back to blogland :-)

new computer means I'm back in blogness (business :-).  some of you know that I just got back from an amazing mission trip to Africa and while I was there I was able to do something I have always struggled to do consistently and that is journaling.  so as soon as I recover from jetlag and get my photos downloaded and finish processing through everything the Lord was teaching me, I am going to start a little blog series about my trip.  so stay tuned!!

Thankful...

(I hijacked my sister's laptop so I could post :-) 


I have had so much on my heart and mind the last few weeks coming into the holiday season.  My emotions have run the gammut of complete indifference to overwhelming gratitude and thanksgiving.  It's no secret to anyone who knows me that one of the deepest desires of my heart is to be married and have children of my own.  So each holiday season that comes and goes without a spouse gets tougher.  I see the blessings of Godly spouses and sweet babies that the Lord has given to my friends and siblings and it makes me want it even more.  But at the same time, in the last year the Lord has revealed Himself to me in ways I could have never dreamed of and I know that my identity is in Him and not in my marital status.  He has been my Rock, my Redeemer, my Comforter, my Provider, and most of all I have peace in knowing that He is a promise keeping God.  Over and over in the Bible, He shows His faithfulness to His people and to the promises He has made to them.

So here I sit, in this beautiful beach house, and am overwhelmed with gratitude and thanksgiving that the God of all the universe, sent His son Jesus to die on the cross for my sins, and blessed me with these wonderful, amazing, crazy people to love and do life with!!  It's not always easy, it can get really messy sometimes, but they are the tangible love of Christ in my life and I don't know where I would be without them!!

                                                                                                                        

laptop down :-(

After 5 yrs I think that my laptop officially bit the dust :-(  Thus why I haven't posted in awhile.  I have lots to say and even more pictures to post so hopefully I will be able to do that soon!!!  Just wanted my 2 faithful readers (lol) to know that I want to blog but haven't been able to :-)

weekend of surprises!!

This past weekend I headed to Greensboro for my sister Kaitlin's birthday celebration.  I can't believe she is 17!!!  I honestly remember when she was born and it seems like it was just yesterday!!  She has grown up into such a beautiful and special young lady and I am so excited to see what the Lord has for her future!!  We had a fun dinner at a local mexican restaurant and then headed back to Erin's house for cake and some fun with Super Mario Bros on the Wii :-)  My little nephews are obsessed with this game and are soo funny when they play.  They jump up and down trying to get their player to jump up and down and keep getting closer and closer to the tv while they play...hilarious to watch!! 

When I pulled up to the mexican restaurant I discovered that one of my favorite stores has come to NC and is at Friendly Center in G'boro.  I found this store last year when I went to Houston with my friend Amy and we were shopping at the Galleria (which is one of the largest malls in America).  It is called Charming Charlie http://www.charmingcharlie.com/ and is one of the cutest accessories stores I have ever been in.  It is very reasonably priced, the store is organized by color, so if you are looking for something specific you can go right to the color you need!!  They have EVERYTHING!!  Shoes, handbags, jewelry, hair accessories, sunglasses, and even a little bit of clothing.  I hope we get one in Raleigh soon!!!

Then to top the weekend off I made a last minute trip to Wilmington to meet up with my precious friend Julianne.  It was an amazing 24hrs of relaxation and sleep and fellowship.  I am so thankful to the Lord for bringing her into my life at just the right time.  I was feeling lonely and disconnected and she has truly been the love of Christ in my life!!  What a blessing that the Lord knew I needed and provided before I even had a chance to ask for it :-) 



Here are a few pics from the birthday party-somehow I didn't actually get a picture of the birthday girl but here are some of my sweet neices and nephews :-)

'everyday' miracles

Just when I am getting frustrated and burnt out at work with the intensity of the work pace or the politics of the management, the Lord sends me a little reminder about how precious my work really is!! 

I have had the honor and privilege to take care of some very special babies and their families over the last 5 and a half years.  This past weekend I was able to attend a reunion party for a few of these families.  To celebrate the miraculous way that God has healed these sweet ones and to cry over the ones that weren't as fortunate.  These precious babies faced incredible odds stacked against them before they were even born. Their families were thrust into a new world that involved ventilators, ECMO, and multiple surgeries before they even met their little ones.  But after weeks, and in some cases months, of the emotional roller coaster known as neonatal intensive care, they beat the odds!!  It is nothing short of a miracle that they are alive and I got to be a part of it!! 

The Lord has truly blessed me through caring for, crying with, and laughing with these families.  It is what makes the most stressful and exhausting work days worth it and what I get in return is worth more to me than the paycheck I get every 2 weeks.  I have made friends that will last a lifetime, but even more we are family!!


here are a few pics from saturday...also for more info about these precious little ones and what their families went through check out http://www.theparkerreesefoundation.com/

in Your arms...

Lately I have been struggling with discouragement, frustration and overall discontentment. I was having an especially hard time this weekend and while surfing iTunes for some new music I found the new Meredith Andrews CD so I downloaded it and the songs and lyrics have been a soothing balm to my heart and my soul. So I thought I would share with you one of the songs that has especially spoken to me. It almost feels like this song was written just for me. I pray it is just as encouraging to you!!

I'm turning the world off

Embracing the silence

Walking away from all the voices

That are screaming in my ear

I've been too caught up

I've been so stressed out

And all of the noise replaced the whisper

That used to be so clear

So I close every door

And put my face back on the floor

And I'm in Your arms

Where I belong

There's no other place for me

Than right where You are

Some things just don't change

When I call Your name

You never hesitate to wrap me in endless grace

When I'm in Your arms

I'm letting my fears go

Giving you control

For you are the one who holds me closer

In my soul's darkest night

Everything I see

Is so temporary

So help me to run the race before me

With eternity in sight

So I close every door

And put my face back on the floor

And I'm in Your arms

Where I belong

There's no other place for me

Than right where You are

Some things just don't change

When I call your name

You never hesitate to wrap me in endless grace

When I'm in your arms

Long time gone...

I'm sure that since it has literally been months since my last post I may have lost some of my readers :-) But for the faithful few...I am back!! I am working on updating all my blog info, etc and I promise to have a real post in the next couple of days. I have a lot on my heart and my mind that I am sorting through to share with you all. But I am renewing my efforts to get back on the blogwagon!!

Love ya'll :-)