Great Is Thy Faithfulness...While Living in the Moment

This past week has been hard on Jeff and I. I think we both were surprised with how sad we have felt. When you consider that this Saturday was the 30 day mark of Maudie being checked into the hospital for a small case of pneumonia, you begin to realize what a whirlwind this has been for us. And it has only been a week since her funeral. It's only natural that we, the ones left behind would feel a little lost and confused.

If there is one thing I have learned from this past month; God is faithful to fulfill all His promises in due time. I guess that is one reason I broke down on Sunday while singing "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." (Unfortunately I was on stage) Up to this point, I hadn't really cried or felt sad for loosing Maudie. This whole time instead of feeling sad, I felt joy. Joy because Jeff and I were able to talk to her about Jesus and experience the transforming power of the Holy Spirit firsthand in her life.

Yes we are sad. Yes we are hurting and rightly so. We lost our grandmother after all.

Yesterday after church, Jeff and I sat in the car and talked about the next phase of our journey. For months now I have felt nothing but peace for living in the moment. Jeff hasn't really believed that I am able to be joyful in the waiting, he has been waiting for the other shoe to drop. I don't blame him because getting to this point has been filled with gut retching tears. Every time I try to explain to him that month after month I am okay, has left him wondering if what I say is true. I feel like our conversation yesterday finally made him realize that I am indeed okay with the waiting. I know that God's timing is perfect and I know that if we were to have the desires of our heart before now, we may not have been as invested in Maudie and her salvation. I praise God for knowing what is best and giving us one of the greatest memories of our life.

And so, after much discussion and prayer, Jeff is on board with being joyful in the waiting too. He promises that he will not sit and watch me like a hawk waiting for the other shoe to drop. We are going to enjoy this summer and simply live in the moment. We look forward to God blessing us in the future, but for now, at least for the next 60 days, we are just going to enjoy the time with the two of us.

Because like we sang yesterday, "All I have needed thy hand have provided. Great is thy faithfulness, O Lord to me!"

Thank you for praying for us through our journey!

Yikes!

For the last two weeks I have been looking at the Deer Run website looking for pictures of Hayley Bailey. When we went to visit her on Sunday she pulled me aside and was telling me about the little boy she wanted to catch for Sadie Hawkins day. She said, "Aunt Susan, I wanted to give him a hug the other night but chickened out." In my mind I was thinking "YOU'RE ONLY 10!" But soon realized I was the same way when I was her age so I better just go with it and not freak out. Instead I told her I was proud of her for not hugging him first, a boy should ALWAYS make the first move!

So as I am looking through the pictures today and I realized that I may have found her Sadie's date. Do you see her in the pink? Do you see her hand resting on his shoulder?

OH MY GOODNESS!

I think my niece has her first Deer Run crush!

Is that her hand or the boy next to him? I am just wanting to make sure- I would hope that chick-a-dee would have listened to me Sunday. LOL!

Edited to add: After much debate between her Aunt Susan and Uncle Jeff we have declared the hand to NOT be hers. But you can gurantee that I will take this picture and find out who her Sadie's Date was this year.

And mom, did you have to mention that story....

BIG.DEEP.BREATH.

Today I am back to catching up on life, remember this post well as you can our apartment is much worse.

Yesterday we left it all undone and went to CDR to visit our favorite little 2nd session camper.Fellow Deer Runners fully understand the blessing that a visit to camp was for us yesterday. I feel like God used that day for both Jeff and I to be able to take one big deep breath and leave our troubles behind. I am fully okay with not having my house in perfect order, it's times like this that I thank God that I able to offer myself a bit of grace.

Thanks to everyone who took time out to give us your favorite verse please feel free to keep them coming. My favorite verse given to me by a friend on the phone last week is Galatians 6:2,

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."

I am closing with a video that has ministered to me this past week. I pray it blesses you too. Maudie is defiantly in better hands now.




I am off to take a BIG.DEEP.BREATH.

May you have a blessed week!

30 Days Later...

I am amazed that from the time that Maudie became our neighbor to her death today it has only been 30 days.

Three weeks ago she went into the hospital room where she later died with a bad case of pneumonia. Two weeks ago, we prayed with Maudie for her to be saved and learned that she had stage 4 lung cancer. One week ago, we were talking with the doctors about moving her to a rehab facility. And today she is dancing with the angels and swaying to the music with Pop.

What I learned from the past 30 days:
1. Prayer is a powerful tool
2. Trust your gut instincts when the Lord lays people on your heart to minister to.
3. When you get the feeling something big is about to take place get ready because it's true.
4. Building a relationship with a non-believer is one of the best ways to open the doors to talk about Jesus.
5. Cherish every moment with loved ones because you never know when it will be the last.

Moving forward...

I have a favor to ask of you. I want to put a book together for the Cherry Family and would like your help.

What is a scripture you cling to in times of mourning? What brings you comfort when you are facing a tough season in your life?

I am leaving this post up for a few days since we will obviously be busy. So please, please, please take a minute to give us a verse. I would love to knock there socks off with wonderful verses to carry them through this rough season.

In fact I will be the first to leave one. in the comments.

(Lurkers can comment too-ain't no shame in admitting you are out there!)

Maudie Is Home

Maudie has gone to be with Lord. It was a sweet moment in all of our lives, I will tell you more later. I just wanted to let you know so that you all could be in prayer for us. God has been good to us all during this time.

Thank you for praying us through this time.

Please keep jeff in your prayers, he is taking this very hard. We became very close to his grandmother during the past two years. Please pray that I would be open to letting him mourn as he needs to. Let's just say I like people around me and he, well, not so much. :)

Cardboard Testimony

Please watch the video first before reading on.

God has transformed Jeff's grandmother's life in the last two weeks. I can see God's love radiate through her even in her final days. All her life, she fought God. All her life, she chose not to follow His way. But last night after I sang "Jesus Loves Me" she said, "I wasted so many years."

What will your cardboard testimony be? When will you let God transfomr your life from the inside out? Don't waste your life chasing after those things that won't fill you. Don't wait until you are on your death bed to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. If He is speaking listen. If He is calling you, come.

Oh and the little boy with special needs shown on the video is Brandy (Jeff's cousin) college roommate's little boy. We have prayed for Thomas for almost 3 years, he wasn't supposed to live past the age of two. God had other plans for that little boy. Proof that prayer works and that we should never give up hope!

No Break-God has other plans

Jeff and I received a call today telling us to get to the hospital to say our final goodbyes to his grandmother.

We both were floored by this news since yesterday she was just fine. We were able to have a very lengthy conversation about God's love and faithfulness. We reminded Maudie that God give us strength step by step and does not expect us to walk through life on our own. Jeff prayed with her before we left and his prayer was absolutely beautiful. He left me speechless.

As we headed to the hospital, I called two of my sweet friends to give me the pep talk I needed. Thank you friends! When we pulled into the parking lot, Jeff grabs my hand and begins to pray for whatever lies ahead. Again I was floored. Jeff has defiantly become a mighty prayer warrior over the past year in our time of waiting.

And today we sat around and waited, talked to a few doctors, fed her ice chips, prayed with her, prayed for family members and passed out Kleenexes (I carry tissues at all times during moments like this) Later while the family talked things over with the doctor, I sat with Maudie and talked to her about Heaven. I am so very encouraged by her belief in God. I am sure in recent weeks I will share a few of our conversations but for now I want to cherish them myself. Tie them up with a ribbon around my heart and hold on to them tightly for a bit. God has been faithful to answer my prayers and God has been faithful to provide me with words, scripture and strength for that moment. God is faithful to meet us in our present state-praise God for that!!!

I will keep you all posted since blogging is how are sweet family stays connected.

Continue to pray, we will need it.

Oh and Maudie asked me to sing at her funeral tonight, a task I am honored to do. Tonight I sang to her her favorite bible song (as she calls them), Jesus Loves Me. Is that not the best bible song ever written? And I sang to her my favorite bible song, It Is Well with My Soul. We cried through both but praise God I got to sing those two songs seeing the sweet expression on her face while doing so.

God is good. So very, very good.

pray for the young family...maudie is not long for this world...

Taking A Break To Get Back on Track

I wanted to show you our apartment in it's truest form as a means to give you all hope. It is okay to fall off the cleaning wagon from time to time. All work with no play is a boring way to live.

I am going to take a time out from the blog so I can get back on track.

Just looking at the mess leaves me feeling a bit overwhelmed because I don't know what I should do first but I choose not to freak out.
Instead I made a list of what I wanted to accomplish, I will turn up my happy music, light a candle and set my timer so that I stay on task and do what I can in the time set aside. Step by step this mess will become a place again. And when I cross of a chore on my to do list, I will take a moment to do a happy jig since no housecleaning is complete without dancing a jig or two.

I will see you on the flip side.

He Ain't Gonna Win Don't Forget the Lyrics

Maybe you have heard the Ashlee Simpson song titled L.O.V.E. I love this song because it's just plain fun.

It must be a catchy tune because I just caught Jeff singing it.

But he was singing his version and not Ashlee's.

Instead of singing L-O, L-O, L-O, L-O V-E Jeff sings Hell-o, Hell-O, Hell-O, Hello-O Beep, Beep

Here is the video so that you can hear the real version. Jeff thinks his version is better, what do you think?

I Applaude You!

Over the last two days I have had a few conversations with young mothers who are worn out and feeling a bit overwhelmed.

If that is you, then please read on.

I wanted to let you all know that I am very, very proud of you. And even when you feel like you are failing miserably in the parenting department, you aren't. I promise! Because at the end of the day, you are able to walk back into the room and see that sweet baby face sleeping ever so gently and all the love comes rushing back. The love you feel in that brief moment is just enough to get you through one more day with you sweet tod.

I am studying the Israelites time in the desert this summer and today I read about God providing them with manna by day and quail by night. God tells them that He will give them just enough for that day and I believe the same can be true for you too. God will give you enough strength to make it through today. Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us that God's mercies are new every morning. Philippians 4:13 tells us that we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.

Sweet friends, be encouraged today because the Lord is with you. The Lord delights in every detail of your life. (Psalms 37: 23) So commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you. (Psalms 37: 7-8, I paraphrased)

Don't give up sweet friends. You can do this-cherish these moments with your young, stubborn, hyperactive, need to discipline every five minutes child-because one day they will grow up and be older versions of what they are today (stubborn, hyperactive, need to discipline every five minutes).

I love you all and am praying for each and everyone of you today.
You Can Do IT!!!!!!

God bless your journey!
Susan

Sometimes I Get Some Strange Calls...

like today, I get a call from one of my dealers who would like to return his chairs because they smell like vomit.

Yes vomit.

I swear I have never heard that one before today.

I am now in the process of ordering a few replacement chairs to send out ASAP.

I don't think I want to know what goes on at our factory! :)

I Scared the UPS Guy!

First off, Melissa rocked the house last night on Nashville Star. She was the best hands down. She received a standing O from the judges and Jeff and Susan on the other side of the screen. If she doesn't win, I will never watch this show again. In fact, the only reason I am watching this show is because of her, I am not a Nashville Star follower. I guarantee you that I will be if Melissa gets her big break. Did you know that she tried out for AI and got booted in Hollywood? BOO! HISS! I almost gave up AI after that...I said ALMOST! So when she talks about this being the last chance for a big break, it all stems from the age rules that shows like AI enforce and the only reason that she was able to try out was because that was the year that they raised the age limit. That dear friends was the year Taylor Hicks won. Taylor Hicks, y'all!

So VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!

Funny story, yesterday I scared the UPS guy.

How?

Let's just say I was looking a little rough yesterday. I couldn't find my new glasses, so I was wearing my old black ones that are bent in the middle and make my nose look three times bigger than normal. I had yesterdays make up smudged under the eye since I had yet to wash my face,at 2 in the afternoon, yes a perk to working at home. My hair, which wasn't combed was on the top of my head, in a bun all disheveled. When I heard the knock on the door and the guy calls out "UPS", I hadn't yet looked in the mirror to know what I looked like. I knew it wasn't the usual UPS girl because she would have knocked and yelled out "See you later!" while leaving the box at the front door. It's a system that works well for us (she being in a hurry to meet her daily quota and I am usually on the phone with a client) and I don't mind it in the least.

But yesterday, when I heard the knock, I threw all caution to the wind and opened the door...without looking at my appearance. UPS guy was fiddling with his electronic tracker when I opened the door.

UPS guy looks up and says, "Whoa!" and steps back a bit, like he is afraid. I kid you not-cross my heart and all the other words that go with it-I am not lying. He quickly handed me the package without meeting me in the eye and ran for his truck. Again-no lie.

Afterwards, I looked in the mirror and scared myself. And since Jeff is working days this week, I made a point to find out when he was getting off work so I could dress in time for him to get home. I explained to Jeff that the reason I need to know was because the love of his life just scared Mr. UPS and didn't want to do the same to him.

He thanked me later since he too has seen the rough side of me!

Another Friend on TV

I received an email from one of my old friends at Jeff and my old church. One of the girls from the praise team is on Nashville Star and well...she ROCKS.

So everyone tune in and keep an eye on Melissa Lawson. All the votes count so please help a friend out.

God Met Us in the Hosptial Room Today

Please look at the picture below to see your new sister in Christ.

I will tell you the full story soon but my head is swimming with the events of today.

God showed up in a mighty way and for that we are thankful!

Thank you all for your prayers!

What a joy it is for Jeff and I to move ahead with the diagnosis knowing that Maudie believes that through Jesus she is saved and has forgiveness for her sins. No matter what happens now we can rest in the assurance that Maudie has been saved!

Praise you Lord!

The Diagnosis Is In

I thought I would post a picture from Maudie's birthday dinner two years ago, I like to see the people I am praying for. I guess I am a visual pray-er. :)

The diagnosis is not good. Stage 4 lung cancer, possible stomach cancer (they are running a test on that as we speak).

Please continue to keep the Cherry and Young family in your prayers, rough road ahead.

When Jeff called my cell to tell me to come home in order to head to the hospital "Miracle of the Moment" by Steven Curtis Chapman was playing in the background. When I hung up it was at the chorus,"...So breathe it in, breathe it out. Listen to your heartbeat-there's a wonder in the hear and now."

(Praise Team, I did some spritual breathing or whatever it was Mike was telling us today!)

Not sure what the coming days, weeks and months have for us but I am going to take it step by step. God will show the way.

Thank you for your continued prayers.

Pray for:

• strength for all the family, that I call the "Cherry Clan"
• wisdom and unity for the 3 sisters who are making these decisions.
• open doors to minister to all family who are not believers.

To God be glorified, great things He hath done!

Love you all, my sweet peeps!

5 Shows I Watch on Cable TV

So I was going to be real cute and put up this picture of a vintage television screen to illustrate my five favorite television shows.. I googled one, clicked on the link and OH MY EYES! Pure yuckiness, I don't want to type the real world because all the freaks and geeks will come out of the woodwork when they google that word later tonight. I mean I googled "VINTAGE TELEVISION" and what I got was very, very disgusting. Blach!!! So no cute picture, I am too afraid to try again.

Today a faithful lurker---I mean reader is going over to the darkside and getting cable today. I thought it would be fun to list my 5 favorite television shows on cable so that she can start off right. Feel free to share your favorite too!

Ace of Cakes- Baker Duff does some of the most creative cakes. They are very fun to watch.
(A-this is the show that we say you look and act like the receptionist)

Dress My Nest I love decorating shows but I like Thom's approach to finding the client's individual style. If you haven't ever watched it, you should. It is very inspiring to the home decorator in me.

Jon and Kate Plus Eight- the kids are cute and the parents are very real with each other. And for your viewing pleasure I will post my all time favorite clip of little Aaden, the funny part is about 3 minutes in.




Divine Design - I know another design show but it truly is one of my favorties

Project Runway, Clean House, Flipping Out,

Okay so I couldn't limit it to 5...sue me!

Now please tell me what are you favorite shows on cable television?

The Summer Bible Study

First, thank you for praying for Maudie's health. No news yet but I will let you know as soon as we hear. I am so thankful for the peace that I feel right now in regards to Maudie. A few of Jeff's family members have relayed conversations that have taken place with her to let us know that she is on the right track. Praise God for that little insight into her heart.

Moving on for a minute...

When I was 22 years old, I did my first ever Beth Moore study. I did this by myself as a way to help me get back on track with God. At this point in my life, I was as far away from God as I have ever been. Yet, you wouldn't know it because I put on a good face when I was around many of you. But trust me, I was living far away from God. God used this Bible study to pursue me like He has never done before. Although by week 6, I quit doing the study because my guilt got the best of me. During this time in my life, God brought two families that loved me, supported me and lovingly encouraged me let go of people and situations that were keeping me from fully loving God. I praise the Lord for bringing these people alongside me in my time of need. They truly helped me grow into the woman that I am today




Now eight years later, I am redoing the new and improved study with my summer bible study friends. My life today is completely different than it was eight years ago-to God be the glory! Yesterday, the Bible Study Chicks started this study and later that day I had lunch with a 22 year old friend whose life is a mirror image of mine back in the day. I pray that my words were able to touch her somehow even though I know that she may have to walk this journey, just like I did, in order for God to truly transform her.

All I have to say is I am thankful that God has brought me out of that place. I am thankful for God healing me from the inside out. I am thankful that even when I gave up on myself, thinking I had messed up too much to ever be forgiven that God proved to me that my thinking was totally wrong. God was faithful and for that I am thankful!

Prayer Request Needed!

I have been telling Jeff lately that something big is coming, that we need to get prepared for what is about to come next. I don't know if I have mentioned this in blog land, I know I have told a few of you in person and it is all running together right now. Please forgive my forgetfulness if I sound redundant. I have not been sleeping most nights, around 3-5 a.m I am fully awake with a strong sense of urgency to pray for my family. The top of that list is Jeff's grandmother Maudie.

Two weeks ago, Maudie moved in next door as I am sure I have told you all before. Well not really next door but close enough for us to be at her front door in less than 5 minutes. The past week she has been in the hospital with pneumonia. She has been getting better but hasn't really been able to shake it. This is scary for someone in her eighties.

I received a call today from my sister in law telling me that we needed to pray, that she was calling all prayer warriors to unite. I braced myself because that is what I do when I feel like God is calling me to pray in a mighty way.

Maudie has spots on her lungs that the doctors are concerned could be cancer. We will know more tomorrow but let's pray that the spots are not cancerous. But with or without cancer, let's pray that Maudie be open to hearing the gospel.

So please join me in praying for open heart and cleared lungs.

God will be glorified no matter what through this!

Pray for strength for Jeff and I too and that when God opens a door for us to minister to her that we jump through that door strong and courageously!

Oh and one quick thing, it is not coincidence that one of my morning prayer sessions were spent writing down and memorizing scripture that deal directly with salvation. I spent most of that time highlighting and marking these scriptures. Because you know that verse, that says to be ready in and out of season to present the gospel well I couldn't help but feel like that was a good time to get my bible ready. To me, nothing else matters at this point.

Writer's Block

I have started two posts in the last hour and erased both. I am just not feeling it right now.

Some weeks I find I have many words to get out but that does not seem to be the case this week.

Right now I am enjoying the creative lull; spending time reading a few good books and spending quality time with a few good friends while counting down to the weekend, when I can spend time with J.

I will be back soon when my words start clogging up my brain because I haven't used all of them this week.

Don't cry for me Argentina!

Phew! We Made It!

(Click on the collage to enlarge picture)

It's June 1st which means Birthday month is officially over.



We celebrated a total of 7 birthdays in two weeks. Do you realize how insane that is?



And then you add in an all day Scrapbook event, Mother's Day, CDR 50th reunion, a talent show and a few baby showers it gets to be a bit hectic around here.



Or should I say we got a bit cranky around here?



Let me just be honest for a second....neither Jeff nor myself deal well with non-stop schedules.



Today I had another engagement (Sorry Couz!) and as we were leaving church Jeff says, "You know what would make my day?"



"What's that?"



"A day with just my wife for us to do what we want, when we want without rushing around."



Let me ask you, would you pass up a request like that?



Let me also mention that this is the first Sunday in many, many months without church small group. At this point, we were ready for sometime to ourselves, to do what we love to do.



Anyone want to make a guess as to what we did today? Here is a hint: it is a summer tradition.



Sunday Matinee Movie Y'all.



Today's movie: Iron Man



If you haven't seen it-you must go. We really, really loved it.



The best $8 we ever spent!