If only we all kept that verse written on our hearts…Take heart, JESUS has overcome!! We have no reason to fear, if we only follow His Word and His Leading.
If only we had more carefully heeded this Scripture last May…
Check out the video below to find out how God redirected everything and is bringing us full circle: {click or tap on the image below and the video will play}
2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “Now the Lord is Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.”
I cannot express to you how immeasurably that verse fits into our impending move and new journey for His Kingdom! The Lord has made this next step an increasingly joyful one for us! Gone are the fears about money and creature comforts and being tasked with a hugely important endeavor – for we have the freedom of knowing we are in the will of God. We know without a shadow of a doubt He has provided and will continue to! We walk in His freedom as His children, joint heirs with Christ!!
What a weight off our backs to allow Him to guide us and carry our heavy loads of worry! What a joy to serve our Sovereign Lord and King! What a privilege to be entrusted with such vital ministry!
Please continue praying for us and please pray especially for this grassroots youth ministry!
I promise to do a better job of keeping you all posted on God’s work in our lives and through us. As soon as this move is complete…and our house is painted…and unpacked…I think I’ll have a little more time on my hands… #wishfulthinking Well, at the very least, I won’t have a 29 mile = 2 hour commute. Each. Way. #bethankful
Asheville, NC this weekend!
We love you all and hope you’ll all pay us a visit!!
Today’s post doesn’t fit in any little category…Not Thirsty For Christ Thursday, not What’s Up Wednesday…Perhaps, I should just call today Catch-All Thursday – Because there’s a lot going on with this post-er’s brain today and I’m gracing you with my presence and scatter-brained monologue.
You’re Welcome.
Someone Several of you have reached out to me, oh so sweetly, and said you miss the regular posting on this blog. I can’t tell you how much that warms my little heart. Thank you for the love and for sharing it with me! Sometimes the day just gets away from me…Ever happen to YOU? 🙂
So to catch you up on the Lifestyles of the Not-so-Newlywed Lefebvres, we shall begin with Minnesota. You all know we traveled to Minnesota for the baptism of our beautiful Goddaughter, Charleigh Mae:
Miss Charleigh is so adorable! We are so excited to watch her grow up and honored to be her ‘spiritual parents’. If you haven’t had a chance to read about the absolute miracle that Charleigh is, go back to this post to read Dani’s story!
While in Minnesota, we also got to spend time with our beautiful little niece, Eden:
Isn’t she just precious?? I’ll give you one guess as to who bought her that shirt… 😉 It might just have been a Georgia grad and her husband. 🙂
Miss Eden particularly liked her Uncle Craig – She just couldn’t take her big beautiful eyes off of him – I don’t blame her! 😉
We took some fun family shots will we were up north, too:
We also made a trip to the Foshay Tower in Downtown Minneapolis, which is an especially special spot since that’s where Craig’s grandfather proposed to his grandmother. #swoon
While we were there, we found this vintage photo:
And decided to re-create it, with a modern touch:
I don’t think it’s half bad! 🙂
Since we have been home from Hawaii and Minnesota, our enormous moving truck from Maine arrived – We are officially completely in Georgia! Although, in our tiny rental house, we are overgrown with boxes now and have completely filled one room from floor to ceiling with boxes, not to mention the entire garage, all the closets, and one POD – which is now at the storage facility. I just keep telling myself…In less than a year, God-Willing, we will be alllll settled down in one place.
We celebrated a little bit by returning to the restaurant Craig and I went to on our third date…
I’m so glad we made it past that third date…not our best. 🙂 I truly married the most amazing man in the universe! #sorryladies
And when we haven’t been busy, we have been thoroughly enjoying the arrival of our treasured bikes from Maine! Yay!!
We did 16 miles this past Sunday, in under 2 hours. Not bad for the ‘non-serious’ casual bicyclists.
And I’ve been baking/cooking, too:
I made this lasagna from scratch (well, the noodles came from a box – but otherwise…) for Craig to take on this week’s trip. I just love to cook! I wish I had more time to do it and more calories to devote to eating the food I make!!! #alas
And this past weekend, Craig finally got to join my side of the family for University of Georgia Homecoming to enjoy his first ever SEC Football experience and Georgia game! We had an absolute blast!
Daddy & Craig 🙂
Mama & her BFF from Law School – in deep legal discussion, I’m sure! 😉 #precious
My little brother & his lovely girlfriend
And us! 🙂 (Notice the super enthusiastic man behind us… #photobomb)
And in other news, I spoke last night to a beautiful group of women at St. Francis Catholic Church in Cartersville, Georgia. Honestly, I just love love love sharing my faith journey with other people! If you are part of a group you’d like me to speak to, just send me a message! You can visit my ‘website’ here for more information, and links to some recent events.
Well, I think you’re now all caught up with us. 🙂 I promise to be better at blogging in 2016. I’m excited to put all of our suitcases away (and boxes too, soon!) and begin to nest again, as we get fully settled back in Georgia.
Are you as ready for the weekend as we are?!?! I don’t know about y’all, but for me, this has been the longest week ever!
Probably a lot of that has to do with the fact Craig was out of town. I’m not gonna lie – It’s tough being alone so much, and I can’t even begin to describe how much I miss my husband!
But last night, at about midnight, he finally walked through our front door! Yippee!!!
So needless to say, we are excited to be blessed with the weekend together before he heads back to Texas, and…we just might be doing a little bit of celebrating…
Just like we mentioned in our flashback to last year’s post, “Pack!”, on Wednesday, God works in amazing ways – and they look nothing like the expectations of this world! So, almost exactly a year to the day of having a signed contract on our Dallas, Georgia home, yesterday, we sealed the deal on a signed contract for buyers of our Maine home! WOOHOO!
God is good!
And for anyone out there who thinks this is mere coincidence, think again. He tells us in Scripture not to be afraid, for He is with us! He has called us by name, and we belong to Him. (paraphrase Isaiah 43:1)
Can you take a moment to think about that and apply it to the context of your own life?
You are a creation of God, your Heavenly Father, who loves you so much, He never leaves your side. He tells you that wherever He leads you, He will always be right there. How amazing is that? The One who created the universe calls YOU by name, and knows every freckle on your face by heart.
He led us to Maine; He provided for us in what was a very daunting and seemingly impossible situation; We served Him; He opened doors of opportunity for us; We followed His command; He led us back to Georgia; We obeyed Him; He gave Craig a promotion, and He provided for our family, and He continues to provide and lead us step by step.
Trust and Obey. Just like the old, beautiful hymn:
Written By John Sammis, 1887
Lyrics:
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.
That hymn (not to mention that version), especially when I think back over this past year and to our future, gives me goosebumps Jesus-bumps and brings happy tears to my eyes. I hope it blesses you today too!
As a constant reminder of His Faithfulness, we have a little treat for you today – a free printable:
Just right-click the image above and choose “Save Image As” to get yours! When I read those words, I can’t help but feel like nothing can stop me!
After all, we are sons and daughters of the RISEN KING! Hallelujah & Happy Friday!
I confess – it’s been way too long since we poured our hearts, convictions and faith out to you via this blog. I have felt guilty –‘wake me up in the middle of the night’ guilty…because I know that the Lord wants to use me, my marriage, my hardships, my faith, as a vessel for leading others to Him. But…it’s hard, y’all. It’s really hard.
You all know we followed His call to Maine this past summer – almost a year ago! But you may not know that we are back in Georgia. After nine months of sharing His love with the precious youth of Southern Maine, God planted the desire for ‘home’…and with that, the desire to adopt a child…and with that, the necessary funds to make all of this happen with a promotion to Captain for Craig and a great job for me.
So, here we are, back in Georgia – ‘home’, and totally neglecting this blog and this ‘ministry’ – after we have been so immensely blessed. And I feel so guilty.
And while you may think this is a shrug your shoulders, no big deal, get a grip lady! kinda thing…it really isn’t. You don’t know the e-mails we receive, telling us how something has touched one of our readers; the requests for prayer from some who follow this blog from prison…Yes, I feel guilty for letting these people down when I am so unimaginably blessed, and so many are broken.
But I confess something to you…I try to be strong. Full of faith. Hopeful. Prayerfully diligent. But I fall so hard.
There are at least two days every week when I sob and ugly cry alone because ‘it just isn’t fair’ that I can’t give my sweet husband a child.
It just ‘isn’t fair’ that instead of going out for lunch with my co-workers, I head downstairs to the building’s gym to work-out during my hour-long break. I don’t eat gluten, carbs, sugar, anything fun. I drink apple cider vinegar with baking soda, and take a regimen of coconut oil, but no matter what, my blood sugar refuses to cooperate, my hormones will not level out and I can’t shed a pound, let alone maintain my weight.
I’ve felt like Job.
I’ve felt like David in a mournful Psalm.
I try so hard to be strong, but I’m not.
Thankfully, He is.
Lamentations 3:19-24 (Contemporary English Version) says this:
‘Just thinking of my troubles
and my lonely wandering
makes me miserable.
That’s all I ever think about,
and I am depressed.
Then I remember something
that fills me with hope.
The Lord’s kindness never fails!
If he had not been merciful,
we would have been destroyed.
The Lord can always be trusted
to show mercy each morning.
Deep in my heart I say,
“The Lord is all I need;
I can depend on him!”’
Peter tells us this truth about our Savior:
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7
Because friends, we are all human. We all cry and feel helpless and worry. But that isn’t the life the Lord wants for us. We are blessed in that our Lord tells us to hand everything over to Him, and just keep moving forward.
When I start to worry that Jonah will never arrive, that the adoption process will never move along, that I will never be able to have a body that functions like “it should”… I remember that He’s got this.
I remind myself that:
“Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.” Philippians 3:8-9a (NLT)
And when I lay aside everything else, and focus in on Him and His AWESOMENESS, my troubles melt away and nothing else matters but basking in that love and sharing it with other people.
As my “Jesus Today” devotional reminded me this morning:
“The world applauds self-sufficiency…However, this is not the way of My kingdom. I want My children to recognize and rejoice in their utter dependence on Me…When the strain of living in the fallen world is getting you down, resist the temptation to feel sorry for yourself. Instead say to yourself, ‘I am blessed and thankful – and on my way to His Glory!’”
When we listed our home for sale on the morning of March 28th, it was with excitement and a sense of the unknown. We knew we wanted to move into a new home, but we weren’t sure where…or when…or what it would be like; we just knew that we were not living in “our” home. But besides the feeling we were living somewhere that wasn’t ‘the place for us’, there were no onlookers to our home, not many bites, no phone calls of interest….and frustration set in.
Not too much later – some time in April, Craig came to me and said, “God is asking us to pack.”
But, sadly, we didn’t listen. Each weekend there was a different excuse:
“I’m tired.”
“We’re too busy.”
“Where will the boxes go?”
“What will we eat off of if we pack up all the plates?”
…so we never really packed…
Until, one day, we truly decided to delve into making Maine our new home. We had chosen that I would take my Post-Baccalaureate pre-requisite courses through the University of New England – in Maine, and Craig would be flying out of Portland…On a whim, I sent out applications for several positions in the Portland area…and like a rocket got some responses…Then an interview…and then, I felt a still, small voice whisper that I needed to be looking in the local church bulletins, not on Craigslist.
And so I did… and lo’ and behold the first bulletin I found was for “Cluster 22” which included 3 parishes and a parochial school just outside of Portland…and they were looking for a Youth Minister…and contemporary musical talent.
Thank you, Lord, for your bluntness.
I need that.
I e-mailed the contact person…and she e-mailed back…and we scheduled an interview…
And before I knew it, I was standing in the narthex of St. Bartholomew’s in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, after just having seen what would be my office, and discussing Athens, Georgia – the common birthplace of both me and my interviewer!
The flight I non-revved home that evening was supposed to be full – as in no way, no how was I going to make that flight. And before I knew it, OVERSOLDturned into 7 available seats…and my name was miraculously at the top of the list.
I returned home excited. We talked things over. We prayed. I got a job offer from St. Bartholomew’s to become their Youth Minister. And then a phone call for a ‘shadow’ with the other position I had interviewed for.
I turned in my notice at work, and we began making plans to move. Packing.
And later that week, I received a phone call from a real estate agent. For some reason, she had chosen my number from the three listed – our realtor (my Dad), Craig and me – but I was at work and ableto talkwhich is very unusual – and also in an extremely ‘tell it like it is’ mood.
She asked if she and her clients could view our home that morning. Craig just ‘happened’ to be home, and was able to spot-shine the house and take the dogs to the park – so that worked out perfectly.But before I let the agent get off the phone, I told her, “Please tell your clients, if they like our home, to make an offer. We are very motivated. We are moving to Maine, and we are ready to sell and move forward. Make an offer, ANY OFFER! Oh, and by the way, we have upped our commission to 4% for the buyers’ agent – just wanted to make sure you had seen that in the listing.”
And that evening, we received a phone call. Not only had we received an offer on our house. We received a full-price offer with (only) a 3% commission – not even taking the 4% we had offered!!!!
And today, when Craig was waiting for the inspector to show up the couple who have our home under contract made it a point to let him know, and to share with me, that our home was the answer to their prayers. They feel led by the Lord to our home!!
Whoa….
When we submit to His Will…the things that can occur are nothing short of miraculous!
The moral of the story is: “When He tells you to pack, don’t wait one single second. PACK NOW!”
Infertility is hard. It’s hard on wives. It’s tough on husbands. It can bring a couple together or tear them apart. We ladies talk about our feelings and thoughts on trying to conceive all the time, but how does HE feel? Have you asked your husband? Here’s a mini Q & A from us to you – We had to do this one “long distance” so I e-mailed Craig the questions, and he sent back his responses:
What were your expectations when we got married? How did you expect the first year to unfold?
Craig: I mean, just getting married, right off the bat, I thought within the first year we would for sure be pregnant. I had no reason to believe we wouldn’t be, and I mean, I didn’t know if we would necessarily have a ‘baby in hand’ within one year, but I definitely thought we would be pregnant, at least. As far as expectations, I was planning to spend that first year decorating a nursery and finding a great midwife…All the things we talked about doing when we got married – before we got married.
What do you pray for in this struggle?
Craig: There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t pray for patience and understanding in this struggle. God has answered every one of those prayers. It may not have been as quickly as either me or my wife has wanted, but they are definitely answered prayers – revealed little by little. He has showed us many signs, which can only have come from Him, that He does hear us. I ask Him for increased faith – that’s only going to help us. Overall in the end, I pray for the blessing of a child.
Do you have hope God will bless us with children?
Craig: For sure I do. There is no doubt in mind God will bless us with children. He gives us everything we need, and there is not a doubt in my mind that He will not give us the blessing of a child. I mean, to have hope in Him, that is something I can’t doubt. I have hope in Him greatly, I don’t know how else to say it. Yes. I definitely have hope God will bless us. There is just no question in my mind.
What has been, or would be, the best way to cope?
Craig: You have to go through this as a couple. There is no getting through this alone. It’s a big thing, and it’s hard, and it takes two – really three – to get through it. The best way is involving that third one – God. You always have to have faith in Him, hope in Him, and know that He is going to take care of you. Also, you can talk together about your goals and hopes. We talk about building a nursery. It helps us cope. It focuses on our positive future and speaking positively about this as a couple is very important.
How do you feel others could help?
Craig: I mean, just like I’ve mentioned to you previously, the support of the Christian community – your family, is important. Maybe don’t be afraid to reach out to someone you know is having a struggle with infertility. Don’t be afraid to just ask about it, find out how things are going – to let the couple know that you are concerned. You might be thinking about it, but that message might not be being conveyed when nothing is said.
Maybe if we bring the topic up to you, it will begin a conversation, but when you ask how things are, and if there are any new developments, etc., it shows you care and that you’re there with us in the struggle to get through this. Basically, just speaking up is important. You know, if you reference something that makes you think of us and what we’re going through, point us in that direction. It makes us feel supported.
When we still hadn’t conceived after a year, how did you feel? What were your thoughts?
Craig: I mean, watching what you’re going through and seeing how you feel and knowing everything that has been going on, my thoughts we definitely that something could be going on. The doctor kept saying: “No, no, wait a year. Wait. You’ll get pregnant.” And it seemed like it took forever to get to that one year mark. The feeling of frustration is probably the biggest feeling I have felt. Not nearly as much as my wife, but seeing her go through all of this, and knowing how bad SHE wants a child (in comparison to how much I do – which is a lot!), I became increasingly frustrated there was nothing I could do myself.
That is a tough situation for me. You know, I just feel that, our (former) doctor should have listened. He should have looked at all of your symptoms at the one-year mark and not had us start from square one. They had all the information they needed right in front of them. That was a very frustrating deal, and it felt like a huge step back. Our having to point out what was going on made me really feel that the medical field was lacking- especially our particular doctor. He was just so insensitive and uncaring.
Do you feel there isn’t enough support for infertility in the Christian community?
Craig: I don’t know if I feel there is a lack. I feel that it’s (the support)there, but it’s most definitely under advertised and it’s hard to find out about it. If you have the “Hey, I’m pregnant – what do I do?” situation, there is plenty of information and plenty of places to go and people to talk with, but not necessarily with the opposite issue. There just isn’t the readily marketed support. “Who to go to?” is sort of a question. Do you go to a pastor or priest? What do you do? I think once you find someone to talk to, the support is definitely out there, but a lot of people don’t know how to start that conversation. Infertility is not a happy time and it’s not easy to approach. There is certainly a lack of available information on how to obtain support.
What is the best way to comfort your wife?
Craig: That’s been a learning process for me ever since day #1. I would say that “being there for her” is the most important thing – but that is an all-encompassing term. At first, it’s more physically standing next to her, holding her hand, going to the appointments…but as time has gone on, I needed to ‘be there’ but I needed to do more. I needed to… I always want to pick up something, change it, make it right. I’m hands-on. This situation just doesn’t allow that, but I still need to support my wife. It’s hard. One thing I know I can do is that when she’s talking about her feelings and about what’s going on, I need to pay attention and listen attentively -not only agree and say “yes”, but partake in the discussion and share my feelings and thoughts with her about what I am feeling as well. I don’t want her to have the notion she is in this all alone. I am her husband, and she needs to know I am there right by her side physically, emotionally, spiritually through it all. And that’s an ever-increasing and ever-changing thing that I have learned maybe most about through this whole process.
This has helped us to get to know one another in ways I don’t know if we would have had we had a baby right away. At first I was one of those who didn’t know how to approach it. I was one of those people. I didn’t know if I should say something or not, or what if I said something that made her sad? But I learned that saying how I feel and comforting her, helped her feel like we are in this together – which we are, forever.
Wow. I learned a lot about my dear, sweet husband reading these answers. Like I said, knowing your husband’s or wife’s views on what is going on (spiritually, physically, emotionally) is really comforting. I have been down in the dumps before – really feeling like I was all alone in my sorrow – but between God and my husband, I have been lifted up and come to know I am not only wrapped in His Everlasting Arms, but I have a pretty amazing husband at my side, as well.
Sometimes realizing the blessings in your life comes by a rocky path.
In honor of this special day, we are going to share our favorite story with you: Our Love Story. It’s been published as a guest post on The Veil Of Chastity, and is now a ‘page’ on this very blog – just as a reminder to me, as I write each day’s post, of just how WONDERFULLY amazing God is. Oh, His Mysterious Ways… So here goes, Our Love Story – For Your Valentine’s Day Reading Enjoyment:
Our Love Story
I was raised all my life in a Christian home. I always felt like Jesus and I were on very good terms, but one day, in 2008, I felt this need, this overwhelming compelling need to convert to Catholicism. There was really no basis, per say, for it, but I felt God calling me to make this change. If you know anything about me, you might know that I have a lot of grandiose ideas, but not so many of them are seen through to fruition. You see, I’m a perfectionist and if I feel there is one little hint of something having the chance to not being completed 100% correctly, I usually don’t follow-through… Bad habit, I know.
The Mallory Family
Converting to Catholicism was different though. I went through RCIA with a hunger for knowledge. When my very Protestant family raised concerns for my change, I was able to calm their ‘fears’ very easily and logically. When I was finally a confirmed Catholic on November 22, 2008, there was a sense of peace about me that I had never known.
Pier’s Confirmation Day at Holy Spirit Catholic Church
I continued my Catholic walk, gradually losing that zeal for the Church I had had in the beginning. Over the years, I knew God had called me to become a Catholic because I was finally able to truly worship within the Mass – a feeling I hadn’t felt in Protestant church in some time, but there was something missing, it seemed. Why had God called me to become a single Catholic? I just didn’t understand.
At first, I thought, perhaps, I was called to become a nun. I reached out to several convents, read all of the brochures and prayed about each of the distinct vocations. But it still didn’t seem like that was where God was calling me. Then, one day, I was at work, and I felt God speak to me – It was more like a gentle nudging really. I was in front of my computer, and I felt God tell me to go to CatholicMatch.com. Seriously. I argued with him, audibly, at my desk for a little while. Then, finally, I gave in.
“Fine.” I said, “I am leaving this in your hands, God. My future spouse is in your hands. I have tried on my own, and I obviously can’t handle this task. You choose for me. You show me who you have in store for my future.”
And that, my dears, is history. I signed onto Catholic Match, and one week later received a message from a guy who seemed genuinely interesting. He wrote me the longest and most beautiful e-mails. It was so painfully obvious that this man truly had a heart for Christ, and when he asked for my phone number later that month, we had dozens of conversations that lasted for hours on end. Never was there a dull moment in conversation. Neither of us are (or were then) self-proclaimed ‘phone people’, but speaking to each other was always the high point of each of our days. I knew it to be true on my end, and it was pretty apparent from his…
I tried and tried and tried to find “the one” on my own – without God’s help. For years and years, I dated guys who seemed to have similar interests; based on ‘attraction’; who just ‘wanted to get married’; who were nice…It never worked. For one reason or another, I wound up 28 years old and scared to death I was going to be {gasp!} 30 and unmarried! That’s when I gave the reins to God, and allowed him to point me in the direction of my soulmate.
From my first date with Craig, there was a tugging at my heartstrings that this one was the one. He took me out for dinner and drinks, and we laughed and talked and smiled at each other across the table for 4-5 hours. A very obviously inebriated man approached our table while Craig was in the restroom, and told me he just wanted to let me know how beautiful I was…Craig came back to this, and told me, shyly, “That man was right. You are beautiful.”
When I got home that evening, my heart was soaring. I felt like a 16 year old girl who had just been asked to prom by the football star – and it never stopped. That feeling is the same one I get even today when Craig has been on a trip for work, and comes through the front door, or when I am almost home from work and know he is waiting for me…I still get butterflies.
Craig planned our 2nd date – we met one Sunday for a Bible Study at the Catholic parish closest to my (then) condo. I thought, then, “Wow. This has God’s writing all over it.” And I was so right. It was becoming glaringly obvious as to why God led me to become a Catholic those 3 years earlier. It was finally clear. He was preparing me for my holy spouse.
Craig and I didn’t even attempt to kiss until our 5th date, two months later… but just one month after that, he told me he loved me for the first time – and it was genuine. We both knew – it was palpable – we had been in love from the first moment we set eyes on one another. He told me later he felt like I could be ‘the one’ even before we had ever met in person. He always made me a priority, and treated every situation we were in and every conversation we had as if I were his future spouse.
The Dating Days
After eight months of dating, Craig told me, while overlooking the waves on a beautiful beach, that he wanted to marry me, and was actively ‘searching for rings’. On the one year anniversary of our very first date, Craig surprised the heck out of me with the most romantic and well-thought-out proposal, and (after I literally fell out of my chair and onto my knees beside him) I answered him, “Absolutely.”
Right After I Said “ABSOLUTELY!!!!”
Never was there a choice I was surer of. We were married just over 5 months later in a beautiful Catholic Mass, surrounded by all of our family and close friends. We have been blissfully married now for 16 months, and our love only increases day by day. I am blessed with a husband who is truly my partner, my very best friend, my holy spouse. I have every confidence this is the man God intended for me from everything about our relationship, from the fact we finish each other’s sentences to the fact he likes the cake and I prefer the icing. We are absolutely a match made in Heaven, by God.
I think there is no question that along with anything God-given comes superabundance – of things that matter. This isn’t to say that everything is always 100% perfect, or that God answers YES to everything we ask for. We have been trying to conceive a child for 16 months, to no avail. BUT, the faithfulness, the love, the trust, the peace, the joy, the kindness within our marriage and our relationship…It isn’t a human amount. It’s a God amount. And life within a marriage, within God’s plan? That’s like living life, no matter what storms may rain down on you, in a perpetual hug.
It is unbelievably apparent to me we were both hidden by the veil. I was a serial dater, and there were plenty of guys who I ‘could have seen myself with’, but no matter how ‘good the relationship was’, it was only ‘of this world’. Craig will tell you the same thing about his past, which tried to pull him away from the Catholic faith, and it turns out there certainly wasn’t anything ‘other-worldly’ about it, either. Nothing has ever even come close to comparing to the manner in which Craig courted me; the diligence he had to God; the pure love and compassion he showed me… All of it was different and indescribable. NOTHING of this world.
The world may have chosen differently for Craig and I. For Craig, maybe society would have chosen someone more outdoorsy, someone with a love for baseball and a penchant for cold weather (He’s from Minnesota and went to college at the University of North Dakota.). For me, maybe the world might have picked someone who grew up in the South, someone with the same love for all things southern and monogrammed, someone passionate about music and the opera, but even the mere thoughts just break my heart because the world would have been wrong.
God knows exactly what He is doing, and what is best for you. Wait on Him.
Now THAT Is A Match Made In Heaven!
Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day, and a fabulous weekend folks!
We made it! It’s Friday & we have a busy weekend planned! Tonight we will be attending the Joan Hunter service at A Call To Salvation in North Georgia; Tomorrow, we head to LaGrange for haircuts & highlights & maybe a little bit of late Christmas-ing; Sunday, I cantor at Mass, and may be heading to Pure Barre in the afternoon; Monday, we round out our weekend as we visit the Atlanta Center For Reproductive Medicine and meet with our endocrinologist, nutritionists, counselors, etc etc etc. Very productive few days!
Today, I thought I would share with you a beautiful story written by Zig Ziglar‘s daughter, Julie Ziglar Norman, for Guideposts Magazine. It is a touching story that should leave you with the following “food for thought”:
It’s never too late for God to change you, and work through you.
God is truly the Almighty and anything is possible through Him.
Another piece of “food for thought” this Friday also comes from Guideposts, in the 2014 Devotional. It’s all about being present and looking forward.
Philippians 3:13
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead
In this first month of this new year, one thing we all can take away from Paul’s writing in Philippians is to move forward. Don’t dwell in the past – whether you are looking back with longing for those “good ol’ days”, or with regret and disdain toward memories filled with shame and darkness.
Revelation 21:5
5 And he that sat on the throne, said: Behold, I make all things new. And he said to me: Write, for these words are most faithful and true.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 If then any be in Christ a new creature, the old things are passed away, behold all things are made new.
We are new in Christ. He forgives our sins, and He isn’t interested in all those bright & shiny worldly objects from your earthly past. A Christian past isn’t enough either. We were not created to play for God’s team once or at one time. We are called as Christians to live for Him every single day.
John 10:10
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly.
Christ came for us to live our lives to the FULLEST EXTENT POSSIBLE. He created us for joy, not for sulking. Oh such a lesson that will change lives! If only we were all to look forward and live out our Christian walks with abundance and with joy.
And now to end this post with some joy 🙂 , watch the video below of a little girl meeting her father’s twin brother for the first time! It is just precious!
Happy Friday Everyone! May your weekend be filled with joy & laughter!
Yesterday, a friend and I were discussing weddings – believe it or not, right? Two women discussing WEDDINGS?!?! Never! 😉 And, in true wedding talk fashion, everything (flowers, venue, cake, dress, etc) was mentioned but the groom. Why is that the norm?
Today, I want to share with you a song I found by searching for “wedding” online – just because that conversation yesterday had me all reminiscent about a certain September 15, 2012… and God intervened. He led me to this:
Wow.
Talk about a conversation involving a wedding day that is centered on the most amazing groom, Jesus. Isaiah 54:4-8 (ESV) says:
4 Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;
be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;
for you will forget the shame of your youth,
and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more.
5 For your Maker is your husband,
the Lord of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.
6 For the Lord has called you
like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off,
says your God.
7 For a brief moment I deserted you,
but with great compassion I will gather you.
8 In overflowing anger for a moment
I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord, your Redeemer.
Image of Christ The Bridegroom
“The icon of Christ the Bridegroom portrays the selfless love of Christ for His Bride, the Church (Isaiah 54). He is dressed in royal colors as the betrothed King, corresponding with Sacred Scripture’s account of His mockery by the Roman guards before His crucifixion. The crown is a symbol of His marriage to the Church; the rope, a symbol of the bondage to sin, death and corruption which Jesus untied by His death on the Cross; the reed, a symbol of His humility.” (Borrowed from the Christ The Bridegroom Monastery)
What an amazing God we have who takes us just as we are, cleanses us from our sin, and pledges Himself to us – all the while, not just forgiving but forgetting our past and our wrongs. Christ: The Ultimate Bridegroom.
Remember how I told y’all last week the Metformin is really helping my insulin resistance?! Well, it continues! Probably the most common ‘symptom’ of insulin resistance (which is the root cause and/or side effect – depending on how you view the situation – of PCOS), is fatigue, and not only has the medication greatly improved my morning commute to work, but this morning, I was able to leave the house at 4:45AM and make a Pure Barre class near my office that began at 6AM! I even made it through the 55 minute class, and arrived at work with 10 minutes to spare! Winning! 😉
Yay for Metformin and for exhilarating morning exercise!
In other TTC news, our doctor’s office called late last week to:
Let me know that after looking over my sonogram results, it appears I did have one mature follicle. (That’s improvement over NONE and means the Letrazole and Metformin are doing their duties!) ALL IT TAKES IS ONE!!! {Praying. Praying. Praying.}
Inform me the doctor had written “PCOS” on my sonogram results. “Ma’am, were you aware you have PCOS?” REALLY?!?!?!? Oh my goodness. This practice…
Craig & I both read an AMAZING daily blog you too can read here. Basically, it is a daily devotional based upon one of our favorite books (as you well know), Jesus Calling, and today’s devotion gave me chills as I read it – thinking in conjunction with our journey of hope, disappointment and sadness as we have tried to conceive to no avail.
Today’s Jesus Calling contains these words:
“Come to Me with your gaping emptiness… Facing the emptiness inside you is simply the prelude to being filled with My fullness… If you persevere in this dependence as you go through the day, you will discover at bedtime that Joy and Peace have become your companions. You may not realize at what point they joined you on your journey, but you will feel the beneficial effects of their presence.”
God is so good. Thank you, Lord, for the hope you give for tomorrow, and the joy and peace you provide for today.
The (Not-So) Newlywed Lefebvres 
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