Update

So, I have really been slacking with regards to writing on my blog. I may be the only one who reads it, but it serves as a sort of therapy for me so I should really keep up with it. I never updated after the girls' dedication ceremony. It was fantastic! It went better than I could have ever imagined. Both of the girls received awesome prayer, prophetic words for their God ordained destiny, and had lots of great scriptures read over them (the picutre is of people praying over Gracie at her dedication). I taped everything that family and friends prayed over them so I can't wait until they are old enough to understand and to get their thoughts and feelings on it. I pray that my lil Gracie becomes a great warrior for God and does not let the enemy stand in the way of her destiny. She is already soo observant and also very sensitive. I think God will definitely use those qualities to glorify Him. It was funny because one of the women at the dedication (who has only been around Grace once) said that God said she was very observant and sensitive and He will use that for His will. She said that she will see those that are hurting that others may overlook because of her observant eye. It is soo amazing to me that God instills these qualities in us at such a young age. I mean I know He formed Grace in my womb this way before she even had a chance to glance at the world around her, but it still puts me in awe of our Awesome God! Baby Adriana got a lot of fantastic words as well and she will be forerunner for God. I just canNOT wait to see what these two little firecrackers do for the Lord. They have such a purpose in this world (of course like each and every one of us!!)

Today I find myself a little depressed and stressed. I love my daughter and am so incredibly thankful for her, but at the same time I worry about providing for her and being the kind of mother God wants me to be. I feel I don't always live up to His level. I know a lot of my thinking is Satan trying to whisper in my ear his lies, but at the same time I do think I need to pull on the boot straps and be the woman of God He is so desperately calling me to be. I have recently joined a bible study that is being held at my mom's house. We are doing a Beth Moore study on Esther. We have had only one session, but I am already excited about it! It is a great time for me to get together with the girls and listen to great teaching. And of course really get into God's word. This is something I need right now because I have not been connected to a church lately so I am missing fellowship. Which by the way if any of you out there have any prayer requests that you would like us to take to the Lord, please let me know. I'd be happy to share with the ladies and have some awesome prayer warriors surround you with prayer. Also, if anyone wants to join, let me know! We just started and we meet Wednesday nights in Sterling.

One thing you can be prayer about for me is to increase my faith and release my fears. Fear is the opposite of faith and I want to be rid of all these worries and fears about finances, family, health and life. God called me away from my job to be a stay at home mom and even though money is tight right now, He will be our Heavenly provider. I need not fear about tomorrow because He will provide all that we need!

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.