I'm sticking with God, He's all I've Got Left

I just can't seem to rest tonight. My heart is so heavy for friends and loved ones.

I have a really great friend, and her son is in Peds ICU with DKA-Diabetic Ketoacidosis. I went to visit and my heart just broke to see him quietly endure the stomach pain he was experiencing. But when she could be selfish, she's concerned about the little girl beside them who is in much greater need.

I have another friend who is having difficulty in her marriage and she's experiencing pain and heartbreak of a different sort. She could easily call it quits but she's determined to give it every effort before she throws in the towel. I hope she realizes just how strong she is.


My aunt posted a beautiful picture of my Grandmother Smiley on facebook. In the pic she was blowing a kiss and it was the sweetest thing. Unexpectedly the tears just fell. I didn't realize how much I'd miss her.

Then I saw an update my hubby made...

Lamentations 3:22
God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left.

And now I rest!!

Lucretia

Wednesday Hodgepodge

Have you joined in yet? Click the button above and head on over to Joyce's and join in...


1. April rolls in at the end of this week and in celebration of that infamous date (April 1) answer this question-what is something foolish you've done?

I sing on the Praise and Worship team at church and one Sunday, my best friend Amy and I went into the balcony (this was before we moved into our new facility) after we were finished singing because it was so crowded. Little did we know, that the Pastor was going to call us back up to sing at the end of service, because we normally don't, so Amy and I were rushing to get back down the balcony stairs and the heel of my boots caught one of the steps and I slid the rest of the way down. We were so tickled that we almost didn't make it back up to sing. It was really funny at the time and that boot has never been the same.

2. With April comes Easter and that classic edible treat known as Peeps...so tell me...what's your favorite way to eat/fix chicken? That's wasn't what you were expecting was it? I 'fooled' you. teehee

Oh good one, I didn’t expect that question. I love love love chicken on the grill and definitely not with marshmallows.

3. What's the best museum you've ever visited? Or your favorite? Or the one you'd most like to visit?

I have not been to very many museums. There are two here near where I live, Ft. Pulaski and the Mighty Eighth. I guess I would have to say the Mighty Eighth would be my favorite. It’s a beautiful museum. This question makes me realize I should get out a little more.

4. You know what they say about April showers....what's your preference-a bath or a shower?

Definitely a shower. Nice and hot. I like to sit in the bottom and let the water just run over me.

5. Absence makes the heart grow fonder"-fact or fiction? Why?

Fact…space can be a good thing.

6. What's your favorite product made/grown in your home state/province?

Vidalia Onions, they are the BEST onions around. They have a great, sweet taste.

7. What is going on in the world today that affects you the most?

This is a loaded question but I’ll just leave it at the high gas prices. Hate em.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

Funny story, concerning high gas prices. Gas is running $3.55/gallon right now in our area but somehow I was able to fill up my car for $40 when normally it would have cost me over $60. I was already half way home when I pulled out the receipt and realized I got gas for $2.55. Not sure how that happened but I was sure happy about it.

Brightly Colored Butterfly

The Butterfly is truly an amazing little creature. They go through four stages of life before they've completed their metamorphosis. From egg to caterpillar, pupa (or chrysalis), to beautiful butterfly. A very special lady at church came to me one Sunday about two years ago and said, "God sees you as a very colorful butterfly, your personality touches everyone you come in contact with"! I didn't understand the relevance at the time and how perfectly the butterfly would eventually describe me. Hold that thought, we'll circle back to it in just a minute...

I recently lost my Grandmother Smiley. She was considered the cornerstone of our family and losing her was devastating. Even though we knew she was heaven bound, we weren't ready to let her go and I think the hardest thing I've ever done was sing at her funeral, along with my sister Jennifer and her husband Chester. On March 13th, two weeks after grandma passed away, the very same lady that called me a butterfly, came to me again and whispered a very profound word in my ear, one that I'll never forget. It was very special to me and without disclosing everything, lets just say it was a passing of the torch. It was truly a defining moment in my life. It confirmed in my Spirit, something I felt from the moment we realized Grandma wasn't going to make it, but I wouldn't let myself dwell on it because I felt too unworthy of the honor. Since that day, I have been able to look back over the last two years of my life and see, with now, clear eyes where the enemy has tried to destroy me, my family, and my purpose.

...You see, I've been going through my own metamorphosis. Different stages in my life preparing me for the purpose and assignment that God had in store all along. This butterfly will soon be ready to leave the cocoon and the brightly colored creature that emerges will be a thing to behold.

Lucretia

Tuesday Tidbits, Ramblings and Random Thoughts

Just a few random thoughts...Actually, I just can't think of a whole lot right now so I'll leave you with this one thought that has come to mind... ...CHRISTMAS IS ONLY 271 DAYS AWAY!!!

Don't ask me why that was on my mind, but it was and I looked it up. Maybe its because I'm dreading the summer and anxiously await the next fall and winter season and my favorite Holiday of the year. CHRISTMAS!!!

You better get to shopping, it'll be here before you know it. LOL

Lucretia

Something You May Not Know...

I don't want everything I blog about be so serious, so I've decided that I would take a few minutes each week and post a few things that maybe you don't know about me. Now where should we start...

1. My first name is Johnnie. Wayne teases me all the time that my mom and dad wanted a boy so bad that they named me Johnnie. Truly, my mom wanted me to have my dad's name, but my dad didn't. I remember he told me at my High School graduation that I didn't have to let them announce me by using my first name, but I insisted. I'm not embarrassed by it at all. I'm proud of it.

2. Since we're talking about names, I go by my middle name Lucretia, which has been passed down through several generations. The name started with Virgie Lucretia who was my great, great grandmother. My mom is Kathy Lucretia and I'm Johnnie Lucretia. It didn't stop there, my daughter, Leila also bears the name, Leila Lucretia. As a side note, most people call me Crea and my niece Brianna calls me Aunt Creabee...

3. I LOVE FOOTBALL!!! ok so that's probably NO secret. GO DAWGS!!!

4. Old movies are my absolute favorites and I love musicals. The Sound of Music, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, McClintock, any old movies with Judy Garland, Elvis Presley or John Wayne. The one movie with Judy Garland that I wasn't crazy about growing up was The Wizard of Oz. I DID NOT like the flying monkeys but I have since gotten over my fear of them...lol!

5. I'm going to try really hard not to say hate, but I reeeeally dislike the Spring/Summer. I know, I know, I'm crazy, but I don't like either one of them. Yes I love the beach and tanning, I love to swim and camp and I love beautiful flowers, but I DON'T like the heat, the gnats, the mosquitos, the pollen, the heat, the weeds in my flower beds, high electricity bills oh, and did I mention the heat!!!

Stay tuned, more exciting revelations coming in the near future. ;)

Lucretia

Tuesday Tidbits, Ramblings and Random Thoughts

* I was complaining to Wayne last night about my lack of motivation. I hate being overweight. No, I mean it, I really despise being overweight. So I said to him that I wished God would give me something in his word just for me. Something meant to encourage or inspire me to try harder or be more motivated. And he did, but it wasn't what I expected at all. I picked up the ladies bible study book, "Understanding the Purpose and Power of Woman", by Myles Munroe and continued to read where I earlier had left off in chapter 1. It reads, and I quote...

• The apostle Paul told us that everything God made is available to us to do with what we want, yet he added a warning: "Everything is permissable for me-but not everything is beneficial. 'Everything is permissable for me'-but I will not be mastered by anything" (1 Corinthians 6:12). Then he gave an example. He said, "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food" (v. 13). What was he talking about? He was saying that there is a purpose for everything, but if you don't know the purpose of something, it can enslave you. Not everything is beneficial. Paul was implying that if we are to use food in a way that is beneficial to us, we must understand both the purpose of the stomach and the purpose of the food. The stomach and food were made for one another. God designed the stomach for food and the food for the stomach so that we could receive nutrition to sustain our physical lives. Yet we can abuse the relationship between the stomach and food by overeating or by eating food that has no nutritional value. This can cause us to become overweight or lack proper nutrition, resulting in a variety of health problems. When purpose is not known, or when desire prompts us to misuse purpose, abuse is inevitable.

Now I know that some people battle obesity because of serious health issues, but sadly, for me, it is an absolute abuse and misuse of food. So I guess you could say that I got just what I asked for...and a little more. Motivation and a little chastisement along with it.

Lucretia

IWC Sundays

Sundays are, by far, my most favorite day of the week. I love the Lord more than anything else in the world and I have been blessed to be a part of a wonderful church, IWC (International Worship Center), that is truly on the move. There are so many things going on right now at church, and the excitement is contagious. We have been in our brand new, built from the bottom up, facility since October 10, 2010, and it is a state of the art facility. We are so blessed.

The Soul Steppers, our childrens dance team, performed for us today and they were absolutely adorable. I've added a couple of pics below of their performance.

My sweet Leila is all the way on the left side of the pics, she has on a white T-shirt, skinny jeans and green converse tennis shoes. I love watching her dance with the Soul Steppers.

Here's to Glass Houses

I've thought long and hard about what theme I want my blog to take, or maybe in better words, what audience I want to target. But frankly, I just can't decide. Honestly, my true desire is to insprire those of you who are living life everyday, like me.

~To the married woman that questions whether marriage is a state you want to continue in because it's not always what you thought it would be, I say marriage is hard work and it's not for the faint of heart. It's not one sided and selfish. It's not easy. But it IS rewarding and worth fighting for.

~To the mother who sits with her head in her hands listening to kids argue wondering where you've gone wrong. You haven't. They'll surprise you when you least expect it with acts or words of kindness to their siblings and your heart will soar.

~To the working wife and mother, tomorrow is a new day and no one's gonna die if you don't clean the bathroom tonight. Don't put so much pressure on yourself. It'll all come out in the wash...literally! :) Sometimes you just have to sit down and enjoy lifes moments. If you don't, you might miss the random acts of kindness between your children.

~I want to encourage the person who has experienced health issues like anxiety and panic attacks and remind you that God is the healer of all of our infirmaties. Don't seperate yourself from others, lean on them, because it's in these times that you need them most. You WILL feel happy and whole again.

~To the woman chasing after God, don't get weary in well doing. Make the necessary time to stay connected to God, reading his word and praying. It will help you get through all of the things I've already listed above. But don't forget that even with God and church, there's always an order. God first, family second and church third.

Now here's my disclaimer...Don't judge me. I'm admitting some of the places I've been and the feelings that I've had in the hopes that someone will read it and find some encouragement, or the strength they need to keep going. We all have craziness in our lives from time to time and that's ok. I'm just blogging about mine. :)

Lucretia

Do you Hear What I Hear?

At this very moment, I'm sitting in my living room, on the laptop and I'm thinking of all the sounds I hear around me. The typing of the keys, the show on t.v., Koko playing at my feet, and the sweetest sound of all, my children being silly with one another in Matt's room. The sweetest laughter I know is that big laugh from such a little girl at the antics of her older brothers. What I hear is two young men who are going to make great husbands and fathers one day and a little girl who will never have to worry about anything, because her brothers will always make sure she is well taken care of. I hear the promise of a good future for my children. I hear the love that they share, even when they're mad at one another and fighting. I hear, job well done mom and dad, you did something right. And that sound makes me very happy.

Lucretia

The Loves of my Life

To me, there is nothing in life more important than family, and ours is very close.


This is me and Wayne on our date
night. He keeps me laughing all the time.

Matthew, my 6'5" gentle giant

Caleb, my hard worker

Princess Leila, who was our surprise baby.

She has stolen
all of our hearts, especially Matt's

And my baby boy...Amos

Hershey Kokomo Kennedy!

Koko for short.

Tuesday Tidbits, Ramblings and Random Thoughts

~I really need to color my hair, it's looking kinda bad and the gray is starting to show. Yikes!!

~Matt went to the beach with friends today, he's going to freeze his butt off.

~Geeeez, I've got to find some motivation and get back on my diet...AGAIN!

~My toes are cold.

~I'm watching a movie on t.v. and I have no idea what it is. Matt Damon's in it though, so I'll keep it here, for now.

~Why do I constantly type something and then go back and change it 10 times. It annoys me. Maybe I shouldn't blog, I'm too much of a perfectionist.

~Michelle Irizarry, here's your shout-out! LOL

~Ok, I'm done. I think I'm going to go visit mom now.

~Well, one more thing...I posted this blog and realized I actually started it last night, hence the date and time of the posting. It really is Tuesday. Yeah, maybe I shouldn't blog. LOL oh the illiteracy of it all.

Blah, blah, blah, blogging

I haven't been this excited about something on the internet since I joined the facebook world, and as if there wasn't enough room there to bore everyone with my every thought, detail of life, or move I make, now I have my own blog to bore you even further. I'm just kidding really. I've wanted to blog for quite sometime but just never stopped my busy life long enough to do it. So here I am. I'm sure that the subject of my blogs in the future will include, my fabulous husband and my 3 wonderful children, my mom and dad and sisters who are my best friends, my bff Amy, my church, IWC (there is no other church like it), singing with my Praise and Worship peeps, my dog Koko, my Grandma Smiley who has recently gone to be with the Lord, football, etc. etc. etc. So you see, there's a whole lot to blog about. While creating my page, I came across a button that I'll probably add. It said "Blogging Is Pure Vanity" isn't it though? Blah, blah, blah, blogging!