Spring Break Vacation

 

One thing that I love about my husband being a teacher is spring break week!

I'm sure all you teachers would completely agree too!

 

 

This year, with all the madness around here, we both decided that we needed to get out of Tampa and just go some place quiet and just be together as a family, and there was no better place than going to Englewood and spending a few days with Aarons granddad.

 

 

 

Granddad has the cutest little beach house and its always so peaceful and while Paisley never slept the entire weekend, we still had a blast and a relaxing few days a way.

 

 

We spent a majority of the time playing at the beach and in the somewhat cold ocean water, and let me tell y'all, I have a daughter that was destined to be a FL beach girl. She loved every minute of being in the sand and the water. Her favorite part was picking shells one by one and taking them and throwing them in the water. She couldn't figure out why all the shells were not in the water. One day she will get it, but till then isn't it cute?

 

 

We got to see lots of cool things, which included finding a sea horse, seeing jellyfish and one giant shell. We were able to take out a boat as well and go the point of the island and play at the beach there, see Garth Brooks' home and see lots of dolphins. If you ever find yourself in FL, Englewood is a must see little gem. Its a tiny little beach town, but its the most quaint little place.

 

 

 

Can you tell she was ready for the beach?

 

 

We also got to explore the coolest little garden. It was an all natural, organic little place that had a juice bar, and fresh organic produce with a garden where you were able to go pick things yourself. It was $4 for a grocery sack and you could fill it as full as you wanted with whatever they had in the garden. We grabbed a bunch of kale, fresh dill and cilantro, jalapenos, bell peppers, broccoli, all different types of lettuce, beets, tomatillos, strawberries, lemongrass, tomatoes, carrots, parsley, basil and amaranth. Paisley had a blast just getting to venture around everywhere.

 

 

 

On the way home, we got to stop at the one and only Trader Joes, and while it was busy, we stocked up on a lot of favorites! That's another place to check out if you have never been to one ;)

 

 

 

 

Great little vacation and great little time away that we desperately needed. I cant wait for more trips and for more fun beach time with our sweet girl!

 

 

Till Next Time!

All Because of Jesus

I am seriously humbled like never before today.

 

I could tell you a lot about the Bible and a lot about Jesus, but sometimes for things to really sink in deep, they have to become a revelation.

 

For the last few months God has been showing me new sides to Him and making things feel more alive and making things seem more real to me.

 

We have heard all about Easter and Jesus' death on the cross, and while I know the story, I didn't really get it. I believed, but I didn't get it.

 

Today, I get it.

 

I really get it.

 

And for the first time, I wept.

 

I weep at knowing how amazing our God is, and how much love He has for us.

 

I am awestruck and my mind is blown.

 

I cant even fathom.

 

Let me share with you:

 

The servant grew up before God—a scrawny seedling,
    a scrubby plant in a parched field.
There was nothing attractive about him,
    nothing to cause us to take a second look.
He was looked down on and passed over,
    a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand.
One look at him and people turned away.
    We looked down on him, thought he was scum.
But the fact is, it was our pains he carried—
    our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us.
We thought he brought it on himself,
    that God was punishing him for his own failures.
But it was our sins that did that to him,
    that ripped and tore and crushed him—our sins!
He took the punishment, and that made us whole.
    Through his bruises we get healed.
We’re all like sheep who’ve wandered off and gotten lost.
    We’ve all done our own thing, gone our own way.
And God has piled all our sins, everything we’ve done wrong,
    on him, on him.

-Isaiah 53:5

 

Everything God did, He did for us. Its never been about Him. Its always been about us. God has us in mind from the very beginning and had in mind our salvation. We didn't choose Him. He chose us.  He gave us His all. I mean, He gave us His life so that we might know Him. He carried our pains, our sins put Him on that cross!!

 

 Don't you think that the God of the universe could have said "stop" at any point or when they said "if you are really God, why don't you get down from the cross and prove it" He could have just gotten down from the cross and proved Himself right then and there?

 

He could of, but He didn't because He wanted us to know Him. He wanted us to trust Him. He wanted us to love Him back and to want to be in relationship with Him. Christ never had religion in mind. It was about having a relationship with Him. Nothing more nothing less. Just a relationship with Him.

 

Our God, our Savior died on a cross and experienced the worst amount of torment so that we could live and have a life that far exceeds any dream or plan we have in mind. He took the punishment that we desperately deserved, made us whole, set us free, stripped off our filthy rags, placed a crown on our heads and clothed us in a bridegrooms robe, pouring His grace on us.

 

Do you get it yet?

 

Are you speechless?

 

We are redeemed because of what He did. We are forgiven because of what He did. We are loved because of what He did.

 

The best part of all of this is, He did it for you and for me. Asking that we just love Him in return. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

What a mighty, mighty, great God we serve!

 

 



Equipped with a Promise

Have you ever wondered why there are some that can be in the midst of the most terrifying storms and still be praising God and be so full of joy?

For the longest time, I have always wondered what their secret was and what I was doing wrong, because to tell you the truth, sometimes when the storms come and things get a little bit hard, I tend to run to the "safe" zone. I run to what's comfortable. I cry. I get angry. I question God. A lot.

If you are anything like me, you know what I am talking about.

Can I share with you the secret to joy, happiness and overcoming while still praising Him and knowing His goodness?

Its simple.

Knowing God and knowing His Word.

Its funny because even though I am saying that, it all sounds a little easier said than done, right?

I will be plain honest and tell you all, even though I know what Gods Word says, sometimes I tend to forget what His Word says and that it really means what it says.

Our circumstances may all look different, but there is one thing that we all have in common. Our God never changes and our God never forsakes us.

The secret to getting through any type of circumstance is to know Him. I mean really know Him. The deeper you know Him, the easier it will be to walk through your circumstance. Trials come and go, hardships come and go, but the one thing that remains constant and faithful is our God.

Joshua 1:8 says, "Study this Book of instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do."

I cannot tell you, how important it is to spend time in Gods Word. His Word is our lifeline. It has everything that we need to make it on a daily basis and every instruction on how to overcome and handle any situation.

When you know His promises to you, its easier to walk out whatever you are facing.

To be intimate with God means getting into His Word daily, meditating on it and allowing His word to penetrate straight to your heart, taking you deeper and showing you a side of Him that can only be seen by seeking Him.

You cant fully trust a person to lead and guide you, if you hardly know them.

God has given us everything that we need to follow Him and to get through this crazy thing called life. He has equipped us with His Word and has left us with His Holy Spirit.

Friends, I don't know what you are facing, what you are needing answers on, or if you are needing guidance in a certain area, but I promise if you get out His Word and seek Him, He will make your paths straight and show you what you are needing. Don't be afraid to dust off the pages and get to know Him.

I promise that when you seek Him, He will be found.

When you know His Word and are obedient to what it says, it will produce blessings.

Know Him. Know His Word.

His promises are your promises for everything you will ever need.

His Word is like a double edge sword.

As we near Easter, I invite you to get out your Bible and get to know our Savior. The one who gave His life for you and called you His.

Chosen

I find myself more and more like Jonah than I care to admit.

I've ran. I've hid. I've disqualified myself from thinking that God cant use me. I've been fearful. I've let pride consume parts of me that I never thought was possible, and on several occasions, I have just plain refused to do what God has asked for no better reason than laziness.

Does this sound familiar?

Here we have a man named Jonah, who, lets be honest and say that God is trusting to deliver a mighty big word of His to the Ninevites, and for probably reasons of insecurity, trust, pride, selfishness, fear, and disagreement he runs from God. I mean, Jonah knows God is asking him to do something extraordinary and somehow Jonah thinks that if he goes far enough, God wont find him and God will just ask someone else to do it right?

Wrong.

See the thing about God is, He doesn't need us. God chooses us. God wants us.

God had a specific purpose and a specific reason why He chose Jonah. Its the same for you and I, friends. God doesn't need us. God wants us. God is wanting one of us to just raise our hands and surrender our all to Him and be used completely by Him to build His kingdom.

God has to bring tests, trials and hardships into our lives to sustain us, to make us stronger, to equip us, to mold and shape us to be more like Him. That's what this life is about. Its about being like Him, being ambassadors for the kingdom of God. Its not going to be easy, and its not going to be fun at times, but are we really here for our own comforts and conveniences or are we here for what God is doing?

To whom much is given, much is required.

Its not about the fish, its about God.

It doesn't matter, how messed up and broken we are, its not about what our past has been like, or the person that we use to be, God can still use us. He wants to use us. God wants to turn the mess of our lives into a message, to redeem people. There are people out there that need to know where you have come from and the person who turned your life around.

What man says is impossible, God says is possible.

If He calls you, He will equip you. Sisters, we don't have to be afraid or fear that if God gives us an assignment, that He wont be there with us. If He has called you to it, He will move heaven and earth to accomplish that very thing, great or small, until its completed. Stop disqualifying yourself, because God sees you as capable, trustworthy and as the right person for the job. The very thing that you think disqualifies you from something will be the very thing that will qualify you.

Its not about the fish. Its about God.

Your own pride, will tell you that you cant, and will limit you from doing what you have been called to do.

Even in the storm, God still chose to use Jonah. God showed His great hand of mercy and goodness to the others on the ship, and even out of Jonah's disobedience, God still showed up. We are going to have good days and bad days, but don't underestimate the power of God and what He is capable of doing.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

 



 Don't disqualify yourself, because you don't think you are good enough. God is saying He has commanded YOU to for HIS glory to accomplish something great for His kingdom. He's assigned it and He is saying "Don't be afraid. Don't be discouraged, because wherever you go, I will be there with you." When you have to tell the woman with three kids she has cancer, He is right there with you. When you have to tell your best friend they are living in sin or they are being cheated on, He is there with you. When you have to say goodbye to a loved one or bury your child, He is there with you. When you get laid off from your job, He is there with you. When your husband leaves, He is there with you. When you get put on the sidelines for a season, He is there with you. He is always there with you, in all things.

 

Whatever your circumstance and whatever He is asking you to do, He is there with you. You aren't doing this journey alone sisters.

 

You are qualified to do just as God is calling. Even when it doesn't make sense, God is still choosing you, and will continue to choose you and want you till the very end. He loves you enough to let you never stay the same, and to play a part for His glory.

 

You have been chosen.

Chosen by our creator.

What an incredible honor that is!

FOURTEEN Months

Age:14 Months

 

 

Birthday: January 15, 2013

 

 

Height: 29 3/4 inches

 

 

Weight: 18.5 pounds

 

 

Sleep: We are gaining some ground! Most of the time you are sleeping through the night and waking up between 5/6 to eat and then lately you sleep till about 9/10. Depending on how late you wake up determines how the day goes. If you are up at 8/8:30 you go down two hours after waking up for about a two hour nap then up for 3-4 hours and back down for another 2 hour nap. If you wake up late you get one nap usually around 2/2:30 and sleep for 2-3 hours. You are doing lots better!!

 

 

Bedtime: 8:30/9

 

 

Favorite Toy: Ducky bath, legos, blocks, basket, stuffed duck {you're obsessed with ducks} and anything in the cabinets you can get your hands on!

 

 

Clothes Size: 6 months, 6-9 months and some 9 month stuff

 

 

Diaper Size: Size 3

 

 

Milestones Reached:

 

 

*Saying "Thank you"

 

 

*Saying "Cookie"

 

 

*Saying "Cracker"

 

 

*Signing "Please"

 

 

*Climbing up on the furniture and basically everything else you think you can climb

 

 

*Telling us what a Chicken says

 

 

*Telling us what a Bird says

 

 

*FIRST PONY TAIL!!!!

 

 

*Drumming! I see a future drummer on our hands!

 

 

*You are listening well. When we ask you to do something or bring us something, you are normally right on it

 

 

*Saying "hi"

 

 

*Saying "yeah"

 

 

*Saying and showing "1"

 

 

Firsts:

 

*We took you to Toys-r-us and for 2 hours you never stopped. You had the best time of your life! We will be going back :)

 

 

*hitting your head on something and biting when we tell you "no:

 

 

*Sidewalk chalk

 

 

*LOVE bubbles

 

*You got to feed a Giraffe and loved every minute of it

 

*Playing Piano

 

 

*Blankie doesn't ever leave your site

 

*When you are excited or mad you throw your paci

 

*Love hiding everything

 

 

*LOVE "If you're happy and you know it"

 

*Really like checking the mail

 

*Going through Daddy withdrawls. You cry when he leaves

 

 

*Giving Harley treats is a favorite

 

*You get scared of loud noises or things you don't like and run to Mom or Dad

 

*If you could spend everyday outside you would

 

 

*Allergies to pollen

 

*You figured out how to smash fruit--makes a mess!

 

*Nursing more than normal

 

 

Best Mood: Mornings typically because you cant wait to see Harley and try to look for Dadda. Saturdays are super fun because Daddy gets you up and makes pancakes you just love every minute

 

 

Best Moments: Everything! This age is super fun and has been my favorite! You love to giggle and be tickled and right before nap time you love to "get" mommy and its so fun just hearing you get so happy about it! You are learning lots and its a blast getting to watch you develop!

 

 

Worst Moments: I left the back door open and turned around and you had taken yourself outside and even though I was right there, it scared me so bad! You were just fine playing with your toys, but Mommy was scared to death!

 

 

Paisley Sunshine:

 

Are we really at FOURTEEN months!? How the heck did we get here within a blink of an eye?? You are one opinionated girl and sometimes so independent. You are growing rapidly and changing day by day. You are learning more than I can even teach you, and its been so fun watching you grow up! You know what you like and what you don't like, and you make it very clear. You are full of expressions and you wear exactly how you are feeling on your sleeves. You take after mommy in that sense. You are a funny girl. You have your daddys sense of humor. I am the most blessed mommy to get to be home every day to take care of you and not miss out on one single moment. We hardly ever leave you, and I am so ok with that. We have way too much fun together and as a family. Our lives are you. I am not sure what we ever did without you! We have lots of fun things coming up and I cant wait to experience those with you! Daddy is almost out of school and look out summer because we are going to take you by storm! So much is up a head for you baby girl! Thank you for being such a sweet spirited girl! I am glad that I get to call you mine :)

 

I love you and always and forever!

 

Momma

 

 

 

 



Never Forgotten

 

I am joining She Reads Truth for the #SheSharesTruth challenge.

 

Ever feel like you had messed up so bad that God couldn't forgive you?

 

I have.

 

In this 38th Psalm, David is feeling this way too. He is reminding God that even though his sins are great and he is in this deep state of depression and despair, he is asking God why He had forsaken him and not to be angry with him.

 

Sin. It has a way of making us hit rock bottom, and overtaking us with a heavy weight of shame. It might keep us away from Christ for a period of time, but the power of sin also draws us closer and helps us to realize the great need we have for our Savior.

 

Sin leads us to do the craziest things.

 

Im sure that you can relate.

 

There have been times in my life, that I have made some pretty poor decisions that have left me feeling so dirty and disgusted that I have believed the lies of the enemy and have let my relationship with God fall through the cracks instead of running to Him.

 

This is what David did. David made a few many bad decisions with Bathsheba that kept him from God and kept him from receiving the fullness of the blessings of God.

 

We trip ourselves up, we keep ourselves from the blessings of God and we wallow in our self destruction. Its sad isn't it?

 

Despite how we may feel, God says regardless of what you have done, and regardless of how you might feel about yourself, Come.

 

Come just as you are, broken, scarred, completely messed up, dirty, shameful, whatever, and let me give you a fresh start and a new outlook on life.

 

Friends, He died on a cross for us. He wiped away every transgression, every bit of uncleanliness, every bit of shame and called us His children. He forgave us.

 

He didn't call us to be perfect. He called us to need Him, to run to Him when we mess up and to ask for His forgiveness. His love for you, and for me, casts out every ounce of our shame. He knew we would mess up and that's why He offers His forgiveness no matter how great or how little it is. Its all the same in His eyes.

 

Romans 8:1-2 says: "With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death." {The Message}

 

You are freed. You are free.

 

He isn't a God of anger and one who stays angry. He may discipline us for a moment, but more than anything He desires to love you and to walk with you day in and day out. There is absolutely nothing that could keep you from Him, or keep you from receiving His grace.

 

Run to Him. He longs to embrace you wholeheartedly.

Whatever it is that keeps you from receiving God's total grace and love, don't let the enemy win. God has already given you the victory and the power over sin.

 

Walk in His grace and His unmerited favor towards you.

 

You are loved.