Awakening

There is a shift in the air... have you felt it?
There is a shift on social media... have you seen it?
There is a shift in church... have you observed it?
I have, and it has shaken me, it has awakened me.

The last 8 days have been such an emotional time for me and so many other people. I read that we are all grieving the loss of Charlie Kirk so hard because he was truly a brother in Christ. He was influential to so many people. Personally, he made me strive to grow deeper in my faith, and more curious about politics. 

But if I am being honest, the world was emotional and hard before that. His death was just a breaking point for so many. 

When we feel this way I think we have an opportunity in front of us.
Take this time to reflect and grow. Reflect on your life:
Are you content or stagnant in life? Are you growing closer to your spouse? Are you parenting in a Godly way? Do you have a relationship with God? Is your faith growing deeper? Are you bold in your faith? Are you only a Sunday Christian?

These questions are hard. These questions are uncomfortable. How do I know? Because they are the same questions I have been asking myself. I'll give you a little hint in finding some of the answers: if you're not moving deeper and closer to God, then you're not doing what you're called to do. Your relationship with Him is never to be idle or stagnant. 

Now to give you a little peace of mind, you are not expected to change all of this immediately and instantly. You are allowed to take time, work on it slowly, work on it thoroughly. We serve a God of grace, and if you are a brother or sister in Christ, His grace is extended to you. 

I don't have all the answers in how to move forward. But I can share what I have done and what I am doing:

- Turn on worship music. The way that worship music can penetrate your heart is amazing. Playing it even as background music will have an effect on you.

- Open your Bible. I'm not saying you have to sit and read it cover to cover in a quick manner. But open it up. Pick a book and read through at your own pace. Get a devotional to follow. Go on www.biblein365.com for a daily reading guide. 

- Go to church. If you aren't sure where to go, ask around. Make sure that you are attending a church that is Bible believing, Bible based. If you are local to me, I welcome you to come with me. 

- PRAY! For some reason, so many people are intimidated to pray. Let me give you some reassurance: if you can talk, if you can have a conversation, you can pray. It doesn't have to be elaborate or filled with big words. Just talk to God. Lay out how you feel, ask for understanding, peace, grace, comfort or whatever your heart is desiring.

Right now is a time of awakening; for me, for you, for the nation, for the world. 
Right now is a time for us to band together, to lift each other up, to build foundations in our faith, to be leaders in our community. I urge you to take hold of this opportunity. It starts with yourself before it can flow into others.

If you know me on any sort of personal level, you know that I grew up in a Christian home with republican values. If you know me on a deeper personal level, you know that I spent a few years wondering away from that. But if you have been around beginning to present day, you know that I am a sinner saved by grace. That even though I wondered and stumbled along the way, I stand firm in my faith, in my relationship with Jesus. That the bumps and falls only influenced my faith to become stronger and bolder. I don't shy away from who I have been because it has made me who I am.

Friends, Jesus loves you. He loves you immensely. He loves you deeper than your sin. He loves you with endless grace. He loves you enough that He died for you. Don't miss this opportunity, don't miss this awakening that is happening. 

Love you friends💛

Heavy

 Heavy

That is exactly how I feel. And I know that I am not alone in that feeling. 

Yesterday was a hard day for Americans. Watching a person (a son, a husband, a father) be assassinated for talking, for allowing open discussions, for freedom of speech, is not the America that I want to live it. Regardless of your beliefs, regardless of your views, you should never feel that assassinating another human for speaking in a "free country" is acceptable. 

Yesterday was the eve of today, another heavy day remembering 09/11/2001

Do you remember 09/12/2001?
Do you remember how everyone came together? We didn't care about left and right. All we cared about was coming together to mourn and hold each other up. That even though we as a nation had been hit in an unthinkable way, we were united. Where is that America?!

I hear people say, how did we get to a place of such divide? How do we have so much evil? Why would God let terrible things happen to good people?
We have had plenty of warning that it is coming, but have we been listening? Have we been paying attention?

My only answer for these questions... read your Bible! 

I will not list every scripture I can apply, but I am going to give you some. I am leaning into God and His word for comfort, and I want to share that with you. I want to encourage you to do the same.

Here is my recommendation: put on some worship music, read your Bible, and pray. Combining those 3 things will allow you to feel more understanding, to feel comfort, to feel the Grace of God in a time that is heavy.

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)
    "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)
    "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

Psalm 34: 1-3 (NKJV)
    "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together."

Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV)
    "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. 
I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."

Revelation 21:4 (NKJV)
    "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

We have all been a Rahab

First: today's blog was inspired by the sermon from our church. I would encourage you to take time to watch it! I'll leave you the link here

So let's dive it!

The study was from the book of Joshua, chapter 2. Here is a brief background so you understand the setting:

• Joshua took over the army after Moses
• They were traveling to the Promised Land 
• Rahab was the woman who helped the spies in Jericho

Here is the thing about Rahab - she was not the typical person you would see being used for God's good. For starters, she was a female. Many of the most commonly known people are males. Secondly, she was living in Jericho which was not a place that worshiped God. Lastly, she was a harlot (this has 2 definitions: prostitute or keeper of an inn) In describing Rahab, it was the first definition.

Now, when I say "we have all been a Rahab"I am not meaning that everyone has been a prostitute.But what I am saying, is that we all have a past us that was sinful before we were saved. 

Reputation < Repentance

Raise your hand if you have ever sinned (that is everyone)

Raise your hand if you still sin (again, all of us)

Raise your hand if you are a different person now (after salvation) than you were before (if you are saved, I hope you raised your hand)

Rahab was a person that had a sinful past (like all humans) but she found God, built a relationship with Him, and put her Faith over all of her fears. We can all be a Rahab. At some point in your life, you didn't have a relationship with God. You walked a sinful life day after day. But then at some point, you begin to seek out God. You build a relationship with Him and then give Him your life (confession and baptism). From that moment, your life should change. If it doesn't, you need to evaluate your relationship with God. You cannot be the same person before and after. 

While the world doesn't forget the old you, God wipes you clean. Your life starts new, and you spend every day being a witness to those around you. You grow a stronger relationship with God. You learn more about Him, and apply it to your life. Your former reputation is worthless, and your Repentance is everything.

I hope you found encouragement in this little piece of the internet. And if you found curiosity, seek answers. There are so many people out there to help you💛 

Have a great week friends!

Perspective

 Perspective: the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance

How often do you evaluate your perspective on something? The last few months it has been something that I have done frequently. Constantly looking at a situation to determine if I am giving it the appropriate amount of emotion.

The glass of water I spilled... not a big deal
The mailing of Christmas cards on time... it will be okay
Letting my kids eat too much sugar... it won't make a difference here and there

Telling people about the love of God... big deal
Making an effort to talk to the people I care about... important
Thanking God for every day He gives me... worth it

Christmas season is always full of stress (for me at least). Stressing about the presents I need to buy, coordinating family functions, getting all the cute pictures, etc. I always feel like I'm running 5 different directions, and not giving anything my full attention. Then I always feel like I'm not doing enough, not meeting the expectations of the world. 

But I want to share something with you that I have realized, it's okay. You can say no to things that aren't bringing joy. You can skip out on Santa pictures or Christmas crafts. You don't have to fake happiness with people who aren't good for you just because they are family. But you should thank God for everything you have. You should hold close to those you love. You should do things that fill your cup. 

This life we have right now is not guaranteed. Anything and everything can change in a moment. I don't mean to sound morbid during a season of joy, I just want you to know that your joy may look different than other people's, and that it's okay! 

Here is my suggestion to make the most of your Christmas season:

First and foremost, thank God for the life you are getting to live. For the family and friends you hold dear. For the house you have, the food on your table, and all the small things.

Second, focus on the things that bring you joy, whatever that is. 

Third, be sure to get to church for a Christmas service. Whether that be on Sunday for a traditional service, or a Christmas Eve celebration. You won't be disappointed that you went. 

Lastly, love those around you. Hold close to the people who are most important. Tell them about the love of Jesus. Show them the love of Jesus.

I pray that each of you have a Merry Christmas! 

The Season of Giving

Christmas season is practically here! 'Tis the season of giving, right? But how many times do we turn it into the season of wanting? Or the season of envy?

In our service today, our pastor talked about the Christmas season. And it got my wheels spinning, so naturally I decided to write (or type) it out. 

We have always been told that Christmas is a time to give. And while a good portion of us do that, it is usually not the sole thing we are doing. While we are out shopping, we are looking at all the things we want to have. Then with social media, we scroll and see what everyone is getting for Christmas, and the envy or jealousy arises. I'm not calling any certain person out, I'm speaking to all of us. 

A lot of us are doing things to give during the Christmas season. Churches are gathering Christmas Child shoe boxes, schools are doing angel trees, Christmas carols are being sung at senior citizen homes. And all of these are good, no, great! But can we give more? Can we give differently?

Over the last 6 months, I have been having a constant reminder that what we have in our daily life is such a gift. Our family, house, friends, church, health, all of it is such a gift. And we seem to simply forget how much God has given us. 

When was the last time you truly thanked God for being where you are right now?

When was the last time you truly thanked God for having good (not perfect) health?

When was the last time you truly thanked God that you have the ability to share the message of Jesus?

Isn't that the best gift we can give everyone?! What item can you buy that is greater than the gift of our Savior? What gift is more spectacular, amazing, or impressive than a relationship with Jesus? And why only think of giving during this season? 

Have I offended you yet? I kind of hope so because if I have, then your wheels are spinning too 😉

So here is my challenge to you - 

1. Stop and truly thank God for everything you have. Don't be concerned with what you want, because it can all be gone tomorrow. 

2. Reach out to those around you and see what you can give them. It may simply be a meal, or a hug, or a prayer. But it may also be the most important gift of their lives. 

I hope you are having a giving season - and if you are a person needing the love of Jesus - reach out to me. I would love to share everything I know (but trust me, I don't know it all)

Have a Merry Christmas everyone ❤

What will your obituary say?

 Who here is a Ben Rector fan??

*If you aren't - Shame! But click his name and check him out 😊

He just released 3 new songs in November. While all of them are great, there is one that really just gets me thinking.

Here is the link: The Richest Man in the World

So here is my question for you...

What will your obituary say? 
Better yet, what will the people say?

Now lets be clear up front - this isn't about bragging rights (listen to the song). It's not about your status, your income, your fame. What is the legacy you are leaving? What is it that people will know and say about you?

Ready for the 2 lines that hit hard?

You can spend your whole life wanting what you don't have
Or you can find the beauty in the things you do

BAM - there it is - the thing that we are all guilty of at some point. While some do a good job of being continuously grateful, some are always longing for more more more. 

What do you want to be known for?
Here are a few things I want to be known for:

• Being an attentive mom
• Being a supportive wife
• Being a great friend
• Being a great listener
• But most of all: Being a devoted follower of God

Can you imagine these being the things that people remember you for? My job won't matter. The house I owned won't matter. The clothes I wore won't matter. The extravagant vacations won't matter. The social media presence won't matter. 
Am I saying you should disregard all of these things, no. But remember their place, remember their value. 

If we are placing God first and foremost in our life, you will be known for great things. 

Take a moment to reflect on your life, on your values, and decide what you want your obituary to say.

Love ya'll

Family after Marriage

 What does God say about family after marriage?

There are a few verses that talk about family, parents, and marriage in relation to one another. The first comes from Genesis 2:24 (this is in reference to the first marriage, Adam and Eve). He also makes reference in Matthew 19: 4-6. Ephesians 5:22-33 talks about the roles in marriage. 

There are other scriptures in the Bible that talk about marriage and family. But these are a few worth highlighting. 

When a man and woman decide to marry one another, they are making a commitment to each other, but more importantly to God. They are choosing to depart from their parents, and form a new family. This is a desire of God. He wants us to find a person who shares our values, beliefs, and love for God. 

Is God telling us to never speak to our parents again? No
Is God telling us that we can have no relationship with our parents? No

Is God telling us that we now depend on our spouse? Yes
Is God telling us that the relationship with our spouse is sacred and should be kept safe? Yes

A child is called to leave their parents and form a family with their spouse. To build a relationship that grows with each other, but also in the direction of God. The bible states that a parents desire for their child should be to marry a person who loves God, a person with a relationship with God, a Christian. That is the standard. It does not say that a parent should be sure their child marries a person for money, convenience, lust, status, etc. It does not say that a child is to marry a person that thinks/interprets just like their parents. 

This is a hard topic for many people. Parents always want great things for their children, that is natural. But we have to look at the biblical aspect of what God desires for us. (He is our Father too) 
How often have you heard something like "She will never have to worry about money with him" "He will have the most beautiful children with her" "He thinks just like me so he will lead her the way I have".
These are all worldly thoughts, they are not the desires of God.

Does it mean that money, security, geographical nearness, etc are bad? No. But these are not the top priorities in a marriage. These things are never spoken of in reference to marriage in the Bible. 

A father is called to say, "I want my child to marry a person who loves God first and foremost." Loving God will automatically make that person love your child more. Loving God will provide a fruitful marriage, a marriage that is pleasing to God. 

A parent who thinks first of worldly pleasures for their child, is not desiring the best life possible for them. What a disgrace that would be. 

I think this is a hard topic. It is hard for the parent and the child. Leaving all you have known, letting go of your child; these are not easy tasks. But seeking God's guidance will ease the struggle. 

Put your marriage first. Protect your marriage with God's word. Remember that Satan is always prowling, and looking for ways to turn you away. Satan will attack your marriage in some form. Have a Godly spouse and Godly marriage to protect yourselves. 

Side Note: 1 Peter 3 is a great read on what a marriage should look like. I would advise everyone to read and study it. 

Live Unpopular

Newsflash: Christians live a life that is full of "unpopular opinions"

Recently I have spent a lot of time thinking about my faith and beliefs. I think this is something we should all do throughout our life. But it has hit me hard recently when I add the perspective of being a mother to it. And a common theme I have noticed is unpopular opinions. Now I'm not talking something like "chick-fil-a sauce is gross (which I do think 😬) But I am referring to the bigger beliefs and decisions of life. 

It is stated in Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but continuously be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God’s will is—what is proper, pleasing, and perfect."

Let me be the first to say, this is not the easy way to live. 

I have been battling these thoughts and decisions for a little while now. So I began to look back over previous sermons at my church and found one that seemed fitting. 

Without going into the entirety of the sermon, I would like to share my reflections along with some of the scriptures and key takeaways that resonated with me.

First, let's focus on the positive aspects of what we are called to embrace.

First and foremost: GODLINESS (defined as: the quality or practice of conforming to the laws & wishes of God; devoutness and moral uprightness) WOAH, those are some high standards. 

We can gain Godliness by leaning into our FAITH. This is done by reading the word and praying diligently to God. 

By inserting FAITH and working towards GODLINESS, living the life that we are called to live is a little easier. 

Now lets talk about the more challenging aspects of our faith - the beliefs that distinguish us as Christians and may be perceived as unpopular opinions. As followers of Christ, these are all things that I feel we must be willing to embrace even if we are met with resistance or criticism.

Situations, Temptations, Teachings, & Acceptance are the broad spectrum areas that I have been thinking about. 

We live in a world that now has acceptance of all things - it seems that no one can have a wrong opinion, unless you are a Christian who is trying to live by the word of God. If you look around at all you will notice that the world is telling everyone that you can be literally anything you want. Sorry, but that is false. God has formed you in His perfect image (Genesis 1:27). God has already set out a plan for our lives, we are just called to follow it (Jeremiah 29:11).

God gave us a guide on how to live in the Old Testament, the 10 Commandments (these can be found in Exodus 20). Now these are not the only things God asks of us, this is just the first set of Commandments that He gave. These set the foundation for our lives. Today, it is so easy to fall into a life that does not follow. For instance- "You shall not covet your neighbors house." How often do people desire what someone else has? Constantly saying "I want... I need.... They don't deserve ___ like I do." 

We should all look at the 10 Commandments and evaluate our lives. God doesn't call for perfection, but He does ask that we try with all our being, and that when we fall short, we repent and walk away from what we have done. 

If you read Romans 2, you will learn how God is going to judge those who are followers of Christ. It is very clear that those of the law (Christians) will be judged by the law. We as Christians are held to a higher standard. 

This is a topic that you could write and study for days. We can all live a better, more Godly life. The biggest takeaways are:

1. You are called to have a relationship with Jesus
2. You are called to live by His word
3. You are called to show the world how to live, to invite them into the family of Jesus

Take time to examine yourself, your spouse, your family. If you are falling short, ask for forgiveness and work for a better relationship with God. He will never turn you away, He will always be there for guidance. 

Love ya'll

The End or the Beginning?

New Years Eve... wow that got here fast😳

How did you spend 2023? 

Our year was overall good. It came with challenges, but every year does. One of the best parts of this year was getting to enjoy being a family of 5. Our little family feels perfect. 

I was also so blessed to end my year by rededicating my life to Christ❤

2024

What will your year bring?
What are your plans? Dreams? Hopes? Fears? 

There is always so much debate on resolutions - are they good? Do they actually motivate you? Do they just set you up for failure?

Personally - I don't use the term resolution. I like to think about my goals. And for me that can mean things that I want to add or take away. 

I won't share all of my goals here - but I will share a bit about how I approach them.

First I have them divided into separate areas:
    * Personal
    * Spouse
    * Family

Justin and I like to come together to talk about what we want in the new year - as individuals, as a couple, in our family. We do that so that we can stand by each other and support each other.

I also like to set a word or phrase to be my motto for the year. This is one area that I don't always settle on quickly. I want it to be all encompassing; to cover all of the areas of my life. 

*if you are wanting assistance in finding a word for the year for yourself, I suggest this quiz: Word of the Year

My word for this year is DISCIPLINE 

I want to focus on taking away the distractions and pouring into all areas of my life. 

I pray that 2024 is going to be everything you dream for it to be. I pray that you lean into God and trust that His plans for you for this year are without fault. His purpose is always right.

Hidden Disobedience

This past Sunday our pastor continued our study in Joshua. Part of his sermon has stuck with me since then and I felt like sharing it may benefit someone else.

For reference, the scriptures we were looking at were 
Joshua 7: 1-12, 20-26

This came from his final point (of a 3 point sermon)

The point was: 

God never blesses disobedience

This is one of those points that I instantly thought back to different times in my life where I have been disobedient. More specifically, a time when I had a recurrent sin (aka: a hidden sin). That while I knew it was wrong, I continued to partake in it. We all have if we're being honest with ourselves. And if we are being really honest, most of us have one right now.

What is a "hidden sin"? It is simply a sin that you are doing that you try to keep hidden from others. You could also call it a "secret sin."

For you this may be: pornography, alcoholism, sex outside of marriage, gambling, cheating on a spouse, drug abuse, or something completely different.  

But to burst your bubble...

You CANNOT hide sin from God

We all sin; every. single. day. We live in a broken world. But there is a difference in intentional sin vs unintentional sin. We are going to mess up and make mistakes. But from those we learn and we try to do better. We repent. 

Now that you have probably taken a second to think about the disobedience (hidden sin) in your life, let me ask you a question:

Have you recently had a thought that is something like this:

Why is everything in my life going the opposite of what I want?

or

Why does it feel like God is against me?

Maybe you need to evaluate if you are being disobedient towards God. Evaluate if you are trying to hide a sin from Him. Evaluate if you are sinning in a way that the world says it's okay, but God says it's not.

If you can say yes to one of those, change it. 

I can promise you that God is not working against you. He wants nothing but good things for you. That doesn't mean life will pass without trials and hard times, but it does mean that He will be with you and help you through. But remember, God will not reward you for being disobedient. 

I hope this can help someone evaluate their life and make a change. I know that it has made me stop and evaluate my own. I am trying to be more aware of what I am doing and saying. 

Love you friends♡

Snow & Rest

Has it been snowing where you are?

Here we have had a snow storm the last 2 weekends. Snow is not my favorite thing (not even in my top 20). But here we are getting it back to back. Plus side- my kids love it. And this weekends snow storm was perfect for playing and of course, building a snowman. 

Yesterday at church, my pastor spoke on REST. 

How many times have you said, "I just need some rest"?

He told us that we have to look beyond that statement. That if we read our Bible we will find that God intends for us to have rest, but not just the kind we think of (Sunday afternoon naps)

Mind

Body

Spirit

You will first notice that God talks about rest right in the beginning. God took a day of rest. Do you think he really needed it? (Genesis 2:3)

We are also called to rest one day of the week (Exodus 34:21). This is for more than sleep. Rest your mind from the chaos around you, rest your spirit by leaning into God, rest your body by not laboring. 

And when we are seeking rest we can always find it in God (Matthew 11:28-2) HE provides for us in every area of our life. All we are called to do is seek after HIM, trust in HIM, and rest in HIM.

One of my favorite verses that my pastor provided was Psalm 62:1

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.

This is just a short summary of what all our sermon entailed.  But I hope that these verses will give you peace and comfort and most of all, rest

❆❆❆❆

So while we have been trapped at home in the snow today, I have really thought about rest. I have pondered these verses and some of the things that my pastor said. And I have tried to be intentional with my rest today. I played with my kids, took a nap, and stopped to just relish in this life that God has given me. To stop and rest my mind so that I can hear HIM and see HIM. I pray friends that you take time to do the same❤

Resolutions? Goals? Intentions?

 Welcome to 2022

Are you tip toeing into the year or busting down the door?
If you're like me, this past week has left you feeling stunned. How did we get here so fast? What will this next year bring? What will I achieve? What will I fail at? There is so much that can come with a new year depending on your perspective. 

Do you make resolutions? Personally, I don't use that term. Resolution feels very concrete and firm. Resolution feels like a perfect set up for failure. My husband and I usually make plans and goals. These words give me freedom to change or alter what I have stated. Silly? Maybe. But it works for me 

I will say that I haven't decided what all I plan to work towards for this year, but I have a listed started.

• Be more present with my kids 
• Be more in the Word
• Be more present with my kids
• Continue to work on my physical health
• Buy a new house and move before Fall
• Do more volunteer work 

 I pray that this year will bring you JOY, LOVE, GRATITUDE, and so much more. I want your life to be filled with more than you could ever dream. This year will bring you challenges and hard times, but those can give you joy, love, and gratitude if your perspective is right. 

Welcome to 2022 my friends - make this the best year yet❤

 

 

 

 

Well hello there!

 Hello friends! It has been a while... like over 4 years😲😲

So let's do a super quick catch up:

Still happily married to my best friend

2 kiddos (5 years and 2 years; wow, how did that happen?!)

2 doggies (same two rotten Yorkie's as before)

Still trying to live my life to the fullest each and every day❣

So with all that here is what I'm up to in this space:

I am hoping to get back to publishing some blogs occasionally. Let's be honest- with a full time job and 2 kids (one which is already in school 😭) life gets busy and chaotic sometimes. But I love to write, and I love to talk. Having this space allows me to have a little outlet for all of my thoughts. *Even if no one reads it*

So next up: TOPICS

I don't want to pin myself down to anything specific. But generally it will probably be based around: family, health, faith, and exercise. These are the biggest components of my life right now, and the things that are dearest to my heart. And if these things don't interest you, that;s okay! You don't have to read this for us to be friends. 

Lastly...

Don't have super high expectations for me. I'm going to try hard not to. I don't want to disappoint you or myself. This is just a little outlet for me.

And if you want to chat, leave me a comment. 

Or if you have a request, leave me a comment.

Planning to see you around here more 😉

Night friends

Momma Milk

This blog post is for all of my new mommy's and mommy's to be. 💓

Have you thought about what you're going to feed your baby? It's a big decision; and there are so many options!

For me, I always knew that I wanted to breastfeed all of my baby's.  I know and understand that not all mom's feel this way, and that it isn't possible for every mom to breastfeed. But I want to share my opinion and my experience.

*Disclaimer: I am not saying those moms who choose to feed their baby formula are wrong. I am only blogging on what worked for me and my family. Formula is great for many families!

So here it is:

Fast forward a few hours after labor and delivery. You're holding your precious new bundle and are in complete awe! (Best feeling!!) The nurse comes in and tell you that it's time to try feeding your little one. (At this point, you have already told them your preference between breast milk and formula).

The nurse comes in and talks you through it. So basically you whip our your breast for everyone in the room to see and the nurse or lactation consultant coaches you through it. For me, it was just Justin, Kate, the nurse and myself.

Initial thought -- "This is weird! But a good kind of weird."
Second thought -- "This is not as easy as the movies make it seem"

*Disclaimer- this is all my opinion, my experience. Each mommy/baby is different.

Kate did not latch initially. We spent a little while trying different positions and alternating sides. (side note: there are a ton of different strategies to get your child to breastfeed. More that I knew about.)

Still, she wasn't latching. The nurse told me not to worry, she didn't have to eat right away and we could try later. I remember looking at Justin and telling him I felt like I was failing already. I was frustrated because this is what I wanted to do- it was in my plan.

So a couple hours later the nurse came back in and we tried again. She latched a little but we still weren't overly successful. Again I was feeling frustrated. So the nurse told me that she had an idea.

She came back to the room with a little package. A contact nipple shield. Let me tell you, this little piece of silicone made all the difference! Kate latched right on and breastfeeding began. I finally felt successful. And I was able to get that bond between Kate and I that I had longed for.

I was blessed- once we fixed the latch problem, Kate became a successful breastfeeding baby. I was also blessed that we didn't have any issues after that. 

I'm a planner. I like to know what can happen, and have an idea of what I expect. So here were/are my current goals:

My first goal was to breastfeed my entire maternity leave. (check)
My second goal was to breastfeed until she turned 6 months old. (check) 
My current goal is to breastfeed until she turns 1 year old. (working on it)

Breastfeeding has been great for Kate and I. I love that I know what she is getting. I love the special bond between us. I love that I am giving her something great. And I love that I get to spend so much quality time with her. 

Now breastfeeding goes beyond baby and mommy. You make a new friend, your breast pump. My friends name is Medela 😂 

Starting when Kate was 4 weeks old, I started pumping. I wanted to be sure to have plenty of stored milk for her while I was at work. That way she could continue to have breast milk instead of formula.

The truth about pumping -- it's boring. There is nothing difficult about it. But if you pump bilaterally at the same time, you can't really do anything; unless you have one of those hands free bras. Also, dragging your pump supplies everywhere is annoying. Every day I work I have to be sure I have my pump, accessories, milk bags, cooler tote all packed. Or if you go on vacation. Or a long car ride. And it sucks when you leave a piece at home. Trust me, I've been there. 

But pumping milk also gives you some freedom. Want to leave baby with a sitter for a few hours? You pump milk so baby can eat. Want to go on a date? You pump milk so baby can eat. Want to eat something that baby can't have? You pump milk so baby can eat. 

All in all, for me and for Kate, breastfeeding has been great! I was thrilled that I was able to do it. It is something that I hope to do with any future children we have. 

I love getting to talk with other moms about breastfeeding (and all the other parenting adventures) so please email me, call me, text me, whatever if you want to chat. 

And just for some humor, check out this link:

Things that go through your mind while pumping

Leaving Your Mark

Have you ever thought about the impression you have left with someone?

You typically have this thought after something like an interview; or after a first date.

But there is a deeper thought to have...

Every day, every interaction, we leave some form of an impression. Have you ever considered the one your leaving?

I have recently been thinking about the impression I am making with my life. I think about the impression I make as a mother, wife, daughter, friend, coworker, christian, kids leader, etc. I want to leave all of these areas with a positive impression. I want to leave all of these areas in a better place than when I found them.

I want to leave my mark on the world, and I want it to be a favorable, influential mark. 

Qualities that I want to be part of my mark:

- Lovable
- Trusting
- Guiding
- Fun
- Encouraging
- Accountable
- Empathetic
- Happy
- Brave
- Open-minded
- Determined
- Independent

and so much more

I pray that I can find myself each and every day -- that I can be real --  that I can be all of these things listed. 

I want to not only be better, but to better the world.

My prayer is that you too seek this in your life. Look to God for guidance in your life. 

Catch up Time (Pt. 2- the Holidays)

The holidays for us this year were a little different; as you can imagine. Since we had Kate at the end of October, we knew that we would want to do less traveling for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We had forewarned our families earlier that we would likely not be attending all of the gatherings.

Thanksgiving

When Thanksgiving came around Kate was only 4 weeks old. And since we were first time parents, you could say that we were a little protective. :) (But I think most parents are)

Since she was so young we decided that we were only going to Thanksgiving with our immediate family. While our extended family was disappointed, they were also understanding.

Thanksgiving with Justin's parents

Thanksgiving with Brittany's parents & sister

Christmas

When Christmas came around Kate was now 8 weeks old. At this point we were trying to be a little less paranoid, but we were still being cautious. So we decided we would attend some extended family gatherings. 

Christmas was different for us, but not dramatically. Since Kate was only 8 weeks old, she wasn't exactly opening presents or getting excited. (Next Christmas will definitely be more fun) But none the less, it was a special Christmas. 

Kate's first Sunday at church
December 18 2016

  

Christmas with Brittany's extended family

Christmas with Justin's extended family

New Year's Eve

We decided we didn't want to do much of anything for New Year's Eve. Staying out late was out of the question because 1. Kate wouldn't be staying up that late 2. Mom and dad wanted rest  :)

Catch up Time (pt 1)

Can you believe it is already February 2017?! I don't know how you feel, but for me, time is buzzing by! I feel like I can't keep up. 
So how was your 2016? Your holidays? Your New Year? 
I pray that everyone has had a great start to 2017. For us things have been busy. So lets catch up! I'm going to be making a few posts to tell you all everything that has be going on with us. 

My last post was September 13 (oops! I totally didn't mean for that to happen)

My due date was Friday October 28. I had a great pregnancy! I rarely felt bad, I loved every aspect of it. So naturally since I felt so good, what did I do for my Due Date Day??... I worked! Numerous patients asked me that day, "When are you due?" I would smile and proudly say "Today!" The looks that I got were hilarious. Everyone told me I was crazy to be working. I should be home, relaxing, enjoying the final moments of it just being Justin and I. But I figured since I was about to be off for 6+ weeks, I would get in every minute that I could. 

Now I had promised myself that I wouldn't rush Kate or wish for her to come early. But on October 28 (due date) I decided I could start telling her it was time to make her grand appearance. So I walked 2 miles on the treadmill while at work and had caffeine with my lunch. But still by the end of the day, I was not having any contractions and I was still feeling great. So for dinner that night I ate 2 bowls of spicy chili. 

Before work that morning

Finally at 10:00 that night I started having some contractions. I told Justin that we would definitely be making a trip to the hospital in our near future. Justin decided he was going to try and get some rest since we didn't know what the next few hours were going to bring. Needless to say, I didn't sleep a wink that night. I instead went over our checklist, double checked our bags, and timed my contractions. There was no way I was going to the hospital till they were 5 minutes apart for an hour. I refused to go and be sent home lol. Around 5:00 Saturday morning we decided it was time to pack up and head out. We arrived at the hospital around 6:30.

By now my contractions were getting a little more intense. We did not have the option to preregister for the hospital unfortunately. So I spent the entire registration time huffing and breathing. 

When we finally got settled into our room Justin called our parents to let them know what was going on. I had decided early on that I didn't want everyone there until we knew that we were staying. 

Finally, at 2:18 on October 29 we got to meet our precious daughter, Kate.

First family photo

I'm here to tell you, pregnancy and birth are Amazing! I wouldn't trade any of it for anything in the world. And for all of you skeptics, the birthing process is not that bad! It's true when they say you forget all about labor and delivery the moment you hear your sweet baby's first cry. My heart simply melted!

Nothing sweeter than daddy daughter

Going home

The rest of our stay went well. We were just overjoyed to have Kate. Every moment felt surreal; like I was going to wake up and it all be a dream

We went home on Monday October 31. So we dressed Kate accordingly:

Happy Halloween - I'm going home!

So there is the biggest thing that has happened since my last post. Hope you all enjoy the read and the cute pictures. :)

Storms

Have you ever been in the midst of a storm? I have. It always seems to happen at the most inconvenient times; like when you are trying to load the grocery's at the store.

Have you ever been in the midst of a spiritual storm? 
I have. 

Have you ever seen someone in the midst of a spiritual storm? 
I have.

Watching someone go through something that is trying in their life is difficult, especially if that person is close to your heart. I have watched many storms pass through others lives, and it never gets any easier. I find myself questioning why it is happening. Or trying to think of a way that I can take on some of their pain. But often I can only pray for that person. And prayer is an amazing thing! It is often the one thing that person needs more than anything else. 

I don't know who all is having a personal struggle. I don't need to know. But I want to share a song with you that has helped me in my own storms. I pray that it may help one of you during your storm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNqo4Un2uZI

If your like me, you may want to read the lyrics as you listen. Here is a link to them as well:

http://www.metrolyrics.com/it-is-well-lyrics-bethel-music.html

I pray that your storm passes quickly. Rely on God and I think that it will pass quicker and with ease. 

Prayer

Prayer... an earnest hope or wish
Prayer... a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God

Theses are just a couple of definitions I got when I googled the word Prayer. 

This Sunday's sermon was about Prayer. Our preacher titled the sermon "Just Two Things". This was one of those sermons that left me thinking after church. It lead to a discussion between my husband and I. And it tugged at my heart to share it with the people around me. 

(Now please realize that I am not going to simply type the sermon and share it; I am going to paraphrase and type how I interpreted it.)

How many time have you said a prayer today? Yesterday? This week? This year?
If you are like me the answer is, a lot. For me a prayer isn't always the "traditional" bowing of head and closing eyes; I consider my conversations with God prayer. They vary each and every day. 

How many of your prayers have involved asking for something in a selfish way? It may have been about money, a girl/boy that you like, an "A" on a test, etc. I am not saying that asking for help, guidance, or assistance is selfish. But how many of your prayers are centered around more? It's easy to do; we have ALL asked for more of something. 

How many of your prayers have involved asking for less? Or to take something away?
Again, I am not saying it is bad to ask for less. 

How many of your prayers are just about you? 

How many of your prayers have involved asking for just enough? 
That is the one that you probably pray the least. By nature, we (people) are greedy. We seem to always want more of the good, less of the bad, and for things to be easy. 

I want my prayers to be about getting just enough. Here is the scripture that we looked at Sunday.

Proverbs 30:7-9(NIV)

7 “Two things I ask of you, Lord;
    do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
    give me neither poverty nor riches,
    but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
    and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
    and so dishonor the name of my God.

I hope you take the time to evaluate your prayers. Have a great week!