The Word that Tells a Story

This past weekend I had the opportunity to high tail it outta town for a young women's retreat. I almost didn't go, for several reasons, but my best friend Megan pushed to make it happen. And I'm SO glad. I had the best time. I heard from God, I was refreshed, and I have so much to post about in the near future. But until then, I wanted to share my favorite little spread of photos from the weekend. We were forced indoors 98% of the time due to rain so the pictures were kept to a minimum.

Embrace the Camera: 9-27-12

It was just me and the little man tonight, so this was done in about five minutes before our evening walk. I really don't take enough pictures WITH Josiah. I have so many of just him. That's why I'm going to...

Life Lately

1* Kitchen   2* Living Room ((I swear it's clean and organized and unpacked now!))

3* Partial view from our balcony. It's on the corner next to a big field. So peaceful.

4* Josiah face #1   5* Josiah face #2   6* Josiah face #3   7* Josiah face #4

8* Oh hey ;-)   9* Pretty grass at sunset

It's been a super busy past couple of weeks with multiple trips to Oklahoma, moving, visitors, and our small group starting up again. Looking forward to doing the simple, enjoyable stuff again :-) Maybe i'll even be more purposeful in taking pictures and blogging?

THAT Annoying Coworker

Ah coworkers. I was inspired by a women's comedy blog, Haha's for Hoohas to write this because it's SO TRUE. Those little nuances that people have/do become extremely exaggerated in the workplace. Gotta blow your nose? Please do that outside. Gotta take a personal call? Again, please go outside. Anyone who works in an office has these people...hopefully you aren't one of them.

In my office it's:
**The multiple guys constantly hawking lougies. What can I say - I work in an office full of men, who are probably thrilled to be away from their wives and think it's free reign to be disgusting for 8 hours. "haaaaaawwwwwwwk." said in a gurgly manner

**Or the guys who do their business for 20 minutes in the only bathroom that exists in our small office. No woman wants to set foot in that bathroom for at least an hour after your done. But by that time another guy has entered to do his business. Oh and air freshener? It exists for a reason in there guys. Use it.

What are some of those annoying things your coworkers do? 

The Things That Matter

I don't know how to be a good blogger, I don't have time to make it a business or attract new followers. I don't often entertain and put up lots of pictures. And that's okay I guess. The one sheep in the 99 matters. Or the 24 in the 2.9 million bloggers. Maybe I'll reach more one day, but until then I hope my random words reach you wherever you are. And sometimes my words are eloquent and poetic, sometimes I only know how to be raw. Today is just raw.

I recently read two different stories of mothers that lost a precious child. Life taken so quickly, so soon. Though I do not know either of these women, my soul was wrenched and my eyes overflowed with tears as I read these women's stories.

On Friday our car got towed out of our own parking lot where we live. Our apartment management could have cared less and weren't willing to do anything to help us. I was so frustrated and upset. But after finally getting our car back later and driving to work, I recalled one woman in particular who had just lost her darling daughter one week earlier. I melted into a torrent of tears at the thought of losing Josiah. Did my car really matter that much?

I find myself disappointed often that life isn't the way I had planned, hoped, or dreamed. I'm always on the defense when criticism comes of being 23, married with a baby, and no college degree. We live life pretty simply these days, and sometimes I despise it.

But not now, not today.

Last night, instead of being frustrated that Josiah woke up in the middle of the night crying and in pain probably from teething, I held him in the quiet darkness and thanked God for the opportunity to have him in my arms.

The things that really matter.

Instead of being frustrated that we don't have certain basic things for our apartment, I am thankful that Josiah has tons of room to crawl around, chase me, and have lots of fun.

The things that really matter. 

Instead of dwelling on the injustice at our apartment complex, I remembered each month this past year how God provided for us and that He would once again be glorified in our finances.

The things that really matter.

His Grace. Oh the Love of our Father. That He still whispers these delicate reminders and pursues our hearts even when we get lost in disillusionment and unthankfulness.

Don't lose hope, don't get caught up in life's little nuances. Remember today the things that really matter.

Doing Good Things

Doing.

Doing things.

Doing noble things.

Doing good things that honor God.

Doing noble, honorable, good things that come before God.

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If you're a Christian and you read that, you know the last line doesn't fit in. You know that it's not right, and that anything that comes before God is an idol.

But I've come to realize that it's very easy to place a priority on things and we truly don't realize it's coming before God.

Having you been putting effort into something lately, and it's just not going the way you want it to? You're working so hard, it's such a good thing, you want to honor God with it - it really is your heart's desire. Why is it not working out?

God spoke so clearly to me last night about something I've been putting a great deal of effort into.

"I can NOT and I will NOT honor something that is taking my place."

Ouch. But I realized it was true. Change began today, and I hope and pray that those words continue to resonate with me in the coming weeks and months, that my heart will not grow faint.

What are you placing first in your life today?

I encourage you to search your heart. Not only will you find peace and joy in God's presence, but God cannot honor anything that is taking His place.

Hannah, a Hero

Hannah is a woman in the Bible whom I've been able to relate to many times in my little life. I remember after Rob first went back to Canada, way back when we began our one year long distance relationship, I was a wreck. I was so upset I didn't eat for 3 days. Then I read the story of Hannah and was so encouraged by her faith that everything in my life turned around that day, and it honestly set the course for the rest of my year.

And I find myself once again being transformed by her life.

Now this is a great summary, but to read it in its entirety, check out 1 Samuel chapter 1 :-)

For years and years Hannah prayed for a child, but her womb was closed. Year after year when they went up to the house of the Lord, it says she wept and did not eat. This particular time the priest came upon her weeping and confronted her. And in her turmoil she replied that if God would give her a son, she would give him back to the Lord all the days of his life.

Long story short, she became pregnant with Samuel and when he was 3 years old, she took him back to that priest to be raised by him. She gave Samuel to the Lord as she had promised.

Pause. Did you catch that?

She didn't take him to the church to be dedicated, and then went out for Sunday brunch. No. She GAVE HIM to the Lord. If you are a mom, can you even fathom that? I can't.

But the Lord saw her obedience and blessed the fruit of her womb and gave her many more children. Samuel went on the be one of the greatest men of the Bible.

So how does this relate to me, why am I so encouraged? While my story is NOTHING in comparison to Hannah's, it draws distinct parallels in my life. I want nothing more than to be a stay at home mom. My heart and desires totally changed while at the Honor Academy, and I knew I was never going to be a career woman. I knew without a doubt I wasn't supposed to continue with college.

But right now I find myself having to work. I don't have the opportunity to be at home raising Josiah (just a side note - I thank God that Rob is at home with Josiah and he's not at some daycare being raised by strangers - Rob is an incredible Dad). I'm setting aside my greatest desire and trusting the Lord with His plans. And by seeing how Hannah was blessed in her sacrifice of her son, I too have faith that God also will pour out His blessings in the future and give me the opportunity to be at home with future children.

Just some things I'm thinking about with a quiet, empty office on a rainy morning missing my family.