~Hello Fall!~ September 22, 2008
Posted by lesli in family, infertility journey, praise, preteen, updates, weekends.add a comment
FALL IS FINALLY HERE!!!
We are so excited! Jesse and I both love this season and can’t wait to see all the changes that it will bring!
We had a great weekend…with nothing really planned…It WAS GREAT! We did yardwork, sat on our front porch (something we never take time to do) took long naps and took a long walk around the neighborhood. The weather was so nice. It was a great weekend to enjoy the outdoors.
This Friday we we are headed to Nascar speedpark in Sevierville with around 60+ preteens. Mountain Dew will be in our future I am sure of it 
It should be alot of fun and will be our first outing with all our new 5th graders. We are quickly getting to know one another and wow…this class is a spunky one for sure.
Jess and I are planning to spend the rest of the weekend in Pigeon Forge for a little time away. Is it funny how a couple of days away can make a such a difference? We both are looking forward to the holidays this year and spending time with family. This year has been such a busy one for our family. When you are both in ministry, the weekends are usually not open to traveling and that has made it hard to spend alot of time with Jesse’s parents. The cool thing is that they understand what it’s like and you both cherish the time you do have that much more! Please continue to pray for Richard and Terry as they do have a serious potential buyer for their house in Canton. This would be a huge blessing/relief for them. God is doing such great things at their church in Dalton. It would be great if they could both move there really settle into the community. Yesterday Richard baptized 14 people and two new people made decisions. God is doing a great work and we are hearing awesome stories about it.
Thank you for your prayers as we continue to make tough decisions about fertility treatments. God is closing and opening doors and we rejoice to see His plan continue to unfold. So many of you have encouraged and blessed us during this time. We can’t tell you enough how much you mean to us. We are so blessed to have your support. For those of you looking for great resources to encourage others on this journey you need to go to www.sarahs-laughter.com. What a blessing this site has already been to me. There are real stories and testimonies…daily devotionals and I think they even have a support line if you need to just talk to someone or share a prayer request. Check it out.
Finally…I wanted to share a verse with you that seems to fit so well right now with all that is changing and happening around us. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” No matter who is elected president, if the stock market crashes, what color the leaves on the trees are…my Jesus will remain steadfast and unchanging. May that truth ground you today as you encounter this crazy, constantly changing world. We love you and Happy Harvest/Fall!
P.S. Fireproof comes out in theaters on Friday…this would be a great date night movie! From the makers of Facing the Giants… www.fireproofthemovie.com
Les
perfect timing September 15, 2008
Posted by lesli in infertility journey, praise, updates.4 comments
“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiates 3:11
Isn’t it funny how God always does things at exactly the right time? I mean He knows exactly how and where we are and when we will need things. This weekend has been just like that. Here are just a couple of things….First, our air went out this weekend at the house. And…it looks like we are not going to be able to fix it ourselves. So, what happens weather-wise this week? A cool-down…THANK YOU JESUS. Next, we found out that we are not pregnant this month over the weekend….what starts tonight? The infertility group…THANK YOU JESUS. I could go on with more stuff that happened where God had us at the right time and the right place. AMAZING.
So, thank you for all your prayers. We are excited about getting to the end of this phase of our journey and hopeful that God may have other doors for us to go through to raise children. His plan for our family is better than anything we could have ever even considered. We will be going back to the dr. at the end of the week to start a combination cycle of two different kinds of medicines that will hopefully increase our odds. It means more shots for me, but this won’t last forever, right? So things will move pretty quickly this next round and then over the next few months we will likely be at a crossroads. I think we are both ready to see what God has next if these treatments aren’t successful. I know it will be part of His perfect plan.
Hope you are having a great week and seeing God put you right where you should be in whatever circumstances you are facing. HE is the perfect planner!!!
Les
***for a friend September 8, 2008
Posted by lesli in infertility journey.1 comment so far
Please go here http://www.cgrlawson.blogspot.com/ and if you feel led…join in the prayers for them. I know they would appreciate it. Nothing happens without prayer. Thanks everyone.
Les
~a great ministry~ September 5, 2008
Posted by lesli in infertility journey, inspiration.1 comment so far
On Monday, September 15 Dwayne & Kathleen Clark will be starting an infertility support group at Sevier Heights. They are both retired pyschologists from GA who have recently moved to the area and joined SHBC. They have experienced infertility firsthand themselves. This group is for husbands and wives. Jess and I are so excited about this because up until now the only groups we have done have been for women only. I think it will be really great for the both of us and so many more out there who are walking down this road.
Please pass this information along to anyone you know who might receive a blessing from this new ministry. I am praising Jesus for sending the Clark’s to SHBC and look forward to meeting them. So many times during this journey God has sent us people to encourage us. Just last week a man at our church shared his struggle with infertility in his marriage and then prayed with Jess. It made a huge impact and Jess was very encouraged to hear this from a man’s perspective. I have met so many awesome women through all this and not one of them have given up on God or decided to leave the faith. Over and over I hear the same thing….how God worked out His perfect plan and revealed Himself to them in the process. They are rejoicing, they are thankful…it has brought much fruit in their spiritual life. One good friend told me that infertility was their “first real test of faith” in their marriage. I can say amen to that and even though this hasn’t been the first, it is likely to be the hardest so far.
Once again I have to praise Jesus for Sevier Heights and all the amazing servants God continues to lead here to minister to broken and hurting people. One of our pastors reminds us often that “the work we do here is the most important work we can do on this earth. It is kingdom work.” I become more and more assured of that and more and more grateful to be a part of it.
I hope you and your family have a great weekend!!!!
Leslie
this weekend August 29, 2008
Posted by lesli in infertility journey, praise, updates.3 comments
This morning I got a great report from Dr. Harris. This cycle our chance of having twins is about 10%. The more eggs you have that are ready the higher the chance for multiples. So, we have been given our directions for the weekend Jesse will be giving me my injection tonight and that drug really forces you to ovulate in 36 hours. So there is no guesswork in the ovulation game. Pretty cool huh? The next 5 months will be our very best chance at conception since my surgery to remove my endometriosis. I just finished up my first round of clomid since the surgery this week and now it is up to Jesus to do what only He can do!
Please pray for during this weekend. God has brought us to this place again and we truly desire to trust Him with all the details. We are asking God to bring life…as HE is the creator and designer of every single human life throughout history. Ask Him to do what only HE can do! Pray we don’t get discouraged and that we would lean on God’s Word and not be led by our emotions.
Thank you so much for your encouragement and for your prayers! To those of you who are trying…don’t give up! I know it can be really tough, but you are not alone and God wants to grow your faith and bring you closer to Him! To those of you who are mommies…never take for granted the blessing of fertility in your marriage. We pray you will see your children for exactly what they are…an amazing gift! I hope we can all encourage each other to see God’s plan for families and to allow Him to design each one!
Hope and love to all the ladies, wives and mommies!!!
Les
Another step forward… August 5, 2008
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Me getting ready to go…Jess had to snap a picture
Thank you so much for all your prayers for me during my surgery last Friday!!! Dr. Harris did find that I had endometriosis on both of my ovaries and in my pelvic cavity. It wasn’t alot, but enough to keep me from getting pregnant….so now our best shot at getting pregnant is within the next 6 months. So we are praising the Lord for allowing us to take another step forward on our journey.
Thank you again for all your prayers and for thinking of us during this time! We feel relieved, excited and a little scared all at the same time! God’s plans are not our own….aren’t you glad? He does all things well and in His time.
More than Him? July 29, 2008
Posted by lesli in infertility journey, inspiration.1 comment so far
In my quiet time today God asked me this question…
“Do you fear any person or anything more than God?”
As I sat there and thought about this question my gut hurt. Yep, I do Lord. I fear lots of things. Fear has really reared its ugly head in my life over the past 3 years. Fear of cancer, fear of losing my husband, fear of losing another member of my family, fear of never having children of my own, fear of giving up on my dreams….anybody been there?
So as I prepare for my surgery this Friday I wanted to share something with you that has helped me a great deal to lay down my fears in the area of having children. Our infertility story is like thousands of couples out there right now. We know that we are not alone. But this prayer has helped me put things in perspective and lay down my fears…day in and day out. This is from an awesome book I read recently called, Hannah’s Hope. I hope it encourages you in some way…to lay down whatever fear you have and know that God is in complete control of our individual circumstances. Whatever our desire…our first love must always for Him and to know Him. He alone can satifsy us….He is more than enough.
Thank you all so much for your prayers! Have a great week!
“Lord, help me to know that You are enough. Take my eyes off myself. Take my eyes off the child I desire. Help me to delight myself in You. Mold the desires of my heart to be in line with Your will. I don’t want to need to be a mother more than I need to be your humble, obedient child. I don’t want wanting to have a baby to be a stumbling block between You and me anymore.
I want to give this desire, this drive, this ache up to You. Help me not to snatch it back as I so often do with the burdens I place in Your hands. Help me to truly be content with Your will and Your timing.
You know that I still desire a baby — someone to mold, teach, train, shape, guide and help to grow in You. But until the day You give me that joyous blessing, help me to grow in You. Let me reach out to those around me. Let me witness and minister to the children You place in my path.
Lord, if adoption is the path You would have us take, prepart our hearts and prepare the child who will share our home. If adoption is not Your will for our lives, keep me from pushing ahead of Your plan. Help me to stay submitted to my husband’s will, and to Your will. If we are headed in the wrong direciton, change our hearts.
Thank you for lifting my burden. Help me to keep You first! Let me seek Your face daily, and let me know that you are enough!
“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:12
God is always at work July 23, 2008
Posted by lesli in infertility journey, praise, updates.add a comment
So, my surgery date has been scheduled for Friday, August 1. Honestly I am a little nervous, but God is giving me grace and I know that He will go with me on this journey! Please pray that all goes well and that if they find anything, that it can be treated and hopefully improve our chances of conceiving Also, for anyone out there needing some encouragement and support on your infertility journey or the loss of a child, miscarriage, etc. I know that this is a big need. Our church is starting a support group for couples on Sunday, August 10 at 4:30pm. I don’t have a room # yet, but for more info call the Care Ministeries Office at 577-4222. How awesome is that? Jess and I will probably be there is you need a friend to go with you
BEACH REACH 08
BEACH REACH 08
Ben and a group of about 40 of our high school students are in Wilmington, NC this week ministering to people there doing some construction and VBS in the evenings…AKA–BEACH REACH 08. See pics above. You can read their updates here…http://www.shbchsblog.com/ . Also another team member in my office, Leena, is serving with a team in Kenya this week. Leena is our Women’s Ministry Director. Pray for their safety as Kenya has had periods of unrest over the last few months.
Ben, Sara & Eli
Church plants in TN are growing. Our High School pastor, Ben and his wife Sara have just announced that they will be starting a church in Morristown, TN over the next few months. Arrowhead church will be a brand new church for the thousands of unchurched in Hamblen County. It is bittersweet because I have worked with Ben for 4 years now and he is an incredible pastor and a dynamic leader. I, along with the rest of our staff and student ministry is going to miss him terribly. But on the flip side, I am really very excited because Morristown is practically like my home town. I have lots of family there and it holds many special memories for me from my childhood. I can see this new church plant being exactly what that area needs and no one better to lead it than Ben and Sara. GOD IS AMAZING and we all are anticipating great things from Arrowhead Church. I will try and post the web site and other stuff when I get it.
We also met an awesome couple last night who are in the planning stages of starting a new church in North Knoxville called The Ridge. The Layne’s are very excited about meeting the needs of the unchurched in this rapidly expanding area of Knoxville. How exciting is that?
So, Jesse and I are really excited that God is moving so much in this area and are encouraged by those around us who are stepping out on faith to answer the call. We also can’t hardly wait for our celebration service on 8-24 here at Sevier Heights as we unveil the finished construction here!!! WOW is all I can say. So much to be praising God for. He is always at work!
a decision July 14, 2008
Posted by lesli in infertility journey, updates.1 comment so far
After much prayer, God confirmed our decision about surgery through some awesome friends and family. Jesse and I have decided that I will go ahead and have the laproscopy done to check for endometriosis. My dr. told me Friday that the chance of me having endometriosis is in the high 90s. God has given us peace about the insurance issue, so we are ready to go forward. PRAISE!
God always works on His timetable, but He never leaves in the dark. The way He confirmed this was really awesome and I can’t thank Him enough for the chance to learn more about this process. So many women struggle to concieve and God has given me a heart of compassion for them and what I once took for granted. He has taught me to realize the wonder, beauty and blessing of bringing life into the world. Never again will I see children or parenthood the same. His marvelous power is displayed in every little detail of the human life. I am in awe His power and humbled to see the opportunities He has given us as women to share in HIS creation.
Whatever happens, we know that God is taking care of us. In the meantime I love Jesse more and more everyday and I cherish the time that we have had together just as a couple in our marriage. God is good…in all things…in all times!
wait on the Lord June 9, 2008
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Well, it has been a whirlwind, but we have decided to wait on the surgery until we have more information and can plan a little better. I did’t get the official date until Thursday of last week, so it was very difficult to get things in order at work in such short notice. Work is very crazy this week and so it was the worst time to be out! AND, they could guarantee that insurance would cover the cost and told me that if we had to pay out of pocket it would be around $12,000. Wow. So, Jesse and I agreed to hold off this month and pray through our decision.
A friend dropped by this morning and reminded me of something important. It is from Psalm 27:14,
“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”
We are going to wait and pray! Thanks for all your prayers! God is good and His plans are perfect!!!
