He Is Risen!!!

Sin, where are your shackles?

Death, where is your sting?

Hell has been defeated.

The grave could not hold the KING!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

"I never knew you were so into St. Patrick's Day!"  was a comment from my sister recently.  The truth is, I'm not.  Or at least I never was.

Around here, we don't need much of a reason to celebrate.  We'll take whatever we're given!  I was so encouraged though, as we looked into the story of St. Patrick.  If you've never taken the time to learn about his life, do it!  He was a man who after escaping from years in slavery, returned to the country he was held captive in to reach them with the gospel.  What a great guy to celebrate!

 

Here's our festive crew! 

 

 

Auntie Anna looking lovely as usual!

 

Our littlest leprechaun

 

 

Our biggest beauty!

 

 

 

 

You betcha we're Irish!!!

 

 

There's nothing better a party at home!!!

 



Gracenotes Giveaway!!!

It's been awhile, but our company gracenotes is doing another fun giveaway!!!

We've been testing and trying out new formulas and we've come up with a brand new lip balm recipe that we are CRAZY about!!!  To introduce our revamped lip care we are picking three winners to win a lip balm of their choice and also a GRAND prize winner who will receive this great gift package!

The winner will get to choose their own design and flavor preference.  Speaking of flavors, we've also introduced two new lip balm favors;  Frosted Strawberries and Brown Sugar.  Mmmmmm!!!

To enter~

1.  Leave a comment on our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gracenotes/116684991732287?ref=ts&fref=ts

2.  Leave a comment HERE on my blog

3.  Write us a note under "Contact Us"  on our website  http://gracenotes.biz/

You have the opportunity to get three entries if you do all three!

We will be drawing a winner March 22 so HURRY and enter!!!!

A Brand New Miracle

I met my friend Theresa when I was in fourth grade and she was in fifth.  I remember her walking in the doors at our home school co-op.  Never did I imagine that I would be meeting one of my best friends.

 

She was in my wedding.  I would have been in hers had I not been HUGELY pregnant at the time!  The Lord has led us here and there over the years but He has blessed us with a friendship that transcends distance, time and many different roads. 

 

Theresa has enriched my life so greatly and a few weeks ago she gave me one of the greatest gifts I could have imagined.   She asked me if I would like to be there for the birth of their first baby.  My eyes fill with tears even thinking about it.

 

Last Tuesday night sweet Baby Paige finally decided to make her grand entrance and I got to be there to witness it!  I also got to take some pictures which if you know me, you know that thrills me!  Here are just a few from that amazing time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was incredible.  Beyond words.  Theresa was the epitome of AMAZING!!!  I keep raving about her to everyone I see.  The birth was so beautiful.  Paige is perfect.  Absolutely perfect.  I think I've still got a buzz from the wonder of watching something so awesome. 

 

After having five, this was the first birth I was privileged to witness.  I'll never forget that amazing miracle!

 

 

Return

Many of you have been asking me how I've been.  I appreciate the prayers and the love you have shown me!  Truth be told, between health issues and burdens of the heart this past month has continued to be a bumpy road.

What I absolutely love about this bumpy road is the knowledge that God never changes.  He doesn't waver for one second. 

This past week has been so refreshing in getting some areas of our life back in order and being able to see God work mightily in circumstances. 

This morning I'm home alone.  As I sat on the couch in silence a verse jumped out at me.  You know those verses that you're sure you've never read before even though you know you've read the Bible through many times?  This was one of those.  I was reading Psalm 116 and was so encouraged reading the reminders of how gracious and loving my God is when all of the sudden these verses seemed to speak straight to me.

Psalm 116:7~  Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.

Return to your rest.  Return to your rest.  What beautiful words.  For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.  Were truer words ever spoken? 

My God is good.  My God is strong.  My God knows all.  My God sees all.  My God loves me beyond comprehension.  My God holds the world in His hands. 

My peace does not come from all of my ducks being in a row.  My peace comes from knowing in whom I place my trust.  He has dealt bountifully with me.  Exceedingly bountifully. Return to your rest, O my soul!

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

 

Whom Shall I Fear

What a month it has been. 

With all the joys and delights that come with Christmas and holidays, there have been plenty of sorrows and strife along with it.  I can easily say this has been one of the most stressful times in my life.  God has proven Himself faithful again and again and again.  Over and over He has snatched me from the brink of despair to show me so personally how great and powerful and tender are His good and perfect plans.

As I got up this morning and was moving around the kitchen, I was profoundly aware of the icy fear that was still trying to cling to my heart.  A song was playing from our living room that brought me to tears instantly.  I won't write out all of the words here (although they all ministered to me greatly).  These words are what were so soothing to my soul~

I know who goes before me,

I know who stands behind.

The God of angel armies is always by my side.

The One who reigns forever,

He is a friend of mine.

The God of angel armies is always by my side.

 

And nothing formed against me will stand,

You hold the whole world in your hand.

I'm holding on the your promises

You are faithful

You are faithful

 

 It struck me this morning that just as you can't know exactly what struggles I am going through, I will never completely know what you are going through.  But praise the Lord we all have the opportunity to cling to the same promises when we know Christ as our Savior.  I know who goes before me.  I know who stands behind.  Whom shall I fear?