Grace is

when each of us are feeling ever so badly;

he lets me rest in bed for hours

dreaming away fevers

while he makes lunch for the sweet little monkies

then we switch

and he's in bed

i'm downstairs feeling miserable too

making dinner

no one complains

over a bowl of noodles and sauce

an early bedtime

no complaints from the littles

darkness and sleep

coughing occasionally

taking turns shooing away monsters

and praying for sweet dreams.

Grace: His Eye is on the Sparrow

Photosource: Here

I think it's really cool when you can reflect back on something negative and see God's guiding hand throughout the whole situation. If he really cares so much about those abundant little brown birds...why do I worry about how things will turn out in my own situations?? A good reminder to just trust Him through all circumstances.


Problem: Nov 2011, Car completely shuts off on husband's way to work.
God: It was less than a mile from our house and I was able to tow him home with our truck.

Problem: Nov '11, Fuel pump needs to be replaced, and now truck needs an overhaul...leaking coolant. Also, a trip is planned for us to drive our truck to around 800miles round trip for Thanksgiving. Purchased parts from the internet for the truck, and autozone for the car. Spent a lot of money, but much less had we taken them to a mechanic. Our mechanic slipped in the shower and broke his hip. Trip is in 3 days.
God: A friend at church is a city mechanic (he works on all the city's vehicles from tractors to govt cars) He can help us get our truck road trip ready. We returned the fuel pump and got some $$ back. He told us we didn't need any of the parts we ordered online, so we could return all of them. He said we did need a gasket from the dealership to seal the coolant tank from leaking.

Problem: The gasket was nearly $200 and it was the day before Thanksgiving. The day we were supposed to be leaving on our trip.
God: Husband arrived at dealership, and asked about the part. The dealer told my husband the price. My husband said,
"ahhh man, my family's going on a trip today, can you do a little better on the price?"
The dealer said,
"no."
A quiet older gentleman was observing from the side...he spoke up...and said,
"Get me your manager."
The manager enters, and the older man says,
"C'mon, you guys need to give this young man a break. He's got a little family, and they are heading out of town today. I know you can do better than that price. You KNOW who I am right?!"
The price was knocked down to $30. Yes, $30!!
(husband asks older gentleman WHO he is, and finds out he had just bought 2 cars in full with cash the day before...so the dealers wanted to treat him right.) And God used him as our angel that day.
Part was replaced and we were on our way to Denver to celebrate Thanksgiving with our best friends.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Needless to say, we didn't get our car fixed right away. Our truck has been a lifesaver for my husband. He's used it everyday and it's been working great. For me, it's been a long long long four months with only one vehicle, but this weekend changed everything.

March 2012 Our car is finally running. Our awesome friend rebuilt a wiring system that was fried. It would have cost us soooo much money to replace. We bought our fuel pump... again. and everything is right and ready to go. Now, we are just airing out the car, because it smells like gasoline. (another blessing, the fuel pump is located under the back seat, so the only thing needed to get to it was to remove the seat.)

God has had His hand on the entire situation. Because He loves us. He cares about us.

Matthew 6:25-34

New International Version (NIV)

   ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[a]?

   ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

copied from source: Biblegateway.com

This post is part of a world wide link up with Gracelaced Mondays. Click on the box below and find more inspiring stories of Grace laced in the everyday.

Grace in sickness and in health

It was a gorgeous week last week

Spring

Blue, cloudless skies

and even though i was weak with sickness almost everyday

there were still those precious and few moments

where i could

step outside and enjoy it

2Cor 12:9

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. NIV 

this post is part of a linkup with Gracelaced. You should click the box and check out other glimpses of Grace across the world.

Thanksgiving Thursday 91-104

There's a lot to be thankful for this week...even though it was one of those weeks where I was sick.

91. Little lady's lovely birthday
92. Snow. on her birthday, just like her brother had snow on his.
93. unseasonably warm weather...for treks to the park

94. Freebies in the mail (this week it was pure minerals foundation samples and Zevia)

95. InLaws who came over to take care of the kids while I rested after being sick through the night.

96. Exciting news from a friend.

97. Being one step closer to both our vehicles working again. :)

98. Silly silly kids.

99. planning a visit from best friends sometime this summer

100. a hubby who takes care of me when sick.

101. a corner store we can walk to to pick up a few things later today.

102. new motivation for old resolutions

103. exciting ideas to make our backyard lovely

104. new mercies

I'm linking up again with  a punk, a pumpkin, and a peanut for thankful thursdays. :)

Happy Birthday, Grace

My fiesty

silly

demanding

strong

intelligent

dramatic

tender

imaginative

creative

artsy

foodie

FOUR year old!!

I thought you'd be a boy. U/S proved otherwise. God gave me you, Grace.

I thought you'd gaze at me with eyes wide, soaking in the bright lights, but eyes were closed tight and lungs were loud with the sound of life, Grace.

I didn't think you and I would ever bond, your witching hour coming on, everyday the same time. But like a sudden breeze, your nightly crying would soon cease, and we could really get to know you, Grace.

I don't know how to be a mom to a girl, but you sit beside me and demand your nails be painted, and you're so still, not to ruin the lovely shades of pink and orange and blue and purple...my pretty, Grace.

You surprised me and delighted me with your singing, now we sing duets nightly and enjoy sweet hymns, my Amazing Grace.

Happy Birthday my sweet girl with the middle name so appropriate...Grace.

I'm linking, as usual, this Monday with lots of other ladies across the country to Gracelaced Mondays.

Filled to Fullness

John 1:16
From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. (NIV)

Ephesians 3:16-19 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (NIV) Being FULL of God. So full, that the puzzle and mystery of my life doesn't stress me out, that i don't need to worry about what comes next, how will we pay for this and that... but that I would be able to see the blessings He has given to me. My prayer today. Childlike excitement over finishing their 20 piece puzzle. together. without fighting and arguing. that was a blessing. resting, without fear or insecurity. in a house that isn't her home. isn't that how we should live our lives? without worry..knowing that even though this world is not our home, our Father will protect and provide for us. because He LOVES US. Filled to Fullness...the FULLNESS of the knowledge of the love that Christ gave to us, undeserved, yet passionately not because of who we are. not because of what we've done, but because He wants us. Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (NASB) This post is part of a linkup that anyone is free to join. Finding Grace Laced within our lives.

thanks

 8. the thrill of the hunt and the excitement of the catch (thrifting for pyrex)
 9. the scale moving in the right direction
10. sunshine piercing cold blue skies
11. late night table top chats with my best friend
12. new ideas
13. freshly baked grain free granola ;)
14. soft, freshly washed hair on my sweet little girl