Category Archives: Embrace

We are not our scars

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I was thinking about posting a picture of my scarred knees but I thought, ‘goodness, no one really wants to see a picture of my knees!’
So you’ll have to trust me when I tell you my knees look ridiculous plastered with scars.

 

When I was a little girl I was riding my bike and i began to swing the handle bars back and forth. My siblings were riding along with some friends.  I wasn’t thinking, obviously because I flipped over when the handlebars turning back and forth tripped up my bike.  I had a huge gash on my forehead and my knees were banged up pretty bad.  I don’t remember how I got home but I do remember sitting on the bathroom toilet and my momma bandaging me up saying something to the effect of ‘oh my’.  After that my dad got us helmets, knee pads, and elbow pads.  See, I have great parents! They’re the best. :)

But those wounds healed eventually and although i managed to re-open the knee wounds all the time at the age of 23 they are now scars.  When I see them I think about the time playing basketball while rollerblading before awana. Where was my head!? I tripped of course and skinned my knee up.  These scars are reminders of where i’ve been.

I was riding in the car today on our way home from playgroup when a song came on the radio by Jonny Diaz called ‘scars’.

How awesome is that message!
I pretended to know the lyrics and sang along thanking God that I don’t have to hide emotional scars!
I thought about all the sins of my past, friends that hurt, a marriage that caused wounds, and I thought about how God tended to those wounds, bandaged me saying ‘oh my’ but loving me all the same.  They healed by the hand of God and now they’re scars that are reminders of where i’ve been but NOT who I am.

Praise God we don’t have to hide scars!

I don’t know where you find yourself today but trust God heals painful wounds and when all that remains is a scar know the truth that you aren’t those scars.  You are a new person in Christ, and His mercies are new everyday.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
(Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV)

Praying for you dear one!

~Laura~

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Recently I read through a post from a women who was truly upset over people not giving proper credit where credit is due. I felt guilty thinking back if i’ve ever slipped up and not properly cited an idea and then stopped myself. 
I’m sorry if in the past i’ve done a lousy job of doing that.  I wouldn’t ever walk into someone’s house and steal a candle sitting on their table so I don’t want anyone to think i’ve stolen anything from them.  :)  
There are such wonderful ideas out there for fixing up your home or different recipes and i’m simply inspired by them wanting to recreate that in the life i’m living. 
Lets have some grace on each other though. 
So here’s our deal.
If I do have an original thought or idea..
use it! and don’t worry about giving me credit. I will just be happy that you are using something that I came up with.
We’re friends :)
This blog has been wonderful allowing connection with others, a chance to hear your stories, as well as grow closer to you.  There have been moments I wonder if anyone is checking in but I think that’s something us fellow bloggers do wonder. God has really stilled all those fears in me of not being good enough by teaching me  I have a story and a message of embracing my relationship with Him, marriage, motherhood, friendships, the military, etc that maybe just one more person needs to hear that she will know she’s not alone.  We were meant to do life together and that’s why I want to be here in this small way.
 Blogging is a humbling experience..but i’m grateful to have this corner to come and share.  Thank you for coming back and listening and also teaching me.
Okay! Enough on that…lets jump into all of these pictures!
are you ready? there’s a ton of them today :) but don’t we all love pictures when we’re too tired to read?
Spring banner!
I needed some cheer in our family room and this did it.
http://www.aholidayhaven.com/2012/01/free-printable-spring-banner.html
Now, please notice those pillows.  They’ve been with us for almost four years now and needed a little TLC.
I made these envelope pillow cases for them! I am a new at sewing but that was a lot of fun.
In my last post is a link for where I found this idea.
There is more story to these pillow cases but we’ll talk about them another time.

{I needed His words in my home.} 
And I went digging for a good printable and found this. LOVE it :)
http://onedogwoof.blogspot.com/2012/03/he-has-risen-printable.html
Easter is one of my favorites.

This picture didn’t come out too great but can i ask for your help in what to do in the front? Flower ideas that are inexpensive?  I have two empty pots hanging out on the porch. I’ve been weeding this last week so i’m ready to plant..but don’t have the know-how. :)
My Easter Decoration from Dollar General. $3

My in laws sent us a sweet box of goodies that we opened today.
This was in it! Adorable :) G and I read this book tonight. I saw a very cute peter rabbit picture at goodwill the other day for a few dollars and wanted to buy it to fix up G’s room in this theme but couldn’t justify doing that at this point.  Oh well!

Our Church had an Easter egg hunt that the little guy couldn’t get enough of.  It’s hard to believe he’s actually walking.
‘Look momma! I got one!’

I love this picture of him :) He is checking out all of his goodies.
We’re not done yet :)
Bag of Easter eggs draping on one arm and the diaper bag on the other I swung the door open cheerfully and looked over to THIS beautiful piece.  I swung back around and looked at my husband who was grinning ear to ear.
That man does love me.
He helped a friend move today and they were going to throw this away! Darren said ‘hey my wife would love this!’
That’s what i call love.  AND i don’t even need to touch it because it’s already my color. :) But..i don’t know what to do with it yet or where it will go exactly.  Ideas are welcomed!

AND then..I walked into the kitchen and he was putting this back together! They gave us this table too! Can you hear my excitement?  Sometimes life is good and God must love seeing his girl happy by allowing this stuff to happen.
I’m accepting our new budget and he is blessing that.


I have been walking a lot this week with a few moments of running in there as well as eating much better.  It’s all about moderation. :) I’m seeking freedom here but that’s another post :) anyways my husband brought these home and i treated myself to…TWO..
Am i the only one who wants to savor the freshness that first day? Two, three day donuts aren’t the same as first day, right?
Looks like it’s going to be a run tomorrow and not a walk!

Phew! are you still with me? Only a few more, I promise.
I bought this chalkboard for $1.48 and painted it..yes you guessed it, white!

I am still deciding where to hang it and how to make sure it doesn’t fall since It doesn’t have any hooks on the back.
~~~~~~*~~~~~
If not for the Navy I wouldn’t have found my way to this beautiful rental home.  I have been one happy girl living here and being able to make this our home.  The other night I teared up when I thought about having to move one day from this house, I wish we could take it with us.  Four bedrooms and two bathrooms, a nice fenced in backyard..well this is perfect for me!
But I’m going to live fully here in this home and not think about the future.  We’ll take it one day at a time. 
Are you loving where God has placed you? Or are you struggling feeling like the walls are caving in around you?
I don’t know where you live but here’s a few things i’d encourage you to do asap..
1.Let the light in! Open the shades or windows if warm enough
2.Take a walk (if it’s safe)
3.Buy a yummy smelling candle
4.Ask a friend to help you fix up a room
5.Browse some blogs and be inspired (don’t feel bad you don’t have what others do but do collect ideas)
6.Be thankful for what you do have and embrace where you’re at in life, sometimes you won’t feel like it and it will require a choice..but it’s worth picking a good one. :)
Praying and thinking about you tonight!
Thank you so much for stopping in today. :)

Deployment

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He hugs his pregnant wife and kisses her goodbye.
A man comes up and asks to shake his hand and says, ‘Thank you for your service’.
I choke back a sob.
Be strong Laura..just be strong and don’t cry.
He flashes a smile one last time and turns swinging that green sea bag over his shoulder.
Step after step he moves forward not looking back.
I climb into the car and I start to smile and I pray out loud thanking God for the beautiful day and for my husband.  I ask he’d keep him safe over the months to come and to keep us close.
Oh sweet friend are you walking through this season of deployment? Getting ready for one or are you anxiously awaiting the return of your man?
It’s hard. Don’t let anyone fool you otherwise.
There is nothing normal about having your husband gone for 6+ months.
But can I tell you what i’ve come to learn that i’d hope would encourage you too?
God WILL bless you and redeem that hard time.
The military may direct your families destination but God is in every detail orchestrating the path HE wants your family to be on. Trust Him and go willingly.  There is nothing worse then seeing a military spouse who goes kicking and screaming. I know because i’ve been there and it’s a shame.
You have to make a choice to accept the unfortunate circumstances of your husband’s departure and embrace God’s plan for your family.
Here are a few things that have helped me:
♦Spend time with God
♦See family
♦Pray without ceasing.  (For your spouse, family, and for strength.)
♦Get out of the house! (play group, over to a friends house, lunch or coffee dates with a girlfriend)
♦Serve God (I loved helping in the kids club at church).
♦Write letters, email, (and if you miss a call •breathe•or cry if that helps.) :) Don’t you hate when that happens!
♦It’s okay to cry some days.
♦Have the courage to square those shoulders and do life.
♦Remember the huge sacrifice you are making and see it as a gift to others.  You are in the 1% that serves this country and that’s an honor.  Be proud of your man.
♦Remember that God has chosen you for this. He will provide.
♦Don’t dwell on ‘who has it harder’ be thankful that you are able to go to sleep in your own bed, have the comforts of home and are relatively safe.
♦Choose to love him and work through any differences that arise during the time apart. It’s going to happen and miscommunication will occur but remember to seek the Lord always.
God is still writing my story and I have to admit that my stomach still turns into knots when we receive word my husband will be leaving.  There is not much glory in being a military wife but I have seen how God blesses an attitude that embraces and it’s incredible!
Don’t walk this road alone and defeated.  There are many other families facing the same thing so dare to get to know another women and reach out to her.
I have loved how different wives handle deployments differently because it gives me the right encouragement.  There is no one perfect way to handle a deployment.   These are some things that i’ve picked up from others that i’ve kept close to my heart because they’ve worked.
And to close..
Don’t ever forget that sweet moment when He walks back into your life with a smile and that embrace…oh that embrace is one you will NEVER forget!
Treasure that gift dear one.
I am praying for you today and hoping that you are doing well with whatever season you find yourself in today.
~Laura~
Would love to hear your stories on how you handle deployments!