What consumes you?

These past 3 weeks I have been challenged to look at what consumes me and my time.  In April I was challenged during my quiet time to fast.  I have never fasted before and so I decided that I  would love to.  I asked the Lord what shall I fast.  He said Facebook and Instagram.  What? It was spring break and the Instagram girl that I am I wanted to share all the fun we were having on spring break. I also wanted to be obedient to the Lord. I ask the lord why those two things. Well those two things CONSUME your time.  So I did.  It was awesome! I felt like I had added hours to my day.  I was much more focused on other things.(my quiet time, exercising, time with friends, my business)  I wasn't on my phone every time I had free and every time I thought about it I would start praying.  On my heart during my fast was my husband.  I prayed for him.  Since that time I have had less desire to be on the computer.  I have had more time reading, organizing, and adventures with the kids.  Jimmy and I have had a great conversations in the evening while we are settling in for the night.  So my question to you is what consumes you? Is it the TV, a game, FB, IG, video games, pinterst, the computer, new apps, WHAT??
I am learning that I need to focus my attention in other places.  That my phone doesn't always have to be with me. I am not really missing out on anything, but I am gaining so much more. Yes I am still on FB and yes I am still am on IG but I am not letting it consume my time.  People don't need to know my every move and what I am doing.
I am so thankful that I came to this Revelation because I needed it.  I am excited to see all that God has before me and my family.

Getting it Covered.

     These past three months have been so hard! I have experienced emotions that I didn't know I had. Things that have happened from January to right now have been life changers. Mom having a stroke, Grandma passing away, and my mom moving in with my family and then to top it off I had a very close person in my life  hurt me to my core! I cried for days and I was in shock over the words that came from their mouth.
     Having my mom in my home for the past three months has ROCKED my world! Durning this time I have learned so much about myself.   God has been grabbing my heart! So here are few things that have helped me during this stressful, emotional time.

Starting my day with the LORD! My quiet time has been crazy good! God has called me to my knees, my face and sometime my whole body is on the ground before God! He has shown me Promises for my husband and I, my kids , and my family. Every Morning I wake up in great anticipation to see what God has for me in the new day! During this time God has been healing me, Loving me and shaping me. I feel like I have been in the refiners fire and let me tell you it has been HOT!!! I am excited to see the end result!
"The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it"
1 Thessalonians 5:24

Eating healthy is another way to keep my mind and body focused! 

I am a stress eater so I have been really planning every meal. It helps me so much to keep up the energy and feel better. Trader Joes is a great place to pick up easy and healthy meals.

Exercising!! For the past few weeks I have been off the routine but I know that when I am exercising I feel 100% better.  Today I squeezed in a walk and enriched my soul with Worship music.  It was an amazing walk and prayer time.

I am so thankful for where I am at TODAY! Today I am in such a healthy place and getting healthier! God told me to stay in his word daily and through this time of being faithful I will see the fruits! I am excited to share those fruits with you!

"Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

To Honor

The definition of Honor is....

High respect, as that shown for special merit; esteem

    These past four weeks have been one of the hardest I have had to face in a really long time.  On January 14th my mom Dot.ee had a stroke and from that day on things have changed.  My mom and I have had our ups and downs and we don't always see eye to eye but she is my mom and I love her very much.

    She spent one week in the hospital and one week in a rehab home. During this time my Brother Erik and my Sister Roquel and I all sat together trying to figure out how are we going to adjust to my moms new way of life. We divided up responsibilities and discussed what we needed to do. I am so thankful for my brother and sister and their strength!  This stroke has left her weak, and her sight is not the best.  She can no longer live alone or drive.  She needs assistants showering, and getting dressed and taking her meds and getting her meals prepared.

     When she was released from the CareHouse Rehab my Uncle Sam and Aunt Lilly opened their home to my mom for four weeks and what a blessing for us. During those four weeks we were going to make a plan for my mom. On the way home from getting my mom settled in to my Uncle's home the Lord spoke to me.   He asked me to Honor my mom.  He said, "you will Honor your mom and bring her into your home."  "WHAT LORD?" I didn't know if I was hearing him right. I said,"Lord may I remind you that I live in a two bedroom condo and where would she stay and also I love my comfy home and it's great with just the four of us!" Again I heard him say. "Honor your mother and obey me." I said back to the Lord, " Oh my goodness I hear you Lord and I will obey you, but God you will have to speak to Jimmy."  The next Day Jimmy called me and told me that he thinks that we need to move my mom in with us. I started to cry.  I knew that it was from God.  So as I shared with Jimmy what God spoke to me he told me your mom is not an inconvenience she is your mom and we will respect her.  He said, "Chela if this was my mom I sure hope you would show me and my mom the same respect."  I feel so blessed to have such an amazing husband.  For a few days I pondered over this.  I didn't tell my sister or my brother.  I actually didn't tell anyone.  Then when I was with my mom and I was giving her a shower and helping her with lotion and rubbing her feet the Lord showed me the picture of him washing the disciples feet a he was telling me that he has called me to serve my mother.  I saw the picture clearly and I was excited to see what God had before me.  

    So here we are to today and my mom is now with us.  Some unexpected things happened  and she has moved in two weeks early.  I was overwhelmed and not ready for it yet.  Yes I will be honest.  I WAS NOT READY!  I have spent a lot of time with God asking him to give me strength and wisdom in this time.  I know that while having her here my children will learn what it is like to serve and to take care of our family members. I have learned that being obedient to God is not always easy.  I even said that to GOD! THIS IS NOT EASY!!! But I will serve my mom! I will Honor my mom.  It is one of the ten commandments to HONOR your FATHER AND MOTHER. Today is Monday and I am looking at my Schedule and I have shoots, I have the kids schedules, I have church events and the house to maintain.  I know that I can do this.  It's teaching me to be wise with my time.  To live a much more scheduled life and to make everyday count and to only do it one day at a time and to totally Stand on God's word and strength! Thank you all for your prayers and treats and gifts and words.  I know that we are not in this new Journey alone.  You all are a blessing to us!   

Prayer Request:

Pray for a bigger home for us at the right time

patience

Time for Jimmy and I 

Time for the kids and I 

Strength

     

Walking in God's Will

Happy New Year! It has been a very busy season for us and Excited for the new year! So I just had to share what God has been doing in my Life.  For about three years now I have been watching my business grow! It has been amazing.  At the same time I have been doing a few other things in my church.  My heart for anything I do is that I always share God's love.  The end of this year I was challenged on where is my heart and where is my ministry? As I sat across from Ryan sharing my heart and tears streaming down my face I heard my self say things I didn't realize.  I heard my heart and I heard my faults.  It was so good for me.  I came home and chatted with Jimmy.  He always helps me bring my mind back to earth.  Then I sat before the Lord for about a week and really prayed about what my ministry is.  Then TADA!!! I heard the Lord say, "your ministry is your Photography Business." What, Really?  As I looked at it and thought about all that I wanted to do with it I saw it.  From that point on I have had so many opportunities open up for me.  I have heard from so many amazing people. I have booked up like crazy and God has given me a new vision for this year! I am so excited I can't wait.  I know that I am walking in his Will and what Joy it is for me.  I am taking one step at a time right now and walking slowly.  I am not sprinting, but taking a walk with God and taking him along with me in this new Journey. I am so excited! So thankful for the people in my life. Thankful for a God that loves me so much! HAPPY NEW YEAR! BLessings!

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A little time for us!

Such fun seats! Watching the team run out gave me goose bumps

I love HIM so much!

Then we moved our seats over by my Best Friend and her DADDY!! I loved watching them with Binoculars. Love them both! 

awesome!!

It was so much fun to experience this with My Kelli

Papa Mac is such an awesome man! Such a special daddy.  Jimmy and I adore him!

A little fuzzy, but we got a shot with Buddy! For such a huge stadium we saw a lot people we know! I missed a picture with Lisa L. My phone died!

This past weekend Jimmy and I had a fun date. We went to the USC game! It was our first time and what a great experience! We had great seats and we loved the vibe that filled the stadium.  Watching the boys score a goal in real life is such a fun feeling! The Spirit and roar of the stadium was awesome! It felt so good to get out with my love and some quality time with one another.  Jimmy has been working crazy hours and he has been exhausted, so time away with just him was nice.  I can't wait until we get to go back.  Next time we want to take Alexis because we know she will LOVE it!! (thanks CJ and Angelica that was the best trade ever!)