Grace in the Midst

   

My dad's sister took her life today.  My mom's brother took his life 10 years ago.   One of the last things I said to them : Auntie , We would love to see you guys too! Know that you are always welcome here in Maine. We think back fondly to the time that you guys visited Thanks for checking in Aunt Kay. Love you! Hope things are going well on your end. Uncle , Nothing. What I wish I would have said: Dearest Auntie, Things have been really busy here in Maine, but I am thinking about you and praying for you.  How are you doing?  I know pretty much everyone asks that, but I really mean it.  How are you, really?  It must be hard taking care of Uncle every day and night.  Are you able to get out for a breather every now and then?  I hope and pray you have a chance to get out with a friend who can offer you a smile and a hug - and maybe even a cup of coffee.  If I was there, I'd sure love to do that.  To tell you the truth, ...

     Yesterday when we got home from grocery shopping I carried Teal (our 2 month old) & Avonlea (our 2 year old) inside and proceeded to unload the groceries while Blake and Cole got out of the car by themselves, or so I thought.  Blake helped put the groceries away but Cole was taking quite a while to get out of the car.  When I went back out for another load, and to check on Cole he was still sitting in his seat.  Waiting.  He was waiting for me to unbuckle him.  He didn't realize that his brother had already unbuckled him.  So he sat and waited - it was as if he was strapped in, even though he wasn't.  I said "Cole, you're already unbuckled - you can get up."  He smiled, got up quickly and ran inside.  It immediately made me think of how often I do the same thing in regards to my faith.  Jesus Christ has so much to offer me - so much power, so much grace, so much love - and yet I often live my life as if I'm s...

Well, it has been a rough couple of days - so I decided to go for an Ugly Beautiful Blessings list today.  Each of these things seem yucky at the time...but If I dig deep enough I can find some beauty in them. 1834. Ugly - Cole cutting off almost all of Avonlea's hair Beautiful - Avonlea is just beautiful in general She didn't lose an eye, or even get a cut I got to see a friend I hadn't seen in a while (my hairdresser) I heard lots of encouraging and funny hair & scissor stories 1835. Ugly - A very sore foot for more than a week Beautiful - My mom being here to help My pain is temporary - I still have two feet and will soon be able to walk, run, skip & jump. I told Matt I wanted to get out of the house because my foot hurt too bad to work around the house, and we ended up visiting grammy, seeing good friends, and enjoying a meal at moodys (which was ironic since I was feeling pretty moody) 1836. Ugly - Getting overwhelmed with my constantly mess...

Have you ever met anyone who, given the choice, would CHOOSE to be irritable, achy (and not just a little achy), tired, discouraged, bloated and as a good friend recently described me - totally up and down?  I have.  Introducing - Me.  Those things don't sound like something anyone would CHOOSE, do they?  And how do I even know I have a CHOICE?  Well, because I have experienced life on the other side - for months at a time.  And, it is amazing!  I KNOW that I can feel energetic, motivated, painless (well, almost - I did take a nose dive off a 20 foot cliff), stable and consistently happier!  I've done it.  Then, I didn't.  Then, I did again.  What is IT?  Sugar.  Sugar and I are like two peas in a pod - except the pod squeezes the life out of me and I keep choosing to jump back in the pod.  My most recent success in the sugar area lasted almost 6 months and even my husband couldn't believe the difference in my overall...

I've recently been reading the book 7:An experimental mutiny against excess , by Jen Hatmaker, and once again have found myself completely convicted.  Actually if I'm honest, I go back and forth between laughing my head off (she is hilarious) and feeling convicted. "7  is the true story of how Jen (along with her husband and her children to varying degrees) took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence." ( Food. Clothes. Spending. Media. Possessions. Waste. Stress.  ) This morning in my prayer closet (the shower) I was struggling with how much I have and how little I give.  Though Jen Hatmaker is in no way condemning (actually quite the opposite), I have a tendency to figure out a way to condemn myself without much prodding.  As I was beating myself up, I heard His still small voice (I think it was His, I never know for sure) whisperin...

I have often struggled with Matthew 6:15:  "But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins", but I recently had an "Aha" moment and I think I've found a way of looking at it that makes a bit more since to me.  I don't know if it is doctrinally correct, but I thought I'd shoot it out as an idea anyway.   Could it be, perhaps, that if we do not truly accept Christ's forgiveness in our own lives that we will be unable to offer forgiveness to those around us?  In the often quoted John 3:16, we are reminded that "whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life".  Believing, truly believing, means accepting the fullness of His sacrifice for our sins - knowing that we in no way deserve His grace and yet He gives it.  Once we have grasped the wonderful reality of the forgiveness that God offers us, it seems like it should be impossible not to extend it to others.  So, maybe the core issue of ...

1806. The fact that there have been so many blessings poured upon my life in the last 2 months that I could never possibly remember, let alone record them all. 1807. The birth of our precious son, Teal Gregory Lecher! 1808. He was almost two weeks early (and totally healthy), praise God! 1809. God softened my heart the night he was born...I wasn't in a good place - but I couldn't sleep so I stayed up and read and prayed...and God worked miraculously within me. 1810. Praying the baby would come early, then standing up  - and the process starting immediately My mom being right around the corner, and coming at the drop of a hat 1811. A smooth and peaceful birth and recovery 1812. Our new little man is a great eater, and very content 1813. Our three older children gathered around the new baby - with big smiles and lots of enthusiasm. 1814. Starting out our new year with a fun filled visit with my sister in law and the kids' cousins 1815. Avonlea's gleeful expressi...

I think I've heard the serenity prayer a million and one times, but I just recently found out that it is never quoted in full.  The second half is wonderfully encouraging! "God grant me the serenity To accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world As it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right If I surrender to His Will; So that I may be reasonably happy in this life And supremely happy with Him Forever and ever in the next"

Proverbs 4:18 "The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day" Ah, there is something so encouraging to me about this verse!  I am righteous because of what Christ has done for me - and though my light may not be quite as bright as I'd like it to be, it is slowly but surely brightening - and one day will be as bright as the sun on a beautiful summers afternoon!  What a wonderful and amazing promise! Prayer: Lord, thank you that you don't leave us where we are at.  Thank you that your Holy Spirit continues to work in us and through us - helping us shine a little bit more with each passing moment. May we be encouraged knowing that You are at work in us and that one day we will be a perfect picture of your holiness.

1790. Getting a great bean bag sale that wouldn't have worked out if we hadn't just changed our plans 1791. My new kitchen island and blinds that my mom brought with her from Florida (though the blinds came with their share of heartache as we tried to install them) 1792. My mom joining us at church 1793. Our family visiting her in her new home for popcorn and a movie 1794. Avonlea standing on her own in the middle of the room - and how proud she is to be able to do so 1795. Working side by side with Matt as we try to improve our website 1796. Running errands with mom and the kids 1797. Enjoying tweaking my blog 1798. Getting lots of laundry done - and the kids playing together nicely while I did so 1799. Making 3 cauliflower pizza crusts ahead of time (even though my house smells like a giant cauliflower) 1800. A quiet evening reflecting on life, choices, and habits with a few dear friends 1801. My mom's new part time job and the incredibly sweet lady she is work...

1757. Woody, Buzz Light Year and Jessie - Lecher versions :) 1758. A kind hearted young boy giving Blake and Cole his Woody & Buzz Light Year toys, when he found out they were dressing up like the Toy Story characters 1759. Jumping in balls and bounce houses with my three precious blessings...and their laughter whenever Matt turned off the air and we went "down, down, down"...and back "up up up" 1760. Praying with friends 1761. Two wide eyed boys watching the winters first snow 1762. Miniature snow men 1763. Celebrating a new friend's birthday and looking forward to the many blessings God is going to pour out on her this year 1764. Heavenly Bean Bags 10th year anniversary...and the ability to display it beautifully at the Artfull Gifts fine art show and Camden's festival of lights craft show. 1765. How Matt makes everything he touches beautiful & artistic 1766. The three day trip across the country that my mom and GiGi made...though it was...

1726. A hardworking husband that still puts his family first 1727. Morning snuggles with my early bird (Cole) 1728. A delightful fun filled, miracle filled, two week visit with Grandma (my mom) 1729. Grandma's desire to move to Maine, and lots of open doors 1730. Learning to trust in God's timing 1731. A two day women's retreat where I was able to spend time with a dear friend, make new friends and reflect on how much God has given me 1732. Matt and Grandma spending time together with the kids while I was gone - train rides, breakfasts at the diner, and enjoying our home 1733. Our newest blessing (due in January) receiving more attention than usual...women at the retreat noticed this big ol' belly of mine a lot more than people do when I have 3 other little ones by my side. 1734. Being served meals 1735. Finally giving in to the idea of floaties, actually finding them at the store (at the end of summer...and the last two pairs), and watching the kids enjoy the ...

1706. Spontaneous evenings with dear friends 1707. Mini vacations/shopping trips 1708. Lots of beautiful fabrics from Auburn's  fabric warehouse  and of course, Marden's 1709. Blake and Cole helping carry fabric rolls that were bigger than they are 1710. Blake, Cole and Avonlea's delight in the water (at the hotel pool) 1711. New razors :) 1712. Boys on wood piles 1713. Boys (including daddys) throwing & stacking wood 1714. Cole's enthusiasm in the music/spoon banging tent at the Common ground fair 1715. The joy children bring to all ages 1716. Hay piles and big jumps 1717. Cole holding my hand the first 10 times he jumped - and then being ready to jump on his own (thankful that in most areas he still needs my hand) 1718. Avonlea maturing a months worth in 3 days time (pulling up, climbing stairs - wanting to walk etc..) 1719. Cole showing Avonlea the right way to eat watermelon (she was trying to eat it rind first) and then saying "Yeah, Avi"...

1688. Blake consistently asking for Avonlea to be by his side 1689. Kiddo compliments from strangers 1690. Housework compliments from my hubby 1691. A lunch date in Camden with 3 of my favorite people - Blake, Cole & Avi 1692. Avi's continued progress...especially her new crawl/walk (crawling with legs in walking position) 1693. Beautiful weather - and kids that notice 1694. Cole seeing Jesus everywhere (even if its actually a civil war monument) 1695. Special outings made possible by GiGi 1696. The boys impromptu dance/song when they got their special outing money 1697. A new, much less expensive payroll company 1698. Blake & Cole asking to feel the baby kick (even though they can't really feel him yet) 1699. Governor's restaurant - specifically their mozzarella cheese sticks 1700. Friends that I miss - and the hope of reconnecting soon 1701. How well Cole is communicating 1702. Weekend plans 1703. A 2 day/3 night women's retreat at the end of...