Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Kindness & declarations

The past week or so hasn't been the GREATEST.

I have been having difficulty with someone and honestly - it's hard on me.

Every relationship {to me} is an emotional one. My emotions get attached and its hard for me to separate them when someone gives me "constructive criticism". To me- its just plain out mean criticizing me as a person. I know when I type it out it sounds so silly, but in the moment I usually end up crying to my husband afterward.
This is something I REALLY want to work on... And I am getting better. {a little progress is still progress}

What I don't want to do is get offended and then be rude back. I want to learn to keep my composure, take the "advice" with a grain of salt, and be on my way. Not get my feelings so hurt that I feel like a failure as a person.

My husband reminded me last night that I need to line up what I think about myself (and what someone might say about me) to scripture. A beautiful friend of mine, Michelle, started a blog and on it she has a list of declarations to speak every morning! Amazing powerful things to remind yourself of the promises in scripture and the things that are written toward us in the Bible! (Check out her blog - www.byloveredeemed.blogspot.com )
Today is the first day I read them and I already feel more confident and prepared for anything!

God's truth about me has to be the number one thing in my life! If I know who I am and who's I am -- it won't matter what opinion Sally Sue has about me.

And sometimes it is better to choose joy in that moment and represent it to Sally Sue. Even when we don't feel like it.

So, my encouragement to all you wonderful readers is to start declaring some truth over yourselves and see how your outlook changes and how blessed you will be (seriously check out Michelle's blog for some amazing declarations and let her know i sent you!) and also even when someone is being rude or mean to you -- choose to turn the cheek and show them kindness. We are all fighting our own battles. Maybe us being kind to them is planting seeds in their hearts.

Kind words, daily declarations, and love -Monica

*i really don't know anyone named Sally Sue. This was just for illustration purposes. (: *

Friday, January 25, 2013

Fridays Letters

I haven't done one of these in awhile but I thought we should link up with Ashley atThe Sweet Season and write some letters! (:

Dear weekend, I am sooo excited you are here! I never thought that this housecleaning/babysitting job would take so much out of me. I think I will just relax the whole time and sip tea {and clean MY house that looks like a disaster}. Hope you can stay longer this time!

Dear Sophia Belle, I am proud of you that you are now completely house broken!! No accidents in two weeks is a great accomplishment! Now let's work on other things -- like coming when we call your name, not jumping on me, and not eating up the couch! But still... Progress!

Dear Husby, thank you thank you THANK YOU again for the car!!! I am very much looking forward to driving it around more! I am sad that you work tomorrow but at least we will have Sunday to hang out {and cuddle}. You are so good to me and I am so glad that we are taking time to be together before our family grows.

Dear Baby V,  daddy and I should be able to hear your heartbeat and see you next week! We are very very happy! We pray for you every single day. We pray for your well being and that God is already speaking to you as He forms you in my belly! I am already in awe of you, baby!

Dear readers/followers/friends, I am extremely sorry that my posts have been few and far between!!! I know I keep telling you that I am gonna get better and then I never do! Now that I am {almost} out of the first trimester my energy should be coming back - which means I will have the mental capacity to blog again! I appreciate every single one of you and I can't believe I have already surpassed 100 followers! You all encourage and inspire me and I am humbled by you all! Know that even though I haven't been able to post I have been thinking of you and praying for you all. (:

Dear Heavenly Father,  You are so incredibly good! What you are creating in my body leaves me completely speechless and tears start to form in my eyes! Continue to have a hand on this pregnancy and the beautiful little miracle inside of me. Thank you that Your grace and joy are new and available every morning for me, Lord. My heart is ablaze for You. God, burn like a fire in me - for the sake of the world . It has nothing to do with me - but it has EVERYTHING to do with You. I don't want people to look at me and think "oh what a nice girl she is", I want people to think "wow! What does she have that allows her to be the way she is. I want that!".  I do not care if I am popular or doing what everyone else is doing ... I don't need to tip toe the line of 'good and ok' for a Christian. I just want to represent You WELL! This is my hearts cry, God and forgive me for all the times I have not lived up to that. I pray for every one reading this that the fire in their hearts will start to burst into flame and their passion will arise! I declare that Holy Spirit will speak to them and begin to tell them all the things they needed to hear. And I pray for boldness, God! That WE WILL NOT BE SILENT BECAUSE A FIRE BURNS INSIDE US! I love you so much, Lord. Amen

Letters and love. -Monica

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Questions for my lovely readers

I was asked {awhile ago} by a beautiful young women with an amazing blog to write a guest post on keeping Christ at the center of your marriage.

I was humbled and honored that she had read my blog and then asked me to write about such am important issue.

I have been thinking and praying about what it really means to keep Christ as the firm foundation and true center of a relationship/marriage.

But some questions started to arise and I love to hear from this beautiful community about it.

1// how do YOU keep Christ at the center of your relationship/marriage now?

2// what does it mean to keep Christ at the center?

3// is it more then just reading and praying?

4// how important is it for you to keep Christ at the center?

5// what else would you like to do to keep Christ at the center?

Please just comment below and let me know what you think.

Thanks in advance lovelies!

Growing as a community and love. -monica

Saturday, January 12, 2013

10 week bumpdate

Hi lovelies!!! I have decided to take you all on this beautiful journey of pregnancy with me! I am so excited to share my growing heart (and tummy) with you all!
I am going to TRY to be more creative with my pictures and do them weekly! Here goes!

How Far along: 10 weeks (well today I am 10 weeks 4 day but when this picture was taken I was 10 weeks)

Size Of Baby: according to the What To Expect app baby is the size of a lime - about 2 inches. But thebump.com says baby is the size of a prune.

Maternity Clothes: not quite yet. My jeans are snug and I would much rather wear leggings (or yoga pants). I know a lot of it is bloat though.

Stretch Marks: nope(:

Weight Gain: about 1.5 lbs

Sleep: I want to sleep all the time! But these crazy dreams make it difficult!

Best Moment of the Week: getting all my insurance approved so I can schedule my first Appointment! Insurance was taking a little longer then I wanted but everything went through and we were able to schedule our first appointment!

Movement: baby is too little.

Cravings: currently I think my cravings are suggestive. If someone talks about cupcakes then I really want a cupcake. If I see a commercial for Chinese food then I craving Chinese food. I have noticed that I do want sweeter things more then normal though.

Gender: I think baby is a boy, husby thinks baby is a girl.

Belly Button In or Out: in

Wedding Ring on or Off: on

Anything Making You Queasy or Sick: nothing! I have been totally blessed with no real morning sickness. In the very beginning if I didn't eat then I would feel sick, but I don't even have that anymore.

What I Miss: hmmm... I cannot really think of anything I truly miss. I miss not crying when I watch certain commercials. Hehe

What I am Looking Forward to: our first appointment on Thursday!!!

Nursery: nothing yet but I am so excited to decorate one!

Emotions: just feeling very very blessed. I know I have said it a kajillion (ya .. That's A LOT) times but I do! I feel so blessed to be carrying this precious life!

What's baby up to: little baby V's hair follicles are forming and teeny nail beds are also developing. Baby can also do somersaults! Kidneys are fully functioning too.

(:

Baby love - Monica


Wednesday, January 9, 2013

My vision

The Lord has been working on my heart a lot since we found out I was pregnant.

My desire for Him has grown leaps and bounds.

What kind of mother will I be?
Will I be capable of portraying the love of God correctly?
How am I going to shape and mold this life that God has given me?

These and many more questions have flooded my mind since I saw those two pink lines.

New Year's Day especially I thought about my life. New Years always makes me reflect on the previous year and look forward with much anticipation to the upcoming year.

This is my heart... That I didn't know I could put into words until it was pouring out of me early New Years morning to my loving husband.

I desire to know The Lord.. To TRULY know The Lord. I want to be considered "different" and "set apart". I believe with my whole heart that I am CALLED to be set apart. I know I put pressure on myself to live a certain way but I feel that I have been given this beautiful gift of life because Jesus died on the cross for ME. I want to LIVE for Him. I cannot do things that would prohibit me from speaking the gospel at any given moment. If someone was to call me or text me {at any time} needing prayer or had a question about The Lord I want to be able to share with them. I want to ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS listen to the Holy Spirit and be in a position to spread that same love I have found.

So this is my vision. This is my focus. I don't feel scared anymore on what kind of mother I will be because I trust that I will be lead by Holy Spirit in raising all of my children and being an example to them and my husband.