I'm Famous!!

Okay, so not really but I am blogging for the hospital that I work at!!! Here is my first entry.....this blog is all about moms!

Enjoy!

texashealthmoms.blogspot.com

Lighten It Up!

In the midst of still “recovering “ so to speak from my last post, I wanted to lighten this post up a bit. I do want to say, however, THANK YOU so much for all of the encouragement, support, and love after I shared a very difficult part of my life with you all a couple of days ago. I just want to be clear….that post was NOT about telling my story necessarily but about giving God the glory and sharing about what He is doing in my life. I have been on an amazing journey and am so excited about what is to come!! If you need healing from an abortion, please let me know and I will get you in contact with someone who can help. My email is rikkihester@sbcglobal.net

Let’s talk about my kids!! :)

Lauren is almost 2! Can you believe that? She is just growing up so much. She has such a little personality. She is a much easier toddler than Rachel was. She takes to discipline well and has such a different personality that her sister. She has been very sick! We went to Care Now on Friday and she was diagnosed with strep and the flu!!!! We are taking Tamiflu and Omnicef and she is feeling SO MUCH better!!!! She was being so sweet when she was sick but the funny thing is that she did not want me or her daddy, she wanted her sister!!! She wanted Rachel to rock her. I got a little picture. Isn't this precious????

We also did pigtails for the first time! I think she's cute! :)

Rachel is growing up big. She has really been talking a lot about God. She seems to be "getting" things a little better. I just can't believe she is 4!!

Our latest battle with her (you know there is always something) is that she unties her shoes at school. She got these super cute light up Twinkle Toe Skechers and LOVES them but got in trouble several days in a row for untying them on purpose....AND lying about it. Not a happy momma!

She is so smart! Takes after her father! Her teachers say that she can read and sound out words better than the kindergarteners. I am a little concerned about the fact that she will not go to school until she is almost 6!

So, nothing SUPER spiritual in this blog post but I needed to take a break from the heavy stuff and just blog for fun!!!  :)  I will go back to the spiritual stuff soon!!!

Again, thank you for hanging with me.  I hope that all of my new blog readers will keep coming back!  :)





For the Love of LIFE!

Tomorrow is Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. This day always falls on the Sunday closest to the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. Today, January 22nd, marks the date that abortion was legalized in the United States. It is the 38th anniversary.

Over the past several days I have read a few articles that center around abortion, choosing life, and what people are doing about both. I have read about a doctor who performs abortions illegally and keeps the contents stored in jars. Human body parts in jars. I have read about a couple that did IVF and then got pregnant with twin boys. Since they wanted a girl, they decided to terminate their pregnancy of these baby boys in hopes to get pregnant with a little girl. This couple had suffered the loss of a baby girl shortly before getting pregnant with the twins. They were quoted saying that they "deserved a little luck" and this was their "right." This case is sad but the fact is that many women choose to have abortions for all different reasons. Many women feel justified in whatever their reason is.

Approximately 40 million abortions are performed each year. That represents A LOT of babies but it also represents A LOT of women. It is horrific if you really think about what abortion is. Let me tell you what it is not....

*It is not "the easy way out"
*It is not something you can just forget about
*It (the baby) is not "just a ball of cells"
*It is not a decision that only affects the mother

It is murder. It is, in many ways, a permanent solution to a temporary "problem." It is heart breaking to think of what happened to an innocent baby. It is also heart breaking for many years for the mother (and many times father) who chose the procedure. It is physically, emotionally, and often times spiritually difficult...and let me just say, that's putting it mildly.

Jane Roe (Norma McCorvey) wanted to have an abortion. She was not allowed to according to state law. She fabricated a story that she had been raped since Texas state law said that a women could have an abortion if she had been raped. She had no evidence and later admitted that she made up the story. After getting two lawyers, ultimately giving birth, and three years later, abortion became legalized in the United States - January 22, 1973. This was Norma's 3rd pregnancy...all of which she had placed for adoption.

Eventually, McCorvey's views about abortion changed. She stated that she signed a piece of paper giving women the "right." What those lawyers did not tell her was that women would be coming up to her for several years thanking her for giving them the chance to have multiple abortions. She attempted to overturn Roe vs Wade but her petition was denied. She became a Christian and now considers herself "100% prolife." Here is an excerpt from one of her books,

"But a few weeks after my conversion, I was sitting in O.R.'s offices when I noticed a fetal development poster. The progression was so obvious, the eyes were so sweet. It hurt my heart, just looking at them.

I ran outside and finally, it dawned on me. "Norma," I said to myself, "They're right." I had worked with pregnant women for years. I had been through three pregnancies and deliveries myself. I should have known. Yet something in that poster made me lose my breath. I kept seeing the picture of that tiny, 10-week-old embryo, and I said to myself, that's a baby! It's as if blinders just fell off my eyes and I suddenly understood the truth--that's a baby!

I felt "crushed" under the truth of this realization. I had to face up to the awful reality. Abortion wasn't about 'products of conception.' It wasn't about 'missed periods.' It was about children being killed in their mother's wombs. All those years I was wrong. Signing that affidavit, I was wrong. Working in an abortion clinic, I was wrong. No more of this first trimester, second trimester, third trimester stuff. Abortion--at any point--was wrong. It was so clear. Painfully clear."

McCorvey now has a ministry called Roe No More Ministry and speaks on behalf of babies and women all over the United States who have been destroyed by abortion.

I did not know this about Roe vs Wade until I recently did some research.  She is ABSOLUTELY allowing God to "work all things for good" because she loves him and recognizes that she is forgiven and loved by God.  This realization is so hard for those that have had abortions.  They feel broken, unworthy, unlovable (by anyone, especially God), and destroyed.  It is a decision that you cannot take back, but choosing what to do with the experience is what is important. 

You see, I had an abortion.  November 25, 1998.  I was 17 years old in need of direction and spirtiual guidance...something that was seriously absent at that time in my life.  I was a Christian.  I knew it was wrong but I didn't think about that at the time.  I needed a solution and EVERYONE told me what I should do.  So I did.  I regret it every. single. day!  I have so many "issues" in the area of self-esteem, self-confidence, and feeling loveble....most of which I attribute to my choice to end the life of my unborn baby.  It is something that I am not proud of but God has said that I must share this about myself in order to help others.  That is what Romans 8:28 is all about!! 

Just this past year, God spoke VERY vividly to me and said that I had to stop allowing Satan to control this part of my life.  I had made a very bad choice with very bad circumstances but for almost 12 years, I had allowed Satan to tell me that if anyone (besides those that already knew) ever found out, they wouldn't love me anymore.  I believed that with all my heart.  After weeks of struggling with this, I finally gave it to God and allowed Him to work.

I am now a certified leader for Surrendering the Secret - a post abortion Bible study that promotes healing and hope to women who have had an abortion(s).  I went through the 8 week study and have allowed God to use me through speaking at church to a group of women.  I have done the study with one other girl at church and on February 7th, we will start another group.  She is now a co-leader with me.  I am so honored to be able to not only help other women heal but to spread the news of the Gospel as well, because Surrendering the Secret does that so well!

God is a forgiving and loving God.  He can forgive ANYTHING if we ask and call on Him.  That has taken me a long time to realize but I am so blessed to hold onto this truth now!! 

Here is a video of a song that Matthew West has recently released that he wrote after a post-abortive woman shared her story with him. 

"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, great is his love for who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us."
 Psalm 103:11-12

Wrapping Up 2010

SOOOO...I know that I am SUPER late with this post and I am just not going to post about Christmas at all except to say that it was great, the girls had a blast, and I just can't go back and post about it because we have to move forward.

I had a tough start to the new year with the death of a girl I lived with in high school. It was so sad. There were so many GREAT things that happened to me in 2010 and first and foremost I have become closer to God than I have ever been and I am SO incredibly grateful.

Some of these questions are trivial but I thought it was fun and many of them really made me stop and think. Enjoy! Feel free to copy and repost with your answers.


1. What did you do in 2010 that you have never done before?
Read a fiction novel...I read 3 complete ones! :) Also, I have never poured my heart out before God and told Him to use me however He wants. I literally said, "Whatever you want from me, Lord, here I am. Use me." Scary, overwhelming, and utterly exciting!!!!

2. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions and will you make more for next year?
I try to not set resolutions. I always have the goal of bettering myself and the beginning of a new year is a good time to do that.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I can think of right now. 2009 was the year for babies for my friends.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. The final day of the year. Rachael Beard. I lived with her family when I was in high school. She was killed in a car accident early on December 31st. She was only 26 years old and I was devastated! Just so sad for her family...especially her sweet sweet Momma...I love Audra so much. She was like a sister to me and that family was/is like my own.

5. What places have you visited?
I am boring. I think the only two states I went in 2010 were Arkansas and Texas. Arkansas - Hope, Little Rock, Hot Springs; Texas - DFW Metroplex (since I live there), Weatherford (many times), Tyler, Canton

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
More patience and understanding when it comes to my children. Maybe another child... ;)

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched in your memory and why?
There are several...March 12th - my baby's first birthday! August 18th - heard a sermon that changed my life!!! August 28th - had the hardest and most precious conversation with Christi - someone who I consider as close to me as my own mother!! Also, October 26th - I have a rock in my purse to mark this date. It was a significant day because it was a day that I celebrated freedom from a stronghold that Satan has had over my life for 12 long years!!

8. What was your biggest achievement this year?
Surrendering everything to God and laying my shame, guilt, and sin at His feet!

9. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No. I did have some strange ailment with my elbow but it was just tendonitis...no biggie! :)

10. What was the best thing you bought?
A silver heart charm with two little feet on it.

11. Where did most of your money go?
MY GIRLS!!! :) Clothes, bows, shoes, etc. Daycare!

12. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Probably "Broken Into Beautiful" by Gwen Smith or "You Are For Me" by Kari Jobe

13. What do you wish you had done more of?
Read my Bible, prayed, loved more intentionally (on purpose and deeply)

14. What do you wish you had done less of?
Watched senseless, STUPID, television. This really became a conviction of mine after a Women's Retreat this past November. I no longer tape Days of Our Lives and through prayer, I have not missed it at all. I felt like God was really telling me that it was trash and took me away from things I should have been doing.  Also, I wish I had worried less about what others thought of me.

15. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's Anatomy (no, God hasn't convicted me of this one yet)  :)

16. What was the best book you read this year?
Redeeming Love

17. What was your favorite film of the year?
Well, I only went to the movies twice. I saw "Eat, Pray, Love" and "Sorcerer's Apprentice." Between the two of them, "Sorcerer's Apprentice" was the better one. I just don't watch many movies. I love old movies. I like to go back and watch older movies.

18. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?
I actually just had my birthday. I went to work. It was a good day. I turned 30!!!! It was a big birthday for me but I actually cried because of how good people were to me. I felt very blessed!!! I have great friends!

19. What political issue stirred you the most?
Wow...what a loaded question. I hate the healthcare issue. I will not go into a lot of detail but I just don't feel like the government should be allowed or given the authority to decide who should or should not have insurance. I will agree that our current healthcare system needs work but I just feel like the plan in place is not where it's at.

20. What was the best new person you met?
CARRIE BOND!!! Without a doubt! I have never met anyone who I just immediately bonded with (no pun intended). Carrie is such an encouragement to me and has helped me so much this year in my walk. I love her so much and I feel like I have known her all my life. So blessed to have met Carrie this past year.

We had an amazing service this morning at church!!! The title was "Great Expectations" and it was basically talking about what the vision for our church is for the upcoming year. I am so excited about everything we heard!!!!! I am very excited to be a part of a new ministry at our church and cannot wait to see what God is going to do. We are starting a post-abortion Bible study. We will use the curriculum "Surrendering the Secret" which is a great tool!

The greatest thing I have taken away from 2010 is that God loves us UNCONDITIONALLY!!! NO MATTER WHAT! Not only does He love us, He forgives us. It does not matter what we have done, He forgives us. Psalm 103:11-12 has become one of my favorite passages:

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

I have felt freedom this past year like never before but where all of this has been such a blessing; it also means that God has called me to another place. Where I have received freedom, I desire for others to experience the same kind of freedom. When God calls us to do something it is not usually easy. This journey has not been easy thus far and satan has been all about it! BUT, God has called me to this place to help others and that is what I will do. Because as we were reminded this morning in our worship service..."For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

I will follow You!

"And we know that ALL THINGS work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28 (emphasis mine)

In A Funk!

I really do plan on blogging again!!! Promise! I actually started a blog about 2 weeks ago and never finished it. I am hoping by the time I do finish it won't be outdated! Anyway, please don't stop reading...come back again! My hope is to catch up tomorrow. I did a lot of house work today so maybe tomorrow I can "play." Lots to tell you about.....