creatures of emotion

I am back in the great state of Alabama! I am very happy to be back too. I had a wonderful time visiting with my family and seeing my niece graduate but I did miss home.

I had every intention of writing all about my Cali adventure and posting tons and tons of pictures of my trip and my family -- but after 3 different conversations about emotions in the past week (2 from today) I decided to change courses. (But I will let you all know about my trip... eh.. well here is a teaser. [;  )

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I think I have always been a very emotional person. I cry pretty much with every emotion. Sadness. Anger. Frustration. Even joy. I guess I just need to let it out in some way. I feel if I don't let it out that I will just burst!

I know that not everyone is like me and they do not like to cry or even FEEL emotion. This truly saddens my heart.
I think that it is very import to feel whatever it is that you are feeling. Not act out on that feeling (Ephesians 4:26 tells us to be angry and sin not) but feel it.
It actually hurts us when we bottle up our emotion. There are tons of research linking bottled emotions to health problems. Not crying it out is literally making people feel sick!

I have always kept a journal since I can really remember. I write what I am feeling in that moment -- happy, sad, confused, angry, content, excited, anything. I do not sugar coat or belittle anything that I am feeling. I choose to just feel. Sometimes it hurts. At times it felt like I could never see past the pain... but I did. I got through it. I felt what I needed to feel and got through the end of it. Now I have countless victories in writing.

Do not ignore your feelings. Don't diminish them or belittle them. Its okay to be sad or grieve. Its okay to be mad. Or upset. Or even confused. Let it out. Journal. Cry. Scream into your pillow. Paint. Pray. Run.
If you need to talk to someone -- find a person who will let you feel everything you need to.
And if you know someone who needs to talk.. let them express themselves. Don't tell them to be less emotional and quiet their feelings.
[Remember that when you are being self destructive or hurting others with your words and actions -- that is not "letting the emotion out". That is letting the emotional control you. Do not do anything in the emotion that you would later regret out of the emotion.]

So if you are happy - smile. If you are sad - shed a tear. If you are mad - yell at the air. We are not robots -- we are people. (:

Lord, bless everyone who is reading this blog right now. Father help them to feel again. You have given us all emotions and it is okay to feel... even the not-so-fluffy feelings. Help us to encourage others to do the same and not to write people off as "babies" or "wussies" because they are able to feel those God-given emotions. Lord, even in Your Word it says that you too felt anger, sadness, and joy. Thank you Lord that you love us unconditionally and that You are a beautiful example of an emotion being.  In Jesus Name, - Amen.

feeling everything and love. - Monica
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i want to leave a legacy

i want to leave a legacy. 

How will they remember me?

Did i choose to love? Did i point to you enough

to make a mark on things?

I want to leave an offering.

A child of mercy and grace 

who blessed your name unapologetically

and leave that kind of legacy. 

-Nichole Nordeman 'Legacy'

Today I read a blog that really moved me. I started following Not Your Everyday Cinderella a few months back. Her blog is inspiring, encouraging, and stir up my spirit. Today her words really got me thinking. She spoke on leaving a legacy for the next generation and questioned what people will think of us as they read about us in history books. What are we leaving behind? (I wont tell you all that she thought.. and you should really check her out!)

I used to listen to Nicole Nordeman's CD a lot when i was in High School (yup... i was that weird girl listening to music that no one else heard of. lol). Her lyrics in the song 'Legacy' are such a cry of my heart! I want people to see a difference in me when i say that i am a believer. I want my actions to match my words, my words to match my thoughts, and my thoughts to come from whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, whatever is excellent, or praiseworthy. (Phillipians 4:8)

 I do not want people to discover i am a Christian because i say "why.. yes.. i do go to church Sunday mornings and read my Bible from time to time." I want them to KNOW i am a Christian by the way i live my life... by the way that i love. I know that i am imperfect. I stumble. I fall. I lack. Just today i spoke to my husband in a not-so-kind way.  But in Christ.... in Christ i am made new. In Christ i lack NOTHING. In Christ i can find hope in a hopeless situation. I can find joy in a sorrowful time. I can find peace through a storm. I can find love through every kind of heartbreak. 

I want to live in a way that other people can find that hope, that joy, that love, and that peace. THAT is the legacy that i want to leave for the future generation. I dont want praise, or status, or recognition... i want our God to tell me "Well done, good and faithful one." 

What about you? Have you thought about it? What are you leaving behind? 

leaving a legacy of love. - Monica

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coffee chat (correction)

"A cup of coffee with a friend is happiness tasted and time well spent."


My sister bought my hubby and i an espresso machine that i am in love with! Sure it is sooo noisy and often disrupts my husband's tv time... but i am enjoying the delicious tastes that it produces.

I love having coffee with friends. I love just hanging out and hearing each other's hearts. I love spending quality time with people that i enjoy and learning more and more about them.

Recently the thing that has been on my heart a lot lately is taking correction.

Proverbs 15:32 (NIV) says  

'Those who disregard discipline despise themselves, but the one who heeds corrections gains understanding.' 

Dictionary.com defines the word 'heeds' as "to give careful attention to." Dictionary.com defines 'disregard'  as "to pay no attention to."
Those who pay no attention to discipline (activity, exercise, or a regimen that improves or develops a skill) despise themselves, but the one who gives careful attention to correction gains understanding.


Correction. We need it. Sometimes it is hard to hear.. and our flesh wants to fight it but we need that correction. We need to take it and apply it to our lives. Being married i am learning more and more about correction. Listening to my husband and hearing his heart is what benefits our marriage. And him doing the same. If he sees something in me that maybe needs the Lord's correction i have to heed that correction to gain understanding. And if i see something in him that maybe needs that same correction... i pray he would do the same.
Its not always easy. Constructive criticism can be hard to swallow... but it can also be beneficial to us. We just need to approach the situation with love, honor, and respect.
So that is where i am at this morning as i type this. Learning about proper  Godly correction.


coffee chat, heeding to correction, and love. - Monica
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being silly

Last night i had a wonderful conversation with my husband. Part of the conversation was that, for some reason, i have forgotten to be silly in our relationship. 

Bills, life, relationships, and work have stolen my joy. My true joy. I don't know how this happens either. ha.

I need to be FULL of the Lord's joy. A joy that is contagious. A joy that will bring others joy. A joy that is undeniable in my life. That is what i want in my life. 

So i will find that joy in my life again. The joy that the Lord has placed in my life. I will be silly again! Dance around. Sing. Laugh. Be free.

"These things i have spoken to you, that My joy will remain in you, and that your joy may be full"
John 15:11 (NKJV)

Sometimes we need to have heart to heart conversations, talk about feelings, and express ourselves... & other times we need to get out our nerf guns and have a shoot out! hehe. 

Laughing is the best medicine! 

So... turn off your cell phones, dont talk about money, leave the heart to hearts on the back burner and be silly! laugh. do something adventurous. enjoy life! There is always another time to talk about how to improve your relationship (i am not disregarding that at all.. there are times when those conversations need to said... but have a balance). :)

Also, i participated in the The Lovely Perk-up Challenge the other day after work. Boots and a cute zip-up sweater works wonders for errand day! haha. 

silliness, new joy every morning, and love. - Monica

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what do you want to be known for?

So.. first off.. i did participate in the Lovely Perk-up the other day... but i worked so i was in my work uniform. hehe. But i wore my hair down and did my makeup. No pics tho. i promise to get better at it. (;

Lately i have been thinking a lot about what i want to be known for. When people think about who i am.. what do they think about? When strangers meet me.. what is their first impression of me?

I started seriously thinking about what i WANT to be known for. I want to be known for my love. For my kindness. For my never-failing faith. For my laughter. For my joy. For my tangible peace that i carry. For my love for my husband and (future) children. I want to be known as a strong woman of God.

A lot of people will ask a question like "what will be written on your tombstone?" I have been thinking about it even MORE. What do i want to be known for RIGHT NOW? What kind of life do what i want live right now? I want to start living with those questions. What is my legacy? What am i leaving behind?

In the book i am re-reading (Feminine Appeal) i read something that has impacted me greatly. The author wrote that "people don't necessarily want to know what we believe in the Bible. They want to SEE if what we BELIEVE makes a difference in our lives.... Our actions either bring honor to God or misrepresent His truth."

Wow... such powerful words! So true. I want to beautifully represent His truth and bring honor to God. That is my heart. I know that it isnt always easy... and i am sooo grateful that i have a Savior to guide me along the way. 

So what do you want to be known for? Have you ever thought about it?

joy, peace, and love. - M

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his hobbies are now mine too.

Hobbies. Interests. Likes.
These have been on my mind lately. As a new wife... i am 1) getting a whole new list of hobbies and interests (mainly cooking meals and "nesting") and 2) learning to enjoy some new hobbies.

It is soo wonderful because my husband really enjoys spending time with me. Its great because my love language is quality time and touch. My all-time favorite thing to do with my loved ones would be to enjoy a cup of coffee and just talk... about anything really. Some of my friends and i can spend HOURS just catching up on our lives, laughing, relating, processing, and enjoying each other. It really is the thing that can delight my heart the most.

Now... i am realizing that guys (well at least the one i married) doesn't REALLY like to chit chat over a  latte. he he. But he has a different idea of what "quality time" looks like.
I have mentioned before that my husband has recently bought the Madden 2012 game for his Xbox. Well.. he LOVES for me to sit and watch him play. Not just sit by him.. but actually WATCH him and CHEER him on. Granted, at times i do grab our laptop check out Pinterest from time to time... even catch up on reading my blogs..... but what i have noticed in my last 2 days off... is that it truly gives my husband great joy that i am getting interested in one of his hobbies. I am investing my time into an activity that my husband enjoys and that makes him feel loved... which makes me feel great!

Its important in relationships to take part in the other person's hobbies, activities, and things they enjoy. Its fun and can continue to have the two of you grow closer together!

So grab your spouse, your mom, your roommate, your friends, or sibling and do something THEY enjoy. You may not particularly LIKE it... but love is selfless... and this is one way of showing it! (:

new activities, video games with hubby, and love. -M

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stopping to smell the roses

This pretty flower bouquet was at my work. A guest sent them to my manager. (:

This beautiful flower just kind of made me smile when i saw it. With life going by soo fast and always having a million things to do (especially with my wedding a week away) it  truly is nice to stop and smell the roses.

Its a phrase that is often said... but i doubt anyone really thinks about it. At least i don't. lol. But lately i am trying to really understand what it means.
Just STOP everything... the thinking, the worrying, the complaining, the wondering, the budgetting, the to-do listing and enjoy what is around you. Not just roses... but sunsets (or sunrises... when i take my future husband to work.. often times we can see them.)

this was once after i dropped him off. (:

It could be looking at a rainbow. When my Fiance and i first started dating... we both sent eachother a picture of a rainbow at the exact same time from our own houses. (:


this was from him. (:



this was from me. (:

There are soooo many things that we could just take a moment... and enjoy it. Let the beauty speak to us... and it can calm our fears, take anxiety, remind us of what is important, and just simply put a smile on our face. (:

It could be snow....i personally do not like the snow... but some people like to look at it.

i woke up to this one morning, when i was visiting a friend.

Whatever it is that takes your breath away... just enjoy it. Search it out. Thank God for His beauty. Allow yourself to stop and be captivated by all that is around you. (:

-Beautiful things and love. -M

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