Happy Thanksgiving!!

Sisterhood of Widows S.O.W.  Psalm 126:5-6  Please share on your Facebook so that others can see my blogs and maybe help them through their grief.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I can't believe it's time for another Thanksgiving holiday.  I can tell you it feels like this year has flown by.  I guess it's true what they say, the older you get the faster time flies!!

Today marks four years and four months since Kirk passed away.  This will be our fifth Thanksgiving without him.  As I sit here enjoying the smell of freshly baked pies and bread, it's just another reminder of another holiday without him.  He always enjoyed my pumpkin bread and pies that I make every year.  I wish I would have told him every day how thankful I was for him.  It's too late to tell him so I have decided on this Thanksgiving Eve to tell every one that I love and care for just how much I love and appreciate them.

I am so thankful for all my family and friends that were there for me and Emily during our darkest hours.  There are no words to describe how thankful we are for your love, support, and prayers that we have received over the past four years.  There were days I didn't think I was going to make it one more second and then I would get a simple text that would say, "I love you".  It's amazing how those three simple one syllable words can fill your heart with love and encouragement.  I am so thankful and grateful for each and every one of you!! Your love, support, compassion, and most importantly your prayers mean more than you will ever know!!

I am so thankful for Emily.  She inspires me to continue on and to enjoy life to the fullest.  She inherited the best qualities of me and Kirk.  She is an amazing young lady that is so vibrant and compassionate.  I am so thankful that Kirk and I were able to experience being parents.  God truly blessed us when we sure didn't deserve it.  I am grateful for the nine years that we got to share raising a beautiful little girl.  I am thankful God blessed me with a man like Kirk and we were blessed as parents.

Most of all, I am thankful for my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Without Jesus, I wouldn't have all the other blessings.  Without His love for me, I wouldn't be able to love so many people that have touched my life.  God blessed us with the greatest gift of all, Jesus.  In 2 Corinthians 9:15 NIV we read, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"  That Gift is Jesus.  I am so thankful that Jesus came down to earth as a human man and sacrificed His life for us.  There is no better blessing than the grace and love He showed us when He was nailed to that cross.  His blood covers us, covers our sins so that we can be  reconciled with our Heavenly Father when our time on Earth is complete.  If you believe that Jesus is your Savior, then death is not the end for you. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NIV tells us, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  I am so incredibly thankful for Jesus!!  Jesus is the reason I get up every morning and face another day as a widow and single mother.  Jesus is the reason I write to all of you.  I just want to spread the word about how wonderful and beautiful Jesus is to me.  Without Him, I don't know how far I would be in this journey that was unexpected and unwanted.

I know it's hard to be thankful in your darkest hours.  I have been there and know that deep heart pain.  I just ask that you take a minute and count a couple of your blessings that you are thankful for.  I promise that once you count one or two, tomorrow you might be able to add a couple more.  Day by day the counting and praising will get easier.  We find in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV, "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Lord I pray that anyone reading this and is having a hard time this holiday will just cry out to you for comfort and healing. Lord I pray that they will find someone or something to be thankful for and they will start to count their blessings.  Lord I know there are so many hurting this Thanksgiving and I pray that you cover them in Your love and grace and surround them with loving and compassionate people that will reach out and love on them.  Thank you Lord for loving and blessing me even when I don't deserve it.  In Your Precious Name..Amen!!

Incredible Group of Women

The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. Proverbs 27:9 NLT

A year ago, I had the privilege and pleasure to meet all of these incredible women.  We came together as strangers from all over the country, and a couple from outside of the United States.  We arrived on Friday not knowing what the weekend would bring.  We came from all backgrounds, but one thing we had in common: we are all widows.  We tearfully left on Sunday, all united as sisters in widowhood.  It was such an amazing experience and a hug blessing to me. 

One thing I have realized on this journey is that you must connect with others that are like you.  This path was not meant to walk alone.  Before I found A Widow's Might, I felt just like that, ALONE!!  Once I connected with the writers and then decided to head out to Myrtle Beach to meet women that were in the same situation as me, I felt part of a sisterhood.  I felt like I found others who got me and know exactly my thoughts and emotions.  I was so glad that I decided to attend this conference and Jesus was with us the entire time.  From the moment I decided to go until my plane touched down in Indianapolis, I felt His presence throughout this experience. 

Finding a group of people that are experiencing or have experienced your similar situation is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.  From finding one friend, or a grief group, or connecting online, there are ways to find people that will help you, and you can help in return.  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV says, "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up." 

Have you found yourself alone and feel like there is no one that understands your circumstance?  We are not meant to tackle this journey alone. There are others that would love to listen and help you. I am available to help anyone that feels alone and just needs someone to listen. What I have found so comforting is that the Greatest Counselor is just a whisper away.  He will listen and answer your cries.  Isaiah 9:6 NIV "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Just call out to Jesus and let Him know and hear your heart.  He hears you and will answer you.  I asked Him a couple of days ago to send me a friend that will counsel me on a couple of issues and sure enough, He heard me. He didn't only send me one, He sent me several.  God is Good!!  He is just a whisper away!!

Lord Father, I pray that my family and friends that are hurting will just whisper Your name and have faith that You will deliver, because You will Lord.  You are the Wonderful Counselor that is always there when we cry out to You.  Lord thank you so much for all the precious sisters that I met last year and continue to communicate through social media.  They are so special Lord.  In Your Precious Name I pray.  Amen!!