Ash Wednesday

This cold, dreary Ash Wednesday, I am reflecting on humanity's sin -  my sin - and the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert where he endured Satan's temptation. I am overwhelmed with emotion thinking of the 21 Coptic Christians who were murdered by beheading. I can't fathom it and while our news outlets are all covering this tragedy, it seems like a story. But these are real men with families, children and wives and they were men who loved God and were murdered because of it. These are our brothers. It doesn't feel right to sit and watch the news and maybe my eyes swell with tears and I get choked up, but then I turn off the television and go about my life...it feels like we should be praying continuously for these people, for the terrorist and for the captives. It shouldn't be a story that I just read or listen to and then turn it off and go about my day. I first sat down to write a blog post about how much I love the devotional I'm reading and it has turned into a convicting calling to let God grow my heart not only during this Lent season but grow my everyday life beyond the season of Lent. The routines, the schedules, the way I parent Denson and Eloise, my role as Jonathan's wife, my relationships with my biological brothers and sister but also my brothers and sisters in Christ...and to be more like John the Baptist. We are broken but by God's grace we are saved through Jesus. I pray that by focusing on our sin during Lent, we will be forced to look up to God and seek His kingdom.  

2015

After traveling for the holidays, we have been back in our routine at home and it's been so nice. While we had a great time visiting lots of family, the kids were sick and everyone was needing their quiet time. Being back in our cozy abode was good for all of us and what I look forward to most at the end of the day is a clean kitchen, an extra hot chai tea latte and DVR with hubby. My happy things!  

We soared through the end of 2014 with yucky colds, visiting family and too many new toys :) It was special to wake up Christmas Day with Denson and Eloise and celebrate Jesus' Birthday. We had the best morning of hanging out, eating yummy breakfast and toasting to the pure joy and thanksgiving we have because of God. We left the house a mess and headed to Alabama to visit with my Dad's family. It's special to see great-grandparents get to meet their great-grandkids and love on them. We made it home for New Year's Eve and celebrated with friends while the kiddos slept. We've been glad to have nothing on the agenda these past two weekends and stay in our pajamas most of the day.

I am incredibly thankful for friends and family and the support that surrounds us. My prayer for this year is to give more of my time and efforts outside of my family, which seems ambitious considering my hands are pretty full with two kids at home and a husband that works so hard, but I believe I will be better for my husband and kids if I serve others and be the hands and feet of Jesus for people I don't know. Looking forward to opportunities and seeing how this year is going to unfold.

This weekend Eloise gets to meet another one of her great-grandmothers and lucky for us, she lives at the beach :) Can't wait to stick our toes in the sand and see family ❤️

Pictures from the past couple of months...

Happy New Year!