LeeAnn G Taylor - Embracing the Mosaic Life

Trusting our broken pieces to the Ultimate Artist

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Praising God in the Storm :: Our Miscarriage Story

August 27, 2015 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

Lately a friend reminded me of the power of telling our stories. Stories are the essential connection between people. Shared experiences remind us we’re not alone in this sometimes scary world.

Today I’m sharing one of my stories, one of pain in the moment and how Chuck and I chose to praise God in the middle of our storm. Now, 7 years and 3 beautiful babies later, I realize it was the first of many experiences God used to grow our faith and highlight His faithfulness in our lives.


 

journal and coffee

July 2, 2008

It has been a long few weeks filled with every emotion imaginable. On May 15th, Chuck and I found out we were expecting our first child, due Jan 10th. We were so excited…our “five year plan” of starting a family after five years of marriage was falling right into place.

We kept the news pretty quiet, only telling our parents, our sisters, and a few close friends, until we had our first doctor’s appointment. I think that I thought the news that we were going to have a baby was going to really sink in once we had that first appointment.

What started as excited anticipation during that first visit quickly became nervous anticipation as our doctor became concerned that I was having some early complications. An ultrasound was scheduled for later that same afternoon.

I know it was the “peace that passes understanding” because I went back to work and was calm while waiting for the ultrasound appointment. Chuck, on the other hand, would tell me later that he had a feeling that something was very wrong.

The ultrasound later confirmed this when a heartbeat could not be detected. I should have been 7-8 weeks along. After a devastating conversation with our doctor, I had some blood work done and we headed home to share the news.

The next few weeks proved to be a rollercoaster of emotions, with more blood work and two more ultrasounds. My pregnancy hormones kept rising, but the baby was not growing properly and we could still hear no heartbeat.

The hardest part was not knowing what or how to feel, since at each appointment we were given a small ray of hope that the baby might be okay…maybe we were not as far along as they thought…maybe this, maybe that. It was more proof that only God knows us intimately, and medical science, though helpful, cannot always give us the answers.

Eventually last week we were told that the baby was not growing and that we should expect a miscarriage. After a week of waiting, I began to miscarry.

Through this all we have had an amazing support network of family and friends. God has continually placed people in our path who have been through similar experiences or who knew just what we needed to be comforted at that moment.

Although we are sad at the loss of this little child, we know God has more plans for us and our family.

I have been and will continue to cling to this verse:

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge HIM and he will make your paths straight.”

Although we may not always understand, we must trust God and acknowledge His sovereignty over all situations, even this one.


Friends, it’s time we share our stories. Let’s lift up God working in our lives and shine His grace and glory!

What can YOU praise him for today? Share in the comments and let’s encourage one another to view our lives through the lens of gratefulness, despite our difficult circumstances.

Five Minute Friday – Here

August 8, 2015 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

We travel on, the road winding as the water from the lake peaks through the evergreen trees. “Is that our lake?” my friend Mollie asks. “It sure is!” quickly escapes from my lips, excitement apparent.

FMF retreat view

The lake is such a beautiful and peaceful setting for a retreat!

“We should be there any minute.”

And then, all of a sudden…we are here.

“Here” is an unassuming lake house in the middle of a neighborhood on the outskirts of Nashville, TN. We’re gathered with a handful of brave women who share words and hearts each week as writers part of the Five Minute Friday community.

In the past few years, I’ve learned that although I’m as introverted as they come, I too need community. I too need to be brave and venture outside of my little circle of friends.

While the comfort of being known is just that – comfortable – I’m learning there is something special about the process of becoming known.

FMF Retreat LeeAnn and Janel

Thank you Jen for capturing this moment!

So I’m here, baby girl in tow, sharing a little bit of life, breaking through the fear of the unknown, meeting new friends, and enjoying being here.


 

This post is part of the Five Minute Friday series. Each week writers from all over the world gather together around a one-word writing prompt, sharing words and stories and hearts. The words spill out, unedited and free. This week’s word is HERE.


Consider one way you can be brave this week. Seek out community and authentic relationships, take a risk, and let God handle the details!

 

Life’s Struggles, Control, and Embracing Truth

August 5, 2015 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

If you’ve ever wondered if opposites truly do attract, my husband and I are living proof. We are as opposite as they come!

He’s an extrovert. I’m an introvert.
He’s gregarious and funny. I’m quiet and matter-of-fact.
He’s a “feelings” person. I’m a thinker.
He relies on his intuition. I rely on logic.
He’s never met a stranger. I get overwhelmed in groups of people I don’t know.

chuckleeann

While we knew when we were dating that we were different, after we married it quickly became apparent that these differences could very easily drive us apart. It seemed with each decision that arose we just did not see eye to eye.

My structured, controlling nature collided with his free-spirited, fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants nature on a regular basis. Our perspectives were so different!

As we navigated challenging situations in our early years of marriage including job loss, mounting debt, medical problems, church planting, relationship conflicts, the miscarriage of our first baby, and more, I struggled to trust God in both the day-to-day and in the larger narrative of our lives.

My husband’s faith, however, seemed to only grow stronger as a result of the same challenges that left me feeling like our lives were spinning completely out of control…

…read the rest of our story about life’s struggles, control, and truth at Reclaiming a Redeemed Life.

 

It’s Time to Jump!

July 31, 2015 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

Have you ever had an idea for a new project or wanted to learn a new skill or implement a new routine in your life but when you thought about it, you just got stuck?

Instead of jumping in and taking action, you pondered all the ways that something might go wrong or convinced yourself you weren’t really good enough or the right person to complete the task.

Surely I’m not the only one who has experienced this!

Here’s the thing.

When you first learned to ride a bike as a kid, what if you had hemmed and hawed over all the things that might go wrong? Instead of getting on the bike and peddling, what if you sat on the curb wondering what it would feel like if you fell and scraped your knee or how terrible it would be if the neighborhood kids saw you wobbling and laughed.

I’d venture to say you never would have learned to ride a bike. Then, think about all the fun you would have missed out on.

Sometimes to experience or new things in life as adults, we need to channel our inner kid and just jump!

So…what are you waiting for?

Today, take a leap of faith, take a risk.

Instead of sitting on the sidelines, enjoy this precious life we’ve been given!

What is something new you’ve been thinking about taking action on that you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to begin? Share in the comments and let’s encourage one another to, as Jon Acuff says… just Start!

LeeAnn jumping

This post is part of the Five Minute Friday community where we write for five minutes on a one-word writing prompt each week. Today’s prompt was “Try”. 

Healing Your Spiritual Root System

July 16, 2015 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

She cries out, uncomfortable and sad as she rubs her face back and forth on the crib mattress. My baby girl is sick.

girlie

This “summer fever virus” her brother shared has traveled to her eyes and she’s miserable. The thing is, a few days ago, I didn’t realize she was so sick. Oh yes, I knew she had a virus, but we’d called the nurse and gotten the okay to ride it out since there were no other symptoms.

In time though, the blocked tear duct she’d struggled with earlier in the week became inflamed and infected, leading to one feverish, sick baby.

It wasn’t until I realized how sick she actually was that we were able to tend to her and acquire the medication she needed to get well.

Isn’t it the same with us as adults sometimes?

We go through our daily routines, knowing we have sin-that-so-easily-entangles-us in our lives but not truly realizing the impact and the depth of the bondage we’re in. We don’t realize our souls are sick so we don’t seek Christ’s grace, forgiveness, and freedom – the medicine we need for healing.

For me, one turning point came 18 months ago in the form of a God-Centered Mom podcast episode. The host {Heather} interviewed Francie Winslow and through her words, I finally began to grasp the truth of one of my sins {my pride, taking the form of perfectionism} and the freedom from this “good girl” sin available through Christ.

I started using Francie’s method of healing my spiritual root system:

  • recognize something’s wrong
  • admit it’s wrong and repenting
  • renounce the lie I’ve believed
  • replace it with truth
  • accept forgiveness
  • and rejoice in the newfound freedom

healingspiritualroot

I encourage you to save the image above to your phone’s photo roll or print it out to refer back to it. It’s time for us to embrace the freedom Christ came to share!

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Galatians 5:1a #bgbg2

Click To Tweet

What’s one action you’ve taken {or you’re going to take} to feed your soul and heal your spiritual root system? Share in the comments and let’s encourage one another!


Sharing with the Five Minute Friday community. This week’s prompt was “free” – I started writing and just couldn’t stop at 5 minutes. Glad there’s grace for that! 

Hillsong United – Empires {review + giveaway}

May 29, 2015 By LeeAnn G. Taylor

This week marks the release of Hillsong United’s latest album, Empires. When I was given the opportunity to listen to a copy before the official release, I jumped on the chance since I enjoyed their album Aftermath so much a few years back. The lyrics were thoughtful, sending me into a reflective mood each time I listened, and the music was powerful.

The newest album Empires also includes tracks with well-written lyrics, and Even When It Hurts (Praise Song) is my favorite, as it is a low-key, relaxed song that reminds us to continue to praise God even in the midst of our pain and suffering.

While the lyrics definitely have more depth than the average praise and worship song, I wasn’t as fond of the music this time around. It may just be that my preference currently is for more traditional Christian praise music like Hillsong Worship instead of the electronic sounds of Hillsong United’s most recent album.

Don’t get me wrong though, the album is definitely top notch for those of you out there who love their style of music.

I also appreciated the sentiments regarding the meaning behind the name of the album:

“EMPIRES is the story of two worlds. Our prayer and desire has been to simply create the most honest project we could. Songs that seek to listen first, and then with God’s breath speak the good news reality of Jesus and His grace into the dichotomy, tension and hopeful-collision of this broken and fragile world we see here and now, and the unshakeable and mysterious reality of the Kingdom we can’t see, but no-less know is here — and NOW.”
– Hillsong United

Hillsong Empires CD

If you think you’d like this album, I’m excited to be able to offer you the chance to win your own copy of the CD! Enter using the Rafflecopter entry below or leave a comment. Winners will be chosen Friday, June 5th. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you have friends who might also like to win, take a minute and use the social share buttons below to let them know about the giveaway!

Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”
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