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Friday, December 27, 2013

To Be A Jewel.

I want to be a jewel in God's sight. Something so lovely, so precious, so valuable. That's my hearts desire.
My Great Grandma's name was Jewel. She went to be with Jesus when I was 10 years old so I don't have as many memories with her as I wish I did but my whole family still talks about her often. She was passionate about The Lord and I wholeheartedly believe that she is the reason my dad's entire side of the family is saved. She wasn't raised Christian and came to know Jesus at the age of 21. She surrendered to Him right in her living room. :)
I want to have a legacy like my great grandma Jewel. I want to have such a passion for Jesus that it's contagious! The way she did! She was imperfect like us all, but she knew that God can use an imperfect person, perfectly.

My great grandma, Jewel and I. 1991.
This is a poem that she wrote that I came across recently and it spoke to my heart so much. Apparently writing runs in my family! I hope this is as much of a blessing for you as it is for me!

Just As I Am
 
I want you to see me, Dear, just as I am.
I make no effort at pretense or sham.
I admit---I'm a person, strange as can be
And Just as I am, I want you to see.
I must make sure you've understood
That in me, there is just nothing good.
I've a mind and a will that's prone to sin
And my heart just welcomes evil in.
My tongue has far too much to say
My lips allow it heedless sway
My eyes see things they truly shouldn't
My ears hear much I would they couldn't!
My thoughts---not right---quite wrong instead
My acts---where angels fear to tread
My hands---time wastes and sadness brings
My feet---they haste to selfish things.
To sum it up---this useless tool---
This worthless thing---is really Jewel!
 
There's not much more that I can write
Except, dear, that I'm holding tight
To Him who hath saved even me
To be what He would have me be---
He stills my soul, and yes, my voice
He doth my mind and will rejoice
He breaks my heart in bits it seems
He shapes my words 'til beauty gleams
He shows my eyes how to discern
He tunes my ears to His concern
He molds my thoughts and keeps intact
He guides my hands, to loving act.
My feet, He places on the Rock
And there, I find a seal and lock
I marvel, Dear, that this can be---
How, thru his blood, He cleanseth me
And then---in Grace---He takes this clay
And breathes---thru me---just for today.
 
by Jewel Rice
August 6, 1942

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a blessed new year!
Love Louis, Sarah, and baby Selah-who thinks the word JOY is quite delicious! ;)

Friday, December 20, 2013

Newlywed Game Holiday Linkup!

forevernewlywedded
I'm so excited this link up is back! Even if it is only for Christmas! :D
 
 
 
1.  Which Christmas would your spouse say was the best that you had together as a couple?
I think he would say our first Christmas together-2 years ago because we got to experience our first major holiday as a married couple!
This one because we have our sweet baby girl.
 
2.  What would your spouse say is the weirdest, or most unique tradition that your family does at Christmas?
White Elephant Gifts
Eating at 3p all through the night?
 
 3.  It's Christmas Day... you are looking all around and you can't find your spouse.  Finally, you find them hiding in a closet, devouring which holiday treat??
Reese's Fudge and Apple Pie
Christmas tree little debbies

 4.  It's your spouse's turn to pick out a Christmas movie.  Naturally, they pick their favorite one.  Which is it??
Rudolph
There are so many that she loves.  The Santa Clause?
 
 5.  If your spouse had it their way... when would they put up Christmas decorations?  Right after the turkey?  Last minute?  Not at all?
3 months before Christmas
October 31st lol
 
 6.  What does your spouse think is the best Christmas gift you ever gave them?
Love! lol
We haven't been together for many Christmas days, but I bet she will say the shopping spree this year will be the best!
 
 7.  Fa la la la laaaa, what is your spouse's go-to Christmas song?
The Little Drummer Boy
Oh Holy Night "Fall on your knees and hear the angel's voices"
 
8.  On Christmas morning, what does your spouse wish is under the tree?
A cross necklace
Lots of gift cards to Ulta, Charming Charlie, Old Navy, etc.
 
9.  What is one thing that your spouse absolutely has to do every year during the holidays?
wrap all the presents-it's his favorite thing to do! I've always loved it too but he loves it more so I let him wrap everything!
Make MONKEY BREAD!!
 
10.  What was the coolest gift your spouse got at Christmas as a child?  (Hopefully they told you this at some point in your relationship... otherwise... this one will have to be a lucky guess!!)
An Xbox?
I will have to take a guess...an easy bake oven??










































Thursday, December 19, 2013

Goals for 2014

They say if you write your goals down you will have a better chance at actually following through. I'm going to test this theory out today and come next January we'll see how everything plays out!

1-Spend time with Jesus each morning.
This is something I've always wanted to do but could never seem to follow through. I know if I can wake up before Selah does and get some Jesus time in my days will be so much better! Even more important than that, my relationship with Him will grow so much!
 
2- Start volunteering at a crisis pregnancy center.
I wrote about this a few weeks ago. I'm already seeing The Lord work on my heart in this area and I really feel him leading me toward it.
 
3-Open an Etsy shop.
I've been wanting to start sewing again since I kind of gave it up in high school. I miss it so much though and can't wait to get back into it! Now to just get a new machine...
 
4-Eat Healthy and Exercise.
I want to get back to my pre marriage weight. lol. Everyone says they want to get back to their pre baby weight but I'm already there and I wasn't exactly happy with where I was at health wise before I got prego so I'm working towards being back where I was before Louie and I started dating. Mainly I want to eat healthy because soon enough Selah will be eating what we eat and I don't want her eating junk. I want to be a good example for her.
 
5-Get more photography business.
This year has been sorta slow when it comes to our photography business. With us having a new baby and all it wasn't on the top of our priority list but I'm determined to advertise like crazy this next year and get lots of new clients!
 
6-Do at LEAST three blog posts a week!
This is something that is so important to me and I really want to make it happen! I think it's going to get easier now that Selah is actually taking naps in her crib! It makes it a lot easier for me to get things done during the day!
 
7-Be bold.
Whether it's ministering to a random person I've never met or asking someone from Church if they'd like to hang out sometime I want to start breaking out of my comfort zone!
 
8-Speak blessings over Selah each morning!
I believe whole heartedly in the power of words and so I'm starting early speaking blessings into Selah's life. She may not understand what I'm saying now but soon enough she will. I will tell her you are creative, you are talented, you are smart, you are gifted, you are a victor and not a victim, people like you, you are outgoing, you are child of the most high God, you are full of His can do power, and you are going to rise up and become everything God created you to be!
 
 
There are several other things that I have in mind to accomplish for this next year but I feel like if I wrote everything down it would take me FOREVER! These are the main things though.
 
Dear Abba,
Thank you so much for all of the blessings you've given me this year in 2013. Lord, I pray that you would help me to accomplish these goals because I know I can't do them on my own. It's not by my strength but it's by Yours! I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST who strengthens me!
In Jesus' name, Amen!
 
 
And just because no post is complete without a picture of my sweet girl!
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Selah-5 months old




Weight: Selah is almost 13 lbs.

Height: I would guess 25 inches


Nicknames: Say Say, Little Missy, Missy, Sweet Pea


Eating: Missy is eating every 2 1/2 to 3 hours now! It definitely makes going places a lot easier!


Sleeping: We have actually been teaching Selah to sleep in her crib this week. So far she hasn't slept through the night in there yet but it's coming!

Diapers: We just bought our first pack of size 2's yesterday! They're actually the fancy shmancy red and white striped ones for Christmas! :-)
 
Clothing: 3 months!


Social: Selah went into the nursery at Church for the first time on Sunday. I think it was harder on me than her! She seemed to do pretty well in there!

Likes: her bath toy, taking baths, grabbing her toys, chewing on EVERYTHING!

Dislikes: when mommy and daddy aren't holding her.


What we're looking forward to: Christmas! I can't wait to give Selah her presents! :)
 

Monday, December 16, 2013

On my heart...




When will I ever feel good enough?

That's a question I've asked myself too many times to count.

I constantly feel like I'm in a limbo of feeling good about myself and the progress I'm making to becoming who I want to be and feeling like I can never measure up. It's painful and it's something I'm battling every single day.

All of my life I've just wanted to belong. somewhere. anywhere. I'm so thankful to God that He kept me from getting mixed up with the wrong kind of crowd because I had the potential to do things I would really regret now because of my want to fit in. I may be 23 years old and five years out of high school but yet, somehow I still feel like I'm back there.

I know this all stems from the rejection I felt when I was young and overweight. But somehow, I still haven't been able to shake it.

So I'm writing this for me...and maybe just maybe someone who feels the way I do will be encouraged. Because I don't know where to go from here. I don't know how to overcome this-on my own that is.

 But what I do know is that I serve a big God and this is what He says about me-and you too!

• I am a child of God.

But to all who have received him--those who believe in his name--he has given the right to become God's children … (John 1:12).

• I am a branch of the true vine, and a conduit of Christ’s life.

I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me--and I in him--bears much fruit, because apart from me you can accomplish nothing (John 15:1, 5).

• I am a friend of Jesus.

I no longer call you slaves, because the slave does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because I have revealed to you everything I heard from my Father (John 15:15).

• I have been justified and redeemed.

But they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24).

• My old self was crucified with Christ, and I am no longer a slave to sin.

We know that our old man was crucified with him so that the body of sin would no longer dominate us, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin (Romans 6:6).

• I will not be condemned by God.

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1).

• I have been set free from the law of sin and death.

For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2).

• As a child of God, I am a fellow heir with Christ.

And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ)--if indeed we suffer with him so we may also be glorified with him (Romans 8:17).

• I have been accepted by Christ.

Receive one another, then, just as Christ also received you, to God's glory (Romans 15:7).

• I have been called to be a saint.

… To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours (1 Corinthians 1:2). (See also Ephesians 1:1, Philippians 1:1, and Colossians 1:2.)

• In Christ Jesus, I have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption … (1 Corinthians 1:30).

• My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells in me.

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you (1 Corinthians 6:19)?

• I am joined to the Lord and am one spirit with Him.

But the one united with the Lord is one spirit with him (1 Corinthians 6:17).

• God leads me in the triumph and knowledge of Christ.

But thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and who makes known through us the fragrance that consists of the knowledge of him in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14).

• I am a new creature in Christ.

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away--look, what is new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17)!

• I have become the righteousness of God in Christ.

God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we would become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21).

• I have been made one with all who are in Christ Jesus.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female--for all of you are one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:28).

• I am no longer a slave, but a child and an heir.

So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if you are a son, then you are also an heir through God (Galatians 4:7).

• I have been set free in Christ.

For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be subject again to the yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1).

• I have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

• I am chosen, holy, and blameless before God.

For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love (Ephesians 1:4).

• I am redeemed and forgiven by the grace of Christ.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7).

• I have been predestined by God to obtain an inheritance.

In Christ we too have been claimed as God's own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will (Ephesians 1:11).

• I have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation)--when you believed in Christ--you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).

• Because of God’s mercy and love, I have been made alive with Christ.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you are saved (Ephesians 2:4-5)!

• I am seated in the heavenly places with Christ.

… And he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus … (Ephesians 2:6).

• I am God’s workmanship created to produce good works.

For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them (Ephesians 2:10).

• I have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ.

But now in Christ Jesus you who used to be far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13).

• I am a member of Christ’s body and a partaker of His promise.

… The Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:6). (See also Ephesians 5:30.)

• I have boldness and confident access to God through faith in Christ.

… In whom we have boldness and confident access to God because of Christ's faithfulness (Ephesians 3:12).

• My new self is righteous and holy.

… Put on the new man who has been created in God's image--in righteousness and holiness that comes from truth (Ephesians 4:24).

• I am a citizen of heaven.

But our citizenship is in heaven--and we also await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ … (Philippians 3:20).

• The peace of God guards my heart and mind.

And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7).

• God supplies all my needs.

And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

• I have been made complete in Christ.

… You have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority (Colossians 2:10).

• I have been raised up with Christ.

Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1).

• My life is hidden with Christ in God.

… For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

• Christ is my life, and I will be revealed with Him in glory.

When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him (Colossians 3:4).

• I have been chosen of God, and I am holy and beloved.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience … (Colossians 3:12).

• God loves me and has chosen me.

We know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you … (1 Thessalonians 1:4).


So I'm going to speak these things everyday, and eventually I'll overcome these things that have tried to make me feel worthless and unlovable. Then and only then will I be able to walk in who He has called me to be-His child. And that's enough, so much more than enough.
 
 


Thursday, December 5, 2013

Dear Friday

Dear sweet hubby,
You are the sweetest man! I'm so blessed that God chose you just for me. I'm so thankful that Selah has such a good daddy and she will never have to go through the things that I went through growing up.

Dear sweet and sour chicken,
YOU ARE AWESOME! I've always loved Chinese food but never really attempted to make anything this close to legit Chinese food. Well I must've done something right because the recipe was delish!
Dear Christmas,
I just love this time of the year and I can't wait to celebrate more! Our family Christmas party is this weekend and I'm so excited for Selah to meet my extended family.

Dear water,
I can't get enough of you! They were not lying when they said breastfeeding would make you thirsty! Goodness!
Dear exclamation points,
I! Can't! Seem! To! Stop! Putting! An! Exclamation! Point! After! Every! Sentence! I! Apologize! In! Advance!
Dear sweet Selah,
You are such a happy sweet girl! I can't wait to see the things The Lord does through you! You are amazing baby girl!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Thanksgiving Recap




It was so amazing experiencing our first major holiday as a family of 3. Having a baby makes the holidays so much more exciting. There's just something about it! :-)
I've been counting my blessings this thanksgiving. I love thinking about all that God has done for me. It makes me want to shout! 

Here are some IPhone pics from all of the festivities!
Turkey cookies!

That would be my adorable nephew, Colin!
Alaina and Colin.
I love family.
My big sissy and I.

My sweet girl in a chair just her size! :)


I love them so!

We saw a herd of deer in the neighborhood near Louie's grandmas house! Wish I would've gotten a clearer pic!