Thankful

Wow...another 3 week stretch.

So much has happened in the last three weeks. I have lots of pictures to share so this is how I will explain the reason for NOT blogging in so long. Where would I have found time?????

Adi's 2nd birthday party

I have had approximately 6 photoshoots in the last 3 weeks...Here are a couple of my favorites. (To see more go to agroverpic on my sidebar)

The Chripczuk family

Belen and Xavier

The Cline Family

I spoke at MOPS two weeks ago on Encouraging imagination and creativity in your home.

Luke traveled to Indonesia (Medan and Bande Aeche) for 8 days and arrived home this last Tuesday. Praise the Lord for safety and a very productive time. The Lord really blessed their trip and changed their hearts.

Halloween (Not my favorite holiday to say the least....) The cousins looked really cute in their costumes. The moms had lots of fun too taking silly pictures!!!

Could'nt keep a straight face!!!





My good friend Paige and Joey had their precious baby boy Landon Joseph. I was priviledged to be in the room with her while she delivered. It was extremely emotional, but such a blessing! He is such a handsom little guy!!!

Playdates...babysitting...birthday parties....MOPS planning meetings, MOPS get togethers....editing photos...potty training...keeping up house...

And tomorrow our house will be painted (exterior). I am so excited. I got to pressure wash the house yesterday with the professional power washer and it was awesome. Almost felt like a weapon or something (scary).

Anyway...

God has truly blessed me in so many ways. I am so thankful for my life, and even more thankful for life in Jesus Christ.

I am looking forward to life "slowing down" a bit after this weekend! It has been so busy and I often feel like I can't do the things that God asks me to do.....like "be still" and "be thankful."

I truly desire to be thankful each day that God has blessed me with. To be thankful and to praise Him.

Christ be lifted high....

a.g.

Names in the Sand

A friend of mine sent this link to me last week. The name of the blog is Names in the sand.

This family started this organization after losing their son Christian Dudley.

They live in Australia, on the beach, and write names in the sand for those who have lost a child.

Last week, Olivianna's name was written in rememberance of her life.

Check it out here.....

http://namesinthesand.blogspot.com/2008/10/olivianna-grace-grover.html



Thank you Jesus for people like Carly who follow the dreams you give them.
What a huge blessing to moms who have lost a part of them.

Heroic Life

A Herioc Life

It has been almost 3 weeks since I have typed out any sort of feelings or happenings on my blog.

I guess I would say that my heart and brain are so full of "things" going on that I do not even know what or how to write.

The Lord has been at work.

He is at work in my heart, my marriage, my mothering, my friendships, my mind and my spirit.
He is stirring up things....emotions, making me uneasy at times as He opens closets in my heart that have been closed for a long time.

I keep them closed for a reason. Mostly because I am scared of the mess and chaos I will find if they are opened. And that is what is happening.

When I was in Texas last week for a MOPS Convention, Erwin McManus spoke some pretty powerful things.

1.My fears are the boundary of my freedom, for what I fear becomes my master.

2. When I fear nothing but God, He establishes the boundary of my freedom.

3. What dreams are waiting on the other side of my fear?

4. God calls me even in the darkness.

And so I must ask myself...what fears are limiting my life?

The first fear that quickly pops up in my mind is the fear of failure.

Failing myself, my family, my friends and my community.
"God, I know I can't do that...don't set me up for failure."

"Why should I even try, I know it wont be good enough."

"That is great for you...but I don't have it in me."

and the excuses that flow from my mouth could go on and on....

The world desperately needs me to live my most heroic life...but I don't because I am afraid that it will not meet their expectations, or mine.

Oh how I desire the heroic life.

I would be a writer.

A speaker.

I would share the message of Jesus Christ so freely because it is who I am.

I would say "No" to more things that did not line up to God's call for my life.

I would say "Yes" to the things that do, without fear of failure or how it will all work out.

I would listen more and talk less.

I would pray more diligently for my family and friends, give more to the needy, take in those who need shelter, love others without wanting something in return...

I would........................................................................

“For consider your calling, Amber: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”” (1 Corinthians 1:26-31, ESV).

To live the heroic life is to live completely dependant on God's grace in my weaknesses.

When I ask Christ for His strength, He gives me His spirit to do them in love and through Christ, and I no longer fail. I have victory through Christ's power in me. I can live the heroic life, I can stand on God's dreams for me.

God is good.

Here are a couple pictures of my Adalin Rose two years ago tomorrow.

Seems like just yesterday she was born!

Happy Birthday my sweet Rosebud!!!

...and a few of my good friends Jeff and Joni Griepp, with their sweet baby boy Ethan.