Desperate Dependence

{this is a guest post i shared the other day over at

Naptime Diaries...so you may have already read it,

but I felt led to share it again here.}

I gave birth 12 days ago,

to my second baby girl, Bethany.

I love having a brand new little one around again.

There's something so fresh and innocent about newborns

that brings life to my days.

But I totally forgot how needed I would be.

How dependent on me SHE would be.

I was totally slammed with the reality of a little person

being totally dependent on me when I had my first daughter 2 years ago.

It rocked my world.

And somehow I forgot it would be like this all over again.

Don't get me wrong.

I LOVE fulfilling her every need,

responding to her every cry, never putting her down,

feeding her at all hours.

(and this girl eats ALL the time. :) )

It's just that I forgot about the utter dependence of a newborn.

But God has shown me something through her need of me.

My mentor growing up called it

"Daily Desperate Dependence".

This need, this complete reliance on God,

that I MUST HAVE to even survive.

Just like my little baby.

I want to learn this lesson from her...

I want to wake from sleep

(literally and spiritually speaking)

CRYING OUT to Him to come and meet me...

and trusting that He will.

I am thankful for the journey of faith that God has had my little family on

for the last 8 years.

It has been one of desperate dependence...

whether we chose it or not.

Circumstances often required it.

Accounts have been negative, health has declined,

life has been taken, life has been given, changes have occurred.

All things that MADE us desperate

for HIS provision and protection.

And He showed up every. single. time.

Like Bethany is right now,

I desire to be so dependent on my Heavenly Father

that I cannot function daily without Him.

I think part of this dependence comes from remembering

all that He has already done for me.

All the needs He has already met, all the desires He has already fulfilled.

...and to be able to trust Him for even more.

I believe He designed it this way,

He made me His daughter.

He desires to meet my every need.

Because He is GOOD,

and I am desperately needing His goodness in my life,

every. single. day.

linking up for encouragement today over here:

come find me here . . .

I'm guest posting today over at one of my very favs . . .

Naptime Diaries!

{if you don't follow her blog already, you need to.

She is an incredible, faith-filled woman whom I admire dearly!}

Have a blessed day, friends!!

euphoria

"the state of being elated, full of joy, overly happy":

Euphoria.

such a weird word, I know...

but in the middle of a late night feeding last night,

its the word that came to my mind as

I tried to process how I was feeling in that moment.

I am so in love.

I wrote before about how I was afraid I'd have trouble loving two.

(read that here)

But God has once again stretched my heart.

There's something in me that can put aside the exhaustion,

the sore nipples, the postpartum body pains,

the fear of not doing things "right"...

because I have this love in my heart,

overtaking anything else.

I feel honored that I get to meet the basic need of LOVE

for this brand new little life.

And I am honored that my Heavenly Father feels the same way.

{and I need so badly to remember this}

He feels the same "Euphoria" about me

as I do about her.

He is elated, full of joy and overly happy

to love ME.

just a little preview . . .

...my sweet little Bethany Len...

{more to come!}

pics: Kelly Madole Photography

headband: Blossom and Vine

Okay, Dallas . . .

Growing up in Dallas,

it is hard to not recognize the homelessness that

exists so rampantly in our city.

Men, women, and sweet little ones...who for whatever reason,

had a path in life that led them to no home, no food, no clothes, no support.

The basics...unknown and unavailable.

{via}

My heart aches thinking of little ones who are

shivering at night.

and my heart hurts for the mom or dad who wants to do something about it,

but does not have the resources to.

I want to bundle them up,

scoop up the little ones and wrap them in warm blankets.

And in the warmth of a blanket, give them a little hope that someone cares.

Will you join me in making this possible?

I am teaming up with Casey and Ashley,

and a whole bunch of other amazing hearts

to bring some love and light to the homeless in Dallas.

We will all be meeting up next month

to make blankets for these precious souls

who need warmth in every way.

We will be making fleece blankets

that will then be taken to the Dallas LIFE foundation

and given out to those who need them.

{via}

The Dallas Life Foundation is an amazing place...

It's not just a shelter, but is a place for

rehabilitation and restoration.

(read more about their mission here).

how can you help??

WE NEED FLEECE!!

can you donate a piece?

just a 54" square, any color or print!

Also, we'd love for you to join us at the blanket making -

not only will it be a powerful time to bless others,

it will be FUN!

{If you think you can come, please RSVP here}

email me if you'd like to donate some fleece:

racingtowardsjoy@gmail.com,

and I will give you more details!!

Maybe you have some scraps sitting around from other projects,

or maybe you could run to the fabric store and pick up a piece..

it would be such a help!

THANKS. Hope to see you there...

let's help these little ones be warm this winter.