Our God Is . . .

Our God is miraculous, astonishing, beyond belief, mighty, powerful, and merciful. I sit in awe of Him.

The testimony of Madelyn Kate Bilberry is unbelievable and she is only 1 week old. I am overwhelmed by the enormity of the people praying for this baby, and the healing we are seeing take place. Luke and Kathryn’s continued faith throughout this one week journey is beyond inspiring. I was talking with my sister Tuesday night as we were driving to the hospital about how small are problems really are, and how "small" we felt for complaining over what we were going through. The truth is, our Powerful God was comforting Luke and Kathryn, giving breath to Madelyn, giving peace to her grandparents, aunts, and uncles and He still cared about the small problems we were having. He is that BIG! He is faithful, His is true to His word, and He does answer prayer. If we learn anything from the journey of the Bilberry family it should be to seek Him, love Him, trust Him, and serve Him – no matter what the circumstances. He should be the top of our list – let Madelyn Kate minister to you – everything happens for a reason, and everything brings glory to our God. Please praise Him for Madelyn’s life, her testimony, and that of Luke and Kathryn. Please continue to prayer for Madelyn and her family. Let’s watch God move through our communities and His blessing flow down for our faithfulness.

Lord, I thank you for Madelyn, Luke, Kathryn, for their families, and the blessing they have been to so many people. I pray that you continue to protect and heal this precious little girl. Continue to give strength, peace, and rest to Luke and Kathryn and their families. Lord they are a true blessing; they are living out you and your word for the world to see. Please honor that and grant our petitions. We know that all things work together for the good of those who love you, we pray for your will to be done Lord, we are pleading for your will to be for us to watch this good and perfect gift grow up and follow you just as her parents are teaching her now. Thank you for her life!

Follow their story at http://www.thebilberrys.blogspot.com/ - you will be renewed!

Please Pray

http://thebilberrys.blogspot.com/


Please take a moment and say a prayer for the Bilberry family: Luke, Kathryn, and Baby Madelyn - our God is in control "all things work together for the good of those who love him" and they love Him, seek Him, and follow Him. “Pray and petition" to our sovereign Father to heal Madelyn and bring the "peace that surpasses all understanding" to this dear family.

Thank you,

Stacy

All together again...

We spent the weekend with Chris' family - for the first time since Thanksgiving last year all 3 boys were home at the same time. We had dinner together Saturday night and went to a Ranger game on Sunday afternoon. It was so nice to spend time together as a family. It had been way too long. We even got to take a picture that had all of us in it. I don't think that has happened since my wedding! Well, surely it has, but it has been a long time.

The Hightower Boys

Reese at the Ranger game - it was way too hot for pictures! Uncle Kyle let Reese wear his glasses, he was super cool with them on.

When we got home Reese got to try on his batman costume so Papa could see. I felt safer knowing batman was in the house!

Finally, Reese and Momma having fun. These words made my evening, "Momma you're the best, you are very pretty, and I love you." I hope the pretty part comes from my spirit and love for the Lord. He is just the best! If you know Reese you will understand his pointing fingers and "cheese" faces. He has to be doing something crazy at all times!

One last request - I'm going back to the doctor tomorrow - my endometriosis, IC, or PCOS, is acting up again, I am going to find out which one it is. I'm praying for IC or PCOS - I still want a baby. We shall see, either way I know God is in control, and I am at peace with that fact.

The Bump

Thought I would share some pictures of Reese's bump and what it looks like now, for his first school picture today and student ID for the remainder of the year.

Night it happened, in the ER - we were only there until 11:00 - you can tell I was tired...Reese looked like that before 11:00, but he was tired too. Although he thought the cat scan was really cool and had tracks like a train. What a boy!

The night before his first school pictures....and the photo that will be used for his Student ID this year. I also love the "tough guy" face he is making. He thinks the bump is so cool ...

"Hey Mom, you want to take a picture with my bump?" Still night before pictures...I told you he thought it was cool, he thought I would want he picture with it too.

School is going really great for Reese. He has had an "A" in conduct each week so far. He has homework every night and has done really good, well today he did tell me, "This homework is hard." He has only cried 3 of the 20 mornings we have been to school so far. He is learning lots of great things and his imagination is even bigger than before. He loves his teacher and has made lots of new friends. I was really worried with Pre-K being all day everyday, but Reese has proven to meet and exceed the challenge...I'm just so blessed!

Red Bird

One night while playing Bunco with at the church, I sweet lady shared a story about how she had declared a red bird - Jesus. I know it sounds weird at first but stay with me. She declared that every time she saw a red bird she would know it symbolized Jesus - watching out for her. A way to keep her always remember that He is always there. She told stories of numerous times when she saw the red bird -at night and in many other moments when you normally would not see a red bird, and how it was always at the time she needed to remember the her Savior was with her. She challenged all of us do to the same, we didn't have to use the red bird, but pick something that we didn't commonly see everyday.

Needless to say, I thought it was a neat idea, so I did the same, with the red bird. The other day while on my morning run, I saw the red bird - it was 5:45 am and still dark, but it was there. I had not thought about the red bird since the first week or two that I heard the woman's story. The moment was really powerful, I knew that my Lord remembers that I declare the red bird to be a sign for me to think about Him being with me, and it was powerful to be consumed with the thought.

This got me to thinking...how many times has that red bird been around...on a electric wire while I am driving - at my window while I am teaching - on a tree while am running - in the backyard while Reese is playing ---- the red bird was there, but the real question I had was how many times did I miss seeing HIM? I hope to take time to see the red bird this week - to find Him in the little moments where so often I forget to look.

Divine Simplicity

"From heaven the Lord looks down and sees all mankind; from his dwelling place he watches all who live on earth - he who forms the hearts of all, who considers everything they do. No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save.
But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine."
Psalms 33: 13-19

Does anyone else find it out to trust the divine simplicity of our Savior? Why do I find myself repeatedly failing to trust or to see His protection? I want to be the kind of woman who can TRUST her Savior and take a leap of faith, without even thinking twice about what if I fail...I want to be so close to Him that we are one, and when I take that leap of faith, it is already set ahead of me. The thing I forget, is that it is still set whether I trust and take the leap of faith or not, He loves me that much - "he forms my heart" and "considers everything [I] do." "the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love." It is so hard to find myself worthy of such a powerful God, to rap my head around his "unfailing love" for me and for you.

Remember today as I have that He will take you out of the "famine" in your life, he will keep you from "dying" TRUST the divine simplicity of your Savior.

Reese First Day of Pre-K

Well, Reese had the best day, or to quote him "It was good, I had fun, we had circle time, I made you a present, we went to the playground and the gym and I made a lot of friends, but we can't watch tv at nap time" (woops Mom, good job getting him used to watching tv before falling asleep) I even made it through the whole day without crying...I was so nervous about sending him, but it was a great day!

I also thought I would share this story with you:

Another teacher at the school stopped me on the way to lunch and said she was in Pre-K helping out. They were playing a game and rolling a ball to each other, when you caught the ball you had to say your name, something about you, and roll the ball to a friend. Reese caught the ball and said "My name's Reese and I have a dog named Sugar" he then rolled the ball to a friend, when the caught it he said the following, "I win, I caught the ball, said I was Reese and had a dog named Sugar and rolled the ball." What makes this so funny is that we don't have a dog!! Katie does have a dog named Sugar and that is who he was talking aout. I also find it funny that he is so much like his dad, he had to "win" the game that involved a ball.

Here are some pictures of the first day =) Enjoy - well for some reason this isn't letting me post pictures. I 'll get them up ASAP