Advent

Just spending time anticipating the celebration of our sweet Savior.  I can honestly say I am more in love with Him now than I have ever been.  I have been praying about what I am about to write because I don’t want it to feel like a big deal to you all, or something that you need to worry about.  I promise you don’t 🙂 And you know I would tell you…I never seem to be at a loss for words, hmm?

I am going to take a little bloggy break for a bit…I will pop back in with quick thoughts here and there, maybe some great book recommendations or even what I call the Q.O.T.D. (Quote of the day).  Which, incidentally, occurred today at Target when Kate informed a complete stranger at the dollar spot that she was excited to grow up so she could “go to Bible Study and wear a brawl (bra).” Awesome.  Ready for check-out now, thanks for playing.

I feel like I need to be in a season where I am preparing my heart for the season, spending time drinking hot chocolate and praying over my babies, and I think I need to take the pressure off of myself to share deeply here (let me clarify that I am the one who places this pressure on myself!!!).  It is just such a season of joy and sorrow this year, and so intermingled that I believe it best to let my words be few with the world and many with the Lord.  You understand, I know. Because you are the Sundays, and you never fail to encourage me. Thank you for your support and love.

Along with that, I have 2 prayer requests.  The first is that I have begun to write the book of Audrey’s story, and am in the process of getting a proposal ready for my agent to send to several publishers.  It is an odd thing to mix something so personal with something kind of “business-like,” but I have felt such a great peace in the way the Lord is directing my steps.

With that said, I know that you have come to love my Audrey as well, so you will understand what I am about to say (as tears literally drop into the nooks and crannies of my keyboard).

Will you pray that I would bring great honor to the Lord Jesus Christ through her, and that I will honor who she was to us? I just so desperately want to do it well, and my insecurities have a way of making me feel inadequate.

I want you all to be involved in this process, and I will keep you posted as I know more, because I feel that I have had the great honor of your presence and insight for many months. I do not take for granted what you have allowed me to share with you, and the way you have supported me when I felt I could not do it alone. 

My second prayer request is that in January, Todd and I have been invited to come to Colorado to speak at Focus on the Family in honor of their “sanctity of life” week.  I am humbled beyond belief, but also intimidated and feel like it is so far from my comfort zone.  And also, there will be airplanes involved. ‘Nuff said there. 

Will you pray with me Sundays? I may be the one penning it, speaking it, experiencing it etc., but you are my loyal, faithful supporters, who have walked alongside me with dedication I can scarcely articulate, and I treasure you dearly.  

In the very first post I ever wrote on this blog, I said how grateful I was to those who were reading (initially the blog was intended to be for friends and family who lived out of town!) because they were a part of her story.

Part of a story that only the Lord Himself could orchestrate.

As a sidebar, thank you so much for you prayers about Cider Carols. Honestly, it was a COMPLETE blast and I never even got nervous because it was just so fun I couldn’t be troubled with letting myself worry. And the Xanax didn’t hurt either, truth be told…:) We raised a ton of money and sang some great music by candlelight. It was amazing…

Also, I was asked to speak to a group of High School girls, and it fell on the Friday morning after CC.  I was really looking forward to it because I love this age group.  Honest to goodness, I adored every minute of it.  The teachers even let the girls skip their next classes so we could keep talking!!! These girls are ON FIRE for the Lord (in case you’re local, it was Christ Presbyterian Academy, where, coincidentally, the author of one of my favorite parenting books is on staff.) I loved every single minute of being there, and now I feel really torn, because I want my girls to go to school there, but I also LOVE homeschooling. And then there’s the whole tuition thing  (and remember I have multiples!!!), but I am praying about the will of God.  If it is what He wants for us, He will provide.  But all I can say is that when I left that school, a deep, unexpected, glorious peace filled my spirit and I felt such great joy at the possibility of the being a part of such a Christ-centered school.  Actually, could you pray about wisdom for that decision too?

I better wrap it up. I’m approaching rambling at warp speed.

All this to say…I’m off to spend some time in the land of simplicity this advent, but I will be back soon.  In the meantime, forward me your prayer requests, keep up with me on twitter, and above all, know that you are loved by the Most High.

Yes.  That much.

Angie