Fun Stuff

Earthquake Baby

Last week the Mahaney clan was blessed with the exciting arrival of Elena Hope Pyle, granddaughter to CJ's sister Sharon, and son of our nephew JD and his wife Cheryl. This makes--if I'm counting correctly--20 great-grandchildren for CJ's mom, with several more on the way! We are so grateful that God kept mommy and baby safe and we thought you'd enjoy hearing about Elena's exciting birth, as told by her grandma, Sharon.

Congratulations JD and Cheryl! With love, Aunt Carolyn

Elena Hope was born on earthquake day. She came in dramatic fashion about 3 weeks early. Cheryl was putting on her makeup at her mom's house. She had spent the night there because her sister was going to babysit Isabelle while Cheryl went for her doctor's appointment. She had been having what she thought were Braxton-Hicks contractions, but suddenly she felt what she called "the worst menstrual cramp ever" which made her drop to her knees. She called for her sister and her mom, who threw a blanket down on the bathroom floor and called 911 at 9:13 a.m.  At 9:15 a.m. the baby basically fell out! Would that we all could have had 2 minute labors! Her sister Claudine somehow knew what to do. She had her last child 7 months ago, and she said she "ironically" had taken a class on medical assistance. Anyway, she had an unused syringe she used to suction the mucous and used a shoelace to tie off the placenta. In God's mercy, kindness, and faithfulness, mom and baby are both great. Poor J.D. was an hour away and thought his mother-in-law was joking when she called to say the baby had arrived. He knew it wasn't a joke when he heard the baby crying! No less than 8 paramedics arrived 6 minutes later in 3 ambulances and a fire truck, not a woman among them! There was Cheryl in her pretty, long dress and beautifully done hair and makeup holding her baby! She weighed about 5 lbs. and is about 18 inches long, although now she is in the 4's, a little peanut. Later that day J.D. sent a picture and texted, "Elena was born and the earth shook."  They came home yesterday and all are doing well, praise the Lord! I told Stacey (due Sept. 16) and Stephanie (due Dec. 12) they had better not try that trick at my house. Midwifery is not on my resume!

Friday Favorites: Josh Garrels

These past few months we've all greatly appreciated the profound and poetic music of Josh Garrels. Especially this new album:

For the girls,

Nicole

Leave of Absence

This morning Dad announced that he will be taking a leave of absence and explained the reasons for his decision. We so respect our dad's humility--in fact we've never respected him more! Our family is experiencing God's abundant grace and we are eager to see how God will bring His good purposes to pass for Sovereign Grace Ministries in the days ahead.  We are grateful for your prayers! 

Nicole, Kristin, and Janelle

Friday Favorites

Wrestling with an Angel: A Story of Love, Disability, and the Lesson of Grace

by Greg Lucas

"I didn't want to read this book. I knew these tear-stained but hope-filled pages would jostle me out of my comfort zone and shake me up. C.S. Lewis wrote that he paradoxically loved The Lord of the Rings because it 'broke his heart'—and Greg Lucas' writing does the same for me. And it's for that reason that I heartily commend this book—especially for dads. This is just the book many of us need to taste afresh the goodness of God and the grace of the gospel even as we long for the day when this broken world will be made right." --Justin Taylor

Friday Funnies

1. The soap dispenser has more water in it than soap.

Father’s Day Gifts

We asked Dad for a few ideas for all you last-minute shoppers...

Dad's number one choice:

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

by Laura Hillenbrand

(check out video clips of this story's hero, Louis Zamperini)

Stan Musial: An American Life

by George Vecsey

Manunt:The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer

by James L. Swanson

Bloody Crimes: The Chase for Jefferson Davis and the Death Pageant for Lincoln's Corpse

by James L. Swanson

Operation Mincemeat: How a Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan Fooled the Nazis and Assured an Allied Victory

by Ben Macintyre

Friday Favorites

A new gift for college-bound students:

Thriving at College: Make Great Friends, Keep Your Faith, and Get Ready for the Real World!

by Alex Chediak

A few more suggestions from last year:

My favorite gift to give grads is a laundry basket filled with a towel set a thing of laundry soap and a big jar filled with quarters along with the book, Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung. --Jessica

A college emergency kit: Sewing supplies, first aid kit, shoe goo, phone card, etc. --Rebecca

I just graduated college and this year my parents got me a kitchen aid mixer, which I am absolutely thrilled about! It is kind of a large gift but for any bride or grad who loves to bake/cook, then this is the perfect gift. --Paige

Knowing God by J.I. Packer is my favorite grad gift to give because it was in college that I slowly studied this book, digesting it a little at a time and it was the first time I ever understood the place of my faith in my life. It's still my favorite book. --Kerry

Friday Funnies

Thanks to faithful girltalk reader Pam Nelson for our Friday Funny. This adorable little boy has some words of wisdom for all the kids out there who are learning to ride a bike. We'll see you all Monday, Nicole for Carolyn, Kristin, and Janelle

Friday Favorites

Until Monday!

Janelle for the girls

Friday Funnies

If your church does small groups you'll probably appreciate the humor in this video. See you all Monday! Nicole for the girltalkers

HT:Blazing Center

Friday Funnies

As someone who has always signed her emails "In Christ, Nicole" I thought this post by Stephen Altrogge was hilarious. See y'all Monday! Nicole for my mom and sisters

Friday Funnies

Thanks to one of our favorite pastors, Bill Kittrell, for passing along this week's Friday Funny.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Nicole for Carolyn, Kristin, and Janelle

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A Homeless Man's Funeral

As a bagpiper, I play many gigs. Recently I was asked by a funeral director to play at a graveside service for a homeless man. He had no family or friends, so the service was to be at a pauper's cemetery in the Kentucky back country.
 
As I was not familiar with the backwoods, I got lost and, being a typical man, I didn't stop for directions.
 
I finally arrived an hour late and saw the funeral guy had evidently gone and the hearse was nowhere in sight. There were only the diggers and crew left and they were eating lunch.
 
I felt badly and apologized to the men for being late. I went to the side of the grave and looked down and the vault lid was already in place. I didn't know what else to do, so I started to play.
 
The workers put down their lunches and began to gather around. I played out my heart and soul for this man with no family and friends. I played like I've never played before for this homeless man.
 
And as I played 'Amazing Grace,' the workers began to weep. They wept, I wept, we all wept together. When I finished I packed up my bagpipes and started for my car. Though my head hung low, my heart was full.
 
As I opened the door to my car, I heard one of the workers say, "I never seen nothin' like that before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years."
 
Apparently I'm still lost.... it's a man thing.

Risen CD Giveaway

It's March. It's cold. It's a good time for a giveaway.

The newest music album from Sovereign Grace entitled Risen came out last week, and is the best yet (in my humble opinion). But since we  girltalkers know next to nothing about music, we asked Mike (our in-house music consultant) to write up a review. Here's what he had to say:

Just in time for Resurrection Sunday, Sovereign Grace Music has masterfully compiled thirteen doctrinally rich and musically appealing songs to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
 
Released March 22nd, the Risen album quickly climbed to 9th place on Amazon’s mp3 downloads.  Apparently the news is out and people are enjoying the combination of sound theological lyrics, memorable melodies, and musical excellence that make “Risen” among Sovereign Grace Music’s best albums to date.
 
Here is the description of the album from the insert:
“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.” These words, spoken by an angel to the women at Jesus’s tomb, changed history forever. Christ’s resurrection was more than a display of raw supernatural power. It was the single event that assures us that his payment for our sins has been accepted. God’s wrath is satisfied. Death is defeated. The powers of darkness are overcome. Sin’s dominion has been broken. And the life of the age to come has dawned.

The songs on this album celebrate these realities experienced and enjoyed by all who place their faith and hope in Jesus Christ.

As we often do with girltalk givaways, we'd like to give you a gift to give away.  So write and tell us who you would like to give a Risen cd to and why, and we'll pick three winners by tomorrow.

To listen to clips and purchase Risen, visit the Sovereign Grace website.

UPDATE: Contest is closed. Thank you!

Friday Favorites: Sojourn Music

My new favorite worship album is a split ep from Sojourn Music: The War & The Mercy Seat. Songs of "lament, hope, and grace."

Have a grace-filled weekend! Nicole for the girltalkers

Friday Funnies

Our friend Pam sent us this hilarious video. I'm all too familiar with this kind of behavior!

We will return on Monday! Janelle for the girls