Due to overloaded workload

Feel Good Wednesday will not take place today.

I'm sorry.

Blessed #7

I love my husband!

I don't share a lot about him because he is very private.

He doesn't get this blog stuff I do.

He would rather me not do it. But he puts up with me.

And I thank him for that.

We are celebrating our 7 year anniversary today!

God has blessed us so much through the years.

I just know God's got something up His sleeve for us this year.

Thank you God for my husband.

Thank you God for 7 years with him.

Ooooh, what a good verse!

I just had to share this verse I just got emailed from KLOVE.

I LOVE IT!

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.
~ Psalm 37:7, NLT

Isn't it difficult to be patient? But the Lord is with us, trust in Him!!

I have a winner!!!!

I do things the easy way around this blog. To pick the winner I placed the names in the bowl and had my lovely, wonderful coworker, Kathryn, pick a name.

So who won my first ever giveaway on this blog????

Marcy!!!! You won, girl! Congratulations!

I hope you and your family enjoy this cd as much as I have.

Oh and don't worry. This cd is brand new in packaging.

I bought her music on itunes for me. :)

Thank you everyone who participated.

Christmas is coming up. Who knows maybe I'll have another giveaway before then.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Remember:

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalms 118:24

Don't forget the giveaway! Ends tonight.

Did you miss this post the other day? Click here. You could win this cd below.

Enter to win by:
Leaving me a comment. Come on all those blog stalkers who never leave me comments. :) Leave me a comment with your name. Tell me which artist you last saw in concert.

Earn extra entries by:
1) Blogging about this giveaway and linking your bloggers back here. Make sure you leave an extra comment saying you blogged about this giveaway.

2) Start following me. If you aren't a follower of my blog yet, you better get to it. :) On the right side of my blog there is a heading called "Followers of my Journey". I would love to add some new followers. Be sure to leave me an extra comment that you have started following.

3) Already following? Leave an extra comment letting me know how much you love me. Kidding. But you can if you want.

Contest closes Thursday (Oct. 22) at 8:00 p.m. (Central). Winner will be announced Friday (Oct. 23) around 10:00 a.m. (Central).

Feel Good Wednesday #31

Today I'm featuring one of the songs from Leeland. When I heard Leeland sing this song during the concert this last weekend, it really touched my heart. The words are so true. "There are schools full of hatred. Even churches have forsaken love and mercy." Just last week there was a story of a young boy who had been set on fire by fellow classmates. Do we even know what our children are facing in the school systems today? I bet our minds couldn't even wrap around what all the children face today. So different than when we were in school. We really need to pray for our children and school systems...even the teachers. Then there are churches. Churches having too much politics. Churches forgetting why they were even established. Lord, help us!

Leeland
Tears of the Saints

There are many prodigal sons
On our city streets they run
Searching for shelter
There are homes broken down
People’s hopes have fallen to the ground
From failures

This is an emergency!

There are tears from the saints
For the lost and unsaved
We’re crying for them come back home
We’re crying for them come back home
And all your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home

There are schools full of hatred
Even churches have forsaken
Love and mercy
May we see this generation
In its state of desperation
For Your glory

This is an emergency!

There are tears from the saints
For the lost and unsaved
We’re crying for them come back home
We’re crying for them come back home
And all your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home

Sinner, reach out your hands!
Children, in Christ you stand!
Sinner, reach out your hands!
Children, in Christ you stand!

There are tears from the saints
For the lost and unsaved
We’re crying for them come back home
We’re crying for them come back home

And all Your children will stretch out their hands
And pick up the crippled man
Father, we will lead them home
Father, we will lead them home

Concert recap and a giveaway!

Well first let's start with the concert recap. We got front row!!! It was a wonderful concert.


Francesca, Brandon Heath and Leeland started the concert out by singing together. It totally threw me off when they finally introduced the girl singing with them as Francesca! I should have known that was her.




I love Francesca's entire cd and was excited to hear her sing her songs live. I even teared up as I listened to her sing and thought back to the previous months of me singing them in my car. Her songs really helped me during my loss. So I was moved to tears.
Then Leeland sang a few of his songs. I would say his pants were a little too tight but he sang really well. Haha! He did a great job.

Next was cutie patootie, Brandon Heath. My favorite song of his is Give Me Your Eyes. He gave some wonderful testimonies before a few of his songs. He was great!

Brandon said he has been working on a Christmas album. One song will feature him with Francesca! He wasn't sure when the album would be out but I hope it's SOON! This was the two of them performing the song.

While at the concert I bought a cd pack. In honor of it being a Monday I am having a giveaway. My first! We'll see how this one goes and if it goes well I may have another one in the future.

What you could win:

Francesca Battistelli's My Paper Heart Cd

Enter to win by:

Leaving me a comment. Come on all those blog stalkers who never leave me comments. :) Leave me a comment with your name. Tell me which artist you last saw in concert.

Earn extra entries by:

1) Blogging about this giveaway and linking your bloggers back here. Make sure you leave an extra comment saying you blogged about this giveaway.

2) Start following me. If you aren't a follower of my blog yet, you better get to it. :) On the right side of my blog there is a heading called "Followers of my Journey". I would love to add some new followers. Be sure to leave me an extra comment that you have started following.

3) Already following? Leave an extra comment letting me know how much you love me. Kidding. But you can if you want.

Contest closes Thursday (Oct. 22) at 8:00 p.m. (Central). Winner will be announced Friday (Oct. 23) around 10:00 a.m. (Central).


Good luck everyone!

National Infant & Pregnancy Loss Remembrance Day

I just want all of you out there, who have suffered an infant/pregnancy loss, to know that I am praying for you guys. My greatest friend Summer surprised me this week with a package. It had instructions on the outside to not open till October 15th. I opened it this morning and this is what was inside.

This was all in an envelope with a sweet card. (Candle is in background)The insert above says:

Wave of Light for October 15th

Everyone is invited to light a candle on October 15th at 7 p.m. in all time zones, all over the world.

If everyone lights a candle at 7 p.m. and keeps it burning for at least one hour, there will be a continuous WAVE OF LIGHT over the entire world on October 15th, Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day.

I'm so blessed to have such a sweet friend to think of me on this day. I know I have so many friends and family praying for me. I just want to thank each one of you from the bottom of my heart.

If you have had a loss, just know I will be praying for you especially tonight at 7 p.m. as I light my candle.

Feel Good Wednesday #30

Well this post is not what I expected today. I didn't expect to be writing about what I'm about to write about. I wanted to share a song of praise, of joy. In a way, this will still be that.

It always seems as I am driving to work is when God starts to point me in the right direction for my Wednesday's posts. This morning I heard Steven Curtis Chapman's new song Heaven is the Face. I'm not sure how many of you who read this are aware of this family's loss. But one of their little girls was tragically killed last year. From the words on his webpage: "His new album Beauty Will Rise is a collection of 12 songs. Created in the last 18 months in the walk through the darkness of the loss of his daughter Maria, and while God continues to meet him there on the journey. Part lament, part praise, part grief, part hope, part wrestling, part pondering; these tracks resonate as Steven's personal Psalms." As I was listening to the words of this song I wanted to cry but I also wanted to praise God. Because Heaven IS where we will be one day. Steven and his family will get to see Maria again. Wes and I will get to see our baby. Shontel and Andy will get to see theirs. My brother and Amanda and all of our family will get to see their son Clayton, only a child that was lost in a car accident. IN HEAVEN! I pray that we all are ready to see our loved ones who have left us from earth but are waiting for us in Glory. I pray our hearts are where they need to be. If you haven't yet heard Steven's song please go to Itunes or Amazon or call your local christian radio station and ask them to play it. It is a sweet song.


October 15th is National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day. How odd that I drive to work and hear this song by Steven Curtis Chapman and then to find out what tomorrow will be. A day in remembering my baby I lost, but also rejoicing that one day I will be able to hold my baby in Heaven. Because Heaven is the face of my baby. This song is too new to be available to find on my playlist but as I searched for a Steven Curtis Chapman song....there it is. The song that is appropriate to play in honor of ALL of those who have lost a child. ALL of those who were joyed with a blessed pregnancy by God only for that child to be taken to Heaven. My prayer is that we will all be ready to see our babies in Heaven. God bless each and everyone of you who have felt the pain of losing a baby.

With Hope
by Steven Curtis Chapman

this is not at all how
we thought it was supposed to be
we had so many plans for you
we had so many dreams
and now you've gone away
and left us with the memories of your smile
and nothing we can say
and nothing we can do
can take away the pain
the pain of losing you but

we can cry with hope
we can say goodbye with hope
'cause we know our goodbye is not the end oh no
and we can grieve with hope
'cause we believe with hope
there's a place where we'll see your face again
we'll see your face again

and never have i known anything so hard to understand
and never have i questioned more
the wisdom of god's plan
but through the cloud of tears
i see the father's smile and say well done
and i imagine you
where you wanted most to be
seeing all your dreams come true
'cause now you're home
and now you're free and

we have this hope as an anchor
'cause we believe that everything
god promised us is true so

we can cry with hope
we can say goodbye with hope
'cause we know our goodbye is not the end oh no
and we can grieve with hope
'cause we believe with hope
there's a place by god's grace
there's a place where we'll see your face again
we'll see your face again

we wait with hope
and we ache with hope
we hold on with hope
we let go with hope

Gotta take precautions

I have mentioned I don't know how many times in the past week that I am a germaphobe. I think people think I'm kidding or crazy. I LOVE this time of year but I hate the sickness that comes with it. And working in public (at the Wildcats Hockey booth) I'm dealing with a lot of germs. I don't even want to think about where all that money has been. So I have been using my hand sanitizer like crazy. In fact, I've used it SO much it has started breaking my hands out and making them raw. Ouch! Thanks Purell.I'm going to get off the internet pretty soon and go use this lovely Mary Kay product.


And then I'm also going to go take these....

I went and stocked up on vitamins. The Oscillococcinum I got just in case me or Wes gets the flu. It doesn't hurt to be prepared, right? I know a couple of people who have used that and they say it extremely helped and felt results really fast after taking it. I'm hoping by taking the other vitamins I will not get the flu.

And it doesn't hurt to do more of this than anything..... (no this is not me in the pic.)

So see, I am a germaphobe. I hope you and your family are healthy and well. I have a blogger friend who has 3 sick girls at home. Please say a prayer for that family.

Prayers for health, my friends!

P.S. 2 posts in one night.....crazy, I know! Have a fabulous weekend!

Love ya,

Human Tricks

Ok, so some of you may know and some of you may not know....but I am working a merchandise booth for the local hockey team in town as a seasonal extra job. It's actually not bad. I make some good cash and it's not difficult at all. Well tonight we got a little bit of extra entertainment.....and the Wildcats lost....boo!

But here's our entertainment....

This boy is licking his elbow.....yeah nice! Can you imagine how many germs just went in his mouth. And he did it several times. Bet he'll be sick with something before long if he keeps this up. Oh and by the way, the hat he purchased at our both for $2.50. It's called the Dr. Seus hat. It was a hot item tonight.



And the other boy is....well....you can see...


This kid above had WAY too much energy for me. I told the other girl working with me that he acted like he was on "something". But no, he had a lot of energy. I feel for his parents.

Cupcakes for Life

It is time to take a stand. It is time to help these unborn babies make it to birth. Tomorrow October 9th is National Prolife Cupcake Day. You can make a difference! I didn't know about this national day until this morning while I was driving to work. BUT I am going to participate. I hope you do. And besides, WHO doesn't like cupcakes?!

Go here for more information.

Make cupcakes, buy cupcakes, whatever....but just get these cupcakes out there. Go to the website above for helpful tips on decorating your cupcakes. While you are giving cupcakes away be sure to tell the person what these cupcakes represent. These cupcakes represent life that God has given us!

If you have a highschool student or if you are a teacher. Take cupcakes to school to help spread to teenagers that there are other options than killing! There is adoption. Pregnancy rates among school aged children are sky-rocketing! Let's help them make a change.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE reblog this if you have a blog. If you don't....share it on your facebook, share it on your mypsace. Share this info! We need to stop killing innocent babies!

Feel Good Wednesday #29

My friend Shontel told me about this song and singer several years ago. I just thought about it and found it to be perfect for my blog.

The story behind this artist:
In a celebrity-driven world, it’s rare to find an artist of any genre who isn’t driven by fame, fortune and the next big hit. Rarer still is finding talent honed by experience and creative experimentation rather than manufactured in a recording studio amidst high tech software. But singer/songwriter Ginny Owens has always been one of a kind.

Born and raised in Jackson, Miss., Owens was discovering melodies on the piano almost before she could complete a sentence. Sunday school songs and common childhood tunes began to emerge from her fingers even as vision began to leave her eyes. By the age of three, a degenerative eye condition left Ginny completely blind.

Despite her physical challenge, music just made sense to her, quickly becoming a lifeline for both understanding and communication. Songs provided a window into a world Ginny couldn’t see, but they also offered an outlet for her to express her own thoughts, dreams and questions.

Click here if you want to read more.

If You Want Me To
by Ginny Owens

The pathway is broken
And The signs are unclear
And I don't know the reason why You brought me here
But just because You love me the way that You do
I'm gonna walk through the valley
If You want me to

Cause I'm not who I was
When I took my first step
And I'm clinging to the promise
You're not through with me yet
So if all of these trials bring me closer to you
Then I will walk through the fire
If You want me to

It may not be the way I would have chosen
When you lead me through a world that's not my home
But You never said it would be easy
You only said I'd never go alone

So when the whole world turns against me
And I'm all by myself
And I can't hear You answer my cries for help
I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through
And I will go through the valleys
If You want me to

Below is the youtube version of this song. In this video you will hear that she has added another verse to the end. I love it! I wish that I could have this version on my playlist. Below the video are the words to the last verse.



Cuz when I cross over Jordan
Gonna sing, gonna shout,
Gonna look into Your eyes and see You never let me down
So take me on the pathway that leads me home to You
And I will walk though the valley
If You want me to

Yes, I will walk through the valley
If You want me to


I hope you all have a wonderful Feel Good Wednesday!

Proud of Who You Are Becoming

Are you proud of who you are becoming? I am in my late 20's and as I reflect on the person I have been and where I am now I see a positive difference. Aren't we supposed to? Who wants to look back at their life and think "Oh good, I haven't changed for the better, I am becoming an awful person."

Within the last month I have been SO proud of two specific girlfriends. My heart literally leaps for joy when I think of them and who they have become. I get so extremely giddy thinking about how GOD, not me, not man, not some THING...but GOD has transformed their lives for the better.

Romans 12:2 "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.".

Spiritual transformation begins in the mind and the heart. Let's be honest, a lot of times we become so caught up in our own ways, what we want. We put our blinders on and can't see that if we will put our mind on God there could be some changing in order for our lives. In my opinion, we should always be willing to say "Here I am Lord, what do I need to work on today?"

These 2 girlfriends of mine have come such a long way. I'm not saying they were back sliders and horrible sinners. I am not to judge anways. These women have always been wonderful women. Women I have laughed and cried with many times. But this year I have witnessed some amazing Godly transformations in their hearts and minds. They are walking with God.

My friend has had a hard time with a certain member of her husband's family. There was never a time we didn't talk that this friend was irritated at something this family member had said or done. She had a hard time finding love or compassion for this family member. Well God finally gave peace, love and compassion to my friend. He just took away in an instant what had been bottled up in my friend for years now. Isn't that great how God works? What we hold on to for years, He can just remove in an instant. It's powerful. It's miraculous. It's....God! My friend knew exactly what God had done in her life. And she gives credit to her Lord. She has an awesome heart. She is allowing God to speak to her. I am so proud of who she is becoming.

My other friend. Boy has she had some mountains to climb in the last year. It always seems that if the devil can get you down, he can keep pounding on you more and more. Eventually, he wants to win you over. This didn't happen. My friend is coming out victorious! She is conquering these mountains. She is feeling the hand of God guide her life. She is taking a step back and checking herself. She's asking herself hard questions. She's making changes. I am so proud of who she is becoming.

Romans 8:37 "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

Last night as I was driving home I prayed for my friends. I cried for them. I cried because I was proud of who they are becoming. I cried because I have observed the hand of God transform their lives. I want God to bless them and each of you. I want you and I to look back at where we've been and where you and I are now and KNOW that God is transforming us more and more every day.

Nobody is perfect. I am not perfect. But God is! Looking at these two friends is an inspiration to me. These women of God are making me want to stop and observe myself. What changes can I start making in myself, Lord? It IS my heart's desire for all of my friends and family to become closer to God and to be proud of who they are becoming.

P.S. I didn't mention their names because I didn't want to embarrass them. But S & C, I love you. I'm proud of you. I am proud to call you my friend. You are inspirations to me. Keep on making God proud!