"Don't let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity." 1 Timothy 4: 12 (NLT)
The verse above is what we picked for Samuel before his dedication and it is one that we hope will guide his life until he is old enough to choose his own verse that speaks to him.
We chose this verse because we want Samuel to know that the scriptures in the Bible are meant for him. They aren't reserved for adults or for him when he gets older. We want him to know that God is speaking to him, and he's never too young to be an example of God's love.
This verse also gives us a specific way to pray for him. I do hope that we can be an example for him so he can do the same for all others that he meets. I want him to be that little kindergartner that is kind to everyone else and includes everyone and isn't afraid to show God's love his whole life! The thought of it makes my heart smile already.
We dedicated Samuel to the Lord on Sunday, February 7, with many of our family members there to support us. We first went to the church service and then all gathered in the chapel for the baby dedication. Samuel was one of five babies dedicated that morning.
First, Pastor Mark Ashton gave a message and then all of the families gathered up front to have their babies dedicated one by one.
One by one, Robert Murphy, one of the pastors at the church, took the babies, said the meaning of their first and middle names and then said a prayer for them. He spoke to each baby, impressing these wishes upon them.
Hearing Robert state the meaning of Samuel's name and pray directly for Samuel, made me happy and brought tears to my eyes. We put a lot of thought into Samuel's name and hearing it said aloud made that even more special to share that with everyone there. We named Samuel, Samuel Davey, because it is a family name. Samuel is the name of Trent's Great Grandpa and Davey because that is my dad's name. We also wanted a Biblical name, which Samuel is, and it means "asked of God." We definitely prayed for Samuel before he was conceived and before he was born and we were blessed with a perfect little boy that we continue to pray for now.
We were lucky to have almost 20 family members and friends there to support us as we committed to raising Samuel as a child of God.
Samuel's Grandparents
My friends, Denise and Julie, from my Bible study were there to support us.
After the dedication was over, we all went back to our house for lunch of soup and sandwiches, cake and ice cream and some good quality time. I absolutely loved having everyone there. It was such a great day with so much to celebrate!
The cake I made for Samuel.
Me and my baby
Loving on his new lambie from Aunt Mel, Uncle Russ and cousins Taylor and Jenna
Kisses from Great Grandma Kock
You are loved and supported by so many, Samuel Davey.
Exactly one year ago this week, I was up in Okoboji. I was on vacation from work and was enjoying every minute of it! I stayed up late into the night watching Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel by myself while I Googled everything there was to know about getting pregnant.
We had made the decision that we would start trying to/not prevent having a baby. So, I spent my extra hours of vacation downtime reading through online discussion boards about trying to conceive and about when the best time to get pregnant was and thinking about what it would be like to be pregnant and was totally, embarrassingly obsessed. It was one of those things that I would never tell anyone about in the moment because everyone - especially my husband - would have thought I was crazy! And I'm sure none of this 'research' really even made a difference other than to fulfill my desire to gather information and try to pass the time. You see, I'm not a very patient person, so the fact that we had decided that it was time for us to have a baby meant, for me, that it had to happen NOW!
And what do you know...?!? Exactly a year later, I was up in Okoboji again with a 2 and half month old in tow. I never could have imagined at that time how in love I could be with this little baby that I had dreamed about!
We are so blessed! God is so faithful and I thank Him every day for blessing us with the opportunity to raise one of His children!
Happy Friday, everyone!
I haven't done a Favorite Song Friday in a long time, but, really, I haven't had any songs in my life that were really doing it for me for a while. But now.... I have THREE!! So I'm incorporating it into my Friday Five this week!
I hope you all had a great week!
ONE.
First off, I want to wish a BIIIGG Happy 5th Anniversary to Aunt Doreen and Uncle Nick!!
I love you both SO SO much!! I hope you have a great day (and a great vacation) celebrating!
The newest song by Jeremy Camp is, not surprisingly, another one of my favorites!
Just like the title, it is about how, even when we feel like we are all alone and no one understands what we're going through and the hurt and sadness we feel, HE KNOWS! More than anyone else, God understands and knows what we are going through. Jesus suffered death on the cross and He has compassion for what we're going through! It is so comforting to know that He is always holding us in His hands and is walking with us through all our days, the good and the bad.
In this video, Jeremy talks about the real inspiration behind the song and what it means to him. He says it better than I can express! :)
You can listen to the song by watching the video below or clicking here.
All the bitter weary ways. Endless striving day by day. You barely have the strength to pray in the valley low. How hard your fight has been. How deep the pain within. Wounds that no one else has seen. Hurts too much to show. All the doubt you're standing in between. And all the weight that brings you to your knees. He knows. He knows. Every hurt and every sting He has walked the suffering He knows. He knows. Let your burdens come undone Lift your eyes up to the One who knows He knows. We may faint and we may sink. Feel the pain and near the brink. But the dark begins to shrink. When you find the one who knows. The chains of doubt that held you in between. One by one are starting to break free. Every time that you feel forsaken. Every time that you feel alone. He is near to the brokenhearted. Every tear. He knows
My next favorite song is by my girl, Francesca Battistelli!
This song has the same broad theme as the Jeremy Camp song, that GOD.KNOWS.YOU! Even with all the people on the Earth, you aren't a stranger. God knows your name and He loves you! It gives me chills just to think about that! I want to dance around the room and tell everyone that Good News!!
My favorite words of the song are in the chorus. "I don't need my name in lights. I'm famous in my Father's eyes. Make no mistake. He knows my name. I'm not living for applause. I'm already so adored. It's all his stage, He knows my name."
Here's a video of Francesca giving a little insight behind the meaning of the song.
You can listen to the song by watching the video below or clicking here.
Spent today in a conversation. In the mirror face to face with. Somebody less than perfect. I wouldn't choose me first if. I was looking for a champion. In fact I'd understand if. You picked everyone before me. But that's just not my story. True to who You are You saw my heart. And made something out of nothing, so... I don't need my name in lights I'm famous in my Father's eyes Make no mistake He knows my name I'm not living for applause I'm already so adored It's all His stage He knows my name He knows my name I'm not meant to just stay quiet. I'm meant to be a lion. I'll roar beyond a song. With every moment that I've got. True to who You are You saw my heart. And made something out of nothing. He calls me chosen. Free, forgiven. Wanted. Child of the King. His forever. Held and treasured. I am loved!
And for my third and final favorite song for today, my girl, Carrie Underwood.
(Yes, both Francesca and Carrie are "my girls")
She released her new song Something in the Water last week, but I didn't listen to it until I was on the way to work on Wednesday morning. After that, I think I listened to it at least 20 more times that day.
This song also makes my heart happy. The part of the song the song that says "And now I'm singing along to Amazing Grace. Can't nobody wipe this smile off my face. Got joy in my heart. Angels on my side. Thank God Almighty, I saw the light." makes me so giddy. And then the song is layered with the words from the hymn "Amazing Grace" and that just brings tears to my eyes. One of those things I can't explain, but I just feel it. It makes me want to put the song on repeat, lay on the floor with my hands open and my eyes closed, and just smile!
You can listen to the song by watching the video below or clicking here.
He said, "I've been where you've been before. Down every hallway's a slamming door. No way out, no one to come and save me. Wasting a life that the Good Lord gave me. Then somebody said what I'm saying to you, Opened my eyes and told me the truth. They said, 'Just a little faith, it'll all get better.' So I followed that preacher man down to the river and now I'm changed. And now I'm stronger. "There must've been something in the water Oh, there must've been something in the water."
Well, I heard what he said and I went on my way. Didn't think about it for a couple of days. Then it hit me like lightning late one night. I was all out of hope and all out of fight. Couldn't fight back the tears so I fell on my knees. Saying, "God, if you're there come and rescue me." Felt love pouring down from above. Got washed in the water, washed in the blood. And now I'm changed. And now I'm stronger. There must be something in the water Oh, there must be something in the water
And now I'm singing along to amazing grace. Can't nobody wipe this smile off my face. Got joy in my heart, angels on my side. Thank God almighty, I saw the light. Gonna look ahead, no turning back. Live every day, give it all that I have. Trust in someone bigger than me. Ever since the day that I believed I am changed. And now I'm stronger.
FIVE.
This next week will be the fifth week of the Women's Bible Study I've been attending on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. I love how each week (and, really, each day in between) I can learn something that is so simple and something I may have known, but it is presented or said in such a different way that it seems just like the most amazing thing I have ever heard. Things that stir up emotions inside me that I didn't know I could feel from just reading "a book".
Just the other night, I was sitting at the kitchen table doing one of the daily studies. This day was centered around 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - "We do not want you to be uniformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope."
I always knew that I could have hope in Jesus, but it wasn't until I read the statement below in my study, that I really realized how thankful I am to be able to put my trust in God and to be living my life for him! Without hope, what would be the point?!? There would be no upside.
It said,
Nothing is like hopelessness. No feeling of loss, as terrible as it may be, can compete with it.
That is so true. It just puts everything in perspective. No matter how big the loss or how bad the pain, I can and will overcome it because Jesus has overcome the world! I have hope and a future in Him!!!!!! I pray for all those who feel hopeless... I pray that they can come to know the hope that they can find in Jesus!
It seems just like yesterday, but it seems like forever ago.
When I think about that day and the days that followed, it is all so surreal. I still find it hard to believe that we went through all that and that it really happened.
Most days are filled with all the wonderful and happy memories we all have of him and I am very thankful for that. I am thankful that we know that he is in a much better place! A perfectplace. He truly was a wonderful man!
We have so much to be thankful for and so much to look forward to. But today just brings up painful memories of a day that makes me so sad. Oh how I would love a hug from my daddy right now. I miss him so much.
I love all the other days, when the memories are good ones, but I'd like to just skip today.
Last Saturday was our Birthday Bash CJD Fundraiser in memory of my dad. It was one of the best and most amazing things that I have ever had a chance to be a part of. I have never felt so supported and loved and I am so grateful for those people who took the time out of their busy lives to come from near and far to support us!
The night never would have been as successful as it was if it wasn't for all of the time and effort that my mom and her absolutely amazing friends put in. Everything was just perfect!
From the beginning of all the planning, it just seemed like people have been coming out of the woodwork to volunteer their time or make a salad or serve food or donate money or donate an item to auction off... or to do all of the above. People are just amazing!
There were some absolutely awesome items donated to be auctioned off. It was hard to even choose the items that I would like to have for my own. A few of the items were just too great and I knew that they were going to bring more money than I could shell out, but I think that's a good problem to have!
Some of the items donated:
I am happy to say that one of the items I purchased was the one that I was determined to get.
It was this purple afghan:
First off, I think it is beautiful and, secondly, my hope is that some day, if God blesses me with a daughter, I will put it in her room and tell her all about her Grandpa and how that afghan was made in his honor for this big fundraiser we did in his memory. And then I'll tell her all about how amazing he was and about all the people who were there to show how much they love and miss him!
(And if I only have sons, I'll just tell them all the good stuff but I won't make them have a purple afghan in their room (unless they want one)... and if I don't have any kids, I'll tell my nieces and nephews about him... you get the point)
I can't name them all, but here are some of my favorite parts of the night:
Seeing all the people who filled the Five Mile House all night
Having friends and family come from all over to support us!
Having everyone sing happy birthday to my mom before the live auction started!
Having the first item on the live auction be a bouquet of purple irises which my mom was fully planning on buying. Someone outbid her, buying the bouquet for $500, which obviously bummed her out, but they immediately turned around and gave them to her. Definitely an awesome way to start the auction!
Having 12 dozen farm fresh eggs go for $50 a dozen!
Having these pictures of Ed Podolak that were signed over 40 years ago be sold for $1,800 and then were donated right back and sold again for $1,000.
Hearing people rave about the food and the salad bar!
Having the AWV girls' basketball team donate a signed basketball from state last year in honor of my dad, their coach!
And having my Grandpa buy it!
Having Doreen and Nick bid on several things they wanted from the live auction and being outbid for all of it and then watching them bid on some etched mugs and win them, only to find out they were bidding against Jared for a while and then, after he dropped out, they were bidding against no one... Dan (who was spotting bids) was just pretending that there was someone behind them bidding and bidding them up. (Okay, so maybe that wasn't a good thing for them, but it made me smile. They sure got some nice mugs, though!)
They still look pretty happy :)
Having items being donated for the live auction all the way up until the end of the auction! We started the day with 68 items or so, and ended up auctioning off at least 72!
Having my BFF be there! She is awesome!
Seeing the running total halfway through the live auction top $17,000 and then seeing our total with everything on Sunday exceed $45,000!!! (And see that total keep growing!)
Our total on Sunday, but more donations
have kept coming in since then!
Hearing Rukkus play! (even though they had to start over an hour late because we had so many auction items! Again, a good problem to have!)
A Templeton Rye toast to my dad happening in the basement.
Spending the night with these awesome people! They are just a small few of those that made this all possible!
And last but not least, remembering my dad throughout the night and seeing the evidence of how many lives he has touched.
I miss my dad so much and even though that event was in memory of him, it was still strange to think that he wasn't going to be there helping where he could, talking it up with all his friends and family that were there, and hearing him laugh and joke from across the room. I still thought that I'd turn around and he'd be standing there and I'd be able to walk up to him at the end of the night, slide into his one armed hug with my shoulder under his arm and just stand there, admiring all the work that had gone into putting on the event. An event that I know he would have been proud of!
I thank God for blessing us with the awesome family and friends that carried us through the preparations for the fundraiser and through the actual event. I completely give Him all the glory in this! Some people have made comments about how they don't know how my mom does this all or rave about how strong she is or they ask how our family can be so strong through this. I just read a devotional yesterday that I think answers it perfectly. The 10-day devotional is about giving thanks and this specific one basically says that no matter what is going on in our lives, no matter how uncertain it may seem, we have certainty in Jesus Christ. Our family knows that whatever comes our way and whatever the outcome of the season we're going through is, we will survive. We have a hope and a future. That is something to live for, something to be strong for, and something to look forward to! It's a lot easier to deal with everything in life when you know that you can lean on God and He will take care of you. We truly are blessed and are so grateful to bless others by giving them hope with the money that we raised that there will be a treatment or a cure for CJD. Not only that, but we can show them that we believe there is hope in Jesus Christ!
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who took the time out of their busy lives to be there in the weeks and days before to prepare and organize and set everything up. Thank you to everyone for using your gifts and talents to provide food for the event and items to be auctioned off. Thank you to those who were there on Saturday to support our cause and thank you to all those who have given generously in my dad's honor. This awesome night couldn't have happened without all the man power behind it! And like my mom stated in the paper, my dad was 100% right when he said "If it is to be, it's up to WE!"
Alone, we are rare, but together, we are strong!
