Easter Thoughts...

As I sit here on Easter...enjoy "Mommy" time (aka nap time)...no wine for obvious reasons...I reflect on all that Christ has done for us...for me. I recently listened to a speaker who told a story about a young man's (teenage years I think) reaction to hearing that "even if it was just him, Christ would have come to save him." He loves us that much. The teens reaction was simple "and imagine...if you were the only one you would have been the one to crucify Him." WHOW.

STOP.

THINK.

Let it sink in.

I laughed at the speaker at the moment because of his energy. He's a lot like me when I talk...hands everywhere...emotions at the edge of our sleeves. And then I stopped and thought and then I wiped a tear away. Jesus loves me SO much that He would have come to save me even if I was the only one and I myself nailed him to that cross. It still gives me shivers. It's good to be blown away by the teens around us (even though I don't know this teen), it reminds us that wisdom is not an age thing but a God thing (thank you Beth Moore!).

This Easter I want to thank you Lord for your sacrifice...for your forgiveness...for your beautiful creations...for the many blessings in my life. THANK YOU!

Easter 2012

He is risen indeed!
~The Woman With 4 First Names

When Thank You Seems Too Small

 30 things I am thankful for from my 30th birthday (and week)

 

1. Hubby's chocolate cheesecake

2. "Happy Birthday" voicemails...in which you are told Happy Birthday 30 times

3. Surprise dessert celebrations

4. Free babysitters...Ann and Mike you rock!

5. Brownie care package from Dad

6. Sweet cards

7. Funny cards

8. Note from hubby

9. Friends gathering to celebrate

10. Chocolate truffles from the Henderson's

11. People fretting over whether they've ruined the surprise dessert celebration...but they didn't (Andy!)

12. Buttercup "saying" love you

13. Late evening phone calls that make you feel loved...love you Joyce!

14. Multiple phone calls/voicemails from Dad before I'm even out the door to work

15. Hubby's chocolate cheesecake - it is SO good

16. Sweet friends offering their house to host dessert celebration...thank you Greg and Sarah!!

17. Work peeps that wish you happy birthday

18. Work peeps that remind you that 30 is young

19. Friends that tell you that "you are SO old"'

20. Friends that "welcome you to the club"

21. Neighbors that give up their Friday night to watch your daughter and stay to chat after...can not say thank you enough Ann!!

22. Happy Birthday texts

23. Fried mushrooms...oh Quivey's Grove how I enjoy your fried mushrooms

24. Phone calls from family

25. Sharing stories over dessert

26. Laughing with friends you haven't seen in too long...Pastor Dr. Terri

27.  My organized and thoughtful hubby

28. Kind and thoughtful birthday emails...your words meant so much Julie and Mandy

29. Facebook happy birthday wall posts - first birthday on FB!

30. Hubby's chocolate cheesecake - you really have no idea JUST how good it is...unless you've had it and then you do know

 

 

Much love folks!

The Woman With 4 First Names

Birthdays and Such

My daughter is a year old.  One whole entire year she's been on this earth (outside of the womb).  Wow.

I turn 30 this year...in 2 days.

I'm also preggars.

 

The year I turn 30 is the same year my daughter turned 1 (and my hubby turns 29 - I know I'm a cradle robber). 

 

My life has changed a lot over the past 5 years. 

• 2007 - really engage in life with a great group of friends, start spending more time with one particular boy, play at lot of golf, the last Harry Potter book comes out and fabulous pals make fun of you after a night of staying up late and reading aloud to one another, those same fabulous pals tell you that you should really like boy, start realizing you do like boy, BAM he asks you out

Mustang's birthday dinner in 2007 - I was behind the camera!

• 2008 - first kiss with boy, boy proposes, meet boy's family for the first time (after we are engaged - talk about pressure), boy undergoes MAJOR back surgery, plan wedding

Blackhawk Dance 2008

• 2009 - meet a best friend (does fasting make you hungry???), buy a house, remodel parts of house, GET MARRIED, go on a honeymoon, live with boy

Me and my wedding dress...love at first sight!

• 2010 - get the best valentine's day gift ever, realize boy and my family will grow soon, spend more than half the year pregnant and preparing for a new addition, decide to lead a life group through our church and meet a new group of friends, boy's grandma dies and at her funeral I learn about a beautiful God-loving woman

Preggars in Fall 2010

• 2011 - Buttercup ARRIVES, postpartum anxiety follows, support from friends follows, support from Mustang ever present, experience joys of motherhood, watch baby grow into not a baby, learn how to be parents and significant others (still learning)

God-Mama D and Buttercup at Dedication

• 2012 - Buttercup turns 1, I turn 30, Mustang transitions to a stay-at-home dad, we will meet our second child, focus on trusting God and leaning on my hope in the Lord

Mommy and Daddy just told me the news - SUPER exciting!

I feel so blessed to be walking the path I am.  Yesterday as part of a new challenge I'm taking part of I had to think about my #1 priority.  My #1 priority is to be known as a God fearing and loving woman, a respectful wife, a steadfast mother and a dedicated friend.  God deserves my attention, service and faithfulness.  I desire to one day hear the words "Well done, good and faithful servant."  My husband deserves my love and respect.  I am called to love and respect him through acts of service, his love language, and while I know this will be difficult for me because I am not trained well in that area he deserves my effort to get better.  My daughter and womb-baby deserve a loving, steadfast mother who models her faith, shows her love and support of their father and loves them unconditionally according to God's plan and prepares them to live a God-honoring life.  My friends deserve a true friend because that's what they've been to me.  The biggest obstacle I will have this year as I live out my #1 priority is my battle with anxiety and fear.  But, God is BIGGER than my anxiety and fear...and He will (probably is doing so currently) carry me through the tough parts.

Much love,
~The Woman With 4 First Names

Thank You

We were brought to our knees this week in thankfulness due to God's grace. He, who knows me better than I do, walked with us through a situation that by all accounts sucked.

He provided blessings, when we expected only hardships.

He provided soft hearts, when we expected stone.

He provided.

This is a simple Thank You to He who deserves the most thanks.
The Woman With 4 First Names

"But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord."

                                                                            - Joshua 24:15