The (Not-So) Newlywed Lefebvres
On Fire For Christ & Sharing Our Journey With The World
Today’s Blog:
…you would have no trouble understanding the lack of a blog this week.
As if moving all the way up the Eastern Seaboard isn’t enough of a job, we are also having a Garage/Moving Sale and had the “fun task” of moving the antique piano back to my parents’ house this week…all while I’m still working out this last week in Atlanta!
Tired, exhausted…those words don’t begin to describe it! I think the last time I got more than 4 hours of sleep in a row was several weeks ago – maybe God is just preparing us for our future as parents. 😉
Oh I cannot tell you how much we are going to miss Georgia…but He really has some great things in store for us! It’s exciting to know we are on the brink of tackling a challenge solely for the Kingdom of God!
So, while I apologize for this short blog post…and especially the lack of updates this week, I THANK YOU for your patience and your prayers as we make our way to Maine and embark on our latest journey!
Stay Tuned!
Oh my goodness – the word Friday may never have sounded as beautiful as it does today! This week has been a BLESSING, but also exhausting since last night was the first night this week I have slept well – If you guessed that Craig finally got home late last night, you’re right! 🙂
We have a busy weekend planned!
Tonight, we are running in the 8th Annual March Against Meth 5k.
And then we are going to reward ourselves with SUSHI NIGHT!!!! MMM! I am hungry just thinking about it! 😉
Tomorrow, we will be putting together the Princess Packages for the women who have been rescued from prostitution and sex trafficking by “Out Of Darkness“.
We cannot wait to share the pictures of everything we are donating to this wonderful organization! I asked my co-workers to contribute to this cause, and their response was overwhelming!!! Between my raiding Dollar General and all of my clothes closets, and their bags upon bags of toiletries and make-up and gently worn clothing….We have SO much to share with these women!!!!! I am SO THRILLED!!!
Today, you can round out our Love On Purpose week too! In the top left part of the sidebar (you will have to view this post in a browser to see it – and the video above), there is a link to donate to help fund a missionary’s trip to Bolivia! This is such a great great cause and every little bit will help!
And now for a little bit of our regularly scheduled programming – Food For Thought Friday!
In honor of Mother’s Day this weekend, check out these sweet baby ducklings who think this man is their father!!! Awww!
And this one is just plain frightening…
The Average American Can’t Answer These Three Simple Finance Questions
Read more: http://pragcap.com/the-worlds-shocking-financial-ignorance#ixzz31EekxPnb
Why schools don’t teach finance and money-management classes at the high school level, I don’t know… I don’t believe there is ONE of us out there, though, that wouldn’t have benefited from some lessons early on! 🙂
And finally, The Nativity Stones – Do you remember this awesome company for whom we reviewed one of their necklaces back around Easter? If you haven’t already found something special for your mother, one of these beautiful crosses would be a wonderful idea! They have just asked us to do more photography for their advertising and marketing, and Craig and I are so thrilled to have maintained our involvement and support of such a truly beautiful company!
If you haven’t read the story of these stones’ origin, you should and you can right here.
Whew! Time to grab some lunch and get ready to run!!! I’m ready!!! (The faster I run, the sooner we can eat sushi! 🙂 )
Have a wonderful weekend and a beautiful Mother’s Day! Happy Mother’s Day to all of you out there – especially our own, and the two mothers-to-be – you know who you are!! 😉
Oh, the amazing things God has in store for you when you simply LISTEN.
As many of you know, I was raised a Protestant, in the Southern Baptist Church – if you don’t know this, please read this to get better acquainted with our story. Craig was born and bred a Catholic. Luckily, when God asked me to convert, I did so. He asked me at a time in my life when I had pulled away from Him, but through a beautiful friend and co-worker was becoming more and more drawn to the Lord. And the Roman Catholic Church was perfect for me. The routine, the beauty, the ceremony of it all. I found peace in Christ, and while I was oh so far from perfect and the person God was molding me to become, I saw so many changes occurring in my life.
As a child, we went to church every Sunday. We went to Sunday School every Sunday before “big church”. We went to Family Night on Wednesdays. I sang in church. We were very very very involved in church. And then, slowly, the older I got, the more I pulled away – and for the wrong reasons. I pulled away because of PEOPLE, not because of BELIEF. Instead of finding a new church home in college, I just didn’t go to church. Sure, I went with my parents when I visited, but really, I was only “there” – I wasn’t paying much attention.
Fast forward to late 2008-2009, and there I was, in church every Sunday, albeit alone. I began to sing with the choir. I attended Mass during the week occasionally. I had this desire to learn and to grow. My life was changing.
In 2011, God asked me to make a bigger change. He wanted me to stop choosing my own dates. He wanted me to let Him choose for me. He led me to Catholic Match. He chose my husband – and what an amazing choice He made (believe it or not! 🙂 )!
When we first got married, Craig & I were attending a parish in Dallas, Georgia. We really enjoyed the homilies (sermons), but there were some changes being made we didn’t agree with. We felt God calling us. We left that parish and ended up at St. Francis of Assisi in Cartersville, Georgia, where we instantly were welcomed with open arms! We were both immediately received into the choir, and I began to Lector. It was WONDERFUL to be involved again! It was WONDERFUL to have a church family!
As a little more time passed and we discovered the ‘reason’ we hadn’t yet conceived a child, I felt constantly compelled to do more. Seek Him more. Serve Him more. Pray more earnestly. Spend more time with Him. I continued to listen, and I kept feeling that we should attend a Protestant/Non-Denominational church, in addition to Catholic Mass. I kept brushing that thought aside. We were comfortable in our routine, and besides, Craig wouldn’t go to both services with me – would he?
After repeatedly having this feeling, I audibly told God, “If this is what you want, then you are going to have to help me out. You are going to have to work on my husband’s heart.”
A week or so later, I was driving home from work and I felt the Holy Spirit pulling me, “You need to go to Wednesday night church. Don’t you miss that??”
Why, yes, as a matter of fact, I did ‘miss that’! Hmm…Our friend, Julia, goes to church on Wednesday nights… I should ask her if I can tag along.
Lo’ and behold, that very night, Julia texted me…that maybe I should join her for church on Wednesday nights.
Did you just get chills?
I went, and I loved it! In the next few weeks, I continued to go, and then, I mentioned to Craig I would love for him to join me…and that maybe we could go on a Sunday too – in addition to Mass.
And he not only agreed, but appeared delighted and looked as if I had read his mind… Isn’t it interesting how God works? 🙂
And as we continued going to church all over the place 🙂 I felt God pulling at a familiar heartstring…One I remembered feeling a loooong time ago…but had been kind of silent for a little while. I felt God telling me I needed to minister. And the more I discerned that call, the more I knew He was calling me to minister to singles – an demographic I feel is often very much overlooked by the church. And this time, instead of running away, fast and furious, I listened. I heeded His words, and I realized that no matter how inadequate I am, HE IS NOT! And, through Him, I can do all things.
This blog is another example of listening. What began as a way to keep family updated morphed into a daily message. We felt called to turn this into more than a mushy family update, and make it an expression of our faith. We were cautioned by MANY that much of this information was TOO PERSONAL to share, but we responded with our hearts – This is what God asked of us, and we have to take this leap of faith.
I don’t love airing our personal PCOS/infertility details. It isn’t always comfortable to share of beliefs with the world. But God asked us to make this blog about more than just us, so we have, at whatever expense that may bring.
So, as is usual now, last night I met Julia for dinner and had my favorite Salmon with Garlic & Herbs from Chili’s (I cannot get enough!), and then, we drove to Full Turn Church for our Wednesday evening Praise & Worship, and message from Pastor Alan. We sit on the second row, right in the middle. Julia always apologizes for wanting to sit way up there, but I love it. I love sitting in the front of church. It’s a challenge to be less distracted and more attentive to God. As usual, the message was an awesome one. I felt the Holy Spirit on my heart the whole time – mainly about praying over my infertility, and praying for faith and guidance. I prayed and prayed and prayed. And then Pastor Alan stepped off the dais and came to stand right in front of me. And my heart was beating FAST.
He said he was going to pray over someone, and asked for the anointing oil. Then he began to speak about faith and that with God and your faith in Him there is NOTHING that is impossible. He works in the SUPERnatural, not under the natural law. He mentioned Sarai, Abraham’s barren wife, in the Bible. Physical laws told her there was NO WAY she was going to have a child. She was in her 90’s! And still, Pastor Alan was standing right in front of me.
He sought me out, and asked about our infertility (which he would never have known about were it not for our blog!); he said he knew I had the kind of tenacious faith required for God to work miracles, and he said he knew the Holy Spirit had led us to Full Turn Church…and he anointed my forehead with oil, and the entire church prayed over me for my infertility, for our faith, for our future baby.
People, you should have seen me crying, and poor Julia’s hand probably still hurts today – I was squeezing it so hard, as I shook like a leaf.
God is awesome, y’all.
Look how He led us when we listened. From darkness to light, from light to pure joy, from joy to satisfaction and searching, from sadness and depression to HOPE and GRACE and PURPOSE.
And we haven’t even embarked on how I will minister to singles, yet!
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Really, give your life to Him and LISTEN with BOTH EARS when He speaks – and He will speak! He can take you where no one would ever have thought possible, and accomplish through you the IMPOSSIBLE – by man’s standards. It may seem silly, and it may feel uncomfortable, but He has a reason for everything.
We are blessed with Catholic Mass to have a solemn commune with the Lord; We follow that with a fervent praising, worshipping, learning and growing in God experience at Full Turn; Wednesday nights are another opportunity to fully immerse ourselves in faith and praise. And hopefully soon, I will be helping singles in our community stop and listen for guidance from our Lord and Savior all week long.
Truly, where would either Craig or I be if we had turned a deaf ear when He spoke?
In Him,
Happy Wednesday All!
Great news – We haven’t been so boring this week! There’re actually updates!!
And (drumroll, please!)…
I don’t know if you can hear that or not, but it is whispering, “Please buy me!!!!” – Okay, maybe not so much a whisper as an insistent YELL! 🙂
Craig & I are thrilled! We can’t wait to find a home together and settle in! We have spent this past weekend and week, thus far, cleaning and de-cluttering and making our home look “un-lived-in”. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
Know anyone looking for a home??? 🙂
On Sunday afternoon, we enjoyed God’s Not Dead finally! Really, folks, if you haven’t treated yourself to this movie, DO. There wasn’t a dry eye in the theatre, and you will feel God tugging at your heartstrings. You simply cannot leave this film unaffected.
As you all are well-aware, it’s Wednesday and therefore, one of my favorite nights of the week! We have be oh-so-blessed by adding Wednesday evening church into our weekly schedules! Full Turn Church is currently doing a Body Life Series entitled “Kingdom Come”, and last week’s (first of the series) message was powerful. I can’t wait to worship the Lord tonight – just sad my husband won’t be along for the ride this week! 😦
How can you be more involved in church and keep Christ at the center of your week? Comments, please! We love them!
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”:
Read the story here.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
XOXO,
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]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!)
Happy Friday Everyone! Stay WARM wherever you might be!!!
Lots Of Love,
Welcome Back!
It’s TTC (Trying To Conceive) Tuesday here at The Newlywed Lefebvres blog, where we will limit ourselves to one day per week of discussing our (trying) journey of infertility. For the purposes of future posts, maybe today I should tell you a little bit about our unique situation.
For the past year and 3 months, Craig and I have been trying to have a baby, and thus far, we have been unsuccessful. After complaining to my doctor the entire time of issues I was experiencing, after almost a year, he finally referred us to have some testing completed. Long story short, they found a polyp blocking my right fallopian tube. This was surgically removed in October.
Further testing (which is an entire novel of a story in itself) confirmed I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – Click here to find out more.
We began treating this condition in the past month with Metformin and Letrazole, as well as vitamin and mineral based supplements. In addition, I am using a progesterone cream, as well, and (as I have for years) am following a extremely low-GI, gluten-free diet. Yay.
Last Wednesday, I went in for my first sonogram to monitor the medication’s effectiveness…If you have gotten a frustrated call or e-mail from me, you know we are struggling with the most inept medical practice in Northwest Georgia, and to put the cherry on top, they had no idea why I was there when I arrived at the doctor’s office last week…So, that being said, who KNOWS if they were able to obtain any worthwhile results from our first sonogram or not. This Friday, they will have another shot, so we will have to let you know next week if they redeemed themselves or not. Pray for us and my patience with these people. Seriously.
On a positive note, the Metformin has been wonderful at treating all sorts of things I have struggled with for years. Insulin-resistance can affect alot of things, and finally finding an answer and a treatment is priceless, albeit a little bit maddening that it took so long for the doctors to diagnose and to grab their attention. If you want that saga, send me an e-mail. It’s quite the tale…
The bottom line is that YOU know your body. If YOU think something is off, don’t stop until the doctor LISTENS and DOES something!
The anagram is PUSH – Pray Until Something Happens. I say: SPADS – Start Praying And Don’t Stop.
Until Tomorrow…
Much Love,
Our mini vacation to Tallulah Gorge and Clayton in North Georgia was just the getaway we needed together! The weather was terrific, and (as we always do together) C and I had a grand time!
If you’d like to make a trip to the gorge and falls yourself, you can get more information here. Aside from the more than 500 stairs you have to climb…it’s fabulous – and yes, my calves are still killing me today!
We also visited an attraction known as “Goats On The Roof”… Total tourist trap…but if you have children, or are grown-up children (like we are), it’s worth stopping in. Their homemade ice cream and fudge are (gluten-free) delicious, and you get to watch goats…on a roof. What could be better?!?
I also spotted a red truck for children that I begged Craig to get inside of for a picture:
He wasn’t too thrilled about getting inside for a picture until he saw this, and if you know C at ALL, you’ll understand WHY:
After it was discovered to be, not just any old red truck, but an INTERNATIONAL, I was encouraged to take multiple pictures. 🙂
You can see all of our pictures from the weekend on our Shutterfly share site here. Craig took some (I’m sure amazing) pictures with his camera, and those will be posted when they arrive back in a digital format from California…I believe this roll includes some from our honeymoon, as well, so stay tuned! You can now also visit our YouTube page here.
We rounded out our weekend with Mass in the mountains at St. Helena Catholic Church, which was just breathtaking. Behind the altar was a wall of glass looking out into the hills beyond…You could feel God in every minute of the Mass. Just perfect.
Finally, before driving back, we ventured over to Tiger Mountain Winery. We sampled some delicious wines, and even bought two bottles of wines we thoroughly enjoyed!
It was a wonderful weekend through which it was easy to see God all around us in His creation, and to thank Him for bringing our two souls together. Absolute perfection. We hope all of you had a wonderful weekend!! And now…back to work!
XOXO,
Pier & Craig
In honor of my sweet husband’s post yesterday, I decided to dedicate a post on the blog today all to him. 🙂 You know Craig, but do you REALLY know him? Do you really know what a wonderful man I am lucky enough to have? Here are 10 things about C you may or may not know:
Well my dears, now you know! 🙂 Have a wonderful weekend all! We are heading north tonight to Clayton, GA and Tallulah Gorge…I’m sure we’ll return to post many gorgeous pictures of the scenery here and on our Shutterfly page. I cannot wait to enjoy ACTUAL FALL WEATHER here in Georgia!! Wahooooo!
Much Love Y’all,
Pier & Craig
The (Not-So) Newlywed Lefebvres 
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