TRUST!

I know that time after time I have said that I trust God, but it seems there is often a test.
My family was devastated by our previous miscarriage but I was so excited, no elated to find out that once again I was pregnant. According to the first dates I was eight weeks last Thursday.
I had an ultra sound that afternoon. I unfortunately went alone but was confident that this experience would be incredible.
I arrived for my appointment a few minutes early and had to wait awhile for the doctor to see me. Instead of excitement though I began to feel dread. What had been a great beginning felt odd to say the least. After waiting for about 1/2 hour the doctor came in.
The doctor sat down and spoke with me stating that all my tests had come back great and that I had no problems as far as she could see. Then came the ultra sound. The two pictures above are the ones I get to keep. I was amazed that they could see something so small. They measured and then re-measured. I was concerned. They were so quiet.
When we were done the doctor said "You are not eight weeks according to my calculations you are only 6 weeks and 4 days." This was not a problem because I knew that very often due dates change at the beginning.
The doctor than began to state that she was concerned because she couldn't see a heartbeat and that she should be able to at this stage. Due to the fact that I haven't had a child for six years this was disconcerting. She said that either her dates were wrong or that there was no heartbeat and if there was no heartbeat that the baby would miscarry. She suggested a blood count test and I agreed.
I was devastated once again. It was as if the whole world closed in. I walked slowly to the lab and waited my turn. As I sat, I began to cry. Searching my soul I thought God how can this be? All I heard was trust me. I began to pray and state. "God I trust you. I trust you. I trust you." I couldn't help myself, in tears I whispered, " I love you anyway. I love you. I love you. I love you."
I was called into the lab. Test was taken.
I broke down completely on the way to the car. Never had I felt so alone. Even though I knew that I trusted God I just couldn't control the emotions that ripped through my heart. Sobbing I called my mother. I can't remember ever hurting this bad. She told me to come straight to her and I did. What a wonderful momma! Mom called dad and dad was there to meet me also within minutes. God is good! We prayed and proclaimed God's destiny on my baby and the emotions subsided. I felt free.
I got to talk to my sister-in-law and she helped. She was such an encourager. She said, "The kids and I already prayed and we know that everything is alright. Don't worry."
That night I went to a prayer meeting and was asked if anything was wrong. You know, I wanted so badly to state all the bad and have a pity party but all I could hear in my head was "Trust me."
So instead of speaking what I had feared and heard over my child I spoke only what I heard God say.
Trust is definitely not easy but it is releasing everything you can't control into the hands of the controller. My Jesus. My Peace and my King.
No matter what the tests say my Jesus is holding my baby through everything.

Take the Quiz here!

Baby News!

It is official!

Ray and I are having a baby! Alexis and Hannah are so excited. I am very excited yet nervous. I am 7 weeks and 2 days along. I will be updating the information as time progresses.


Isn't it amazing how God restores.


Our family is blessed. Not only am I expecting but Amy and Ben are expecting their fourth one week later.

God is so Good! Nothing compares to him.

Burn! Burn! Burn!

I went to this incredible women's retreat. Two to be truthful. It has been awesome to hear and see all that God has for the women of this generation.
Take up your arms and take your place! You have been called! You have been chosen, will you answer?
The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me.
He sent me to preach good news to the poor,
heal the heartbroken,
Announce freedom to all captives,
pardon all prisoners.
God sent me to announce the year of his grace—
a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies—
and to comfort all who mourn,
To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion,
give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes,
Messages of joy instead of news of doom,
a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Isaiah 61:1-7
I realized that in both women's meetings the premise was the same. It is our time. Will we choose to step into the place that God has called us to. It was said that it was not that women needed to step forward but that the men needed to take one step to the side so that the women could come to be by the man's side.
I was not prepared to be ministered to as much as I was these last two retreats.
At one retreat, we, women gained ground and moved closer to our King, and at another I was shown ways to step up and to move in the spirit.
Wow! Girls if there is one thing that I am realizing it is that we are in perilous times. Not only are we fighting for our lives but for our families and all the promises that God has given us. Don't let go and don't let them be stolen. Burn long and bright. Start to blaze and light the dead things ablaze to life.
All it takes is one spark. How does a forest fire begin?
Just one spark...

Alexis and Hannah's first haircut and photos!

Women's Retreat 2007

Wow! Isn't it funny how God works. I had such a difficult time with the week before the women's retreat and knew that something good had to happen.
It was amazing! I have never desired to go to a women's retreat for the other women. I enjoy my friends but often am intimidated and fearful of getting hurt when I get close to women. So retreats are not usually something I look forward to for the women.
This Year was different. I really desired to be with all the women of God. Thank you God for the changes that have happened in my life.
I love my sisters in Christ and am so happy to see the work that Holy Spirit is doing in their lives. I am a work in progress and feel that I am changing daily but it is hard. Things that I thought had been taken care of have suddenly popped out again.

Purify everything God!

Hannah Leanne Rice- January 10, 2002

These are pictures I found. They definitely bring back memories.

Alexis Leanne Rice- June 21, 2000

These are some pictures of Alexis from away back.

December 18, 1999

I would count this as one of my best days ever! Just a few Pictures to remember. I was so at peace.

It is a great day to praise the Lord!

This weekend was wonderful. I led in Jc Gang for the first time in a year. It was so encouraging to see the children move in the gifts of the spirit. I have prophesied and seen the spirit move but not with ones so young. God is truly moving in the children. I am so honored to be apart of what he is doing and to be apart of a wonderful team.

New blogspot posting!

I am starting a new site for just my art. This is for anyone who would like to contract me to paint one item or a card set. Please just enjoy what you see. This is a blessing that I have this talent even though I have never attended any art or drawing classes. Some of the things drawn or painted were my first time.
Thank you for taking the time to see my art at http://tinaspaintings.blogspot.com

MY TWO ANGELS

The girls are growing so fast. Here are some of them goofing off.

Oh What do you See?

This is a picture of all the Tice/Rice girls at Bodega Bay. This will be posted in the newspaper.

What is my choice

I am having a difficult time. It is the hardest thing to have a positive attitude. I am worried and stressed about everything. I keep thinking that there is something very wrong with me, but then I realize that it is my choice. My choice to look at the struggles in life and grin or ball up my fist. I know that some circumstances take awhile to change but think how much different I would feel if I took control of me. Hmmm. I am not liking this new kind of learning, because it seems that the more I look the more I need to change in me. Jesus make me like you.

Time can Heal all Wounds

It has been one week and two days since our baby passed on to Jesus. It has been very difficult to establish in my mind the truth of all that God says. I still struggle with why this had to happen and have only found peace in the Word of God that says, "All things work together for the good of those who are called according to his purpose."
Things have been getting back to normal. I am back at work full time and that helps because I don't think in dept about the issues at hand. I am at peace the majority of the time and have been grieving in my own way.
One of the things that I thank God for during this time is that I have never felt as near to God as I do right now. I remember when I was losing the baby that the one thing I asked God for is that He would be near to me. I was able to stand in the knowledge of that even when I felt completely devastated.
Saturday the night of my miscarriage I went to church because I really wanted to feel Jesus and did not want to have to try hard to enter His presence. He was there when I walked into the sanctuary. I wanted to have a song played that I knew would minister to me and sure enough it was played. I was overcome with grief, frustration, betrayal, anger, pity, and many other feelings and as the music began to play I broke. I could not speak or sing. I felt the feelings overwhelm my spirit and I was like an unbroken dam. The song went, " Like oil upon your feet, like wine for you to drink, like water from my heart, I pour my love on you. With praise like perfume I lavish mine on you till every drop is gone I pour my love on you."
I told God that I couldn't give him love because there was so much hurt and rage. He let me know that I could bring a sacrifice to him. He let me know that true sacrifice comes through pain and death. So in the middle of worship He said that I had enough energy to give him everything I had and that he would take it. I stood up and gave my King everything that I thought was worthless and it felt like a bomb exploded in my body. A release came like I have never experienced. If you have never given a sacrifice of praise, let me tell you, there is nothing like it. I have not felt that close to god ever. I will keep you updated on how things are in my life and my family.

Here are the Rice's

This Christmas the Rice girls were in the school talent showcase. These pictures are to display their beautiful talent.

Through Tragedy will come Triumph!

It is January 16,2006. Ray and I lost our little baby at five weeks on Saturday January 13Th. As a mother already this crushed my spirit for a time. I know that it will take a long time to recover from this loss. It is devastating to lose someone and this loss is still close to home. I am having to push my desire to give up and quit to the background because I know that God's plans never fail and that He still will complete his destiny in our lives. I know that without Him I could not handle this loss. It is almost like I can see Saturday morning in slow motion over and over. I have wondered what happened and why, but am realizing that I must keep my eyes on my King and Creator. Not everything must have a reason, but I am remembering these things. "The Lord is Good and His mercies endure for ever..." and another scripture says, "Though he may slay me I will praise Him..."
I am so thankful for my loving family and caring people who God has placed in exactly the right place for this time. Thank you for all your prayers even up to the moment of loss. Words sometimes don't come easy for me but I thank God for all of you.
I will see my little baby again one day and at this moment he/she is dancing with Jesus and their little cousin Kyler. I hold onto what God has said to my family and to this church. Remember our God does not Lie. What He says he Will Do.

Just a new note.
Ray and I are expecting our third child this September. The girls are so excited and are wanting a baby brother.
We will keep you informed as things progress.

It is one Good Day!

Wow! It is an amazing day. Sometimes I wonder what makes a good day. It has always amazed me that my girls are so different. Alexis is sincere and takes on the problems of the world. Alexis is primarily happy but does not always act like it. She smiles but is very concerned with serious things. It is difficult for her to have a great day. On the other hand, my second born Hannah has the easiest job laughing and cracking herself up. It is not hard for her to have a great day. She doesn't worry about the big stuff. She seems to be genuinely happier.
One thing that I have been teaching my girls is that regardless of your personality you can choose how you react and how you respond. This has balanced both of my girls and has helped them to realize that they are not that different.They have much more fun when they remember that their day depends on them.

God's amazing grace

It is amazing all the things that God is doing in our family and in our lives. Today I got a word that really encouraged me. It lifted my spirit, which has been quite low with all the stress of daily life. Sometimes we just need the truth to penetrate the darkness and produce in us life. I have had such an attack of doubt in my life that only the word of God pushes and disolves it to nothing. Everything else fails but the word of God stands forever. In Psalms David pours out his soul to the Lord in torrents of emotion and depths like I have felt often. Psalm 21 says "the king shall have joy in your strength O Lord. And in your salvation how greatly will he rejoice. You have given him his heart's desire. And have not withheld the request of his lips. For you meet him with the blessings of goodness; you set a crown of pure gold upon his head. He asked life from you, and you gave it to him- lenghth of days forever and ever. His glory is great in your salvation; honor and majesty you have placed upon him. For you have made him most blessed forever, you have made him exceedingly glad with your presence. It is so wonderful to know that God's intention is for us to be eternally blessed. We often times forget his true faithfulness and I constantly find myself reminded of all the times I truely forget of how much he has done for me already. The little things we never notice. One example is... Yesterday, I misplaced somethings that I never remembered having. I knew that if I didn't find them everyone would pay. This was crucial and the intensity was so strong. I found myself overwhelmed, wanting God to move on my behalf but not thinking that He would. A co-worker and I prayed that God would move the misplaced items to where they needed to be so they could be found. I thought it would be nice but never believed what God really said. For you meet him with blessings of goodness... Later in the afternoon, I was shocked and suprised to know that the items showed up in a place that had already been searched multiple times. This was truely a miracle and I know that the word is true. Just a little food for thought. When you get discouraged and down. The King of Kings is petitioning on your behalf and ushering goodness into your life. Be Blessed.