Praying and focusing on the new Year and my goals!

The New year will be here soon!! I have been really thinking about the new year and what I would love to see happen in my life and my families life and my Business.  I have learned that when I sit at the Lords feet and really focus on what he has for me I get a clearer picture. I am really laying out these goals and dreams and praying about them and seeing where God wants to guide me in this new year.  I am so excited about 2012! I am not sure why I just have such a great feeling about it.  I can't wait!!!  In the next couple of days I will post  my new goals and I can't wait to share them.  Have  a great New Year!

Blessings,

Chela......

Breath of Heaven

Christmas is quickly approaching  and I have to admit is has been so hard to get into the mood this year.  Yesterday as I sat in Church and listened to Pastor Ryan speak on what an amazing Gift Christ was to us and that he BECAME MAN!! Yes he did. That moment took me away.  A few weeks ago he talked about Mary and how God chose her to do this work.  A humble, young girl that had a pure heart and was ready.  WOW!! I was moved yesterday as the Lord spoke to me in church asking me to please sit at his feet this week and listen to him, to lay the new year before him, and to ask where he wants me to go this year.  I love how God directs our paths.  Sometimes it is our human nature to want to direct our own paths and to go and do what we want to do.  When was the last time you let God direct your path?  I know that it can be very frightening at times, but God always brings you to the best that he has for you. RIGHT?

I have such a passion for the ministry and I love being a part of it.  Any part.  I love praying with people, I love teaching children about God's love, I love serving. I just love it all.  I also feel that My photography is part of my ministry.  I feel that God has opened this talent to reach into many lives and I love it.  As I sat at Christ feet this morning and I listened to this song I was moved to tears just thinking about how Mary felt that night.  How she was chosen to do this JOB.  I love the part when she sings," I offer all that I am and Help me to be strong." Yes Lord that is what I want. I want to offer all that am to you and help me to be strong. " Pour over me all your holiness. " I love that! I see the Holy Spirit just breathing new life into me. I love it. As the tears streamed down my face this morning I just sat here in my living room that was lit with just the Christmas tree lights and the candles and thanked my God for his gift.  The gift of life, the gift of freedom, the gift of LOVE.  I am so thankful for Christmas and all that it brings to us this year.

This new year will bring some mighty things.  I am looking forward to it.  I know that God has a lot in store for the Williams family, and  Marisela Photography.  I am looking forward to it with great anticipation.  Today I sat and listened to Gods heart.  For the next two weeks I am going to lay out my goals for the new year and really start praying over them to see where God Guides me.  Thank you Lord for calling me to your feet, and for hearing your sweet voice this morning.  I love you! I am so excited to celebrate Christmas this week and to have a ton of fun with the kiddos!

Merry Christmas!

Blessings,
Chela

At the Cross!

The Cross! I wear one around my neck, I have one tattooed on my arm and I have them all over my home. It is a symbol that reminds me of Freedom, unconditional love, the power of Jesus Christ, that my God is Alive!! Today I sat in my home quietly.  I turned everything off and lit the candles and played this song.  It totally said everything my heart was saying and what I felt.  I felt the Lord so gently calling me to  my knees at the  Cross.  He met me there and I felt God's presence all around me.  While I was there he had my attention and I cried out to him my prayers, my thoughts, my concerns, my fears.  There at the cross I left them.  I know that my God, Jesus Christ is real, and I know that he is alive.  I feel so honored that today he quietly called me to hear him and for him to hear me.  I had so many  other things on my list to do today, but sitting at the cross became my number one thing to do today.  It was amazing and awesome.  I love that I didn't push this time aside and that God met me today in my living room.   If you get a chance stop and listen to this song.  Listen to the words. and listen to God as he gently draws you to him.

This is the cross that hangs from my neck! Thank you Miranda.

Romans 5:6-10 
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

Blessings,

Chela.....

Getting back to Working out!

 Okay so here I am back to running/walking at the gym around the neighborhood, and it feels good.   On the days I don't run to go to a class at the Gym called Body pump.  It's awesome! Its all weight lifting. My days can get very full quite quickly but I realized that I need to make time for myself.  It feels so good to be productive in this way.  Today I enjoyed a run with my sister Beth and the kids and it was awesome to have a partner to keep you pushing on.  It felt so good!! My goal is to lose weight and to tone my body.  I want to feel good and look good. ( I want to look good for the hubs).  So I have  a  goal.  By my Birthday November 28th I want o see  10 pounds gone and be a bit toner! So here we go on a fun journey of a healthier me...

Chela.....

The Kids room!!

They love their bunk beds now I need to teach them that they need to make everyday!

This is where their boards are that will have their chores and Verse of the month on. ( I want then to memorize verses more this year)   I also want to put love notes to them on it!

The view from the Door! I dislike their blinds very much!

Another view and that is their closet!

Their quiet reading corner.

Their closet and all their toys and books! You can see the floor1 Yeah!

So I know I have posted this before, well it was time for another.  I am learning that as the kids grow I need to monthly do a a full cleaning of the their room.  Since they share a room it can get very tight in there and full of junk! For the past 8 years the kids have always shared a room and it has been great, but now we are getting into a new phase of life where they soon will need their own rooms.  They need their own space and they seem to be out growing this one, but we are making it work.  So thankful for what God has given us and we are praying that the bigger house at the right time will become available for our family.  So their room was beginning to look like a Hoarders room.  YES it was!! It was scary and I would get so frustrated every time I would go into it.  Well with my amazing sisters help we got it together.  I still want to do some decorating things and I may need to change a few more things but  this is how it is now and I feel so relieved.  They love it!! They have played all day in their room and I love it!

Chela.....

My Son, a little boy after God's Heart!

Elisha Ryan Williams! His name means God is my Salvation and little King.  I love it.  When Jimmy and I were naming him we took a lot of time deciding. We wanted his name to be strong.  We wanted him to represent  what we believe in.  This name was perfect and it was perfect for him.  If you know my son you are probably laughing.  If you know how God  works you  would say WOW what an awesome God we serve. I pray for my kids daily.  About every six months I write out a list of things that I want to see in my children or things that they need to work on and also protection, and that they make friends with people that will be the right fit in their lives and people that need to experience more of Christ Love.  

A few years ago Eli started to ask to See Jesus.  He said he wanted to see him.  So Jimmy and encouraged him to ask God to reveal himself to Eli.  He prayed this daily and one morning when he got up he said, "mom I saw Jesus last night." It was so sweet.  Then a month ago he shared the plan of salvation with a friend and that blew me away.  Now my little guy enjoys writing in his journal and sitting and reading his Bible.  I love it. It actually brings me to tears. I know that God has such an amazing plan for my little Boy.  I know that he will be called out, and I believe he already has.  I will continue to pray for him and I will continue to encourage him to share Christ's love in any way he can.

Lord Thank you so much for making my son.  I pray that you will equip us as his mother and father to be what he needs to be.  I pray that we will be that example  he needs to grow closer to you .  I pray that you  will give wisdom and strength to battle the fight that is before him.  I pray that his armor is on and he is ready.! Thank you Lord for Elisha Ryan.  He is gift! This is the verse that I am praying over my son!! I know he is warrior! He is a warrior for Christ!

"Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints...." Ephesians 6:10-18

I just can't pull it together!!

Well we are quickly approaching the end of July and I feel like I am still trying to make it a fun one for the kids.  I don't know if I put a lot of pressure on myself or what, but a lot of the things that I said I wanted to do with the kids this summer just have not happened yet.  We did enjoy a great vacation to Seattle. We had a fun fourth and Eli had a great Birthday.  But this past week I feel like aaahhh I can't pull it together.  I am sitting here thinking of  how I can change we do our days.  I feel a tad overwhelmed with...

•  my business growing and doing photo shoots and meetings with clients ( totally a great thing)
•  trying to get to the gym to work out 
•  work on VBS for our wonderful preschoolers, 
•  Being a friend to my friends and spending quality time with them. 
•  Trying to make sure the kids have play dates with their friends.....
•  Making sure the house gets cleaned ( but hey lets face it that is hard when the kids are home right?)

the kids playing mini golf with their cousins

Me and my Brother Erik

Eli's birthday ride at the Beach

Birthday Breakfast

love Daddy

My babies

Add caption

I need to get back to my writing down my daily task and back to what we do for that day.  I just want to make the summers so much fun for my kids.  Well we will see how the rest of this week goes.  We are getting ready to set out for the river on Sunday so that will be a blast.  Looking forward to the week with the family and friends.

Soccer Tourney

A few weekends past Alexis was asked to be a guest player in a soccer tournament.  She was so excited and it was a full two days of playing soccer!! The girls played hard and they played four games in two days.  Well after a tough game they ended with a shoot off, and they won the shoot off!! So they took third place. I was so proud of her.

Book Club For Alexis

 Alexis is a book worm and I love it!!! So I got this idea from another mom to do a book club with Alexis and a few of her friends.  I am so excited to make this a fun part of her life.  What we are planning to do is invite a handful of  girls, not to many, and pick a book and meet every other week. Since the girls are young I don't think the conversations will last a super long time so in the time that we are together I was thinking of having a snack that would go with the book and a fun craft too.  I can't wait..  I know that Alexis will love it too! So this is one of the many projects that I am working on for the summer. 

spring break was great!! Here is our first day at the Tidepools

We had so much fun at the Tide pools.  We love to go there.  The kids could stay there forever. Thankful that we chose that day to go because it was the nicest day the whole week.  Just made us excited for the summer.  Alexis can't wait to get out in the water on surf board! Eli well he likes he sand! Chela.....

Taking a fun pic before we explore!

I love this picture of Eli! It was so pretty there that day.

Discovery things!

My beautiful girl! She loves the ocean.

The purple was so pretty! 

Us!!

Spring Break is here!!

Spring Break is here! We are so excited to have the week off and we have some fun things planned.  This time we are not going out of town, but today the kids and I went out for our Friday treat  YOGURTLAND (because it was 85 outside)  and we discussed some exciting  activities we could do this next week.  Here they are and if any of you would like to join us please let me know. The more the merrier!! 

Monday: The Beach looking at the Tide pools.
We are packing a lunch and heading down there.  If you would like to meet us call me.






Tuesday: Play dates for each of the kids   


Wednesday: Disneyland Family 
day!

Thursday: Some fun at Color Me Mine...  The kids and I are going to head on over there in the afternoon.  Looking forward to some fun art time with kids.  We checked it out today and they are so excited to go in and create.

Friday: Home and snuggle time! We are going to hang out at home.  Play games, bake cookies and watch movies, and be silly!!

  

Time... Where do you go?

Do you ever wonder where times goes? I do every night.  As I sit down and look at my long list of things to do and  2 out of the 10 things are done. I wonder what did I do all day?   AAHH these past three weeks have flown by. I feel like I wake up Monday and then it's Friday.  Today in the shower I was thinking how have I invested in my kids this week?  I feel like I have been rushing them all over and not stopping to just invest in them.  So I am reminding myself to bring back a few things that we have not done in a while.  Like Library Wednesdays, Fun Fridays, and nights riding our bikes outside.  Because before I know it time would have passed me by      (because you know it's good at that. )  I want to be purposeful in all that I do and invest in 6 things in my life.  Here they are:

• God
• My marriage/husband
• Children
• Family
• friends
• Business

One of the ways I am going to try to make this happen and get more out of my day is by waking up earlier.  Not spending so much time on the computer, stick with my days that I work on certain things and make those  work days habits.  So I hope I can accomplish these things. I pray that I can focus on what God has for me and my family.  I want to be the women that God wants me to be.  

Chela.....

You Capture - Black in White Emotion

She is Beautiful!

The making of a star!

 Playing Chess with my son and I love how is whole heart is into this game

YES I am having fun Miss Chela! I love her facial expression!

Soul Surfer

Last week I had the privlidge to take Alexis and our good Friend Karissa to see a private screening of this movie! It was awesome! I cried the whole time and was so moved at how much was spoken of God.  I was so touched by this young ladies life that she had the determination to press on!  I want to encourage you all to please go see this movie! It was so amazing! A true story of a remarkable young lady.  When we got done with the movie on the way home Alexis said, " mommy I can't wait to get back out in the water." I pray that my daughter will shine for Jesus like this young lady.  I pray that she will stand up for what she believes in and will always share the love of Christ where ever she goes.  She makes me proud and I am so excited to see where God takes my little girl!

Soul Surfer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isjY34VD5jE

Yahoo we are back to a normal Schedule! Jimmy has been working nights for the past few weeks and that kind of rocks my menu planning.  So we are back!

Monday: Spaghetti and Garlic bread

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday at La Fiesta ( so yummy)

Wednesday: Crock Pot Chili and Corn Bread

Thursday:BBQ Roast and potatoes and vegis

Friday: Ball Park Pizza Night

Saturday: Enchiladas

Sunday: Jimmy's Pizza

Have a great rest of the week!
Chela.....

Brother and Sister!

I feel so blessed to have Erik as my brother and Sissy (Roquel) as my sister. Even though we live miles apart I feel like at a drop of a hat they would be right by my side. I am the youngest of the three and I love that I have them in my life. We have each walked very different paths, but so thankful that the paths we have walked has brought each one of us to Christ. I know that Sissy and Erik will pray for me when I need it and will always point me back to Christ when I need it. I do miss them in a daily basis. I desire to live close to them, but I know that right now at this time of our lives that God has us where he wants us. So when I do have time with them I cherish it with all my heart. Last summer we had the joy of all being together and it was awesome, I hope we can do that again sooner than later. Sissy and Erik thank you for being the best brother and sister I could ask for. I love you!

Chela.....

Hopelessness!!!

This past year I have parked by many cars that are full of clothes, food and pillows and blankets.  I stop and think about the person and wonder did they lose it all and this is all they have?  Hopelessness can overcome you and rob you of your JOY!  Around Christmas time I was driving in a parking lot at the stores and I saw this homeless man that looked so weary and tired. As I drove past him God told me to give him the cash that I had in my purse.  (by the way I never have cash, and I did that day)  And to tell him that God told me to it.  WHAT LORD??????  I said Okay God if I see him again.  So the kids and I walked into Target and I didn't see him anyway, so I thought well Maybe he is fine.  Then I turned and saw him starring at the Christmas greeting cards that Target received from others.  He was reading them and touching them as if they were for him.  I stopped and got very nervous.  Alexis said, "MOMMY why are we just standing here?" I told her what God wanted me to do and she said, "Well go do it mommy." I hesitated for about three minutes.  Then I walked over to him and looked into his hurt, tired eyes and said, "excuse me Sir I saw you and God told me to give this to you." He looked at me and then looked at what I handed him and he started to cry and said thank you so much! I walked away amazed at what God did that day.

Yesterday God did it again!!! I was down in Laguna Beach and again I had cash on me for some reason.  I was going one way and decided to totally change my route and turn around.  I did and I stopped at a gas station.  As I was sitting there getting gas I watched this lady come out of the bathroom and she was carring her clothes, and she looked weary and hopeless. She walked very slowly as if she was in so much pain.  She walked over to her car that was full of belongings that were very nicely put into the car.  As she started to put her things away her husband got out of the car and carried his clothes to the bathroom.  I just starred at them and again I heard God tell me to give them money.  I was in shock!! REALLY LORD?  Yes Chela do it! I said what if they are just traveling I don't want to offend them. But I knew in my heart they were not.  So as I drove away I pulled up right next to her and I rolled my window down and asked her if they were traveling and she said, "no, we are kind of homeless." That is when I said to her, "here I have something for you. " I handed her some money and said, "The Lord told me to do this." She started crying and in a very weak voice she  said, "Thank you so much!"

As I drove home I listened to worship songs and just prayed and thanked God for so many things. I thanked him that I get to go home to be with  my family in my cozy home that the Lord has provided for us.  I thanked him for changing my course that day.  I thanked him for his amazing love that he pours out to people daily.  We live in a society that is so involved in themselves that if we could just open our eyes and see the hopelessness that is around us and offer HOPE to those that feel hopeless.  God loves us all and I love that we can share his love in so many ways.  How are you going to offer HOPE to someone this week?

Warmth

Over at I should be folding Laundry the theme of the week is warmth.  What is warmth to me!! I have a ton of things that are warm and what warms my heart so here are a few to share.

Love!!! Warms my heart and makes me feel warm!

Candles in my home make me feel so warm. I light them every night and many times in the middle of the day!

COFFEE!! Not only is what wakes me up it keeps me warm and cozy!

Eli made this heart today with his cheerios necklace and it made me feel warm  inside my heart!