Yay...Free Friday!!

It has been one busy week!  Business = Craziness in this household.  At least that is what I used to think.  Mostly it is just me that makes it so crazy -in my mind.  I fight inside when things get too busy.  I don't like it.  I struggle with it and the frustration oozes out of me and slops out over everyone!  It's gross and not very pretty to watch.   

I knew that this week was going to be busier than normal.  Going in I chose to equip myself in prayer and in scripture!  It's one thing to know you should do this but another to actually do!  Oh how I have lived this over and over, knowing but not doing.  It is a discipline that I desire to keep in the rhythm of my day.  Set times of prayer, reading His word...scripture cards out...choosing to filter the things that I set my eyes and ears on by listening to His word, a trusted teacher or worship throughout the day.  Trusting Him.   Acknowledging that every single detail of this day has ran through His mighty hand.  Even the busy frustrations.  How will I handle them?  Will I glorify Him?  Trust Him? 

 

It is my nature to always want to resort back to the old attitude but God is faithful.  If you ask Him to help you...to catch you, He will!  Oh my goodness the difference it has made!  What joy and peace I have felt in the place of frustration and aggravation!  

 

Lord, help me to continue training my mind to become steadfast...

 

Life is more beautiful when you view things through the lens of Christ! 

 

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AND HEY!  IT'S YAY...FREE FRIDAY!

 

I appreciate all of you and LOVE that we have the opportunity to bless one of you with a FREE personalized scripture doll or animal of your choice!

To Enter our giveaway this week: Simply leave a comment under this post.
Winner will receive a $61 voucher to use on the Baby be Blessed website!!

For additional entries: (leave 1 comment for each)
*Follow our blog
*Write a blog post about the giveaway (please leave link)
*Like Baby be Blessed on facebook
*Share on facebook (Please hit share from our post)
*Follow us on twitter (all links are on the top left sidebar)
*Tweet or Retweet about the giveaway (must tag @babybeblessed)

The Winner will be chosen on Monday!

 

Beauty for Ashes!

 

"to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor."  ~Isaiah 61:3

 

My childhood was not the easiest.  I don't mention this for any sort of pity.  The path I've been given has paved the way for the ministry I am to be involved in.  It has moulded my heart for children in a way I could never describe in words.  For this, oh how I praise Him!

 

But this journey has also left scars and deep wounds.

 

Wounds that only He has been able to heal.

 

I have self governed my life, for most of my life.  It has been survival in sort of a sense...I felt the need to protect myself from being hurt.  No one was going to hurt me anymore.  My heart, callused.  I could only depend on me.   I never let anyone get too close and this included my husband.  For years I kept him at arms reach away.  Always guarding my heart.  I've felt hurt enough.  Our marriage was difficult.  I didn't understand it myself let alone trying to explain to him what was going on...plus (of course) it was his fault, not mine.  =)

 

Its funny though because even though I never let anyone get too close to me I desired their approval.  I would work hard for their approval!  I fought for it and made myself crazy if I didn't receive it.

 

I tried to make everything perfect.  The perfect house, husband, kids...I had it all! 

 

But really I was miserable...running down a road of self destruction.

 



 

 

I was in bondage to my past and to myself.  I needed to be set free and didn't know how to even get out of this mess I was in.  All I know is that I needed God. 

 

Though I was raised in Sunday School, prayed the sinners prayer (several, maybe five) times, believed that their was a God, prayed to Him to get me out of situations (all the time), I can look back and say with confidence that I was not saved.

 

I was saying the words...but was not believing in my heart.

 

I self-governed my heart.  I did not want it to be broken. 

 

I needed God.  I knew it.  But how?

 

 

It was the day I had three kids loaded in the cart.  Groceries loaded all around that I stood in the spiritual section of the book isle in Walmart.  Tears streamed down my face.  People looked at me but I didn't care.

 

I was exhausted.

 

Broken. Miserable.

 

I knew that God had to change my life. 

 

I couldn't. 

 

I tried.

 

I stood right there and prayed over the rows and rows of books.  I asked Him to allow me to pick the right one.  One that He would use in my life.   I couldn't continue on this same way any longer.

 

I picked one.  Checked out.

 

Through that book, the Lord brought me to Salvation by accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.  I was 26 years old.

 

He has been so faithful these past ten (almost 11 years) to heal my broken heart bit by bit.  

 

As I sat down to blog this morning it was going to be about something completely different!  I don't know why He chose for me to share a bit of my story, but here it is.   I know that many are hurting today but He is faithful and trustworthy to hold your heart!  Turn to Him in all things!  He loves you so very much!

 

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established  in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ."  ~Ephesians 3:16-18

 

I would love to pray for you today! 

 

If you need prayer, would you please leave your request below? 

Your name does not have to be published...

 

 

Too Cute...Tuesday!

I won one of your dolls when we were waiting to bring home our youngest daughter from China. We've had our sweet girlie for 2 months now & she LOVES her "baby"!  ~Kristi G.


~Oh, I'm in LOVE!  She is precious!!  Praising God for this beautiful child!!



If you have a photo you would like to share on Too Cute...Tuesday, please email it to babybeblessed@gmail.com . By emailing your photo you are giving Baby be Blessed permission to post it on their website and blog. ~Can't wait to see them!!

Bits of Weekend Grace

 

Hanging pink paper lanterns in bedrooms

 

Throwing away the last of the cake

 

That smile!

 

Gaining confidence...

 



 

The Fall Round-Up

 

Riding with a friend

 

Winter Coats, gloves, hats and Hot Chocolate

 

How I sat in the barn (out of the cold)

 

How she trotted past the door over and over...

 

Coming home to a warm fire in the fireplace!

 



Yay...Free Friday!!

Happy Friday!  I was looking outside this morning as the sun started coloring the sky.  The leaves from the old oak tree fell into the dew soaked grass.  It's always the first tree that sheds it's summer coat of green.  A sign of a new season coming. 

I'm praising God this morning.  Praising Him for the season that was and the season that comes.  That I didn't feel that tightness in my chest that time is running too quickly but instead peace of embracing the now.

I praise Him for now....for today.

****************************************

I appreciate all of you and LOVE that we have the opportunity to bless one of you with a FREE personalized scripture doll or animal of your choice!

To Enter our giveaway this week: Simply leave a comment under this post.
Winner will receive a $61 voucher to use on the Baby be Blessed website!!

For additional entries:  (leave 1 comment for each)
*Follow our blog
*Write a blog post about the giveaway (please leave link)
*Like Baby be Blessed on facebook
*Share on facebook (Please hit share from our post)
*Follow us on twitter (all links are on the top left sidebar)
*Tweet or Retweet about the giveaway (must tag @babybeblessed)

The Winner will be chosen on Monday!

His Timing...it's Perfect!

Its what I read from the letter on our refrigerator.  The letter hung by the letter H.  The letter written by Natalie's friend to encourage her.  The letter that was sent through the mail like "in the olden days". 

God's timing is perfect.

Yes, I know this.  But I reminded my heart over and over again.  Each time I looked at it.

And then suddenly it happens.  My head is still spinning.... 

Meet Izzy.  We met her a few weeks ago at a local fair.  Though we couldn't buy another horse until we sold Shiloh we looked at different horses to gain experience and find a right fit.  Natalie loved her right away.  She was a good natured girl and had LOTS of experience with kids of all ages.

 

This is what Lola has her eye on.  A mini named Jocko.

On Saturday we had arranged to go look at her (and Jocko) again.  They lived about an hour away so we packed up and headed out.  We spent a couple of hours there.  Natalie rode Izzy (then named Fly) and Lola worked with Jocko.  Kolton asked for "his horse".  He didn't like taking turns with Lola.  =)

Long story short the owner asked about Shiloh.  She knew from the beginning that we couldn't buy until she sold.  Out of the blue...she asked about a trade.  A TRADE!  Like she would take Shiloh and we could have Izzy, TRADE! 

I told her I would talk to my husband and let her know.  I packed up and the girls (and Kolton) and they reluctantly said goodbye.

When we arrived home I called my husband and he agreed concerning the trade.  I called the owner back and asked her when/where she would like to meet.  She said that they would bring Izzy to us and pick up Shiloh...in a couple of hours!

A couple of hours!  Things happened so quickly.  So I had a couple of hours to get my house in order and decorate Lola's birthday cake.  We were having her party at 6:30 and prayed like crazy that Shiloh would load...and STAY LOADED! 

The time came and they worked with Shiloh to get her on the trailer.  I walked into the barn to hide (and pray).  =)  But boy did they know what they were doing!  She WANTED to get on that trailer because when she went on she rested, but if she stepped off they worked her over good.  Backing and lunging her until she stepped back on. 

Here she is loaded and ready to go to her new home

I've been missing her the past few days.  A lot.  I mean I haven't missed her stubbornness or any of that..but when you have had an animal that you've taken care of for seven months, you grow to love them. But with all that said, I am very thankful!  I can't tell you how much I praise God for the work He has done!  He has heard our prayers and His timing is Perfect!

Izzy has been a blessing!  The whole family has enjoyed her this week.  She is a messy little girl though...she rolls in every pile of manure in her stall!  Must be the newest beauty treatment for horses!  =) 

As far as Jocko, he is still at his owners.  Lola has her heart set on him.  She loves him but I told her one horse at a time.  Lets see how things go with Izzy and then maybe MAYBE we will possibly consider another.  And where we would be able to keep a mini is a whole other issue.

I think we need a farm!

Rejoicing in Hope!

Oh how we have had us some horse adventures this year!
My daughter Natalie has loved horses since she has been two years old (maybe younger).  I think she was influenced by the Disney movie Spirit.  That VHS ran our player ragged.  I can still hear the music...

Plastic horses have adorned more birthday cakes than not over the past eleven almost twelve years of her life. 

This past February Cocoa was brought into our lives.  Remember this post?  We LOVED Cocoa and she actually spent all summer at the barn we board our horse at...but she ended up being too "Green" for Natalie to take to 4H this year.

We continued to look for a horse to lease but ended up buying a horse.  Natalie named her Shiloh which means "His Gift".

Every single thing about Shiloh has been a challenge.  Nothing has been easy about her.

I even questioned if we were within the Lords will when we purchased her.   

Though the journey has been hard -every single step- I do not feel we were outside of the Lord's will.  Things were lined up in such a way that if  any detail would have been different we would have not bought her.  God allowed her to be placed in our lives even though He knew the challenges we would face.  Through the hard we have also had much joy in owning her...and boy have we learned a lot!  Nothing has come easy!

But through it all God has been faithful!

And to defend Shiloh...she simply just needs more training.  More than us newbies can give her.  She is a beautiful girl and we love her so very much.  It's just not a good match for where Natalie is in her riding. 

At fair...Shiloh was a hot mess.  She was so scared and nervous I did not think Natalie would even be able to do Showmanship.  But again, God was faithful...and out she went.

Since then we have decided to sell her.  This has been a hard decision.  A big decision.  The right decision for our family.

Within the first couple of days we had someone coming to look at her.  We ourselves found another horse that seemed to be the perfect fit.  His name was Honda.

I felt so happy...it was all FINALLY coming together!

From 2012-08-13



We loved him and offered to buy him.  Natalie was so excited!

The next day the woman came and looked at Shiloh.  SOLD!  I put the money in my pocket and almost cried as I walked her to the trailer.  I was really going to miss her! 

I was so happy for Natalie though...things working out in great timing.  Shiloh sold, Honda a great match, thank you Lord!!

Then it happened.

Shiloh backed right off that trailer and wouldn't get back on.  We worked and worked with her and she simply wouldn't go back on!  The woman got frustrated and handed me the lead line.  I handed her back the money.  Back in the barn Shiloh went.

That following day I received an email letting us know that the family who owned Honda decided to sell him to someone who lived local.  What?!

The wind was knocked out of me....I can't believe this was happening.

Natalie was so upset.

I can't tell you the overwhelming emotions that came from this.  The wrestle with God that came from this.  I am Jacob.  I wrestle.  I pitched a fit and stomped my foot and wrestled with why until I was too exhausted to wrestle anymore. 

Almost two months have since past.  I praise God.  I can now look back and smile. 

Shiloh still stands in the barn.

It is amazing what things God will use to draw us closer to himself.  How he smooths the rough edges of our character and teaches us to trust Him even more.  God has used this experience to do a work in my heart.  And even though we want to protect our children and give them the very best...what a great learning experience this has been for Natalie.  She too has grown in her faith.

I'm not sure what the Lord will do with this horse named Shiloh...His gift.  But I do know that He is loving and abundantly blesses those who trust in Him.  I also know that this is a very small issue in the grand scheme of life.  I've asked forgiveness in the fact that a horse seems so trivial compared to all the evil, sickness and death in this world.  I also know that He simply wants it all, the big and the small in our life.  My life glorifies Him when I give it all to Him. 

So we continue trusting Lord...
Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation,
continuing steadfastly in prayer; Romans 12:12~NKJV

Pink Frosted Cupcakes

Lola had a fantastic birthday complete with chili soup (her favorite) and pink frosted cupcakes!  We will celebrate with family on Saturday.  She loved her scripture kitty and took it to school today.  She told me that she thought Doinkey (her stuffed Donkey) looked at her and was jealous so she had to tell him not to worry.  She still loved him too  =) 

She is always making me smile!

Today it's back to the routine of housework and dolls...Anne Elise Friederich, Valerie Almquist, Lillian Grace, Emma Katherine KeXin and Abigayle Elizabeth... I will be praying over you today as I work on your dolls! 

~My Precious Lola

 Ten years ago today...my sweet flower was born into this world! 

 

Lola you are a treasure! 

 

You are a  breath of fresh air, always bringing colorful joy into each day! 

 

We love you BUNCHES! 

Too Cute...Tuesday!

Here is a sweet photo shared by the Wilkinson Family! 

 

So Cute!!

If you have a photo you would like to share on Too Cute...Tuesday, please email it to babybeblessed@gmail.com . By emailing your photo you are giving Baby be Blessed permission to post it on their website and blog. ~Can't wait to see them!!

Monday Sunshine

I love looking through pictures.  This is one that I took at my Father & Mother in-laws house this summer.  Brings me right back to that place... It was so warm and peaceful that evening.

 

All the kids went to school today.  Yay!  No sick kids and I'm FINALLY feeling better myself!  Today hold lots of housework, laundry, doll cutting, sunshine and birthday planning! 

 

We will have a special celebration in the house this week!

 

 

Cookies Please?

The kids are better and all back in School.  This Momma however is feeling pretty slow with the leftovers of whatever virus has been running through.  I'm stuffy, my head aches, I'm tired and feeling fussy.  ;)

Wishing I had some of these yummy chocolate chip cookies left. 

I'd snuggle in under a quilt -cookie in one hand and cup of coffee in the other.  =)

But instead of all those crumbs I will take the bits of stuffing...Brooklyn, Grant, Promise and Felicity Noelle...I will be praying over you today as I work on your dolls.

Hope all of you are doing well and staying away from those Back-to-School viruses!!
https://www.opendrive.com/files?NV8zMTM0MTI2X1B6eFI5 https://www.opendrive.com/files?NV8zMTM0MTExX25jQXly

It's Preschool...

 

Kolton had his first day of Preschool today! 

He's an old pro...and his Momma did pretty good too!  =)

 

Too Cute... Tuesday!

We are long over due for a Too Cute Tuesday! 
The Davis family emailed this photo in and I couldn't wait to share...Love it! 

...and we are looking forward to an updated photo!



If you have a photo you would like to share on Too Cute...Tuesday, please email it to babybeblessed@gmail.com .  By emailing your photo you are giving Baby be Blessed permission to post it on their website and blog.  ~Can't wait to see them!!