Ten Things that Make Me Happy

In no particular order here are ten things that make me happy:

1. Starbucks and cute coffee mugs, but you already knew that! 

2. Going on walks. With just my husband or as a family. 

3. The ocean. Oh, how I wish we lived closer to the water. Maybe one day! 

4. A clean home and cleaning supplies. Yes, I am weird. 

5. Clothes from Kiki La'rue. Yes, clothes make me happy. Especially these. 

    Go take a peek, I promise you'll want one of those in every color! 

6. A good book that I just can't put down. 

7. My son singing and the fact that Maeva is starting too. Always makes me smile.

8. Date nights, where it's just my husband and I. 

9. Spring time. Everything about it.

10. Quiet time with Jesus. It fills me up so much! I need to work on being more consistent with it.

Linking up with a fresh start on a budget for the blogging challenge.

Ten Words

Today I'm linking up with a fresh start on a budget for the September blog challenge.
Can you believe it's almost October? Where does life go?!?
The prompt for today is 10 words to describe yourself.
Ten words seems like a lot, but I shall try!

Ten words that describe me.

Compassionate. I've always been a compassionate person. I believe it goes along with the fact that I feel deeply. I've always been one of those people that can relate to others. I may not have the same experiences as every person, but if you're hurting, I hurt right along with you and probably crying too. If you're feeling joy, I feel it too. At times being compassionate can be hard, because like I said, I feel deeply. I can get really wrapped up in others peoples experiences and emotions. Makes me feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders. However, I'm thankful for this because I know the world needs more people that care and love. 

Fixer. I never really thought I was a fixer until college. I tried to fix people, tried to change people. 

Its a great thing to want to help, but I'd get a bit extreme about it. It actually caused me to lose my best friend from college. We're friends again, but it's different. It's hard to say that I am thankful for a different relationship, but really I needed to change. Maybe I'll share that in another post some time. 

Its hard not be a fixer if you are one... I feel like its in my bones, but I really have to work at letting it go. My job is not to fix people. The truth is, that's not even possible. I know that now... took a long time to learn. Only God has that power and He's actually good at it! 

Journaler. I used to spend hours and hours writing in my journal. I love to do it and need to get back at it. I believe this has been one of the best things for me. It allows me to put my heart on paper... the good, the bad, the ugly... my journal is a place where I write letters to God and has helped me so much. I need to work harder at doing this on a regular basis because it is one of the best things I have done for myself. 

Reader. Oh, how I love a good book! In high school I wasn't one to go out much, but you could come find me in my bed reading a good book. I love a good drama and books that make me feel deeply and cry. Go figure! I like to be able to relate to the story. My husband always asks why I'm reading a book if it makes me cry! =) I know its odd, but emotions and words can paint such a beautiful picture of life!

Serious. I am not a joker. Like ever... unless I'm tired. I wish I wasn't so serious all the time. I wish I was a joker, silly, more fun, but its such a struggle for me! I know however, that trying harder to be less serious would be a good thing for me! My husband is a joker and I get so irritated by it sometimes. I need to lighten up for sure! 

Christian. Did you know that word was coming? ;) I love God. I've always believed him, but didn't have a relationship with Him until I was a senior in high school. Its not always easy being a Christian and I know I have a lot to work at and be better at. I'm glad he loves me no matter what! 

Encourager. I love to encourage people! I, again, feel like I used to be better at this! I need to start writing notes to people again... cards to my friends all over the US. I loved to do that and I know many would appreciate it. I also liked to be encouraged. Words on encouragement is my top love language! 

Photographer. I have my own photography business. I wouldn't call myself a professional, not really. I love the feeling of my camera in my hands and seeing memories come together. I still have so much to learn though! I love taking pictures of my babies. That will never get old! 

Dreamer. I'm always dreaming about the future. Thinking about how life is and how I want it to be. 

There is so much I want out of life, so much I hope and pray for. I spend lots of time inside my own head thinking about all these things. 

Wife and Mom. The two things God made me to be that I never even really considered. Well, I shouldn't say didn't consider, but if you would have asked me years ago if I was ever going to get married I would have said no. Same goes for being a mom because I never thought I'd have kids while not being married! These words, they are the best. Being a wife and mom is so much harder than I ever thought it could be. It takes work and aiming to be selfless. It takes a lot of praying. Its hard and painful at times, but really I wouldn't change it for anything. God wanted me to be a wife and mom, so the truth is, I know that I can do it because He has faith in me! 

Well, that was hard, but I did it! 

Now tell me, what ten words describe you? 

Currently

I've been really bad at blog reading + commenting lately.

There's just so many other things to do, plus I just haven't felt like being on the internet much. 

I thought I'd share what is currently going on in life. 

I always like these sort of posts =)

Watching

Gilmore Girls.

Also, the second season of Switched at Birth! I was so happy to see that on Netflix!

Thinking About

The world and how painful it can be. My heart is aching for Boston and Texas. 

It breaks my heart just like it breaks Gods. It's suppose to, but gosh sometimes I wish it didn't hurt SO bad. 

Listening To

A lot of Klove and Christian stations on Pandora.

I just need to be lifted up a lot lately. 

Excited About

So much, really!

My blog changing in less than a month.

Working with World Market on some things. 

My Better Life Bag coming at the beginning of May.

The fact that we can start looking into buying a home!!!

Reading

I just finished reading The Chance by Karen Kingsbury. So good. 

I need to decide what to read next.

Loving

Watching my kids together. They love each other so much.

The It Works Wraps and the fact that I actually am feeling smaller (some days, anyway).

Coffee. Always coffee. 

Looking Forward To

Looking at homes. Seriously so excited about this. I cannot even begin to tell you how excited!

The  weather getting nicer (it won't last, but still). 

Pretty much everything I listed under "Exited about." 

=)

Happy Friday, Friends! 

The Lie I Overcame

Today I want to introduce you to something special.
Something that I believe every woman can benefit from.
It's a movement called Overcome The Lie.
It is about overcoming all the lies we face.
There are so many in this world that can cause much heartache and pain.
We all face them, but there is hope!
That's where this movement comes in...
A movement of women who are speaking His truth!
We can overcome the lies because Jesus overcame the grave!
He never intended for us to believe the lies,
But instead to believe in Him and His truths!

I believe it is important to share our hearts as women. 

It is important to share the lies we face and battle them together.

So, today I'm also sharing a lie that I have overcome,
A lie that took me years to overcome.
It isn't something I write about often, but today I want to share. 

The lie I once believed was that I deserved to be treated badly by guys. 

Honestly, I'm not sure when I started to believe this lie.

Part of me believes that it probably started with not having my dad around much.

That, in itself told me I wasn't wanted, wasn't good enough. 

As I grew up I wanted to be loved and it didn't really seem to matter from who. 

When I was 15 I found what I thought was love from a guy 3 years older than me. 

He took advantage of me and then broke my heart. Multiple times. 

He would tell me he didn't want me, he would be with other girls, we'd break up.

Over and over again the cycle went. 

I thought that relationship was the worst of it, but then I went to college.

From my freshman year until the end of my junior year I was in an abusive relationship. 

Those years were the worst for me. 

I remember constantly being lied to. 

I remember constantly being called names - the b word, a slut, ect. 

I remember the cruel jokes that left me thinking, "What kind of person does that?" 

I remember being so depressed that I couldn't get out of bed, eat, or go to class.

All I could do was cry, throw things, cut myself, and drink. 

All those moments I heard Jesus calling to me.
I heard Him telling me to run, to get out.

I tried many, many times, but it never was for long, not until my breaking point. 

^^^Me in college^^^

I still remember that night.
I was watching a movie with my best friend when I got a phone call about him. 

It was a mutual friend saying they couldn't find him.
That he'd been drinking and doing drugs. 

I told our friend that it wasn't my problem any more. 

We hung up and he called back saying he found him and was bringing him to me.

I panicked because I couldn't handle him when he got this way.
I told him to take him home and hung up.

I was terrified, so I called his mother and explained things. 

She, of course, was panicked herself and said she'd call me back.
The next time I answered it was him. 

He was laughing cruelly at me because I'd fallen for it all. 

He was fine, just getting back at me for saying it was over,
I couldn't be with him for a second longer. 

I screamed some not so nice things and told him to never speak to me again.

Then I hung up and threw my phone across the room. 

After picking it up and putting it back together I had a message from him. 

It was full of name calling and many cruel things. 

I was in shock, unable to believe that things could get this bad. 

But I was also completely done. 

Things got worse from there.
There was a time when he played such a horrible joke on me...
That my life felt like it could be over.

It sounds dramatic and a part of me wishes I could share it,
But it's really not for this space. 

I hadn't talked to him for a few months,
But he called me in the summer to lie to me, to terrify me. 

It worked. I thought I was going to die. 

Not in a dramatic way. But that lie, if it were true, could have killed me. 

Those two things were my breaking point,
But at the same time they were my starting point. 

My starting point of going to Jesus for healing and truth. 

My starting point of realizing that I didn't deserve to be treated like trash. 

It took so much to overcome the lie,
That I deserved everything that was thrown at me. 

I spent a whole summer writing letters to God in my journal, 

laying in bed bawling my eyes out, and praying.

It took anger, a broken heart, and lots of relying on Jesus to overcome the lie. 

It also took meeting my husband and realizing that not all guys are awful. 

All these things made me realize that God loves and cherishes me. 

I deserve to be loved, respected, cherished. 

I overcame this lie with Jesus. I know He is the only way I was able to. 

That's the lie I overcame.
And there are so many more women out there that have much to share.
Need to share your own? Need to be encouraged? Simply want to know more?
Check out Overcome The Lie on twitter, facebook, and the blog.

Currently

Watching

Ringer of netflix. An interesting show, but wishing there was more of 

The Lying Game or Switched at Birth to watch. Obsessed.

 Thinking About

How hard it is to lose weight. I want to, I need to, but it honestly seems hopeless.
Going from someone who never really had to worry about what she was eating, to someone who has to, is tough! 

Listening To

Lots of KLove and Mumford and Sons.
Music that just makes me feel good and like I can accomplish things. 

Excited About

Things that seem far off in the future.

Getting a home, 

Meeting blogging friends.

The Hope Spoken Conference (I still can't believe I get to go)!

Reading

The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury

Made to Crave

Discovering Soul Care

Loving

Watching my kids grow and love one another.

The fact that we actually went to church yesterday.
This past weekend and that my husband just spent time with us instead of other things he could have been doing: homework, flying, 

Looking forward to

Spring weather

Taking my kiddos outside once that arrives (and stays) a lot!

The photo shoot I have scheduled this weekend, hopefully!
Seeing my close girl friends in May at one of our girlfriends wedding!

I'm the girl...

Today I thought I'd share a few things about myself that you may not know. 

Some serious, some silly, all me. =) 

I used to be a girl who wore her heart on her sleeve.

Now, I try not to put it out there, all the time. 

But if I don't share my heart, you can definitely see how I feel all over my face. 

I'm a girl who never thought she'd get married. 

Did I want to? Yes, but I was terrified of getting hurt. 

My husband had to chase me for a while. 

I'm glad he didn't give up after I told him I was never going to date him. Ha!

I'm a girl who loves to rollerblade. Seriously, so fun! 

Can't wait until my kids are old enough to go to the rink! 

I also can't wait until it's nice enough for my husband and I to go again.

Yes, we both own rollerblades! 

I'm a girl with a super sensitive heart. 

My feelings get easily hurt. I often take things the wrong way. I can get easily angry. 

I think it's okay to have a sensitive heart, but somethings I definitely need to work on! 

I'm a girl who used to be addicted to Dr. Pepper. 

I'd drink it all day long.

My friends from college often made fun of me, in a loving way, of course! 

I don't drink it now... it's usually coke, sparkling grape juice, and (always) coffee! 

I'm the girl who didn't drive until she was 22. 

Yep, I was in college. Just crazy, huh? 

I'm the girl who prefers my pizza cold. 

Nothing like eating left over pizza straight out of the fridge.

And it must be with a coke or milk with ice! =)

I'm the girl who loves a good book. 

Reading is one of my favorite things. 

I can get lost in the words on a page.

I love books that touch my heart and make me cry.

My husband always asks "why are you reading that if it makes you cry?"

I'm the girl who used to sleep 13+ hours a day! 

One time in college I had been asleep for about 15 hours...

And my mod-mates woke me up by turning up the heat! 

I haven't slept that long in a long time and probably never will again!

This mama misses sleep!

I'm the girl who loves the beach + sunshine. 

I love California and Hawaii!

I dream about living in Cali. We've talked about it a few times.

Maybe someday! 

I'm the girl who grew up Catholic and then left the Catholic church...

And am now going back. 

My heart is wrestling with this.

And I am wrestling with Jesus about this.

All I know is I love Jesus and that's all that matters.

I'm the girl who knows she needs a lot more time with Jesus. 

Like hours and hours to pour out my heart to Him.

I'm trying.

I'm the girl who is a mama to two beautiful babies... hoping for more. 

My kids made me realize I could love more than I've ever imagined. 

I'd die for them. I'd do anything to protect them. 

I'm the girl who feels like she's become a bit OCD since having kids. 

Drives me crazy because it's impossible to keep this place nice with a toddler! 

I could clean and clean all day long! 

I'm the girl who loses her patience easily.

It's something I'm aiming to work on. 

I'm so thankful for grace and that everyday is a new day! 

I'm the girl who often feels like she's a mess!

On the inside and the outside. This is a huge struggle for me lately.

But I'm trying to give it to Him!

I know He's the only one that can change my mess and use it for His glory! 

Anything else you'd like to know about me? I'm a pretty open person. Most of the time! ;) 

Me, Myself, and I linky party

I haven't linked up for this party in a while because I've been a bit preoccupied, 

but wanted to join in on the fun today! Read on a get to know a few things about me! =)

Join in on the fun, as well, if you'd like!

1. What is your favorite season? 

Fall, of course! The temperature is perfect. I'm able to wear my favorite things - scarfs, boots, cardigans and am more willing to go outside since it isn't hot! I think the trees are just beautiful as well. Plus, it means Pumpkin Spice Lattes, which I became addicted to this fall! 

2. Talk about a moment that changed your life.

Meeting my husband. I know, I'm sure a lot of women say that (and mean it!), but really it not only changed my life, but changed me. When I first met him I was set on just being friends. I told him multiple times that we couldn't date, even though I had already fallen for him. Apparently, he won that argument! ;) 

3. If you could be any crayon color what color would you be and why? 

Yellow because that color cheers me up!

4. Describe yourself as a superhero: Superpower, name, sidekick.

I'd be supermom! I wish this was a possibility, but no mom is perfect. 

I'd be able to go without sleep, wouldn't need coffee (maybe I'd still drink it though because I love it so much), I'd always feed my kids well and have great activities to do with them all day long instead of turning on the tv, and I'd never yell at them or feel like I was going to lose my mind! 

My sidekick of course, would be superdad -- together we could conquer anything but our speciality, crappy kiddos! ;) 

5. If you had all the money in the world and could only shop at 3 stores, where would you shop?
Target
Francescas
Charming Charlie.

Now you know more about me! Tell me about you!

Me, myself, and I

I'm linking up with My Beautiful, Crazy Life for Me, Myself, and I linky party! 
It is a party that will be hosted every month with 5 questions so people can get to know others better! Maybe you'll find out a few things you don't know about me! Go join please, so I can get to know you better! 

1. What is your biggest phobia? 

Honestly, I'm not too sure that I have a huge phobia. I'm not the biggest fan of speaking in front of people, but I can do it if I am forced! =) My biggest fear though is that the people in my life, I am closest too, the people I love the most will end up going to hell because they don't know God. Yeah... that was probably a bit deep, but in college I was really tormented by the thought of that.

I try not to think about it too much because it causes me to get really upset. I hope people see me live in such a way that they can get to know Jesus through me and maybe that won't happen!

Oh, and heights too. Some times I can handle them. Sometimes I can't! 

2. If you could relive any day of your life, what would it be and why?

If I could relive any day it would probably be the day I met my husband, which was our first date. We sort of set ourselves up on a blind date. It was such a different experience and I'd soak more of it in this time around. Other days I'd relive - my wedding day and the day I had my son. Both life changing. 

3. If you could chose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be? 

I'm not sure I have a certain age I'd want to stay forever. I don't want to live forever because truthfully I think life gets hard and I rather spend forever with Jesus. Yet, at the same time being old scares me because it looks like there are so many struggles in being old.

4. Which celebrity do you get mistaken for?

I don't! I always used to think that I looked like the girl off of Even Stevens when I was younger!

5. What songs are included to the song track of your life.

Blessed Be Your Name (this song makes me cry almost every time I hear it).
Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts

She is Love (the song I walked down the aisle to). 

Coffee date: vlog style!

Hello everyone! I'm linking up with Rags to Stitches for a coffee date, vlog style! 

This is my very first, so I apologize if its a bit painful to watch - ha! =) 

I wasn't sure what to talk about when it came to this...

And this turned out to go deeper than I had actually planned! 

I opened my mouth and this is just what came out! =) 

Happy Friday! 

Want to link up? Go for it!

More about me

I wouldn't normally do a blog questioner thing,

but since Meredith from one of my favorite blogs tagged me, I thought I'd participate! 

Here are the rules:

1. Post these rules

2. Post a photo of your and 11 things about yourself/life

3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post

4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them

5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you've tagged them

(Two of my best friends and I roller skating our junior year of college)

My 11 things

1. One of my favorite things to do is go roller skating. Now that I typed that, I want to go! 

2. I rather have a cold than the flu. I need to be able to breathe out of my nose!

3. I majored in social welfare in college, but I don't have much desire to do anything with it. 

4. Photography has become a passion of mine. If only I knew how to actually use my camera!

5. I didn't really think I'd ever get married. Either did my husband. Perfect for each other!

6. I started getting grey hair when I was 15. I'm a worrier and a stresser.
7. The summer after my freshman year in college I went to L.A. to work with the homeless on Skid Roe. I still think about the kiddos sometimes.
8. In high school I used to spend a lot of my time reading. It's one of my favorite things to do. I love Karen Kingsbury. Her books are so good and uplifting! I love how she writes about faith!
9. I'd love to take some graphic design classes. It's something I believe I could spend hours doing.
10. I have to sleep with my feet out of the covers! It drives me nuts to have them covered!
11. I want to travel the world someday!

(Two kids I fell in love with in L.A.)

Meredith's questions

1. What's the best thing you ever ate? My grandma's shrimp dip. You can find the recipe here.

2. Do you prefer radio, Ipod, or CD while driving? I usually have the radio playing, but I rather have the Ipod playing because there is more control over it and variety! 

3. What's your most prized possession? As far as an actual thing I'd say photographs. If something were to happen to them you couldn't replace them!

4. What's your favorite ride at Disneyland? I've never been, actually.

5. What's your favorite clothing trend from your lifetime? These days I'd go with skinny jeans. I hated them when I was little, but now I'm most comfortable in them!

6. What's the best road trip you ever took? Sadly, I haven't been on a ton of road trips. Does it count if we fly to L.A. and then drive to Kingsburg CA? My husband and I went on that trip to see one of my best friends from college. I loved seeing her home and more of Cali!

7. What's the first song you remember knowing all the words to? Nobody Knows by Babyface. I used to turn it on my radio in elementary school and belt it out. So strange.

8. What's your favorite year of HS? For me it was my senior year because that's the year that I became a Christian. I was also a lot more happy and less emotional that year. 

9. What did you want to be when you grew up when you were a little kid? A nurse. Too bad I'm awful at math and science.

10. What's your go-to meal to make? Meatballs over rice. Sooo easy and yummy.

11. What's the first chapter book you ever remember finishing? It was either Dear Mr. Henshaw or Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret. I still love both those books! 

My questions

1. Where is your favorite place that you've traveled?

2. What's your favorite book?

3. What's your passion you have?

4. How do you relax?

5. What's your favorite quote?

6. What makes you feel like a child again?

7. What's your favorite activity to do outside?

8. What's a dream you have? 

9. What's your favorite childhood memory?

10. When do you feel the best about yourself?

11. Do you have a favorite blog? Tell me about it.

I'm tagging... Erin, Jenny, Digger, Marybeth, and Sarah. 

If you don't want to do this, I won't be offended! =)

Glasses

I think I'm back from my longer than I expected blogging break. 

We shall see. I feel like I should write about our new place, but its still in progress, so soon. 

I'll tell you a story though, instead. It involves these glasses. 

I got glasses when I was in second grade, but the thing is I didn't need them. 

I just wanted them, so I pretended I needed the (silly second grader) and because of that my eyes got messed up and I actually do need them.

I really am not happy about that...now anyways. At first I thought it was cool. Now, I hate them.

I've been trying to get used to them though. I've been wearing them for about a month because my eyes we're in desperate need of a break from my contacts.  

There, now you know a little more about me. Just wanted to you wanted today, huh? 

;)