....because Christmas isn't always a happy time, may this song bring comfort to those who are hurting. 

....because Christmas isn't always a happy time, may this song bring comfort to those who are hurting. 

Morning....

Once again I have gone into my shell and got quiet. For those who have been visiting here awhile know I do that from time to time.

One reason in particular caused me to withdraw...A woman I don't know, a blogger that I had never read before, was brought to my attention by Melissa @ Happy Cottage Quilter. You see, Pat, a dear lovely lady, was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her grandson, Jackson on Monday....And for reasons only known to God, he was taken straight from this earth into Heaven. My heart has been sad ever since. I know how it feels, to some degree, to long to be a grandmother and then have it taken away at the last moment. The "almost grandma." That's how I think of myself and it makes me sad to think another woman has joined that club. So close, and yet....

If you would want to offer some words of comfort to Pat and her family, I am sure she would very much appreciate it. You can find her at Silver Thimble Talk. This is going to be a very difficult Mother's Day for her and her family....I can't even imagine...

Morning....

Once again I have gone into my shell and got quiet. For those who have been visiting here awhile know I do that from time to time.

One reason in particular caused me to withdraw...A woman I don't know, a blogger that I had never read before, was brought to my attention by Melissa @ Happy Cottage Quilter. You see, Pat, a dear lovely lady, was anxiously awaiting the arrival of her grandson, Jackson on Monday....And for reasons only known to God, he was taken straight from this earth into Heaven. My heart has been sad ever since. I know how it feels, to some degree, to long to be a grandmother and then have it taken away at the last moment. The "almost grandma." That's how I think of myself and it makes me sad to think another woman has joined that club. So close, and yet....

If you would want to offer some words of comfort to Pat and her family, I am sure she would very much appreciate it. You can find her at Silver Thimble Talk. This is going to be a very difficult Mother's Day for her and her family....I can't even imagine...

I began a new quilt last weekend with the intention to give it to my friend, Karyn, however, the whole time I was making it, I kept thinking that it looked more like J and should be for her. Monday morning, the sad news was announced... J lost her baby...My goal to today, to get this quilt finished and to take it to J's home.

Please pray for J...

I began a new quilt last weekend with the intention to give it to my friend, Karyn, however, the whole time I was making it, I kept thinking that it looked more like J and should be for her. Monday morning, the sad news was announced... J lost her baby...My goal to today, to get this quilt finished and to take it to J's home.

Please pray for J...

This is a book I've been looking forward to reading and dreading at the same time. Grief is hard work...

This is a book I've been looking forward to reading and dreading at the same time. Grief is hard work...

"God might bring deliverance that saves you from your present difficulty, 

but He might not.

You don't trust in deliverance; 

you trust in God."

~ Ed Welch, When I Am Afraid: A Step by Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety  

This book is on my "must read" list.

"God might bring deliverance that saves you from your present difficulty, 

but He might not.

You don't trust in deliverance; 

you trust in God."

~ Ed Welch, When I Am Afraid: A Step by Step Guide Away from Fear and Anxiety  

This book is on my "must read" list.

Pray for Amanda's family...

Amanda Joy

August 12, 1991 - May 14, 2010

 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

Pray for Amanda's family...

Amanda Joy

August 12, 1991 - May 14, 2010

 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7

A gift from my husband...

Marked By Love by Lisa Leonard

Can't wait until it gets here. 

A gift from my husband...

Marked By Love by Lisa Leonard

Can't wait until it gets here. 

It won't work, but it's worth a try, right? 

It won't work, but it's worth a try, right? 

grief an update of sorts

Last January, I wrote a post on grief...I said:

In my own life, I am dealing with a potential loss that I am unable, as this time, to discuss openly. A few of my friends "with skin on" are aware of the grief that I am experiencing, and I am thankful that I am able to talk about it with them. It helps to not feel alone in this sadness. I am grateful for their compassion and love...

This post is sort of an update. Kind of hard to update when I still cannot go into any details. The "potential loss" has become a for sure loss. It's not a death, but it can feel like one, you know? And, it will be very soon. Maybe the loss will be for forever, maybe only for a season. I don't know, but I know Who does know...Christ knows.

A while back, I purchased a necklace from The Rusted Chain. Simple and perfect. I wear it every day. It reminds me that my hope is not in court systems, in judges, in social workers, in lawyers, in appeals, in motions, in any other type of legal mumbo-jumbo that I don't pretend to understand. God works through those means, to be sure, but the hope...

...hope....

My hope lands squarely in Christ alone.

My simple request...Please pray. He knows. 

Last January, I wrote a post on grief...I said:

In my own life, I am dealing with a potential loss that I am unable, as this time, to discuss openly. A few of my friends "with skin on" are aware of the grief that I am experiencing, and I am thankful that I am able to talk about it with them. It helps to not feel alone in this sadness. I am grateful for their compassion and love...

This post is sort of an update. Kind of hard to update when I still cannot go into any details. The "potential loss" has become a for sure loss. It's not a death, but it can feel like one, you know? And, it will be very soon. Maybe the loss will be for forever, maybe only for a season. I don't know, but I know Who does know...Christ knows.

A while back, I purchased a necklace from The Rusted Chain. Simple and perfect. I wear it every day. It reminds me that my hope is not in court systems, in judges, in social workers, in lawyers, in appeals, in motions, in any other type of legal mumbo-jumbo that I don't pretend to understand. God works through those means, to be sure, but the hope...

...hope....

My hope lands squarely in Christ alone.

My simple request...Please pray. He knows. 

Isn't that a beautiful promise from our Lord Jesus? This morning's Grace Gem speaks on that very promise. His sufficient grace is holding me up as I continue to walk the difficult path of letting go of someone I love very much. A new layer of acceptance has been dealt with the last few days. How many more levels I have to go, I am unsure, but it feels like I am nearing the end....Only God knows and His grace is sufficient for me...

I trust today's Grace Gem will bless you today, as much as it did me...

~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

There is a secret of victorious living which, if people knew it, would make all of life easier for them. It may be stated thus: that as we take up any duty and go forward with it, we shall receive the strength we need to do it. There are several Divine promises that give this assurance.

One reads, "As your days--so shall your strength be." Deuteronomy 33:25. This seems to mean that the help which God gives, varies according to the necessity of the particular day. God fits His blessing--to our days.
When we are faint--He increases strength.
When we are sorrowful--He gives comfort.
When we are in danger--He grants protection.
When we are weary--He gives rest.
"As your days--so shall your strength be."

Another of Christ's promises reads, "My grace is sufficient for you." Every word of this assurance shines with radiant light.

"My grace is sufficient for you." It is Christ's grace that is sufficient. We know that He has all Divine fullness, and therefore we are sure that no human need can ever exhaust His power to give help!

"My grace is sufficient for you." It is Christ's grace that is sufficient. If it were anything else but grace, it might not give us such comfort. Grace is undeserved favor, goodness shown to the unworthy. We deserve nothing, for we are sinners. But it is Christ's grace which is sufficient, and so we can claim it.

"My grace is sufficient for you." It is present tense--IS sufficient. Christ is always speaking personally to the one who is in any need, and saying, "My grace IS sufficient for you."

"My grace is sufficient for you." The word "sufficient" is one whose meaning expands and amplifies with the measure of the need. No necessity is so small as not to be included; and none is so great as to go beyond the capacity of the blessing that is promised.

"My grace is sufficient for you." The grace is sufficient for each of His redeemed children--"for you" the promise runs.

Life lies before us, with . . .
  its burdens,
  its duties,
  its responsibilities,
  its struggles,
  its perplexities.
It does not come to us all in one piece. God breaks our years--into months and weeks and days, and never gives us more than just a little at a time--never more than we can bear or do for the day.

If we take up the present duty or burden--we shall always have strength to do it. If we do not have strength of our own sufficient for the work or struggle, we need not falter--but should go on, just as if we had omnipotence in our arm; for as we obey God, though the task is impossible to our ability--He will sustain us by giving us all the help we need. 

Isn't that a beautiful promise from our Lord Jesus? This morning's Grace Gem speaks on that very promise. His sufficient grace is holding me up as I continue to walk the difficult path of letting go of someone I love very much. A new layer of acceptance has been dealt with the last few days. How many more levels I have to go, I am unsure, but it feels like I am nearing the end....Only God knows and His grace is sufficient for me...

I trust today's Grace Gem will bless you today, as much as it did me...

~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~

There is a secret of victorious living which, if people knew it, would make all of life easier for them. It may be stated thus: that as we take up any duty and go forward with it, we shall receive the strength we need to do it. There are several Divine promises that give this assurance.

One reads, "As your days--so shall your strength be." Deuteronomy 33:25. This seems to mean that the help which God gives, varies according to the necessity of the particular day. God fits His blessing--to our days.
When we are faint--He increases strength.
When we are sorrowful--He gives comfort.
When we are in danger--He grants protection.
When we are weary--He gives rest.
"As your days--so shall your strength be."

Another of Christ's promises reads, "My grace is sufficient for you." Every word of this assurance shines with radiant light.

"My grace is sufficient for you." It is Christ's grace that is sufficient. We know that He has all Divine fullness, and therefore we are sure that no human need can ever exhaust His power to give help!

"My grace is sufficient for you." It is Christ's grace that is sufficient. If it were anything else but grace, it might not give us such comfort. Grace is undeserved favor, goodness shown to the unworthy. We deserve nothing, for we are sinners. But it is Christ's grace which is sufficient, and so we can claim it.

"My grace is sufficient for you." It is present tense--IS sufficient. Christ is always speaking personally to the one who is in any need, and saying, "My grace IS sufficient for you."

"My grace is sufficient for you." The word "sufficient" is one whose meaning expands and amplifies with the measure of the need. No necessity is so small as not to be included; and none is so great as to go beyond the capacity of the blessing that is promised.

"My grace is sufficient for you." The grace is sufficient for each of His redeemed children--"for you" the promise runs.

Life lies before us, with . . .
  its burdens,
  its duties,
  its responsibilities,
  its struggles,
  its perplexities.
It does not come to us all in one piece. God breaks our years--into months and weeks and days, and never gives us more than just a little at a time--never more than we can bear or do for the day.

If we take up the present duty or burden--we shall always have strength to do it. If we do not have strength of our own sufficient for the work or struggle, we need not falter--but should go on, just as if we had omnipotence in our arm; for as we obey God, though the task is impossible to our ability--He will sustain us by giving us all the help we need. 

Last night I celebrated with the women of my church the birth of a new baby. It's a joy to welcome a new little one into the fold. In the warm room of our hostess' home there was laughter mixed in the sounds of "oohing" and "ahhing" over his sweet face, as well as admiring the new gifts that were being showered upon the new mom. However, I knew there was something else in that room...Something not being expressed loudly, but I could see it and I could feel it.

~Grief~

I knew at least two of the women had suffered the great loss of a child. One lost her first baby boy as a young infant to Trisomy 13. Another had lost her 19 year old son to meningitis several years ago. I watched the mom who had lost her grown son hesitate, ever so slightly, as she introduced her self. I could see her trying to decide if she should say she is a mom of two or a mom of one. She ended up saying she was a mom of two and I was glad she did.

In my own life, I am dealing with a potential loss that I am unable, as this time, to discuss openly. A few of my friends "with skin on" are aware of the grief that I am experiencing, and I am thankful that I am able to talk about it with them. It helps to not feel alone in this sadness. I am grateful for their compassion and love...

As I was saying goodbye to the hostess, I mentioned that I almost didn't come and the tears that are never too far away began to freely flow. She asked me to wait a second...She ran up the stairs and came down with a book in her hand she had purchased for me. She explained she had read it when one of her friends had lost a child so she could understand the grief her friend was dealing with and support her during that time. She said she was waiting until the right time to give it to me. To say I was deeply touched, is putting it mildly...

The book she handed me is titled, "Holding On To Hope: A pathway through suffering to the heart of God," by Nancy Guthrie. I couldn't wait to read it, so when I woke up at 4:30 this morning, instead of snuggling in for a couple more hours of sleep, I got up and grabbed a cup of coffee, my box of tissues, the book and my hubby showered me with chocolate as he made his way to the basement to work out. I settled into my chair and began to read...weep...read...and weep some more. It's a short and easy read that is filled with, well, hope. Would I recommend it? Absolutely!! Would I recommend you give it to someone you know who is grieving? Yes, however, I would recommend you read it first and then decide how to share it with them. Every situation is different. Some situations, like mine, it would be fine to give them the book or suggest the book for to them to read and let them read it when they are ready. Someone else may need someone to read it with them.

I leave you with these words from the Apostle Paul.

 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Chris and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. ~Philippians 3: 8-11

Be blessed...

Last night I celebrated with the women of my church the birth of a new baby. It's a joy to welcome a new little one into the fold. In the warm room of our hostess' home there was laughter mixed in the sounds of "oohing" and "ahhing" over his sweet face, as well as admiring the new gifts that were being showered upon the new mom. However, I knew there was something else in that room...Something not being expressed loudly, but I could see it and I could feel it.

~Grief~

I knew at least two of the women had suffered the great loss of a child. One lost her first baby boy as a young infant to Trisomy 13. Another had lost her 19 year old son to meningitis several years ago. I watched the mom who had lost her grown son hesitate, ever so slightly, as she introduced her self. I could see her trying to decide if she should say she is a mom of two or a mom of one. She ended up saying she was a mom of two and I was glad she did.

In my own life, I am dealing with a potential loss that I am unable, as this time, to discuss openly. A few of my friends "with skin on" are aware of the grief that I am experiencing, and I am thankful that I am able to talk about it with them. It helps to not feel alone in this sadness. I am grateful for their compassion and love...

As I was saying goodbye to the hostess, I mentioned that I almost didn't come and the tears that are never too far away began to freely flow. She asked me to wait a second...She ran up the stairs and came down with a book in her hand she had purchased for me. She explained she had read it when one of her friends had lost a child so she could understand the grief her friend was dealing with and support her during that time. She said she was waiting until the right time to give it to me. To say I was deeply touched, is putting it mildly...

The book she handed me is titled, "Holding On To Hope: A pathway through suffering to the heart of God," by Nancy Guthrie. I couldn't wait to read it, so when I woke up at 4:30 this morning, instead of snuggling in for a couple more hours of sleep, I got up and grabbed a cup of coffee, my box of tissues, the book and my hubby showered me with chocolate as he made his way to the basement to work out. I settled into my chair and began to read...weep...read...and weep some more. It's a short and easy read that is filled with, well, hope. Would I recommend it? Absolutely!! Would I recommend you give it to someone you know who is grieving? Yes, however, I would recommend you read it first and then decide how to share it with them. Every situation is different. Some situations, like mine, it would be fine to give them the book or suggest the book for to them to read and let them read it when they are ready. Someone else may need someone to read it with them.

I leave you with these words from the Apostle Paul.

 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Chris and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. ~Philippians 3: 8-11

Be blessed...

Thursday night and all day Friday, I cried. The silent tears rolling down your face kind of cry...Tears of deep seated fear and pain...Like the ones I shed when my mom died. Like the ones I shed when I knew that Brooklyn was going to live with another family. Like ones I shed when I said good bye to Brooklyn at the hospital, fully expecting to never see her again...

I am not at liberty to share what the circumstances are for this latest bout of tears. Perhaps one day I can. The point of this post is to share what an arrogant fool I am.

Here I am, this puny speck of dust, looking up into the vast heavens that God spoke into existence with a word, the One Who holds it all together with the power of His word, the One who feeds the ravens, the One Who clothes the lilies of the fields, the One Who is Truth, the One Who is the author of all life and I say to this mighty Sovereign God...

I am afraid to trust You with this...

Even so, He is merciful and kind to me...He relieves my fears, brings peace to my soul and dries my tears....

How deep is Your love
How high and how wide is Your mercy
How deep is Your grace
Our hearts overflow with praise
To You

Thursday night and all day Friday, I cried. The silent tears rolling down your face kind of cry...Tears of deep seated fear and pain...Like the ones I shed when my mom died. Like the ones I shed when I knew that Brooklyn was going to live with another family. Like ones I shed when I said good bye to Brooklyn at the hospital, fully expecting to never see her again...

I am not at liberty to share what the circumstances are for this latest bout of tears. Perhaps one day I can. The point of this post is to share what an arrogant fool I am.

Here I am, this puny speck of dust, looking up into the vast heavens that God spoke into existence with a word, the One Who holds it all together with the power of His word, the One who feeds the ravens, the One Who clothes the lilies of the fields, the One Who is Truth, the One Who is the author of all life and I say to this mighty Sovereign God...

I am afraid to trust You with this...

Even so, He is merciful and kind to me...He relieves my fears, brings peace to my soul and dries my tears....

How deep is Your love
How high and how wide is Your mercy
How deep is Your grace
Our hearts overflow with praise
To You