Reflections...

Wow, what a week this has been for me mentally. I have done a lot of soul searching and reflection the last couple of weeks. 

Let's start with my first realization.  After Justin left for basic training I was realizing a lot about our relationship and making a lot of resolutions for change there. However, I realized I wasn't taking the time to draw closer to God. I was so consumed with thoughts of Justin and wanting to be a better wife for him that I was kind of ignoring my relationship with God in a sense. It wasn't until I was reading a chapter out of a marriage devotional book that I realized the only way I could truly work on my love and passion for Justin was to work on my love and passion for God.  I've allowed other things to get in the way of that.  So I have been working on being a loving and compassionate woman for God instead of just my husband.  I am noticing that if it is for God, that love overflows into all other areas of my life!

My next realization: Venting, fuming, passionate aggravation. Whatever you want to call it. I get annoyed with something, whatever it is, and start going off on a tangent about it. Whether it is a utility company screwing up my bill AGAIN, someone not doing their job, some rude comment someone made, freaking out over something I have to accomplish on my own. I work myself up into such a frenzy instead of just praying about it. How is anyone supposed to see peace in me if I live my life on this high level of stress all the time? My new motto is "Vent Less, Pray More!".  Why don't I just pray before calling AT&T for the trillionth time this month...God could already be solving the problem before I pick up the phone! Instead I am already on edge before I even make the call!  I know some of you are probably thinking...why pray over something like a utility bill. Alas, you all do NOT know my past problems with CERTAIN utility companies!  One call to them can ruin my WHOLE day!  But why do I allow them that kind of control over my life!? Why don't I ask God to keep me calm before dealing with them? I treat Him as though I can only go to Him for the very BIG problems.  My life would be so much more peaceful and stress free if I would go to him for the little things too!  So, here is to "Vent Less, Pray More"!

Third Realization: A Change in My Focus & Attitude. I'm amazed at how much my attitude and focus has changed with my new resolutions. Even in these few short weeks I can see a difference! Verses are popping into my head at the most random times! I will mentally be stressing about something and then suddenly am mentally reciting a verse or song that I heard earlier that week that pertains directly to what I was stressing about!  I don't even realize I am doing it at first! Times where my first thought would be to vent or stress, I am instead praying about it first without even thinking of venting!  God is definitely helping me to turn this self reflection time into prayer time!

I pray you have a peace filled weekend!

~ Elle

Decision Making Thoughts

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness: and all these things shall be added unto you."    Matthew 6:33

Why is it so hard for me to put this into practice? It isn't that I intentionally ignore it, but I allow myself to get caught up with everything going on in my life. I get stressed out and overwhelmed by all the decisions I have to make that I forget to continually pray about it and ask for God's help.

You think that would be the first thing I would always do since when I do make the effort He always guides me, and gives me a peace towards the right decision! It is amazing how I can feel so lost as to what to do one moment, and so at peace the next. God has an interesting way of working things out, and getting you to trust Him!

 I am going to have to say goodbye for a little while...

For example, my husband informed me he wanted to join the Army Reserves back in September.  I was caught off guard and annoyed that he was bringing it up again. (He has wanted to join since before we met.)  I was really frustrated and tired of people asking me how I felt when he had barely given me any serious info on it. I was angry that he could just leave me behind to do this. I was angry that he was telling other people he was serious about this when we had barely talked about it.  We had a long talk about how serious he was about joining, and that I needed him to be upfront with me and not keep information from me if he seriously wanted me to consider it. After that I prayed long and hard about it. I prayed that if it was God's will that He give me a peace and help me through this, and that if it wasn't his will that Justin quickly forget about this and move on.  A couple of days later Justin called me at work to give me some more info, and I just knew.  I knew he would be joining. I knew he needed to do this, and I knew he needed my support...and oddly enough...

I was totally at peace about it. 

So much so that it was nothing short of a miracle! My attitude toward the whole thing had done a 180 in a matter of days!  I can't even explain the peace I felt...it wasn't natural!

I've been called to stand by my man and support him in his calling.

Another example.  We didn't think we would be able to buy a house yet due to the fact my husband had moved to sales in his company and was now making commission (you have to have 2 years history for them to use commission). So now he was going to be leaving me for 6 months to go to basic training and we rent in a not-so-great neighborhood. (We have been vandalized, broken into by a someone on meth, and Justin had to shoot the intruder!) Live there by myself for 6 months?  

I don't think so! 

Lenders told us they wouldn't be able to approve us enough for a decent neighborhood. Long story short, we found a wonderful lender who everyone was telling me not to trust, and that we wouldn't get the loan, but the whole time I had an odd peace and instinct telling me to trust him. We found a house in a good neighborhood! The seller agreed to pretty much everything we asked! And now my sister, Jenn, from Contemporary Harbor, is moving down here and will be staying with us till they sell their house! So I won't be alone while Justin is gone!  It's amazing how things work out!

 This is what Jenn & I will be doing at the new house come spring! Can't wait for my sis to get here so we can hang out! It will be like old times! (Probably both the good and bad!) Love ya Jenn!

I'm so glad things don't always work out the way I plan or 'think' I want them to! Otherwise I would miss all these wonderful blessings God gives! I may not be rich, with all the nicest clothes, driving fabulous cars, but I have a husband who is wonderful to me, a roof over my head, food on my table, a family who loves me,  and a God who somehow works out every little detail for me!  

Trust me I am blessed!

I hope you have a blessed week!

Barefoot And Beautiful

 

For those of you who are currently reading my blogs, I wanted to give you a heads up that I am changing things around here!  I've decided to give my blog a little face lift!  I wanted something that represents me and my personality.  I felt 'Barefoot And Beautiful' described my laid back, fun loving personality.  I also love being barefoot!  If shoes are not required, then I am not wearing them! I prefer weather where it is possible to always be barefoot!
The 'Beautiful' part of it reflects the beauty I strive for.  I seek to start each day with my Lord so that He can make me a more beautiful person inside.  I believe internal beauty is far more important than external beauty.  It can far outshine it, and draws others to you.  I believe it is God who makes us truly beautiful on the inside.
However, I do also enjoy externally beautiful things!  I love seeing the beauty in nature and in the things around me.  I love clothes, jewelry, makeup!  I don't think it is wrong to be drawn to those things. Why else would God have made flowers so brilliant in color, the sky so blue, the ocean so beautiful to watch?  We are naturally drawn to outward beauty.  I want to use this blog to share things that I find beautiful with others. I hope you enjoy!

~Elle