Saturday, March 27, 2010

Gods grace is so amazing and wonderful! Last night was one of the most wonderful nights in a long time. Going through the in and outs of the daily grind and in my flesh forgetting all together the one who saved me; He wakes me from my stupor in the middle of the night to remind me who He is! It was around 2:30 am and I literally could not sleep. I kept thinking about my ailing grandfather and the fact that the Lord has not opened his eyes to the truth yet. I went straight to the couch and started at Romans 3:23. Remembering what He has done for me and realizing that Dandy NEEDS Christ more than anything right now. More than the pills that he must consume, more than the daily exercises that they make him do each morning, and yes even more than the nourishment of food. My God is a God of promise and family. So, my mission right now is to pray consistently for my grandfather. He saved the thief on the cross He can save Dandy! The words to J.J. Hellers song Your Hands rang in my head as I prayed this morning...

I have unanswered prayers
I have trouble I wish wasn't there
And I have asked a thousand ways
that you would take my pain away
-you would take my pain away

I am trying to understand
how to walk this weary land
Make straight the path that crooked lie
Oh Lord, before these feet of mine
-Oh Lord before these feet of mine

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands

When you walked upon the earth
you healed the broken lost and hurt
I know you hate to see me cry
One day you will set all things right
-yea one day you will set all things right

When my world is shaking
Heaven stands
When my heart is breaking
I never leave your hands
Your hands
Your hands that shaped the world
Are holding me
they hold me still
Your hands that shaped the world

----That song reminds me that He is sovereign and even when things are unfathomable he is in control. He has Dandy in his hands. And that brings great comfort to me.
me. I am making it my mission to learn how to play this song on my guitar before this yr is over. :)


To learn more about JJ Heller go to

Friday, March 19, 2010

Where God has taken us.....





Life with Shane started when I first laid eyes on him in the 7th grade. The year was 1992. He was a little short kid with dark hair and beautiful eyes who always was causing mischief and making the teachers mad! I actually thought it was really cute, but I never told him that. Even though I really didn't have a crush on him I always had butterfly's when he was around. (Definitely looking back I know that was God tapping me on the shoulder saying "HELLO THAT'S THE ONE") Well, flash forward to the end of 10th grade and lo and behold I had a class with him and we made the connection! We have been together ever since.
Shane asked me to marry him when we were 19! And of course I said yes! We were both in college, but the thought of wedding planning and college was a little too much for me so I didn't sign up for fall classes. No, just kidding I really just knew in my heart that being a wife and mommy was all I ever wanted to be so the "college thing" had to be put on hold. The wedding planning went great and my parents gave me the wedding that I always dreamed of...we were married on July 31, 1999.
We settled into our new home and bought a puppynamed Chester because Shane was gone a lot taking classes at UCF and working. I was very lonely to say the least. But exactly 3 months after getting back from our honeymoon the Lord had a wonderful surprise for us! We found out that Jackson Allen was on his way.
Jackson arrived on July 21, 2000 and was a wonderful anniversary present to have. I remember leaving him with my mother in law and sister in law to go out for an anniversary dinner and I couldn't even finish my meal because I wanted to go check on him and make sure that everything was OK.
When Jax was 7 months old I found out that I was pregnant with Noelle Grace. I had no idea that I was pregnant and then finally being sick for a few days I got a pregnancy test and sure enough she was coming! That was the biggest shocker! I remember just laying on the bed and sobbing. Just feeling overwhelmed and emotional I heard the door bell ring and my sister in law had come over to tell me she was pregnant! That was a God send! My beautiful Noelle came along on December 5, 2001 and even though at times she can be very strong willed she has been such a joy to watch grow and nurture.
Caleb came along two yrs later on April 30, 2004. He is a sweet boy and was the best baby I could have asked for. The Lord showed his grace to me through Caleb. Having three children under 3 was tough, but we got through it depending on Him. Those first years of being newly married and young parents were very trying years, but now I would give anything even to go back for a moment and catch a glimpse of it. To hold them and smell that wonderful aroma of a newborn baby right after a bath, to chase after a toddler who has just learned how to walk, or to hear Jax call me "Joe" in his little baby voice. Older people used to tell me in the grocery store, when they would see how stressed I was, "those days don't last forever-enjoy them" , wow! Were they right on. I am so thankful for being able to be a mom and be there for my children. God has given me a wonderful responsibility. I pray I always treasure them and remember that He has given them to me for a specific purpose and that is to teach them all about him and to always point them back to the cross!