Parkgate Banquet Info!

what do you worry about? not being good enough, or being fully His?

I recently heard this quoted on a children's movie that I was watching with my younger sister.  It made me think, because I think in many cases & for many people, it is true. 

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson

in Return to Love

We are powerful because God within us is powerful, and as images of him we can't even HIDE the glory within, even though we often try.  Everything good in us is Christ.  Even when we try to hide from our goodness, even when we run away from Truth by way of sin, we are still His kids! Our identity, regardless of our acknowledgement of it, is inherently wonderful.  It is a beautiful gift to which we only have to surrender!

Parenting Classes have begun!

Parkgate parenting classes started up this week! 20 girls signed up between 2 classes on Tues and Thursday night:-). This is a place for expecting moms to learn about child birth and the first year. Parkgate gives each girl a diaper bag and every week they go into the baby boutique and get one item for their baby until...l the last class. On the last night we do a baby shower! Also The health department does car seat safety. Each girl gets a new car seat and is taught how to safely put it in the car! Food is provided at each class!

happy labor day

Labor day means a work-free monday, family, relaxation, and no white sandals! But it is also a time to think about the Laborers of the past who have helped to make our great country what it is today!  One image that I ran across in my brief research was this working girl:

The "Rosie the Riveter" campaign, brought about during WWII when women were encouraged to join the work force in the absence of their men, is still considered THE most successful Government campaign.  Pretty impressive!! (and kind of intimidating.)  But she definitely has a CAN DO attitude that you have to love & be encouraged by and she is still respected today for her hard work.   

May God bless America and your Labor Day Monday!!

EXTRA extra!

Parkgate just released its August electronic newsletter.  It will be a great tool to help others learn more about Parkgate's mission and purpose in the NE MS community! More information on how to join Parkgate's mailing list can be viewed here!

"the hope I've come to know"

song by Ginny Owens called "Fellow Traveler!"


You can't change who I am
Or the way that i think
I won't change how you live
Or the words that you speak
But neither of us is a stranger to joy or pain
No matter how we're different
We're very much the same

*Fellow traveler let me take you to a place where Ive found rest
Fellow seeker let me show you where I've found true happiness
Fellow beggar I have good news, I know where there is bread
(I'll show you where there's bread)

I don't know where you've come from
Or where you've been along your way
But I can tell you what I've lived through
And how I made it here today

Let me share with you the story of hope I've come to know
A love that's always for me
And a peace that frees my soul

*
So if you are hungry come to the table with me
And you won't go hungry ever again

a phrase that the preacher said in church yesterday triggered this song in my brain.  i love this song because it motivates me to share with others "the hope i've come to know" not because i am "smarter" or "better" or "self righteous."  God doesn't call us to share because we are those things. . .because none of us are! all of us have fallen wayyyyy short of His glory.  Christians are called to SHARE as if we were beggars SHARING bread.  Because that's what we are!! humble before Jesus and hoping for his word to fill us up. . .let this be the posture of our witnessing and sharing GOOD NEWS!

sending the right message

today i probably sent approximately 50 text messages without even thinking about it, blogged twice, wall-posted on facebook, tweeted out my daily activities. . .i sent out a lot of messages.  To my friends, mostly, and I meant to send each message.  but what about the messages i didn't meant to send?  what about my body language and attitude, my interactions with people walking about my apartment complex, or what about the words on my t-shirt.  we are all sending out a message.  what's yours? think about it.

Listening to. . .

Listen to It! "The Lost Get Found" by Britt Nicole:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZacdiLazFks

This message is inspiring! It came on the radio last night when I was driving in my car.  I had been lost (go figure!) and had been driving for about an hour.  Not even my GPS system was able to get me back on track. . .I was extrememly frustrated, and then this song came on.  The title alone caught my attention.  It encouraged me to keep on trecking in many ways.

Sometimes it feels like my life isn't "life-changing," that God didn't know what he was doing when he made me. . .but I am so WRONG.  Because the great thing about LIFE is that it is significant, no matter what.   Everything and everybody is valuable in God's eyes & he makes no mistakes.  He even turns my mistakes into blessings.  Like getting lost last night turned into a great time to chill out and listen to the radio and listen to God.  It all worked out. And that was just a small thing. Imagine what he can do with the "big things."

No matter how we feel about our life, God knows that it's important and has the potential for greatness through his goodness.  Big or small, my life, your life, all life is significant.

‎"Don’t let the lights go down, Don’t let the fire burn out, Cause somewhere, somebody needs a reason to believe!"

Pictures from Last Tuesday's Shower!

just wanted to follow up with new pictures from Parkgate's recent shower! The cute cake from the shower was provided by Sweet Treats Bakery in Tupelo. They have adorable cakes and a gracious owner, Melinda Conerly, who shared her story at the shower. Thank you Melinda!

forecasted: "Showers" for Tuesday night!

Parkgate's Client Director Tricia Robbins!

Everyone knows there is nothing quite like a baby shower for first time Moms!

After completing a full summer of Parenting classes, 10 first time moms will be honored at Parkgate's baby shower tomorrow night in Tupelo!  Great women from the community are helping to put on this event, and the moms will have recieved not only great advice on how to raise a baby, but also will recieve some items to help them get a head start on having this new little person in their lives.  I know that the shower will be a blessing for both those receiving and giving. Awesome things are happening at Parkgate, by God's grace. 


You water its furrows abundantly,

You settle its ridges,
You soften it with showers,
You bless its growth


Psalm 65:10

Ms Beth's

i met a woman at the belk counter yesterday.  she was beautiful.

she was probably about 65 years of age, with a cajun accent.  she was born in new orleans.

when i asked her what brought her here, she said, "i came back to marry my highschool sweetheart. but he passed away."

she said, "God works in mysterious ways sometimes."

she had a marketing firm on the side.

as a young girl she had studied italian abroad.

she was a new friend on facebook.

she had a real story to share.

& I

would have never known

if i hadn't taken the time to ask.

how often do i pass people like her by in my every day life?! what rich stories people have to share, if you just ask!  what's yours?

friend

HOW SWEET IT IS

yesterday my friend Beth and I went to "Gigi's Cupcakes."  Above, we have the White Chocolate Midnight Magic cupcake and the Wedding Cake cupcake.  They were sooooo yummy and SWEET, really is the only word for them.  It made me think of that song, "How sweet it is to be loved by you."  As I was having a cupcake with my friend, I just smiled at how GREAT it was to be with someone who knows me better than I know myself.  She came and spent the night with me in my apartment, but she came AFTER dinner so that I wouldn't worry with cooking for her.  She was so easy to entertain, and then took ME to lunch after a day of shopping.  You know a friend is great when they make you feel at home in your own home, and make you feel comfortable in your own skin! Think about it.  And pass along a word of encouragement to a friend who means a lot to you. How sweet it  is to be loved by a friend who knows you!

For more information on the above DELICIOUS cupcakes visit: http://www.gigiscupcakesusa.com/

little things

This is a video of my kitten and her name is Piper.  Mainly because she has a good set of pipes on her, but also just because we thought it was a cute name.  She is very into EVERYTHING.  She loves to climb, cuddle, eat, play with her green ball, try and eat my foot. . .you name it, she loves to do it.

She is grateful for the little things in her life.  Little things have a way of being so much cuter than big things.  They are special because they are small and delicate.  Like when a kiddo finds a ladybug and just looks at it because it is so very small, or when we experience small victories like making cookies without burning them. . .those are special times.

Life is made up of a lot of little moments.  Little decisions, friendships that start small, relationships that start with a phone call, good habits that form with that initial effort, and books finished because we read the first page first.  We all start out little and grow bigger and bigger. 

Sometimes I get so discouraged because I don't have all the answers just yet.  I don't know if I can grow, and I have a hard time being playful like a kitten, or being faithful like a little child, as Jesus calls us to be. 

But often, if I can just get started, and commit to letting something small grow, I know that I can let God take over and he can accomplish great things.  So whatever it is, big or little, let's be faithful and let Godly GROWTH occur.