't been to a wedding in 6-7 years, but I don't think I'm biased when I say that it had to have been one of the most beautiful weddings ever.

Now I don't have pictures. (Sorry, Josh!) I know, what blogger goes anywhere without her camera? Obviously this one. But one of my best friends took tons and I'll try to post some of those... maybe.

So today I'm counting wedding gifts, like so many others.

87. The thrills of excitement pulsing through out our house as we got ready

88. A new dress that I love

89. Hugs from the "D" family and Brooklyn as soon as we arrived

90. Josh escorting us to our seats really early, so we could sit and talk and plan and giggle.

91. Beautiful harp music 

92. Sarah Grace's encouraging words to the ring bearer and flower girls as they came down the aisle

 93. Beautiful vows

94. The bride and groom washing eachother's feet
95. The tears that were shed
96. In Christ Alone- I love that song!

97. Talking to Jenna back by the punch table.

98. Seeing friends who I hadn't seen in so long, such as Zach and Arie, Brooklyn, Libby, Genevieve, Mr. Cole and Annie.

99. Delicious cake :)

100. Hugging the bride
101. Utter happiness
102. The glee of our secret as we lined the halls
103. The look on Courtney's face when she squealed "Don't stop! Keep talking!"
104. The Wedding version of "So Long, Farewell" and "Farewell, Titanic"
105. The joy on their faces
106. The releasing of lanterns- in Tangled fashion
107. The screams and cheers and "We love you"s that followed their car
108. Goodbye hugs
109. A ride home

This painting made me smile, as I had two little three year olds watching me get ready. :)

I'm going to try to edit the song video we got and I'll try to get those pictures too! :)

People say...

People say that my Mom and I look alike.

 

 Maybe you agree?

:)

Where are you going?

{I read this today and was greatly blessed by it. I'm hoping you are too. It is by James Orr and I believe it is from the book, How to Live a Holy Life.}

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

We have only one life to live--only one. Think of this for a moment. Here we are in this world of time, making the journey of life. Each day we are farther from the cradle--and nearer to the grave! Solemn thought! See the mighty concourse of human lives; hear their heavy tread in their onward march. Some are just beginning life's journey; some are midway up the hill, some have reached the top, and some are midway down the western slope. But where are we all going? Listen, and you will hear but one answer, "Eternity!" Beyond the fading, dying gleams of the sunset of life--lies a boundless, endless ocean called Eternity! There, you and I are daily traveling.

Time is like a great wheel going its round. On and on it goes. Some are stepping on--and some are stepping off. But where are these latter stepping? Into eternity! See that old man with bent form, snow-white locks, and tottering steps. His has been a long round, but he has reached his end at last. See the middle-aged man. His round has not been so long, but he must also step off. See the youth. He has been on only a little while--but he is brought to the stepping-off place. He thought his round would be much longer. He supposed that he was just getting started--when that icy hand was laid upon him and the usher said, "Come, you have made your round, and you must go!" The infant that gave its first faint cry this morning--may utter its last feeble wail tonight. And thus they go. But where? Oh, where? Eternity!

If you were to start today and ask each person you met the question, "Where are you going?" and, if possible, you were to travel the world over and ask each one of earth's inhabitants--there could be but one answer, "Eternity!"

"Oh, eternity, Long eternity!
Hear the solemn footsteps of eternity!"

Only one life to live! Only one life--and then we must face vast, endless eternity! We shall pass along the pathway of life but once. Every step we take--is a step that can never be taken again.

This world is not a play-ground--or a place to trifle with time. Life is not given us to squander nor fritter away. To trifle away time, is indeed, to be the greatest of spendthrifts. If you squander a dollar--you may regain it; but a moment wasted--can never be regained. God gives us all the time we need to accomplish all that He purposes us to accomplish--but He does not give us one moment to trifle away.

We have only one life to live--only one.