building a family altar

I know it has been a while since I've blogged it up! This is what has been on my heart lately is building a family altar. Before we moved out to KC, MO there was a day where we knew we needed to seek the Lord for some answers on what this new season was going to look like. So Tom got his guitar out started worshipping, I gave the kids there bibles, Trinity was dancing and Samuel was sitting next to Tom. Then Samuel kept pointing at the bible like he wanted us to read something. We look and it is Genesis 35:1 Then God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there; and make an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from the face of Esau your brother." Gen 35:2 And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. Gen 35:3 "Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.

I love this because He says to go there, dwell there, make an altar. Bethel was a place where Jacob had encountered the Lord, for us KC is a place where we had encounters with the Lord. Then it says in vs. 3 he tells his household to arise and go to Bethel. It was so clear to us that the Lord was saying go to KC, dwell there, and make a family altar. So we are here, we are dwelling, now to build a family altar. So I am pondering what does that mean, what does a family altar look like etc. Some things I've come up with this morning is an altar is a place of communion, it is a place to bring gifts of worship and sacrifice, it is a common place to meet with God. That out of a heart of thanksgiving we build and altar and worship God. I was looking in the Bible at some of the men that built altars. First there is Noah, Moses, and Jacob. I feel like Noah represents grace, Moses the law, and Jacob is a wrestler and represents prayer.

So this is just the beginning of my study on this but babies are crying and it is time to start the day, just needed to share some thoughts, we will update ya soon. Bless you all!
~Hilary

Made it to KC!

Real quick update! We made it to KC safely, we signed a year lease to rent a house here, Tom and I start staff tomorrow! It has been amazing to be back in Kansas City, MO. I really love it here! When we arrived we were welcomed by so many friends, just felt really blessed. People bringing over meals, gifts, money, and love! Just what I needed was some love : )

So the house is cute just feels like it is taking forever to get through all these boxes and to make it really our home. Also had to get use to killing spiders, ewww, I didn't realize that was such a fear of mine but I'm getting over it! Still trying to get in a groove with the kids and with house cleaning. I've heard it takes a year to get into the groove of things after having a baby. Well it's been 6 months so I have another 6 months to go I guess.

Been enjoying going to the prayer room again. It is so good to be where the Lord first encountered my heart and where he healed my heart of so many issues. Feels good to just sit and cry with Him, love the sweetness and tenderness I'm feeling these days. God is pouring out His Spirit at IHOP in an unusual way right now. Many people have been healed both physically and emotionally. Several ears were opened up, a lady with scoliosis was healed, and a tumor disappeared! I went to the service the other night and saw many healed and touched. I wasn't healed of anything but I did feel His sweet presence and felt His love for me. They've been having nightly meetings for 3 nights now, you should check it out for free this whole week every night from 6-midnight at www.ihop.org

ok that was suppose to be quick but just was enjoying writing today, may the Lord bless you all abundantly! Much love from the Lacy family!
~Hilary

On the road again!

We are leaving this morning! It's been a while since I've blogged but just wanted to give a quick update. We packed up the truck and cleaned the house yesterday and we are all set. Thank you all for your help, we were really blessed to have so many people that helped and got it done a lot faster, thanks! We will be driving today to Cookeville, TN and staying with our friends parents. Then tomorrow we will drive to St. Louis, MO to visit and stay with some dear friends, which will be refreshing! Then we will land in KC on Thursday. We do not know where we are living yet but God knows! We will be staying with our friends (yay Pastor Chris!) in KC for 5 days and then we will stay with some more dear friends for another 5 days and hopefully by then we will find a home! Please pray for grace as we drive, Tom will be driving Kirk's van and trailer and I will be driving the car with 2 toddlers and a nursing babe. Also please pray for grace on the children as we stay at other peoples' houses and grace for this transition. We love all of you who are staying and all of you we will be seeing soon, thank you all for your prayers, may the Lord bless you!
~Hilary

So much on my mind

Have so many thoughts these days and don't really know where to start or what to say. We are leaving a place we've grown to love, a place we've sown in the Spirit, a place where we started our family, and a place where we've made so many friends. So we are sad but excited all in one. We are headed back to Kansas City, MO another place where we've sown to the spirit and have many loved ones as well. Excited to start fresh again. But still not understanding all of God's ways right now. So things have been crazy with cleaning, touching up the house, getting rid of stuff and packing all on top of the usual tasks of holding babies, chasing babies, changing diapers, doing laundry, making meals, loving on my Hubby, and spending time with the Lord. So if you can't tell I'm kind of feeling all over the place but know that God is good, He has a plan and that we are going to make it through this! So Tom is leaving on Wednesday for a week to go to Kansas City, Mo. IHOP-KC is having a special celebration for there 10 year anniversary so a couple vans full of people are going out. I'm really excited about it, I will be watching it online. Also Tom will be looking for a house for us. So there's kind of an update for ya, maybe next time it will be better written and not all over the place, thanks for bearing with me. Bless you all! ~Hilary

Moving to KC, MO!

Dear friends and family,

We wanted to let you all know that we are moving back to Kansas City, MO. Here's more info from Tom:

About a week ago ZHOP-Charlotte announced the completion of it's assignment here, in South Carolina. There is still a strong prayer community intact here that will continue to grow and thrive in the grace of God just not under the banner of ZHOP. Whatever ZHOP built in the Spirit will remain, and whatever was born of the flesh will die and needs to die. God says 'well done.' (BBQ term)

Our family (of five now) will be moving in SHORT ORDER back to IHOP-KC to submit to the leadership there and serve as full time staff. We are doing this in one of our WEAKEST SEASONS FINANCIALLY. We believe God would have us transition to KC IN STRENGTH. We are ON A COURSE TO RAISE $7,500.00 to do this comfortably with our children.

WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

#1 Way) We need Your Money
#2 Way) We need Your Prayers for Strength in Transition
#3 Way) No kidding We need your Money
#4 Way) If you reside in KC, you can be on the look out for affordable 3 bedroom homes to rent $750-$1100/mo.
#5 Way) If you reside in a KC home, you can provide an interim place for us to stay while we look for home, or anything you can offer that you know would help us.

Thank you for understanding this point blank and frank email and for prayerfully replying and acting fast.

Testimony!

We have a gathering at our house every Tuesday night and we get together and worship, hear some one's testimony and have a meal together. Each week we choose someones name out of a bowl to see who speaks next week so my name got picked this week and I got to share my testimony. Thought I would share it with all of you too!
Grew up in a non Christian home didn't go to church, parents were divorced was I was 2. Then fast forward I was about 21 I wasn't into drugs or alcohol was pretty much a "good girl" trying to please everyone but had been seeking for love, just really wounded and hurt and ended up in a bad relationship with a guy. He was a gambler and into drinking and drugs. I was a waitress and worked and worked to give him money. Took out loans for him etc. He would say he was going to pay me back and then didn't. Each time I believed that he would, I thought he was going to change. I really believed I was going to get love in return for doing this for him. I was super deceived at the time, not knowing who I was or what I deserved or that I was even loved. I just was super hurt by people and it was getting to the point where I couldn't trust anyone. It was getting pretty bad and I was really depressed. Then I thought most of my Christian friends are always happy oh I should go to church then. Searched for churches then found this church and went to it for a while. Just went by myself and sat in the back then left real fast because I was so afraid to talk to people and that I would get hurt. One day I filled out this connection card and I checked the box that said I have questions and would like someone to call me. So the pastor called me and we started meeting weekly and I had my list of questions for him about what was being taught and about the bible. Finally one day(Valentine's Day) when I met with my pastor I gave my heart to the Lord!(Bless you Pastor Chris!) At that time I was still in this bad relationship I would have weekly meetings with one of our pastors and he would coach me through how to leave this guy. Finally left him and from there started a process of healing with the Lord. About a year later I started getting hungry for the Lord and for His word, the word was coming alive. I would stay up late at night and read the bible. I had a white board of all my friends and family's prayer requests and would just prayer over each person. Started enjoying being around people making real friendships which I was scared about before. They started having prayer meetings at our church where we were learning prophecy and learning about the Holy Spirit. During this same time is when I met Tom, he was the leader of my small group. Tom and I started meeting and going out for coffee and just reading the bible and going after John 15:1-5 all about abiding. Then I found out about IHOP and the One thing conference and raised money to go. I had never been around so many young people loving the Lord and had never experienced this kind of worship. At the conference I decided I needed to do an internship and I felt like if I didn't go right then, then I probably never would. So raised money and with in a week went to do the internship, moved and Tom and I were together at that time and did a long distance relationship for 8 months. There I grew so much, living in community, learned how to pray, first time learning about end times and stuff but the big thing was I learned that God really loves me actually He likes me. That it's not about petitions it's about a friendship a relationship. Found out who I am in Him, that I am beautiful in His sight, that I am lovely and His delight. All this was new to me, I always longed for an identity and finally found one in Him. My prayers were being answered one after another with provision and heart issues. He did all this because He loves me and that's it He love us guys! I mean it's not just some saying He really does. I finally came to that place of being able to receive His love and once I received His love I was able to pour out my love whole heartedly. And now this is the kind of life I am called to live is be a radical lover of God, my husband is and we are raising are kids to be radical lovers of God. I challenge you to be one too! I pray that He will strengthen you with His might, that He would root you and ground you in His love and that you would truly know the depths of His love for you! In Jesus name, Amen!
~Hilary

Stories

Sorry it's been a while trying to figure out how to keep this blog up, hope I still have some readers out there! Thought I'd share some stories about what it is like being a Mom with 3 under 3yrs. old. Today for instance I needed to wash Samuel and Trinity's blankets. They both have become very attached to them lately and I was making them keep the blankets in there bed but with Trinity teething this week I let her take it around the house for comfort but in doing this it has gotten super dirty. So I put them in the wash and for 45 min she through a fit, no kidding. Crocodile tears, red face, lots of screaming and crying. I tried to give her another blanket but didn't work. During all this Samuel is running around screaming "Cadia Cadia" that is what he calls her. And Esther was sleeping and got woken up by all this. We got through it though and she has a clean blanket now, yay. The other day was a little crazy I tried to go the store with all 3 alone. So I put Esther in this snugly carrier thingy on me, put Trinity in the front of the cart and made Samuel sit in the cart. It actually went pretty well the only thing that was hard was when Samuel had to pee twice and I had to lift him out while holding Esther. People were giving me some looks one lady asked me if I was babysitting. I said no these are all mine, she said I pity you. Didn't know what to say but Oh Thanks!

Well I know it does sound crazy but there has been a special grace with having 3, I'm still trying to figure out how to organize my time though. I want to get up early and pray but sometimes the baby wakes up early too so I pray with her but I really enjoy just me and God time! Also trying to figure out when to cook, clean and do laundry, I mean I do it when the kids are pretty much running around at my feet but then something usually comes up like a diaper needing changed, or nursing, or spit up. But in all this I'm feeling the Lord's delight over me. I've been finding myself chuckling when something crazy happens or one of the kids go bazurk and I just say oh Lord you delight in me and it feels like He is smiling over me, love it! Well there ya go, have a blessed day!
~Hilary

Boys playing drums!

The Lord is good!

The sun is shining through the window and everyone is still sound asleep! I guess the Lord wanted to kiss me today! I love it when I can just wake up on my own and not to someone crying, it changes my whole mood for the day. Well things are going well, thank you for all your prayers! We are sad to see friends go and move on but are excited to see what the Lord has for us in this next season. We feel like this is what He is saying, Psalm 37:3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. The Lord is sooo good! This time of sifting from the Lord has been so good because it has brought us closer to Him and has brought Tom and I closer. Things are going well with all the little ones. They bring me so much joy! We are so blessed to have 3 healthy babes! So, just learning how to juggle it all hubby, kids, cleaning, cooking, lifestyle of prayer and all with a joyful heart. We will post more pics soon! Blessings!
~Hilary

Lots of change

Yep it has been two months since I've blogged so much to say! We've had many visitors since Esther was born which has been nice. Our spiritual Momma Faith came to visit, then my Mom, then my dear friend Kathrine, now my Dad and bro will be here today! We have been adjusting to having 3 children just great, I've been surprised at the amount of grace the Lord has given us during this time. So that's the short family update now what is really on my heart...

There's lots of change going on here and I don't quite know how I feel about it or what to say...We just found out that the Senior leaders at ZHOP and three other families are called to go back to IHOP in Kansas City. So we are processing this all since this is a huge change for our family and this community. These are people that we love dearly and have grown in friendship together so it is very hard to see them go. We are giving ourselves two weeks to just let all this settle in our hearts and to get through all the emotion of it. The Lord has really been sifting our hearts and asking us what did we really come out here for? Man's vision or God's vision. So where do we go from here? We pray! We will keep you posted, bless you all!
~Hilary

Esther Gloria Lacy has arrived!

Happy Mother's Day to me! Esther Gloria Lacy was born on May 10th at 3:18am. She's such a beautiful gift from the Lord. Saturday night was like every other night that week having contractions 10 min. apart while I'm trying to sleep but then it changed around midnight and started getting more painful and 5 minutes apart. Tom was in the garage working on a Mother's day gift for me so I decided to put on some worship music and get on the birthing ball. It was an amazing time with the Lord just worhsipping, going through the contractions and really feeling His presence and love towards me. Then it started getting pretty painful and intense real fast. We got our friend Christiane to come over and stay with the kids then we headed off to the hospital. Arrived at 2:45am and had her at 3:18am. When I showed up I was ready to push, they wheeled me into the delivery room and it was super fast from there. Pushed three times and the little beauty was born! Her and I are both doing well, this has been the easiest birth for me so far and we've had an amazing experience at the hospital too. The Lord has really shown His kindness and love towards our family, I feel so loved and blessed!

As many of you know, most of my pregnancy we felt like we were having a boy and all we had was a boys name. Then on Saturday a friend in our community shared a dream he had with us. In the dream we were at ZHOP, Tom and I were up at the altar, I was laying on my back still pregnant and the Glory of the Lord was in the room. Then he saw a star and a cloud, that was pretty much the dream, he felt like the dream was about our baby. Then that same night Tom was talking with a friend about if we were to have a girl what we would name her and he said he was thinking of Hadassah, which is Esther's Hebrew name in the bible. Then our friend said Esther means star. Right while Tom was having this conversation I was upstairs having contractions and asking the Lord about a girls name and the only name that came to me was Esther. Then right as we are leaving to go to the hospital we walk out to our car and the same friend that had the dream about us was driving by and honked his horn(this was at 2am). It was a little confirmation to us from the Lord that we were probably having a girl and her name should be Esther. Gloria means glory so that is why we chose that for her middle name. It was amazing that He gave us a name right at the last moment. So there's our story. Thank you all for your love and prayers!
~Tom and Hilary

Happy Saturday!

Enjoying waking up to the sunshine this morning and hearing Samuel singing through the monitor. Thinking of how thankful I am to have Thomas Lacy as my Hubby! He surprised me yesterday and took half the day off so I could rest and we could have some family time. The night before I was up all night with contractions thinking that was going to be the night the baby was coming and then all of a sudden the contractions stopped. So yesterday I was pretty bummed and he said I looked a little flustered as I continued to change diapers and do laundry and he said he just wanted to bless me by coming home early! That made my day! He also went and got me chocolate without me even asking!

So as many of you know it is a week away from my due date and since I tend to go early and have been having intense contractions I thought the baby would be here by now. I'm still 39 weeks but I feel overdue since my heart was kinda set on it being early. I'm sure some of you other Mom's can relate. So I've been pretty moody and frustrated this week but today I woke up just really feeling the peace of the Lord and just realized that I need to just enjoy this waiting time and to rest, trust and hope in the Lord during this process. The baby will come sooner or later I just have to let go and let God do it! So I'm giving it to the Lord again today! I'm just really excited to see who is inside me and for our season to change as a family once again. Samuel seems excited and kisses and prays for the baby every night but I'm still not sure if Trinity quite understands. We went to bring a meal to a couple who just had a baby the other night and Trinity got so excited when she saw little Anna, so I'm hoping that will be the same with baby #3. I guess I had much to say today, just wanted to give you all an update. Blessing to you all! ~Hilary

Mystery baby

This is amazing I woke up before the kids and got ready and they are still sleeping, 8:30 is sleeping in for them so this is a kiss from the Lord! So I thought I'd write a little. Was up last night not able to sleep due to contractions, so of course I started getting all excited because with the past births I didn't have contractions until the day of going into labor. So I was up for about 3 hours then they were done, bummer! This baby sure is a mystery to me. They've given us 3 due dates because they were unsure since I was still nursing Trinity when I found out I was pregnant. So the first two have passed and the 3rd due date is May 15th which I thought it would be easy to tell myself that's when the baby is coming but deep down inside I was hoping it to be earlier. I know that date is only 19 days away but I'm feeling ready! For me it is just hard cause I like to plan ahead and make sure everything is ready, got enough food for the kids while we are in the hospital, laundry is done, house is clean etc. So not knowing is really making me trust in the Lord and lean on Him. Ok I had lots more to say but Trinity is crying now. I'm getting excited and we will keep you posted when this mystery baby comes! Bless you all!
~Hilary

He loves the sound of my voice!

I've been desiring more of the Lord these days. Realizing I can't do anything with out Him. I was telling Samuel the other day that he can talk to the Lord whenever he wants to. Then later I thought wow why don't I do that anymore. Why don't I just talk to the Lord whenever I want to. He loves the sound of my voice, so why don't I just let Him hear my voice. I was feeling sad tonight as Tom was leaving for a meeting and I was feeling kind of alone. He said well what are you going to do while I'm gone, I said I don't know there's not much I can do. He said why don't you write the word in your journal. So that's what I've been doing and I can feel my heart coming alive again. Finally I talked with the Lord and journaled which I haven't done in a long time. I just have been so busy with my day in and day out stuff, with changing diapers, cleaning, cooking, preparing for this baby to come etc. In all of that my heart has been hurting because I haven't been communing with Him or even coming to Him with my hurt or day to day needs. So all that to say I feel a little lighter tonight since I finally brought my burdens to the Lord instead of trying to keep it all together in my own strength. The Lord is my strength, He loves me, He's the best listener and He loves the sound of my voice! Thank you Lord for healing my heart tonight just by listening, you are so good and kind to me! I pray you all will draw near to the Lord tonight and feel His love towards you!
~ Hilary

Sorry ya'll haven't been in the mood to write these days. So here goes... not much new here just getting ready for #3 to come. Painted a dresser for the new baby, moved the bassinett into our room, went through all the newborn clothes, packed my bag for the hospital. Getting excited that's for sure! We are switching over to cloth diapers and they should be shipped to us this week. We figure we will have 3 in diapers and more down the road so might as well switch now and save money. We were blessed with almost all the money to get started on cloth diapers so I'm very thankful for that! Have about a month to go now, might be sooner though because I am HUGE! Praying for more grace and strength on my body and on my heart! Didn't realize it would be this hard running after 2 plus dealing with their emotions and mine at the same time. I have a new respect for Mom's that's for sure. Just asking for the Lord to show me more of Him each day because that is the only way I can make it through. Tom is doing good and I'm amazed how gracious he has been to me with all my moodiness and drama these days. I am blessed among women! Here's some pics for ya from Easter. We had a family breakfast, then Tom did his normal 12-6 shift so I brought the kids to the prayer room after nap time. After they couldn't keep quiet in the prayer room we went to the Mom's room so they could play, here's some pics of that. Be blessed this week! Love Hilary

Sweet small whispers

The Lord is speaking to me in sweet small whispers today, I love it when He does this. One thing was I turned on the Prayer room in Kansas City and they were singing this "He's brought me to the wilderness where I will learn to sing, He lets me know my barrenness so I will learn to lean... He's so kind to me! I'm so convinced that you are good God!" I heard this and tears came a flooding down. It is so good sometimes to actually feel ya know, I usually stuff it all down but these days it is all coming to the surface which is so good and it is the only way that the Lord will bring healing in our hearts. So hearing this for me was just confirmation that I am in the right place, even though I feel like this is so hard and sometimes I feel like I'm at the end of my rope, He says that it is His doing bringing me to this place of the wilderness and barrenness in the spirit. It is so I will learn to sing in the midst of pain and hard times and so I will learn to go to Him and lean on Him instead of all the other things of this world. He does this in His kindness towards me! So that's whats on my heart today! On another note, it was Trinity's 1st Birthday yesterday! We just had a couple people over and had pizza, cake and opened presents. She loved the cake. Thought I'd put some pics up of our beautiful girl! Bless you all today! ~Hilary

Yummy carrot cake!

Opening presents

Playing with our friend Christiane
(Tom got her the cute outfit and clip in Hawaii)

Quick update

Well it has been a while once again, oops! I was doing so good about keeping ya'll up to date but haven't had the computer lately so I've been out of the loop a little. Tom's computer crashed so he uses mine and by the time he comes home I am too wiped out to communicate. Tom just went to get his haircut, Trinity is taking a nap and Samuel is having quiet time, and here I am! I think the last time I wrote Tom was just coming home from Hawaii. He had a blessed trip and thank you all for your gifts towards his trip. I really have to get him to blog about it, God did a lot! The same night he came home my good friend Kathrine from KC came to visit for a week. That was so wonderful! We had lots of fun just being together, praying together, her helping me with the kids and such. I realized that it is so nice to have those friends that you can just pick up where you left off, the ones that will just love you in your weakness and pray for you when you are down and help in any way. That is Kathrine for me...she is just great! Just having her here brought me back to the place of prayer and just calling on His name more, it was very refreshing. Now we are trying to get back into the swing of things. I'm trying to get ready for this little bundle to come. Since they gave us so many due dates I feel like I just have no clue when the baby is coming, huge range between early April and middle May so there ya go. I keep saying the baby will come when it is time and hopefully we will have everything ready for the little one. All we need is a crib, cloth diapers, and a triple stroller. Which really we will have the baby in a bassinet for a little while and the triple stroller isn't totally needed it's just for convenience so we really just need diapers. One of my friends is throwing me a small shower on Wed. so that is exciting and is a huge blessing from the Lord because I didn't think I was going to have a shower at all this time around. The Kids are doing great Trinity will be a year on April 1st and is almost walking. Samuel is growing and learning so much every day, he's singing right now! They both carry so much joy and bless me so much. Even though there are hard days with being super prego and trying to run after them I still am so thankful the Lord has given them to us and that we get to be play a part in raising the next generation. Ok I better run now, thanks for listening and bless you all!
~Hilary

Learning to lean on my Beloved

Well it has almost been two weeks since Tom's been gone and there has been some hard times but good ones too! I've realized that I tend to lean too much on Tom instead of leaning on the Lord and trusting in Him and in His strength. The Lord has been showing me who I am again, teaching me to call on Him in every circumstance and this has been so good for me to learn again and has been very refreshing for my heart. I feel very loved by the Lord and by others these past 2 weeks.

Sometimes it is easy to feel pretty much hidden as a Mom and as one married to the most joyful, outgoing and loveable guy! So I was sort of thinking maybe people wouldn't think about me or check on me while Tom was gone but I was wrong. I've been so blessed by this community we live in! So many have come to visit and keep me company, some have made meals, some have watched my kids so I can get groceries or just have a break, many have called to check on me and to pray when the kids were sick. I've just been blown away at His love for me through all you wonderful ones out there, thank you and may you all be blessed by the Lord today!
~Hilary

Busy week

Well, had a very eventful week or two. Celebrated Hubby's B-day (thank you everyone for blessing him!) Celebrated our Anniversary, was blessed with roses and and an amazing massage at a beautiful salon and then had quality one on one time with Tom. I felt so pampered and so loved by Tom and the Lord! Now finishing up the last minute packing for Tom. Yep he leaves tomorrow for Hawaii for 14 days. So we've been trying to prepare Samuel for this, telling him Daddy is going on an airplane to Hawaii but that we can talk to him on the phone and see him on the computer(yay for skype). Samuel says "da da go hi-he" it is so cute. So I'm gonna try and keep busy. Going to my bro's in Atlanta for 4 days then when I come back I'm going to work on some projects. Tom got me some paint so I'm going to see how much energy I have but we have paint for our bathroom, our bedroom and nursery. Also going to paint a dresser for baby # 3. Glad I'm nesting it will make these 2 weeks easier I hope. I am sad for Tom to be away for so long but I am excited to see what the Lord will do in both of our hearts. I really feel like the Lord is drawing us closer to Him and pushing us into Him again. It's funny cause before we were married we had a long distance relationship for 8 months and it made us seek the Lord in a new way. So this should be a good 2 weeks of seeking the Lord again. Anyways, there's my heart for ya, looking forward to spending some extra time with the Lord while Tom's gone but also looking forward to looking at Hawaii pics when he gets back. Pray for Tom and our director as they go and please pray for grace to be on the kids and I. Blessings on you all!
~Hilary

Video of kiddos

Happy Salvation day to me!

Happy Valentine's day to you all! I'm blessing the Lord for this day, I was saved on this day years ago. I remember it very clearly searching and searching for love and was not finding it anywhere. Was very hurt and very unhappy. I remember thinking all my Christian friends seem to be so happy, guess I better go to church like they do. So I found a church started going to it and then became interested in the word. I had no one to ask questions about the word so I set up meetings with one of our pastors at our church and we would meet and I would bring my list of questions about the bible to him. My heart was beginning to come alive during these meetings and I would go home sit on my bed, read and search for more truth. Then on Valentine's day I went in for another meeting with my pastor and he said it sounds like your ready do you want to ask Jesus into your heart? I said Yes! We prayed together and then went and announced it to everyone that happened to be in the church building that day. A big thanks to you Pastor Chris for taking the time and answering all my questions and for being patient with me and for leading me to the Lord!

Today I am thanking the Lord for His kindness towards me! What a journey it has been. From that day I started seeking the Lord more and more. Learned I could talk to Him whenever I wanted to. My dream was to be able to pray all day, I didn't think it ever would be possible. As all you know it is! The Lord is so good to me, he saved me and set me free, he's healed me in so many ways and even on my bad days He still loves me. Another dream of mine was to be married with kids. It is all I ever wanted. I was praying for "the one" and I would always say I wanted 10 children. Looks like God is answering prayer! I definitely met the love of my life, we are going on 3 yrs married this Wednesday, so exciting. Looks like God is giving me those children I asked for and He's doing it fast. So all this to say....He is good and I am blessed. Be blessed today ya'll
~Hilary

Thankful heart!

Hello there, for some reason I haven't had much to write about lately so here goes. Today I am very thankful! I'm thankful for the community we live in and the friends we have even if we don't talk all the time our hearts are knit in prayer which I love! I'm thankful that the Lord is good all the time. I am thankful for the husband and children He has given me. Most of all I am thankful He saved my soul! I love the Lord my God!
Here's some random pics, not the best but the cute kids are in them so here ya go. Have a blessed Saturday! ~Hilary

Here's Samuel having a coffee(steamed milk)

Trinity can reach the piano now, she is growin up!

Laughing and crawling

Sweet boy, he put the hat this way.

Motherhood thoughts

Thinking a lot about motherhood these days. Of course that makes sense since that is my life! The other day I was chatting with Tom telling him how the babes were crawling all over me and la la laing (singing) and so on. He said "isn't that what you thought motherhood would be like?" Then it hit me, yep I did. I thought for the most part it would be pretty easy lots of fun, just cuddling, laughing and playing. What I am learning now is it is so much more than that, it is teaching, disciplining, cleaning, loving, and praying. I'm realizing we Mom's are stronger than we think and have a lot more inside than others know. Sometimes I struggle with not being able to go to the prayer room as much or not being able to go to all the amazing meetings where Holy Spirit shows up. But today I am very thankful for the kind of life I live. I am blessed to stay at home with my little ones and to pour into them. I am still an intercessor and prayer warrior. Just more of a hidden one! My house is literally a House of Prayer. So just learning to really live a lifestyle of prayer that no matter what I am doing that I am praising God while doing it, finding Him in it, and talking to Him! Today we had a family devotional before Tom went off to the prayer room. He was singing and playing the guitar and I was running around trying to finish up cleaning, get my coffee and bible so I could sit and join them. I had a question about the coffee but felt bad for interrupting Tom while he was in worship. He said "don't be sorry this is how we should live, do our normal everyday stuff while communing with God at the same time." I liked that!

I'm also finally taking some one's advice they gave me when I first had Samuel. It was to find a rhythm in being a Mom and that the rhythm will always be changing but embrace the rhythm the Lord has for you in each season. So I just started a new rhythm since Tom's schedule changed. It is getting up before everyone else does, get ready and get with the Lord. It is only an hour some days less if I accidentally sleep in. I've just found that if I don't do this I am a grump and my heart isn't as alive. I've also been reading through the Old Testament which has been lots of fun for me. I feel like I am getting addicted to the Lord again and that a fresh hunger is coming. I know there is so much more to say because it has been a while but I think this is long enough and pray you are all blessed this weekend!
~Hilary

Bath Time fun!

Here's some pics from bath time tonight!

Look how much they look alike.

He splashed her and thought that was so funny

For some reason our children love ducks
(hmm pastor Chris)

What a Beauty!

Learning to live with out offense!

It's a new day and a new year! I'm happy for that! So on New Years Eve I went to bed my usual time at 10 and fireworks went on and on till 4am. Yep we live in the South! So I was getting very mad, thinking all these things like..."don't these people have kids and need to sleep?" "these people are so disrespectful, I'm pregnant and need to sleep" and on and on went my complaining. I was so angry, it was not a pretty sight. I rolled over and told Tom how angry I was he said "that's not good." So I lay there talking with the Lord about it why I was so angry, and how I don't even know these people and I am so offended at them. How can I be so angry over such a small thing. Then I felt the Lord say"Hilary I am taking offense and anger out of your heart this year" I thought oh great. Then more fireworks went off, I couldn't help but laugh and laugh it was like something broke off of me. It was a great way to start the New Year off with the Lord.

So far little challenges have happened like the kid's waking up early from there naps which makes it so I don't get much alone time. Not being able to sleep at night which makes the next day hard. Finances not coming in like they were suppose to on certain dates. Etc. So when these things have happened this week instead of getting angry at the circumstances I've been coming to the Lord again (it has been a while) and I've asked Him to take my anger and fill me with His love. It has been hard cause I have to re-train myself that instead of turning to anger I have to turn to Him. It has been worth it though! I feel break through in my heart and that's what I've been needing. Thank you Lord!

Usually when I am offended at someone or at a circumstance it really just means I am offended at the Lord. So I found this today Acts 24:16 "This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men." What a great prayer, Lord let us have a conscience without offense toward you and toward men. Amen!

Love you all ~ Hilary