A LONG Break

WOW!!!! I haven't posted anything on my blog since October of last year! I think its time to get everyone caught up! I am spending all of my time being a wife, mother, student, and consultant of thirty-one! Lie has been super busy for me! My kids are growing like crazy! Our ages now are 8, 6, 4, and 2! There is never a dull moment, thats for sure! I can't wait to get back into the blog world and get back to reading all my favorites!!!

Giveaway

I just posted about MckMama's giveaway, but you can also get in on the action at Angie's blog, Bring the Rain. Go check it out! http://angiesgiveawaysandreviews.blogspot.com/2009/10/unbelievable.html#comment-form

MckGiveaway

If you are looking for a great giveaway...check out MckMamas giveaway blog to grab your chance at winning a Best Buy gift card!!! You can click here http://mckgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/10/amazing-best-buy-giveaway.html to read all about it. Enjoy!

Prayer for Amanda Schwartz

I am writing this blog to make people aware of the situation with Amanda so that we can get the world praying for her! I met Amanda while living in Illinois. She was a part of the ladies group that I played Bunco with once a month. I've always thought she had a great name! =) She has a daughter named Aleah that is the same age as my Allie, (thats 6 by the way). Then, we were pregnant at the same time. She had her baby boy, Nathan, just two months before I would have my Bella in 2005. He was diagnosed with Trisomy and passed into the Lords arms a few hours after he was born into this world. I went to his funeral and was SHAKEN to my core. I realized there how life is so often taken for granted and I suffered so much guilt that my baby was being born healhty into my arms and going home with me from the hospital. Amanda taught me alot through the loss of her baby boy. She taught me what real faith was. Just a month or so after Bella was born, we were at bunco together and she took my baby into her arms and loved on her for a while. Amanda really showed me what Christ does in our lives if we allow Him the control.
I moved from Illinois to Tennessee and at some point after our move, I got word that Amanda, her husband Frank, and their daughter would be moving to Florida! I have received small updates about her life and I think of her from time to time when my memories drift towards the moments we shared.
I got word last week that she had gone in for a routine appointment and was quickly diagnosed with breast cancer. The women from her life in Illinois began to rally around her. There is much distance between us all, but a "card party" has been set up so Amanda will be receiving a card in the mail every day, so she feels the prayers of all us women who love her! She was scheduled to have a mastectomy, maybe even possibly a double??, this thursday. She had a PET scan last week and was notified today that there is a mass on her liver. The surgery has been postponed. She's going in for more tests tomorrow and will have a liver biopsy on Friday! Her other surgery will most likely be next week. Amanda is terribly shaken and so tired from all that she has been through in the last two weeks. We are BELIEVING that the Lord is going to heal her and when they go in for the biopsy this mass will be gone. Please join with me. Pray for my friend and her family. Please join us in praying that Amanda will be healed from ALL cancer.

Thank you Lord, that we can come before you today with believing hearts. She has faith in you and wants her life to be in Your will. We pray that YOUR will be done in her life. We pray You wrap Your arms around the Schwartz family and give them COMPLETE peace. We pray they can find rest in these very difficult moments. We pray that You bring Your people together in this time and strengthen our faith. We love you Jesus for who YOU are!!! Its in YOUR most precious, most holy name we pray....

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Phil 4:6-7

I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you—the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121: 1-8

If you would like to sign up for the card party and send Amanda a card to let her know you are praying for her...please just message me and let me know. My email is nowamomoffour@gmail.com! Listen to the song on my blog...right now that is the cry of my heart!

Life

So, there's not all that much happening in my life right now. My husband's job is a little up in the air...but isn't everyones? He's a mailman and they are really trying to cut back the hours for these guys to help cover the deficit. We moved to Tennessee about a year and a half ago. All of my family is here. I grew up here. I spent years living in Illinois, wanting to be back in Tennessee. Now that I am here, I am wanting to be somewhere else??? I have come to the conclusion in the last couple of days that no matter where I am at, I will be missing someone significant in my life.
I am trying to reach the place where I am happy just being where I am at. Happy being a wife to an amazing husband. Happy being a mother to four beautiful children. Happy just having the Lord's presence in my life. I am REALLY trying to get there...just not quite there yet.
I really need women in my life. I really love to be in relationships with people and I love feeling valued in someone's life...I haven't reached that yet in my new residence. I hope it comes soon. I miss girlfriends...I miss Illinois and its pretty evident to me now...I'm not going anywhere.
Even when I feel so lonely...I DO know that I don't walk alone!!!

Stellan

I'm sitting here tonight thinking about Sweet Stellan. I'm sure that anyone who would be reading my blog knows about Stellan and MckMama...but just in case you don't....go check them out at mycharmingkids.net. Stellan's story has captivated my heart from the very beginning. I was reading MckMama's blog while Stellan was in her womb. He was diagnosed there as having SVT. The doctor's informed her that he would probably never take his first breath! He was born a healthy, happy, beautiful baby boy! He has spent the last five months surrounded by his family that prayed so faithfully that they would get to see him grow. And his family is forever singing praises that the Lord has healed this child....The amazing thing is, she praised him even when she thought this child would die!
On March 20th...Stellan was admitted to the hospital for his heart once again being in SVT. This poor baby is such a fighter....and his precious body is suffering so much from the sickness that's controlling him. His momma is also a fighter...she has rallied around this child and is claiming and believing that God is in control....regardless of the outcome. She AMAZES me!
I will admit...I have been one of the faithful blog readers that is obsessively checking her blog and twitter to see the updates....Once an hour, I am on, to see if she's given any insight into his life for that day. This child has made me pray more in the last week and a half then I can even fathom. I want so badly for this baby to be healed on this earth.
I had a conversation with a friend tonight about the purpose of prayer....she asked...if all these people all over the world are praying...then why is he still sick? Why does God allow babies to die? How do we have hope in that?
I have been processing this thought all night....we pray because we have hope, we pray because we need hope, we pray because God hears the cries of our hearts, we pray because sometimes his mother doesn't have her own words to be praying. Sometimes our hearts are so heavy we have no words. We pray because Christ is our ONLY hope!
I want so badly to have a faith that firm....that the threatening of death to my own child will not shake me. I want to be able to say....I know that HE is in control and that nothing can separate me from Him. I am longing for that faith...I hope I already have that deep rooted faith. I pray that my faith is never challenged in the ways that Jennifer, Michelle, Patrice, Brooke or countless other parents have been challenged.
I pray that my faith makes others want to step out and make that leap towards an eternity in heaven...I pray that others see Jesus in my heart!

Oh Lord, Heal Stellan! Heal him on this earth. Jennifer will FOREVER give YOU the credit for this precious baby's life. Please touch his sick body and make it well. Touch his frantic heart and make it beat in normal rhythm. YOU are the answer for Stellan. No medicine, or procedure is even needed when YOU lay your hands on him. Please Lord, touch him...HEAL him. It's in YOUR name that we pray and ask and believe these things.....

Praying for Stellan!

I am sitting here tonight and my heart is so moved to be praying for this precious baby boy! I have been reading his Mama's blog for months now and have grown to love her family so much. She has such a way with words and has a true God-seeking heart! Her baby Stellan really needs our prayers right now as he faces an uncertain diagnoses. Please join in praying for sweet Stellan!
Oh Lord, we know that you have used Stellan and his family many times already for your glory. We pray that your will be done in his life. We thank you that Jennifer is always faithful...even in the valley's she will praise you. Thank you Father for this awesome example of what faith can do in your life! Lord, carry them through!!!