Life Update

So I am 25 weeks now and I'm starting to have a small bout of nesting. I'm trying to get things done around the house. It is small short bursts of work, but it's something. Right?

So far we have had a ceiling panel replaced from when our ceiling leaked a few months ago. Our AC unit was working overtime in this Texas heat and started to sweat so much it caused our living room ceiling to buckle and dip and become discolored. Our wonderful friends from Forerunner Home Improvement came out and took care of us. We painted the ceiling after it was all said and done and our living room, breakfast room, and kitchen have never looked better. Who knew just a coat of paint on the ceiling would do so much?

A sweet friend of ours came out and painted Zoe's room for us. Trim and doors still need to be done. My husband and I are working on painting the changing table right now too. Things are slowly coming together.

I started a new project. My husband and I take out allowance each week to save money. We haven't done it in a while, but we started it back up recently to help pinch the pennies. So I am spending my allowance on new interior doors for the house. I'm tired of the 70's doors that are beat up and flat. I love the beveled doors so I went out and purchased the first one today. It will go in the foyer of our home. So exciting! I guess you know your an adult when you get excited over home improvement projects and new appliances, lol.

The only draw back to this project is the fact that I have to get the workers at Lowe's to load up the door and all that jazz. But when I get home, I have to figure out a way to get it in doors. It is slightly over my weight lifting limit for a 25 week pregnant lady. The hubster has been working a lot so I guess it will have to stay in the car until he gets out of work.

Another thing we are saving up for which needs to happen somewhat soon is taking care of the hubster's car. It has been acting shady for a while now and we really need to get it looked at. We should be able to take it in soon. Praise the Lord for that!

Some of these projects we want done before November 6th because it is my baby shower and we are having it at my house. One project that has been on our radar, but probably won't happen until mid November early December: Replacing our back fence that fell over on our gas line last March. It will happen. I know it will, we just have to get a few other things out of the way first.

Other than the chaos of preparing our house and life for a baby, things are just exciting. We can't wait to see things progress over the next few months. We are so blessed to have the things we do and to be able to prepare for the things we will. God is so good to us!

Another thing on my personal wishlist, that I have pined for for over a year: A Canon EOS Rebel T1i Digital SLR Kit with EF-S 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens (15.1 MP). Yes I'm that specific. This of course is not a necessity, but man I have had my eye on that camera for a long time. I guess the longer you wait for something the more satisfying it is when you actually get it. Kind of like a baby... ;)

Overcoming Perfection, Day 14: The End

Well this is the end of the Overcoming Perfection Series. What have I learned? Not to sweat it. Not to worry if my blog posts are too short, too long, not insightful enough, not funny enough, not good enough. I can blog about what I'm going through and not fear rebuke.

At the end of the day all I can be is me. That's what I want this blog to reflect, the journey I am on with the Lord and the everyday victories, however tiny they may be.

God has me in a special place right now and I pray He keeps me going down this deepening path. I want to be able to share it as well. Part of that is writing it out here. But to do that I need to conquer the perfectionist spirit and cast it out.

The past two weeks have been truly freeing. I'm not 100% there and I know I will touch on this subject in the future, but I have gained a measure of victory and I am truly thankful.

Overcoming Perfection, Day 13

I was out of town yesterday on some family business. It was fun and all, but I have some major major allergies when I go to visit them. They live in the Brazos Valley and I go into sneezing fits like you have never seen when I enter the valley. Oh well. All in all it was great to see everyone. I'm going to go take a nap then I will be back on later to discuss the wrap up of the Overcoming Perfection Series.

Overcoming Perfection, Day 12 (Baby Update)

Baby Zoe at 19 weeks

Zoe Noel is doing really well. She is active and super cute! I know even before I meet her that she is super cute.

I am so blessed to have such an amazing God who would trust us with this precious cargo. I can't wait to meet her in January. My heart is so full!!!

It has not been the most perfect pregnancy (notice how God is dealing with me on perfection even in this avenue, lol). I have had to fight fear with everything I have. I don't want satan to get a foothold into my spirit or my baby's spirit.

I had morning sickness up until about 22 weeks, that affected me a good portion of my days. I have had random bouts of it and I am now 24 weeks. I have had so many more issues but I won't share because it may be TMI.

None of it has been the beautiful easy pregnancies you see some of your friends going through, but every second is worth it! Absolutely worth it! Just to feel her little kicks or wiggles, makes my heart smile and I can't help but thank God. I thank Him every day for this miracle!

Overcoming Perfection, Day 11 (or should I say post 11)

I did not get around to writing my blog post yesterday because of being busy at work and then going straight to church. This is yet another example of why I can't sweat it. Yesterday was not the perfect day and I did not have the time. So it's good enough.

I have been dealing with alot of imperfect situations lately. Having disagreements with people I love the most. Friendships and relationships tested by hard times.

I would love to act like the woman who has it all together, but sadly I'm not. I think when you show your vulnerable, less shiny, somewhat crazyness to the world. It opens a door to showing others it's ok to not be perfect as well.

I would like some prayer. So if any of you are praying folks, please pray for these times of testing the Lord has me in. I'm praying for the refining fire of the Holy Spirit to come and change my heart.

Overcoming Perfection, Day 10

This song really spoke to me today as I drove home from a hard day at work. Thank You God for revelation and for speaking to me so sweetly.

Overcoming Perfection, Day 9

This is a quick one. Happy Anniversary to the best husband in the whole world!!! We are married 3 years today. God is so good to me to give me such a great guy!

Overcoming Perfection, Day 8

My heart is broken today. My heart is broken for the broken families out there. The families torn apart by divorce.

My husband told me something a little bit ago that brought tears to my eyes. On facebook, he is a fan of a local Christian radio station and they posted on their page "Crazy Monday for you too?" One man replied that his wife divorced him today, but that God is in control.

Amen for that man's faith, but it's almost as if I can feel the hurting of the families torn apart by satan's deceptions. I feel as though I can feel the Lord's heart break for these families He knit together being ripped apart.

My husband and I both are from families of divorce. Both our mothers married again and we love our step parents, but neither of us know our biological fathers on any real basis. He has met his father face to face, but the last time he saw him, my husband was still a small child.

I have never met my father. They divorced when I was 6 months old. And for a long time I felt like a gap was missing and that meeting my father would fill that. It was only after I met Jesus that I truly understood a father's love. Now my need isn't to fill that gap, it's to help pray for and minister to families who are contemplating divorce.

I did come in contact with my biological Grandmother a few years ago and that was enough of a pursuit for me. I talked to her twice, but felt as if that's where the relationship was to end.

I have known many a family member or friend that went through a divorce and I have seen what has done to the family. How the children react, how the spouses seethe anger, bitterness, resentment, etc.

It wasn't until after I was married and came to know Christ did I have a revelation of the Father's heart about marriage. His will is for people to stay together, but our free will sometimes prevents that from happening.

I know there are tough situations such as infidelity, abuse, etc. I know that also is not God's will that those things happen in marriage. Yet again that's where our free will comes in.

Today I am praying and interceeding for the hurt and broken. The children who are questioning why? Was it my fault? The men and women lost and alone. Father God return their hearts to You. Heal them of their pain. Set the captives free, God. You and You alone can do this.

Overcoming Perfection, Day 7

Quick baby update: Zoe likes hot chocolate. I know its the sugar. It gets her all riled up and wiggling about. And you may be wondering why I am drinking a hot beverage when it feels like 110 degrees out in the Houston area. Simple, the heat helps clear my sinuses. Still trying to shake this sinus infection.

Ok, so I have been holding onto this one for awhile. I am a perfectionist with God. Not that I doubt that He is perfect or anything. I just feel like I'm not perfect enough to spend time with Him or that I may not be in the perfect mindset, etc.

When I put it out there, it seems so silly to me. Why wouldn't I come to Him when I am angry, lost, confused, etc? Those are the times when I need him most. The perfectionist spirit lies though and says God won't accept me until I'm pure and white as snow. Which is NOT TRUE! In any form. God takes who we are now and transforms us over time from a piece of charcoal to a diamond.

I'm nowhere near a diamond. I'm definitely still in the piece of coal stage. And probably will be for a long time. But I just need to come to Him and lay it at His feet and let Him change my heart and mind. I can't do it and then come to Him afterwards. God would be waiting for me for eternity.

I am resolving to spend time each day, in any measure or mood. I want to be with Him always, but I need to get rid of this stinking thinking and this oppressive spirit.

Overcoming Perfectoin, Day 6: Never forget

It is hard to forget a day like 9/11/2001. It will be forever etched in our memories. The photos, the video footage, the sounds and screams. It's so vivid.

I'm personally glad that we can remember such a tragedy and carry it with us. Mostly because it means we are not dead inside. The world has been desensitized to so many things, but this is one of our last remaining moments that make us truly feel.

Passions are stirred when we hear of protesting because of 9/11. I know mine was. I felt the indignation of a mosque being built near Ground Zero. I felt extreme sadness when I heard of a pastor, a Christian, wanting to burn the Quaron.

Both of these issues really touched me deeply. I do not agree with a mosque being built so close to Ground Zero. I do feel it is a slap in the face to the survivors and it shows our ignorance of what the Muslim world is capable of. When they conquer a land, they build a mosque there. Do we not see a connection here? If they want to build one, build it somewhere else. This is too solemn of a place to build near.

Then there is the pastor who retaliated by wanting to burn Quarons as a form of protest. How ridiculous! There are so many facets to this lack of logic that just baffles me. First of all: How are you showing God's love by performing a blatantly hateful act? If anyone feels this man is justified in his hatred, they obviously do not know the Father's heart. He loves us all. This does not mean He does not hate sin or idolatry. He absolutely does, but He does not want us going around spewing hate for hates sake.

Secondly, the point was brought up that our own military burned Bible's last year in Afghanistan. Muslims always burn our flag or Bibles as well. So why can't we do it? I will tell you why we can't "return the favor". Because vengeance is not ours. It is the Lord's. He says so specifically many times in the Bible. Do not repay evil for evil. God will take His vengeance in His time and in His way. Who are we to circumvent His will? This would just put us at their level. We are called to be more than that. We have a higher purpose and by doing these things we would be grieving God's heart.

Thirdly, an act of this magnitude is endangering people all over the world. By Muslim law, every American and Christian would have a target on their back. They would kill anyone remotely associated with our country and religion because of their belief that they have a duty to kill any of us on sight.

I am glad to hear that the Florida pastor changed his mind, but sadly there are still people planning on going through with the plan. I hope the Lord reaches out to them and opens their eyes and ears. I pray that they can turn back from this hatred and focus on Jesus, the true Prince of Peace.

And just to clarify, I do not agree with the Islamic faith. I do not think that they are a people of peace. I believe they are misguided by Satan. But I love them. Because Jesus loves them. We are to be the light of the world and are to teach others about Christ. What better way to do it than to tell the lost how much they are loved?

Ok, I'm off my soap box. Had to get that off my chest.

Overcoming Perfection, Day 5

Hello again.

I have been on the hunt for fabric for Zoe's quilt, crib skirt, and curtains. I have had the hardest time in the world to find anything that ties in these colors: lime green, lilac purple, light turquiose, and a soft lemon yellow. If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know. I'm ready to pull my hair out! It doesn't have to be perfect, but I'm hoping I don't have to change the color scheme.

I have grand plans for the weekend. A friend is coming over to paint the nursery while I clean/work on projects. If it doesn't all get done, then it doesn't, but I will be happy with any progress made.

Hope you are all blessed and that you have a blessed weekend.

Overcoming Perfection, Day 4

Hoooray! Lots to celebrate today. Feeling a little better now that I'm on the mend!

First off, Happy New Year everyone. Rosh Hashanah is today and it starts the Jewish new year. Hooray for what the Lord will do in this upcoming year. I am praying blessing on each and everyone of you as we enter a new year of the Lord.

Secondly, I have windshield wipers again! Ok, some back story might be helpful. About two weeks ago, my wiper motor went out on my car and we just got it fixed tonight. Which I am so thankful to the Lord for providing the way and the means. Driving in the first part of rainy season in Texas plus Tropical Storm Hermine coming through and dousing us was a little unsafe.

Thirdly: We have had a series of things happen to our cars and house that have had to be fixed. It has been stressful, but God is good and He helped us through it all. Our ceiling in our living room leaked and warped some of the drywall. We got that replaced two weeks ago and the hubster finished painting two nights ago. YAY for progress! We just need a new back fence and baseboards in certain parts of the house and we will be in business, lol.

Fourthly: I love feeling my baby move. I don't think I updated to spread the news. We are having a girl and her name is Zoe. She has been super active today. It's such a reassuring, joyful feeling! Thank You, Jesus for Your protection over this sweet little one.

Ok, so I think that's about it for today.

Overcoming Perfection, Day 3

Hello again. So I found out why I had such a terrible migraine. I have a pretty nasty sinus infection. No fun! Oh well I was prescribed a baby safe antibiotic and should be on the road to recovery very soon.

I'm about to call it quits at work for the day. So I will head home, have something warm and easy to eat (my left side of my face is a little swollen) and spend some time with the Greatest Healer, Jesus.

Overcoming Perfection, Day 2

Definitely not a perfect day. This post is short. I have a migraine and am struggling through work. Hopefully I can cut out early to make my way home and lay down. So here is my post, and it's good enough.

Overcoming Perfection Series, Day 1

Hello all. As promised (go here for details) I am writing a blog entry everyday for the next two weeks.

One of the things I have slacked on in my life because of the spirit of perfection is my business/crafting. This past weekend motivated by the Simple Mom blog (also see previous post), I set aside 30 minutes at a time to accomplish the pile of sewing and craft projects that have been taking up space in my craft room. I was waiting for the "perfect" day to sit down and knock them all out at once. Well of course I would be waiting forever if I kept on that trend.

I have made a few of these:

And I have made this for my nephew Tyler:

Both of these items will be on sale on my facebook profile. My sis-in-law and I decided to join forces in order to support each other. If you are interested check out Lesley N' Allie on Facebook. Our official business name is Aley Creations.

The Spirit of Perfectionism

So I haven't written in awhile. I have had plenty to write about. Baby updates, revelations for the Lord, things I'm passionate about, things I'm grateful for... The thing that has stopped me from writing all of these things is perfectionism.

I read a blog post from Simple Mom titled "Perfection: the thief of Good Enough". It really hit home. I have been told I have this spirit on me for a long while now. I didn't really want to do anything about it, but this blog really convicted me.

My house is a wreck most days. I let projects pile up and pile up till it becomes so overwhelming I'm discouraged to even touch them. I'm disorganized and out of sorts (some due to pregnancy brain but some not).

When I read through some of the examples I was shocked to say that each one was me. "Because you don’t have the time or energy to scrub the kitchen counters to a spit shine, you’ll just let the day’s dishes pile up." That's just one of many.

I always wait for the "perfect" time, mood, energy level, motivation, etc before I can tackle anything. I have had great and wonderful things to share on this blog, but I haven't because the ideas or thoughts weren't perfect enough or I didn't have the time. How sad that I can let one thing take over so much.

I'm ready to say no more! I'm ready to kick this spirit to the curb! I want to be happy with good enough. Even if that means, one room or even corner of a room gets clean that day. At least it was something. At least I can look back and say "I just got the dishes in the dishwasher and that's good enough." '

I'm challenging myself to write a blog post everyday for the next two weeks. Even if it's just a picture or a sentence, it will be good enough.

This of course is going to be a series of changes that I will write about. Let's just say it's my Overcoming Perfection Series.