live.

O my goodness.
The rain. The sky just let loose. It has been doing that for the past 5 days now. Claire the Peach and I have been forced to stay indoors. We like it though. The little bebe and I have been keeping busy. We read books, I drink tea, she stares out the window waiting for squirrels to rush past, I make soup, we listen to classical music all day long. It is fun. She is asleep now. Poor thing has a cold. Every time she sniffs I wince. I cannot understand how such a small human being can have so much snot up her little nose.

There is something magical about being a mama. Don't get me wrong...life is magical in general; but being a mother. That is something really special.

I love seeing her brief little smiles and hearing her little gurgles as she tries to communicate things to me. Yesterday she started doing the hands in the air 'please pick me up' move. It is pretty adorable. SHE is adorable. Life feels so complete with her. She is filled full of life and it helps me during my weary days. The gift of little ones is so precious. She and my husband inspire me every day. Every nook and cranny of my life is invaded by the two of them and I love it. Every minute is special. We so often forget this, and contrive things that are not really important. I don't want to do that anymore.
I want to sit with my daughter when she plays. I want to be there WITH her. It is so important that we sit with our children. Isn't it the greatest Father who does this with us? He sits with us, even when we don't pay any attention to Him. We are His children! Lord help me to be more like you. Help us to be more like you.

Yesterday I was texting my Bellis. It was her first day of her new school. She was telling me how so many people in her school are looking for recognition. They all want to be seen and heard. Then she told me she just wants to sit in the corner of a coffee shop doing her french homework and drinking her latte. It isn't about how shiny we can get our hair or how smart we seem on paper. Humility, and walking justly, and loving mercy. Christ in us. Do not forget that Christ is in you. The living Christ. That is what life is all about.

This is a reminder to all of you. Enjoy the littlest moments. It is those moments that quiet our souls and make us able to hear our Father. Which is the most mysterious thing of all.

love.
-a.

tea kettles.

"Faithfulness springs up from the ground, and righteousness looks down from the sky."

-Psalm 85:11

This morning was delightful.

My baby girl is in a happy mood. Smiles & squeals. Mama's joys.

I can hear the neighbor's tea kettle, and the noise of the building being torn down at the end of our alley. My husband is finished with school in four days. Four days away from a BA. I cannot believe this is the week. All the hard work is finally coming to a close. The countless hours spent in the lab and in the studio, they will be no more. The screen prints will be finished and the assignments all completed. He will be graded and critiqued. My husband is the most amazing man. This past year he has developed into a passionate God fearing lover. He wants to share Jesus with everyone he meets, and then he does. He speaks truth into my life constantly. He is the man that I love, and every day brings me to discover a new treasure in him. I love my darling husband.

And my daughter. Her eyes are like small oceans, full of life and excitement. She is like an old friend. I feel as if I've always known her. To be her mother is one of my greatest joys. 

The tea kettle reminds me of patience. I love tea, but sometimes I do not like the patience it requires. You must fill the pot with fresh water, wait for it to boil, prepare your tea, and then wait for the liquid and dried goodness to steep. All for one cup of pleasure. Some have succumb to the 'instant' tea. Just pour over the small pouch with scalding water. I even admit to this sometimes. Others just plainly throw the bag in some cold water and then stick it in the microwave. This, I believe, is a major 'tea' no-no. Which brings me to patience. Sometimes, I am not patient. I do not take my time, and then I end up with slopped up results. This never concludes with the feeling of achievement. The same with tea. If I am simply pouring hot water over this little pouch of who knows what that was made in some factory, then what do I expect? But if I take my time to fill a small pouch or tea spoon with some dried herb or chinese black then I get the nostalgia and the practice of patience. 

Tonight I was rocking my baby in her little swing and reading the Psalms. I had been inspired by Diane Comer to read more of the Word. She writes for He Speaks in the Silence. Her blog is like honey. When I read pieces from it, I am inspired to be a better wife, a better mother, a better lover of God…the Holy Spirit speaks so vibrantly through this precious woman of God. As I sat reading the words that David wrote, my mind began to wander. Not to bad things or even meaningless things, but they were distracting. Here I was reading about the steadfast love of the Lord and my mind was incessantly thinking about Chia seeds! For crying out loud, it is not a sin to think of chia seeds, but when I'm reading the Word of God?! Come on! Then it dawned on me, I've lost my patience when it comes to spending time with the Lord. I sit down with completely beautiful motives to talk with Him, and sit with Him, but when I don't immediately hear from Him I distract myself with something that I can quickly move to the forefront of my mind. I repent of this lack of patience. No more will I try to just pour hot water over my time with God. It isn't something that can be instantly steeped. Much patience is required in our relationship with the Most High. 

Our Father is waiting for us to enjoy time spent with Him. Love and trust both develop with time. And during the time it takes before the tea kettle whistles, nestle into the side of your Lord and wait.

What are some things that you have noticed in your life that lack patience and how are you overcoming them? Leave a comment. We will all be encouraged by your words. You are not the only one in a battle. We all are, and we need to support one another. 

Love.

ria.

loving Christ.

I love my husband.
I married the best man. I truly did. Every moment with him is a wonder. God is such a good gift giver. There is such peace in marriage. Nathan and I were talking about different moments during our courtship last night. All of them seemed so funny and special. We laugh at the two people that we were before. We were so silly. Those memories are gold though.

I've been learning more and more about being a better wife. During this pregnancy, my husband and I have both grown up so much. He especially has developed into this wonderful inspiring man. Every morning is better. He is an encouragement and complete joy to be around. His embrace is comforting, and his words profound. He makes me want to be a better wife. As my belly grows, so does our love for one another. Life is not perfect, but it is blissful. The house still needs to be cleaned and bills need to be paid, but having someone to help makes these things so much more enjoyable. I am beyond excited about our little family. We still have so much to learn about life, and I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else. The excitement of being a mother is overwhelming and joy-filled. God has been so good to our little family.

The verse in Proverbs 31...the one about 'she does him good, and not evil all the days of her life' has been running through my head over and over. I am for the good of my husband. I am to love him in all of his shortcomings and all of his learnings. I am to love him like Christ loves me. Marriage is the most beautiful poem in life. Loving my husband feels so right. It fits. After years and years of searching for something that fit, I have found it. Being a wife and mother. With this calling I have never felt more at peace in my life. The joy that God has given me in these things is unspeakable. I cannot explain the depth of heart in being a wife...and I can hardly fathom the happiness that comes from this impending motherhood. The calling of my life is to serve Christ. To love and adore Him, and draw closer to him day by day. This is how it happens...when I love my husband...when I serve him, I am loving Christ. When I touch my child, and she moves in the womb, this is loving Christ. When I forgive and continue to love despite the circumstance, I love Christ. It is our actions during the day, how we treat one another, how we speak to each other, how we hold each other up above ourselves...this is loving Christ.

If you are looking for the secret to growing close to Jesus, you are in the midst of it.
Life and how you live it.
This will bring you closer to Jesus.



-a.

readiness.

Saturday I went flower picking with my Natalie.
We had a fabulous time. I felt like a little child wandering about the vast forest looking for fairies and such. O the beauty of life. I feel like a child, and yet I have a child growing inside my womb. Will I ever be ready for anything? Is there such a thing? What drives us to readiness?

The baby inside of me will come into this world sometime in the next few weeks. The doctor told me to pack my bags and be ready for the baby to come. 'Be ready.' said the nurse. Then the doctor happily instructed me on how to page her and who to call when I begin labor. Nathan and I went home and I started to get frustrated with myself because I didn't feel ready and there is still so much to be done before baby n. comes into the world. I told my husband that I don't feel ready to be a mother yet, and he quickly assured me that I am perfectly capable to take care of our little daughter. I am blessed to have such a patient husband. Every morning is hopeful. Some are darker than others, but my God's mercies are new every morning and I believe this with all my heart and soul. There has been such peace in our house in the morning. Sometimes it feels like the Holy Spirit is hovering over us. I am thankful for peace.

After we climb out of bed I wander into the kitchen and we usually start the morning with smoothies and eggs or something of the sort. The sunrise reflects into my kitchen from the neighbors window. I love those sunrises. We start every morning. Just like we start life. A child is born into the brightness. He must adjust to the newness of everything. How he breaths and eats and moves. In the same way my husband and I will be thrown into parenthood. No matter how ready we feel, we will become parents.

I was reading in 1 Thess. during my quiet time this week. I was convicted when I made it the section that spoke about not quenching the Spirit. The Lord showed me that I quench the Spirit all the time. When I am anxious. I sat starring at my closet thinking about all the things that I worry about daily. My heart opened a bit to His tender care.

I am no longer worried about giving birth. God has made my body to complete this miraculous task. Why should I be afraid of the outcome of it? Nathan and I embrace the fact that our daughter is going to come into this world, whether we are ready for it or not. God's grace is so good. I feel like it is filling me to the brim. A constant reminder that my dependency is hooked to the one that made me. We cannot do it without Him.

Wonderful life. Wonderful love. Wonder of it all.

-a.