So our move is done!! As a matter of fact, today is our one week anniversary in our new home😉 

We are still adjusting but things are good. We’re settling in and as the days go by, our house is beginning to feel more like a home. Pictures are going up, furniture is being placed and memories are being made.

     
The one thing that I am being shown is that be being a new homeowner is a truly humbling process. From the beginning I had thoughts of grandeur about house warming parties and the beautiful pictures that I’d post on social media…but then I thought about my intentions. This is not about me and what we have or what we are doing, our home is about Gods glory and His grace. Without Him none of this would be possible…so it’s only right to keep things in perspective.

Yes, I still want to have a house warming party and yes I want our home to be beautiful however I want people to come in and feel welcomed and loved. So much of what I thought this journey was about has been turned upside down. It’s not about our family being “showy”, it’s about us creating an atmosphere that is full of love, peace and the wondrous glory of God. Our home is a resting place for the Holy Spirit and I want my attitude to reflect that. 

  
So more than anything I know our home is our blessing…and we are blessed to bless others❤️🏡

Can I be completely honest???

We were supposed to close on our home almost two weeks ago…and we didn’t.  So as of today, we are eleven days behind schedule.

There is stuff everywhere! To pack up a family of six is no easy task. There’s boxes everywhere. Add to it that we ordered two sets of bunk beds, with mattresses, that had to be delivered to our rental because of our delayed closing date…it’s borderline chaos not to mention that it seems as if the rooms are closing in on me.

Even in all of this I have a choice. I can choose to focus on the process or the promise. The process is the delayed closing date and the temporary chaos that surrounds me. The promise is that our family will be moving into our new home and creating beautiful memories for years to come…I choose the promise.

The moral of the blog post is this: Don’t allow your process to deter you from your promise…keep the vision of what will be before you through the words you speak and your thoughts.

Blessings!!! Xoxo

Sometimes things just don’t work out as planned…my plan. So instead of me dwelling on what didn’t go right, I’ll think about what will be and how everything will still work out for my good.

Can’t say that the negative side doesn’t present itself however I’ve made a choice to see negativity as a nonfactor. 

Yes it’s hard. Yes I’m pissed. Maybe even a little disappointed…yes I’m still choosing to believe for an even better tomorrow.

Can’t completely put into words my feelings on the murders in South Carolina this week…I’m saddened that nine people are dead bc of hate.

I’m also baffled that in 2015 there are still people who hate others for no other reason that for the color of their skin. I’m numb because honestly I can’t say that I’m surprised…

I’m thoughtful because I have four children, two sons, that we as parents will have to have an honest talk with about racism. How do you tell your children that there is a possibility that people will dislike you, possibly even hate you, think less of you as person just because your skin color is different from theirs? How do you explain that just because another person has a heart full of hate, it’s still our responsibility as God’s people to love, be respectable and respectful and live with an open heart when so many things happen in our world that makes you want to be guarded and cold?

I’m thankful that even in the midst of living in a world full of racism, I can truly tell my children that there is love and we live in the center of it.

I’m encouraged bc I know that I have hope. Hope that things will get better and a heart to love no matter what.

I’m feeling burdened. Burdened to pray…to live my life and help raise our family in a home where lives are colorless and every person matters. 

I’m feeling determined to keep an open heart and be an example of Christ’s grace, truth and love throughout the earth…

Just read a Facebook post about sharing your gifts…the gist of it was that we were created to share our gifts (talents, whatever we are good at) generously with others.

This statement got me thinking….am I really sharing my gifts generously? Or am I holding them captive to fear, comparisons or even small/limited expectations? 

And I’d have to say “yes”.

Have I shared my gifts? Yes…on a small scale. This blog is a start. But honestly I haven’t been as consistent as I should and sometimes things that I want to discuss I don’t.

So I’m challenging myself to think bigger and to share my gifts more. Who’s with me?!?!🎁🎁🎁

So, this morning a met a friend of mine for coffee ☕️ (my favorite thing to do by far). We just started, well I guess you can say renewed our relationship, a few months back.

We were able to talk, be open and honest, apologize to each other and move forward.

So when I got a text from her last week about us meeting up and her having something big to tell me, I was geeked!!!! Of course me being the analyzer that I am, I knew it was a life changing decision. With her heart for people, especially teens, I pondered it being something to do with her starting a non-profit.

Oh, was I far off! Yes, she is doing even more amazing work young people. But her news was more personal.

She stepped out on faith and did something that would change her life and renew her peace. And I couldn’t be more proud!! To see her transform, grow and make her self-care top priority is inspirational. Man, it’s good to see people live their life without apology and to please God first and foremost!!!

So, to anyone who’s facing a life altering decision…you can do it. You are well able to make the best decision for your life, with faith in God, yourself and in the process. No, I’m not saying that it won’t hurt or things won’t be hard, but you can do it w/a positive attitude, renewed strength and hope for a better tomorrow….so step out on faith and make the impossible possible!❤️❤️❤️

One of the hardest things to do in life is to trust that the puzzle will be complete…even when you can’t see all the pieces. 

Life has so many ups, downs and moments of coasting…stay the course and continue to belief that they best is yet to come…❤️

Most of the time Mother’s Day is great but for some it can be a constant reminder of a wrong decision…and I can relate.

Mother’s Day was a time when I thought about the choices I had made and the lives that were supposed to be that aren’t. I had two abortions. One when I was fourteen and another when I was twenty. Then at 22 I had a miscarriage. I was told that due to my previous abortions, I had caused severe damage to my cervix. So instead of my body doing all that it could to sustain life it did the opposite…Fast forward 10 plus years and my husband and I have 4 children, including a set of twins. We didn’t have  any complications and all my pregnancies were full term. This was all because of God’s grace. 

So for the mothers who are childless, I pray that you forgive yourself and recieve forgiveness from God. There will probably always be a tender place in your heart but there doesn’t have to be condemnation. You made bad decisions you are not a bad person. I pray that God’s peace envelopes you on this day and everyday. I pray that even in what might have been one of your worst moments, I pray that God turns it around for your good and that you help others in that very same place.

So today on the day that we celebrate mothers’, I celebrate you, your bravery and all the greatness that is to come for you… 

One thing I’ve realized is that we will do what’s important to us…

Sometimes we can have the best intentions and say the words that mean so much, but our actions can go in a totally different direction.  And most times I honestly don’t believe it’s not because people are mean, evil or bad- it’s just that if someone or something is no longer important, you no longer put in the effort to cause/sustain growth….

So my point is to say that if something or someone is important to you, do what needs to be done.  And if you happen to be one the other end, the one that is no longer inportant to someone, don’t take it personally. Learn from the experience. Love even when it’s not reciprocated and keep living! Always know that your opinion about yourself is most important…no matter what❤️