I Can Handle It

Weekends go by so fast!

I have a bad habit of wishing weeks away so that the weekend can come. Without even realizing it, I am wishing away 5 days of my life just so I can enjoy 2 days without work. That's a really bad idea. Then when we hit 50,60, 70 - we wonder how we got there so fast?

Life flies by fast enough without trying to wish away those 5 Mon-Fri days.

I have to admit that partly I wish for the weekend because it's like sprinting to that finish line. As soon as your feet cross over the line, you can finally have a cool sip of water to drink, you can sit down and breathe in and out after a 10K marathon.

For me, life feels like that.

I look back at my early 20's and I laugh because I thought I was so busy back then...

Sure, I was busy working full time. But I was also busy playing PS3 Call of Duty, going tubing down the river, having "Book Club Meetings" etc.

I look at my life today (at 27) and I think I AM BUSY and I am lucky if I get to have a bath. I am lucky if I can check my Facebook ...and maybe just maybe upload pictures from my camera to the computer. I am lucky if I can watch a movie without any interruptions.
I am lucky if I can go to work with a shirt with no food crumbs on my shoulder.

Sure, I am slightly envious of my "younger days" - living care free.

There are days when I don't want to cook for my family, and do their laundry.
I don't want to change diapers, and I don't even want my husband to hug me. There are days I just want to be alone, and go to sleep, all by myself. No interruptions.

But of course, I get an evening alone, and I can't wait for my son to wake up so I can come lift him out of his crib so I can snuggle him. And I can't wait for my husband to come out of his "man cave" to give me a kiss and tell each other we love each other...

I love my life today. I love who surrounds me. I love who I have become. While life is crazy, and busy, and I feel sometimes it's not even my own anymore.....my life is exactly where and what it should be....

Sometimes mama just needs to breath....
and blog a little so her day doesn't seem so overwelming.

:)

Xoxo
Nae

Saturday Afternoon Fun

And this is what my day looked like!
Could he be any cuter??

I'm doing it, I'm doing it!

As I have blogged 100 times before, I will try to do better at 'blogging.'  I do have the right intentions and I do brain storm ideas, however time to do so is few and far in between. So here's what I have been up to lately:
More then being an efficient blogger, I would like to become healthy and happy with my body so 2013 marks an emphasis of healthy living and eating.
 On the right hand side you will see what we had for breakfast Saturday! Egg, lettuce cheese and salsa bagels.
I know the bagel is not good for you, but don't worry, I only ate one half!
Eat like a king in the morning, and a pauper in the evening...I will try anything! 

 Our little Eli is growing up so fast. How could you not love this face? Even beyond his ridiculous good looks, he's got a personality that brings so much Joy to  me and Bran's lives. He loves to dance and sing....watch out Bieber?
On the flip side, he has also developed a wee bit of a temper. When mama or dada says "no" he starts to head butt or scream to get his way....so thus the terrible two's will start to make their entrance!
However, he is an amazing child. He is for the most part calm and happy....and sleeps like a champ!

Back to food.
Here are the Kale chips I made a few nights ago. A little olive oil, garlic and sea salt. Put in the oven for about 10-15 minutes at 350 degrees. Flip and keep a close eye on them until they are as crunchy as you want them!
MMmmm!
Kale has become a new food favorite. It is full of good things for your body and it tastes great in pasta sauces, baked vegetables, blended smoothies etc.


With that said, I must go now and clean the house. (Notice I don't have any pictures of our house? Teehee...)

Xoxo
Nae

Keep Calm and Make Tea

Welcome to 2013

We say goodbye to 2012, and welcome 2013. 

For the majority of us, Jan 1st marks a day of resolutions. It signifies a blank slate. The first page of a 365 page book. A new beginning.

Some of us welcome 2013 with arms wide open. 

Romantic relationships have been kindled. Babies are being born. New job opportunities and boundless other exciting things are about to unfold

For others, 2013 is met with a solemn outlook. 

Loved ones passed away. Sickness overtaking bodies. Perhaps financial or relationship issues. Just getting through 'today' is a struggle.

Which ever side you are standing on, the fabric of our lives can be sewn together in the unity that we don't know what 2013 is going to look like.

But we do know, that we have 'today' and that God has promised to watch us and look over us.

2 Corinthians 5:17`Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"

 

Peace, Peace, Peace

So it seems like lately there has been a lot of tragedy both near and far.

Last Saturday, 4 houses down from us, a 29 year old was stabbed and killed in their front yard. His attacker who was also injured from the fight, tried to flee the scene subsequently leaving his blood trail on the sidewalk in front of our house.

I was getting ready for church and Brandon came home and told me someone had been murdered close to us. There are so many emotions that you feel when you hear the word “murder” associated with your neighborhood. It hits even closer when you realize that it was just a few houses down from you. Instantly you wonder if it was targeted or spontaneous. And if it was the latter, then are you and your family safe?

Secondly, I had instant goose bumps because I couldn’t sleep that night. Living on a busy street, it’s not uncommon to hear ambulance sirens. But this night was different. I could hear cop cars zooming by. And I also heard a voice (I believe it was a woman’s voice) screaming “no, no, no, no” in between sobs. Again, it’s not uncommon to hear people screaming, fighting, music playing etc. A lot of houses nearby us are rented by young college aged kids. Some stumble home drunk from Cactus Jacks, some have house parties....and with that comes noise.  Of course now that I know the circumstances, it gives me chills. It’s like putting the puzzle together and realizing it was probably a young woman looking at this man and realizing he might not have a fighting chance to life.

The day after I took Elijah on a walk to get some air and clear my mind, and just one block away from the murder scene was a family who had set up a lemonade stand selling to those walking by. What a complete shift.  Death vs. Life.

Of course, on a much bigger scale and geographically  far away, the shooting in Colorado was horrific and heart breaking. People were innocently sitting in the theatre watching Batman, and in an instant everything was taken away. It’s hard to believe how heartless/disturbed someone can be to follow through with a mass murder like that.

Anyways, just had to blog about these things as they have weighed pretty heavy on my mind recently. 

But the darkness only makes my hero (my Lord and Saviour) shine brighter...paraphrase of Lecrae’s Tweet. =)

Philippians 4:6-7  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
 

How He Loves Us

If you read my last post, then you'll remember that lately I have been struggling with faith....just enough that it's really making me want to the seek the Lord even more!  I don't want to settle with  religion and tradition, I want an alive and breathing relationship. 

Anyways one day I realized, why am I holding back my questions? Why am I not admitting to struggling with faith?

I suppose I haven't because I have't had a chance to realize exactly where things are at. Maybe also because I feel I really shouldn't question God when I am a pastor's wife...

But then I felt like the Lord was saying,  "if you're having questions/doubts/fear, why don't you talk to me about them? I would be the one to disprove your doubts, and show you who I am." And so one night I just prayed to God and said I am just not really sure where I am at right now but I really want to know You. I prayed that God would speak to me, that He would show Himself to me. Somehow in the midst of business of raising a family, taking care of a church, being a wife,friend,daughter,mom etc - I got lost....and so did my priorities.

2 Nights ago I couldn't sleep and I feel like God used my sleepless night to speak to me.

I had a rough day with Elijah. He was teething and subsequently had been crying all day and to be perfetly honest, just driving me crazy. But by night time, I was just thinking about how much I love him and how much joy he brings to my life.

And, the more I enjoy time with my son and just thank God for him - I feel like God's fatherly heart is being revealed to me.

For instance, even though I had a rough day, I couldn't stop thinking about how I just want to shower him with gifts on his Birthday...just to show him how much I love him. I was also thinking about how he needs our time, our love and affection, and how we'd pay anything........for his safety, for his health, etc.

And it's like God spoke to me and said that's how He feels about us. We sin, we fall away, we push Him away...and yet his heart is overbrimming with love and affection for us. He wants to spend time with us....and he paid the ULTIMATE price for our lives by sending his one and only son to earth to die to abolish slavery to sin....to rise again.....and bring glory to His name....

He is King.....and He is Father.

He is amazing.

And how He loves us so....