Good Times with Great Friends

Oh, the beach. I love it! And I love my girlfriends! So I really love time with my girlfriends at the beach! What a fun weekend we had!! We did picnic lunches both days and that was so great! We didn't have to track in and out and got to enjoy the beautiful weather all day. I'm not sure why we haven't done this before, but it worked out perfect. And no trip to Destin is complete without a visit to Red Bar for key lime pie. It was delicious and so fun (minus the sand trap)! Anyway, we really did have a great time and I'm so thankful for these sweet girls that God has placed in my life. I'm so blessed and so grateful! Let's do it again next year, Girls!

Quick Update

Yancy and I are really doing well!! God has been good and given us quick healing. We've been super busy the past couple of weeks and I'm so thankful for that. We've spent lots of time with friends and family and it's been really nice... a great distraction. Please be in prayer about what our next step is. We're seeking the Lord and waiting for His answer.

This afternoon, I'm headed to Destin with my 3 best girlfriends and I just know we're gonna have an awesome time together! Great friends, the beach and good food... how could we go wrong?! Don't worry about Yancy. He'll be at the lake with his best buddies- noodling, tubing, fishing, grilling... all the things that boys love to do.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!!

Desert Song

I know I've already talked about how this song has minstered to my heart, but I'm talking about it again today! My Momma just sent me this great video. It's Jill McCloghry giving her testimony about what she went through just before recording this song. Hope it blesses you! (The whole video is almost 9 minutes long, but her testimony is only about 4 minutes.)

ps... remember to pause the playlist on the right!

His Word is Alive!

God's Word has been very precious to me this last week and a half. I've tried to spend a lot of time in it because it's so comforting and it's truth. Many of you have sent scripture that has blessed us so much. But I have to tell you about a passage that I read this morning because it spoke directly to my heart, almost jumped off the page at me! I've been struggling a little bit with getting better, feeling better and moving on. I do feel better, but Satan wants me to think I shouldn't be better. And from a worldly perspective, I should be depressed and bitter and angry. But, praise God, I'm not! The Lord used these verses today to reassure me that He is healing my heart, it's ok to be getting better and that blessings do come in hard times.

Psalm 84:5-7
"What joy comes from those whose strength comes from the Lord, who have set their minds on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They will continue to grow stronger, and each of them will appear before God in Jerusalem."

Oh my goodness! That just sums up this struggle for us! Our strength has come from the Lord. There's no way on our own strength that we could have endured this trial! It has been a time of weeping for us, but it has also been a time of great blessings. As we have walked through the "valley of weeping", the Lord has refreshed our faith and trust in Him. He has renewed our hope in Him and for our future... "a place of refreshing springs". He has also clothed us with blessings. I cannot begin to count the blessings that God has poured out on us through all of this. And we have appeared before God. We have felt His presence like never before.

I'm so very grateful for His Word!!

Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow."

On the Mend

I'm beginning to feel 'normal' again. Everyday has it's ups and downs, but for the most part, each day gets a little better. I know that God is in the process of healing my heart. I feel it on the mend! I'm finding great comfort in knowing that Baby Carpenter will be loved perfectly and completely- forever- by our Heavenly Father. I would have let our sweet baby down, failed him or her many times over. But they will never know that disappointment now. Baby Carpenter is safe in the arms of Jesus. We will miss this baby and what could have been terribly, but we trust that God has worked this all out for His glory. We continue to press on and serve Him and love Him.

Psalm 16:11
"In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Broken but not bitter

I think I've felt more pain the past few days than I ever have. My heart is broken and I've been overwhelmed by sadness. To be completely honest, I feel like it was kinda mean of God to take away the gift He had just given us, the gift we'd prayed for and desired for SO long. But I KNOW God is not mean! HE IS GOOD and His actions are never anything but good. And I don't want to become bitter, so I'm clinging to the truth that God works in all things to bring about good.

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28

But even in the pain and sadness, we have so much to be thankful for. God's presence has covered and surrounded us. It has been so real and so sweet. He has poured out His love on us and I have never felt more sure of His love for me. It's been a great comfort to know that He sees each tear we cry (Psalm 56:8) and that He hurts along with us. And He has used you, our sweet friends and family, to minister to us, encourage us and love on us. It's such a comfort to know that you all are praying for us! And the physical needs you have met for us (like really good food!) have been such a blessing! You have been the hands and feet of Jesus to us this week. Oh, how we thank you!

I am also thankful for God's protection over us. He has graciously protected us from anger and bitterness. And He has blessed and protected our marriage. It has been a sweet time for me and Yancy as we have hurt together and loved each other.

Again, we really cannot thank you enough for all you have done for us. We are so grateful and so humbled!

"Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever." Psalm 106:1