wrapped in love..

Today, Josh and I received a package. When he told me over the phone of the package waiting with my name on it, I was instantly curious. After asking about the package, who from, etc. I still had no clue what the package could be. So, I called my mom. I figured if a family member was sending a package, they'd called her for the address. Turns out, my Grandma had give my mom the tracking number to the package she had just put in the mail for my Tuesday! After learning this tid-bit of info, I knew exactly what it was! MY QUILT! My Grandma makes a quilt for each grandchild when they get married. Grandma started mine sometime in 2007, during the time of m engagement, after I'd picked out colors for our home. So, a little over a year after I'm married.. here it is!! Better late than never, and I'd rather have this quilt than most things anyone could give me! My Grandma is my hero, and this quilt is just a small token of her love, a little reminder that I am wrapped in her love on a daily basis. What a reminder that is of how Christ has wrapped us in HIS love! The quilt has an "enscription" on the bottom:

Jackie + Josh ~(^)~ March 29 2008

..the funky symbol is my attempt at the flower between our names and our wedding date. Wow, what a gift!

bittersweet..

A week ago a wonderful, God-fearing woman went home to be with the Lord. Though my heart is sad, I rejoice in knowing that I will see her again one day. DeAnna was diagnosed with cancer in 2004, and had been in remission twice since then. The fall of 2008, she was diagnosed with cancer again. She had a tumor removed, and was sent to Indiana for an aggressive treatment. Upon her return, her doctors informed her that her body was not responding to treatment and that this cancer was going to be terminal. She took this news with grace, and Praised the Lord that she would have some more time with her family and friends. I have never experienced such unwavering faith. DeAnna was a true inspiration. I am proud to call her friend, and mostly, my sister in Christ.

How He Loves Us

Yet another worship song that the Lord has used in recapturing my heart for Him...


He is jealous for me
Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
and I realize just how beautiful You are and how great your affections are for me.
Oh, how He loves us so
Oh, how He loves us
How He loves us so.

Yeah, He loves us
Oh, how He loves us
Oh, how He loves us
Oh, how He loves.

So we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way

That he loves us,
Oh, how He loves us
Oh, how He loves us
Oh, how He loves

He loves us,
Oh, how He loves us
Oh, how He loves us
Oh, how He loves


..the picture is one I took a couple years ago at the Disciple Now conference. My girls holding their hands out in surrender to the Lord.. in worship.

The Glory Of It All

David Crowder Band's Remedy is in my car cd player at the moment.. here is one of the songs on it that has touched my heart..

"The Glory Of It All"

At the start
He was there
He was there
In the end
He'll be there
He'll be there
And after all
Our hands have wrought
He forgives

Oh, the glory of it all
Is He came here
For the rescue of us all
That we may live
For the glory of it all
Oh, the glory of it all

All is lost
Find Him there
Find Him there
After night
Dawn is there
Dawn is there
And after all
Falls apart
He repairs
He repairs

Oh, He is here
With redemption from the fall
That we may live
For the glory of it all
Oh, the glory of it all

After night
Comes a light
Dawn is here
Dawn is here
It's a new day, a new day
Oh, everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be the same

Oh, everything will change
Things will never be the same
We will never be same



..The Lord never ceases to amaze me. He sent His ONLY son here, to die for you and I. I love how the song states, "And after all Our hands have wrought, He forgives." We do not deserve the forgiveness offered to us, but still He offers it freely.

I love praising the Lord in the car. No one can hear, or see.. there is a private moment with my King and me. I get to be at His feet in worship..

G-rents!

After spending a long weekend at the beach with Josh's wonderful family.. his grandparents, and two aunts and uncles.. I began to really miss my own family..

Tonight I called my grandparents, which I try to do often. If I don't get around to calling, I email or send a card. I don't think I realized how much of an impact they've really had on my life until recently. Growing up in church, spending time with them in God's Word, working with Campers on Mission with them, being prayed for daily, getting the greatest hugs in the whole world when I see them.. they are a true blessing. My grandparents are the most God-fearing, Christ-centered, loving people I know. They have always done for others, tried their hardest to provide for the needs of all of their family (and we have a huge family!).

My Grandma told me tonight that she loves me more that I could know. She prays for Josh and I daily. And that her family is the single most important thing on this earth. I told her in response that I love her very much.. she then responded, "believe me, we feel your love even though the distance between us is great, we feel it." How can she know exactly what I need to hear? The reassurance that she knows beyond a shadow of a doubt that I love her. And that she loves me. Because she's my Grandma. She knows my heart, and the things that I need even when I don't know that I need them. She is my hero. How did Grandpa know after only a couple minutes of conversation that I needed Grandma? Because he is my Grandpa. He knows the inner workings of my soul.. he knows with I need before I do. He has been there, the silent encourager and Christ-centered man in my life. He is my hero.

Josh does not understand why I cry after talking to them on the phone.. but they are my Grandparents, my family, my heart. I miss them everyday.. and wish we did not live 14 hours away. But they are in my heart and I am in theirs. I feel their love, as they feel mine.

Thank you, Lord, for my Grandma and Grandpa..

i carry your heart with me

by: ee cummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)

i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you here is the deepest secret nobody knows (here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

a year.. a WHOLE year..

Today we have been married a year! And what a year it has been.. full of laughter, tears, smiles and fears.. and Lord has pulled us through it all! He has sustained us, and has shaped us.. HE is to Praise for our wonderful marriage!



In celebration... Friday we went to dinner with Ryan and Lori Beth, what a treasure they are to us! We are thankful for their friendship! Saturday we spent the afternoon and evening with our Sunday School Class, working a service project and then relaxing together and fellowshipping! The Lord has blessed us with a welcoming class, and given me the opportunity to reconnect with good friends! Sunday (today).. Josh and I skipped church (shame, shame.. I know), we spent the day with Amy and Cameron.. we drove up the camp that Cameron will be working at this summer and toured and fished and spent a wonderful day with great friends! They have been such a blessing through both the good times and bad.. encouraging, praying, and supporting us in ways that we never imagined. Josh and I a underserving of the blessings if great friendships that Lord has bestowed on us! We are so thankful that our anniversary weekend could be spent with so many people who have touched our lives.. we are thankful.