August 7th: Hug Your Mama Day

I know, I haven't been on the blog for quite some time!

Me with my Mama when I was pregnant with my son.

As we get near the anniversary of my Mom's passing, I was trying to figure out how I would focus on the positive. Then, a thought came to me, how about we call August 7th "Hug your mama" day? It has been something I have been thinking about for weeks and a very dear friend encouraged me to do it.

Once I told my family they were completely on board! I don't know why, but I truly thought this was just going to be personal for myself, my family and my closest friends.  However, we decided to share it with everyone and quite a few people have decided to participate. And, we want as many people to participate as possible.

How do you participate?

Go to our face book page and like it:  Hug Your Mama 

This Friday, August 7th, post your pictures with you and your mama, or you with your loved ones on our Hug Your Mama page. 

*feel free to find a picture and post "in memory of" if your loved one has passed away

The goal is to share the love!

 

 

 

As a family in September we are participating in the Walk to End Lupus now.  If that is also something you want to participate in please get involved in some way!  You can participate by joining our team(virtually or in person) and you can also give financially to support the cause. More to come about Lupus next month!

 

To participate in any way click this link ---->My Tough Mama team page

 

Also, check out the website we have to honor our Mom: mytoughmama.net

 

I might just get back into this writing thing once again...

 

 

 



Love is patient, love is kind...

 

 

Love is patient, love is kind.

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,

 it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails.

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

Verse of the week: Psalm 139

 

 

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

¹ You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
    Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

Inspiration for the week

National Adoption Month and November to Remember with Younique

Did you know that it is National Adoption Month?!? As November seems to be flying by, and I'm trying to just keep afloat, I have a few fundraisers going on to support friends who will be adopting. It has been fun to be able to be in a position to pay it forward by having a blast with Younique.

Remember the widow I was supporting in Project Gillen?!? She is now re-married and they plan to adopt a sibling group.  I'm currently in the middle of an online party with Younique and I'm donating to their adoption costs.  If you want to participate in this party please visit this link: Leah's lash party and click on shop my party. This party ends on November 22, 2014.

And, today, I just started another adoption fundraiser for the Martindale family. They have 2 biological children of their own and are in the process of fundraising for an adoption. I get the honor of supporting them through this party: Martindale Adoption Fundraiser

Please let me know if you want to participate in any of these parties on Facebook. Or feel free to make your purchase through 1 of these parties.

And, if any of you are wondering what Younique is all about, please take a few minutes watch this video:

If the video isn't loading, here's the direct link to watch it: Younique November to Remember

I'm continually amazed at what is happening with this young company and am excited to continue to be able to not only wear these cosmetics, but share it with others.

Reflections on loss

Currently I'm going through Jennie Allen's study called: Restless.  It is so amazing to see how God works.  This week the study is on suffering and so many things spoke to me as I read what she wrote.

 

Here's a few quotes from Chapter 3:

You have to thank God for the seemingly good and the seemingly bad, because really, we don't know the difference.

 

He is not a God unfamiliar with suffering.

 

God wrote suffering into our stories and wants to redeem it for his glory.

 

 

I would have to say that losing my Mom is the biggest loss I've ever experienced. There are days I yell and scream at God because it is so hard to accept that my Mom is no longer on this earth.  It isn't easy being left behind. Of course I miss her and want to spend time with her.  To just live life with her.

 

But, amidst this grieving process, I can see God working.  So many people throughout the world, especially Dominica, have been touched by my Mom's life and the way she lived her life.  People are coming to know God because of how my parents met them and loved them.

 

I feel like I live with more purpose now.  To pay it forward and live openly for God.  Not that I wasn't doing this before, but God has a way of teaching that has reminded me that I'm not promised tomorrow here on earth.  Anything can happen and living boldly for God is definitely my priority.

 

I have peace knowing my Mom is no longer suffering physical pain.  She has been healed in more ways than one. Growing up I knew she was in pain, but as Lupus progressed her pain intensified. And, I know I will see her someday when we are reunited in heaven. I have to remind myself of these things on my roughest days!

 

I may not like what my summer of loss brought me.  And, quite honestly, grieving sucks.  But I'm trying to embrace the lessons God is teaching me.

 

Here's a quote from my Mom that I want to remember as I continue on this journey:

" when it comes to obedience to the call of God and my eternity...I will do whatever He asks of me."

 

 

**If you have experienced deep loss in your life, I highly recommend attending Griefshare.  I have only attended 1 class, but it is something I will continue attend.

 

And, for those interested in supporting the Church of the Nazarene in Dominica, here's an update from caringbridge about a Memorial for my Mom:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/carrienichols/journal/view/id/5452939fca16b4827c803e0e

 

 

 



Friday Fave: organizing at it's finest

Ok, so organizing is NOT my favorite thing to do. But when I find a thrifty way to organize that's quick and easy, that's my favorite! And, I'm starting to make progress on my office which has continued to stay a mess amidst the craziness of life. But my focus has changed. Instead of just closing the door and letting things pile up in that room I have decided it HAS to get organized! I've had this in my plans since moving into our house almost a year ago, but other things (survival) were my priority. And, my office is the 1 room my youngest doesn't go into, so instead of having that be my catch all room it needs to be my space...

 

This room also has my treadmill, Bubbles(yes I named my treadmill, now BACK OFF).

My office needs to stay clean just for my adventures in exercise. The rainy season is basically here in the Pacific Northwest and I'm ready to make sure Bubbles is ready to help me stay active (see, doesn't that sound more exciting than treadmill?!?).

Anyway, back to what I put together in a short amount of time. Do any of you have Quaker granola bar boxes at your house? I needed an easy way to store coloring books and construction paper.  Gather up those boxes and some duct tape for your creation:

 

 

 

There ya go, easy peasy!  Oh, the possibilities with this craft. Someday I'll make it look pretty with wrapping paper, but I needed the storage NOW!