Priorities

I haven't blogged in a few days due to all of the stuff Hans and I have been busy with.

I had another ephiphany today. I am very glad I know what my priorities are.

1. God
2. Husband
3. Children
4. Parents & Family
5. Work (Day Job)
6. And business

I witness other people, however, take their god-given talents and use them for their own selfish purposes. They take #1, and shove it way down below everything else.

It is their own personal struggle, however, it ceases to amaze me that for a spiritual baby, I know more about what my priorities are then people who have grown up in a spritual setting. Why, I am not sure. All I know is, I will never put my work or business before my family or my children. and certaintly not ahead of the Man himself.

Recently, my husband started his photography business. He has had great success with it while growing in his profession as well as growing spiritually. Never once though, has he put his business, or his profession over me, the girls, or family. He will not let that happen. He has taught me a valuable lesson in life, and that is the importance of the family relationship. He's very wise for his young age. :)

God however, still remains his and my top priority. We have committed to our church our time, money, and faith to watch our pastor and his wife build the church God has called them to do. They are wonderful people, and I can' t imaging growing in my faith anywhere but with them.

The point of my post today is that at one point in my life, I did have my priorities twisted. But I can't imagine being where I am today without knowing whats truly important in my life.

What, Me Worry?

I've always been a very anxious person, like to have a clear understanding of things. That "everything is black or white" mentality. I've struggled with impatience most of my life, not willing to just let things be as they will be. In high school, I was a freshman who wanted to be a senior. After high school, I wanted to have a high paying sucessful career, right off the bat. As an adult, I still find myself struggling with the "gray area" of life, and the "not knowing".

However, yesterday I had an epiphany. If you are constantly worried about what the future holds, then your less likely to enjoy the moment of the present time. Here is an interesting quote that I have posted on my desk at work:

"One day at a time--this is not enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful, its worth remembering."

I've done really good with letting go of the past, but it really makes you think about the present and the fact that at any given point in time, we could leave this Earth, and join our father in heaven. So why not make your present moments, so beautiful that when you think about the past, you think about these wonderful moments. And that you don't worry about what the future brings. Recently, I began reading the book of Isaiah in preparation for a women's bible study I am joining for the summer. A passage that struck out at me:

"Don't be like this people, always afraid somebody is plotting against them. Don't fear what they fear. Don't take on their worries. If you are going to worry, worry about the Holy. Fear God." Isaiah 8:12-13

Today, as I type this blog, I am putting all of my fear, worry, anxiety in God. I have faith that what is to be, will be and what is not to be, will not be. I will focus on enjoying my spritual journey, my marriage, learning my new hobby, and enjoying my children, who one day, will inevitably be on their own and not with me anymore. Its a valuable lesson we can all learn from our daily lives.

Addiction

I am finding this blogging to be quite addictive. What is it that drives us to addiction? I have fought off alot of addictions in my life. But it seems, everytime one goes away, I find a new one. People with addictive personalities tend to switch to other enjoyable activities when deprived of the opportunity to participate in the original addiction.

The difference tho between THEN and NOW is that I choose to only be addicted to things that will positively affect my life as opposed to negatively. I've chosen to be addicted to Christ, to learning the truth written in the bible. Also, I am choosing, oddly, to be addicted to sewing and crocheting, as dorky as that sounds, it is such a positive outlet for the stresses I experience throughout the day and I have made some good friends in the process of learning.

I recently found myself getting quite addicted to Facebook. Why? Because its some alternative world to our own reality? What ends up happening is you see the varying emotions and moods of all of your friends day in and day out. At any given point, you will know what your friends have done, what they have eatin, when they go to the bathroom, when they go to bed, etc. etc. . Its almost like information overload. Its hard enough that we have to manage a daily routine ourselves, let alone all of your friends on Facebook. So now, I have cut myself to only looking at it once a day, because any more than that is just too much.

Some closing thoughts/scripture:
Rom. 14:23 - "whatever is not of faith is sin"

Thank you all for reading my posts. God Bless.

Big Girls and Boo-Boos

Kayla received a new Hello Kitty Big Girl Bike from Grandpa Tom. Within the first five minutes, she was riding so FAST, that she fell to the side and scraped her knee yesterday. :) So excited to be a big girl! She's growing so fast, Hans and I were looking at pictures of her as a baby last night. How does a little girl grow so fast?

Aleah is now growing like a weed too. Her 20" bike is almost two small for her, she's growing out of her shoes AGAIN.........I told her she must make them last until the summer, where I will slap flip-flops on her for the next 10 weeks!

Kayla's new bike also sports a little baby carrier for her favorite dolly. Kayla is such a MOM. Always wanting to take care of us and ask "Are you ok", or "Do you want me to rub your head to make your headache go away?" She will make an awesome mom some day, and maybe a big sister soon too. :)

Kayla Bug Is Four!!

Its amazing, looking at my sweet baby girl, who today, turned four. Oh, how time flies when you are having fun. This girl however, has had a lot of life experiences in her short life. She is a beautiful little lady. She makes me want to smile more, laugh more, and cuddle more. So affectionate, so smart, so in love with her family.

I still think about the accident last September from time to time, amazingly enough she has been in the pool numerous times since it happened, and is well on her way to being a strong swimmer. Today may not have come, if it werent for the angels in heaven watching down on us. Thanks Grandma, I knew you were watching over us on that night. (A whole other blog subject).

Today, she is now on a big girl bike. Today, she is learning how much Jesus really loves her and all of us. I am so proud of her. Words cannot express the love for my daughter, I can't wait to see her grow until a strong young woman.

She is prepping for her big shindig on Saturday! Only kids get to celebrate their birthday ALL WEEK long. :)

Ok, I think I will start a blog.

So, I've had the opportunity to read some blogs from well, AMAZING ladies. So I thought, why not give it a try? At any given moment, I can have 20 things on my mind, and according to some, blogging is like an online journal. What a great way to get these racing thoughts out of my mind and into something for everyone, including myself to read.

So why title my blog, "Journal of a Newly Found Woman of Christ". Well, to put it out there, me and Jesus did not actually meet, until a few years ago. Not that I didn't have faith before then, I just didn't FEEL or KNOW the experience of having a personal relationship with Christ. Since then, things are looked at in a completely different perspective. Things I have learned in this relationship with HIM.

1. Its not about me. I must be giving of myself, I must be selfless.
2. I need to listen more
3. My children are my legacy, I need to leave good ethics, morals, and values behind, so that they can share that with their children.
4. He has put people in my life for a reason. I must learn as much as I can from the relationships I have.

So what am I planning on blogging about? Lots of stuff! Here's the short list:

My awesome hubby
The girls
The Greatest Mom in the World
L'Esprit Photography (The Biz)
Sewing & Crocheting
My Spiritual Lessons
Lessons from Friends

Well, I must be getting back to business. Ta-Ta for NOW!