a changed heart.

I've been reflecting back on Judgement House these past couple of weeks, I saw God work in ways that I didn't ever see affecting me personally. Mainly because I was raised going to church and accepted Christ as my Savior at age 5...the typical (in my mind) story of a christian. But as I was growing up circumstances and situations that came up pushed me farther and farther from God. I was very angry at God all through highschool, putting up walls all around me not only with God but also with friends and family. I'm difficult to get to know on a personal level with most people I interact with (I'm sure you could just ask some of the people in our life group!) The past 5 years a lot has happened inside me and I've been slowly changing, no longer angry at God and understanding His will for me going through the valley in my past to get here in the present.

Judgement House was different this year in that I saw first hand God working in situations that have affected me directly. The Holy Spirit moved through me in a way that I have never experienced it. It gave me hope and a purpose that I am bringing God glory. That is something I haven't felt.

On celebration Sunday after Judgement House I was given the opportunity to minister to a man who is dying with only weeks left. This, is not my comfort zone by all means. As this man reached out for my hand with tears streaming down his face and him asking me to pray with him, I opened my mouth and the words that came out of my mouth were not my own. w o w. The power of the Holy Spirit is mighty. I have never experienced ANYTHING like that before and know that I will never forget it. Discovering the body of Christ working together and praying together for strength, endurance and wisdom is uplifting. Thank you to those that prayed for this man that day, for me, my nerves and the whole situation.

I don't know if he accepted Christ as His Savior or not. He said that he wanted to do it privately when I offered to help him. If you think of him will you pray for him?

All the above to say that I have a changed heart after JH this year, like I have never felt before...even my husband can see it!

one of a kind

God originally designed and "prescribed" you.
from Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, p. 141

I LOVE this quote. it makes me feel special. :-)

Tonight as I was carrying Julia to her room after we rocked a little bit, I tripped in the hallway. On what you might ask? a sack of potatoes. Julia has taken to hauling a sack of potatoes around the house now. God built a one of a kind mold for her when she was designed. Just when I think I can't love her anymore, I find that the love keeps growing deeper...even over a sack of potatoes.

"Thoughts positive or negative, grow stronger when fertilized with constant repetition."

Come Before Winter, p. 239

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

I choose to be happy this week no matter what situation arises and let every thought praise God for what He has provided. Here are some things/memories that make me happy (not in any particular order).

1. I LOVE pink...it makes me sooooo happy. we had a pink wedding :-)
2. coupons!
3. the seasons changing...especially spring and fall.
4. jeans and sweatshirts
5. chocolate
6. cheesecake
7. mexican food
8. taking pictures
9. babies!!! when they're sleeping and cuddle up right under your chin in your neck.
10. Julia's giggles
11. lazy days with my family.
12. daydreaming
13. having our car paid off!!!
14. seeing the face of my heavenly Father someday... what conversations will we have? how will I feel standing in His presence? what will heaven look like? makes me wonder...

Happy the rest of the week to you!

fifty-five

Thank You for being a great provider while I was growing up dad, I am Blessed by having you as my father and could not imagine life without you. I enjoy all our laughing and joking together...wish I had a picture of the eight layer collapsed cakes I would make you for your birthday's.

Glad we could celebrate with you tonight!

Love you!

outting

So tomorrow I think we're going to try taking Julia to church with us. He spots are mostly gone now. She's not contagious...she can just pick germs up easier. She won't be able to play with her little friends in the nursery but we also know that we can't protect her from everything forever. Plus she's going nuts here at home...distroying our home by dragging EVERYTHING out of closets and drawers :-) I just hope that she does well. We won't know until we try I guess.

Judgement House started this week. How AMAZING is God?! People have come to know the Lord every night so far! God is soooo good and to see Him work in all different situations stops me in my tracks. Please pray for all those walking through JH that God's will would be made clear to them and their hearts would be softened to His word. Also if you could pray for strength and health for the actors as some are getting sick with the flu while others are very sore from the roles they play (being thrown around, carpet burns, lifting etc).

Dad's shingles are healing slowly which is a blessing. So thankful that they weren't worse then what they were and so far no one else in our family has gotten them.

Happy weekend to you!

ahhh fall!

Don't you just love to sit in your favorite chair with the windows open and let the refreshing and cool fall breeze flow through the house?! I just can't get enough of this weather. Fall and spring are my favorite!

It's been a busy and stressful couple of weeks but I'm trying my hardest to not let all the stress and mess numb my senses to life happening around me. God's BEAUTIFUL weather, plants and people He has Blessed me with. New little babies will be born this week and I am SOOOOO super excited to see their pictures! My sweet auntie has made us two meals in the last week as well as Shena and Jess. Thank You soooooo much you guys, everything was delicious and a nice break from having to worry about what to cook when I got home from work.

This week Judgement House starts at our church. Jeremy was going to help with Security but is needing to stay home with Julia. I am super excited to be involved with make-up again but an also very overwhelmed with work and feeling like I'm constantly on edge about Julia and all the "what if's" that could happen. I'm praying that I will be able to focus my heart on JH and the people walking through that need Jesus Christ as their Savior instead of worrying about me and my own needs. God is in control of this I am sure.

A quick prayer request...my Dad has shingles as of yesterday and they can be very painful. Could you pray for a quick recovery and that his pain could be well controlled? Also that no one else that has to be in close contact with him (i.e. my mom or sister) gets shingles as it could put Julia at risk for getting them on top of her hsp.

Happy Fall!

details

Yesterday I got to talk a while with a doctor that I work with and asked her some questions about hsp.

• She said (ask did our pediatrician) that the odds are in our favor of Julia making it through this disease with a full recovery and most likely without any lasting kidney damage, yet at the same she has a good chance of her kidney's being effected. Hope that makes sense.


• HSP is genetic, (not that Jeremy and I have ever had this but we could be gene carriers) since Julia has gotten it now, her kids some day have a probable chance that they will get this too. The doctor also thinks that if we have anymore kids there is a very high chance they will develop an autoimmune disease as well since Julia has.


• The last thing that was most significant in talking to this doctor is that Julia is a very high risk for obtaining a different autoimmune disease (since she has this one) at any point and time in her life. yuck. That was not anything I was wanting to hear.

On the bright side, we have discovered that Zyrtec is working VERY well for her in keeping most of her red/purple spots away. She is still in a lot of pain every now and then from her joints and stomach aching but the Tylenol seems to be sufficient for now. Although she may not feel well most of the time she still perks up to somehow find her way up to the top of the dining room table when we step out of the room.

God is soooo good. We have been blessed with meals, many prayers and Jeremy and I got to go to church today while my dad offered to stay with Julia. It was a very meaningful message. Pastor Dave spoke about worship and how it effects us and worshipping in EVERYTHING...in our trials, celebrations and failures.

Psalm 118:24

This is the day that the Lord has made,

I will rejoice and be glad in it!