more ppl

 love the hanging umbrellas, made with love, the details in everything was amazing and time consuming to make!

to me, this is what a church family is all about.  see we dont have family here in moncton. but we do have a church family. over the years, ive been blessed over and over with amazing friends, coffee dates, walks, get togethers. ive been encouraged, strengthened and have leaned on them when times were tough.  when an emergency comes up and i need to go to the hospital at 1 am, i have ppl i can call to help.  ive had meals show up, dropped off, ive had flowers delivered just because, garden bounties have been tasted, swimming at the camp, etc...the list goes on and on....love, support, good times and bad. this is what a church family is all about. i can not imagine going through life with out back up support from those who share and strength your faith....

the kids dug for worms and played while the adults were in side

sigh

i was showered with the most amazing gift that touched my heart in so many ways.  i have friends for seasons, reasons and life.  this gift was given to me from a strong, amazing woman who knows the pain and heart ache of wanting a child. we first connected over the undesirable sorrow of wanting a child, waiting, month after month, year after year while watching everyone else pop babies out...but the friendship went deeper, we were and are able to understand each other, with out words, cry with out fear and share our heart with each other while encouraging each other at the same time. this lady helped me so much and had the strength to put this shower together for me.  i pray for her constantly, her name is written down where i can see it and each time i see it i believe god for her.  she is not alone, not forgotten, she will have her own family. will you believe with us? 

 reading the card and trying not to do the ugly cry

 but i did. i don't think ive cried so much at a shower...i get the pain and at the same time you are truly happy for someone else, but your heart still hurts. its so bizarre

i was given a set of baby booties and hat, hand knitted by her grandmother, who just passed away. most ppl would find this treasure and keep it for yourself, for your own kids but not her, she gave them to me.  the value is priceless

 and she gave me a hand knitted blanket.  i can only imagine what she felt and thought while she took the  time to knit this for me. 

 yep, i bawled.  such a selfless act.  i will treasure them and save them. thank you so much!

 this lovely lady, mrs rose has touched my life with out even knowing it.  her husband passed away a few months ago, it was unexpected and truly stopped me in my tracks. i have thought about her a lot.  esp knowing the shower was coming up. why?  you see, 2 yrs ago for eliana's shower my parents were unable to attend, and ill be honest, i was sad about it.  when i sat down to open the gifts at ellie's shower, i looked over to see where my baby was and there she was all snuggled in doug's arms, rose sat beside him.  such a big man, holding a tiny baby girl.  he reminded me of my dad.  i sat and watched as he held my precious baby for the remainder of the shower.  i never forgot that.  on sunday i opened the card from mrs rose and there on the bottom it was signed " rose davis"  there was no doug written beside her name. i cried. again.  i took the card home and read it alone and cried some more.  i cant imagine the pain of losing your spouse.  and yet this strong lady has not wavered, shes living life with a smile.  this is what a church family is all about.  growing together, sharing life.

 mrs evelyn. dear mrs evelyn! (pic down below) this lady, was the first person 11 yrs ago to introduce herself to us when we first started attending the church, she made a point to come over and chat with us every single time she saw us.  but 7 yrs ago she did something so powerful that i never told anyone about it

7 yrs ago, i had just had nate, i just dropped him off in the nursery, with 2 ppl i didnt know and left him to teach upstairs with chris. i will never forget closing the nursery door and head down i walked away. i was feeling discouraged, insecure and the weight of being alone, parenting a child wore very heavy on me. i felt scared and afraid of being a mom. i felt so alone.  so insecure, was i doing anything right?  i was sleep deprived, emotional and to be honest. i was in a dark and scary place. fear and burdened was my clothing.

i started walking away, and mrs Evelyn walked by me, then she stopped and turned around and came over to me. she put her hands on my shoulders and looked me in the eye and said "mom, you are doing a great job"

then she put her arms around me and hugged me.  i literally fought the tears. then she told me that everything was going to be ok, i was doing a great job, i wasnt alone and i never will be. 

i went to the bathroom and bawled...but i left the bathroom feeling like the weights were gone. and everything was going to be ok. i could do this

i joined the ladies ministry that month, knowing i needed wise been there before me moms in my life. i sat meeting after meeting with a new lady each time, making new relationships, asking questions from those with older kids, i sat and took in what they shared.  they had no clue why i was asking, sitting and listening, i wanted what wisdom and life experience they had gone through. to help me along my journey

all because of mrs evelyn. all because she listened to the gentle tug of her heart, backed up and gave me a hug and encouragement.  and she never knew the impact she made on my life

and here i am 7 yrs later, having my precious baby jo's shower in her house, because once again she gave herself to others

she is an example of living your life for others.   such value she has, such wisdom and its an honor to have her in my life

us moms with young kids, we need those who have been here before. the lessons they have, the stories the offer the life experience makes their value priceless and most important encouragement! we need it so much!

 the value of a church family

i

i was blown away sun night and spent a lot of time thinking and praying.  the importance of a church family is something that i cant describe.  its like knowing you have back up. each member has a story, each person brings so much with them. 

churches are not perfect and have problems for sure!  but ill be honest ive grown and became stronger by belonging and staying in one place

its nice knowing you belong. good and bad. we are still here until god leads us on

Posted by mel at 11:32 AM