My Pretty Girls!

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If you will permit me to take a moment and be transparent with you, I will tell you that I am struggling. I am feeling sad and inpatient, and panicy. I think I can attribute the majority of it to a spike of hormones, this is pretty common about six months after a miscarriage. It has been a bit difficult thinking about the fact that I would have been 8 months along and almost done with my pregnancy now. But, I honestly do rejoice in the fact that my precious baby is at home in Heaven, resting in the Lord's sovereign, loving arms!
I have not been a very good mother lately. My girls are sick and have been needing me every second (or so it feels like) and I have been impatient with them. I have been feeling panicky as I look around my house and see all that needs to be done (my Christmas tree is still up!) and all that I want to do. I have been feeling guilty and at times a little out of control.
There are also a few things that I have been feeling anxious about, the Lord really convicted me about that in my devotions from Matthew 6 today. In paraphrase it said, that I was to not be anxious about tomorrow and to just focus on God's kingdom and righteouness and not worry about anything else! Good reminder of what I need to be meditating on!
I also read two things in the Valley of Vision that really encouraged me.
"Continue to teach me that Christ's righteousness satifies justice and evidences thy love; help me to make use of it by faith as the ground of my peace and of thy favour and acceptance, so that I may live always near the cross." (pg. 88)
"I rejoice to think that all things are at thy disposal, and I love to leave them there."
So there it is, my transparancy for today!

I Don't Sew

but Mom and I decided to try and replicate these "creatures" we saw at a store while we were on our beach vacation last week. We went to the thrift store and bought various forms of material and sewed away. This is what we came up with. Anna and Rylie are quite pleased with them!

9 ways to pray for your soul (by John Piper)

Here are some ways to pray for yourself so that you're praying in sync with the way God works.

1. For the desire of my heart to be toward God and his Word.
Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to gain. (Psalm 119:36)
2. For the eyes of my heart to be opened.
Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. (Psalm 119:18)
3. For my heart to be enlightened with these “wonders.”
[I pray] that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened. (Ephesians 1:18)
4. For my heart to be united, not divided, for God.
O Lord, I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. (Psalm 86:11)
5. For my heart to be satisfied with God and not with the world.
O satisfy us in the morning with Your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. (Psalm 90:14)
6. For strength in this joy, and endurance during the dark seasons.
[I pray that God] would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man. (Ephesians 3:16)
7. For visible good deeds and works of love to others.
[I pray that you] will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord...bearing fruit in every good work. (Colossians 1:10)
8. For God to be glorified.
Hallowed be thy name. (Matthew 6:9)
9. In Jesus’ name.
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him? (Romans 8:32)
--John Piper

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mommy! We love you very much! You are such an example of the Proverbs 31 woman! Thank you for all you have taught us and done for us! You are an incredible Mother and Grandmother! Have a wonderful day!

(pictures are from her Birthday party we had yesterday evening)

What an amazing day! We had our first service as a combined, merged church today. It was incredible! Last night we went to the church so Ryan could put together the power point. As Rylie and I sat there in the chairs I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to pray for the service today. Rylie and I prayed that the Lord would be glorified through it all. As I sat in those same chairs today, listening to 450 people singing, as one body, "In Christ Alone", I felt that prayer being answered. As the tears trickled down my cheeks I praised the Lord. I am so excited to see how God works this next year!
(pictures from the service in post below)

First Service!

The Pastors








Rev. Sprague













Dad, the Senior Pastor











Joe, Kim, Carlee doing a special.










Awesome Worship time.









Before Service



























Becky doing an amazing job at the piano.










My girls in their Sunday best!