J

J-

At the beginning of April we were all up at the church setting up for our annual FM breakfast. Some of us brought our girls and for some reason both of our daughters were having a rough night. We were both getting frustrated and apologizing to each other for the way each of ours were acting, and trying desperately to get them to respond the way we felt was right. Right before we were getting ready to leave, you called me out in the hallway to share something with me that was going on inside of you. You told me that God was impressing on your heart that our daughters are just people like us, in need of unconditional love, and that sometimes their sass was just a cry for a personal touch... from God.... from us. You set forth the challenge: every time we feel like our girls weren't acting right, instead of getting upset, hug them... love them. I did that- the change was amazing. You were right... sometimes they just need love. I just want you to know that I have been doing that with Z even more lately. I'm not sure if she is the one in need of love...or if it's me... but it brings healing. I have been doing the same with K... randomly giving her hugs when I can tell she is having a rough day... the hugs might not be as good as yours were, but they are with unconditional love. Thank you for changing my perspective. Thank you for changing my life.

-L 

You Make Me Brave.

You make me brave.

There is something so paradoxical about singing that while you are huddled in a corner of the kitchen trying to hide your violent tears from little eyes.

I don't feel very brave.

Unless brave feels the same as broken.

You make me brave.

You only need bravery when there is fear, danger or impending doom.

That sounds about right.

I would add in-conquerable insecurity... that takes guts to stare into.

What was Peter feeling when Jesus called him to be brave?

You make me brave.

I'm not heroic, valiant or courageous.

But I can be reckless... and I've seen Jesus use reckless.

I've seen Him pour His power through the desperate, the frantic and the furious.

It's Him.

He is the brave One.

I just trust His hand will be there when I begin to drown.

You make me brave.
Is it true?
Can You make me brave?
Will You make me brave?
Please, make me brave.

Zo's Gymnastics Showcase

This past Sunday Zoey had her Gymnastics Showcase.

That girl has gotten strong!

We are so very proud!

Zoey during her first routine: The Bars

What the babies do during a Gymnastics Showcase.

poolside.

Last Day of School 2014

 

Zoey Kindergarten Graduation.

Zoey is done with Kindergarten!
We are so proud of our brave little girl and can't wait to see what the future holds!

Disclaimer #1:
She was convinced that she needed to wear her class shirt for the ceremony... she was mistaken.

Disclaimer #2:
I had a cute little 2-year-old hanging on me the entire time, so the video is a little crazy.

Zoey and her amazing teacher Mrs. Rys

The Riverhill Bus Girls!

BFFs

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

My son had his Spring Concert last week and the theme was The Underground Railroad... awesome, right? His music teacher is AMAZING. Anyway, they sang "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and it was beautiful. It came up in our car ride today...

Isaac: "Mom, is Mrs. Jaimie going to have a gravesite?"

Me: "Yes... but remember that's not really her in there... her spirit is no longer with her body."

Isaac: "I know... you keep saying that."

Me: "I just want to make sure that you really understand that... it's one of the most beautiful parts of being God's creation."

Isaac: "Can I sing part of my concert song to you? I feel like it talks about that."

Me: "I would love that!"

Isaac: "I looked over Jordan, and what did I see? Coming for to carry me home, A band of angels coming after me, Coming for to carry me home. Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home, Swing low, sweet chariot, Coming for to carry me home."

to my beautiful Jaimie....

Today we said our final farewell to our dear Jaimie here on earth. I had the incredible honor of speaking at her funeral. It's hard to put into words what she meant to me, but I did my best....

The first night that my friendship with Jaimie really began was years ago in a Starbucks in Northville. We were there with a group of friends, but we seemed to be in our own little world talking at a trendy wooden table about the things God had been speaking to her that week… which were the same things God was stirring in me for months. Talks of purpose, mission and sacrifice and SO desiring the heart of God to be the driving force in all of our decisions gave us the ability to finish each other’s sentences and laugh at our common ground. That night we connected in a spiritual way. A way that set the foundation for a friendship that continually drew me closer to God. Throughout the years we would look for opportunities to sneak away for coffee to talk and even joked about our covert operation to have our husbands let us go out at 10pm to talk over café mochas. We figured if we could get the kids in bed and our husbands on the couch watching the game, we could meet up and talk for hours without anyone missing a beat. She would always beat me to the coffeehouse and have our drinks sitting at the table when I arrived… and if I even slightly moved for my wallet she would slap my hand in protest. I actually boxed her out once to pay and she sent me the money in the mail the next week. Those nights were my most precious moments with Jaimie. No one pulling at us or stealing our attention, just us, challenging and encouraging each other to know God more. She knew things I was going through that very few people knew… she was my confidant, my sounding board and my loudest encourager. She has been one of my closest and dearest friends, and even though I keep saying that her legacy will live on through her children and the kids and teens she has poured into, I am also confident that her legacy will live on through me. She always pushed me toward Christ… not only by speaking life to me… but by the way she chose to live each and every day.

Oh beautiful Jaimie… thank you for the honor of calling you friend… a role I cherish more now than ever. You will be missed every single day.