heavy heart

{source}

i don't know your story.

i don't know your hurts.

i don't know your pains.

but, i know you have them.

you may not know my story.

you may not know my hurts.

you may not know my pains.

but, i'm here to tell you i have them.

the only thing i can be completely sure about is that when God write our stories...

He is in every chapter. He is on every page. He is in every word. He is in every space. 

He will always be here. 

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in my story, He is there

as i hurt, He is there

through my pain, He is there

and i find comfort in His word, in His creation, in His people.

i find comfort in worship.

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i could share a million songs with you that help bring me peace but i've chosen three.

{1}

Jesus loves me this I know

for the bible tells me so

little ones to Him belong

they are weak but He is strong

YES JESUS LOVES ME

YES JESUS LOVES ME

YES JESUS LOVES ME

the bible tells me so

{even if you don't want to sing it, say those words over and over again. or just say His name. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. it helps to remind me that He is there. JESUS, JESUS, JESUS}

{2}

I am Set Free - All Sons & Daughters

you broke my chains of sin and shame and you covered me with grace
you mend my life with your holy fire and you cover me with grace
you are the hand that reaches our to save

and i am set free
i am set free
it is for freedom that i am set free

and i am set free
i am set free
it is for freedom that i am set free

yes lord, we are grateful for you grace and for your love

yes lord, we are grateful for you grace and for your love

yes lord, we are grateful for you grace and for your love

yes lord, we are grateful for you grace and for your love
cause you are the hand that reaches out to save

i am set free
i am set free
it is for freedom that i am set free

and i am set free
i am set free
it is for freedom that i am set free

{i could have included every song Leslie & David have written but this one is very applicable to my current story. please check them out here and be incredibly blessed}

{3}

Blessings - Laura Story

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching(s) of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

{wow}

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please know that i am praying for you & i would love to pray for you specifically. i mean it.

e-mail me

abbysaunders8 {at} gmail {dot} com

whippy cake giveaway

Along with Bonjour Mae Mae, Whippy Cake is another of my favorite hair accessory providers. Their lovely appliques really hit the sweet spot to any outfit. They are super versatile, amazing quality and unbelievably adorable!! 

Here is me wearing my Muffy

They are currently having a $100 giveaway which I think I amazing! Check it out - enter the giveaway! If you win on account of me, you owe me :)

GOOD LUCK!

{click above for the giveaway link}

Things Layla Loves volume 3

 

round three of 10 things layla is currently loving. i've already started on volume four because she is learning/changing/growing so much every day. in case you aren't sure what buh-buh-buh-ing is, i've attached a video of this hilarious experience. at least we think it's hilarious. 

enjoy.

:)

bonjour mae mae love

 

I believe that I have a serious obsession with Monica & her headbands.

Monica is so sweet & passionate about her little girl, Mae. You can tell that her desire to create lovely pieces of art for her daughter come to life in her designs. They are so precious & colorful & fun & unique & comfortable. I have a feeling I will be purchasing Bonjour Mae Mae accessories for as long as Monica is around! So far we have FIVE pieces. I've shown Layla wearing four of them & the other one is more for me until Layla has a bigger head & more hair :)

I cannot wait for her fall line & to see what amazing designs she comes up with using these fabulous fabrics!

Thank you, Monica for sharing your creativity with us!

i am thankful

I have so much to be thankful for.

On a daily basis I stress, I struggle, I fear, I hurt.

On a daily basis I hug, I laugh, I play, I love.

Despite the stress, struggles, fears & hurt I am able to hug, laugh, play & love because...

 I have a Father who loves me and has given me strength in incredible situations.

I have a Mom & Dad who have encouraged & guided me in a million ways.

I have an incredible talented husband whose God-given gifts never cease to amaze me.

I have a beautiful little girl who has brought so much joy to my life.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

This picture should give you a good idea of why I'm thankful...

What are you thankful for?

- - - - - - - - - -

{I am linking up with Casey}

Layla Grows {6 months}

sweet baby girl is six months old now. she has changed so incredibly much in the last month. shoot...she's changed so much in the last week.

she sits.

she reaches.

she "feels" things.

she laughs, smiles, talks, interacts, sings, squeals.

she makes people laugh.

she pulls up {with minimal assistance}.

she is almost pulling herself from a sitting position to a crawling position {oh my}.

she is an incredibly amazing, gifted, beautiful & life changing human being.

in a tiny package.

well...not so tiny anymore.

i love her.

it's a love i never knew was possible.

and it's only gonna get stronger.

yesssssss.

 

six months. six amazing months.

love you, baby girl.

m.i.a.

so, i am sure you may {or may not} have noticed that i have been a little quiet the last week and a half. you can thank california for that. if my daughter didn't already have my heart, northern california would. j and i had an amazing week and built memories and had so much fun together. 

i missed layla like crazy but our reunion was so, so sweet. 

my dad is in town this weekend {he brought baby girl back from texas - what an awesome man}.

i am soaking up every bit of this weekend with him, my darling daughter and my handsome husband.

i shall leave you with this photo from our trip.  i had way too much fun with these things.

 

i've got blog posts organized for next week telling more about my trip, future {exciting} plans, hopes, dreams, things layla loves, layla grows, etc...

have a wonderful sunday!

LOVE.