Blessings, Suzanne

I broke His heart. Not intentionally, but it makes no difference. I had never thought of it that way until a few months ago. I thought of all the times I made my list of wants and needs, in the name of prayer. I thought of all the busyness trying to prove I was enough. I thought of all the energy wasted worrying about situations out of my control. I thought about the choices I had made that brought consequences. I thought about how I went straight to another friend to talk about what ailed me that day instead of Him. I thought of how much He loved me regardless of how I treated Him. I broke the Lord's heart and that broke mine. And then I began to pray. Earnestly pray. In my brokeness, I repented. And ask for forgiveness. I was not met with silence but with three simple words.... I SEE YOU. It felt as if a wave of reassurance had washed over the top of my head down to my feet. I see you simply meant ...I see you for who I made you to be. I see what's going on. I see it all...

" My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my     expectation is from Him."  Psalm 62:5 Blessings, Suzanne

"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance." Proverbs 1:5 Well, hello...a little less than twenty-four hours ago I was still overlooking the bay and the beach in Pensacola...yes,my backyard is beautiful for spring, but I am having a hard time adjusting back to life here in the burbs!! Just kidding. Home sweet home. What a great time..we went with another family so everyone had a friend, and we managed to really put the "break" in Spring Break! I did enjoy the slower pace, good food, naps, read a whole book (Pioneer Woman by Ree Drummond, loved it), no schedule or homework or activities except deciding whether to go to the beach or the bay. The weather was cool the first part of the week, but Saturday felt like summer!The kids fished, crabbed, rode their bikes, kayaked,and swam in that really chilly water like it was a hot tub (burrr), and for the most part, got along...yeh now that's broadcast news, that's a br...

"God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day." Psalm 46:5 Good morning! It has been a few days, yet I am still in Psalm 46, still on a twenty-one day journey. I laugh at how literal I really am. This is day eleven and I am so wanting to look and see how many posts I have written, I felt sure I would write one a day! My eyes landed on this verse yesterday "If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm." Psalm 37:23 and was light a bolt of lightning! You see, I am learning, that when you walk by faith and not by sight, things just, quite frankly, don't make sense. Hmmm, great revelation at 5:15 am huh? So simple, but Lord, thank you for the reminder. Why do I get so caught up in the details that I miss the point, and maybe miss the lesson. HE is WITHIN me (and you) and I will not fall! I will stumble, will make mistakes, but when I am fully surrendered (over and over) to Him, my steps have to be firm. Because He doe...

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1 Good Morning my friends, I hope that as this letter is opened, it can be your time of quiet and sitting before the Lord as I have this morning. Read the verse again and put your name or my where it says "our". "God is my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."I woke up this morning with many people on my heart in need of prayer, situations that seems impossible,and with a mission to seek wisdom from my Father. Let me preface this post by sharing that I started it on Tuesday...and this was my question to the Lord when I sat down to write. "What trouble do I have today, Lord, do I always have to write about trouble." When will I ever learn that He is always so gracious to prepare me for what lies ahead. No there was no crisis this week, no huge ordeal, just everyday distractions, disruptions, a disappointment or two and DIVINE REFUGE!!! It seems I am part of...

"For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything." Hebrews 3:4 Good afternoon! I hope it is as bright and full of sunshine where you are as it is here!My Monday didn't exactly start off with happy children excited to go to school, both of my little ones needed some reassurance this morning.How thankful I am that I had been reassured by my Heavenly Father well before their day started. He reassured me with "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Corinthians 4:7 and "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, Your God, the Holy One of Israel, Your Savior." Isaiah 43:2-3 and "The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." John 4:4. Oh how ...

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6 This little girl used to ride her bike, play house and baby dolls, make clubs in the woods with all her neighborhood friends,and go to church on Sundays and Wednesdays, all in a place called Rock Mountain Lakes in McCalla, Alabama. What wonderful childhood memories I have growing up there! I have a unique opportunity to share my testimony at the very church where, at nine years old, I gave my heart to Jesus!They are celebrating their thirty-first anniversary of God's Faithfulness...my parent's were charter members of this church so this is really very special! Look at God!But I have to tell you even more...(know you are not surprised;))the day before I got an email from this pastor, I had prayed that I could go back to my roots and share what God has done. And a friend from high school (thanks, Melanie) gave the pastor the link to this blog.He contacted me and we g...

"For everything there is season, and a time for every matter under heaven:" Ecclesiastes 3:1 It's fall, Ya'll! My very favorite season and I know I am not alone on that one!The mums out front (pictured)are just getting ready to bloom, to show their colors, at just the right time. The right time, the right place, the right soil, the right light,all have to take place so that little bud can have "it's time." Is it just me or does God have to drive that point home over and over and over and over? Life is a process. Each season of life is a process. I am learning to be content in the current season as I wait for the next. Right now, that season is very focused on motherhood!! I seriously try to tell my mother every chance I get how much I appreciate all she did for us... I was in eighth grade when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was forty-four and Stage 0 and amazing!And here we are now...spending a Saturday together!GiGi,as the kids call her, bo...

b> "Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts." Isaiah 26:8 >Brain MRI was normal today !!!!Praise God...now, Hey friends!I apologize for being unable to post until now! Maybe last night's title "Eternal Weight" had a hidden prophetic meaning "eternal wait"...ha, ha!I am sure you can feel the relief in my voice. Unfortunately, pet scans are read at 5:00 am so I won't get those results until in the morning! If the reader only knew that I would be up at that time, they could call and we could discuss over coffee! Anyway, it was a looooooong day but Jeff and I made the best of it. My verse this morning was "O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch." Psalm 5:3 For those of you who followed my cancer diagnosis, you learned one of my weaknesses is chlostraphobia, especially in MRI machines. Well, even that has b...

"For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit." Romans 8:5 Good morning, my friends. I pray you wake with this morning with a mind that is set on "the things of the Spirit." I heard someone say, "I used to say oh God, it's morning, now I say good morning God!" I think it was Wynona Judd as she spoke of her life transformation.So this morning I say "Good morning God." My story this morning is the tale of a Monday afternoon, a late afternoon, as I was trying to get "all my ducks in a row" as my Mom says. Monday nights are my yoga night at Susan G Komen. To leave at 6:00 pm on any given night is quite a task..dinner to be done beforehand and homework done (one of the two happened, they ate atleast..smile). However, there was one thing I had not done and that was, buy a yoga mat. Yes, I had been out and about w...

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27" Good Sunday morning. It is September 11, 2011, ten years after the tradgedy and loss of more than three thousand lives. Lives of people in this world who were mothers, daughters, fathers, sons, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends. People who were loved and were by others. These "others" were left with a change of circumstances, in just a moment. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend. With the cooler weather, we have taken full advantage of our patio. When summer began the flowers out there were so beautiful. Rows of white and pink impatiens, pots of red and white petunias and yellow lantana. . By August, my days were busier and they got watered less and less. This is a nice way of saying, the sun scorched them and I forgot to water!! However, we are about to begin a new season, so mums and p...

" Pray without ceasing " 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Tonight I am sharing a story and asking for prayer for a prayer request.... Here goes... We left early on Friday afternoon to Smith Lake to enjoy some sunshine and Alabama Football! Our friends, the Hengers, also joined us as their lakehouse is being remodeled. My very favorite time at the lake is (you probably already guessed) early morning. The sunrise there is beautiful, always. The water was still and I so enjoyed my reading and writing time. Ahhh...And the stillness before all the little peeps arise and begin the questions...can we swim yet, can you take us on a golf cart ride, can we make cinammon rolls? So after we made the cinammon rolls, rode on the golf cart..it was around 9:30 am. I was still in my PJ's and we were sitting around talking, watching the kids from the window, as I drank yet another cup of coffee. We heard the four of them come screaming (which is not unusual) and Abby and Sophia were saying at ...

"They were glad when it grew calm, and he guided them to their desired haven." Psalm 107:30 Good morning. I have been up a while, it's still dark outside, but boy have the lights of my heart have been shining bright. I laugh at the fact that I can thank my thirteen year old Yorkie for this blessed time. She is my alarm clock these days, I heard her barking (or one bark...one bark..another bark) from across the house and through my ear plugs! And by the way, our house is ranch-style so I was literally on the other side of the house and her bark drifted down our long hall to reach me. I finally got up, looked at my watch (4:35 am),came to the kitchen to see what was going on. She stood in front of her water bowl, her empty water bowl!As I filled her water bowl, I pushed the "on" button on the coffee maker. This will turn out good for the both of us! She got her water, probably two sips because she only weighs five pounds and I got an hour and a half of studying,...

" Enter the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it." Matthew 7:13 Good Monday morning!It's been a while (again..ha) since I have written! However, I have worked a little on the design of the blog and decided on a new title. Blessings, Suzanne...just as it looks, like a salutation at the end of a letter. Throughout my caringbridge journal entries, I usually ended them that way and some with a few more adjectives! I was on a walk yesterday and had been praying for something easy to remember and that was what I came up with. The Lord reminded me that everything begins and ends with a blessing. My journey of life, especially in the past few years, certainly reflects beginnings and endings. Daily I thank my Lord for giving me His strength in the past, the present and for the future. Blessing His name for the twists, turns, and the straight and narrow way. It is an honor to respond to the simple question ...

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:5 I made the decision that I was going to post something today, anything to get this blog going! It was such an outlet for me to daily update when I was going through the cancer process. And now even the more shall I share of the day to day happenings of my walk with the Lord. Tonight, I am propped up in the bed where I spent many hard nights, COMPLETELY AND FULLY HEALED. And shoulder length hair. And eyelashes. It has been my joy in the last year to be able to walk along side several women in the trenches of breast cancer. It was also God's way of allowing me to see with my own eyes (and soul) what happened to me and how it feels to be the one watching. See it's two different views. One as the patient and one as the friend/family member. Both roles are heart wrenching. The part that has been the most rewarding is helping to ease...