Prayers

It is easy to be overcome by fear and doubt, because we respond in flesh. The enemy would like to see us be overcome by it, so he says he has won. Yet let us not forget that our Lord has already fought for us and we are always safe in His arms whether we are here or there. He knows our pain, He knows our grief, He knows our madness and He knows our anger, yet He still remains merciful even when we question His perfect love. He would never harm us, He will only protect us whether we understand it or not. I am laying down all my doubts and fears and turning to the Lord and trusting in Him. So, tonight as you rest your head, please say a prayer for some very special people that are in desperate need of prayer as their little boy fights for his life! I just ask that you keep speaking life and light over them. Thank you for being the beautiful faithful community you are! Nicole & Darby Bourgeois YOU ARE LOVED!

Motherhood

Such a lovely weekend with lovely women! I learned so much about myself as a mother now and where I want to be! Even when I can't entirely do it perfect, the perfect God has mercy on my imperfect ways! He gives me grace on my not so stellar days of motherhood and has leniency on my mommy tantrums, because He knows my heart - and it is full of Him.

We don't give ourselves credit for the roles we play and it was wonderful hearing mothers being honored as the pillars of the household. Great job Melanie Gaspard , Ternica Williams and Carol Knight, we have an amazing church, love you all at Victory Life Church (Lockport) !

Plans

Life can be seriously crappy sometimes. Your children will have disappointments that break their heart and yours. This is one of those moments. What do you tell your child, when she repeatedly feels defeated? We usually come to Facebook to share our children's accomplishments, yet what if they fell short? So I'm sharing today a lesson from defeat, beauty for ashes!

Disappointment will come so honestly it is best they experience it while they are young, while they are still under your protection - where you can nurture and love them. This is not to say that you should cope for them or retaliate on others, but don't belittle their feelings, let them experience it, let them muddle through it as you give love and guidance. Let them experience them, let them cry and then show them how to rise up again.

Their wounds will teach them lifelong lessons in resiliency and how to stand strong despite the mountain or giant they face. To make it in this world, kids need to learn how to struggle. They need to learn how to persevere for a hard fought victory, but also need to learn how to handle disappointment when the victory does not come. The world is tough out there and if they never experience disappointment it will be even worse.

For Claire this is just another notch on her belt of life that she will just need to learn from, but we know our master and He has great plans for her. He clears the path for those plans and makes our paths good. He knows what lies ahead for her and has closed doors along the path to keep her focused and moving forward to her great reward.

So as we gathered up other friends last night that faced disappointment, we made the best of a night of what could have been defeat but became a night of resilience!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 

10 Things I Learned

10 things I learned this morning:

1. Lady Trojans can run up and down a field for over an hour and be like I just woke up like dis, well I didn't run and I could scare young children with the way I look. Oh wait - they are 20 years younger than me, maybe I'll use that excuse.

2. How old am I - 90? Every stinking body part on my body hurts. Even my eyelids. Apparently I can't hang.

3. Taking down signs in the rain will not be fun - can they just stay up til we go to state next year?

4. Yesterday was beautiful on the field, in the bleachers and at home. I will forever have that embedded in my memories of that time we first went to state. What a great story we have!

5. Like really who do I talk to about #3.

6. Our town still loves our Trojans and that includes all - from soccer to football to tennis to track to swim to bowling to FFA to JROTC to band to cheer to dance to flag to baseball to softball to whatever else I left out! We are one team, one school, one family!

7.-10. I'm done, I'm tired of learning! Peace out!

P.S. if anyone is interested in the image I designed and created let me know. I can change it to whatever sport or program you like or just leave it blank. If you want to get it on a shirt or something I can email the image to you.

10 Things!

10 things I learned tonight:

1. Never underestimate a small town, we show up!

2. Lady Trojans put it all out on that field.

3. I could never be a soccer player because I would be arrested for throat punching a girl.

4. Our fans are dedicated.

5. Our Lady Trojans got skillz to pay da billz.

6. I was out of breath watching them run hence the reason I don't ever sign up for a 5K.

7. When you show up to a game bring a bottle of honey for your throat.

8. The Lady Trojans are a force to be reckoned with, watching you hold your ground was possibly the most amazing thing I've experienced (well okay the birth of my children and getting married - guess I'll throw that in there).

9. When you can no longer stand kneel.

10. This town loves you, Lady Trojans! Not for a score, not for a block, not for a kick, but for your heart.

Just wait a movie will be made about this someday and people are going to say pishposh (okay maybe only me), but they will say the titans, who are they, I remember the Trojans!

Lady Trojans

So here it is, it is game day and we are on our way! What an amazing team, school and community we have!

I pray that our Lady Trojans understand the magnitude of what this has done for a community already. It is never about winning, though winning is nice, it is about your heart. What I see every time I see this team together is heart and it is so amazingly beautiful. Win or lose they have changed the hearts of many because they have shown that anything is possible. There are so many negative things out in the world, so when there is a positive thing happening we should always treat it as this community did this week. Sometimes the news and social media becomes inundated with so much negative that this was just a nice change to see a community just light up green and gold with love. May the team, parents and fans be covered with peace, safety and blessings. May you all be filled with the love God so graciously pours out! And to you Lady Trojans may you play your hearts out with the passion, fire and love that this community has grown to love y'all for! We are victorious in Him! Win or lose, y'all have already won our hearts!!

Proverbs 21:31 “The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.”

P.S. I'll be in the parking lot to hand out glow necklaces and bracelets and of course Kleenex! I'll also be face painting!

Christmas Baby

Happy late birthday to my baby girl! Holidays are always so busy around your birthday and we always seem to forget to post. Life would be so dull and less sparkly without you. I couldn't imagine it any other way. You are wise beyond your years dear and though I know we butt heads on a lot of things, I am proud of the strong, confident and beautiful girl you are. Don't ever let anyone strip you of that! Love you sweetie! #babygirl #christmasbaby #sparkleandshine