Thanksgiving Day is such a time to be refective and look around at your blessings and be grateful. I have certainly felt grateful lately for God surrounding me by His Glory.
Without making this extremely long...I must write about my lately.
So long story short... I had to have a little surgery to see why I was having pain for the past several months. Was I nervous? Was I worried? Was I ready to face whatever they found, if anything? Was I scared of that? What kinds of things would I be Surrounded with if they find answers?
I definitely had my moments of thinking "what if?" and "I don't want to die yet" and "am I strong enough to get through it with my husband's new job and travels, no family here, 4 kids to care for"!
I definitely had concern. I definitely cried, I definitely prayed.
I had a handful of people that knew and Surrounded me with their support.
The night before my surgery I get one of those forwarded messages about being an angel.
It literally said, "I sent an angel to watch over you but it came back and said why? Angels don't watch over angels. Then said God has seen you struggling with some things and God says it's over. A blessing is coming your way. If you believe send this
message to some friends right now."
I usually don't do those things...but since it meant so much to me, I sent it on to the first person that popped in my mind.
The irony of that message was.... it was my daddy's sister who sent it. She didn't know I was having surgery the next morning. I mean really? If that isn't a sign from the Lord... I can BELIEVE That He is SURROUNDING ME during
this surgery. That my daddy just might be an angel trying to tell me it's ok by communicating this through his sister who had no idea of my circumstances.
Tons of precious messages and prayers Surrounded me before my surgery from many loved ones so dear to me. Gave me peace. Honestly I didn't have time to worry the day before because I had been celebrating my 5 year old's birthday all
day. I was totally fine with that!!!
So the next morning, I have the surgery... all went ok. They didn't find anything awful and I don't need to worry. In case you are were wondering. Wink, Wink. :)
There was a great amount of love and support that SURROUNDED me after this minor surgery. Cards and flowers, meals and surprises on my doorstep over and over. It is so hard to accept a meal. I don't know why... I totally
do it for others. I just gave in and said, YES!
Oh how I was so grateful for it! It totally lifted that from my plate. What a blessing.
Another surprise...I get a special card from a sweet friend who tells me some heartfelt things for the first time.... one of them being that she respects how I put my family first, for my special circle of friends and my faith and that she was going to
be praying for me, my recovery and my pain to stop. Some of the most meaningful and beautiful words. Why? Because it was from someone I didn't expect to say them? So tender and sweet. I was humbled at what she saw and thought of me.
It lifted my spirits with happy tears for the Lord that He is SURROUNDING me by His GLORY.
I can only imagine what else he can do?
What more could my heart possibly feel? I have a special friend I adore but just between her 5 kids and my 4 living in different communities.... well... it's almost been 3 years since we have talked.
Out of the blue....get a message from her telling me of her father's sudden passing back in June.
She tells me, "I was channeling you Angie Orange. You have a way of looking on the bright side that sticks with people and although I have struggled I have tried my very best to focus on how blessed I was to have him as long as I did.... and that
even though we haven't talked in a bit, the sunshine you let out every time I saw you has always stuck with me." I am in awe of her words... the timing in that she chose to write them to me. Why would it be 2 days after my surgery that she would send this? She lost her father suddenly just like I did. She thinks of me then... but
decides to send me this message now? She didn't know of my circumstances. The timing is Because the Lord is SURROUNDING ME BY HIS GLORY!!!!! He is telling me... to not worry. He might just be using me when I don't even know it. He reveals these things to me when I am recovering and full of questions. He pacifies me with His Love through so many people surrounding me.
He gives me answers to my questions that are simple: "God is in Control of All Things"
"SURROUNDED BY YOUR GLORY...WHAT WILL MY HEART FEEL?
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still?
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall?
Will I sing Hallelujah, Will I be able to speak at all?
I can only imagine."
As I was getting a shower a few days post surgery, This part of the song came to my mind. "Surrounded By Your Glory" and wouldn't it just be the song, "I Can Only Imagine",, that we played at my Daddy's funeral? But as I was thinking it...
The whole week all came together while I was in the shower. I could see it all.
With every prayer or message or act of love or meal or card I had received.... it was HIM. It was HIS GLORY. I am so humbled at what He can do.
If he can do alll this for me on Earth for my one little week of surgery and ease my worries and wipe my tears with words of praise and love from those SURROUNDING me... then what will he do for me when I get to finally be with him? I think
no matter what.... He Has Me.
I just want to write this down and remember.... He is Surrounding me.
I am already in Awe. I already want to fall to my knees.
My heart is dancing and singing Hallelujah because He is already Surrounding Me By His Glory.
I am so thankful for how God Surrounded Me with His Glory, with people that were placed all around me intentionally by Him. I pray that He uses me to Surround someone for Him one day too.
Some November pics!
My Soul Sister is turning 40!
Life is absolutely Beautiful to share a friendship with Kim.
A night to remember with some of the greatest friends!
We love them like family!
Not a lot of pictures from this memorable night...because there was so much to take in.
These Guys make parties an absolute blast!
Happy 40th to Clint who prepared the most amazing meal for his guests.
We Love You Kim and Clint!
My sweet Sherry!
What an absolute joy to be with and catch up and celebrate our friend.
Some of our kids served the 50 guests at this farm to table dinner.
They did an amazing job! Noah is serving the butternut squash soup in a bread bowl.
Get in my tummy!
Noah and Daddy finally got a hunting trip in!
Looking good fellas
Buck down! He got him one the first night!
Proud of Him!
Shot this 8 point buck 275 yards away with his PeePaws 7 Mag!
Pretty Special I must say!
Somebody is excited!
If that long shot for the deer wasn't enough... the next morning he gets him 2 turkeys with 1 shot!!!!!
Seriously? He said, "I'm shooting like a sniper Mama!"
You see him all in camo and got his gun and his buck out hunting.... looking all tough
But on the inside is this boy who makes his mama crazy sometimes with the sweet things he does or says....
He comes in the other morning before school as I was making lunches... He says, "Mom, You Have GOT to come see this RIGHT NOW!" I drop everything... even though there's hardly a minute to spare on school mornings....But am I soooo glad I did.
He wanted to show his mama the sky. It was filled with pink clouds from left to right and all over! It was absolutely gorgeous! I couldn't get a picture big enough to show you how many pink clouds there were.
Of coarse I think of my Daddy. Did he ask God to do that for me this morning? Daddy always knew my favorite color was PINK.
But I love that my SON found the beauty in this and thought to come get his mama.
These are the moments I cherish in motherhood.
Another moment of God showing me how blessed I am and how every where I turn I am Surrounded by His Glory.
My sweet Gunner got his hair trimmed up... looking handsome and that smile just makes me happy
Can you count the bunnies?
One of Emmie's bunnys had 9 babies!
She is a busy bunny farmer let me tell you.
I finally got a picture of our sweet friends Mr. Dennis and Mrs. Phyllis. They are who gave Emmie Shadow, the bunny she is holding (after her other bunny died.) They have been so special to us and even given us three other bunnies. Now we
are going to give them some of ours. They are in their 70s and I just love visiting with them. Usually we go see them at their house. But I thought maybe we could invite them to come see our new babies. I made them taco
soup and some brownies to take home with them. But to my surprise... they showed up with his favorite homemade enchiladas ready to bake for the next night at supper FOR US! They said because they knew I would be busy preparing for Thanksgiving.
Melted my heart!
Keeping me company while I make the drive to Dallas
Emmie working at her bestie's bakery helping out for the busy holiday season.
She loved it!
Had to go see the birthday girl since she was doing what she loves on her actual birthday... working at the bakery. It's not everyday you turn 40!!!!
A singing candle and brownie
So much celebrating.... I should be home cooking but going out to celebrate with the birthday girl and wonderful people just tops the list of to do's.
The 40 Year olds
When we got home this boy had blankets on the couch folded, pillows fluffed, candles lit and everything tidy. He even carried his sleeping little sister up to her bed. He said, "Ok ya'll now I am ready to help ya'll start cooking for Thanksgiving!"
It was a fun 2 hours of staying up and getting everything done and prepped. He made me laugh when he turned that turkey around and said, "Mama, am I really suppose to stick my hand in there?" LOL! He was a champ! One of those cooking
nights I won't forget!
Putting the pies in the oven. Nathan's Aunt Dot's fudge pies have been in the family for years and years. I have made them every year we have been married.
Happy Thanksgiving 2016... eating some sausage and biscuits and drinking coffee to get us going
We are so very thankful!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Wishbone!
This is so hard to do. I think sometimes we might not be thankful for certain things in all our circumstances but we can always find something to be thankful for during those times.
As we are all in the holiday season now....We can think about "Who" we are surrounding ourselves with. Be intentional. Be purposeful. You never know... God could be using YOU to be someone's Glory.... just like they were for me.
