As mothers and women in the world it’s so easy for us to get caught up in the busy busy and we forget why exactly we are icing 100 cupcakes at 10 at night…or scrubbing every surface in the house covered with crayons. Love…we do this out of love! or atleast we should! sometimes we can try and “do it all” for the praise of others but that will not bring us real happiness..it will make all of our to-do lists superficial! I love cooking and decorating and planning parties down to every last detail…but i try and do all of these things with those i love in mind..… and to realize that these things are not what define me but are things i can do to put a smile on someone’s face or take care of someone i love. A great way to have this mindset while being a busy mama..is to stop for a minute and get grounded…read something bigger than yourself! soo….
I started a new blog feature….a weekly series of uplifting and inspirational true stories to renew your heart! To motivate you in your daily life and to encourage you in whatever task you have going on. I hope you enjoy it!
This story is very special to me because luci is a family friend of ours…when i left home after high school to do a year of volunteer work, she was living in atlanta and lived in my room! my mom was her mom away from home. she is an amazing woman and her story is incredible.
“Through Grace, there is Hope.”
By Luci Gray.
*We were only three months married when I saw the plus sign on the stick. It was joyful and frightening, but mostly pure elation. Two months into our pregnancy we were at our first doctor’s appointment and we were awe struck by the news. Twins, who are conjoined sharing one heart and one percent chance of survival. To describe what my husband and I felt like in that moment is impossible – devastating. We spent the next few days crying on the floor, holding each other, seeking answers, questioning ourselves, “God, why us?”; and then we prayed.
It was no sooner did we ask, did we receive. We picked each other up off the floor and realized our love for them had not changed. It didn’t matter what form they came in or what their chances were, they were our daughters. We would storm heaven with as many prayers our hearts could say to give our daughters a chance at life.
For the next 134 days until Hope and Grace were born, we continued to carry our cross of being uncertain what the future held for our little babies. We took it one day at a time and one prayer at a time. Each day brought new hope as we grew closer to them being born. We still cried often together, when we were scared of what our future held; but those days were less often than the ones where we laughed and felt overjoyed to feel them kick, to see them grow in our weekly ultrasounds and hear their heart beat…
On June 23, 2009 I gave birth to Hope Gerard and Grace Cecilia.
They lived inour loving embrace for 46 minutes. They were born kissing and hugging each other. Within minutes my husband baptized each one with their eyes wide open – Hope looking at Chris, Grace looking at me. After they were baptized, Chris held them until they took their very last breath and their one precious heart beat its last thump.
They lived inour loving embrace for 46 minutes. They were born kissing and hugging each other. Within minutes my husband baptized each one with their eyes wide open – Hope looking at Chris, Grace looking at me. After they were baptized, Chris held them until they took their very last breath and their one precious heart beat its last thump.
Hope and Grace’s lives were a message to us all. For some it was to thank God for the health of their children and their pregnancies. For others it was a reminder of what being pro-life was all about. But the message I received is that through God’s Grace there is Hope. I could not have taken one step forward, if it were not for my prayers and those praying for us.
So many times in our life we lose sight of what we are truly trying to obtain, and that is our saintlyhood in heaven, with God. Through the birth of my twin daughter’s I realized more than ever that I am a broken human being. I am full of clutter in my heart and polution in my brain. I have learned that it is only through this beautiful suffering of the loss of my “little saints” that I have learned to stay within God’s grace, so that I am able to obtain what I hope for – to be with them.
I am daily reminded of God’s goodness when I think of what he has done for me through my daughters, and my husband. I am completely unworthy of this gift to have my first two children enter into heaven and be a part of the holy saints and angels in God’s home. And if ever I am off the beaten path or forgetful of where
I should be, I can just say my girls’ names to be guided back to the right direction, “through Grace, there is Hope – there is Heaven”.
*We ran this story in a previous newsletter, but due to the profound effect it had on our readers, we chose to share it with our new readers in our premier print issue. We also excitedly share the beautiful news that God has blessed Luci with another precious, little life, due this August! www.klarefamily.blogspot.com
article via radiant
THE GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED!
I’LL BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNER SOON.
THE GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO ENTERED!
I’LL BE ANNOUNCING THE WINNER SOON.
Perfect as a gift for yourself..or a baby shower present for the hot mama!
Give the blanqi to your sister, wife, daughter or friend!
HOW TO ENTER:
1. For one entry: become a follower (via google connect..top right) and leave a comment saying who would get the blanqi!! you? your sister? a friend??
2. For two entries: leave a link in the above mentioned comment (or in a separate comment) to a post on your blog mentioning the busy budgeting mama. you can use any of the graphics or logo from my blog in your post. I will add those who do this to my “featured” blog roll above..
(promo for your blog!!)
(promo for your blog!!)
The giveaway will end May 12th!
nichole
May 8, 2010 at 11:40 pmI love your new section, Renew The Heart. What an incredible story you posted. I am so encouraged after having 3 miscarriages of my own. I now have 3 beautiful babies and loving life! I loved her view, that her babies were able to enter the kingdom of Heaven right away and how that really is a blessing to a parent. I totally love your blog:)
Nichole
http://pokadotports.blogspot.com/
Tammi
May 9, 2010 at 10:50 amI love checking out your blog. I always want to blog but just can’t find the time…so I enjoy reading other peoples. haha….You can definitely enter me in your give away…this mama could use a blanqui. haha….love ya.
Francine
May 9, 2010 at 12:55 pmThis might sound selfish, but blanqi would be for me! hehe! I’m due in August- yay! I love your blog Natalie- and your new section is a great idea! That story was so beautiful!
Anonymous
May 9, 2010 at 1:43 pmI love reading your blogs and viewing all the gorgeous ideas you have! Thanks for your gifts! If I would be so lucky to win a Blanqi, I would save it for myself…for the future, God-willing!
Courtney
Lane
May 9, 2010 at 1:58 pmI would love to win a blanqi! That looks so fantastic! And I would save it for myself…for my next little one, whenever I am blessed with one!
KK
May 9, 2010 at 2:33 pmI love being a follower of yours!! I would lend the blanqi to my sister, who is expecting her 5th little boy in just a month! It would probably come with a contract making sure that I get it back for whenever God blesses us with bundles of joy!!
carissa @ lowercase letters
May 9, 2010 at 7:54 pmwhat beautiful pictures of your mom and baby girl!!! how precious!
i am so amazed by the klare family! i read their story a few months back and got chills again when i read this. what a beautiful tribute to God’s grace and the hope we have in Him!!! i love this new feature you have. i mean, i LOVE it!
okay, i want to WIN!!! it would be for me… well, maybe it would be for future baby #3 considering i only have 3 weeks left. : ) you know i follow you.
Jen M.
May 9, 2010 at 9:22 pmHey there–I follow you with Google Reader and posted about your giveaway on mah blahhhhhhg:
http://bit.ly/cSJKSr
nichole
May 10, 2010 at 12:05 amOh my gosh!!!!! I can’t believe you featured my blog tonight!!!!!!! I am SO excited! Thank you so much! What a great way to end a wonderful Mother’s Day! I love your blog and I am constantly inspired by all that I see! Thanks again Natalie!
Nichole
http://pokadotports.blogspot.com/
Jason and Geraldine
May 10, 2010 at 12:24 amHey! If I were to win a Blanqi it would totally be for me as we are hoping to add more babies to our family. :)
Rebekah
May 10, 2010 at 7:57 amI would LOVE to win the blanqi! It would be for me – although I’m not pregnant now, I mostly likely will be sometime in the not too distant future:)
Nellie
May 10, 2010 at 8:08 amI loved the story of the Gray family…I was at my sisters for her graduation and read it out loud to her and her husband and I had to stop because I was crying. It is so amazing! My sister and her husband have had quite an adventure with their first little one and like the Grays you are just amazed at what God has given you for this moment. Anyway.
My sister doesn’t want a Blanqi so it would be for me. We are hoping to be getting a little one soon and I want to be one hot Momma when it happens. haha.
The Trailovs
May 10, 2010 at 9:21 amHi Natalie- First, I didn’t know your Mom was Jan. I LOVE her!!! You have the most amazing mom ever!! Anyway, I followed your blog thru the Natural Woman blog and then saw my sisters’s story posted. Ahhh, I could read it over and over. A love story at its greatest, don’t you think? We are so excited for baby Maria too.
If I were to win the Blanqi it would probably rotate between all my sisters…it’s been baby central in our family. ;) Love the blog…keep up the great work.
Blessings!
littleflowerana
May 10, 2010 at 10:17 amThis would most definitely be for me! What a great give away!!
Just Me
May 10, 2010 at 1:08 pmyay! Heck yes I want one!!! I would LOVE one (for me)….ok I may let my sister use it but…who doesn’t want to feel hot when pregnant???
klarefamily
May 10, 2010 at 1:14 pmNat,
Good grief, I can’t stop crying! I am humbled you posted my girls’ story! It is comforting to me that so many are still touched by their life. You have no clue what it means for people to remember and honor their life here!
I would never have found this post if it weren’t for the BLANQI give away! Lol… And after having twins – MY BODY IS A MESS!!! Lol..
However, If I were to win the Blanqi I too (as my sister Jacque previously posted) would share it with my sisters. We are in “baby-making mode” as we have had 6 children amongst three of us in a year and a half! and don’t foresee a hard bod with out the Blanqi in the near future!
I love you – all the best… You are inspiring by all your hard work and your motherhood!
Caro
May 10, 2010 at 3:10 pmI love your design ideas and what you did with your daughter’s room.
Thanks for sharing your beautiful life!
If I won the BLANQI I would keep it. Due Nov 3rd with our first!
Thanks!
other-option
May 11, 2010 at 8:34 amIf I won I’d save it for someone I know that will likely get preganant in the near future….
– Danielle
other-option AT hotmail DOT com
Ashley
May 11, 2010 at 8:35 amthis is a great idea & a awesome giveaway! i’d love to give it to my best friend! thank you
Annie
May 11, 2010 at 10:06 amnew to your blog…i’m already addicted!! you and your family are too cute!
i was stopping by to check out a recent post i read you did on recipes!
then i saw this fabulous giveaway you are hosting as well!
Pretty Please count me in! i would keep this for myself, i can’t wait to get pregnant and be a momma!!
i’m a new follower :)
Chrissy
May 11, 2010 at 1:33 pmI already get you in my Google Reader Natalie…I have thought this was an awesome product since you blogged about it awhile back. I would love to win one, and it would be for me! :)
Chrissy
May 11, 2010 at 1:38 pmHere is a link to my blog post about the Blanqi giveaway…
http://teenyweenytonini.blogspot.com/2010/05/blanqi-giveaway.html
YAY!
oneilfamily
May 11, 2010 at 10:12 pmNatalie I love seeing your weekly updates a day in the life the most. It is fun especially after seeing you recently to watch your belly grow and see pics of Sophia. You have a beautiful family. I would love this Blanqi for myself when/if i am blessed with more sweet little babes. If I am not I think everyone around me is having a baby just about every 18 or so months.
Alissa
May 12, 2010 at 1:34 amI would love to win one of these for myself! I’m a follower via google friend.
Sarah
May 12, 2010 at 7:17 amI would love to win one for myself! This looks like an amazing product that I would definately be advertising!
Molly and Jay
May 12, 2010 at 5:28 pmI am now a follower. I would love to have a Blanqi for myself…My belly is getting bigger everyday!
Megan
May 12, 2010 at 8:31 pmI just became a follower! I NEED one of these, I so wanted something like this for my last pregnancy, I kept saying “I need a bra for my tummy” and here is my solution!
Megan
May 12, 2010 at 8:32 pmI would have mentioned this give away on my blog, but mostly my family just reads that, just a family blog, so I posted the giveaway on facebook, more people will see it that way!