This Prayer Chain is Sponsored By...

So last night and the day before we had another incident in our family and quite frankly, I just don't think any of us had it in us to add the family to our church's prayer chain again. I mean, really, just name it after us. Give us sponsorship rights or something.

But once again, God pulled us through and the best possible scenario was given to us. So thankful. SOOOOOOO thankful. Can you please continue to pray for us? I appreciate it. 

So there is good news: my unborn twin nephews are continuing to grow and do well and their mama is doing well, too! We are so thankful for every day they hang tight. Tomorrow is 27 weeks!! This is huge- doctors are really wanting to see them make it to 28 weeks. Very close! :)

My friend in Alabama has seen successes with her husband. Successes we have all been praying for and hoping for and just when things get worse, BOOM, success happens. She is one of the most faithful and faith-based people I know. Seeing her in this time she's dealing with has also been encouraging. 

Ok so a blog post without pics is not exciting. Let's see what I have in my phone...

Serious - how cute is this!? 

I really want something like this in the house. Then I think about storing it - hmmm but it's so pretty!!!

Do you see this curl??? I love tugging this curl. Everyone seems so fascinated with her hair. I know we are because we have ZERO cute curls in our family. But everyone in the public loves it, too. 

Ok it's time to get moving. Y'all have a great autumnal weekend. :)

Sleepless in SC

Ugh. It's almost 4:00 am and I've been awake since 2:00. Of course, today kicks off a crazy busy time at work where my long hours start and here I am, wide awake and feeling kinda sick. Probably from lack of sleep! I think I'm getting too old for this job - the crazy hours kick my butt.

Last week I enjoyed lunch with Macy at preschool. She'd asked me if I could see her at school a few weeks before. I knew if I didn't go now, it would be awhile before I'd be able to take off work again. 

In celebration of Grandparents' Day, they were invited to lunch with the grand kids, so MawMaw was meeting us there, too. When she sees me she says, "Bethie! Where's MawMaw?" Oh well, she and MawMaw are besties. ;) 

She was so afraid of the tire bridge. But she conquered it! And was so proud of herself! We were very proud, too. 

Did I mention my 40th birthday was in September? Oh yeah, FORTY!!! (Pumpkin donuts. Ohhhh yeah)

Someone decided to decorate my mailbox and roll my yard... Wonder who? I still have streamers in the bushes...the ROSE BUSHES. So yeah those decorations maybe be staying. 

What a sunrise!! So beautiful! It's been a while since I've seen one so I really soaked up this one.

Maybe I should do this blogging in the middle of the night more often - I passed out with the phone on my chest! woop woop! It's Monday, ya'll, go have a wonderful week.  :)

A State of Mind

I've written post after post, saved them into drafts to come back and post later, only to never return to them. They didn't feel right. It was a lot of moping and sadness and stress and worry.

This Sunday in Sunday School we looked at Philippians 4:4-8 where Paul shares that we are to set our minds on things that are godly. We are to cultivate a spirit of joy despite our circumstances. And it was hearing this that I realized I've let circumstances shape me instead of finding the joy and blessings in my circumstances. 

It's been a difficult few months, heck - years! - but when I took time each night to be thankful, I was much happier. I also discovered when you get out of the habit of being thankful, it's more difficult to find things to be thankful for ... Like your vision is clouded with negativity and the positive things are overshadowed. 

I'm learning, taking baby steps. Weeding out the things that don't enhance my vision and trying to bring back the peace of God - it's only found in Him. 

Are you ready for some photos? Because I haven't shared any in a while. 

I shared my chocolate and she thoroughly enjoyed it hahaha!! I have been so blessed to have a good bit of time with this sweet niece. 

One of my new favorites of my sweet nieces. This was after AH's first volleyball game of the season. The next game they won! Go girls!!! 

Here she is about to switch places with her teammate so she will be in the middle. I think they are loving her height on the team ;) 

#TargetDog !! #KidsGotStyle - she loved the Target dog - hugged it and talked to it. I'm sparing you from the half dozen photos I took. 

Tomorrow is my 40th birthday and my friend and PenPal, Raynore, understands my love of HK and celebrating alllll month long! :) 

Ready to party at our cousin's one-year get together. Love this pic, it just cracks me up! 

My parents and sweet niece this weekend. It was beautiful weather and Dad fixed the swingset and sliding board. That girl played her heart out!! 

And this photo sums up my Dad. No one makes him laugh as much as Little Miss here. 

These are such awesome blessings. And just a few I managed to snap a picture of - so many more are stored away in my heart. 

Name them One by One

Count Your Blessings, Name them One by One.
Count Your Many Blessings, See What God Has Done.

Don't ya'll remember that hymn? I'm sitting here at my desk at work, staying late so I can type this up and post it before I leave for the weekend, and that is what popped into my head.

My family, we've had some serious trials lately.  It's been less than fun.  Heck, it's been down right crazy stressful. My sister-in-law had surgery, then my brother-in-law about a week later, then my dad a week later.  My close friend 6-hours away from me, her husband had a wreck and was in critical condition.  Now I'm having a biopsy to screen for uterine cancer.  And my b-i-l's last surviving close relative passed away yesterday.  Can I say I'm stressed out?!?  Because I really am.  We all are.

So yes, I'm asking for your prayers. 

But I'm also sharing with you some blessings we have seen:

So many wonderful people - including folks I'll never meet and don't know -
have been praying for us tirelessly.  That's so humbling. And powerful. 

Our preacher has been on the ball, really giving us support and we are so thankful. 

My workplace has been wonderful about me being out for all this
and my co-workers have texted to check on us continuously. 

The first surgery went well - and we are still seeing positive results! (hooray!)

I pray I meet my two nephews in December!

The second surgery went well - this was my b-i-l's 2nd back surgery in 5.5 months.
The hospital was HORRIBLE last time - but was just GREAT this time.
Talk about being thankful! 

The third surgery went really well. I was afraid mom would be there alone,
but my brother and our preacher were both there with her. Again - so thankful!

My time with Macy has just been a delight. Yes, she's definitely impacted by

all these events, but she's just been precious. Three nights she spent at my house

and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed it. 

My friend's husband is becoming more alert, nodding his head and rolling

his eyes at questions he thinks are ridiculous (Like her asking him if he knew her! haha)

A good friend is expecting and I'm so excited! I've decided it's a girl... :) 

There are dozens more, I'm just too tired to remember them all.  I'm trying to write more in my journals to remember those blessings because sometimes, you need to look back at all that is good in life.  And there is so much. 

Please keep us in your prayers.  And please celebrate the good things in life! :) 

A little late - this didn't post?

I wrote this a while back and thought it posted, but nope, it didn't.  I don't even know if it's finished, I'm not reading back over it, I'm just going to post it.  

In life, we all have our ups and downs.  There will be times we feel on top of the world and times we wonder why all this is happening to me.  And during both times, the highs and the lows, we can always find someone doing better than us and someone doing worse.  We can compare ourselves to the person doing better and be bitter and jealous.  We can compare ourselves to the person doing worse and have fake thankfulness.

Or, we could quit comparing ourselves and our situations to either and do what God tells us to do - be thankful in all things.

Yup.  It's hard.  Very hard.  And I'm not saying I do it well because I reallllllllly don't.  Ya'll have heard me discussing some of what my family and friends are going through right now.  I haven't been thanking God for the trials.  For the blessings I strive to see - yes.  But for the suffering, no.  But He clearly tells us to be thankful in all things.

Always be joyful and never stop praying.  Whatever happens keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ.  This is what God wants you to do.  - 1 Thes 5:17

Always use the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to thank God the Father for everything.  Eph 5:20

My family has seen six surgeries within the past 13 months.  Three in the past month.  My sister and her husband were four of them.  We are tired.  Drained.  Exhausted.  Our resources are tapped out.  Add to that I have some new medical stuff to check into next week and my very close friend in Alabama - her husband is in critical condition from a wreck. Let's not discuss the mounds of doctor bills I have - some for more than a year now that I'm paying on, but can't seem to really accomplish much headway.

But just like the card I sent my friend in Alabama, the Lord never promised Easy Street, but that He would be with us every step of the way.

Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we are in.  Heb 12:1

Be strong! Take courage! Don't be intimidated.  Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you.  He's right there with you.  He won't let you down, He won't leave you. Deau 31:6

Be strong and courageous!  Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.  Joshua 1:9

The Lord will never call us to do something we cannot do through His power.  We have to take the step forward.  Isaiah 6:8

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and song and he has become my salvation.  Isaiah 12:2

I find comfort in these scriptures.  It's like a calm comes over me and I can have peace.

Look at Me!

My family has been on one wild ride. I don't always cover all the details of life on here, but wow, we've been on a wild ride.  And this coaster has barely pulled away from the dock - we got a ways to go.

But, as I crawled in bed last night with my heart heavy and sad, I opened up this Bible verse journal that my penpal friend in Louisiana sent to me ages ago.  It is a smallish 4 x 6 journal, burgundy and black, with Rejoice on the front.  For a long time, I added Bible verses and quotes that touched me and I carried it in my purse.  As my purse become more and more heavy, I cleaned out, including taking my little journal out.

Just this week I ran across it and thought - I really need to keep that handy.  But of course, I kept going on and didn't actually pick it up and put it somewhere more accessible.

Last night, as my heart hurt and I just needed some encouragement, I thought about my little journal with all those Bible verses inside.  I got it and crawled back in bed.  I opened it up and this is what I found:

But the Lord stood with me 

and gave me strength. 

                          2 Timothy 4:17

So always trust the Lord

because He is forever 

our mighty rock. 

                      Isaiah 26: 4

It was like he smacked me in the head and said - BETH.  Listen to Me.  Look at Me.  I'm patiently waiting for you to simply ask Me for what you need. I am your ROCK and I'll give you the strength to get through this, you just need to ask. 

It reminded me of last Sunday when I went to pick up Macy from Children's Church.  She was out of the classroom (why, I don't know, but that's another issue) and was walking in the crowded hallway.  Being so short, all she could see were legs, legs, and legs.  I see her clearly and am just about to touch her when she stops in the hall and starts crying because she can't find her MawMaw.  I touched her and called her name, but she was too lost in her own fears at that moment and couldn't look up to see her Aunt Beth.  I called her and talked to her, and finally put my hands on both sides of her cheeks and crouched down to her level saying, "LOOK AT ME!"  And it was then that she finally saw me.  I still wasn't MawMaw, but that's another story, too (haha). 

That little book shows up so many times when I need it.  It's God's way of crouching down and grabbing me by the face and saying, "Look at Me!!"  :)

Meep.

It's FRIDAY! I want to spin around in an amazingly green field like Julie Andrews in The Sound Of Music! But I want a better dress.

Ya'll I can't tell you how happppy I am that today is FRIDAY.  I'm not sure why, but yes, I'm so very happy about it.  My weekend is looking a little corn-y as the corn at Mom and Dad's house has come in.  We are doing an assembly line of shucking, silking, blanching, cutting and stuffing into bags.  Dad worked hard in this drought to keep the water on this crop, so I'm glad he's seeing a reward.

We celebrated my brother's 44th birthday last week.  All the family on our hill pitched in and got him a charcoal grill, which he was very excited about.  I give him mucho credit - he is an awesome chef. Seriously.  

Katie and I took Macy to Lunar Golf - basically putt putt under black lights - because when it's 99 degrees outside, you just can't do much in the way of playing outdoors and this kid has ENERGY.  Our concerns of her being afraid of the dark room proved to be needless as she ran allllll over the place, enjoying all the glowing things.  And enjoying running in general. So glad there weren't many people there.  

There's our two space aliens.  Macy did NOT want to be the green alien at all.  That crazy yellow hair kinda looks like her bedhead in the morning. HAHAHA

When I was invited to come play - and enjoy homemade tacos - I couldn't possible resist the drive to Gaffney! :)  Especially since Donna had just gotten home from her vacation in Washington State and Canada.  Looked so beautiful!  I'm envious. Ellie is a sweetheart and Daisy had to smile for us, too!

 And now, enjoy some random photos I haven't posted for ya'll yet.  Macy after church - just thought these bright colors were so cute on her. :)

 The new puppy at my sister's house.  Macy named it Sparkles but somehow it was changed to Daisy.  So yes, another Daisy pup in my life.

 The sweet nieces enjoying Dunkin' Donuts I surprised everyone with this week. I had a doctor's appointment and knew everyone had be working on corn.  I figured they needed a break and a happy snack.  It worked - they were very happy.

Yes, I have become the Crazy Cat Lady in the neighborhood.  In addition to the stray mama cat that I took in and she immediately became pregnant (and may be again?) - three of her four kittens are still with me.  Now this dude just shows up like he owns the place.  Add another huge orange cat that I see slinking around from time to time.  Like I said, the Crazy Cat Lady.

So someone asked how the doctor's appointment went.  Welll..... Not that you want THIS much detail, but I have been diagnosed with IBS. This isn't new, but I hadn't had a flare up since this time last year.  Over the fourth of July I had a rough go of it, didn't eat for two days, felt so nauseous, was just sick with pains moving all over my abdomen.  It wasn't a lot of fun.  I called my gastro doc to see if I could see him but he was on call at the hospital. And no, they wouldn't let me see another doctor.  If I wanted to see him, I would have to go to the ER.  I did that and still didn't get to see him. But I did have a CT scan and blood work that showed nothing was wrong. That's the deal with IBS.  You hurt for no reason, really. So, I had prayed they would find out what is wrong with me and I suppose they did! There is no "cure" just endurance when you get a flare up. SUCKS.

What else is happening in my world? I do need some prayers for my family.  My brother-in-law had a huge back surgery fusion in Dec 2014.  They told him last week is has to be completely undone and redone - major pain.  MAJOR pain. It was such a long surgery before and so incredibly painful. I hate feeling helpless and we all felt so helpless to make a difference for him.  We are all so upset it has to be repeated, so please pray for the doctors, for him and that he will heal properly this time.

My Dad will be having a stress test next week leading up to his knee surgery.  Once he passes the stress test, we'll be on go for the knee surgery, which he really needs.  He is also in a good bit of pain and it's been tough on him to not be able to go go go.  So please pray his stress test goes well, too!

I know, it seems like all this bad news! But we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. I try to remember this - ya'll help me remember. Keep telling me, ok?

Ok, thanks for joining in my read-a-long here. :) It's a joy to have ya'll visit. Hope you have a great weekend! *hugs* friends!