* P.S. I have some fun news! If you’re wondering why the LPM blog looks a little different, it’s because we got a makeover and it went live today! Don’t you love it? We sure do! Sometimes we all just need a little makeover to change our attitude, agreed? I feel like the blog did just that today! Woohoo! Thank you so much to our friends at AdWhite for all your help and expertise! We’re so grateful!
Good Monday morning to you, ladies! I don’t know about you, but I had a whirlwind of a weekend. When my alarm went off this morning the only coherent thought I had was, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can…get out of bed. Not only did my eyes struggle to see the morning hour, but I was so warm that the thought of peeking my toes outside of my covers with the chill in the air made me want to cry. But I did it! I had no choice; becauase after all, being an adult requires responsibility and well, work. And I hope to keep my job. Grin.
Anyway, I made it here and happy and now I’m even happier to announce our Stocking Stuffer Giveaway Winners!
I’ve never desired to leave you guys in such suspense, but part of my weekend excitement was that my little brother graduated from Texas A&M (Gig ‘Em!) and by the time I got home late Friday night, I had no brain power left to even look at my computer. (In fact, I felt slightly inadequate to keep writing anything after reading through the dissertation titles of the PHD students graduating. Whoa. I’m still thinking about how smart some people are and how I’ll never understand certain sentences or words.) Mind you, that was all AFTER our LPM Christmas party on Thursday that sucks every ounce of energy out of every staff member. So, here we are! Hey, the longer the wait the sweeter the gift, right?
Without further ado here are our lucky 12 (and random) winners thanks to random.org…
Stocking Winners
1) Michele
2) Melissa Holgate
3) Barbara Mackey-Zeigler
4) Sharon
5) Kim Morgan
6) Carol Comey
7) Sarah Tolson
8) Beverly Toney
9) Ginger Golembiewski
10) Courtney Beth Burnside
Cookbook Winners
1) Christiana Billingsly
2) Tiffany Fling
3) Toni Rahm
Congrats, ladies! You should be receiving an email from me (Lindsee) ASAP so I can retrieve your mailing address!
And just for fun, I’ll leave you with this one special picture from our Volunteer Brunch on Thursday morning. Needless to say, we had a few laughs. (For the record, sometimes you let a picture speak for itself, which is exactly what I’m going to to do here.)
Oh, and here is Sabrina and Beth, they happened to be matchy-matchy at our Christmas party and it was cute! We attempted a staff picture, but as Melissa put it so kindly, it will die with us.
We love y’all so much! Be expecting some super fun things on the blog this week. Hopefully as soon as tomorrow (Tuesday), but for sure Wednesday!
Hi Lindsee,
Although I did not win I loved that list of favorite things. I will definitely be going out and buying most of the items on that list if not for myself, then for someone on my Christmas list…if it ever stops snowing here in Minnesota! Grin. Also wanted to tell you, the growth that was found on a routine screening that I was told had a high risk of being malignant was not cancer. Praise God! Thanks for your prayers. So appreciate you. Hope you have a great Christmas!
Praise God indeed, Mary! Grateful with you!
When I sat through my masters graduation, the guy next to me and I enjoyed reading through the smart people’s dissertation titles, too. 🙂
Lindsee, Living proof ministries, anyone on here!!
Please please PLEASE pray for me. It seems like everything I thought I was good at God is telling me “NO!” It’s almost time to decide what to do with the rest of my life (college, etc.) and it seems like no matter how hard I study and pray about things I keep getting mediocre grades, I’m not good with people, I’m nervous to talk in front of others, no matter how hard I work at science and math my grades are mediocre at best… And I’m TIRED. School is draining every last desire out of me… Yet God has a plan for me? He has a path I’m supposed to follow? I find myself feeling lost and disoriented at the thought. I’m just a little confused and hurt. I’ve been a Christian all my life. I see students not study as much or not at all and get 96s on their exams and I get an 80. I know looking back on this in 3 years it’ll seem trivial, but I DO NOT want to go through this in college. I want to get everything hashed out now… Sorry for rambling on such a happy, uplifting website but I had to share my heart… Prayers would be extraordinary
Elizabeth, I am so sorry you are overwhelmed and burdened. I am praying right now that the Lord would flood you with His peace, wisdom and knowledge of His will. Know that you are loved, dear Sister.
Dear Lord Jesus,
I lift my dear sister Elizabeth before you. As I hear her name I am reminded of a dear sister of old that bore the same name as hers. Elizabeth, mother of John. How she must have dreamt for years of bearing a child, confused about her purpose and wondering if God had forgotten her and the dreams she held close to her heart. Also comparing herself to others who got pregnant so easily. It is probably safe to assume that she had come close to giving up on her dream if not altogether by the time she conceived. Just as Elizabeth, mother of John was dear to God’s heart, so are you beloved daughter of God. He holds you in the palm of His hand. I pray Lord that you will open Elizabeth’s eyes to the beauty you see in her and your good will and purpose. I pray Lord that with her struggles with her studies you would give her the help she needs, that even if math and science are not her strong suit. There are strengths, talents and gifts that you have given Elizabeth that fit perfectly into the plan you have for her. May that path be an exciting journey of discovery Lord, not a frustrating one. I pray dear Elizabeth that your path will be lined with the blessings of God. You are loved dear Elizabeth, don’t forget it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Elizabeth,
The enemy likes to steal our peace, because it is a gift from God that he despises. The LORD does have a plan for your life, and maybe it will require great perserverance on your part, and He has you in training for that very thing now. Maybe it will require great amounts of Trust and He is teaching you now, how to have peace in the midst of a small storm so that when a great storm comes your way, you will be very strong for His purposes. I am old now, and when I look back over my life I see all of the times that I ran around in fretful circles, while my Father had it all under control the entire time, and He always did what was best…..be still and know that He is God….frequently I have found that our Father doesn’t lay out the entire plan, but rather He gives us just one step at a time. So, trust Him, and just do the next thing whatever that may be…..
I pray you will hear His voice as he calls all the weary to lay their burdens down and He will give you rest and peace.
Elizabeth…oh, how this touched my heart. I want you to know I am praying for you. I am so sorry you are feeling so confused and frightened and overwhelmed. These may seem like just words to you, but they are nonetheless true…He loves you beyond your imagining and He created you for the joy of loving you and your value to Him is beyond knowing. I am praying you will feel His hand on you and that you would know deep in the marrow of your bones that while it seems you are walking in the dark the One who walks with you has it all in hand. I am praying for a supernatural peace for you and a deep rest in your soul as well as a revelation of clear direction for your life — step by step.
Praying for you, Elizabeth! Stay in the Scripture sweet one!
Hi, Elizabeth!
I teach high school English to students with learning disabilities. Trust me when I tell you that you are not alone in your feelings of anxiety or worry. There is a lot of pressure right now on high school students — even freshmen and sophomores — to set postsecondary goals and to decide on careers before they are even seniors. It’s crazy! You mentioned that good grades do not come easily for you. However, it certainly sounds like you are a determined young lady with a good work ethic who puts forth her best efforts. These characteristics are worth so very much more than the A’s other students may effortlessly receive. I know that God has given you various areas of strength and various talents that you will be able to use for Him. Pray that He will show you His will and His plan for your life; He will show it to you in His perfect time!! Just be patient and trust Him. I want to share one of my favorite Albert Einstein quotes for you to remember when you start comparing yourself and your “weaknesses” to others… Einstein wrote, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.” Praying for you 🙂
“As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the maker of all things.”
Ecclesiastes 11:5 NIV
Thank you so so much, Nancy. So blessed to have a support system of sisters on here; no matter the race, the age, where we’re from… thank you! That verse has helped me more than you know
LOVE the blog makeover! So fun!
Beloved Sisters, Thank you for all the prayers and encouragement! What a blessing you are to my heart! Elizabeth, a ways back Beth did a vimeo devotional/bible study/prayer about casting your cares on Him, because He cares for you’, I’ll look back to the time I hope it’s in the archives it helped me a lot, also her most recent one is so helpful! I just got a huge boost of joy as a random winner of this stocking stuffer! More later xoxo Love&Prayers!!!
Lindsee, I gasped when I read this because I never would have dreamed that I would win a stocking! 🙂 I hope I didn’t accidently delete your e-mail to me…I have a buffer and didn’t see it in my junk mail but just to be sure, could you e-mail me again? I promise I will watch for it! I am so excited I can hardly stop grinning!
Blessings,
Melissa Holgate
P.S. I LOVE the new look!!!
Thanks Lindsee. Love all of you. Thanks for what you all do for us.
Love the new blog update! and thanks for the great stocking ideas!
Wohoo!!! Hoping I’m “that” Michele (with 1 “L”) 🙂 Checking my spam!
Didn’t realize it was time for a face-lift… but it looks good, and youthful! 😉
Wish I could look so good so easily 😀
Susan from Greensburg:
“He who guards his lips guards his life” Proverbs 13:3a NIV
Ya’ll crack me up! Very Merry Christmas to you all at LPM !