Saint Patrick.

Happy St. Patrick's day everybody! I felt the urge to re-learn today what it was he is so famous for. After a bit of research I am extremely excited that we celebrate this day! I'm sure everybody knows, but he was a Christian who was captured (as a slave) from the Irish and taken from Wales to Ireland. After six years he escaped and went back home to his family in Wales. AFTER being so abused by the Irish in how they treated him, Patrick soon went back as a missionary. Wow what an incredible man! There's so much more to his story and I can't wait to read up on it more later!

I was reflecting on my last year's St. Patrick's day in Kona. Andy Byrd gave a message on Saint Patrick and how revolutionary he was. I was simply reminded this morning that this day is not about drinking, about wearing green or about pinching each other or any of the other commercialized ways of distorting his story, but it's about a man who sacrificed his life for the name of Christ! How inspiring!!

Clean Heart v. Clean Shirt

I don't know if anyone else has this problem or not, but it's something that's been coming to my attention a lot lately. I get so caught up Sunday mornings getting ready and stressing out about how much time I have left before I need to leave for church. Yet the Lord reminds me every time that it's not about that. It's not about looking great for others to see, but about preparing my heart for an encounter with Him. A high school leader of mine one time said, "I think God prefers a clean heart over a clean shirt." It's true. So why, time after time, am I concerned about who will be at church to visit with, or how good my makeup looks?

Another time I was in such a hurry to make it to church on time that I was so focused on the road and the person driving in front of me. Soon the Lord reminded me to stop and look up at the blue skies, white clouds and beautiful green trees that He created for our enjoyment. I feel like He told me "why are you in such a hurry to make it on time, that you're stressing, and not even remembering that I am with you right now." Basically that I can be in fellowship with Him and I don't need to wait until I get to the church building. That's just something I've been thinking a lot about. Bless you!

Why not write a post about this crap?!

I love my best friend, that's all there is to it.


Also, check out the darling lingerie shower invitations Amy and I made last night! They're little corsets, or bustiers. I'm not really sure what the difference is. But they're all different colors and I am so proud, not gonna lie! What do you think?! We ended up making a whopping 44 last night. Fun stuff!

How on earth...

can I plan my career on being at many, many births when I cannot even make it through an episode of "A Baby Story" without bawling my eyes out?! I just watched a really good one with a Christian couple, the father was a pastor and the mother led Bible studies etc. and they just kept praying blessings over her tummy, then over her baby and toddler once he was born. It was so precious and I could NOT stop crying. So silly. I got the answer I was hoping for when I texted Esther (the midwife who inspired me to look into this field). She reassured me, "The best Doulas are the emotional ones that cry at every birth." DING DING that's me!!!

I do love it.

P.S. I want some comments on my other new posts, people!! :-) hehe.

My 5K!

Last Saturday (March 7) I ran a little 5k race with my dad and niece Meighan, up in Lacey, WA. The race was called "Run for Luck" so the theme was St. Patricks Day. Hence ALL the green! It really was a blast, and would've been more fun *if* I had trained... and I wasn't sick. But besides that, it was beautiful weather and we had a great time bonding as a family. Here's some photos :-)

Getting excited. (Or praying I make it through?!)



"And GO!"



Meighan was with us the entire race until the very end when she told us "Guys, I just have to beat the guy with the lucky charms pants!" Here's proof ;)



I actually finished!!!



The Green Couple, they won for the best costume!



I'm lookin rough. Mind you, I woke up at 4am to get up there PLUS I had a cold. OH and no make up.



She won a bag from the raffle.



"Dad, do your running pose..."

Will it work?

Marshall Adventures!

I just got home from babysitting Mr. Marshall Porter and we had A BLAST. I think about 80% of our time together was us cracking up at each other! I realized after a while that I had my camera with me so I decided to snap a few photos.. he's such a cheese ball. I recorded 2 videos too, but I'm not sure how to upload it. :( I'll try though.





Chris- he found your water glass and thought it was the greatest thing ever so I fed his amusement by putting little sips of water from his sippy into your glass and he couldn't stop laughing. I loved it!

A little bit deeper...

I have some more thoughts! But it's on quite a different topic from the last post, so why not post another?!
Yesterday I went out to coffee with my prayer warrior friend, Steph. I have had the Salem House of Prayer on my heart since before I left Kona, but hadn't had a chance to find it yet. So after coffee, she showed me where it is located and we decided to pray there for each other (which is how we end every meeting together).
Once I walked into the House of Prayer I was extremely overwhelmed by the Presence of God. I got weak in the knees and my eyes welled up with tears, which I tried to fight for a while. The thing I love about the prophetic prayer movement these days, is the biblical vision of 24 hour worship and intercession, which is the S.H.O.P.'s vision. I haven't felt the Presence of God in such a powerful way for a few months. The reason it hit me so hard there, I believe, is because His Presence is invited in that place all day, everyday by watchmen after His heart. It is basically a prayer room the size of a department store, with people alternating leading worship sets. I see myself spending many, many hours on end there, now that I know where it is. If you're interested in an encounter with God, or even a peaceful place to dwell in His Presence, (and live in Salem) I recommend checking it out!!

www.salemhouseofprayer.org

Loving my life.

I am doing what I love. At least, I'm on the road towards doing something I love a lot: the art of being a Doula. Today I met with my first client, a precious young lady who is 30 weeks preggo. I have been on a high all day after hanging out with her only for about half an hour. I am so blessed to pursue a career that I really believe I will be good at, even gifted at. What it comes down to, as a Doula, is nurturing the nurturer (mother), in a very important stage of life, bringing her own child into the world. How incredible!! Ah I love it, and am feeling quite blessed.

Another thing I love is event planning. I'm new at it, but really love being a part of the nitty gritty bits of planning parties, especially weddings. Another huge and exciting turning point in a person's life. After meeting with my client, and being high on that, I hung out with my BFF Tara and her mom (my second mom) Beth, decoration shopping. God has definitely had His hand in this wedding thus far and it is so incredible to see fall into place. He has hooked us (Tara and Grae) up with so many connections and creative / inexpensive ideas. I won't mention any until after the wedding cause it's going to be a surprise :-)

Time for dinner with my momma. I love my life and I probably love yours too :-)