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. 

Enjoying Life's Simple Moments

     This past week has been quite the busy week for my husband and I. Between babysitting, running errands, and keeping the house clean, our life has been busy.
     This past week I babysit some kids from church. My husband ended up meeting up with us afterwork and we just stayed for dinner. Josh was reading a book to a couple of the kids, and I couldn't help but think to myself, "What a great man I have!" I've learned, and I'm still learning, to look at life's simple moments, and enjoying them. Instead of looking at a disaster and getting stressed out about it, I try as best as I can to look at it as a lesson.
     The day I was babysat this week, I double booked myself, because this brain of mine, just doesn't work sometimes. So, I ended up switching my Piano Lesson with a student around, and my appointment with my midwife. Instead of looking at it from the perspective that I forgot something yet again, I tried to look at it from a different perspective. If I hadn't babysat that day, I wouldn't have had the joy of reading to the kids or playing games with them.
     Because of our week this last week, I told my husband, "I feel like we've been so busy this whole week, that I haven't really gotten to sit down with you, to have some quality time, and to talk." Maybe that's why I was so blessed to take this picture... 

     I love watching my husband hold kids or play with them. I love watching life's simple moments that pass by so quickly. It seemed like not that long ago that I lived in Colorado and wondered if I'd ever find a man out there. Of course, God knew I would. ;)
     Since being married, I've learned a little bit more to really stop and smell the roses. I've learned that no matter the circumstance, know that God will get you through it. I've learned to not let life pass you by as you just sit, watch, and wait. I've learned that God gives each of us, an opportunity to take a deep breath, and just enjoy those moments that pass so quickly.

     "A merry heart does good, like medicine..." ~Proverbs 17:22
     "You will show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." ~Psalm 16:11

     So, when you see life's simple moments, don't forget to smile. Take a deep breath, and take it all in. It won't be there forever; after all, it's just a moment.

•  Has there been a time in your life when you've stopped to smell the roses?
• What are some of your favorite moments that happen on a daily/weekly basis?
• Are there any Bible Verses that help you in those times?

Moments Like These

     With my wedding being 11 days away, my time with my family is coming to an end. Sure, I'll still see them, and talk to them, but I'll be married, and living in a different state. My life will be completely different than what I'm used to. I'll take on a new last name, be in a new, loving church community whom have taken me in as one of their own, have more friends, cook smaller meals, have a husband to love, a house to clean and make my own, and possibly, more time on my hands. 

     It got me to thinking about the little things in life. As I write, my little 6 year old brother, is sitting on my lap, blowing bubbles. Enjoying this moment that I have with him. To Elijah, he doesn't understand what the meaning of getting married means... aside from his sister leaving. To him, he doesn't understand that I'll still see him, and be able to talk to him through Skype/FaceTime and such. 

     So often, I took the moments that I had with my family for granted. I didn't take each day as a gift from God. I'd go through life daily, as just that... a life. A life, that I felt like was my own at times. A life that didn't take those moments, and realize that they're really "moments". They don't last forever. Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary term defines a moment, as, "an instant, the twinkling of an eye". It's only there for a moment, and than, it's gone. While I think of every opportunity that I missed out on, I realize that I can't go through life looking back on all my regrets. I need to move forward. I need to enjoy my moments in life. Sure, some moments I want to forget about, but things like, when Josh proposed to me, when I first found out he loved me, when my little brother hugged me, when my sister asked me to pray for her to get a restful night sleep, when I got my license, those special days when our family was out and about, and decided to eat out to make it all the more special.
     Moments. All my life I wanted to get married. God has answered that prayer, and in just short of 2 weeks time, I'll be a wife to the man I love. I'm on a new journey. The book hasn't ended... there's more to it... I'm on part 2. ;) So, take in the moments you have on a daily basis... even the little ones... a child's laughter, eating chocolate with a friend, the smell of coffee brewing, cold water on a hot summer day at the park with some friends, the love a child/parent/sibling/friend shows you on a daily basis. God is continuing to bless me with sweet moments with my fiancé, the love of my family, and so much more every day! 
     In what ways do you take in those moments? May you all be blessed! :)

"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." ~ Psalms 118:24~

"Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." ~ James 4:14~

Technology- Live in the Moment

There's technology everywhere today. Technology can be used for so much good, but it can also be used for  harm rather than good.
I remember last month, I took my 12 year old sister, and 6 year old brother to Focus on the Family. As I watched my sister and brother go down the slide, over and over again, I couldn't help but notice their face. It was full of joy, laughter, and love. There were other people around who were on their phone, talking, texting, tweeting...etc... I don't know what they were doing, but they weren't living in the moment. We take those moments for granted, and before we know it they're gone.
A couple months ago, I had taken my siblings to our local pool, so that my mom can get some rest, and while I was there, I was on my phone. It wasn't until my brother and sisters asked me to hand them some goggles, that I realized that I wasn't enjoying the moment. I put my phone away, scooted my chair closer, and watched them play in the water.
In today's day and age, we use phone's and computers for everything. We carry it around everywhere we go. We use it as our "to-go-to", when we're bored. It sucks the life out of some of us, if we're not careful.
Now, I realize that many of us work on and through the computer. Now, don't get me wrong, there's a lot that can be used for good on the computer. But do we focus so much on getting things done, that we miss life's special moments? Are you so engulfed in the technology, that you miss your baby brother/sister/son/daughter, taking their first steps? What about when your siblings are playing a game, and laughing while enjoying themselves? When you're busy with technology, are you too quick to get angry? It's in these times, that we must be careful on how often we're using our technology! Take a technology-fast if you must; enjoy life. You only get that moment in time, once.

Hebrews 13:5

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Philippians 4:8-9

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."

James 1:19-20

"Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

What are some ways that have helped you to live in the moment?

Live in the moment

This past week, I was in the kitchen cooking our dinner, when I heard my 5 year old brother say, "I wish I was older!" When I asked him why, he said, "Because then I could go hunting with daddy, and be good at drawing!"
When he said this, it made me realize how, all too often, I've said the same thing. "When I'm older...." How often do we take life for granted?!
When I was 15, I kept thinking to myself, "I'm going to be married and have kids by the age of 20!" I wanted so badly to be 20...Well, here I am 21, now, and I've come to realize that in some ways, we feel dis-contented by the life we live sometimes. We never live the "here and now"! (myself included)
My dad always says, "The past is history, the future's a mystery, but today is a gift, that's why they call it the present."

Live in the moment... it'll be history before you know it.
I was reminded of this again, when my little sister asked me a couple days ago, "Can you read me a book?" I was somewhat stunned... my 11 year old sister, asking if I can read her a book. I told her yes, but realized after I said that, that it wasn't from the heart. I had to force myself to remember that I won't always have these little moments with my sister.
Have you ever had a moment when you've thought, "I don't want this to ever end!"? I have, many times! So, live in the moment. Don't waste your life waiting and wishing! Enjoy each moment you have... whether it's with your friends or family.
“Forgive and give as if it were your last opportunity. Love like there's no tomorrow, and if tomorrow comes, love again.” 
― Max Lucado, Every Day Deserves a Chance: Wake Up to the Gift of 24 Hours

Rush

Rush, rush, rush...all of us have gone through a rush at one time or another. A rush to get to work, a rush to the Movies, Rush to get to church on time, rush, rush, rush. I began thinking of all of the people that I pass on the street or in the store who aren't walking on "my time". Yes, they may be slow, but have you ever thought...why? What makes them so slow? Can't they understand that we need to be at this thing at this time...? So, what makes them talk,
think, walk, drive...so slow?
A while back ago, my dad showed me a story. It was a story about rushing, and about how no one runs on "our" time...reading on, it goes on to say that maybe the reason why the lady in front of us is going so slow, is just because, she just received news that day, that she has stage 4 cancer, and will only live 3 more months...she's taking in every moment that she has...

So, what happens when life slows down? When your maybe running from one graduation, to another, or one wedding, to a soccer game...what's happens at the end of all that? Life slows down...are we content in this? Sometimes, maybe...I know I'm not all the time.
So maybe we need to slow down in life. Take a deep breath, and enjoy the time/moments that God has given us. You never know, today may be your last day on earth.