He really does hear you. He really does care. He really is faithful.
Since my last post on making big decisions, I've been overwhelmed with answers from the Lord. I'm not ready to share quite yet mainly because it's just too soon, I don't know all the details, and I'm still seeking His will, but I have an incredible peace in all situations right now. And this comes only a few days after the uneasiness I felt about everything. But I kept praying, I kept asking, I kept seeking his will for my life. And most importantly I kept trusting that He would answer me. And He has. I consistently stand in awe of my Lord. I'll never fully understand, in this life, the magnitude of how much he cares for me, but he does, and so I will stand on that and thank him for it - over and over and over again.
And he cares the same way for YOU. So don't be afraid to ask him for help, for an answer, no matter how small it may seem. And in time, he will respond. I pray His overwhelming peace for any situation or decision you are facing right now friends.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Friday, October 14, 2011
Trying to Stay in God's Will
I love those times in life when you know you are living God's will for your life. Life may not be easy but you KNOW you are where you are supposed to be. Decisions have been made and you have a complete peace about them. For a while, things are peaceful even though they may not be easy. You aren't in the middle of huge decisions. You are just living and moving right along in this life.
And then you find yourself in a place where big decisions have to be made again. Or possibly the decision isn't even yours to make yet but you find yourself constantly thinking about your future plans. You don't want to step out of God's will. You need the right answer! You need clarity in that decision.
Well I'm finding myself in one of those places right now.
I'm in a new season...pregnancy...and man are there a ton of decisions to make and many to make in the near future. I want what God's plan for my life is. I need his wisdom and I need clarity moving forward. I need to know whether I'm supposed to stay at home with our child or go back to work. And if I go back to work, should I try to go back to work full time or part time. What is it going to look like Lord?
Proverbs 19:20-21
Listen to advice and accept discipline and at the end you will be counted among the wise. Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
I want his purpose. I want his desires to become my desires. I'm in a place where I don't even know what my heart is telling me right now. And so I wait, I wait patiently on the Lord. He hears me, he knows my heart. I wait for his perfect timing. He will lead me in peace.
It's also that time of year again where I would usually start scheduling games and holding interest meetings for Woodlawn soccer. But right now I can't get in touch with anyone at the school. I feel disconnected. The teacher contact I've had for the last 2 years no longer works at the school. I'm at a loss. I'm reaching out to people trying to figure out the person I need to talk to. And yes, I'm impatient. But only because this time last year I already had games scheduled and right now I have nothing happening at all. But I can't force anything. I don't want to force anything. I want the plan the Lord has. If it's coaching Woodlawn in the spring, then he will make a way as I reach out to others. If it's not, then I'll submit to that plan as well - as heart-crushing as it may seem. I'm pretty sure I'm putting worries in my mind though that will all work themselves out.
But I'm in this place right now. I'm trusting and praying and listening to Jesus. I'm waiting. I'm thanking him for this season. I'm so excited about everything going on and what's to come. And I'm trying to not let these decisions become worries.
Philippians 4:6
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Starting to Show
Don't get too excited. It's definitely not much of a "bump" yet :) But I figured, what the heck, I'll go ahead and post some pics, especially since family and friends that don't live here have no idea of the changes as they slowly start to happen.
Week 8 - nothing at all, but it's a good pre-bump picture that I'm sure will be fun to look back on later...
Week 11 - still nothing really...
Week 15 - it's not much but it's a bump! Our baby right here is around the size of a navel orange :)
And then wow, this past weekend, I really just popped out...
Totally kidding! It's not real. We went maternity clothes shopping and the dressing room had a 7 month belly you could try on with your clothes. It was neat to feel that pregnant though!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
A Rockin Women's Conference
Holy moly, time is flying. I seriously can't keep up right now. And it's obviously apparent through my lack of blogging as well. Sorry!!
Quick run-down of the weekend (even though it's Tuesday) is that my church put on an amazing Women's Conference and I was so refreshed by the Lord through it. The key-note speaker rocked my face off - I literally found my jaw wide open just listening to her in awe. I could've skipped lunch to keep listening to her and that's saying a lot from a preggo girl, ha ha. Her name is Christine Caine. She's on the leadership team at Hillsong Church in Australia but her and her husband also founded and lead the A21 Campaign which is helping abolish human/sex trafficking across the world. I HIGHLY encourage you to go listen to her if she is ever close to you or I'm sure you can find some stuff online. She will no doubt FIRE you up.
Here's a link to the campaign website: http://www.thea21campaign.org/
And here's a link to a video she showed us - it's short (4 min) so check it out - http://youtu.be/stxmmQqKL0E
Christine talked about the A21 Campaign but she talked about so much more too. She talked about being light in the dark places. You can't see light in light places. You don't notice it. She talked about how life is risky no matter what and to not be afraid to be light in the dark places. She said that somehow we've equated the blessed life with the safe life. I think in most circumstances she's right (in that we do equate it that way) but that's not truth. The Lord gave me such a peace through her words about where we are living right now. It's ok to step out of your cookie-cutter safe life and be light in potentially some dark or darker places. The Lord needs and wants us there. She also talked about what compassion really is. Compassion compels you - it causes you to GO, to do something. If you just watch a video or hear a story and your heart hurts for what is going on, that's just emotion. It's not compassion. Compassion is inconvenient. It interrupts your religious schedule. WOW, that hit me hard. God stirs our hearts for different things but the important thing is to make sure we are going into those dark places, wherever they are or whatever they look like. I don't think God is stirring me to do something with human trafficking right now but he is re-igniting my flame for Woodlawn. And if not there for the rest of my life, I just want to make sure I'm shining in some dark place. I can't not shine and I can't shine among light all the time.
So yes, it was an amazing conference. I am so grateful for my church. And I thank the Lord for refreshing me and speaking to me this past weekend in such a vivid way.
And speaking again of time flying by, we go back to the doctor this Thursday for my 15 week check-up! I'll definitely start posting some bump pics soon as I'm slowly starting to show so stay tuned...
Quick run-down of the weekend (even though it's Tuesday) is that my church put on an amazing Women's Conference and I was so refreshed by the Lord through it. The key-note speaker rocked my face off - I literally found my jaw wide open just listening to her in awe. I could've skipped lunch to keep listening to her and that's saying a lot from a preggo girl, ha ha. Her name is Christine Caine. She's on the leadership team at Hillsong Church in Australia but her and her husband also founded and lead the A21 Campaign which is helping abolish human/sex trafficking across the world. I HIGHLY encourage you to go listen to her if she is ever close to you or I'm sure you can find some stuff online. She will no doubt FIRE you up.
Here's a link to the campaign website: http://www.thea21campaign.org/
And here's a link to a video she showed us - it's short (4 min) so check it out - http://youtu.be/stxmmQqKL0E
Christine talked about the A21 Campaign but she talked about so much more too. She talked about being light in the dark places. You can't see light in light places. You don't notice it. She talked about how life is risky no matter what and to not be afraid to be light in the dark places. She said that somehow we've equated the blessed life with the safe life. I think in most circumstances she's right (in that we do equate it that way) but that's not truth. The Lord gave me such a peace through her words about where we are living right now. It's ok to step out of your cookie-cutter safe life and be light in potentially some dark or darker places. The Lord needs and wants us there. She also talked about what compassion really is. Compassion compels you - it causes you to GO, to do something. If you just watch a video or hear a story and your heart hurts for what is going on, that's just emotion. It's not compassion. Compassion is inconvenient. It interrupts your religious schedule. WOW, that hit me hard. God stirs our hearts for different things but the important thing is to make sure we are going into those dark places, wherever they are or whatever they look like. I don't think God is stirring me to do something with human trafficking right now but he is re-igniting my flame for Woodlawn. And if not there for the rest of my life, I just want to make sure I'm shining in some dark place. I can't not shine and I can't shine among light all the time.
So yes, it was an amazing conference. I am so grateful for my church. And I thank the Lord for refreshing me and speaking to me this past weekend in such a vivid way.
And speaking again of time flying by, we go back to the doctor this Thursday for my 15 week check-up! I'll definitely start posting some bump pics soon as I'm slowly starting to show so stay tuned...
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Home Sweet New Home
I'm writing this post from the back deck of our new townhome...sipping coffee, reading the Word (and now blogging), and enjoying this chilly morning. I love it. First off, this is the first time I've made coffee since I found out I was pregnant - I just haven't had the taste buds or desire for it until now. Maybe it's the cooler weather or maybe it's the 2nd trimester, but whatever the case I'm glad to have my coffee back.
I'm also loving this morning because change is hard and I've already found several things I love in our most recent change - moving from our apartment to this townhome. Moving is always bittersweet. I'm always excited to move to a new place but I'm at the same time reminiscent about the old one. Things are great so far in our townhome. We have so much more space, it's very cozy already, it's in a great location that's close to our works and church, but it's still different. It's a different community. I get so used to routines in life as silly as they may be - my Molly-walking route, my running routes, the fact that I could walk to Magic Muffins on a Saturday morning and get a delicious blueberry muffin :) And all that plus more changes when you move.
Back when we were looking for places to live next, I broke down in tears one day. I was doubtful about finding a place, about liking the place we found, and well, I was just whining that while I wanted to get out of the apartment I was so sick of moving. I actually counted it up the other day and this town-home is the 7th place I've lived in the past 8 years. Hogan really encouraged me by saying that I've always ended up loving the next place I move. At the end of the lease, I'm always bittersweet about leaving it whether it was the community, the memories, the actual place, or all of it combined. As simple as that was to say, it really encouraged me. It's true. It's that way in all circumstances in life. We doubt and fear change but God has always and will always be faithful. Look at your life in the past. Has he ever failed? No. He can't and so when we are trusting in him, we have nothing to fear. He turns bad into good. Things always work out, whether it's how we envisioned them working out or not. He shows us new things everyday if our eyes and hearts are open.
So I'm excited about our new home. I'm excited to see what memories will be made here and I know when the time comes to move again, I'll once again be bitter-sweet about moving. I'm not going to lie though, I'm looking forward to that day when we buy a place and hopefully get to live there for several years!
I'm also loving this morning because change is hard and I've already found several things I love in our most recent change - moving from our apartment to this townhome. Moving is always bittersweet. I'm always excited to move to a new place but I'm at the same time reminiscent about the old one. Things are great so far in our townhome. We have so much more space, it's very cozy already, it's in a great location that's close to our works and church, but it's still different. It's a different community. I get so used to routines in life as silly as they may be - my Molly-walking route, my running routes, the fact that I could walk to Magic Muffins on a Saturday morning and get a delicious blueberry muffin :) And all that plus more changes when you move.
Back when we were looking for places to live next, I broke down in tears one day. I was doubtful about finding a place, about liking the place we found, and well, I was just whining that while I wanted to get out of the apartment I was so sick of moving. I actually counted it up the other day and this town-home is the 7th place I've lived in the past 8 years. Hogan really encouraged me by saying that I've always ended up loving the next place I move. At the end of the lease, I'm always bittersweet about leaving it whether it was the community, the memories, the actual place, or all of it combined. As simple as that was to say, it really encouraged me. It's true. It's that way in all circumstances in life. We doubt and fear change but God has always and will always be faithful. Look at your life in the past. Has he ever failed? No. He can't and so when we are trusting in him, we have nothing to fear. He turns bad into good. Things always work out, whether it's how we envisioned them working out or not. He shows us new things everyday if our eyes and hearts are open.
So I'm excited about our new home. I'm excited to see what memories will be made here and I know when the time comes to move again, I'll once again be bitter-sweet about moving. I'm not going to lie though, I'm looking forward to that day when we buy a place and hopefully get to live there for several years!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Our 2nd Visit
It's a lazy Sunday for Hogan and I which thankfully gives me time to catch everyone up on what's been going on.
We had our 2nd visit to the doctor this past Thursday. At first I thought pregnancy was going to creep by but that quickly faded. I can not believe it's already been a month since our first visit to the doctor when we saw the baby via ultrasound and heard the heartbeat for the first time. Since then, not much has changed physically. I've developed what I call a slight rounding of my tummy (ha) but nothing that can be seen by others. It's a strange feeling knowing that you are pregnant and there is a baby growing inside but not really seeing much physical proof of that. It took the 2nd doctor's visit when we heard the heartbeat again to reinforce the fact to me that I'm pregnant.
The heartbeat was strong at 150 and the doctor says everything looks and sounds great with me and the baby. Praise the Lord. It's not that I have doubt everything is ok but it's just a new feeling knowing that you are pregnant and that there is really a baby growing inside of you. It's just good to hear that heartbeat when you go back to the doctor :)
I've been sleeping a ton and Hogan has been such amazing support to me. It's not rare these days that my eyes start to close around 8 or 9 at night and he pushes my stubborn self to bed on those nights. He encourages me to rest and nap and is taking care of a lot of the things I usually do in order to increase this rest. This entire weekend he has taken our Molly girl out in the mornings in order to let me sleep in. This is huge because her wakeup time is 6am. My wakeup time this morning was 9:30am. So refreshing.
We've yet to do much preparing. I just don't think it's all sunk in yet. As I near the end of my 1st trimester though, that's gonna have to change. We have been taking baby bump pictures even though there is no bump. We started at 8 weeks - nothing. We were going to do every week but as the weeks passed with not much change, we decided to space them out some more at least right now. I'll post some in a few weeks when you can actually see some change, lol.
Word on the streets is that I am going to start getting back most of my energy soon and I'm going to feel like a brand new person - looking forward to that! But in all honesty, my pregnancy so far has been ideal. I'm very grateful for that and I've definitely enjoyed it so far, especially knowing what the end result is going to be.
We had our 2nd visit to the doctor this past Thursday. At first I thought pregnancy was going to creep by but that quickly faded. I can not believe it's already been a month since our first visit to the doctor when we saw the baby via ultrasound and heard the heartbeat for the first time. Since then, not much has changed physically. I've developed what I call a slight rounding of my tummy (ha) but nothing that can be seen by others. It's a strange feeling knowing that you are pregnant and there is a baby growing inside but not really seeing much physical proof of that. It took the 2nd doctor's visit when we heard the heartbeat again to reinforce the fact to me that I'm pregnant.
The heartbeat was strong at 150 and the doctor says everything looks and sounds great with me and the baby. Praise the Lord. It's not that I have doubt everything is ok but it's just a new feeling knowing that you are pregnant and that there is really a baby growing inside of you. It's just good to hear that heartbeat when you go back to the doctor :)
I've been sleeping a ton and Hogan has been such amazing support to me. It's not rare these days that my eyes start to close around 8 or 9 at night and he pushes my stubborn self to bed on those nights. He encourages me to rest and nap and is taking care of a lot of the things I usually do in order to increase this rest. This entire weekend he has taken our Molly girl out in the mornings in order to let me sleep in. This is huge because her wakeup time is 6am. My wakeup time this morning was 9:30am. So refreshing.
We've yet to do much preparing. I just don't think it's all sunk in yet. As I near the end of my 1st trimester though, that's gonna have to change. We have been taking baby bump pictures even though there is no bump. We started at 8 weeks - nothing. We were going to do every week but as the weeks passed with not much change, we decided to space them out some more at least right now. I'll post some in a few weeks when you can actually see some change, lol.
Word on the streets is that I am going to start getting back most of my energy soon and I'm going to feel like a brand new person - looking forward to that! But in all honesty, my pregnancy so far has been ideal. I'm very grateful for that and I've definitely enjoyed it so far, especially knowing what the end result is going to be.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Skinny Recipes
I hardly ever cook. And honestly, I'm not a huge fan of it either. But I know I need to for the health and money side of it at least. I've tried searching for recipes before but it's really hard to keep my interest in a recipe since most involve SEVERAL steps and NUMEROUS ingrediants.
Recently, I stumbled across this website:
I started browsing the site and was hooked. I spent at least an hour saving recipes to my recipe box and picking out which one I wanted to make first. The layout of this website is great, the recipes are healthy (which I'm just believing because they tell me they are), and they seem relatively easy.
So I picked out one to try and I actually bought the ingrediants and tried it:
And it turned out great! Disclaimer: that is not my picture above - it's the one off the website, BUT the tenders I made really did look pretty like that too :) I had to tweak the recipe a little bit - add some more soy and sesame sauce (I think our chicken tenders were pretty thick and sucked up more of the sauce). But it really didn't take me long to make at all and Hogan even enjoyed it - at least he said he did. I told him to tell me the truth because if he did like it, then I'm probably going to make it again :)
So anyways, I know there are a ton of recipe websites out there but for a girl that doesn't cook, this site seems like a good place to start. Maybe you'll have some luck with it too. If you do, please share what recipe(s) you try and how they turn out!
Recently, I stumbled across this website:
So I picked out one to try and I actually bought the ingrediants and tried it:
And it turned out great! Disclaimer: that is not my picture above - it's the one off the website, BUT the tenders I made really did look pretty like that too :) I had to tweak the recipe a little bit - add some more soy and sesame sauce (I think our chicken tenders were pretty thick and sucked up more of the sauce). But it really didn't take me long to make at all and Hogan even enjoyed it - at least he said he did. I told him to tell me the truth because if he did like it, then I'm probably going to make it again :)
So anyways, I know there are a ton of recipe websites out there but for a girl that doesn't cook, this site seems like a good place to start. Maybe you'll have some luck with it too. If you do, please share what recipe(s) you try and how they turn out!
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