New blog!

Hey guys, run over and take a look at my new blog ----> www.acountrywildflower.blogspot.com where I *finally* did a welcoming post + there's a Q+A going on so pretty please ask me some questions! Life has been so very crazy but I'm looking forward to catching up on y'alls blogs soon and getting back to blogging as consistently as possible!

Faith Mae

It was back in September, when my parents and Joshua were on their way up to Ohio to pick up Dylan and Paige who had been staying up there with friends. I was here with Levi on down, wooo a crazy bunch. Mom called and told me she was pregnant. I put the phone on speaker and the little ones heard, Levi started crying, Elias, Caden, and Rylan were delighted, Lilliana smiled and pretended to know what was going on with squeals, copying her big brothers. From then on to 16 weeks I was wondering if it would be a boy or a girl...blonde hair + blue/green eyes or brown hair + brown eyes...taking pictures for Mom of her slowly growing belly. Whether brother or sister he/she would be loved and spoiled...adored by Lilliana (I couldn't wait to see her as a big sister) and us all.
And then at 16 weeks we found out it was a girl. The young woman who was the ultrasound tech kept saying how perfect she was. She waved at us and the lady snapped a picture of her wave. She moved all over the place in there. We were going to have a precious baby girl again. And then more dreams filled me, of pink frilly dresses...of head bands with huge flowers...of two little girls playing tea party...of rocking her and singing to her.
Our horse farrier is Amish and has an adorable family, we had to go and get him to help us with a horse emergency shortly after finding out that Mom was going to have a girl. We waited at his home with his family until he was finished with the jobs he already had that day. They have a precious 3 month old baby girl that Mom and I got to hold. I held her, smiled and talked to her and got her smiling and talking back to me. I was thinking of how I couldn't wait for my baby sister. I just couldn't wait.
Mom was 20 weeks when she stopped feeling movement and decided to go to the emergency room to have them check for the heartbeat. They couldn't find one. She was gone. And I just couldn't believe it, I just thought it had to be wrong, the ultrasound lady had said she so rarely saw a more perfect baby.
But Dad got off work early, Mom came home, and it's nothing Mom did or didn't do, the baby girl just stopped living.
Mom had her the next night (Jan. 1st). Dad and Paige were at the hospital with her and I was here. They stayed the night in the hospital and brought her home the next morning. We all got to hold her. To have her little hand on our finger. To see her tiny feet. To count her toes. Her name was Faith Mae. We buried her here on our land. We hugged each other and cried.
I wanted her to be here with us, I wanted to cuddle another newborn, I longed to see two adorable little girlies running around together in sweet little dresses.
I realized it's crazy how much you can miss someone you've never even met. Faith Mae will always be missed.
But Faith Mae is in Heaven, safe in Jesus' loving arms.

She is:
"Safe in the arms of Jesus, safe from corroding care, safe from the world's temptations, sin cannot harm (her) there. Free from the blight of sorrow, free from doubts and fears...safe in the arms of Jesus, safe on His gentle breast, there by His love o'er shaded, sweetly (her) soul shall rest."

Reminding myself of this over and over is what brings me comfort. I have felt at times like asking why...why did God take my baby sister? But I remember that everyday Mom was pregnant with her and we had the delight of dreaming of days to come with her was a gift I don't deserve. I'm blessed with the eight siblings I have and the 3 I have in Heaven. And I remember that He truly knows best. He can see the big picture and I can only see a tiny part of it. The Lord is holding Faith Mae and the others close up there and one day I will get to see them.

#tbt

Go to God + new blog soon

"God is there. Once your mind is truly filled with that thought, when you experience difficulties it will be as easy as breathing for you to remember, 'My heavenly Father knows all about this!' Before you formed this concept of divine control so powerfully in your mind, you used to go from person to person seeking help, but now you go to God about it. God is my Father, He loves me, and I will never think of anything that He will forget, so why should I worry? Prayer is not only asking, but is an attitude of the mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural." --Oswald Chambers, from My Utmost for His Highest.

I am loving My Utmost for His Highest, it's such a good devotional. Convicting, challenging, encouraging... This was a good reminder to me that I need to go to Him more, not to people. He really does want to be involved in every detail of our lives. And yep, He knows all about this .. about that: and He's got a plan. With Him holding our future we've got nothing to fear.

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I'm wanting a fresh start. I'm thinking of starting a whole new blog, blog name, design, style, and new goals. So, stay tuned while I'm working on making that happen. I'll keep you updated.

In the meantime: your thoughts please! What kinds of posts do you enjoy the most? Tips on making my posts better? Whatever comes to your mind, tell me!

Can't believe it's December already. Hopefully the new blog will be up and running for the new year, 2016.

counting.my.blessings {4}

I hope that each and every one of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We spent the day at home, having a nice time together as a family, playing games, watching a couple movies, and eating lots of food. ;) 

I have so very much to be thankful for. 

My Jesus. He changed my life ten years ago and made me a new creature in Him. Undeserving, He loves me with an everlasting love. I can trust Him forever and He promises to never leave me. 

My family, I'd be lost without you awesome people! Even on my worst days you all still put up with me and love me. Life would be empty and lacking so much joy without you all in it. 

My extended family, y'all are wonderful and I'm thankful for all of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins! So glad that you're a part of my life. 

My friends, whether you are far away or nearby, I have the sweetest friends. You are a blessing in my life!

For my warm home in the country, for a cozy bed, for food, for clothes, for so much. 

And here are some more things I'm thankful for from this past month. 

collecting colorful leaves with the siblings ^

our pasture for our horses ^

walks with the little miss ^

my wonderful Mom + celebrating her birthday earlier this month ^

the bro and friend making breakfast ^

hunting with Dylan ^

We saw zero deer, so that was a bummer, but it was a blast hanging out in the woods, whispering for hours and then laughing our heads off at the end. 

climbing a tree and watching the sunset from the tree tops ^

playing with these little guys ^

finding out that Mom is having a...girl! ^

jumping into a pile of leaves ^

a fall party // love thy neighbor

We had a fall party at our house on the 7th. We wanted to reach out to our neighbors/meet them, gather up some dear friends, and have a great time of fellowship/fun together before it gets cold and we are stuck inside for the winter. We invited all of our neighbors along our highway. We have lived here for about five years and hadn't met most of our neighbors...that's just wrong! Man, we feel so bad that it's taken us this long, BUT, better late than never. I'm *so glad* we finally did! I can't describe the wonderful feeling of looking around at our house and yard all filled up with more people than we've ever had here at our place at one time, all having a good time meeting, talking, and laughing together. 

To all of our friends: thank you so much for all of your help! We don't know what we would have done without you! 

We had:

wonderful weather, praise the Lord ^

three legged races ^

sack races ^

plenty of smiles ^

lots of laughter ^

vehicles parked just right to fit in our driveway ^

a full house ^

a big delicious dinner ^

* babies to hold 

* volleyball 

* neighbors turned into new friends 

* more opportunities to reach out in the future because of the party 

Who is my neighbor? Listening to a sermon once, the speaker answered that question with this, "Everyone whom God brings into my circle of influence who needs me." And you've probably heard the saying, "you are the only Bible some people will ever read." Well how are our neighbors going to have the chance of being influenced by us if they don't even know us in the first place?!  We've passed by their houses hundreds of times and hadn't taken the time to get to know the people inside them until earlier this month. Yes, the thought of getting to know our neighbors seemed like a daunting task and took some work, but while I paused to look around at everyone at the party, I wished we'd done something like this wayyyyy sooner. I've been thinking on the story of the good Samaritan recently.  Are we too busy/distracted to reach out and help those around us (are we like the Jewish priest and Levite) or, like the good Samaritan, do we stop what we're doing and make time to show love to others? I know that I have been both the Jewish priest and Levite put together at times, caring only about me and what I've got going on in my life too much to stop and look around me at other people in need. I am striving everyday to be more like Jesus, who took no thought for Himself but was constantly ministering to those around Him. And as He made us to be His hands and feet to this world, we have the amazing privilege of ministering His love as much as we can. So I would encourage you to "Love thy neighbor" which is Christ's #2 command by firstly getting to know them, if you don't already! If you do, that's wonderful...keep reaching out and be a light in their lives! The time and effort put into loving your neighbors will be so small compared to the happiness you'll have that always comes when showing kindness to others. 

 We enjoyed it so much that we are already tossing around ideas for having another get together in the spring! And I'm quite sure that this fall party will become a tradition. 

How do you show love to your neighbors? Have you ever had a party and invited your neighbors? Please share your ideas, I'd love to hear them! 

"For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself."

-Galatians 5:13 & 14

Happy birthday Aunt Tracy!

I would like to take a few minutes to tell you about how special this lady is! Through my whole life she has always been there for me. Never has she missed sending us cards a little before or on the day of our birthdays. Her family is so important to her and she is always showing us that, through her hugs, her encouragement, her letters, her poems, and her caring for those around her... Even throughout the hard time she's had recently with cancer, she finds the time to still do all of those things for us! She is an amazingly kind woman and I'm so thankful the Lord put her in my life.

I love you Aunt Tracy and hope you have a wonderful birthday! Prayers and hugs sent from here to you! Here are the pictures from our last trip up there, really enjoyed the visit! <3 :)

<3

:) 

With Grandma and Grandpa 

Pizza party! 

Dylan's getting so tall