From An Awakened Eye

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Infertility Awareness Week

The Nightmare of Infertility

Written by Rebecca Ingram Powell
This article is courtesy of ParentLife.

The dreams of most women begin as little girls, imagining their own homes, husbands, and happy families. For one out of six women, however, those dreams become a living nightmare of pain and heartbreak when infertility is diagnosed.
Dreams of a Family

Cara dreamed of having children. Instead, she experienced numerous trips to the obstetrician’s office, multiple exams, and harsh drug therapy. “The worst part was being around pregnant women,” she said. When you want a baby more than anything in the world, life itself reminds you of your inability to conceive.

Cara admits: “You get to the point where you are willing to do anything. When my doctor began prescribing fertility drugs, I was all for it. No threat of side effects was going to sway me from doing whatever was necessary to fill my womb.”


Barb and Brandon had been struggling with infertility for seven years. Barb confided, “When our friends had babies, and they knew we couldn’t, they began to feel awkward around us.”


She explains that there is a fine line between wanting to rejoice with a friend who is announcing her pregnancy and wishing desperately that you could share the same news about yourself. “I didn’t care how many babies they had. I just wanted one of my own.”


Part of every mom’s life includes ministering to friends struggling with infertility. It can be uncomfortable, inconvenient, and, at times, intrude on your joy. Yet you are to bear each other’s burdens. You can minister a soothing balm to your inconsolable friend.

Wondering Why
The cry of the childless woman’s heart is a resounding, “Why?” There are many causes of infertility, including endometriosis, ovulatory problems, and cervical factors. Sexually transmitted diseases and drug use also can lead to infertility. Some women experience a combination of reasons, while others are suffering from unexplained infertility.


Many women endure feelings of guilt and shame when their infertility is diagnosed. Some wonder why their devotion to God seems to have gone unnoticed. “I have served God my whole life,” says Jennifer. “I don’t understand why there are many unwed mothers when my Christian husband and I can’t conceive.”


Encourage your friends to ask God these hard questions. God has shoulders big enough to take on the questions, tears, and heartbreak of a childless woman.


5 Things You Must Know about Women Facing Infertility 

Written by Kerry Anthony

Infertility - a crisis in the life of many women - often receives very little attention. It is an unspoken grief that afflicts at least one in every six women. This represents a lot of hurting women. How can we minister to them? Before we can help someone deal with infertility, we must first have some background knowledge about what infertility is.

What Is Infertility?

The National Infertility Association, RESOLVE, defines infertility as "a disease or condition of the reproductive system often diagnosed after a couple has had one year of unprotected, well-timed intercourse, or if the woman has been unable to carry a pregnancy that results in a live birth."


This definition includes women that have not been able to achieve pregnancy, those who have had miscarriages, and also those who are trying to have additional children.

Five Things You Must Know about Women Facing Infertility

1.She may not be childless by choice. Society tends to assume that if a couple does not have children, they have chosen not to do so. The couple may not have options available to them to try medical treatments or go through the adoption process. Trying to have children through medical procedures and/or adoption is both very expensive and emotionally exhausting. Also, many ethical decisions have to be made regarding medical treatments.

2.Infertility is often a silent grief. A lady in your women's ministry may suddenly begin to withdraw from the group. Debby Peoples states, "Infertility changes you. It is a time when you find yourself disconnecting from those you love the most, your family and friends. A time when you pull back from the world and focus inward because isolating yourself can actually feel better than remaining a part of the fertile world."

3.Infertility is all-consuming. Infertility encompasses every aspect of the infertile woman's life. It works its way into her being. Left unchecked, it can overtake who she is. An obsession with infertility can develop which leaves the woman incapable of being able to identify with other women. The infertile woman sees other women only as "fertile beings."

4.Church can be a very painful place. Many events at our churches are family oriented. While it is important for the church to value families, you do not want to cause people without children to feel unwelcome. Celebrate motherhood but be willing to grieve with those who are not mothers. Mother's Day services are often avoided and not attended by couples dealing with infertility because of the painful reminders. Recognizing "spiritual mothers" is a wonderful way to include all women.

5.Infertility is a physical problem. Infertility is a disease with medical complications. The church has a tendency to blame infertility on a lack of faith or unconfessed sin. Learn to minister effectively, not offensively, to the woman who is experiencing infertility.

Four Ways to Minister to Women Facing Infertility
Written by Kerry Anthony

Here are four key ways you can reach out to ladies struggling with infertility:

1. Commit to pray for her. You may not know what to do or say, but prayer will be exactly what she needs. James 5:16b says, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective." Remember not to just tell her that you will pray for her but actually pray with her! Words of comfort can be hard to choose but prayer will offer supernatural strength from God. The Lord, our Comforter, is able.

2. Be sensitive with conversation. Try to keep conversations from always being about children. Encourage the ladies involved in your women's ministry to refrain from complaining about their kids as this can discourage one who is longing for motherhood.

3. Be willing to listen. Just having someone with whom to share the emotions of the stress of infertility can make a huge difference in the stability of the woman walking through the crisis. Allow your women's ministry to be a place of grace and healing.

4. Find a place for her to serve. Offer a place in your church where she can use the gifts and talents that come easily for her. By serving in this type of capacity, she will feel needed but not overwhelmed.

Do not assume that she will want to help with the children because of her desire to have them. Working with children may only serve as a reminder of what she does not have.

Take these simple steps to be sensitive to the needs of women facing infertility, and see what God will do in and through you, the women you minister to, and your women's ministry on the whole

From Jenny H:

Thanks for taking the time to read the post. Share with whom ever you would like. I encourage friends and family members to embrace those who you know are going through infertility, misscarriages and the loss of a child.  I also suggest reading Hannah's Hope  and becoming a Burden Bearer. In the book Jennifer Saake has written at the end of each chapter a section for those who have never walked this road, but are walking along side of loved ones that are. I strongly encourage you to read through the book to know how to pray for her. Trust me you will have a better understanding on how the be sensitive in conversation and not feel like you will say something wrong. Trust me... she wants you by her side now more than ever! It will be with your help that she makes it through this journey.   She is in a crisis and needs you there. So please reach out to her so that she knows she is not alone. Put forth an effort to be her "legs" when she can not stand on her own. We are the body of Christ and when one part of the body hurts we all hurt. So be there for her. Send her a short email or text with the word "Praying". It will mean the world to her in that moment! You never know what she has been faced with that day or will be faced with. The timing of peoples' emails, text and phone calls have came for me at a time when I couldn't hold up my head and didn't want to take another step.
 Thank you to all of my Burden Bearers who have embraced me and supported me in your prayers and kind words of encouragement. We will give God all of the Glory!

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."
Galatians 6:2


EWO,
Jenny H
Abundance is... shopping therapy,  sports bras on not so happy ta-ta days(but praise God for the ta-ta's!), Friends pouring the Word of God into me, a weekend with my Baby J!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Promise

Maybe you remember this song from when you were little say about 4. We use to sing this in the caboose with Mrs. Cabe at Sumday school. Yes it was a real red caboose!  When I was 14 I helped Mrs. Cabe teach and learned so much under her. So over the past 2 weeks I have been randomly breaking out in this song. I sing it to whoever is listening...myself, the doozles (our 2 pups), or J. See is you know it...

I am a promise

I am a possibility
I am a promise with a capital "P"
I am a great big bundle of potentiality
And I am learnin' to hear God's voice
And I am tryin' to make the right choice
I am a promise to be anything God wants me to be.


I can go anywhere that He wants me to go
I can be anything He wants me to be
I can climb the high mountains
I can cross the wide sea
I'm a great big promise you see!


I am a promise
I am a possibility
I am a promise with a capital "P"
I am a great big bundle of potentiality
And I am learnin' to hear God's voice
And I am tryin' to make the right choice
I'm a promise to be anything God wants me to be
Anything God wants me to be!


Fun huh? I am reminded of the many promises of God by this sweet little song.
Be blessed!

EWO,
Jen


Abundance is... knowing I am ovulating per lab work. Healthy family.

Monday, April 26, 2010

Speechless

 This weekend has been every kind of emotion you can think of....

Thankful...
that I had help setting up for the Beth Moore conference.
Nervous..
that no one would show up
Happy...
that ladies showed up and were blessed
Stressed...
because it took several trips to Life Way to get the books for the on site book store. 
Frustrated...
that I was the first one at the door 7 am at REACH and the 3rd one to have my labs drawn (long story)
Relieved...
that I made it out of there on time to grab breakfast and make it to the church by 8 am
Refreshed...
from the conference through the Word Beth Moore revealed in Ephesians 4
Exhausted...
from all the hard work and litterally man hours in the set up and tear down and set up for Catalyst
Blown away...
at the message Vic shared with us at Catalyst and how we try to bring Earth to Heaven, when God wants to bring Heaven to Earth.  When He spoke to Abram and told him to look up and count the stars.
Heartbroken...
that a dear friend had a misscarriage, when she so badly wanted this pregnancy.
Sobbing...
for 24 hours I think I have cried. I have poured my heart our before the Lord of all the crazy situations around me. Including a dear friend's brother, Jamie, who tried to commit suicide over the weekend.
Relaxed...
because I took several hours yesterday for some Target therapy and only bought the necesities.
Royalty...
because I was able to  relax in a "green room" with couches, water and snacks while I watched Jonathan on a tv screen play for a conference last night. Instead of sitting in an uncomfortable chair when I didn't care to hear the topic of interest. (wasn't really Bible based material)
Exhausted...
to the point that I totally forgot that I had an MD appointment this morning until it was the time I needed to leave.
Thankful...
that the only thing I wear to work is scrubs that don't require ironing.
Brokenhearted...
because a family member commited suicide on Sat night in VA.
Sad...
because I see pregnant people ALL around me. When is my turn coming Lord?
Frustrated...
Confused...
Hurt...
Jealous...
Rushed...
Overwhelmed...
Happy...
Tired...
To the point that I am just speechless!

On Friday I was looking for scriptures to email out to the ladies that would be attending the conference.  I was searching for the topic "power in numbers" and found this. At the bottom was a tab that you could click on that said next and I did and this is what poped up:

Overcoming Barrenness
1 Samuel 1:10-11 says,

And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the LORD and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."

These words are written about Hannah, who was barren. But God answered her prayer by giving her a son, and he became one of the most prominent figures in Biblical history—Samuel.

Perhaps there is a "barrenness" in some area of your life, and like Hannah, who was tormented by her adversary—so it is with you. Prayer can change things. It did in Hannah's life, and it can in yours. But there are several things about Hannah's prayer that we need to consider:

1. Hannah's prayer was not casual. It was heartfelt and deep. Too much of our praying is "skin deep." Only prayers that originate from deep within us get God's attention. James 5:16 declares that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

2. Hannah's prayer was specific. She asked for a male child. Too much of our praying is too general. Don't be afraid to be specific in your requests.

3. Hannah wanted the answer to her prayer to glorify God. Her boy would be dedicated to God's service. When our prayers take on the purpose of glorifying God, we have moved into a higher realm.

If you are experiencing a barrenness in any arena of life, pray.
 And let your prayers be heartfelt, specific, and for the glory of God.

 I was {Speechless}!!!


Hope this touched you as much as it did me. No matter what the situation.  It is for the Glory of God!

EWO,
Jen



Tuesday, April 20, 2010

I Will Carry You...

  So today has been one of those days where you know God is carrying you through. Does anyone know what I am talking about? I am totally zoned out today and feel like I am sitting in His presence. His comfort is so warm all around me.
 I have to share with you a secret text that I get every morning from my sweet niece Adrianna. She is 15 and has had a heart for God since birth, she is a 1 Sammuel 1:27 baby too. Today the scripture in the text is as follows,
"Therefore we do not lose heart, though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For out light and momentary
troubles are acheiving for us an
eternal glory that far outweight them all." 2 Cor 4:16-17. 
   This has been on my heart all day. And Praise God for His Word to cling too!  I would have just ran to my car and drove home to crawl back in bed a few minute ago if it wasn't for His word and the obedience of those believers around me.
  Let me explain why... I was minding my own business in the hallway on a binch at work reading Hannah's Hope and  this couple was standing around the corner I couldn't help but hear their conversation. He was on the phone with who I assume his mom telling her that the amniocentesis came back negative and they had just finished and she was going to need to buy them alot of dresses because it was a girl!  How exciting! Praise God everything on the test came back ok!  Chin up Jen, it will happen to you too, is what I was telling myself to keep from the lump in my throat becoming a tear on my face. Then I have to remind myself that I don't know their story.  I have to be honest, it is just hard when you are greeted at work almost daily getting in the elevator with a pregnant women knowing she is going to go have an ultrasound.  I think about how amazing it is to know that one of us in the elevator is carrying around life inside them. Then to be in the middle of the day again greated by such results. It's just plain trying on the mind. Then I have to remind myself that it is just a momentary trouble and he is renewing me today.
   Let me also explain how He is carrying me today... I received a text from a dear friend at 9:51 "If God can open the womb of a 90 year old Sarah and place a child in the womb of a virgin Masy. What will He do for you?  Taken somewhat off guard I immediately text back and asked her what stirred this in her spirit? She didn't reply but called several hours later. She said that she was watching John Haggie and he was talking about healing and said the statement above and immediately my name came to her. She said, "now Jen there are plenty of women around me who are praying for a baby, but your specific name came to me."  Talk about God's timing!  I asked her to pray over me what she felt in her Spirit and she did. Can I tell you I would have gone home "sick" after the senerio at lunch had she not prayed over me and obeyed God!  He is carrying me!
  So please, please, please be obedient and sensitive to the Spirit when He speaks to you. It may mean life or death to that person at that moment. I am incredibly thankful for the people He has placed around us praying for us.  I  mean a couple came up to Jonathan while he was DJing a party this weekend and seperately told him that they are praying for us. How awesome! God is dropping us into peoples hearts to be the body of Christ and function as one. Let me make myself clear... when one finger is hurting in the body the whole body focuses on that one finger.  The same with the Body of Christ.  I can feel the Body of Christ carrying me today and being sensitive to the Father's heart.

P.S. get this, I just fixed myself a cup of organic spiced chia tea and the tag on the tea said this:

Who looks outside, dreams;
who looks inside, awakes.
-Carl Gustav Jung
1875-1961

EWO,

Jen

Abundance is.... Hope, family in Christ, Prayer, His Word


For those of you who have experienced the grief of the loss of a child  check out this book by Angie Smith.
I can't wait to read it too!


 

Thursday, April 8, 2010

REACH out and smell the pollen

 Today was my first visit to meet Dr. Teaff at the REACH clinic.  I braved the visit by myself due to the fact Jonathan worked a 12 hour shift today. It went well the laughter of God met me at the door. Literally, the receptionist and her assistant were cracking up at me.  I was pulling jokes off the cuff like I was a pro.  I have no idea where it was coming from other than my prayers. I wanted to feel His presence and peace. Going alone was pretty fearful in itself so I wanted Him to go with me and He showed up.
For those of you who have no clue who I am talking about "He" is the Holy Spirit. Check it out its in the Newest part of the Bible. Jesus said He would leave this earth and He would leave with us the "Comforter".   I could not live with out Him by my side.  Ask God to show you who the Comforter is, He will.
 My 1st experience with Dr. Teaff was like meeting a Great Aunt for the first time. There was commonality and we just clicked. {yeah prayed for that to} I asked that He lead me to the right doctor for us.  She made a game plan that I am comfortable with and now we take the first steps... blood work and lots of it!  Now waiting..... the story of my life, but hey I am getting several books read in the mean time. {shrug}
 I return in 3 weeks for the results of the lab work then we will see what step 2 is. Until then, I am excited to see what God has in-store for us.  I am hopeful.


EWO,


Jen

Abundance is.... the {sound} of April rain with the windows up and the air stirring and cooling.  A night to myself to meet a new friend.  Knowing your not alone and having people to share your journey with.   The hope of a great weekend and the opportunity to reach this community for Jesus at Catalyst Saturday.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Beth Moore: So Long Insecurity You've Been a Bad Friend to Us

Get ready!
 April 24th
and she is live via simulcast at my church!!!!!!!!!!



I am super excited! 
 Tell {every} women you know about it.
Forward and post this link like crazy! 
{EVERY} women needs this!!!
Ok so can you tell I am excited?
 Here are the details...




Where:  UR Church

Doors open at 9am

Time: 10 am - 3:30 pm

All day event!

Worship lead by Travis Cantrell 

Tickets $10 / $15 at the door
Scholorships available just ask me for details
Have a girls day out! ... no childcare provided.


I am obviously the promoter for the event so contact Jennifer {me} for details. I would love to give you fliers and tickets for your church to be involved. Please email me at jailen2000@hotmail.com for more info. We want ladies from all over to join us!  We are so happy to have the facilities to provide this for our community!  Come and enjoy this confrence with us. 


EWO, 
Jen 


Spring Cleaning your diet

I don't know about you but I struggle with the fast food of America. With J and I's schedule I don't always have time to cook.  Today my employer Novant sent out a news letter on Spring Cleaning your Diet check it out....


Spring is here and all across America people are starting spring cleaning
in their homes. Follow this link to ideas to spring clean your diet.


Got Soreness? Don’t Quit!

Delayed onset muscle soreness is common after exercise and usually
means your muscles are getting stronger. This is good news! Read on for
more encouraging news.


Exercise Haters Unite

We know good exercise is for us but still we procrastinate. Here’s help to
face a daily workout without dread. It’s worth a read.
http://www.webmd.com/fitness-exercise/guide/hate-exercise

Rethink Your Drink

When counting calories on any diet we always over look the calories in
our drinks. Read the article on how to reduce the number of
calories in our drinks.


April is Soyfood Month!
(be careful with soy, it has a lot of hormones! Especailly for men, it can cause a decrease in sperm count)

April is Soyfoods month! Soyfoods contain fiber, potassium, folic acid,
and iron. Soy is also a lean source of protein and soymilk is lactose-free.
For a list of soyfoods and information on the benefits of soy, click here:

Get cooking with Soy here

Don’t let Allergies get the better of you!

Visit the link below for your 4 day pollen forecast. Enter your zip code to
see if you are in the green, yellow or red zone today.


Asthma Alert

Spring can signal more triggers in the air that
can cause asthma symptoms. This short video
provides helpful tips on managing
your asthma.



Cancer Prevention and Control from the CDC

As a leader in nationwide efforts to ease the burden of cancer, CDC
works with national cancer organizations, state health agencies, and
other key groups to develop, implement, and promote effective
strategies for preventing and controlling cancer.
Get all the latest information you need from this website.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month

Who is at risk and what are the warning signs of alcohol abuse?
Find links, articles and videos on this site for information on alcohol
awareness.
April is also Stress Awareness Month

Take the stress test on this site to find out how
stressed you are. Then check out the “10 Tools
to Live Your Life Well”


ENJOY!

Friday, April 2, 2010

Good Friday you have been a good friend to me!

Today is my birthday!  I turned 28 today!  {It sounds so odd to to say that, I feel like I should be saying 24} Any ways... it was one of the best birthdays that I can remember.  To be truthful I was dreading it, I know it is horrible, but I have to admit I asked God for strength for the day. I just pictured my "next" birthday as being so different.
  On my pillow last night was a surprise! Yep the B-day fairy left me something... ha got ya!  He was better looking than the b-day fairy {wink} This beautiful yellow purse was on it with a heart touching card from J. Written on the front of it was "My Sweet Jenny"... the title of the song he wrote for me at our wedding. Too sweet!  Those words take me back every time to the day of our wedding!  {ok I'm back now} ;) J has such a hard time holding in a secret so he said, "it's technically 30 min before your birthday, but I think its ok for you to have it now."  Just can't handle it... and yes the engagement was a surprise too!  That is for a later post.
What and incredible birthday morning!  The sun was beautiful beaming through the drapes! I have to admit I did sleep in 'til 9! Ya know your getting older when you can't sleep past 11 {wink to you Adrianna}.
So picture this... little me in my cute hot pink Spring floral top driving a monstrous {Big} black Tundra truck up and down 7th street in Charlotte today!  LOL  I am really laughing at my self and what people must have been thinking... "that country girl is lost is this big city with her {Big} truck." "Country girl doesn't know her North from South." {chuckle} I am telling you I went from one end of 7th street to the other... well just about... If I would have just kept going I would have found her.  Who you ask?  The cutest {besides Yuki} Asian girl {because we know even if they are 60 they still look like little girls} standing on the corner of Louise and 7th waving at every truck passing by with her Uggs' and black knit dress with an oh so cute scarf trying to flag me into the parking lot that I would have never found had se not stayed on her cell phone during the process.  Didn't I just paint the cutest Spring picture or what?  Well hold on it gets better... I walk into the cutest house/turned {Spa} with the windows open and clean lined decor with orange and brown solid colors and the neatest stripped carpet on the stairs {yeah I remember the oddest of details}.  It was so adorable!  Adrienne showed me up to her little corner of the spa and it was very feng shui, I am assuming.  I knew it was a match meant to be... her room was orange!  For those of you who don't know, my happy place {aka Kitchen} is also orange.
 I had my first appointment this morning at 10 with Adrienne Wei. She is a licensed acupuncturist who Dr. Trexler (my angle of a chiropractor) recommended. Adrienne and her partner Angie McInnis work together to optimize fertility from a natural approach which I {love}.  Angie is a fertility/maternity masseuse and in conjunction have had a rising 90% success rate!  So I needed to hear more from these two fertility making mommas!  My regular GYN told me last week she was ready for me to start clomid  and I was shocked by the approach.  I mean she hasn't even drawn one  drop of blood from me and  she was ready to shove me on the {Clomid bus}.  I just wasn't ready and I asked for a referral. So in the mean time while at Dr. Trexler's office on Thursday, I called Angie to talk about the fertility massage, success rate and all that good stuff.  I was encouraged by the alternative they offered.  Do you know her first question was, "Have you started clomid yet?"  When I told her {no} she was relieved!  So was I for going with my gut instinct. I mean I could be starting the darn stuff in 3 days! She said that it was better that I hadn't started due to the fact that she would not have to bother with fighting with the chemicals that it leaves in the body.  She went on to say that one of her clients developed a cyst on her ovary from the 2nd month of clomid that will one day painfully rupture. {Yeah my face did the same thing... how awful was written all over it!} So for those of you out there on the {Clomid bus} there may be an alternative to the hot-flashes and "don't touch me boobs" with the.... you have lived the picture.

I know I am rambling, but I just want all this to be in writing for me to look back on to see how ordered my steps are for this child and for this child to know how ordered their steps are even before God spoke them into this world!

  After a thorough assessment of my medical history and tongue exam, she realized I was a nurse.  Do any of you nurses out there hate when medical professionals find out you are a nurse too?  I just said, "well I'm not your typical nurse." I believe in homeopathy and other forms of medicine too. She just smiled and went back to taking notes on {shrug} I guess the way my tongue looked? She said I was slightly anemic, which I sort of suspected, and that we would need to "make my blood more healthy and ready to support another life inside you". That got my attention!  Guess I will find out more Tuesday on the tongue diagram details when I go back for a "real appointment".  Adrienne said that I was already 50% there!  This was good news... One step closer to {nurturing my little Promise. She was pleased with my "clock work" cycles but not so pleased with my low body temperature. {not bragging here ladies with the cycles, I have prayed for regular cycles since meeting {Aunt Flow (aka AF) for the first time. My sister-in-love went through fertility treatments when I was around 11 and so I knew the blessings of the Aunt}... She said my issues lye somewhere between my "heart and kidneys" {yeah I just nodded like I knew she was going to say that}. She said not to worry about that, she would explain every thing to me on Tuesday. We had to cut the appointment short, due  to my {wondering through the pastures excursion on 7th street}.  So looking forward to learning about all my mishaps in the {mid-section} of me on Tuesday.  Don't worry, I will keep you posted. {wink} Yeah and you thought this chick was a little Chinese grandma...nope, just 32, with an impressive list of degrees. Just check out her web site.
 So off in the {Big} black truck to my next appointment....Olive Garden with the Girls in my family! One of the highlights of the day.  I was so excited about this today. It has been years since we have been able to keep this ritual, well since starting a career 6 years ago. I walked in "lately but lastly" as I always like to make the last entrance, no it's not a personality disorder, I just have a bad since of time when I am not at work.  There all 7 faces sat waiting on the {birthday girl}, and yes Rachel Carico I included your sweet face, although where was my sweet Kerrington? ...The social bug that she is! As I hugged each one I was reminded of how incredibly blessed I am to have all of these Godly females in my life! Each one with their own story and heart to share, just as impactful as the next.  From the age 4 to 60 something,  they each owned a  story that would move the hearts of many if given the chance to share if they fully understood the worth of their own soul.  I am moved just thinking of all the intricate details that just I know about each of these women and that is nothing considering I am "only looking through a glass dimly lit".

 After enjoying the soup and salad at O.G., Mom and I looked at one another with the look of {shall we shop 'til we drop?}  We did!  I love days like this with her. Bouncing in one store and out the next.  We found ourselves lost at the existence of time.  She bought a darling white "pheasant" skirt and I found a charcoal gray dress with reverse pleats at the neck and waist high belt... oh so cute!  Jonathan ended up liking it minus the long pearl necklace I had paired with it. To him simple is elegant. Mom and I topped off the shopping excursion with a strawberry slushy, you know the kind perfect for a 91 degree day? Well thanks to Adrienne and the fitting room that turned into "2 bottles of water please".  {oh the life of a women}

Last stop... Cantina 1511!  Yes, Meredith I hope you have one near you in ATL dear.  I thought of you as we were pulling in. {Wish you were hear} But back to the night... A party of 11 showed for my celebration. It sounded like a party of 40!  A table of 8 or so were sat in the small room near the kitchen with us and they were, well let's just say lit when they got there. {LOUD} is not the word for the Ring leader of all of them!  When we left the restaurant we were all yelling at one another as if we had left a concert!  It wasn't as bad as I am making it to be, we totally made the best of it with the help of Travis. I will post a video of us doing the wave at the table! Yes, the wave! An not one of us ordered and alcoholic beverage!   I have to tell you I ordered the best item on the table tonight, thanks to my hubby when I couldn't decide between 2 yummy sounding items on the menu.  QueSaDIlLAS: Avocado, lump crab, jalapeño bacon and mixed Mexican cheeses. Garnished with an avocado crema. 
Served with a jicama slaw and red pepper crema. Oh and it was gooda!  lol
Everyone at the table sampled and voted my dish as the favorite!  And thanks to Hannah and Greg for being a good sport and missing softball practice to be with his GF and me for my celebration.  They brought the most darling cake that hit the spot after all the salt we consumed!  
 So thanks to all who came to 1511 East blvd tonight to make this a very memorable birthday, and for those of you who were there in spirit!  I could not have asked for a better day full of love sent in the form of text and Facebook messages, voicemails and phone calls, hugs and cards.  I am truly abundantly blessed to be alive to celebrate my 28th birthday!

How incredible to celebrate all of this with today being {Good Friday} One of the holiest of holidays.  I am truly thankful to the One who gave me these 28 indescribable years. Born into a family that adores me and married to the most amazing soul mate a girl could pray for to create and indescribable family of our own. He is so faithful to forgive me of all the sin I was placed here on earth with and created myself. I am overwhelmed by His magnificent {mercy} and {love} that I have felt today and any day that I choose to reach out and feel it.


Abundance is... the gift of {love} {sacrifice of an only begotten Son} {sin forgiven} {promise of a Promise} {life eternal with Him}

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Finding Focus...

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”


- Matthew 6:34 (The Message)