Thank You's, Super Moon and Good News!

It's been a full week. I want to thank everyone who took the time to pray for me and my family and send messages with love and support regarding the loss of my Grandpa. You have no idea how much that meant to me! It was really tough, especially being this far away from everyone, but your kindness and thoughtfulness brought much comfort.

There have been good things that have happened recently too though. Not everything I feel obligated to share about, mostly because the timing isn't right. But let me just say that God is revealing Himself to me in amazing ways and I'm smiling about the future.

Something exciting that I do want to share that happened this week was the Super Moon. On Saturday, March 19th 2011 the moon was only 221,565 miles (356,575 kilometers) away. The closest it’s been in almost 20 years. It appeared 14% bigger and 30% brighter than usual. I was able to capture this image of the Super Moon from our balcony here in Switzerland. It was spectacular in person and this image doesn't do it justice. We were lucky enough to have a clear view of it from our apartment though and it is a memory I will have always.

I also got some good news that my dear friend Laurie is officially coming to visit!!! She will be here for the better part of September so we're definitely looking forward to that! In May my parents will be here, June my brother and sister-in-law will be here, September my Laurie will be here, October might hold an opportunity for me to tag along on a business trip with Jared in IRELAND!!! (nothing confirmed, still waiting on details) and then November we celebrate our anniversary! We still haven't figured out an alternative plan for our anniversary trip yet but we have narrowed it down to two possibilities. We're still weighing our options to see what's best. I'll definitely give an update once we decide. It's definitely going to be a good year!

Things I Love: Vintage Lace

There is something feminine, delicate and beautiful about lace. Especially vintage lace. It just reminds me of an era that is close to my heart. My Nana had lots of lace accents around her house on old furniture and such. She also had a few lace pieces in her wardrobe that I loved to play dress up in. I guess I've always been drawn to lace ever since I was a little girl.

I have seen a lot of vintage lace inspired items lately. Here are just a few examples....

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1. Lace headband  - AliExpress.com (super cute!)
2. Lace ornaments -  Iwannabe.etsy.com
3. Lace clutch purse -  Maddalena Marconi
4. Lace necklace - tessakim.etsy.com (super want!)
5. Lace modern top - blueinc.co.uk
6. Lace shoes - retrovintageshoes.com
7. Lace umbrella - pinkfrosting.com (so fun!)
8. Lace dress - google images
9. Lace bow and key - urbanheirlooms
10. Lace belt - roomofyourown.etsy.com
11. Lace pillow - octavi.etsy.com (love this!)
12. Lace bracelet - plumedematante

Closeness

This overseas move has been one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my life. It took faith from the beginning because if it were up to me, I would have never moved so far from my family. But I knew in my heart this is where God wanted us to be at this point in our lives. So I trusted Him and surrendered to His plan...not my own. He has yet to reveal the full purpose of this experience but I know the biggest reason for our coming here was to bring me closer to Him. And to quote my wise and eloquent husband; "Maybe I could have gotten right with God somewhere in America, close to family...but it DID happen here and I would never change that did for a maybe."


I relied so much on people and things back in America and since being here I have had to rely so much more on God. I've realized in the brief time we have been here that things can change in an instant, people will leave you and let you down, and the only constant is God. I still depend very much on my loved ones to live each day in fullness and happiness but I have come to realize that no one in my life can save me or bring me the completeness I know in God. Jesus Christ is truly all I need. Everything else is just bonus or unnecessary.

In 6 short months I have lost three of my loved ones. Facing this kind of loss reminds me just how much I need God and as crazy as it may sound, I am less fearful of the future. I know that no matter what happens I am taken care of, God will never abandon me, never give up on me and each day He calls me closer to Him.

I resisted Him so much all of my life and I've finally realized that. For the first time in my life I am pursuing HIM after years of Him pursuing me. I can't seem to get close enough to Him. I know it's been an inward change that reflects outwardly because my own husband has commented on how he can "see God in me in so many ways." That is the greatest compliment anyone can ever receive....to look at you and see God through your faith. My prayer is that I stay out of the way and let God shine through me. I don't want people to see me...I want them to see Him. I want others to enjoy His closeness. There is nothing in the world like it.

I'm not special. He wants to be close to all of us. Not just me. And it's so simple. It took me nearly 30 years to figure out just how simple it is to find this peace through His love. All I had to do was humbly seek Him. That's it. He loves me regardless of whether or not I put in any effort but how rewarding the relationship with Him is when we enter it with a desire to honour and love Him completely. I could never put into words the clarity and peace it brings to know Him...not just know of Him...but to KNOW Him with my heart. To wake up wanting to learn more about Him and never seeming to get enough of Him.

I still struggle each day to keep my eyes on Him though. In fact, just last night I felt like Peter when He took His eyes off Jesus during the storm and began to sink. I took my eyes off Jesus and started to fear losing more loved ones, not being able to be there with them and just focusing on all the "what ifs". I began sinking in fear and sadness. But God's hope lifts us up. I was reminded of His promises and once I put my eyes back on Him, my peace was restored.

I am still a work in progress. I don't recognize the girl I was 10 years ago or even 6 months ago. She was so bitter and selfish. But I don't look like a pure representation of Jesus either. There is still a lot of work do be done on my heart but I have felt the Lord reshaping my heart over the years. It has been a slow process and one that will be neverending I'm sure. But if I can be in the midst of some of the most challenging times of my life and have this peace...I want to continue in God's direction because it is obvious He is my source of peace.

"Christ lived to show us what a relationship with God looks like, and died to give us a way to have it." - Mattie Montgomery  http://www.mattiemontgomery.com/

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me. Your love and prayers are felt!

Uplifting Songs

This has been a tough week for me and my family but one thing I can say for certain that has helped me get through this difficult time apart from the love and support of my family has been encouraging songs like the following:

Josh Wilson - Before The Morning


Steven Curtis Chapman - With Hope


Josh Groban - To Where You Are


Point of Grace - No More Pain


Steven Curtis Chapman - No Better Place



Bleach - Bonus track off their Farewell Old Friends album



I hope these songs found you encouraged also.

Legacy of Love

With the recent loss of my Grandpa I am reminded that we are on this earth for such a brief time. And the truth is, it is not about "who you know" but how you love. It's not about what you have but what you give. It's not about me or you it's about something bigger than us. It's about Jesus Christ who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that you and I may live not only today but forever. What matters most in this life is the relationships we build and the love we share. It's so easy to get distracted but we need to keep our focus on eternity and remember that our lives are to reflect gratitude towards our loving Saviour. We should leave behind a legacy of love inspired by the Creator of love.
  
Here is a photo slideshow I created of my Grandpa and my family as a tribute to his life and the lives he touched along the way. The process of putting this together helped me so much in my grieving. It helped me to reflect on my own life while honoring the life of my Grandpa. Being overseas I will not be able to attend the memorial service but this was my way of being there in a way...it has brought me much peace in that respect. And as you listen to the words of the songs I included you will better understand how they brought much comfort during this difficult time. "we can grieve with hope....we can say goodbye with hope...." I'm so thankful for the hope that is within Jesus Christ. With the gift of salvation we will be reunited in Heaven.

     

Songs in order: 

To Where You Are by Josh Groban

You'll Be In My Heart by Phil Collins

With Hope by Steven Curtis Chapman