just what I needed

I got up this morning and was really feeling "down". Things just were getting to me this morning and then... a friend Inboxed me on facebook with this...

The Silver Smith

A Group of women were studying the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three, which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.

That week the woman called up a silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silver smith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot - then she thought again about the verse, that he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silver smith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver were left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silver smith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?" He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy - when I see my image in it."



After reading the last sentence "Oh, that's easy - when I see my image in it" the thought really sunk in and hit me! The reality is, in hard times, God never leaves. He is our papa! He has a perfect plan and that perfect plan is SEEING HIMSELF IN US! He's making us like him every day and no matter how hot the fire feels... He is right there feeling the heat with us, holding us and never taking his eyes off excitedly waiting for the perfect refinement when He sees His very image in us! Thanks papa for loving me enough to love me and never look away!

oh the fun!

Last night, I went to my Sister-N-Laws house for a pampered chef party. I used to be a consultant for pampered chef and for some reason, when I get an invitation to a party, I get a momentary lapse of "Oh, I miss doing pampered chef." However, each time I go... that moment becomes more and more fleeting!

It was a lot of fun to get out last night and be with some other adults even if it was just for a couple of hours. However, I think my "fever" for pampered chef has ended. I didn't feel the need to buy the whole catalog. As a matter a fact, I was very well behaved!

It's funny what fazes, even as adults, we go through in life. Things you think you just can't live with out one day get put in perspective and you just realize that they are not as significant as you once thought.

I have to say, I'll probably hold a party again... they are fun and it is a great chance to get together with friends... but I think my "faithfulness" to the product has bid me farewell! :) Shhh!!! It's our secret! :)

~mindy~

Preparations

We have started getting every thing ready for little Jeremiah! Today, I pulled clothes out of the dryer and was taken back by the size difference in outfits. Even just Joey's clothes laying next to the clothes I washed that belong to Jeremiah. I couldn't help but take a moment and pray that God keeps him right where he needs to be until he's ready. Some times, I get overwhelmed at the thought of how tiny he could be if he comes as early as they are thinking. Regardless, we press on and we are doing every thing we can to have home ready so that when God chooses for him to arrive, it's all here and ready for him! I must say, I am excited to be going through his little piles of clothes and working towards setting things up for him. Baby's are just so exciting! :)

~Mindy~

Taking it all in...

Friday, we got some really hard news about my body. Mr. Jeremiah is doing well! He was active as can be and heart rate and growth just perfect on the ultrasound, however, my news was not so good on behalf of Jeremiah! If you haven't heard whats going on, you can read the story at our family Caringbridge site.

It's been very hard on me this weekend to process all that the doctor is thinking will likely happen. Jeremiah will likely have to be born very early and I have been a basket case thinking about how tiny and frail he will be. But in my heart, I know there is hope. I was talking to my mom with many tears just saying I was scared but I am holding onto the promises that God has given us and just recently gave us with the scripture of Jeremiah 29:11. So, that set my mom's mind to working! She got an email from a friend with a brazillion saying that says "It's enough to trust" and then with hearing what I had to say about the scripture of Jeremiah 29:11 (written at the top of my blog), she created this....

This is a little purple heart that has the scripture on it on a little safety pin. She made these for us to wear to remember that God has tiny little Jeremiah and his mommy safe in his hand! God is faithful and no matter what comes with all of this, his hand is on our lives and like mom's friend said... It is enough to trust!

I love grilling!!!

Jeff went and got propaine for the grill today!!! I'm so excited! We are having sliced taters & onions on the grill with chicken! Yay! I have to say, my favorite time of the year is pulling the grill out! Nothing tastes better than GRILLED food! :)

Ok... that's all I had to say! Ha!

~Mindy~

Please join me...

Please join me in praying for the Agnew family today. Their sweet Maggie lost her fight last night at 8:40 to mitochondrial disease. My heart aches for them as I can only imagine what they are feeling...


Many do not understand why we are doing this walk in April or this benefit dinner in March. Sadly, many dont even understand what mitochondrial disease is. So many kiddos look so good but deep inside this "Invisible" disease is robbing them of their life... so, THIS is why. It isn't just about us or raising money for something WE are passionate about... it's about fighting a disease that takes away too many lives to early! I want to do something. I want to stand in the gap and fight with and FOR these families who have already lost some one they love so dearly! Then, I want to fight for something to stop it... something to find a way to save some lives and stop this awful disease.


I know God has ultimate purpose and all of our days are numbered! I know that in my heart. But I also know that he has given us the ability to do things as well. To pray, to help, to support, to love these families. It isn't about what we can do on our own strength, it's about learning, understanding and standing together to work towards finding answers! So, join me, if you would! Walk with us April 30th and donate to help raise money for research! Or join our dinner on March 19th and donate there.not a dime of this is going to us... every single penny is going to research. We aren't even taking money out to cover our expensese... So, you can come and know that every penny is for the cause! We are going to talk about what mito really is and we are going to share our story. So today, for sweet Maggie, I wanna fight!


Jesus, hold this sweet baby girl close! Love on her and hold her family so close right now! May they feel your comfort and your peace! Amen!

memory lane..

Today, I have been spending a lot of time looking through old pictures, old caring bridge posts and it has brought many emotions... tears... joys... questions... hurt... good memories.. hard memories... One thing it has reminded me of are the people who have stuck by us. Some times, the road of life feels too much... then there is that one person who gives you a hug and suddenly you have strength for a few more days. Or there is that one email that says "Hey, praying for you today." and makes you realize you aren't alone. The one text asking "How can I help" and you realize there are people there ready to catch ya when you just can't put the next foot forward.

The road of life isn't always easy... but the memories we hold... the smiles our kids bring... the laughter we have with family... the moments that we have gotten to minister to people together... the times we have seen lives changed because of the place God had us that day... makes every memory worth it... every day we live worth it... every moment me walk with God... PRECIOUS! One thing unfailing in every thing I looked at today... God's hand was and is there always and forever! Thanks Papa! You are the amazing strength in our life!