A friend of mine posted this on Facebook a few days ago and I couldn't help but share! I think that these life lessons, and suggestions for life are so key to a healthy one! I hope that by reading this list you are encouraged and inspired to live life and live it to the fullest!
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short – enjoy it.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick; your friends and family will.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself.
7. Cry with someone; it's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others; you have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye, but don't worry, God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath; it calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to be happy (but it’s all up to you and no one else).
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion; today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need
42. The best is yet to come.
43.No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
be blessed,
Natasha
Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Friday, October 18, 2013
The fear of the Lord
Junior and I recently went on a cruise! Fun... right!!! We celebrated 3 years of marriage this past July and we haven't gone anywhere when we travel except to see family in Haiti and Kansas City , so we thought it was about time! We don't have kids and financially it is much more affordable, the joy and benefits of costal living. Plus, Junior has wanted to go on a cruise since I have known him, so it was fun for him to cross that off his bucket list.
However, I have always felt that it wouldn't be my favorite adventure to be restricted to a boat with things that consist of American entertainment (pools, bars, water parks, casinos, drinking, comedy acts, etc). When I travel I like to explore the place I am visiting, enjoying the freedom to roam, so my assumption was right. Although we had time to explore the Bahamas, not the kind of time I would prefer. With that said though, I love trying new things, so now I know what it's like to have experienced a cruise, plus Junior and I made plenty of fun memories in the process.
One of my favorite things was seeing the sunrise and sunsets out in the middle of the deep blue sea. It really leaves you speechless in its vast appearance. Truly amazing! I feel like the Lord blessed me with several revelations on this trip, but I will spare you all the details and share one that I have been thinking on today...
It is the reality of just how BIG our God is!!! I have experienced a lot of God's power in my life. It amazes me to think about it, from tornado stories to being in the center of a massive earthquake, I have learned that I am tiny and God's power is infinite. I do have the fear of the Lord. In fact, I often call myself a wimp because I fear when the weather is exhibiting signs of tornadoes, floods and the like.
However, This trip it hit me hard in a moment when Junior and a few friends were playing in some seriously rough waves on the beautiful Bahamas shore. I braved it and went in once, but didn't last long. I came out and verbally processed why I'm a wimp for the first time. I have seen the power of God and His creation up close and personal and I don't want to test it, for I am tiny and He is BIG!
Yet since being home a friend asked me, is it the fear of the Lord or the fear of death? It really has me wondering. In Proverbs 7:1 it states, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." If the fear of the Lord brings knowledge than it seems to me that it would be a place of revelation in knowing who God is. When we know who God is, that reality should call us to worship. In worship we should find peace and in peace we should have no fear. So what does it really mean to fear the Lord?
Perhaps, the fear of the Lord is more about full abandonment and trusting than anything. If He is who He says He is than no matter the circumstances, His plans for you are best plans possible. Whenever death comes is it not the Father's will? When our lives are in a state of constant worship we will be free from all fear. Do not fear is said more in God's word than anything else, but we are called to fear the Lord. What does this look like to you? I am contemplating the fact that separation from Him should be the greatest fear of all, in all His holiness, grace, love, and infinite beauty should we not long to be with Him more than to have life on this earth.
I have a tattoo on my wrist, it is the Hebrew word, HESED. This word has many meanings, but recently a friend and I were talking about it and he shared a sentence he had heard about one of the many meanings. This one sentence profoundly spoke to me as I often try to explain hesed when people ask, but it isn't near as elegant as the sentence said by John Oswalt. "The love of a superior for an inferior, especially when that love is undeserved." To me this sums up the Fear of the Lord, should we not be in awe of this Kind of love, to loose this would be much greater than loosing one's life. I pray that I am learning more of what it means to fear the Lord, in His infinite power, grace and love.
be blessed,
Natasha Jovin
However, I have always felt that it wouldn't be my favorite adventure to be restricted to a boat with things that consist of American entertainment (pools, bars, water parks, casinos, drinking, comedy acts, etc). When I travel I like to explore the place I am visiting, enjoying the freedom to roam, so my assumption was right. Although we had time to explore the Bahamas, not the kind of time I would prefer. With that said though, I love trying new things, so now I know what it's like to have experienced a cruise, plus Junior and I made plenty of fun memories in the process.
It is the reality of just how BIG our God is!!! I have experienced a lot of God's power in my life. It amazes me to think about it, from tornado stories to being in the center of a massive earthquake, I have learned that I am tiny and God's power is infinite. I do have the fear of the Lord. In fact, I often call myself a wimp because I fear when the weather is exhibiting signs of tornadoes, floods and the like.
However, This trip it hit me hard in a moment when Junior and a few friends were playing in some seriously rough waves on the beautiful Bahamas shore. I braved it and went in once, but didn't last long. I came out and verbally processed why I'm a wimp for the first time. I have seen the power of God and His creation up close and personal and I don't want to test it, for I am tiny and He is BIG!
Yet since being home a friend asked me, is it the fear of the Lord or the fear of death? It really has me wondering. In Proverbs 7:1 it states, "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction." If the fear of the Lord brings knowledge than it seems to me that it would be a place of revelation in knowing who God is. When we know who God is, that reality should call us to worship. In worship we should find peace and in peace we should have no fear. So what does it really mean to fear the Lord?
Perhaps, the fear of the Lord is more about full abandonment and trusting than anything. If He is who He says He is than no matter the circumstances, His plans for you are best plans possible. Whenever death comes is it not the Father's will? When our lives are in a state of constant worship we will be free from all fear. Do not fear is said more in God's word than anything else, but we are called to fear the Lord. What does this look like to you? I am contemplating the fact that separation from Him should be the greatest fear of all, in all His holiness, grace, love, and infinite beauty should we not long to be with Him more than to have life on this earth.
I have a tattoo on my wrist, it is the Hebrew word, HESED. This word has many meanings, but recently a friend and I were talking about it and he shared a sentence he had heard about one of the many meanings. This one sentence profoundly spoke to me as I often try to explain hesed when people ask, but it isn't near as elegant as the sentence said by John Oswalt. "The love of a superior for an inferior, especially when that love is undeserved." To me this sums up the Fear of the Lord, should we not be in awe of this Kind of love, to loose this would be much greater than loosing one's life. I pray that I am learning more of what it means to fear the Lord, in His infinite power, grace and love.
be blessed,
Natasha Jovin
Friday, September 13, 2013
Red Dirt
Recently my mother sent me a link to a pretty incredible business, Red Dirt and I really love what they are doing. Women empowering developing countries and individuals living there as well as individual entrepreneurs who are making a go of their art, like myself. What a great idea to make a partnership with these two! In short they sell phone cases with designs by artists and the proceeds go towards organizations that are transforming lives and communities in the developing worlds.
The founders of this company are inspiring and I am excited to inform you that I have applied to be one of their artists! Please pray that the Lord's favor will be in it as I really would love to be apart of what they do. I feel strongly that what they are doing encompasses so many of the reasons I create and am going after the artist in me.
Here is more on their story and why they do what they do!
Thanks for believing with me!
Blessings,
Natasha
The founders of this company are inspiring and I am excited to inform you that I have applied to be one of their artists! Please pray that the Lord's favor will be in it as I really would love to be apart of what they do. I feel strongly that what they are doing encompasses so many of the reasons I create and am going after the artist in me.
Here is more on their story and why they do what they do!
Thanks for believing with me!
Blessings,
Natasha
Psalm 34
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul will make its boast in the LORD; the humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed.
The poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
O fear the LORD, you His saints; for to those who fear him there is no want.
The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Who is the man who desires lengths of days that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
The eye of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.
The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
The righteous cry, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Many are the affiliations of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
Psalm 34
My soul will make its boast in the LORD; the humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the LORD with me and let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and delivered me from all my fears.
They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed.
The poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.
O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.
O fear the LORD, you His saints; for to those who fear him there is no want.
The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the LORD shall not be in want of any good thing.
Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Who is the man who desires lengths of days that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
The eye of the LORD are toward the righteous and His ears are open to their cry.
The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
The righteous cry, and the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Many are the affiliations of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
He keeps all his bones, not one of them is broken.
Evil shall slay the wicked, and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.
The Lord redeems the soul of His servants, and none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned.
Psalm 34
Friday, August 30, 2013
Practice Make Perfect
Practice makes perfect!
I have a long way to go when it comes to being fluent in the language of my husband, in-laws, and country I so deeply love, AYITI! I need more motivation, more discipline to practice. I often tell Junior he needs to speak with me more in kreyol, but he forgets. Our relationship started in english and has mainly been built in english. Sometimes I think it's hard for his brain to go back and forth, I know it is for me at times.
I have dear friends that live in Gonaives, Haiti and they have a weekly kreyol class that I am jealous of in my humanness. I am excited for them, but wish I had the tools and resources to have a weekly class taught by Keziah Furth, she is pretty amazing. I know my skills would increase in ways I can't even comprehend with her guidance. I secretly want them to skype me in every week, but I know that is easier said than done.
So until then, I will do my kryenglish and listen to this video my Dad sent me recently! If I put it on repeat while I sleep maybe it will help me being fluent (typed with laughter!) What do you think?
Or maybe just maybe Junior will get to a place that he will want to teach a class in Brunswick, GA where we live. I think many people would even pay to come as so many LOVE Haiti in this area. Let me know what you think? Maybe we could just start a group that wants to grow in knowledge and we can start a petition to motivate that desire in Junior, what you think ;) ? He is a gifted teacher... in case you didn't know!
Just a little brainstorming, dreaming and laughter in my thinking today!
be blessed!
xoxox
Natasha
I have a long way to go when it comes to being fluent in the language of my husband, in-laws, and country I so deeply love, AYITI! I need more motivation, more discipline to practice. I often tell Junior he needs to speak with me more in kreyol, but he forgets. Our relationship started in english and has mainly been built in english. Sometimes I think it's hard for his brain to go back and forth, I know it is for me at times.
I have dear friends that live in Gonaives, Haiti and they have a weekly kreyol class that I am jealous of in my humanness. I am excited for them, but wish I had the tools and resources to have a weekly class taught by Keziah Furth, she is pretty amazing. I know my skills would increase in ways I can't even comprehend with her guidance. I secretly want them to skype me in every week, but I know that is easier said than done.
So until then, I will do my kryenglish and listen to this video my Dad sent me recently! If I put it on repeat while I sleep maybe it will help me being fluent (typed with laughter!) What do you think?
Or maybe just maybe Junior will get to a place that he will want to teach a class in Brunswick, GA where we live. I think many people would even pay to come as so many LOVE Haiti in this area. Let me know what you think? Maybe we could just start a group that wants to grow in knowledge and we can start a petition to motivate that desire in Junior, what you think ;) ? He is a gifted teacher... in case you didn't know!
Just a little brainstorming, dreaming and laughter in my thinking today!
be blessed!
xoxox
Natasha
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
Social Media breakdown
My dad posted this video recently and it is so profound and sadly so true. Real relationships don't come out of liking a photo and making a comment on a social media site. Real community and relationships come out of sitting face to face, sharing meals, going through the trials of life together, laughing and having inside jokes, and doing life together, not via the internet.
The video is something that we need to acknowledge and dialogue about.
This month marks two years that Junior and I have lived in our house here in Brunswick. Most days it feels like this has been our home for way more than a couple years, but every once in awhile when I look at my dream list of things we want to do in the house I remember it hasn't been that long.
When we first moved into our house in Brunswick, I really struggled to find deep relationships, and community. I had tons of friends in my social networking world, but I didn't feel like I had a strong community that I was taking part in like when I first moved to Georgia. However, once I started investing in a few girl friends, sitting with them face to face, being vulnerable with one another and doing life together things changed. My pastor's wife also started a young married women's group and since then more and more this place feels like home.
In our world today it's easy to feel like we have community with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, you name it...we have a social network for it. I often debate staying on Facebook and if it wasn't for living far away from my family and my shop online I don't know that I myself would stay on it. But I can handle taking part in social media, because I know that those online places don't hold my true community.
My true community is with my friends and family, the people I do life with, that have seen me through ups and downs. They talk with me face to face on a regular basis and tell me they love me, not via the web, but via life, in present time, whether over the phone or at a coffee shop. I am blessed, that I have this and loneliness is not part of my life. I have deep relationships I can call upon whenever I am in need.
What has social media done though for those that don't have true community and deep relationships they can call upon in their time of need...
The video is something that we need to acknowledge and dialogue about.
This month marks two years that Junior and I have lived in our house here in Brunswick. Most days it feels like this has been our home for way more than a couple years, but every once in awhile when I look at my dream list of things we want to do in the house I remember it hasn't been that long.
When we first moved into our house in Brunswick, I really struggled to find deep relationships, and community. I had tons of friends in my social networking world, but I didn't feel like I had a strong community that I was taking part in like when I first moved to Georgia. However, once I started investing in a few girl friends, sitting with them face to face, being vulnerable with one another and doing life together things changed. My pastor's wife also started a young married women's group and since then more and more this place feels like home.
In our world today it's easy to feel like we have community with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, you name it...we have a social network for it. I often debate staying on Facebook and if it wasn't for living far away from my family and my shop online I don't know that I myself would stay on it. But I can handle taking part in social media, because I know that those online places don't hold my true community.
My true community is with my friends and family, the people I do life with, that have seen me through ups and downs. They talk with me face to face on a regular basis and tell me they love me, not via the web, but via life, in present time, whether over the phone or at a coffee shop. I am blessed, that I have this and loneliness is not part of my life. I have deep relationships I can call upon whenever I am in need.
What has social media done though for those that don't have true community and deep relationships they can call upon in their time of need...
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Prayer Retreat Blessing
Recently I went on a women's prayer retreat and it was truly a blessing! Six women together, embracing vulnerability, quality time with our savior and the beautiful scenery that He made of Hird Island.
We talked a lot about vulnerability and the importance of it in our journeys. Which is so funny because before I even left for this retreat I started reading a book about this very thing. It is called Hiding from Love, by Dr. John Townsend and the two things that it focuses on is why we long to be cared for, but we prevent it. Townsend says that our two main problems in the process is that we're unfinished people and we fear what we need. An interesting thing to process and explore.
This TED talk about vulnerability is so good, I encourage you to watch it HERE.
This prayer retreat was prefect timing and I couldn't have more respect now for the ladies that I went and shared the experience with. I am so thankful for each of them and what they brought to the retreat.
It is a beautiful thing when we steal away and take time to breathe deep, bask in the glory of our Savior, experience sweet moments in His presence and remember how He is good all the time and all the time He is good! And it is also a beautiful thing when we do the journey together!
Friday, July 26, 2013
Thankfulness
One of my favorite quotes says,
"Thankfulness trumps EVERYTHING."
This has been my theme the last couple weeks, as Junior and I celebrated our three year anniversary!!! Our anniversary was during the middle of the week, so we did dinner with a walk on the pier enjoying the beauty and the sunset. Then Saturday we enjoyed a fancy meal and some frozen yogurt accompanied with live music afterwards. All in all, it was a fun celebration week. I am thankful to have had three years together and excited for what the Lord will do in the years yet to come! I know that marriage isn't easy, in fact, it has been the hardest thing I have ever done, but I also believe it is worth it! These is nothing like it. God is good, and I have learned so much about who God is and how to be a better person through learning to love my husband. I read a blog recently that I loved about the daily choice to LOVE in marriage. I encourage you to click HERE and read it as it spoke volumes to me, I hope it does the same for you.
To enforce that favorite quote of mine this week, Junior was in an accident. It could have been SO much worse than it was. His brakes didn't work properly making him run a red light and causing a collision in the middle of the intersection on a busy street. His truck was totaled as well as he was banged up. His nose is cracked, lips swollen, leg swollen, chest tight, headaches.... it could have been devastating. When I first got his voice-mail I was panicked as he only said he had been in an accident and to call him. Unfortunately, my husband is not good at wearing his seat belt and that is all I could think about at the time. However, by the grace of God he had put his seat belt on seconds before the accident occured. He has a new perspective on why I always bug him about wearing it and I am thankful for this. We are praising and THANKING God for keeping him safe and alive.
With these events in the last couple weeks I am remembering how good and bad things happen, but it all boils down to our perspective on it. Do we let it rock us and be discouraged or do we celebrate in the goodness, or worry about what is to come? I encourage you to be thankful. It is a powerful tool you have to embrace the beauty and remember your blessings. I also believe it will help you have peace, that kind of God peace that passes all understanding. Thankfulness trumps everything!
So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:33-34
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Summer time travels
I can't believe it has been almost a month since my last post... where in the world has time gone. Summer is flying by so fast, they always say the older you get the faster time flies. I believe this more and more with each new day. The past two months have been full of travels. We have been gone more weekends than we have been home in that time frame.
Two of those were spent with our family in Marianna, FL filled with wedding festivities, where Junior was the best man. Weddings are a great time to remember your own journey of Marriage and to rekindle the sweetness of being newlyweds. We were able to speak wisdom into the the new couple as the Lord continues to teach us, which is truly an honor.
One of the weekends we spend translating for Haitian migrant workers which was such an experience. We don't realize how there are communities in our backyard suffering for the food we put on our table. I have watched documentaries and read about migrant farmers, but meeting them face to face and hearing what they go through is all so different. Now I know their names and every time I sit down to eat a piece of corn for example I think of them. It was a blessing for us to be a part of this clinic for migrant workers and for me an added dose of confidence in my creole ability was wonderful.
The past two weekends were spent with family and friends in Nashville and Kansas City along with lots of driving. We drove up to KCMO to see my family for the 4th of July and it was absolutely wonderful. I couldn't tell you the last time I had been there when it was warm, in fact Junior had never been there when it was warm. It is so much more lively, we did a lot more tourist experiences because, well we could. We went to see KC Sporting soccer game, the zoo, First Fridays, the River Market and pool time at my parents. It was a lovely visit. I am very tempted to skip the cold and just head there from now on in the warm seasons!
Overall, it has been busy and I have missed writing on here, but the beauty is while I was not writing I was living. I can also say I was living well... going after the treasures in my heart: family, friends, vacations and celebrations.... all the while trusting in the Lord's provision.
God is good, I hope that this season you too, are living well.
Two of those were spent with our family in Marianna, FL filled with wedding festivities, where Junior was the best man. Weddings are a great time to remember your own journey of Marriage and to rekindle the sweetness of being newlyweds. We were able to speak wisdom into the the new couple as the Lord continues to teach us, which is truly an honor.
One of the weekends we spend translating for Haitian migrant workers which was such an experience. We don't realize how there are communities in our backyard suffering for the food we put on our table. I have watched documentaries and read about migrant farmers, but meeting them face to face and hearing what they go through is all so different. Now I know their names and every time I sit down to eat a piece of corn for example I think of them. It was a blessing for us to be a part of this clinic for migrant workers and for me an added dose of confidence in my creole ability was wonderful. |
| First Fridays |
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| Pool Party and the Parents |
 |
| River Market |
 |
| traveling through God's beautiful creation! |
Overall, it has been busy and I have missed writing on here, but the beauty is while I was not writing I was living. I can also say I was living well... going after the treasures in my heart: family, friends, vacations and celebrations.... all the while trusting in the Lord's provision.
God is good, I hope that this season you too, are living well.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
The 4 R's
I recently heard a sermon that got me thinking. It was about maximizing your summer and how we need to not play into the culture of tuning out over the summer.
It was so full of wisdom and truth that I wanted to share.
The pastor compared our lives to the farm worker. That the summer was not a time to sit back and forget about your crops. It was the season to tend to it, make sure that everything is running smoothly so that when harvest time comes you will reap a bountiful harvest.
He compared this to our culture and our walk with Christ. In America summer is the time for the pool, vacations, relaxing, having fun and forgetting about focusing and striving after things. It is the season to relax, but perhaps this isn't what God designed summer to be for. The pastor stated that summer is the season God gave us to remember to invest in the future harvest.
If summer is the time for relaxation and recreation than we need to look at these words again.
relaxation:
recreation:
His whole point was that we must not check out, we must invest in our spiritual life. We have opportunity to cultivate that future harvest that is to come. For if we do not invest we will not reap a good harvest.
It was so full of wisdom and truth that I wanted to share.
The pastor compared our lives to the farm worker. That the summer was not a time to sit back and forget about your crops. It was the season to tend to it, make sure that everything is running smoothly so that when harvest time comes you will reap a bountiful harvest.
He compared this to our culture and our walk with Christ. In America summer is the time for the pool, vacations, relaxing, having fun and forgetting about focusing and striving after things. It is the season to relax, but perhaps this isn't what God designed summer to be for. The pastor stated that summer is the season God gave us to remember to invest in the future harvest.
If summer is the time for relaxation and recreation than we need to look at these words again.
relaxation:
- The state of being free from tension and anxiety: To me number one happens when we rest in the Lord. We ourselves cannot be free from tension and anxiety without it coming through the peace that passes understanding through Christ Jesus. Therefore relaxation requires us to find that sacred place with God to bring us true rest.
- Recreation or rest, esp. after a period of work: To me this is the obvious one, but in our culture I think that sometimes we aren't really resting we are checking out so to speak. Often in relaxation we choose to disengage.
recreation:
- Activity done for enjoyment when one is not working: To me is true, but true enjoyment happens when we are filled with the Joy of the Lord. Often we look to others or things to bring us enjoyment, but often we will be disappointed if we are looking for enjoyment there, but if we are with people and doing things that bring enjoyment with the Joy of Christ filling us in the process that is where the real recreation is. This is life giving!
- The action or process of creating something again: I really like this statement because the action or process of creating something again, means that it is full of engagement. There is action to renew, engage, and create.This connects to the pastors point that true recreations causes us to engage, rather than disengage.
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts,he will be blessed in his doing."
-James 1:22-25
These are the 4 R's that he gave to stay active in cultivating your harvest and not neglecting your growth in the seasons, even summer, but to maximize who you are and your investments.
1. Read the Bible- look intently
2. Review it - Meditate on it
3. Remember the promises - Do not forget His words, memorize (Psalm 119:11)
4. Respond to Him - engage, and take action
After all of this I started thinking about how the 4 R's apply to all relationships as well. No wonder it is extremely key that we do them with God first.
For when we are doing those four R's the lies, behaviors and fears cannot win over the joy, peace and harvest to come because we are so engaged with our heavenly Father!!! And when we are in this place we always will love well.
But I also started thinking about how when we look at people like this its kind of the same thing...
This is how my brain has started seeing it with relationships:
when we get to know who they are it is like Reading them
when we go deeper with them it's like we are reviewing what we have read of them already
when we remember who they are and what they love we can be prepared to love them better
when we respond to them it is the fruit of loving them well and staying engaged in a relationship with them
It all boils down to relationship, first with Christ and then with others. Let's learn to cultivate so we have a bountiful harvest!!!
Read
Review
Remember
Respond
Thursday, June 6, 2013
The Presten's & A Complicated Balancing Act
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| Bethany & I with baby Selah: Their sweet little girl! |
I consider Bethany one of my besties, here in GA, despite the move to London, so it is a beautiful thing to have her back in the area, to just simply know she is here. What is even better is to see that she genuinely cares to stay connected!
I personally know how hard finding balance can be. The balance of staying connected and giving family, extended family and friendships that you consider to be family the time they each desire and deserve. It is extremely hard. I am proud of how she is handling it all, and with a brand new baby, 5 hour time difference and jet lag. This friend of mine is a super woman, the key I believe; she is totally filled with the Holy Spirit!
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| Dinner @ Fancy Q's: Junior & Zach & Selah Presten! |
I watch her as I to prepare to go home for the 4th of July, the last time I was home was almost 8 months ago. Every time it is hard, how do you see everyone you love in less than a full week? How do you invest the quality time they each deserve? My family taught me that family doesn't always mean blood. I grew up playing with foster kids as cousins and families that had adopted children. I grew up in a family that had such a gift for hospitality and open doors. I am beyond thankful for this mindset, but it also makes it more complicated at times.
As always I feel I may just be rambling, but in most situations in life, I find it is often about finding the balance and discerning what is best for your spirit and your spouse. And most importantly finding the places and spaces that honor God in your life, being obedient to what He is calling you to do. Some days I have no idea what this looks like....
So for now I am thankful for the Presten's, what they mean to our family and what they mean to my Father in heaven. Next week, perhaps I will try and prepare for the complexities of not living where a lot of my loved ones live and figuring out the balancing act of investing in each of them.
blessings to you as you find the balance in your own life!
Natasha
Friday, May 31, 2013
Moments with Meaning
This week Junior's mother is here with us! She has permanent resident status because Junior's brother filed for her after the completion of his citizenship. This means that Manman Jean can come and go to the states and Haiti as she is able. It is a huge blessing as a lot of family is stateside, mainly Jacksonville, which is where she stays. The great thing is we are close, so Junior will get to see his mom often as we visit family in Jacksonville every month.
This week she is with us in Georgia! She finally is getting to see our house and where we have made our home! We were able to show her our wedding spot yesterday, which is so beautiful because she was not able to attend. Today we will show her Waynesville, where we had our first home together and lived for the first year of our marriage. Then Saturday we will show her St. Simons, were we go to church and where I work.
I love sharing life with people. Since I can remember showing people the simple daily parts of my life makes me feel more connected. It truly is the small moments in life of sharing your world with those that you love that have BIG meanings.
We are so glad to have her here! Many moments with meaning to make our hearts smile this week!!!
We are beyond blessed!
This week she is with us in Georgia! She finally is getting to see our house and where we have made our home! We were able to show her our wedding spot yesterday, which is so beautiful because she was not able to attend. Today we will show her Waynesville, where we had our first home together and lived for the first year of our marriage. Then Saturday we will show her St. Simons, were we go to church and where I work.
I love sharing life with people. Since I can remember showing people the simple daily parts of my life makes me feel more connected. It truly is the small moments in life of sharing your world with those that you love that have BIG meanings.
We are so glad to have her here! Many moments with meaning to make our hearts smile this week!!!
We are beyond blessed!
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Hafiz inspirations
I am always moved by how my heavenly Father used Hafiz, a sufi master far from my world to teach me more about His love.
Words that speak to me... without barriers or definition...
Excerpts from: The Gift poems by Hafiz the great Sufi Master
"What we speak becomes the house we live in."
"Love so God will think, 'Ahhhhh, I got kin in that body!"
"My dear, let prayer become your beautiful lover and become free, Become free of this whole world..."
"At least take care of that holy infant my heart has become...but then I remember they too have a long list of love-complaints because they also know you so well."
"Dear ones, use your own storytelling abilities to end this tale in a way that will most uplift your heart."
"The earth braces itself for the feet of a lover of God about to dance."
"We are people who need to love, because love is the soul's life, love is simply creation's greatest joy."
"For we have not come here to take prisoners or to confine our wondrous spirits, but to experience ever and ever more deeply our divine courage, freedom, and light!"
I could do this all day so let me leave you with one full simple poem from the great master...
Title: This Sky
This
Sky
Where we live
Is no place to lose your wings
So love, love
Love.
I hope you have been inspired as well, and I encourage you to read Hafiz. He will stretch your view of God in so many ways. Watch and see how the Lord uses whatever He may to pursue you and the beautiful creation He made.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
It's HERE!!!
The article I have long been waiting for is HERE (page 102)!! The Lord's provision has been published in a magazine and made public in my life, I am truly blessed!!! This article was my Father God's gentle way of telling me to TRUST in Him and all that He has for me is good!
I am so honored that my friend Cyle thought to even suggest me to her boss at Golden Isles Magazine and that she picked me! It is still very surreal that my second job is running TRUST in the Treasure. My friend Sarah Deshaw, who you have met on here before explained to me what most articles like this would cost and it is not cheap. I am so thankful to get this much exposure and I am getting it for free. It is something I don't take lightly. And I pray that those who have made it possible will be blessed in return!!
The following are a few photos Sarah took during the photo shoot for the article. It was a joyful time of laughter and dreaming as we played with the pillows and art pieces I had brought for props. Sarah is a gifted photographer and one of my besties here in south georgia. She inspires me and encourages me in chasing after my dreams. Something I believe we all should do, life is short, do what you LOVE!
My make shift art studio in the garage! The quote behind me, says we are the world, created by youth I worked with at a summer camp called, World Changers at the MarketPlace with MUCH Ministries, Inc.
Standing with a couple pieces I have made, the one behind was commissioned for an awareness event on Human Trafficking, the other available on the Etsy shop HERE
I could not resist sharing some photos with my sweet pup Brody, as he is often my companion while I paint and create. He brings much joy and laughter into my life and marriage. Unfortunately Junior, my husband, was not here for the Photo shoot, but he is very much a driving force behind what I do in my make shift studio garage, creating and dreaming!
blessed,
Natasha Jovin
ps- please let me know what you think about the article I would love to hear!!! xoxox
I am so honored that my friend Cyle thought to even suggest me to her boss at Golden Isles Magazine and that she picked me! It is still very surreal that my second job is running TRUST in the Treasure. My friend Sarah Deshaw, who you have met on here before explained to me what most articles like this would cost and it is not cheap. I am so thankful to get this much exposure and I am getting it for free. It is something I don't take lightly. And I pray that those who have made it possible will be blessed in return!!
The following are a few photos Sarah took during the photo shoot for the article. It was a joyful time of laughter and dreaming as we played with the pillows and art pieces I had brought for props. Sarah is a gifted photographer and one of my besties here in south georgia. She inspires me and encourages me in chasing after my dreams. Something I believe we all should do, life is short, do what you LOVE!
My make shift art studio in the garage! The quote behind me, says we are the world, created by youth I worked with at a summer camp called, World Changers at the MarketPlace with MUCH Ministries, Inc.
Standing with a couple pieces I have made, the one behind was commissioned for an awareness event on Human Trafficking, the other available on the Etsy shop HERE
I could not resist sharing some photos with my sweet pup Brody, as he is often my companion while I paint and create. He brings much joy and laughter into my life and marriage. Unfortunately Junior, my husband, was not here for the Photo shoot, but he is very much a driving force behind what I do in my make shift studio garage, creating and dreaming!
blessed,
Natasha Jovin
ps- please let me know what you think about the article I would love to hear!!! xoxox
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Chose Wisely
I believe that by the grace of God and His abundant mercy we can live in a world that is filled with goodness. I also believe that the world is broken and a battle is raging. We must chose a side. I pray that we chose the side that fights for goodness....
I am in awe because I get the blessing to be a part of a company that is making the small things have impact. It is truly an honor to be a part of Wake Up Coffee Company. To know that the coffee I serve every week, and the products we sell are giving people hope, dignity, empowerment and so much goodness. What a beauty-FULL thing!
The story of the factory building collapsing in Bangladesh (to learn more click here) has really wrecked my heart this week.
I want people to realize that the small decisions they make really do have a big impact. I am so thankful that I work for a company that makes sure that are products and farmers are safe as well as treated with dignity.
It's the small things that are truly BIG.
Think about it.
blessed,
Natasha
to learn more about fair trade click HERE
- love
- dignity
- opportunity
- empowerment
- safety
- rights
- respect
- hope
the list goes on and on of the goodness I believe that we deserve to live in because of God's grace and mercy...
However,
At times we may feel that the battle is being won by the darkness.... when we hear stories like the Boston bombings, the Texas explosion or the Bangladesh building collapse.
But God says do not fear more than anything else in His word. Over and over again there are stories of redemption and hope; the victory has already been won and His name is JESUS!!!
BUT don't stop there.... He calls us into action.
"But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?....For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (excerpt from James 2:14-26)
He has called us to partner with Him in transforming our broken world. We are to be His hands and feet, bringing the bread of life to those around us, whether it is next door or an ocean away. The decisions you make our powerful, chose wisely.
I know at times it feels overwhelming, but the beauty is, it doesn't have to be. I believe that winning the battle and making a difference in this world is all about the small things. For example how do you treat people, do you smile or ignore them? When you talk to people, are you sweet or rude? How do you spend your money, selfishly or with awareness? How do you live your life?
Making a difference is not in the big things, but the small things, the decisions you make everyday. These decisions impact our world, they either bring life or death... my desire is that we chose the first. It is a process, learning to make the small things have a big impact. Taking one small step at a time.
I am in awe because I get the blessing to be a part of a company that is making the small things have impact. It is truly an honor to be a part of Wake Up Coffee Company. To know that the coffee I serve every week, and the products we sell are giving people hope, dignity, empowerment and so much goodness. What a beauty-FULL thing!
The story of the factory building collapsing in Bangladesh (to learn more click here) has really wrecked my heart this week.
I want people to realize that the small decisions they make really do have a big impact. I am so thankful that I work for a company that makes sure that are products and farmers are safe as well as treated with dignity.
It's the small things that are truly BIG.
Think about it.
blessed,
Natasha
to learn more about fair trade click HERE
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Separation & Preparation
I believe that the Lord taught us things this trip in preparation for what is to come. See one of the main reasons Junior and I don't take full time jobs is because we want the flexibility to travel to Haiti. Our goal is to be there permanently one day. Therefore, we want to have the room to build connections, support, and relationships for that moment that the Lord opens the door for us to be there full time. It has it's pros and cons, but either way it's what we feel the Lord wants us to do. I do my best to focus on the pros and thank Jesus for them!
Before this 6 day trip, Junior and I had only been apart collectively for 7 days in almost 3 years of marriage. So 6 days all in one, was a big deal. I missed him terribly, but was so glad he was able to go. In fact, I hate to admit it, but prior to Junior going this trip I have had many friends and family go to Haiti without me and my feelings are always mixed. I am excited for them, but my flesh is jealous and sometimes envious that it's not me. I know it's horrible, right. The tension between my true heart and my sinful flesh is not always a pretty thing, hence my thankfulness for the Lord's grace & mercy.
However, with Junior I didn't feel any of the normal fleshy sinful stuff. I was simply honored the Lord provided him the ability to go. Plus, in a sense I felt that despite the distance I was there with him. I knew he would represent our family well and of course send lots of love from me to our loved ones there!
During his stay I was only able to chat with him on Facebook for a brief few minutes one day and then talk with him on the phone for a few minutes another. I rarely fear when I am in Haiti or when I have loved ones there, but I also know the instability and risk so for the first time it was truly painful to not just hear that my other half was okay. A new feeling when it comes to this nation I love SO much.
Then there was this brand new awareness of Military wives and what they go through. Not knowing when they will hear from their husbands and being in a totally different nation, often one they are completely unfamiliar with. Then there is this new appreciation for woman like my sister in law who move a whole country away to provide for her family....being away from her husband. I can barely make it a week and these women do it with such dignity and strength. A new understanding.
Then there was this constant appreciation for our dear friends Beaver & Kathy Brooks (check them out here). They spent several years going to Haiti separately, sometimes as much as 3 months apart before the Lord opened the door for them to be there full time together. Quite extraordinary to me, the strength in them to go to this nation that they both love so deeply and to do it separately. I knew what a big deal it was the times they were apart, how Kathy or Beaver would drop everything to answer the phone while the other was there. However, I didn't grasp how big of a deal it was until I myself had the love of my life without me on that beautiful island we wish to be permanently one day. Again, a new understanding.
More than likely this will not be the first time Junior goes without me, or visa versa, but Lord I pray that each time it will be a growing process in our Journey. It will teach me things that increase my understanding and give me a new appreciation for those I love, especially my Father God in all His grace and Mercy.
Blessings,
Natasha
Ps- So thankful for girlfriends who kept me company in Junior's Absence.
Before this 6 day trip, Junior and I had only been apart collectively for 7 days in almost 3 years of marriage. So 6 days all in one, was a big deal. I missed him terribly, but was so glad he was able to go. In fact, I hate to admit it, but prior to Junior going this trip I have had many friends and family go to Haiti without me and my feelings are always mixed. I am excited for them, but my flesh is jealous and sometimes envious that it's not me. I know it's horrible, right. The tension between my true heart and my sinful flesh is not always a pretty thing, hence my thankfulness for the Lord's grace & mercy.
However, with Junior I didn't feel any of the normal fleshy sinful stuff. I was simply honored the Lord provided him the ability to go. Plus, in a sense I felt that despite the distance I was there with him. I knew he would represent our family well and of course send lots of love from me to our loved ones there!
During his stay I was only able to chat with him on Facebook for a brief few minutes one day and then talk with him on the phone for a few minutes another. I rarely fear when I am in Haiti or when I have loved ones there, but I also know the instability and risk so for the first time it was truly painful to not just hear that my other half was okay. A new feeling when it comes to this nation I love SO much.
Then there was this brand new awareness of Military wives and what they go through. Not knowing when they will hear from their husbands and being in a totally different nation, often one they are completely unfamiliar with. Then there is this new appreciation for woman like my sister in law who move a whole country away to provide for her family....being away from her husband. I can barely make it a week and these women do it with such dignity and strength. A new understanding.
Then there was this constant appreciation for our dear friends Beaver & Kathy Brooks (check them out here). They spent several years going to Haiti separately, sometimes as much as 3 months apart before the Lord opened the door for them to be there full time together. Quite extraordinary to me, the strength in them to go to this nation that they both love so deeply and to do it separately. I knew what a big deal it was the times they were apart, how Kathy or Beaver would drop everything to answer the phone while the other was there. However, I didn't grasp how big of a deal it was until I myself had the love of my life without me on that beautiful island we wish to be permanently one day. Again, a new understanding.
More than likely this will not be the first time Junior goes without me, or visa versa, but Lord I pray that each time it will be a growing process in our Journey. It will teach me things that increase my understanding and give me a new appreciation for those I love, especially my Father God in all His grace and Mercy.
Blessings,
Natasha
Ps- So thankful for girlfriends who kept me company in Junior's Absence.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Thoughts on Technology
So my dear friend Sarah Gaikwad (check her out here) posted an article the other day and I just can't seem to stop thinking about it. In fact I feel like it was just the icing on the cake as my whole weekend was filled with conversations about technology and the changes that it is having on our culture and our future.
We are living in such a different time than when I was growing up. This generation's life support system seems to be technology. One friend put it this weekend, she wants to show her kids the skills it has to teach them, rather than to hinder them, I liked this thinking. I believe that by the time our kids are adults coding will be a common language and I believe that carpal tunnel and eye problems will be prevalent. However, they will have access to education, seeing the world and connecting with people in a way that is far beyond what I was ever capable of as a child.
The pros and cons are tremendous. I have another friend that says the good and bad of this world are wrapped up in technology. Our connection with the world is increased, but our ability to be present and involved in deep relationships is weaken by the constant pull of the different devices around you. Machines that seem to carry the world at your fingertips. But we forget our world is our community, our family and friends, not just the people we "like" in the realm of Facebook,Titter and all the other networking sites out there.
I only recently got a phone that carries much of my life, and although I love it, I must be careful with it. I don't want to not be present with my family, or forget to see the beauty in life. I want to experience it, not just instagram it. Only a few months ago I was the one getting gripped on about not answering my phone or responding to texts, but I have to admit I liked that life... I was able to really be there with the ones I was with, and present at home with my husband, I was not attached to the machine... it's a good feeling to be free.
I am still processing much of my thoughts on technology, laughing at myself as I feel old when dealing with a lot of it, embracing the beauty in it, but also being clear that boundaries are needed with it. Like my friend, I want to use it in the ways that Glorify God, teach me new skill sets, help me to succeed and most importantly love others. What I do not want is to allow technology to hinder me from living life to the fullest.
Please read this Article, it explains much of my own thoughts on the issue and it really is something we should be in dialog about.
Click HERE for some wisdom from Einstein on this issue, it's a good visual!
Also please feel free to share your thoughts, I would love to hear them!
Blessings,
Natasha
We are living in such a different time than when I was growing up. This generation's life support system seems to be technology. One friend put it this weekend, she wants to show her kids the skills it has to teach them, rather than to hinder them, I liked this thinking. I believe that by the time our kids are adults coding will be a common language and I believe that carpal tunnel and eye problems will be prevalent. However, they will have access to education, seeing the world and connecting with people in a way that is far beyond what I was ever capable of as a child.
The pros and cons are tremendous. I have another friend that says the good and bad of this world are wrapped up in technology. Our connection with the world is increased, but our ability to be present and involved in deep relationships is weaken by the constant pull of the different devices around you. Machines that seem to carry the world at your fingertips. But we forget our world is our community, our family and friends, not just the people we "like" in the realm of Facebook,Titter and all the other networking sites out there.
I only recently got a phone that carries much of my life, and although I love it, I must be careful with it. I don't want to not be present with my family, or forget to see the beauty in life. I want to experience it, not just instagram it. Only a few months ago I was the one getting gripped on about not answering my phone or responding to texts, but I have to admit I liked that life... I was able to really be there with the ones I was with, and present at home with my husband, I was not attached to the machine... it's a good feeling to be free.
I am still processing much of my thoughts on technology, laughing at myself as I feel old when dealing with a lot of it, embracing the beauty in it, but also being clear that boundaries are needed with it. Like my friend, I want to use it in the ways that Glorify God, teach me new skill sets, help me to succeed and most importantly love others. What I do not want is to allow technology to hinder me from living life to the fullest.
Please read this Article, it explains much of my own thoughts on the issue and it really is something we should be in dialog about.
Click HERE for some wisdom from Einstein on this issue, it's a good visual!
Also please feel free to share your thoughts, I would love to hear them!
Blessings,
Natasha
Friday, April 5, 2013
Sweet Emilee
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| Reunited with SWEET EMILEE MARIE! |
The following is an excerpt from a post I wrote in February of 2008, while living in Haiti...
"The police, UN and judge brought a baby to the orphanage. She was abandoned on a porch, severely malnourished, she weighed around 5 1/2lbs. And the really heartbreaking part is she has two teeth and from what the nurses could estimate she is somewhere between 7-11 months old. She was dropped off in bercy last Saturday and has been with me since. I have loved on her, held her down while a nurse tried to put an IV in her precious tiny, tiny veins, helped give her medicines, bathed her and she has come with me to Dorothy's. This sweet little baby girl that I named (with help from friends)Emily Marie Francois, is what Dorothy likes to call my house warming gift.We have started calling her "my baby"...i love her!!! she's beautiful. She doing well, now up to almost 8lbs now!"
Click HERE some pictures and another blog about her during our stay together at Dorothy's!
During this season of investing in Emily, I prayed many times about adopting her, but God always said no and I never understood until... He revealed to me who would be her mother.
The following is an excerpt from a post in August 2009
"Shelly Stammis is a woman i met while in Haiti last year. this summer she stayed at Bercy and fell in love with Emily Marie. she has decided to adopt her! it is an answered prayer because i have been praying for someone that i know to adopt her so that i can stay connected with her and be in her life. when i first heard i was like...wait i wanna adopt her...then a second later i thought...wait this is an answered prayer...PRAISE GOD!
Shelly was in Jacksonville with the Merritts so i went down and visited for a day...saw many pictures of Emily and was able to be with what i jokingly like to call...my 'baby's mama'...i am so excited for Shelly and for Emily...she will be so blessed. Shelly is a good mom, a strong woman and a deep lover of Jesus...I am blessed to know her and so excited for Emily." For more from this post click here.
And now today.... I get to sit here and write that Shelly's adoption is complete and we were all able to reunite in Fort Lauderdale on their way home to Michigan. It was a surreal and beautiful blessing...full of Joy over flowing....
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| (Shelly, Emilee & her big sister, Lexi) |
God really is a Miracle worker....His plans never fail, His LOVE never fails.... what a beautiful life this is!
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| We never get tired of these dimples.... Blessings, Natasha |
Revamping Reasons
First and foremost I apologize for it being a month since my last post. I was talking with a friend this morning and realized that since I journal on the regular with my fine point sharpie and fair trade journal in hand I forget about this blog sometimes. I mainly use it to connect with my family and friends that are far away. I have never really set it up with good grammar, more just a blog with ramblings of run on sentences and my stream of consciousness.
However, as this new adventure begins with TRUST in the Treasure I want my business to not just be about the projects I create, I also want my customers to know who I am. With that said, I also know first impressions are important so in the next couple weeks I will be revamping my blog a bit, which I am excited about. I will still write about my life, but I will also be adding DIY projects that I try along with things that connect with my shop.
If you have suggestions or ideas, please feel free to give suggestions!
Blessings,
Natasha
However, as this new adventure begins with TRUST in the Treasure I want my business to not just be about the projects I create, I also want my customers to know who I am. With that said, I also know first impressions are important so in the next couple weeks I will be revamping my blog a bit, which I am excited about. I will still write about my life, but I will also be adding DIY projects that I try along with things that connect with my shop.
If you have suggestions or ideas, please feel free to give suggestions!
Blessings,
Natasha
Friday, February 22, 2013
New Hair
With all the new things I am believing in for this year, 2013, I thought it was only right to get a fancy drastic new hair do as well, many say I look a bit more sophisticated, what do you think?!!
A new Adventure
Job- a word that has not been fulfilling in my life for the past 18 months...
don't get me wrong I LOVE wake up coffee, but I'm about to be 31 and being a barista is not my life goal... I love the mission behind wake up and why the owner does what he does...why all of us that work there do what we do... but my strengths lie more in the networking, communicating, wooing and educating people about the stories that are behind the reason for the shop... but being the small business that it is...paying me to do just that is easier said than done.
In October I started working at a daycare/after school program...and it was great except for the fact that I had 25 kids, ages 4-12 all by myself and it was insane... anyway it was difficult to say the least, but the staff there was great, they wanted to make it better, but I kept dreaming and telling Junior if only I could just stay home, do my Etsy shop, TRUST in the Treasure and a couple shifts at wake up... but I knew we couldn't financially afford it.
The Lord orchestrated events to make those desires in my heart come true....despite me being ready or not. However like the good Father He is, He prepared me for it! The week went like this..Monday the only thing that kept me from quitting was that I knew we needed the money, Tuesday a friend called and asked if she could do an article on me, my art, and TRUST in the Treasure, then Wednesday I was let go at the daycare.
It was the first time I have ever been let go in my life...at first I felt shame and wanted to lie to everyone and say that I just quit. But when I stopped and listened to Papa God, He reminded me of how He loves me and that this was what had to happen for the new season He has for me. A season that will take me trusting Him in new ways. After that I was excited and felt the peace the passes all understanding.
Thankfully I have such an amazing husband, who knows the Lord will provide and wants me to go after my dreams of making TRUST in the Treasure my day job! Since the let go, I have had moments of telling Junior I can get more hours at wake up, or look for the another job and he kindly just says..."I'm not worried about money"
This year my new adventure- declaring that my etsy business will become a success! An amazing, faith filled, yet scary start to the new year!
wish me luck, better yet pray for me... i don't really belief in luck..
don't get me wrong I LOVE wake up coffee, but I'm about to be 31 and being a barista is not my life goal... I love the mission behind wake up and why the owner does what he does...why all of us that work there do what we do... but my strengths lie more in the networking, communicating, wooing and educating people about the stories that are behind the reason for the shop... but being the small business that it is...paying me to do just that is easier said than done.
In October I started working at a daycare/after school program...and it was great except for the fact that I had 25 kids, ages 4-12 all by myself and it was insane... anyway it was difficult to say the least, but the staff there was great, they wanted to make it better, but I kept dreaming and telling Junior if only I could just stay home, do my Etsy shop, TRUST in the Treasure and a couple shifts at wake up... but I knew we couldn't financially afford it.
The Lord orchestrated events to make those desires in my heart come true....despite me being ready or not. However like the good Father He is, He prepared me for it! The week went like this..Monday the only thing that kept me from quitting was that I knew we needed the money, Tuesday a friend called and asked if she could do an article on me, my art, and TRUST in the Treasure, then Wednesday I was let go at the daycare.
It was the first time I have ever been let go in my life...at first I felt shame and wanted to lie to everyone and say that I just quit. But when I stopped and listened to Papa God, He reminded me of how He loves me and that this was what had to happen for the new season He has for me. A season that will take me trusting Him in new ways. After that I was excited and felt the peace the passes all understanding.
Thankfully I have such an amazing husband, who knows the Lord will provide and wants me to go after my dreams of making TRUST in the Treasure my day job! Since the let go, I have had moments of telling Junior I can get more hours at wake up, or look for the another job and he kindly just says..."I'm not worried about money"
This year my new adventure- declaring that my etsy business will become a success! An amazing, faith filled, yet scary start to the new year!
wish me luck, better yet pray for me... i don't really belief in luck..
beauty-full truth
If you know me or follow my blog you know I have a heart for the enslaved, and justice! For the past year I have been volunteering with a wonderful group that works with women in the sex industry. This spoken word exudes my heart for this evil industry....full of BEAUTY-FULL TRUTH!
Doubled
I never really shared about my Christmas gift from my parents this year...it was an amazing thing...
See last Christmas my parents had mentioned doing a family trip to Haiti, they had yet to meet many of Junior's family, including his mother and my sister had not been back since the earthquake...either had my nephew and now my sister also was married with a baby, my niece....
Long story short they gifted us with a family trip to Haiti this Christmas last time we were all in Haiti together it was a day before the earthquake in 2010 and it was just the 4 of us. At that point junior and I were just dating, and my sister was in process of adopting Isaac...and in 3 years we have gone from just the 4 of us, to now 8. Our family had doubled since we last were all in Haiti together...it was about time.
What amazing parents I have, they paid for all our tickets, my sister's family and mine. In the beginning of January we all spent 10 days in Haiti! Such an amazing blessing! I will say my sister and her husband are extremely brave- bringing an 8 month old and a 4 year old...what a whirlwind of sleep deprivation for them, but they did very well.
Junior and I planned the trip out, organized the transportation and did our best to facilitate where needed. I won't lie it was one of my more difficult trips to Haiti, as everyone seemed to get sick along with my dad getting the tip of his finger chopped off in an iron gate door. However everyone is healthy, my dad's finger is nearly all healed, everyone is back safe and sound.
It is always a blessing for Junior and I to be in Haiti, no matter the circumstances. I am so thankful for my family, i know like every family there is drama at times...but they are pretty amazing people. It was great to see how my family has grown and continue to share this nation together...it is truly beautiful to me...
See last Christmas my parents had mentioned doing a family trip to Haiti, they had yet to meet many of Junior's family, including his mother and my sister had not been back since the earthquake...either had my nephew and now my sister also was married with a baby, my niece....
Long story short they gifted us with a family trip to Haiti this Christmas last time we were all in Haiti together it was a day before the earthquake in 2010 and it was just the 4 of us. At that point junior and I were just dating, and my sister was in process of adopting Isaac...and in 3 years we have gone from just the 4 of us, to now 8. Our family had doubled since we last were all in Haiti together...it was about time.
What amazing parents I have, they paid for all our tickets, my sister's family and mine. In the beginning of January we all spent 10 days in Haiti! Such an amazing blessing! I will say my sister and her husband are extremely brave- bringing an 8 month old and a 4 year old...what a whirlwind of sleep deprivation for them, but they did very well.
It is always a blessing for Junior and I to be in Haiti, no matter the circumstances. I am so thankful for my family, i know like every family there is drama at times...but they are pretty amazing people. It was great to see how my family has grown and continue to share this nation together...it is truly beautiful to me...
Sunday, February 17, 2013
our dreams
I don't know that i have ever shared the dreams that junior and i have one day for haiti... i know it's clear that we will return to live permanently, when God gives us the go...and that we will have a work there that is no doubt from the Lord but the exact details and visions are just passions, and little tid bit pictures of what it could look like and dreams of what it could be....
however we know this.... that Junior & I have 3 main things we what to be a part of in this place we call home....whether we are physically there or not...
1. SCHOOL - junior's number one passion is education, his story itself could not have happened if it wasn't for the dedication of his mother to make school possible for him... this is part of his own story and heart...he believes that through education his nation will change.
2. VISION TRIPS- we both desire for people to know more of haiti, not just come once, only see one area and get stuck in the bubble that that is all of haiti... we want to meet individual passions and skills with the right need...we have many connections in haiti and we dont know what this will look like but we want to be a part of facilitating it...
3. BRINGING FREEDOM- my passion and heart is to bring freedom to the enslaved, the street kids and those that are being forced into situations that are not of the Lord.... i eventually will be certified in tramatology to help aid the rehabilitation of those on the street or living as a restavek. (this is something that many people still don't know goes on in haiti so i wanted to share a video about it)
video: Restavek Freedom Foundation
i don't know what it looks like but i do know that these are the areas the Lord has placed on our hearts as husband and wife, so we pray for more vision this year, more clarity, more connections and more peace as each year we are closer to the dreams we hold in this beautiful nation, Ayiti!!!!
blessings!
however we know this.... that Junior & I have 3 main things we what to be a part of in this place we call home....whether we are physically there or not...
1. SCHOOL - junior's number one passion is education, his story itself could not have happened if it wasn't for the dedication of his mother to make school possible for him... this is part of his own story and heart...he believes that through education his nation will change.
2. VISION TRIPS- we both desire for people to know more of haiti, not just come once, only see one area and get stuck in the bubble that that is all of haiti... we want to meet individual passions and skills with the right need...we have many connections in haiti and we dont know what this will look like but we want to be a part of facilitating it...
3. BRINGING FREEDOM- my passion and heart is to bring freedom to the enslaved, the street kids and those that are being forced into situations that are not of the Lord.... i eventually will be certified in tramatology to help aid the rehabilitation of those on the street or living as a restavek. (this is something that many people still don't know goes on in haiti so i wanted to share a video about it)
video: Restavek Freedom Foundation
i don't know what it looks like but i do know that these are the areas the Lord has placed on our hearts as husband and wife, so we pray for more vision this year, more clarity, more connections and more peace as each year we are closer to the dreams we hold in this beautiful nation, Ayiti!!!!
blessings!
Strengths
a little over a week ago i met with my friend Gina about the results of my strengths test...
(check Gina and her blog out here) to see more on my strengths click here)
Gina is a certified Strengths Finder couch and talking with her this morning brought me to tears as she explained my strengths and the ways they work together. What an amazing thing to learn that by the time i was 3 these strengths were more than likely already developed. God has big plans for my life and my strengths play a huge part of it, He plans things well. And the amazing thing is that this is the same for each of us, strengths He created in us when we were very young to work for the good in our life!
Learning this stuff puts things in more perspective...i was given so much information this morning, i will no doubt need time to process. i still have so much to learn about my strengths. Donald Clifton, who is the father of positive psychology and created strengths finder's believed that when we focus on our strengths and not our weaknesses we can achieve so much more. Instead of trying to be strong in the places we are weak, we learn what areas of strength we have so that we can focus on those and exceed to our full potential.
Gina put it into a simple equation for me...
i naturally will start at a 5 in my strengths, where someone who doesn't have them starts at 0... when i work at it i can reach 25 in that strength, where the other will only get to 5 with work because it isn't their natural strength...
right now in my strengths i believe i am walking in a 5, but i want to be at a 25 to reach my full potential!!! i believe this is where i will come alive and really make a difference for the Kingdom of God!!!
i have my BA in Psychology so trust me when i say i have taken my fair share of personality tests and the like, however this strengths finder test and coaching experience has been more revealing than any of them i have participated in. i LOVE that kind of stuff,exploring why we behave the way we do, exploring who we are and how it effects our story!
so with all this said...i am declaring 2013 to be the year that i start growing in my strengths and i greatly encourage you to explore your own strengths here!
blessings...
Natasha
(check Gina and her blog out here) to see more on my strengths click here)
Gina is a certified Strengths Finder couch and talking with her this morning brought me to tears as she explained my strengths and the ways they work together. What an amazing thing to learn that by the time i was 3 these strengths were more than likely already developed. God has big plans for my life and my strengths play a huge part of it, He plans things well. And the amazing thing is that this is the same for each of us, strengths He created in us when we were very young to work for the good in our life!
Learning this stuff puts things in more perspective...i was given so much information this morning, i will no doubt need time to process. i still have so much to learn about my strengths. Donald Clifton, who is the father of positive psychology and created strengths finder's believed that when we focus on our strengths and not our weaknesses we can achieve so much more. Instead of trying to be strong in the places we are weak, we learn what areas of strength we have so that we can focus on those and exceed to our full potential.
Gina put it into a simple equation for me...
i naturally will start at a 5 in my strengths, where someone who doesn't have them starts at 0... when i work at it i can reach 25 in that strength, where the other will only get to 5 with work because it isn't their natural strength...
right now in my strengths i believe i am walking in a 5, but i want to be at a 25 to reach my full potential!!! i believe this is where i will come alive and really make a difference for the Kingdom of God!!!
i have my BA in Psychology so trust me when i say i have taken my fair share of personality tests and the like, however this strengths finder test and coaching experience has been more revealing than any of them i have participated in. i LOVE that kind of stuff,exploring why we behave the way we do, exploring who we are and how it effects our story!
so with all this said...i am declaring 2013 to be the year that i start growing in my strengths and i greatly encourage you to explore your own strengths here!
blessings...
Natasha
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