The aftermath of Sandy

It has taken me 3 weeks to write this.  I would start, stop and cry.  First of all, we have an awesome Governor in NJ that prepared us for it and after it.  God Blessed us with Governor Christie. As I sit here I am preparing the house for Christmas, a Christmas  I thought we would never see. I am so grateful for so much, most of all that God spared our lives. The first week after Sandy I was numb.  The day after the storm driving through town was surreal. School buses blocked intersections, military vehicles, utility vehicles, police, firemen everywhere.  The ambulances rushing to the hospital brought me to tears.  It was not one or two but 5-6 at a time.  I pray that those people recovered.  I always liked the fact I lived 5 minutes from Mantoloking and Brick Beach.  The kids love the beach.  They grew up here.  The pictures that emerged from the shoreline made me cry.  I saw places that my children grew up with.  I loved sharing their childhood in those places.  People living more inland don't get the full view of what is happening until you visit a shore town. People who I thought were just friends I saw now and then became so much more during this storm, from bringing me boxes to crying with me. We became so much stronger as a family.  We endured and are strong, we will survive.  Those first few days the damage all over was so much too much not to cry.  I had a good friend tell me, thanks Nan, that I am strong and it was okay to cry.  Coming home I didn't know if we would have a house, we still do. I am so thankful to everyone who has helped our state, donated items, given free meals to people.  Our town has banded together like I never saw it ever in my 9 years.  Strangers became friends.  We are now truly neighbors not just passing by.

Praising Him always,
Noelle

Book Review: Engaging a New Generation by Frank Mercadante

Book Review: Engaging a New Generation by Frank Mercadante

This is a wonderful, informative, and engaging book for parents of teens, youth ministers, and pastors.  This book focuses on Millennial teens, who were born from 1981-2002. The author focuses how they are collectors of experiences and relationships.  They are full engaged in a world, which they want to make a difference to. They want to encounter God, in which they will experience him personally. He talks about  how youth ministries need to engage them in their faith through apologetics, faith development, and about the New Evangelization, called Immanuelization(God is with us). This approach moves from a program and agenda centered approach to a people and presence centered focus.  I highly recommend this book for parents of teens.

You can view the book here:

http://www.catholiccompany.com/engaging-new-generation-vision-reach-catholic-teens-p1006222/?

Given book to Review by The Catholic Company:
http://www.catholiccompany.com/

9-11, 11 years later

11 years. It seems like yesterday when I was pulled out of a classroom and shown what happened. They told me to go home and wait. Waiting is the worse.  The cell towers were down.  I was so concerned what was going on in Manhattan. I am from New York and proud of it. I realized at that moment they attacked my home town. My family was in the city. They all worked there. Friends who worked in the city. Some got out safe and some didn't. I always remember but today it is just more intense. I remember all of us waiting by a train station for my dad. He never talked about what happened not even to this day. I could see the tears in his eyes that day. He retired soon after. God bless them in heaven looking down on us. You are missed.  My son reminds me of one that a grew up with that died that day eleven years ago. Our sons are the same age. I always think of his wife and his son. God's reminder that life is short. Be grateful for those in your life and love them.God bless those are here today because you were late that day. I love you all.

Revelation through Crosses 9-11

Life is not safe, being a Christian is not safe. We all must carry our crosses. As I look at the cross, I see love poured out from Jesus to us through the nail scars. Lately my crosses have made me closer to God than I ever have been my entirely life. I am embrace Grace at the cross. I thank God everyday for the opportunities he has given and the blessings he has entrusted me with. Tomorrow will be 11 years...  11 years passed fleeting.  I remember like yesterday, so many lost. We will never forget the day that changed our world.  God Bless all the souls whom are walking with God.  You are missed....

God is amazing

I haven't really posted this before but I am writing a book.  I was unable until today to come up with a title for my book.  I was in the shower and God inspired it.  He answers when you least expect it.  Expect the unexpected.

Praising Him,

Noelle:)

Letting Go and giving it to God

I was unsure to write this, but several things happening lately forced me to talk about it. I never realized what letting go and giving it to God meant until recently.  My life has been a series of crosses lately.  Believe it of not Facebook has been one of them.  I need Facebook for my business and I enjoy getting my newsletter through there.  But the drama on there that normal wonderful people engage in has taken me back.  I had been praying about it for months and a decision was made.  If I have upset anyone in my decision I am sorry.  I chose to unfriend people whose drama upset me.  I have been trying to walk away from drama but it has come upon my personal life where I have had to let go and give it to God. A strong person walks away not to hurt others but to accentuate their life with the positive. So I have chosen to walk away from drama. Crosses are not easily carried alone. Christ is there aiding us alone the way, being our cheerleader than we can make it through. Through God the impossible is possible.   In His wisdom has shown me other wonderful things to come, the light at the end of the tunnel.

God Bless.

Enduring all things

I never thought I would write this post but I am.  God has helped us endure so much these past couple of years.  I am so thankful and so proud of my family.  We have walked closer to God.  We have been through unemployment, struggling financially, sadness, joy, change, and growth.  We endure all things through Christ who guides us.  And Yes, I home schooled through it all.  God brought us to homeschooling. I wanted everyone to know homeschooling is a way a life, not a school my kids go to.  We are constantly learning through our nature walks, beach combing for sea glass, or just walking along the board walk. We cherish God's beauty and design in all things.  God's Will is ever so much present in our lives.  Our family has grown closer to Our Lord because of it.  I am writing this to encourage people, not to give up.  Were there times I wanted to give up? Yes.  Did I? No because,  God was carrying me through it all.  It has taught all of us strength and wisdom through life's challenges.  As I look back, do I wish it was different?  Amazingly no.  We wouldn't be the people we are today if we didn't go through it.  We endure.  We overcome obstacles.  They make us who we are. We are all beautiful in our own amazing journey.  Always encourage, never discourage each other.  We all have different opinions about politics, religion and etc. We need to agree to disagree that our opinions are different because we are all unique people of God. Today my family and I still struggle, but we are walking closer to God.  The walk is not easy, but the reward is so worth it.  I encourage you all to dance in the rain, and cherish the journey.

Praising Him always,

Noelle

Things going on

Some interesting things are developing and will give more information in the following weeks.  I would appreciate prayers.  God is awesome!


Praising Him,
Noelle

Fork in the Road

God provides the insight when the time is right.  Right now we are in a fork in the road.  Praying is the only way for guidance and clarity.  So I keep praying steadily and vigorously.  There so much at stake for the decision, but God will provide the answer in His time.  In the meantime I will be the prayer warrior He taught me to be.

Praising him through the Storm

I have had a rough week.  Growing up I learned the bible, we were taught to worship God through the storms.  When you are going through life and not the storms it is easy to say Yes to God.  Your true test of faith is when you Praise Him through the storms and worship while you are waiting for his answers. God is ever faithful to us.  Are we faithful to him through the storms? When we are weak, He will lead us the storm if we only hold onto his hand. We are strong enough to follow Him.  I am learning this week how strong I really am. I will always Praise you, Lord through the storms because I know I am never alone.  Nothing is ever impossible with God.

Praising Him,
Noelle:)

My sophomore

Congratulations to my beautiful daughter, who had a difficult first year of High School.  You are amazing.  I am so proud of you.  My once little girl is now a bright young woman.

Love you always,
Mom