He Answered

Day 313 of Photo Inspirations -- He Answered
Of course these Baby Shower cookies, inscripted with "He Answered" would be my photo inspiration for today.  "He answered" doesn't mean the wife called and her husband answered.  It means they called on God and He answered.

The 2nd photo is of two precious women in my Life Group, Paula Hieronymus Vaughn​ and Shelly Been Summers​, best friends, and related by the fact that Paula's son, is married to Shelly's daughter. There is nothing like praying mamas and these two mamas, along with our Life Group, have been praying AND believing for their kids to conceive for quite some time.   We take our prayer requests/petitions very seriously in this group.

We come together weekly and are thrilled to hear praises of "Look what God has done", but we are also thrilled to provide a safe place to share each other's needs, prayer requests and what's on each other's hearts -- to pray and believe with each other for those things that are beyond human intervention.....they need divine intervention.

This 2nd photo, was taken at our Life Group meeting  when these two found out their kids were indeed expecting.  They came, with that yummy cake with pink & blue diaper pins on it, to surprise us and to celebrate their good news.  We kept it quiet (oh how we wanted to shout to the world on Facebook that "He Answered" then, but we were sworn to secrecy until the "All Systems Go" signal). After four years of trying to conceive, their kids were still cautious about broadcasting their exciting news to the world.

A precious little girl will make her debut in January and, yesterday, I was thrilled to help host the celebration shower at my Hyde Park clubhouse. I was so inspired by these cookies to say to you...."HE ANSWERS" for you, too!  God is no respector of persons so why not take this little blog as all you need to help you believe for your miracle....whether it's a baby, a new job, a financial blessing, a healing, or a breakthrough of any kind.

Yes, there were snags along the way and disappointment after disappointment, but these two women, and a lot of others who joined the ranks of praying for them, are seeing the rewards of those prayers today.  It doesn't matter whether you've been believing for 10 minutes, 10 months or 10 years, our God's timeline is right on time.  He sees the beginning, the middle, and the ending.  He sees and knows the seed planting.....time.....then harvest.  Seed time and harvest.

I spoke to Paula after the shower today, and I reminded her that their victory is our victory, too. Today's declaration "He Answered" is way beyond their family.  It is for you AND me.  I take hold of it.  I know it's true, because "He Answered" for me time and time again.  Don't give up.

You're on the brink of your miracle, too!

Happy Birthday to Me -- the Train Wreck Baby

I was a "train wreck baby". At least, that's what my Mama called me. She and my Dad were DONE with having any more babies. My older sister was 12, the other two were 18 & 20. But when my Mama was in the train wreck, her "birthing department" kicked into gear again. It's different, today, as many women wait until their 40s to give birth, but my Mom wasn't at all thrilled. She told me she cried for days at the news. As it turned out, I became her "gift from heaven", as in so many unexpected surprises in our lives -- that turn out to be the greatest blessings. I was her caregiver and always her "baby girl". Later she cried tears of thanksgiving.

I celebrate my sweet Mom and Dad on this, my "birth" day. Their precious love brought me into the world and I am forever grateful for that train wreck!

It's awkward to wish yourself a happy birthday, but I sincerely do. I've now celebrated 66 birthdays. Why are folks so ashamed of their age? I thank God everyday for yet another day, and today, for yet another birthday! 66 years on this earth -- perfectly planned to be here for this day and time to fulfill my assignment by my Creator, Master Designer and Planner.

All you youngsters out there who view 66 as old.....I was you. I remember when my aunt turned 50 and thought how old she was. I know that age is just a number and I will cherish every year that God gives me on this side of heaven -- and best of all, each year gets me one year closer to going home.

To all my family and friends.....thank you for humoring me, tolerating me at times, but most of all....for loving me. I know I'm not an isolated incident. I am an on-purpose, perfectly planned piece of artwork that God made with the best of intentions. I am HERE for a reason, and I WILL leave an imprint.....just mark my words!