Let's Believe

It is such a simple idea right? Yet it seems to be the hardest.  Why is that?  I think it is because it so personal.  It is stepping out and letting every one know what it is that you deeply believe in your heart to do.

But then as the decision rolls in your heart and mind you start to sift through the doubts.  If you take the step and fail then everyone knows. More then that it is the deeper issue of being scared to be vulnerable. Vulnerable not with failure necessarily but with our heart.  Does our decision, our dream, that thing we want to accomplish, will it be what others think is right?   So many of us operate from a concern of being perceived a certain way so we guard ourselves and struggle with 'what do I want to do with my life'.

Believe in that small still voice that is speaking to you. Believe in that tiny nudge that is felt so strongly yet seems to be unattainable. Believe that the Holy Spirit is talking to you. Believe. That is the first decision we must start with, just Believe.

If you do not believe in yourself then believe in that voice that is speaking to you. Hold strong and let it take over your thoughts. Tell yourself out loud what the Holy Spirit is nudging in you.  Make the decision today to Believe that God has given you that voice inside to listen.

So right at this moment we must listen and believe in our decision to try because in God we can do anything! God has a purpose for you and it is speaking to you.  Let's Believe, it will make all other steps towards our  accomplishment, our heart's dream come to life.

Rocky Balboa Inspiration

Rocky has quickly become a staple in our household since my husband introduced him to my kids three weeks ago.  At first I was opposed to it thinking that it was an adult movie.  But then again I remember watching Rocky with my dad when I was around the same age as my oldest.  Either way my kids loved Rocky and have pronounced him as the greatest hero ever.

I have to admit that I love to see the kids play boxing matches taking turns losing. I mean there is a winner but they seem to enjoy being the one on the floor. There is something about this older movie that has inspired my kids. That has inspired me.  Inspiration is great, especially if we grab it, throw it over our shoulders and get up! I think we could call inspiration Faith. Have faith today that you can do anything. Grab that promise, hold that promise, attack with that promise and get moving…..

SOOO with that here are some quotes that hopefully inspire you today:

Friday Favorites: Tidbits

One of my favorite things to do is write down quotes or tidbits that I find inspirational.  I have them in several journals with the purpose of using them to inspire some one I am talking with.  I picture myself pulling out the these lines during a message I might be giving.  A lot of times however I just have them written down and keep them stored away.

The last couple of weeks I began to collect some new ones so rather then storing them away I want to share them on this chilly wonderful Friday.

One small crack does not mean that you are broken, it means that you were put to the test and you didn't fall apart.

Linda Poindexter

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.

Phyllis Diller

God does not expect us to come in perfection. He wants us just the way we are.

Wendy Treat  (#shoeswisely)

Instead of giving myself reasons why I can't I give myself reasons why I CAN.

Safest place to be is in the middle of God's will.

Audrey Hancock

Sometimes we can find inspiration in our twitter feed. Here is one from twitter that is my motto for the next few days:

Strive for progress, not perfection.  @women_fit 

 

Enjoy this Friday knowing that there is inspiration all around us.  God's love is bigger then anything we might be facing, He surrounds us with no escape!

Happy Friday

Throw Back Thursday

I have avoided doing Throw Back Thursday even though I enjoy seeing everyone else's.  There is something vulnerable about TBT, I feel, to post pictures of those years that I was trying to figure out a  brush and how to look decent.  So instead of showing the dog days of my teen years I will start with a favorite one of me when I was like 7.

I can see my daughter in this picture.

Normal, trying to be a healthy foodie.

So often as I sit at my dinner table with the family I wonder about all the 'healthy lifestyle' choices that are at our finger tips.  As a parent my heart's desire is to make the best choices possible for the growing wiggly bodies in front of me.  As a wife I want to ensure that I am nurturing my husband as we look to keeping our bodies strong.  For myself I am trying to attain a healthy lean strong body before I turn 40...which is several years away *cough*

I love reading, watching and/or talking about being healthy.  But I do find myself wondering how I am going to do this.  Our eating habits have evolved so much in the past three years and I am proud of it.  It all started with seeing and understanding what processed foods really are. From there we began to understand eating more plant based.  Now we are adding in clean eating and staying away from white flour and sugar.  You know you have read and heard the words 'poison, poison, your eating poison'.  

It is hard, huh?  What is true? What is poison?  What about macronutrients? Or  eating alkaline foods? You believe in something and you can easily  find support research online.  Every side is right.  How to decipher? I am just a normal person who enjoys food and knows that we need to fuel our bodies to survive.  That is why I have pushed through and tried to make all this normal.  As we have taken baby steps towards healthy living I can actually see that we are becoming those strange people.

My husband is at the verge of resembling a vegetarian! Who would have thought?! Not me, never.  What have we done to ourselves that we rarely eat at a chain restaurant?  All I know is that we strive to find balance in all the informatuon that is thrown at us. We cannot be extreme for reasons as money or I do not know how to cook raw.  But more importantly because we are normal and want these lifestyles to be normal in our life. How do you build a house? Brick by brick. 

So if you are out there trying to make sense of all the foodie hype let me encourage you that you can find your way. It is not about elimanting everything but adding.  If you eat two cookies a day just add an apple as well. Then one day the apple will take the place of two cookies and you will see yourself healthier. No pressure, do what is best for your family.  God is our creator and through prayer you can grow in your eating habits.  Let the Holy Spirit direct you in which 'diet' to start with. I have taken bits from plant-based diet, bits from gluten-free diet, bits from clean eating and bits from enjoying a good burger from time to time. I am not there yet but I am not where I started. So with God's help let's relax as we become normal health junkies!

What do you say?

You say....God says....

I saw this floating around social media and thought it was great!  I have a sheet with tons of confessions  but this is pocket size.  It kinda narrows down to comments we make through out conversations.

Feel encouraged that God responds to the things we say. He is with us, side by side telling us we can do it!!

Fashion Plates

Saturday morning my daughter and I stayed home while the boys went to Lowe's for a project.  As we sat at the table eating our breakfast we watched Project Runway.  This was the first time she saw it and I pointed out how they sketch out a dress.  We grabbed some paper and tried to 'create a design'.  I am no where near being able to draw but some how my daughter was able to vision the shirt and added flowers or sparkles to make it her own.  This moment reminded me of how much I enjoyed playing with Fashion Plates, an 80's toy.  

My daughter calls herself an artist so I thought I need to get this for her.  Do they even sell them? I am sure Amazon would have them, right? I started to get a bit nostalgic with my own childhood.  This would entertain me but I do not remember thinking "I want to design clothes".  My sisters and I enjoy clothes and try to be fashionable.  We have gone through several styles and attempts with fail...and success I think.  

All this rambling is stemming from the thought, did my sisters ever play with this toy? I do not know.  So my homework for today is to send out question through our group text to find out!

Happy Tuesday

We just had a smooth morning of getting ready and out the door.  I am sitting here with time to spare it feels like.  I think that it is not time but my mood is easy going.  I did not have to get onto kids by repeating myself over and over....and over.

Get dressed, brush your teeth, stop playing, get dressed, leave your brother alone, brush your teeth, get dressed, breakfast is at the table, let the dog out, get dressed, tie your shoes, ask Dad to comb your hair, leave the toys alone, get dressed, please eat, no you can do that, get dressed......whew just typing this out is exhausting!

How do we do this Monday-Friday? More importantly, I am asking myself how do I do this in a peaceful manner?

1. Layout clothes the night before.
2. Remind kids that in the morning we have to get ready. (they may forget in their sleep)
3. Wake up with enough time to not be so groggy ...there will be a day that kids will wake up before me and get ready.  Right?!
4. Plan out lunch boxes the night before.
5. Pray, pray,pray

The thing though is that at night I just want them to go to bed so when the house is finally settled I do not want to prep.....ugh the cycle!

But you know what? I love my life....I love these kids and I will continue to find ways to show them love even through repetitious mornings.

Hope your enjoying some quiet time as your reading this.

Happy Tuesday

Friendship is powerful

But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.

Luke 5:19

I love how the stories in Bible can still come to life despite hearing them for so many years.  I have heard this story many times but I grasped in my heart the importance of friendship.  I love how we do not compartmentalize our friendships based on church, family and/or work.  But despite all being busy and all over the place we strive to live life together.

I really could say much more to this but right now I am simply thankful for the image of friendship in this story.  As a friend I cannot wait to have the opportunity to knock down some tiles and help my friends get in front of Jesus for their miracle! I cannot wait to say, "I know that Jesus has the answer for you and we will not give up!" Many times we search for friendship to hang out or talk with but friendship is so much more.

I cannot take lightly the difference my friendship can make.  I cannot take lightly the friendships around me as they can make a diference in my life!  This is what life is about. I am thankful for my friends and the meaning they bring to my life.  Like I stated I am thankful that despite the business we have found friends that include us.  Friends that we include into our lives.

Friendship is powerful...it is God given!

Adults at the family table

I am sitting at my parents table enjoying adult conversation.  My sisters and I are grown and my parents almost empty nesters.  Growing up, Saturday mornings were big breakfast and cleaning the house.  Pancakes and omelets were the speciality my parents made.

Now as grandparents we are still enjoying pancakes and omelets.  Here we are discussing hot topics while kids are oblivious....how many hot topics did my parents have that I never understood?  Either way this is a family tradition that I strive to have with our kids.

I strongly believe that families that eat at the dinner table together stay together.

What family Saturday morning tradition do you have?

Friday Favorites: Workout

I have been so motivated to workout.  It is like a high and I am not wanting to come down from it.  January is the month to set goals and keep them....until we get distracted.  So far I have found a rhythm to keep up with working out an hour and half Tuesday - Saturday.   I see that I am progressing, that I am making this a part of my life.

This is not the first time in my life that working out was a part of it.  The difference that I am making though is the motivation behind it.  I have gone through eating disorders and the effects that it had in my life. Honestly that it still tries to have. It can creep up now that I am bringing focus to a better healthier body. 

But my heart is motivated to care for my body so that my family will have the example.  To care for my body because it is a temple for the Holy Spirit.  To care for it because there is so much before my husband and I to make a difference in our community.  Why not stand strong?

Here are some of my favorite workout activities:

1.  Full-Body Intermediate Workout | Perfect Form With Ashley Borden

     I do this workout twice a week after an interval walk or 2 mile run

2. Pilates Bootcamp for Livestrong | With Cassey Ho

    I do three of these to create a full hour workout.

3. Insanity 

    I do this twice a week for a good cardio workout.

4. Interval walking around my neighborhood

    5 days a week

Magical Words

Such a simple thought but so true...they are magical.  In the fall my husband and I attended a marriage conference at church.  In the time we spent we learned a lot however the one piece advice that stood out was using courtesy with each other.

When you get comfortable with someone there is a tendency to not say please and thank you. Since then I have been more conscience about saying them to Bobby, even in texting.  I have seen a difference in how I ask and how he receives what I am asking.  Remember when you were dating and everything was being well mannered. Remember how polite we were?

Why should that be only for dating or coworkers? Right it is for today.....lets bring some magic in our day to day with these simple powerful words.

BOOK THOUGHTS

One day I would like to present a book I wrote.  I do not in anyway consider myself a writer or have a story that is rolling around in my head.  It is a thought I have had now for many years.  It is a thought that I entertain a few days through out the year. Well I ever write this book? I do not know.

Something about not dismissing this idea completely from life is that every time I entertain it, a little bit of hope rises up. Maybe it is not just a thought but a dream from deep down inside.  You know that area that you wish quietly and almost secretly?  Dreams tucked in our heart that we keep sacred because it actually shows something personal about us.

Why do we shy away from showing our selves to people? Many reasons but  for today I am sharing that I want to write a book one day.

What do you have rolling around in your heart?

DESIGN IN CONSTRUCTION

In the next days, weeks I will be fidgeting with the design and look of the image of my blog.  I know what I want just not sure how to get there.  So warning that it will look weird some days but hopefully the final result with be a clean look that is enjoyable to read.

Great news though!  In God we are in construction, however He already has a perfect design set for us. We do not have to live life in a fidgety mode but confident that in Him we are perfect.  The design for our life, our hearts is in the Bible and through the leading of the Holy Spirit we can be who we are designed to be. Thank goodness for grace in the process!

Any suggestions, tips or advice is very much welcomed....

HUSBAND AT HOME

I enjoy when my husband works from home.  I enjoy being around him. We have a couple of hours in the morning just us before my youngest returns from pre-school. It is great to have time to us where we talk, laugh, fold laundry together, have breakfast or just sit next to each other on the couch working silently. 

I am thankful for this time we have because when we are empty nesters I believe we will know each other despite raising kids. I am thankful for this time because it strengthens our marriage, our friendship.  I love this time because I appreciate it as I know we are fortunate to have it. I love this time because simply said I love him. 

As we look into this new year with hopes of resolution and commitment I also look at my year with gratitude to have my husband work from home twice a week.  

*sigh* 

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. - Psalm 118:24 (ESV)

We have been on vacation since December 19th so today was, for me, back to work.  Waking up early was not difficult this morning however now I am a bit sluggish.  I wake up every morning with a desire to be better today then yesterday.  To not loose my cool, to not overreact, to not be lazy and so on and so forth.  

Maybe instead I should build on the good thing I did yesterday and already start my day in the hole from yesterday.  I hear all the time about being positive and living positive.  I know it is proven that confession is key.  

So today I am putting that to use, saying

  I am going to have a good day!

Journaling

We enjoyed a great break this year for the holidays.  Many posts have been started in my mind and I am ready to put them out in writing.  I started blogging because I wanted to encourage and have a place to speak from my heart what I was learning in God.  From there I just naturally started to write about my family and simple moments in my life that actually were lessons I was walking out.

Now I think that I am in a journaling phase, which is probably the real start to wanting to blog.  I use to journal when I was a teen and right to getting married.  I have no real reason to why or what but like I say I think in some way I can bring encouragement to someone out there.  So here is the next phase in my blog, probably the next phase in my heart that I am willing to share.....

Hey there, Monday!

Well here you. From time to time it is a little bitter sweet when you show up. Not for the same reasons as to why most people don't really like you, but because we just enjoyed such a great weekend.  We started with Friday night family favorite of hot dogs and movie. I know, I know hot dogs but they were turkey and grilled and just my favorite fun food.  I have come to enjoy unwinding Friday evenings with kids filling up our bed watching a movie while Bobby makes dinner. 

This weekend, we enjoyed friends and family.  We had a delicious chicken Santa Fe soup that I created when I had nothing else in my pantry one evening about a year ago.  Add corn bread or tortilla chips, cheese, avocado and table of friends and you have a great evening.  Top that off we had a pumpkin bread with pumpkin buttercream and coffee.  Just delicious.

Other weekend events included driving with friends around town to look at houses.  The hope of them moving to our area was exciting.  We love them and do not get to spend much time with them yet when we do it is like no time or distance has gone by. They started Sunday with us at church, OneChapel.  We were so proud for them to come to church with us....we love our church so much! Bobby ended our weekend with a quick PTA meeting in our home.  

Going to bed content with all that God has brought into our lives makes Monday actually sweet with thankfulness! It is going to be a great week....

Cooking for my son

All right so I would tease my husband so much when it would come to his mom cooking for him.  For years she would come visit and cook all of 'my son's favorites'.  She would ensure that I knew what he liked and possibly tried to teach me how to cook them.  However the thing is, he did not like them anymore.

As the years have gone by since I first meet my husband his taste buds have changed...drastically changed!  However the moment my mother in law would arrive it was all about 'my mom's cooking.' Blah..really?!  I would sit there at the kitchen table and think what a mama's boy. Or even think, wow Bobby can just say hi and she has whipped an entire meal of his "favorite" stuff.  She is a fantastic cook, a real gift in the kitchen and she can have a whole spread in 5 minutes.  She can spend all day cooking something but if any of her children or grandchildren do not like it she will make them something they do like.  I am far from all that especially the I will make you something because you do not like what I made.  I cook it, you eat it no excuse!

BUT...this year my older son started walking in saying he liked something encouraging me to find a way to cook it.  Now before I go on I will not budge from I cook it, you eat it no excuse.  My kids have learned that we do no ask for something else other then what is on our plates when we sit down.  I will cater to their tastes when I am cooking but not when I am done. Off the soap box and back to my story of me becoming like my mother in law when it comes to my son.  I have tried several new recipes because he likes something. I love it when he tells me that dinner was delicious or even better asking for seconds! Ahhh the things our kids can do to us....I am mush now after kids.

Why I am saying all of this? Because I got an email this morning with a recipe for homemade pot stickers and thought "oh I must try this for Alex!" So my simple inspired moment today is, for my son I will try new things.  

What moment today will inspire you to try something new? Be open...

Mommy Confessions: Rachel

This week I am touched to have Rachel Witt answer Mommy Confession questions. I met Rachel my first year at Texas Bible Institute while she was an RA in her second year.  I was one of the older students so having leaders younger then me was a challenge but Rachel was amongst the few young leaders that I looked up to and I still do. We served together my first summer for Discovery Camp where she not only worked in the events department she assisted in the worship team.  

After her time at TBI, she followed her call towards mission and traveled to China and Africa.  She met her husband, Jerry Witt during a missions trip to Durango where now they reside and work with the indigenous tribes.  Rachel has four kids under the age of 6, I though having three kids back to back was something but Rachel has four! Admirable for sure…I enjoyed her response and think you will too. 

Are you a Scheduled or Non-Scheduled Mom? What are the benefits and downfalls to your choice? I would say I am in between. I love to organize and plan, but being a mom of 4 and one of those completely breast feeding right now, I have to be very flexible. The benefit to me of not being “too” scheduled is that is has taught me to be less stressful. It has taught me to roll with the punches and it will all play out.

What is your biggest Mommy Pet-Peeve? The kids messing up whatever I just cleaned (luckily they are getting old enough to learn to clean up the way I like it)

Your funniest/most embarrassing “Mom/Child’ moment? My oldest is 6...she told her dad, I am going to talk to Asha (her grandma) only in Spanish today. Dad told her that was great. She said, yeah, I don't want to be weird like mommy! (we live in Mexico, so I guess I am considered weird for not speaking Spanish completely fluent) hah

Given the opportunity, what- if anything- would you do differently as a Mom? I would have started my older ones (6&5) out earlier with learning...sounds, numbers, etc. I just didn't know then of where to start. If you just have some resources it really is simple.

Do you have a secret “Mommy Confession”- something that you did/do that you are willing to share? I am not good at keeping my kids teeth brushed!!! I really need to step that up. haha

Cloth or Disposable Diapers? Disposable diapers

Did the way you were parented shape that way that you parent your own children? Definitely so! I am blessed to have had wonderful parents...my mom is the best person I have ever seen with children. It is her life. I can't imagine what kind of mom I would be without learning from my mom and dad.

What are your “non-negotiables” when it comes to your kids? I guess it would just be with discipline. They will continue to be put in the corner, or get spanked until they obey (dad is even better at this than I am)

What was your biggest fear when you found out you were going to be a Mom? For me it was the whole birthing process. Other than that my children would be the unruly ones that no one wants to be around. haha

Did you breastfeed- why/why not? Did you feel pressure to/not to? Yep, breastfed the 3 girls and am breastfeeding baby boy now. I think it is the best thing for baby. Plus, I HATE washing and boiling bottles! haha. I think it is definitely becoming a pressure in society now, as are many, many things about parenthood. Every parent is in a different situation. Our families are our own little cultures. I believe we should take advice, learn from others, but in the end it comes down to what works best in your family. Way too much mommy competition out there right now in my opinion.

Do you have a funny “labor” moment? Yes. I have had 4 c-sections. On the third I was determined to come out the other side as modest as possible. I was tired of people seeing me naked. So, when it was time to take a shower, I decided I would do it on my own. My husband was gone, my mom went out to walk and I was alone. As I got in the shower I was getting extremely lightheaded and starting to pass out. I yelled out in Spanish for someone to help me and here came the first nurse. Then she sent for another nurse to bring alcohol, then that one sent for the doctor, and on it went. By the time it was said and done, there were about 4 nurses and my doctor looking at me naked and carrying me to my bed. Epic fail 

What is your “secret” addiction or obsession? Well, when all the family is in bed and I just want to sit down and chill, I like to watch anything Kardashian (hey, I am in Mexico and the shows that come out in English are limited and I don't like watching in Spanish when I want to relax....hehe) and when I allow myself, the guilty pleasure of ice cream, chocolate syrup and peanut butter!