May 30, 2013

I got the ball rolling yesterday for Rylie's 5th birthday. Her birthday falls on Father's day this year, so we opted to do it the Saturday before. So instead of the 16th, we'll have it on the 15th. I had already bought supplies and created her bday invite but hadn't done a whole lot else. A good friend of mine sent out their invites yesterday for their niece's bday and it made me realize I needed to get on my game. I've never waited this long to start on my birthday party prep. I used to start 3 months in advance! I do think this will be the last time we can have her party at home with all the family. She is getting bigger and will probably only want girls at her next party and sleepovers, or skating parties, or opt for a trip with a friend instead of a big party. Which makes me a little sad, my baby girl is growing up and slowly...and I mean slowly, gaining control over her life and able to make choices for herself. Before I know it, she'll be deciding on what college to attend. (EEK!) So not ready for that!

Today I read, Jesus: Our Everything Matthew 16:13-26
1. Fill in the blank. Jesus is blank to you.
1a. Jesus is my Lord and savior, my heavenly father, my leader and healer.
2. What is knowing the above answer done to your everyday life and the choices you make?
2b. I am constantly aware of His presence. I feel it has changed me as a person inside and out for the better.
3. How have you changed since meeting and building a relationship with Jesus?
3c. Compared to the me I used to be, I am loving people much better and with a better understanding. I am not quick to judge and am more cautious with my words and actions. I think often times I can come across as shy or quiet, but I am usually just taking in my surroundings.

May 29, 2013

May 28, 2013

It's Tuesday, yesterday was Memorial day and I spent the day out and about with some family. Today I planned to catch up with my laundry, chores, and volunteer work. It is now 7:42pm and I accomplished it all. The laundry is folded, ironed and put away. I worked from home for both the church and my part time admin gig. I bathed the children, cleaned my bathrooms and even managed to hit the grocery store. I came home made dinner and now my family is full, relaxed and off doing their own thing. Which leaves me time to blog. :)

This morning I read on patience. I was a little flustered with it because I didn't have the Bible I was used to and was having a hard time finding the exact thing I was looking for. Which I found to be slightly ironic that while I was looking for scriptures on patience I ended up getting pretty impatient with myself and God for not finding it.
I've wanted a new house for some time now. If you are a friend of mine or a family member of mine you now just how much this is on my heart. We have a tiny house and live mildly far away from friends and family so it's rare that we have guests. I have prayed on it and prayed on it. Now I am just praying for patience. It will happen in God's time. It's not like I'm suffering, it's not like our house is horrible. We have just simply outgrown it. But in order for us to make the "right" move there are some things we need to get in order first. It's taking a lot longer than I anticipated. I am not a patient person. I come from a long line of impatient people. But I also know what God is telling me to do right now at this time in my life. He is telling me to put in the work that is needed in order to reap the benefits. I am aware that this is common knowledge but I am stubborn and like to think I'm the exception and God will just give me what I want because I am me. ;-)
So right now, I am working on reminding myself of the fact that this life I live has already been mapped out for me and when the time is right (God's timing) I will prevail and will receive the blessing that is rightfully mine.

Meditated on this passage a bit today. So I will look to those that came before me and see their example. They had it much harder than I ever will and still spoke in the name of the Lord. They never lost their faith. It can be so easy to lose your faith or feel lost. To feel like God has turned his back on you. I don't feel like that now, but I have at one point in my life. I just have to keep the faith, gotta keep pressing forward. I know in the right time, God will bless us. We are on the right path. I know this because God has shown us what we need to do to get where we want to be. God is faithful and he will help us along the way to overcome any obstacles we endure.

 

Dear Father God, I thank you for your continued guidance. Continue to work in me always. I thank you for showing me direction and reminding me that you are always on my side and always in my corner. I pray for the ability to be still and silent and listen for your words. I pray that I am able to work on my patience and realize that it's not on my time but on yours. Thank you for being the ever faithful God that you are. -Amen

 

<3- emilie 

Sunday, May 26, 2013

It's Sunday! Love our family Sundays. We get up, have breakfast as a family, then we are off to church. Today was great because they talked about Healthy Families. Pastor went over three different sections of what healthy families need. They were worth, belonging and competence. Every member in our family needs all of these, but it really spoke to me in regards to our kids. Both of our children need to know that they are not only worthy of our love, but of God's love. He demonstrated our value and worth by dieing on the cross for us. It's so important, especially for young girls to always express how valuable they are. That they are worth everything. Growing up, I was awful about knowing my own worth. I never felt good enough, pretty enough, skinny enough, smart enough...the list goes on. So I am now determined to make sure my kids always know that they are loved and valued. Not only by their father and I but also by our heavenly father.

I saw this picture this afternoon and it spoke to me.

 

Made me realize that while we as parents have to take on the responsibility to make sure our children follow Christ. We have to remember that our children learn best by example. It is our responsibility to live Godly lives and to be the leaders of our household that God has called us to be. How can we expect our children to live Godly lives as adults if we ourselves don't do just that. I will be praying this week for God to show me what areas of my life need improvement. My goal is to become a parent that my children will one day want to grow up and be just like. Also to be that parent that will be favorable in the eyes of God.

Thank you Lord Jesus for laying it all out for me. Thank you for reminding me of what is needed to be the parent you desired me to be. Help me to continue to learn your ways that I may lead my children in the way that they should go. -Amen

<3 emilie

Happy Friday to my fellow MAMAS!

May 24, 2013

Last night Ashton was up from 1:30 to 4:30. I gave him some Ibuprofen, I rocked him, I sang to him, I even got in his crib with him trying to sooth him. He does this every time he has a new tooth coming in. He cries on and off through out the night. Praying tonight is a better night than last night. There is only so much coffee one mama can drink.
I started to write in my journal again this morning and not on my actual blog and I could hear God in my ear..."Emilie, go to your laptop!" lol! I really am trying to avoid being this vulnerable. It's alot to put my prayers out there for the world to see. But it's what He wants me to do.

Today I'm reading out of the book of Kings. 1 Kings 22:41-50.

 

Reflect and Pray:

1. How did you come into God's family?

1a. I've attended church for as long as I can remember and I asked Christ into my heart at the young age of 10.

2. How have you grown to "look like" God since you joined his family?

2b. I strayed away from God in my teenage years but as an adult have rekindled our relationship. And in the past year or so I have been working on becoming a more forgiving person, and less judgemental.

3. Which of God's traits would you like to model for your children or for others around you?

3a. My goal is for others to just know me to be a Christian woman. A woman of God. I want that to be what people say about me. "Oh, you haven't met Emilie? She is nice, she has a deep relationship with God." I want my kids to always be able to look back and know that their parents were faithful and I want that to reflect on my children. I want them to have the desire in their heart as I do in mine.

 

Father God, I thank you for the opportunity to serve you. I can hear you speak to me and I know you know the plans you have for me. Plans to prosper me and not harm me. Father you are a just and faithful God. Tell me your plans, lead me, and give me the courage to overcome my anxiety to do YOUR will.

Lead me...

-Amen 

May 23, 2013

I did it! Yesterday I started my blog. Still have a few things to work out, but I'm on the right track to get where I need to be. I saw this on a friends Instagram "Your talent is God's gift to you. What you do with it is your gift back to God." Now I know I'm not a super talented writer or anything like that, but I do know that I enjoy putting words on paper. Whether in print or electronically. ;) And I know that God wants me to use my interest for good and spread his word. Not necessarily by preaching but just by sharing my path. Somehow it may find someone and if they can relate and it brings them one step closer to faith, then I think I've done my part.

I'm reading out of the NIV "Busy Mom's Bible". Everyday they have a devotional thought that I read and then write down my thoughts, prayers, etc. Here is what I read today:

A Life of Purpose: 2 Kings 22:1-20 For you to understand what I'm talking about it would best if you read along with me.
Reflect and Pray: These are always questions they ask to help you reflect on what you've just read and pray about what God is revealing to you.
1. What is one sentence you could use to summarize your life so far?
1a. An obstacle over comer that is working continuously on making past wrongs, right again and learning new ways everyday how to perfect being a wife, mother, and follower of Christ.
2. What might God want to change in your life so that your life summary will be different?
2b. For me to fully be able to let go of my past. Not only my own failures but especially those of my parents.
3. What steps will you take today to walk in God's ways?
3c. I will start taking steps to fully forgiving myself and my parents. I'm almost there but there are times that I allow myself to sink back in that hole of despair or "woe is me."

Father God, I thank you for showing me your ways. For directing me to the path that you laid out for me long before. Continue to lead me, and use me. Continue to keep your hand on us financially, help us to make wise choices with the gifts you've given us and thank you for abundantly blessing us. We give you all the glory in your precious name I pray. -AMEN

New blog, on my continued path.

Well, I did it. I deleted my original blog and created this new one. I felt it was time. I loved my old blog and what it contained, but there was no meat. Not that my day to day life has zero well...for lack of a better word, "life" to it. I just needed more.
So, I prayed about it, and prayed about it and prayed about it some more. God spoke to me. He has been telling me for some time now to start a praying blog, a blog that is dedicated to my walk in my own faith. I was scared to put it all out there, to be that vulnerable to the public eye. I still am a little bit nervous, but then this verse stays in my head, "For I know what I have planned for you,' says the LORD. 'I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you hope and a future." And that reassures me. It reassures me that He is with me, and will guide me.
So this is my new blog. I will have my daily (try to write daily) life update, my daily sermon/study and my daily prayer.