Mom

Yesterday we went to the airport and picked up my mom!!  

I haven't seen her in a year...we've lived 600 miles apart for the last 12 years.  It's hard. =(  My  mom is a single-hard-working mom of 7 children...3 are grown, two are in local colleges and two are in high school.  She's a busy lady!

So when I get the rare treat of getting her all to myself down here, I cherish every moment! 

My mom had NEVER been to Ikea before, so since it's right near the airport, I just had to take her.  Oh my goodness, she loved it!  She was just in awe over it all. We had so much fun! =)

It's fun watching how much children react to seeing Grandma after a year.  The three oldest remember and all, but Lucy didn't.  It's so sweet watching her getting to know Grandma. =)

We went for a walk last night and I brought the camera, of course.  

 She sniffed her flowers.....

 Then she really smelled them....

 ....and realized they stunk!!  Her face was so funny!

 Grandma's are excellent boo-boo kissers. =)

Well, I'm gonna run and bake some homemade cinnamon rolls and enjoy my mama.  =)  Hope you have a happy weekend, friends!  

I've Re-named You Barnabas

Thrilled is a mild word to tell you how I feel this morning!

For the last 13 days, it's been hard to focus, very often having to consciously direct my thoughts back to Christ and away from the fear always trying to creep into my heart.

So, SO many of you were upholding me in prayer and I cannot begin to thank you enough!  Every. single. day. I was receiving text messages, emails or facebook messages with words of encouragement...whether it was words from an uplifting song or verses from Scripture, it was always a blessing.

The Bible tells us of a man who was known for encouraging others, so much so that his friends began calling him "Barnabas."  Barnabas literally meant "encourager." At the time the believers in Jesus Christ were being persecuted and Barnabas was there for them, even befriending the newly saved Saul of Tarsus (the Apostle Paul) when everybody else doubted and was afraid. 

Obviously, my situation was much different, but you, dear friends, have been my "Barnabas."  You have encouraged my heart!  I was telling someone earlier this week what an incredible thing it is to be a part of the family of God.  People have "come out of the woodwork" so to speak to show their support, love and to talk to their Heavenly Father...about me.  It is extremely humbling to say the least.

Many of you have asked, "So...what was the mass that was found?"

Well, in short, it was something, but nothing.  A something-nothing. =)

It was not a cyst and didn't feel like one, which is why my doctor was concerned initially.  Also, it was not in a region that one would typically find a benign mass, which again led to the concern about what it could possibly be.  {At first I thought the oncologist said it was a cyst, but my husband corrected me after I told someone that...that's why it's good to have someone else with you at appointments like this.  It's much easier to listen when you're not the one being poked and prodded!  =) }

The ultrasound findings showed that it was just a mass of tissue and cells and that's it.  No fluid or anything.  The ultrasound pictures were nice and clear and showed absolutely no signs of cancer or anything else bad.

When she was finished with the ultrasound the doctor said, "Well, that was easy.  I like easy.  I love when I can tell someone 'You're fine!' and send them home."

Yep, me too!!

I am supposed to keep an eye on this area and if it grows, I will need to go back.  But we were told that it actually might just go away, and that many times they do.  

We were so relieved and excited!  Hubby took me on a celebratory trip to Hobby Lobby!  =)

After my appointment I was letting friends know how it went, and my sweet friend, who is also a pastor's wife, sent me a message and said exactly what I was thinking:

"I truly believe He uses these circumstances in our lives to draw us close to Him.  And that we will totally trust Him with the results so He may get the glory.  AND so you can be a blessing to someone else who may go through this."

So wise and true!  Nothing is ever without purpose, but is always for our good and God's glory.

Well, friends, the sun is coming up and I've got to end this post because life and motherhood are calling for my undivided attention...and I'm happy to give it!  What a blessing to begin the day knowing I'm healthy and well.

There is so much more I could say in this post, but again, may I just say "Thank You" for your kindness?  You all have been a true blessing!  Thank you for being my "Barnabas!"

It's the Little Things {InstaFriday}

I love participating in InstaFriday over at Life Rearranged because I love looking back over the week at the little things...those fleeting moments that so easily get forgotten about in the daily huzza of our lives. 

If you've been keeping up with this blog, you know this past week has been a little bit of a roller coaster ride.  But, I'm refusing to let some scary news stifle the joy found in the every day.  Every moment we can choose to see and experience the good gifts from God.  It takes some practice (and lots of it!) but you can do it.  

 I did my first wrapped hoop last Thursday afternoon after my appointment...crafting always helps me decompress!  Wrapping hoops are kind of addicting. I did another one too that I haven't taken a picture of! I kind of hacked up a Lisa Leonard calendar for the print, hope she doesn't mind. =D

 Be still my heart....I just love watching my hubby with his baby girl.  It is the sweetest. =)

 Puffy clouds and blue skies are a happy sight after SO much rain.  But hey, I shouldn't complain, our garden is happy, happy!

 Last Friday we attended my friend's graduation.  And I felt like such an oldie.  Ten years before, it was me walking across that platform.  Goodness how time flies!  

 Yard Sale loot from Saturday...

2-1/2 gallon mason jars (one was a wide mouth and I've never seen a 1/2 gallon of those!)
trifle dish (been wanting one for a looong time)
vintage tupperware
crochet blanket
old Navy winter coat (for Lucy)
little boy tie
little boy dress shoes
Fiskars oval punch
We R Memory Keepers Punch tool (sets eyelets and punches holes in thin metal, leather, fabric, paper, etc.)
box of eyelets (unopened)
super pretty pad of paper (only 2 sheets missing and a 19.99 price tag!)

Total: $10 !!!!

 I seriously couldn't believe this blanket, it is SO pretty.  It's not often that I've seen granny squares so large before.  Tried not to act so surprised when they said they only wanted a $1 for it! =)

These two are quickly becoming besties. =) When Lucy was born, Levi was not himself for a while.  He even kept asking if I bought her at a yard sale!  He always screamed when she cried and was very unsure about the little intruder!

But as she's grown, he has begun to adore her.  Of course they can fuss and fight, typical brother and sister, but lately I've seen more and more how much these two like to be together.  

Levi is not a "hand holder."  He never has been.  So when he reached out at the beginning of our walk to hold Lucy's hand, I was surprised.  They didn't let go the entire time.  And he even picked her a flower.  =)  

I love watching the friendships blossom between our children, it is truly a special thing!

 Our friend Li came over to mess up my kitchen and cook us some authentic Brazilian food.  It was amazing!

 My sweet friend is moving back to Brazil next week. =(  This girl is one hard worker...she came to the USA almost 5 years ago, not speaking hardly a word of English.  And in that time she earned a Bachelors degree, an Associates degree and a degree in Theology (3 year degree.)  Plus, she also earned her license to teach English as a second language!  What she has accomplished in the last 5 years is pretty incredible and I'm so proud of her.  My children absolutely adore her (as does everyone in our church!) and we're going to miss her terribly!  But I am looking forward to seeing how God uses her in her own country.  (Love you, Linelma!!!)

What, you're chickens don't like to go for a swing?  =D

Last night it was just the littles and I so we played outside almost until dark and ate ice cream on the front porch.  It had been a long day (and week!) and ice cream just makes everything better, yes?  =)

Well, friends, thank you again for your kindness and for praying for me.  Monday seems like forever away!  I look forward to having that appointment over with and getting some answers.  

Have a great weekend and I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating all the mothers in your life! =)


linking up to Life Rearranged.

Thank You

I'm not sure that I can adequately express how thankful I am for all of you!  The many emails, phone calls, comments, text messages, and facebook messages that have poured in since I posted Saturday has been such a blessing.  I know I haven't responded to all of them yet, but please know that I will and that I don't take your kindness for granted!

Perfect strangers have been so caring and it has done my heart a load of good.  Remember that giveaway from Katygirl Designs that I posted about winning?  The prints came on Monday, but when I opened it, not only were there just those prints, but some extras and a very sweet handwritten note. 

 

Yeah, that definitely brought on some tears.  Especially this seasons print.  It was SO perfect.  

And seriously, if ya'll are wanting some beautiful word art for your home, go order from this girl.  Tell her I sent you.  People with hearts this big deserve the business!!

So....how am I doing?  

Good.  

And I can say that in all honesty.

I've definitely had some "moments" when fear creeps in and there I am crying all over again.  Usually it's during the simple times like changing Lucy's diaper, reading to the kids, or even washing my hair.  

I'll find myself going down the road of "what if's" and I know it's not right.  This news has threatened to shake me to the core, but I know I have to keep trusting!  His will and His way are always best.  Oh for grace to trust Him more!

Also, things like this tend to wake you up even more to the importance of enjoying every moment with your family.  Life is fragile and I know that.  You would think that we've been through too much to forget that.  But I do and I end up taking the little moments for granted. {again.}

Distraction seems a constant battle right now...it was especially bad last week!  Thursday and Friday I kind of felt like I was in a fog and unable to focus on anything.  But life and responsibilities can jerk you out of that really quick and I'm feeling more "normal."  Whatever that means.  ;)  

I found this book at the thrift store about two weeks ago. Not sure why anyone would give this, of all books, to the thrift store, but I'm happy they did!  I've begun to re-read One Thousand Gifts and it couldn't have come at a better time.  It's so easy to miss the little gifts around us when we're focused on a problem, you know?  Time to whip out the pen and paper and start writing down the every day "thankfuls" again!

My littles are going to be up in a few minutes and I need to run. Despite the fact that I fed them what seems like 25 times yesterday, they will want a repeat today.  =D

 Again, thank you for your love, support and prayers during this time.  You guys are the best!

Great Finds and Something Scary I Never Wanted to Find

Have you ever just felt overwhelmed by the fact that God loves you? Like that unexpected blessing was just a hug from God?   That's how I felt at the beginning of this week.  

Loved.

Hugged.  

It seemed God was showing me again how precious and special I am as His daughter.  Instead of just knowing I'm loved, I felt loved.  

God knew I needed that, but not until Tuesday night did I realize how very much I needed it.

{Molly from Pennies 'n Grace, yours truly, and Christina from The Frugal Homemaker}

On Tuesday afternoon I had the priviliege of spending some time with these ladies! (You can go here to Christina's blog to read more about it!) We are all old friends, but I hadn't seen Christina since we both graduated from college 10 years ago. Yep, that officially makes me OLD.  She was in town so we got together and went thrifting. First we went to Goodwill, and then the Habitat for Humanity Restore.  There I found this vintage suitcase for $2.50 so that was exciting!
  

We only had a few minutes left before we had to go our separate ways, but we decided to hit a little antique shop. Ya'll know me and my love for vintage things, and I had been hunting for a typewriter for a while.  All day I had been praying that I would find one.  Well, in one of the first booths I spotted a typewriter!!  But it was $35. There were a few more in the same booth...all out of my price range.  

I thought, "Okay...well, Lord, I guess none of these are for me.  But I'd still really like one!"  

Further on in the store I stumbled upon this typewriter.  For $12.  And the booth had a sign for 40% off.  No way?!?!  I was thrilled!  

Again inside I was talking to God and saying, "Wow, Lord!  You do care about these little irrelevant things in our lives, don't you?  Thank you!"

Then after dinner on Tuesday night we headed out to Lowe's so my free paint sample coupon wouldn't expire.  When we got there they were all out of paint samples to mix up!  I was SO bummed.  But then the paint guy said, "I'll just mix you up a quart and you can have it for the same price."  Seriously, I needed somebody to pinch me.  A typewriter and free paint all in one day?  Wow.  

It just felt like too much. I told my kids when we got home how Jesus must love me so much to give me things like a typewriter and free paint.  I've learned that He is a really sweet Father like that.  =) 

Well, on Tuesday night my hubby was reading in bed and I'm jabbering on and on about thrifting with my friends and what I wanted to makeover with my free paint, and in my hurry to throw my jammies on, my hand hit my chest in a weird way.  

I paused.  What was that?

My hand probed my right side....wait....what? Just to be sure I wasn't imagining it, I felt my left side too see if it was the same.  Nothing. 

I wasn't imagining things.  Something was there.  A big lump that I had never felt before.  

I told my hubby and I cried.  A lot. Steven prayed with me and I cried some more.  

Early Wednesday morning I talked to my mom.  She's been a nurse for forever and she's always cool, calm and collected when it comes to medical stuff.  She's the tough as nails, "no band-aid for you unless you're bleeding to death" type. Ok, so not that bad, but close. ;)  So when she told me to call the doctor as soon as they opened in the morning, I got scared.  And of course cried again. She said that they would get me in ASAP.  

She was right, my appointment was for 9:30 Thursday morning.

At first I think my doctor thought I was overreacting.  I'm young and healthy, there are few cases of breast cancer in my family, so my risk is low.  She was thinking it was just a horomonal thing.  

But then she started the exam and said, "Oh my...wow, there it is!"  

I was relieved to know I wasn't imagining things, but at the same time, her findings were not very encouraging.  The size, shape, etc. of the mass that was found is definitely irregular.  

Am I panic stricken?  No.  Not at all.  I have learned that there is no sense in losing it over the "if's."  I have no idea where God is going with all this, but I know that whatever it is, it's His best.  

On Thursday night my husband had to work late because he went to the doctor with me, and I was playing a CD that had " 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus" on it.  The phrase, "Oh for grace to trust Him more" hit me in a whole new way.  

That's what I need right now.  Grace to trust Him more.  

This may sound random, but stick with me....on Tuesday morning I entered a giveaway for two beautiful prints from Katygirl designs.  One of the prints said, "As for God, His way is perfect."  On Wednesday night I was notified that I had won. I was so surprised!  

And then I knew.  It was that God hug again.  He knew I needed to feel His love and be encouraged more than ever. I'm looking forward to hanging that print in my home and being reminded of it's significance.

I look at the typwriter on the dresser in the living room and it makes me smile.  It's like God is reminding me, "Hey Laine....I've got this. Typewriters or strange lumps, it's all the same.  I'm in control of it all.  And don't forget, I love you."

So in 9 days I will be seeing another doctor, a surgical oncologist at a cancer center for further testing.  The waiting part always seems so hard. 

These verses have been on repeat in my mind.  God's word is our source of strength and gives us "grace to trust Him more."

Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.  

Psalm 18:30  As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.  

Psalm 46:1  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

This was such a long post and if you made it this far, I thank you for reading!  And if you would pray for me I would appreciate it.  I'm not sure where this path is leading our family, but I'm more confident than ever that whatever He has is best, all for His glory and my good.

 Hope you have a wonderful weekend, friends!

Planting Time {+ InstaFriday}

Happy Friday friends!  

Is it spring where you are?  It's been kind of cool here all week, but so beautiful.  Today we're finally going to plant our garden.  So much going on, you know?  While I may be a serial house plant killer, our garden usually does quite well.  But that probably has to do with the fact that hubby is the main gardener!  =D  Because of my back/hip problems it's hard for me to do it all myself.  Well, I can do it, but there's no promise that I'll be walking the next day. :/  So I plant a little, provide lots of ice water and be the cheerleader. And when it's harvest time I can and freeze the veggies.  I guess we make a pretty good team then! =)  Our garden is about 3800 sq. ft. (over twice as big as our house!) and we plan to grow tomatoes, bell peppers, green beans, cucumbers, yellow squash, zucchini, acorn squash, pie pumpkins, sugar snap peas, cabbage and a few other things that I can't recall at the moment.  Can't wait to eat fresh produce!

I've haven't posted instagram or phone pics for several weeks so I'll just hit the highlights! (I'm @itsjustlaine on instagram)

 My cuties outside the children's museum...it was a while ago but I love this pic.

 This girl is something else.  She keeps me laughing and on my toes!  Right now she's really into drawing and cleaning.  She calls her stool the "tada" because she climbs up on it and says, "tada!"  Cracks me up!  But her cleaning skills should come in handy scrubbing all the walls she's colored on!  Goodness, she's my first "wall scribbler" and let's just say I have a good bit of touch up painting to do.  Seems there's always a stray pencil or something lying around that she can swipe and make some art. =D

 Speaking of art, Levi is REALLY into drawing right now.  And he loves to draw people...which all look similar to these two characters.  He was so proud of these portraits of Lydia and Caleb.  I died laughing.  On the inside of course.  Three year old's are SO funny!  BTW, the portrait of me was equally as flattering.  =D

Oh, and he always gives his people belly buttons.  Gotta be anatomically correct, you know. haha

Peppers for dinner that were heart shaped...so neat.  Even in creation God shows his love!

 What, you don't dress up your chickens and take them on rides in fire trucks??

 Miss Lucy still loves her "kickies", as she calls them.  However she is no longer the "chicken strangler" and pets them nicely.  This is her "I just got to pet the chickie" face.  She is always delighted by them. =)

 Love slow mornings reading school books and sipping iced coffee on the front porch. =) 

 This fella wanted peanut butter, mustard and pickles on a sandwich.  (gross!) But he loved it and asks for it almost every day.  Makes me wonder if he has tastebuds...

 "Oh, hey mom, just taking my chickie on a house tour."  

I'm warning you mothers, these are the types of things that happen when adorable little chickies come to live in your laundry room.  Just want you to be prepared....

 Yeah, could there be any candy more sinful?  Wowsers, they were SO good.  Thank you Trader Joe's!  (And thank you hubby for surprising me with them!!)

 My cuties pies and I. =)

 We don't get to see these friends much, but when we do it's a blast.  Our kids have so much fun together too...they hadn't seen each other in two years and they just picked up where they left off.  Love that! =)

 Two weeks ago, I made this scarf from some scraps in about 5 minutes.  It was way too easy.  This knowledge is not going to help my scarf addiction!

 I wore said scarf when hubby and I traveled to Duke on April 11th because a little boy in our church was having open heart surgery.  His heart defects are similar to Lydia's and was having the same procedure she had almost 7 years ago.  For those who have prayed for him, thank you so much!  He has done extremely well through this surgery and is mostly likely coming home this weekend. Yay!!

Gonna go feed this family some breakfast and prepare to have my fingernails caked with dirt.  =D
Have a great weekend, friends!


linking up to life rearranged.