Put through trials to love

The older I get (yes, I realize I'm still not that old yet...) the more I see the details in the way God works through our lives. It's a theme that seems to keep popping up lately, and so I'm just trying to learn all I can, and enjoy it.

There are times that I have gone through trials, and the only thing that got me through was the knowledge that somehow The Lord was using this in my life to sanctify me and make me more like His Son. (The thought of being made more like Christ is a glorious thought! This thing that hurts right now, will make me more like Christ, MY SAVIOR! I get to be made like HIM!)

Now, many years after some of my trials, I am able to encourage people who are just stepping into what I have gone through. The Lord, through His grace and mercy, has allowed me to have the blessing of encouraging and praying for those who are in the midst of a trial now.

I can specifically pray for them in a way I wouldn't have known how to. I can give them verses that spoke to my heart. And sometimes I can just listen, knowing that is what is needed instead of words.

A friend stood on my doorstep a couple of days ago and asked that I pray for her as she goes off to love a friend of hers going through a trial. We prayed together, and I couldn't help but thank The Lord, that though my friend had gone through a heart wrenching trial herself, she was now equipped like no other to love on this sweet girl.

Another friend of mine is going through a trial with her whole family. They are going to (unless the Lord does a miraculous work, which He is capable of doing!!) lose a family member. My friend asked me for any wisdom I could give her and her family as they step forward into the unknown of losing someone. I can't tell you how unequipped I felt in answering her letter. In my weakness, the Lord gave me words, and suddenly detailed memories of my own trial in losing loved ones, so I was able to at least give her some truth from the Word. 

Romans 12:15 tells us to Rejoice with those who rejoice, and to mourn with those who mourn.

What a blessing to come alongside others.

Maine Trip 2013

My parents sent Kyle and I back to Maine as an early Christmas present. It was wonderful! I say "back" to Maine because you just say "we're going back east" whenever you travel that direction, and because that is where my mom was born and raised.

I had been wanting to take Kyle to see this other side of me for quite some time now. Sadly, it was also a goodbye trip. We ended up saying goodbye to my grandpa, because I don't think I'll ever see him again.

We got to sit and listen to stories about his childhood, his time in the military, and hear old hunting stories. He built ships while he was in the military, and when he got out he continued to build for different companies.

 We also had sweet time with my Uncle Tim and his family. My uncle is my mom's youngest brother. We haven't spent much time with him in the past. But we hit it off, had an absolute BLAST, and can't wait for more time together.

Here are a few pictures.. It was a fast weekend away and I realize I didn't take as many pictures as I wish I had. But here is what I have.. I also feel like I have more stories, but I'm sure they'll spill out over time.

Kyle's first real experience with lobster.

I dream to some day have a sun porch like this. We would sit here in the mornings at Uncle Tims and have our quiet time, or read and sip our coffee. It was glorious.

My handsome man in front of the most photographed lighthouse in the world.

This is Back Cove. It's about a quarter mile from my Uncles. It's a 3 1/2 walk all the way around the cove, perfect for our walks.

I remember going here as a little girl, but I really took the picture because of the boot. My dad had a very similar boot that he wore when we were kids. He'd wear them to our swim meets when he was officiating, we made so much fun of him as he walked around in cut off jean shorts and the boots, but the other dads thought he was quite styling and soon bought some boots of their own.

Part of the port. I loved watching the boats come and go. This was the view from a restaurant my uncle took us to. RiRa was the name of it. An Irish name, to go with all the Irish roots in Maine. Our waitress actually had an Irish accent.

The lighthouse

I loved the old cobblestone streets. When Portland was first developing the ships would come in from England and they would unload the cobblestones and make the roads. These have been here as long as our country has been around.

Time with Grampie, He didn't have time to stop and smile for the camera. He just wanted to continue his story. It was fun to listen.

One of Kyle's and my favorite thing to do together is explore new places. Our marriage is one big adventure, and exploring just adds to it. We laughed because we thought that with some snow this could look like Diagon Alley

One more of us in front of the lighthouse, You can kind of see my pregnant belly.

First Present

Today was our first day of school! It was SO fun to have the kids back. I really missed them. They make this job so much fun. I got a ton of hugs, but none so sweet as my hug from Tyler. He was standing at the door ready to be let in with a present in hand. I welcomed the kids in and he almost plowed me over. I got a HUGE hug and then my first baby present!

He stayed up until 10pm because he was so excited for school and was writing my card.

How can you have a bad day when it starts like that?

You can't, you just have to have a great day!

It's the little things.... like a Keurig

Our PTO just let us use some extra funds from last year to buy a Keurig. We are all thrilled! The perfect flavor of coffee, tea, hot chocolate, apple cider, and more! Whenever we need, (or want) we just walk into the staff lounge, put in a pod, and voila!

I am avoiding coffee while pregnant, so, Hello tea here I come!

Can you tell I'm excited :)

Reading with Abigail

It's hard to describe just how much I miss my youngest sister Abigail. She will be turning 12 next month (12!!!! so crazy) She is the sweetest, most fun little girl ever! Well, we decided that living far apart is just too hard and so we needed to find something we could do over skype together.

The first thing we are going to do is read some books. We both have a couple in mind. Some are books she loves, and some are books that I loved at her age.

I would also love your opinion though! What were some favorite books at 12? Text, email, or comment if you have some Must Reads!

Some of our books: (the ones I could find pictures of)

The "Just Wait" post that encouraged my heart!

Since being pregnant I am asked regularly "How are you" or "How are you feeling".  If your not pregnant and reading this you are probably thinking "So what? People are caring about you" and if you've had kids or your pregnant then you probably know where I'm headed with this...

Most people probably want to hear "Great! We are so excited for the baby!" or "I"m fine thanks for asking" as a response. However, I'm just not wired that way. I tend to tell people EXACTLY how I am feeling. From the nausea and tiredness to the upset stomachs. (By the time they start to look disgusted I realize I've said too much and should have said "fine".)

From almost all mothers who are farther along in this stage of life than I am, the response I get is "Just you wait". (Sadly, I'm sure I've said that to people before, although I will try to never say it again.)

What Horrible Words!

They are ominous, discouraging, make you fear the future, kind of words.

To me those words mean, "suck it up, things are just going to get worse.There is no end in sight, your going to feel like this forever, or at least for the next 18 years."

I just read an article from the gospel coalition. The lady who is writing felt exactly how I do about "Just wait". She was pregnant with 3 little ones and discouraged because of some parenting struggles. I really encourage you to read THIS if you find yourself down in the dumps, or worrying about the future or really just in a trial right now.

The only thing that I would add to her article is to remember Matthew 25-36.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

Idaho

Well we are back and in the swing of things. We got home on Saturday and hit the ground running. Actually Kyle hit the ground running and I took a nap. I woke up to 4 new projects underway. He's nesting, and doesn't even really deny it. It's pretty much the best.

Anyway, I'm telling you about coming BACK from Idaho instead of our trip IN Idaho.

It was wonderful to see my family. We arrived and there was the whole crew (meaning my parents, sisters, brother in law and nephew and nieces.) sitting in the front yard waiting for us. It was a relaxing trip where I got to just soak up time with them. We had fun activities thrown in there, but mostly it was just enjoying the family.

My parents might be the two most spiritually refreshing people to me. They serve in actions and words. They serve, serve, serve. They don't get easily flustered, but are just my steady rocks. They tell you what you need to hear in love, and then they love on you. Amazing!

Being with Abigail was a blast!!! I always have fun with her, it was very hard to leave. She is just the sweetest thing! We had great talks at night and a couple of sister dates. I wanted to stash her in my suitcase and bring her home with me.

I got to see my older sisters home and kids and a small glimpse of their life in Idaho, it was great.

I laid on the couch and had my grandma play with my hair while we talked, just like when I was a kid.

I go back for Christmas in 4 months and it just seems like FOREVER away. My mom assures me that the time will fly, but I'm pretty ready for Christmas now.

I said that I would share pictures, but.... I only took 1. I was too caught up in my time there to think about grabbing a camera for the blog.