Knees

Pinterest Post

My friend, Sarah, over on her blog posted a bunch of great "sayings" that she had found on Pinterest.  Of course, that got me thinking and I have decided to follow her lead. Not only on this blog but also on my other blog of fitness as well. 
These are just some of my favorites that I have seen and put on my boards.  They are encouraging and something I like to go back read and read.  Hope they encourage you today!!!!!!

Be encouraged today!!!!!!!!
Pam

Trust

"If God can bring blessing from the broken body of Jesus and glory from something that's as obscene as the cross, He can bring blessing from my problems and my pain and my unanswered prayer. I just have to trust Him." -- Anne Graham Lotz (Billy Graham calls Anne, the best preacher in the family!)

I saw this on Facebook and could help but share it!!!!  One of my favorite speakers!!!!!

Broken

This morning was one of those mornings.  I received a text.  I was shocked. I was so broken.
The song that has the line in the lyrics that says...."break my heart for what breaks yours".  I felt like I was experiencing it this morning full force. 

This week I was on Facebook and received a message from a sweet friend that her husbands brother had taken his life. No one saw it coming. No one had any idea.  They were at a loss. His 14 year old son had found him.  They did find a journal and evidently he had been planning this for a while.  The precious family and all of the questions that surround such a situation as suicide, I can not imagine. That precious young man who found his Dad. Oh, I just pray for them.  I was just heart broken.

I went on Facebook last night and one of my BFF's from high school had changed to "divorced".  I have been praying and praying for her family and so hoping it would not come to such but it has.  Oh, my goodness what a gut wrench it was.  She has 2 sweet and beautiful children.  I'm just praying for healing and strength.

This morning I was dropping off Kaleb at school and received a text.  Another sweet friend from high school.  His wife said she wasn't happy and it was over.  He's hurt and angry. My heart just ached for him.  It was just a shock. I had been praying for his marriage as well.

As I sit and write this, I'm overwhelmed with hurt. I don't have a clue about the suicide and how to even come close to praying for them but the Lord knows my heart. For my friends, D and T, I hope they know that I will be praying for them in the coming days.  The Lord is in control and just pray that they will rest in Him.  I will be praying!!!!!! Love Y'all!!!!!

Pondering
Pam

My Heart Shared with Ben and Brittney

I have been knee deep in training and learning new computer programs for the hospital.  Training and training and more training to the point of dreaming about it.  Yesterday was a day I had been waiting for.  Ben and Brittney were scheduled to meet their little girl Lila Grace. 

They had arrived at the hospital a little after 6am.  I was actually still at work on third shift at the hospital.  I stopped in to see them before I left to go and take Kaleb to school, change clothes and head back to the hospital.  They were all smiles and ready to go.  Brittney of course looked as beautiful as ever and Ben was doing what Ben does.....working.....(that goes back to Parker's birth..haha).  I explained I would head home and be back in about an hour or so.  Nurses were getting everything settled.

I received a text that they broke her water and we would wait and see if Lila would do this on her own.  About an hour later, she had chosen to stay put.  Not going anywhere.  Her nurse, Jen, was awesome!!!!!  She came in and started the pitocin.  Brittney had done this before and we knew what was in store.  Brittney did what she had to do. Ben supported her in every aspect.  At times, I wondered if I should be there because they were so in-tune with each other.  It was just beautiful to watch.

We brought out the ball.  She bounced. She relaxed. She bounced. She relaxed.  It was her time. It was their time.  Lila was on her way.  We succeed at using the ball for a while.  The nurse even came in at one point while Brittney and Ben were in their zone and quietly stood the side of the room and said nothing.  Just stood there and watched.  It was amazing and I was so grateful and thankful for her respect for Brittney and Ben.  Brittney opted to get get checked and we were 6 cm and she had chosen an epidural this time.  They were just about waiting outside the door and it was placed so very quickly. 

I returned to the room and she was resting comfortably.  Jen, the nurse, was checking her BP and making sure she was comfortable.  Ben and Jen rolled her on her side.  She was resting for about 5 minutes and then I saw that look.  That look on a Mom's face that says...."Oh something big just changed".  Pressure.  LOTS OF PRESSURE!!!!  We let Jen know and sure enough.  IT WAS TIME!!!!  We called family and texted family.  Lila Grace was on her way. 


Lila Grace- 7 pounds 11 ounces and 20 inches long- Pure Blessing

For Ben and Brittney- There are no words on this planet that can thank you enough for the joy and privilege of being allowed to be present for the birth of ALL 3 of your children.  I am so very richly and truly blessed.  Even though, I am not able to attend deliveries like I have the past 3 years, this was an amazing way to close out my career.  I will forever be grateful!!!!!!  I wish you all of the best and can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for your beautiful family!!!!! 

Labor and Love,
Pam

When He Speaks

Today we were back to the "norm" of running around as we usually do.  I was riding in the car in the midst of a million errands that had to get done today.  My focus was not where it should be and I could feel it.  Not only mentally but physically and emotionally.  Kaleb wanted to listen to his CD in the car that has all of these really cool, short, and easy to learn Bible songs and most of which, he has learned and will even sing along.  Precious!!!!!

I love listening to him when he sings those songs.  It is one of my treasures for sure.  Today, Kaleb fell asleep in the back seat.  I was singing the songs and not realizing that he was not.  I never changed it even after I realized he was asleep.  It was at that time that I realized and listed to what I was singing.  I was singing the old Sunday School Song of "Joshua fought the battle of Jericho".  If you know it you are probably singing it in your head.  Anyway, on of the lines in the song says something to the effect
"Go blow those ram horns for the battle is in My hands."
Now to the average person this may not seem like a huge AhHa moment.  For me this afternoon it was!!!!  It was the Lord using a simple song from a child's song to tell me..."I got this. Let me have it."  I know that we all like to say that we turn things over to the Lord and then we get up from our knees and pick it back up and try to "help" Him.  Well, that is what I have been doing.  I lay it down and pick it up and try to help. 
He has this.
He knows better than me.
He loves me.
He is in control. 
It took a child's song
and
He can use anything. 
Thank you Lord for speaking to me. 

Pondering,
Pam

One Of My Favorite Books

I'm in the process of reading 2 books actually.  One book is by Bob Harper from The Biggest Loser called Skinny Rules.  Lots of stuff that I already knew but lots of new stuff as well.

 The other book is one that I have read so many times and every time I read it I find more in it.  It is one of those that makes me think about how I would react. What I would do? What would my thoughts be? I'm always humbled reading Corrie Ten Boom's book The Hiding Place. 

Its just one of those books.  I thought this would be a good place to share some of my favorite quotes out of the book.  The quotes are very thought provoking for sure and really cause you to think.  I think that part of the reason that it seems to have me thinking is because of where I am at this time.  I'm in New Orleans.  The place where Katrina hit.  Majority of what we have seen has been rebuilt and/or cleared and cleaned.  Every so often you run across a building that is still boarded up.  There is also the Super Dome.  It was almost breath taking and over whelming at the same time. Every time we walk down the street or go for a ride, I can not help but wonder how much water was here?  Was it in the house? Was it up to the roof?  Those that lost their lives. Those that lost everything.  What would have my response been?  Makes you thankful and grateful for sure!!!!!! 
Now for some of the book.....The Hiding Place

-Today I know that such memories are the key not to the past, but to the future.  I know that the experience of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do.

-Betsie and I knelt down by the piano bench.  For what seemed hours we prayed for our country, for the dean and injured tonight, for the Queen.  And then, incredibly, Betsie began to pray for the Germans, up there in the planes, caught in the fist of the giant evil loose in Germany.  I looked at my sister kneeling beside me in the light of burning Holland.  "oh Lord, " I whispered, "listen to Betsie, not me, because I cannot pray for those men at all."

-"I don't know," she said softly. "But if God has shown us bad times ahead, it's enough for me that He knows about them.  That's why He sometimes shows us things, you know-to tell us that this too is in His hands."

-But Betsie put a finger on my mouth.  "Don't say it, Corrie!  There are no 'if's' in God's world.  An no places that are safer than other places.  The center of His will is our only safety-O Corrie, let us pray that we may always know it!"

These are just a few.  I will share more as I continue to read!!!!!!!  If you have read the book, what were some of your favorites???  Feel free to share!!!!!!

Pondering,
Pam

Time is Just Flying!!!!!

I am once again amazed at what all the Lord is doing.  I can see Him in different areas and once again it just blows my mind and it is almost overwhelming.  Does that make sense?
I have been overwhelmed lately just with life in general.  You know those days when you just want to all just stop for a while so you can breathe?  That is where I have been.  All most to the point of tears on some days because I just wanted to relax.  I knew that vacation was coming. I knew there would be time to rest. It just wasn't coming fast enough for me.  I would just pray and ask for more and more strength because there was no way I could do it on my own.  He would graciously supply. 

For the first time in weeks, I can say today that I am actually relaxed.  I mean to the point of almost feeling like a limp dish rag, in a good sort of way.  There has been no schedule. There has been no work to call to see where I am going. No stress of the day.  Thank you Jesus!!!!!!!

My friend, Danielle that I work with at the hospital, comes up with some of the best ideas and recipes that are good for you, taste great, and are simple to make.  She and her husband, Adam, have Team Genetics.  They have so inspired me to push beyond just what I was doing and really taking it to the next level.  She probably has no idea just how much.  I am doing more now than I have ever done fitness wise and it has been a real challenge but one I believe I was ready for. 

I wrote my "plan", Transformation From the Inside Out".  Finally getting it on paper was just wonderful and I keep adding more and more.  My sweet friend Tara is giving it a try and I'm encouraging her along the way.  I'm excited.

Kaleb has graduated from Pre-K and now we are on to Kindergarten.  Kyle is on his own and I am so missing him but he is doing a great job!!!!  Tonya is ready to start her GED on-line.  I'm so proud of her!  Dylan is the Little Monkey and growing every day!!!!!!!  Life is good and I'm so blessed and so very thankful!!!!!!!

Pressing On,
Pam

Living Word



This is what reading and studying the Word feels like!



H.S

We had one of those lessons yesterday in Sunday School that really makes you stop and think.  This post is short.  I'm still mulling it over. 
We always name God.
We always name Jesus Christ.
We call the Holy Spirit....."it"
Why do we do that?
Are we afraid?
What are we afraid of?

For sure something to ponder.......
Pam