Sunshine, sand and friendship

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I have always been blessed with amazing friends. Friends that I can call on at any moment, to pray with, laugh with, and encourage. Friends who help grow me as a Christian, as a mom, as a wife, as a nurse, and as a person. The biggest thing I was worried about when we left Massachusetts was that I wouldn’t be able to have friends the way I had up north. I didn’t know if I would be able to connect heart to heart with new people.

But as usual God blessed me beyond measure. I am so thankful for my friends. For the opportunity to learn about God and being wives, and mothers together. I am so so blessed. These ladies are my life line in this life. The joy and laughter they have brought to us is indescribable. . The encouragement and prayer times are incredible . It is more than I could ask for. They are truly my sisters.

Crusaders for Christ Camp

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didn’t even know what to do with myself this week. My children were blessed by our church, and were able to go to summer camp this year. They had never been to camp before. Sending them was a little nerve racking but I knew that they would encounter God in a different way. And they sure did!!!! The three younger kids went. Sam will go next week. The girls were together and Preston was with our small group leader from our church so he was with people he knew.

Each day the kids has praise and worship, times to pray for each other and others. They raised their hands and they praised God! This just blesses my heart to no end. Knowing that my children are “getting it”. Getting that God is not religion, that God is life, God is love, God is relationship. Blessed so blessed that they got to go.

At the closing service the children who had made a profession of faith or who had made a promise to rededicate their lives to Christ were invited to write their names on the cross

There was typical camp stuff as well. Swimming, horse back riding, crafts, hiking etc. They had a wonderful time.

Not Enough

I have been struggling a lot here lately. Feeling as though I am not enough. Not enough mom, not enough wife, not enough nurse, not enough friend, not enough follower of Christ, quite simply just NOT ENOUGH. I get in these funks when my kids are sick, or when the bills are overwhelming, or when my friends are hurting and I don’t know what to do, or when I am struggling with my marriage, or with my children.

And I know without a shadow of a doubt that yes, it is true on my own I am not enough, but with God I am more than enough. So often this world has us comparing ourselves, wishing we had what others had. Wondering why our children are sick, or our finances are short, or why our marriage is in such a bad place, or why our jobs aren’t fulfilling us. But in each circumstance God has given us such grace such power such strength such love to get through.

You my friend are enough! You are more than enough! In God you have all you need. Don’t compare yourself. Don’t desire (as hard as it is) for what others have. God has blessed you tremendously!

I had a friend recently tell me “why are you so happy with all that you have going on?” And I got to thinking about it. Why? Because GOD! HE is my reason, He is my reason for life, for love, for joy, for peace, for perseverance, for strength. He is my reason for hope, He is my reason to keep on fighting this fight.

Yes there are days where I can let myself feel so overwhelmed and so defeated, but then God gently and lovingly lifts me up, brushes me off, and holds my hand as we move forward.

My Sam had surgery about a week and a half ago. And the night before surgery I was in a really rough place. I was exhausted and worried. Frustrated and angry. It is easy to get there, when you see your kids have chronic illness, and you wonder about how the surgery will go and how the days after will be….. But God in all His wonder and glory always brings me right back to where I need to be. WITH HIM. I don’t know if you know the singer Laura Story, but if you don’t, I highly recommend her song “Blessings.” The lines of this song meet me right where I am at. Sure sometimes we want to question why things happen and why us. This song speaks to that.

We are loving summer. Loving being home and not quite as much crazy chaos. Loving the extra snuggles. Loving family time and movies. I pray that you are too! Be blessed!!!

The End of another year

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cannot believe we have completed another year of school. This year has been one of many challenges for our family. Financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually God has really met our needs. I cannot say that things have been easy or that we have always been happy and focused on the knowledge that God would meet the need when it was needed. But HE DID! This year for me I struggled so much with the finances. Having chronically ill children has put such a tremendous financial burden on our family. But God!!! That is all I can say! When I couldn’t figure it out He did. When I lost my hope He gave it back, when I felt like I was too tired and couldn’t work one more extra shift, and not sleep, He gave me what I needed to press on. And here we are these beauties of mine had a great year, well to be honest this year was a challenge for Sam, but he did it and did well, and God blessed him with some good friends, which was so needed.
Sam survived his first year of middle school. I can say it was as bad as I feared unfortunately. And the terrible thing is that it wasn’t about the kids that made it bad, it was the teachers. Sam is an incredible student and he made superintendents list all year (>95 in all classes) in honors classes. But there were two teachers that were just terrible to him. And it broke my heart. I might have unleased momma bear on one of them …. things improved after that. But Sam has struggled more this year with fatigue and stamina so as he is aging the medical is starting to play a bigger role in his life again.
Sophia finished the fourth grade with a great group of friends, with great grades, and with lots of excitement about being the oldest in the school in the fall! She continues to thrive and be social and make friends so easily. She is athletic and funny and loving. God is molding her into an incredible young lady.
My sweet little Preston really found himself this year. He struggled so much in kindergarden and I was so worried that this would be a terrible year. But God grew him so much and he thrived this year. He has surpassed grade level expectations and did amazing. He still fatigues easily and struggles when his immune system is down, but he did it and I am so proud.
My littlest love started Pre-K this year. She was so ready to be a “big kid” and go to school. We were so blessed to send her to a school where the principal and many of the staff were believers and weren’t afraid at all to share it with the students. I remember the first day walking into the school (public)_ and being over the moon excited to see scripture and Christian beliefs displayed. Paisley became such a compassionate child this year. She experienced being on the other side of being sick. There was a child in her class who had had a stroke and was in a wheelchair, she always helped him. Several teachers on several occasions reported that she helped whenever someone was hurt or sick or needed help. It blesses my heart so much to know this.
I look at these kids with such awe. I still cannot believe that I have been chosen to be there momma. How did God choose me? Yes these days can be so long and so exhausting but more than that they are a blessing, it is a blessing to watch what God has planned for these four incredible kids! I cannot wait for the fun summer adventures. The time that I get to love on my babies, in a hopefully less busy schedule. HAPPY SUMMER 2018!!!!!

Family legacy

My grandfather died when I was a teenager, and I remember how broken everyone was. I remember thinking often back then about the times I spent with him and thought about how my (future) children wouldn’t ever get to know him. That broke my heart. Fast forward to me now being a mom of four! I was so thrilled when Sam decided last year that he wanted to play an instrument and he chose a trumpet. How exciting for me! As his grandfather was a trumpet player. We still have my grandfather’s trumpet in our family. And Sam has been using it this year! He is in band as well as taking private lessons. How exciting to experience his first music recital performance! I know his great grandfather Papa Nadeau would be so proud.

My Happy Place

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e have the privilege of having babysitters that love our kids like they are apart of their family. The Creech family, has loved on us basically since we moved to North Carolina. Even when Matt was still up in Massachusetts they went out of their way to love on our family. Well their oldest Morgan celebrated her birthday the other day at the farm where she works. We had so much fun! My girls are truly animal lovers, and are thrilled whenever they get the opportunity to be around animals. We had so much fun. The farm is a rescue for animals that may have been bought by families who have decided they are no longer wanted, or animals that need some extra TLC. Yes that is a baby kangaroo!!! He is the sweetest and I can’t even begin to tell you how soft his fur is. His name is Hamilton .

My Sweet Sophia Grace

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he day of your birth 10 years ago was one of such anxiety but also incredible beauty. You see I had already been in the hospital for several days by your birthday. I had been being monitored because of my liver as well as my blood pressure. That morning they had taken blood and noticed that my liver wasn’t functioning as it should, and they determined that I would have to have an emergency C-section that day, as you were also facing the wrong way, trying to come out feet first. I remember being so scared. I tried to call Meme’ but there was no answer. I then called grandpa, auntie Denise, Uncle DJ Uncle Dennis and Auntie Doreen. But no one was answering the phone! I was getting so upset because I needed to tell them you were coming.

What I didn’t know was that at that very time your grandpa was having a heart attack and that everyone was avoiding my phone calls so that they didn’t have to tell me. They were protecting me from something that there was nothing that I could do to help. And so we called your auntie TeeTee to see if she could take Sam so that Daddy could come in the delivery room with me. I remember weeping for joy when you came out. You were the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. You had these beautiful chocolatey eyes and these perfect little pouty lips. You were seriously the most perfect gorgeous baby I had ever seen. And when you cried immediately after birth it truly was one of the most amazing days of my life. I was laying there waiting to hear you cry and you did. It was amazing!

And now you, my gorgeous girl are ten! I cannot even fathom that time is flying so quickly by. I look at the resilience you have, your zeal for life, the way you allow people to see your heart, your courage and energy and I cannot believe that you are mine. You have been such a blessing to me. I am so enjoying watching you grow up into the woman God wants you to be. My prayer is that 10 is a year in which you become so close to God and His will for your life. That you realize the incredible blessing and gift that you are. And that you know how much I love you!!!! Happy birthday BEAUTIFUL sweet compassionate creative smart hard working dedicated and talented little lady!!!!KODAK Digital Still Camera

Busy weekend

I love weekends when there isn’t tons of commitments. Where I can enjoy these kids and not be too stressed. I am so heartbroken thinking of the families in Florida who have lost their family members due to this terrible shooting. I have really been reminded repeatedly this week that we are not promised tomorrow but we are promised eternity. Though this flesh may be taken before I am ready my peace comes in knowing that we will have eternity. It seems a little cliche to think about that in light 9f recent events but I can’t help bit remind myself that we are not of this world. That this world is not my home. In the chaos and heartbreak what peace that knowledge brings to my soul.

My sweet kids

I came to lay down for a half an hour before I work 12 hours over night and found this sweet card from Preston under my pillow. This little guy is just so so sweet.

I so cherish these moments. The swet innocence that they are full of. Raising children in the world in 2018 is certainly a challenge. The fight the devil is waging against God’s people is in full force as more and more people become fearful of speaking His name. I am proud to be a Christian proud to be raising my children to be God serving loving compassionate beings. No matter what happens in this world they can’t take Christ out of our hearts.

Florida

I truly cannot fathom the heartache of all those families in Florida after this school shooting. My heart is literally hurting. Tonight at church as our Pastor lead us in prayer for that whole community amd our world I felt His presence so strongly. There is such incredible evil in this world. But God truly is bigger. When these types of horrific tragedies happen it is hard not to question why? Hard to not point a finger. Hard not to get angry amd scared.

But we are not promised tomorrow we are not promised that our walk with Him will be easy. But what we are promised is that He will walk with is through the fire. He will not leave us. My prayer for all of those affected today in Florida is that His peace is with them all. And that what the devil meant for evil will be for His eternal glory.

Would you please join me in praying for Florida and our nation? That we truly will turn from our wicked ways and truly KNOW HIM? Know Him so well that nothing can separate us