Cherish.. what is it really?!?!

Relish... live in and eat it up... Shut off your phone that you give a stupid amount of attention-shut.it.off!  ...treat the moment like a "first"...treat it like your last moment on earth... be fully present...

truly engaged... attentive... drop the 'To Do' list... enjoy it... stop caring about what others think-what they think doesn't matter a heck!! 

Say "I love you" to your spouse daily...

be all there ... people & relationships first

 Look and actively seek out the blessings in each day... Look for the best in people, not the worst...

Hug your kids EVERYDAY!!

When your kids talk to you-LISTEN! and listen means to stop what you are doing that you think is sooo important and give them your FULL ATTENTION!! Tell your kids you love them.. Seriously, stop giving your family the left overs!

I'm gonna bet that you are not very good at really living in the moment and taking the time to cherish the small things.. How would you live if you knew you only had one more day with your spouse? One more day with your child? One more day with your parent? One more day with your best friend? Really, how would you live differently than you are now? 

I'm gonna bet that you would do everything you could to spend your time with and loving that person. So here's my question.. do you know when those you love are going to leave this earth? For most of us, the answer would be "no". So why is it that we don't give those we love the time of day that we should?! Why do we let things are are just not that important take up so much of our limited time?

My sister, Grace died this summer when she was hit by a car while riding her bike. What I would give to just hold her once more.. to hear her laugh just one more time.. to see that smile that lights up the room again. We didn't know that she was gonna die so young, yet she did.

We never know when our last breath will be. We never know when our loved ones are going to pass away. Take the moment that you have with your spouse, with your children and teenagers, with your parents and really cherish the moments you have with them.. 
cause think about it. I'm gonna bet that at the end of your life, you won't regret the memories and moments you have with your loved ones, you will regret those you don't have and the time you didn't spend with them.. Seriously, think about it. And stop giving those you love the leftovers.. Give them the best you have!!

It's midnight.. I just can't sleep.. life, what an adventure..

I came across this post that I had never published.. Still the thoughts of my heart. It is from July 11, 2015..

So it's been awhile since I have blogged.. and yes I know, it is after midnight and I am exhausted after being in Canada for 10 days and not sleeping as much as I should have while I was there.. but what can I say?! What is sleep, when your fiance and you are trying to catch up with each other after being thousands of miles apart for 6 weeks and in different countries.. 

I am in awe tonight.. my mind swirling in so many different directions.. so many thoughts and emotions.. so much passion and excitement.. so much unknown and some fear too.. "Jesus, will you calm my heart? I so want to be in Your will and do what You have called me to do. I want to go where you call me to go and stay when you tell me to stay.. 

As some of you may know, Ridge and I are ENGAGED!! Whoo hoo!! :) 

The center piece to the picnic Ridge planned the night he asked me to marry him..
Gerber daisies.. my favorite!! :) 

 We are getting married and then heading to Mexico about 6 weeks later. It is crazy. It is sometimes overwhelming. It is exciting. It is where God has clearly called us right now. Some people tell us we are dumb because marriage is hard and we should not be jumping into missions like this so quickly, but learn how to be married and then do something like this.. and maybe we are dumb. haha ;) but when God calls you to do something, you do it. He doesn't always call us to understand something, but He does call us to obey. He doesn't promise an easy life, but He does promise to walk with us every step of the way. God doesn't promise us everything the world has to offer because that will never bring us true happiness.. He gives us Himself-which is the only thing that will ever fill us and give us true happiness and joy..

My favorite photo!! Love this man!

With Mexico, there is a lot of unknown.. and you know what? That is ok. It really is. We are not called to know everything and have a plan A, B and C. We are called to be obedient and trust God and His plan and timing. His ways are so much bigger and greater and better than my ways. 

Tonight I was thinking through everything and all the unknown for Mexico, and just a new chapter of life on being married.. and I came across this verse.. 

"He counts the stars and calls them all by name.." Psalm 147:4

Is that not just amazing?!?! Do you know how many stars there are?! Yeah, I guess I don't either! haha :) but I know there are alot!! and God knows how many and their names. So if God is big enough to know and do that, is He not big enough to carry us and handle our life? He is. I took so much encouragement in this truth and I hope you do to. 

What ways are you struggling at this time in your life? Are there circumstances that seem so big or impossible right now? Do you struggle with fear of the unknown like me? I encourage you to give it to Christ. He is more than able to help you and get you through it if you will only surrender and let Him walk with you.