Attitude Adjustment

As I sit here reading all of these blogs about sick children, I feel sooo incredibly blessed that Grace is a healthy baby. Today she has been quite fussy because she is teething like mad. It hasn't been the easiest day for sure, but reading these blogs makes me realize that things could be so much worse! God has blessed me with so many things, but it is easy to get stuck on the hard times. My husband and I are going through some financial difficulty, but again I have to remember that things could be much worse. I know God is our provider and will keep my family safe, however I find myself constantly falling prey to Satan's trap...filling me with doubt and fear. I'm so tired of getting caught up in a fearful attitude. It is the beginning of a horrible cycle. I start to doubt and fear (forgetting God's promises to me as a child of God), then I start to feel sorry for myself (pity party for ONE please), and then the guilt comes flooding in. How can I proclaim to have such a good relationship with our Savior, yet have all this anxiety about the welfare of my family?



I need to remember that God is in control and He will provide, prosper and care for my family. I don't need to be fearful of anything or anyone. He has never let me go hungry, homeless, or without clothes. I may not have everything I want, but I have everything I need. I must stay in an attitude of remembering all that God has done in my life and everything He has blessed me with! Our Father didn't promise that I wouldn't go through trials, however He did promise that I will never be alone when I go through them. His love NEVER fails and I am never too far away from His grasp. So, today I am going to adjust my fearful attitude and REMEMBER all that God has done and will do in my life. All of our problems are in His hand and He will work everything together for my good. This spirit of fear, doubt and anxiety must flee!! There is no room for it in my life. My God reigns and rules in my heart and in my household. Thank you God for reminding me of Your promises and I will continue to lay my fears at Your feet and be renewed with Your joy and comfort daily!

SO excited..

I am so excited for this Saturday. Not only will the girls get dedicated to the Lord, but I will also be meeting some of my husband's family that I have never met before. They are flying in from CA tonight and should be in VA in the morning. We won't get to see them until the dedication cermony because they are headed to Bethany beach with Clinton's parents right after they get off the plane. We will be meeting his two cousins and aunt. He lived with them while he attended college in California and became extremely close to them, so I really can't wait to meet them. I have heard some awesome things about them and know they have a deep love for the Lord. Nothing makes me more excited than to talk about the Lord with others! I also know the Lord has some amazing things planned for Grace and Adriana's special day. I can just feel it in my spirit! I will be preparing the worship music tomorrow, but have been in prayer all week as to what songs to choose. I want to honor the Lord and have Him speak to me as to what songs should be played. There will be some family and friends there that are not believers, so I'd love for God to tell me specific songs that He knows would speak to someone at the ceremony (whether they be a believer or not). So far I know that I will be playing "Held" by Natalie Grant and "Sing My Love" by Kim Walker. I absolutely love anything by Kim Walker, who is also a part of Jesus Culture. They are a worship group out of Bill Johnson's church in California. I believe the church is Bethel Church. Anyways, her worship music just really allows me to praise the Father in absolute freedom. If you haven't heard her music or anything by Jesus Culture, I HIGHLY recommend it!

I am a little nervous about the dedication because some family members were confusing it with a baptism. However, my husband and I believe that baptism is a choice you make out of your own free will when you want to show your love for Jesus and make a committment to Him in front of witnesses. I hope no one gets offended at that we will not be baptizing Grace. Oh well, you can't make everyone happy and the only one I want to please is the Lord. I will leave everything in the Father's hands. I just pray that it goes smoothly and that Grace is content during the ceremony. (She has been having some trouble with her teething lately so I hope she feels fine and doesn't have any problems.) Well, it is getting late so I should shut down and get to bed. I just wanted to put a few thought down before bed time.

Thank you Father for allowing me to have another day with my beautiful baby girl. I hope Saturday pleases You. Please have Your hand in everything and on everyone. Be with Mike as he officiates the ceremony and be with Kara, Clinton and myself as we dedicate our daughters to You. I want to be like Hannah and turn my children over to Your will. Let us be a light to those in our lives who do not know You yet. I pray that their spirits be open to You along with their eyes and ears. Awaken the "sleepers" Father. I praise You and thank You Lord. In His Holy name, Amen.

Baby Dedication

Grace, along with her cousin Adriana will be dedicated to the Lord next Saturday during their baby dedication ceremony. However, the day I found out I was pregnant with her, I had already dedicated her to the Lord, but next Saturday will be her "official" day in front of witnesses. I am really excited and a bit anxious, only because I feel I will be very emotional haha. I am SOO very thankful to my Father in Heaven for my baby Grace, probably more than I let on. You see, I lost my first baby last year after being pregnant for only 11 weeks in a miscarriage. This past April would have been his or her year birthday. I miss the baby I never got to see or get to know. However, I KNOW that my baby is in Heaven with Jesus. So, when I think of Grace's dedication, I picture our Father smiling down with my first baby in His arms. I imagine the Lord talking to my baby and telling him or her that their baby sister is being dedicated to become a part of the family! Even though my arms ache to hold the child I lost, I am also VERY comforted in the fact that they will grow up with the Lord Almighty.

My first child's life was very short but their purpose is everlasting on my life. I know Grace has a GREAT purpose as well. I pray that she fulfills all that God has for her. I cannot wait to officially dedicate her life to the Lord in front of all our friends and family and of course our Father and her older brother/sister in Heaven. I don't have much to say tonight, but I just wanted to put a few thoughts down that were rolling around in my head.

Lord, thank you for the children you have given me and for those You have yet to give me.