Blessings and Rainbows...

Blessings.

I love them. I feel honored to have so many in my life and feel them constantly surrounding me.

Last week, as I struggled missing my Maddie Grace, I received more. I felt more. I read more.

I'm very thankful that on the days when I need them God always provides.

What is a blessing?

1. the act or words of a person who blesses.

2. a special favor, mercy, or benefit:

3. a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness..

4. the invoking of God's favor upon a person:

5. praise; devotion; worship.

Lately in my life, I've experienced a little bit of all of these.

I opened my inbox last week and read the sweetest note from a friend who I met while attending Bible college. This is what she share..

"Hi sweet friend! I just wanted you to know I shared your sweet Maddie with my ladies today at our Ladies Conference! The morning session was about the desert & I had the privilege of speaking on it.. As I was putting the finishing touches on my outline yesterday, God told me to use your very first blog entry as I talked about when we are allowed to ask Him why...


I then continued to remind them to remember God is still the same God who is good in the good times & remembering that helps us see Him working in the midst of our rough times.

So I read your later post on Jan 3rd of this year as you reflected on your year... I loved how the words you wrote were just what God wanted me to say & you said it even more beautifully.. I also got to show them pics of your sweet Maddie & how she is changing lives! Then I showed them your handsome Jonah "hope."

I thought you would enjoy knowing... That God is still using you & Maddie to minister. Thank you for your brokenness & humbled obedient heart.. Thank you for using your gift of writing & encouragement.. God used You today & Maddie to soften the hearts of those ladies living in the wilderness in their life & they allowed Him to RAIN down his presence in their situations!

Love you & continually encouraged by you & praying for you as you continue to " hope" in Him!!
Much love & hugs!" ~Chrissy

I don't think my sweet friend Chrissy will ever know just what her message meant to me.

Especially during a time when I miss sweet Maddie Grace so much.


To know that my sweet girl is still being spoken of, even 15 months later just blesses my heart.

Her story of God's grace is still being talked of and shared. I just love how Maddie's Ministry keeps on going and making an impact in this world.

It just blesses my heart so much. I'm just so thankful that her little life is touching others and making an impact in this world. I'm thankful I have been able to be a small part of that. It encourages me.

Day after day, God leads me along and continues to teach and show me things...

As I sat in Church yesterday morning, I listened to my Pastor preach a wonderful message on Abraham. And guess what he talked about?

Blessings. =)

He spoke of how Abraham's blessings were falling out onto the lives of those around him.

He charged us with a question.... "What kind of an impact are you making?"

Abraham made a huge impact in the lives of others and his blessings were falling out to those around him.

As my Pastor preached, I thought about what kind of impact I'm making, and my children are making. I want to say I made an impact in this world. A good one. For we all make some sort of an impact.

I know my daughter is making an impact with her little life. My prayer is that I can make one too.

So many people are and have made an impact in my life. Every week I receive sweet notes and messages of encouragement. So many are being used as an encourager in my life. I want to do the same in the lives of others. I want to live in a way that others see Christ in me. I want to be an uplifter, an encourager. I want others to say that I am doing the best I can for the Lord. Sure I'll fail and make mistakes along the way, but I've got to keep trying and pushing forward for the cause of Christ. It's what I was put here to do. I know that.

So as I pondered on these things, I recieved another sweet blessing this week.

I also received another wonderful message this week from my sweet friend Robyn. She shared...

"Your profile picture makes me smile. Your smile is just the best. :) Praise the Lord for rainbows!

I just wanted to tell you that I saw someone say that someone at their work told them to "move on" after the loss of her daughter. It had only been three months. I guess this person asked the woman why she had "shrines" for her daughter. It broke my heart. I wrote to her and told her that I don't know her, but I have been grieving with a friend who lost her daughter over a year ago and even though she has a sweet rainbow baby to fill her arms, that space in her heart will never be filled.

Natalie, the Lord isn't just using you for people you know, He's using you THROUGH people. The woman was someone that posted on a page of a woman that I don't even know, but she's a birth advocate and birth photographer. I was able to encourage her to grieve the way she needed to because I know you and know you need time to grieve because of the way you share your heart. And I don't know why I didn't think of it until now, but I'm going to track down that post and share your blog with her!"

I love you, Natalie and I love seeing the Lord work in your life. It gives me so much courage." Robyn

I just love her and her continued encouragement and blessings on my life. I don't want to let her, or anyone else down. People are hurting. People are going through pain. They need HOPE! If I can give them a way to have that, I want to. I want everyone to know of God's grace. I want them to know that during the darkest moments in our lives, He's there waiting to hold us, help us up. Help us move forward. He loves us.

I just love what Robyn said.... Praise the Lord for Rainbows!!!

I truly do! I'm so thankful God is providing them in my life...

Life is like a rainbow, you need both the sunshine and the rain to make the colors appear. =)

It seems like God just keeps sending more and more rainbows our way and we are enjoying the beauty of them. I want everyone to experience the joy of that. Seeing the beauty in something after the most devastating time in life. Through the hardest storm you have ever walked through. It's an amazing feeling to lift your head and see. We all are hurting for some reason, aren't we?

I love that! So true... I'm just gonna keep watching for the rainbows God is revealing through our storm....  Continuing to praise Him through it all!

Tomorrow, Rick and I are taking a huge step forward into our future for us and our family.

I can't wait to blog about how the Lord has opened doors for our family in such an amazing way. Doors that we haven't even been knocking at. He is doing so much in our lives.

We are moving forward and growing together as a family.

God is providing us with more blessings and more rainbows than we could have ever imagined.

I just know it's all because of Maddie and our faithfulness to Him during the hardest time of our lives.

God truly does take care for His own.

We are trying our best to make an impact., like Abraham. And God's blessings are falling out onto our lives. And I'm hoping, we can share them with others.

I can't wait to share our wonderful news and the story behind it.

Stay tuned...  =)

May many blessings and rainbows come your way this week!

Much Love,
Natalie