Happy Homemaker Monday 3-13-17

So my amazing friend at www.intentionalmommyhood.com shared this new wonderful link-up,

over at the Diary of a Stay at Home Mom with me last night ! I am so very excited the share this journey with you guys each Monday!

The weather.....

The March weather this year has been an up and down roller coaster. We have gone from 40 degree weather to 80 degree weather! Then of all thing we woke up to snow yesterday morning ! One thing is for sure about living in the south you never ever know what you will get lol. This morning the sun has made its grand appearance causing everything to lift its attention of hope of warmth... How ever the air is cold and biting today.... The recent cold snap leads way for worry for the farmers who peach and strawberry crops have all ready started to bloom ! I pray the Lord watches over them.... However this weather gives the excuse to stay home and spend sometime doing things we love with one another... 

Right now I am....

Enjoying the warmth of our home, and listening to the soft chatter of my youngest and one of her homeschool friends. I love the fact that being a stay at home mommy allows me to set at our kitchen table to update my blog and contemplate what our day will hold for us. 

Thinking....

This will be a very week for my home.... we will have co-op, a out of town doctors appointment, a children's ministry spring bash, along with all of our normal weekly happenings... I need to make a to-do list. Hope I can do some sewing and take some picture's sometime this week !

On my reading pile....

The ladies of our church are doing the study a woman after Gods own heart by Elizabeth George ! This a life changing and challenging study! I absolutely love the heart changing that comes from a challenge the Word Of God.

Now my daily devotional is Jesus Calling by Sarah Young which I absolutely love this devotional!

For personal reading A Life of Faith Laylie Colbert ! The story of how an a young abolitionist  helps a brother and sister escape slavery! The story is one of courage, friendship, and saving grace!

On my TV.....

Well at the moment Crash Bandicoot lol! A old PlayStation game . One of the girls from our children's ministry and our homeschool co-op came home with us as well ! She is waiting for me to come play 18 inch dolls with her !

 
Favorite blog post last week (mine or other)....

Intentional mommyhood's post about making over her evening ! You haven't visited this amazing ladies blog please take a chance to do so ! You will not be disappointed !

Something fun to share....

I was up way later than I wanted last night so I was doing some reading ! I learned in the Victorian era that it was believed that men may attracted to  the slender sleekness of table legs ! That was when the invention of floor length table clothes came in to play ! I was like  really wow  !

Blog hopping (newly discovered blog)....

http://familycorner.blogspot.com/2009/01/happy-homemaker-monday_19.html

I was just introduced this morning to this wonderful blog ! I have so enjoyed what I have already discovered ! Can not wait to check it out further.

On the menu for this week....

Well our family is on the last week of the 21 day Daniel Fast. so lots and lots of veggies hehe...

On my to do list....

To get everything in place for school tomorrow, help do laundry, pick the house up, and play with my guest today !

In the craft basket....

Today my sweet little person friend and I be making some American girl food ! I cant wait, I love to craft for American girl dolls !

Looking forward to this week....

Going to see a rheumatologist for the first time, my family and I praying this gives answers to long a long list of medical issues.  

Looking around the house....

I adore the coziness of our home... I am pleased to look around to see it isn't to disarray. It wont take long to tidy up from a very busy weekend !

From the camera....

I spent the Friday sewing a historical doll dress ! The first time I had sewn in quite some time ! It was an amazing feeling to return to what I love to do !

On my prayer list.....

My health, I woke up with chest pain last night.... I suffer from pericarditis, we are unsure what the total cause is ! we had tried to cut back one of the medicines for inflammation and we feel that may be the cause! Praying it was just a hiccup and today will better ....

Bible verse, Devotional....

I am super excited to have been invited to check this out and join this linky party! Please join in on the fun !

Here is the Link if you would like to check it out :

 http://familycorner.blogspot.com/2009/01/happy-homemaker-monday_19.htmlcheck

health updates

Hi Guys thanks for stopping by ! I have some health updates I wanted to share with you and some blog updates ! I have recently created a new and improved blog lol with lots of help lol ! Thank you Jesus for amazing friend who are willing to help out !

my new blog address is shelliealmondministries.com! Please check it out and follow me there ! I will leave this blog up for 3 wks and at that time I will be deleting it! Thanks for sharing this journey with me ! those of you have followed my health and prayed for me here is the latest updates ! 

 March 1st marked one year of the surgery that caused a some very serious health conditions ! I have gone through two major heart Surgeries and a major lung surgery all in one year.... there was a point I couldn't walk, I wore oxygen and all I did was exist from one moment to the next. It is a year later and though I am not 100% God has done some amazing things ! I can walk in assisted, I no longer in need for any help of oxygen, I am slowly gaining energy back ! I seen the heart doctor on March 1st and received a wonderful report ! They can not hear a pericardial rub which is a good sign that there is no fluid on the heart ! We will repeat a echo cardiogram in April to be sure ! The longer my body can go with out the return of fluid the better chance we have that it won't return ! He has however referred us to see a rheumatologist, he is concerned there is more to the story ! We see them on Wednesday ! Help us pray if that is the case we will finally get the answers to the puzzle ! We also seen the pulmonologist last Wednesday and we got a wonderful report ! Although the base of the left lung is unchanged as far as healing. It will never function again, he was pleased that my O2 stats hold their own in the high 90's! We were released from him unless something would arise and we would need to see him again ! Gods healing in His time !

   It has been a long journey but well worth the wait ! I have a ways to go, until I receive what I know He has for me I will praise Him in the hallway ! For my Jesus doesn't halfway do any thing !

thank you for stopping by ! 

    I pray your week is filled with blessing beyond compared

Finding your purpose....

   
Jeremiah 29:11 says it best I believe, For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. ESV.
     Jerimiah is reaffirming what God has placed in our hearts before we were even born into this world. God has a purpose for each and everyone of us! He has things He has placed in our hearts He wants us to do to benefit His kingdom! The real queastion is are we fullfing them...
   At the beginning of the new year I made a list of goals for 2017. I want to see many things come to pass this year... I know God has place many things in my heart to be done for His glory.
    However I have found myself pondering on the thought why have I not brought these things to pass before now... honestly I don't have an answer for my own question.
    My continued health issues have made me to see things in a different perspective than ever before. I find myself longing to do things I have not been able to enjoy like sewing...
 One of the things I have always wanted was my own 18 inch doll clothes boutique. My girls are way past the age of playing with them. Yet that is my favorite thing to sew. I so want to write a children's book and have the outfits for girls to dress their dolls and bring the book to life during play time! I have started a book on my story and have not completed it yet...
 Typing is hard at times .... yet I find myself yearning to do these things!
     Proverbs 16:3 says commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established. (ESV)
This is my prayer that the Lord will help me see these things through. My prayer is when I stand before Him one day I can say I used all of my talents and purposes, that He placed in my heart to do.
I had a MRI a week ago, the findings were not what we had hoped for, my right arm and hand go numb and stays cooler than the rest of my body and wakes me up in the middle of the night in excruciating pain! The MRI showed compressed disk in my c5 and c6. However because we went through this last year with my right leg, My family Dr. is concerned it might be MS. We will know next Thursday. I say these things because I don't want someone else to miss their God given purpose! Live each day to its fullest for the Kingdom! Now my family and I are not believing in what the doctors think! We are claiming healing and life into my situation! We are believing that my health will return, because I am better used healed for Gods glory !
  I am praising Jesus in the hallway for these things. So much so I intend to start sewing again! I want fulfil the the things God has placed in my heart! What are you putting off for another day? What if we miss our opportunity because we we think we have plenty of time to see it through....
      What is it God has placed in your heart to complete? I hope you find time to see it through! I will be praying you do! I can't wait to share with you the things I get done for my Jesus! If you think of it please lift up my name in prayer ! For God makes no mistakes ! We are trusting in healing! Praying for each of you thanks for stopping by....  💜Shellie
                                     

It Is Well ......

Yesterday was one of those days we dread so much.... You know the phone rings and the caller on the other line has bad news! For our family those phone calls seem to come to quick and so close together! When the caller is informing your family has just lost another loved one. 

My niece and nephew lost their Dad unexpected yesterday.

It's in those moments I have found I think we all reflect on our lives.... I know all too well the pain of loosing a father... This year will mark 17 yrs.... my has time so quickly went by us? 

The Bible gives the best comfort for times like this a promise , for those of us who choose Him to be our savior, we will close our eyes in death and open them in His presence! One day I will see those who love Him and asked Him into their heart again one day soon!

Yet even still the grief of a loss will still be very profound in our lives, as we grieve the loved one.

Through out my life I have learned grief comes in many different forms. It's not always because a loss of a loved one though that sparks grief! 

All though I do believe that is one of the most crippling griefs there is! 

Jesus even grieved his friend Lazarus  in John 11:35.

I have found myself grieving things this year, that did not pertain to actual death.

I have grieved the loss of health, the ability to do things I once could do with such ease, the loss of what my appearance once was, I have grieved being the wife I have worked so hard to be, grieved not being able to work in the ministry 100%. 

I know you may think that all these things sound so selfish to grieve the loss of such carnel things. Yet it's just the opposite, being able to openly grieve them in my heart has helped me grow. Even still I find my self saddened every now and then when I look back over 2016.

 However that grief has taught me that although I have some pretty serious health issues, I serve a God that has performed miracles and protected me from death not once but twice, in just one year! My health may not be perfect but I am super thankful for the health I have. Not having to carry oxygen everywhere I go, no longer depending on a wheelchair or a walker! My legs have been restored as well as my heart and lungs! Although I struggle with chronic fatigue and I still need help with lots of daily activities God choose to leave me here and draw my family closer to one another.

Although I have gained weight due to in mobility and meds, my body is marked by multiple scars from major surgeries this year. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the most beautiful part of someone is their heart not their outward appearance. Each scar tells a beautiful story of grace and love of a mighty savior! 

My hubby is the most patient man in the world I believe, all though carrying the burden of my responsibilities and his, it has been done with such love always reminding me all things will come in time .... As far as ministry goes God has constantly reminded in in my heart that I am doing exactly what He has for me too do at this moment. 

Grief can be used to grow us in the darkest moments of our lives. However we have to choose to allow Him to grow us! Wether it's a loss of a loved one.... I have lost a lot over the years a father,all of my grandparents but one, a sister and a nephew who was like a brother.... Each loss has taught me a great deal! God will never leave you nor forsake you in your time of need! What are you grieving? Will you give to Him and let Him heal what we can not? Will you let Him grow you and love you? I promise it will be worth the time and effort... give Him your grief and  fears.... He promises beauty for your ashes....

All In His Time

    Ecclesiastes 3:1 says it best..... To everything there is a season, and a time to every person under the heaven!
     2016 has now came and gone and 2017 has greeted us with much joy and on going pain. My on going health struggle has brought so many things to light. Trusting God for what has not been seen or felt yet... I still believe total healing will come..... I have spent countless hours pouring over goals for 2017. I don't believe in resolutions... They are to easily broken... Goals in my state are achivievable.
    The one thing I want to achieve more than anything is to grow closer to my Jesus. To spend quality time above the already study time with Him.... He has placed so many beautiful things in my heart to accomplish in 2017. It's going to take being truly focused on Him and praising Him in the hallway for things I need physically and haven't received healing for yet....
   My health struggle has been hard and changed my life in many ways! My prayer is too always let others see the amazing God I serve in all I do! Even when it's a struggle to type.
         I have truly realized over the past year that God will even use the broken pieces that I thought no one could restore... To revitalize someone else's heart....
   We all go through deep valleys in our life when we feel like the cartoon character who is using a straw to breathe as they are treading water trying not to drown in the flooding storm. I have found it's how we use these times that really grow us for Jesus!
2 Corinthians 9:10 says, Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.God has given each of us, our own resources! He wants to show them to us, but are we really ready to see them? Are we ready to truly use them? He wants us to see the kindness, goodness, and love.Even in the hardest of circumstances. What are you battling this morning? Is it your health, is it relationship problems, maybe spiritual issues? How are you going to see this challenge? Are you going to give up and be the victim to all who is watching? Or will will see the goodness that has or is coming by acting like the victor ! After all God word will stand true ! Pray it back to Him, show Him your standing firm in you battle. Instead of asking why me, why not ask why not me! Watch as your story unfolds before you as never before.
Thank you for stopping by today... I pray something has touched your heart enough to stand and fight, for the victory God has for you! Just remember how you see the battle won may not be how it
 Plays out! Just keep remembering who knows the endo of your story!
                              Praying your day is filled with many blessings today!

Happy Thanks Giving

The sun had started  peeking through the blinds early this morning, as Jesus was saying rise in the quite and spend time with me .... the fleshly part of me wanted to pull the covers back up and find a more comfortable spot on the chase and sleep a little longer, the spiritual girl in me said it's time to rise girlfriend. So I did just that sleeepy, sore, moving very slow. I pepped talked my way into the family room inside the big house and did just that....
      That's when it hit me Thanksgiving is just next week ! How could that be ? Another year has almost slipped by and gone and a new year with new possibilities are just around the corner ..... the sun was coming through the window warm as a spring day .... I took sometime to reflect at what this year has held... I knew I would have a little bit before I would have coffee restrictions means you need help and you don't push it lol....
    So as I waited I asked the Lord to help me see the things I didn't see... for one reason or another ...
   He spoke to this heart and said it's all been for a reason.... this has been a tough year for my family... however I have seen His hands and feet prints all over us.
     We have became closer family... we are not as rushed and take time for one another. We realize each day is a gift and that it can be taken as quickly as it is given.
  That the things we learned early in ministry has prepared us for such a time as this.... We are seeing His promises come to pass...
    I have learned I am beautiful no matter what the world thinks because I am made in the image of God.... The worlds views are not applicable. I am invited because God has invited me and He loves me dearly.
That my husband and my relationship is stronger than it has been in years ! He will provide for us in more than one way! He wants to bless us ... all He ask is for us to follow Him even when it can be really scary... if we just let him lead He will bring blessings you can't even imagine....
     I am beyond thankful for moments like this morning. Reflecting on all He has done for us. These are just a few things at best .... trust me there are many more...
    As you gather with family with the week to come be sure to look back on the year God has given you ... Thank Him for all those blessings we have to be thankful for...
Trust me there will be many who may be facing battles they never excepted .... However I know of a Mighty God who doesn't make mistakes .... that's why sometimes we have to praise Him in the hallway and on mountain... Hope all of you have a Happy Thanks Giving! Love and prayers thanks for stopping by.

You must crawl before you walk ....

There has been many moments and I have wondered why God choose me for this life ....I have truly endured quite a bit these 40 years I have been in this world.

However all that I have been through has not compared to what I have faced this year.

I know that sounds absolutely insane ... 

The Bible teaches me that the Lord will not put more on me than I can bare. However we often miss the part of the verse that says with out a way of escape. 

On March 1,2016 everything I knew as normal was changed.

I went in for a very simple knee surgery that turned into a medical nightmare.

I had a heart surgery on April17,2016 for a heart problem that stemmed from that surgery. Life from that moment was changed.

I seen my family and ministry in a way I hadn't in a long time .... I noticed how busy this world makes us! 

How we let petty things get in the way of spending time with our family. Most of all spending quality time with our Lord.

Making our spouse feel like they are our number and our kids have our attention. 

It made pay closer attention ! 

However I am human when weight gain became a huge issue and when I struggled keeping up with everyday life, I felt like less of a woman....

After all I am only human right ... it's okay to have as I like to say moment of weakness lol.

I was praying and asking God why His answer seemed to be no... if it was would He please help me to accept the answer He had chosen for me. I wanted to be all I could be for Him no matter what!

I started to add more daily things back into my life. I returned to children's ministry, cleaning the house, preparing most of the meals, going to town, I took a trip with just me and my youngest , I even  led a Homeshool co-op. I may have been tired all the time but I was trying to make the best of what God had given me for my right now.
Among the task of making my family number two because Jesus will always be my number 1!
It was the beginning to mid September I had an allergic reaction and missed our church ice cream social. My amazing husband and girls went on with out me. I am not sure I will ever forget the panic in my daughters voice on the phone when it woke me up. Her Dad was in tremendous pain and vomiting she was taking him to the nearest ER. I could hear the fear in her voice. I told her then o would find a way to the hospital to be with them. Turns out he had a rather large kidney stone. He had battled them one time before, ten years ago. This would be the begenimg of a new battle for our family. My sweet dear hubby who never complains was in tremendous pain. He would spend the night in the hospital and have his stone blasted. After he endured the stone for a week!
It was the morning of his procedure I knew something was very wrong. I was short of breathe more than usual and the pain in my chest was the worst it had ever been ....
On the following Monday I would have a echocardiogram and be transported to Presbyterian hospital in Charlotte by ambulance!
My heart had a moderate pericardial effusion and the bottom left lobe of my lung had collapsed due to fluid on the outside of my lung !
 The roller coaster of a ride was just beginning... I was put to sleep back to back to endure very painful test... that would lead to the decision that I would need a very major heart and lung surgery.I needed a thoracotomy . This way my new medical team could access both my heart and lungs at the same time. I would come out of surgery with a eleven inch incision underneath my left shoulder blade, reaching under my arm and a chest tube.
The first few days are a blur honestly the whole hospital stay and the first few weeks were... I remember bits and pieces but not much.... I turned fourty three days after surgery and I vaguely remember it. The things I do remember are the things nightmares are made of.
However what I have learned through all of this has been life changing. God wasn't saying no ....Just hold on ...He wasn't finished yet! He had a plan I just needed to wait for Him to finish it! I feel the best I have felt since March. Except for recovery of surgery which has not been a walk in the park lol.
He showed me my husband loves me beyond words ! He has cared for me around the clock. Never leaving my side until two weeks ago when he returned to work or to preach.
He has told me countless time how beautiful I was to him even when I felt like a blimp. I gained 15-20lbs of fluid . Which I have now lost! God showed me that my family and their well being had to come first after Him! That same scared look I seen in March and April was now and is back in their eyes ....  As a wife and mom thTs hard to see and reassure them each cough you have and each grunt from pain is just part of healing that we are getting there .
He showed me the scale is just a scale that beauty starts within that I would only feel as beautiful as I let myself feel... The number on the scale does not defy me no more than my past gets too! Now don't take me wrong I have tried to eat healthier and I have to drink a very precise amount of fluids and surprisingly. But you won't here me complain.
I have learned to hand things off to people delegating is very important.
It's okay to take care of me and let someone else handle things.
Don't sweat the little things if it don't get done today there is always tomorrow and it will be okay!
I truly feel like the things we go through are ment to grow us....Just like a baby normally will crawl before it walks.... I have learned slow down and enjoy this gift called life He has given to me ! It may not be perfect but it's mine !
Since I have been home I have spent all of October at besides Dr appointments. Until this week, I have finally healed enough to wear a special bra my sweet hubby found me. I am still very slow and sore ... Yet very blessed!
This week I will attend my first church service since mid September! I am super excited !
My family does not celebrate halloween, it has been a 21 year tradition to put our Christmas tree on that day. We celebrate light over darkness..... so one of the first things My hubby said I asked him after surgery is that he would promise my tree would go up!  Guess what with the help from my girls and my hubby my home is decked out in Christmas !!!! He even put two trees up for me ! One in the main house and one in the apartment where I am having to spend most of my time!
I am a very blessed lady, even though we are still awaiting an up coming echo on my heart to make sure the effusion has stayed gone ! I know in my heart I have been healed ! I also have learned to take everyday as it comes....  He is in control and no matter what I am blessed to have a heavenly Dad who loves me so very much! So if you think of me please continue to pray! I have very strict restrictions that last through November! I have upcoming appointments and test. I will try to update here as often as I can.... thank you for stopping by and know I am sending love and prayers your way!
I would like to close with a few pictures ! I hope you enjoy them!

 Here is our skating rink it's a family