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!

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. 

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!

                                   and of course so much of what I do is driven by my belief that there is....

blessed,
Natasha Jovin

ps- please let me know what you think about the article I would love to hear!!! xoxox

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....

• 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