It Only Takes A Spark…

January 16, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres5 Comments

“Pass It On (It Only Takes A Spark)” – that was a favorite song of mine growing up. My mother used to hum it while she played it on the piano for me, and then I learned it and would sing it for her while she played. All I pictured back then was a campfire, but today there is a lot more truth & meaning.

Matthew 7:12

12 “Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you. That is the meaning of Moses’ Teachings and the Prophets.

Today, on the way to work after my work-out, I was in my hurry mode. I cannot STAND to be late, not even a little bit, and to me, “late” is “on time” and “on time” is “early”. If you’re Type A, maybe you understand this concept! 😉 I was on the verge of “late”, but I had not had enough caffeine and so I pulled into the LOOOONG line at Starbucks for my Venti Chai Soy Latte Extra Hot (Thanks, Jenna!) No Water With Whip. I waited and waited…I was anxious because I could see the minutes ticking away on the dashboard clock…But when I approached the window to pay for my drink, the barista said, “The person in front of you paid for your order. Would you like to pay for the person behind you?”

Wow.

Of course, I said, “Yes!”, and paid for the order behind me – which was actually a dollar less expensive (See good things come to those who do the right thing!;-)), but that little incident changed my perspective for the entire day. It only takes a spark…

Maybe a “little thing” like that doesn’t strike you in your heart, but man, this morning, that simple act changed my whole demeanor for the day. What are we doing each day – things that seem insignificant to us – that make a huge difference in the life of another? And is that difference positive or negative? It only takes a spark…

My favorite radio station (proudly posted on the sidebar of our blog), Victory 91.5, has a segment each morning called, “Scripture & Spurgeon” – referring to the late, great Charles Spurgeon and a dose of correlating scripture. I was really affected by today’s and thought I would share it:

“Short prayers are long enough.”-C.H. Spurgeon

Matthew 6:7

7 And when you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For they think that in their much speaking they may be heard.

We’ve been discussing prayer a lot recently, it seems. We ask and ask and ask. We thank and thank and thank. But it’s such an awesome reminder – for US, especially – we ought to LISTEN more than anything else. Maybe if our ears and our heart and our minds are simply open to His Word, we will truly hear his answers.

1 Kings 19:11-13

11 And he said to him: Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord: and behold the Lord passeth, and a great and strong wind before the Lord over throwing the mountains, and breaking the rocks in pieces: the Lord is not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake: the Lord is not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire: the Lord is not in the fire, and after the fire a whistling of a gentle air. 13 And when Elias heard it, he covered his face with his mantle, and coming forth stood in the entering in of the cave, and behold a voice unto him, saying: What dost thou here, Elias?

It isn’t hard at all to notice an earthquake or a fire, and surely God can be there, as well, but we cannot hear a whisper unless we are listening intently.

Tomorrow, Craig & I are heading to Jefferson, Georgia to witness an amazing woman of God, Joan Hunter, lead a healing & miracle service.

Ms. Hunter is quite an author. After being told she would never even be able to read or write, she has now written more than ten books. She has such an inspiring story! We cannot wait to meet her in person and experience God through her ministry!

After a friend of mine loved and raved about this book by Joan Hunter, I just had to read it.

And I shared it with Craig, and with members of our family, and our friends…and now I’m sharing it with you, because remember, IT ONLY TAKES A SPARK…

Remember as you go through this day, this weekend, the next week…it does only take a spark. Is your spark filled with Jesus and His love, or is it filled with anger, selfishness and this world? We can change the world, as Jesus called each of us to do in His Great Commission – and it only takes one spark at a time!

Matthew 28:16-20

18 And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. 19 Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.

All Our Love,

What's Up Wednesday

Out @ Opulent & A Completed Great Room!

January 15, 2014January 16, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres2 Comments

Yay! We have finally made it to the middle of the week! I’m in the midst of Pure Barre’s January 21 Day Challenge, and boy, the week is dragging by!! 5-7 days/week of leaving the house at 4:45 am. {Yawn.}

But I must say that I am LOVING getting this workout in every day! (No, we aren’t being sponsored by PB) But seriously, if you have a studio near you, try this work out. It’s 55 minutes of pure BURNING, while doing NO cardio whatsoever.

As you can tell from the title of this post, between all the Pure Barre classes & work, we have finally completed our great room/den/family room. I found a pillow & throw for our new French barrel cane chair:

Here is a close-up of the fabric:

Against the silver of the draperies and the flat grey of the chair, I am loving the way this fabric is both metallic and flat flax-colored linen in one. Perfect blend of opulence and tranquility – The whole theme I designed this room around.

And if you’ll notice in the back left corner of the picture above, you can just barely see our final addition:

This antiqued brass and wood inlay Threshold Target Bar Cart was originally $129.99. NO WAY. (Although, apparently, much better than the price at Crate & Barrel – see link!)

But when I found it the other day for 70% off, making it right around $38?!?!? Yes, ma’am. It needed to come home with us. Not only does it fit the character of our room really well, it also alleviates a storage issue as we ~~have way too many things~~ don’t have enough cabinet space. 🙂

I found that great set of dessert plates with various gold and white designs, the striped and polka dotted paper straws, & those awesome coasters toward the back made for us by my sister-in-law, Mandy to go with the cart…. And yep, you guessed it! Everything I bought was on DEEP discount. Everything else was a wedding gift, and I’m so excited they now have a space to be displayed!!

I even found this little gem you can’t see in any of the pictures:

I remember describing my ‘vision’ for this room back before I even lived in this house, when Craig & I were engaged. He was a bit skeptical back then. 😉 But the other day, he told me he can see my ‘vision’ in the room now, and he says I achieved it (YES!!!). Win!

I think one of the most important aspects of interior design (or probably any design work, for that matter) is to create a space based around a feeling, an experience you want to have when you walk into that room. You are able to, then, pick colors, fabrics, and pieces that reflect that feeling. Pretty soon, the room has come together and you never had to fret over which style you are – traditional, modern, farmhouse, because it is all based around pieces you love and a feeling you desire.

Remember us telling you we went to Opulent for dinner the other night with my parents and brother? Thought we would share these two cute pics today:

Just like all of our family, we really wish we could spend more time with this bunch! Dinner was delicious and alot of fun!

One other note for today, keep your eyes and ears open for Jesus. Yesterday, we talked about how God has been really speaking to us with the book of Isaiah…Well, yesterday, He put yet another verse from Isaiah in front of us. Sometimes God’s Will for your life, and His promises are right in front of you.

Join us tomorrow!

xoxo,
Pier & Craig

TTC Tuesday

Standing On His Promises

January 14, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres3 Comments

God has been really using the middle of the book of Isaiah this month as I have read His Word. It seems Isaiah is everywhere I turn – Mass, Jesus Calling, One Year Book of Hymns Devotional, blogs we read, and just this morning on the Mentoring Moments For Christian Women Facebook page: What a beautiful thought.

And as it turns out, God may (just maybe!) have a reasoning for pushing me to look at Isaiah more closely. Just take a look at chapter 54:

Isaiah 54:1-17

The Fertility of Zion

54 “Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child;
Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed;
For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous
Than the sons of the married woman,” says the Lord.
2 “Enlarge the place of your tent;
[a]Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not;
Lengthen your cords
And strengthen your pegs.
3 “For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left.
And your [b]descendants will possess nations
And will resettle the desolate cities.

4 “Fear not, for you will not be put to shame;
And do not feel humiliated, for you will not be disgraced;
But you will forget the shame of your youth,
And the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
5 “For your husband is your Maker,
Whose name is the Lord of hosts;
And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel,
Who is called the God of all the earth.
6 “For the Lord has called you,
Like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
Even like a wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,”
Says your God.
7 “[c]For a brief moment I forsook you,
But with great compassion I will gather you.
8 “In an [d]outburst of anger
I hid My face from you for a moment,
But with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you,”
Says the Lord your Redeemer.

9 “For [e]this is like the days of Noah to Me,
When I swore that the waters of Noah
Would not [f]flood the earth again;
So I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
Nor will I rebuke you.
10 “For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake,
But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,
And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,”
Says the Lord who has compassion on you.

11 “O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted,
Behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
And your foundations I will lay in [g]sapphires.
12 “Moreover, I will make your battlements of [h]rubies,
And your gates of [i]crystal,
And your entire [j]wall of precious stones.
13 “All your sons will be [k]taught of the Lord;
And the well-being of your sons will be great.
14 “In righteousness you will be established;
You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear;
And from terror, for it will not come near you.
15 “If anyone fiercely assails you it will not be from Me.
Whoever assails you will fall because of you.
16 “Behold, I Myself have created the smith who blows the fire of coals
And brings out a weapon for its work;
And I have created the destroyer to ruin.
17 “No weapon that is formed against you will prosper;
And every tongue that [l]accuses you in judgment you will condemn.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
And their vindication is from Me,” declares the Lord.

Isn’t that something? “Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child“, because God says, “For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous than the sons of the married woman,”.

We are called to ‘enlarge our tents’, and to me, this is our call to put our full trust in the Lord. It’s like saying, “Lord, I trust you. You have promised in your Word we will be blessed with children, so I will lay that ‘concern’ in your Hands. I will prepare my heart, my soul, my marriage for this blessing, and in the meantime, I know that YOUR timing is perfect.”

Craig & I have started praying for His timing, and His Will to be done in our waiting for our child. It has given me a sense of peace, of an almost relaxation. Craig & I are putting our full trust in God, and devoting our energy – instead of to worrying & frustration – to our relationship with the Lord and with each other.

As my blogger friend & fellow PCOS girl, Elisha said, ” If He can cause a virgin teenager to get pregnant and give birth, then He can cause you to get pregnant and give birth, even with all of your short, long, non-existent cycles, and crazy up and down hormones. Just believe.”

Well friends, I have a ton of e-mails to respond to and a new guest post to begin writing (Stay tuned!)… If you didn’t have a chance to read yesterday’s guest post at The Veil of Chastity, you can here.

We will see y’all tomorrow for What’s Up Wednesday! In the meantime, follow our blog and “like” us on Facebook (see the Follow widgets in our left sidebar)!

Love Love Love,

My Choice Monday

A Bundle of Blogs

January 13, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres10 Comments

Oh we are struggling this Monday! Poor Craig is home sick – my flu/cold finally zapped him – and I have never been this exhausted in my entire life. Yesterday, I took a little nap after church while Craig washed the car, and then we took a nap together when he got done. We went out to dinner with my parents and brother (at a delicious restaurant, Opulent), and got home right around 9 PM – when we both promptly fell asleep on the sofa.

Monday mornings are my sleep “late” mornings, when I get to stay in bed until (gasp!) 5:00 AM, and I barely dragged myself out of bed. Craig felt so bad he had actually taken NyQuil – and if you know him, that means he is sick – so he was like a zombie when I left the house at 5:45. It was everything I could do to keep my eyes open on the way to the office, and by the time I pulled into the parking lot at work, I took a nap in the car before I came inside the office. Neither of us are ‘nappers’… so we must not feel well. Yick.

The Lefebvre house is not a happening place this week, apparently.

{Yawn.}

My sister-in-law sent me this picture this morning, and I must say, it is quite fitting:

For today’s My Choice Monday, we are featuring 4 blogs we love – all are different, but wonderful reads for various reasons. We know you’ll have to bookmark them, too!

1. Veil Of Chastity

As we shared last week, this is an invaluable blog and resource for all of you single girls (and guys!) out there! And of course, today, I had the pleasure of guest blogging at The Veil of Chastity, so you simply MUST visit! 🙂

Cindy, the author of The Veil, is an amazing Catholic woman who you will all, no doubt, find inspiring! Here is an excerpt from the blog’s “About” page:

“The United States alone has 27 million single Catholics. This site is dedicated to those singles and those around the world who are looking for wisdom and hope. This is a place to share and learn about the virtue of chastity, the truth behind the virtue and why it leads to our happiness and peace.

Do you want to be married? Do you want to follow God’s plan for your life? This site promotes the beautiful and wise teaching of the virtue of Chastity, which is the key to remaining in God’s plan.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) #1658 says:

“…We must also remember the great number of single persons who, because of the particular circumstances in which they have to live – often not of their choosing – are especially close to Jesus’ heart and therefore deserve the special affection and active solicitude (concern/care) of the Church, especially of pastors…”

I agree with the CCC! But, I want to do more than offer special affection and solicitude. I want to offer the ‘why’ behind the teaching of the virtue of Chastity!

The teaching is universal and does not depend upon your age. It is a life-long virtue whose benefits are tremendous.”

You won’t want to miss today’s post – or any others by Cindy and The Veil of Chastity. Check out her blog and my guest post here. (If today’s post isn’t up yet, remember to check back later!!)

2. waiting for baby bird.

If you or anyone you love is dealing with infertility, specifically PCOS, this blog will bless you with inspiration and encouragement. Elisha has a heart for God and serves as a shining example to all of us. Here’s a quote from her “About Me” section:

“My husband and I have been married for 7 amazing years and we yearn for our own children; however due to PCOS, we are “challenged” in the fertility department

The doctors have given me a 3% chance of conceiving on my own but I know that God is bigger than PCOS or any doctor’s report, and through Jesus, I have a 100% chance of having my own biological children.”

Elisha & her blog are reminders that Jesus heals and is more powerful than anything.

Isaiah 53:5

5 But because of our sins he was wounded,
beaten because of the evil we did.
We are healed by the punishment he suffered,
made whole by the blows he received.

Wow. A dose of that kind of faith and healing is worth more than any cup of coffee could be to get you through the day – and through your pain!

3. Catholic Foodie

I happened upon this fabulous blog when doing a little bit of research about a chef Craig and I saw on PBS the other day – John Besh, only to find out he is a fellow Catholic and was featured on Catholic Foodie…

As its tagline reads, “…Where Food & Faith Meet”, and what a great, food-filled and faith-filled blog this is! Not only will you find amazing recipes like this one:

Just Click The Image For The Whole Post & Recipe

But also beautiful articles like this one:

Click The Image To Go Directly To This Article About The Table & The Altar!

4. Passionate Penny Pincher

Folks, let me tell you. PPP’s recipes, coupons, and money-saving ideas have been absolutely priceless (no pun intended – HA!) to Craig & me!

Laurie taught me how to make Honey Bun Cake, which was the biggest hit at my Office Thanksgiving Party this year:

And she has some wonderful DIY fixes that don’t cost a lot!

5. Hope-Filled Focus

Evangeline has not only provided the world with an uplifting blog for those of us hoping against all hope in the face of infertility, but for everyone! Her Focus Friday posts are a blessing and a reminder to us all that God is bigger, and stronger, and faithful. Today, she wrote this:

“Focus on the following scripture throughout the day. It’s God’s Word and it’s what He desires us to believe. Believe it is true for you because God’s Word is Truth. Use it as an affirmation. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day. Personalize it by putting your name in it!

“So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” Colossians 2:10″

Hope Filled Focus is a blog you’ll want to turn to for encouragement, and you can find her hopeful inspiration in the two books she has authored, and in her speaking engagements – as shown below.

I know Evangeline has offered confidence & light to Craig & me, and I believe she will offer the same to you.

We hope each and every one of these recommendations blesses you or someone you know! If you enjoy one of these blogs (or OURS?!?!), share it with your friends and family! Don’t forget to “LIKE” our page on Facebook! Things are a little bit different with a “page” versus a “profile”, so while we can’t accept your friend request at this time, like our page and send us a comment while we figure things out! We can’t wait to hear from you!

Y’all enjoy this beautiful day, and Craig & I are going to go back to getting some rest – Looks like I may be reserving the Meditation Room today at the office for a 30-minute nap during lunch! 🙂 Zzzzzzz…..

Love Y’all,

Food For Thought Friday

Free Blessings!

January 10, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

Happy Friday Y’all!!!

I haven’t been this excited for a Friday in awhile, but between the fact this week has seemed a few extra days long for some reason, and that my husband is going to be home today, I am ecstatic!!! Ladies, if you have the privilege of spending every evening with your husband, or if you are dating and have the pleausre of seeing your significant other on a daily basis, consider yourself blessed and say a quick prayer of thanks right now.

Someone recently said, “Oh, it must be nice to have a break from each other!”

No ma’am, that is not the case. Spending 3-4 days apart at a time every single week? Not fun.

But I digress… (per usual). 🙂

Today, we have a bit of a surprise for you! This is going to be an even happier Friday than you may have thought! Look what I found for free:

Click on the picture above to be taken to the site with the links to download these 16 FREE BOOKS FROM BETH MOORE, PLUS TWO FREE MUSIC TRACKS FROM CHRISTIAN ARTIST COTY SLOAN!

If you’ve never seen or read or done a devotional by Beth Moore, boy are you missing out! Check out the video below – sound on and watching with undivided attention! (I just sounded like an elementary school teacher, huh?!?) 🙂

Oh my goodness, that story has me covered in goosebumps and tears every single time I hear it! What an awesome God we serve!

If you’re unfamiliar with Coty Sloan’s music, check this out:

This offer apparently ends today so jump on it and be blessed with this freedom! {Nice play on words, if I do say so myself! 😉 }

In other news, we want to THANK YOU for taking the time to vote this week! You voted, and we answered! The Newlywed Lefebvres have a second home on the internet now – on Facebook! If you enjoy blogging with us Monday – Friday, stop by & “LIKE” our Facebook page at The Newlywed Lefebvres on Facebook!

We’ll be posting pictures, videos, links to some of our favorite things on the web – We hope you’ll comment and share what’s going on in your lives with us! So “Like” our page and share it with others! How many ‘followers’ we have isn’t of concern. How many people we touch with the love of Christ? Well, that’s paramount.

Let’s take the world by storm for Christ!

All Our Love & Happy Friday Excitement,

Thirsty For Christ Thursday

Perfect Love: It’s What God Wants For Us!

January 9, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres3 Comments

This week has been a lot about soul searching for me. As I’ve mentioned, I have the distinct privilege of guest blogging at The Veil Of Chastity on Monday, and in preparation for writing that post, I really sat back and recalled the work of the mighty hand of God and the role he played in bringing Craig and I together.

I mean, honestly, I get chills (and not in a good way) when I think about my life before Craig – OUR lives before each other – or what life could be like if we hadn’t followed God toward each other. (You can read the whole story on Monday at The Veil of Chastity)The one God has chosen for you loves you like Christ loves the Church.

Meditate on that for a moment.

Ephesians 1:4-5

4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. 5 For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [[a]because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]—

My “Drawing Near” devotion (By John MacArthur) this morning had the following to say about Christ’s love for us:

“Moses told Israel that God didn’t choose them because of their great numbers or any inherent goodness on their part, but as an expression of God’s sovereign will and sacrificial love (Deut. 7:7-8). That’s true of you as well if you’re a Christian.

The Greek word translated “love” in Ephesians 1:4 speaks not of emotional or sentimental love but of love that seeks God’s best for others at any cost. It is marked by sacrifice rather than selfishness–giving rather than receiving. It seeks to forgive rather than condemn–to dismiss offenses rather than count them.

Such love is epitomized in God Himself, who loved you so much that He sacrificed His Son on your behalf, who willingly laid down His own life for you (John 3:16; 15:13).”

Ephesians 5:25

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her

The love your holy spouse should have for you (and you, for him or her) is so magnificent, so powerful, so amazing, that it is life-changing.

Leon Suprenant, writes an article on Catholic.com, which says:

“…even more profoundly and positively, we are “pro-love” in the sense of laying down our lives for our beloved, which is a sign of contradiction for those who think love is merely about self-gratification. Love is the greatest of the virtues, the greatest of the Commandments, and it consists in giving of ourselves to God and neighbor.”

If you’re married, do you experience this type of love from your spouse? Do you give this type of unwanting, self-giving love to your spouse?

If you’re single, have you ever experienced this type of love or felt this type of love toward anyone you have dated?

If not, perhaps the the Lord has not lifted the veil which covers you. Cindy of The Veil Of Chastity, explains it this way:

“Think of The Veil as a simple metaphor: It is the idea that God places a protective veil over all of us and the purpose of the veil is to hide us from every possible suitor except the one that God intends for us to marry. I call the person God wants us to marry our ‘holy spouse.’

This protective veil makes us ‘unclear’, similar to looking through a Mylar plastic sheet, to those suitors who are not our holy spouse. These suitors may be attracted to us but they hesitate to pursue us fully because they can’t fully see us; we are hidden by the veil. This may feel like rejection but it is really God’s protection.”

How beautiful is that bit of insight? Christ loves you so much that He chose someone for you, and protects you – as much as you allow Him – until you follow His will and guidance to meet your holy spouse. I urge you, if you’re single, to call out to God for His guidance. Christ is the only way to this amazing sacrificial love. It is a gift, solely from God Himself.

Suprenant further writes in his article:

“Married couples truly are “made for each other.” Supernatural grace that comes with Christian marriage builds on the natural complementarity of man and woman. Through their mutual gift, the two really do become one flesh (Eph. 5:31), just as Christ completely identifies himself with his Bride, the Church (cf. Acts 9:4). This two-becoming-one of husband and wife is brought about, symbolized, and recalled in the marriage act.

Pope Benedict XVI, in his encyclical God is Love, calls us not to settle for a self-seeking erotic love, but to a Godlike, self-giving love that builds on and perfects all the lower forms of love. In this context, chastity gives us the strength not to be reactive or controlled by our passions and lusts, but rather the freedom that comes with self-mastery—the freedom to love as Christ loved the Church. This strength is the fruit of a lifelong battle in which we cooperate with the Holy Spirit as we strive to imitate the purity of Christ.”

Don’t settle for earthly ‘love’… It does not even begin to scratch the surface (and I mean that literally) of the love the one God has chosen for you will give. This type of amazing sacrifice and self-giving love can only possibly come from God above, who loves each of us in that same way, and beyond.

Reflect on love today – Christ’s love for you; your love for Christ; your love for your spouse… If you are unmarried, pray. Ask God to first create in you a pure heart for Him, and then to guide you to the one whom He intends.

I promise you, the blessing of sacrificial love in your marriage cannot be described in words, and there is no substitute for the fruits it brings. The love Craig and I have, the love we share for one another, is the glue that binds us when things don’t go as planned, perfects every good day, and grows each moment. Our marriage as THREE, with God at the center, is life sustaining.

In Christ,

♥

PS: If you haven’t had the opportunity to answer us yet, please let us know what your thoughts are! 🙂

What's Up Wednesday

Antiquing, Appointments & (Not) Alot More

January 8, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres6 Comments

I feel like y’all have been robbed of What’s Up Wednesday posts for the past two weeks, being that both Christmas and New Year’s Day fell in the middle of the week. Unfortunately, our lives aren’t that exciting – 😉 – so today’s post just reverts back to that of a typical “What’s Up Wednesday”.

So what’s up?

Well, for one, I have been working on our home decor – as usual, and so, while Craig was away for work, I spent last Saturday afternoon perusing Dupre’s Antique Market on the Marietta Square… Folks, oh. my. goodness. gracious. I love love love a good antique store. Seriously, other than Goodwill, antique stores are my favorite places to shop – and for the same reason I love Goodwill shopping: You just never know what you might find. (And I love discovering a treasure underneath a pile of junque {that’s fancy junk, in case you were wondering}.) What makes most antique shopping even better than Goodwill? You can barter down their pricing!

Dupre’s has everything from fine china to local original artwork.

The next time you’re in the Atlanta area, you really have to visit this place…

We have been in the market for an occasional chair to “finish” (ha, ha) out our great room, and (under a pile of genuine junque) I came across this:

A gorgeous grey French barrel cane chair – vintage, of course!

Just look at that detailing…Ahhhh. LOVE this addition!! (& so does Craig!) It fits perfectly with our great room coloring and now, all we’re missing is a great lumbar pillow to complete it… Any suggestions?

While scouring Dupre’s from top to bottom, I also found a great set of drapery panels for our kitchen.

Craig was pretty surprised when he returned home from his trip that afternoon I had hung these babies on my own! 😉 Little did he know his wife was handy with a cordless drill! 😉

Between the gorgeous chargers I found at Goodwill last week, and these draperies, our little kitchen/breakfast room area feels really warm and inviting! Interior design for your own home is always the most fun! 😉

In other news, 2014 is going to be the year of the physician visit. Between Craig and myself, this year alone has already meant our gracing the offices of 4 doctors. Ugh. I can feel our HSA Account groaning! But, this is a good thing! Items we have been putting off are being taken care of – namely, my 90-year old right knee, as we affectionately refer to it.

Since the dreadful skiing incident of (early) 2012 when I hit a mogul and fell face first down the mountain…My knee has been in ~~bad~~ terrible shape. For the first 3 weeks, I couldn’t move it at all. It was swollen up like a sausage, and the pain…Oh, I can’t even describe that. It was excruciating. Well, even now – 2 years later – my right knee creaks loudly when I bend it, and it is still unbearably painful to do any sort of ‘high-impact’ exercise (which is why I switched to Pure Barre). If I put any strain on my knee, or walk too far (seriously), I pay for it for the next week. Craig is all too familiar with the look on my face that says it’s time for Aleve and Ben-Gay.

Now that the insurance stars have aligned, I was finally able to see a Sports Medicine Specialist/Orthopaedic Surgeon…who told me he was pretty sure I have been dragging around a torn ACL for the past 2 years, and it (shocker!) has not healed correctly.

No wonder it hurts so much, huh?

Now to wait for the results of the MRI. Stay tuned.

Otherwise, we are awaiting our inaugural appointment with the Atlanta Center For Reproductive Medicine. Fingers are crossed for better care than we’ve been given at Horrible OB-Gyn of Nameless Town In Georgia.

Prayers, please.

Now that y’all are allllllll caught up on the lives of the Newlywed Lefebvres, I have one little question for you?

Let us know. Your answers will be shared only with us and are completely anonymous. We just want to know how YOU feel!

Thank you to http://waitingforbabybird.com/ for this awesome reminder!

Until Tomorrow,

All Our Love,

TTC Tuesday

Grieving What Never Was

January 7, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres8 Comments

{Deep breath}

Oh, this is a hard topic. For me anyway…and for any of you out there who have experienced infertility. This post covers something never spoken about, but felt so strongly by those of us who have endured this trial. Those of you who have had no issues in conceiving a child might not understand this pain, but for those of us who know it – it stings. (What an understatement.)

Gena Golas of the blog “CT Working Moms“, writes in the Huffington Post about “The Five Stages Of Infertility Grief“, and while it might seem a humorous post for some…It is all too real to be laughable.

For those of us who deal with infertility on a daily basis, to hear: “Oh, it’ll happen. Don’t think about it so much. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself.” or “It will happen as soon as you ‘stop trying so hard’,” is akin to being punched in the stomach. I can’t tell you how many times we have heard those phrases, and on each of those occasions, I have been forced to hold back my tears. Every time we see horror stories on the news about child abuse and neglect, I am reduced to a puddle on the floor – wondering why them, and why not us!?!?

I will admit it gets harder and harder every single day to bow my head in prayer for the same thing Craig and I have been praying for for the past 16 months. I keep in my heart Hannah, Sarah, Rachel, the mother of Samson…Women of the Bible who were infertile only temporarily, until God stepped in and gave them a blessing, a miracle, an utterly amazing gift.

I keep these verses close by for comfort:

“…that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:5
“…God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” Ephesians 3:20
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33

At the end of the day, this excerpt from the Infertility Survival Guide by Cindy Lewis Dake, hits the nail on the head of how Craig and I feel:

“We have a good life together. I don’t want us to “embrace the emptiness” that seems to swallow up some infertile couples. “Empty arms” doesn’t mean empty hearts. When a couple desperately wants a child, they begin to think their life is empty without one. They become completely centered on the quest for a child, financially, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. We don’t want that feeling to ever control us. We love our life together and want to always be satisfied with it, so if a child comes along, he/she will be an added blessing.”

But it is the biggest struggle we have ever faced – together or apart – to go on without that blessing – wondering if we will ever be blessed with a child.

As always, we ask for your prayers.

All Our Love,

My Choice Monday

A Book, A Blog & A Bowl

January 6, 2014January 6, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres3 Comments

Welcome To My Choice Monday Folks!

If you’re reading this post from anywhere in the United States, you’re likely a little bit cold today! Here in Georgia, it is currently 20 degrees with a wind chill making it feel like -5 degrees outside! While my husband may be used to this weather, us Georgians just aren’t! So, read on today to find out about an (audio)book to warm your brain (& soul), a blog to warm your heart, and a bowl (of deliciousness) to warm your tummy!

1. The Bible From 30,000 Feet

I somewhat happened upon this “book” when I got my notification from Audible that my new credit was in, and I could choose a new book for the month’s enjoyment. I went on the site and came across this one…Naturally, I was interested in this one…I mean, my husband is a pilot and we are on the look-out every day for new and exciting ways to experience God’s Word.

What a blessing this has been. I listen on my way to and from work, while I’m getting ready some mornings…It is a “book” I just can’t put down. Skip Heitzig discusses the Bible in ways you can’t imagine and you’ve never heard before. Check out the videos here and here.

If you want to listen to or watch this series, you can here . There are also bible study worksheets available to you at this link… Really, you won’t be sorry! The Bible From 30,000 Feet has me interested in, contemplating and passionate about GENESIS. I cannot even fathom what lies ahead!

2. The Veil Of Chastity

Wow. This blog could have you enveloped in it’s insight all day long! I’ll be posting more on the topic of “The Veil” later this week, and have been blessed with the opportunity to guest post on this author’s site, so this is certainly not the last you’ll hear about the concept of “The Veil”… But on this cold day, take a moment to read a little bit about The Veil of Chastity.

Reading about the concept of “The Veil” is just another bump on the head of just how much God loves us and cares for us. This is a blatant indication of God as a Father figure, and it is so. very. beautiful. If you’re a single girl or guy, it will give you hope and peace. If you’re happily married, it will give you goosebumps.

Romans 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to [his] purpose.”

Stay tuned for more on “The Veil”, and for the link to my upcoming guest post!

3. A Bowl Of Buffalo Chicken Dip

While this picture isn’t exactly ours, (thank you Starships & Laserbeams!!), the recipe that follows is so delicious you’ll probably not have the opportunity for a picture of it – because it doesn’t last long! Craig & I usually make this dish as a casserole, but yesterday we opted for the “dip version”, being that we had too much going on to cook with anything other than a crock pot! Here’s what you’ll need:

2 lbs chicken breast (or tenders)

1 large bottle Frank’s Red Hot Buffalo Sauce (or buffalo sauce of your choosing)

2 blocks cream cheese

1 bag shredded colby jack cheese

Minced garlic

1 jar of ranch

Fully thaw chicken and place in the bottom of your crock pot, turned to High. Pour 3/4 bottle of buffalo sauce, & half jar of ranch dressing over chicken. Place one block of cream cheese & half the bag of shredded cheese over chicken. Add about 1 T (+/- to taste) minced garlic to crock pot. Place cover on the crock pot and let cook for about 6 hours on High.

After about 6 hours on High, the chicken should be easy to shred. Shred the chicken and add the remaining ingredients to the pot. Turn the crock pot to Low and let cook for about 1 more hour.

When this is complete, stir everything together and you will have either a delicious dip or you can also serve over rice for a yummy entree!

Now, between your new book, blog and bowl of buffalo chicken dip, you should be warm from head to soul!

Keep warm, and meet us back here tomorrow for TTC Tuesday!

Love,

Food For Thought Friday

FOOD For Thought & (Spiritual) Food

January 3, 2014January 3, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres4 Comments

Good Morning and Happy First Friday of 2014!!

On this Food For Thought Friday, I was sort of stumped about what to write…and that isn’t typical for me. I usually have plenty to say – as most who know me might agree. 😉 After this morning’s Pure Barre class, Craig and I chatted on the phone and tried to come up with something…But neither one of us had any ideas or anything weighing on our minds that seemed worthy of a “FFTF” post…

And then I checked my e-mail when I got to the office this morning, and saw my YouTube update, and one of the videos was this one:

And I knew that this was what we were meant to share today.

Just take a gander at the lyrics:

“10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)”

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy nameThe sun comes up, it’s a new day dawning
It’s time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

You’re rich in love, and You’re slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

[Chorus x2]
Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name

Jesus, I’ll worship Your holy name
Lord, I’ll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before
O my soul
I’ll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I’ll worship Your holy name
I’ll worship Your holy name

How apropos for a new year: “The sun comes up, there’s a new day dawning; It’s time to sing your song again. Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me, let me be singing when the evening comes.”

We are actually working on this song with our choir at church, but I almost like it better as a ‘solo’ piece…So maybe stay tuned? 🙂

So the take-away for this Food For Thought Friday should be to allow God to work in your 2014 like you have never allowed Him before. No matter what happened before or what is going to happen down the road, walk right by His side. Let Him be your strength.

That’s a hard pill to swallow for us strong-willed folk…But the Jesus Calling devotional for January 1st says, “Come to me with a teachable spirit to be changed. A close walk with Me is a life of continual newness. Do not cling to old ways as you step into a new year. Instead, seek My face with an open mind, knowing that your journey with me involves being transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Today’s Jesus Callling devotional reads, “Learn to hide in the secret of My Presence, even as you carry out your duties in the world. I am both with you and within you. I go before you to open up the way, and I also walk alongside you. There could never be another companion as devoted as I am.” (Reference: Psalm 31:19-20; John 16:33; Romans 12:2; & Jeremiah 29:11)

Let the verses above and this beautiful and heartwrenching song melt over you this morning. Really take a moment to think about letting GO and letting God this year…

One more piece of “Food For Thought” today… With Thanksgiving and Christmas now over, many people forget that charities are still in need of donations beyond “the holidays”. Consider this today, and search out an organization like the one below in your own community. (Or you can certainly use this one!)

Click on the logo for more information! Food is something we all can certainly “afford” to give! (And if not, let me know, and Craig & I will send you some food!)

Happy Friday Everyone! Stay WARM wherever you might be!!!

Lots Of Love,