July 10, 2013 2:30 am

This time 14 years ago I had no idea how

in a few hours my life was going to change.  How could I…this was all new to me.

  Motherhood

was something I had longed for and dreamed about but didn’t know.  I had spent the last few months nesting and fluffing every cute pink thing I could get my hands on but still didn’t know what motherhood was about to do to me!

I awoke at 7:30 to my water breaking.  It was so exciting to call your dad (he was working with Nana and Papa early that morning) and tell him

“it was time”. 

The time we had been anticipating for months was finally here.  Today was our day to become a family of three.  You were 3 1/2 weeks early at this point but I had no fear, only peace.  On the ride to the hospital we took our time, stopping to get me something to eat because after all you were our first and everyone tells you how long it takes.  About 10 minutes from the hospital I had my first contraction.  I may have asked your dad to speed up at that point!  When we got to the hospital we had to stand at the check in desk for what seemed like forever, giving them all he same information I had filled out and mailed to them a month earlier…go figure.  After that they bring a wheelchair and wheel me to a room.  By this point the contractions are regular and strong.  A nurse comes in and asks me a million and one questions, including how much I weigh.  Can I stop right here and just say that NO ONE should ever ask a woman how much she weighs much less when she has spent the last 9 months gaining weight, is swollen and in pain from contractions, there I feel better now!  We answered all her questions only breaking for contractions.  I asked her if she was going to check me and she politely smiles and says, NO dear, this is your first baby and you have a long time ahead of you, I will be back later to check you.  Well, that was not the answer I was looking for because I knew it was close to time!  I told her that she could laugh at me later but please check me now!  She did and to her great surprise I was dilated to a 7, in less than an hour (from when the first contraction came) I had dilated to a 7.  She quickly started making calls to the doctors and prepping the room.  I do not remember what time I it was when I started to push, which I had no idea how to do and spent most of the time doing it wrong, but I know you arrived perfect and healthy at 1:35 pm. 

From the first look at you, I knew my world had changed forever.  I now knew I would never do anything in life the same.  Suddenly I knew what it meant to love unconditionally.  You had not looked me  or touched me and had nothing to offer but needs but I was willing to die for you!  I did not know I was capable of that type of love!  Suddenly, you had welcomed me into

Motherhood

and changed me forever.

I am beyond thankful to have you and one day, in the not to distant future, I can’t wait for you to have your first and to finally fully understand what a treasured gift you are!

For this child I prayed, and the LORD has granted me my petition that I made to him. 1Samuel 1:27

I love you Audrey,

Happy 14th Birthday!

Momma

Growing Girls In Grace ~ Book 1, Chapter 1

You all have blown me away with your love and support of my ebook, even before you really had all the information about it. 

PLEASE

know how much you have blessed me.

Today, I am giving you a little peek of the ebook.  It is a Bible Study called Growing Girls in Grace, Book 1

Below is chapter 1.

If you love it and would like to order the ebook for $12 you can purchase
 here

 and then I will send you the link to download the entire book.

There are 12 chapters, one for each month of the year, in the book.  Each month is set up like the sample month.

Start the month by copying The Bible Memory Verse Card for the month and spend the month memorizing it with your daughter.  At the end of the month plan a day to make the craft and spend time talking, I have included conversation starter each month to help you break the ice and get things started.  I find that once their hands are busy they are free to share their hearts.  This is a great time to connect with your daughter over

The Word of God.

I recommend this book for girls ages 4-14.

I am currently working on a deeper Bible Study for middle school girls that will also include craft projects each month, and a boy version of both studies.

Check back soon for new books.

Also, I hope to list some new products in the next couple of weeks.

Again, thank YOU for your support.

Reviews

 

As a mom of three girls, I cannot recommend Growing Girls in Grace enough. In this world, today, it is more important than ever to equip our young ladies with God’s word and the tools they need to grow into Godly women. Charity has perfectly captured a way for moms to connect with their daughter’s through great conversation starters, relevant Bible verses, and fun crafts. The crafts require minimum materials and are explained in great, easy to follow steps. They are also crafts that you will be thrilled to use in your home. A year spent with Growing Girls in Grace will be a wonderful time of growth for you and your daughter(s).
Kelly Lorenzen
Looking for some help to creatively and intentionally foster a love for God's Word in your daughter while also bonding with her? This ebook is filled with step by step directions to guide you as you connect with your daughter in discussions of the Bible and how it practically applies to real life. The hands-on crafts will surely make a mark on your daughter! She will take these lessons with her into life! You will be making priceless memories for both of you! Use this book if you want to encourage your daughters relationship with the Lord and with you in truly meaningful ways.
Kristy Dorminy
What a delightful book! It is vital that mothers and daughters spend time together and cultivate a healthy relationship. This book is full of the sweetest ways to do that. Cha Cha’s heart for her own daughters shines through the ideas and makes me want to grab my girls, sit down at the kitchen table and talk. Her clever and easy going combination of working with your hands, using your creativity, sharing your inner thoughts and adding Scripture is an inspiration! I pray that all moms can catch the vision of spending this kind of quality time with their daughters, creating a bond that will last a lifetime. And in the process have a fun takeaway craft that will be a charming reminder of the time they spent together. Best of all, she beautifully points to Christ through this precious mother-daughter time. You will be blessed by this book.
Lisa Pennington
Author of The Pennington Point and women’s group speaker

Cha Cha

Go for the Gold

Today I am joining in with

It is a fun link party with decorating themes to keep our home fresh and current by pulling design elements inspired by a haute couture.  Two of my loves, fashion and décor, combined into one.

This challenge was to add gold into your home.  If you know me in real life, you KNOW I have been doing this for years.  You may have even teased me about it.  That is okay, I forgive you…HA!

Here is my favorite gold in my house

I love my gold lamps, they are the perfect haute couture for this room.

You can see more of our Master Bedroom by clicking the link.

Be sure to check back soon for some recent updates to the room, also.

Cha Cha

Check out more GOLD inspiration at my friend Edie's blog

Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

Key Lime Pie

 Ice Cream

Ingredients:

10 ounces Key Lime Juice

1/3 cup Sugar

2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract

1 can Sweetened Condensed Milk

3 Egg Yolks

Whole Milk

1 & 1/2  quart ice cream maker

1. Squeeze limes to get juice

2. Mix lime juice and all other ingredients EXCEPT milk

3.  Pour into electric ice cream maker

4.  Fill to top with whole milk

5.  Run until frozen, mine takes about 25-30 minutes

Graham Cracker Crust Topping

1 1/2 cup crushed graham crackers

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup melted butter

1.  Mix well

2.  Spread out onto cookie sheet

3.  Bake at 350 for 8 minutes

4.  Cool and crumble

Eat and Enjoy

Charity

Speaking Clip

5 Minute clip from

 The Pearl Event ~ The Triple Strand

Charity

The Pearl Event

I am getting very excited, this time next week I will be packing my car and getting ready for Nashville!

The Pearl Event will be here in just 9 short days and I can’t wait.

Until then..

I have exciting news for today I have tickets for some of you.

Leave a comment below and I will pick a winner on Friday.

Make sure you leave your name and email so I can get in touch with you.

Can’t wait to meet you there!

Charity

Growing Girls in Grace, book 1

Good Morning!

I am getting ready to pack my car and head to the church to get my booth set up for

 The Johnny Hunt Women's Conference.

I am excited to see all the God has planned today, for myself and for every lady coming.

It is going to be a great day.

Before, I pack up and leave I wanted to let you in on some exciting news.

I have written an ebook!!!!!!!!!

The book is called

Growing Girls in Grace

Growing Girls in Grace is a perfect way to for mother and daughter to connect
over God's word and crafts. Included in this book is a Bible Memory Verse
Card and detailed craft tutorial for each month of the year. Each month
focuses on a different Biblical principle vital to girls of all ages to learn. Start
the month by introducing the memory verse card and end each month
discussing the verses and doing the craft together. Use the monthly
conversation starters to aid you as you teach your daughter the corresponding
Biblical principle.

Writing this book has been on my heart for several years but the timing was never right. 

Until, God put all the pieces and people into place and allowed it to come together in record time, in a way that was and is so clearly Him.

I am blown away by all of the support and encouragement He has brought to me and others through this adventure and can not wait to see what He does next with it.

For now, I am offering it only from my blog. If you are interested, send me an email @ TheHeartfeltHome@gmail.com for more info.

Reviews

As a mom of three girls, I cannot recommend Growing Girls in Grace enough. In this world, today, it is more important than ever to equip our young ladies with God’s word and the tools they need to grow into Godly women. Charity has perfectly captured a way for moms to connect with their daughter’s through great conversation starters, relevant Bible verses, and fun crafts. The crafts require minimum materials and are explained in great, easy to follow steps. They are also crafts that you will be thrilled to use in your home. A year spent with Growing Girls in Grace will be a wonderful time of growth for you and your daughter(s). 
Kelly Lorenzen
 

Looking for some help to creatively and intentionally foster a love for God's Word in your daughter while also bonding with her? This ebook is filled with step by step directions to guide you as you connect with your daughter in discussions of the Bible and how it practically applies to real life. The hands-on crafts will surely make a mark on your daughter! She will take these lessons with her into life! You will be making priceless memories for both of you! Use this book if you want to encourage your daughters relationship with the Lord and with you in truly meaningful ways.

Kristy Dorminy
 
What a delightful book! It is vital that mothers and daughters spend time together and cultivate a healthy relationship. This book is full of the sweetest ways to do that. Cha Cha’s heart for her own daughters shines through the ideas and makes me want to grab my girls, sit down at the kitchen table and talk. Her clever and easy going combination of working with your hands, using your creativity, sharing your inner thoughts and adding Scripture is an inspiration! I pray that all moms can catch the vision of spending this kind of quality time with their daughters, creating a bond that will last a lifetime. And in the process have a fun takeaway craft that will be a charming reminder of the time they spent together. Best of all, she beautifully points to Christ through this precious mother-daughter time. You will be blessed by this book.
Lisa Pennington
Author of The Pennington Point and women’s group speaker

To God Be All Glory

Tomorrow at this time I will be packing my car to overflowing and checking and rechecking a list that I have been working on for weeks now.  So what am I doing, you ask.

Vacation… NOPE!

  Even BETTER!

I am following God’s call, stepping out in faith, jumping heart first out of the safe into that place where only God knows what will happen next.

The truth is I have been taking steps toward the edge for the last few weeks but tomorrow many other people will know about it.  Those people will be able to judge my leap of faith as either a success or a failure.  My faith will be watched and scrutinized but I am ready and I already know the answer to all of this.

It will be a success because it is God and no matter what it looks like to our earthly eyes God has ways and plans that are not like ours.

So,

ENOUGH

with tip toeing around the what.  Here goes.

Tomorrow I will start selling my Bible Memory Verse Pillows again.  To some of you this means nothing but to those of you who have been here long enough you may remember them and the struggle I had with them..

For those of you who are new they are basically a decorative pillow, for your kids, with a pocket on the front to store Bible Memory Verse Cards in.

I had made many and tried to sell them a few years ago but did not have any real success, if you count selling them as success. I felt like a failure and was pretty beat up over the whole thing, I knew that God had planted the idea in my heart but I did not know what to do with it.  I put the idea and my inventory on the self for the last few years and would occasionally find the tote that they were stored in and pray and ask God what to do.  I never had a peace about doing anything so back on the shelf they would go and some days this was easy and some days there was still heartbreak and confusion.

Then one day, not too long ago

God said it was time.

Time to bring them off the shelf

Time to expose my heart and faith

Time to jump

So…

Here I am today,

Telling you that I am jumping!

I am jumping without fear and hesitation because this time…

This time,

I do not care what the earthly success looks like.  I have already seen God’s glory exposed and talked about through the whole process. Since it is my only goal to allow God’s glory to shine then if not one pillow sells it is still a success  and I am still full of joy.

God has use the pillows to spur other ideas, ideas that are fully His.

Ideas that have brought me to my knees with tears of joy to have a glimpse of His heart and for Him to trust me to move forward with this.

Today I want to say,

Thank You

God

for every good and perfect gift,

to

You

be all glory and honor.

Charity

I will be selling at The Johnny Hunt Women's Conference on Friday and Saturday if you are going to be there please stop by my booth and say hi.

If you are interested in purchasing a pillow or just want more info send me an email @ TheHeartfeltHome@gmail.com

Come back tomorrow to see one of the other ideas God has entrusted to me.

Broken Ground

The other day I was dreaming of all the fresh vegetables that will soon flood my kitchen from the garden.  I could not help but be excited for fried green tomatoes, tomato sandwiches, eggplant parmesan and fresh corn.  I was ready for it

NOW!

An early picking from last years garden

Then I stopped to think about all of the work that would have to be done first.

I felt God nudge my heart…

I felt Him say,

before there can be growth

remember

the ground has to be broken

I could not stop thinking about that.  For those who do not know, before the first seed can be planted in a garden the soil has to be tilled, broken up, multiple times.  The soil MUST be turned, broken, and stripped of the weeds (useless, wasters of fertile soil).  Isn’t that true for us too.

Before we can grow anything but weeds in our lives we need to turn our hearts toward God, then He breaks up the soil of our lives making it soft and ready to receive the seeds of His word and removes all the time wasting weeds.

Our backyard garden

This has been so true in my life.  I know I have seen the most growth after seasons of brokenness.  Currently, I am in a season of great growth but I can still feel the pain of my ground being broken up, the pain from not understanding all that God had planned, the pain of change, the pain of dying to selfish pride, the pain of doing what was not comfortable or easy, and the pain of digging in deep and finally dealing with those hard and hurtful things.  But, you know what?  God did have a plan.

 

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

 

And it was worth the pain!

Dear Friend,

I pray that if you are in a season of broken ground that you embrace it.

Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.  Psalm 46:10

Do not run from this time, do not try to give it a quick fix.  Settle in, ask God to show you any other areas that you need to submit to Him.  Spend more time praying and reading God’s word.  He has great growth planned for you, let Him do His work.  Soon enough, you will be in a place where you can not explain the excitement you have because of what you are watching God do through you.  You will be in awe of and humbled by the fact that you are being used for His work.

Be encouraged, Sweet Friend, seasons change and your growth and harvest are coming…

but first the soil has to be broken and made ready for the father to pour into.

What season are you in?

Charity

Remember to purchase your tickets for The Pearl Event ~ Nashville

Can’t wait to meet you there!

The Pearl Event ~ Speakers

Good Morning,

I am beyond excited to share with you the other ladies who will be speaking at

The Pearl Event

Each of these ladies has a heart to serve God and His people.

I hope you will take a few minutes and visit their blogs and get to know them better.

It is going to be an amazing day and

I would love it if you would join us.

Tickets are available  here.

I would love and appreciate your prayers.  This is 

W A Y 

out of my comfort zone.

I am not afraid to stand in front of people but I do not want to disappoint anyone.

That is where the fear sneaks in…

am I good enough….

will people understand what I am saying…

will people like me…

will I be a disappointment…

I know this is the enemy’s way of distracting me and I continue to give these fears to God but I want to be real and share them with you.  I want you to know that this call, like most God has for us, is not a piece of cake.  I am having to die to myself and my selfish desires and trust and stretch my faith to new places.  The crazy thing is with all the fear and trembling also comes excitement.  I am excited to be chosen by God for this moment and even more excited to be able to watch him at work.

In addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Ephesians 6:16

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:2

Have you been called to stretch your faith recently?

I would love to here your story! 

Charity

Eggtra, Eggtra

Just a little egg decorating.

Charity

The Pearl Event ~ Nashville

Hi Friends!

Guess What?

Are You Sitting Down?

Okay, deep breath…..

I am speaking at

The Pearl Event III, The Triple Strand

Can you believe it?

ME,

Standing in front of people sharing.

WOW, God is Good.

I have been ready to scream from the roof tops since the day Sibi asked me to speak.

I can’t wait to meet everyone there!

Here is some important information.

When: Friday, May 17, 2013

Where:

The Schermerhorn Symphony Center, Nashville Tennessee

Tickets are on sale now and include a wonderful boxed lunch,

click here to purchase your tickets.

You can stay up to date on all the latest information by liking the        

The Pearl Event Facebook Page

Goodness, I am excited and nervous. All prayers will be greatly appreciated!

More info to come next week.

Charity

The Power of a Testimony, Your Story

*For those of you following me here and at The Church Blog please forgive me for posting this in both places. I am trying to figure out where to post what but this is important to me and I wanted it in both places. Thank you!*

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending a conference that a dear friend of  mine, Sibi, was speaking at. You can read more about her ministry and our friendship here, here, here, and here. I have heard her speak before and because we have been friends for several years, I know much of her story.

Her story is a but God story.  The type of story that brings you to tears each time you hear it because it is just that heart breaking…but God.  God took what man did wrong and used it for His glory.

 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in

order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. 

Genesis 50:20

All the heartbreak and brokenness man heaped on her God healed and rebuilt.  Because she now shares this, her testimony, many lives are saved… changed for eternity.  Women find hope in her story because if God can do such a radical transformation in her life what might He do in their own!?

I had this moment with God not too long after meeting Sibi.  As she would share pieces of her past, I would be shocked at the fact that I could not see any residue of that left in her.  She was not the broken person she had been, she was whole, full, and overflowing to others.  God used this to open my spiritual eyes to some brokenness I still had.  Brokenness that I wasn’t even aware of.  I thought the effects of my brokenness was just apart of who I was, my personality.  But God… He had other plans, plans to trade beauty for ashes and to rebuild the devastated places.

Isaiah 61

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
² to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.

⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations.
⁵ Strangers will shepherd your flocks;
foreigners will work your fields and vineyards.
⁶ And you will be called priests of the Lord,
you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations,
and in their riches you will boast.

⁷ Instead of your shame
you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace
you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,
and everlasting joy will be yours.

⁸ “For I, the Lord, love justice;
I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people
and make an everlasting covenant with them.
⁹ Their descendants will be known among the nations
and their offspring among the peoples.
All who see them will acknowledge
that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

¹⁰ I delight greatly in the Lord;
my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
¹¹ For as the soil makes the sprout come up
and a garden causes seeds to grow,
so the Sovereign Lord will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.

I pushed in close and dug in deep.  I allowed God to reveal some ugly and broken places in my heart, places where full forgiveness had never been offered because I had never allowed myself to fully explore the pain that had been caused.  And until I allowed myself to fully feel and view with hindsight the full amount of damage caused I could not fully forgive.  As I went through this, there were days, I didn’t want to leave my bed because the weight of it all would be so heavy but God showed up day after day.  Eventually, as I started to forgive things got lighter.  So light, one day I was shocked.   I was shocked by the change.  There was no more anger, no more hurt.  My responses to life started to look different.  I was operating from a full and overflowing place and no longer from a place of brokenness.

   

          Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.  Hebrews 10:22-25

Seeing who Sibi is and knowing all that she has gone through was what God used to open my eyes to pain I was still carrying.  I dug in deep and allowed God to rebuild my devastation and now I share my story with others.  One night last week my friend, Suzanne, used the words spiritual mentor to describe me. I know that I could not be full enough to overflow into her life had God not healed me.  God used a testimony to start my healing, to change my life and the life of those around me.

Share Your Testimony!

Your Story Matters!

Who is the One You Should Tell Today?

 Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and

considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

Hebrews 13:7

Has God ever used someone's testimony to change your life?

Charity