Thursday, August 30, 2012

Thirsty Thursday - Accepting

Accept each day just as it comes to you. Do not waste your time and energy wishing for a different set of circumstances. Instead, trust Me enough to yield to My design and purposes. Remember that nothing can separate you from My loving Presence; you are Mine.

I read those words this morning and started crying. I don't just accept the day as it comes. Even though I don't really like the morning, I wake up running. Life is busy. This is a crazy season for my family. And I'm just being very transparent when I say - I love it and I hate it all at the same time. Two kids under the age of 3, work, marriage, friends, other family...wow - it's an exhausting time! But in the same breath, what sweet times this is. Selah is a precious baby and Finn is like a sponge learning so much every day.

So I want to be able to sit back and enjoy these times. I don't want to wish it away. I want to live in the moment. That is a constant struggle as the world reminds us how fast time goes by. Today, I want to encourage you to accept this day. And trust God to take you through it. To really live in the moment you have to live by the moment. 

And most importantly - Remember that nothing can separate you from My loving Presence; you are Mine.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Maniac Monday - Meal Plan

Happy Monday!
Today, I thought I would share my meal plan for this week with you...Enjoy and share with others :)


 Sunday 8.26
Chicken and Roasted Broccoli

Monday 8.27
Whole Chicken in the Crockpot with fruit (cooks on low for 8 hrs, I add sea salt, pepper, paprika, olive oil, fresh thyme, and garlic)

Tuesday 8.28 - HAPPY BIRTHDAY G!
Salsa Verde Steak in the Slow Cooker with a cucumber/tomato salad
 
Wednesday 8.29
PF Chang Lettuce Wraps

Thursday 8.30
TACO NIGHT!!!!

Friday 8.31
Leftovers
 
Saturday 9.1
Grilling time - Hamburgers/Hot dogs on the grill!

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Thirty Thursday - Who do you serve?

"Everything I do and say tells a story of who I serve."

This Thursday, I would love for you to take a look at your week. How has it been? What have you been up to? How have you spent your time? As you answer those questions - think about the above quote - "Everything you do and say tells a story of who you serve." 

So who do you serve?

I'm striving to live a life that points to Jesus. I hope you see Him in what I do and what I say. 


Monday, August 20, 2012

Maniac Monday - Time

As this week begins, I want to share with you how I start my crazy weeks. Our time is precious. I strive to make sure the first minutes of my day are given to the Lord. This exercise sets up my day - every day. This Jesus Calling devotional was perfect for me to share with you. I pray as you read this you will be able to reflect on how you are spending your time.

Bring Me the sacrifice of your time: a most precious commodity. In this action-addicted world, few of My children take time to sit quietly in My Presence. But for those who do, blessings flow like streams of living water. I, the One from whom all blessings flow, am also blessed by our time together. This is a deep mystery; do not try to fathom it. Instead, glorify Me by delighting in Me. Enjoy Me now and forever!

Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.
—Psalm 21:6

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.”
—John 7:38

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Saturday Stories - Three Month Update



Feeding 
Selah is eating every 3 1/2 hours. She started school 4 weeks ago. She gets two feedings there. One is a bottle and I nurse her for the other one. She is still struggling with reflux. Lots of spit up. But doc said all is good because she is gaining weight. 
Weight
I just weighed her yesterday and she was 12 lbs 5 oz.
Sleep 
We have finally conquered nighttime sleep with God's help. After lots of prayer over here and adjusting my thoughts...Selah is consistently sleeping from 8 pm to 7 am. As of last week, she has been consistently taking one 2 1/2 nap a day! YAY :)
Wake Time
Selah has started to grab at her toys. I just love that. She is smiling and trying to talk. She absolutely loves to have someone sit next to her and just talk to her. I'm starting to see she is an extrovert. If I put her in the swing and we are in the other room, she cries until we come over or bring her to us. She just wants to be with the fam. That's my girl!
Clothes 
She is wearing the 3 month clothes now. Man, it's so fun dressing a little girl!
Fun fact 
Selah's name means to pause or reflect upon. And her middle name is Grace. So basically we are saying to pause or reflect on God's grace.
Mommy
I'm doing ok. It's very hard getting into the routine of working. That's all I have to say about that right now. 

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Thirsty Thursdays - Responses

Lately, I have been learning about how to respond as a Christ follower. In my Proverbs 31 Ministry devotion there was a great exercise that I just had to share.
Use this formula for studying God's word:
Receive God's Word ... write out the verses you want to focus on.
Retain God's instruction ... memorize and internalize the truths you've been studying.
Reflect God's character ... in both action and reactions. Focus on practicing the truths you've been learning.
(c) 2012 by Lysa TerKeurst 
If I follow that instruction how will my thoughts and actions be changed? 


Receiving...retaining...reflecting...

Monday, August 13, 2012

Maniac Monday - Your Purpose

A friend of mine recently posted a quote on twitter that knocked me off my feet. Since then, I have read it over and over. I even added it to my email signature. I wanted to share it here to because my prayer is it hits you like it hits me. 

"It's impossible to be satisfied with existence once you've tasted purpose."

Let that sink in.

Ok, one more time...

"It's impossible to be satisfied with existence once you've tasted purpose."

Incredible, right? Once you have felt true purpose you will not stand at just existence. So my thought provoking question for you this crazy Monday is...

What is your purpose? I've found mine and I will not let a day go by where I just exist.  

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Saturday Stories - Best Friends



I thought this was an awesome conversation and I had to document it...

Me: (Hugging G and looking at Finn) "I love daddy"
Finn: "Oh, he's your best friend, mommy?"
Me: "Yes, he's my best friend"

How sweet! Glad to know that what G and I model is rubbing off on Finn. He sees us and knows we are best friends. I love that!

"The best thing you can do for your kids is have a great marriage"

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Thirsty Thursdays - Doubt

I got this devotion in my email and it really touched my heart. Hope it speaks to you as well...



“What, then, shall we say in response to these things?
If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Romans 8:31 (NIV)
Have you ever felt beat up by discouragement? Has your mind been bullied by thoughts of doubt such as:
I can’t do it all!
I am not cut out to be a wife, a mom, a daughter, a _______, a _____ and all the other things God has called me to.
In my Proverbs 31 devotion today, I share how I felt bullied by doubt one morning when I woke up. My thoughts were completely against me, and my feelings were too.
While I was laying in bed feeling completely inadequate, my radio alarm came on and my thoughts were interrupted by Twila Paris singing to me.
With confident assurance, she told me it was no time for fear, but a time for faith and determination. She challenged me not to lose my vision or be carried away by my emotions, but to hold on to all that I had hidden in my heart, and all I believed to be true. Then she reminded me of the most important truth of all: God is in control. [1]
Her words aligned my thoughts with God’s truth, and I went from feeling afraid to feeling determined and from feeling out of control to knowing God is in control.
We have the choice either to let doubt beat us up or to let God’s truth build us up.
I had set my radio to that station the night before so I would wake up hearing encouraging music and truth. Just like I intentionally set the dial of my radio alarm, we need to get intentional about tuning our thoughts into God’s thoughts toward us – every day.
In the same way a radio has AM and FM frequencies, so do our thoughts. They are either AM (against me) or FM (for me) thoughts. The truth is, we are often our worst critics and have a lot of AM thoughts.
If our thoughts are against us, our feelings will be too, BUT we don’t have to let doubt bully us anymore.
We have full access to God’s power and His promises to live with a confident heart. Yet it won’t just happen because it’s possible. We have to take action.
So, the next time we get feelings of uncertainty and self-doubt, let’s stop and ask the Holy Spirit to show us what we’re  thinking that is making us feel that way. Then let’s compare our thoughts about that situation to God’s thoughts, which are reflected in Scripture.
Do they match? If not, find a promise in God’s Word to replace the lie that has filled your heart with doubt. Here are few to get your started:
• When doubt comes against me, saying I’m weak and all alone, I will focus on the truth that God is for me! I can be strong and courageous because the Lord my God is with me. He will never leave me nor forsake me. (Deuteronomy 31:6, NIV)
• When doubt comes against me, saying I’m not good enough for a certain role or position, I will remember that God is for me! He says I am His masterpiece, created to be new in Christ so that I could do good things He planned long ago. (Ephesians 2:10, NIV)
Lord, thank You that You are with me to fight for me against my enemies of insecurity and inadequacy. In all these things, I am more than a conqueror through You who loves me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
[1] “God Is In Control,” © 1993 by Twila Paris.
© 2012 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Maniac Monday - Meal Plans

For those of you that know me, I am structured. I thrive on it. For the most part, I don't like disorder. I like things to run smoothly. Dinnertime is no different. I write up a meal plan for the week, every week. It helps me stay sane on days I have to work outside the home. When I get home, dinner is typically ready (if made in crockpot) or ready to cook because I have prepped it beforehand.

Recently I found this amazing website - http://eatathomecooks.com/

If you need help structuring you meals, grocery lists, recipes, etc this is the site to use! I have made a lot of the recipes and they all have been delicious. Enjoy!

You're welcome :)

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Saturday Stories - Still Can't Believe it!

 I look at this picture and my eyes fill up with tears. Almost three months and I still can't believe I have a daughter. All the months of throwing up, 24/7 nausea, not sleeping, and back hurting were all worth it!

 This is my mommy with her little girl (me)!
And then here's me with my little girl, Selah!
This is me as a newborn
And here's Selah




Wednesday, August 1, 2012

New blog structure!

So I have been thinking about what I want this blog to be lately. And here is what I came up with...

1- A record of my family.
2- A place to share ways/devotions to bring others closer to my Heavenly father.
3- An attempt to teach others what I have been learning.

So with that being said, I've decided about doing themed days. So starting next week you can expect to get 4 posts a week from me. Hope you enjoy!

Maniac Monday (used to share recipes, meal plans, advice on organizing your home)
Wordless Wednesday (used to reflect on the blessings in my life, without words)
Thirsty Thursdays (used to share devotions or verses that have spoken to me)
Saturday Stories (used to share a fun story or sweet moment from my family)