Friend Blog Awards

I recieved the loyal friend award from:

Squelly @ Dreamers Day

Mocha Mom @ Life Be In It

Kat @ Art's Chili Pepper





Loren from Magoos News blessed me with this friendship award.


I am truly blessed to have awesome blogging friends. I am honored to receive these awards. Each award was meant to be passed to a select number of people. However, after praying about them, I am going to change it a little. A loyal friend is someone who encourages and prays for the other person. I cherish those prayers. So, if you pray for me these blog awards now belong to you. Pick them up and post them on your blogs proudly and know that I am thankful for all your prayers.

Blessings, hugs, and prayers,

Andrea

Staying With Christ

"And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we'll be ready for him when HE appears, ready to receive HIM with open arms, with no cause for red faced guilt or lame excuses when HE arrives." 1 John 2:28

Staying with Christ,

Andrea

For This Child I Prayed

"For this child, I prayed." 1 Samuel 1:27

My husband and his first wife could not have children on their own. After many medical procedures and tests, they sought adoption. GOD gave them two daughters, Robin and Lauren. They prayed, and GOD answered their prayers in a beautiful way.

The pictures today are of Lauren and her Dad. Clearly, you will see the love of an adoptive Dad for his chosen child. Biology is NOT important to my husband.

Doug has shared many times how he came to accept adoption over biology. He said, "As I studied GOD's word, I realized Jesus had an adoptive Daddy. His adoptive Dad was Joseph and if it was good enough for GOD's own son to have an adoptive earthly father it is good enough for me."

I share my husband's story of adoption in hope it will help someone who may be struggling with adoption. God clearly answered his prayer.

Amazed by HIS grace,

Andrea

Urgent Prayer Request

Friends,

I planned to post a long list of awards, however, GOD has a different plan. I received a request for prayer from a dear friend, this evening. She lives in New Jersey and I in Virginia. I am very concerned about her well being, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. She has hit a very low point. I must trust GOD with her care.

As I place my worry and concern at the feet of Jesus, I ask each of you to visit her blog (Sea Glass Reflections), pray for her, and leave a comment of encouragement. Together, our prayers and encouragement can and will make a difference.

I apologize to all of you who have faithfully and beautifully given me awards that I have yet to post. I will get each of them up, in GOD's time.

I thank each of you for standing with me in prayer! I am truly amazed as I continue my journey in word and deed. God astounds me time and time again. HE is awesome!

Storming the heavens,

Andrea

The Love of Christ

God works in mysterious ways. From the beginning of Lauren's wedding plans she asked her Dad and I if she could have Savannah (her neice) and Nathaniel (her first cousin's son) in the wedding. We explained to Lauren they may not cooperate, because they would only be 2 years old at the time of the wedding. We told her she needed to be okay with whatever happened, if she asked them. She immediately said she did not care what they did or did not do. She wanted them to be in her wedding.

To give a little back ground: Most of you know we have a blended family. My husband's first wife died, after a battle with cancer, leaving him with two teenage daughters. Savannah is my oldest son, Seth's daughter. Nathaniel's grandmother is my husband's first wife's sister. Hopefully, this helps and does not confuse you further.

With blended families there can be stress. Doug and I have tried desperately to facilitate a healthy relationship with his first wife's family and the girls. Thankfully, blending our children was the easy part. My three sons and Doug's two daughters are very close. We are forever thankful GOD blended our children with a strong bond of love.

Savannah and Nathaniel had never met. Savannah lives in Richmond, Virginia and Nathaniel lives in Vermont.

Savannah and Nathaniel had an "instant" bond with one another. We were amazed as they hugged and kissed each other. They sat and talked to one another like old friends who had not seen each other in a long while.

When the time came for our precious little ones to journey down the isle of the church, they took each others hands and off they went. Half way down the isle Nathaniel got a couple of steps ahead of Savannah and she tripped on her dress falling face forward onto her belly. She did not let go of Nathaniel's hand and he fell, too. They giggled, got back up, clasped hands and finished their journey down the isle. As they reached the front, Nathaniel said, "Do you want to sit?" and Savannah replied, "Yes." They each climbed onto the front pew and sat down. There were several other precious moments shared between Savannah and Nathaniel before each came to sit with their grandparents in different pews.

Savannah and Nathaniel were examples of the love of Christ to each and every person in their presence. They shared an unconditional love with each other. I am confident the heavens rejoiced as they witnessed our precious little ones reveal Christ to all who were in their midst.

Amazed by HIS grace,

Andrea

Surprise and New Blog Design

My wonderful friend, Edie at Rich Gifts resigned Sitka's blog, "All GOD's Creatures" upon my request. She captured Sitka's heart in her blog design. Sitka and I love it. She also made Sitka a scripture tag in the shape of a dog bone.

The surprise came when I came to Arise 2 Write, this morning. Edie, with the help of Mary at Divinely Designed had conspired to use one of my own snapshots to give this blog a new look. Edie also made me a wonderful scripture tag. She once again captured my heart in her design.

Please visit both Edie and Mary and tell them what you think about both designs. They are treasured friends and I thank GOD daily for bringing each of them into my life.

Please also storm the heaven's on behalf of Mary's mother in law. She had a stroke over the weekend.

Blessed to be among friends,

Andrea

Wedding

Lauren and Joe with Pastor Joe as he reads from Ruth.
















Savannah and Nathaniel (ring barrior and flower girl). They are instant friends!











The wedding was quite a success. GOD was at work at every turn. He is in complete control. He has once again filled our lives with many miracles and we praise HIM on this Lord's day.

Doug and I thank you for your prayers and support. We are greatful to have "God" family who will storm the heavens with us.

"....every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good." Romans 8:28 The Message

Blessing and a heart full of love,

Andrea, Doug and The Perdue Zoo

*I will share more of GODs love through our wedding journey in the coming days and weeks. Please be patient with me. I will be busy cleaning the facility where the reception was held the next few days and spending time with out of town family and friends. I love you all and can hardly wait to share the beauty of GOD's gift to us with each of you.

Not Forgotten

I am dropping in to let you know I have not forgotten about you. I am up to my eyeballs in wedding alligators. It has been an eventful week thus far. I love you all and I miss traveling by and reading each of your blogs. I am ever grateful for your prayers, love and support. What a wonderful world of friends GOD has given me.

Many of you have commented on my choice of pictures for my posts. I love to play with the camera. Most of the time I use my own pictures when posting. Thank you for the positive feedback.

By HIS mercy and in the grip of HIS grace,

Andrea

In His Strength

"God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need Him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in sea-storm and earthquake, Before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us." Psalm 46:1-3 The Message

"Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am." Philippians 4:13 The Message

The battle of each day belongs to our Heavenly Father. I choose this day to continue to lay it all at HIS feet. I will journey forward through HIS strength. He is all I need!

In His strength,

Andrea

My Story In God's Psalm

[I give all the credit, God-you got me out of that mess, you didn't let my foes gloat. God, my God, I yelled for help and you put me together. God, you pulled me out of the grave, gave me another chance at life when I was down-and-out. All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God! Thank Him to His face! He gets angry once in a while, but across a lifetime there is only love. The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter. When things were going great I crowed, "I've got it made. I'm God's favorite. He made me king of the mountain." Then you looked the other way and I fell to pieces. I called out to you, God; I laid my case before you: "Can you sell me for a profit when I am dead? auction me off at a cemetery yard sale? When I'm 'dust to dust' my songs and stories of you want sell. So listen! and be kind! Help me out of this!" You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance; You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers. I'm about to burst with song; I can't keep quiet about you. God, my God, I can't thank you enough.] Psalm 30:1-12 The Message

There are no other words adequate to describe the feelings in my heart. My journey has been long and often difficult, yet my Heavenly Father has always put the pieces back together again. I can not thank Him enough. I continually stand amazed as He valiantly stands against my earthly foes, some of whom profess to be Christians.

Today, He poured out rivers of love in a barren pathway. He paved my path with peace and strength. My day was long, my body weak, my soul complete!

Soaking in HIS presence,

Andrea

Forever Changed

"Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you are a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving GOD, not breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere GOD. Respect the government." 1 Peter 2:12-17 (The Message)

Today, I pause to remember the families who were affected by the tragedy of 9/11 and are forever changed. May GOD continue to heal and restore the hearts of those who lost love ones. May HE continue to heal and restore our nation.

Forever Changed,

Andrea

*The graphic art I used was designed by Edie @ Rich Gifts. Thank you, Edie.

Sticking With GOD

"I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed. I remember it all-oh, how well I remember-the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there's one other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope. God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great Your faithfulness! I'm sticking with GOD (I say it over and over again). He's all I've got left." Lamentations 3:19-24 The Message

I do not know about you, but I have hit rock bottom during my life. I have felt despair and total loss and in those times my Heavenly Father has been the only thing I had left. He never abandoned me. He stuck with me through it all. I thank HIM for patiently and lovingly scooping me up, dusting me off, and helping me to begin anew.

Sticking with GOD,

Andrea

Danger

"Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly." Proverbs 17:12


A mother bear whose cubs have been taken is very dangerous. She will do anything to protect them and get them back.

In this verse, meeting a fool is worse than meeting a mother bear whose cubs have been taken. We meet people like this ever day, but I am not sure we take their actions seriously. Do we recognize the danger around us?

Pondering,

Andrea

In Memory Of Dayna

This picture was taken at our Grandmother and Pop Bowling's. Dayna is the baby in this picture.





Today, would have been my sister, Dayna's 38th birthday. She was tragically killed at age 17 (April 14, 1989). My post today is a tribute to an awesome baby sister.

When Dayna was born, I was five years old. I was extremely upset to get another sister. I already had one and my parents and God knew I wanted a brother. I remember crying and being upset with my parents.

In the years that followed, Dayna became quite close to both Courtney and I. I am the oldest and Courtney is the middle sister. Dayna soon became the glue that held Courtney and I together. She was always positive and looked for the good in everyone. Courtney and I on the other hand fought terribly through the years. Dayna always tried to keep peace between us.

When Dayna died, both Courtney and I made a commitment to each other: NOTHING or NO ONE would ever come between us. We also committed to use Dayna's death to help others. Over the years, we have used every opportunity to share with others the affects of "one bad choice." Dayna allowed someone to drive her car. That person made a wrong choice and it cost Dayna's life and the lives of two others.

Dayna has given Courtney and I a gift that many others do not have in their lives. We share a bond united in the heart of our Heavenly Father. We long for day when we are united with our Heavenly Father and reunited with our precious Dayna.

In Dayna's memory, I ask each of you to pray about the relationship you have with your siblings. You may not have a chance tomorrow to make the changes you need to make. In a fleeting second, your world, as you know it could be in a tailspin. Share your heart with those important to you. Express how much you love them and put the past in the past. The past can not be changed. The present is yours. The future may not look as you know it, today. Begin anew!

Never more than a thought away,

Andrea

Surrender

"Remember that my life is but breath, My eye will not again see good." Job 7:7

Job attempted to reconcile in his own mind what was happening to him.


"I will not restrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit, I will complain in the bitterness of my soul." Job 7:11

Job totally surrendered his pains and struggles to his Heavenly Father.

Often, we complain to others or stomp around in our own disgust accomplishing absolutely nothing. How do I know this?

Last night my computer crashed after a few other related complications earlier in the week.

As many of you know, my daughter (step-daughter) is getting married. I am expected to do it "all" and there have been comments that make me feel as though she would rather me not be present. She tells me what she wants and leaves. So far, I have done everything with the help of some of my best friends.

Do not misunderstand, I do not mind the labor or getting everything done. I did not mind writing and mailing all the invitations, meeting with caterers, or spending my evening making bouquets from silk flowers. Because of her attitude, I am hurt. Now I have said it!

I love this child and my hearts desire is for GOD to grow her into the person HE created her to be. I came to these scriptures after a day of grumbling. I have been an unhappy camper all day.

God understands my unhappiness and hurt. He wants to hear my anguish. I must surrender "everything" and leave it at HIS feet.

Storming the heavens,

Andrea