An Answer to Prayer!

I am happy to report that Xanderia who has been staying with my aunt and uncle now is in their custody. We have been praying so hard that God's will would be done for this little one and He was still in control no matter what we thought. Thank you God for this miracle.

HONOR WHERE IT IS DUE

I want to talk about one of the most important women in my life. My sister Amy Tice is one of most incredible women I know.
Amy Tice has been my sister-in-law (a term that I don't care for) for six years. I think that I have been blessed each day I have known her.
Even through the hardest times a person can have she has been my best encouragement. She doesn't think that she is strong but her faith is unwavering. I am so encouraged by her daily walk with Christ and her family.
Amy just for you.
Thank you for all you have done, for all you do.
I love you.
your sister,
Tina

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PICTURES !!!!

I would like to introduce Baby Rice. They will enter the world in August 2008. This is the 10 week photo.
As Hannah prayed in 1 Samuel 2:1-2,6,8-9
" My Heart rejoices in the Lord, in the Lord my strength is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one Holy like the Lord; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.
The Lord brings death and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord's, upon them he has set the world. He will guard the feet of His saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. It is not by strength that one prevails..."

Lord, you truly are so good to me. No one compares to you and I am so incredibly stunned that you have given me a miracle of your unending love and grace. Let me be a sign of "New Beginnings" and "Restoration".
I love you so much my King.

Official News!!!

Yeah God!

I am blessed beyond blessed. I had my ten week appointment. I was so happy to see my baby in 3-d. It was so amazing to see a 3 x 5 picture of my baby and know that my baby is one and a fourth inch long. I was able to both see and hear the heartbeat. Thank you God.

I am a walking miracle. God has prepared a way where there was no way. This baby is God's gift to me.

Thank you all for your prayers and love and support.
You will be seeing pictures very soon.

Hannah Susanne Rice- January 10, 2002

Happy Birthday!
This is in honor of my beautiful daughter!.
Born on January 10th.
Weighing 10 pds 3 oz.
I love you Hannah.

Thank you God...Through it All.

I really did not want to do a memorial but I do need some closure.
It seems when you try to ignore things they come up with a vengeance. I am talking about January 13, 2007 and June 7,2007.
For those of you who don't know I found out that I was expecting on the dates above. Within two weeks of finding out I miscarried.
The first one was horrible, I don't think that I had ever felt so devastated in my life. We, my husband and I, weren't expecting these blessing but were totally deflated when these things were unexpectedly snatched away.
I crashed with the first baby and then with the second one was confident in one thing. That God did not do this and that He still kept every promise he ever made.
In prayer, I was told by God that it was okay to feel differently because He was working in me.
I thought that I was learning to trust.
On December 10,2007 found out that once again I was expecting. Not only did I have to adjust to the new feelings but I had to deal with torrents of fear and apprehension. I prayed and did not really hear from God. I knew that He is into restoration but really had no idea what this meant. Why would it be so hard to trust now? I knew things in my head, but they were not really making it down to my heart. When I would think of all the possibilities that this new stage of life would bring I would shut down and feel dread.
The week before I found out that I was expecting this last time we had the Jehu sermon and I had God tell me a few things and wasn't even expecting this result.
God said three things: "I will fulfill your every dream." "I will set your family right." "It is happening now."
I know this might seem like I am rambling and it is true, in some regards I am.

Today is a day for good memories no matter what the future may hold. I am standing at the thresh hold, 9 weeks and four days today.
I am confident in the whole process of what God has planned and what He shall do in this time.
Thank you all for the prayers and voices of encouragement you have given, I am so glad to have you all to lean on.
Be blessed my friends!

Have you ever had a secret?

I have a secret. Everyone has a secret. God has placed in each of us a secret. He has a special name for each of us. A name that He calls us and that only he calls us. It has taken me sometime to figure out how to hear him call me my name. My name is Triumphant, victorious one.

No matter how much I think that my name is "hopeless, worthless or nothing one". God declares over me that I am his victorious one and that I am triumphant.

When I was growing up I did not really fight for much. I was pretty easy to get along with and allowed myself to be trampled on again and again. Now I am not saying that I never fought, because I fought a bunch with my siblings. Unfortunately one of my issues in life that I am learning to overcome is the desire to please everyone. I didn't want to make people angry so I would do whatever they wanted me to. Many of my problems in life were caused or even started because I wanted to be accepted. I don't think that I have felt that I was victorious or triumphant as a child and if I did it was due to superficial victories that had no bearing on my life.
I was looking into the names that God calls me and was kinda freaked out. Being a person who is very laid back I was not impressed to see that the word victorious(in every definition that I could find) meant that someone had to be fighting in a battle and had to be the winner.
Definition:
1. Defeat of an enemy or opponent.
2. Success in a struggle against difficulties or an obstacle.
3. The state of having triumphed.
I know that as a Christian we are in a battle but sometimes one looses track of this when the army is invisible. I began to really notice the evidence of the attack but still did not realize the impact of what was really happening until recently.
I "think" I am not a warrior or a soldier but the more I search out the scriptures I am convinced that I am in an ongoing battle and fighting each and every moment.

I than began to search out the meaning for triumphant. This was very interesting.
definition:
1. Exulting in success or victory.
2. Victorious; conquering.
3. Archaic Triumphal.
4. Obsolete Magnificent; splendid.
When I imagine myself, I imagine a soldier who is tired and worn out and at first glance you see the tarnish and scuffs on the armor but looking closer you see the cuts and gashes that have pierced through and blood is flowing. Sometimes my head is hanging low and I have my helmet at my side, other times I am walking head tall. A closer look would show that there is a humongous angel standing behind me. I am so glad that God has that secret name for me.

What a sense of Humor

Wow, God sure has a sense of humor when he gave us children.
I am so thankful that He lets us see a little of Him each and every day.
Many times we think that God is quiet and stoic but He is an exciting God and displays it I think many times through our children.

Your Five Variable Love Profile

Propensity for Monogamy: Your propensity for monogamy is medium. In general, you prefer to have only one love interest. But it's not too hard for you to stay devoted! There's too much eye candy to keep you from wandering. Experience Level: Your experience level is high. You've loved, lost, and loved again. You have had a wide range of love experiences. And when the real thing comes along, you know it! Dominance: Your dominance is low. This doesn't mean you're a doormat, just balanced. You know a relationship is not about getting your way. And you love to give your sweetie a lot of freedom. Cynicism: Your cynicism is low. You are an eternal optimist when it comes to love and romance. No matter how many times you've been hurt - you're never bitter. You believe in one true love, your perfect soulmate. And if you haven't found true love yet, you know you will soon. Independence: Your independence is low. This doesn't mean you're dependent in relationships.. It does mean that you don't have any problem sharing your life. In your opinion, the best part of being in love is being together.

The Five Variable Love Test

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Joy through Pain!

This time of the year it is very difficult to blog. So to all my expectant fans I apologize.

On the 14Th of September my world was rocked. I found out at 3:30 p.m. that my cousin, Jaime, who I grew up close to was murdered. Jaime was one year older than me. I don't remember not having her in my family. We were buds, and spent vacations and holidays together. I loved her, so much and it hurt when she decided to turn to drugs and other things and not live right. Funny thing though she still was my cousin.
When I was told, I remembered inhaling with such impact that it made me ill. I would never had imagined that something of this magnitude would have to happen to me and my family.

Immediately I desired to be near my extended family. One never knows how tragedies can effect people until you find yourself in one. I thought I was brave, courageous but it amazing how small and vulnerable you feel when these things happen.

I flew to Tulsa, Oklahoma which by the way was a fiasco. Then with my dad we continued on to Springfield, Missouri. The trip was comforting and helped for all of us to join and posture ourselves for what will come later.

The one thing that has stood firm regardless of the tragedies is that Jesus is still in control. God is the same yesterday, today and forever.

There is more to the story than just the murder but you know God is into restoration and not destruction so I am going to give some insite on what I believe God is going to do now.

Xanderia is Jaime's youngest daughter. A thirteen month old ball of energy. Beautiful and sweeter than most baby girls who have had such a huge tragedy. I was told that she would be different than she was when I met her. Be praying for God to revamp her future and transform what was meant for evil into good. I will be posting a slide show for her.
Jaime's husband is alive and I believe that God can bring about his salvation as well as his entire family's. She also left behind four children and I expect God to use each one of them to bring about his plans and purposes. It doesn't matter what has happened because God has never been caught off guard and never is shorthanded. He always has a plan even when it looks like He doesn't. He is God and will always be......
I will be posting a slide show

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What is God's Will?

It is amazing all that God is doing right now...

I think that I have never been in this place in my life before and I may never be here again. I love my Jesus so much and am so just wanting to turn his heart.
Do you know that He wants us to woo him? I read a scripture the other day about how God asked us to turn our eyes away from him because we ravaged his heart. It is so wonderful to see that.

I know that life does not go as we plan but we need to want all that God has for us so much more than we want what we want. Sometimes when things don't go how we think they should but God has a completely different view point of what our life should be. I am honored that he would choose to make me into what He wants.

Not my will but your will be done.
God's plans and promises are not ever dead even when I finally reach heaven. I will hold that my God will do everything that He promises. Never will I forget all he wants for me.
Psalms 91.
OH, the painting is not mine.

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.

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