Jesus is With You

5 years ago I took 12 of the greatest girls I'll ever know to Young Life camp. Those girls rocked my world and changed my heart forever. I got to experience them experience Christ, some for the first time. They shared their doubts, fears, struggles and supported one another in the most beautiful way. It was real. Very real. They laid it all out. Some of them surrendered to the love of Jesus, all of them experienced an unforgettable week. I don't know the Lord's plan for each of them, but I know that it is good. They are in so many different places now. Some have graduated college, some have kids, some are married, some are starting new jobs, some are going to grad-school. One thing is for sure. Jesus has not forgotten them.

This last weekend I had the greatest privilege. I got to baptize one of them. She is a true picture of God's relentless, redemptive love. Her story is hard and very real. But the most beautiful part is that Jesus has redeemed her and she has been made new. 5 years ago at Frontier Ranch, she surrendered her life to Jesus. She walked away clean and renewed. She said goodbye to the old self and ran into the arms of Jesus. It hasn't been a perfect life but God has been faithful to be by her side. When people ask me how I know that God is real, I tell her story. God put her on that bus to YL camp with a great purpose and she met Jesus face to face. On Sunday, we remembered her story. She walked into the creek at New Life Ranch and was baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. She is a new creation in Christ and I'm so very thankful.

Girls, wherever you are, you are so loved. You may not know this but you are stamped on my heart forever. I think of you often and pray for you always. There isn't a group of people who have impacted my life more. I love you very much. When you feel lost, remember that He created you and knows your very needs. Wherever you are, Jesus is with you.

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come." 2 Cor 5:17

Sibling Love

I've never had a brother. I always wished I had one. It seemed like such a unique relationship that I wanted so badly. And now, to watch Abe and Finley together, I am certain that the brother/sister relationship is so special. I truly did not expect him to love her, or even to acknowledge her existence. He's only 15 months old. But man was I wrong. Every morning Abe wakes and goes directly to "Dah Dah's" rock n play looking for her. He brings her a paci when she's crying, tries to feed her a bottle when he's drinking his milk, is full of kisses for her (only her), and always wants to be in mom & dad's lap when they are holding Finn. Don't get me wrong, I spend most of my day "protecting" Finley from Abe's "love."  Just the other day I caught him trying to feed her mangos while using her belly as his drum pad. She'll survive right?? We can only hope that they will learn great things from one another. Thank you Jesus for our two and the unique friendship they seem to have already started.

Finley isn't so sure, but Abe? Oh my. Instant joy. 

And Then There Were 4

It seems as if we've always been a family of 4. Everything changed in one night but it seems as if we've been this way forever. Two girls and two guys. I love it so much. Finley came into this world so perfectly. On July 2nd, I started having contractions around 8:00 pm. I'd been having contractions for several days but nothing very consistent for a long period of time. These contractions were stronger. Abe was sleeping peacefully in his crib and I told Rhett that he should probably pack a bag. I was picking things up around the house because what else do you do while in labor!?!? I went back to the bedroom where Rhett was, what I would call, pacing. I've never seen him like this. He looked at me and said, "What should I wear?" This coming from a guy whose wardrobe consists of T-shirts and more T-shirts. He was anxious to say the least. Anxious-excited, I'd say. We decided to head to the hospital around 11:00. Lauren came over to get Abe and we were off. We checked into the hospital and they put us in a triage room. Where we stayed ALL NIGHT LONG. No window, no comfy chairs and definitely no bed for Rhett. Poor guy slept on the floor. My water broke around 6:00 AM and things went pretty smoothly from there. They moved us to a labor and delivery room at 8:00 and my contractions began to start up again. The doctor came by at 11:00 to check on things and my contractions got very strong. I got my epidural at 12:30 (PRAISE JESUS). Around 2:00 I told my mom that it was time, she got the nurse and the nurse smiled and said, "Yep, It's Time."  She went to get the doctor but it wasn't my turn. WHAT?!?  He was delivering another baby and I had to wait!!! Tell a momma with a baby on the way to wait and "don't  push!" Worst thing ever. I was so ready to meet Finley and pushing was the only thing I wanted to do. FORTY MINUTES later, Dr. Thompson was ready and I finally got to push. I pushed for 8 minutes with Rhett by my side. (Apparently I squeezed his arm a little too hard - POOR RHETT. At least he told me this later and not during labor. Good call babe.) 8 minutes, THAT'S IT! It was perfect. So incredibly perfect. At the very end, I just started laughing with joy, I knew I was so close to meeting Miss Finley I just couldn't keep it in. She was born at 2:41 pm. They cleaned her up a bit and put her right in my arms. It was the sweetest moment I've ever experienced. With Abe, we had to wait awhile while they helped him breathe and it was so hard. With Finley, they just put her right in my lap. She was the sweetest thing. With her full head of black hair just like her big brother. She was beautiful. 6 lbs 14 ounces, 19 inches long. She's a gift that sweet Finley Hope Pierce. May she always know Jesus as her anchor, her savior, her father. "This hope we have as an anchor for the soul, a hope both secure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil." Hebrews 6:19