Happy Birthday, Cade!

It’s hard to fathom that it has been 11 years since I first laid eyes on the little man who made me a Momma!  So much life has happened in that time, and he has grown into such an awesome young man. 

Cade was our miracle baby!  He has brought laughter, tears and a lot of “wisdom” to our family.  I used to post “Wise Words of Cade” because he would say the funniest things.

This birthday will be different.  This is his first birthday that Nanny won’t be here to celebrate with him.  They were the best of buddies.  It was very clear to everyone who knew Nanny, that Cade was the apple of her eye. 

I can’t help but be so proud of Cade.  The first thing he wants to buy with his birthday money is something nice for Nanny’s grave.  What 11 year old thinks like that?  He sure does love his Nanny!!!! 

 

This weekend, we celebrated his birthday with a laser tag party.  He had a blast!

Although we were drenched in sweat, everyone had a wonderful time!

Happy Birthday to the #2 man in my life!  I am so proud of you and love you to the moon and back!

My Last and First Day

Today, I leave a job that has been a huge part of my life for nearly 9 years.  It’s not just any job.  It’s the family business.  I have learned so much, and have had some great memories.  It has been wonderful getting to see my parents every day, and raising two of my children here at the office.  When I first came to work here I had huge aspirations.  I was going to rule the world…at least the world of construction.  There was nothing more empowering than a woman, running a successful business in a man’s world.  I wanted to have it all.  You see, the Lord has tremendously blessed our family through this business.  And I was going to carry on the legacy.

One of the things I accomplished here at O’Steen Brothers was getting my contractor’s license.  I was scared to death of letting my dad down, but by the grace of God I passed with flying colors.  The very first permit I got with my license was for the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. 

This was such a fun experience!  We worked through the night.  This picture now sits on my mantle, and SaraGrace has to be reassured that I do NOT have a boyfriend (because that is what Rob tells everyone.)

Not only has this job afforded me great experiences, but it has been such a financial blessing.  I will never have a job making the kind of money or receive the kind of benefits that I have been given here.  Most people would be scared to death to leave a job like this.  But I’m not. 

Because for several years, the Lord has impressed a different calling on my heart.  When I became pregnant with Faith, my perspective changed.  I no longer aspired to make a big paycheck, and to be popular and envied.  I now wanted to make a difference in the world by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ anywhere and in any way I could.  I knew He had brought us through so much to allow us to proclaim His goodness to everyone around us.  Through that calling, I have finally had enough faith to step out and pursue a career where my passion and talents collide- student counseling. 

As I begin college classes on Monday at the ripe old age of 35, I find myself experiencing peace again.  The same peace that I had while carrying my dying daughter.  That is because I know that again, I am doing exactly what God has asked me to do.  Will it be easy? NO!  Our family is on the brink of huge changes.  It will require adjustment for all of us.  But I know from experience that once you take that leap of faith, He will carry you through to the end.

I am so thankful for the blessing of my salvation, and my relationship with Jesus Christ.  I am thankful for this passion He has given me and for all of the doors He has opened for me.  Not only career-wise, but in ministry as well.  I have several speaking engagements coming up with my book, and He is blessing the socks off of that project. 

So I as go through this last day here at the office, I realize it is only the first day.  The first day of the rest of my life!  I pray that the legacy I leave behind is one of reaching others with the love of Jesus Christ.  Whatever and wherever that leads, I am ready for the challenge.

Is there something He is asking you to do?  What is holding you back?  I understand the fear factor.  I was slave to that for several years.  But now I have been set free from that with one step of faith.  I want to encourage you to step out.  Do it.  You won’t regret it.

Now that my life is slowing down a bit, I hope to do a better job of keeping up with my blog.  I have a couple of things I am going to be sharing this next week, including how all of these changes came to be.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and encouragement through the many seasons of our lives.  This new season is one I am super excited for!

1 Peter 1:5-9

(NKJV)

⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  ⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Vaughn Family Update

The Vaughns are in a cycle of change at the moment.  Not only did our book finally become available, we have some other changes coming down the pipe as well.

Two weeks ago, I gave my dad my notice that I was leaving the family business.  I was scared to death to tell him, because he believes in hard work.  My mother still works full time.  But when you are obedient to voice of the Holy Spirit, He just pours down grace and mercy, and takes care of everything.  Dad was so supportive and I couldn’t have asked for a better response.

As of May 15th, I will no longer have an office job.  I will be a student.  I am going back to school to finish my Bachelor’s degree in Family, Youth and Community Sciences.  I have 14 classes to finish, so I am planning on hitting them head-on full time.  I start in the Summer! My heart is in student counseling, so I am following God’s lead on that.  God has opened so many doors it is unbelievable.  I will write some follow-up posts because I want you to see how following Jesus with all of your heart has HUGE blessings.  It’s not always easy, but He sure works it out.

I am excited to be able to be home with our kids for the first time.  Not only will Summer bring change for them, but so will the Fall.  They will be leaving their school where they have been since the beginning of time, and transitioning to our local school system.  Though I was nervous at first, I now have a total peace that they will be taken care of.  We are blessed with one of the best school systems in the country.  Half of our church is employed by the school district, so I am assured they will be watched after  With this change comes middle school sports.  Cade is excited to play football for the Tigers, and I am excited about him getting involved in FFA.  He has made mention of showing a hog, so I am THRILLED!!!  SaraGrace will get to go to school with all of her church friends, and has made a request to learn how to twirl a baton    (cue 911).  So many opportunities await them there, and I am excited to get to spend more time with the people that I love the most.

 

Please pray that we will continue to be obedient to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, as we embark on these new adventures.  I have had some wonderful feedback with the book, and I’m looking forward to seeing how God is going to use it.

Much love!!!

It’s Available for Sale!!!

It's available for sale!!! I will be hosting a local book launch event in May, in honor of her 3rd birthday. I will have books there for sale, or you may order online. If you would like to purchase one from me, but do not want to wait until May, I will have my personal shipment when I return from the women's conference in VA. It is currently available in hardcover and softcover editions. The ebook is coming soon! Here are the links for ordering:

 

http://bookstore.crossbooks.com/Author/Default.aspx?BookworksSId=SKU-000543899

http://www.amazon.com/Our-Faith-Renewed-SaraBeth-Vaughn/dp/1462735894/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395331516&sr=8-1&keywords=our+faith+renewed

And coming soon to barnesandnoble.com.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the endless encouragement, support, prayers and for loving my little girl!!! To God be the glory, great things He has done!!!

Our Faith Renewed

The book is complete and has been printed.  I should have my author copies this week, or early next.  I cannot begin to tell you all of the miracles that have been performed by our sovereign God, but just know that when you He calls you to it, He will bring you through it. 

After two and a half years of working on this project, it is complete and I couldn’t be more proud!  You will see the name Nat Davis on the cover.  Nat was one of those miracles I mentioned earlier.  After much prayer, I stepped out on faith, seeking someone to help me finish our story, and Nat came into our lives.  She took my words, our story and made them into something so beautiful.  She is an AMAZING writer, editor, and friend.   You can learn more about Nat at www.davisprofessionals.com.  Please be praying for her family.  Her little girl, Lanae, is fighting a pretty big battle right now, but you will see that Nat and her family are an amazing testimony to the power of Jesus Christ!!!

And now the cover…

It is absolutely PERFECT!  The picture is Rob holding Faith’s hand, taken by Chontelle Brown in the hospital.  Stay tuned to facebook, twitter, and instagram to see when and where they will be available for purchase.  I am so excited to see that God is still working through our little Faith!!!

A Long Time Comin’

I know, I know.  You thought my blog fell off the face of the earth.  It kinda has.  Life is so busy, and I’m stretched in so many different directions that it has fallen by the wayside.  However, there is lots to report!!!

First- the book is FINALLY in the production stage.  Can we get a hearty AMEN?!?  I am praying we will have them in print in a few short weeks.  It will be available on Amazon and several other online bookstores like barnesandnoble.com.  I will also be holding a book signing event in May.  Details will be coming shortly.

Speaking of books, I am traveling for my first speaking engagement as an author next month.  I am headed to Virginia for the Faith, Hope & Love Women’s conference.  I am so excited to get to share what God is doing in our lives with other ladies.  But I am nervous about traveling by myself.

In other family news, we just got back from a short cruise vacation to the Bahamas.  We called it “The Vaughn 1st Annual Come Just As You Are” vacation.  There were no diets, no tans, no dress clothes, no cameras (except my phone), no iron, and minimal luggage.  So minimal that myself, SG and Emmy all packed in one bag.  It was an adventure on the Carnival Sensation.

We were so low maintenance that the kids didn’t even want to get off the ship in the Bahamas.  So we spent some time enjoying no lines at the onboard water park.

The waterslides were a HUGE hit.  After 2 1/2 hours on the slide, we were water-logged.  I even got in on the sliding action.

These kids do like each other…a little bit.

Emmy was not left out of the fun.  But she did NOT like the water.  It was a little chilly.

After the waterslides, the kids wanted to go to Camp Carnival for some activities, so we took Cade and SG to the “club” and took off onto the island for some shopping.  We were back within an hour.

Nothing like losing a front tooth on vacation.  She pulled it herself.  And the remaining front tooth is hanging by a thread.

We got a little silly at times.

We intentionally didn’t have ANY professional pictures taken.  Remember…this was a low maintenance vacation.  Just the thought of getting everyone dressed up and coordinated wore me out.  I even wore jeans every night to dinner.  GASP!!!

That being said, we did get some good some pictures at dinner taken by Cade.

And one family picture for the WIN!!!

This was probably one of the BEST vacations we have ever taken.  We had the best of both worlds.  We got to spend time as a family, and at night, Rob and I got to act like the kids that we are.  We took the Disney Cruise last year, so I thought the kids would be a little bummed out by this one. But to my surprise, they both said they liked this one “way better.”  That is a good thing because it was “WAY CHEAPER.”  We liked it better too.  No lines and no stress.  While I LOVE everything Disney, and would definitely do another Disney cruise, you feel like you have to take part in EVERY.SINGLE.ACTIVITY because it costs so much money.  You don’t want to miss a thing.  This year, the cruise was cheap, but the time we got to spend together was priceless.

We are so blessed with our amazing family, and the time we get to spend together.  To God be the glory, great things He has done!

Christmas in Heaven

After spending one of the most exciting weeks of my life in New York, I am home and gearing up for Christmas.  If it weren’t for the birth of the baby in the manger, we would have no hope of Heaven.  That is a lot to celebrate. 

Christmas, for us, is also a time to spend with family making memories.  There’s just one thing missing…our daughter.  So much has happened in our lives since Faith was born.  My book finally made it to the publisher the day I left for New York, which is a huge praise!  It has been 2 years in the making.  But as we hang the stockings, it’s hard not to imagine what 6 would look like, instead of 5.  It’s hard not to think about what would be wrapped under the tree for her.  There are times I feel guilty for being sad about it, because I know there is no better place to celebrate Christmas than in Heaven.  But that doesn’t take away the mommy in me who longs to have her family complete.

Last night, we had our Christmas Concert at church, and our  youth choir sang Christmas in Heaven.  I had to leave before they sang, but it is such a beautiful song that I wanted to share it with you.  I am so thankful for God’s gift of Baby Jesus, who died to pay the price for my sins.  I’m thankful that He didn’t stop there.  He defied death as he arose from the grave, and I can’t wait until He comes again to take me to Heaven to be with Him and to see my little girl.