Purpose in the moment

Becoming purposeful with every day.

As a mom, wife, and educated woman, I found the transition from working full time to home life somewhat unfulfilling. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy spending time with my children, It was that I felt as though it wasn't enough for me. What is the point of getting an education and striving for life goals, if I am just going to sit at home and be with my children?

The "just" word is where the problem begins. Anytime we use the word "just" we devalue our current situation. When someone asks you what you do for a living and you respond "Oh, I'm just a teacher", "I'm just a student", "I'm just a graphic designer", you are devaluing your present reality. Your current reality may not be where you want to be forever, but it IS where you are now. And that's worth something. We don't know what tomorrow will bring- but we do know that we have today. Today to live and celebrate life, and each moment that is offered to us. 

There is purpose in living in the moment. Every situation that we are in, gives us an opportunity to learn and grow- and make decisions that will impact our future self. Right now, I am a mom- a full time mom. I am learning to be patient with a 4 year old. I am learning to multi-task, and become more organized with my time. I am learning to put others before myself, and most of all I am learning to love more deeply. These lessons will be a part of my life no matter what "occupation" I have. Wherever I go, these lessons will go with me. Every interaction that I have will be impacted by the way that I have lived and the lessons that I have learned along the way.

That's why its so important to appreciate and value where we are now, so that as we live intentionally we are able to gain as much as possible from every experience on a daily basis.

You are not "JUST" anything. You ARE the everything you can be- in the place you are now.
Let's own it!

Cheers!
       

My heart says of you..

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
    Your face, Lord, I will seek.

Sometimes its only in those quiet still moments, when we can really hear our heart speaking. If we would only take the time from our busy lives and wandering minds to realign ourselves with our creator and our hearts for a greater purpose...

When I read this verse this morning, I could hear my heart shouting! 
"Seek his face!"
,and my mind responded "Yes Lord, Your face I will seek". 

Earlier in the chapter it reads:

"One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock."

Yes! It is only fitting that I praise YOU, O Lord. My Creator. 

I want this to be my only desire; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, and gaze upon his beauty. To be completely dependent on Him- so enthralled by his magnificence that my heart will not allow me to be distracted. This is all that Jesus asks of us ... In return he gives us Joy, peace, protection, LOVE, and ALL that we need. When we change our desire to this "One thing", He gives to us all the other...temporal things. 

Matthew 6:33 
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Amen! Let us rise up, and fulfill the call that He has given us. 

Let these verses bless you, as they have blessed me. 

Levi's first 3 weeks.

Its hard to believe that its been a little over 3 weeks of motherhood! So today I decided I would share some of the pictures from Levi's birth, and the following weeks. The above photo is me at about the 7th hour of labor. Once the contractions got very intense I wasn't able to hold in any fluids and I began to vomit. My midwife (Diana Janopaul-I highly recommend her!!) was able to hook me up to an IV for about an hour to regenerate me and more importantly get some fluids back in me.

The most intense 18 hours of my life would not have been conquered without the love and support of my husband! I was so shocked at how in the zone he was. Most women have fears that their husbands will faint from all the hardcore labor pains, and ooey gooey stuff -I was one of those women. But Royce hung in there the whole time, and didn't worry at all. I needed to see and hear the calm assurance of his face and voice to make it through the whole ordeal. My mom and sister were also there to cheer me on and give me those much needed back rubs along the way. Thank God for caring family and friends.

The most relieving moment of my life! I was overjoyed and amazed to hold my son. Not to mention- to be free from all that pain. Its hard to believe this baby was in my belly for 9 months, and now he's in the world! Its such an honor to bring new life into the world, and have someone completely helpless to love and care for. Becoming a mother is definitely a transforming part of life. And after having a completely medecine free (no epidural) birth you feel like you can do literally anything! I feel like women in America are so use to going with the flow of conventional hospital births that we forget we were made for birthing. Our bodies know exactly what to do, and so do our babies. We just have to let go of our inhibitions and embrace the fact that there will be pain, but its only for a moment (18 hours in my case. lol)!

Little Levi and his daddy (holding him for the first time). When Levi was born we were all totally shocked at how much he and his dad look alike!

One big happy family :)

Newborn baby! At about 5:30 am.

Day 2! Headed for his first check up.

Levi at 10 days old! Still sleeping in his comfy fetal position.

17 days old! Wide awake and allready lifting his head.

3 weeks old! Levi's first bath. Royce and I decided we would wait until he was wide awake and pretty content. He actually really enjoyed it. And we were happy to have a clean, sweet, milk free, baby.

Just wanted to share a few highlights from the Levis first weeks. Will share again soon :)

Just Reminiscing

As I look back to this day last year, I was in France studying Nutrition at the Institut Lasalle Beauvais. I remember feeling ambitious, courageous, and lonely all at the same time. Never would I have thought that a year later I would be graduated, pregnant, and overdue. lol

With life's accomplishments come a feeling of fulfillment and joy. Moving on from one great experience to the next. My husband Royce, and I are now patiently awaiting the birth of our first child. The past two years of marriage have been just the two of us, and it's exciting to think that soon we will never be "alone" again!

So with all of this extra time on my hands (out from work and school) I will be writing, changing diapers, and sharing my life with all of you. Hopefully somehow I can bless you through my experiences, poems, pictures, reciepes and more. & Hopefully you can bless me by sharing your feedback and experiences.

As for now, My midwife tells me I need my beauty naps.
Will update again soon!