A Sad Week!!!

   Well the past two weeks have been horrible for Alabama. It started off with the tornadoes hitting right here in my home town and killing people and then this week, they hit my second home, TUSCALOOSA!!! My husband and I lived in Tuscaloosa while we went to college and then a little while after we got married. Well, its completely destroyed now. Yes, I do thank God for protecting my family that still lives there, but its so sad for others who lost their families, homes, jobs, etc. Its horrible and you can't even tell what the pictures are of now because everything is destroyed and in pieces. Please say a prayer for my second home and I can't leave you without saying ROLL TIDE!!!
    Then tomorrow is Spring For SIDS!!! I am praying for all the moms who have lost their Angels to this horrible disease. (That's what I am calling it, because it is something that takes the life of the precious ones we love) It is a happy day because, we are raising money and awareness for SIDS but sad because its a reminder of all the little Angels that have gone to be with Jesus, leaving their moms and dads broken hearted and with empty arms. Praying for all my BLMs tomorrow!!! I pray that they can find a cure because SIDS is starting to take the life of more babies and is becoming more common each day. We have to find a cure!!!
 I love all of my BLMs and I am praying for you :)

Tuscaloosa

United We Stand!!!

Taken at University Mall!!!

This is an Aerial View of 15th, McFarland, and a few other places!!!

http://www.everystudent.com/wires/disaster.html

Prayers are being sent up!!!



Love Hurts!!!

   As I was sitting here tonight reading all of my friends' blogs, I began to think about how love hurts. "Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all." I sometimes wonder is this quote true. It seems like if you didn't love, then your heart would never get broken. Examples of love ending in broken hearts: When we broke up with our first love or crush, it hurt and our hearts were broken but over time they did heal. Then losing your child, family, or friend, broke your heart again and knowing that you loved these so much, it was so hard to let them go and say goodbye. Can your heart ever heal from the loss? I don't think so. I believe that it will try to piece itself back together but there will always be pieces missing. So as you can tell, love hurts and breaks hearts!!! If it wasn't for God, we wouldn't be able to make it but I am thankful that He loves us!!!
    Lastly, the love of God. He loved us enough that He let his Son die on the cross for us so that we could have everlasting life. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."...JOHN 3:16 That was true love that God showed for us as Jesus hung on that cross. Then as Jesus hung on the cross, He said Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. This is another example of how love breaks hearts. Mary's heart was broken into pieces as she lost her Son. So love does hurt in many ways. I am so thankful for the love that God had for me, that He would give up his child's life just for a sinner like me.
   So as I was saying, love hurts but with God we are able to make it. Praise be to God!!!

Happy Easter

I just wanted to wish all of my friends a Happy Easter. I know for some this will be the best Easter ever and for others, this will be one of the hardest Easters that you will ever face. There are days when I too want to give up but knowing what my reward will be when I finish this race of life makes it all worth it. Knowing that I will get to see my loved ones that have gone on before me, knowing that I can just see Jesus so I can thank Him face to face for loving me enough to die on the cross so that I could be forgiven. To know that God gave his own Son so that we could have eternal life. God also knows the pain of losing a child like we ,BLM, do.
  As we were practicing our Easter Drama last night for the final time, I was sitting there watching Jesus hang on the cross as Mary was sitting there crying and having to watch her child die. That is how some of us are, as we sat there and had to watch and go through the pain of losing our own children. See we are not the only ones who have suffered the lose of our Precious Child, even our SAVIOR'S parents had to go through the pain of losing their child too.
  I know that its hard but I know that with the help of God, family, friends, and other BLM, we will make it. We need to stick together and help each other and be there to pick each other up when the other falls. Some of us are still trying to put all the pieces of our heart back together and then there are some of us who have the pieces back together but now we are waiting for the healing to begin. I know that my strength comes from the Lord and that is the main reason I am able to make it from day to day. Withour Him, I don't know where I would be today.
   To all of my BLM, lets help each other for it won't be long before we will get to see our Angels again. Let encourage each other to not give up and to keep our Faith in Christ for He is the only way to the Fater and to Heaven!!! Love you Guys and praying for you!!! Happy Easter!!!

When He was on the Cross, We were on His mind!!!

To All My BLM Friends!!!

As I was reading a few of my friends' blogs that I follow, my heart just broke for them. I know that God is there to give them the strength that they need to make it but its not always that easy getting over things. Losing a child is one of the hardest things that a parent has to go through. If you haven't ever lost a baby then you don't know what it feels like and you shouldn't put us down or judge us. You should be there for a shoulder for them to cry on, or be there to pick them up when they fall. I have no idea how any of us could make it without God. He is why we are still standing today. I found this poem and it really touched me and I know that it will touch other too. Thanks you for reading this blog and promise me from now on that if you see someone who has lost their child. don't judge them and say they should be over it by now, please be there to lift them up!!!

~Don't~
Don't tell me that you understand,
Don't tell me that you know...
Don't tell me that I will surely survive,
How I will surely grow...
Don't tell me this is just a test,
That I am truly blessed...
That I am chosen for the task,
Apart from all the rest...
Don't come at me with answers,
That can only come from me...
Don't tell me how my grief will pass,
That I will soon be free...
Don't stand in pious judgment,
Of the bonds that I must untie..
Don't tell me how to suffer,
And don't tell me how to cry...
My life is filled with selfishness,
My pain is all I see...
But I need you, I need your love,
Unconditionally...
Accept me in my up's and down's,
I need someone to share...
Just hold my hand and let me cry,
And say, My Friend, I care...
~Author Unknown~

God's Protecting Hand!!!

Yesterday, we had horrible weather. It started yesterday morning and didn't end until last night. I know God was protecting my family because there was a funnel cloud that came across but it was high enough and didn't touch down. Five miles from my house it touched down and messed up homes. Also in our county, we had many to lose home and a few lost their lives so please be in prayer for those who lost their loved ones. As I walked outside and was looking at the sky, this song came to my mind. "Peace Speaker" It says I'm glad I know the Peace Speaker, yes I know Him by name, I know the Peace Speaker, He controls the winds and rains, when He says Peace Be Still, they have to obey, I'm glad I know the Peace Speaker, Yes I know Him by name!!! These word were so true!!! Praising God!!!!

Easter Egg Hunt!!!

I feel like we never slow down. I wish I just had a pause button for just a few minutes so I could catch my breath. We have been going for the past month and haven't had a weekend to rest. This past weekend was the Easter Egg Hunt at our church and the kids really enjoyed themselves. It was a beautiful day for them and hot which I hate to sweat lol. Thank God for the beautiful weather he gave us. I just wanted to post a few pictures from the Egg Hunt. I feel so bad because this weekend was so hard on so many people because while we were hunting eggs, Abby and Drew were burying sweet Baker but I know that God needed him more and that he needed a brand new body. Please continue to pray for them and pray for each other for we too have been in their shoes. Anyway I hope you guys have a great week!!!

 Watching his big brother dye eggs!!! Can you tell he is proud of his two teeth?

 Sorry the picture is sideways. Didn't have the chance to fix it before loading it.

 Landon and his daddy!!!

Landon

 Mariah holding Maddox!!!

Playing duck - duck- goose!!!

God's Healing (Only He Knows The Plans For Our Lives)

   I have been praying for a sweet Angel since he was born. His name is Baker Troxler and when he was born via C-Section, due to his his cord being bunched up and he lost a lost of oxygen to his brain. This caused a lot of brain damaged and Baker wasn't able to suck or swallow. I prayed for him daily and he was really heavy on my heart one Wednesday night and our pastor just happened to preach on healing and he had no idea what was bothering me. He preached on when this child had died how God brought him back to life. 1 Kings 17:17-24  I just knew this was for Baker and I was so excited because I felt like God was giving me confirmation that he was going to heal Baker. A few weeks later, I went to revival and Bro. Kenny Morris preached on IT IS WELL. He talked about how the lady knew her child was dead but she had enough Faith in God that she knew that he would be healed and would be brought back to life. SHe laid him on her bed of Faithfulness. Although her child was dead, she gave God Praise!!! THen God brought this child back to life. 2 Kings 4:20-26. Again, I was like thank you God, you are letting me know that Baker is going to be okay. Then Baker started to get better, he finally got to go home. I just knew everything was going to be okay. After being home for one night and a day and a half, they had to rush him back to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing. He had aspirated and set up pneumonia in his lungs and the doctors told Abby and Drew that there was nothing else they could do. They decided to take him off the ventilator but would stay in a private room with him so they could be with him every single moment that he had left in his life. They were able to have his baby dedication in the hospital and also family was able to visit him in his room. They chose to stay at the hospital because they wanted to keep him comfortable. Well last night sweet Baker got his Angel Wings and I was so heartbroken because I just knew that his healing was going to be here on Earth but I guess God saw fit that it would be in Heaven. Yes, I know that Baker is better off because he will be able to run and play and won't need a feeding tube but I just had so much hope that he would be here on Earth with us and would receive his healing here. God did show me he was going to heal him, because now Baker has a brand new body!!! Please just lift up Abby and Drew because they will need it in the days, weeks, and months to come. God knew the plans of our life before he even created the world, so He put Baker here so he could touch lives and make a difference. He was only here for a little while but what a HUGE impact he made while on this Earth. I read a saying that really touched me and I thought I would share it with you.

    "Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to a new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives ...for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same."

   This is so true!!! I am forever grateful to have been a part of Baker's life.

 (Baker Andrew Troxler)

 February 5, 2011 - April 7,2011

 In Memory of Sweet Baker!!!

   Forever in our hearts!!!

For All My Angel Babies, Whose Mommies I Call My Friend

   This is for all the mommies out there who have an Angel in Heaven. I was listening to some song by The Tally Trio tonight and then the song "Dancing With Angels" by Monk and Neagle happened to apprear on the screen. I knew it was my Angel babies trying to show me this song so I could send it to their mommies. Thank you Maddie, Macie, Savanna, Ellie, and Mckenzie. I hope your mommies are touched by this song because I know I was. I was in the process of writing a message to Kellie when the song appeared so I had to send to her because I know it was Maddie and the other Angels wanting me to listen to it :) I am praying for all of their mommies and I just want all of them to know that I am here to listen, support, and encourage them. Here's to a good rest of the week!!! Through God all things are possible!!!

  

Praying For Baker

if you are reading my post, please take a few moments to say a prayer for sweet little Baker. He is the son of Abby and Drew Troxler.  Baker's parents are best friends with my cousin and his fiance family. I have been following Baker's story from the very beginning. God has brought him so far but now the doctors say that there is nothing else they can do and he isnt going to live long because of his problems. When Baker was born, his cord was bunched up and he lost a lot of oxygen to his brain and now he cannot suck or swallow. I know that the God we serve is the same God who parted the Red Sea, Healed the blind man, Fed the 5000, Brought the little boy that was dead back to life, and so many more great things he did. He did it back then and He can do it again. So please have Faith with me that God can heal Baker. Please pray for his parents too because, when someone tell you, I'm sorry, we've done all that we can do, that just crushes your heart. I love God and I am believing in this MIRACLE for Baker!!! This is his caringbridge site so you can follow his story.

April 2, 1998 - The Day Heaven Welcomed An Angel; The Day My Heart Broke Into Pieces!

This was written by a dear friend of ours, Sis Sarah. She goes to my church and she too has experienced the pain of losing a child. Her son was killed in a car accident that they were in. She is a preacher's wife, child of God, and a believer in Faith. Hope this story may help some of you. Please say a prayer for this family today. No matter how long its been, when you lose someone you love; the hurt, love, and pain never goes away!!! 

 April 2, 1998 - The day heaven welcomed an angel; the day my heart broke into pieces! By: Sarah B. Odom

No parent ever wants to hear a doctor say, "I am sorry Mr. and Mrs. Odom, there was nothing else we could do."  But those words are all too familiar to me and my husband.  Every April 2, Ray and I have the ever painful reminder that death is no respecter of person, age, family, or any other human factor.  Andrew was the most humble, intelligent nine-year-old I have ever known. (I know I am biased, and I make no apologies for it.) I loved this child with everything a mother has to love.  He was our firstborn.  He loved life: french lop rabbits, hedgehogs, rocks, Hotwheels, and playing with his little brother (Gideon).  Ray and I named him "Andrew" in remembrance of the disciple "Andrew".  (Always bringing people to Jesus.)

You would think "time heals all wounds".  I mean, that's what people tell us, right?  Well, I am here to tell you, while time may make pain easier to bear, it does not help with the moments in life when the pain of loss comes back ever so fresh.  While the support of family and friends gets you through many, many tough days, there are times when no one or no words can help with the pain.  It is something you simply must endure.  Some people may feel that the pain of loving someone so precious is simply too hard.  Having loved and lost, I will have to agree with Alfred Lord Tennyson, "It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all."

So today, 13 years after Ray, Gideon, and I experienced one of the worst days of our lives, and while the reminder of our loss is fresh, we are blessed to have known and loved Andrew Ray Odom.

"Mourn not the cocoon; the butterfly has flown!" - Unknown

Wherever He Leads I Will Follow

   God has been dealing with me a lot lately on following him and accepting my calling. I have been praying a lot and God has put on my heart that its time for us(Christians) to get out and harvest the field because soon our harvesting time will be over. What I am trying to say is that we need to reach souls and introduce them to Christ because He is coming soon. We are living in the last days and I am excited about it but yet I am sad. I am excited because I am ready to see all my love ones who has gone on before me and I am ready to live where there is no more pain, sorrow, hurt, sadness,etc. I am so ready to see my Savior face to face and thank him for all that He has done for me. On the other hand I am sad because I have family and friends, who are not saved. I don't want to see them go to Hell, it is such a horrible place. I have been reading a book "23 Minutes In HELL" It’s a true story and if you read this book, make sure you read "Heaven Is For Real" after so that you can end on something that is wonderful, bright, and awesome not hot, dreadful, and sad. This guy experiences what Hell is like and it is HOT, and beast are there and they are after you. I suggest this book to anyone who is not saved, or to anyone who believes that Heaven and Hell doesn't exist.

    Also I feel like God put blogger in my life because I have always done Facebook, and use to do Myspace but never Blogger. I really didn't even know what Blogger was about until I accidently came across Kellie's blog on facebook. That is when I started following her blog and then I found all of the other moms who are going through the same thing that she is going through. I know that God put these moms in my life because He has brought me to a place in my life where He is wanting to use me and it took them to get me back in my prayer closet, back on my knees, and back to reading my Bible the way I need to. He has been showing me so much through these blogs. I have seen him answering prayers and then I have seen prayers answered but not in the way we wanted them but in His way. For example: Gifts from Grace is a blog I follow. They were not expecting her to live and today she is 4 weeks old (I think) and she is doing well. Many were praying for Grace and God saw fit to let her live and I believe that she will have an AWESOME testimony one day and that so many lives have been changed and will be change through her. Then there is the blog From Under The Weeping Willow, this mom has lost two babies to Potter’s Syndrome. I prayed for this baby but God saw fit others wise, He needed him more. We will never know or understand why things like this happen but it was all a part of his plan from the very beginning. God has allowed me to be a shoulder, friend, and comforter for some of these moms. I have really made some great friends on here and I thank God for them. Some of these ladies will always hold a special place in my heart and their little Angels will be forever in my heart too. I want to thank them for allowing me to be a part of their journey right now, I know that it’s a hard road that they are going down but I know that with God they will make it. They will be stronger, wiser, and victorious after they come out of this valley that they are in. They are all in the process of climbing that mountain and yes, sometimes it gets really steep and we want to fall but then there is God with his Arms wide open and He is ready to catch us. I have been in their shoes, and yes it was hard but it made me so much stronger as a person when I came through the Battle. Do I have battle scars, yes, but I am stronger, have more Faith, and know that with God I can do all things because nothing is impossible. Do you ever get over the loss of your child, no, but you do start to heal and you feel fine until you see that scar again and then you have to rebuke the enemy because he is just trying to get you down. You tell him that you will not be defeated and this is where a song that I love comes in. The words are:

    I did not have the strength to raise up my hands. I could not pray my best prayer thru my circumstance. But on his name I kept on calling, that narrow path I kept on walking, I tried to sing a happy song. And when it looked like hope was gone, that’s when Gods love made me strong. I came thru another battle, thank you lord. I thought I would down in the middle of the war. But his mercy surrounded me when I made mistakes and when I’d took all I could take, He steps in and makes a way. I came thru another battle and Lord I give you the Praise!!!!!

            So now here I am 4 years later living my life and Praising God for what he has brought me through and what He is going to bring me through when trials come my way. I am praying for all of you and just remember me too because I am stepping out on a limb right now as I am trying to get a Spring Retreat together for our church and plus we are starting visitation and I know that the devil is going to try to come against me but I refuse to be defeated. In closing I want to leave you with this saying…..

            When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go,

Only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He'll catch you when you fall, or

He'll teach you how to fly!

This is my church. Its Independent Community Church. God has really been moving and I am so thankful for the wonderful spirit that we have been feeling. Everytime you get a chance in the day and you think about it, please say a prayer that God will continue to lead us in the direction He wants us to go. We have a lot of new things going on and we are just trusting God. We want to be in His will and not in His way!!!