Lead me! Journey of Marriage

I love my husband so much! We celebrated 15 years of marriage this past month.  So exciting! People ask WOW what's your secret? PASSION!!! Well that helps. It hasn't been easy we have our moments.  But I am so thankful that we have more happy and joyful moments then the rough ones! In the beginning of our marriage I said things that to this day I wish I never said.  These past 6 months have been really hard. In the midst of it all I have seen God's hand in it all! 

We are on a Journey! We went for a Jog the other day and as I was slowing down I was right behind my husband and as I watched this man that I have shared life with now for 17.5 years I heard the Lord speaking to me.  Do you see him in front of you leading you? Yes Lord I do. Do you see the curve and around that curve there are straight paths, there are hills and slopes. Part of the path is little rocky and another part of the path it is totally smooth. This is what your life with your husband is like.  You may have rocky moments, you may not see around the corner. You may have to go up a hill and it will  get tiresome and going down the hill is easy.  Sometimes there is a bump in the road but it isn't for long. The smooth part was great.  The Lord showed me that he gave me Jimmy to lead me.  As we were running this path I slacked a bit, but he was constantly checking on me.  Sending Lexi to give me water and at the end of this path he waited for me.  Christ was showing me that Jimmy is always taking care me, He is always making sure that I am provided for and sometimes He needs to wait for me to catch up. (FYI an attitude adjustment) Yes the spoiled brat in me comes out even at the age of 36! At the last part of the Jog we Ran together.  At this time God showed me that we are together in this Journey. (he did slow down a bit for me) Except  him as your Leader and let him lead you, but also know he is your partner, your best friend, the one you became one with and you will be together in this Journey. I feel so blessed to have this man of God and I love him with all my heart. God said, remember to pray for  him Daily! He is human and has human struggles too! He gets weary, tired, and stress from work can really pay toll on him.  So daily I have been laying my husband before the Lord.  I love that My God walks with my Husband daily. I just want to challenge you to pray for your hubby. Pray for him as he walks his daily walk.  We can't be with them all day everyday, but we can pray for them and their daily challenges! 

My little man

AAHHH today started off with my son not wanting to get up, get dressed or eat breakfast!! In the moment I was so frustrated! Yes I will admit it there was some yelling and a spanking and crying! My little 9 year old son pushes me to my mommy limits! Any one been there?  After I dropped him off at school and he turned around and gave me that dirty look  I could see it in his eyes he was hurt! I sat there in the school parking lot defeated! Oh man did I handle this wrong Lord and did I just send Eli  off with a bad day.  I felt awful but at the same time frustrated that he acts this way.  I came home and sat on the couch and started my quiet time with the Lord. What do you know God met me right there on my couch! It was in a sweet phone call from one of Eli's teachers! My first response when she called was. "Hi what did he do now??"  Stephanie said back, "Nothing at all, actually I am calling to tell you that he did great and that we are so proud of him." She began to tell me all the great accomplishments that they have seen in him and that we may not see his academics always be right there on top but how gifted he is in the arts! "Like what?" I asked her.  She said, "well drama and drawing." I giggled to myself and thought this boy is just like me! She proceeded to tell me that he is unique and very special! She said I hope you don't take this the wrong way but I think you should pray over him daily, pray for his school and teachers. ( mind you this is a public school and she is sharing this with me) My heart exploded with JOY! I know that God has the best for my son.  I know that we will have challenges but I also know that I will see him become the man that God created him to be. I am his mom and God gave him to me for a reason!  I want the best for my son! I wish I could go back and change the morning, but I can't.  I can change my attitude and embrace him with love and ask God how I can discipline this little man.  I am amazed at how much he is like me and I am forced to look at myself and remember hard moments I had as a kid and things I wish my parents knew about me and how to love me and how to encourage me into to the right direction.  I am so thankful for those phone calls and those GOD moments! I am praying for Wisdom!! Wisdom as a mommy of a young man that one day with be a parent too!

Eli loves Albert Einstein and loves to dress up and be other people!

We love to celebrate him and his DAY!

He loves mind games! And he is GOOD!

Always funny!

Always makes me laugh!

Loves to wear hats!

His imagination is always in use!

Loves the finer things in life!

We never have a dull moment with him! He keeps us on our toes!

I love you son! 

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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