Music & Meds For Christmas Cheer

December 16, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Happy Monday!

We are officially 9 days away from Christmas!! Aren’t you excited!? Craig and I ended up having Part One of “Our Christmas” last night, which is the only day we have had to ourselves since last Sunday, and will be the only day we will have completely to ourselves until the New Year’s Eve. We figured we should make the most of this special time together, and so we opened each other’s “big gifts” last night. It was so much fun! We are looking forward to sharing Christmas with our families beginning at the end of the week! I think just maybe we might be able to fit everyone in! Prayers and fingers crossed!

Now for our recommendations for this week!

EZY Dose Stackable Pill Reminder Maybe you’re thinking this is an odd recommendation, but since I’ve started with the medication to balance my insulin, plus all the vitamins and supplements and allergy medications, I have struggled with a way to both make sure I remember to take them throughout the day, and to transport the pills. We found this handy pill keeper at Walgreen’s, and it has proved it’s usefulness tenfold. You can read more about it or purchase one here. Ladies, this fits quite easily into your purse; and gentlemen, with the helpful un-attaching feature, you can easily carry one (or a few) of the containers in your pocket! No more excuses for not taking your pills!
10% Off TODAY Only at The Catholic Company If you have any last minute gifts to buy, today’s your lucky day! The Catholic Company is giving an additional 10% today only with this code: F2RT7JD6 🙂 You can access their website here and can find a WIDE ARRAY of products from books to dvds to bible studies to jewelry to art to gorgeous pieces like this: Catholics and non-Catholics alike can easily find something at The Catholic Company! You can even get an extra 15% off by subscribing to their e-newsletter… Happy online shopping!
Sidewalk Prophets Christmas Album This is a phenomenal Christmas album that is both cheerful and worshipful, and contains both new and old Christmas music. I know you will really enjoy it, and your can purchase it right here! My favorite tune to get me in the Christmas spirit is “Because It’s Christmas” – and I’m giving you a little preview below 😉

Y’all enjoy the rest of your Monday, and we’ll catch up with you tomorrow!

Love & Christmas Blessings,

Food For Thought Friday

December 13, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Happy Friday To All Of You!

Hopefully, your week has been wonderful and you are looking forward to a relaxing weekend – I know all of you are completely finished with your Christmas shopping and decorating…right? 🙂

Well, if perhaps, I might be incorrect in my assumption, take a few minutes to relax now in preparation for a crazy weekend! Fridays around here are going to be casual. Today, for instance, I have included links below to two relatively fresh stories – both good for discussion.

First, as I’m sure you’ve heard/read by now: Pope Named Time’s Person of the Year

Personally, I think this is wonderful news – Time Magazine’s cover for Person of the Year hasn’t seen a Christian religious leader’s face since Pope John Paul II in 1994 and prior to that, Pope John XXIII in 1962. As we discussed yesterday, as true followers of Christ, shouldn’t we be revolutionizing the world on a daily basis? Not so that Time Magazine notices, but so the Lord does.

Now there’s an over-dinner-conversation starter for your weekend! And here’s one more, on the lighter side…

The Toughest Tongue Twister?

Can you say that 10 times fast? Maybe this conversation starter is for after dinner, when your mouth isn’t full! 😉

Have a great weekend!

All Our Love,

Thirsty For Christ Thursday

December 12, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres16 Comments

Good Morning!

Waking up at 4AM for work has its good and bad points. I think actually seeing the clock read 4:00 and realizing I have to put my feet on the floor is the worst part. After that, it’s actually not too awful. It’s still dark outside, peaceful, quiet.

When I am on the road at 6AM, my struggle has been trying to keep that sense of early morning peace about me along the way. One thing I cannot stand is a morning radio show, trying to be funny and discussing all of last night’s reality television. Gag me with a spoon. So, I have mainly listened to a News/Talk station, but after awhile that gets depressing, and depending on how long the commute is, repetitive – and who wants to hear bad news twice?!

I have tried some of the Christian radio stations, but have always felt like they were trying to sell themselves as “inspirational” and “safe for the whole family”, rather than saying we are a CHRISTIAN RADIO STATION and this is CHRISTIAN MUSIC meant to be used to WORSHIP AND GLORIFY THE LORD. And then, I found Victory 91.5 . What a wonderful way to drive to work: prayer – deep prayer, devotion, profound Bible verses, and a blend of Christian music weaved throughout. So refreshing! Such a great way to put on Christ for the day.

Which brings me to my whole point for this post: being unapologetic about our faith. We are all guilty of toning it down – buying any kind of Christian book via Kindle so we don’t have to walk around with the title showing; when someone asks us ‘what we did this weekend’ we never mention going to church and that amazing message we heard; we shy away from our faith and our beliefs and our love for Christ – but is that really love? You love your spouse, your parents, your children – Do you disavow any of them? Aren’t you proud of those you love? Do you have pictures of your family on your desk at work? Probably so.

But do you have a cross?

This brings me to the book, “In His Steps” by Charles Sheldon (clicking the picture above will direct you to where to purchase this book). Craig and I found it, completely by chance, at the Edward McKay Used Bookstore on our trip to Fayetteville, NC (it was one of my all-time favorite places to go as a child!) for $1.30, used. And well-read. And for good reason.

Actually written in the late 1800’s, this book (still quite relevant today) is the story of a group of self-proclaimed Christians, as many of us are today. They attended church on Sundays, and they called themselves Christians. But did they really live for Him unapologetically?? When they took on the challenge of living for an entire year by asking themselves “What Would Jesus Do?” in every situation, they found out how lives can be radically changed by being absolutely unapologetic about following Christ, and making Him Lord of your life.

Pray for us, as we pray for you, to live for Christ and ask ourselves “What would Jesus Do?” in every situation.

All Our Love,

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A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

December 6, 2013December 6, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

Hello – Hello!

See? I promised I would be back bearing photographs, and here I am! It’s quite handy to have your camera to upload pictures, using a functioning laptop. Sort of a necessity, actually. Ask my dear husband and you’ll find out I haven’t had the latter for QUITE some time – until recently. I now have TWO – a work laptop, and my personal laptop – fixed by said dear husband. 😉

Anyway, you can see our most recent pictures here. I will continue to update them with additions from our phones and Craig’s more fancy camera, and as we have more to add for Christmas 2013. Here are a few samples:

The Lefebvre Family at Cara's Wedding (minus Mandy & Mike - who we MISSED!) — The Lefebvre Family at Cara’s Wedding (minus Mandy & Mike – who we MISSED!)

Our First Anniversary Dinner - Elijah's In Wilmington — Our First Anniversary Dinner – Elijah’s In Wilmington

For the rest, keep checking back here. 🙂

In other news, get ready for a lot more blogging and a new format! Here’s the idea:

My Choice Mondays – Craig & I will share products we love, places or venues we have enjoyed, recipes we have made, etc.

TTC Tuesdays – We will discuss the latest in our TTC (Trying To Conceive) Journey – happenings, thoughts, feelings, plans, PCOS, etc.

What’s Up Wednesdays – A weekly re-cap of ‘What’s Up?” with The Newlywed Lefebvres.

Thirsty Thursdays – Not your typical THIRSTY! Thursdays will be “Thirsty (for Christ) Thursdays! Devotions, thoughts on God, Bible study, favorite verses, etc.

Food For Thought Friday – News, thoughts, pop culture, anything and everything!

So what do you think? Excited for next week already? 🙂 Personally, I’m looking forward to THE WEEKEND and TONIGHT!!!!!!! That sweet husband I keep talking about? He’s finally coming home!

Happy Friday All! We hope you have a WONDERFUL weekend!!

Love,

Pier & Craig

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…and tomorrow I’ll have pictures…

December 5, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

Knock-Knock…

We’re back!!!!!!! …and hopefully, you’re still there; still willing to read what we have to share, and we thank you so much for your patience. Geez, I sound like a phone recording for a business who has you on hold. Sorry about that!

So…alot has happened while Craig and I have been non-blogging… Here’s a short and to the point synopsis:

We had a great road-trip to Missouri for Craig’s cousin, Cara’s, wedding. Afterwards, we hung around MO for a mini family reunion of sorts in Branson -talk about a vacation so great and jam-packed you need a vacation once you’re home!
We enjoyed a visit with my grandmother in New Jersey for several days. Craig got to meet a lot of family members he had never met (sort of a reversal from my meeting a lot of new family while we were in Missouri), and he really hit it off with my Uncle Vic (my grandmother’s sister, Angie’s, husband)! Talk about peas in a pod… If you think ladies talk when they get together…oh my. We had a ton of fun!
We celebrated our one year anniversary (and my birthday) with a trip to North Carolina – Wilmington, and the town I feel as if I ‘grew-up’ in, Fayetteville. I think one of the things I realized by this third trip of the summer (and one of many trips in our relationship, engagement, and marriage) is that the longer we are together, the closer we become. The closer we are, the better and more enjoyable our getaways become – no matter where it is we venture. I might even say that we had more fun as a couple in Wilmington, NC, after a year of marriage, than we did after four months of marriage in Rome, Italy. Marriage (ours anyway) is like a fine wine….It just keeps getting better, the longer and the MORE we are together. That is just one of many many many wonderful things I have discovered over this past year and almost 3 months of marriage to my amazing husband. 😉
The source – thus far – of our infertility was diagnosed two-fold: a polyp blocking my right fallopian tube and PCOS.
I had surgery to remove the polyp and all went well!
I was offered a wonderful job opportunity out-of-the-blue…and accepted the position! Sadly, I had to leave my nanny position, but fortunately, Craig and I were blessed with my new job and all of the possibilities it brings with it, i.e. tuition reimbursement!
Craig and I bought our first car together! We love it – so much fun to drive and unbelievable fuel efficiency!
Almost a year and three months later, we are still trying to conceive. I’m currently taking Metformin to aid with the insulin resistance brought about by good ol’ PCOS, and we are in the midst of my first round of Letrazole. As always, we are placing our hope in the Lord, and believing faithfully that He has a miraculous plan in store for our journey together. We pray constantly this plan includes the blessing of children from Him.

Whew! It’s been a busy past few months! As soon as I have a spare second, I will post the pictures of our adventures here. It won’t be too long either, because I’m anxious to show you our Christmas decorations!

We thank you again for keeping The Newlywedlefebvres on your blogroll, and ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers. Infertility and PCOS are uphill battles, and nothing less. We pray for His Will to be our will, and that His Will be done.

“My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways My ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways and thoughts higher than yours.” Isaiah 55:8-9

Our Love & Greetings,

Pier & Craig

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Inspiration

August 27, 2013December 6, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

These words are guiding us on!

Xoxo,

Pier & Craig

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King (and Queen) of the Road

July 25, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

Hello All,

I realize it’s been quite sometime since I last posted a blog – at least you’ve had the pleasure of hearing from my much better half in the meantime. 🙂 I can’t say a whole lot has happened – or changed – since the last time I blogged. We have mostly just been settling into ‘normal life’, and have had a wonderful time doing so!

Most recently, we enjoyed a great visit from our “cousin-in-law”, Dani, and had a real blast while she was enjoying the Down South Georgia Heat! I recall her telling me just before she left Minnesota, she was so excited to be getting away from “all that humidity”… I laughed a little bit inside, knowing she was remembering a September in Georgia, almost a year ago, when she came down for our wedding. Late July in Georgia…not as pleasant humidity-wise. 🙂

Thank you, Dani, for making the trip! I’m sorry we weren’t able to do more – unfortunately, work tends to get in the way of that somehow 🙂 – but we hope you had the kind of relaxing vacation you were hoping for! You were such a huge help with the children I nanny! As a matter of fact, both the mother and the 2 year old asked about you today! 🙂 Maybe you have more of a future in nannying than you thought! 🙂

Poor thing! Getting Dani safely back to Minnesota yesterday was a bit of a challenge. ALLLLL the direct flights from ATL to MSP were quite full, and so she was able to spend some time in the great state of Michigan, as Craig and I worked for several hours the night before she flew out to figure out how we could get her home with the least amount of strife for her as possible. As it turns out, the flights from Atlanta to Grand Rapids, Michigan and from Grand Rapids to Minneapolis that day worked well. Thank the Lord. She made it back unscathed – and if you’ve ever flown standby, you know this to be almost miraculous. 🙂

Friday, Craig and I leave for Missouri. Via car. Yay! I am a sucker for a road trip!!! I love to make special travel snacks, trip CD’s… (although, I got the impression from our 23 year old visitor this past week that CD’s are now about as ‘uncool’ as 8-tracks…Sorry ladies and gents – Anyone who knows me, knows the Original “Pier’s Mix” CD’s are some of the best! LOL And they aren’t stopping!!)…I love stopping at random gas stations for snacks I would never otherwise eat, and slushies I would never otherwise consider slurping. I love holding my husband’s hand THE WHOLE WAY. Seriously, we do. 🙂 But, probably the thing I love 2nd best about road trips is playing the role of navigator. I guess in our marriage, it’s where Craig and I switch roles: He gets to be the Captain and I am the First Officer. Well, not on this trip. Not after I planned our route for Josh and Julia’s wedding in North Carolina, and intentionally turned a 3.5-4 hour drive into a 7-8 hour trek. While I loved EVERY MINUTE of the adventure, I think my extremely patient husband may have BEGUN to lose his marbles, considering that for the entire trip we were only on the interstate for about 20 whole miles, and never actually stayed on one road for more than 10 miles… Aaaah the joys of planning a road trip using Google Maps…and then gently ‘tugging’ at the route line… Heee hee hee… I guess, Craig didn’t see it as spontaneously as I did… 🙂 Therefore, he plainly told me this evening on the phone that he had already looked at a map and chosen the 4 interstates we would travel to our destination. Wha. Wha. Wha. 🙂 This doesn’t mean I’m not still in charge of music and snacks!!! Adventure here we come! We are so looking forward to Craig’s cousin Cara’s wedding and the following family trip in Branson! I PROMISE THERE WILL BE PICTURES POSTED!!

Craig and I have been working really hard to ‘re-prioritize’ our life, and keep God as the center of our relationship. Still not being pregnant, we have had to really put all our faith and trust in Him, and devote ourselves to seeking Him first. Just like the day I felt God tell me we needed to ‘Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.’… We have been striving to live just that way. The Lord has presented us with some great and very unexpected opportunities to witness to what He has done in our lives, and sometimes, in the very strangest of situations. 🙂 We have also come across some AMAZING reading material, which I would LOVE to share with you:

1. Jesus Calling by S. Young. I don’t care who you are, or what preconceived notions you may have about daily devotionals…but you must go out and buy this book immediately. If not sooner. And if you are one of those who agrees with Dani and believes CD’s to be a thing of the past, well, there is also a Jesus Calling App – for both Apple and Android phones and tablets. Hurry. This is the most amazing devotional. When Craig is out of town, I send him a picture of the morning’s reading, so here’s a sample:

The whole devotional, while not divinely inspired, obviously, is biblically and prayerfully based, and its written as if Jesus Himself were speaking directly to you. It is utterly amazing. Craig and I have found our days just aren’t the same if we begin them without Him. 🙂

2. Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. I know my husband and I both have written and spoken about this book, but it is another must have. I cannot tell you how much we have learned from and grown together in studying God’s Word with this Bible study as our guide. We have taken it very slow – at times purposefully, at others not do much, but God has used those thoughtful periods to really touch our hearts and teach us and lead us. The title of the book really says it all. It’s really all about learning to truly experience God, to actually have that unbelievable and sometimes seemingly unattainable intimate relationship with Him.

3. Freedom Beyond Comprehension by Joan Hunter. Wow. This book changed the way I thought/think about so many things. It’s main preface is about letting go of the past, but there is so much to be learned about not only the forgiveness of Christ but His unthinkable love and power to heal – & not just in a spiritual way, in a physical way, as well. One profound quote from the book says that God doesn’t do ANYTHING just partway, He does everything all of the way. Simple, yet amazing truth. You won’t be disappointed reading this!

So as I end this entry, I will show you a little project we just recently finished – my idea and design and Craig’s construction:

The picture does this hanging birdcage lamp not a bit of justice. It adds such a great ambient light to the room! You’ll have to come see it in person!

We can’t wait for your visit!! Talk soon!

God Bless,
Pier & Craig

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St. Barnabas The Encourager… Ephesians 4:29 No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear.

June 26, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres1 Comment

Hello all!

It has been awhile since I have taken time to sit down and write a little something on the blog. Now this entry will not be like my other entries, in fact, it will be much better! Instead of my usual update on the current project for my wife I am going to focus this on my wife and what she has done! She knows I am writing a little something but she has no idea the subject at least I don’t think she does, she can be hard to keep a secret from. I wanted to keep the entry a complete surprise but I leaked out that I was going to write an entry just because I love to see her smile and excitement when I tell her I am going to write. I told her ~~a week~~, probably more like 3 weeks ago that I was going to write and I know how she loves it when I “dangle the carrot”. So today the carrot will dangle no more;)

A little while back we started reading a Bible study together. This study has helped us to experience God around us in so many ways. One of the best moments is that this book has helped me to see God at work around me everyday. More like I see God at work right next to me each and everyday through my wife. I have the most encouraging wife who encourages me to do so many things. In this book it mentions that when God calls us to do something it may not seem right for you because you believe that you are not able to do it or it is not your style but in fact God will give you everything that you need to complete His task. I noticed this exact feeling when asked to sing in the choir by the choir director. With encouragement from my wife I joined and now together we sing in the choir. This is only one example of her encouragement. Encouragement can come in many forms.

img004a — Back
But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity. 2 Peter 3:18

My wife and I like to write little notes back and forth to each other and one morning I woke up to find a little hand written note with a brief encouraging message and a Bible verse that related to the message. Now one or two of these little notes would have been wonderful but I was fortunate enough to receive them for a whole month! They encouraged me on everything from family and spiritual life, goals, work ethic, and character. I am grateful that she has encouraged me to get involved in areas that I would not usually get involved in because I was able to join in in something she is passionate about and it created one of many opportunities for me to see what a caring person she is towards children. Together we led the music for the high school summer retreat session. It was great to join her in some of her passions, those being music and kids. The next week was the VBS for the younger children and that added dancing. I loved watching her prepare and practice the dancing and songs for the little kids. Even more enjoyable was when she would come home and she would talk about all the little kids and I could tell just how excited she was to be sharing God with these kids.

So keep in mind that if you hear God speaking to you, through a wife, husband, sibling, parent, friend, or a complete stranger make sure that you act on that encouragement and it may take you places and show you something that you would have not seen before. In fact encouragement helped to make this entry as my wife always encourages my writing and how she enjoys reading the entries I make. Simple words or actions of encouragement mean so much and I thank you, Pier, for them!

~Craig and Pier

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What Would YOUR Book In The Bible Look Like?

June 11, 2013 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Good Evening Everyone (Or Early Morning, Depending On How You Look At It),

So during our Bible Study a week or so ago, the chapter we are studying in “Experiencing God” mentioned that the Bible, as a whole, isn’t an account of the people in the Bible – like John, Peter, Ruth, Noah or Abraham, but rather is a story of God working through the lives of these people. The Bible is then an autobiography of the Lord, and the other characters throughout were vehicles through whom He worked.

This got me to thinking. Suppose Noah hadn’t built the ark, as God instructed. Suppose Noah heard God’s instruction and thought, “Ugh. It’s too hot to build an ark. I don’t even know HOW anyway! I’m not a boat builder! Plus, I have plans! I don’t have time to do this.” Or what if Mary had not said YES to God’s invitation to carry His Son?

The Bible would be a very different book if those who accepted God’s instruction had lived according to THEIR will, rather than HIS will. So, what would a Bible story of YOUR life look like? Would the book be full of detail as you followed Christ and carried out His plans, or would it be a short account in which Jesus asked you to do something, and you told Him you were too busy and let YOUR plans get in the way?

In considering this, Craig and my ‘Mission Statement’ for our marriage had to be re-examined. And so, even though he was off work all last week, and I usually enjoy the luxury of not having to be at work until 11AM, we followed God’s call and rose early each morning to lead the music together for our church’s summer program for middle and high school students – who were less than thrilled to be at church at 8AM when on summer vacation. This week, even though I am working a 9-5 schedule with the sweet children I nanny, I am rushing off to help lead the music for VBS each evening after work from 6-8:30PM.

We certainly aren’t asking for medals or accolades here. Not in the least. BUT the whole idea of considering what your story in the Bible would resemble certainly made us realize that following God’s Will and putting Him first in our life was absolutely the MOST important thing. Even though 12-13 hour days are NOT fun, and getting up early on your day off is NOT typically anyone’s cup of tea, living life for Christ is our mission, and as we have learned, His ways are not always OUR ways.

I thank God He brought me my soulmate, who stands right by my side as we endeavor to lead our lives for Him. The Lord doesn’t always guide us down the newly paved road, but more often than not, the bumpy, gravelly, dirt path most people try to avoid.

We pray He will continue to guide us, and we ask for your prayers for our journey, as well. We would love to pray for you, too, and many of you we already do! If you have a special request you would like us to pray for you or with you, please e-mail Craig and I at newlywedlefebvres@gmail.com

Well, it’s now time for bed, as there is another full day of nannying and VBS and puppies…Yes, we have multiple doggies in the Lefebvre household now! Don’t worry, our next post will include more on recent events and if we are diligent, even some pictures!

Take Care and God Bless,

Pier & Craig