O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

Since Magdalena has been here in my life and on this blog so many of my sweet blog friends have sent me things. After she passed away I got some special items to help to have a tangible memory of her. I don't know if I posted these items on the blog, but they are still so precious to me. About a month ago I received a package from Kyla who had my family on her heart. Every time I see it I will think of the family God has blessed me with, but also, I will remember my sweet blog friends who have been there with me in my greatest sorrow and rejoiced with God's amazing blessings. Thank you, Kyla, for remembering us and taking the time to send this special gift to us! I do want to add that the entire placing of the figurines was how she had imagined it, and I love it! Our family of four

Noah and I struggled so much with me returning to work next year full-time. We feel called to begin Joy in the Morning and to raise Walt, but with Noah being in seminary, it has been impossible for me to stay at home. Last week, my work called me to sign my contract for the upcoming year, and so began our prayer journey. We struggled with it for days, and within 2-days time, work became available for me to teach classes online for a local community college! What a cool God thing! We have such a peace about this decision. There are still so many unknowns, but we are trusting in God's promises for us as He leads us in this new direction. Today we let go of financial security, and we are following where God will lead us. It is exciting, which is why I will call this "Our New Adventure". Today, Joy in the Morning made one step forward. Please pray for Noah and me as we make decisions. Right now, we are planning to use GriefShare as one of the ways we could reach o...

Through the Baby Be Blessed Blog I found out about a cool bible study that has happened for the past two summers. Beth Moore does not write the books, but she facilitates online for small groups everywhere. It isn't too late to join! You can do it alone, but accountability in small groups helps for us all to stay on track! It is a six week study through the book of Ruth using a workbook by Kelly Minter from The Living Room Series titled Ruth:Loss, Love, & Legacy . Beth Moore posts a video with questions for you personally or for the group to discuss every two weeks, and if you are interested, and haven't bought your book, Chapter 1 is online! Have I put enough links up here for you, yet? Sorry about that, but there is just so much information out there! Interested? Go to the Living Proof Ministries Blog and watch the introduction video! I am looking forward to going through this study! Just as it is stressed in this introduction, it is important that we stay ...

Walt is keeping us busy this summer, and he is into everything! He will be running around soon! In case you haven't hear, GYMBOREE is having their big sale! We got lots of winter clothes for him at Wal-mart prices! Thanks to all of the family members that are giving the clothes to him as a birthday gift! He is going to be looking stylish this fall and winter in his new wardrobe. Here is Walt eating his first bitter biscuit. You can tell that we were watching the World Cup at the same time! His favorite part is the huge mess the biscuit makes! Going swimming for the first time! He is loving to float! Family picture in the pool This was taken the following day on Father's Day when our family came over to celebrate the dads. Here is Papa swimming with the kids.

This week's study is going to be hard for me to write in one posting, but I am going to try. As I sit in my reading/writing chair, the sunlight is pouring in on me, my favorite time. I have prayed about what to write here because this a very important week. If you have been reading this book for answers to your pain or if you read my blog expecting to learn exactly how to deal with loss, then, you have turned to the wrong source. Everyone grieves differently, and if you don't feel the exact same way as I do, or if you are at a different place, I pray that you know it is ok. If you felt like you would find a simple, fix-it solution to the pain in your heart from this book, I am afraid to tell you that you won't. Both are helpful, but not the ultimate solution . The main comfort in the midst of your pain and sorrow is our God. That is why I am praying so intently that God gives me the right words to write here because if you do not know this God or his son Jesus Chris...

Last Sunday I began my start on posting weekly discussions on the book One Year of Hope , but because this Sunday is very special I wanted to take this post to acknowledge two very important men. I will continue my weekly discussions on Monday morning! My dad helped to form me into the person that I am and who I want to be in the future. He is an amazing man and set the standard for all future men to follow in my life, and I had once been told that I set the bar too high. It wasn't too high, but it was the exactly 5 feet 10 inches tall for Noah to walk right through and steal my heart away. I love to watch him with my children, and although he denies it, he is an amazing daddy. I watch him loving my children, and I know that God has blessed them more than they realize right now. I love you, Baby, and after years of marriage and losing Magdalena, you still make me giddy. I love you more each day!! Happy Father's Day! Thank you, Andrea, for allowing me to post this pictur...

Did you notice that I added a button titled "Bring the Rain" to the side bar? That is the link to Angie Smith's blog, who held her daughter for only a few hours before having to say goodbye. Her book, I will Carry You , was released a few weeks ago, and I have had it sitting next to my reading chair for about that time. I knew what would happen when I read it. The time would have to allow my tears to flow because I would relive some of my pain by reading about hers. So it began two days ago over a glass of wine. I pulled my blanket over me and began to know Audrey, who entered this world on April 7, 2008. You may ask, "Why would you want to read about someone else's pain when you have your own?", and my answer would be the same reason why mothers who have lost a child can hug without words and feel like they have known each other for years. Losing a child is a pain that no one can understand unless they've experienced it, and through her book and...

This past week, Noah's family took their annual Florida beach trip, which took Walt by surprise. First, we went to celebrate Walt's great-grandma's 90th birthday, and while there Walt charmed all of his new friends with his big smile and sweet personality. After two days there, we loaded up again for a long trip to Florida, and Walt did not complain a bit, but was happy to be there. Knowing his personality, I never expected Walt to dislike the beach. I brought Pedialyte thinking that he would put it all in his mouth, and he would end up with a stomach ache. Between the sun and the sound of the waves, Walt was very unhappy at the beach, so after a few times we gave up. But one evening we went out much later in the day, and this is when Walt explored the sand, which he ended up enjoying! Now we are back in the swing of things. I can't express enough how I love being at home with my sweet little man all throughout the day. He is such a blessing to have to fill...

Yes, I have finally begun A Year of Hope again! http://www.nancyguthrie.com/books/oneyear_book.php Some of you may be wondering where I went, but please don't give up, yet! Pick the book up again, or if you have not begun, it isn't too late! This is not just a time for me to give my thoughts, struggles, and prayers through the book, but for us all to share together and learn from each other's grief. Instead of just commenting on my thoughts, make comments on how God is changing your life or what he has laid on your heart through this chapter. The word father brings different feelings to every person. For some, like me, I was blessed with an amazing father who set the standard for all men to follow. I picture God with a balance of love and discipline. However, the reality is that very few men step up to be the father that God has called them to be. These children have a scarred view of fathers, and their view of God as a father may not always be reality. In this we...