A CBS first...sisters in Christ

Oh girls , how I miss you!!  I have been blessed by knowing you.

 It had been over a year since I had engaged in an actually bible study outside of our home church , Good News Bible. A friend of mine had recommended Community Bible Study in Peterborough which I had never even heard of .( Thank you Michelle!) I was a bit hesitant because of the commitment of so many months, and unsure of how the boys would do at their first experience in a classroom setting (and without Mom). They can be so unpredictable .....but I really had no excuse seeing that it was the first year that Addy was in school full time and the opportunity was dangling in front of me.  After asking around I was just getting the same thing from each person who had been.....just join!

Well, I'm so very thankful that I gave it a try because it just completely changed my heart this year and it was so refreshing to see The Book of John alongside other women. We broke it down letter by letter, a true Love Story to us!

 Man, it was a HARD year for me. There were some trials that could have just crushed my spirit to pieces ,but I feel like this really just kept my eyes on the Lord. Exactly as they should always be focused.  This beautiful group of women weekly shared their hearts and just fervently prayed for each other, encouraged one another, as only sisters in Christ can.  It was a true blessing. 

Such a completely enlightening study and I have come away with some lovely new friends ! George and Drew have too. I feel like, after going through this study , that I know Christ in such a more intimate way now.  

Jesus, You are so good. You are so faithful. You  just pour on exactly what we need at the exact moment that we need it.

  If anyone local is on the hunt for a Bible Study , I highly suggest this place and this phenomenal group of ladies. I , as well as both boys, had such a perfect experience and are looking forward to September to start up again. If you are at interested, go on and sign up because spots fill up fast .

 http://www.cbsclass.org/Classes/monadnock/Home.aspx

Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

A Squirrels Life

Meet Journey. 

 Journey , a six week old abandoned baby squirrel we found back in late May. She had been creeping in the backyard and had sparked the dogs interest. When I was introduced to the seen, she decided I was her lost mother. Her and I locked eyes, lol, and I resisted the urge to run as she approached. Sad, but so stinking adorable.  Addy affectionately named her what she did because it was her new " Journey'...I thought it was sweet and clever. We spotted her out by the sandbox and when she saw me she scurried over and tried to curl up in my pant leg. I was pretty freaked and thought for sure I was going to be bit and contract rabies. It was quite the production out there. 

Matt wide eyes looking at me like I was a lunatic.
I, in a calm, fearless...bahaha.
Dogs lost in a barking trance, licking their chops in excitement.
 Addy crying and afraid the dogs were going to get her.
Matt rushing around trying to keep the kids away, while trying to convince me to walk away from it. Rabiessssssss!!!
Boys rushing me in hopes of having their chance at a possible grab and a closer look.

 We tried repeatedly to return her to the area where we believe her families nest was but she came back to me time after time.  The mother instinct, as silly as it sounds, kicked in my heart and I reached down and she crawled up into my arms.

 We were kind of in a situation because we couldn't leave her out there to be killed by other animals, especially my incredibly interested dogs.  We , at the time had no idea ho wold she was or how long she had been out there.The nights had not begun to warm yet so I was concerned with the temperature dropping and her dying from the cold. 

In the end we had Journey with us for about a week.  I had her in a warmed box out by the tree hoping the mother would return for her.  Then the box got closer and closer to the house until it made it inside. Matt thought I had lost my mind completely.   I kept reminding him that I DID NOTwant a pet squirrel but had a duty to do what was right.  I reminded him also that it would be a super cute thing to remember once I was gone from this earth. 
 " Remember kids when your Mom thought it was a good idea to rescue squirrels ?  She sure was a funny lady."

 Journey had to be fed with a syringe and kept warm so it was less work for me with her close by and I could rest easier. Our every attempt to reunite her with her Mama didn't work, so I got the pleasure of playing Mom to one more creature while we located outside help.  Eventually I did end up finding a wild life rehab and we were able to get her where she needed to be to get strong, grow some more and get ready for a release.  Right now she is in a rehab with 8 other abandoned little ones.

The kids cried when we dropped her off.  The rehab staff  assured us that she would have a new family and for sure be happier.  Addy exclaimed that doing the right thing stinks!  Isn't that the truth in life for many situations. Addy, I feel you my little friend.

It all worked out and it was a neat experience for our kids.  Because their tears broke my heart I let Addy stay home from school and we patched the broken hearts with Dunkin Donuts and a trip to Keyes Field playground in Milford. 

May was a good month.  Despite the weather disapointments, we had an exciting month. Full of good material for later Gregg family stories.


"For all forest creatures are mine already, the animals on the mountains in their thousands. I know every bird in the air, whatever moves in the fields is mine."
PSALMS 50:10-11

Ransom Paid In FULL

We celebrated Easter once again. 

Because of His selfless sacrifice we were able to spend another year drenched in blessings after buckets of blessings.  Its hard to comprehend the kind of gift that was given to me, to every single one of us, without having to do a SINGLE thing.  It is the ultimate and most beautifully wrapped gift.  

All we have to do is open it.

OPEN it!

 He died so we could live.  

He died so I could make pancakes for my kids, so I can put my toes in the sand, so we could LOVE our families and friends, so we could laugh till our bellies hurt. 

He died so we could comfort each other in seasons of grief, so we could patch boo boos with cartoon band-aids. 

He bled so I would not have to sit in my sinful ways and live in regret.......so He could fix and fill all those broken pieces of me with Himself. 

He suffered so we can have ETERNAL life with HIM.....  So at the end of my days here on this earth ,I could enter His kingdom,and at a FULL speed sprint to embrace the man I cant wait to take me in His arms.

He was buried and rose again three days later so I could see His faithfulness.  So I could trust Him and His word that I crave and devour. So I could be comforted in that place inside that nothing can reach.

He died.

He rose again.

He lives.

He has my WHOLE heart.

He created all this. He crafted every beautiful thing we see from the top of the sky and beyond to the depths we'll never see....From the mightiest of creatures to things so tiny we will never discover. He hand made every tiny vessel in our children's bodies . Every microscopic cell, every heartbeat.

  When I get down and love on my babies I get a small sense of how He must care for us.   When I look into their tiny faces I understand how he feels when he looks at us. I am humbled that someone could love a broken person like me.

Thank you Jesus. 

  "In Christ Alone"

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when striving cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

A little dose of Cuteness

 Just a dose of cuteness from over the last year in no particular order of date created. Some needed interpretation but those ones I consider an even higher dose of adorableness.  Enjoy the heart of a 6-7 year old.

" I am Sorry.  I love you .  Love Addy."

"I went to the playground with my Daddy."

"My family likes to play hide and seek in the dark with...( flashlights)."

" I love you so much.  Love Addy.  Love."

I love my Mom so much, just so much. Love Addy."

" I love you so much that I want you to come to my school today."

" Don't stand up on the bus."

" I stepped in Cherry."

" One school rule is raise your hand."

" I love you so much that I could give you lots of kisses."

Add caption

Back then

Brief pass through memory lane. 

There are more interesting things to share but I just had to when I stumbled on a few old boxes last week.These  particular sentimental pieces of evidence were of me around the age of my own daughter today. 

That little girl, so very tiny, is now a full grown woman. Me, a Mom and wife. Molded, stretched and tried year after year....and still today, like a new creation. Its all too big for my mind to fully understand. 

How is it possible that my tiny heart has been beating in time for this long?  Each one of us are a miracle.  You, your children, your family, your friends...even the stranger at the post office.

 That carefree teenager below had no clue what would be in store. 

This was the invitation that my mother had made for my graduation party.   Its still in one piece after all these years. Left: Heading to Elementary school for the first time.  Right: High School Senior picture

My first steps in my faith.  How cute is my wobbly cursive??

Communion...I was Addys age.  I remember that day like it was yesterday.  The princess white gown and the freshly curled bangs.

My little 7 year old self loved the Lord.  Not quite like today, but the seed was planted. My prayers were a lot different then but none the less , the Lord has heard me, still is ever present and has been so faithful over the years.

^"Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6

Its not always for us

 It can safely be said that the only good thing about winter is seeing the kids enjoy the snow.  Oh, and maybe, how perfectly pretty it looks.  The rest I could do with out  all together.  This  is one of the only reasons you would see me out there in this nasty coldness....to join the begging gang of smiles.

George insisted that ALL of the backyard toys be taken out this day.  Guess what didn't get put away afterwards and it now covered in 5 plus inches of snow out there?

Guy smiley going for a ride. Traffic stops for no one around here.

Miss Addy is afraid of nothing cold. Of nothing at all really.  Watching her made me cold.  Mama's a wimp.

My own snow angel.  Its true...she is in general, an angel.

There are many times in a day, a week, where I am found doing things I don't necessarily enjoy 100%.  Like sitting soaking wet in a snowbank for a hot minute too long in our backyard,  coloring in same coloring books for the umpteenth time that week, or re-tucking in for the 8th time in that patience draining bedtime dance, cleaning up the microscopic Lego's after my fingers hurt from pulling them apart for a frustrated 7 year old for 16 hours straight.....the list can be endless.  

( some exaggeration is necessary to make a point and almost always
when talking about a child )

I do count it all joy ( to a healthy degree, I'm human! ) with my creatures though because sometimes we must 'love' as an action, we just do it.  You know, those things you'd rather not be doing at that exact moment.   Sometimes its fun, sometimes its just bad timing so its not the blast it should be.   BUT  I see your facebook updates.  I see you in your backyard when I head to the store.  I see your kids sticky hands when you are late for church. I see your awesome parenting, heck, I wouldn't want to miss it!...I see you helping to build memories.  You are awesome!!

 I see your kids wrecking your kitchen while they are trying to make dinner 'with you'. 

 I see your kids building a ramp out of your freshly laundered clothes.  

I see you cleaning up thousands of tiny stickers that are stuck to your tables after a craft.  Hey....I'm doing it too.....we are in this boat together ( even with our half smiles...our hearts are pretty full).  

At some point in my life someone did it for me.  Someone did it for you. They showed us their love by making the time. 

 Getting on our level and looking us in the eye. 

 Laughing with us ( probably because of exhaustion but hey,  I didn't know that !)

Its our turn.   So , lets try and find it in us to always just do it because that is what they deserve ( ....and don't we always end up glad that we did in the end??). I'm doing better in this area and the more I just give in  the easier it gets.  I'm letting the dishes sit longer and the laundry piles get a little more ferocious.   The mess ain't going anywhere.  Trust me...Ive been praying and waiting on it.  Just not happening. So run off and play.  You cant afford not to.

"Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her." - See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Memories#sthash.mnD9ppuC.dpuf

Matthew 26:13

Verse Concepts

"Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Memories#sthash.mnD9ppuC.dpuf

Matthew 26:13

Verse Concepts

"Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Memories#sthash.mnD9ppuC.dpuf

'Truly I say to you, wherever the Gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."

Matthew 26:13

Matthew 26:13

Verse Concepts

"Truly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."
- See more at: http://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Memories#sthash.mnD9ppuC.dpuf

Seven

So, another year has come and gone.  That tiny 8lb 7 oz baby from 2007 is now a healthy 7 year old little girl.   Its been a deeply moving experience being her Mom.  She was indeed so carefully created, and man, He made her exquisite in every way.  From her brilliant blue eyes to the tips of her chubby toes, she is pure and good.   So very good. Kind and quirky. Stubborn and thoughtful. Creative and Smart. Born with a heart like no other.  How can such a small creature contain so many different qualities?

January 18th, 2007. 8:04 pm

  I  can only describe these past seven years as Joy filled.

Its truly been such a pleasure. Evidence, once again, that God loves us, to have trusted us with such a precious creation, and for that we are eternally grateful.

When we were pretty far into the pregnancy with Addison we started to build a little library for her.  I found this one the other day while tyding up and thumbing through found a little note I had written to her before she ever even entered the world. Before I ever knew of this 'love'....  before I had this mothers heart.  Its corny and so poorly written but its full of love and with wonder at what the future would bring.  

Happy Birthday 

by 

Robie H. Harris

Addison Lee-

Mommy & Daddy bought this book on 11/4/06 after we had an ultrasound picture taken of you.  It was 3D so we got to see all your beautiful features for the first time. We even got to see you moving around!!  Mimi, Pop Pop, Auntie Courteney, Uncle Tyler, Auntie Elisabeth and Uncle Mark came to see you too. Lots of other people wanted to come but there wasn't anymore room..... everybody loves you so much already.  You are so lucky.

Mommy and Daddy waited a lifetime for you to finally get here.  Up until the day you arrived you kicked Mommy so much.  Mommy was so huge- her belly couldn't get any bigger, but that was ok because the bigger Mommy's belly got....the prouder Mommy and Daddy got knowing that you were growing so big and strong.

It took 28 long hours before you were ready to finally come out.  Mommy couldn't wait any longer!!  When you came out your Nana, Mimi and Auntie Courteney were there with Mommy and Daddy.  The first time Mommy saw you she cried so hard.  You were so very beautiful and you had 10 toes and 10 fingers.....you were perfect in every way.  I think everyone else in the room cried happy tears too, but especially your Daddy.

The whole waiting room at the hospital was full of your family.  Nana, Grampa, Grammy, PapaDad, Mimi, Pop Pop, Uncle mike, Auntie Stacie, Jade , Colin, Uncle Matt, Uncle Mark, Aunt Elisabeth and Auntie Courteney.  They all wouldn't go home until they got a chance to see you and hold you.  Almost till midnight!

January 18th, 2007 was the best day of Mommy's whole life .  You are the most loved baby in the whole entire world and I cannot wait to watch you grow each and every day.

Mommy loves you

xo

Excited to be making your own birthday cake this year.  A triple decker!

A girls fun day at Nuthin But Good Times

One of many celebrations

Balloons floor to ceiling

The yearly birthday shirt....

Seven.

Happy Birthday my Addy Lee.  

You make everyday special....

we love you infinity. ...

Only God could love you more than we do.

He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,  "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

Mark 9:36-37