A Revenant Review of A Quiet Weekend

January 13, 2016 The Not-So Newlywed LefebvresLeave a comment

Wednesday! We’re halfway through the week! I woke up this morning hoping it was Saturday as I looked at my alarm clock, buzzing like a madman. I don’t think I will ever get used to waking up before the sun!

Alas, Craig and I have enjoyed the whole week together and when I haven’t been working or commuting, we have relished every second. This past weekend we saw the new movie, “The Revenant“…

Honestly…I don’t even know how to ‘review’ this ~~movie~~ experience…except to say two things:

I will, now, forever have an unhealthy fear of bears.
You may find yourself unconciously holding your breath for long stretches of time, but you will never become disinterested in this film.

Apparently, the movie is based on a true story…and when you see it…you’ll perhaps understand why that is so shocking…Goodness, I am getting shivery just thinking about it…

Please, let me be frank – this is NOT a horror film, nor is it scary…It is just…indescribable, and has an incredible message, I feel, woven within…

Other than our cinematic experience, our weekend was pretty tame. Craig and I ventured into some thrift shops (my fave!) and hardware stores (his fave!) and even made it to JoAnn Fabrics, in preparation for my new sewing and embroidery machine:

Eeeek! We haven’t had much time to experiment, yet!, but I have already delved into one project, and am next interested in converting a pair of huge jeans that I bought thinking they were men’s for Craig…only to discover they were a pair of plus size women’s jeans…which obviously neither of us can wear… LOL… So – On to reinventing into “skinny jeans” – which Pinterest claims is really simple… We shall see!! 🙂

Otherwise it’s been work work work around the Lefebvre home! We are preparing to take a little trip next week – beginning in Maine and ending in Minnesota! There are bound to be pictures to come!

Keep my precious Mama Dee (my mother’s mother) in your prayers, blog-family. In recent weeks, she has undergone a THIRD knee surgery since shattering her patella in November. Prayers for healing, peace, patience and comfort are so very appreciated.

download (22) — From Left: Mama, Mama Dee, Me ❤

And finally, I want to leave you on this ‘What’s Up Wednesday?’ with a beautiful article concerning God’s design for marriage.

“A Last Name Says Alot” by Jasmine Holmes

Take a moment and read and think on Jasmine’s words…We have a Father in Heaven who LOVES us!!

Well, back to work! Until tomorrow!

TTC Tuesday

No Matter What

November 3, 2015 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres2 Comments

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Here at The Newlywed Lefebvre’s blog, Tuesdays are for thanking Jesus, and there just isn’t a better month for that ‘theme’ than November – Thanksgiving time!

As I’m reading (straight through) the Bible, I’m noticing that the book of Psalms is a lot more than what I had at first envisioned – a book of (boring) poetry and songs and flowery language. Quite the opposite, actually. As I read the book (actually five separate books, combined into one), I’m realizing that David (and the other authors of the psalms) had a heckuvalot in common with me and the rest of us average joes (janes?)!

Psalms are beautiful prayers; cries out to God in anguish, in joy, in hope, in fear, in sorrow; deep shouts of praise and thanks! Just open your Bible to the middle and I’m almost certain one of the psalms you come upon will speak to your heart.

Today, we will look at two psalms that denote thankfulness – perfect for Thank You Jesus Tuesday and for this time of year:

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100:4-5

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.” Psalm 107:21-22

It is so easy to thank God when things are going well. When everything is moving along and life is hunky-dory, we are almost quick to forget to thank Him for His goodness. But the question is how on earth do you thank Him when things are NOT going well? How do you praise God in the midst of suffering?

You thank God during times of trouble because you remember the cross. Hebrews 4, verses 15 and 16 say:

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

We can thank Him during our times of need and weakness because He is not some lofty god who rules from on high, apart from his creation – He came to earth in human form and lived a human life, ending with His suffering on the cross as the one and only sacrifice for our sins.

We can thank Him at all times because “…God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

No matter what – I will praise Him in this storm and in the sunshine that follows.

So today, as I sit here with a yucky sinus infection, and my sweet Mama Dee is in a brace and awaiting orthopedic surgery for her broken patella, I am thanking my Savior for the beautiful life He blessed me with, and for the gift that is my grandmother. As we await His beautiful promise of our precious Jonah Elizabeth, I thank Him that He not only knows us by name – but gave such a beautiful name to our future daughter.

What storm are you waiting in today, and how can you be thankful in its midst?

TTC Tuesday

The Beacon On The Fridge

July 29, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres15 Comments

Well, folks, it’s Tuesday and I’m back – with a skip in my step, nonetheless!The past week has been a wild ride – to say the least. To tell this story, I’ll take you back in time a bit.

Several years ago…

{That’s supposed to be the ‘back in time’ sort of dream sequence…}

My grandmother in New Jersey (Hi Grandma!) took a trip to Maine, and sent me this gorgeous post card…

It was definitely this lighthouse (above), but not this particular picture. I loved it (and of course, the sweet note by grandmother wrote on the back), and kept it on my refrigerator for the longest time.

When Craig and I were dating, one of the first times he ever visited my (then) condo, he saw the postcard on the fridge and said, “Hey, where did you get this?” to which I replied that my grandmother had sent it to me from her trip to Maine. He, then, told me he had given the same exact picture to his mother from his trip (flight for work) to Portland, ME.

I didn’t think much of it at the time, but when I missed the church I was trying to navigate to and ended up a mile or two down the road, with the ocean right in front of me, and this very lighthouse to my left…heading back to the church for my interview, I felt a sense of peace…

If you’re extremely confused at the moment, let me enlighten you:

Craig will be flying out of Portland and I will be the Youth Minister for St. Bartholomew’s in Cape Elizabeth, as well as (prayers please!!!!!!!!!! I’m in the final stages of interview!) working with the mentally disabled to help them attain more independent living skills, and of course, continuing school!

So, today’s “Thank You” to our Lord is for His guidance! All along the way, this step (LEAP) of faith has had His Hand on it…and He is truly answering our prayers!! We are so excited for this new season of life and for all that Maine has in store for us!!

Please pray for our relocation!! It’s coming up soon – the middle of next month!

Well, time to head out the door and head home…and continue packing!!! 🙂 Wahoo!!!

P.S. Does anyone want to volunteer to help us move? 🙂

What's Up Wednesday

Let Us Experience The Glory Of Your Goodness

June 18, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres3 Comments

This has been a busy week, following a busy week last week.

But this Wednesday, instead of posting about what WE are up to, can you do a favor for us?

Can you please pray for my dad and the sweet lady in blue, pictured below?

My grandmother, “Ma”, went to ICU last night, with a very high white blood cell count and very low levels of potassium, sodium, etc. Please pray for God’s healing hands, and the peace of His presence for both her and my father, and his siblings…all of us.

{please view this video/song in a browser}

What's Up Wednesday

Flashback To Easter!

April 30, 2014 The Not-So Newlywed Lefebvres4 Comments

As promised… 🙂

Pier’s parents and brother, Pier’s maternal Grandmother (Mama Dee), & Us! Three generations! The “Kids”

Pier’s brother, Paul 🙂

There you have it – our long-awaited Easter 2014 pictures! 🙂 What a GORGEOUS day God gave us to celebrate His resurrection!

If you didn’t have the opportunity to read our blog and watch our vlog yesterday (since it was uploaded SO late!), click here to do so – and we urge you to do so. Don’t just read the text – Watch the video! Much to satan’s chagrin, I finally was able to record and upload our amazing story and it’s one you will not want to miss. Share it with your friends and family. God is powerful and awesome and good, and we must not keep His Goodness to ourselves!

Until tomorrow, have a wonderful evening!

Uncategorized

…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