Family Traditions at Christmas Time

Last year I turned into one of those crazy people who decorates their tree before Thanksgiving and I must say I loved it!  I like to spend Thanksgiving weekend with family relaxing and hanging out and I used to do my decorating Thanksgiving weekend.  So when I decorated before Thanksgiving last year I quickly realized how nice it was to truly relax during the holiday.  So this year I did the same, and I must say I probably won't go back.  I'm not crazy, I'm just practical :) 

I have found that having a child in the house really does make the Christmas season so much more exciting.  For a long time I think I was in a funk with Christmas.  It stressed me out and quite honestly I really didn't like it much (the craziness of the holiday itself, not the reason for it!)  So this year during our decorating we set out to find some of our own traditions.  We turned on some old 1950's style Christmas cartoons from Netflix.  Dave and I drank wine and I made Abbie a "special drink."  I haven't had hot chocolate in the house in ages so I warmed up some milk with some french vanilla creamer and used a candy cane as a stir stick.  I was all proud of myself for my creativeness....Abbie tasted it and proceeded to spit it out.  I completely forgot how much the girl hates drinking anything sweet.  Give her cakes, cookies, brownies and she will just keep asking for more, but sweet drinks....flat out refuses any of them.  Oh well it was the thought that counted and she thought the candy cane used for stirring was pretty awesome.  

Dave made us a fire to enjoy while we watched cartoons and sipped our drinks.  We took turns putting up decorations and ornaments on the tree and then I believe I took over because Abbie started throwing my childhood ornaments on the floor and breaking them :) 

A little while later we put together our Operation Christmas Child boxes.  You may remember my post on Acts of Service where I mentioned Operation Christmas Child.  It's a really amazing program.  You select an age group for a boy or girl and purchase things for them.  Your box can include toiletries candy, toys, socks, etc.  We had fun shopping for ours.  Although we chose to purchase for a girl Abbie's age so I had a hard time explaining to her that these toys weren't for her but to give to someone else who didn't get all the special things she does.  I'm sure she'll understand someday.  We were still able to keep a strict budget on our giving for this because we found pretty much everything we needed at the Dollar Store:  dress up stuff, teddy bear, doll, crayons, candy, toiletries  play-dough and I can't remember what else we put in there but I do know it was overflowing and I almost had to sit on it to keep it shut :) 

So in short, though our family is still new and just in the beginning stages of starting traditions, here are the ones we've started so far/or are in the process of beginning.

Christmas Traditions

1. Decorate the tree/house the weekend before Thanksgiving- watch classic Christmas movies (eventually may have to be a family vote) while decorating with a fire in the fireplace, hot chocolate, special snacks someday maybe?
2. Make a special Christmas breakfast together every year on Christmas morning (since Dave is a chef he loves to make pastries and all kinds of delicious goodies.  We both love the idea of prepping our Christmas breakfast together as a family the night before and then have a special treat to eat together on Christmas morning.
3. Operation Christmas child or donating/buying presents to another needy cause.  
4. Christmas concert- we went to one last year and it was a lot of fun.  Abbie had a good time and she did really well even as an 8 month old. 
5. Drive around at look at Christmas lights while drinking hot chocolate/coffee and listening to Christmas carols.  Growing up our town had luminaries all over on a certain night before Christmas so you drive around and see all the pretty lights.  A town near ours does a Christmas Lights Festival.  We didn't go last year but I would like to do something cause Abbie loves the Christmas lights so much!
6. Acts of Service Manger- I'll post a DIY post on how to make one in the future but the basic idea is when someone in your home does something nice for another person without asking they get to put a piece of "straw" in the manger to help make a bed for when baby Jesus comes.  Then on Christmas morning our manger will be there and baby Jesus will finally be in it.

And here is one I enjoyed as a child but I am not sure if/how we will incorporate them:

1. Christmas Eve church service (with small children it's past their bedtime so I am not sure how to make this happen.

Random side note....can I just tell you how adorable it is to see Abbie with the Christmas decorations?  She learned really quickly that things break easily and we have to be very careful and not touch any unless we ask mommy.  She is obsessed with one ornament on our tree (mostly because I made it really funny for her)....and that is a wooden gingerbread man that my sister made me when she was in college.  I taught Abbie the "Run run as fast as you can.  You can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man" song and she loves it.  She will start dancing all over near the tree and start running around the house.  We at least have to do this several times a day :)

Do you have any favorite Christmas traditions in your home?  Also I'm interested....how does your family balance the Santa present giving mania with a more faith based Christmas focus while still giving gifts?  I'm not sure how I want to handle this as Abbie gets older but I do want to respect other parents choices for how they handle Santa and the Christmas Story in their own homes.  Thoughts?

Blessings,

How to Make a Themed Christmas Tree

Growing up in a family with 5 children we had a hodge podge of ornaments on our tree every year.  We had ornaments we made in school, and ornaments my parents or other family members gave us.  I don't remember ever thinking our tree wasn't pretty.  As a child I think you just delight in the wonder that is Christmas, but as an adult, for my own family's tree I knew I wanted something a little more Martha Stewart.  Now, I am not even close to being comparable to Martha Stewart, but I have been known to be crafty and creative, and frugal in doing so.  So, today in honor of all of my readers who will be decorating for Christmas in their own homes over the next few weeks, I share a few of my own tips on:

How to Make a Themed Christmas Tree

1. Set up tree stand and your tree as usual- you can do this with a fake tree, real tree, or even a really a really old tree (don't go buying a new one if you can't afford one...you can still make an old tree look awesome!)
2. Hang your lights on your tree (PS for all you 1st time Christmas Tree decorators- if you are using old lights please plug them in first to make sure your strand works and if they don't work well I'm going to have to refer you on to another bloggers article on how to revive old Christmas Lights...I give it about 5 minutes tops of messing with the bulbs before I toss them and get a new set (buy them on clearance after Christmas and that's a convenience I don't mind spending money on!)
3. Next hang your themed Christmas tree decor.  For example I bought blue, silver, and white balls on clearance when we first got married (day after Christmas clearance sales...it was so long ago I might have bought them before Christmas which was dumb if I did it full price...at any rate at least wait for a 40% off Christmas decoration sale!).  I still use them and I love them.  I spread those out all over my tree  (try to space them out evenly and put different colors next to each other instead of an area where there is all one color and none of the other color).  I also purchased little plastic,  glittery snowflakes.  Those go all over the tree dispersed around the colored decor next. 
4. Next, I hang my topper.  I always use a bow that I've made with coordinating colors to my Christmas tree decorations. (Again buy ribbon on sale after Christmas for next years tree, or roll it back up again and use it again next year).  Some people use ribbon going around the tree horizontally.  I let mine hang from my bow topper vertically (see picture below)

This is a picture of our tree before I added any of our nostalgic ornaments to it (notice also that I made my ribbon hang vertically)

Here is a picture from a magazine I found online of how to use ribbon horizontally on your tree:

My husband and I both have some ornaments from our childhood as well as ornaments we have added to the mix now that we are our own family that we also put on our tree.  I love these sentimental ornaments!  Each one brings back so many memories.  Without the "color theme" our childhood ornaments are just scattered on a tree without focus.  I like organized.  I like pretty.  I like lovely, and adding a color theme to your Christmas tree does just that.  You can still make your tree look lovely and keep your sentimental ornaments (yes even the overly glittery ugly one from 1st grade!) The bow and colored decorations pull everything together and turn an unorganized mess of sentimental ornaments into a pretty, stylish, almost Martha Stewart looking tree....I'll emphasize the almost :)   Personalize your tree to your taste and your budget.  Your theme doesn't have to even be about a specific color although coordinating colors will help make your tree be appealing to the eye and tie everything together.  Your theme could be about your favorite hobby:  hunting, animals, wildlife, travel, etc.  Get creative and make your tree be a reflection of you, or your family!  

Happy Decorating!

Guest Host for Mommy Moments: A Blog Hop!!

Hey everyone!

I'm guest hosting today with a Blog Hop called "Mommy Moments."  I've met some pretty cool blogging friends through their link up and today I'm honored to be hosting with them!  If you've never done a link up I encourage you to try it today.  It's a great way to find new blogs that you like, and make new friends on your own blog.  Just follow the instructions below.  I'll be back later this week with a post I'm super excited about on a few tips on decorating your Christmas tree Martha Stewart style.  Oh and by the way...check out my new social media buttons in my right side bar.  I designed them myself.  I don't think they look to shabby for my little to no graphic design skillz!  Be sure to join me on all of my social media accounts as well!  Now go get blog hoppin!

Blessings!

Welcome back for another week of Mommy Moments Monday Blog Hoppin'!  
Did you all have a great Thanksgiving? I hope you have some great memories from the day to share with us!

A sincere thank you to all of you who link up so faithfully every week. I wish I could visit every one of your links, but time just won't allow it:( I know you are all making some new friends and learning lots of great mothering tips and tricks through this link up! I know I am!

The top viewed link from last week belongs to one of my personal favorites and our very own co-host, Megan from The Mrs! Megan shared with us last week The Truth About Madison's Birth Day.

Madison had a C-section birth and Megan shares the truth of how she felt about it. Megan is so honest and real in this post and I know many moms will be encouraged through her genuineness. Above all, I love Megan's reminder from her husband that God works ALL things together for the good of those who love him. So true! Thank you for sharing sweet Megan!

 Now, let's get this party started!
To link up, just...

1. Follow Host: The Life Of Faith 

and Co-Hosts: Monkeys and Tutus, The Not Quite Military Wife, and The Mrs. 
and this week's guest host: Bridget from Full House, Full Home

2. Link up your post!
Post can include anything related to mommy-hood, children, homemaking, pregnancy etc. If you aren't a mom yet, feel free to link up your preparation for motherhood, your journey as you try to conceive, or even a post that would be encouraging to the other moms in the party!

3. Add the Mommy Moments button to your post or blog so everyone knows where you are linking up!

<div align="center"><a href="http://the-life-of-faith.blogspot.com//search/label/baby" title="The Life Of Faith"><img src="http://i1114.photobucket.com/albums/k537/faithkonrath/mommymomentsbutton.jpg" alt="The Life Of Faith" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

4. Explore some of the other posts in the link-up and say hello to some new blog friends! 

5. Tweet or Share the link up on Facebook so we can all make even more friends!

Tweet

And that's all! Thanks for linking up:)

Colossians 3:17 
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Linking up with Mom's Monday Mingle, Mama Moments Monday, Monday's Musings, and The Better Mom Mondays

Delighting in Motherhood

The days are so full anymore.  If I'm not working, I am home.  If I am at home, I am balancing the call of motherhood with managing my home, and pursuing what God is calling me to in ministry and some days I just function.  It's not always pretty.  It's not always glorious but I stumble forward putting one foot in front of the other and I forget.  Forget to love.  Forget to enjoy.  Forget to breathe in these precious moments that God has blessed me with.  Then He asks me to stop.  To wait on Him.  To trust Him that when I rest, when I stop, when I do pause to breath in the moments that my to do list will still get done.  That He is big and He is able and He will not abandon me.  Work will still be there.  I will find time, but these precious hours when I am on the clock as "mama."  Those won't always be there.  She won't always need me quite as much, and right now when she needs me, I need to be present.  Not distant.  Not focused on something else.  

One of those moments happened last week.  I was working on cleaning up the kitchen after supper.  Dave was working that evening at his part time job, and all the sudden I heard giggles behind me as Abigail entered the kitchen.  Her big grin could have lit up a stage, and as I turned to look at her, her eyes danced and I just took her in.  There around her neck were her play necklaces from her stash of dress up clothes.  Every single one of them.  She was delighted.  I smiled and told her how pretty she looked, and paused for a moment to oohh and ahh.  I then turned around.  Proceeded to wash the dishes only to stop mere moments later.  I turned back around and I looked at her and said "Mama wants to play dress up too."   I took her tiny hand in mine and led her to our bedroom and watched her eyes light up as I handed her almost my entire stash of jewelry to try on as she wished.  I pulled out things I never wear.  Headbands, rings, necklaces, bracelets, things my grandma gave me and each one she took with pure joy.  I sat on the floor of my bedroom that night with my daughter.  My oldest daughter.  My only daughter.  My only child, and just delighted in her.  We sat there way past bedtime.  Took pictures of ourselves.  Smiled.  And laughed.  

I'm learning.  One step at a time I am learning.  Learning to balance.  Learning to laugh and love.  Learning that 40 years from now I won't for a moment regret that I stopped doing the dishes to play dress up with my little girl.  No, I am a mom, and what I do matters, and that will always come before any other job God calls me to.  

May each of you find joy even in the tiniest of moments with your children!  Do you have any fun stories to share of some of your favorite memories with your kids?  Please do, and if you can't think of one, then take a moment and really just delight in your children!  You won't regret it I promise!

I'm taking a break for the rest of the week to focus on my family and celebrate Thanksgiving with them.  I'll see you all next week!

Blessings,

Baked Breaded Pork Chops

About a month ago I found some pork chops on bargain sale (aka Krogers quick sale meats that are about to expire if not sold by tomorrow.  Did you know you can get meat in this area for typically 1/2 the price if not more and all you have to do is freeze it for future use?  Awesome!  I like meat but I hate the cost of it so count me in!  So I bought them and froze them to use for a meal in the future.  This week I decided to try to do something with them.  

Random side note...for those of you who don't know me from my former life I grew up on a hog farm.  So you'd think, that me, of all people would know what to do with a pork chop.  Confession....I don't have a clue.  I just ate the meat growing up.  I didn't ever have to cook it.  So after looking online for some ideas I decided to try making baked pork chops with breading and wow!  They did not fail to disappoint!  The chef was quite pleased with the results from my new found dinner idea, and I must confess I was pretty impressed that they were as delicious as they ended up being! 

Baked Breaded Pork Chops

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• splash of milk
• Bread crumbs
• Parmeasean
• Italian Seasoning
• Pork chops (how ever many you want)

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Beat up egg with splash of milk in bowl big enough to dip pork chops into.
3. Mix a 50:50 ratio of bread crumbs to grated parmeasean cheese, with 1 tbsp of Italian seasoning in separate bowl.  There really isn't a set amount of how much you need to mix together, but if you have a large family make sure you have enough "breading" to coat several pork chops.
4. I like to use one of my cookie cooling racks onto of a cookie sheet to bake things like this.  It makes them crispy on both sides.  Make sure to coat your cooking sheet and cooling rack with cooking spray for easy clean up later.
5. Once all pork chops have been dipped in the egg solution and breading, place on cookie sheet and into preheated oven for 25 minutes or until their internal temperature is at least 145 degrees F.

*For a little bit more tang you can dip the pork chops into dijon mustard instead of egg batter before placing in breading.  I've done this with chicken before and its delicious!

They turned out moist, and delicious!  And since I was out of bread crumbs I even got to learn how to make my own.  More on that in another post!  Another simple, frugal entree from my home to yours!

Bon Appetit!

Intentional Marriages: Date Night

Dave and I were recently discussing our date nights....wait a minute?  What date nights?  Oh they happened every now and again but most date nights were really just us laying on the couch watching reruns of our favorite TV show on Netflix   This isn't bad, but I can't say it was really us being intentional on nurturing our marriage.  Every couple is different so please don't think that our recipe is the recipe for everyone but I do encourage you to discuss and pray with your spouse on specifics for your marriage?  What do you need to do to connect with one another on a regular basis?  What would help you grow more closely together?  For us we decided that we wanted a Friday Night Date Night.  Now we have a small child so how does that work?  Well we are blessed to have a pair of grandparents down the street, and in other times of our marriage we have swapped date nights with people in our small group which worked out great also.  Oh and you also have to remember...I didn't say every Friday night would be spent on a date outside of our home....nope!  We decided we wanted to have 2 date nights outside of the home a month and 2 date nights in (if we can swing it but at least one date outside of the home!).  Abbie goes to bed at 7 so that means we can have our own date night after she goes to bed even when we are home!  So for last Fridays Date Night we chose to build a fire in the fireplace, treat ourselves to some French Press coffee and play chess (new secret about me I'm kind of a nerd at heart or maybe my husband turned me into one....before him I'd never even watched Star Wars or Lord of the Rings.

Two opposing sides:  I will say I was white (the more angelic of the two of us...ha!)

I proudly can say that I won.  That rarely happens.  Dave typically is pretty good at chess!  

Our date was delightful and fun and intentional, and so needed.  

Would you join us friends?  Would you challenge yourselves to pray together about what being intentional in your own marriages means and then do it?

Dating after having children is especially hard and you just have to make it a priority.  Our marriages are so important, even more important than being a mother or father to our child...so we must keep it a priority.  

So now....go pray!   And please share with the rest of us what you and your spouse decide, cause I'm sure it could be an encouragement to so many others!

Do you have any favorite date night ideas for in your home or outside of your home??

Blessings,

A Fitness Post

Excercise Tips:  Getting Started and How to Keep On Keeping On!!

Exercise is one of those things that I don't think any of us really love entirely.  Some people are obsessed with it, and at times I have been known to say "Wow that was a great run!" but love....associated with exercise  is not something that just comes naturally.  We need to work at it.    Even if we do grow to "love" exercise, I think that we each need to find a healthy sense of balance with it.  As Christians especially we need to find balance in our life priorities.  Yes we need to take care of ourselves, but at different seasons in our lives how much time we are able to devote to exercise will look differently.  Spend sometime praying about what God would like exercise to look like in your life.

1. Get some accountability- Find someone to be your workout buddy, or if you don't like to workout with others, like me, find someone who you can check in with daily (phone call, text, email) just so you can keep yourself on track.  Often times working out with someone else can make the time go faster and be more fun.  Taking a walk with another person, joining a fitness class, etc can be a part of your weekly fellowship routine.
2. Start small and make attainable goals- If you need to lose 50# then it isn't going to happen in a month.  Set small attainable goals, and larger long term goals.  You can tweak your progress along the way and change your goals as needed.  If you've never worked out before than don't start a new workout routine by working out for 1 hour 5 days a week.  You'll exhaust yourself!  Instead try working out for 20-30 minutes 2-3 times a week.  Get good at that first.  Then when you are consistently able to do that, increase your # of days, or length of workout time.
3. Put one foot in front of the other-  Some days you won't feel like working out.  You need to just press on.  What is holding you back?  Set your alarm for a little bit earlier, use your kids nap time, give yourself some me time after you or your hubby get home from work.  When I was early on in my pregnancy with Abbie I continued my close to normal exercise regimen with a few tweaks because I would lose my breath faster, and also was not supposed to do certain types of abdominal exercises due to issues you can cause while pregnant.  I was nauseous almost the entire pregnancy, and what I found odd is that even though I was nauseous and felt horrible especially in the early days, when I forced myself to exercise I always felt much better afterwards.  I had to push through the pain.
4. Find an exercise regimen you like-  Does your friend love running but you would rather die than run a mile?  Than don't choose running as your activity of choice.  That doesn't mean you shouldn't challenge yourself to try something new because you might surprise yourself, but especially in the early stages, find something you know you can commit to and do it.  As you reach these small goals you can challenge yourself to even bigger goals...maybe even running a marathon someday!  I personally enjoying running.  I alternate my running days with fitness videos like Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred and Insanity.  So find something that works for you!
5. Know when to rest-  Our bodies do need rest from physical activity.  From my experience it seems most fitness trainers recommend a day off in between any weight lifting/weight training type regimens (or at least using a different group of muscles on opposite days).  For me, I work out Monday through Friday and rest on Saturdays and Sundays.  This gives me time to be structured and disciplined during the week and allow myself a break on the weekends to focus on more quality family time.  It works for us, and I like it.  It doesn't stop us from occasionally going on a family run, or walking to the park though.  

From a biblical standpoint I don't think Jesus cares too much about whether we have big biceps or not, but I do think He wants us to take care of ourselves.

1 Timothy 4:8 says "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

Now I don't want to over spiritualize working out.  Obviously God cares more about what our hearts look like from a spiritual standpoint, but this verse does point out that "physical training is of some value."  So don't make working out an idol, but do take care of your body.  I am a firm believer that the lifestyle choices we make on a daily basis directly effect our effectiveness in God's kingdom.  Because of that I want to try to take care of my health so nothing can stand in the way of what God is calling me to do to bring more glory to Him!

Now what are you waiting for?  Get off the couch and get moving!  You'll thank me for it later!


Any other fitness fans out there have good tips that have worked for you?  Please share!  I'd love to hear them and maybe they'll help someone else in the process!

Blessings,

Spinach Omelet

I am pretty much always looking for ways to fit more vegetables into our diets.  These omelets are delicious, quick, easy, and a side bonus-  we typically buy a bag of spinach at Aldi and use that for salads, so the rest of the bag that is about to go bad can easily get used up in these delicious omelets!

Spinach Omelets

Ingredients:

• 4-5 eggs
• Shredded cheddar cheese
• Spinach (or other veggies of your choice)
• Salt
• Pepper

Directions

1. Turn skillet on to medium heat on stove.
2. Crack open 4-5 eggs in a medium size bowel and whisk together.  You can use egg whites if you want or egg beaters.  
3. Use a small amount of butter to coat skillet when skillet is hot enough.
4. Pour eggs into skillet. Eggs should coat about 3mm deep of entire skillet diameter.
5. Quickly add in chopped up spinach (or veggies of your choice), sprinkle light coating of cheddar cheese over omelet.
6. Sprinkle small amount of salt and pepper over omelet.

Your cooking omelet should look like this in the beginning stages:

Once your omelet is almost done the eggs should look more gel like, not runny, and cheese should be thoroughly melted like this:

Use a rubber spatula to help flip one side of the omelet over and roll it up like this:

Finally, if you are a nice mom, cut off 1/4 of your omelet and share it with your always hungry toddler :) 

Abbie and I probably eat these once a week for lunch on one of my days off.  They are quick, cheap, and healthy.  I'm kind of anti most processed foods so you probably won't see egg beaters in our house...sorry!  Besides if I only use 4 eggs for one omelet and give a portion of it to Abbie, I've really only eaten 3 eggs plus a lot of veggies!

Do you guys have any go to lunch ideas that you love to use on a regular basis?

Blessings,

He is able

Even when we feel weak dear friends....

Photo Credit:  Bridget Bareither- www.fullheartfullhome.com

He is still able.  

Cling tightly to His truth today and always!

Blessings,

Fall Fashion Post

If you didn't catch my first ever fashion post check out this post.  Mostly I just want you to know my heart on fashion and clothes and material things.  That you would be inspired to make something out of what you already have (or try to buy frugally), to not envy, but to be so very grateful and creative with what God has already blessed you with!

Today I present to you one of my favorite fall comfort go to outfits (and Abbie wanted to be in the picture too...that's what I get for taking the picture of myself on my day off, and using the toy shelf as my tripod :) 

Cardi-  Mudd from Kohl's

Plaid button down- ?  I'm gonna guess Kohls

Belt- Vanity

Brown tank (under shirt)- Pac Sun (It's so old I am kind of ashamed :)

Skinny jeans- Walmart

Brown Boots- Gordmans

Necklace- It's a teething necklace I made myself :)  Maybe a post on those someday!

Bracelets and Earrings- Icing by Claire's

Cost:  $0....at least this year.  I think I've owned all of this 

stuff for at least 2 years (or close to on most of it)

Also, super awesome bonus....I kind of am learning to like my skinny jeans without boots.  I used to hate it, but now I am realizing that it doesn't really look bad like I imagined it did so I could easily wear them with flats or barefoot around the house, instead of wearing them with boots all the time.

It fits my fashion criteria:  cute, comfy, functional....I might throw some other descriptive words in there someday but for now those sound good!

Do you have a favorite fall accessory or article of clothing?  I'd love to hear what it is!

Also, on Wednesday's I link up with Courtney at Women Living Well.  Check out her site!  She's got a beautiful heart and a side bonus...is a fellow She Speaks sister!

An Exciting Announcement!

Today, starts a new day.  A new beginning.  A new adventure.

Something that God has been stirring way down deep in my soul for a long time has been awakened.  Something He intended so long ago to be there is breaking free.

Moving forward.  Moving onward.  Moving upward.

Dear friends my heart has so many passions.  Have you stopped in and seen what really has changed about this blog?  You should check this out if you haven't read it yet.

My heart is bursting.  He has made me for this moment.  He has called me to this and though failures and trials will come, the joy of the Lord is indeed my strength and I will press on.

This summer as I attended the She Speaks conference in North Carolina (read all about that here), God has just continued to open my eyes up to more.  The more I say "yes."  The more He reveals and although sometimes its absolutely terrifying hearing what He has to say, He is quick to extend peace and strength to give me courage to do what He's asked of me.

He has made it so evident to me that He wants me to speak to and encourage the hearts of women.    How do I do this?  Just by asking Him.  He has blessed me already with this space that I may encourage each of you with my written words.  He has blessed me with an opportunity already to speak to a large moms group in my town this coming spring, and now dear friends I give you this....

He has been so faithful even in the tiniest of things.  I can't wait to see what He does next, but without further ado, I am so thrilled/excited/terrified/trembling/overjoyed to announce that starting today I am beginning my training to become a Board Certified Christian Life Coach.

I've spent quite awhile praying about this decision, and He has made it so very clear to me.  I don't know where this will take me (us), but He knows.

What is a Life Coach many of you may ask?

Christian Life Coaching is about helping people get from where they are in their present life to where they want to be by using a biblical, faith based approach.  My job will be to challenge and encourage my clients.  Help them come up with a plan to press on to achieve the goals God puts on their hearts.  I will be able to help people take a step back and examine their lives to help give them more focus and some accountability in doing so.  I will be an encourager, a motivator, a discerning voice, a listener, a communicator, a cheerleader, a partner, and a friend.    

As I've felt God asking me to step out of my comfort zone, it sometimes becomes very difficult to combat the lies of the enemy...."you can't write,"  "why in the world would a group of women want to hear you speak?" "you are still broken Bridget, nobody grows from a broken person."  "Life coaching?  Why would anybody want to be coached by you?" And the list goes on....

But God's truth is louder, is stronger "I can write...God will give me the words to write."  "You're right....groups of women don't want to hear me speak, they want to hear God's truth spoken through me."  "Yes, I am still broken, and God will fully equip me to bring His message out of my pain, to heal the hearts of many who are also still broken."

If its one thing I've learned in the past several months its that God does all things for His glory and our good (Romans 8:28)  I cannot do this in my own strength.  Every part of it would fail if I did.  I cannot tell you where exactly He is taking me but I do know this....my heart is overjoyed at the unknown, knowing now that I am finally being obedient to submit to His will and not mine on the giftings He has given me.

Please pray for me friends:

• That God would give me the wisdom to balance ministry with family.  My relationship with God and my family should always come first.  Pray that He will continue to mold me in knowing what this looks like for my family.
• For courage- that the lies of the enemy would not overwhelm me but that I would continually take my fears to God and combat the lies with His wisdom.  
• That I would let go of control again and again and trust that He will give me the words to write and to speak, and to know that this is all for His glory, never my own.
• And one of my biggest fears- how I will find people to life coach.  How do I balance marketing a ministry and marketing it for God, but not marketing myself?

I also want to give a shout out to my friend Amy who is a Board Certified Christian Life Coach (you can visit her blog here).  She was an intricate part of the entire process I've gone through and has been such an amazing source of encouragement and prayer for my heart during this entire process.  Thank you dear friend!    God sure knew what he was doing when he introduced us only for a few moments in an airport this summer!

You all are such a blessing and I'm so glad you've joined me on this journey!

Til Next Time....

Pure Perfection in a Pizza

Written on an October evening....

My heart is full tonight.  My hubby looked at me just mere minutes ago and said "You just want to have frozen pizza tonight?"  I had already made quesadillas to heat up quickly for dinner earlier today, but oddly enough, I accepted his inquiry with an open heart.  Normally I get defensive.  Question him thinking my planned meal wasn't good enough for his taste buds, but I could sense the ease in his question.  I could see his contentment.  He didn't care.  He didn't have set expectations on me.  He just wanted simple.  I told him my planned meal without defense, and said "Frozen pizza actually sounds really good right now though."  Who says that?  But it was true.  It matched our mood.  We were outside picking up sticks in the yard, Abbie running around to her hearts content, just catching up on our day, and enjoying one of the last warm afternoons of the year.  Simple sounded fantastic. 

So often I burden myself with perfectionism.  Meal Plan- check.  Nutritious, wholesome foods- check.  Make as much as I can from scratch- check....to the point of exhaustion.  Those things aren't bad to do, but having pride in them is.  Exhausting yourself over a to do list and sacrificing time with your family...also bad.  

So tonight my heart is full.  My heart is happy.  Content.  Excited even about eating a $1.99 pizza from aldi.  Excited for food and fellowship around a table, and a date night watching our favorite TV show together on the couch once the little one is in bed.  

I give you my real friends.  Me...as I am.  My sometimes processed foods eating, love to indulge in a DQ blizzard sometimes (all the time would be my actual desire :), also fails at meal planning sometimes self.  Because I'm not perfect.  I don't have to be.  He chose to be for me, and for that I am so grateful!

Blessings,