Morning Encouragement

I had a dream last night that I am going to share with you.  I dreamed I was 26 weeks pregnant and the child in me kicked through my tummy.  After I arrived at the hospital the doctors opened my belly to reveal a half grown child living there.  What was most interesting about the dream is that no one would remove the child.  They kept telling me "it isn't time," "it's just not ready yet."

Am I crazy?  Is the dream crazy? Or is the fact that the dream actually makes a tiny bit or sense the craziest of all?  I have written about my feelings that God has something big in store for my/my family's life.  I hold on to this hope because it's how I get through the tough days of cancer (and its aftermath.)  I am asking God to open my eyes and heart to what this dream means.  My restless spirit has been speaking very loud lately.  God is moving, God is working.  And let me tell you, being in the middle of God's handiwork is a very, very exciting place to be.

I see God working on a daily basis in areas that surround my life right now.  It's an amazing place to be if you like to stand awestruck on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis.  God is moving in our church.  We are growing and quite literally we are bursting at the seams!  I feel so blessed to be in our church building on an almost daily basis.  I swear sometimes I can actually FEEL the Holy Spirit as I walk in the halls.

He is moving in our school----oh is He moving in our school!  If anyone would have told me that our enrollment would be where it is for the 2014-15 school year I would have never believed it.  I am so weak in faith at times but God clearly says "For I know the plans I have for you…." Oh, what a blessed assurance!

I know that this dream will haunt me for a while as I pray about its meaning and what God is trying to tell me.  I'm not sure why I had the dream but I can tell you that I fell very convicted that God was speaking to me in this one.  Maybe it's about the Foundation.  Right now I am struggling with the Go Lucy Go Foundation and what it's purpose is.  Clearly I know that we are to help families whose child has been diagnosed with a brain tumor/cancer.  That part I feel fairly confident I have right.  But I don't have a big picture.

Every time I sit to work and start to have a conversation with Erik about writing out our mission and 5 year planned I am physically halted.  It's as it there is a mental, physical and emotional block that is holding me back right now.  I am begging God for a clearer picture.  But maybe it's just not time.  Maybe the child isn't ready to be born.

Have I ever mentioned that patience is the least of all my capabilities?

I read a blog every day by an amazing woman named Ashley Ann.  As I took a break from my thoughts this morning I snuck over to see what she had to say this morning.  I was amazed by how similar our stories are today.  Her restless spirit has been nudged by God as well and she is wandering through her desert right now looking for answers, too.  I don't know this woman named Ashley but I have gained such encouragement by her words today.  She cited a quote from Arthur Ashe:

Start where you are. Use what you have.  Do what you can. 

Today as I think about my dream and how it may relate to the Foundation, church and school I have butterflies in my tummy.  What is giving you butterflies today?  Is God speaking to you to act upon a dream or a mission?  I just want to encourage you that if you bathe that dream in prayer God will answer.  Maybe He says yes. Maybe He says no.  But maybe, just maybe, he says hold tight.  Just keep doing what you can until I give you more with which to work.  

Prayers Needed:

This morning I found out that our sweet friend Ava's cancer has returned.  Please, please pray for this family.  Her parents and her baby brother…they need your prayers.  And Ava, well, she needs a miracle.   

A Role Model

This picture just melts my heart. From the moment Jack's feet hit the ground today he followed his Daddy. From mulching the flower beds to airing up my flat tire. It was a lifetime's culmination of my dreams come true. Everything that I ever hoped having a boy would be was today. 

As we were coming in from a long day outside Jack disappeared into the garage. When he emerged he was carrying a bat, a ball and a glove. Oh my goodness I thought I was going to cry. It was the most precious thing I have ever seen. 

Erik was pressed for time but took one look at Jack and those precious eyes and couldn't tell him no. I watched out of the laundry room window as Erik taught Jack how to throw and how to hold the bat. All I could think about was how wonderful my husband is and what a fantastic dad he makes. I am a blessed woman. 

Easter Part 2

I've been very frustrated lately by my lack of ability to say "no."  After this week, however, things are going to slow down…for a while.  Not too long ago I wouldn't have left the house without my camera. These days, my past appendage just sits on the counter.

Now, I've never been a photographer by any stretch of the imagination but I love my camera and the memories that I have captured over the years.  I've gotten very spoiled by my iPhone camera.  I've used it so much recently that I forgot what it looked like behind my lens.  When I was using my Canon this weekend I was almost stunned by how nice the pictures were.

Needless to say I took a lot of pictures last weekend so Easter is in a 2 part section this year.  There were so many great ones to choose from that it was very hard to narrow down my favorites.

Easter 2014

As we have so many times in the past, we spent Easter in East Tennessee.  Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and 5 animals.  It was a madhouse!  A glorious, wonderful madhouse where memories were made and fun was had.  We had Easter egg hunts in the rain and spent a beautiful Easter morning worshiping and praising our Risen Savior!

Easter in photos Part 1:

In Which I Reflect

This is a post in which I reflect on what I've been doing lately.  Maybe even more of a confession.  Also, an opportunity to look back one day and realize how grateful I am to be so busy!

I started my Monday with a Prednisone pack, a Z-Pak, Mucinex, Ibuprofen and Afrin.  It's been a very long time since I have been this sick, but I've been able to push on.  This week at school is the SAT-10 test so I have been volunteering every morning as the test coordinator.  I love being up at my children's school, especially in a role where I can float around and watch all the children in their classrooms.  Have I mentioned how much I adore our school?

I'm in charge of the drama portion of our school's Spring musical this year.  One more week and I can breathe again!  Don't you love the papier-mâché planet that we made?  I'll have to post a picture of the finished product after it's been painted.  Our musical's theme is outer space and it has been so much fun working on costumes and the set design.

Today I have been convicted of my "busyness" and I'm really

trying to slow down this weekend to remember why we celebrate this holiday. My children are doing an amazing job telling me the resurrection story every day when they get home from school. I tell you, I never get sick of hearing that story from the mouths of babes. Happy Easter everyone...Happy Resurrection Day!

Weekend Report

This weekend report is full of pictures. Pictures of a gala and fishing. My how my  world changes so quickly. This time it's a good change. 

Erik and I attended a gala at The Peabody Hotel for the Fedex House at LeBonheur. My mom spent several nights at the Fedex House when Lucy was so sick so this was a special night for us. It was also really nice just spending time with Erik. We don't get to do that very often. 

Erik and I (well, mainly Erik) both worked a lot in the yard this weekend. I'll have to post pictures tomorrow of how nice the yard is looking. Today we spent the whole day at my parents house fishing and playing outside. After a wonderful morning in church it was exactly what our family needed! 

Gearing Up for Spring in the Snow

For those that know me well or have been following my blog for a while you know that our yearly family snow skiing trip usually happens around Spring Break for my girls.  I just love going this time of year.  The weather is always a bit warmer, the snow is at its deepest and there is just a feeling of fresh beginnings each time we go out there.  It's how our family gears up for spring!

Before we left last week for our annual trip I was beginning to start with the runny nose and itchy throat.  I was so worried that I was going to end up sick during our vacation that I went to the drug store to find something to help.  With so many products on the shelf it seemed almost comical that I instinctually grabbed the HALLS^® cough drops.  I remember as a child my grandmother giving them to me in church when I got a dry throat or when that funny tickle wouldn't go away.  As a child my favorite flavor was cherry, but now (with my mature, grown-up pallet) I favor the Honey-Lemon.

One thing I love about HALLS while I am skiing is how open it makes my nasal passages feel.  I can actually breathe going down the mountain. If only HALLS could make my legs stronger. Ha! You all remember the "advanced vapor action" slogan, but it really is true. The itchy throat, the dry irritated coughs---HALLS does the trick for me every time.  If it’s been a while since you've tried HALLS, I can assure you it won't disappoint.

With so many flavors, Sugar Free and regular, and the Defense brand that provides 100% daily value of Vitamin C in every cough drop, HALLS is excellent for the occasional allergy sufferer like myself. The Defense also has a yummy grapefruit flavor that is great.

You can read more about HALLS and all the different varieties here.

HALLS Drops for Allergy Season
When you have a cold, HALLS is the #1 cough drop that most people choose for effective relief. Did you know that the same HALLS you trust is also effective for allergy-related coughs and sore throats?

Don’t let allergies get the best of you. Grab your allergy cough by the throat and try HALLS Cough drops or HALLS Breezers throat drops as a complement to your primary allergy medication regimen. Click here to learn more.

**In keeping with my Celiac (gluten free) diet I have done well with HALLS.  I cannot guarantee that HALLS are GF, but I have personally not had any problem with them.  There are no GF ingredients directly listed but the company does not certify them to be GF.

Success!

The race is over and it was a HUGE success.  We are waiting on one more invoice and one more contribution, but we feel confident we were able to raise over $25,000 for LeBonheur Children's Hosptial.  In 4 year's time we have raised more than $100,000 to support families suffering through the diagnosis of a brain tumor.

Thank you to everyone who donated, ran, walked and helped.  Saturday was an amazing day and I am so thankful to be a part of something to great.  Everyone who played a part in the 4th 5k should have a smile on your face.  Here are a few pictures from the exhausting, yet rewarding, weekend: