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The Blaines
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Help Me, Save Me!

Sunday, December 15, 2024

As a middle school girl, I tried out for a part in a play. My audition must have been good enough to earn me the role

I wanted, Lady Guienvere! I didn’t have a whole lot of lines, but I was part of a pretty epic scene that involved a

sword battle, where I yelled “help me, save me” and Arthur fought to save me from the evil (I think it was a dragon)

that had me in chains in a castle. 


Fast forward 30 years and I find myself getting ready to get on stage again. This time is completely different. This

time I was offered a part.  I didn’t have to earn it, or try out, or be the best, all I had to do was accept the part.

No one cared what kind of acting I had done in the past, all I had to do was say yes. 30 years later I’m still talking

about saving, however it's about the saving God can do and has done in my life. 


I smile at the similarities, yet acknowledge the very large difference in my life from 30ish years ago. Jesus. He has

changed everything. He didn’t care about the mistakes I had made or the times I had completely disregarded him.

I didn’t have to be good enough for him, I just had to accept what he was offering. Salvation.


I invite you tonight to see our church play, "The Weary World Rejoices". Come see the people who said "I am the Lord's servant" just like Mary and Jospeh did all those many years ago. Come find yourself in one of the characters, those who doubt God, those who are angry at the government, those who are persecuted, those who could end up with a reputation, those who no one believed, those who are just exhausted. They may have lived 2000 years ago, but our worlds and the trials we face are so similar.



I am excited to see what God will do with this play tonight. I am thankful for all the people that steeped way out of their comfort zone and said yes. We'd love to have you tonight!


Holiday Memories

Sunday, December 1, 2024

Tuesday I had feelings stirring in my soul. I just wasn't feeling excited about that last day of school before break. My heart was achy. Stori woke up with that same sad soul and curled up in my lap and said she was sad. We snuggled there for quite a while...longer than we should have, but it just felt like what my heart and hers needed. For that moment I felt like the feelings had moved on and all would be okay. 

Wednesday was our day off before Thanksgiving.  The day to run the last minute errands, get the last minute food and in our case do the things we never have time to do on a week day, like return our library books! As we ventured out and about I found myself biting all their heads off, getting completely frustrated with Noah's driving (yes he has his learners now),  huffing at the girls for running through the library, even though I told them to hurry up because the library was closing, yelling at them in the parking lot...I was a mess. As we drove home with Noah at the wheel, tears just stated streaming down my face...God and I had a chat that went a little like this:

"What am I supposed to do God? It hurts, my princess shaped hole in my heart is yearning to be filled and there's nothing I can do to fill it."

God answered short and sweet "tell them".

"But these are hard memories God - ones that I have tucked deep down inside, it's been 11 years, I don't know if they will understand, is it too much?"

And then we were home...its a short ride...but long enough to know I had to change something or it was gonna be a miserable day for all of us!

I brought them all to the kitchen table and told them the story of Ellie on Thanksgiving at my mom's. How she started feeling "spinny" that day and how that was the beginning of her downfall. Up until that day she had played and had fun like a normal kid, you'd have never known she was sick - except for her bald head. After that day - she just wanted to be on the couch. She didn't want to play anymore - that was when we knew, I mean we already knew, but it sunk in that day that she had cancer and it was going to kill her. And this year that memory is on repeat in my heart. I apologized for being so unkind to them and watched their sweet faces range from smiles to tears. They all group hugged me and forgave me and that Jesus peace sunk into my heart. "Stop hiding it Carly"

Later on Noah said it was nice to see me do what I am always encouraging them to do, get it out, talk about it, don't pretend it's all fine. My sharing also led to more conversations and sharing from the kids, about what Noah remembers about Ellie, to how weird it is for the girls to have a sister they hear a lot about but have never met, how they miss her yet they don't know her. My hurt and sadness led to an afternoon of sharing, thanks to God who always has the right answer, as long as I remember to ask!

As we head into the holidays I know I'm not the only one who had tough memories. I'd encourage you not to hide your hurt, speak of the memories, be honest with your sadness, seek God, tell Him it hurts, ask Him what do with it and be willing to obey. You just never know how God is going to use the situation you are in to open a door or bring comfort to another. 


Prayers, Praise and Pink

~ Carly


Jesus and Chickens

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Not sure I've ever written about my chickens before! Our chicken journey started during COVID, what else does a family do with no where to go, no jobs to do...you get new animals! From 6 to 10, minus 4, to 12, to 20 minus 6, to 36, minus 5 to 24....you get the point.  They have become family.  SG has become obsessed, she talks to them, knows everything about them, does school reports on them.  She has become okay with the poo and has seen her fair share of dead chickens, most of which are buried in my yard.  I do love them too.  

Last year we hatched eggs with an incubator with 4H. We put in 24 and 16 hatched. I was such an exciting experience with the kids and for us. It is amazing to watch a chick hatch.  How God has created them to form so quickly, how they know from inside the egg,  exactly how to crack out of that egg, how in hours they can walk.  

This year we decided to invest in our own incubator. Ordered eggs to hatch.  We couldn't wait!  We knew we were cutting it close on the dates, since we leave for Kentucky next week, but we had counted all the days and had a plan!

>>>Side note....actually the whole theme...plans....I love them, I love to have an idea of what's happening in my world...God has taught me to be careful about plans...but I've forgotten...God used some chickens to remind me, it's not my plan<<<

The eggs didn't show up when they were supposed to, and that little tracker wasn't really helping us out! We had no idea where those eggs were!  When they finally arrived all the excitement kicked in!



Candled 8 days later, pulled some out, but we expected that. 



Hatch day came, and we saw a crack!  Set up out google meets so we could go to school, but still see these amazing little chicks!  Only one hatched....hmmm.....



later that night one more.....middle of the night one more.....next day finally another one.....



I stared at 10 eggs still in that incubator, wondering what went wrong...got pretty down about it too. As I caught myself getting ridiculous, the light bulb went off! 

"Many are the plans on a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purposed that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

You see, it wasn't just the chicken plan that wasn't working out, there was another big plan that has got me trying to solve everything.  We leave for Kentucky on Monday, for our Hope trip. The details and the plans of this trip have kept me up at night.  Running through the plan over and over. Trying to make a plan B and maybe C. Worrying about if it all goes wrong, then what, will it be my fault...

When that light bulb went off, God said "Carly, you don't have that kind of control and power...stop it!"

I let go of the trip, I handed that to God and I haven't picked it back up...but these eggs are still sitting in the incubator, unhatched....the plans of my heart. 

I believe that plans are good, I believe that being prepared for your day is a great thing. However when we get stuck in the plan, when we are unwilling to acknowledge, God is God and His purpose will prevail, that's when we get stuck.  We forget all the million ways God has taken our plans and pushed them aside and let His purpose shine on through.  These are the kind of weeks that I just have to keep digging into gratitude and memories of all the things God has done, to keep me from drowning in my undone/unfinished plans.  

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

That word unswervingly... not veering from the road God has us on.  Not trying to take a detour around an obstacle God has put there.  Having faith to trust that God is always with you, He will not leave you, or forget about you. (Deut 31:8)  He has a plan for our life (Jeremiah 29:11) and he will hold your hand right on through (Isaiah 41:10)...if you believe in your heart and profess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord! (Romans 10:9)

I've preached this to myself over and over! 

Next week, we will be back in Kentucky.  Back in schools, back to sharing about the God who loves and saves. Plans may work great, plans may fall apart, however I will keep clinging to the truth that God's purpose will prevail! If you have the privilege of prayer, please pray for our travels and most importantly the life that will be touched and the soul that will be saved, even if it's just the one! If you'd like to follow us on our trip, visit our Facebook Page


Today is SG's 10th birthday! Hard to believe it! Don't worry, Daddy compensated for all those unhatched eggs with a trip to the CO-OP! I have no idea how many chickens we own now!

Prayers, Praise and Pink
~ Carly



Being a Blaine

Saturday, September 3, 2022

I officially became a Blaine 16 years ago. But I was a Blaine the moment I walked into Richard's life 20 years ago, because that's how they roll! If you ever want to see Jesus' love in action, go to my Mother in Law's house, she will feed you, chat with you and hug you and then you are family!

The Blaines are huge in numbers and coming from a smaller family, I was overwhelmed at first.  Always a baby somewhere to be held and a line of people fighting over who got to hold the baby next. When Richard's nephew was born - the first one I was around for - I was so scared to hold him, I'd never held a baby that small! No judgement from then!  Even though I hate pickles, they still loved me.

Whenever they got together for holidays, never an empty place to sleep, but they'd find you one.  I remember the first time I saw the floor lined with cousins, thinking "this is nuts". I didn't sleep much that first night, but it was fun! No one complained and woke up the next morning smiling and ready for more!

I watched as extended family grew and grew, but the relationships between them was always so close.  Taking care of each others kids, cooking with one another, stuffing 6 million easter eggs and only finding 2 million of them, watching TV, talking and just loving.  Even as we got older and and had less and less time, there was always an effort to keep getting together. The visits may not include as many sleepovers but there's still 6 million eggs and a ton of food, because they are Blaines and that's what they do.

This weekend should have been the annual Labor Day cook out.  Where if you've ever been a part of the Blaine Family, you are invited. Where we wouldn't hide eggs, but we would for sure cook and eat more food than should be legal.  Once upon a time there would be a volleyball net with an intense gamein progress.  This weekend should have had kids running everywhere, adults yelling "car" when the next member of the family came driving in.  There should be a sliding door that is never closed, music and more recently campers parked in the yard from the cousins that have officially outgrown the living room floor. 

But God had other plans...and that one is hard to wrap my brain around this Labor Day weekend.  Richard's dad passed away Wednesday, August 31st.  We weren't ready for that - not that anyone ever is, but we really weren't ready. After praying him through two surgeries, we had this hope of all being well.  So when the call came, we were heartbroken. And found ourselves asking "Why God?"

I bet He hears that a lot. And here's where faith comes into action. 

Why was he okay and then not?

Why was Richard out of town when this happened?

Why didn't we get more warning?

Why do we have to go through this pain?

This list could go on and on...and when you can't come up with the answers yourself, you just have to Trust God, trust that He knew everything that happened, where everyone was and why they were there. I believe in a God that has no coincidences, just a plan. 

On these days where it's hard to look forward at what the future has in store, I have to look back at all He has done before and know He will do it again. We've been in grief before, He got us through, strengthened us and I have no doubt He will again. 

Over the past few days, I've seen a lot of tears, but I've also seen a lot of faith.  I watch the Queen of the Blaine crew, my mother in law, cling to Jesus, cling to what she knows.  She is walking in her faith right now, and I know Jesus is looking at her saying "I got you, keep clinging".  

I am blessed to be a Blaine, even if I wasn't born with that name, even if I don't like pickles, they still love me. 

To read more about the great guy who left this world, https://www.foundandsons.com/obituaries/James-Blaine-4/?fbclid=IwAR2dnRlRBD8_dE3LC26Wjhm6be8SeuExm2-ul_IL410Gy9hk9wckXRydNSo#!/Obituary



Driving Down Memory Lane

Monday, July 18, 2022

As we drove home from the beach this year, Noah noticed how quiet I was (the boy picks up on everything) and asked what was up.  It was hard to explain to him how this trip down a physical road, had flooded my mind with so many memories.

Memories I wasn’t excited about, wasn't proud of, memories that shook me, in a way I hadn’t expected, and it probably wasn’t until he asked me what was wrong, did I realize I had gone back in time in my mind.


I went to collage in Hampton Roads area, drove that same highway numerous times. I was a completely different person in that time. Someone following a boy to college (don’t do it), someone completely unsure of themselves, someone looking for acceptance in others, someone to tell me I was worth something and loved. 


I didn’t have a bad childhood by any means. I knew my parents loved me and were proud of me.  I danced, played soccer for a whole season, did well in school, went to church when I was supposed to, but there was something missing that I had no idea that was missing, until I found it (that probably sounds confusing!)


I grew up believing that I just had to be good enough to go to heaven.  Don’t ask what good enough is…that’s a pretty subjective topic!  Like my kids would say pickles are good…I think there is nothing more gross!  We all have a different idea of good, and mine got more and more skewed the older I got. I’m pretty sure by the time I graduated high school, I wasn’t even thinking for myself anymore, I let others tell me what was good, no matter what the cost.  Oh that girl…if I could shake her I would!! I just had no idea that the acceptance and love I was looking for wasn’t going to come from a boy or a friend.  They are human and they fail, just like me. 


We are studying Jonah in VBS is this summer, and this past week I read about the attention grabbing wake up call God gave Jonah in the form of a storm. A storm that shook that boat and had all the boat people “crying out to their gods.” Jonah 1:5. You remember the story of Jonah, I’m sure! God told him to go somewhere and preach, and Jonah decided he knew what was good and he decided to go somewhere else.  God sent a warning in the form of that storm.  


My sophomore year of college, God sent me that warning, that wake up call that life was getting a little ridiculous. He was tired of watching me let others decide what was good. I left school a few weeks into my first semester that year. I completely ignored that warning. It wasn’t my fault, I was just unlucky…the excuses went on.  After some time at home, I went to another school 30 minutes from the first…I went right back to the life He tried to pull me away from because it felt “good”. Again I could shake that girl…she was so lost! 


But God…


Those two little words.  He didn’t give up on me, He didn’t decide I was too far gone or had sinned too much.  He continued His pursuit of me.  Looking back on it, it truly is a love story.  A story about how much God loved me!  Because of my time at home I worked a lot.  God brought Richard into my life at work.  We started dating, that led to a real relationship. That led to meeting his family, which was the first time I was introduced to a Baptist church.  I was intrigued. I wanted that.  I wanted that joy, I wasn’t sure I wanted to throw my arms in the air or yell Amen… but I knew there was something there.  Fast forward a marriage, a pregnancy, and now we find ourselves in a church, uncomfortable as all get out because I didn’t think I belonged. Yet we kept going and slowly God became real to me. I learned that the way to heaven wasn’t being “good enough”.  It was through a relationship with Jesus.  It was through acknowledging my sin, acknowledging Jesus’ death and resurrection, and acknowledging my need for him. “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9


From there God held our hands and hearts through births, deaths, job changes, pandemics, more births and more deaths.  I found what I was missing. I found the man that loves me, pays attention to me, accepts me, created me in His image.  I found what I didn’t know I needed, and I don’t have to be “good enough” to get it, it was freely given to me!


Now…I will admit I still struggle almost daily with acceptance of the world. I want my husband to acknowledge all I do, I want him to tell me I’m pretty.  But he’s human, he will fail.  I want my kids to be kind to me and respect others, but they are also human and they will fail. I want my friends to say all the right things to make me feel better, but they are human, they will fail.  I want to push all my anxieties aside and boldly try new things without fear…but you guessed it…I’m human I will fail. 

 

As much as I want these things, I don’t go searching for them in the world anymore. I go to God.  I tell Him my frustrations and all the ways I’ve failed and how those around me have let me down.  And He sweetly reminds me every time, that they will never be able to give me the things I want, only He can.  We (God and I) have this conversation often…because I’m a slow learner and I’m pretty sure while living in this world, I’m going to keep looking for it to meet my needs. The only One who can is the God that created me, didn’t give up on me, took that lost girl and changed her life.  


That drive home just stirred my soul so much. Happy and sad tears flowed, regretting the bad stuff but in awe of the face that despite all the bad God saved me, not because I deserved it or I was good enough, simply because He loves me and I asked Him to.  I drove back up 64 towards home, so grateful for the changes in me.  Thankful for the conversation it started between Noah and I about the importance of repentance and God's forgiveness! Honored to be called a Child of God. 



The only picture of us from vacation!


And the crazy cousins!

Where this all started

Monday, February 7, 2022

After Ellie died, there was understandably a hole in my heart.  It was so empty and nothing filled it up.  With her birthday closing in, we decided to have a party. But what do you do at a birthday party when the birthday girls isn't there?  So we decided to do something for someone else.  We chose a charity that was close to one our nurse's hearts and the idea of Ellie's Birthday Party was born.  


As good as it felt to do good and watch the amount of donations roll in, she still wasn't there. Over the next few years we raised money...a lot of money for different cancer charities and kept on celebrating Ellie's birthday by choosing other charities to help, but that hole wasn't filling up.  After each big event or fundraiser, I'd wake up the next day as empty as the day before.  

I knew I wanted to do something that shared our love of Jesus, in Ellie's name. I think the problem was I was making it all about Ellie for the first few years. Then I heard about Hope for Appalachia.  I remember driving to school, I remember exactly where I was in the car when I first heard them on the radio. God spoke to my heart and told me that was my next charity.  We reached out to Pastor Mike and told him our story and what we wanted to do.  

In 2017 we packed 120 Hope Boxes in my basement!




I don't remember the exact feeling that next day.  But a few weeks later, Richard and I headed to Kentucky on our first mission trip ever to deliver these boxes. 


And I remember that feeling.  I remember being exhausted in the best way ever!  I remember feeling so nervous and excited all at the same time! After that trip, I knew we had found our place!  It went from 120 boxes, to 400, 500, to 600, to 1061, to this year's 1625! We went from covering a few grade levels to covering an entire county.  The biggest thing is that this has become more about spreading the good news of Jesus and less about Ellie.  

I was so worried in the beginning she would be forgotten.  Raised all the money, spoke at all the events, just so I could talk about her.  That was my way to deal with grief, if I talked about her, it made her real, it made her life seem worth it.  The more and more Hope Boxes we made, the more I realized she will always be in my heart.  I will always carry her story with me wherever I go, be it work or to Kentucky.  Telling people about Ellie doesn't change their eternity but hearing about Jesus does. God has led me to an organization where I get to tell people my story of how God used a little girl with cancer to help kids in Kentucky! 

We just celebrated Ellie's birthday for the 8th time without her. Never fails to hit me the next day.  I feel empty again...but it sure doesn't take long for me to remember to fill that hole up with the thought that He has always been right there.  He holds me up when I feel like I can't stand anymore. He helps me breathe when I can't find the patience or the breath. Reminders of all He has done! 




Thank you all for making it possible! Without your continuous donations we couldn't do this.  Thank you for being faithful and allowing us to share our passion with you! Thank you!

We have one last fundraiser to top off our Hope Boxes and purchase some bibles to take with us.  If you are interested in a shirt or a hat, please visit our fundraising page by clicking the picture below! (You only have till Friday to order).




I do have a prayer request.  Please pray for our mission trip. Please pray that the doors will be open to the schools and that we will be able to talk to the kids!

Prayers, Praise and Pink
~ Carly


Today's Prayer of Praise

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

 Dear Heavenly Father,

You are my provider, able to do more than I can ask or imagine.  You forgive me when I mess up and love me with a great love.  You are my helper, my refuge and my comforter.  You show kindness to me each day and You are faithful to walk beside me always.  

God this morning we wake up and realize it has been 8 years since our girl left this world.  Eight years since I held her and heard her voice.  However, I acknowledge that you ended her earthly suffering, her life of doctor's appointments, medicines, and couch laying.  You brought her into your presence...which I can't even imagine.  

You have time and time again shown me that her short 1061 days was meant for a great purpose.  As much as I would have loved more time with her, You did what You did for a reason.  I miss her giggle, jokes about her hair, her munchies and how much she loved her daddy!  But you have continued to provide such peace to us.  

You continue to assure us and allow us to see changes in those around us that You Jesus have orchestrated because of Ellie's life.  You have moved people to create an amazing organization, Ellie's Elves, that helps so many families in need and shines Your light to others. You have moved my parents to serve others in Your name, through a food pantry.  Through that food pantry, You brought my dad to church where he's found You.  You spurred us on to do something for Ellie's birthday.  Which turned into 120 Hope Boxes, then 400, then 600, then 1000, then 1600!  To think all those kids have heard about Jesus, because of what you did with Ellie's life.  You have changed my job and brought me back to the community that walked with us through Ellie's life.  You allow me to serve the families now, that served us.  You have given my children an understanding of life and grief that allows them to understand others so much better.  You have allowed our sweet friend to walk her grief with her trust in You, because she's seen us do it before.  You are amazing.  

Thank you for allowing me to see all of this.  For giving me assurance that Ellie's death, was not the end of her life. For reminding me that EVERYTHING that happens in our lives is part of an intricate plan that we can't even imagine.  

You are mighty, You are all knowing, and I will continue to praise You in all things. 

In your Son Jesus' name I pray, Amen.


A sweet friend gifted us this beautiful painting.  The comfort this brings my heart is indescribable. Here we all are together in one picture, with the One who made this all possible!


Prayers, Praise and Pink
~ Carly


 
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