She's here....

My new niece made her arrival yesterday evening at 6:26 pm...and let me say she is beautiful. She came in weighing 7 pounds 6 ounces and somewhere around 20 inches (I haven't got the exact measurement here)....


My sister also provided me with a gift that I didn't expect and that was the ability to be in the room to see her born. It was my first live birth to experience...I have stood outside the room of others, but have not been in the room....it was beautiful, amazing, spectacular...and the best gift I could ever receive...So thank you Babydoll!!!

Oh...and I forgot to tell you her name...Isabella Grace....nope not named after me, but that's okay.

Anticipation....

Tonight, I sit here and I am anticipating....

Anticipating the birth of my new niece...
Anticipating the sell of my house...
Anticipating the thankfulness of this holiday season...
Anticipating the future that is in front of me...
Anticipating the next year of my life...
Anticipating...

Simple enough....

S.

A night with WPY....

So tonight I went and listened to William P. Young talk about his book "The Shack". It's an amazing work of FICTION that provides a new insight (at least for me) on the relationship of the trinity (in relation to me).

I read this book over a year ago...actually I listened to it. I then bought the book so I could read parts of it that I needed to see in writing (vs. just hearing it). This past week--I listened to it again as I was traveling.

It amazes me how his words have brought me to tears so many times. Tonight was no different. Tonight we got to hear from the author himself describe how the book came to be and the impact it has had since it came to be. He described where the great sadness came from in his life. He also talked about his relationship with his parents. His words brought me to tears. The realization that my own great sadness has not completely disappeared--that it still looms there underneath the surface. He talked about his freedom, his healing that came not in a day...not in a week...but over years--11 years to be exact.

I so desire the great sadness of my life to be gone..and there have been so many steps in healing that great sadness, but yet it still exists.

Two quotes from tonight that struck me enough to write them down:

" The destruction that is done with relationships can only be healed with relationships."


"Shame destroys your ability to distinguish between a value-statement and an observation"


Papa, you know my great sadness. You know the steps that have been taken to heal this great sadness and you know the steps that still need to be taken. I invite you in to do what needs to be done. It is my fear (or my lack of trust and my need to control) that has prevented the healing to completely take place. Papa, I want the freedom from this great sadness. I want the fullness of the relationship that comes from a complete trust in you. I don't know how what that looks like, but you do.
Thanks Papa. Thanks in advance.

Help-Portrait Day.....

Hey all....I ran across this today and I need to share it.

Help-Portrait

Jeremy Cowart’s full podcast interview went live on 11/10/2009. However, one BIG thing that we didn’t get to talk about at all in the podcast, is his  Help-Portrait project that will happen 12/12/2009.
What is Help-Portrait? Help-Portrait was formed by Celebrity photographer  Jeremy Cowart. It’s a movement of photographers, coming together in every major city, to use their photography skills to give back to the community. On December 12th, photographers around the world will be grabbing their cameras, finding people in need, and taking their picture. When the prints are ready, the photographs get delivered. Yep. It really is that easy. This holiday season, you have the chance to give a family something they may have never had before – a portrait.
The mission at Help-Portrait is simply to equip and mobilize photographers. Help-Portrait want to make sure you have all the information that you need for a successful Help-Portrait event on 12.12.09. If you think you would like to be involved, please watch the video below. It is guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye.

For more information, please visit the Help-Portrait website, or email them, AND make sure you listen to the interview below with Jeremy. There is STILL plenty of time to get involved.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 14:14 — 6.5MB)

Taken from: http://www.lensflare35.com/help-portrait

I am looking for ways to get involved....how about you? What can you do?

Be Blessed day!!!

S.

o

On the horizon....

Sometimes I have no idea of where to start.....so many thoughts run through my mind...sometimes at the most odd times and usually at a point where I am not able to write things down, so then I am left to use my memory when I get to sit down and write a blog. And let's just say my memory fails me so many times....

So what's on the horizon.....
For this week, the CMA awards--Yep, I am attending one of the biggest award shows for country music. And yes, I am a country music fan--for some of you this may come as a shocker, but really I am. With that knowledge, it's no wonder that Nashville is a good fit. Seats are in the nose-bleed section, but from my understanding--there are no bad seats at the Sommet Center. Cher and I will be heading downtown early evening to catch some of the red carpet events and take in the atmosphere of the CMAs---and it may even be a late evening to try and find some after CMA activities.

My other big event for this week---is on Saturday and I will be going to listen to William P Young--the author of "The Shack". The Shack is an incredible book about the trinity--it is fiction, but has some profound thoughts and passages in it. I listened to it again for the umpteenth time this past weekend as I traveled back to WV and SC. I am excited to go see him talk....

So what else is on the horizon.....well, you will just have to wait and see.....I have to wait and see...
But I am certain that there is more...much more on it's way.

Be Blessed!!!
S.

Volume 2....take one

So there seems to be a new theme in my life right now....it revolves around stories....our stories....my story. It's been mentioned in sermons, in songs, in books....it just seems like I'm hearing it everywhere I go.

It appears that I am starting a new chapter in my story....I went back home this weekend. It was the first time since moving to Nashville. It was good to be home....to see the family...my nieces and nephews...to have some home cooked food...to just hang out with the family and friends. It was hard trying to fit everyone in just a short period of time....but time was found to squeeze in visits with quite a few. To catch up on life for just a short time.....get the scoop and run out the door.


Part of this weekend--saying goodbye to my house. It's under contract and it's anticipated to close this month. I will not be able to make it home, so I went on and signed over the deed. I went back to the house to put out keys for the house and place the owner's manuals for the appliances on the counter. It gave me time to say my goodbyes...The house has a lot of memories for me....most of them good...some of them funny....but memories the same. Saying goodbye closes the chapter for my life in Beckley.....

The trip in whole confirmed for me that moving to Nashville was okay....that it's where I need to be. I am thankful for that peace. I am thankful knowing that I am where I need to be....


So, Here's to the new stories...

S.

In a strange land.....

I can't remember the last time that I was the stranger....and well, right now...I am the stranger everywhere I go and it has provided me with a new perspective.

I am not used to being the new person at church who doesn't know anyone...but I am. I currently go to the morning service and I don't know anyone (okay, I know a couple of people)...and then I leave. I don't talk to anyone. They don't know my name....they don't know my story.... So is this what others who walked into the doors at FWC felt? Out of place...just another body that has come in....and then leaves at the end of service?
I didn't realize how much community meant to me....knowing people...being comfortable amongst a crowd because I knew them. Instead now I am forced out of my comfort zone...forced to introduce myself....pushing myself to new limits. It's uncomfortable and sometimes I long for the comfort of the comfortable....

I have always liked the big fish in the small pond theory....but here I am a small fish in a very large pond. Again, not that it is bad...just different. Also, I was not a huge fish...but just a slightly large fish....people knew who I was because of my last name..family name...people knew it...or because of my work at the church--that would be with camera in hand...or from my professional life--work at the hospital. I was known in the sphere that I was in....

Now.... I have no sphere--at least not yet. I know it will come in time....

Papa.....you know who needs to come into my life. You know whose life I need to be introduced to....you know my heart....you know what I need as well as what I can provide to others. It's not about me....but it is about you and the perfect timing you provide. It's allowing me to learn and take away from each person that I encounter. It's about providing the atmosphere. It's about giving me boldness and taking me out of my comfort zone and making more comfortable being out of my comfort zone. Help me surrender who I am on a daily basis...and pick up more of who you are....

I put myself out there....

Thanks Papa....

S.