I am NOT a morning person (nor am I a writer/blogger... End disclaimer). The only piece of advice that my father gave to my husband on our wedding day 3 years ago was 'don't talk to her before noon'. I need time to open my eyes, I need time to move my body, and now that I have babies, I usually need time to reflect on the sleep-less night I may have just had.
Since turning 30 last month, I've had a few weeks of reflection-time, with most of it coming to a peak these past few days. Since Relate Women last week, where Pastor Helen asked a few women in my world when their 'awake' moments were, I have been asking God IF and WHEN I have been asleep, and it didn't take long to hear the answer.
My husband and I have been on an interesting journey for the last 2 years (2 of our 3 short, naive years of marriage might I add!). We became parents, took over an entire extension service at our church (while running a completely separate youth ministry), I went on mat leave (which meant being off work for the first time in 12ish years), found out we were going to be parents AGAIN, officially became ordained as Pastors, had another shift in ministry recently, and dealt with a slew of personal battles within ourselves AND our marriage (as you do in these early years!).
I discovered quickly that through these events, I chose to go 'to bed'. After all, my bed is in fact the warmest, comfiest place in my home. I chose to put to sleep my own dreams, to ignore what I felt God was putting on my heart to do, and to spiritually, GO TO SLEEP.
While I 'slept', I feel as though I had SOME things right: my posture was right- I was lying on my back at times (with my head towards heaven and never lost sight of Jesus), My back was never turned to my husband... I like to lay on my right at times and him on his left. My atmosphere was right- I was HOME afterall. I never left. But I was still sleeping.
What I felt God also whisper to me this last week is that again, I'm 'not a morning person'- it takes me a while to WAKE UP. If I wake up too quickly, I get so disoriented that I tend to make no sense in speech and action, which makes me want to just GO BACK TO SLEEP. If we do not learn the purpose of our bedtimes and sleep stages, then we will fall back to sleep all the faster.
I tend to be one of those women who ask a lot of questions, especially when God is doing something in my heart- the first seems to always be 'WHY?'. So I began to ask God- 'why was I asleep?' ...'what was the purpose of me BEING asleep?'. To which God replied with a loud, booming Psalm 121 (the Message Translation):
"(A Pilgrim Song)
I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. He won't let you stumble, your Guardian GOD WON'T FALL ASLEEP. Not on your life! Israel's Guardian will never doze or sleep. God's your Guardian, right at your side to protect you- Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke. God guards you from every evil, He guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, He guards you now, He guards you always."
HE never sleeps, therefore even when WE sleep, He continues to do a good work in us... He guards us when we sleep!
My first child was a beautiful big baby boy and if you've had the privilege of meeting him, you know he's basically my twin. That's why when we found out I was pregnant with a girl, I assumed she would look even MORE like me, and to my surprise, she is a replica of my husband to a tee. As a mother, I felt a little ripped off about this, until last week. Spending time in prayer about this whole 'awake' thing, June was fast asleep in her stroller as we walked and as I looked down at her, I thought to myself 'there I am! I see myself in her when she sleeps!' I was so excited I could finally see a resemblance. That's again, when I quickly heard a whisper from heaven saying 'its the same thing with you and Me- I see Myself in you when you sleep'. He is at work in us in ALL seasons.... God wastes NOTHING.
Now to ACTUALLY wake up. I'm glad our Heavenly Father has grace for us in ALL seasons of our lives. He is stirring all the dreams and purposes and callings in my heart fervently in this 'waking up' stage. I can feel it. There is so much more to it than I can see or perceive.
The biggest thing is that it's NOT about me- its not really about me sleeping or me waking up, or even about my talent or my lack, but more so about what I, as a servant of Jesus Christ, am waking up TO, and WHO I am waking up FOR. There is a multitude of young women (for me in particular), that need me, out of bed, with my boots on, ready to go at er'.
It's a journey. My eyes are open, I have heard my 'children in their beds', calling my name to come and get them. Now to put my feet on the floor...
To view more blogs on this subject, please visit shelovesmagazine.com
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
When I grow up, I STILL wanna be like my mom.
When I grow up, I wanna be like my mom.
Greetings friends and family from the land of 2 babies and their very happy-loving-life parents!
I realize that I have not posted since the birth of my baby girl, and though I had a post ready to go all about our birth story, and how lovely miss June is, I felt it more fitting for this first post-baby-number-2-'post' to be a sort of 'tribute' (for lack of a better term!) to MY mother.
She has now been back in Winnipeg for 4 days after being with us for about 4 weeks and we all, deeply, massively, miss her.
Just as I have posted on Facebook/twitter several times, there's a story in Matthew 25 (the parable of the talents) in which Jesus tells of a traveling man, with servants in which he entrusted 'goods' to. Many people reference this story, describing that this will be Jesus' reaction to us when we arrive in Heaven saying 'well done, good and faithful servant.... Go now and enter into the joy of the Lord'. I have referenced this in regards to my mother, saying that I'm pretty sure Jesus will alter his words when my mom gets there in 60 years (she's gonna live to 118, that way i'll be 90!), saying something like this:
'Very very well done, good and faithful and extravagant and selfless and tireless and passionate and unconditional and loving and trustworthy and joyful and patient and exemplary and ETC ETC ETC.
Servant.... You have been EXCEEDINGLY faithful with those I have entrusted to you... Now go and party in the joy of the Lord!'
You see, my mom, is literally the best woman on the planet. If I can even come CLOSE to how great of a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, co-worker and Grandma that she is, then I'll do a great job at life. It's because I have discovered that my mom gets it- she gets that one of the best parts of life, is to serve.
If you've ever had the privilege of being near my parents house during the Christmas season, you know that there can be 15+ people (at all times- at times more, which includes 7 kids... Now will be 8), numerous dogs, extra friends, all which will be greeted with a smile, given a cold drink, and fed copious amounts of food, all of which is done in an environment of a freshly vacuumed, peaceful home.
Then you would also catch a glimpse of the woman responsible for all that awesomeness, getting her hair and makeup done by a 3 year old, or painting or doing play dough with a 6 yr old, or tending to her spring seedlings with a 10 year old.
She also stands beside the most amazing Grandpa and handy-man as her husband and as the saying goes (I know my father attests to this!)- beside every good man is a good woman.
If the world were to take my mother's lead when it comes to her servant's heart, I truly believe people would encounter the love of Christ (as many have through her!), cause that is the fuel in all that she does. A woman after God's own heart. She creates HOME- a place for family AND friends to come and feel AT HOME. That's the greatest gift I have ever been given.
Mom, since I know you will be one of the first to read this, 'THANK YOU' doesn't quite cut it. The best, most extravagant gift, doesn't quite cut it. The longest hug, the fanciest jewelry (ha! Only my mom will get that!), the finest prepared meal by chef Koby... Nothing quite does it to express my deepest gratitude for you. You are one of the very few people who I can truly be myself around- the good, the bad, the pretty and the ugly! You have captured my children's hearts and have given my husband a glimpse of what I CAN become when I'm a Grandma. Thank you for the diapers :) and for the left over pistachios, and the olive oil soap. You are one of the RICHEST parts of my life.
I've said it before and I'll say it again- if nothing else, I am so blessed that God chose ME to be YOUR daughter.
I love you Pat. Mama. Mah. Ga-Ga. WE love you.
The 4 J's
Xoxo
Greetings friends and family from the land of 2 babies and their very happy-loving-life parents!
I realize that I have not posted since the birth of my baby girl, and though I had a post ready to go all about our birth story, and how lovely miss June is, I felt it more fitting for this first post-baby-number-2-'post' to be a sort of 'tribute' (for lack of a better term!) to MY mother.
She has now been back in Winnipeg for 4 days after being with us for about 4 weeks and we all, deeply, massively, miss her.
Just as I have posted on Facebook/twitter several times, there's a story in Matthew 25 (the parable of the talents) in which Jesus tells of a traveling man, with servants in which he entrusted 'goods' to. Many people reference this story, describing that this will be Jesus' reaction to us when we arrive in Heaven saying 'well done, good and faithful servant.... Go now and enter into the joy of the Lord'. I have referenced this in regards to my mother, saying that I'm pretty sure Jesus will alter his words when my mom gets there in 60 years (she's gonna live to 118, that way i'll be 90!), saying something like this:
'Very very well done, good and faithful and extravagant and selfless and tireless and passionate and unconditional and loving and trustworthy and joyful and patient and exemplary and ETC ETC ETC.
Servant.... You have been EXCEEDINGLY faithful with those I have entrusted to you... Now go and party in the joy of the Lord!'
You see, my mom, is literally the best woman on the planet. If I can even come CLOSE to how great of a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, co-worker and Grandma that she is, then I'll do a great job at life. It's because I have discovered that my mom gets it- she gets that one of the best parts of life, is to serve.
If you've ever had the privilege of being near my parents house during the Christmas season, you know that there can be 15+ people (at all times- at times more, which includes 7 kids... Now will be 8), numerous dogs, extra friends, all which will be greeted with a smile, given a cold drink, and fed copious amounts of food, all of which is done in an environment of a freshly vacuumed, peaceful home.
Then you would also catch a glimpse of the woman responsible for all that awesomeness, getting her hair and makeup done by a 3 year old, or painting or doing play dough with a 6 yr old, or tending to her spring seedlings with a 10 year old.
She also stands beside the most amazing Grandpa and handy-man as her husband and as the saying goes (I know my father attests to this!)- beside every good man is a good woman.
If the world were to take my mother's lead when it comes to her servant's heart, I truly believe people would encounter the love of Christ (as many have through her!), cause that is the fuel in all that she does. A woman after God's own heart. She creates HOME- a place for family AND friends to come and feel AT HOME. That's the greatest gift I have ever been given.
Mom, since I know you will be one of the first to read this, 'THANK YOU' doesn't quite cut it. The best, most extravagant gift, doesn't quite cut it. The longest hug, the fanciest jewelry (ha! Only my mom will get that!), the finest prepared meal by chef Koby... Nothing quite does it to express my deepest gratitude for you. You are one of the very few people who I can truly be myself around- the good, the bad, the pretty and the ugly! You have captured my children's hearts and have given my husband a glimpse of what I CAN become when I'm a Grandma. Thank you for the diapers :) and for the left over pistachios, and the olive oil soap. You are one of the RICHEST parts of my life.
I've said it before and I'll say it again- if nothing else, I am so blessed that God chose ME to be YOUR daughter.
I love you Pat. Mama. Mah. Ga-Ga. WE love you.
The 4 J's
Xoxo
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
May .... ???
Hello all!
We had a very important Dr's appointment today and found out the date that June will arrive (unless she decides to come earlier... which we HOPE she doesn't!).
Mama is so glad- she will be born 'sometime' during the week of May 7th... which means I can go to the LifeWomen Conference! Its the big she-bang my church throws every year that I am honored to get to be a part of so I REALLY wanted to be there and now I get to! If you want more info on it check us out here: www.lifewomen.com
YES, we know the exact date but just to keep some element of surprise, we are only telling immediate family :) Don't worry... you'll all find out soon enough!!!
I also wanted to post a link to this awesome contest I want to win... pray that I do!!! Would be the funnest little mother's day gift to me!!! http://mothersday.lisamariephotography.ca/#comment-211
Hope your Easter was amazing to you... remember- Jesus LOVES you. Madly. xo
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Ridiculously Thankful.
As I sit here this morning sipping my coffee as my son plays post-breakfast, I am feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards God for this life I get to live, and the need to share it.
Some would see the things I currently set my eyes on as 'small', 'insignificant' or 'not enough' but my heart right now feels like the richest woman on the planet.
After a busy weekend, I am thankful that my coffee tastes REALLY good this morning. I am thankful that my son plays well by himself so I can have a moment to sit and drink it. I'm thankful that my legs aren't shaved and my husband doesn't REALLY care. I'm thankful that my toes aren't perfectly pedicured- since I painted them myself at 30 weeks pregnant. I am thankful for shoes that gave me a massive blister on my foot which now dons a big honkin bandaid. I'm thankful for my messy kitchen that shows of a past celebration... The last of my first born's 1st birthday parties (yes, partIESsss). I'm thankful for the slew of toys that are currently a mess on my floor in front of me- that I might add, did NOT get put away last night. I'm thankful that it's Tuesday, we have no where to go, and we're both still in our PJ's, and plan on staying that way all day.
I'm thankful for my husband who woke me up this morning by the sound of his spoon clanking on the side of his cereal bowl- he was up early preparing to teach a bunch of interns at a local church... Whatta man. Thankful we got a date last night- and thankful it happened to be free 7th row tickets to the Canucks game- behind the box :)
Thankful that what is heavy on my heart this morning is a large chick party/gathering of sisters coming up in a couple of weeks at my home... Aka my church. Thankful that God has a plan for us girls for that weekend- that lives WILL be changed for eternity, that women will be healed, set free, made hopeful again. Thankful that I get to pray for them as they prepare to come. Thankful that I get to be a small part in God's story of this 'thing' called 'Canada'.
Thankful that I am pregnant. Thankful that it's a girl. Thankful that I am a WOMAN. Thankful that Jesus loves me, and I know it. Thankful for my family, of God and of earth. Thankful for the 'simpleness' of my life.
Thankful that what God has done in and for me, He can do for others. Thankful that what He has done for me and given me is not just 'for me'. Thankful that there is work to do in the Kingdom.
Thankful that my perspective is in the right place today.
Thankful. Period.
Some would see the things I currently set my eyes on as 'small', 'insignificant' or 'not enough' but my heart right now feels like the richest woman on the planet.
After a busy weekend, I am thankful that my coffee tastes REALLY good this morning. I am thankful that my son plays well by himself so I can have a moment to sit and drink it. I'm thankful that my legs aren't shaved and my husband doesn't REALLY care. I'm thankful that my toes aren't perfectly pedicured- since I painted them myself at 30 weeks pregnant. I am thankful for shoes that gave me a massive blister on my foot which now dons a big honkin bandaid. I'm thankful for my messy kitchen that shows of a past celebration... The last of my first born's 1st birthday parties (yes, partIESsss). I'm thankful for the slew of toys that are currently a mess on my floor in front of me- that I might add, did NOT get put away last night. I'm thankful that it's Tuesday, we have no where to go, and we're both still in our PJ's, and plan on staying that way all day.
I'm thankful for my husband who woke me up this morning by the sound of his spoon clanking on the side of his cereal bowl- he was up early preparing to teach a bunch of interns at a local church... Whatta man. Thankful we got a date last night- and thankful it happened to be free 7th row tickets to the Canucks game- behind the box :)
Thankful that what is heavy on my heart this morning is a large chick party/gathering of sisters coming up in a couple of weeks at my home... Aka my church. Thankful that God has a plan for us girls for that weekend- that lives WILL be changed for eternity, that women will be healed, set free, made hopeful again. Thankful that I get to pray for them as they prepare to come. Thankful that I get to be a small part in God's story of this 'thing' called 'Canada'.
Thankful that I am pregnant. Thankful that it's a girl. Thankful that I am a WOMAN. Thankful that Jesus loves me, and I know it. Thankful for my family, of God and of earth. Thankful for the 'simpleness' of my life.
Thankful that what God has done in and for me, He can do for others. Thankful that what He has done for me and given me is not just 'for me'. Thankful that there is work to do in the Kingdom.
Thankful that my perspective is in the right place today.
Thankful. Period.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Ultrasounds, ultrasounds, ultrasounds!!!!
Thankful for technology these days!
At my last ultrasound, we found out June is in exactly the same position as her big brother was- happily head up (in my left ribs) with bum down, one foot on my cervix (no comment), and the other way up in my right ribs... Little acrobat!
The BEST THING about all these ultrasounds is this: she is HEALTHY and GROWING WELL in the 51st percentile of size (as opposed to her brother who was in the 97th!). According to our Doctor, she 'still has time to flip to be head down, but it is doubtful because of the wall in my uterus. We have another ultrasound booked for 34 weeks (2 weeks from today), in which we will then make a decision for when we will be booked for our 2nd Hollywood birth. Swallow Jenna.
I attended this last ultrasound on my own, and when I got to my car, I burst into tears. Firstly, I am SO thankful that my baby girl is FINE and HEALTHY and that I really have nothing to complain about. Secondly, I was accepting the fact that I will most likely need another c-section, after hoping and believing God for another scenario. It's those moments when your faith is tested. Do you believe God just because He answers your prayers, the way YOU want Him to? Or do you press on and choose to trust Him, believe in Him, put your hope in HIM, no matter what the outcome? I obviously chose and CHOOSE everyday the latter! One of the best things about God is that He CARES for His kids... About the little things, AND the big things. A big part of me felt that I couldn't believe for a little dream of mine because after all, I would have a healthy baby. But again, I know my God cares for those little desires inside my heart... He was the one who put them there!
So many women around me are facing challenging situations when it comes to conception and birth and overall newborn health. I believe that the same God who got me pregnant so easily (when Dr's say I 'shouldn't have', and I also 'shouldn't be able to carry full term'), can do miracles for all my friends.
Koby and Jacob and I were recently at a conference and during a time of worship, I felt God whisper a challenge to me about standing and praying for women who 'cannot' conceive. Like I said, He is the same- yesterday, today and forever. What God has done in me, He can SO do in others.. And so much more too!!! I am excited to get to pray for my sisters, and carry those on my heart daily who need a miracle in their wombs!!!
So there is the update on the life and times of June :) looking very forward to her arrival... Hoping and praying we can be at the LifeWomen Conference in full pregnant form!!!
Love to you all,
Mama J
Xo
At my last ultrasound, we found out June is in exactly the same position as her big brother was- happily head up (in my left ribs) with bum down, one foot on my cervix (no comment), and the other way up in my right ribs... Little acrobat!
The BEST THING about all these ultrasounds is this: she is HEALTHY and GROWING WELL in the 51st percentile of size (as opposed to her brother who was in the 97th!). According to our Doctor, she 'still has time to flip to be head down, but it is doubtful because of the wall in my uterus. We have another ultrasound booked for 34 weeks (2 weeks from today), in which we will then make a decision for when we will be booked for our 2nd Hollywood birth. Swallow Jenna.
I attended this last ultrasound on my own, and when I got to my car, I burst into tears. Firstly, I am SO thankful that my baby girl is FINE and HEALTHY and that I really have nothing to complain about. Secondly, I was accepting the fact that I will most likely need another c-section, after hoping and believing God for another scenario. It's those moments when your faith is tested. Do you believe God just because He answers your prayers, the way YOU want Him to? Or do you press on and choose to trust Him, believe in Him, put your hope in HIM, no matter what the outcome? I obviously chose and CHOOSE everyday the latter! One of the best things about God is that He CARES for His kids... About the little things, AND the big things. A big part of me felt that I couldn't believe for a little dream of mine because after all, I would have a healthy baby. But again, I know my God cares for those little desires inside my heart... He was the one who put them there!
So many women around me are facing challenging situations when it comes to conception and birth and overall newborn health. I believe that the same God who got me pregnant so easily (when Dr's say I 'shouldn't have', and I also 'shouldn't be able to carry full term'), can do miracles for all my friends.
Koby and Jacob and I were recently at a conference and during a time of worship, I felt God whisper a challenge to me about standing and praying for women who 'cannot' conceive. Like I said, He is the same- yesterday, today and forever. What God has done in me, He can SO do in others.. And so much more too!!! I am excited to get to pray for my sisters, and carry those on my heart daily who need a miracle in their wombs!!!
So there is the update on the life and times of June :) looking very forward to her arrival... Hoping and praying we can be at the LifeWomen Conference in full pregnant form!!!
Love to you all,
Mama J
Xo
Sunday, February 5, 2012
HELLO BABY GIRL!
On December 31st, 2011, we found out (along with surprising Grandma and Grandpa Martin by allowing them to join us for a 3D ultrasound) that we are indeed having a BABY GIRL!!!
Here's a pic of her beautiful (yet still slightly alien-like) mug...
yes it looks like she has a mustache, but I assure you, its just some weird tissue/fluid/amniotic stuff!
And here is me (aka mama!) at 22 weeks in the snow! She was apparently the size of a papaya at the time. She's growing beautifully (and LOVESSSSSSSS to move and shake and dance and grove and poke and jump and bump and jiggle) inside my belly!
And now onto the life and times of Mr. Jacob Ray...
Our days are getting busier to say the least! Today alone, he crawled, pulled a tray off the coffee table onto himself, pooped in the bath tub, winked at his mama, napped REALLY well, and went to bed without an inch of fussing. HE my friends and family, is BEYOND AWESOME. He brings such JOY... its even more than joy- I can't describe it. Every night that I put him to bed, I can't help but glorify God- I am SO THANKFUL that I (little old me), get to be HIS mom. What a privilege!
Here he is 'winking' at mom...
And at times he can be oh so serious...
Especially when mom pulls him around in the toboggan (or when you don't have a toboggan, you improvise with a box from Costco!)...
His FAVORITE 'TREAT' is apples... and he is PASSIONATE about them... here's the proof!
He also loves a little song Grandma Pat taught him and now he does it all by himself...
Needless to say, life is AWESOME. This year we have SO MUCH to look forward to. Koby and I are pumped for what God is doing in and through our church and are so thankful for the opportunity to get to work for the Kingdom as a 'day job'... its so much more than that! Such a blessing. We're looking forward to celebrating Nana's 60th Birthday, and a visit from Grandma Pat (who Jacob now calls 'Ga-Ga' when he sees my phone), and of course, the big boy is turning ONE in less than 2 months (Yes I can say that without crying... but don't talk to me about it for too long!), and we have been busy getting our June Bug's room ready for her... the PRINCESS IS COMING!!!
All our love to our family and friends!!!
-us 4 Liesch's xoxo
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