He Loves Me

Me, Cindy and Sue

It was last year when I first met Cindy Bultema.

You know how you just meet someone for the first time and totally connect with them?

That was me with Cindy.

I had a brief idea what her story was from her blog.  I hadn't heard about her before Sue told me she was headed to our Praise and Coffee Night.

I was blown away by her testimony.  I believe I recall the accident she speaks of with David because I happened to be head over heels in love with the guy I just had married.  I couldn't imagine being without him suddenly like that.  I still can't.

If she were closer to drive to, I would be sitting in her Bible Study.  And if I could get together with her for lunch regularly, I totally would.  She is genuine and kind, her laugh and smile are right from her heart.  Her blog is truly titled perfectly...She Sparkles.

Morg went with me to that Praise and Coffee.  She was touched how brutally honest Cindy was in her testimony.  I am beginning to think that is just Cindy.

That night was so powerful for me.  I actually have had this picture and blog post title in my "drafts" since that day.  I never could figure out how to put in words how powerfully that night affected me.  I still cannot.

Anyhow, fast forward like a whole year or so and we were invited to see her movie premiere.  Day of Discovery had done a special on her. They had rented out a movie screen at Cinema theaters and, free of charge, we could see her in He Loves Me.

Sue and I were *this* close to not making it.  But we did.  And we are so thankful we did.

Cindy is offering a Give Away on her New Website.  As in, 42 copies of her He Loves Me video to help celebrate her 42nd birthday that was on May 9th.  I strongly suggest you hop over there and register to win a copy.  If I win a copy, I am going to give it away here.

Her special airs on ION on Mother's Day Sunday (May 13) at 7:30 am.  What station is ION? (I didn't know, so I had to look it up....) 

AT&T Uverse 195;

 Comcast 7; 

Charter 14; 

DirecTV 305/304; 

Dish 216/217.

Now, I am sure you will all be lazily laying in bed on Mother's day amid a pile of pillows while your family waits on you hand and foot on Sunday as I will be (snort!), so perhaps you can DVR it.  It's only a half an hour long, but it is one powerful half hour.

And be sure to register for her GIVEAWAY! 

Online Praise and Coffee Night

Tonight, I will be consuming large amounts of coffee.  In great amounts.  Tonight is our first ever

Online Praise and Coffee Night.

Can you join us?

Just follow the link I'll provide, ask to join as a guest, and you enter a "chat room" where you can actually Sue, Mel, Ronel and maybe me too.  No one else need a camera, you all get to type your conversation.  As in the MAGAZINE, we will be focusing on mom's.

I am super excited.

If you would like any back story of the night, here it is.....

My husband has been gone.  He is due to arrive the same time that the online praise and coffee begins.  I will have to give him a big ol' kiss because I will be so excited to see him.  I will try to make sure the camera is off of for that. ;)

Seven is the time my boys will be wandering the house trying to get ready for school tomorrow.  I guarantee you that they will try to get in on the fun.

To add to the hilarity of the night, the electric company is updating something or another tonight and we will be loosing power from nine tonight until eleven thirty.

Um, the next Praise and Coffee night starts at ten.......

So at ten I will be at Sue's with my computer in her dining room...which is conveniently right next to the coffee pot.  Bless her.

My job will be to let you all in on the conversation and tweet away during the hour long get together.  It would be so great if you could join us!

Here is the information.....https://www.facebook.com/events/177809579005951/

If you are friends with the blog on facebook or follow me on twitter, you can get the information there too as well as share it on your own fb's and tweets as well.

If you want an idea what we will be discussing, check out our MAGAZINE.

I can't wait to "see" you all there!

More information....HERE.

To go direct to the chat room, click HERE.

The NEW Magazine is HERE!

The Magazine is here!

This edition focuses on mother's and mom's and mothering...which is really all the same thing.

We have some new additions to the magazine, including Andy Paige for our fashion!

 Sarah Short has an amazing carrot cake recipe.

I introduce you to Brigitte Donoho.

We have articles about Kate Battistelli, an article on the Mom Initiative, the Generous Wife....

Sue has some amazing articles in this edition. She talks about finding out Josh has diabetes, and the day she first laid eyes upon Lauren.  Both make me tear up.

Ronel has an article on wrestling and moving on, Mel has one on preparing for her son to graduate.

Rachel Hammond has a powerful post on Pinterest and her Mom Colored Glasses.

There are just a ton of great articles in this edition.  A lot on mom's, a lot on marriage and some great support groups for women as well.  We were excited as it all came together to see all there was to share with all of you.

It's a great new issue of Praise and Coffee magazine.

Can you tell I am a wee bit excited? 

Check it out and let me know what your favorite articles are, will you?

Thanks!

And don't forget....THIS Thursday we are doing an ONLINE Praise and Coffee night!  All you have to do is log on to the link we will give that night, you don't need a camera on your computer!  We can't wait to chat with you all on our first Praise and Coffee Night Online! Hope to "see" you there. 

A Praise and Coffee Night

Last week we had our Christmas Praise and Coffee Night.

Sue was giving her testimony and I was nervous for her.  I know her story, but I know it here and there and I knew it would be hard for her to share it all in front of everyone in one story.

But the day was rough on me.  I may have at one point in the day been on the phone crying to my husband.  It was just a bad day, a down day, a day I literally was crying as I was baking cookies.

Just one of those days.

I would have rather curled up in pj's and snuggled on the couch with a book or movie but I knew I had to be there.  I dressed in my favorite clothes - my husband can say what he wants, clothes do make me feel better - and determined I was going to go and have fun and be happy.

And then God just gave me this awesome gift and had it so my husband and I were going to pass each other on the road so we met in the bar parking lot just so we could get a kiss in.  I love that man, and I love how God just timed that perfectly.

Here I am kissing my husband in the parking lot with the Tavern sign glowing down on us.  Oh, it was so romantic!

With my hands wrapped around a short triple breve with caramel, I listened to Sue pour out her heart with my friends A and Morg at the table with me.

Every time Sue took a deep breath, I wanted to go give her a hug.

When her amazing testimony had people with tears in their eyes and her analogy of having God saturate our lives, everyone began to break up in designated groups on specific topics.  Morg, A and I...we didn't budge.  It was like we knew, we were not in a "group" mood.

We were in a friend mood.

Sue came and sat with us and the four of us laughed to the funny stories Morg had for us.  We connected with bits and news that we are always to busy to share when we are passing each other in church or just in sending a quick text.

I sat there soaking it in, looking at these friends I love so dearly and thinking how different we all are and how we are all brought together on this night.  I thanked God for soaking me in His grace...in the gift of this moment.

We packed up all the pretty finery and left over cookies of a beautiful evening and headed for home.

Except I didn't get home for a good long time.

Standing out in the parking lot, I had a heart to heart with a friend.  We hadn't planned on talking the night away, but in the moment of just us we laid out the things heavy on our hearts...sisters sharing a burden and knowing the trust we had in each other.

And isn't that what Praise and Coffee Nights are all about?  Sharing with a friend and giving praise to God and growing in our relationships?

Not a day has not gone by since that Praise and Coffee night that I haven't prayed for the friend I chatted the night away with.  I am still giggling over the funny stories we shared at the table.  I am still so proud of Sue for sharing her testimony.

And I am blown away by this group of women God brought together.  Our friendship makes no sense on paper, but in life it is the perfect blend.

Some women are afraid of starting up a Praise and Coffee Night...it's too big a task, they fear.  But Praise and Coffee was held at a table with four women and in a parking lot on an "official" PC night.  It's girlfriends and sisters sharing the moments of life they are in and being prayed for and looking to God for the answers.  It's connecting.  It's encouraging.  It's inspiring.  No matter how big or small the gathering.

And all that was flooded into my life on a rough day that ended with a great night.

The Magazine Is Here!!!!!

Click

HERE

to see

our new

magazine

(If you want to read my funny story, it's on page 62. Yes, 62. We don't mess around with small magazine's, we have too many stories to share with you!)

Sue and I are sooooooooooooooooo excited to share this magazine with you!!! We have so many stories of women going through storms and coming through them, this issue is sure to leave you encouraged. But grab some kleenex's because it will also make you cry.

Amy Bender is the first feature story. We have known Bender's a few years. I remember when she was here in my driveway telling me to watch the boys with mosquitoes because that's what the doctor's thought that was causing Charlie's illness. When I was camping, it was late on a Sunday night when my husband called me to tell me the news....Charlie had cancer. I sobbed that night.

Her story is amazing.

Kim we met at Breathe Writer's Conference. Her story gripped my heart and absolutely would not let go. She is the speaker for our Praise and Coffee in June. I can't wait to hear her speak! And when her book comes out, oh my!

I have never met Susy. But Sue knows her and loooooved being able to highlight her story of Cancer.

And there's lots more. Some from Mel and a totally heart wrenching story from Sue about my adorable little Lauren. I say she is "my" Lauren because, well, the girl is my adopt a daughter sometimes. :)

It's a good good issue. Sue put tons of time in the graphics and so forth. She is the brains behind this is so many ways and if you see her, thank her. I get to flit and see and ooh and ahh and love it and suggest more coffee. But without Sue, it would still be an idea.

Please please please, pass this magazine along. Tell your friends. You should actually GET your friends, HAVE a praise and coffee night, WHILE you are cooking a meal for PRAISE AND COFFEE COOKS and then read this MAGAZINE together.....brilliant plan there. A great night would be had for sure!

And, if the kleenex has run out and you realize you are hungry, look at Praise and Coffee Cooks. It's a new chapter in Praise and Coffee and I am THRILLED about it all. Really. I'm heading it up right now and can not wait for all the stories to come in!

But like I said, if you need a good laugh, just flip to page 62. Seriously.

We Went Camping...And I Packed Black Heels

Why yes, I do have black heels packed in the camper......

Just because my mom has all the faith in the world in me to pull of insane situations, we went camping on a Praise and Coffee night. I do not miss Praise and Coffee if at all possible because, well, it's Praise and Coffee.

So while my sister and Baby Back up, GM and Jr and Egirl (GM's cousin who is family) my mom and her dog Maggie watched my four boys and a dog (just one, Sadie got sent home. She has a Bolt like super bark, and other campers don't appreciate such things I found out), I climbed into my camper wearing grubby shorts and a sweaty shirt and emerged wearing my best jeans, a black silk tank, a blackish grayish whitish scarf that I KNOW is stylish because it's the Miley Cyrus brand at Walmart, and black heels.

Do you know how many looks you get when you walk in black heels over the paved drive to the poison ivy lined wooded trail from one campsite to another?

A lot.

Heels are fun to wear in the woods, I found. You just feel like you are playing dress up. So I had a picture taken, I mean, it was too funny. That dressed up CAMPING???? The girls begged me not to show it to the world.....so I won't. Because I love them that much. But, I am framing it. Believe me!

So I wore the heels and fancy scarf so I could arrive late to dinner with Sue, Lorilee and Alison so I could giggle and learn and laugh and have fun before I was late arriving with Lorilee (the guest speaker) and Alison to Praise and Coffee so I could stick around to hear an amazing story so I could chat with a bunch of women so I could help Sue pack up so I could head back to the campground, past hours, to find my way in an unlit darkness.

Unlit, full moon, fog, in the woods. It looks cool on Twilight. It's not so fun when you are all alone in black heels in the middle of the night (11:30).

I was sure I would be locked out. There was a big sign that read “GATES CLOSE AT TEN”. Driving in, I seen one car drive out..I was sure that would be the gate keeper. I had packed two flashlights in the suburban, and wondered that, if necessary, would my heels work as a weapon to defend myself from raccoons and coyotes? They weren't spiky heels, and I'd hate to loose them, being as cute as they are, but, if it was necessary.....

All that for naught. I arrived to open gates (the beach closed, not the campground, at ten) and my two oldest boys awaiting my return, keeping the campfire going for me.

Although, trudging thru the woods in the dark in my heels being followed by raccoons would have been a WAY better post.........though I am glad I didn't live that.

Much much much more on that Praise and Coffee next week. It was THAT good.

(Here is Praise and Coffee's Newsletter. Enjoy!)

Moma's Night Out

So, I got a night out.

Every six weeks there is a Praise and Coffee night. I love them. I love helping plan them. I love sitting in the back watching a room full (65 including me, Sue and her daughter) of women getting to know each other, praise God with all their heart, cry tears over something poignant, and drink gallons of coffee. It truly is a beautiful thing.

Last Praise and Coffee, I had a sick little guy and never made it. I have had a countdown for this get together. And to add to the mix, one of my very dear friends was sharing her heart, just a sliver of it, with all the women there. I didn’t want to miss it.

So it would be this week that my handsome hardworking hubby got put on third shift. For one week only. This week. The week of Praise and Coffee.

I was not about to call my mom to help me out. Even if I had she couldn’t because she was out having a girls night out of her own. Nor could I load four boys up for a girls night. So, I was home. Alone with four boys. Again.

Until I thought of the new renters, the ones I didn’t scare away ( http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=184165921746089096&postID=2205841090911317955 ), and the teenage girls that seem to adore my boys.

So, for the first night ever in my life, I hired a baby sitter.

It was rough to decide, not due of the baby sitter because I trusted her totally, it was the ‘is it worth it to drive out for Praise and Coffee’ (that's seemed late for a first time being left with a baby sitter), ‘is it wise to leave the boys at bedtime’ and on and on. S2 had soccer practice and I knew he had a ride home, but he was fighting a cold. S1 was capable to watch the boys and keep them in line and help the baby sitter out finding things. S3 was told he could only hug the baby sitter one time (which he told her about and did as soon as she walked in, because he loves this girl so very much and I was afraid she would be hugged out by the time she got home). And S4, well, as long as he had chocolate milk and knew he wouldn’t be cut off he know he would be fine.

But I couldn’t decide. The baby sitter probably thinks I am about the most indecisive woman she has ever met. I hope not, but I am sure that is how I came across. An hour before I had to leave if I was going to leave, I committed to it and she didn’t seem too surprised by that.

I put on my big girl earrings, the huge hoops I wear when I am feeling sassy and fun, and decided to be like my sister, DP, who would tell me to go out, have fun, shop, drink an extra coffee and live it up. Sometimes you have to listen to your little sister’s voice in your head. That’s why God gave me my sister, she is opposite of me. My hair that had been pulled back in an exhausted bun turned out to be wavy curly looking. You can’t let a good hair day go unnoticed.

But leaving I thought of the football movie I had left for them to watch and thought to myself, “what if the boys decide to act out the football moves they see on TV….that. would. be. bad.”

And I am glad I went. I got there an hour late, cried tears over the story of my good friend’s story of her eight year old son’s year and half journey with cancer (he is cancer free now) and the stress it put on her marriage and the heartbreak and the joy and the truly awesomeness of God.

When I got home at 9:30 (I left early, as much as it made me sad because there were so many women I knew. Social interaction, I crave it, like I crave coffee….but, I am a mom…) all the boys were still awake. All of them. I was sure they would have crashed out exhausted, but they were just zoned in front of the second movie I had picked out for them just in case they had time. They did. And the baby sitter did great, the boys did great, my hubby was glad I went, I was so thankful to be there for my friends (even if I was just sitting in the back after arriving late and left early).

So why did I share this all with you? Because, I just want to encourage ya’ll to get out a bit. It’s good for you. Put on your sassy earrings and meet up with some girlfriends. Sue tells you how to have a Praise and Coffee in her vlog, check it out (http://www.praiseandcoffee.blogspot.com/). You can’t go wrong when you are praising God and drinking strong coffee! Especially when it is a Pumpkin spice latte. There are women out there with a story to tell, a story of how God is using them, and it’s good to hear them, to be encouraged, and it is good to laugh. Laugh till you cry.

So that is my thought for you all as I am severely caffeinated before I go to bed to get up at four am live in my ‘real’ life again.