Comments on Growing Is Beautiful: When It's Time To Rejoice

@Gr...

2011-12-26T13:57:30.108-08:00

@Grandma Becky: So glad to have you over from Linny's place! And for your prayers for me, this girl you've never met? Just--thank you. God *does* strengthen, stretch, change, and grow us through all the hard days--and really, that is a priceless gift. Thank you, with all my heart, for the well wishes for better days ahead. May you, too, find Him near and all-sufficient in the coming year. Grace to you!

@Eve...

2011-12-26T13:54:37.998-08:00

@Eve Stein: Thank you for sweet words. My mom *is* beautiful--selfless, persistent, patient, forgiving. She is truly a gift to me. And a merry Christmas back to you, new friend! May the year ahead be more full of God than you ever imagined possible. Thank you so much for stopping by!

Courtney, I'm visiting from Linny's blog. ...

2011-12-23T22:31:31.057-08:00

Courtney, I'm visiting from Linny's blog. Your tree skirt is beautiful. I enjoy your photography as well. I don't know what your journey has been as I've not read your blog but I am praying for you in your loss. It's a good thing to remember that God is there for us when we are struggling. He makes us stronger through the trials. Merry Christmas and may life be better for you in the coming new year with God right beside you!

What a BEAUTIFUL tree skirt - and what a beautiful...

2011-12-23T19:10:01.220-08:00

What a BEAUTIFUL tree skirt - and what a beautiful mom she must be to create something so special! I wish you a very merry Christmas and hope that your new year turns out to be very special!

@An...

2011-12-11T07:31:44.552-08:00

@Anonymous: Hi, Cynthia! Thanks for stopping by and leaving kind words here. Yes, you are so very right. This walk with God is really about recognizing our true state--broken, weak, unable--and yet not allowing that to deter us from seeking God wholeheartedly. And for your prayers for strength? Just--thank you. Much grace to you this season as we celebrate Him entering into our brokenness to bring us a healing we never imagined.

Dear Courtney, Yes! It is a "gift to be broke...

2011-12-10T16:30:31.081-08:00

Dear Courtney, Yes! It is a "gift to be broken!"
I am learning that the only way to approach God is in my weakness but also coming boldly before the throne because Jesus made that possible by His sacrifice. I still don't understand it but God's gifts are so GOOD and He WANTS us to keep asking for whatever we need! Praying for His strength to lift you and keep you.Bless you for sharing! Love in Jesus, Cynthia

@Lu...

2011-12-09T15:35:57.246-08:00

@Lucy The Valiant: Thank you--most of all for seeing my heart here in the words I write. May His Grace overwhelm you today and always, wherever you find yourself.

@Al...

2011-12-09T15:32:56.435-08:00

@Alida: Thank you for kind words here in my little corner of the world. And for your blessing? My heart is full. May our God breathe Grace, Hope, and more Joy than ever before into all your days.

@ti...

2011-12-09T15:25:47.226-08:00

@tinuviel: As always, so lovely to find your words here on my blog. I suspect it's no small coincidence that this gift from my mom was in the making before I lost everything and now it's finished before I've found my feet again. God has a way of confronting us with our need for healing in the most unexpected ways.

And thank you for reminding that we all live "in between." And maybe, just maybe, it's a gift to be broken enough to know it? Still working through this, I think.

So much wisdom in your words about "home" and I think I'll be writing more about this soon. Just--thank you for speaking your heart.

May you find Him near today, my Friend.

@An...

2011-12-09T15:19:14.803-08:00

@Anonymous: The hope that my words here are helping other people--this is what gives me courage to keep writing even when it's hard. My mom *is* talented and creative--she just doesn't see it in herself, so we'll just have to keep telling her :o). Thank you for prayers--that's exactly what I need most, to keep opening up to the One Who's always pursing. Merry Christmas to you, too, Friend!

So beautiful... the tree skirt, the words, and mos...

2011-12-09T09:26:55.847-08:00

So beautiful... the tree skirt, the words, and most of all, the heart you express. So very beautiful!

This is absolutely beautiful. Your post, your pho...

2011-12-08T10:04:24.799-08:00

This is absolutely beautiful. Your post, your photos, wow. May God bless you richly this holiday and all throughout the year to come.

Dear, dear Courtney, First off, what a beautiful q...

2011-12-08T09:52:21.510-08:00

Dear, dear Courtney,
First off, what a beautiful quilted skirt and tree above it. My mother worked plenty of times on dresses for me, "not giving up until she found a way" and sewing love into every detail. That's the closest I can come to understanding the value of this gift to you, but all those dresses came before the brokenness, so I know I don't fully appreciate the sting of joy it brings you.

"This life lived in between what's been torn down and what's yet to be built" - yes, that's where we all live, but only the broken ones recognize it. May God grant you peace in the in between.

In that in between place, dear one, it sounds to me as if you do have a home. Even though it's not the home you wanted or used to have, is it possible your mother sewed home as well as love into every stitch?

Amen to chris's beautiful prayer, and may God grant that you would feel yourself at home wherever He plants you. Grace to you in Jesus, friend.

YOu are just too cool!!!!If you only knew how muc...

2011-12-08T09:03:45.300-08:00

YOu are just too cool!!!!If you only knew how much your words help others. You are so courageous. Love all those colors, your mother is so talented and creative. Praying for you to keep opening your heart to God. I love your blog. Merry Christmas!

@ch...

2011-12-08T07:52:07.292-08:00

@chrisOh, I love the past/present analogy you've drawn with my mama's creating of this gift! Because isn't that the way with God, too? Working and reworking all the brokenness of our pasts to bring out His Beauty and Glory in our present? Thank you for this reminder.

And your prayer for Joy Waves to carry me Home to Him? Tears are falling and I am so grateful. He *is* our Joy and He *is* our home. Still figuring out how to really live these truths, but oh, what hope they are breathing into a weary heart.

Thank you for Hope Words and always pointing back to Him. Much grace to you, Friend.

@my...

2011-12-08T07:31:56.284-08:00

@my name is kimberley: Dear Friend, thank you for sweets words and prayers of hope. He *will* prove Himself to be my strength and provider and refuge. I've only to let Him do it--and, oh, sometimes that is the hardest thing! And sitting down for tea with you? How I long for the day. I love you, too, Dear Kimberley.

@An...

2011-12-08T07:21:51.795-08:00

@Anonymous: Thank you, Grandma. Those stockings you made for us all those years ago? They are a precious part of all my Christmases. I am so thankful to have you in my life and to share this love of Christmas. I love you.

hi Courtney, the tree skirt your Mama made for yo...

2011-12-08T01:05:44.556-08:00

hi Courtney,

the tree skirt your Mama made for you is love made visible: i'm so thankful that she turned all those hours of planning, working, replanning, and reworking in the past into such a wonderful present (in both senses).

you bring out very vividly how hard it can be to fight through the ache and grief for joy. thank you for sharing your struggles: as Tinuviel said Allen said to her in another context, it's a real help in praying for someone to have a tangible sense of what they're going through. May God bless you this advent and Christmas with times in which joy is not something to fight for or hang on to, but a wave that gathers you up and carries you to the center of God's love, where you are truly and forever Home...

oh courtney - i'm sitting here with tears stre...

2011-12-07T21:50:00.142-08:00

oh courtney - i'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face...

for your heart, for your mama's heart...for the pain and the changes and the way He loves you in the most beautiful of ways.

praying for you as you navigate through this season of loss and change - that He will prove to be your strength and your provider and your refuge in the moments of uncertainty.

and maybe, *maybe* someday soon - we can finally sit down for tea in person.

i love you so much, sweet friend.

This is all beautiful Courtney. I love the tree sk...

2011-12-07T21:49:03.822-08:00

This is all beautiful Courtney. I love the tree skirt and your decorated tree. It is all as beautiful and colorful as you are.
Love you Grand daughter.