Have you thought of yours? New Year's Resolutions!

Can you believe that 2013 is nearing an end? I know I say this every year but seriously the days and months fly by so quickly and before I know it, I'm saying it again... it's almost time for a new year!

In just 3 short days 2014 will be rolling in. January 1st. With all the excitement and thrill of the New Year also comes... the New Years Resolutions! Have you thought of yours? 

Oh the possibilities are endless...to eat healthier, no more soda or caffeine, to work out at least 5 times a week, a list of less/more, save more money, a note a day in a jar, blog more, create everyday, take risks, to talk less listen more...important, most. are they going to change your life? 

What if your New Years Resolution could change your life, or someone else's life. A resolution that God has called you to do?

What if you knew the last day that you had to live. What would you do with your time in the days up to your last day?

I'm sure you're wondering where is she going with this! But stay with me, I'll get there! 

This morning at church the pastor focused on this verse. 

Psalm 90:20..."Teach us to number our days that we main gain a heart of wisdom".

If our days were numbered, would we live life differently? Would we spend our time differently? 

Would we be INTENTIONAL about how we are spending our minutes, hours, days, months, years? 

From birth through graduation we have an estimated 932 weeks with our child. 

That seems like a huge number, but is it? 

Life gets so so busy, and I often think, "I have time, I can do that tomorrow" but do I? There are certain things we need to get done, but most importantly things that God has called us to do.

It makes me sad thinking about this and the time I've lost. 

How I need to start being more intentional with my time. 

Well here's my solution this year for how... 

In this jar there are 52 marbles. 1 for each week of the year. 

I put it out in my living room, when I look at the this jar it is a physical reminder (to take one out each week) for me to be more intentional. 

• Intentional with God. to rely on him and spend time with him daily. to rest in him and have peace only in him. 
• Intentional with my husband. what can I do for him today. 
• Intentional with my children. teaching them the word of God. how to love their Savior and live a life for him. How can I serve my children today. 
• Intentional with my family. To pray together deeper, each day asking God to help us be more intentional with the stage we are in. To help us use our time the way he wants us to use our time
• Intentional with my neighbors, my friends, people in passing, how can I serve someone today

As many of you know, I am a little bit of a "momarazzi" (my definition of momarazzi is: a momma finding joy in capturing the moments and memories of real life where I see God's love and goodness that he so gratuitously bestows upon me that I do not deserve but am so thankful. aka- momma who takes lots and lots of photos) so I am also incorporating this...(look below) as part of my reminder to be Intentional.

A great way to be Intentional. Finding God's love and goodness in everyday. Photo Challenge to take a photo each day of the item listed. I am going to be INTENTIONAL to thank Jesus for these things that I am given. (*look at the bottom for more photo a day details)

What if we used every week to the fullest capacity possible?

So this year, my New Years Resolution is a bit different than they have been in the past... this year my 2014 New Years Resolution is to be Intentional every week. It is so very easy to think "I have all the time in the world" easy to let the day or moment pass by because we can easily get caught up in our human emotions. I don't want to waste time anymore. Every week truly matters.

Time over time makes history worth repeating. 

*This photo of the day came from my friend Heather over at Raising Mighty Aarows , take a photo and post on Instagram or Facebook. Please use #rmaphotoaday when sharing your photos so fun to see all the different photos! 

**some content is from a sermon preached by Ben Markwardt 

Birth Without Fear through a Photographers Eyes

I'll start out by saying this post is long over due.You know I've thought about this day so often and more so recently. I think because of the Holidays. Looking deep into my soul and talking to Jesus about things going on in our life and thanking him for what he has blessed me with. This day was one of those days that I am very, very thankful to be a part of.

I will be forever honored that I was able to photograph his birth -DAY!

 
This sweet boy entered the world on July 26th at 3:50 pm. A day I will never ever forget and will forever cherish. Meet Olaf Benjamin Sahlstrom.


This is Naomi's story, in photograph form (as most of you know that's how I like to do things...picture style) so it is Naomi's story but it became my story because as I said before, it was a day that forever changed my life.

I am going to start out by saying this "every good and perfect gift is from above" -James 1:17 and there couldn't be any better words to describe little Ole than words from that verse!

My favorite way of sharing life is through photographs, so I am going to share a few of my most favorites... the whole incredible  and miraculous birth story, you should need to click right HERE and read it for yourself. Because it is simply AMAZING.

I arrived at Naomi and Ben's house around 1:30 pm when the Birthday Party was beginning.. and when I say Birthday Party, I mean birthday party!
As you can see below! Even followed with ice cream! As I said a little bit ago, you will NEED to read this incredible birth story on Naomi's blog :)
Follow along and enjoy this beautiful birth story of precious little Ole.

Naomi and Ben just hours before their son arrived. What an amazing couple!

Naomi and Diane the midwife, this Lady... She's a true blessing from the Lord.

this photo was taken just 2 hours before baby was born

this is my sweet hunny! Just 2 months old she took a snooze the entire time of labor and delivery

remember the ice cream I told you about!!!

Me and sweet little Ole :)

This water birth at home, it was 100% birth without fear (and this is Naomi's first baby). It was a birth and labor put completely into God's hands.
When I told you that Naomi's story became my story, because as you can see in these pictures words just can't describe the way that day went down but I can tell you one thing, God's presence was there, it was so real, so amazing. To be a part of something so incredible is something I will forever be thankful for!

Psalm 37:4-5 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your hearts desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD, Trust him and he will help you.

Seeing God's Goodness and Be THANKFUL!

I woke up this morning and for the first time in two weeks felt at peace, my stomach was not doing flips, I was not a tense ball of nerves and my mind was at rest.
Life. Seems so perfect so wonderful and in a blink of an eye it can all be turned upside down. God brings you to your knees. That is what happened to me a few weeks ago.
It is painful and breaks my heart. Now as a mommy I have to make a choice how I am going to handle those painful moments. I can either let it define me. Let it destroy me. Or let it strengthen me.
I am choosing option number 3 and with God's help I know this will strengthen me and my family.
God doesn't promise for our life to be easy but he does promise to never leave us, to never forsake us and with God all things are possible.
My life is far from glamorous. With broken relationships and family so close yet so far, it could be very easy to get caught up in those things to let Satan twist my thoughts and feel bad for myself (I like to call this.. "stinkin thinkin" but these are the moments when I pull God the closest to me and that's when he shows me his Goodness and his love for me and I am so thankful.
I may be considered the "momarazzi" (my definition of "momarazzi" is... a mom taking photos of God's love and Goodness and each photo taken I give thanks for that moment.)
but you know what, I love that. I love to find joy in everyday to capture those moments that fill my soul with love and laughter. Finding joy and capturing moments really helps me stay away from that "Stinkin Thinkin".

This year has been one incredible year solely because of the Lord and his goodness. He has provided and blessed us in ways that we don't deserve.

A few of my "Momarrzi" Moments
throughout the year.
Life on the farm 

God provides in marvelous ways. My childhood dreams were answered and we bought a farm in January 2013! We have had an amazing year here soaking up every minute! We are reminded of God's love for us daily when waking up to breath taking sunrises. There are so many rewarding things that we are enjoying and loving so much since being on the farm...

the fruits and veggies from the garden, canning, all of our farmyard pets, watching the miracle of birth, homesteading: eggs from our chickens, milk from our goats, meat from our chickens that we butchered ourselves, dinners from our farm, homemade bread and meals from the garden, endless hours of learning, harvest, meals with family and friends, making probiotics (from our goats milk)

The miracle of birth and life and the grace of God. Gracelyn Joy Gniffke joined our family May 15, 2013 at our home. Praise be to Jesus. God is so good.

Our 5th wedding anniversary (details will be in another post) but I am so thankful to be married to my best friend the man of my dreams who and he so gratuitously puts up with my style of parenting allowing me to bring along our 6 month old baby on our anniversary getaway!

I am so very, very thankful to have a husband who works so incredibly hard for our family so that I can stay at home and raise our kids. I am also so very thankful for my at home business that has gone so incredibly well.

After 3 very long years a miracle happened. This happened. For the first time ever my whole family ate a dinner together. By the grace of God alone my dad and I reconciled. My kids met their grandpa.

This could get long so I will also save the rest for another post. But God IS GOOD and God provides and God does miracles.  

And finally I am so very, very thankful for this past year. I have gotten to spend everyday with this sweet girl. I know that will change next year but I can't even put into words how grateful I am for the time and the memories that she and I and our family have made together.

This Thanksgiving I treasure these moments, these memories, my family and my Savior for the wonderful things he has done and provided for our family.
Thankful for the gift of finding joy in everyday to see God's Goodness and find joy in it.

I challenge you if you're not a "momarazzi" and you are struggling with things in life, each day take a picture when you see an example of God's love. Look for it, but you won't have to look far and it won't be hard to find because it is all around you.

From our family to yours, we wish you a very very Happy Thanksgiving!! :) 

Coziness in my home on this gray rainy day

I'm a sucker for good food. You know what I'm talking about...

I really try hard to serve healthy meals to my family and eat healthy as well (animal based whole foods kind of eating) and then once in a while  (sometimes more than I'd like to admit) I fall off the cliff and sucker into those foods I know I shouldn't be eating but do anyways because they are so, so stinkin good.. you know what I'm talking about... especially those homemade oreo shakes.

Then there is a whole different type of food. 

Comfort foods.. Like those homemade pierogi's

or this... homemade tomato soup, with grilled cheese from our fresh baked bread.

On this gray rainy day, it was exactly what this momma needed for lunch.

It's been one of those days...

One of those days that I am very, very thankful to be a daughter of a king. Who loves me unconditionally and loves me for who I am.

The kind of day that I woke up, so excited for this rainy gray day and the coziness my home provides and had a dream of how my day was going to pan out but that didn't happen at all.

One of those days that I am very thankful for to have an adopted mom who has stepped in to fill that empty spot that is always missing in my heart.  She truly loves me and is that mom that when I call her she shows up to my house within minutes because she knew I needed a hug.

Yes, that mom that let me cry on her shoulder and prayed with me and helped me see that Jesus is my comfort, the only thing that I truly need. And one more thing about this mom... she is a mom to lots of kids and grandkids, Seriously... who does that. A woman of God's heart, that's who. 

My relationship with my biological parents is scarce but God gave me this wonderful amazing lady because he loves me that much.

One of those days that I am so thankful to have true loving caring friends that also have a heart for the Lord. Thankful for their love and kindness and the way we can talk to each other and the tears come and go but in-between there are lots of laughs. That friend that just knows exactly what to say and sometimes doesn't say anything just listens with a really big heart. THANK YOU.

One of those days that Jesus gave me...and you know why I maybe had such a 'hard morning' maybe it was because I needed to make my soul quite. He has everything planned out. It's raining so we're staying inside. Kids are playing great. I turned off all the noise and just spoke to him. He knew exactly what he had planned. I really look into my heart and he is there. He shows me continual reasons of his love for me. 

My mom I told you about... she looked into my eyes and told me she was coming back later to pick up my assignment. (ASSIGNMENT: I didn't finish college because I HATE SCHOOL). 

So I really didn't want to listen to her. But she didn't give up. She made sure I heard her and she wasn't joking around.

So it now has become one of those days that I am doing an assignment and gave up what  my plan was. I now know that this day, was 100% from the Lord.

My sort of busy day today, cleaning up and getting things done around the house turned into spending time by myself in quietness and really looking into my heart and talking to Jesus and finishing, my assignment.

What a blessing to have ... One of those days.

 

Oh... and for you who are wondering what my assignment was, I'll tell you but I challenge you to do this as well:

On paper write a list of these things...
-Why you are a beautiful daughter of the King.

-The gifts the Lord has given you.

-Your ambitions.

-What you love.

When you are done, I guarantee there will be an overwhelming amount of peace and joy in your heart.

Oh and be thankful, thankful for these gray rainy days where you can find coziness in your home.

 

Bountiful Weekend

Today our family celebrated as we dedicated our sweet baby girl, Gracelyn Joy to the Lord at our church. Such an honor and a reward to be parents but knowing that Gracie isn't just our child she is the Lord's and that we made a promise today that we will bring up Gracie to know the Lord, that's just something to celebrate! (Read on...and you'll see a little of the celebrations that took place, stay with me it gets a little lengthy but it's good and of course there are pictures throughout too)  but first let me explain some things...

(A  little previous family history side note: Ashtyn was baptized in the Lutheran church that I grew up in. When TJ and I got married we became members at Swan Lake, Evangelical Free Church. At Swan Lake they do not practice baptism of infants but have a dedication service instead. The boys were both dedicated (And I'm so so sad to say that I don't have any pictures of any of them. The ones I had were ruined when our basement flooded a few years ago, so this is a partial reason why I do so many blog posts).

Dedication was a new thing to me (new as in 5 years ago new). I was not familiar with it, since I grew up Lutheran and I was accustomed to baptizing babies, but after praying and researching TJ and I both agreed that dedicating our children was the best choice for our family. This poem I stumbled across really sums everything up.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OUR SWEET GIRL

You are an incredible blessing

An extraordinary gift

Given to us from our Heavenly Father

To experience this life with.

We dedicate our hearts to teaching you God's way

With everything we do

And every word we say.

We know your precious eyes are watching us intently

And your tiny little ears are listening so sharply.

We'll teach you how to love by the way we treat others.

We'll teach you generosity by the way we give.

We'll teach you how to worship God by our obedience to Him.

We'll teach you righteousness by the way we live.

Our prayer is that you grown up strong

and love the Lord your God.

You are our sweet child

And we love you with all of our heart.

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Verses that I cherish...

 "She said, "Oh, my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you, praying to the LORD. "For this boy I prayed, and the LORD has given me my petition which I asked of Him. "So I have also dedicated him to the LORD; as long as he lives he is dedicated to the LORD." And he worshiped the LORD there." ...1 Samuel 1:24-28
 ...Hannah, what an inspiration. She gave her son Samuel over to the Lord and knew that Jesus loved her son more than she ever could.

And here is another verse that just confirms our reason to dedicate our babies instead of baptizing. I believe that they should be baptized when they are old enough to make the choice on their own of accepting Jesus into their hearts.

"And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord." - Luke 2:21-22 ...Mary presented Jesus, her first born son to the Lord in Jerusalem. Jesus was not baptized till He was 30 years old, but was presented when he was eight.

I truly believe that children are a heritage from the Lord. That they are a reward from God. Every parent should realize that children are a heritage from the Lord. They are a reward from God...Psalm 127:3 "Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him." 

Back to the celebration details ...
Today was a beautiful extremely gorgeous day outside.
It began by the church service at 9am. (Thank you to our family and friends who were there to support us and love on our little Gracie, we are so very thankful for all of you!!)

"...that I may walk before God in the light of life." Psalm 56:13

 

unfortunate camera problems but thankful to have a few photos!

Our family :)

Auntie Halie and Uncle Matt

Kenzie and Ashtyn, cousins and forever friends

After church we had the big celebration at our house. It was wonderful. There was 23 people at our farm and it was just amazing!  As I finished preparing the meal, I looked out my kitchen window to see all the kids out running in the yard playing catch and a few carrying kittens around and the adults were walking around the farm talking and soaking in God's gorgeous day he gave us. That moment just made a special place in my heart.

That meal that I told you I finished preparing... I am so pumped to share with you that I had it all ready to go last night, so when we got home from church I just had to put things in the oven and warm things up. So I feel like I can a little bit brag about this because I will have you know it is the very FIRST time I have ever ever ever been prepared like this. I mean EVER! I am the one that is always late (as most of you know) and scrambling around last minute making a big mess because I wasn't prepared.
So here is how prepared I was.... I finished everything and crawled into my bed last night (Saturday morning at 2:45am.) Yes, I was that prepared. haha. Not sure why I can't ever stay on track and accomplish things at normal time but anyways... this was still awesome to just enjoy our time after church and not feel so rushed.. (It was also an awesome feeling to take a long nap this afternoon) :) 
One last thing being prepared thing... THE SMELL.. when I walked into my kitchen when we got home, it was marvelous. Fresh homemade bread in the bread machine, the smell of chicken. the savory smell of squash. yum yum yum.

I am so thankful for God's goodness, his love, the gifts he has given to us that we don't deserve.
This meal we made, most of it came from our farm. Seeing the prepared food all ready to be served just reminded me again for God's unfailing love for us.

On the menu:

Farm grown baked lemon pepper chicken, roasted carmel glazed squash, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet corn, cracker with homemade goat cheese (thank you to Shirley for this deliciousness), fruit salad and last but not least...lemon blueberry cupcakes. YUMMO.

We ate, and enjoyed conversation.  Then went back outside to enjoy the day. The entire day was so wonderful.

But all things come to an end... Harvest. 2013.. yes we're right in the heat of it.
TJ was one of the first to leave but we really enjoyed spending our morning with him.
We have also really loved the times that we have gotten to ride in the tractor and see daddy over the last few days. Each one of the kids love it, they could all spend hours and hours with daddy or grandpa in the combine and tractors.
Even, Miss Gracie who got to have her first tractor ride today (at 4.5 months old). She giggled and smiled at daddy and watched everything going on but it wasn't long until that hum and steady bumpy ride from that big rig put her right to sleep. We watched the sun go down and what an incredible view from the tractor.

 

Helping Delaine for a little bit

Spending time with Grandma while Brayden got to ride with daddy

Gracie's first tractor ride!

She's loving it! So is her mommy and brother

future farm girl in the making!

unloading on the go :)

and the bumpiness and constant hum put her right to sleep shortly after we got in

didn't take her long to be a daddy's girl

 
Praise God for his great blessings and a wonderful, wonderful weekend.