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Remembering the Gifford Matriarch

In my life there has been one person who I have always looked up to for her strength and drive and that woman is Madeline Ruth Gifford (Hayes). Born in Gloversville, NY her childhood was very rough. She began working at age 16, leaving school to take care of her family. Over the course of 40 years she primarily worked at Johnstown Knitting Mill and White Mop Wringer of Fultonville whilst raising six children. If that does not show her determination and character she ended up going back and obtained her GED when she was forty-seven years old. Madeline spent her retirement with her late husband traveling cross-country, even traveling abroad to visit England and France. Family meant everything to her; she spent much time with her children and grandchildren. Madeline was predeceased by her husband, Harold W. Gifford of Northville. Madeline is survived by her children, Connie Cockrell (Randy Cockrell), Kim Enright , Thomas Gifford (Joy Gifford), Don Gifford (Sheri Gifford), Harold Gi

Find Joy and Revel in It - A Lesson from Joseph & Lorelai

Have you ever had those people in your life that go out of their way to hurt you? They will say what they feel they need to say to jab at your heart? Have you ever thought in moments like that to just laugh it off, or to take joy in it? Now, no one would ever think to do that would they? I, like many other women [or men] enjoy the television show 'Gilmore Girls'. There is a scene where Lorelai's mother Emily is being tormented by her [Emily's] mother-in law, Lorelai Gilmore the First. Well, Lorelai [the second] told her Mother to do what she does, when Grandma Gilmore attempts to make a stab towards Emily to find a way to take some joy and laugh it off; while watching this moment I had to laugh and think about God. We have established that God loves us, every piece of us - the good the bad and the ugly. Everything that happens to us, God already knew would happen and has planned it to be as such. Well why does he let these people hurt us? Usually to teach us some

Using the Pause Button

So, it has been a while.. I wait for inspiration and sometimes it finds me -- other times not so much. Lately, I find myself wondering why don't I just share what is on my heart, it doesn't have to be well thought out because what really is. When I did gymnastics I was the queen of improvisation and it drove my coach crazy and she had every right to be upset when I was performing at a competition and I would forget my routine... one year it happened three times in a row. But at one competition there was a small improvisation competition where we would listen to the song for about 20 seconds and then we had to come up with a routine for it -- and I won! I'm good, maybe even great at it but I am also a perfectionist so I treat my blogs as such. Lately I have been really digging through some deep stuff. You could say I have had a few dark days. I keep asking the question "God where do you want me?", I have plans and goals but nothing is coming of it because I

The Recipe for a Great Life

I have come to realize that when you make time for Jesus, your every day life is happier and less stressful. I remember on my morning and afternoon drive to and from work I could physically feel the weight of what seemed the world on my shoulders. The stress that inhabited my life felt like it was at a breach. My Church has Bible studies that are called Community Groups and what we are doing is going through books. I was attending one on Saturdays when I could but a few weeks ago I received a call that another Community Group I had signed up for was about to start and this one was going through the book of Jeremiah. I signed up for this class based on the simple fact that I had never read Jeremiah. I had read verses when they came up in sermons or devotionals but I had never studied the book. So I signed up, completely unaware of what I was signing myself up for. The moment I received this phone call I began dreading this class only because now I don't have a choice of what ser

Not Just Another Post-Abortion Story

On February 13th, 2016 my husband and I welcomed to our family a little boy whose name is Elisha Kenneth. It was in that moment when everything changed for me. I was now and forever a Mom - capital "M". One day I was driving to Church, same route I always take and I look in my rear view mirror at my son who knows of no malice he is simply sleeping away in his car seat with the sweetest and calmest face of content. In that moment it dawns on me. I love him so much. I remember the feeling I had when I found out he was a real thing. The feeling I had the moment I told his Father about him. The feeling I had when I saw him for the first time. The first time I heard his heartbeat. The time we found out he was a he. The moment when we walked through the hospital doors knowing that when we walked out we would have a baby boy. I had a rush of one feeling all in that moment while driving -- LOVE . And what followed afterward, nothing but sadness. Sadness and

Palm Sunday, Good Friday & Easter: The Holy Week

I live a pretty active lifestyle; I'm always on the move. Whether it is work related, ministry related or family activities, I always have something to do and I am always in my car traveling from point A to point B. Yesterday, I got a notification from the Bible app that read "View the reading plans for this Holy week". I thought, "this Holy week"? I'm an idiot. I am busy all the time but is that any reason to give an excuse to me questioning this week, and the massive importance it holds? No. Did I start a reading plan immediately? No. Instead I thought about this week, it all began Sunday, it was on Sunday when the church was handing out Palms; hence why Sunday before Easter is called Palm Sunday but do we know why it is called that? I do, I learned all about that importance a few years ago when I became a believer in Jesus. The Holy week becomes even holier on Friday, Good Friday, my entire life up until 4 years ago Good Friday was good because I had the