Count your Blessings!

I started a group a year ago called "Turning Pain into Praise" at my church. That group is now called "Hannah's Friends". It is a group for women that are experiencing infertility and loss. I am so grateful that God prompted me to do such a thing. Cal and I had only been trying to get pregnant for 8 months at the time and I was scared, embarrassed, and humiliated to try to start such a group. It had only been 8 months, were we really infertile? Are people going to think I am crazy? Are there really any other women that would seek comfort in a group like this? I couldn't stop thinking about it though...I knew that God was leading me to do this. Although, we had been trying for what seems now like such a short time- the pain was still the same. The longing was still there, and surely other people had that same longing. I struggle with the group now, because it seems that some people are afraid to come. When people do come it is only about 4 to 5 of us. But- I am starting to see through numerous new emails from ladies that are developing the courage to join us and the friendship and bond that has formed now between the ladies that have been coming for a while that this is something that God truly had his hand on. He gave us this group. I am leaving in about 4 months, and I am hoping and praying that someone will want to take over and continue this group at our church. I think it will be so important.
That said...I was thinking about the 1st title that God brought to my heart "Turning Pain into Praise". Isn't that all that He really wants from us...just our praise? It seems that everything in my devotional time with Cal and my devotion time by myself is pointing to this fact: Praise first...then prayers will be answers...everything else will fall into place when Praise is put first. Cal and I sat the other night counting our blessings. It was surely an uplifting feeling- we put everything aside and just started thanking God for things in our life.

Count your Blessings...count them one by one. Count your Blessings...see what God has done!

*a wonderful relationship with Christ
*an amazing husband
*wonderful family- a mom and dad that would do anything for me and I for them
*cutest and sweetest Yorkie in the world
*amazing friends! A girl simply could not ask for more when it comes to my friends
*a roof over my head
*food to eat
*an amazing job
*wonderful co-workers
*fabulous principals
*nice cars to drive
*both of us employed
*great job in KY for Cal to look forward to next year
*an opportunity to not frantically look for a job next year
*a beautiful home and backyard- our little swing overlooking Shannon Valley
*a cozy bed
*warm water
*closet FULL of clothes and shoes....that C would LOVE to see me empty (ha...he can keep dreaming- my mom can attest to that )
*opportunity to relax this week and not have to work while still being paid.
*support system for infertility
*support system for being a resident's wife.
*an AWESOME supper club (we sure will miss them in KY)
*opportunities for "girl's nights" weekly
*a great education
*the ability to read all of these wonderful books that are just waiting on me to read them.
*a healthy body
*last but not least- lots of accessories!!! Accessorize Excessively! LOL
(To clarify....this list could keep going on for ages)

Perfect...

Perfect song for all of my single girlfriends out there. Please know that I KNOW that it is hard to wait...although we are waiting for different things. I pray for you daily. I love you so much


...and you know, this is a perfect song for me and Cal too! :)

random thoughts...

So...this is how little Caroline (now a 2nd grader) does her work in the morning. Her 2nd grade teacher was walking around the room and looked over to see THIS sitting on Caroline's desk. Ahhhh the little things that make you smile. Our school has a silent auction every year and the teachers do things like: "Lunch with Mrs. Laney", "Pancakes with the Pattons", "Dine with Mrs. Dempster"... and so on. The parents then bid on the item that their child wants the most. Well, this little girl, whom I taught when she was in Kindergarten, stood post by my auction item, which was obviously "Lunch with Mrs. Laney", and made sure that NO ONE else out bid her. Her poor parents were then forced to pay the fee in order to have their dear daughter be able to have lunch with me! ha! Along with the bid item that she won- she was also given the photo that accompanied the auction item on the table. She obviously loves the picture and keeps it on her desk while she does her work. Maybe she hears me saying, "Do your best! You are the best!"...I hope so at least! ha

I haven't posted in a while- January has been a crazy blur! You can see some of the projects that I have been working on HERE. Also, we put our house on the market and are slowly packing and getting ready for the big move to LEX! I have been finishing up my final projects as a provisional in Junior League, we hosted supper club at our house, hosted bunco at our house, went to Jackson and went to 3 showers, had some crazy Memphis girls come visit me and had an Open House last Sunday. Like I said, our month has been SUPER crazy! :)

I know that I already "put it all out there"...but now I am going back into the proverbial "closet". Yes, yes, I am aware that when you come "out of the closet" you can't ever really go back in the "closet"...but I can keep things private again. You all now know where Cal are in our journey to become parents, and all that I would ever want from you would be for you to pray that God does His will in our situation. That is all that I want...just His will. I want His will done more than I want anything else~ so that is where we are. Any procedure that is done from this point on will be private- between Cal and I- like it should be!

We truly appreciate all of your prayers and support! God knows the specifics and He will handle them in His time! What a great, peaceful feeling...to truly know that! :)

I can't believe that I don't have more pictures to post- obviously a lot has gone on that should have been photographed. Friends- if any of you that were at these said events took any pictures- please email them to me ASAP!

Have a great week!