True Treasure

Sometimes when going through times of difficulty, we need to be reminded that God has not abandoned us and that He cares about our hurts - personally.

During some recent blog reading I found an idea for a treasure chest full of personalized treasured verses, and I decided to put one together for a best friend of mine who is going through a really tough time right now.

I typed out some 2x4 cards with the paraphrase of the verse including my friend's name in large cursive letters (like a note written to her personally from God), followed by the exact verse and reference from the NIV. I put them into a little treasure chest box I picked up at the dollar store.

I found a great website with 365 promises of God and all together I filled my friend's treasure box with 59 personalized treasured verses.

Here are some samples if you're interested in making one of these for yourself or for a friend.

If you feel like receiving a "hug" from God - substitute your own name as your read through these verses....

Tammy, I will heal your broken heart and mend all your wounds.
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Not one of My promises will ever fail you, Tammy.
You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. Joshua 23:14

The good things I have planned for you, Tammy, are too many to count.
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5

You can trust in Me, Tammy, for I am your strength and your song.
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Isaiah 12:2

I will be the voice behind you, Tammy, guiding you in the way you should go.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21

I will protect and carry you, Tammy, all the days of your life.
Even to your old age and grey hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Isaiah 46:4

For you, Tammy, are honoured in My eyes. I, your God, am your strength.
For I am honoured in the eyes of the Lord, and my God has been my strength. Isaiah 49:5b

If you wait for me, Tammy, I will work on your behalf.
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4

My plan for your future, Tammy, is filled with hope.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Tammy, I will bless your life and keep watch over you always. I will be gracious to you and give you My peace.
The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

Tammy, I will give you peace at all times and in every situation.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. 2 Thessalonians 3:16

I will never abandon you, Tammy.
God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5b

Come close to Me, Tammy, and I will come close to you.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8a

Cast all your worries on Me, Tammy, for I really care about you.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Tammy, I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

You can trust in My faithfulness, Tammy, because My Word is true.
For the word of the Lord is right and true; He is faithful in all he does. Psalm 33:4

Tammy, I will restore and refresh your weary soul.
He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalm 23:3

Even when you are weak in your faith, Tammy, I will remain faithful to you.
If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself. 2 Timothy 2:13

One day, Tammy, I will wipe away every tear and take away all your pain.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4

I see all your hardships, Tammy, and I care about your suffering.
I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. Psalm 31:7

Tammy, I will turn your mourning into dancing and surround you with joy.
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothes me with joy. Psalm 30:11

Call out to Me, Tammy, and I will show you wonderful things you do not know.
Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3

I know what you need before you even ask, Tammy.
For your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8b

Be courageous, Tammy, for I am with you and I will never fail you.
Be strong and courageous....for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

God loves you so much!!

D-Day

Well, today's d-day and nothin's happening yet. Ya never know I suppose, I could spontaneously go into a quick labour for the first time - but I'm not holding my breath. For some reason I'm thinking it's just not going to happen until next weekend at the earliest.

The girls are going to start getting impatient. They know today is the day the baby is supposed to come. I've made sure to emphasize that the baby might not come that day - it might be early or it might be late. And they do know that, but now that the day has come, I think they're going to be mighty impatient from now on!

Looks like the votes are an overwhelming consensus on using both middle names. Nathan and I talked about it more on our date night on Friday (dinner and a movie - The Keg & 27 Dresses) and that's what we're going to go with.

Did I mention yet my feet have totally swollen up? This has never happened to me before, but I literally cannot wear any of my shoes anymore. Thankfully my friend Candace wears a bigger shoe size so I borrowed some comfy boots from her for our date night on Friday. You can hardly even see my ankles anymore - ugh.

I have to say, I'm definitely in the "ready for this to be over" mindframe by now. I think I've just been so big for so long (at 6 months I already looked like I was going to pop). I've just found this pregnancy to be much more physically tiring (course moving at 6 months probably didn't help much). I'm still trying to treasure the moments - but looking forward to holding this precious baby in my arms soon!!! And finding out if it's a boy or a girl!

Update on my Odd Day Flowers

I loved the flowers and the card my friend Candace gave me on what would've been the due date of the baby I most recently miscarried. Turns out there was some significance to them that I didn't catch on to, due to a mistake at the florists. She had given me 5 flowers - one yellow, 2 pink, 2 white. I didn't think too much of it. Well, my friend was over for lunch and after seeing the bouquet on my table said "please tell me the 3rd pink one died." I'm like - huh? What 3rd one? There was supposed to be 6 flowers.
3 pink ones - representing my 3 girls to love and hold
2 white ones - representing my 2 babies in heaven
1 yellow one - representing the baby in my womb

The flowers were sweet anyway, but the added significance to each flower is pretty special too. I'll try to add a picture soon (which I had to retake after I received the 3rd pink rose!)

An odd day

Today is an odd day.

Today is the original due date of the baby I miscarried in February.

I say it's odd because it's a sad day because I miss my baby. And yet, there is another baby growing in my womb - a baby that would not be here if I hadn't lost my other one. And I'm happy about this baby. And sad about the other one. Both at the same time.

It's hard to wrap my head around that one.

Olivia (our 3rd daughter) also would not exist had I not miscarried between her and Sophia. We would have a different baby - but it wouldn't be Olivia. And that is weird too. Because I love Olivia with all of my being, and I wouldn't trade her for the world.

And so it is an odd day. I rejoice for the baby I carry right now. And I long for the baby I lost that may have been born today. (Considering the fact that 2 of our 3 were actually due date babies, that would've been an actual possibility). So today is a day where joy and grief are mingled.

My best friend sent me flowers and a card today that said...

3 loveable ones to hug
2 in Jesus' arms today
1 in the womb growing, equals
6 blessings from God.

I think she summed it up quite well. Thank you Candace.

And, if it's possible, I pray ....

Jesus, please tell my babies I love them.

Small Group Family Night

We joined a Small Group in our church just over a year ago and we've really been enjoying it. Yesterday we had a family night for the first time and it was awesome!!

There are 6 couples and it actually worked for all of us to be there. Each couple has exactly 3 children (though we're going to be spoiling that one!) and out of the 18 children a whopping 13 of them are girls! So, our girls had an absolute blast! And because there were a few older children in the group it was a blast for us as parents because it was almost like having free babysitters! :) And their backyard was awesome - complete with a pool, play structure and a huge hill the kids loved to run up and down. Maybe we should do this every Sunday!