It matters

I recently heard a song on the radio that made me think of my oldest daughter.

Elizabeth has always had such a boldness for the Lord and a heart for people....

that's an awesome combo to have.

In her teenage years when we were out and about, she would always be the one to ask the cashier how their day was going, or notice if they were discouraged or down.  

She would take the time to listen to them if they were needing a sounding board and

 she always shared the hope of Jesus with them.

Her passion to share the gospel with strangers was her "normal".

She genuinely cares for people.

Before she married and was still traveling with us while her daddy preached revival meetings,  she was always the one who would find out the most about the people there. 

 Not because she's nosy...

People just share their life with her. 

She listens.

I was often convicted and humbled by my daughters heart for the world and would see my own need to slow down and make time for people.

People often would speak of Elizabeth's future and how she was "destined" for

  big things with the Lord.

...How He was gonna use her boldness for big things in the Kingdom and how they couldn't wait to see where He takes her.

Well that is exactly what the Lord has done.

He is using her to do BIG things for His kingdom.

Not big in terms of how the world would define big.

He didn't send her to Africa or China or somewhere on the other side of the world.

He's not using her to speak to thousands of women at conferences.

He didn't even call her to go to college. ~gasp~

But He did call her to be the helpmate to her husband 

and the mommy to 2 daughters and a son that is due very soon.

Not to say the Lord won't do some of those things I mentioned at some point in her life,

but for now..in this season of her life..

He has called her to change diapers all day long, cook supper when she is dog-tired, read the same story over and over again, fold laundry, bathe babies and find the time to make her husband know he is the most important person in her life.

I know many of you are right there in that same season

and often wonder if you are even making a difference.

You are.

Which brings me to the song I heard...

This is for all you momma's doing the day in, day out stuff of motherhood.

It matters.

"...Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

1 Corinthians 10:31

Stephanie :)

What a Weekend!

And what a weekend it was!

It kicked off on Friday with...

1. Operation "Get Eddie"

Then followed early early Saturday morning with....
2. The False Alarm

And wrapped up on Sunday with.....
3. Gathering at the river

1. Operation "Get Eddie"

First a little background so you can appreciate this mission.

Bro Eddie is a dear friend who served along side my husband in our previous church for about 5 years. My husband pastored and Eddie led the worship.  Our two oldest children fell in love, grew up and married each other.  So they are not only our friends..they are family. Bro Eddie was called to a church about 5 hours away where my mom is a secretary. So they have become "best buds". Somewhere along the line, several years back, one of them was given this sweet little wooden cross from a church member.

Well, they played a little game putting it back and forth in each others office.  One would set it on the others desk and then a few days later it would show back up on the others...

Well eventually this little "game" turned hard-core and the competition began.

My mom made the first big move. She wrapped it up and mailed it to Eddie's home.  The packaging looked super legit. He thought he had gotten something awesome in the mail....

 Now it was ON!  

Eddie pulled a good one next.

He had a  "welcome package" waiting on the bed of her master suite at her beach condo last year! She was SO excited and impressed...thinking the owners had left it for her as a welcome "happy"! 

Until she opened the package... 

Eddie got her good!

Which then led to Operation"Get Eddie".

She had her little plan brewing for awhile...a whole year she was patient...waiting for Eddie's birthday.

Her plan was to have a bakery put it in the cake for her and they would celebrate during staff meeting where he would cut it and discover it in front of everyone.

Well that didn't work because the Lord called them to a new church and they moved.

This is where I get involved!

I made the cake.

Now... we live about 2 hours from Eddie but we texted them and told them we had something to do in Jackson on Friday and since we were SOO close we thought we would stop by to see them and their new house... wink wink.....they bought it hook, line, and sinker!

We packed the baby up for the long drive and headed out!

The "Accomplices"

They had invited us to join them for Eddie's birthday supper which worked out great for our little plan..

I told them we stopped by a bakery and "picked up" dessert.

We had the "birthday boy" cut the cake upon which he discovered something inside....

This is his "Yeah you got me but I ain't surrendering for nothing" look!

Mom told me to tell him to wave a white napkin if he wanted to surrender and call it quits.

He said no way is he surrendering and for her to watch out...it's coming back..

when she least expects it!

So beware Mom!  And remember...

Jesus Loves You! 

Well upon completing "Operation Get Eddie" we got home around 10pm.

Got in the bed around midnight.
Then got a phone call call around 3:15 am from our very pregnant and very due daughter
 who lives 2 1/2 hrs away...

We threw stuff..literally... in a suitcase and jumped in the car!

This is me on the ride there around 4am....

Can you tell I'm a little excited?

This is me that evening... about 12 hrs later.

Not quite as chipper...

 After we had driven back home and climbed in bed and took a nap for a couple of hours.

It was a False Alarm.

Which was absolutely NO PROBLEM for us grandparents...

We had a great time of fellowship..

we all ate lunch together..

 and walked Elizabeth around the mall a little, just in case her water would decide to break or something before we all made our journey home.

(Chris's parents are about 4 hrs away)

I mean Hey...if we will drive 2  hours just to deliver a cake..

driving that far for a false alarm is NO biggie! :)

We'd do it over and over and over again..

That's the way us grandparents roll!

Oh and I did get to stop at Starbucks on the way home...so thanks Elizabeth for that! :)

Isn't she just gorgeous?  I'm gonna miss that big beautiful belly.

And after all that excitement we got to finish out the weekend with a bang!..

Nick baptized in the river!

How awesome is that?

Our little man Dalton who is special to our family.

He was born premature and Nick was with the family almost everyday when he had to stay in the NICU.  So awesome to see the Lord working in his life!

And our friend and brother Davin...

He is growing in grace and its a blessing to get to be a part of what the Lord 

is doing through him and his wife.

It was a beautiful day in every way.

Check out Nick's "baptizing shoes"...

Geaux Tigers!!

(Not sure what poor Davin has on his feet....something about falcons or something. Poor thing) lol

Nick with Davin and his wife, Sandy.

And Davin's mom who came all the way from Georgia to be here for his special day.

Dalton with almost his whole crew that came to celebrate!

We enjoyed getting to spend the day with this bunch and catch up on visiting with them.

Well, there ya have it! 

My fun-filled, jam packed, wonderful, awesome weekend!

I love my life :)

oh..and if any of you need someone to help pull off a elaborate scheme or something....
my skills are for hire!  lol

Stephanie:)

What floated my boat & other faves this week..

Yay! It's Friday!

I love sharing all the things that rocked my little corner of the world.

Here are just a few in no particular order..

1. Getting off to a great week of school...This is my "wheee..that went better than expected hope it continues kinda look"! Me and Lauren are actually having fun (except for math...curse you math!).

2. Loving this necklace Lauren bought for me. It's a camera. I wear it all the time now. Lydia bought one for Elizabeth too...ain't those Holden girls sweet things?

3. Just when I thought I had drank up all my favorite flavors for my Keurig Coffee machine, I discovered this jar that I had stashed some in. Yay for that! And I guess my failing memory is a blessing at times...cuz I do love surprises! Especially those involving coffee :)

4. Which leads me to my next moment of giddiness this week....getting this in the mail! Two reasons... #1- Um, it came in the mail and I LOVE mail. And #2- its coffee and.. OK 3 reasons... It was FREE!!! Although, I didn't really like any of the flavors, but my man did..so YAY for free coffee flavors in the mail!!

5. Finding not one, but two BOY babies to give to the new big sisters, Rosalyn and Julia Rose, when their baby brother is born! Yay! Boy babies are very hard to find people. I am all set.... Nate, you can make your big debut any day now...you have your Honey's permission. ;)

6. Date night with this gorgeous hunk of a man compliments of our youngest.

7. Splurging on this fancy schmancy lemonade instead of the usual free water with dinner...a girl could get used to this. ;)

8. AND getting dessert taboot! That's two biggies in one meal for me! TO think I almost ate this entire thing by myself. Whoah.

9.This picture tickles me on SO many levels. First, it reminds me of how sacrificial and willing to help me in any way my husband really is.. Next, he is coloring a picture. (this was for a illustration I used at the conference). And last, it's of Michelle Obama! ...our printer was running out of ink so instead of printing a whole new page once we changed the cartridge, he just colored her in for me. Thanks Hon!! I know I owe ya for this one!

10. And last but not least...I LOVE getting random pics like this from my daughter who lives 2 1/2 hours away. It keeps this long distance maw maw feeling connected to the everyday stuff of their lives. Thanks sweetie for doing something you may think is so simple...it really is so big!

11. Just realized I left this one off my list! Had to fix that cuz I LOVE this apron my middle darling blessed me with this week! Ain't it purty?!

Hope you're having a fantastic Friday!!

Stephanie :)