How to Survive....

As you may know, I am a bit of a blog-a-holic. I love to read blogs. My new favorite is called "Stuff Christians Like" They are putting out a book as advertised above :)
He had a great entry one day that I thought I would re-post here. It is a scorecard...enjoy!

Surviving Church as a MCWOK: Married Couple Without Kids

1. If you’ve been told “It will happen someday.” = +2 points (+10 bonus points if the person touches your face while speaking these words.)
2. If you’ve ever been told to “Just relax,” or “It will happen when you stop trying,” which is not physically possible. = +2 points
3. If you’ve ever been asked to “volunteer” in the nursery on Mother’s Day so the scheduled worker can enjoy the service. = +3 points
4. If friends with kids invite you over and you wind up babysitting their kids the whole time. = +1 point
5. If friends offer to let you spend time with their kids for some “family time” or to get your “kid fix.” = +2 points
6. If people offer to give you their kids if you want some so badly. = +3 points
7. If you can’t attend a church potluck without being asked about your sex life and/or personal doctor visits. = +3 points
8. If friends tell you that spending time with their misbehaving kids will change your mind about wanting your own. = +1 point
9. If you find you’d rather skip the Mother’s Day/Father’s Day/Sermon series on the family services at church. = +2 points
10. If the term “family” at your church always refers to Mom+Dad+Kids. = +2 points
11. If it is suggested that if you prayed hard enough or had enough faith, you’d have children. = +3 points
12. If you’ve ever been told that you are so “lucky” because you can go on vacations, go see movies at the theater, or sleep late. = +3 points
13. If you’ve been told that you should really enjoy your road trip because “at least you don’t have kids to entertain in the car.” = +1 point
14. If you’ve heard countless stories of people who have adopted babies and then miraculously gotten pregnant. = +2 points for every occasion
15. If you’ve been asked “Why don’t you just adopt?” (As if the decision is as easy as picking out a new toothbrush.) = +3 points
16. If it is assumed that you will work VBS every year because you “love being with kids so much” and probably have nothing else going on. = +1 point for every year you have worked VBS
17. If people assume that you sleep until noon every day. = +2 points
18. If you tell people you are a homemaker and the first question they ask is “How many kids do you have?” = +1 point
19. If it has ever been suggested that you aren’t as “blessed” as others just because you don’t have children. = +3 points
20. If you have had people tell you about dreams and visions they’ve had of your future children. = +2 points for dreams; +3 points for visions
21. If your “personal prayer request” about trying to have a baby gets printed on paper and put in the hands of every person in attendance at your church that day. = +10 points
22. If friends with kids eventually stop wanting to hang out with you because you’ve declined going with them to playdates a few too many times and you find out they would rather hang out with the new couple with young kids because they “understand what it’s like.” = +3 points
23. You can’t hold someone else’s baby at church without hearing “When are you going to get one of those?” or “That looks really good on you!” = +1 point
24. You’ve been told that you HAVE to watch the movie Facing the Giants. (Because, you know, it’s not just about facing “giants” in football…) = +2 points; +3 points if they tell you that the coach’s wife has a baby at the end
25. Someone has ever asked you about your fertility during Meet & Greet time at a Sunday morning service. = +1 point; +2 points if yelled across more than 2 rows of people
Your Score:
0-30 That’s okay, you’re still young. Just keep trying!
31-60 You’re not quite there yet. Have you considered other options?
61+ You’re an overachiever! The world would benefit greatly if you procreated!
Wasn't that great :) Enjoy & Happy New Year!

Christmas Fun

We had a great time during Christmas this year. Unlike a lot of Christmas days, we didn't feel as rushed from house to house. Here's some glimpses of our holidays.....

My Small Group Girls


Daniel & Frank


My Girls


My Dad opening gifts (I love this picture!)



We Wish You a Very Happy New Year!

My Christmas Eve Gift....

Every Christmas Eve Morning, my family has a tradition of calling each other and saying, "Christmas Eve Gift!!" I have no idea who started it, but it has turned into a competition of who calls the earliest and can say it the fastest. My PawPaw ALWAYS wins!!

In three days, I'll be getting my "Christmas Eve Gift." My baby sister is coming home. I miss her so much. Hurry, Jennaboo! It will start feeling like Christmas once you get here! Hope your week is going well...it's like it is Wednesday already!

A Prayer for Today...

This prayer is from Hannah's Hope: Seeking God's Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage, and Adoption Loss...

Lord, help me to know you are enough.
Take my eyes off myself.
Take my eyes off the child I desire.
Help me to delight myself in You.
Mold the desires of my heart to be in line with your will.
I don't want to need to be a mother more than I need to be your humble, obedient child.
I don't want waiting to have a baby to be a stumbling block between You and me anymore. Lord, I want to give this desire, this drive, this ache up to you.
Help me not to snatch it back as I so often do with the burdens I place in your hands.
Help me to be truly content with your will and your timing.
Lord, you know that I still desire a baby - someone to mold, teach, train, shape, guide, and help to grow in You.
But until the day you give me that joyous blessing, help me to grow in You.
Let me reach out to those around me.
Let me witness and minister to the children you place in my path.
Lord, if adoption is the path You would have us take, prepare our hearts, and prepare the child who will share our home.
If adoption is not Your will for our lives, keep me from pushing ahead of Your plan.
Help me stay submitted to my husband's will and to Your will.
If we are headed in the wrong direction, change our hearts.
Thank you for lifting my burden.
Help me to keep You first.
Let me seek Your face daily, and let me know that
You are enough.

Feeling Blessed

From my recent posts it is obvious that I've been feeling pretty sorry for myself. The last week has just stunk. More "pickles" arrived on Tuesday when I proceeded to back my husband's truck into a basketball goal. I know. I went to see my RE. He cured my bronchitis, told me to double up on my birth control pills, and set me up an appointment for Jan. 5th. Happy New Year.

I kinda had a turn yesterday when I got to do some things for other people. How is it that the best way to get out of a funk is to help someone else? I love it. :) Recently, I've heard some really sad stories that have made me want to reevaluate what Christmas is all about. One of my co-workers had all of her Christmas presents (and daughter's birthday presents) stolen out of her house yesterday. Then, a patient's mom came in and told me about the hardships that they have been experiencing. Both of these women are great moms and I hope that we can help them somehow.

Recently, I read a great book called Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God by Francis Chan. In it he talked a lot about how we need to help those around us. The "least of these" that are placed in our lives. It also addressed two other things that I feel my life is full of: worry and stress. This is what he said, "Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives. Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace towards others, or our tight grip of control.... they both reek of arrogance". Ouch. So today I am feeling blessed and not stressed.

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal"
2 Corinthians 4:16-18

When Life Gives You Pickles...

If you know me well, you know that pickles are one food that I hate. Even the juice coming near my sandwich makes me sick! Well, I believe that last week has brought us pickles. Bronchitis, a flat tire, trips to the doctor, a funeral, being attacked by a one-armed man...you name it... we got it. To top it all off, Sunday afternoon's small hamburger from Wendy's (ordered with ketchup only....I'm such a kid) had not only ketchup, but FIVE pickles on it. I'm not kidding....FIVE.

I'm resolving that this week will be better. I'm going to ART tomorrow to find out if something happened after the SIS and what the "plan" will be for this month. Because it's later in the morning, I have to take the whole day off work. BUT....my Aunt Mary is coming in from Virginia tomorrow morning and she, my Aunt KJ, Aunt Trenia, AND my mom will be hanging out at my mom's store tomorrow. YEA!!! I can't wait to spend some quality girl time with them. My big family get-together is this weekend and I'm so excited to see everyone.

So, can we please hold the pickles this week??

Good News, Bad News

Good News: I don't have to have surgery! We went to the doctor on Monday and I didn't have any polyps, but Dr. Long said I have pseudo-polyps which are scalloped places that show that I had polyps and they are going away OR the polyps are coming. Regardless, I'm on birth control which should prevent them/get rid of them. So we wait.....

Bad News: My husband's grandfather passed away on Sunday and the funeral is tomorrow. I just read his obituary and it's one of the best ones I've ever read. You can read it here. I love the scripture in it...

Titus 2:7-8 sums up his belief. "In everything set them an example
by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness
and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those
who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad
to say about us."
"The time has come for my departure.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,
I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day."
- II Timothy Chapter 4 (NIV).

Paint The Town

One of the FUN things I have to do each week is Paint The Town. It is a business that I have with my friends Katie & Lexie. You come with your friends on Friday nights and you paint a picture step by step with the girls. We provide everything, all you have to do is show up! Our website is paintthetowngadsden.com. The best part is that it's in the back of my mom's store, The Alabama Gift Company. She's at 528 Broad Street, so go by and see her. Yea! Happy Post!!

Praise You in This Storm

Praise You In This Storm
words by Mark Hall/music by Mark Hall and Bernie Herms

I was sure by now,God, that You would have reached down
and wiped our tears away,
stepped in and saved the day.
But once again, I say amen
and it's still raining
as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain,
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away.

And I'll praise you in this storm
and I will lift my hands
for You are who You are
no matter where I am
and every tear I've cried
You hold in your hand
You never left my side
and though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry to You
and raised me up again
my strength is almost gone how can I carry on
if I can't find You
and as the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
and as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise
the God who gives and takes away

I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
I lift my eyes onto the hills
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth
***************
Heard this in the car today and just wanted to look at the words....thought I would share.

The RE found lots of cysts today and scheduled us for a SIS next Monday to look for polyps and see if more surgery is needed. Thank you for your prayers :o)

Goodnight!