Raise your hand if you have a bad memory. Keep it up if you don't have enough hours in the day. Don't worry, I raised mine too ... and kept it up. My husband jokes and says that movies I've seen are always new and exciting because I never remember what happens. Yup, this is so true. It can; however, be pretty frustrating when you are trying to prove your husband wrong and you forget your evidence (insert eye roll emoji). So, how do you add hours to the day? How do you train your mind to memorize scripture? My heart has been on a fast track to knowing God more deeply. I have a desire to pray more and memorize scripture. I have been praying about this for a while and decided to share with my mentor my thoughts and feelings about it all. She then shared with me ideas and totally do-able things to get started. I am so excited to share them with you today!
I want to share some words of truth and encouragement for a minute... I get it, time is the big "reason" you can't do what you "want" to do. I know that many of you are working wives (like myself) and moms, or even more chaotic (but total goals) stay-at-home mamas and that's not all - you're in a women's group or a small group, you serve in the children's ministry and you still have dishes to wash and laundry to fold. It can be difficult for you to use the restroom by yourself, let alone get enough time to pray, read and memorize scripture! All of those things are good things, even the laundry (praise God for clothes) but they are also all excuses. Your spiritual life depends on whether or not you're gardening it. If you aren't spending time in the Son, you won't ever grow. Can you imagine seeing someone you love (sacrificial type love) not blooming and growing? I'm quite certain you would feel sad for a number of reasons. You know Who else might feel that way? How can anything grow without being taken care of? It's not possible. You need to set aside time so that you can bloom and grow. Bottom line, you make time for what you want to make time for.
So, you've been desiring growth for a while but where do you start? Well, I am so glad you asked. It begins with these three characteristics right here: self-discipline, wisdom and commitment. Set your alarm to begin your day before the crazy starts. Have self-discipline to not hit the "snooze" button. Make it easy for yourself, use wisdom. Set your Bible or journal (and any other items you like to use) out where you plan on having your quiet time. Make it readily available so that you aren't searching for it all in the morning. This can be a real deterrent. Be committed. Commit to your time with God, to prayer, and memorizing scripture. Commit to being a woman of growth. Now, if only I can incorporate these into creating healthier habits ...
Will your mornings be perfect? No. Will there be days where you just cannot will yourself to getting up? Yes. Just don't make habits out of them. Allow yourself rest and give your family what they need but not at the expense of your relationship with Christ. He loves you more than you can fathom and He wants to spend time with you. Get in the Son so that you can bloom where you've been planted.
On September 15, 2017, this beautiful, blog baby of mine turned a year old. I cannot believe it has been one whole year since I started writing and expressing myself in this little part of the internet! Truly, it has been such a blessing. Certainly, I have not blogged as consistently as I was hoping but I now have a year under my belt. I plan on getting more organized (blogging wise) and growing my audience. This blog was and always will be a place where I express what God is doing in my life and how His grace is offered to us all.
Thank you to my faithful followers/readers who have supported me this past year. Those of you who have followed along and shared how it spoke to you or encouraged you - thank you! It was (and is) a huge encouragement to me and motivation to keep sharing.
In honor of my blog baby's FIRST birthday, I've decided to create a list of five of my favorite things from this past year (one favorite thing just seemed too short):
1. Starting the blog, of course.
I prayed and prayed and prayed about this blog, for those who would read the blog, the content of this blog and to be open to sharing what God was calling me to, for MONTHS leading up to the day I clicked "Publish" (September 15th).
2. How it has grown me.
I was not expecting to share as much as I did, as quickly as I did. That was totally and completely a God thing. In my times of questioning whether or not I would ever get pregnant, ever be a mom or what I would end up doing with my life if I didn't have children, I found comfort in reading other stories of women just like me. I wanted this blog to be a safe place for other women who are walking that same path. This blog has also cultivated a desire in my heart to grow and expand. What does this mean and what does this look like? Community. Creating a community of sisterhood and motherhood. I will say, it is in the works, friends!
3. Over 20 views!
The posts "A Loss like No Other" and "Define Healing" had over 20 views and this was a huge moment in my little blogging world. Granted, it happened to be the two posts where I shared about Baby J but it was confirmation that I shared what God wanted me to. Sure, a few of those views were family but I just think about the women that it could have been and my heart goes out to them and they are in my prayers, still.
4. We are ADOPTING!
This is so incredibly exciting for us and I cannot wait to share more about it. I will be posting an update of where we are in the process and I'll have Adoption Updates throughout the entire process.
5. Pregnancy.
I am including the next few things together because it really is all encompassing. Finding out I was pregnant. Oh my, this was a huge surprise for me. I can't help but smile so big when I think about that day. It gives me all the feels. Telling my husband I was pregnant. This was so much fun and I am so incredibly happy that I was able to put the onesie together for him (if you have no idea what I'm talking about read this post). Hearing baby J's heartbeat. Definitely a favorite, need I say more? Belly prayers - my husband prayed over my belly every evening. Baby J was prayed for and prayed over all the days of his little life. I have found so much comfort in knowing that when he opened his eyes, the first face he saw was Jesus.
So there we have it, a few favorites from this past year. I am taking this weekend to put a blogging schedule together for year number TWO. I am really excited and hope you are too! Also, there are pretty big things in the works (cough,cough - vodcast) but that is all I can say for now ;) ! See you back here next week. Again, THANK YOU for being a part of this journey. XOXO
