{Things I've learned} It's the weekend....

As a new Momma some of you more experienced Momma's may say, "uhm duh." to me after this post..but here goes.

As a new working outside the home Momma I have learned the following about keeping up with my house chores:

• Windex is your BFF. Literally. You will need it for lots of sticky icky, I have no idea what those are things. 
• A 20 minute tidy early in the morning can go a long way. And, can mean the difference between a meltdown after work or a smile as I walk in my house at the end of long what the heck just happened at work kinda day. 
• You will never confine all toys to one spot/place/toy bin/or room. Never. Ever. {Unless your kids are those type of kids that love everything clean, not in my case. At all!} My kids make it a point to make sure every livable space of our home is covered in "them." {Post at  a later date about this...}
• Don't ever think you will remain cute, clean and un-sweaty if you have a two year old and 10 month, ever. Ever. Those words don't exist. Ha. {Are you laughing yet? Cause I am. It's better for me...} 
• You can't do it all. {PERIOD}
• Take a breather, the mess will be there when you get back up. {Ha.}
• Your home may never be perfect but it will be filled with Love beyond your wildest dreams.
• Keep lipstick and pens away from your kids, at.all.times. Unless you like them on your walls, floors, tables, doors, etc. etc.
• You know those expensive pots and pans and plastic thingies under your cabinets, don't get too attached. I've learned the hard way.
• When in doubt about that sticky icky, I have NO idea what THAT is kinda messes, use WINDEX. {Except remember which towel you used it with because you don't want to ACCIDENTALLY wipe your daughters sticky what is it kinda messy face with it. Just sayin'. On the bright side she was squeaky clean and smelled lemony the rest of the day...Just sayin'}
• If your Hubby says "oh I'll do it", let him, you will be tired now but when you recoup you can go back and do it your way......
• When you get overwhelmed. Take a break and play with  your children, they won't be this little forever and when they get older they can help you clean... kinda...sorta, maybe? 
• Don't wear your work shoes to clean up...it's not a good idea, as cute as you may look in them...your feet will hate you in the morning when you have to put them back on and go to work for 8 whole hours or MORE the next day...Just Sayin'...
• Life is too short to worry about it all, to think about it all. Some days I want to cry and scream, others I can't help but laugh and at the end of the day as I climb over mountains of toys to get to the crib and that tiny person sleeping in it...I can't help but THANK GOD every day for how amazingly Blessed I am. 
• Yes, it's frustrating, tiring, dirty, messy, difficult, even sad at times, but trust me, it's worth it. IT DOES GET BETTER. And life...well it goes on...and I as I always say...IT'S NOT THAT SERIOUS. 
• It really isn't....

All you experience Momma's please feel free to share your cleaning secrets with all us new Momma's!

{G.N.O.} ♥

Last Friday night was a special night. I attended the annual KSBJ G.N.O. {Girls Night Out!}. A great night to head out with girlfriends in the Houston area to praise, worship and pray. To be changed. To be Blessed. It's my second time going..and let me just say, it's getting better as the years grow on me.

This year I went with a girlfriend who I grew up with, Yvonne, we stopped seeing each other from about the ages of 13/14  until we were about 26/27 years old. Yes. A long gap but when we saw each other as adults it was as if our childhood  hadn't passed us by. We were now; Wives, Momma's or future Momma's, and life had taught us a thing or two. God was right in bringing us back together as adults; we appreciate each other, accept one another and bring new light into each other lives. Who knows what would have happened had we stayed friends during our teenage years but I do know that as adults, I don't plan on letting the years gap, ever again.

We went to dinner, caught up on our week and arrived at Grace Community Church,  it's an amazing and personal space set up perfectly for praise and worship. A prayer at the beginning of the show. Then our seats... for the next almost 3 hours God was in that room and in my heart as a renewal of my Faith and Love for Him!

A great comedian; Anita Renfroe, brought light to our everyday and to the night ahead. If you've never seen her in person, I totally suggest you do. HILARIOUS. She is a Momma filled with wisdom and faith. She knows that in order to make it through this life we must laugh at ourselves everyday! She does the best job at teaching us that every life "drama" filled situation as a Momma and Wife are funny! My Husband saw THIS clip and was sold!

"Difficulty is inevitable. Drama is a choice."

Our speaker, one of my most abso-favorite Blogger/Speaker/Writer/Proverbs 31 Woman; Lysa TerKeurst !
She is the smallest, most soft spoken but powerfully spoken woman. She is so real, and funny. Her family is no different from anyone else.  She is no different than any other Momma, other than the fact that she is a super amazingly published author. Her soft words of Momma wisdom filled with peace, faith and love just filled every space in my heart with joy and true hope. I was at peace to know that amidst the messes of our lives, and the chaos of our homes, the loud children and hustle and bustle of every day life; there is silence in Jesus. Silence that allows us to hear Him and His love for us. No matter what we have been through, where we think we will go, God loves us all the same. His Love is real. His Love is pure. Only His Love can save us from despair. Only His Love can change us from the inside out. Only with His Love can we Love others.... She stated that her and her Husband gave a gift to Jesus from their hearts; they promised that for 365 days they would reach out to a live person and give them a little bit of their time, a little bit of their money, and/or a little bit of their encouragement; in order to touch 365 lives whom God knew they would be a Blessing to. I thought that was amazing. I want to be that person who gives time, money and encouragement. God has filled me with his passion and I know I have the Love to share it with anyone who needs it.

Matthew 5:8

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
   for they will see God.

Finally, a singer a tiny woman with a powerhouse voice! Natalie Grant. You can't help but jump out of your seat and lift your soul in praise! She is also a Momma , her compassion and kind heart shines through her voice and performances. God has definitely given her an amazing talent. We are Blessed, that she decided to share her voice... she is amazing.... She reminded us that Jesus is Alive! ......and it is well with my soul....

The night was an encouraging, heart lifting and  faith empowering one. That will definitely allow this year to be my year of CHANGE!

God doesn't make mistakes...and that night...Yvonne and I were more than meant to be there... MORE THAN MEANT TO BE THERE.

I hope that everyone is given the opportunity to experience a night like I had on Friday...cause I know that God is working...working lots. 

Good night everyone. Blessed night everyone.

[30..Meet and Greet]

As part of my 30 days of 30 lists, today's list will include 30 people who I have met in my 30 years! {I know I have met far more than 30 people and forgive me if I leave you off the list, it doesn't mean you are not important...trust me, I know who you are and where you stand in my life, and hope that I am in good standing with you.}

These people have brought not only smiles and love into my life but long lasting memories as well. 

Names are not really in any type of order...

{30 People in 30 Years}

1. My Husband {My rock, My friend, The person God gave me to share the rest of my days with}
2. My Sister  {A friend from God, an honest and tough person.}
3. The Obvious {My Mom} She was the first and will always be....
4. My Son {No words}
5. My Daughter {Equally astonishing}
6. My Dad {Lessons Learned}
7. My Brother Jesse {Artistic}
8. My Brother Max {Youth, Funny}
9. Amelia G. {My Best Friend from H.S. }
10. Hector {A mentor}
11. Ivonne B. { Began a journey of Faith with her}
12. Kim G. {She joined our journey...}
13. Markie {Taught me strength...with class!}
14. Lola {A fair and equal Supervisor, who became a great friend}
15. Twanda {My Diva!}
16. De'Lana {Sweetness}
17. Joani { Classmates for a lifetime}
18. Claudia W. {Cheer and Joy}
19. My Ruthie Mae {An awesome friend, with lots of Love}
20. Maria R. {I've met plenty of Maria's BUT none like her!}
21. Shalimar {Even her name is exotic! Beauty and Brains.}
22. GabGab {Mi Comadre.... no joke, she really is.}
23. Isela {Rodeo time and good friend}
24. Oh.M.Geeeee. CASEYLOVE. {My true Sista' from another Mother}
25. Just recently Kathy A. {Instant click!}
26. And another Karen C. {Crafty inspiration and Mommy friend}
27. Alfredito {My cousin and Older brother...Ha.}
28. Yoli {Became more than my cousin for years my confidant.}
29. Annie H. {My private Nurse, Ha.}
30. Yvonne A. { A blast from the past..with a purpose!}

All of these people come from different walks of life. Each unique and special in their own ways. Each contributing something amazing to my life. Each appreciated and Loved. Each an amazing and equally God sent person to a specific time of my life...

Why are we so hard on ourselves?

We try and try and try...

We do our best and think that we are doing our best...

Yet when evaluation of the self comes...we fail... to ourselves...

I have gone through 5 days of Lent season now....

catching myself...

torturing myself...

failing...myself....

defining myself...

evaluating myself....

devaluing myself...

reminding myself....

praying...for myself...

And still.. I can't seem to win this battle...against....MYSELF.

God has given me so many tools and resources, so many wonderful women of support...and still I fail... BUT then I think...I AM HUMAN...we are suppose to fail...Jesus was tempted by the devil...He never failed..but we are NOT Jesus.

Then I think, I am being  SO  hard on myself. I need to stop. I need to realize that I can do this...but ONLY with prayer and grace. With willingness and an open heart..I will be victorious. I will move forward and I will have FAITH.

That through HIM all things are possible.

Philippians 4:13 (New International Version, ©2011)

¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Seek, Resolve, and Share.

These are my 3 Lent season purposes {SEEK, RESOLVE, AND SHARE}.

As I go through this journey, I can't promise flowers and butterflies but I will say this..I am honest, open and willing.

I accept that for a while now Pride and Stubbornness have been my sidekicks. How petty? Yes. It is.

I am praying though for my hard heart to soften and open up to what the world has to say about me.

I am willing to change...a willingness that only I can bring forth....an effort that God will give me grace to endure..no matter what that change is!

I am not going to lie. I have been down this road before and failed...I have failed Him. HE HAS NEVER FAILED ME.

Again, I am honest. I want to change. I will be 30 years old this year. How ridiculous is that at 30 I can hold on to such a difficult past and think that I can move forward; whole heartily? I can't. I need to truly let go.

God is with me.

Why am I scared?

Who should I fear?

If He is with me...every step of the way...how could I think that He would let me go?

That His tight hold would loosen? Never.

He has never failed me...even though I have failed Him..many times. 

Today I realize how Blessed I am and how much I don't deserve it. 

I don't.

But, still HE manages to show me how MANY more Blessing He can give me!  

And HE and THEY are all AMAZING!

Thank You God for giving me everything this undeserving girl could wish for and then some...

I PRAISE HIM FOR....

My Faith.

My Husband.

My Son.

My Daughter.

My Mom and Dad.

My Siblings.

My Nephew.

My extended family on both my hubby's side and mine.

My Sisters-in-Christ and amazing Girlfriends.

My Home.

My Job.

My Education.

My life as a whole.

Seemingly Perfect.

It's a lie to think that we are perfect.

We are not.

At all.

I have never been one to even remotely express or act perfectly.

I am human. I make many mistakes. I've said it a millions times...my husband is not always polite, my son doesn't always match and me..I am not ever perfect!

The fact that my husband and I have decided to be and do things in certain order and with specific purpose...doesn't make us perfect. We have been through a lot the last 12 years, together and as individuals. Never loosing sight of either fact. While we were still living at home we realized that there were individual "monsters" to tame, with our respective families. We "resolved" and agreed to leave behind those issues and "monsters", behind us not only the day we moved in together, but also 8 months later when we met at the altar. It's written, and I say it to young couples all the time. Ricardo taught me after we moved in together and got married that we could no longer be slaves to those "monsters" and problems within our former families, because now we had a family of our own to nurture and care for.

Married or not, life as a live in couple doesn't work until you resolve that, that life is only about 2 people who rely on God, you and your significant other.

At first this didn't resonate or make sense with me, the way it may not make sense to you.

My mom was a "single" mom for many years; I, being the oldest took on many, many, many roles; assistant provider for my 3 younger siblings, emotional supporter to my mom, over-all make things better for my family person, acting as a friend to my mom, mom to my younger siblings, sister to my siblings,student, employee and then some. Life was not easy. I endured a lot with my mom, good and bad. It was her and I through think and thin. But, she understood the day that I moved out and more so the day that I got married that I had to be everything I was to her but for my husband now. That her problems and issues had to be handled to the best of her ability. She was not selfish and never attempted to hold me back from becoming a completely, devoted wife and now mother. She understands my role and I appreciate that respect and the space that she has given me to develop my marriage in His eyes and for His will and purpose...so that now, as a grown woman..who seeks Faith and Wisdom, I can once more be her friend while she is my mom.

I am and have always been there for my mom as she has been there for me..but just as she once left her family to seek a family of her own..I left mine. It has made me stronger and wiser and allows me new perspective to handle new situations.

Respect. Space. God. Two People. Faith. Open Heart. Obedience. Honesty. Love. It's what it takes to begin a Faith-filled, loving, devoted and committed Marriage of Two.  {I THINK}

This is all random talking. I am on a journey this Lent season to resolve, seek and share.