Showing posts with label Prayer Buddies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer Buddies. Show all posts

Friday, December 16, 2011

Quick Takes (Vol. 14)

Part of me can't believe that it has been nearly a month since my last post. Another part of me isn't surprised, because I've been contemplating backing off of blogging... possibly for good. I keep so much of my life private, and with Baby #3 on the way, I don't anticipate starting to share more. In fact, I have a feeling that I'm going to be even more protective of our privacy. This makes blogging somewhat difficult, as you might imagine. However, I need some Prayer Buddy prayers, and I'm not 100% ready to leave the blogging world just yet!

1. Prayer buddy, I need you. I am SO tired and I think the stress of the transfusions (and life in general) has finally hit me. The positive attitude I've adopted throughout all of this is still there, buried somewhere, but the past few days have made that attitude had to find. I'm not sleeping-- I spend the majority of the night peeing, attempting to flip over, getting hot and cold and hot and cold, fighting off heartburn (the current bane of my existence), finding no room for me and the hubby and the baby belly in (a queen sized! We should all fit!) bed, and waking up for hours at a time in the middle of the night and thinking about everything under the sun (moon?). I had a minor fender-bender the other day, and completely lost it emotionally-- I was being so careful maneuvering our shiny red truck and it didn't even matter. It felt like some cosmic sign saying, "See-- NOTHING is in your control these days."

2. I told my perinalogist about my exhaustion and how 3-4 doctors appointments a week, plus 3 fetal blood transfusions within two months, plus getting ready for the holidays, plus having two little ones, plus driving up and down the road twice a week for Mother's Day Out so I can actually go to all of my appointments, plus keeping up with regular life (cooking, cleaning, preparing to have another baby) have completely worn me down. He gave me the best advice ever: make a list of everything I need to do each day, then cross off two things.  This meant that yesterday the kids didn't go to Mother's Day Out and I called and cancelled my dental appointment. I had a perinatal visit in the afternoon and the kids' Christmas program in the evening-- this meant I was gone from 1:30 pm until 9 pm. That was definitely enough, without adding two extra round trips, of an hour each.

3. Only one more fetal blood transfusion to go, a few days after Christmas. My scarred and bruised belly is ready for these to be over. When little B turns 16 and drives me crazy begging to drive the car/go on dates/not hang out with her siblings, I'm going to pull up my shirt and show her just how much I loved her before I even met her. It's like a war zone on my stomach, so this should be effective.

4. One of the first time's I've agreed with anything our current President has said: "Why would we want to have a whole bunch of people who we don't know knowing our business? That doesn't make much sense." He was referring to his girls not being on Facebook. This is what I'm talking about when I think about no longer blogging.

5. I do have some very exciting news that I want to share with someone, but I don't want to jinx it. Let's just say that I REALLY need a haircut and highlights, and to whiten my teeth within the next two weeks. Losing 10-20 pounds would also be nice, but I don't think that would be a healthy option at 33 1/2 weeks of pregnancy.

6. I LOVE the blog of the prayer buddy for whom I'm praying. I have enjoyed learning about her and her blog has been wonderful with giving me very specific things to pray for this Advent season. She's a blogger I wasn't familiar with before, and I can relate to her in so many ways.

7. The video below cracks me up. I especially like the fairy comment and the "Away in a Manger" song. I think (hope) C has a better grasp of the Christmas story than a couple of these kids, but I have to laugh because I've definitely experienced the "huh?" moment when she's explaining all kinds of other things to me.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Prayer Buddy revelation!

So... just got back in town after having no internet service all weekend! I think I should have written and scheduled this post before I left.

This Lent, I was so honored to pray for a woman who I'm convinced that if we met in real life, even without "knowing" each other from the blogging world, we'd be instant friends. I've been reading her blog ever since Leila introduced me to it, and even have read nearly every one of her older posts. She inspired me when I read some of her exercise and Weight Watchers posts, and though I don't always comment, I definitely read every word she writes.

I was THRILLED last week when a blogger/real life friend called me and told me that this woman is PREGNANT with... wait for it... TWINS! It gave me something even more concrete to pray for, as I begged God for the health and safety of these precious and much-long-for children, and for their fortunate big brother, whose prayer for siblings was just answered twice over.

I'm sure you know by now, but I spent Lent praying for NICOLE from Mom and Then Some.

Nicole, as you know, having a 3 year old is a trying thing. Every tantrum and non-stop chatter that made me want to pull out my hair, I offered up for you-- that you could experience that "joy" all over again--ha!! :-) And having a running toddler who wore me out reminded me to offer up my exhaustion for your strength. I am so honored that I was able to pray for you this season!!


With love,
Lisa

Friday, December 24, 2010

Prayer Buddy revelation...

And the moment you've all been waiting for... ok, so the moment that I've been waiting for...

I've spent Advent praying for POLKADOT of Making God Laugh! Some amazing things have come out of this on my end, so I can't wait to blog about that... next week.

I have to shower, get dressed, stuff a 1 year old in a vest and pant set and toss a 3 year old into a fancy dress in the next 30 minutes. Pray for me!

Polkadot, I was honored to pray for you this Advent.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Letter #4 to my Prayer Buddy


Dear Prayer Buddy,

Well, I guess this will be my final formal message to you, pre-Christmas. I'm hoping to take a nice blogging break while my handsome husband is home with me and the kids!

Constant prayer on your behalf has been one of the biggest blessings in my recent life. I've mentioned this before, but by directing my prayers toward someone else and leaving my own intentions in the hands of the Buddy praying for me, I've been experiencing an outpouring of grace. The thing that I've realized is that even after this season is over, I will continue to pray for you, weep with you, and rejoice over the blessings in your life.

This week's theme is Love, and I can't think of anything more fitting to pray that you feel than love. Love, no matter what is happening or not happening in your life. Love, no matter the circumstances. Love that merely IS.  Love, a constant presence in your life that will continue to expand as someday your own family will hopefully expand. My rosaries this week have been a great time to reflect on the Perfect Love that comes to us in the form of a tiny, helpless child who had to surrender his life to the care of a frightened young woman, trusting that His Father knew best how to use Him and His suffering, and use her and her suffering. I pray that you will know this same loving surrender as Christmas approaches.

With love,

Lisa

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Letter #3 to my Prayer Buddy


Dear Prayer Buddy,
Oops-- I fell behind in my posts to you... I had this one written but will have to pre-date it so that it shows up on a Tuesday, like my other posts to you.

JOY! You know what... I have a feeling that joy can be a terrifying concept to you. When what you truly desire is withheld, having joy about anything else can seem puny in comparison. However, my mantra this week is JOY. Joy in all that you do. Joy in knowing that in Him you can continue to hope. 

It can be hard to be joyful-- our busy lives seem determined to steal our joy from us, much like the Grinch attempts to do to the Whos. But, just as Cindy Lou Who and all the other Whos in Whoville held on to hope and joy in the midst of sadness, so I pray that you, too, will grab on to joy this week and experience the fullness of joy that Christ promises us. 

I have a 3 year old daughter who is really getting what the Christmas season is all about this year. Yes, she's excited that someone in a red suit will be bringing presents on Christmas, but she's even more excited about finding a gift for Baby Jesus. That childlike joy and anticipation that she is experiencing, and the profound joy that I feel as I watch her, is what I pray you will be filled with this week. Joy in hoping that this next year will be YOUR year. Joy in knowing that even when humans let you down, even when your body lets you down, you still have reason to rejoice and continue to hope.

I thank you for taking the emphasis off me and allowing me to pray for your joy. My own prayer buddy has somehow helped to fill me with so much joy that I can't help but beg for that same gift for you.


Joyfully yours,

Lisa


Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Letter #2 to my Prayer Buddy


Dear Prayer Buddy,

Well, I'm continuing to worry that my feeble prayers and pleas on your behalf will not be enough. But with this second week, as my little family lights our second Advent candle, I'm begging the Lord to give you peace.

Peace. Peace. Peace. 

The word echoes throughout my day.

Peace. Peace. Peace.

As I hurry through the many tasks that want to steal my own peace, I keep whispering that word in my head, as it becomes louder and louder within my thoughts until it consumes every chore, every exasperated sigh, and every contented smile of my day.

I've read your blog, and can think of no better gift for you (that I am capable of giving) this Advent season than peace.

As always,
Hoping my prayers are enough,

Lisa

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Letter #1 to my Prayer Buddy

Note: this is the Prayer Buddy I'm praying FOR this Advent.

However, Prayer Buddy who's praying for me, you've got your work cut out for you... I apologize in advance. I really need some prayers at the moment.

Dear Prayer Buddy,

Just so you know, I'm ridiculously nervous about praying for you this Advent season. Is it silly to be nervous about praying for someone? Someone I've never met? Maybe that's what causes my nervousness-- I feel the awesome responsibility of focusing my prayers toward you, and fear that my feeble prayers will not be enough. And I desperately want my prayers to be enough for you. More than enough for you.

So, Prayer Buddy, I want you to know that, even though we don't know each other, you've already become intricately and intimately intertwined in my thoughts and prayers. I'm a thinker; when I pray, I typically just think my prayers, a silent conversation with God that threads itself throughout the day. You're now part of that communication-- it's like now we're on a three-way call with The Big Guy Upstairs. I want you to know that when you ask anything of the Lord now, I'm joining my own prayers to yours, pleading on your behalf. Praying for hope on your behalf.

And you know what? Knowing that there is someone praying for me now helps this-- it frees up my prayer life in an amazing way. I think of it like a spiritual babysitter-- I can get some major work done while someone else watches over my own concerns.

Please know that already I've been blessed to pray for you, because it has forced me to step outside of myself and make this season of waiting a season worthy of Whom I am awaiting.

All my prayers,
Lisa
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