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

Milestones...

I'm so sorry I been gone for so long again ! That was not what I have intended to do at all ! Life has been busy and different ... Trying to find my groove again and realizing that this may be my new normal, well it's tiring ... So I hope you will bear with me. There has not been any real change or answers .... We have decide that whatever God decides we will call it a blessing and be happy no matter what! 

    The only changes we have heard from the doctors as of right now is there has been a huge effect on my liver due to some of the meds... It's now importance to loose weight and I will have to return my clean eating diet... However that's not a bad thing ... I am blessed to have another day! I want to be here to see all the amazing things God has for this life He's given me and the milestones of my family ! So as hard as it was I was able to walk a mile today.... That's extremely hard for someone who's heart rate is all over the place and oxygen levels are to low at times .... However God gave me strength ! He promises that We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength !( Phillipians 4:13) 

 So this journey is a day by day journey... We will see where God leads .... My beautiful family is gonna rally with me on this ! Of course if we want to have a treat we can .... After all we only live this life once...

      We actually just returned from a much needed week of vacation at the beach! This has been one of my favorite vacations we have ever taken ! We didn't really do a whole lot , except spend time together as a family! We played cards at night...Jody and the girls went to the pool or beach some during the day ... I would go as I felt like it ! On Friday we rented a resort umbrella and stayed on the beach all day that day for the most part... We went shopping one day! I was able to walk the Tanger outlets with the assistance of my oxygen ! However by the time we made it to Broadway at the beach I was too tired and my hubby rented me a scooter so the girls could enjoy their shopping in the 104 degree weather lol! We went for ice cream and really just enjoyed each other ! I never once felt overwhelmed or frustrated with my limitations .... I felt blessed with the opportunity to make new memories and have the modern convinces I have today! To make it a lil easier .... 

  God is an amazing God ! I just want Him to know I thank Him for all blessings big and small ! 

I am gonna have to take my own advice ... Remind myself the size of my jeans does not make me pretty or what others think either ! It's the  unique creation  God made when He made me that makes me beautiful ! So with that being said I hope you enjoy some of the pictures from our vacation ...

Please continue to pray for me on this journey... I can't help but quote my favorite verses each day as when I need a boast of encouragement ....

But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not faint!

 He is enough each and everyday !!!!

Hope you enjoy the pictures below! More than anything thanks for stopping by and your prayers ! 

   

                                             The view from our balcony

                                  

                                        Our first full morning at the beach

                                My girls favorite breakfast of all time !!!

                          

I felt like Mav from Hotel Transylvania 2 hehehe here ! It was like I was sacred of the sun light !

                              

                                                On our way to Tanger

                                         

                       No beach trip would be complete if Christian didn't get a heana tattoo

                                                     Beach reading material

                                   

                                         Under the umbrella still wearing my hat lol

                                    

                                                     I could stay here for forever 

        

                                                                 My beautiful girls 

                                     

   

                                             I'm so blessed God choose them to be mine 

                                       

                                                      Love this man beyond words ....

                                        

            Never be ashamed of your battle ...  You never know who your inspiring .......

Let her play .....

                      

     

    I miss the soft pitter patter of feet on the floor in the morning, the countless hours of playing barbies and babies, sewing for hours for A life of Faith , setting up Barbie and doll houses ... Playing for hours and most of all planning and having tea!

        My girls are teens now and for the most part these days have ended ....'now don't take me wrong we have plenty of fun now, in just a different way !

    Being a Mom is the third best gift God could have ever given to me ... My #1 gift is salvation and my #2 is my sweet hubby! Being a Mom has brought so much joy to my life! I actually can not wait till the time  to be lil granny in real life you know 50yrs down the road! Hehe.....

      For want ever reason I woke up this morning and this thought was so strongly on my heart ..... It was Imporant you taught them to Play and even more Imporant to teach the Boundries .... 

    That very moment I felt like God said you weren't a bad Mom when everyone else was putting there dolls away and trading them in at 10 for make-up and cell phones .... Instead I insisted cell phones waited till 14-15 and make- up no earlier than 13...

       I monitored t.v time, what books they read, who their friends were, what they looked at on the Internet..... I wanted to keep them safe and teach them the importance of acting their age and enjoying the easy years.... Adulting is hard ..... I don't always want to be one lol... Five sounds like a perfect age ... Naps playing all day... You know the easy stuff lol.... However I am thankful that God allowed me to be a Mom....

    Now that they are older I find myself protecting them from even more than ever in a more serious manner.... I want them to,save themselves for marriage, choose wise friends, Pray God would lead them to The One He created just for her !!!! I want them to have a strong relationship with God , to know what He says is right and wrong! Trust me this world is not where I want them getting that info from... I want them to pray about what God has called them to do..... The list goes on for days I promise .... Are they perfect nope ... Are they going to make mistakes...YES ! Even though neither of them have ever done anything to horribly bad .... I realize this world has a lot more pressures for them as teens and young adults than there ever was when I was a kid ! I want them to know they can ask me anything! Tell me anything! Am I always gonna like it .... Ummm.... Nope, however I am sure Gods not always to happy with me either .... He never turns me away.... I recently heard a story of how when a young man was young he messed up,and the church and his family turned their backs on them... Now let me make this clear ! My kids have not done anything to prompt this blog post ! It's just what God laid on my heart ...

     I am a Pastors wife .... I honestly could never turn my back on some one because they sinned! Not now anyways .... I can remember being apart of a movement years ago you must look  and act a certain way or God wouldn't love you .... I am so glad God removed those blinders from my eyes ! He saved me washed dirty ole me up and loves me !!!! If He can do that for me ! He can and will for anyone who ask ! The problem is we have lost a whole generation because, we set our standard so high even for our children we have bacame unapproachable ..... Ohh my..... What if God was that way? 

    I'm so glad He isn't .... So as I prayed this morning .... In my heart I felt Him reminding me ....my our doing good at this Mom thing ! Your not perfect.... 

I thought for a moment and asked myself do my kids know they can tell me anything and know that they are always loved , always have a home, and always forgiven ..... Dad reminded me yes .... They do because right after heart surgery Jody and yourself set down and told them that.... 

       My oldest is 20 and my youngest now 16.... Some advice from a seasoned Mom.... It's Imporant she play's and is taught to be a kid and it's just as Imporant to teach them to be healthy teens, in their hearts minds and relationships .... Practice talking about the hard stuff... You want those talks to come from you not the world... You know the one I am thinking about .... Why it's important to save yourself for marriage .... Have an open rule you can go through their phone and computer .... Be sure to actually do it.... They may not tell you this right now! But they will love you for it in the end I promise ! Just remember this the Bible says this ....

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it!

Moms you do the training don't let the world be their influence ....

 Praying for all of you ! Hope you have an amazing weekend ! 💜Shellie

Sweet Surprises.....

   

                     

I am a tru believer that God sends certain people to be in your life for a season and other for a lifetime! I am truly blessed for many that He has sent to be here for the long haul....

    

  As most of you know I have battled some serious health problems the past few months.... Sometimes a doctor is not what is needed .... It's medicine for the soul.... I truly believed I received some of that today .... One of my very best friends was able to come for a visit with her sweet kiddos today! I haven't seen them in almost 2 years .... My how time flies.....

 

   I hadn't realized just how much I missed talking over coffee and catching up.... Sharing stories of encouragement with one another .... Till you have that opportunity ....

While I was bed bound I realized each day is a gift and so are the people who come along beside us and lift us up along the way ..... I was reminded that even Jesus had his close knit set of friends ...His go to guys .... You know the ones who always had His back.... I have made some of those relationships since we moved back to our home town .... However they can never replace the ones you leave behind ... 

    I have decided that I need to make it priority to nurture these relationships and go see them... I miss them and need them in my life I can't imagine life with out them.... If Jesus needed His twelve then I must need my own as well... 

  When is the last time you reconnected with some one you once were super close to and have lost that intamcy in your friendship? Whether it is due to miles or just a busy life .... Consider taking time out and making a point to remind that person you miss them and you need them in your life ... 

    I will leave you with this thought from the Bible :

12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

13Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. John 15:12-14

      How can we deny Gods Word He requires us to love on another .... When is the last time you reminded that special friend you love them and your praying for them..... 

 Thank you for stopping by... Until next time I will continue to pray for you guys ... Hope you will do the same for me .... -💜Shellie

Morning thoughts .....

     

                                     

  One of my favorite things in the world to hear is the early morning chirping of birds....

It's as if they wake up and instantly start singing praises to Jesus.... 

   This is what woke me this morning.... Was the sound of a beautiful chirping outside my bedroom window.... I just laid there and listened to the beautiful song it sang for a little while.... Till the buzzing on the highway right out side busted through with the sounds of traffics ....

       A thought came to my mind how busy our lives have became .... We are constantly on the go ....

 We miss so much of the beauty and wonder this beautiful world has to offer us ....

      That beauty is something money can never buy .... We must just slow down and enjoy the creation set out before us!

 God is so very creative He paints the sky for us each and everyday .... He sets our own lives in Motion with so much beauty to behold .... But when was the last time we slowed down to actually enjoy it?

     Over the past few months I have Been slowed way down from my fast paced life.... It wasn't by choice, but sickness has a way of making sure you slow yourself .... Ohh how it has slowed me ....

    Each day I reclaim a little more of what I lost ... Thank you Jesus for answered prayers! 

  However as I was laying there this morning I realized even more I want to be intentional in how I live my life! I want to enjoy the things around me not buzz through life watching it blurr by us....'I want to watch the butterflies outside my window, listen to the birds sing, look at the beautiful wonders all around me ! 

    I recently decided I needed a schedule to follow.... It will help me be intentional with what I do for my family and ministry, it will also make me spend some time writing .....

      But when I start this schedule I want to make sure there is time to enjoy the simplicity of life! 

To enjoy one another and not caught up in social media .... I may even start putting my phone away a certain time each evening so I am only focused on my family .... Being intentional with my time with them making memories .... Now my girls are older 20 &16.... So our hours of playing dolls are over for the most part.... 

     However there is still a lifetime of memories to make .... Make them count ..... Enjoy the sound of their laughter .... I promise you won't regret it.... Listen to the birds sing.....

  Thanks for stopping by .... Praying you all have a wonderful weekend ..... ❤️Shellie

Sorry it's been so long....

    

                     

Wow it's been a wild few weeks ....'I'm so sorry I haven't blogged much! I promise to try to do better! I have had a lot on my plate .... 

My favorite verse stands so true ! But those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

      I have regained all strength in my legs and I am able to walk! God sure is good ! Learning to be patient is extremely hard for me ! I so want to be able to do everything I am used to doing with out any draw backs .... However that's not been the case .... I still have a pocket of fluid surrounding the whole heart however it is decreasing! I still struggle with pericarditis symptoms. Pain, shortness of breathe, and swelling. I struggle my hardest with fatigue.... Up and down O2 stats make out door activities really hard when it's hot !

 Through everything that is all said and done I am still one blessed girl. I have learned so very much from all of this.... I have learned to let people help, the house does not have to emasculate to be considered clean, I must listen to my body it's really Imporant to take care of myself,

That material things can be replaced, and weight is just a number on the scale its doesn't define wether or not I am pretty..... 

  Many mile stones have passed , I graduated off my oxygen till 3 nights ago .... Jody cleaned the bathroom with Lysol and the chemical smell really affected my lungs ... So we are learning more everyday that somethings may never be the same again.... 

     We celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary !!!! We went to a wonderful little restraunt in a near by town and had a wonderful dinner and instead of going out of town we decided to get a gazebo for our back patio ... Given the fact my stamina is that of a turtle .... We decide to put off going away for a few months when my strength is better.... We ended our evening with having my wedding rings cut off my fingers at the local fire department .... My hands had swollen over the rings cutting off circulation... Causing quite a bit of pain and a whole lot of tears...

    I was reminded that night it was a material object it didn't replace our love for one another ..... In a few months when I stop swelling I will have them fixed .... Until then well..... I will be ringless lol!

    My first Sunday in children's ministry will be this coming Sunday ! I am excited and nervous at the same time! I won't be full time for a few more months .... However just to be there makes my heart so happy ! 

      I have been able to do some sewing ! I sewed some of my favorite things doll clothes ! Just because it's my favorite to create ....

           We have planned a family vacation for July ! I am so excited to just get away .... Although I can get around I don't go out much because it takes so much  out of me ! I can't wait to spend a week looking at the ocean .... We plan to have a laid back vacation and not rush the whole time ! That excites me ! Because I know my sweet hubby and kids need it as much I do !!!

       So bear with me when I am here and gone again each day brings new challenges...

Each day I try to regain a responsibility that was once mine .... Some days it works out great other days not so much .... So until we see where all of this has left me I will continue to be patient ! I know I have been healed by the Word of God! He's got this !!!! Thanks for stopping by ! Below are some pictures of some of my work and favorite things ! Praying for you guys ! 

                           

              

                             

                       

                                                 

                                

                            

                          

                           

                            

                            

                              

             

                                 I made a strawberry and cream cake from  scratch !

                               

              

                     My new favorite place in late evenings and early mornings !!!