Three + One + many more = Blessings

Blessings come in sweet packages. They come when we least expect them.

I have the privilege of loving on four gifts God has given not just to this couple, but to all of us who love this family. In October, this special couple brought triplets into this world, two girls and a boy. They were so tiny and they were fighters...beautiful little warriors. Their parents... solid as a rock and experiencing fear, trust, faith all at the same time. Why? Because they knew that God was their strength and song. We have watched these babies grow and thrive...and older brother, he is doing great! Such a good helper and loves his siblings so much! There is so much joy in his face when he hugs and kisses their little faces. 

This week, one of the girls, Sister One* is up on all fours...scooting a little backwards and before long (I give her a week) she will be all over that house! When I was looking at a picture my friend shared with me this morning of this angel ready to move, I saw a leader. She is the one where, "Life is Good"... always content, smiling and strong. She knows where she is going! And I would say she is going to be the one who negotiates peace and good will. 


All of their personalities have been emerging since birth. Sister Two*, she is a heartbreaker... with those big, beautiful, blue eyes! She is very expressive with her hands and face inflections. Sweet little angel girl that will have a tender heart. Brother*, whom shared the womb, he is just a flirt! I mean, his dimples go so deep - straight into that sweet little heart of his. And my heart melts! I think he could get away with anything because he is so handsome with that big, dimpled smile of his!! Big brother*... I love to hear him say, PaPa is the man and Mama is the woman! He is a confident little guy and he is going to take care of his siblings like nobody's business! He will be their protector and make sure they are all in line! What is so amazing, they all look alike in some way. I have never seen four children where there is no mistaking whose they are.

I am very thankful God has allowed me to love so many precious blessings through our church and other places. I do not have biological grandchildren, but I sure have a lot of "surrogate" grandchildren that I love so much! They all bring joy into my life and warm smiles to my heart:) Yes!! and Amen!!

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate ~ Psalm 127:3-5

*I am careful about sharing children's names who are not my own, as well as pictures. Therefore, I have only used the birth order of the triplets and a picture of Sister One from the back. But, I will share dad's blog, as it is public and searchable. Feel free to read and see their progress. He does a great job capturing not just their lives, but the heart of Christ.

In the Beginning.....

So, it is probably the fall of 1957. There is this couple who have the new baby that is four months old...which would be around October 1957. The holidays are on the brink of beginning. I would imagine this happening in December, with all the Christmas festivities shining. The test comes back positive...yep, there is going to be another baby born into this household! WHAT??? So says the mama.... I do not want another baby! I have a four month old with three other children! What am I going to do?? This mama was not a happy camper! So this daddy heard the last he was going to hear about her "woe is me" words. So, he conjured up something that made that mama mad and she changed her resolve. A visit to the doctor within the next month, after scheming with the doctor, there was a plan that would shake her up. This husband handed to his wife money to take care of this pregnancy she didn't want. She was shocked, she was angry and threw the money back to both the doctor and her husband. I feel sure there were some choice words that were thrown as well. So, here I sit, the rest is history and I am thankful for a mama this was pro-life!

I did not know this story until I was an adult. I often wondered if she made it up...but who would make such a story up! And I also remembered growing up hearing that I was not planned, I was hoped to be a boy, I was found on the doorstep to you don't look like anyone, are you really ours? Imagine what this did to this ole girl! There was always laughter associated with those words, but words like that didn't bring laughter to me on the inside.

I have heard through a few family members, I wasn't held much. Mama was tired, there was so much going on in our family. Because of this, I have zero pictures of me when I was an infant but I do have a picture when I was two.... I look a little waif-ish:) but it is one of my favorite pictures. I will share this in my next post as there is a story that goes along with that picture, that believe it or not I remember! 

Even as a young child, I always questioned my place in this family and my place in this world. It was years later that I discovered Psalm 139 ~ 

13 For you created my inmost being;
     you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.

Praise be to God!!! He knew me before I was ever born...He thought of me before anyone else even knew I was going to exist! He has a plan for my life! Yes and Amen!!!

A Story to Tell

I have a story to tell. We all have a story to tell. Today, I will begin the story of my life. I am not sure how transparent I will be. The story I will tell is God's story of my life. How He took me out of a broken home and gave me a home I can call my own. The journey from the beginning has brought me much pain and has brought me to a place of surrender. 

Today, God called me to a time of sitting still before him. I am sitting in the house all alone...Buddy is gone to a football game....our sons are living their lives in another town...the two dogs are visiting the spa:) aka, the kennel. It has been a l...o...n...g time since I have sat still enough to listen. To listen to what God is speaking to my heart. It has been a sweet time and one that has brought tears. 

So here goes a little transparency: I live most of my life feeling not just inadequate, but feeling alone. It is like my past continues to invade my mind and I can sit there long enough that I fall into a deep pit. I told my friend, Andi, I had lost my giddy up go. I feel emotionless, empty, alone and that my life moves in automation. I ask myself why? I have so much in front of me and in my life. And what is it that keeps taking me back there? I am not 100% sure --- I do know this very thorn in my flesh keeps me calling out to God. And one other thing I do know is that my God never leaves nor forsakes me. It is these times that I fall before Him, calling out His name to step in and be my strength. He shows up every time...because He was there all the time:) Thankful for that. I believe His Word is "God inspired"...that His Word is Truth. I believe: "God is who He says He is, God can do what He says He can do, I am who God says I am, I can do all things through Christ, and God's Word is alive and active in me". (Thank you Beth Moore for putting this so eloquently). 

Having said the above... I know it hard for some to believe I have these feelings of inadequacies and loneliness. But I am here to tell you as long as any of us have breath, we all feel this in some fashion. Unfortunately, these two things have invaded my life off/on and at times leaves me incapacitated yet still moving through life. I learned how to hide my feelings (or so think I do)... it was my way of survival. The thoughts I have as I move through this life I call mine can be pretty scary and hilarious at the same time, but is for this I have Jesus!  

Please understand this blog is not meant to invoke anything but what God has done and continues to do in my life. Heck, I am not even sure who or if anyone will stumble upon this! It's all in the hands of my Lord.  

My prayer is that this story of mine may bring someone else to a place of healing and surrender.

Making Jesus Attractive

Can't sleep.... God's Word always comes through! He took me to Philippians One. Verse 11 - ....Live a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.


I so want my life to attract others to Christ...I feel so bound up sometimes. Like I am tied up fatter than a hog being led to the slaughter! Life gets crazy busy and I just let the moment pass me by! My friend Andi shared once that being intentional is what keeps us steady. This very word is what spurs me on...to remind myself that life can pass by...it is up to me what I allow to take residence in my soul.

Short but sweet and true.....I want Jesus to strip the binds off and give me breathing room so I can expand!

the "something, terrible, awful"

Our God...yes, our God. Is that enough? Is it enough to proclaim? What more do we have to offer Him other than our words...you are my God? My God has several meanings...these are just a few: You are my God, in whom I trust. You are my God, my Rock, my Refuge, my Strength. 


When the "something, terrible, awful" happens in our lives...how do we respond? I find myself in the midst of the "something, terrible, awful"....yet, even in the midst of this thing...God has shown so much of His glory. But I will be honest with you, there is a little bit of that wants to hide this under a bushel and hope it all goes away. And tonight, I heard God remind me: Because I am Sovereign, nothing can happen that hasn't already been sifted through My hands first. In the midst of this thing - we recognize that God has a plan and sometimes that plan can get a little twisted... because God allows those bends/twists in the road we journey on. Embrace where He is leading, trust where He is leading, and encourage the person that is experiencing this more as they walk through this journey. Isn't that what we are called to do? Don't give them words they want to hear, give them words of wisdom..praying for God to season them with grace and the words that would only be what He has ordained and placed on our lips. 


The greatest lessons we learn come when we don't harbor a bitter root and don't root in the pigsty...and understand this: God is who He says He is. God will do what He says He will do. I am who God says I am. I can do all things through Christ. God's Word is alive and active in me. (Beth Moore)


So what do we offer Him? Our undivided hearts. Is my God enough??? He is more than enough! Praise Him for who He is...he King of Kings, the LORD of Lords.


Amen, and Amen!

The Help, The Blessing....

Pearl....Annie Pearl Harris. She is the one who hugged me, she is the one who taught me how to make a bed, even it was with a switch in her hand! Pearl could make an apple pie like nobody's business. I have tried and tried to duplicate it...tried to get her recipe but there was no recipe, just a hand full of this, a pinch of that...and magic was created! The magic was in her hands of love. I really don't know where I would be today if she had not been such a large part of my life. She gave me something my mother couldn't...real affection that came through her discipline, her hugs, her apple pies and all the time she spent with me. I can remember the time my friend came over and talked me into pouring finger nail polish all over the mattress! Yep, my butt was sore for a few days!!! And Pearl taught me a lesson I never forgot...don't follow bad decisions...do what is right. She taught me much about life...and boy did she love her Cincinnati Reds!! She would watch her baseball and iron at the same time. She was spirited! And she loved some nasty Falstaff Beer! But drank it with control...something I had never seen before. 

Today...she passed away. Today....she was on my mind. Several months ago, I felt an urging to see her, but I didn't act upon it. No regrets...can't go there, it would be too painful. Life is so short...life gets too busy and time slips away. I know this all too well, but how easy it is to fall back into that trap. I can trust that Pearl knew how much she meant to me as I have told her so many times. But I wish I could've had one more of her great hugs and hear her say my name like nobody else could. 

So tonight, my heart is sad....and very thankful for the blessing He brought in my life through my Pearl...He truly does give us food at the proper time. 

The LORD upholds all who fall 

   and lifts up all who are bowed down. 

The eyes of all look to you, 

   and you give them their food at the proper time. 

You open your hand 

   and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

Psalm 145:14-16 (NIV)

Snips & Snails & Puppy Dogs Tails!!

November 13, 1980...5am...we are on our way to the hospital. 11:46am...we welcomed a beautiful baby boy in our lives, Joshua Bryan Blount. He was a crier!...no, a screamer!!! He wailed....he was red faced...he was beautiful...I was a little scared! November 18....this beautiful baby boy was coming home...weighing 5 lbs. 11 oz...he was a tiny little thing...and make such a big noise when he was not happy!!! I was excited to have this beautiful baby boy come into our lives... we were committed to raising him to love the Lord his God with all his heart, mind, soul. We stood on this scripture: Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up Deuteronomy 14: 18-19. We took this very seriously...we talked about the Lord everyday...in every way. Josh grew...slow, but he grew. He was a tiny little guy....yet very opinionated...we saw his strong spirit to never give up before he turned one. He was a joy, even in the midst of his strong-willed spirit! Brother, Jacob, came along in 1983...he wanted us to take him back to the hospital!! They are very close today and for this I am very thankful!! They are two different kind of guys who respect each other....encourage each other. 


Fast forward 30 years....May 22, 2011. This beautiful baby boy is now a good-looking man. Where did life take him to this point? He has grown in his faith...he has struggled in his faith...he loves ministry. He loves discipleship. He comes alive in ministry. God is moving him to Fairhope, Alabama to being ministry with the youth at Fairhope UMC. We are excited for Josh...and know that each day will continue to grow him - Our prayer is that his life will continue to grow deeper in faith....his wisdom would come from God and God alone...he would have discernment in leading these youth....these youth would come to love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind and soul. Which takes me to my next thought: how we live our life has an eternal impact. What kind of life am I living now that will continue impacting the world for Jesus Christ? My job as a parent is not over....my job as a believer is ever-continuing. How intentional I am I in my faith? What am I doing that grows my faith? They say that wisdom comes with experience...and yes, age (ouch, that hurt)! I know my life has experienced much pain..and much joy. Through each one of these, I do believe my life is richer and has made me who I am. It has been what helped me become the mother that I am.