God of all Comfort

I got some sad news this weekend.
It's so hard for me to hear about and know when my friends are struggling... I want to be able to help them in every way I can, but in many situations, a listening ear and offering up prayers are the most that can be done. While I know that is more than enough, many times I still feel like I should be doing more.
Then I come across sections of Scripture that just speak so clearly in these types of situations:

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4, NIV)

I know I have gone through many heartaches in my life...and have received immense comfort from my Father. To know that I can take that same comfort and help someone else with it is so powerful.

The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
(James 5:16b, NIV)

And it goes back to one of my new favorites as well:

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
(Galatians 6:2, NIV)

My heart goes out to those who are hurting. My prayers are for them to be healed and restored by the power of Christ.

If your heart is heavy or burdened, lean in to God. He's got your back. He wants this to happen in your life:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
(Matthew 11:28, NIV)

Latest Pieces of Happiness

I haven't posted pics of my jewelry in awhile, so I decided to post some.
Sorry the pics aren't the best. I didn't realize how much not having the flash on affected them.

This is one of my favorites. I love how it turned out. I actually don't wear it so the beads are right next to each other like that. I wear it off-center and I love it :)

A little close-up of the beads. My hubby thinks the big black ones look like licorice.

I also really like this one. It's a little dressier than the last one...and it's the longest necklace I've made.

Look at how pretty those beads are!

I LOVE this clasp! I bought a pack of these a couple of weeks ago and they are, by far, my absolute favorite. I love hearts...and these clasps are just amazing.

This was the first necklace I made with chain. I love the beads. They are a little funky, so I feel a little funky when I wear this necklace.

I wear this one off-center, too. It's more fun that way.

I love the chain, too. It's so fun!

I have other beads I'm waiting to do something with...and I have a couple of necklaces I made for friends that I'm not posting pics of, because they haven't gotten them yet! I just love making them!

Slapped in the Face...or More Patience

EVERYONE is getting pregnant.

Seriously.

Ok, not everyone.

That is definitely an exaggeration.

But just this week, I found out two other FB friends are pregnant.
And, I have at least 6 other friends who are also expecting.

I am SO happy for them. Truly. I am so glad that God is choosing to bless their lives with a little bundle of joy...as many of them are having their first.

Yet...

I can't help but feel slapped in the face every time it happens. Is this some kind of sick joke? Does God really want me to suffer this much?

We are quickly approaching the two year mark of the day I stopped taking my birth control pills. We just hit our third wedding anniversary yesterday. And, I can't help but feel like I've been patient enough...and it should be my time now.

But...

Is that what God wants for me? To demand that my timing is better than His? The CREATOR of the universe? The One who knew me before I was even conceived?
A friend of mine posted this verse in her blog a couple of days ago...and it was in the chapter I was reading in Crazy Love this week. Coincidence? I think not...

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.
(Jeremiah 1:5 NIV)

God set me apart for a purpose...HIS purpose. Why am I constantly trying to think that my purpose and my will are better than His? I know I will get pregnant when the timing is right...and yet...some days it's just so hard to hold onto that truth.

Oh Jesus, I really need Your help to be more patient...especially on these days when I want nothing but my own will. Help me learn to trust You more and more.

Things Left on my Doorstep

I got home today and found this in my mailbox:

It goes on to give details of where their services are located and when.


It also had a tract in the envelope.

It was so strange for me to see, as I have NEVER received a handwritten, mailed note from anyone that was trying to convert me to their beliefs. I don't know that I have this much passion to do the same for someone I've never met. While I am not Jehovah's Witness, I admire this woman's drive...that she would go so far as to physically write and mail a letter to a complete stranger (though I'm still a little weirded out as to how she knew my name).

This was also on my porch...after I got home:


It also had a card from my Secret Sister. A beautiful anniversary present that fits my hubby and I so well. She knows what I like for sure!

The Happiest Place on Earth

The hubby and I went on our anniversary trip to Disneyland this last week.
As I posted in my last blog, I was pretty worried about the weather being a huge issue for us. Thankfully, it was not. It rained every evening we were in the park...but we didn't have any crazy weather for the drive there or back. The worst of the rain hit while we were standing outside watching the World of Color show...but the show was SO worth the rain! I was very thankful we borrowed my mom's rain ponchos.
Here are a few pics from our trip:

The new signage they have in between the two parks now. It's supposed to look like the original Disneyland logo.

I loved all the Mardi Gras decorations. So pretty!

Snow White's wishing well

The clouds were incredible while we were there

We became Honorary Bugs :)

We have a pic in front of this for almost every Disneyland trip we've gone on together.

I love the Castle :)

It was a really fun trip. It went by far too fast, though...but isn't that how it always is?

If you are planning a trip to Disneyland in the near future, seriously get fast passes for the World of Color as soon as Disney California Adventure opens. The fast passes are distributed at the Grizzly River Run fast pass machines. And, you'll want to return an hour before the show starts, like they recommend, or else little people may not have a very good view of the show. It's amazing!