“I move, therefore I am.”
I love when I feel my baby boy move in my belly.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Grace in Pregnancy
Grace.
I'm learning how to be graceful towards me. I'm learning to tackle my mistakes with forgiveness and my complacency with grace.
Not that I want to fail, but I do.
I will.
Sometimes, eating pizza tastes better than broccoli. Most of the time, thinking of brocoli (or any veggie for that matter) makes me feel ill, so I can't look at it..much less eat it.
I don't eat as often or I eat too much.
I don't get enough sleep or I am way too lazy.
That's just how it goes. That's life. That's my pregnancy so far.
And that's okay.
"Okay" is not an excuse or an invite to lose all discretion, but it's an invite to learn and grow. It's a chance to live and enjoy.
What an awesome time in my life. Life is in my belly. Our beautiful son is in my womb. It's a privilege and responsibility to be so connected that my choices (even the smallest ones) directly affect his life. That's not to be taken lightly.
Frankly, it's scary.
But there's grace.
I thank God for grace. Each day, I pray that God will help me to make wise and healthy decisions. That He would give me the grace to learn and that He would protect our son each and every step of the way, despite myself.
He has, and He will.
My God. He's an awesome God.
I'm learning how to be graceful towards me. I'm learning to tackle my mistakes with forgiveness and my complacency with grace.
Not that I want to fail, but I do.
I will.
I don't eat as often or I eat too much.
I don't get enough sleep or I am way too lazy.
That's just how it goes. That's life. That's my pregnancy so far.
And that's okay.
"Okay" is not an excuse or an invite to lose all discretion, but it's an invite to learn and grow. It's a chance to live and enjoy.
What an awesome time in my life. Life is in my belly. Our beautiful son is in my womb. It's a privilege and responsibility to be so connected that my choices (even the smallest ones) directly affect his life. That's not to be taken lightly.
Frankly, it's scary.
But there's grace.
I thank God for grace. Each day, I pray that God will help me to make wise and healthy decisions. That He would give me the grace to learn and that He would protect our son each and every step of the way, despite myself.
He has, and He will.
My God. He's an awesome God.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
The Most Beautiful Song in the World
We heard it.
We heard the heartbeat.
It was everything we thought it would be. It was more.
It's miraculous. It's our baby.
God's precious gift to us.
We heard the heartbeat.
It was everything we thought it would be. It was more.
It's miraculous. It's our baby.
God's precious gift to us.
Knocked Up and Out On Bourbon Street
The Mr. and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary in the wonderful city of New Orleans. Oh how we love NOLA!
What we love most about NOLA is the music. Food is a close second. The truth is that we could feast on the sounds of NOLA without ever getting our fill. We crave the music that comes from Preservation Hall like I used to crave chocolate. (Pregnancy has changed my taste buds quite a bit. lol)
We stayed at a somewhat small yet contemporary boutique hotel just outside of the French Quarter. It was perfect. We were just outside enough that the nightlife didn't prevent us from sleeping peacefully, but close enough to be able to get to the action within minutes.
The action. Oh yes. Let's talk about the action.
Let's talk about the bars, crazily costumed people, and well, that's probably all I could mention. Heck. That's all I can remember. lol!
Anyhow, let's get back to the point. There was action, but we were in no shape or fashion apart of it. Some of it was for lack of want-to. Mostly, it was my ability to stay up late. I felt like I was beyond exhausted, stretching myself greatly - straining even. The truth was that it was 9:00pm.
Yea, it was that pitiful. Pregnancy ruins nightlife. Well, at least that type of nightlife. ;)
I decided to come up with some tips for those ladies who are knocked up and out on the town. Some I learned the hard way, so take note.
1. Wear something comfy.
Everyone talks about the baby bump. There are all kind of dreamy notions of what that will be like, but before the baby bump comes the baby bloat. In the morning you can look just like your pre-pregnant self, but by late night you look 6 months pregnant. That's the bloat. Dress for the bloat when you go out. Invest in a Bella Band if need be. Wear a dress. Do what you need to be comfy all night long. It WILL be worth it.
2. Drink carefully.
Do NOT drink alcohol. Period. Plan a "mocktail" ahead of time that you can order at any bar you go to. My drink of choice was ginger ale with a splash of orange juice. It was great to have something "special" to drink even though I couldn't have my usual beverage. Thirdly, don't drink too much water or your mocktail. Bar bathrooms are a gamble at best. Bourbon street bathrooms were downright traumatizing.
3. Grab a snack.
Grabbing a snack can help to keep your blood sugar levels stable and help to keep morning sickness at bay. You probably already know that morning sickness can strike at anytime. If not, you'll discover that soon.
4. Do take a nap earlier that day.
A daytime nap can do wonders for nightlife. Your date will thank you for being able to stay out past 9:00pm.
5. Don't stay out too late.
Drunk people antics are no where as hilarious as they seem after one drink. Trust me on this one ;)
On our last night there, I FINALLY got it. I wore a dress that I felt great AND comfortable in. I ordered my ginger ale and orange juice. We strolled down Frenchmen Street enjoying the best music that NOLA has to offer and even spotted a late night art market. We ended our night at a respectable 1:00am-ish.
My daytime nap definitely paid off.
It was lovely.
What we love most about NOLA is the music. Food is a close second. The truth is that we could feast on the sounds of NOLA without ever getting our fill. We crave the music that comes from Preservation Hall like I used to crave chocolate. (Pregnancy has changed my taste buds quite a bit. lol)
We stayed at a somewhat small yet contemporary boutique hotel just outside of the French Quarter. It was perfect. We were just outside enough that the nightlife didn't prevent us from sleeping peacefully, but close enough to be able to get to the action within minutes.
The action. Oh yes. Let's talk about the action.
Let's talk about the bars, crazily costumed people, and well, that's probably all I could mention. Heck. That's all I can remember. lol!
Anyhow, let's get back to the point. There was action, but we were in no shape or fashion apart of it. Some of it was for lack of want-to. Mostly, it was my ability to stay up late. I felt like I was beyond exhausted, stretching myself greatly - straining even. The truth was that it was 9:00pm.
Yea, it was that pitiful. Pregnancy ruins nightlife. Well, at least that type of nightlife. ;)
I decided to come up with some tips for those ladies who are knocked up and out on the town. Some I learned the hard way, so take note.
1. Wear something comfy.
Everyone talks about the baby bump. There are all kind of dreamy notions of what that will be like, but before the baby bump comes the baby bloat. In the morning you can look just like your pre-pregnant self, but by late night you look 6 months pregnant. That's the bloat. Dress for the bloat when you go out. Invest in a Bella Band if need be. Wear a dress. Do what you need to be comfy all night long. It WILL be worth it.
2. Drink carefully.
Do NOT drink alcohol. Period. Plan a "mocktail" ahead of time that you can order at any bar you go to. My drink of choice was ginger ale with a splash of orange juice. It was great to have something "special" to drink even though I couldn't have my usual beverage. Thirdly, don't drink too much water or your mocktail. Bar bathrooms are a gamble at best. Bourbon street bathrooms were downright traumatizing.
3. Grab a snack.
Grabbing a snack can help to keep your blood sugar levels stable and help to keep morning sickness at bay. You probably already know that morning sickness can strike at anytime. If not, you'll discover that soon.
4. Do take a nap earlier that day.
A daytime nap can do wonders for nightlife. Your date will thank you for being able to stay out past 9:00pm.
5. Don't stay out too late.
Drunk people antics are no where as hilarious as they seem after one drink. Trust me on this one ;)
On our last night there, I FINALLY got it. I wore a dress that I felt great AND comfortable in. I ordered my ginger ale and orange juice. We strolled down Frenchmen Street enjoying the best music that NOLA has to offer and even spotted a late night art market. We ended our night at a respectable 1:00am-ish.
My daytime nap definitely paid off.
It was lovely.
Knocked Up and Out on the Town
TheMr.'s best friend was having a birthday get together the other night.
He doesn't know that I'm knocked up, none of his friends know that I am knocked up.
Thus the start of an interesting evening. Part one of the night was dinner. No problemo. I ordered a DELICIOUS veggie flat bread sandwich with a side salad. Perfection. I drank water, and it was okay, most everyone did. There was humorous conversation littered with a few debates and topped with the Olympics. Great company. Great food.
No problemo, indeed.
Then we were off to downtown Orlando, hours from where we live mind you. It was late. Anytime is late nowadays. Oh I was sleepy.
Everyone ordered their adult beverage and I snuck out to another bar in the place to order a cocktail of my own, a mommy drink.
Actually, it was quite good. I had a ginger ale that was topped off with orange juice. I was craving a water topped with orange juice, but that would have been a bit too obvious, don'tcha think?
It was interesting. The music was loud. The smells were pungent, and every time I saw a young person (which was many times) I shuddered at the thought of our child growing up to dress like that, talk like that, look like that, or even smell like that.
Yea, I felt old. I felt old because we were among the oldest there. I felt old because there was a little one in my belly. A tiny one. A little itty bitty one. An orange seed.
But hey, little orange seed learned a little something that day, maybe. It may be a little uncomfortable. It may be a little out of your way, but do your best to be there for the ones you love.
It was a good night. <3
He doesn't know that I'm knocked up, none of his friends know that I am knocked up.
Thus the start of an interesting evening. Part one of the night was dinner. No problemo. I ordered a DELICIOUS veggie flat bread sandwich with a side salad. Perfection. I drank water, and it was okay, most everyone did. There was humorous conversation littered with a few debates and topped with the Olympics. Great company. Great food.
No problemo, indeed.
Then we were off to downtown Orlando, hours from where we live mind you. It was late. Anytime is late nowadays. Oh I was sleepy.
Everyone ordered their adult beverage and I snuck out to another bar in the place to order a cocktail of my own, a mommy drink.
Actually, it was quite good. I had a ginger ale that was topped off with orange juice. I was craving a water topped with orange juice, but that would have been a bit too obvious, don'tcha think?
It was interesting. The music was loud. The smells were pungent, and every time I saw a young person (which was many times) I shuddered at the thought of our child growing up to dress like that, talk like that, look like that, or even smell like that.
Yea, I felt old. I felt old because we were among the oldest there. I felt old because there was a little one in my belly. A tiny one. A little itty bitty one. An orange seed.
But hey, little orange seed learned a little something that day, maybe. It may be a little uncomfortable. It may be a little out of your way, but do your best to be there for the ones you love.
It was a good night. <3
Not Feeling It.
I don't feel pregnant right now. I feel tired. I feel moody.
but not pregnant, nope.
I don't feel pregnant at all right now.
Part of me wonders if this is some sort of maternal instinct kicking in notifying me that my baby is not okay. Yet all of me knows, that this is when I trust.
Trust is not a feeling. Faith is brings substance to the unseen.
Lord, I believe. Please help my unbelief.
Pregnant with a Promise
Today, I am 8 weeks pregnant. It's been an interesting 8 weeks. In other words, there are things that you don't know, that you won't know. And that's okay.
What you can know is this. I'm not scared anymore. nope. God has promised us a little baby this time around. As humbling as this reality is, we receive that promise confidently.
So that's where I am today, at the place of thankfulness and promise.
It's such a beautiful place to be.
What you can know is this. I'm not scared anymore. nope. God has promised us a little baby this time around. As humbling as this reality is, we receive that promise confidently.
So that's where I am today, at the place of thankfulness and promise.
It's such a beautiful place to be.
Communion for Two.
This past Sunday, we had communion at church. We do this in remembrance of how Christ bled and died for our sins so we can have victory, so we could be saved.
Communion is always a big deal for me. It's a time of reflection and repentance. It's also a time of restoration. God offers healing, and I wholeheartedly accept it for my all my innermost scares.
This Sunday, it was taken for two.
I shed a few tears I thought about that promise of healing, and thought about our little bitty orange seed. I may not "know" yet what may come, but God does. He holds our little orange seed and calls him/her by name. He has a plan and a purpose for our child.
I accept the deliverance from fear, and I receive and accept life; the life He has planned for us.
I choose life.
Communion is always a big deal for me. It's a time of reflection and repentance. It's also a time of restoration. God offers healing, and I wholeheartedly accept it for my all my innermost scares.
This Sunday, it was taken for two.
I shed a few tears I thought about that promise of healing, and thought about our little bitty orange seed. I may not "know" yet what may come, but God does. He holds our little orange seed and calls him/her by name. He has a plan and a purpose for our child.
I accept the deliverance from fear, and I receive and accept life; the life He has planned for us.
I choose life.
It may be a baby.
When trying to conceive, you long to see that second line on that wonderful stick. It takes a dreadful 2 weeks to get to the point before you can even test, but once you are there you know.
You finally get to know whether or not you and your Mr. are expecting.
Who cares what happens next because all you care about is knowing. But what happens when you don't, know that is. When something that is so joyful still feels so fleeting and slightly out of reach?
Let me explain.
I'm pregnant.
TheMr. and I are expecting our first child in April of 2013 and oh I couldn't tell you how happy I am...yet scared. We have told immediate family and they are elated. It's so wonderful. humbling. exciting. scary.
I shudder at the thought of disappointing them with news of a non viable pregnancy. This is a low part of my day. It isn't my constant fear, but when it hits....it hits.
Get thee behind me satan.
I decided that I was going to put these thoughts, opinions, and emotions out there. The 12 week wait is a long one, and part of me believes this is my personal boot camp.
Either I will learn to trust God, or I will live in fear.
Lord, I believe please help my unbelief.
I choose freedom. I choose peace.
This won't be made public until the second trimester. If something "goes wrong", they may never be made public, not too sure I could handle doing that. Weird, right? But right now, I'm writing this for me. I am hormonal, tired, and slightly queasy so it may not make sense at times, but that's okay.
This is real, uncut, and unprettified.
And oh yea, I'll be 5 weeks tomorrow.
Five down (almost). Seven more to go.
You finally get to know whether or not you and your Mr. are expecting.
Who cares what happens next because all you care about is knowing. But what happens when you don't, know that is. When something that is so joyful still feels so fleeting and slightly out of reach?
Let me explain.
I'm pregnant.
TheMr. and I are expecting our first child in April of 2013 and oh I couldn't tell you how happy I am...yet scared. We have told immediate family and they are elated. It's so wonderful. humbling. exciting. scary.
I shudder at the thought of disappointing them with news of a non viable pregnancy. This is a low part of my day. It isn't my constant fear, but when it hits....it hits.
Get thee behind me satan.
I decided that I was going to put these thoughts, opinions, and emotions out there. The 12 week wait is a long one, and part of me believes this is my personal boot camp.
Either I will learn to trust God, or I will live in fear.
Lord, I believe please help my unbelief.
I choose freedom. I choose peace.
This won't be made public until the second trimester. If something "goes wrong", they may never be made public, not too sure I could handle doing that. Weird, right? But right now, I'm writing this for me. I am hormonal, tired, and slightly queasy so it may not make sense at times, but that's okay.
This is real, uncut, and unprettified.
And oh yea, I'll be 5 weeks tomorrow.
Five down (almost). Seven more to go.
The funny thing is...
I was pregnant when I wrote my last post. I just didn't know it yet.
What I attempted to do what write blogs journaling the 12 weeks of keeping it a secret and then posting them once it was considered safe to do so.
I kind of followed through.
Kinda.
Stay tuned.
What I attempted to do what write blogs journaling the 12 weeks of keeping it a secret and then posting them once it was considered safe to do so.
I kind of followed through.
Kinda.
Stay tuned.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Exciting News
Inevitably when a somewhat newlywed admits to exciting news, the question happens.
"Are you pregnant?" No. Nope. Not at all. Thanks for asking.
I am; however, launching a business. About six weeks ago, I started playing in the kitchen. Nothing new, kinda. I started playing with hair care recipes, and in doing so I formulated a little ditty that has been my go-to ever since. It's a variation of flax seed hair gel, and it works. It works very, very well.
One thing has led to another, and now I am about 2 months away from selling it at a local farmer's market. I will offer hair gel, hair serum, homemade soaps from another local vendor, vintage earrings, and free sample cups of spa water.
They say to do something you love, to offer something you love. Well, here it is...or here it shall be.
Wish me luck.
And in the meantime think about this.
Have you ever prayed for direction regarding your passions? Business plans can fail, but God's plans never fail.
Let Him lead.
I plan to.
"Are you pregnant?" No. Nope. Not at all. Thanks for asking.
I am; however, launching a business. About six weeks ago, I started playing in the kitchen. Nothing new, kinda. I started playing with hair care recipes, and in doing so I formulated a little ditty that has been my go-to ever since. It's a variation of flax seed hair gel, and it works. It works very, very well.
One thing has led to another, and now I am about 2 months away from selling it at a local farmer's market. I will offer hair gel, hair serum, homemade soaps from another local vendor, vintage earrings, and free sample cups of spa water.
They say to do something you love, to offer something you love. Well, here it is...or here it shall be.
Wish me luck.
And in the meantime think about this.
Have you ever prayed for direction regarding your passions? Business plans can fail, but God's plans never fail.
Let Him lead.
I plan to.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Ten Reasons to Go Away
Today is Sunday, I think.
Yes, yes it is.
We returned on a red eye flight from a whirlwind 4 day vacation to the west coast very early on Friday morning. I slept one hour on the plane. Then there was an hour and a half drive from the airport to home. Of course there was a diet busting gargantuan iced caramel latte involved.
A few hours after this, I was at work with bells on. I'm tired folks, very tired.
Still though.
I wouldn't change a thing. Our vacation was nothing short of delightful and refreshing. ha! I can't help but laugh at my choice of words. Yup, I called it refreshing. Despite my exhaustion and absolute dependence on sugar and/or caffeine to keep me awake for routine tasks, I call it refreshing.
Here are my 10 Reasons why you and your Mr. should go away.
1. Time off of work is sometimes the most productive thing you can do at work.
Fact: Some companies are now offering unlimited time off to their employees. Don't just take my word for it. Read this. Our brains and bodies are overworked. We need time away to refresh and renew. Using that time wisely can often lead to a more focused level of work. Though exhausted when I returned to work on Friday, my focus was on providing our community center patrons with the same level of service that I received at our luxurious hotel. Who cares if the price point of our activities are much, much lower than the rate at our hotel.
2. Routine stunts your growth. Get away from it.
We love auto pilot. Yes we do. Sometimes it's the auto pilot mode that gets us out bed and into work. We as people tend to feel comfortable with the occasional distraction while driving because we feel so comfortable in our rut that we feel like we know every single twist and turn of our commute to work. We depend on routine so much so that at times we stop thinking. We don't analyze. We don't grow. Getting away gave me the opportunity to see just how much my life, our lives, are dependent on the grace of God. Though I was TERRIFIED initially on the 5 and a half hr flight to LAX, God reminded me that I was not hidden from Him. He was just as with me as He is during my routine tasks. This is good stuff. This is the stuff that spiritual growth is made of.
3. Being alone together.
The Mr. and I don't have children as of yet. Even so, we needed time to be alone together. Home life is cluttered with work stress, things to do, technology, and other responsibilities. Getting away relieves you from these distractions and frees you to enjoy life together. I love bargain hunting and thrifting, but oh do I love to admire glitz and glam. We saw a lot of glitz and glam on our trip. We drove around Vegas in a Corvette. We stayed at the incomparable Mondrian Hotel in L.A. However, one of my favorite memories from the trip was walking around West Hollywood with The Mr. It wasn't because of the potential celebrity sightings or because of the million dollar real estate. Though that was exciting, it was incredible to just enjoy the experience together. It was nice.
4. Food tastes better when someone else is doing the dishes.
Oh it was lovely. We ate what we wanted, and did absolutely no clean up. That is indeed the greatest pleasure of eating out and getting away. Not only that, but even The Mr. was able to enjoy the luxury of having the door opened up for him for a change. Don't get me wrong. Neither of us mind our roles and responsibilities. We decided on them prior to marriage, and we re-visit the subject as needed. However, we all need a break, even form the smallest things.
5. Hotel rooms are romantic. Hotel beds are sexy.
Need I say more?
6. Change of scenery.
The Mr. has lived in Florida his entire life. He is a native Floridian. You may or may not know this, but that is a very rare occurrence. I have lived in Florida since age 4. It's pretty much the only life that I have known. Florida is pretty. blah. blah. blah.
It's also very hot and extremely humid. Though I know that we live in a swamp, I always assumed that the majority bugs and heat that we experience is common to hot climates. Wrong. Just as love bug season is revving into high gear in Florida, I saw not one in L.A. The weather was beautiful. I loved it. It stretched my thinking and gave me a new perception.
7. Cure yourself from stereotyping.
The Mr. is a successful software engineer. However, he fell in love with a woman that doesn't bring much money to the table. This isn't a means of putting me down. He doesn't, so neither will I. It's just fact. I say this to say that we don't live a life of glam. He is frugal and so am I. My favorite place to shop is the thrift store, and I am proud to say that our beach side wedding of almost 200 guests cost us less than $6,000. It makes me smile to say this to those that attended our wedding and see the shock on their faces. Our L.A./Vegas adventure was a taste of a life much more expensive than our own. We stuck out a bit from time to time, especially when we mispronounced the name of our hotel. LOL! Anyhow, I thought we would be looked down upon by the richer and more connected folks that we came across. Though some may have, we didn't notice that one bit. Those that we encountered were nothing less than friendly. Who would have thunk it?
8. Re-define possible.
A few years ago, I was in a car accident. It was a fatal car crash, and to say that I was traumatized would be an understatement. Truthfully. I remember sitting at the parking lot at work for about an hour because I was scared of driving home. It was horrible. My sister encouraged me to keep going and keep driving. She told me that the more I work on replacing good memories associated with the tragic route I took that fateful day, the more bearable driving would become. She was right. Experiences are valuable. I did not think I could survive a plane ride, but now I know that through God's grace I could survive a 5.5hr plan ride. Say what??!?!! We live in a small town and there is a limited variety of food, shops, and fashion, Experiencing different fashion trends, sushi rolls, style of music, way of living, and cupcake shops help to spark creativity and re-define possibility.
9. Testimony of fun.
Christians are known for what they don't do. We see that a lot in terms of relationships and marriage. Christians don't have sex before marriage. They don't live together before marriage. They don't enjoy sex. Okay...that last one is a stigma we need to work on getting rid of. Anyhoo...
Whether we see it or not, our unsaved friends are looking at us. Honestly. Most of the married couples we know moved in together before marriage and were unashamedly sleeping together before saying "I do". Do I really think it they didn't notice that The Mr. and I lived hours apart from each other rather than living together in sin? Umm...It would be foolish to think so. Yes, a lasting marriage founded on the Lord is a testimony. Let's keep it real though. A better testimony is one of a lasting marriage founded on the Lord where both the man and woman enjoy life and each other. It's not enough to live married. It's about the intentional act of enjoyment and fun together in the Lord. People notice that, and when they do it points to Christ. I believe that. Do you?
10. Exercise your contentment muscles.
My Pastor said it best. "Contentment is a discipline." You have to work on it with Christ. It's a learned trait. Hear one of my Pastor's sermon on the topic here. Coming home from this trip has been a great way to exercise this. As witnessed on the plane, I live in a swamp people. There was a huge slug on the outside of our home when we returned. We have been swatting away love bugs since we returned. As if that wasn't enough, the air is thick with humidity. Nothing is within walking distance, and going for a walk may mean running into an alligator. My allergies are slowly but surely beginning to flair up. American Airlines take me away!!! When I was stuck in my routine I didn't notice the swamp land. In comparison to the glorious Hollywood hills, I see everything. The choice is mine. I can mutter and complain, which I have done some of. Ooops. Or...
I can exercise contentment. I can rejoice in the fact that the Lord has us here for a reason. Plus, there's something that California will never have. It's the family and friends that are here in our swamp land. We are so blessed to be part of an amazing church community as well. Truly, there's no place like home. :)
Well, there is is. I may be tired. It may take me a wk to wean myself off of caffeine and sugar and another wk to lose the weight I gained while away; but it was all worth it. I had an amazing time. The Mr. had an INCREDIBLE birthday celebration!!
It was more than worth it!
And now I nap...
Yes, yes it is.
We returned on a red eye flight from a whirlwind 4 day vacation to the west coast very early on Friday morning. I slept one hour on the plane. Then there was an hour and a half drive from the airport to home. Of course there was a diet busting gargantuan iced caramel latte involved.
A few hours after this, I was at work with bells on. I'm tired folks, very tired.
Still though.
I wouldn't change a thing. Our vacation was nothing short of delightful and refreshing. ha! I can't help but laugh at my choice of words. Yup, I called it refreshing. Despite my exhaustion and absolute dependence on sugar and/or caffeine to keep me awake for routine tasks, I call it refreshing.
Here are my 10 Reasons why you and your Mr. should go away.
1. Time off of work is sometimes the most productive thing you can do at work.
Fact: Some companies are now offering unlimited time off to their employees. Don't just take my word for it. Read this. Our brains and bodies are overworked. We need time away to refresh and renew. Using that time wisely can often lead to a more focused level of work. Though exhausted when I returned to work on Friday, my focus was on providing our community center patrons with the same level of service that I received at our luxurious hotel. Who cares if the price point of our activities are much, much lower than the rate at our hotel.
2. Routine stunts your growth. Get away from it.
We love auto pilot. Yes we do. Sometimes it's the auto pilot mode that gets us out bed and into work. We as people tend to feel comfortable with the occasional distraction while driving because we feel so comfortable in our rut that we feel like we know every single twist and turn of our commute to work. We depend on routine so much so that at times we stop thinking. We don't analyze. We don't grow. Getting away gave me the opportunity to see just how much my life, our lives, are dependent on the grace of God. Though I was TERRIFIED initially on the 5 and a half hr flight to LAX, God reminded me that I was not hidden from Him. He was just as with me as He is during my routine tasks. This is good stuff. This is the stuff that spiritual growth is made of.
3. Being alone together.
The Mr. and I don't have children as of yet. Even so, we needed time to be alone together. Home life is cluttered with work stress, things to do, technology, and other responsibilities. Getting away relieves you from these distractions and frees you to enjoy life together. I love bargain hunting and thrifting, but oh do I love to admire glitz and glam. We saw a lot of glitz and glam on our trip. We drove around Vegas in a Corvette. We stayed at the incomparable Mondrian Hotel in L.A. However, one of my favorite memories from the trip was walking around West Hollywood with The Mr. It wasn't because of the potential celebrity sightings or because of the million dollar real estate. Though that was exciting, it was incredible to just enjoy the experience together. It was nice.
4. Food tastes better when someone else is doing the dishes.
Oh it was lovely. We ate what we wanted, and did absolutely no clean up. That is indeed the greatest pleasure of eating out and getting away. Not only that, but even The Mr. was able to enjoy the luxury of having the door opened up for him for a change. Don't get me wrong. Neither of us mind our roles and responsibilities. We decided on them prior to marriage, and we re-visit the subject as needed. However, we all need a break, even form the smallest things.
5. Hotel rooms are romantic. Hotel beds are sexy.
Need I say more?
6. Change of scenery.
The Mr. has lived in Florida his entire life. He is a native Floridian. You may or may not know this, but that is a very rare occurrence. I have lived in Florida since age 4. It's pretty much the only life that I have known. Florida is pretty. blah. blah. blah.
It's also very hot and extremely humid. Though I know that we live in a swamp, I always assumed that the majority bugs and heat that we experience is common to hot climates. Wrong. Just as love bug season is revving into high gear in Florida, I saw not one in L.A. The weather was beautiful. I loved it. It stretched my thinking and gave me a new perception.
7. Cure yourself from stereotyping.
The Mr. is a successful software engineer. However, he fell in love with a woman that doesn't bring much money to the table. This isn't a means of putting me down. He doesn't, so neither will I. It's just fact. I say this to say that we don't live a life of glam. He is frugal and so am I. My favorite place to shop is the thrift store, and I am proud to say that our beach side wedding of almost 200 guests cost us less than $6,000. It makes me smile to say this to those that attended our wedding and see the shock on their faces. Our L.A./Vegas adventure was a taste of a life much more expensive than our own. We stuck out a bit from time to time, especially when we mispronounced the name of our hotel. LOL! Anyhow, I thought we would be looked down upon by the richer and more connected folks that we came across. Though some may have, we didn't notice that one bit. Those that we encountered were nothing less than friendly. Who would have thunk it?
8. Re-define possible.
A few years ago, I was in a car accident. It was a fatal car crash, and to say that I was traumatized would be an understatement. Truthfully. I remember sitting at the parking lot at work for about an hour because I was scared of driving home. It was horrible. My sister encouraged me to keep going and keep driving. She told me that the more I work on replacing good memories associated with the tragic route I took that fateful day, the more bearable driving would become. She was right. Experiences are valuable. I did not think I could survive a plane ride, but now I know that through God's grace I could survive a 5.5hr plan ride. Say what??!?!! We live in a small town and there is a limited variety of food, shops, and fashion, Experiencing different fashion trends, sushi rolls, style of music, way of living, and cupcake shops help to spark creativity and re-define possibility.
9. Testimony of fun.
Christians are known for what they don't do. We see that a lot in terms of relationships and marriage. Christians don't have sex before marriage. They don't live together before marriage. They don't enjoy sex. Okay...that last one is a stigma we need to work on getting rid of. Anyhoo...
Whether we see it or not, our unsaved friends are looking at us. Honestly. Most of the married couples we know moved in together before marriage and were unashamedly sleeping together before saying "I do". Do I really think it they didn't notice that The Mr. and I lived hours apart from each other rather than living together in sin? Umm...It would be foolish to think so. Yes, a lasting marriage founded on the Lord is a testimony. Let's keep it real though. A better testimony is one of a lasting marriage founded on the Lord where both the man and woman enjoy life and each other. It's not enough to live married. It's about the intentional act of enjoyment and fun together in the Lord. People notice that, and when they do it points to Christ. I believe that. Do you?
10. Exercise your contentment muscles.
My Pastor said it best. "Contentment is a discipline." You have to work on it with Christ. It's a learned trait. Hear one of my Pastor's sermon on the topic here. Coming home from this trip has been a great way to exercise this. As witnessed on the plane, I live in a swamp people. There was a huge slug on the outside of our home when we returned. We have been swatting away love bugs since we returned. As if that wasn't enough, the air is thick with humidity. Nothing is within walking distance, and going for a walk may mean running into an alligator. My allergies are slowly but surely beginning to flair up. American Airlines take me away!!! When I was stuck in my routine I didn't notice the swamp land. In comparison to the glorious Hollywood hills, I see everything. The choice is mine. I can mutter and complain, which I have done some of. Ooops. Or...
I can exercise contentment. I can rejoice in the fact that the Lord has us here for a reason. Plus, there's something that California will never have. It's the family and friends that are here in our swamp land. We are so blessed to be part of an amazing church community as well. Truly, there's no place like home. :)
Well, there is is. I may be tired. It may take me a wk to wean myself off of caffeine and sugar and another wk to lose the weight I gained while away; but it was all worth it. I had an amazing time. The Mr. had an INCREDIBLE birthday celebration!!
It was more than worth it!
And now I nap...
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Me
I'm gonna take off all my clothes
Look at myself in the mirror
We're gonna have a conversation
We're gonna heal the disconnection
I don't remember when it started
But this is where it's gonna end
My body is beautiful and sacred
And I'm gonna celebrate it
-India.Arie
Look at myself in the mirror
We're gonna have a conversation
We're gonna heal the disconnection
I don't remember when it started
But this is where it's gonna end
My body is beautiful and sacred
And I'm gonna celebrate it
-India.Arie
Sex and the Mirror pt2
This beautiful mirror can be found here. (And nope, this isn't a paid endorsement)
Did you do your homework? I did. I took the look in the mirror. The image didn't look like what society calls beautiful, yet I found a way to be attracted to it.
I found a way to appreciate it even with the curves and lumps.
I praised God for it. It's what He has given me.
Regardless of my mismanagement of it at times, He loves me.
His grace is enough for even me.
Then, there's TheMr. He likes it, a lot.
I don't think he sees what I see, but that's already begun to change.
It's not that my weight has gone down, not yet.
It's just that what I saw in the mirror was something kinda good.
And like I said before, how I view my body affects our sex life...
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Sex and the Mirror
Check out the full post from Jessica Kane here.
How I view, treat, and feel about my body affects our sex life, greatly.
Indeed, it does.
My weight has been up and down. Currently, it's up. I think. I don't keep up with the number on the scale anymore. (That's a different post for a different day)
It's tempting at times to look at myself with disgust and disdain. How horrible is that? I am God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10).
Yes. Yes I am.
Yes, YOU are.
Here's our homework for the week. Grab a mirror, take off your clothes, and look at you. Look at all of you, every curve and every lump. Don't necessarily seek to love your body, but don't stop your mister form loving it either ;)
Simply seek to accept your body.
1. Accept it for what it is.
2. Appreciate all that's good.
3. Thank God for it!!!
Then do a dance, and plan a sexy night for you and your mister. ;)
Tomorrow, challenge your body to be better one decision at a time.
Monday, April 30, 2012
All Dressed Up and No Place To Go
Maybe it's the junk food filled diet from the weekend. Maybe it's a lack of sleep. I'm not sure what it is, but I am feeling super fatigued today. I did some light cleaning around the house, but it was in between a lot of lounging and a lot of tweeting.
It was just one of those days.
However, I was scheduled to attend a meeting at church tonight. I didn't feel like going, at all. I didn't want to leave the house or change out of my pajamas, but I did. It was the right thing to do. It was the responsible adult thing to do. I reluctantly changed into what turned into a pretty cute outfit. Then, I left.
I arrived at the church and was surprised to see that no one was in the place where I expected people to be. One of the cafe workers said that there was a group there, but they had left. It was 7:05p. The meeting was at 7:00p. Yes, I was late but this was supposed to be a 45 minute meeting not a 5 minute meeting.
I was directed to one of the leaders in the women's ministry, but she was sitting at a table with only 3 other women. The table was covered in binders, papers, and books. Their conversation was extremely involved. It wouldn't have been right to interrupt. Besides, none of the other women at the table were part of the group that I was supposed to be serving with. It seemed to me that this was a different meeting altogether, so I left.
I'm frustrated.
Sometimes it feels like there is no place for me at my church. It's a great church. The leadership class I attended was great. The weekly sermons are great. Our home group is great.
I'm just tired...
tired of being all dressed up with no place to go.
It was just one of those days.
However, I was scheduled to attend a meeting at church tonight. I didn't feel like going, at all. I didn't want to leave the house or change out of my pajamas, but I did. It was the right thing to do. It was the responsible adult thing to do. I reluctantly changed into what turned into a pretty cute outfit. Then, I left.
I arrived at the church and was surprised to see that no one was in the place where I expected people to be. One of the cafe workers said that there was a group there, but they had left. It was 7:05p. The meeting was at 7:00p. Yes, I was late but this was supposed to be a 45 minute meeting not a 5 minute meeting.
I was directed to one of the leaders in the women's ministry, but she was sitting at a table with only 3 other women. The table was covered in binders, papers, and books. Their conversation was extremely involved. It wouldn't have been right to interrupt. Besides, none of the other women at the table were part of the group that I was supposed to be serving with. It seemed to me that this was a different meeting altogether, so I left.
I'm frustrated.
Sometimes it feels like there is no place for me at my church. It's a great church. The leadership class I attended was great. The weekly sermons are great. Our home group is great.
I'm just tired...
tired of being all dressed up with no place to go.
Two Weeks
Lord willing, 14 days from today we will be on a plane to this locale right here.
Yes sir.
It's about finding time to get lost with The Mr.
These are the years that we'll look back to when we are old. These are some of the stories that we will tell our children and grandchildren.
It's my belief that the greatest of relationships are built on Christ primarily. Somewhere after that, there should be life and laughter.
Vacations are great, but commit to enjoying it all.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
It's coming.
Fashion.
I have decided that I don't like fashion.
Fashion has rules.
Fashion has do's and don'ts.
However, style has no limits or boundaries.
It's a blank check to express oneself creatively and beautifully.
I guess that's why I fell in love with this:
And how could I not?
This beautiful and shapely woman is rocking this suit.
Yes, she is "top heavy" and wearing horizontal stripes.
Isn't that a fashion no?
Oh, but I say YES!!
Go for it!
Rock it!
That's style.
Style is fearless.
I logged onto www.simplybe.com and purchased mine within an hour of seeing the post. Not quite sure what I will look like wearing it, but I am very excited to find out.
I may just post pics.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Deep
Here's the thought of the moment.
Life is not always that deep.
Sometimes it's the most simplest, seemingly meaningless moments that provide the most appreciated memories and profound life lessons.
So...
Live and let live.
Enjoy.
Here's to variety.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Where we are.
It's Thursday. It's Thursday at 11:08am.
This is where we are.
It's the day before THE day, the day that we find out about our immediate future. You see, tomorrow could very well be the day that my husband loses his job. His job and his paycheck. This paycheck pays the mortgage. This paycheck supports missionaries that we love wholeheartedly. This paycheck buys me ice cream when I need a pick me up. This paycheck purchased both of the vehicles that we drive.
This job doesn't make TheMr happy. This job doesn't satisfy him in the way that being in a place where you know God has you can satisfy. Suddenly, the paycheck means nothing. Truthfully, it never has.
It never will.
It is God who provides fully and consistently. We know this full well.
This is where we are.
Over 10 yrs ago, the Lord began putting a country on my heart. The passion for it has only grown. He says, "Go." My husband confirms this.
but...how?
but...when?
This is where we are.
Soon, very soon we will start trying to conceive, to add to our family. Weird considering the circumstances, right? Maybe. Yet, we don't think so.
Our family plans were decided upon prayerfully and in confidence. We knew then that we couldn't know where we would be now, but we knew and know still who knows full well.
Our God never fails. Our God is not surprised by our circumstances. He is not moved by fear and doubt.
He is constant. He is faithful. He is all powerful. He is all knowing.
Where we are, there is no better place to be.
This is where we are.
It's the day before THE day, the day that we find out about our immediate future. You see, tomorrow could very well be the day that my husband loses his job. His job and his paycheck. This paycheck pays the mortgage. This paycheck supports missionaries that we love wholeheartedly. This paycheck buys me ice cream when I need a pick me up. This paycheck purchased both of the vehicles that we drive.
This job doesn't make TheMr happy. This job doesn't satisfy him in the way that being in a place where you know God has you can satisfy. Suddenly, the paycheck means nothing. Truthfully, it never has.
It never will.
It is God who provides fully and consistently. We know this full well.
This is where we are.
Over 10 yrs ago, the Lord began putting a country on my heart. The passion for it has only grown. He says, "Go." My husband confirms this.
but...how?
but...when?
This is where we are.
Soon, very soon we will start trying to conceive, to add to our family. Weird considering the circumstances, right? Maybe. Yet, we don't think so.
Our family plans were decided upon prayerfully and in confidence. We knew then that we couldn't know where we would be now, but we knew and know still who knows full well.
Our God never fails. Our God is not surprised by our circumstances. He is not moved by fear and doubt.
He is constant. He is faithful. He is all powerful. He is all knowing.
Where we are, there is no better place to be.
Friday, April 13, 2012
#FF Great Marriage Minds
Just a few of the many great marriage minds on Twitterville.
Happy Friday! Enjoy :)
@datingmyspouse :
SDMS is a concept to keep the flames burning just as they did when you first meet, went out on the first date, or even when you use to just hold hands.
@sheilagregoire :
Christian Speaker, Mom, Marriage Author with Zondervan (Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex coming soon!), Speaker Trainer. Plus I homeschool and knit!
Married to my best friend as of 2.13.11. Loving being a newlywed, planning on staying one forever ;)
Guatepants!
@EFTdoc :
I love helping you create the life you want w/ your partner. I tweet about love, vulnerability & creating strong bonds. Relationship expert/PhD/speaker/prof
@Mrgwrks :
We stand for healthy, functional marriages!
@stugray :
Marriage advocate, Voiceoverist and Media Personality. Husband, dad & Batman fan. It all boils down to relationships.
Authors, marriage & relationship coaches (married 33yrs) help u connect w/each other & God + a few random comments. Christ followers. #S4M
Authors, Speakers and Founders of Celebrate Your Marriage: Jay and Laura Laffoon combine humor and practical tools proven to help your marriage succeed.
Certified Dating & Relationship Coach, Speaker & Writer. Huge fan of people, working out & eating healthy.
Safe in the arms of Jesus ·
Mystery32.com is a marriage blog intended to challenge and inspire you in your relationship with your spouse and with your Creator.
Who says #married #sex is bland? Welcome to the spicy, sweet and sacred!. Tips, tricks and encouragement for Christian couples who need to turn it up a notch!
I am ... a Christian, a wife, a mom, a writer, and a work in progress. I blog about Christian sexuality and marriage and how it can be hot, holy and humorous!
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Not so crazy anymore...
Seven days ago, I launched my Etsy shop. It was mostly because our home is overloaded with earrings. Literally. The breaking point was when I found a pair of earrings in my wallet and on my kitchen counter. I know what you are thinking, "Geez. She's messy." Sometimes I am a little messy, but that's not the point. ;)
The point is that my earring holder was fully stocked, and there were still about a dozen additional earrings hanging around all over the place. It was clear to both the Mr. and I that it was time to let some of them go.
I had big dreams to sell the earrings and use the proceeds to help others somehow. I never got around to sharing that last intention on Etsy. I suppose it was 1 part procrastination and 1 part pride.
One week later, there were no sales and no real leads. Then, I went thrifting. It's my favorite shop in town. The proceeds go to help feed the homeless in our community. It's a beautiful thing. Anyhow, I glanced over at there earring section, and saw...pretty much nothing. There were four pairs of earrings and a sign.
"We need jewelry, especially earrings..."
God thing? I think so.
After doing a little shopping, I went home and grabbed my "inventory" of 16 pairs of earrings and one necklace and drove them back as a donation.
They were elated. Frankly, so was I. Being led by the Lord, I left my name and phone number in case they ever need more earrings. The shop manager then adds,"I'll just call you 'the earring lady'."
And yes, I believe that was God's way of telling me that I'm not so crazy after all.
Our God can use anything that we surrender to Him. I wanted to open up an online shop. God wanted to make me a supplier.
Who would have thunk it?
The point is that my earring holder was fully stocked, and there were still about a dozen additional earrings hanging around all over the place. It was clear to both the Mr. and I that it was time to let some of them go.
I had big dreams to sell the earrings and use the proceeds to help others somehow. I never got around to sharing that last intention on Etsy. I suppose it was 1 part procrastination and 1 part pride.
One week later, there were no sales and no real leads. Then, I went thrifting. It's my favorite shop in town. The proceeds go to help feed the homeless in our community. It's a beautiful thing. Anyhow, I glanced over at there earring section, and saw...pretty much nothing. There were four pairs of earrings and a sign.
"We need jewelry, especially earrings..."
God thing? I think so.
After doing a little shopping, I went home and grabbed my "inventory" of 16 pairs of earrings and one necklace and drove them back as a donation.
They were elated. Frankly, so was I. Being led by the Lord, I left my name and phone number in case they ever need more earrings. The shop manager then adds,"I'll just call you 'the earring lady'."
And yes, I believe that was God's way of telling me that I'm not so crazy after all.
Our God can use anything that we surrender to Him. I wanted to open up an online shop. God wanted to make me a supplier.
Who would have thunk it?
Friday, April 6, 2012
Confessions of a Christian Newlywed Mrs.
Here is the deal. Newly Wed life is an interesting life, one that I love. It's also full of surprises, transition, and adjustments...some are more exciting than others.You probably know this already.
What if you knew this before you were married? What if I knew this before I married The Mr.? Would I still have married him? ABSO-freaking-LUTELY! I still would have married him without hesitation, but I would have prepared differently. I would have studied harder, saved more, and been all around smarter before even meeting him.
After just under 2 years of marriage, I know that the surprises and trials that we have faced pale in comparison to what's to come. Trust me. I know. However, I know that we know more now than we did on 8.21.2010, the day we became The Mr. and Mrs.
What I would love to do is gather stories, "Confessions" if you will, of Christian wives about their newly wed season. So many say that yr one and two are the honeymoon years, and I suppose they are. We still need guidance through these years or at the very least awareness. That's what this project is all about.
Help me put together a FREE e-book that will serve as a gift for Jesus loving Mrs-in-training. I am looking for your stories about your struggles, joys, and lessons learned. I am also looking for someone skilled in graphic design that could donate a cover design and possibly assist in formatting. This is completely a free project. No money taken for it. No money given for it. It's a project from the heart.
Simply e-mail me here to let me know you are interested, and you will receive more information as it is made available.
Thanks!
Monday, April 2, 2012
I really thought...
...that God has placed in me a desire to plan, outreach, and be used of Him in specific ways.
Now,
I am convinced.
Yet,
it's not time.
My heart is weary of the wait.
My eyes are flooding with tears.
One day.
It's just not today.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Lessons from Game Night
For probably just over a year at this point, the Mr. and I have been a part of a home group at our church. While growing up, my parents were part of a home group...but trust me. This isn't my parent's home group. That's one of the things I love about it.
In the group, there are other couples at or around our age. Everyone's circumstances are different, but at the same time we can all relate to one another. It's taken me almost until now (I'm ridiculously shy at times) to get out of my shell, but truly...they have become like family. Considering neither my family or the Mr's family live in our city, our home group family has become that much more precious. We love them dearly.
Press pause because there is something else you should probably know.
The Lord has been working on my heart about hospitality. Weird, right? Well, at least I thought it was. It was so unexpected. Anyhow, our home is awesome. My husband bought it while he was still a bachelor, and I am so blessed to call it home. I'm also blessed that he let me into the buying process a bit even though we were not yet engaged. (He's the best. I know. ;) The house is spacious, comfy, and open. It's pretty much everything I love in a house, except for 2 things. 1. It doesn't have a linen closet (so odd!) 2. We have no idea how to decorate it. (Pinterest has given me some ideas, but finding the time and money is difficult.) We have no curtains up. An old yet exceptionally comfy couch purchased from Craig's List adorns our family room. Likewise an old yet exceptionally functional pool table purchased from Craig's List sits in our informal dining room. Our home is wonderful. Our home is just plain awesome. Our home is a blessing. Yet it is still a bit....beige.
I am the girl with BIG hair and BIG earrings who loves making BIG statements (on occasion) so our "beigeness" sometimes gets under my skin. For a while now, I've beennagging talking with the Mr. about making some changes. We've painted the front door, put a few things on the walls, but yeah...our home is still a bit "beige". Once that changed, we could THEN start to entertain others and host more stuff in our home. Right? It sounded like a great plan to me, but then it started. The Lord started getting my attention in this area. I don't remember how it started, but I remember when it became too much for me to ignore. Leadership Class at church. I simply remember this. There is a difference between entertaining others and hospitality. Hospitality has little to do with the decoration of our home, and more to do with the condition of our hearts. Ouch!
That's when I started to get it. I put it that way because I don't think I fully get it. yet. God will help me with that. It's just that I'm starting to see that welcoming loved ones into our home is about the time we spend with them and how good they feel while they are there. It's not about the colors on the wall or how large our television is. Frankly put, it's not about me.
It's not to mean that all of our walls will stay beige. They won't. It's not to mean that our television won't be any bigger. Trust me. It will. It simply means our heart is changing, and because of that our motives and actions will follow suit.
Okay. Now back to our home group family. What better way to step out in this area than to have everyone over for game night? This is exactly what we did.
All of the pics are of the little details. We didn't get any pics of the group because well...we were too busy laughing and playing games to stop and take pics during.
This one is my absolute favorite...
 |
| Jenga inspired coasters. $4 "Tumbling Towers" and hot glue. Oh my!! |
In the group, there are other couples at or around our age. Everyone's circumstances are different, but at the same time we can all relate to one another. It's taken me almost until now (I'm ridiculously shy at times) to get out of my shell, but truly...they have become like family. Considering neither my family or the Mr's family live in our city, our home group family has become that much more precious. We love them dearly.
 |
| Nostalgic snack and candy bar. Peanuts, Gummy Bears, Dum Dum's, Jelly Beans, Ring Pops, and more. Oh my! |
Press pause because there is something else you should probably know.
The Lord has been working on my heart about hospitality. Weird, right? Well, at least I thought it was. It was so unexpected. Anyhow, our home is awesome. My husband bought it while he was still a bachelor, and I am so blessed to call it home. I'm also blessed that he let me into the buying process a bit even though we were not yet engaged. (He's the best. I know. ;) The house is spacious, comfy, and open. It's pretty much everything I love in a house, except for 2 things. 1. It doesn't have a linen closet (so odd!) 2. We have no idea how to decorate it. (Pinterest has given me some ideas, but finding the time and money is difficult.) We have no curtains up. An old yet exceptionally comfy couch purchased from Craig's List adorns our family room. Likewise an old yet exceptionally functional pool table purchased from Craig's List sits in our informal dining room. Our home is wonderful. Our home is just plain awesome. Our home is a blessing. Yet it is still a bit....beige.
 | |
| Yum! |
I am the girl with BIG hair and BIG earrings who loves making BIG statements (on occasion) so our "beigeness" sometimes gets under my skin. For a while now, I've been
That's when I started to get it. I put it that way because I don't think I fully get it. yet. God will help me with that. It's just that I'm starting to see that welcoming loved ones into our home is about the time we spend with them and how good they feel while they are there. It's not about the colors on the wall or how large our television is. Frankly put, it's not about me.
 |
| One of the couples brought the AMAZING goodies above. |
It's not to mean that all of our walls will stay beige. They won't. It's not to mean that our television won't be any bigger. Trust me. It will. It simply means our heart is changing, and because of that our motives and actions will follow suit.
Okay. Now back to our home group family. What better way to step out in this area than to have everyone over for game night? This is exactly what we did.
 |
| It was one of the girl's birthdays so another friend made some DELICIOUS cupcakes to celebrate. Chocolate chip cookie on the bottom. Chocolate chips in the batter. Chocolate cookie dough filling. Mmmm... |
All of the pics are of the little details. We didn't get any pics of the group because well...we were too busy laughing and playing games to stop and take pics during.
This one is my absolute favorite...
 |
| We so enjoyed having our amazing home group family over and the fun time spent with them. They were such gracious guests too! I didn't quite nail the hospitality part this time around, but my heart was in it. We just wanted everyone to have a good time, and I think they did. (Yay!) Here's to hoping that our guests saw our heart through the little well thought out details until we figure out how to open the door just right, how to keep the conversation going, how to walk everyone out properly when it's time to go, and all of that other stuff we have yet to learn. |
Monday, March 26, 2012
A Million Little Yeses
Lately, the Mr and I have been hooked on the show "How I Met Your Mother". Yes. It's highly inappropriate at times, but gosh darn it. It's hilarious, and we can't get enough of it lately.
Truthfully, we need an intervention. ;)
On a certain episode, a certain character spontaneously proposed to his girlfriend. He was so pleased to hear a simple and elegant, "Yes."
We were with friends while we watched this episode. We all burst out laughing. Our friend's, "Yes" to her husband was excited, blissful, and extremely loud. At least that's how they tell the story.
My yes to The Mr's proposal was...well...many. I couldn't stop saying yes. I said "yes" at every pause until I finally heard those words. "Will you marry me?"
Then I said yes a few more times! lol
There's no wrong way to say yes, but this conversation got me thinking.
One HUGE yes. A million a little yeses. A successful marriage is made up of both.
The HUGE yes, is the yes said in faith. It's the yes said in confidence. It's the knowing that for better or worse, we are going to stick through this and fight for our marriage by the grace of God. It's foundational. It's beautiful. It's fruitful.
Then there are a million little yeses. It's the yes that chooses to watch the college basketball game cheerfully with her husband when she rather be watching The Voice. It's the yes that orders pizza for dinner, though the fridge is full of food, because the wife is exhausted and needs a break from cooking dinner. It's the yes that folds laundry, washes the car, or sends an encouraging text during the day just because.
Continue to choose yes. It will do your marriage good.
Truthfully, we need an intervention. ;)
On a certain episode, a certain character spontaneously proposed to his girlfriend. He was so pleased to hear a simple and elegant, "Yes."
We were with friends while we watched this episode. We all burst out laughing. Our friend's, "Yes" to her husband was excited, blissful, and extremely loud. At least that's how they tell the story.
My yes to The Mr's proposal was...well...many. I couldn't stop saying yes. I said "yes" at every pause until I finally heard those words. "Will you marry me?"
Then I said yes a few more times! lol
There's no wrong way to say yes, but this conversation got me thinking.
One HUGE yes. A million a little yeses. A successful marriage is made up of both.
The HUGE yes, is the yes said in faith. It's the yes said in confidence. It's the knowing that for better or worse, we are going to stick through this and fight for our marriage by the grace of God. It's foundational. It's beautiful. It's fruitful.
Then there are a million little yeses. It's the yes that chooses to watch the college basketball game cheerfully with her husband when she rather be watching The Voice. It's the yes that orders pizza for dinner, though the fridge is full of food, because the wife is exhausted and needs a break from cooking dinner. It's the yes that folds laundry, washes the car, or sends an encouraging text during the day just because.
Continue to choose yes. It will do your marriage good.
Monday, March 19, 2012
The Mr's Devotional
The Mr. has a strong presence and a deep (I mean DEEP) sexy voice, but he is also the most easy going quiet man that you will ever meet. True story.
It's one of the characteristics that I love most about him. The moral of the story is that when he speaks, I listen. He doesn't speak for the sake of talking. He speaks with a purpose. For this reason, I was super excited about the devotion he had prayerfully prepared for us while we were on our marriage retreat. God is so awesome. I was asking God to reveal some things to me about submission and He did that, through my husband. It was so amazing! So without any further ado, here are the notes I took from that power packed devotional about marriage. I am praying that you get what God wants you to get out of it.
Ephesians 5:21-33
:21 Submit to each other. Husbands submit to their wives in the sense that they don't lord their headship over the wife. They lead to also benefit their wife.
Wife is to be subject to husband, adapt herself to her husband; be submissive; IN EVERYTHING, as to the Lord; in the same way that the church is subject to Christ.
Husband's role is to love wife unconditionally, give himself fully to wife.
:26 building wife up spiritually
:27 final goal in mind
:28 Husband, take care of wife as if wife was himself; in marriage 2 become 1, wife is an extension of husband.
Marriage isn't about the legalities of should we must have separate or joint accounts. It's about fulfilling our roles in marriage. Wife subject to husband. Husband taking care of wife.
:31 is a quote from Genesis 2:24
Genesis 2:23-24
Eve was Adam's rib, extension of self, member of his body. I am The Mr's rib.
Ephesians 5:31-32
the church is to leave where we came from (sinful nature and the world) and become one with Christ.
A Godly marriage is representation of the Gospel.
Co-heirs with Christ. Example = our tax return. Filing separately my work equated to having to pay $500 back in taxes. However, we tried filing together. Because of The Mr we got back multiple times over the $500 that I would have had to pay with out him. We will receive what Christ has, but it's not because of our works. It's because of what Christ has done for us.
It's one of the characteristics that I love most about him. The moral of the story is that when he speaks, I listen. He doesn't speak for the sake of talking. He speaks with a purpose. For this reason, I was super excited about the devotion he had prayerfully prepared for us while we were on our marriage retreat. God is so awesome. I was asking God to reveal some things to me about submission and He did that, through my husband. It was so amazing! So without any further ado, here are the notes I took from that power packed devotional about marriage. I am praying that you get what God wants you to get out of it.
Ephesians 5:21-33
:21 Submit to each other. Husbands submit to their wives in the sense that they don't lord their headship over the wife. They lead to also benefit their wife.
Wife is to be subject to husband, adapt herself to her husband; be submissive; IN EVERYTHING, as to the Lord; in the same way that the church is subject to Christ.
Husband's role is to love wife unconditionally, give himself fully to wife.
:26 building wife up spiritually
:27 final goal in mind
:28 Husband, take care of wife as if wife was himself; in marriage 2 become 1, wife is an extension of husband.
Marriage isn't about the legalities of should we must have separate or joint accounts. It's about fulfilling our roles in marriage. Wife subject to husband. Husband taking care of wife.
:31 is a quote from Genesis 2:24
Genesis 2:23-24
Eve was Adam's rib, extension of self, member of his body. I am The Mr's rib.
Ephesians 5:31-32
the church is to leave where we came from (sinful nature and the world) and become one with Christ.
A Godly marriage is representation of the Gospel.
Co-heirs with Christ. Example = our tax return. Filing separately my work equated to having to pay $500 back in taxes. However, we tried filing together. Because of The Mr we got back multiple times over the $500 that I would have had to pay with out him. We will receive what Christ has, but it's not because of our works. It's because of what Christ has done for us.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Unplugged and Connected
Tweet. Tweet. Tweet.
Send.
Buzz.
Update. Tag. Click.
Click click.
That about sums up a few hours of an average day, and I like to think that I'm not alone in this. Truthfully, we are a technology loving family. The Mr. is a software engineer for a top firm in the country and he is the technology guru around here. We love smart phones, televisions, computers, and anything Google. (We actually have a goldfish named Google. Enough said.) Thanks to The Mr I can use all of the above much more effectively than I used to. I, for one, am a social networking nerd. I love to blog, tweet, update, and everything in between so much so that I also handle social networking at the community center that I am employed with. It's one of my favorite tasks.
This is all good, and I have absolutely no problems with it. As a matter of fact, it's technology that connects us right now through this blog and keeps us connected with our family in other cities, states, and even countries.
However, it can be distracting at times. Some times it's good to getaway. It's easy to see marriage as a physical thing, and physical thing alone. The problem is that it takes more than a physical presence to do marriage right. It's deeper than laying in the same bed, having joint accounts, and seeing each other daily. So, yea it's easy to get complacent.
A couple months ago, The Mr and I decided to take a little time away to get unplugged to stay connected. It happened this past weekend, and it was perfect.
We drove a couple hours or so to West Palm Beach where we checked into an adorable boutique hotel. With the exception of Google Maps, we went unplugged. There was no Twitter, ESPN mobile, Facebook, or etc. It was me and him, enjoying each other and focusing on our marriage. We brought along materials from the pre-marital workshop we completed prior to our wedding just under a year and a half ago.
While stuck at a draw bridge, we tackled the Communication section. As God would have it, that section was about communication bridges. I'll never look at a draw bridge the same.
We discussed our goals as individuals, a couple, and as a family. We prayed together. We laughed together. We drank fresh sugar cane juice at the farmer's market together (SOOO yum!).
Honestly, it was perfect.
Sunday morning, The Mr. led us in a devotional. It was so powerful. It was a God sent reminder of our roles in marriage, and how God intends marriage to be.
It was a game changer, in the best way possible. A blog post of my notes from that devotional is soon coming. Look out for it.
I have a purpose in sharing this. It's to encourage you to take time to get away, but also consider this. Decide to getaway for more than the sake of getting away. Prayerfully consider getting away to get unplugged and stay connected.
Stay connected with Christ, first and foremost. Everything else is secondary, EVERYTHING. Let Jesus have His way in your life. He has a way of perfecting everything else.
Stay connected with your husband. Listen to what he has to say. Respond to it. Pray for him. Dump the details every once in awhile. Respect him always. Build bridges in your marriage.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Listening
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Can you repeat that please?"
I say that a lot. A LOT. Quite frankly, I can be a horrible listener. So when God started working on my heart to take a step back from blogging and twitter I was all like,
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Can you repeat that please?"
Unfortunately, I heard right the first time. God did not speak to me audibly per say. My Pastor often says that God speaks primarily through His Word. Through my daily Bible reading I ran across verses such as these.
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. James 3:1
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
And 1 Timothy 6
These scriptures spoke to my motives. YES I want to help and encourage. It's my heart's desire, and it is a good and Godly desire. The thing is I was seeking other things too, on top of that. In other words, being a social media mini-celebrity seemed pretty appealing to me too. And while I'm being honest, the thought of bringing in some extra cash somehow through all of this also sounded very appealing.
Hear me.
I'm not saying that making money online is evil and becoming well known online is sinful. Not at all. Here's the thing though. As Christians, Christ followers, we should be following Christ and what He values.
Check out Philippians 2
It's about humbling ourselves, not seeking our motives. Even Christ humbled Himself and took up the cross for our salvation. In the same way, we should humble ourselves and through our motives by the wayside. Understand that it's for no other reason than to bring others to Christ. It's not about bringing others to our Twitter Page or Facebook Wall. It's about pointing others toward our Lord and Savior and praying that they come to know Him in that way in each and every area of their life.
And how about the whole getting extra cash thing? 1 Timothy 6 addresses that beautifully. What caught my attention was the fact that some have been lead astray by that lure to seek riches. Scary, right? Riches may come. Working is good. (The Bible encourages working) Sales may come, but what are we seeking? That's what God wants to straighten out. It's about our motives and hearts.
So yea, I shut up for a little while and let God lead me through His Word. During this time, God has been teaching me lots about the beauty of submission, leadership, and life. He's brought me hobbies beyond cooking in the kitchen which is HUGE. I've put on some weight since the holidays so learning to enjoy myself without packing on more lbs is a God send. He's delivered me from fears and anxieties that have bound me for years. He's teaching me how to grow as a child of God and as a wife. He's teaching me the power of contentment.
And yes, He is releasing me back into the wild (aka blogging and Twitter). lol
My hope was to come back with some sort of hard core strategy and be back with a vengeance, but ummm...it's not really that way. This is what I know. I want to share all that God has done so my posts will probably have a lot to do with what God has shown me these last several weeks from money saving fashion to managing the house to Biblical truths.
Also, know that I know that I am still a work in progress. There's much I'm still learning. If at any point, social media becomes too big in my life I'm going to have to pause again and re-focus. Don't worry. I'm also going to work on notifying you a bit more gracefully. As a matter of fact, I'm thinking I will try to stick to posting once a week. This will help.
Love you ladies! Thanks for praying and hanging with me.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
The Story of How We Met
We met online with no intentions of taking it offline. How did we meet and fall in love?
You can read all about our story here. I was so excited to share our story with the founder of www.datingdivasites.com.
Enjoy!
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Problem with Twitter.
The problem with
The problem with the internet is that we no longer need accountability before teaching. We no longer need permission to be heard. We no longer need preparation to speak.
Remember the story of Jesus as a child in the temple? It's in Luke ch2 staring at verse 40. His parents lost track of Him and when they found Jesus, He was in the temple among the teachers. The teachers were astonished at His intelligence. However, further development was necessary. Jesus being 100% God though 100% had to humble Himself and go back with his parents to regular and every day life. :52 states that "Jesus increased in wisdom (in broad and full understanding) and in stature and years, and in favor with God and man.".
How much more should we humble ourselves? Becoming a Twitter or Internet teacher could very well be part of one's calling. I do not at all doubt the power and purpose of God in the interwebs. However, the challenge is to not become self-ordained, self-confident, self-educated prophets who are not yet equipped or fully developed for God's work. No one is perfect. This I know for sure.
I just know that God is calling me to humble myself enough to become more disciplined and to be dedicated to preparation for His plan. It may mean staying quiet when you want to speak or learning when you want to teach, but it's okay. Be patient. Be humble. Be faithful. His ideas are bigger and better than mine could ever be. That means letting go of my creativity and plans to see His at work in my life.
Lord, I surrender.
Dear baby,
We are a short while away from trying to conceive you, but only God knows when we you will join our little family. We love you, already. We do.
We watched a documentary a couple of days ago called "The Business of Being Born". Yes, your daddy watched it too. We learned about how important it is for you to be held by me as soon as you are born. We learned about the bond that you and I will one day share. We learned that God's design is perfect and though the process of labor and delivery is exquisitely natural, He has blessed man with knowledge to make interventions when necessary.
With that being said, there is something that we want you to know. It's something that we want to continue to show you with our lives as you are born and as you will God willing continue to grow. We trust in God. Yes, we will do our research. Yes, we see Godly counsel. Yes, we pray for wisdom and strength to obey. Yes, we go to God's Word.
Our plan is for me to continue to become healthier and stronger in body, conceive you in a short while, and give birth to you in our cozy home while lying in our large tub. That's our plan at this moment, but regardless of what happens we want you to know that God's plan is perfect. We want you to know that we know that God's plan is perfect. We can trust Him with our lives and with yours.
That's how we do it in this family.
Sincerely,
Me
Friday, January 20, 2012
" I want sex more than my husband."
I was not going to write this, but the bathroom changed my mind.
There I was online, when the
urge hit to use the bathroom. This is not usually an event in our home as we
are only two living in a 2,000sq ft home with two full bathrooms. Today was
different. Yes, this is all relevant.
Our master bathroom is having some plumbing issues which temporarily leaves
us with one working john. To my dismay,
my husband was in the shower of that one working bathroom. This is the first
time that this has happened in the time that we have been married. It was weird
and downright awkward for me. I had so many questions. Do I barge in? Do I
knock? Do I wait? I really did not know what to do. I had the legitimate need and right to use
that bathroom and had I knocked he would have let me in. My loving husband
would not deprive me. In this situation, I decided not to exert my right. After a moment of hesitation, I decided that
the best way to serve my husband at that moment was to hold my…peace. So that
is exactly what I did. Thankfully, I did not have to wait long.
This experience taught me something. I am not at all an expert, but I
love to share what I know. It may not be popular, but it is important. It
dawned on me that this occurrence is a darn good example of married sex.
Sometimes, the urge hits. If you are reading this, it is probably because the
urge hits quite often and quite intensely. Nothing is wrong with that, absolutely
nothing. There is a challenge in that though. Does the urge give us the right
to bypass our husband’s needs? In my opinion, no it does not. To be fair, I am making a big assumption here.
I am assuming that you are in a healthy marriage and that you and your husband
are healthy individuals sexually and mentally. If this is not the case, I would
strongly encourage you to contact a professional. Whether it is a medical
doctor or counselor, there is help out there. Do not hesitate or be ashamed to
reach out. If this assumption holds true
in your marriage, read on. I am from the
Carrie Bradshaw school of thought in regards to sharing about my sex life.
Whether or not The Mr . colors in or outside the lines is not for the interwebs
to know. Kudos to you if you get that reference. I will tell you this though.
It is something that has pretty much rocked our socks off…and other
unmentionables as well. It is kind of
like our special little secret. Here it goes.
Sex is not intended for me.
That’s right. Repeat after me, “Sex is not intended for me.”
Marriage is not about your needs sexually, emotionally, financially, or
otherwise. It is about serving your spouse. Letting this attitude lead is absolutely
liberating. The Mr. shares the same mindset,
and because of this we have … well, you really do not need to know all of that.
However, this you need to know. You are
doomed if you go into marriage thinking that marriage is about your needs being
fulfilled. I am sorry, but I know no pretty way to say it. Yes, marriage is
beautiful and sex is great; but selfish sex is not satisfying sex. Selfish sex is easy and cheap. It is like the
vending machine in the break room. You put your dollar in, and get a packaged
snack to chew on. Unfortunately in about
an hour you are hungry once again. Marriage sex is extravagant. Sometimes you
have to make reservations in advance. The
menu prices are high, but the meal hits the spot every time.
The Bible puts it this way in 1 Corinthians 7:2-5 (MSG) : Certainly—but
only within a certain context. It's good for a man to have a wife, and for a
woman to have a husband. Sexual drives are strong, but marriage is strong
enough to contain them and provide for a balanced and fulfilling sexual life in
a world of sexual disorder. The marriage bed must be a place of mutuality—the
husband seeking to satisfy his wife, the wife seeking to satisfy her husband.
Marriage is not a place to "stand up for your rights." Marriage is a
decision to serve the other, whether in bed or out.
I challenge you. Instead of complaining, “I want sex more than my
husband”; ask, “What does my husband need from me?” Ask yourself, and ask him. Talk about it.
Pray about it. Wife, hold your peace. Husband, pay the cost. When a husband and
wife are both seeking to serve each the other, neither receives specifically
what they request. Yet somehow, both needs are met.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Single ladies: It's okay.
Photo credit: www.eons.com
You are complete in Jesus.
Exhale.
Live.
Dance.
It's okay to breathe and let be.
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Intentional Marriage
Work.
Life was different just weeks ago. Work was laundry, vacuuming, and making foods from scratch. It's not work anymore. Now, it's my day off.
I work about 30 hours a week, write, and will soon be starting a leadership training class at my church.
This is not a complaint. I realize that this is the easy stuff. Changing the water for my new little goldfish Google is nothing compared to changing diapers and late night feedings. We have no babies, yet. Life is easy now, yet its challenging.
It's also easy to get caught up in having dinner in front of the television instead in front of The Mr. It's easy for date nights to turn into group dates with our friends Facebook and Twitter. No bueno.
Intentional. Let's be intentional, not forceful. Intentional. Together with your spouse decide on a date night this week. Make it unplugged. No cell phones. No television or anything else that could be a distraction.
Be intentional in expressing your love, even more so than before. Be intentional in your forgiveness, because let's face it. You both get tired, and inevitably someone will do or say something that will come off the wrong way.
Most of all, be intentional in your prayers. Pray individually, but pray together. Daily.
Yup. This is how we do it.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Love is in the language.
Just a few days ago, The Mr. and I had the opportunity to spend some time with our wonderful friends who serve as missionaries in Thailand. You can read about their ministry here. They have been in Thailand for over a year, and a lot of that time has been spent learning the language.
Yes, learning the language.
You see the language is a tricky one. Different inflections make the same letters a different word. That is mind boggling amazing to me, yet by the grace of God our friends have learned so much. They shared a prayer in Thai and they even showed us how our names looked in the language. It was awesome. They learn so they can develop personal relationships with the people they long to serve. They don't learn it because it's easy. They don't learn it because it's convenient. They learn it to share the Gospel. It's a beautiful thing.
Culture.
We are surrounded by it. The culture of each city and workplace is different. Seek to learn the language. Seek to serve. Seek to share Christ.
Love is in the language.
Friday, January 13, 2012
The Prayer of the Employed Housewife
We all are housewives whether we work a 9-5 or not. I'm sorry, but it's true. Or at least it should be. However, that's another blog for another day.
Today, let's focus on this.
Pray for just enough.
"Dear Jesus, please help me to love my job just enough."
For loving it too much or too little could cause you to be consumed by it. May there be no be distractions in your role as a wise, God fearing, and beautiful housewife.
Proverbs 30:7-9
"...Give me enough food to live on,
neither too much nor too little.If I'm too full, I might get independent,
saying, 'God? Who needs him?'If I'm poor, I might steal
and dishonor the name of my God."
Today, let's focus on this.
Pray for just enough.
"Dear Jesus, please help me to love my job just enough."
For loving it too much or too little could cause you to be consumed by it. May there be no be distractions in your role as a wise, God fearing, and beautiful housewife.
Proverbs 30:7-9
"...Give me enough food to live on,
neither too much nor too little.
saying, 'God? Who needs him?'
and dishonor the name of my God."
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Accidently Fabulous
Now that I have the blessing and responsibility of being the wife to my (handsome, easygoing, intelligent, patient, and amazing) husband, I have been taking a closer look at Proverbs 31:10-31. Therein lies the infamous description of the virtuous woman aka the wife of noble character aka super woman. This woman is the real deal! She is a money saving, early rising, good humored, seamstress business woman who does her husband good all the days of her life. That's not even all of it. iDare you to read it for yourself. Click here to do just that.
For a long time, this is what I envisioned this woman looking like.
So that's what I thought I was supposed to become. If she did it so could I, right? Only one problem. I only have 2 arms. In the midst of my re-strategizing, something happened in my heart.
Jesus spoke to it.
He drew my eyes closer to the end of the passage. It was verse 30 in particular. It reads, "Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."
I think it's important that I share the following before I continue. First of all, this passage was written as an acrostic poem. How cool is that?
Writing poetry is one of the things that I like to do from time to time. When writing poetry, there was always a special significance to the ending of the piece. You see the end of the piece is what usually tied everything together. It was that "Aha!" moment that gets responses in performance.
Verse 30 was it, and my heart was exploding with response. I have heard this taught before, but there was revelation like never before this time around. Here's the earth shattering truth. Everything that I read about this woman was made possible and significant through her life of living in fear (reverence) of The Lord Jesus Christ.
The beginning part of Psalm 111:10 says this, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...."
Read it in the Amplified Version for a bit more detail. Right here.
How wonderfully poetic to put this foundational truth towards the end of the passage!
Let's think about this some more. Let's put a face on this woman. If the fear (reverential fear and worship) of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom (and skill), then is it possible that this woman didn't even know how great she was? Is it possible that she did not have schooling on every single thing that she excelled in? Is it possible that she had some mistakes along the way? Is it possible that she was accidently fabulous?
I think so.We all have the need for God's mercy every single moment of every day. I think she simply knew one thing, and she knew it well. Her secret was that she sought God. She lived in the fear of Him, and that was only the beginning. It was God that led her, prepared her, and made her this great woman that we compare ourselves to and lose. I'm beginning to think that she looks something like this.
I believe she looks more like us. She feels, thinks, and struggles like we do. I think she wakes up early in the morning to spend time alone with Jesus. She asks Him for direction and trusts Him enough to follow. God delights in her ways and brings her to places that she she never thought she would go. When given her turn to speak, I think she would carefully choose words greater than her own. I think she would put it this way.
"Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met." (Matthew 6:33 The Message translation)
*This is a re-post from a previous blog of mine. www.kristydares.blogspot.com It spoke to me this morning, so I wanted to share this with you as well. Hope it blesses you!
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