Those Days

 

You know those days . . .

 

Those days that start with your alarm going off at 5:30am but a minute after you reset it for 6:00am your child wakes up.

 

Those days where the routine is out of wack and your child is clingy and doesn't want to play in his crib like usual.

 

Those days where you have to wake up your grumpy husband to watch the grumpy baby so you can take a quick 3 minute shower.

 

Those days where you're trying your hardest to quickly get ready but continue to be interrupted because you have to remove the child from playing in the toilet and then bribe him with animal crackers every 5 seconds so he stays away from the toilet.

 

Those days where you are getting lunch ready for all members of the household, starting laundry, and emptying the trash all before the daylight breaks.

 

Those days when the dog snatches the bread out of your hand at the same time the child throws his head back hitting you in the face during his attempt at a fit.

 

Unfortunately, it's been one of those days - and this mom lost it.

 

Upon arriving at working and reading my devotions in my inbox, I was quickly reminded of a verse in Philippians 2 (14-15) :

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world

 

We need to remember that when we have days like those days, God's grace is all we need. Even though we are completely undeserving, God's love and kindness reaches down to us through Christ.

For this I am so thankful.  

 

An Obsession: Illustrated Faith

 

Have you heard about this fad (that I think is here to stay) called Illustrated Faith/Bible Journaling?

To say that I'm obsessed is an understatement. It's all the rage right now - popping up all over my IG feed and my Pinterest Page.

 

 

 

If you don't know what I'm talking about - check out:

 #illustratedfaith or #biblejournaling or #drawinginthemargins on IG.

 

Lovely ladies (mostly) from all over the world share their love of the Lord through creative doodles, drawings, scripts, etc. It's another way to connect to the word of God and to worship.

 

I started dabbling in the bible journaling community last fall while I was on maternity leave with Kingston. Before you knew it, life took over - I lost interest and my bible sat with all my craft stuff just waiting for me to find the time and inspiration again. Unfortunately, I hate the reason that got me back into bible journaling and really spending time with the Lord. If you read my previous post, you know that CT and I experienced a missed miscarriage last month resulting in an immediate D&C.

 

What a crushing few days it was for me. I recognized I needed an outlet and something to pour myself into and that happened to be creating - in my sewing room, in my planner, in my bible. Quickly I realized how much I missed creating for the Lord and how good for the soul it is.

 

My situation was perfectly stated in my daily devotional from She Reads Truth:

I cannot fully grasp the sweetness of God without knowing the bitter taste of life in a fallen world. What a truth this is. I'm ashamed that it took something so awful to bring me back to God, but now that I'm back - I'm more excited than ever!  

(side note: I was never really 'away' from Him - but I wasn't craving a relationship with Him like I am now)

 

Here's what I've been up to lately:

By drawing and doodling in my bible, I've found that I'm able to concentrate on the verses or themes that I'm creating - and this helps me retain the scripture better.

 

 

If you aren't comfortable drawing in your bible - start with a journal - but what ever you do I know it will bless you like it's blessed me!

 I wake up wanting to create in my bible and I go to sleep thinking about creating in my bible!

{Guest Post} - - Daily Reflections as Mothers

Today I'm back over at Leslyn's with a second guest post - daily reflections as mothers. If you missed my first post, labor pains deserve a present, you can find it here.

Leslyn and I share a mutual bff and we were able to officially meet last summer at our friends wedding. Before then - I was just a creeper that hung around her little space in this world wide web and acted like I knew her. What a fun weekend I had getting to know such a lovely lady! 

Little did I know that we would have so much in common: 

 A love for the Lord. 

Super attractive husbands. 

Long hair that we chopped off into bobs. 

Infertility problems. 

Crazy enough though, the Lord decided to answer our prayers and we both ended up getting pregnant with little boys - due two weeks apart . . . 

Check it out! 

Week 19

How far along: 19 Weeks

Food Comparison: Heirloom Tomato

Gender: Boy!!  I am loving everything about getting ready to have a boy. 

Weight gain: +8 lbs . . . yikes. I don't know if this is on schedule of if I need to slow down.

Maternity clothes: A dress, a few shirts, and I'm living in leggings!

 I'm trying to wear all things stretchy that are already in my closet. 

Stretch marks: No - still slathering up with my belly butter!

Belly button in or out: In with belly button ring. 

Sleep: I miss it. Side note for the next time I'm pregnant - I need to make sure I have a king sized bed. The dog, my belly, the husband, and my body pillow make for a tight fit. 

Best moment last week: Beginning to set up Baby K's nursery!  

Worst moment last week: Unrelated to pregnancy - but I found out one of my favorite TV shows: Single Ladies is being cancelled after this season. 

Ya, their acting sucked - but I loved the story lines!

Miss anything: Margaritas.   

Movement: Yes, daily! And CT was able to feel him yesterday. It was such a special moment.

Cravings: Beef ramen noodles still (I might have had it every day for lunch last week) 

& grande non fat no whip decaf white chocolate mocha from Starbucks.

Queasy or sick: Nope! 

Looking forward to: The mail man to come today - I have some cloth diapers and a diaper bag on the way and our anatomy scan next Monday! 

Prayer Request: This week I just pray for the overall health of Baby K. With the anatomy scan a few weeks away -- I pray all of his organs are functioning properly, I pray that he has 10 fingers and 10 toes, I pray that he has eyes that can see and ears that can hear. I pray that he is perfectly healthy so that his challenges in life aren't physical ones. 

Sunday Inspiration: Soon

Soon  

Hillsong United ft. Brooke Fraser

This song is so full of promises, it brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it. 

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 

Soon and very soon

My King is coming

Robed in righteousness and crowned with love

When I see Him

I shall be made like Him

Soon and very soon

Soon and very soon

I’ll be going

To the place He has prepared for me

There my sin erased

My shame forgotten

Soon and very soon


                                      

I will be with the One I love

With unveiled face I’ll see Him

There my soul will be satisfied

Soon and very soon


                                           

Soon and very soon

See the procession

The angels and the elders 'round the throne

At His feet I’ll lay my crowns My worship

Soon and very soon


 I will be with the One I love

Soon and very soon

My King is coming

Robed in righteousness and crowned with love

When I see Him

I shall be made like Him

Soon and very soon

Soon and very soon

I’ll be going

To the place He has prepared for me

There my sin erased

My shame forgotten

Soon and very soon


                                      

I will be with the One I love

With unveiled face I’ll see Him

There my soul will be satisfied

Soon and very soon


                                          

 Soon and very soon

See the procession

The angels and the elders 'round the throne

At His feet I’ll lay my crowns My worship

Soon and very soon


                                    

 I will be with the One I love

With unveiled face I’ll see Him

There my soul will be satisfied

Soon and very soon


                                   

 Though I have not seen Him

My heart knows Him well

Jesus Christ the Lamb

The Lord of heaven


                                     

I will be with the One I love

With unveiled face I’ll see Him

There my soul will be satisfied

Soon and very soon

Soon and very soonlove

With unveiled face I’ll see Him

There my soul will be satisfied

Soon and very soon


                                   

 Though I have not seen Him

My heart knows Him well

Jesus Christ the Lamb

The Lord of heaven


                                   

  I will be with the One I love

With unveiled face I’ll see Him

There my soul will be satisfied

Soon and very soon

Soon and very soon

                                                

Do It Anyway

Inspiration from the online devotional 'She Reads Truth' in regard to Ruth's story. 

Weekly Inspiration [8]: She Reads Truth Daily Devotional

I was just introduced through Instagram to the wonderful devotional: 

She Reads Truth. 

It is a community of women that strive to have a better relationship with the Lord through a daily devotion. What I like most is it's not just a daily devotional but a place where women can interact with one another. There is a place for comments and questions so you can converse with other ladies about what you had read that day. 

They are currently working on Women in the Bible- Part 3, but because I just started, I went back to the beginning for Women in the Bible- Part 1 and I am just now finishing it up. 

So far we have discussed Eve, Sarah (Sarai), Hagar, Lot's Wife, and Rebekah. 

All these ladies have their own struggles, that most any woman can find similarities with. Well I know I can. I fight the same battles as they did, and reading their struggles has really made me more aware of what I need to work on to be a better Christian woman. 

Just some note taking from the talk on Sarah:

On Lot's Wife:

I myself am a lot like Sarah: I have a major struggle with patience. 

I myself have similarities to Lot's Wife: I sometime look back thinking 'what if'.

Do you have any of these same struggles? 

What woman in the bible are you most like?

Weekly Inspiration [8]: When Commitment Meets Challenge

Last month CT and I attended a marriage conference. We thought this would be an awesome opportunity to keep things fresh and be pro-active in our marriage!

I have been recapping the various sessions the last few Sundays. 

Check out To Love & To Cherish and God's Design for Marriage to catch up!

1 Corinthians 7:28 states that you will face trouble in your marriage.

 Everyone does.

When two people are bound together in marriage, the problems of human nature are then multiplied. 

Everyone goes through crisis.  

In your life you are:

going through it

coming through it

or almost to it

Most crisis are caused by changes. 

Time

Distance

Desire 

Just remember, these are season's and they will pass. 

Romans 12:12 states that we need to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer. 

I think if you take that verse right there, and apply it to your marriage only good things can happen! 

The two most important things I took away from this weekend conference were:

1) that marriage isn't something you find, it's something you work for

2) marriage is not primarily about finding the right spouse, but being the right spouse  

Weekly Inspiration [7]: To Love & To Cherish

What is love?

Love is patience. 

Love is kindness 

{try and be as polite to your spouse as you are to other people}

Love is selfless & sacrificial.

{it does not brag and is not arrogant}

Love is having good manners.

{let them know they are appreciated}

Love is being a servant with our hearts and our hands. 

{it says I love you with your actions}

Love is having a short memory.

{not easily angered, and remembering that forgiveness is a decision}

Love is being truthful, always. 

{it's easy to do what's not right. true love strives to do what's right according to God, even when it's hard. }

Love is ALL IN. 

{there is no plan B}

What is not love?

Love is not words alone.

{our actions must match our words}

Love is not knowledge. 

{love is practiced}

Love is not actions alone. 

Love is not jealous.

{trust and communication is needed to be successful in love}

Do you love your spouse? 

Does your actions match your words?

Are you being truthful and doing the right thing even if it's hard?

Are you as polite, kind, and good mannered towards your spouse?

Are you all in? 

When you spend every day and every night with your spouse, why would you not try and have the best relationship possible? My hope is that you read this scripture and realize you only live one life, you only have one time to get it right, so we need to make the most of it. 

Be happy and love hard. 

Check out last week's post on God's design for marriage.

Weekly Inspiration [6] - God's Design for Marriage

This past weekend, CT and I attended a marriage conference at our church. No we don't have marital problems, there's just no time like the present to be proactive! It was four hours on Friday night and four hours on Saturday morning, and I feel so renewed and reenergized with our marriage.

God's Design for Marriage

Genesis 2 states that God created marriage to fix a problem, not to create one.

Once married - Who we chose is ultimately who God chooses for us.

 Regardless of the situation, you are married to the right person. 

Our goal should be to love the one we are with. 

It's not about finding the 'right' person {because no one is perfect}, but loving the one you are with. 

We need to work on and strive to love like Christ. 

Being a good husband and wife is a choice we make. 

We need to choose to focus on the positive, commit to no plan B {no divorce}, and we need to take action in our marriage. 

Have you invested in your marriage lately? 

You have to work at what you love. 

Weekly Inspiration [5]

 First off let me tell you how much I L-O-V-E our church. Such an amazing place to worship. Our pastor's talk to us and not over our heads. God is really doing magnificent things here. If we were to ever leave Wichita, this would be my most missed part of this place.

Currently at Newspring we are in a series called "Lost in Love."

Today's talk was about compassion and empathy. 

3 things we need to do as Christians:

1. Have the willingness to move towards the needy and not away from it. We need to be first responders. When action happens, be there for it, both listening and doing. 

2. We need to practice the power of empathy. Have a tender heart and put yourself in the other persons shoes. 

3. You MUST answer the call to action. The Lord puts you in situations for a reason. He knows your strengths and abilities. 

Help people.

 Don't talk about it, be about it!

Five for Friday {co-host}

Happy Friday everyone!! 

This week I'm teaming up with the lovely ladies below to co-host 

Five for Friday! 

Since my blog is a lifestyle blog, here are 5 things going on in my life!

1. I am currently in route to the Big-D {Dallas} and I'm looking forward to checking out the Container Store, H&M, and Charming Charlie. 
My husband and my wallet may not like it, but I'm a newbie to their stores and I'm excited to check them out!


2. I am patiently awaiting the arrival of my new chevron Erin Condren Life Planner. Each time I step foot into Hobby Lobby, Michaels, or Walmart I'm spending a little too much extra time in the scrapbooking/office supplies section. 
Since ordering my planner I have purchased new pens, new washi tape, new stickers, and new stamps to help decorate it! 
I'm obsessed. 

3. CT and I just finished up round two of fertility treatments which unfortunately was ineffective this cycle. Through all of this, Jeremiah 29:11 has been pulling on my heart strings. 

 Some day I'll write a post about the process we are going through, but I don't think I'm there yet. 
I just gotta keep on truckin' and have faith that our time is coming! 


4. This week I tried a new recipe thanks to Pinterest! 
{Click here to follow my boards}
Taco Spaghetti was what I experimented with via So, How's It Taste?

CT is extremely picky with his foods but he ate this with no problems!
I followed the directions exactly except I added half a can of rotel and skipped the olives. It was delicious and we had left overs for days!


5. I'm counting down the days . . . 
4 days until our 2nd wedding anniversary!
 We will be celebrating in NYC for the week and I couldn't be more excited!
Shopping, baseball, fireworks, and food. 
What more could a girl ask for?  

Feel free to click the pictures below to check out the other hosts.
Thanks for stopping in!  

Signs of Your Coming

Matthew 24:6-8

"And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these things are the beginning of the birth pains." 

I always think of this verse when I hear of the abundance of earthquakes going on these days. Yesterday there was half a dozen in Oklahoma, a huge on on the border of Iraq/Iran, and then I wake up and read that there was another one on a Japanese island. 

I have no doubt that these are the beginning of our birth pains.

 Jesus is coming back ya'll!

Our world is so far gone, there is nothing more that can be done to save it. People target schools, movie theaters, and now sporting events. It's so sad that it has come to this.

It makes me so nervous to start a family in a world like this. A world that looks as though there is no hope for it to get any better. 

That is until we reside for eternity in Heaven!

Some advice for me: 

Find and strengthen your relationship with Jesus, because He is the only way to get there.

Weekly Inspiration [2]: Happiness

 Happiness and success should be our ultimate long term goal, but more importantly something we try to achieve everyday.

Successful people don't tend to be more happy, but happy people tend to be more successful. 

We shouldn't rely on achievements to make us happy such as winning a game or getting a raise/promotion. Once those goals are obtained you become unsatisfied, unhappy, and ultimately stressed out again. 

If happy people are more successful then how do we become happy?

Invest in people and have an attitude like Jesus.

Philippians 2:3

• Be kind, caring, and giving [don't be selfish]
• Be yourself [don't try and impress others]
• Be humble [don't think you're better than anyone else]
• Think of others [don't focus on only your own interests]
  
  
  If you know who you are and you are comfortable in your own skin, you can invest in others like Jesus invested in us.
  From here, you can begin to be truly happy.