JUST A HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY DEAREST FRIEND WHO IS RIGHT NOW IN HEAVEN REJOICING. WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO CELEBRATE A BIRTHDAY! I LOVE YOU GIRL AND I MISS YOU MORE THAN ANYONE COULD EVER KNOW!
This song was sang at my best friend Danielle's funeral. Her middle name is Lilly and it was such a fitting song. So beautiful and so true, the lyrics are based on Luke 12:27 and Matthew 6:28.
Luke 12:27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (KJV)
Mathew 6:28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
Consider The Lilies
Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin"— they simply are! Think of the sea, the air, the sun, the stars, and the moon— all of these simply are as well— yet what a ministry and service they render on our behalf! So often we impair God’s designed influence, which He desires to exhibit through us, because of our own conscious efforts to be consistent and useful. Jesus said there is only one way to develop and grow spiritually, and that is through focusing and concentrating on God. In essence, Jesus was saying, "Do not worry about being of use to others; simply believe on Me." In other words, pay attention to the Source, and out of you "will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38 ). We cannot discover the source of our natural life through common sense and reasoning, and Jesus is teaching here that growth in our spiritual life comes not from focusing directly on it, but from concentrating on our Father in heaven. Our heavenly Father knows our circumstances, and if we will stay focused on Him, instead of our circumstances, we will grow spiritually— just as "the lilies of the field."
The people who influence us the most are not those who detain us with their continual talk, but those who live their lives like the stars in the sky and "the lilies of the field"— simply and unaffectedly. Those are the lives that mold and shape us.
If you want to be of use to God, maintain the proper relationship with Jesus Christ by staying focused on Him, and He will make use of you every minute you live— yet you will be unaware, on the conscious level of your life, that you are being used of Him.
Source: http://www.rbc.org/devotionals/my-utmost-for-his-highest/05/18/devotion.aspx
Good Morning All,
I am in Louisville this morning and it seems like it is going to be a beautiful day. Just an update on the baby situation.... still nothing. I have come to realize that waiting is so hard. No matter how much I try to be good, I can't help but have thoughts that enter my mind about the situation. Sometimes I see folks who have never uttered thanks to God for anything. At other times I see young teenagers with children that they really weren't ready for and sometimes didn't and still don't want. I know children in my school who have parents that really don't want them around. The common link? They all have these children that some of us long for and can't seem to get.
Now before I get a ton of comments that say... "Alesha you know God has a purpose for each of those folks and for you" let me go ahead and answer that by saying "Yes, I know." I realize that. I honestly believe that. But it is still a hard row to hoe. (Throwing in some of my country vernacular there hehe) I'm not bitter and I'm trying hard each day to be happy, jolly, and grateful for what I know God will do. I do believe He will do it, it's just sometimes my mind gets overwhelmed by the thoughts of "What could be wrong?" My husband is fine. His tests all came back good. I am taking my meds as prescribed. I am being healthy. Probably healthier than I've been in a long while. I've dropped 10 pounds in the last couple of months. I am taking my vitamins, folic acid (have been on that since college just for this reason!), and I am not consuming myself with the whole thing. I'm not stressing and worrying every single moment of each day. Yet, I'm still babyless. And though I know folks mean well, some of the things they say just make me want to scream. It's almost as if they think I am sabotaging myself by wanting this to happen. I am tired of hearing, "You're trying too hard" or "When you stop thinking about it, it will happen." How do I not try so hard? I have to try on certain days and I have to think about it occasionally.
Oh, what a post, huh? I just realized that I hadn't posted in awhile and I thought to myself, "What is there to post about this morning?" and this is what developed. Please don't think I am grumbling, being mean towards folks who haven't had a hard time, or those who mean well with their thoughts. I'm not. I love each of you and each of those who don't read this but fit the "comment" category. I am just saying what's on my heart.
With that said, I am so glad that I can take this burden to Jesus and lay it at His feet because I don't know what I would do if I couldn't. Talk about heart ache, that would be heart ache.
So let me end with a prayer. That would be fitting. I'm always asking for God's guidance and grace.
Dear Father,
Please Lord grant me the grace that I need to continue on this path. I want to make it to the end of this experience and be able to say that I handled it in a way that is uplifting toward you. Please Jesus, when You feel that it is the right time, please send us a child. Let he/she be devoted to You in the womb and I pray that this child will serve You all the days of his/her life. I pray also that until I meet this child or even know of his/her existence, that You will let he/she enjoy getting to know those that I love so much that are already there with You. I know there's no proof that that can happen but I'm not living by proof anyway. I am living by faith. I have faith that Danielle, Mamaw & Papaw Brittain, Papaw Brock, Shauna, Uncle Bruce, Edie, Sister Helen, etc. can inspire this child even now. Maybe they are even molding it for me as we speak. How precious You are Lord to let those thoughts comfort me! Jesus, go before me and just prepare the way. I thank You for loving me even though I never, ever show You enough love as hard as I try. I praise You for the joy that I have in my heart even through the tough times and I thank You for all the healing and health that You have provided me and those that I hold so dear to my heart. I thank You most importantly for my salvation and Your saving grace that I know those that I am Praying the hardest for, will accept when the time is right. Continue to lead us on and help us through this situation. Help us to never let this time or any time be in vain. Mold and shape our hearts into what they should be. Help us to continue to grow.
In Great Love and Thanks,
Amen
(picture from http://www.easybabyhandprintcrafts.com/babyhandprinttshirt.html)
Some of you may know that my husband has been going through a lot physically lately. He had a major episode with what we think was his gall bladder and he was diagnosed again with H. pylori. After all this happened, he had a dental procedure go wrong and ended up with severe burns on his upper and lower lips. It has been a crazy 2008 just 2 months in!
To add to the drama, Michael was involved in a car accident today. As most of you know, Michael is a sales and leasing consultant at Legend Suzuki in Corbin, Ky (if you ever need anything let me know! sorry had to put that plug in there!) Today, he had a young guy and girl that wanted to test drive a 2007 Cobalt. So, he followed protocol and then proceeded to get in the car and leave. After he got in, something kept coming to his mind about his seatbelt. He said that when you are in and out of cars all day, sometimes you just don't bother to connect your seatbelt. But today was different. For some reason (GOD), he was panicking because he couldn't get his seatbelt to fasten. He kept trying and trying as they neared the roadway in front of the dealership. The more he tried, the more he stressed about getting it in. Finally, he heard a click and about 10 seconds later they were T-boned by a Suburban. The hit was mainly in his door and he walked out shaken up and sore but ok. What a blessing from God! The folks that were with him on this test drive were ok as well and only had a minor injury.
We were driving home tonight from the gas station and he said, "Alesha, I would have went through that windshield and hit the metal between the windshield and the door just like Danielle did." I just teared up. It's hard to know that my best friend moved into Heaven's realm after this tragedy and to hear it brought up and in relation to it happening again with my husband is extremely difficult. How awesome is our God that He would keep the very thing that took my best friend's life from taking that of my husband's? So many more memories are still hanging in the balance and I want to see them come to pass. Wow! Words cannot describe! So, I just want to shout it for the whole world to hear........
THANK YOU JESUS FOR YOUR BLESSINGS OF PROTECTION UPON MY PRECIOUS HUSBAND AND MY PRECIOUS FAMILY AND FRIENDS!
This just may make you reach out and hug your hubby or loved one a little tighter. I know I will.
My friend Ann, from VBS way back in high school, tagged me for this little game quite awhile back and I am just now getting around to it. Here are the rules...
The Rules:
I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
1. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
2. People who are tagged need to write their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (**if you’re a non-blogger, you can email them!)
3. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people (don't think I know 8 other blogs) to get tagged and list their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
So, Random Facts / Habits:
1) I teach 5th and 6th grade math... when I began teaching I was asked what I didn't want to teach and I replied Math.... guess what.... I've taught 4 different grade levels of it since! haha
2) My hubby and I were engaged twice before we were married! What can I say... I struggle with decisions haha
3) My family (momma, dad, bro, hubby) are my whole heart and I love being with them. And I miss my best friend Danielle!
4) I love bright colored cars... my last one was yellow and my current is orange!
5) I loved red hair so much that I finally changed my hair to red about a year ago.
6) I have serious baby fever and I love spending time with my sis Jess and her lil man Gavy!
7) I am a computer geek hehe I love technology and wonder what I did before it!
8) I love driving and praising God... just listening to music and letting Jesus bottle my tears!
I TAG...
1) Kristi
2) Emily (A blog friend of Kristi's that I don't really know but love reading her posts!)
3) Brooke
4) Jessica
5) Monica
6) Tina
7) Billy
8) Tara
Ps. If you guys don't have a blogger blog, you can always post through your myspace blog or through email! Just make sure to link me or email it to me so I can read your answers!
Hello All....
Just wanted to make you aware of the new music feature that I have added to this blog and my 2 supplemental blogs. (By the way... I encourage all of you to scroll down the side bar and visit my 2 supplemental blogs. I know they will encourage and bless you!) 99.9% of this music is Christian because that's what I listen to. I did put in a country song called "I Lost It" by Kenny Chesney because parts of it reminded me of Michael and I. I also added "Big Girls Don't Cry" song by Fergie. I don't really even listen to this music but I have heard it quite a few times and I really like the vocals. Also, I know it isn't the same song but it reminds me of the old version of "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons.
Like I Said the majority of the music below is my favorite Christian music. You will hear some short clips from Brian Littrell, previous member of the Backstreet Boys. He has an awesome CD that I love. One song talks about Jesus as a child and is amazing!
I also have included Third Day which is the very first Christian group that I ever listened to. Actually the Third Day songs are pretty meaningful to me because I use to sing some of them in church as I incorporated them into our Easter Musical.
There's a Mercy Me song entitled Homesick in the mix also. It was a big comfort to me when I lost my best friend Danielle.
Casting Crowns songs are also included. I have to say, they have some pretty amazing music. It's hard to listen to more honest lyrics.
Lastly, I have included some Selah songs. "Wonderful, Merciful Savior" played during the unity candle ceremony in my wedding. Our theme for the wedding was Jesus! What a perfect song! I encourage you to check this group out because they have amazing songs and vocals!
Let me know what you think about the songs playing below!
WE LOVE AND MISS YOU AUNT EDIE!
My Parents and Lil Bro........ these folks mean the world to me. They are my life!
My Precious, God Sent Husband..... He is my soul mate. I honestly mean that. We were made just for each other! 
My Beloved Goodlett Family..... God couldn't have blessed me with a better set of in laws and extended family!
MOST IMPORTANTLY...... MY SAVIOR! LOOK AT THE ABOVE PICTURE OF THE SEA OF GALILEE AND TELL ME HE IS NOT AMAZING! GOD HAS BEEN THERE FOR ME WHEN NO ONE ELSE COULD. HE HAS BLESSED ME THROUGHOUT MY ENTIRE LIFE AND I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE BLESSINGS HE HAS BESTOWED UPON ME! DO YOU KNOW JESUS? IF YOU DON'T, I PRAY THAT YOU WILL! 
THERE'S SOME BEAUTIFUL WORDS FROM A GRIEVING MOTHER THAT TOTALLY RELIES ON GOD THERE. HER AUNT IS PRETTY AMAZING, TOO. CHECK OUT TODAY'S ENTRY FROM HER MOTHER. IT SO REMINDED ME OF WHAT MY BEST FRIEND DANIELLE'S MOTHER VERNA MUST FEEL DAILY. GOD BLESS HER HEART! SHE IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF JESUS TO ME. 
(I OPENED WITH THIS LETTER BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE SOMEONE READING RIGHT NOW JUST MAY WANT TO PRAY THIS PRAYER! GOD HAS PUT THAT ON MY HEART, SO FROM HIS HEART TO MY HEART TO YOUR HEART.... HERE IS THE SINNER'S PRAYER (DON'T WORRY, THERE ARE MANY VARIATIONS OF IT, THE IMPORTANT PART IS THAT IT CONTAINS THE ABC'S, YOU'LL SEE THAT DOWN IN THIS ENTRY!) IF YOU DO PRAY THIS PRAYER, PLEASE LET SOMEONE KNOW, PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I WANT TO REJOICE WITH YOU!
I sit here tonight in the almost early morning hours and I weep. I weep because I am so overwhelmed right now and so brokenhearted that I can barely see the words I type. It is 1 year later and I think I'm crying as hard now as I did then. The sun has arisen and set for 365 days just the same as if nothing changed. To the majority of the world, nothing has. To those in my world, it could never be the same.
I remember not getting my usual "talk time" on the way to work and wondering if she was running late. I remember my mother walking into my classroom to break the news to me knowing how I was going to react. I remember her saying that they weren't sure but that someone had called the school and said that she was gone. I can see the concern on my 4th graders faces as I held my head and dialed her home number on my cell phone while standing in the front of my classroom. I can hear her sister's screaming even now as she told me that it was true.
Oh, if I let myself, I can feel the nausea as I held my head and kept saying "Oh God, help us, please Lord" in the hallway and I can see Thomasa's face as I explained to her what had happened. Images of us walking back and forth in that hallway praying aloud for help are so fresh in my mind. I remember the stares and the "I'm sorry" remarks and the trip to her house to be with her family in Thomasa's husband's little red truck with her and my mom.
I remember Verna's face. I remember her sense of confusion, as her mind attempted to function normally and then was reminded that this had happened to her baby girl. I remember making the plans, trying to be strong.
I am reminded of the literal pain that I felt looking down on my best friend, for once, being still. She was never still. She was never quiet. I remember speaking about her and looking out at the thousands of people praying for God's guidance to see me through. I remember telling her in my heart, "I'm doing this to honor you for who you are! I want people to know just how great you are!" I can see the graveside and all those with hurt in their hearts wiping tears and wrapping their coats tighter around them to shield the bitter cold.
It hurts my heart to go back. But, it is good to go back. In all that I've reminisced about above, I can feel pain, however, it's a different pain because it was and still is comforted by my, Danielle's, and I pray Your, Heavenly Father. I look back at 12:03 A.M. and I say
"Thank You Lord for what you've brought us through. Thank you for the kindness by so many and the thoughtful hearts that have went the extra mile to help us feel comforted. Thank you Jesus for the love of each of us that love her, coming together to help each other. Thank you for my closer relationship with Verna and Hannah and Derek. Thank you for the memories that I have in my heart with Miss Danielle that I will forever cherish and for letting me have her there at my wedding before calling her home. Thank you from the depths of my soul, most importantly, for holding me in your arms through this past year and all the ups and downs that have came along with it. I praise you in the midst of this storm. You are a good God and you are a constant God. You know exactly what you are doing and we trust your guidance. You have held us when our bodies are weak with grief and you have dried our eyes and lead us on when we have cried a river. Oh, praise be to your precious name Jesus for all that you have been, are now, and ALWAYS will be!"
I am reminded of the verse I used in Danielle's Celebration of Life that I had found marked in the book she had been reading about learning to love again.
Philippians 3:13-14 (King James Version) Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
That's exactly what we must do friends. We have to keep pressing toward Jesus. We grieve, we ache, we hurt, but that's only for ourselves. We know she is OK. We know that she's better than ok. She's WONDERFUL right now. She is elated at the feet of Jesus. We have to focus on our race now, she has finished hers and is enjoying that prize. We must continue on in her footsteps, those that resemble Jesus' so much as He shined in everything she did, and we must keep pushing as hard as we can to finish our race.
I wanted to share with you two more things. The first thing is the thoughts that I shared at Danielle's Celebration of Life last year and then the lyrics of a song that has really touched my heart in this situation. I hope these touch your soul and help you to remember Danielle and the light that she let shine brightly every moment of every day to honor Jesus.
"In Honor of Danielle"
Written Dec. 1, 2005
"Daniel" aka Danielle IS my best friend. I had prayed for God to send me a good Christian friend for so long and He finally did that. She and I hit it off so well. She was the one person in my life that I could call up and she'd be ready to go in no time at all. She loved to be on the go and to get into things, but never things that would hurt her witness. She knew she had to uphold her light for all to see and she tried her best to do that. I know that she succeeded in that. Danielle is beautiful and she doesn't even realize it. She's the kind of girl you'd think would be stuck on herself, but she has never been. She always knew the trends and the latest styles. Always looked like she'd stepped out of a fashion magazine. With that said, she was also the girl that could be one of the guys. She loved hanging out and just being country. The whiny country songs were just her cup of tea. Danielle was definitely one of a kind.
In the past 6 months she and I had become extremely close and I told her all the time that I was so blessed that God sent her to me. She was my partner in Sunday School, in Prayer, and in good and bad times. She celebrated my last few days of single life and my first day of married life. She made an extra effort to make sure that I felt special during the whole thing and I couldn't wait to return the favor. She had began a book that she had gotten while making a hospital Prayer visit and she could not stop talking about it. As I flipped through it and cried I noticed a verse that she had underlined: " Brethren, I could not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14)" This was what she lived by. She made each day count by committing it to God. She Prayed the whole 2 hours to and from work and she was constantly thinking of who she could inspire. She would turn her back on her past, no matter how hard, and focus on improving those situations. And most importantly, she pressed on, making each day take her a little closer to Jesus.
On November 1st of this year, my mom Marsha and I sent her flowers to celebrate her birthday. On November 30th of this month, she woke up in Jesus' arms. The past 30 days have been packed with non stop appointments for her. But she has reached her last appointment, and this time she was on time. And as bad as it hurts me to tell her goodbye, I know that she's having the time of her life worshipping at Jesus' feet.
Danielle, I love you and I'll always consider you my best friend. You'll be with me in spirit. And I'm a better person because you loved me.
In my grief tonight while traveling home from church I found comfort in a song by Third Day entitled, "Cry Out to Jesus." I wanted to post the lyrics for you to read as an encouragement to your hearts on this bittersweet day. Bitter because we grieve, yet sweet because we know that Danielle has already had a whole year with Jesus and is happier than she could ever be on this earth. And I truly believe that it won't be long until we join her with Jesus!
Cry Out To Jesus
Words by Mac Powell / Music by Third Day
To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye
And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus
For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough
For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus
When your lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
To the widow who struggles with being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus
(c) 2005 Consuming Fire Music / ASCAP. All rights administered by EMICMG Publishing. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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