Jesus loves me this I know!

My sweet sweet friend Jennifer gave Selah this bible for her birthday. She told me it had been on Darby's blog (which I LOVE)! So of course I pulled it out to read tonight at bedtime and it is Wonderful, beyond Wonderful!!! I absolutely love it. I was in tears within the first few sentences. I think Sophie thought I was crazy. But I read to her and then we talked about Jesus and Heaven and God. It was one of those conversations you want to burn into your brain forever! She asks questions about God and the bible and Jesus a lot, but I haven't really felt like she was ready to really understand it well enough to actually ask Jesus into her heart, but I am beginning to think she is pretty close. Our conversation was truly precious. Sophie asked me sweet things like "What is heaven like Mommy?" "Will you be in heaven too?" and then the real tear jerker that got me was (talking about seeing God when we get to heaven) "Will He call my name?" Oh my goodness, I am crying just thinking about it. Out of the mouths of babes...

To make this little book even more special, I started reading the commentaries on it and the first review was written by Tim Keller from Redeemer Presbyterian in NYC . Immediately I am impressed because Redeemer Pres is my favorite church in the world besides COTH - I have said the only way I'd even consider leaving Highlands was if Tim Keller moved here and started a church. I've been listening to Tim Keller since middle school and have the utmost respect for him. So I kept reading and I realized that the sweet woman who wrote the book goes to church at Redeemer in NYC! How awesome is that! I can't wait to read more tomorrow night, more tears probably... Sometimes that is what we need in our time with Jesus though, just simplicity and truth.

All of you must go and buy it tomorrow, seriously, not the next day, but tomorrow! It's that sweet! Thanks Jenn! You're the best - I am working on thankyou notes this week=). I have a lot to write...

Here is a little taste

Jesus Storybook Bible Every Story Whispers His Name
Chapter One

So God breathed life into Adam and Eve.
When they opened their eyes, the first thing they ever saw was God's face. He whispered their names to them and taught them who they were.
And when God saw them he was like a new dad. "You look like me," he said. "You're the most beautiful thing I've ever made!"
God loved them with all of his heart. And they were lovely because he loved them.
And Adam and Eve joined in the Song of the stars and the streams and the wind in the trees, the wonderful Song of love to the one who made them. Their hearts were filled with happiness. And nothing ever made them sad or lonely or sick or afraid.
God looked at everything he had made. "Perfect!" he said. And it was.
But all the stars and the mountains and oceans and galaxies and everything were nothing compared to how much God loved his children. He would move Heaven and Earth to be near them. Always. Whatever happened, whatever it cost him, he would always love them.
And s ... read full excerpt from Jesus Storybook Bible ebook

(taken from http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/cgi-bin/item/0310717515/Jesus-Storybook-Bible-eBook.html)

***Check out my comments to hear a word from the author, Sally Lloyd-Jones!

Contemplating small group ideas...

I am not sure what to do this Fall about a small group. Here are a few ideas I have rolling around in my head. I am going to pray about it and look into meeting places and childcare ideas before I decide. I really don't know that I can handle leading a small group with how much Trey is gone now. I feel like I barely make it through the days sometimes. Hopefully I'll be more adjusted by then and when Sophie goes back to school, that should help. Y'all let me know any ideas you have too!

-Natural Childbirth and Pregnancy support group - This idea came to me one night at church when I was sitting next to a girl who was about 6 months pregnant. I just kept looking at her and thinking about how God has really given me a heart and special love for this stage in a woman's life. I also am passionate about natural childbirth and although I know it's not for everyone, I love telling people about how special my experience was and I'm always game for trying to convince people to try it. It was truly empowering and one of the most amazing things I think I've ever done.

- Mom's Notes - I led this group last year and I really felt like I did a terrible job, I was just so disorganized. So maybe this year I could try to revamp it and do a little better this time around.

-I am also interested in being in a small group that will be a good old fashioned women's bible study. I am so jealous of Trey and the education about the bible he received at Briarwood. I feel like he has an understanding of the bible and its history and how it all fits together that I just don't know if I'll ever have. It's such a blessing to him and I hope that we'll be able to put our kids in Briarwood so that they can be blessed by this type of education too.

-I had talked about doing a sampler small group for moms last year that would have a new topic each week. That way I could incorporate all the things I want to cover into one group. We could sample strategic shopping, GKGW, Mom's Notes, sewing, meal planning and lots of other stuff too!

Dr Warren, calling Dr Warren...

Sorry to leave you all 2 of you hanging=)

and NO I'm not pregnant!!!!

Even though my hubby would not want me to do so being the humble and easily embarrassed person he is, (he doesn't like when I mention the "d" word - doctor) I cannot embark on my Italy posts until I give him a little shout out for becoming a doctor on May 17, 2009.

Congrats Trey, I love you so much and am so very proud to be your wife! (I didn't have a working computer at the time, so that's why this is soooo belated)

Trey told somebody he was going to be an anesthesiologist in elementary school or something crazy like that. (His parents actually remember him saying it.) At the time he didn't even know what an anesthesiologist was, (I still can't even say it hardly)but I believe that is when God put it in his heart to help people by becoming a doctor. Since then he has been working his bootay off in school. When I started dating Trey, I knew he wanted to be a doctor (score - This guy is cute and smart!) Little did I know what I was getting myself into... Medical school is a long, slow, expensive roller coaster with many highs and lows. Trey has taken it all in stride though, and I rarely if ever heard him complain about anything. (I took care of most of the complaining) Truly, we are both very thankful for the opportunity that he has been given and know that we have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to complain about! God is always with us and has carried us through every step of this journey so far. Trey will be the first to tell you that he didn't get into med school, God got him in and then God continued to guide him through the whole process. We have a Heavenly Father who has made each of us to fulfill a specific purpose. I am thankful that Trey is one step closer to fulfilling that purpose.

I can't wait to see how God will use our family and skills to further His Kingdom!

Allison and Bill with Trey and I.
Proud parents!





Trey and Matt Bailey (future surgeon, watch out people!)

Here is the (terrible quality) video of Trey getting his diploma and signing his name for the first time as an MD. Love you!

Easter Celebration! Fun with baby ducks!

We had a great Easter this year filled with lots of memories. The most meaningful thing to me was that Sophie for the first time could talk about (in simple terms) what Jesus did for us.

She learned how he died on the cross "Mommy, did you know that they put those things in His hands and they put Him on the cross?"

She learned how he rose from the dead "And then they rolled the stone away and there was an angel!"

She started to learn what it means to have Jesus come live in your heart "Mommy how does he get in there? Do they cut off your head? Does Jesus eat when he's in there? Does he live in your legs too?"


I loved hearing her little heart start to understand the beginnings of what I know will be a strong relationship with Him one day.

We also had fun at Mimi's as usual with all the cousins and the ducks! I do hope the ducks were not traumatized, but all in all, it was a great day! Here are some pictures in no particular order!

Sophie being the clean child she is was very content to watch and not touch.




Luke was all about the ducks, what a cute smile. Love my Lukey Boy!



I think Lillian loved them best of all. She almost got in the bucket with the ducks! She is fearless!

Towards the end of playtime, the ducks huddled. I think they were thinking "Stick together, safety in numbers!"

Selah in her bunny ears (at the end of the day)
She looked at us like, "Really, can we be done with pictures already?"


Sweet sisters!

Almost all the great grandkids! Wow there are a lot of them (ages range 6 years to 5 months)

Attempt at a family pic at the end of the day=)

Olivia and Sophie - both firstborn, both girls, both sweet big sisters, so much alike!

Powerful lyrics!

Every now and then I fall in love with a song, usually because it touches me and reminds me how much Jesus loves me! I think this is especially appropriate right before Easter when we celebrate Jesus, the One who came to earth and paid the ultimate price for our sin on the cross so that we could spend eternity with Him. Thank you Jesus!!
Here's the latest song that I love. Listen and read and enjoy.
Love you all - Abby

Something Changed by Sara Groves

Something changed inside me broke wide open all spilled out
Till I had no doubt that something changed

Never would have believed it till I felt it in my own heart
In the deepest part the healing came

And I cannot make it
And I cannot fake it
And I can't afford it
But it's mine

Something so amazing in a heart so dark and dim
When a wall falls down and the light comes in

And I cannot make it
And I cannot fake it
And I can't afford it
But it's mine

I love this song

OK, so I am too busy to post much lately, but i found the lyrics to my new fave song online, so here they are....

The song should be playing right now. If not, it's on my playlist at the bottom of the page=)

BROOKE FRASER LYRICS

"Shadowfeet"

Walking, stumbling on these shadowfeet

toward home,

a land that i've never seen

I am changing: less and less asleep

made of different stuff than when i began

and i have sensed it all along

fast approaching is the day

[CHORUS]

when the world has fallen out from under me

I'll be found in you, still standing

when the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees

when time and space are through

I'll be found in you

Theres distraction buzzing in my head

saying in the shadows it's easier to stay

but I've heard rumours of true reality

whispers of a well-lit way

[CHORUS]

You make all things new

[CHORUS]

[CHORUS 2]

When the world has fallen out from under me

I'll be found in you, still standing

Every fear and accusation under my feet

when time and space are through

I'll be found in you