Thursday, September 18, 2008

Lately...

"Have you ever doubted my heart for you? Is that why you find it hard to ask for My help when you are in such great need? Have faith in your heavenly Father. Know that my promises to you are true.
If you ask of Me, you will receive. Not on your terms, but on Mine. If you seek Me you will find Me; I will come to you. If you knock, I will open the door for you. I have spoken; I have promised; I have invited you to come to Me. Now I am waiting your response.
I long to spend time alone with you, My beloved. Sometimes it is hard for you to be transparent with Me when others are around. So get away somewhere private, in your room or in a quiet garden. And when you come to Me in secret, I will demonstrate My goodness to you before many. They will know of My love for you.
If you wonder whether I desire to bless you, think about this; Even evil people know how to give good gifts to their children. So just imagine how much more I not only want to do, but also can do for you, if you will just ask Me. For I am your heavenly Father, the Lord, Who delights in those who put their hope in My unfailing love."
Ps 147:11, Mt 6:6, 7:7-11, Jn 16:23-24, 1 Jn 5:14-15
** From my Worship Bible**
Be Blessed!
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It has been a busy few days and I have not been feeling good because of all this medicine. I am so tired of this, you have no idea. I just want to be healthy again so much. I cannot wait to exercise again and not have this dark cloud constantly hanging over me. Hopefully, this will all be over in a month. Please pray that it is.
It is easy when you are in a trial to think everybody else's life is perfect and that you are the only one who is suffering. I know that is not true but it's a sneaky lie that you believe...
and then you feel isolated and withdraw from people.
BUT, we are blessed beyond measure and I am, by God's grace, persevering and moving on with life as much as possible.
I am planning a Fall Party for a million little kids in our back yard. I am calling it a "Fear Not" Party since there are so many things to be afraid of around Halloween. It is not my favorite
holiday. I do not need scary, fearful things. No thanks. There are enough real things to fear.
So, my girlfriends and I are planning this party. I want it to be like the little carnival in Pollyanna. There will be a beanbag toss, hayride, sifting for treasures in our sandbox, limbo,
cupcake walk, fishing for toys, costume contests and even a kissing booth for mommys and daddys (5 min max ;)).
If you live near Chattanooga and want to come, email me for more info.
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We have been sticking close to home lately. Bubba had been sick, Lake's allergies are crazy and Reece had to get his kindergarten shots today. Thank goodness for insurance!!
Tim has had a few mornings off this week. I love being with him. I never get sick of him.
Last night I was home with the little ones sleeping while Tim and Reece were at church.
I found a box of keepsakes with a journal and pictures from our honeymoon and some cards he has written me over the years. I read and remembered... and cherished the memories.
Our honeymoon was amazing because we waited to have sex until we got married. We went to Maui where we stayed in a house on the rainforest side. It was just us and the Lord and it was absolutely magical. The house was on some cliffs by the ocean and there were horses in a grassy field next to us. Our bedroom had a glass ceiling and every night these big beautiful clouds would roll in and a storm would come and we could watch the whole thing as we fell asleep. The bright moon and stars were stunning because we were so far away from any city lights. I remember weeping during my quiet times on my honeymoon because I was overwhelmed by God's goodness to me.
We were so in love and checked-out that we actually missed our flight home by 24 hours because we got confused about the date we were suppose to leave. But hey, it all worked out and I got an extra honeymoon night in Maui. It was really funny because Tim is anal about arriving hours early for flights and when we got there, we were a whole day late. ;) oops.
We had such a great time.
It was more than the fairytale.... and it still is.
Sorry, I know I probably make you want to puke but I am still shocked by God's goodness in giving me Tim. Such redemption and such an undeserved gift. God has poured out blessing on my life since the night I gave my life to Him.
Anyway, it was a perfect time to stumble upon that box of pictures and remember God's overwhelming faithfulness to me as I struggle to hope that I will ever be completely well again. He has always been good to me and He always will be. I know that even this illness will be turned into something beautiful by those same nail-scarred hands that have given so many gifts...
healing or no healing.
"...he will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of despair. For the Lord has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory."
Isaiah 61:3
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We haven't really done anything picture-worthy lately but I took the camera along on a little walk before school this morning.







I love these two!


** A few out-takes**
:)
This was from last weekend. Check out Lake's face. I love reading all of your comments!! Thank you for caring about us.
Steph

12 comments:

Jill said...

Okay, this is a little okay a lot to ask of you and Tim, but my five year old Olivia would like Bubba and his fashionness-self to be her knight in shining armor one day. She catches me reading your blog and she always wants to know what the boys are doing. She has asked me to take pictures of her in front of doors before because of your photos. What a hoot. I certainly did NOT tell her about the Fear Not party, for we do not live anywhere near chattanooga... and we are not ready for a road trip. Thanks for sharing your ideas though. Also, please know that down here in the middle of FLorida there is someone praying for your complete healing and for the drugs to not completely wipe you out your energy.
"Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in diestress;my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak...But I trust in you, O Lord; I say 'You are my God' My times are in your hands...Let your face shine on your servant." Psalms 31:9,10,14,15a,16b.

Diana Simpson said...

love you girl, talk to you soon dd - your song was you look like gold to me and guess what I thought about???? tim knows for sure

lots_of_love_four_kids said...

FABULOUS Scripture, awesome pictures and wonderful post. I wish we lived anywhere close by so that we could all come to see you and "fear not"! Continuing prayers for you.
"Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings."(Psalm 61:1-4)
take care friend!
-Jen

HennHouse said...

Praying for your health--and your beautiful boys. I just love how they seem to run around without shirts most of the time! Too cute!

Anonymous said...

your shirtless boys remind me of mine - now that they are older, I still have a hard time having them put on their shirts - they just love the sun and the outdoors and the freedom :)

I loved what your wrote about your honeymoon - I think it is marvelous to hear a woman write about her husband in they way you did - isn't rare. Also, I can relate w/ what you wrote about your honeymoon - we also waited until marriage - by God's grace and truly His doing through us - I am so grateful that He gave us strength to do so - we couldn't afford to go somewhere off far - but we did have two weeks - and tucked up in some beautiful mountains - I too remember such amazing times with the Lord - overcome by His mercy when I was so undeserving.

Praying daily for your healing and COMPLETE recovery. In my pregnancies I have been extremely sick - mostly bedridden and on ivs and shots to just survive - I think I shall never feel normal again... this is not anything like what you've been through I'm sure - but I do know what it feels like to just want to have energy and strength and be off of medicine and such ~ praying it will this way for you soon~!

"and they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress..." Ps. 107:19

alyssa welch

Andrew and Carter's Mom said...

When I drove home today, I saw Tim walking with Lake, and I thought he looked so cute with his little shirt off!! So glad you got to have time with Tim these past 2 mornings! I hope Reece did well with his shots today, did Bubba's get checked out too fir his sore "neck"? We're going to Nashville for the weekend, but I'll call you when we get back.

Stephanie said...

Thank all of you who have been such an encouragement to Steph, your prayers are really important - we need them. Sometimes it seems like we're just praying the same thing over and over, but God knows our hearts and we're not going to give up on this...but how great is my wife? Every guy should be loved like this.

You have stolen my heart...my bride...with one glance of your eyes. - SOS 4:9
Tim

Taylor said...

I wish we lived closer too!!! This was a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing your heart. I'm praying for complete healing for you. God is using you in amazing ways. Thank you for being a faithful servant, despite the pain.

Erin Southwell said...

Stephanie, I am praying for you and a perfect healing in Him. Thank you for such a beautiful post, I needed it this morning and you ministered to me. Also love the pictures, you really have a talent and your boys are true heart-breakers. God Bless your family!

Tara said...

I so enjoy your blog! I love that you take such joy in the little pleasure of life. The simple things that sometimes get overlooked. God blesses above & beyond, doesn't He??

The idea to have a Pollyanna-ish party is so fun! And the pics of your family are so beautiful!

Prayers for you from the midwest,
Tara

maryanne420 said...

hi stephanie,

i'd been praying for you and for the Lord to heal you and everyone in your household who's not feeling well. can i just tell you though that you look gorgeous and energized in all of your pics!

Nicole said...

I love the idea about the party...wish we lived closer!!!

Your honeymoon story is wonderful!

I think you do so well to live with your illness. It doesn't sound like you let it get you down...I can relate having missed out on many things due to migraines and being sick. It isn't fun and it is the hardest thing to explain to young innocent children about why you are needing to rest. You will be in our prayers.

Your pictures are getting so good!!!