Take time to click on the link below and watch this video...it's about 9 minutes long (sound is needed)

Louie Giglio - Laminin

No more words are needed today!

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Labels: God is in Control

This much I know is true...one simple act can completely change life's perspective.

I looked back at my previous post, and realized I'd stated something incorrectly. Aside from the fact that no one in my family can accurately remember Grandma TT's real name - no one is sure if it's Maria Theresa, Marie Theresa, Theresa Marie...I guess I should call my Grams. She'll know...

...another thing I stated incorrectly was that we're actually entering 5 months of "Baby Blessings" - well, 5 months since I started tracking all the things you track when trying to have a baby. I'm really only tracking these things so that in the event we do have to visit the doc, I'll be armed, and won't have to wait another year to gather info. Just trying to keep ahead of the game. (If you're a woman, or you've been there, you know what I mean.) O thinks I'm crazy.

So March will be 6 months. Those that are closest to me (including my darling husband) keep telling me to 'not stress' about it, and things will happen in time. I've been told by some (including myself) to just 'stop thinking about it' and when you least expect it, things will fall into place, among other things.

If you have ever been where I am - and trust me, I know we are very early in all of this - you know that those helpful words are easier said than done. Every day I hear of a friend that is newly expecting, or has just had a precious bundle of joy. Six months (well ok...five) of trying does not seem like a long time, but in my world it's an eternity. If you've been there, you know what I mean. Now, although it sounds like it here, I'm really not 'stressing' about it. I know God has a reason for everything, and there is nothing more revealing than His timing. But as you can also tell if you've been following along, I do think about it often. And I mean OFTEN!

I think about whether our first child will be a boy or a girl, I wonder if he/she will have brown hair or blonde, blue eyes or green, all ten little fingers and ten little toes, two cute little ears and a little button nose...will he/she be as pale as his/her parents, or will he/she miraculously be tan? What color will I paint the walls of our now "boy" guest bedroom. I get more excited about receiving the Pottery Barn Kids catalogs than I do the regular "adult" ones! I spend my days on babyzone.com and I've all but registered for everything baby.

I've listened to all kinds of advice, prayed all kinds of prayers, had so much quiet time with God that sometimes I think he's shaking his head going "You again??". I've mentioned before, seldom do we pray for God to "grant a wish" but instead pray for his will to be done in our lives. So my prayers are not for a child, they are not for 'success' or anything of that nature. But I pray for patience, perspective and a revelation of God's timing. I pray for peace and understanding and most of all for something else to think about!!!!

I've been praying these prayers for 5, going on 6 months now. Wondering when in the world God would reveal himself to me...when will he reveal his timing...or better yet his plan?

All the while hearing stories and studying about God's timing, there's been one common theme...God's timing is a gift. It can be bold and 'in your face' or it can be subtle and sometimes hard to find. But when He is ready to reveal himself and his timing for our lives, you'll know. Kind of like when you meet the love of your life...and you ask, "How will I know?" I feel like God in his infinite wisdom is constantly answering that question with - "Trust me...You'll know."

Tonight I got my answer. Now calm down...we're not pregnant. Tonight God's timing and an entirely new perspective was revealed to me in the most unassuming of places.

Tonight I participated in my first ever "mission" project with our church, and it was all I needed to put things back into perspective. Every other month our church takes a homemade dinner to the folks on the 7th floor of the UAB Medical Apartments. These apartments (15 of them) are maintained by the Birmingham Baptist Association, and are for patients of UAB that are originally from outside of the Birmingham area. These patients are all waiting on an organ transplant.

Last night I baked a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies - the Tollhouse recipe I grew up making with mom. I had to go back to the store twice to get all of the ingredients, as I didn't think it would be right to use flour that expired in June 2007, although I briefly considered it! It was late by the time I started making them, and I was tired and getting frustrated. But I finished just in time for bed, and our house smelled of fresh baked cookies - can't get better than that!

I left work a tad early today (w/ permission Mom!!!) and met some folks at the church. We loaded up the van and drove downtown. I've been to UAB a bunch of times. I've driven downtown a bunch of times. But this time was different.

We walked in the door of their small eating/meeting area, and I felt a world away. After setting up everything (a Valentine's theme), the patients and their families started strolling in. They fixed their plates and sat at the tables (I later learned in their usual spots). They were in a routine. Going through the motions. They had all been there before.

I watched, and poured tea, as everyone made their plates and started eating. When we were sure everyone had come through, we made our plates and found seats among the group.

I sat at the end of a table next to J and her husband. J is waiting on a lung. She is from Puerto Rico, and she and her darling husband R have left everything they have to come to our "land of opportunity" for the ultimate gift. R says he prays for a new lung, but not at the expense of another's life. His perspective had me truly in awe. He tried to joke with others through his tears, but was constantly praising God to be so lucky to even have the chance to be where they are now.

As I learned later, others in the room were waiting on lungs, hearts, kidney's, livers. Some had just received their 'gift' and were headed home soon! Praise God!

If you need a new organ, you have to be a 'match' - and I learned that not only do your blood types have to match, but there are all sorts of genetic factors that must match too. So one person may be a match in some areas, but not all. And your neighbor may also be a match...perhaps in all areas, where you are not. So these folks are constantly 'getting called' to say they might have a 'match' and a few of them (plus others on the list that are not living there) are also getting that call. Basically, the best match wins. Think of your lottery ticket. You have to match all the numbers to win the big bucks. These guys have to match all of the genetic factors just to LIVE!

One sweet lady said she's been called seven times for the lung she's waiting on. Recently (2 weeks ago) she got that call, and was almost a match, but not quite. The lung donor also had a good heart to give. And it just so happened that this lady's neighbor needed a heart. And he was a perfect match! So he got his gift, but she did not. But she was not discouraged. She had the hope of a saint, saying that her time will come, and all she has to do is wait on God's timing. And her admiration and excitement for her neighbor that received the heart, was the most inspiring show of true faith I've seen in a while.

As I sat there and listened to their stories, I started thinking about my life, and my thoughts and prayers of late. During the devotional, I instantly realized why I was there. True, I have a strong desire for missions, and a heart for God. I want nothing more than to use my gifts to glorify Him and to help others come to know Him. Yes, my cookies were good. Best I've ever made if I can brag! But most of them didn't get eaten. And I didn't care. That's not why God put me there.

As the devotional was given, and those lovely people told their stories, God's plan was revealed to me. It was not a plan of timing. Or a plan of answers.

It was a plan of God's Gift. It is a plan that reminded me to Trust Him. A plan that reminded me that when God is ready for us to be a "match," we will have our glorious day. And until then, we will wait patiently for our turn, much like J and her husband.

I will return to those apartments. And it is my prayer that at least one of them has received their gift and returned home, and that the others still waiting will know of God's Gift for them.

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Labels: God is in Control

I feel like it has been absolutely forever since I last updated. Sorry to keep you all in suspense! Nothing major is going on with us right now...just keeping very busy with school and work.


We are officially entering month 4 of "Baby Blessings" (that's what I'm calling it anyway), and have had no such luck. But alas, it's not our decision when that blessing will come...so we are continuing to pray about it and remembering our "Words to Live By" (see top of blog). Patience has become my middle name. Not officially anyway, but I will answer to it!


In January we attended our share of events. First we had little LC's 2nd birthday party. That was a blast and I'm sad that I didn't take my camera. I'll need some pics from LC's Momma! It was "LC's Sweet Shoppe" theme, and the cutest little person's birthday party I've been to in a long time! The children all had an abundance of candy ~ which I'm sure the other parents LOVED when they went home! And each child had their own gingerbread house to decorate! It was such a cute idea! The pinata didn't work out as planned (pull string, not whack!) and the string broke off without the candy falling out. The cute part was that when Aunt Christy finally got the candy to fall out, there were children standing directly under it, and they got showered with sweets! Think of that commercial where it's raining shoes (my dream!) and change it to 2-3 year olds and it's raining candy. Ahh to be 2 again!!


We also attended a "Walk Through the Old Testament" seminar at church. I had a blast! Owen got a little bored, but did say that he learned alot. In this seminar, we learned how to act out in less than three minutes - 77 people, places and events in order of the entire Old Testament using hand motions. It was very educational. Although it did take 5 hours to learn, we were constantly up and down and moving around, so the time flew by. I hope they have a Walk Through the New Testament seminar soon. I'll def attend! If you hear of this coming to a church near you, I highly recommend participating!

Owen had his first experience helping me with the munchkins at Children's Church. We figured he'd better get some baby time in before he has one of his own! After getting him through the security clearance, he joined me for my January session. The kids LOVED him! They flocked to him, and made him read books over and over again. At first he didn't understand that they actually wanted him to read the words, and he was just pointing to the pictures...they were having none of it! They kept throwing the book in his lap and saying "Ree...Ree" After he actually read the book to them, they were quite happy! Here's to hoping he'll return for the March session!

At the end of January I embarked on my second hunting trip of my life. Me, Owen and Granddaddy Johnny went to Macon County for the last official day of deer season. After getting settled in the shooting house, I broke out my yarn, crochet needle and instruction book.

I've decided to teach myself how to crochet. When I was little, I used to sit on my Great Grandma TT's lap while she made me blankets. I still have them, and I cherish them. Mom says I remind her of TT (Maria Theresa to be exact...and you must say Theresa with an Italian accent (leave off the 'a') because she came to America from Italy as a child) We just called her Grandma TT for short. Anyway...I love daisies, used to hate Mexican food...TT loved daisies and thought Mexican food smelled like dirty feet...and on that note, we both hate for anyone to touch our feet, much less touch anyone else's. And TT used to make us blankets...big fluffy yarn blankets. So for some reason I got a wild hair to learn how to make them. So far so good...I've made about a half of a quarter of my first blanket. It's pink, and I'm going to try to add some white to it. Not sure who will get it yet...still debating that!

Anywho...back to the hunting - we sat there for a good while, and watched a momma doe and some little ones way far away from us in the field. Then out of nowhere came this nice 8 point. Owen whispered "There he is...that's him. Grab your gun" So I grab my gun and rest it up on the side of the lookout window, and aim. Then I got the shakes (apparently that's what happens)...and I couldn't keep the rifle steady. I have no issues shooting a gun, or the deer (see Genesis9:1-3 on hunting). I think it was just the whole "thrill of the hunt" that had me shaking. At least that's what O and Johnny say! I finally got to where I thought I was steady, and pulled the trigger. Woosh...that bullet flew by the deer's head going 9 million miles an hour, and landed in the field behind him about 200 yards away. Kicking up lots of dust in it's path. Which turned out to be a good thing. I didn't know how to reload quickly and quietly, so Owen said "Don't move" and grabbed his gun and sat down next to me. Meanwhile the deer was looking at the dust still settling 200 yards behind him, frozen. BAM! Owen got him with one shot. Which is not typical of Owen. For some reason when he shoots deer, it takes him a shot or two. Of course we only hunt if we need the meat. Owen loves deer meat...I haven't taken a liking to it yet. Need a good recipe I guess. But we've got a freezer full of it now if anyone needs some! I guess when this recession hits bottom we'll still have food to eat.

While we were gone hunting, Tas stayed with his little family - Rezi and Gabby. He also got Doggie Bronchitis at the end of January. It's just like people bronchitis, but his coughing sounded horrible. The worst was when he ran a fever and just shook for an entire day. He's feeling much better (still coughs occasionally) and is back to his old antics of eating 7 corn muffins off the stove. He was a bit gassy earlier this week from that adventure!!!

And now here we sit in February. This month will be busy as well...our best friend Lee is being ordained as a Deacon in our church this Sunday. We're so happy for him! And then on Tuesday I'm participating in my first ever Missions project!! We're providing a "Valentine's Meal" for the folks at UAB Medical Apartments. I'm so excited! I'm baking cookies. I think I'll bake a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies. Who doesn't like those!!

The idea of mission work has been weighing heavily on my heart lately for some reason. I feel a very strong desire to be heavily involved with mission work this year. Perhaps a reason why Baby Blessings have not been bestowed?! Only time and prayer will tell! Please pray for me in these areas that God's will and plan for us will be revealed!

And I promise not to keep you waiting so long for updates in the future!!!

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Labels: God is in Control, Keeping Busy, Long Time Away, Munchkins, Tas