Amazing Grace

My Mom

2009-07-19T17:28:00.031-04:00

Happy Birthday Mom! I love you and can't wait to see you again!

A Celebration of Love

2009-07-06T14:39:00.032-04:00

Ben and I shared our 14th wedding anniversary over the weekend. We like to think that all of the fireworks are in honor our commitment to each other. Yeah, I'm sure that is what they are. Of course, we have a deep appreciation for all who have dedicated themselves so fully to keeping us safe and free. So, we'll share. Our anniversary is actually the 2nd, so the holiday is extended for us.

It's hard to believe that it has been 14 years. I was only fifteen when we started dating in high school. I've spent more than half of my life with him, growing up together. We balance and compliment each other in many different ways. I offer a prayer of thanks every day for being blessed with a faithful, honorable and loving husband. I have had the privilege of witnessing him develop into such an admirable husband and father. We continue to grow closer to God, which draws us closer to each other, every day.

Time stood still, and I soaked up as much as I could for as long as I could , as we all 4 sat silent, anticipating the next firework to light up the sky. The Lord is working miracles in our lives, strengthening our love, understanding, and commitments to each other. It felt like a special celebration of "my little family".

We had a beautiful evening together. Traveling only 20 minutes from home, we took in a Brevard County Manatees Baseball game. The home team lost 4-1, but we won on fun! The evening was filled with red, white and blue, and Olivia was sure to not leave any area from head to toes, untouched with patriotic theme. She and Ethan both had their baseball gloves in hopes of catching a foul ball. Better luck next time guys. Hot dogs and sodas were not left out. The evening ended at the stadium with a lovely array of colorful fireworks.

I love my family so much and can't wait to celebrate #15!

Field of Flowers

2009-06-24T21:24:00.059-04:00

Dear Lord,
Your grace is so sweet and your mercy everlasting. I was so lost, so confused, so blind. You found me, and now I'm finding you. Each day, every moment, I strive to open my eyes a little wider towards your eternal light and into my salvation. We have a lot of work to do. I'm excited to learn everything I can, about you, so that I can be like you. I look forward to living out your will for my life. Speak to my heart and open my mind. Guide my thoughts, actions and words. Help me to share the journey of my experiences with the people that I love.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Amazing Grace Lyrics
John Newton (1725-1807)

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come;

'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me. His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be, As long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil, A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise Than when we've first begun.

I love this song.
I can still hear my mom's beautiful voice singing the triumphant words to this song. She would sing many songs around the house while doing her "daily house cleaning". This song stands out in my mind and in my heart. As children typically do, I had a vivid imagination. I would put images in my mind to the words she would sing. With Amazing Grace, I engaged very specific pictures in my mind. I would actually visualize her lost and wandering a dry abandoned desert with no water, no life, no hope. Only dry sand, blowing in the harsh wind, stinging her cheeks. Then suddenly she was found, standing in an abundantly filled field of flowers where the grass was covered in dew and the gentle breeze would blow her golden locks from her precious face. Her blue eyes sparkled in the glorious sunrise. As a child, this is what I thought of when I heard her sing "lost" and then "found". There really is so much meaning folded up in the sentence, "I once was lost, but now I'm found". I know that she felt the meaning to these words in her own sense. I could tell in her passion of rejoicing in the lyrics. This passion transcended into the graphic images in my mind of what God's Amazing Grace meant to me as a child. Today, maybe just like she did at that time, I feel the true sense of being lost and then found, by God's grace. These days I triumphantly bellow through the rooms of my home. I hope that my family can hear my passion through the words I sing of this glorious song. I've been in that desert. For most of my adult life, I've had the sting of sand in my eyes. It has taken me a long time to truly be "found". I had let pride, shame, and denial defeat me. I'm certainly not perfect and I still have a long journey ahead of me. But, I have surrendered and I am thirsty for the "field of flowers". I long for a deep connection and fulfilling relationship with my savior. I can see so many opportunities. A new bright future is glowing and eternity is in the air that I breathe.

Thanks mom for singing about grace.

Thank you Jesus for giving me grace.