Sounds crazy, but it's true! Here's the story.
I'm going to keep this article and when my parents try and talk me out of moving to L.A. "because they have earthquakes there" I'll be able to say, "we have them here too!" ;)
Friday, October 31, 2008
Mom Makes Everything Better
I've been having an awful allergy day. I was sneezing a lot last night and woke up this morning to a stuffy nose and could barely breathe. I've felt pretty awful all day and the fact the Alexis' and Austin's birthday party (we're having one party for both of them) makes me panic because I REALLY want to enjoy the day with them tomorrow.
I was getting ready to watch an episode of Friday Night Lights a few hours ago when my mom came in my room with a Starbucks cup. She'd just returned home from running errands and stopped and picked up my favorite drink hoping it would help me feel better (they even put it in a vinti cup...I LOVE when they take my grande and put it in a vinti to make room for the exta whipped cream I like. They don't always do it but when they do, I love it!)
It's amazing what Starbucks and a hug from Mom can do! Thanks Mom, you're the best!
I was getting ready to watch an episode of Friday Night Lights a few hours ago when my mom came in my room with a Starbucks cup. She'd just returned home from running errands and stopped and picked up my favorite drink hoping it would help me feel better (they even put it in a vinti cup...I LOVE when they take my grande and put it in a vinti to make room for the exta whipped cream I like. They don't always do it but when they do, I love it!)
It's amazing what Starbucks and a hug from Mom can do! Thanks Mom, you're the best!
Monday, October 27, 2008
"A God of Second Chances"
Below is a music video of a song entitled, "A God of Second Chances" sung by Keith Caldwell.
I was in Keith's Theatre Appreciation class my second to last semester of college. It was during in a time whenever what I thought God was calling me to do in life was changing and I was really fighting it. I'm convinced God places certain people in your life at the perfect time and Keith was one of those people. Although it wasn't until AFTER I was finished with his class did I find the courage to e-mail him and share what God was doing in my life, and that it was through his class that God clarified things a bit more. He was actually one of the few people I shared all of this with at the time. Keith's encouragement during that time was such a gift and to this day he continues to encourage me and support me in the dreams that God has put within me. He's got an incredible voice and incredible God given talent. His story is one that proves that God heals and that EVERYTHING does indeed work together for good for those that love Him! I treasure my friendship with Keith and am so thankful for God allowing our paths to cross.
Stop by Keith's website or myspace page to learn more about him and his music. Drop him a note and say hello....Tell him Natalie sent you! And keep him and his music ministry in your prayers as he continues to glorify Christ with his talents. :)
Remember to stop my music at the bottom of the page to hear this video. Hope it encourages you!
I was in Keith's Theatre Appreciation class my second to last semester of college. It was during in a time whenever what I thought God was calling me to do in life was changing and I was really fighting it. I'm convinced God places certain people in your life at the perfect time and Keith was one of those people. Although it wasn't until AFTER I was finished with his class did I find the courage to e-mail him and share what God was doing in my life, and that it was through his class that God clarified things a bit more. He was actually one of the few people I shared all of this with at the time. Keith's encouragement during that time was such a gift and to this day he continues to encourage me and support me in the dreams that God has put within me. He's got an incredible voice and incredible God given talent. His story is one that proves that God heals and that EVERYTHING does indeed work together for good for those that love Him! I treasure my friendship with Keith and am so thankful for God allowing our paths to cross.
Stop by Keith's website or myspace page to learn more about him and his music. Drop him a note and say hello....Tell him Natalie sent you! And keep him and his music ministry in your prayers as he continues to glorify Christ with his talents. :)
Remember to stop my music at the bottom of the page to hear this video. Hope it encourages you!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
God's Plan is Perfect!
A big thanks to Donald over at his blog, American Power for sending me this story. After reading it, I had to post it here as well. An incredible story of love, faith, and trust in God's perfect plan....
Today's Wall Street Journal features the story of Parker Carden and his family of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Parker was diagnosed prenatally with a rare genetic abnormality of the kidneys that can kill an infant in the first year ("autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease").
The Parker family was faced with the question on whether to terminate their pregnancy, a decision so traumatic that it nearly cost them their marriage. Advanced prenatal genetic testing, which provided the Parker family with the early diagnosis for their son, "allows parents to take on the role of gene police," according to researcher Evelyne Schuster, who's quoted in the Wall Street Journal article.
In other words, prenatal tests allow families to obtain an abortion and avoid the prospect of bringing into the world a seriously, even catasthropically, ill child.
The Parkers refused to do this, and Jennifer Carden explains her family's decision at her blog, "Our Family Whirlwind":
This is one powerful story of family commitment and strength, shared in a time when values of life, faith, and family are at risk more than any other time in history.
Today's Wall Street Journal features the story of Parker Carden and his family of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Parker was diagnosed prenatally with a rare genetic abnormality of the kidneys that can kill an infant in the first year ("autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease").
The Parker family was faced with the question on whether to terminate their pregnancy, a decision so traumatic that it nearly cost them their marriage. Advanced prenatal genetic testing, which provided the Parker family with the early diagnosis for their son, "allows parents to take on the role of gene police," according to researcher Evelyne Schuster, who's quoted in the Wall Street Journal article.
In other words, prenatal tests allow families to obtain an abortion and avoid the prospect of bringing into the world a seriously, even catasthropically, ill child.
The Parkers refused to do this, and Jennifer Carden explains her family's decision at her blog, "Our Family Whirlwind":
Things get better everyday and we are blessed that Parker is in our lives. He has taught us more compassion and love than we have ever known. He makes great strides everyday and no one...NO ONE... can put a cap on his potential. Not doctors, idiots commenting on-line about the article, or anybody else. Who are we to question God's plan for us individually, us as a family, or Parker's path. What I know is that our family is full of love and admiration for each other. Parker is such a sweet and loving boy. Thank you God for letting us be his parents. No matter what happens, God gives us the strength to get through our days together. I love my children more than anything in the world. I have four great boys-all special in their own individual way. I have a great husband who supports us and allows me to stay home to raise our children and give more time to Parker.Parker Carden is now 20 months old. His kidneys function at about 60 percent of normal range. He will be confined to a wheelchair before he can walk. But he has the immortal love of his family, and the protection of God.
This is one powerful story of family commitment and strength, shared in a time when values of life, faith, and family are at risk more than any other time in history.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
My Dream...Sharing the Dempsey Difference
You hear me talk a lot about dreams and how I believe God has put a very specific dream in my heart. I haven't been very specific in what that dream is for fear of being judged and told how I need to dream differently or how I need to "get real." I was reading Liz Jordan's blog today and she was talking about how we need to say our dreams out loud. And she challenged us (readers and listeners...She's the afternoon host of KSBJ) to do just that. As I was reading her blog, my palms started to sweat. I've been thinking of blogging and doing this very thing...Telling you all my dream and the reasoning behind it. I have not done so until now because telling you all of this makes me feel vey vulnerable but I pray that in sharing this, you come away with a better understanding of why this particular dream is so important to me.
My dream is to meet Patrick Dempsey and to thank him personally for the life saving impact he has had in my life.
I know I would not be here today had it not been for his story. You've read it in my own story how he was giving an interview and what he had to say in that interview pulled me out of a depressed state when I was having a difficult time knowing why I should keep going, He showed me why through sharing his own struggles and giving me hope in the process.
I didn't know who Patrick Dempsey was at the time. I knew very little about his McDreamy character because I was just getting into the show at the time this took place so when I saw this interview, I wasn't seeing his character, I was seeing him...Patrick Dempsey, being real, being imperfect, making himself vulnerable by what he was sharing, and in doing so saving my life. I had gone to bed endless nights prior to seeing this interview begging for hope that I was not alone in my struggles (again, see my story for those details). I started watching that interview not looking for anything but entertainment and to learn more about this person. I did not start the interview looking for an answer to those prayers, in fact, I watched it to try and get away from the thoughts whirling in my head. But as I watched and listened to the interview, the hope and reassurance that I spent nights begging for was staring back at me in Patrick Dempsey. When you look at a person and see yourself, and then you look at them and see that they made it through the same thing you did, that they are better off, and that you are not alone...It changes you. His words breathed new life and perspective in me night and I've never been the same since.
Patrick saved my life that night and it was all because God had lined everything up perfectly. He wrote Patrick's story knowing it would save me, he heard my prayers all those nights that I spent begging for a reason, he got me interested in Grey's probably for the sole purpose of seeing Patrick and getting me at least interested in his character so that I would "just happen" to stumble upon an interview about the REAL Patrick Dempsey and God knew that was what would pull me back and change my life.
Patrick showed me what is possible. His honesty helped me believe in myself again and the difference I can make in someone's life simply by being real and genuine about who I am. Because of Patrick, I will never again doubt the impact one person can make. I call it The Dempsey Difference (corny perhaps, but it sums it up for me).
Since that night in September of 2006, I have ached to thank Patrick. Even I sometimes wonder why I want it as badly as I do. And while I think that this started out as one of those, "It would be amazing to meet him and thank Patrick one day" types of things. Something that would just be cool if it happened, the more I prayed about it and thought about how life altering it was and the impact he made, the more I feel like this is something that needs to happen because there still seems to be something deep down that won't heal until I'm able to do this. I started off wanting this, and now I think I NEED it as much as I want it. I pray for it daily, I dream about it weekly, and I just have to believe that God would not make me want something this badly if He did not have plans to make it happen.
I have done several things to try and put actions behind my faith and help make this dream happen. Lord knows it would have been a lot simpler for me to thank a friend or someone from my church. Instead, He has chosen to use one of the most sought after people in Hollywood to be a lifeline. It makes this dream very difficult to attain. The people people I have contacted to try and help get my story to Patrick probably think I am just another fan. I can only pray that God intervenes, sees the efforts I have made, and does what I cannot. And that somehow, some way, my story will get to Patrick and I WILL get to thank him personally and share with him how his story changed my own.
"And I feel like I'm naked in front of the crowd, cause these words are my diary screaming out loud and I know that you'll use them however you want to." ~Anna Nalick~
My dream is to meet Patrick Dempsey and to thank him personally for the life saving impact he has had in my life.
I know I would not be here today had it not been for his story. You've read it in my own story how he was giving an interview and what he had to say in that interview pulled me out of a depressed state when I was having a difficult time knowing why I should keep going, He showed me why through sharing his own struggles and giving me hope in the process.
I didn't know who Patrick Dempsey was at the time. I knew very little about his McDreamy character because I was just getting into the show at the time this took place so when I saw this interview, I wasn't seeing his character, I was seeing him...Patrick Dempsey, being real, being imperfect, making himself vulnerable by what he was sharing, and in doing so saving my life. I had gone to bed endless nights prior to seeing this interview begging for hope that I was not alone in my struggles (again, see my story for those details). I started watching that interview not looking for anything but entertainment and to learn more about this person. I did not start the interview looking for an answer to those prayers, in fact, I watched it to try and get away from the thoughts whirling in my head. But as I watched and listened to the interview, the hope and reassurance that I spent nights begging for was staring back at me in Patrick Dempsey. When you look at a person and see yourself, and then you look at them and see that they made it through the same thing you did, that they are better off, and that you are not alone...It changes you. His words breathed new life and perspective in me night and I've never been the same since.
Patrick saved my life that night and it was all because God had lined everything up perfectly. He wrote Patrick's story knowing it would save me, he heard my prayers all those nights that I spent begging for a reason, he got me interested in Grey's probably for the sole purpose of seeing Patrick and getting me at least interested in his character so that I would "just happen" to stumble upon an interview about the REAL Patrick Dempsey and God knew that was what would pull me back and change my life.
Patrick showed me what is possible. His honesty helped me believe in myself again and the difference I can make in someone's life simply by being real and genuine about who I am. Because of Patrick, I will never again doubt the impact one person can make. I call it The Dempsey Difference (corny perhaps, but it sums it up for me).
Since that night in September of 2006, I have ached to thank Patrick. Even I sometimes wonder why I want it as badly as I do. And while I think that this started out as one of those, "It would be amazing to meet him and thank Patrick one day" types of things. Something that would just be cool if it happened, the more I prayed about it and thought about how life altering it was and the impact he made, the more I feel like this is something that needs to happen because there still seems to be something deep down that won't heal until I'm able to do this. I started off wanting this, and now I think I NEED it as much as I want it. I pray for it daily, I dream about it weekly, and I just have to believe that God would not make me want something this badly if He did not have plans to make it happen.
I have done several things to try and put actions behind my faith and help make this dream happen. Lord knows it would have been a lot simpler for me to thank a friend or someone from my church. Instead, He has chosen to use one of the most sought after people in Hollywood to be a lifeline. It makes this dream very difficult to attain. The people people I have contacted to try and help get my story to Patrick probably think I am just another fan. I can only pray that God intervenes, sees the efforts I have made, and does what I cannot. And that somehow, some way, my story will get to Patrick and I WILL get to thank him personally and share with him how his story changed my own.
"And I feel like I'm naked in front of the crowd, cause these words are my diary screaming out loud and I know that you'll use them however you want to." ~Anna Nalick~
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Happy Birthday, Kyle!
Many of you remember getting an e-mail from me about a year ago asking for prayer for Kyle Sherrill. He was born at only 23 weeks and the prognosis did not look good. I received the e-mail via my church prayer list where a link was given to Pray for Kyle and as I read about the situation and being a preemie myself, my heart really went out to this family.
God is good! His healing power reigned and poured over this little baby and his family. I still do not know this family personally but because of my own story and my own early arrival, they hold a very special place in my heart and they are always in my prayers.
Kyle's story has touched so many lives and has showed me what can happen if we are consistently in prayer, on our knees about something. I've been in prayer about many things and for many people in my life but there are few things that I have prayed for and about as consistently as I have with Kyle and his family. He is a picture of what can happen when we stay consistent with our requests, when we keep believing, when we keep expecting...And WOW did God show up!
I am forever grateful to Kelly and John for allowing us to share in this journey with them as they shared their ups and downs of the past year in their blog. As they have shared their story and their experiences, I have learned from them so much and it has challenged me to grow in a deeper way as I walk with Christ daily. Thank you John and Kelly for being willing to share your story with us!
It is with a thankful heart that I wish Kyle a happy birthday today as he is officially one year old!
Happy Birthday Kyle! You are loved by so many!
God is good! His healing power reigned and poured over this little baby and his family. I still do not know this family personally but because of my own story and my own early arrival, they hold a very special place in my heart and they are always in my prayers.
Kyle's story has touched so many lives and has showed me what can happen if we are consistently in prayer, on our knees about something. I've been in prayer about many things and for many people in my life but there are few things that I have prayed for and about as consistently as I have with Kyle and his family. He is a picture of what can happen when we stay consistent with our requests, when we keep believing, when we keep expecting...And WOW did God show up!
I am forever grateful to Kelly and John for allowing us to share in this journey with them as they shared their ups and downs of the past year in their blog. As they have shared their story and their experiences, I have learned from them so much and it has challenged me to grow in a deeper way as I walk with Christ daily. Thank you John and Kelly for being willing to share your story with us!
It is with a thankful heart that I wish Kyle a happy birthday today as he is officially one year old!
Happy Birthday Kyle! You are loved by so many!
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