God at work, through family, and sickness, and a scarf

We have had many family Christmas gatherings this season, with more to come! How blessed we are beyond what we deserve. I have to share this cool story with all of you. 

Recently as in 4 days ago, I received a beautiful scarf as a gift from my cousin Crystal. She had made it herself, and brought supplies with her to make more for the rest of the family. I am not a scarf person, but really like this one, and have worn it twice already! I was curious, because I thought hmmm maybe I could make one, or at least try. So there I went....all day literally trying to to do it, walking away, getting frustrated with my type A personality! Sometimes I hate being a perfectionist! finally I finished, and it did not look as good as Crystal's but I was proud to have finished. 

I wasn't feeling amazing Friday night and then woke up Saturday morning and decided to go to the walk in clinic in Sweetwater. They were full at 9:30am, so I carried myself to the one in Abilene. I checked in, and then asked how these things work...as in can we leave and come back? I was bored.We just got rid of our smart phones in August, and what else was I to do while sitting there for hours waiting my turn? They said sure you can! I was glad to be there, I needed some shots and drugs and I would feel better!

So off to the store I went! I decided that I would go get stuff and give these scarfs another go, get some colors my friends would like, and boy would they be surprised I made it! LOL It is a gift I can afford to make! and I had plenty of time on my hands. 

I got back into the waiting room, and began make a scarf, no one seems to talk to each other in these waiting rooms, but this sparked up some conversation. I was asked if I sell those. I said no I am just making them for some friends. Then after I was almost done, this lady said man, you should sell those, I'd buy that one from you it is so pretty. I said well, I do need to raise money for a mission trip we are going on in March...so I guess I can go get more yarn and make my friends another one later. she said How much? I blanked, I don't have a clue how much to charge for anything like this! We agreed on a price and she was super excited to have it. I couldn't believe I just sold one! And that it was only my second one to make, and I actually did a GREAT job on it, and it only took me an hour!!!!!  So then I went to the car and got another roll of yarn, and began working on another one, with a certain friend in mind who would love these colors. before I could even get half way done another woman asked, could I buy that one from you please? my daughter would love it! I thought Ok sure! and kept chuckling at how funny this was to me, the circumstances that brought this about you know! Her daughter walked back in before I was finished and we sparked up some conversation. She was happy with it for sure! 

....went to the car, got another one...began it! got half way finished and they called my name to come see the doctor finally! when I stood up, this  lady on the other side of the room, said OH man, I had my eye on that one! I chuckled, and went for what I came for, some shots, and antibiotics! 

coolest thing about all of this.....I got to share the gospel with these two women and one of them's daughter. I talked about Haiti, and going on my first mission trip. How God had changed my life so much in the past year. How thankful I was for Him in my life, and how they could too accept him if they wanted to. I didn't lead any of them to Christ, but I shared the Gospel. I have been praying for strength to do this for the past month. I don't know why I don't do this more often...I can talk about anything to anyone, and I don't usually meet strangers, however something about this has been hard for me....but not yesterday! It was easier and more comfortable than I thought it would be. God is so good that way! 

I feel like I had a great day, I was sick, productive, and more productive than anything by sharing the Gospel and this is the most important thing of all.

As you go...share the gospel. 

UPDATE - I made a facebook page go check it out here:  Young Crochet Scarves

OH and btw here are some of the scarfs and the yarn I bought to make more. Just let me know short or long and what color you'd like! email me jenniferyoung0314@gmail.com

Help the Young's get to Haiti! =) Thanks in advance! $20 each plus shipping if needed

 These are shown doubled around the neck area, the one on the left is tighter an a little shorter than the others. 

from top left to bottom

1.browns, grey, and light blue

2. browns, cream, gold

3. blues/dark

4. orange, brown, green, blue, purple

from top right to bottom:

5. blues/light 

6. orange/red/purple

7. grey/light/dark pink

8. while light/dark pink

in first photo:
9. dark pink/purple
10. light/dark purple
11. grey/black/cream

Donating Blood - A personal expierience

Today at school, United Blood Services team is here collecting blood from those who are willing to donate. I went earlier and donated whole blood. I was sitting there, squeezing the ball, thinking about how precious of a gift blood can be.

August 2010 - When Emmalyn was in the NICU after she was born, about a month in, her blood count was getting low, as well as her iron. She began to look pale, and had almost zero energy. I remember heading into the NICU for our regular visit, and the nurses stopping me before I went to see her. Dr. Doshi explained what was going on, that he was trying to wait to see if she would catch up because she should be able to do so. What was happening is her body was growing very well. But her blood couldn't keep up with her growth. Due to her entering the world 10 weeks early. Every morning they pricked her foot to test her blood for numerous things, and after a few days of waiting to see if she would catch up. Dr. Doshi ordered the blood transfusion. It was to late for any of us(family) to donate for her, or see if we were a match etc. They didn't have time to clean the blood the way it needed to be. So although there was a 1 in a million chance she would get something from this blood transfusion, it was still a little scary for us to think that someone else's' blood would be flowing through our little girls veins.

We signed off on the transfusion, and they let me stay in the NICU with her for the entire transfusion, I was to be quiet, and not touch her, or disturb the other babies. But I was so thankful they let me stay in there. The first bag went over an hour I think, and then 1 more over then next 2 hours. I honestly can't remember. I believe she received 50cc's total. It took about 3 hours total.

I was told that I wouldn't believe how much this would help her. That she would perk up, be so lively, and it would make her have a beter chance of going home soon! WOW how exciting is that!

Literally 10 minutes into the transfusion I could see her skin start to pink up, soon she was moving around like little babies do(before this she had become so lethargic, it was not my playful little girl).  After the whole 3 hours(2 bags) I could not believe what a change I saw in my baby girl. Hope was restored that she will thrive and very soon, she would be able to go home with us!

It was a long day in the NICU, but I had such a great time watching a miracle before my eyes. I loved visiting with the nurses. They are such amazing people, who love their job so much! They are angels to me! I think sometimes if I didn't want to teach, I would love to pursue NICU nursing!

So today, while donating blood, I was reminding that we all can make a difference. We can help out one another in so many ways. I am so thankful that whomever one day decided to donate, so my Emmalyn could get better sooner, and come home with us! I wish I could tell them thank you!

Do to others as you would have them do to you Luke 6:31
May God bless you today!

March of Dimes 2012

So here we are again, it's time for the annual March for Babies, through March of Dimes. WE are Team Emmalyn, and we are trying to make a big push the month of April. This organization means so much to our family because we were directly impacted by it. Our daughter Emmalyn was born 10 weeks early, at 3.78 lbs. She was such a beautiful miracle. The research and information provided by march of dimes was invaluable at this time during her life. Our team goal this year is $3,000 and I hope you are willing to help! Every cent counts! WE are helping change lives!

WANT TO HELP? Here's how you can:

#1. online donation - go to www.marchforbabies.org/jjyoung0314 and make your secure online donation today!

#2 buy a t-shirt! email me and I'll email you the form: jenniferyoung0314@gmail.com

front of shirt

back of shirt

#3 buy a wrist band - they are only $3 and say march for babies team emmalyn. pretty cool! yes they are march of dimes purple!

Thank you to all who came out to Walmart and helped us with our bake sale, we raised right over $1,000. we are on our way to our goal!

Parenting Actions, leading by example - good stuff!

Proverbs 22:6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.


Stole this from another blog, but had to repost and share it. I think these people have huge insight into what is important. I enjoy so much learning from those who have been there and done that, and are willing to share with us YOUNG people =)

10 Actions Children Should Observe in their Parents Marriage

1. Affection: Cathy & I are very affectionate and I like having my kids see me holding their mom’s hand, hugging, kissing, cuddling, etc… as often as I can.

2. Saying “I’m sorry”, "I was wrong" : I want to be quick to use these phrases and I want my kids to hear me say them.

3. Affirmation: this is my primary love language so it’s easy for me to dish out encouraging words. My kids get a lot of verbal affirmation, but they also hear me directing it toward my wife (which is really easy).

4. Attraction: I think Cathy is hot… and, I make it known around our family. I’ll regularly say, “Isn’t your mom beautiful?”

5. Time: our kids know that we like to spend time together. When they see us steal time away to sit in the backyard and talk, or go in the hot tub, or go on a date night, or sneak away for the weekend…that’s a good message I want them to see.

6. Laughter: we laugh a lot in our house and my wife’s cute sense of humor cracks me up. I like having my kids see that my wife makes me laugh.

7. Respect: opening the door for Cathy, saying “thank you” and “please” and showing her simple signs of respect.

8. Faith conversations: we’re not always praying in front of our kids, but they hear and see our faith conversations and know that we’re always talking about Jesus and what it means to be a follower.

9. The value of friends: our house is well worn from the traffic of friends in/out of our house. We love having people over and the Fields’ house is a regular hangout for some incredible friends.

10. Servanthood: I know my kids have had a better example in Cathy than with me because she’s the ultimate servant. Always asking, “How can I help? What do you need to make life better?” Serving one another is seen in the daily, little things and there’s many opportunities to serve.

Kids are always watching their parent’s marriage and yet too many marriages underestimate the power of modeling! Children are taking daily recordings of what a marriage looks like and those recordings are definitely influencing and shaping their view of marriage.

These are really good things to take heart of and lead by example in our own households. 

a new chapter

It's hard to START a blog, at least for me. I feel I need to give so much background information, before I can go forward....but here is the readers digest version(as my friend Lyndsay would say).  


God has blessed me with a Christian husband whom I grow closer to everyday, because we are learning to love God, and by loving God more, we learn to love each other more. 

March 14, 2009

God has blessed us with a beautiful daughter, Emmalyn, born 10 weeks early in July 2010. We spent 36 days in the NICU at Abilene Regional Hospital, she is healthy, 20 months old....you would never know she was born at 3lbs. She keeps us busy, and our hearts so full of happiness.

July 18, 2010

    

GOD IS SO GOOD!

I have always been a teacher/coach, it is my passion, my ministry, however after this year I will be a stay at home mom. This was a difficult decision to make, but I feel it is exactly what God want's us to do at this point, so with faith and obedience we are obeying his will.


Jeremiah has been in banking for a while here in Snyder and currently is working in the financial aid office at Western Texas College. He has taken on the responsibility of being the sole income provider for our family and I am thankful for his job everyday!


Today is a big day, I remember telling my mom that I will never drive a minivan. Today I am eating those words...I am headed to Lubbock today to pick up our 2005 Dodge Caravan. We are trading in our 2011 Hyundai Sonota, and getting rid of our car payment. whew! I am excited because we are one step closer to me being home with my beautiful daughter! 


I know life is going to get very interesting, but I am excited about what God has in store for us! I have always loved to journal, but have not done much due to time, I think I might have a little more time now, and will try to keep this blog updated. I hope that I can spread the word of God and show his love by the good and bad, ups and downs, and blessing God gives us, by sharing with you! 

^{Romans 8:28-39}

²⁸ And we know that ^[k]God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; ³⁰ and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
 ³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? ³³ Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; ³⁴ who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was ^[l]raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. ³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of ^[m]Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ Just as it is written,

   “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”

 ³⁷ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.