New Blog!

     Hello all! I've started a new blog called, "Cherish and Nurture", which you can find here: http://cherishandnurture.blogspot.com
I'll still continue to post on this blog, but not as often as I have been. When I first started my "Daughter of Destiny" blog, the purpose was to encourage and inspire other like-minded Christians. Although, that's still my purpose, my life has changed. I no longer write about singleness and staying content until God brings "the one", because I'm now a married woman, and a mom. My blog posts will start to be about how God has been teaching me in the life of being a wife and mom. 

     I'd still love to give encouragement to those that are single, or who are still struggling to find contentment where Gods placed them, but I feel like my life has changed quite a bit now. As my precious baby sleeps in my arms, I can't help but praise God for the life He's given me, and for the opportunity I've had to minister and to encourage those that come to my blog. 

The reason for my new blog is to capture life's little moments - the moments that I cherish as a wife and momma - and to share how God is helping me nurture and raise our little guy into the man that God wants him to be. 

A Letter to my Son

     Over the last couple years, I've seen a couple people write a letter to their son/daughter. I wrote this a couple weeks ago, but adjusted it accordingly. I thought I'd share it with ya'll.

A Letter to my Son:

     James, you're only 7 weeks old, and somehow the time is already passing by so quickly. From the moment your daddy and I found out we were going to have a baby, we had already fallen in love with you. With every passing day that my belly got bigger, our dreams were coming true.

     You didn’t know it at the time, but I had prayed for you since I was a young adult. I prayed that when that someday came for me to get married and have children, that God would give me the strength to endure the path that He had for me. 

     The days of pregnancy went by fast for me. I had quite the scare in my first trimester when I thought I had lost you. However, God saw fit to bless us with such a beautiful and handsome son. 

  
   
     As my pregnancy with you came to an end, I began to feel excited and nervous. Excited that I was going to be holding you in my arms soon, but nervous with how I was going to be as a mother. Your dad was confident that I was going to be great, but I couldn’t see how someone so little could play a huge part in my role as a mother. 

     As the days pass, and you get a tiny bit bigger, I wonder, even now how I’ll be as a mother. I know that I’ll get upset and frustrated with you at times, but I pray that you’ll be patient with me as I’m learning to be a momma for the very first time. 

     We've had bad day, and good days, and days that were so rough on me, that I was in tears because of the lack of sleep, but you helped me grow into mommy-hood. I"m very thankful to be married to your daddy, who, during those times was so patient with me, and still continues to be.
     Last week, you started smiling for the very first time when daddy and I would talk to you. Every morning, we long to get that sweet smile, and every morning, you melt our hearts with your smile. We are in love with you!
     James, as daddy and I train you up in the admonition of the Lord, may you seek Gods wisdom always. Remember to "Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you." ~1st Samuel 12:24. Give God glory for everything in your life, and praise Him through all the trials that will come your way.
     Your daddy and I love you very much and we're blessed and honored to be your parents! We're looking forward to watching you grow. We love you James Randal Narwold!!! <3

A Grateful Heart

     These past couple weeks have been quite the whirlwind. Adjusting to life as a new mom, and meeting the needs of my 5-week old have been great and challenging at the same time. There are times I look at baby James and think, "Wow! How could God be so gracious to give us a baby of our own?!" Every day with my little boy gets better... and yes, I still have good days and bad days, but I wouldn't trade my baby for the world! ;)
     I was thinking this last week about how my life has changed for the better. I was thinking about how God used everything in my life for His glory. It's funny the things that God throws our way to teach us things in order to grow us into the person that He created us to be.
     This past week, I was actually feeling pretty confident about being a momma to my little man. I was proud of myself for being able to go in public with a 5-week old, and everything going great... and then life threw me a curve ball... or should I say my son threw me a curve ball and decided to sleep for 3 hours while I got ready for the day!... this was huge! I was thinking to myself, "Hey, this days going to go great!" After I woke him up to feed him, and played with him for a bit, it was time for his nap again. His eyes began to roll back, and he drifted off to sleep... for 2 minutes. James decided to continue to do this for the next hour. Anytime, I'd set him down, or take the pacifier from his already opened mouth, he'd wake up, and cry... sigh. Well, needless to say, my whole afternoon was pretty much spent holding him and trying to get him to sleep. So much for getting things done, right?!
     Half of me just wanted me to let him cry himself to sleep, so that I can at least get my lunch and have an hour to myself, and the other half of me, wanted to cradle my son in my arms and let him know that it was all okay, and that mommy was there for him.
     I began to think to myself, "Some days are great, and some days are terrible, but I should be grateful that I have a son that Gods blessed me with!"
     Motherhood is hard. It's hard to put your selfishness aside every hour of every-day, and focus on someone other than yourself. It's hard to possibly not be able to take a shower, or eat your lunch until later in the afternoon, so that your child can have your love and attention.
     I admit, I don't have it all together. I feel like some days I have it all together... that's when God decides to prove me wrong. "...Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good..." ~Psalm 100:4-5
      So, what am I grateful for?

• The Chance to Serve.
• A Baby that Gods blessed me with!
• The love that a mother has for her child.
• My mothers Godly example for me to follow as I enter motherhood.

What are you grateful for?... I'd love to know in the comments below! :-)