Yearn Your Love - Violet Jeffries

Listening to a new song can wake you up. It catches you considering new thoughts and new hope. There is a song that spoke to my heart the very first time that I heard it at an open mic night in South Florida -- it is called "Yearn Your Love"! 

Before hearing this song, I had met this family at Coastal Community Church. A family that has quite a story, an amazing life transformation. This video will help you get to know them: 

I'm not sure where you are right now, what you're burdened by, what you're concerned about -- but here is something I do know -- God can take hold of your life and transform you, if you start seeking Him. Start paying attention to Him. Get to know Him, you just might be surprised.

"Your love it soothes, your work done slow. Your love proceeds as my faith grows."

If you are like me and want to see this beautiful soul continue to write and record music, take a moment and download Violet Jeffries' song, "Yearn Your Love"Amazon or iTunes and leave a review to spread the word!

"I yearned Your love and You replied. You granted hope, You saved my life."

Not only do I love this song, and this sound, but my son falls asleep quickly to her lovely melodies several nights a week! For real! I play the song through twice, and before the end my boy is in peaceful sleep! I cannot even begin to express how I know this music can change lives. Such serenity and truth in these words. 

Comment below, because I'd love to know what you enjoy about this song!
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Amber for Ember

  Our sweet little Ember is such a doll! She is nearing age 2 this March (can you believe it?) and has been a special addition to our family dynamic. I can already attest to you that girls are different, that's for certain! It is amazing to see how Marshall and Ember have done different things in their stages of development. They've learned different first words and phrases than one another. It is all so very intriguing! God has taught me so much already through parenting, and I'm growing in this journey.

    One thing Ember LOVES is jewelry! She will literally ask me nearly ever morning to wear one of my necklaces. I generally allow her to for a bit, but the fit is awkward, and the materials could pose a choking issue, so the fun doesn't last long. One of her favorite pieces of jewelry is one that fits her perfectly and was designed for children. It is her Baltic Amber necklace by Bambeado! They graciously gave us a necklace to wear and review, and we were so thrilled to receive it!

     This necklace fits her perfectly at 33cm circling right around her collar line! The recommendation is that the necklace is not long enough to be chewed on by the child, but not too tight to not move freely. With Bambeado, each bead is individually knotted, so that if the necklace got cut open, the beads would not come spilling off --this is important! Ember's necklace is 3x the circumference of her wrist with a twist clasp, so she will occasionally even wear it as a bracelet. Proper safety is always recommended. 

Gently wash in warm water before wearing

The selection online is fantastic. Bambeado brand has many colors of real Baltic Amber jewelry for children and adults as well as chew toys and adult Silicone jewelry if your child has a tendency to grab and chew whatever you are wearing!

    For us, we use amber necklaces especially during teething. It helps support the child and reduces drooling and swelling. Baltic Amber is known for releasing Succinct Acid which is anti-inflammatory, which is always a great addition to a cute necklace, am I right?

   Thanks again Bambeado for sending us this darling and useful necklace! These necklaces make fantastic baby shower or birthday gifts! Be sure to check out their whole line of Baltic Amber and Silicone necklaces online: http://us.bambeado.com

Much love,

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Forever Home

   As she flipped through the stack of paperwork, sitting among the packaged cardboard version of her belongings, she took deep breaths. She'd done her research, found the best valued mortgage and interest rates, visited hundreds of houses and listings to find the perfect place. It was a good time for her family to be in a home, to establish their roots, make an investment and commit to stay. Even still, when a friend asked, "Do you think this is going to be your forever home?" she was unsure how to answer them. 

   Yes, it checked about half of the boxes on this mile-long list she had crafted (after renovations were completed, mind you). Yes, she felt safe in the neighborhood, although there was a noisy dog next door. It was not huge, but it was a nice size, well-suited for guests. It was all pretty good. Yet, she just  didn't know how to answer her friend. Could she really say this was her forever home? 

   She'd thought her forever home was going to be the one that they used to own, built from the ground up. The one she and her husband carefully designed and poured themselves into. The one with the four bedrooms and large living spaces for entertaining -- back then, she called it her dream house. But someone else lives in that house now. Another family, another chapter in their story. It wasn't her forever home, though they'd thought it would be. 

   Parting a few boxes to create a blank space on the floor, she laid down, flat on her back. She started staring at the ceiling fan whirring in endless circles, and thought to herself, "Maybe there's something not quite right with calling any of these houses my 'forever home'. I mean, the term rolls off of the tongue because I've watched so many HGTV specials that toss the phrase around like a hot potato, but maybe it's wrong. Maybe it's wrong in light of my real Forever Home." 

   "Why in the world would I call a home in the world my 'forever home'?" She felt perspective swirling around her as she stood up to take a walk around the neighborhood with her thoughts. This was the first time she'd ever thought of the concept quite like this -- as a temporary home paired in comparison to her eternal Jesus-himself-preparing-a-place-for-me home in heaven. 

   "This is a big deal!" she actually said aloud. "Not only does this ease the pressure that this new house has to be 'perfect' and everything I would ever want or imagine, but it flips the whole thing on its head and gets me focused on the awesomeness of the home Jesus is preparing! It's going to be the best thing EVER!" 

   She looped back to her new home quite refreshed, and far more content. The home they just closed on would serve its purposes for their mission-life here on earth, hopefully reflecting the love, peace and joy of their true kingdom Forever Home along the way. However, it would not have to fulfill every hope or dream in this world. 

   That true sense of home will come one day in heaven. That's where we're going to be at peace that everything is finally the way it is supposed to be, reunited with our Savior, justice fully played out, love fully realized, and finally...forever...home!

John 14:1-6

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

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Punch Hurricane Matthew in the Throat!

It is the morning of Thursday, October 6th, 2016 and we are waiting. We are waiting for updates, we are waiting for unknowns, and we are active in prayer. Hurricane Matthew looks like it is heading for my friends and my family in South Florida, and I am 1,400 miles away. BUT you guys are going to rock this hurricane!

We live in South Florida, literally that is where the weathermen are pointing. So unsettling. BUT this guy is pointing to where the strong people are, where the brave community of hardworking-serving-loving-faithful people of Coastal Community Church live and build their lives! God is faithful in this storm!

Our church body is taking care of each other -- helping provide shelter and finish preparations like installing crucial hurricane shutters, some have even opened their homes to one another. Everyone is stocking up on water, food and fuel, and sharing it around! I am so proud of my community!

There is a yearning to be near to one another. I cannot be there. Not even close. My prayers are with my boys, my prayers are with my friends! You guys are going to overcome and come out of the other side more bonded and strong than ever before!

Prayers for our Haitian brothers and sisters: My beloved Haiti was devastated and we prayed as we received word from our friends in Ti Goave. Pastor Brucelee shared that the people took shelter in the church building. Their lives were spared as they remained together in the church, while their homes were swept away. Some homes that our mission helped them purchase were round metal structures, anchored into the ground. Those that were anchored did not get destroyed. My heart is broken for Haiti and my Haitian friends. You are so treasured, you are so strong. 

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