What Should Jayden Be For Halloween?

I already have decided what Jayden is going to wear this year. But before my mom bought him the cute monkey outfit he was going to be Robin!

I think he looks pretty darn cute in both outfits…

What do you think?! ;)

He looks much happier in the outfit he’s NOT going to be wearing…

Jayden's 2nd Birthday Party!

Jayden’s 2nd Birthday party was a blast! Spongbob themed and so much fun! It turned out way better then I expected it too. Here are a few pictures from that day!

Happy Birthday Little Man

Today my little boy turns two. After two years, I still remember what today was like, as though it was just yesterday. I remember who was there, what people were wearing, the smells and each contraction that brought me closer to seeing my little man. I’m amazed at how quickly the time has flown by and how amazing he is becoming. In two years he has transformed from this tiny little thing, so fragile and meek, into this little man that is full of fire and joy.

For Jayden’s first birthday I wrote him a letter that I ended up speaking over him so that he could hear the words from my lips. Though he did not understand and probably won’t for at least a few more years; I know that every word spoken was burned into his spirit and that he knows that his mommy had blessed him. As I read over last year’s letter I’m stumped at what I should write this year. Everything I said last year is what I want to continue speaking over him and into his life.

So, though it’s not creative I feel like I need to proclaim last year’s letter and speak it yet again over my son. I will change a few things, but my prayer is still the same for him now and always will be. I felt my letter was strong and spoke deeply of a mother’s love toward her son and my hopes and dreams for his future. This blessing I will pray every year over Jayden.

My Little One,

Another year has passed and yet again, I want to be the first to bless you. You are a joy and a blessing and an amazing gift from God. I pray that God guides me to raise you well and that you will be the man that God has destined you to be. I pray that you will have a passion for the Lord like no other. I pray that you will stand out amongst the rest and be a leader for your generation and shake the nation. I pray that you will be a history maker and do amazing and powerful things for the Lord. I pray that you will stand up for what is right and speak against what is wrong and give a voice to those that have none. I pray for honor and humility. I pray for truth to run from your lips and that you will have a wise and discerning spirit. I pray that you will hear the Lord always and He will be the one to guide you through life.

I pray for good, fruitful friends in your life, who will not only help you grow into the man you will become, but will also build you up and encourage you in your walk with the Lord. I pray for your wife... (My heart is screaming). I pray that she will complete you in every way. I pray that it will not take long to find her and when you do, I pray that you will love, cherish and honor her all the days of your life. I pray that you truly understand what a covenant is and how to faithfully honor your family in everything you do. I pray for blessings on your children and your children's children. I prayerfully stand in firm opposition against all generational curses and I pray tenfold for all the generational blessings. (We are a blessed family!) I pray that you will bear fruit wherever you go and from that blessings will flow.

Jeremiah 29:11-13 says ”For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jayden, this blessing is true and comes from the depths of my heart. Remember to put all your trust in God and all your faith in Him and He will direct your life; He will get you through it. When you feel at times you need to give up, He will then pick you up and carry you the rest of the way!! When your father and I fail you (which we will) God will be there because He will never fail you. With God you can do anything... become anything. I am so blessed to be your mother and honored that God trusted me enough to care for you and help guide you into the man you will one day become. I’m overjoyed to be on this journey with you and I can’t wait to see the plans He has for you.

You are my son and I will love you, always and forever.

Happy 2nd birthday Jayden, I love you!

Mommy

Looks Just Like Daddy

A good blog friend of mine, Jennifer was writing about what her future kids were going to look like and then posted a young picture of her husband. I laughed and told her to just wait because my little guy looks like his father and it might just be the same with her. Who knows!?!

Jayden looks so much like his father! Jesse has a picture of himself from when he was 2 or 3 up in our attic. Even when Jayden sees it, he points to it and says “jay-jay!” It’s hysterical. Even when my BFF saw it she was shocked by the similarities. Jayden most definitely has A LOT of his father in him; but I don’t mind one bit because he is such a cutie! I mean, just look at them…

What about you?
If you have children now, who do they look most like? If you don’t have children, who would you like them to look most like?

Scarf Swap

Thank you Hannah for my beautiful scarf!

What Next

As one journey close another one begins
Trying desperately to let go of all of my sins
Uneasy of what the future may hold
I’m scared to repeat and watch this unfold

Am I ready to do this, am I ready to be?
I feel like I’m still stuck here trying to see
Moving on seemed to be the hardest part
But something tells me; there’s something more to come from this heart

I may not feel strong enough to carry this load
But as I trust you I will humbly walk this road
Lead me, guide me, and show me the way
To love and to nurture and always obey

You know my heart and have seen the depths of my soul
Now show me what I must do to accomplish this goal
Hand and hand, I know that you’ll walk me through
A gift from heaven, Lord I thank you.

Silent Sunday

A Heart for Africa

My BFF is a full time missionary, her life’s goal is to serve the Lord and love people with all her heart. I am so proud of who she has become and where God has called her to be. Her giftings are amazing, as well as plentiful, and they have certainly been put to work. Susan has been to Zambia (which is in South Central Africa) quite a few times and has such a heart for the people there. Each times she visits she falls more and more in love with the people and their country.

She has done much in Africa from helping build community, to helping create jobs as well as facilitating many other projects that are going on. During her last visit, she went to a Zambian Deaf School. While walking through she took notice that though the children had bunk beds, they did not have mattresses. These children were just sleeping on wood boards. Being compassionate and driven person that she is… she wanted to do something about it (You can read her story here).

Here is your chance to get involved and bless a little child in Africa with a comfortable place to lay their head at night. It’s not much and every little bit counts. They need 38 mattresses and each mattress only cost $35; bringing the grand total about $1330. We are almost there, but we can still use all the help we can get.

Galatians 6:7-8 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” If you feel led to give to this noble cause and see that each child gets blessed with a new mattress, click below on the "chip-in" icon and it will take you through the donation process.



Thank you so much for your donation – If you have donated please let me know commenting so I can thank you more formally. What a blessing you are, by choosing to bless others!

The Philadelphia Zoo

Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs

I’m stunned; no, shocked how I pretty much fail at each of the types of love that God commands us to walk in. I felt like I would be good at one of these love commands, but each one goes deeper, to the most inner parts of my soul, and shows me how much I really suck at loving. I am beginning to realize how selfish an unloving I can be toward especially towards the people I care about most. It’s funny in a way, because sometimes the people you are closest to are the ones you end up whacking the hardest with your insensitivity.

Those who know me well can attest that I never forget anything. I have a mind like an elephant, so they say, and I can list every hurtful thing you’ve ever done to me. I know what you must be thinking, who would want to live like that?! Trust me when I say, I have NO FREAKING clue because I hate to remember things!! You did something to me 5 years ago and I’ll be able to name what you did and even how you said it, to hurt my feelings. I unfortunately really do NOT walk in keeping no records of wrong.

I seem to always remember both the big and little things that felt like a jab at who I am as a person. I sure wish I could forget the time in 6th grade when a bunch of 8th graders made fun of my clothes and shoes and said that I dressed like a penguin, since at the time I wore white shirts and black 80’s jeans all the time. What I was thinking in wearing that? I don’t know, it doesn’t really matter… but I can’t seem to forget the hurt it caused; since then I’ve never worn black jeans again. I can remember situations with a long distance relative that still get me annoyed, making it difficult to speak to them, even to this day. I can remember everyone in my youth group being mad at me for no good reason because the “popular “ girl said I wasn’t cool enough and how it made me feel so alone. I can remember the first time I met my sister-in-love and how we both gave dirty looks to one another; or how my other sister-in-law punched me because she was so mad. But the worst thing I keep record of is my husband’s infidelity. I want nothing more than to let it go and let us live our lives as new. But I still have a tendency to bring this “wrong” back on record and not love him as Jesus tells me to.

Digging deeper I realized this verse has a few different translations; whether you see it as no record of wrongs (NIV), love is not resentful (RSV) or look at it as simply that love holds no grudges (LB), I’m sure that we can all recall something we’ve held against someone and continued to reminded them of their failures. For me, I need to let the little things go and release the people that have repented free of this “judgment” that I have placed upon them. I must not bring up past failures and live in today and the promises that God gives us each day. Switchfoot has a song, “Dare You to Move,” that hits the nail on the head regarding this very thing. Moving on and living life as though the hurts of yesterday never happened. God, dare me to move!

Switchfoot - dare you to move
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Where-oh-Where Have I been?

I have seriously been MIA from the blog world lately. Though it stinks to be so behind, I believe it has been a good thing for me to take a break from it and get all my priorities in order. I love writing, I have a passion for it and someday I want to do something more with it. I want to touch people’s lives through my words and show them that they aren’t alone through life’s struggles and challenges, along with it’s joys and successes, but I believe that I have taken this dream and focused much of my energy in the wrong direction.

Unfortunately I feel that a lot of the blogging I have done has been done for the wrong reasons. During the past three months I have lost my way and have become selfish and prideful over my blog. I have made some pretty dumb choices along the way and I most certainly have reaped the consequences of some of them. I have slammed head on to a path that has not been focused on the more important priorities in my life and I most certainly feel the repercussion of taking that selfish road and not being obedient to God’s voice.

Through this season, I’m learning that pride is a dangerous path to walk. When I walk down that road I am trusting on my own abilities rather than trusting the in Father’s. I also find that I come to regard other people with contempt and disrespect rather then seeing them as my equal and created in God’s image (2 Philippians 2:3). My pride has exposed a weakness I have. This is not who I want to be; I want to walk down the road of righteousness and know that what I have done has been only to glorify God (Matthew 23:12).

So with all of that said my dear friends and blogger buddies, I felt it was necessary to step away from blogging for just a little while since it was what has been monopolizing so much of my time and focus these past few months. For those that truly read my blog because you are genuinely interested in it and may even feel inspired by it at times, I thank you. You are the ones that make me love writing and inspire me to expand more as a writer. My heart isn’t to share the “all about me” parts of my life, but the moments where even I have to look back and challenge myself on something I have written.

Proverbs 15:33, “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.” So I must lay down my pride, start walking in humility and trusting that God will walk with me, yet again, through this season. Continue to undo me Lord…