My Audra -

(Audra and John & Avery ;) )

My Audra -

Happy Birthday to you today! :) My dear, precious friend. How I miss you and John and ache to hold Baby Avery! This time last year I had just gotten home from Missouri, and crashing from the trip. :) We had some very special times together over those few days at Bethy's wedding. God was so gracious to allow our conversations and sharing and tears together. God has been so good!! I see Godliness in you and John that is not always easy to do in marriages. You are both so tender and selfless in serving each other. It blesses my heart to know you both, and it is my honor to have met both of your children while they were in the womb, and it will be my utter joy to meet Avery sometime soon. :)

Congratulations on being a mommy twice over on January 26th. :) Baby Avery John is so so beautiful!! I love him so much already.....gosh, it's hard to write about you, and not slip into talking about John or Avery! Haahhaa! :D

I don't think I can tell you how much I love being your friend and sharing my heart with you. You have blessed me so many times over!! You and John both, John with his "deep questions" that leave me stumbling, hahahaha, and you with all the heart to heart chats that go deep fast. Thank you for allowing me to visit you all in TN in August...what a wonderful time that was, and I can't wait to .... I think I've said this already. SEE you sometime!!! AAH! :D :D

I have so much to say, and yet very little to write here, my dearest friend....

I hope you had a wonderful birthday ... filled with the sweetest joy of your little family and the knowledge that our Lord Jesus who cradles Melody every day holds all of us in His arms and tenderly leads us in His grace to walk through all our days knowing He goes before!! :)

Happy Birthday to wifey of John and Mama to Melody and Avery,

my dearest friend Audra,

I love you so much. So so much.

BIG hugs!! :D

~ Jean Marie ~

Psalm 126: 5-6

"Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.

He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing,

shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."

Psalm 135: 5-7, 13-14

"(5)For I know that the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods.

(6)Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven and in earth,

in the seas and in all deep places.

(7)He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;

He makes lightning for the rain; He brings the wind out of His treasuries.

(13)Your name, O Lord, endures forever, Your fame, O Lord, throughout all generations.

For the Lord will judge His people, and He will have compassion on His servants."