We're still here! I guess you've figured out by now, I come around on Birthdays. The rest is on my Instagram page and my own personal Google Photos :)
Today is our girl, Elizabeth's 9th Birthday!! I don't like 9th birthdays. They're halfway to 18...Grateful for the COVID times of slowing down and enjoying the simple and by looking back on our pictures from the past year, we did just that!
It was a big year for our girl. She finally received her First Communion...on her HALF birthday, too. Only God could do that, because it fell on a Tuesday! Never in a million years could we predict that one :)
Enjoy our sweet Elizabeth's 9th year!
Happy Birthday, Elizabeth Josephine! We love you more every day!
Our Emma Jean is 6 today! We just got home from a long awaited vacation at Midnight last night. We rallied to make our girl feel extra special! She deemed it the best birthday yet! We love her simple joys! Despite getting home so late, she still woke me at 5am so I could snuggle her and sing happy birthday to her at 5:15am, the time she was born. Love this spit f
Enjoy her 6th year slideshow!
Happy Happy 6th Birthday, Sweet Emma Jean! We love you so very much!! God bless you on your year ahead!!
I really do hope to get back to regular blogging...hopefully I'll get our pictures up from our trip to Anna Maria Island!
During my prayer time this morning I was praying with Philippians 4:4-13.
There were a few things from there that reminded me of Sally. With the Lord's help, strength and guidance, Reid and I are helping to raise Sally to become true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and gracious. She sure is on the right path. So proud of our girl!
We delight in you, Dear Daughter!
Enjoy her 11th year slideshow...especially if you love the Frozen II songs as much as Sally:
Happy 11th Birthday, Sally! We love you so very much!
Well, now that I've introduced the cyber world to Crazy Church lady, I might as well keep going with some things. Because this friend of mine keeps encouraging me to do so, and there's been some affirmation.
Yesterday when I shared this image with my Instagram post:
My friend who has been encouraging me to post had to laugh. The night prior, she had that very image come to mind in prayer, and I had no idea of it before I posted it. She was the sneaky photographer of this picture of me praying in the Adoration chapel before heading to our Women's Retreat.
Then, when I finished posting...which, is so out of my comfort zone, so there were some nerves behind the scene, I go to turn on KTIS and wouldn't you know it, Nobody was playing, the song I referenced yesterday :)
So, here I am today (picture is from a month ago, don't worry, I'm sheltering in place)
With the churches being closed, we're so longing for the Eucharist and the true presence of Christ. Last week the Lord guided my heart in helping me to realize that the strength of Christ has built up in us slowly and beautifully through all of our encounters with the Eucharist over our entire life. Here are my actual journal pages. Take from it what you will!
The verse comes from John 6:39
and then the perfect song to match these journal pages
As I walk this great unknown Questions come and questions go Was there purpose for the pain? Did I cry these tears in vain?
I don't want to live in fear I want to trust that You are near Trust Your grace can be seen In both triumph and tragedy
I have this hope In the depth of my soul In the flood or the fire You're with me and You won't let go
But sometimes my faith feels thin Like the night will never end Will You catch every tear Or will You just leave me here?
But I have this hope In the depth of my soul In the flood or the fire You're with me and You won't let go
Yes, I have this hope In the depth of my soul In the flood or the fire You're with me and You won't let go
So, whatever happens I will not be afraid Cause You are closer than this breath that I take You calm the storm when I hear You call my name I still believe that one day I'll see Your face
I have this hope In the depth of my soul In the flood or the fire You're with me
I have this hope In the depth of my soul In the flood or the fire You're with me and You won't let go
In the flood or the fire You're with me and You won't let go
In the flood or the fire You're with me and You won't let go
I was encouraged by a friend to share some thoughts. I'm not really that great with words, that's why I stick with mostly pictures, but here goes, I guess.
As you may or may not know, I gave up Social Media for Lent. I was "challenged" a few times to enter back in to the Social Media world once Covid-19 became bigger and bigger and the Shelter in Place became longer and longer. I was told there were really beautiful things going on in the cyber world and that I should be a part of it.
I still didn't enter back in.
As Easter was getting closer and closer I struggled with knowing if I should log back in or not.
I started a new prayer practicum with friends from church. It's been pretty powerful. Each morning I spend 31 minutes in dedicated prayer, with a specific verse and I journal about what the Lord has brought to mind, or what I have swirling in my head. It's been pretty awesome.
Like I said, I'm not great with words, so journaling isn't something I've typically taken the time to do. However, I've started to realize during my morning prayer time that the words that get put down on paper aren't always my words. The Lord is definitely directing them.
This isn't something that can just happen to me, what I've learned over a few short weeks, is that anyone can have this. All you need to do is schedule the time. Put in the effort. Just as you would if you wanted to train for a marathon or learn a new hobby. Allow the time to learn and grow.
As I was getting ready to pray one morning, I was reminded of a friend who had sent me a text the day prior, she said,"Don't forget to ask the Lord for BIG things, nothing is too mighty. Be bold in prayer!"
I was praying with Ephesians 2:1-10 and the verse that jumped out at me was verse 7: "He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in His kindness to us."
I wrote: He can do anything. He can move mountains and raise people from the dead. Be bold in my prayers. Why limit what the LORD can do? I often ask for peace and comfort and give gratitude for all that has been given to me. Do I not believe that He can do BIG things? Is that why I don't ask? Do I just not like to ask for help? Do I think my problems aren't dire compared to what is going on in the world? Or am I content with the over abundant blessings I have?
and then the LORD took over and responded to me... My dear Jackie, you're not afraid. You were born with a heart of gratitude, not despair. You're willing to use my strength to face your challenges that come your way. You easily look around challenges for the good that already surrounds you and ahead to what good will come from the challenges. Your grateful heart consoles my sorrowful heart that you worry so much about from Saint Faustina's Diary. Don't let the outside world create a storm in your calm heart. Be wary of social media. Use it to reveal your grateful heart in times of distress. When you pray (I was going to write say, but the pen wrote pray, so I continue to know the LORD is directing all of this) JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU, you really do. Don't doubt yourself. I delight in you, Dear Daughter. You have eyes of Faith to see my graces throughout your days. Those moments will sustain your heart during this storm. I am. My love is always a constant, it never waivers. Continue to bring and draw others in to my sacred heart. Jackie, this is your story, keep sharing it. You have a way of drawing people in to trust in my love. I have sustained you and you are aware of that and have a way of showing others the strength of my love.
So, here I am, crazy church lady, sharing some of my early morning conversations with the LORD, because he told me to do so...
Please listen to this song as this is how I often feel :) I'm just a nobody!
Stay tuned for another post on the Eucharist, that I was also encouraged to share...
Hello! Looooooong overdue for an updated post! Sorry, if you've been around me long enough, you know that it's Lent which means, peace out alllllll the extras :)
However, with "Corona Time" (as a friend's family calls it) I have found extra moments of downtime and figured, I'd catch up a bit.
The easiest way I know how is an overload of pictures with minimal captions :)
Enjoy!
Our motto for our Women's Retreat we just planned for our Parish, also my motto for Lent 2020
Mason had a wonderful 3rd Birthday! Some of his Favorites made him an awesome card and wrote him a beautiful poem!
All things Vikings!
Special day with me and my little boy
Didn't want to get his hands messy...
We heart our Jamesie!
Special Valentine's Lunch with some small group friends!
Our Valentine tradition of Famous Dave's for dinner!
Basketball Picture day!
We heart Lucy and were glad we got to celebrate her on her birthday, eve!
Special snack chat with Sally!
He watches Mommy and Daddy very closely :)
Fun surprises at the Adoration Chapel (Saint Therese was our Patron Saint of our Women's Retreat!)
Literally watching snow melt and racing the puddles down the driveway
Ash Wednesday service projects! Check out what this is HERE
Sally's grade volunteering at Feed My Starving Children
A favorite print I stumbled upon, 3 girls and a boy!
Evening walks
Emma's drawings "I love you Jesus"
Baller
Buddies!
New Sunnies!
Emma's first sounded out written word "Sunny"
Visiting Delores!
a Basketball win! A favorite family of ours, we captioned this picture as if we just walked in to go out to eat together..."We'll take a table for 12, please!"
Sweet Anne, captured this picture of me praying in Adoration before our Women's Retreat
Waiting for the ladies to arrive!
Our sweet sweet retreat leader, Mary, and her dog, Rosie!
My friend Laura, knows my appreciation for falling leaves!
Sweet Ash experiencing her first retreat!
Watching the sun rise
DELIGHTING in all of the things!
Daddy rocking the solo gig!
Set the clocks ahead, made it to 8:30am Mass and even a quick selfie before attending!
Together again, family snuggle sesh
Emma did a travel unit at school, Statue of Liberty!
Super Swimmer, starting to swim on her own!
Freshly painted nails
Big noodles for lunch!
The Best Post Nap Hair!
That's a wrap for now...just got word school is closed all of this week and next week is Spring Break. Enjoying the slowness this will bring, perfect timing during Lent. Pray for me? I'll pray for you!
