Vacation...bitter sweet!

OK! So after over a yr of living in KC we finally got to come back to FL to visit out family and friends!  Our flight didnt arrive to FL till 12am and I didnt get the kiddies to bed until 2am....It was tough, and today my babies were running on about 6 hrs of sleep, although troopers, Joshua had outburst of small crying sessions.  This is our first family vacation, AND both kids are not used to sleeping away from home, so it has been quite the challenge. 

I love being around my family! It will be sooo hard to leave them, once again...

Nevertheless, I do have some things on my heart, that I just cant figure out how to put on paper, and I will be doing a guest post on my wonderful friends Nicole Arrozollos blog. I prob wont be able to blog for a little, while on vacation, but will as soon as I get back home.

Love you all! ;)

12 principles: Apply in relationship to our Children...

This past Sunday on Fathers day, Mike gave an amazing message called God's Fatherhood released in the church and the home.  In my eyes and for my life, I would have to say that the success of parenting is being connected with the Father heart of God, and then releasing it into our homes.  When we better understand how His Father heart feels towards US and towards our CHILDREN we can teach better, guide better, and love stronger. 

This week, I have been asking the Lord to show me His heart, to reveal His love for me.  In all honesty I feel like I almost lost sight of His supremacy as God, as Yahweh and as MY FATHER.  When the revelation of who He is begins to fade, we live differently, get frustrated easily, lose sight of what our hearts burn for and then, there is patience....what patience?? sigh, yes I am guilty of sometimes being the most impatient momma ever!

I tried something different this week, I started out my days asking the Lord to show Himself to me, I opened the Word, and just surrendered it all to Him.  Praying He would reveal His love for me, that He would open His Father heart towards me expressing every emotion and thought, not only for me but for Grace and Joshua.  My one desire as I work on my relationship with my babies, is to love them rightly, to discipline them in a correct manner, and to speak life daily into their hearts...Lord, I want to know and EXPERIENCE your FATHER HEART!

Well, Mike shared 12 principles to apply in relationship to God, our family and others.   I found these principles so helpful, and this week I have been trying my best ( not always being succeful) at applying these principles in my home, and towards my children..

Here they are!

1. Relationship building: Invest in others according to their hearts cry and passions.  ( What are the passions of your children's heart? what is something they relate too?)  Even God connects with us according to our gifting and passions.
2. Affirming:  Our greatest emotional need is for assurance of being ENJOYED.  Even in their negative parts or their failures, make sure they feel enjoyed.
3. Calling forth: Envisioning and inspiring them to take action. Tell them things about their hearts they cant see.
4. Coaching: Training them, giving them responsibilities, then overseeing it.
5. Encouraging: Speaking words of Life and reminding them of God's perspective.
6. Serving: Seeking for the greatness of the children with a servant spirit.  Comminting ourselves to the childrens greatness and not ours.
7. Enduring: Being patient and gentle with their failures without giving up on them.
8. Celebrating: Supporting them emotionally and enjoying God's blessing on them.  Celebrate the small things.
9. Providing: Investing our resources (time and money) in them in practical ways.
10. Taking initiative in reconciliation: Take the lead in humbling yourself in strife. Even if it is only 10% your fault.
11. Correcting: pointing out blind spots without provoking them to anger.
12. Standing in difficulty: Supporting them in battles and difficulties.

Lord, I just pray for all mothers, that You would reveal yourself to them as Father, as our comforter, our defender, our greatest cheerleader, and as our  faithful leader.  Lavish the tenderness of Your heart on all of us.  That we would in return demonstrate Your Father heart to our children.  We know that without You there is no good in us, apart from You we will not be successful in anything we do.  Come Lord, with the spirit of wisdom and revelation and the knowledge of You, that the eyes of our understanding may be enlightened...Let us see you Lord and let our children encounter You through our parenting.  Amen.

Building strong relationships.

Yesterday, it seemed that my kiddies were tugging at me for more of my attention.  One side of me was thinking of all the things I had to do and the other side was telling me "sometimes house stuff just has to wait".  So as I looked down at my little girl who was telling me to sit and color with her, I set aside my routine and schedule and gave her all my attention.  As I sat down and looked into her big brown eyes, I was filled with such satisfaction and joy, and her smile and giggles were priceless!

One of the most crucial things in the life of a child is having strong godly relationships that are filled with the love of God, and the knowledge of Him.  As a parent, I know that my relationship with my kids will lead way to their relationship with God. 

Children long for love, for attention and it is up to us to demonstrate that to them, once they trust the love we have given them, they will trust the love the Lord has for them.  We are the gateway and the very thing that connects our children to Jesus. 

I am currently  reading a book called Raising Spiritual Children, and yesterday's chapter was on building strong relationships with our kids.  I had read this chapter after I had finished playing with Grace.  I felt like the Lord was confirming what I had felt that morning and telling me that it is in those times, when I give her my attention, my love and when I make her feel important, that I am not only building a good relationship with her but building a good foundation for the relationship she will one day have with Him.

As parents, we are the vessels that are being used by the Holy Spirit to lead their hearts into the love of God and our relationships have an incredible impact on their spiritual health and wholeness. 

Grace, momma promises that she will always give you her love and attention! forever & ever baby girl!

 

Joshua,  momma promises to always give you her love and attention! forever & ever baby boy!

My new blessing...

In April, one our dreams came true!! We bought a house, a place of our own where we can be at peace and where we can raise Grace and Joshua, a home we can call ours!  Although our house isn't something huge and outstanding, it is perfect for us in every way.  We would of never thought we would be homeowners at this point in our lives and after trying for a while the door finally opened up.  We found the perfect house, and the perfect seller ever!


I promised one of my friends I would post pics of the house last month...so here it is! =) Enjoy!!

My house, with a new porch built by my father in law =)

Living room area, we have added a new area rug & new modern fan (not in pic)

My kitchen

Laundry room

Kids bedrooms

Master bedroom

Bathroom

and my pretty back yard =)

I took these pics a few wks back, and we have added somethings and of coarse there are still stuff we have to get up on the walls and such! but this is it =) Thank you to all who kept us prayer through the process, it was smooth and we know for sure this is the house Jesus had for us all along!

Serving whole heartidly....

Days come and go, being swept away with the the loads that are being carried.  All the the different hats that are being worn, the mommy hat, wife hat, maid hat, chef hat and the list goes on.  What is it that gets us through the mundane, schedules & routines?  The simple answer we so easily forget....we serve Jesus Christ.

One of my favorite speakers, Dwayne Roberts did an awesome message on Sunday, he entitled it " Serving Jesus Christ".  I was reminded that I do what I do with a purpose, and I do it as service to Jesus, and as I serve my family whole heartidly, am serving Jesus whole heartidly.  In this season of my life, this is what Lord has given me to do and their IS a reward for all of my labors. 

Colossians 3:23-25

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Jesus Chirst. 

Once this revelation is understood, we will be able to overcome the boring and the mundane, as we do our daily routine. Whether you are a stay at home mom or a working mom, always remember you are doing it as unto the Lord, you are serving Jesus, do it heartily, knowing that no matter what Jesus is looking down at you, and delighting in all of you labors.

Matthew 25:43

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, Come, You blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world...

Always know that there is a great inheritance for those who serve Him.....we will rule and reign with the King forever & ever!!!!! How glorious is the thought!

So, today...as I opened my eyes, I set it in my heart and mind that from the rising of the sun and to it's going down, all that I do I do to serve one Man and one Man alone...JESUS! and what a joyful day it as been........

Time...Time...Time

Time, sometimes my worst enemy.  Many times I find myself completely off track and unfocused, which affects my mood and how I parent my babies.   This week my good friend Nicole Arrzollo emailed me an e book called Time Management 101, I read it just in time...It is super simple and is written by a Jesus loving momma!  Many times I have fallen short, I was setting my expectation so high,  I had every  minute scheduled out which often drove me to focus on all I didnt accomplish instead of all I did accomplish, and then I would just stop it all together!! 

One of the most important things that I failed to do, is to make a list of my priorities, making a list of set priorities has better helped me understand how I want to run my home.  I know that if the things that are most important to me are being fulfilled then everything else will fall into place. I want to share with you my priorities, and hope that you will share yours as well.  We are all in different seasons, and have kids of different ages, I think it would be amaizing to see where other mommas are at in their season!!

Here are my list of priorities:

1.  Have a strong relationship with Jesus
2. Have a strong bond and relationship with Moises. 
3. Teach, Love and nurture Grace & Joshua ( this includes teaching them about Jesus)
4. Cook  & feed my family healthy foods. ( as much all natural and organic food as possible)
5. Keep house clean and orderly
6. Blogging

There are many things that I wish were on that list right now but in do time and season I know this list will change...  During these least few months, especially after having Joshua and now owning a home, I have come to realize that I am truly a homemaker.  Beyond just staying at home raising my kids, I take care of my husband and my home.  I love how the Lord really does give grace, grace to care for my children, grace to care for my husband, to cook, to clean, to go grocery shopping,  all while opening my heart and loving as hard as I can!!! I say, without Jesus all that would surely be depressing, but with Him it is a honor, a priviledge and a joy to serve my family!

I encourage you to make a list of your priorities and to read this book ( you can click on the title above to get the book).  I am gonna be starting my homemakers binder too (learn more about this through the e -book),  in it I can have my daily cleaning schedule, my priorities, my daily schedule and so on!

sooo really...I would love to know some of your priorities??