Over coffee.

 

If I were to have you over for coffee this morning... 

I would firstly thank you so much for coming over even though I'd much rather go to Starbucks but in this weather I'd only want to take the kids out if I had to go grocery shopping or take them to a place that would be sure to tucker them out. 

I would then say "Excuse the mess" which is something I'm starting to not understand why "we" Moms say that every time we have other moms over. I think all of us are used to big piles of lego castles and stuffed animals on the couches by now. Oh, unless I'm the only one? 

 I would pour you a cup of my star bucks brand coffee (or tea if you'd rather have that) along with your favorite creamer and we'd talk while we sipped on our warm beverages and so that my Evelynne would feel included she'd sip on her Earl Grey tea.. Yes, she likes hot tea. My kinda girl. 

 I would tell you how much I've been loving this book and I read it as much as I possibly can. These days I only choose to read books that feed my mind and soul because face it, these days we barely have enough time to use the bathroom. "The Beautiful One." book has definitely made it up to my "must read" spiritual books. It's written by all these amazing women who have done and experienced incredible things for The Kingdom. The book is pretty much about when they first met their Maker... Or should I say "When He first met them." Their lives were changed for the better and the book is about His passionate undying love for you and who you are in Him. It also has amazing testimonies that I always find encouragement from. Two of the Authors Heidi Baker and Beni Johnson are my favorite Authors so I was clearly drawn to the book when I saw their faces and I'm so glad I did. I always feel like a breath of fresh air when I read.. a page.  

 

 I would tell you how much I love my family. I love how encouraging my husband is. He is just amazing in every way. He's strong, courageous and a hard worker who desires to live a life sold out to Christ with his family by his side. I love my two little girls. I love how feisty Evelynne is and how gentle Liya is. They're just so perfect and I know they both carry  amazing qualities that God will use for His Kingdom.

  

I would tell you how blessed I am to have such strong female relationships in my life. I experienced what "true" friendship was like when I met two of my first Best friends back in 2010 when I was 19 who happen to be a Mama and  daughter and God continued to express His love for me when He sent many others through working at Panera Bread, Bloggy land, & Motherhood. These women are like family to me and my daughters have lots of Aunties. 

I would tell you that I think I'm finally back on the blog wagon.. I was on and off all last year due to my pregnancy with Liya and lost like 200 followers which is.. awesome *sarcasm*  but that's alright! If they love me they'll come back, right? Or maybe this is a season to make new bloggy friends. :)

 

I would tell you that a new season is coming our way shortly as we move into our new place. For our entire Marriage we shared a townhouse with Leon's Sister and Mom and this year we will be parting ways and moving on to a new place with our family. It's a bit terrifying but oh so exciting! I just know God will give us favor and send us to a place that will not only fit our budget but also will give us our needs as well. I'm really praying we can avoid the apartment life because of the laundry situation. I really don't want to share a washer and dryer with others especially with two small kids. I'd never get my laundry done. In this season in life Leon and I are living on faith.. As we have been our entire three year life of marriage.. I must say though, Faith is a good thing to live off of. I'll be sure to keep you updated on our living situation. 

My little Evelynne has been needing some one on one time with mama lately.. I'm starting to see that in her. I've been doing my best making sure she gets some alone time with me while Liya naps however, I think she's needing an actual date with me and the feeling's mutual. As much as I love being a mom of two beautiful girls and wouldn't trade it for anything I do miss having all that one on one time with Evelynne so when my husbands off I may have a target getaway with my girl. Can't get any better than that, right? 

I would tell you how much I love this verse and would love to get it framed!

 

"When a woman gives birth, she has a hard time, there's no getting around it. But when the baby is born, there is joy in the birth. This new life in the world wipes out memory of the pain. The sadness you have right now is similar to that pain, but the coming joy is also similar. When I see you again, you'll be full of joy, and it will be a joy no one can rob from you. You'll no longer be so full of questions." John 16:21-23
The Message (MSG)

What would you tell me, Friend?

Lets have coffee.

It really has been a while since I've just poured my heart out on here.. It's been pretty chilly in December so what better place to go then out for coffee??

If we were having some Starbucks coffee together, I'd order a grande (maybe venti?) white peppermint Mocha and one of those cute little snowman cookies! Those little delights look almost too pretty to eat but they're way to delicious to resist.

I would ask how your weekend went? And if you've finished your Christmas shopping?

I would encourage you not to stress about getting everything done and making sure everything looks perfect. I would encourage you not to stress out about financial things and just do what you can.

I would tell you that even if Leon and I did have the money to go completely overboard with Evelynne for Christmas as in spending hundreds of dollars on her alone I honestly don't think we would. Leon and I have agreed to buy all of our children one thing they want, one thing they need, something to wear and something to read. I have such a desire to teach Evelynne to serve so I really want to focus on serving with her this Christmas season and every day for that matter. Even if it's just handing cookies to our neighbors.

I would tell you that I'm so excited for this new chapter in life we're in! Our season of being a family of three is coming to an end and shortly (just a couple weeks) we'll be a family of four! I feel so ready and yet, so not ready. I feel like I was much more prepared with Evelynne in fact, I had my hospital bag packed two months before Evelynne's due date and I have yet to still pack my hospital back and I'm due in two weeks... But hey, I did pack the diaper back and our house is officially baby ready! Evelynne loves putting her baby in the baby swing. I'm so excited to see her in Big sister action.

I would tell you that yesterday was one of the greatest days of my life as I got to witness my amazing husband Leon become a licensed Pastor.  I always knew I'd be a Pastors Wifey and It's been prophesied over him since he was a child. Soon he'll be able to be a Pastor at the Church full time and I will gladly kiss the police badge goodbye! I'm ready to minister as a family and speaking life into peoples lives. We're ready to pick up our crosses and follow Him whose love is captivating. I'm so excited that we'll be able to be a real family soon and Evelynne and Liya will be able to spend time with there daddy more that twenty four hours a week if that. 


I would tell you that this coming year I finally want to start my "Little Beloved" Business. I'll be starting out small and work my way up and it's so exciting. I'll be crocheting kid scarves and as the business gets bigger I'll probably add more merchandise. And to make it even more exciting I plan on using some of the money to start a ministry of blessing young moms/parents. Such as surprising an exhausted new mom with a Starbucks gift card, new parents with take out gift cards, and just randomly dropping diapers off their house. I'd also love to start a mommy group. 2015 is a good year to start! I would say now but we only have a few more weeks to go of 2014 *gasp! And honestly, these days have not been super productive.

If I were having coffee with you I would tell you that I've felt so dry lately.. Like I'm in a desert dry land. I've felt this way on and off through out my whole pregnancy and I've often wondered why? I know it's an attack of the devil however, I'm believing that it's going to cause me to have a new and even stronger hunger for Christ that will light a flame brighter than I have ever carried.. There's been a lot of worship music playing at my house because I refuse to go by the way I feel and it's much easier to stay in the presence when worship is on. I know this is only for a season and I'll come out so much stronger.

This is what I would tell you if I were having coffee with you. What would you tell me?

To a Beautiful pregnant mama.

First off  where is the water you pregnant mamas are drinking?  I wanna drink haha! These last few weeks I've had the pleasure of finding out many of my friends are pregnant Bloggers and non bloggers and   one of my very good friends that I met in my neighborhood.  plus my sister's due with my niece in April. So to celebrate I thought I would share with you a post that I had written a while ago on my old blog when my dear friend Sarah was just about to give birth to her precious girl Selah.

So to all of you pregnant mamas. This one's for you!! And for all you mamas and non mamas who have strongly caught the baby fever... Lets talk!

If I were having coffee with you today, I would give you this HUGE awkward hug that none Pregers and Pregers are known to give each other. I'd ask you "How are you doing and feeling"  I'd also ask you if you had any amazing sonogram pictures to show me.. I'd even treat you to some Decaf coffee with a pastry. :)

Evelynne's Sonogram picture.

If I were having coffee with you, I'd tell you how beautiful you looked even if you were wearing sweats. Because that new momma glow looks radiant on you!

I would tell you how excited I am about your pregnancy and how I've been praying for you. And that I can't wait to see what God has planned for this precious life that He's created inside you!

Me at 39 weeks

 I would ask how you were feeling knowing that your day is coming up real soon? Sooner than you even realize. The day you will be holding this little life that you have carried. It's so exciting!

I would ask you if you've had any crazy dreams yet? And than I would fill you in and tell you about my crazy dreams when I was pregnant. The crazy dream when my Grandmother was Pregnant, and the dream of when Panera Bread wouldn't give me my food because they said it wasn't mine.. When I knew it was!!.. (That dream even made me wake up mad!) It's so funny what pregnancy does to you.

 
 If I were having coffee with you, I would tell you not to worry about anything. Sometimes it's hard to not be afraid or to worry when you have a little life that you love and adore to protect.

There's so many things the enemy tries to fill our heads with just so that we will live in fear. But I will remind you that perfect love casts out fear and that Jesus gave us that perfect love when He died on the cross for us! So that we will be made whole. I would tell you that God has major plans for this youngster of yours and don't let the enemy tell you otherwise.

I would tell you that your baby is created to live and declare the works of The Lord. And that your little blessing is beautifully and wonderfully made with nothing missing and nothing lacking.

I would tell you that Jesus is with you every  step of the way and that there is nothing to be feared.


I would tell you to brace yourself because once you hold your sweet child in your arms. Your life will never be the same!

Over coffee.

With all this crazy snow weather I thought we'd have a coffee date. Shall we?

If I were having coffee with you I'd tell you that God was doing some amazing things in my life.. I've mentioned before that Leon and I were getting an apartment in April but plans have certainly changed. At Church last Sunday The Lord told both my Mother in law and I separately  that He wanted us to stay together for one more year.. We both didn't want to hear it and in fact His words were ignored for most of the day until I just blurted out and said "Do you guys think we're actually done here?"  And that's all she wrote. We all talked and ended with happy tears.. The Lord told me that I still have so much to learn from these wonderful ladies and they still have things to learn from me and by the end of this year blessings will flow for all of us.. I don't know about you but by the end of this year I'm believing for a house! I mean why not? God wants us to dream big!

I'd also tell you that God has been leading me to start a mommy's group.. If you have been following me long enough you'd know that at the momento Leon and I are a one car family.. It has been super hard especially with an active toddler.. I've been so upset recently because I see all these moms putting their kids in gym classes and mommy and me classes and see that in reality it's just not possible for us right now with Leon working all the time. So I've decided I'd going to start my own mommy group! So excited about that. If any of you mama's, nanny's or whosoever has a great idea and name idea for a mommy group please feel free to share. I plan on starting it in April so I have one month to plan!

If I were having coffee with you that I've started the process of writing my first E-book devotional! My heart is just so full of excitement and I'm so excited to finish it for all of you to read. It's going slow at the moment because I'm learning to let go and let God. I'm learning to not rush through it just to get it done but only go to it when God gives me the inspiration to do so. I want this devotional to be His letter to you and not my letter to you.

I'd tell you how I've been thinking about the influence conference a lot lately and all the beautiful women who I'd love to meet there.. I honestly can't tell you how bad I want to go but I've also made the decision recently that I'd only go if donations were made. You see, I've made a commitment since day one into blogging that I would never put it first before my family.. Even though I have failed in that area a few times I try hard to keep to it and I feel as though if I were to take money out of our account to save for the conference I'd be stealing from Evelynne.. I want to put as much as possible away for her and her future..




If I were having coffee with you, I'd tell you how much I can't believe that the little girl walking running around my house, reading books and slowly putting words together is the same baby I sobbed over when I met her for the first time! Is her 15 month update really coming up next week??

This winter has been the craziest winter ever!! Just snow after snow after snow and then we get rain after rain after rain and then ice! It's been a hard winter folks but a plus side is I get to watch my man shovel the the driveway! He's sooo cute when he works.

This is what I would tell you if I had the pleasure of having coffee with you this morning. 
What would you tell me?