What does Pregnancy Feel Like?

A few months ago I was at a "seminar". Honestly, it was a quaint gathering at a friends house where everyone brought a crockpot dish and the recipe to share, then we got to listen to a wonderful speaker talk about what biblical womanhood looks like. I was truly blessed with wonderful fellowship, and being encouraged in the scriptures.

There was an adolescent girl in attendance with her mother, about 13 or so, who kept glancing in my direction. I didn't think much of it to be honest. I was a couple months pregnant and in the early stages of "showing" but not really looking "pregnant". She must have over heard me talking with someone about the pregnancy because while I was grabbing a cup of coffee (yes, yes, I know!) she approached me and asked me "what is it like being pregnant". I was totally taken aback! In the past 4 years I have either been pregnant or breast feeding, so to me it's "the norm"! I casually said something like "oh I don't know... not to different then when you're not I supposed. I've been pregnant twice before so this seems pretty normal to me." I could tell that didn't really answer her question, but I really didn't have a better answer at the time.

Over the past few months though, I've had some time to think on it. What is it like being pregnant? My first thought, scary!! From the first few second sitting on the toilet wondering if there will be one or two pink lines, up until you have to push that little one into the world... and even after that! It's just scary! Am I too sick? Why am I not sick? Is that blood? Am I bleeding? Shouldn't I be feeling the baby moving by now? Does my baby have arms and legs? This kids is moving too fast! Am I drinking too much coffee? Should I really be eating lunch meat? And on, and on and on!!

It's so hard to try and remember that the Lord is in control during this time period. I'm so used to being able to SEE or touch what it is that I need to take care of. While I'm pregnant I can't! I can't pick up my baby and check to see if she has arms and legs, or put my hand on her chest to see if she is still breathing. She is inside of me! It's a time I believe that the Lord give to me to remember that there are so many things that are out of my control, and I need to remember to trust in Him! He has blessed me with 3 healthy pregnancies already, and 2 beautiful daughters with a third coming soon. But if He ever sees fit to change that, then He is still Lord, He is still on His throne, and He is still the creator and sustainer. I find so much comfort in knowing those things, and trusting in His perfect will.

What does it feel like to be pregnant? It feels like you're loosing control, and that's okay! It allows me to draw closer to the Lord because of it.

Photo's are by my dear friend Cate. 

Where Holiness comes from.

On Sunday a friend of mine in Sunday school presented a question that made me think. We all have tickle fights, play with our kids, do the dishes and mop the floors... but as a Christian mother and wife what am I doing differently? How am I allowing the Holiness of God to work through my life, and the lives of my children?

Something I have recently come to the conclusion on while studying the book of Psalms with our church is that no mater how hard I try, I can never allow the Holiness of God to shine through my life. It just won't happen! This was so discouraging to me at first. I felt like a failure as a Christian woman. That is until I read Psalm 51!

Psalm 51:10-13

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners will be converted to You.

This spoke to me in so many ways. The first was the realization that the Lord is the one who creates a clean heart in me! How many times I feel as though I can do everything myself. "Create in me a clean heart", the Lord is the one who purifies my heart! "Restore the joy of Your Salvation", God restores my joy!! How freeing it is to realize God will provide me with joy and purify my heart! In doing so, I can be the wife and mother that God is calling me to be. How do I allow the Holiness of God to work through my life? By letting Him to work through my life, and knowing I can't do it on my own.

Sweet Clara and I a few months ago in the bluebonnets. 

Slow cooker fajitas

I've always heard so many wonderful things about "Crockpot Cooking". I just never really could get into it though! That is, until I came across this great cookbook at our local library Southern Living's "Big Book of Slow Cooking". I got home and quickly found a ton of recipes to try! For about 2 weeks we had crockpot meals just about every night! No one was complaining though, they were ALL so tasty!

One of our favorites is the "Fajita" recipe. I've made these for a party we were hosting, and they were a hit! The best part was that I could start dinner in the morning and get it going, then clean the kitchen and the rest of the house up before our company arrived that evening. I never felt stressed trying to get dinner ready then having to clean up the kitchen right before everyone arrived, because the kitchen was already clean!

Beef and Chicken Fajita's:
Makes 10-12 servings.

1 1/2 lb flat iron steak, cut into strips
1 lb chicken breast, cut into strips
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 1/2 Tbs Fajita seasoning (try a homemade version, instead of store bought)
4 Tbs olive oil, divided (I prefer sunflower seed oil)
3 Tbs Fresh lime juice
2 Tbs Worcestershire sauce (I actually didn't have any... I substituted 1 tsp this instead)
5 Large garlic cloves, minced
1 lb frozen pepper stir fry (I do mine with fresh sliced peppers and onions. Taste much better that way.)

Place steak and chicken on separate plates; sprinkle with salt, pepper and 1 Tbs fajita seasoning.

Heat 1 Tbs oil in an extra-large skillet over medium heat. Add steak to pan; cook 3 minutes or until browned, stirring once. Place steak into slow cooker. Add chicken to pan; cook over medium heat for 3 minutes or until browned, stirring once. Add chicken to slow cooker.

In a bowl, stir together remaining 3 Tbs oil, lime juice, Worcestershire (or this!) garlic, and remaining fajita seasoning. Pour mixture over chicken and steak, cover and cook on low for 5 hours. Then top with peppers and onions cover and cook another 1-2 more hours.

Sever how ever you enjoy your fajitas!! This will quickly become a family favorite.

What we've been up to!

It's been over a year since we've updated anything! I'm sorry about that. I could use almost any excuse, but ultimately, blogging has just not been a priority.

That is, until recently. I've had so many thoughts recently that I want to write down and share!

There have been so many things the Lord has been reveling to me since we move up here in January of 2012, and I know He is going to teach me so much more! I want to share what He has taught me, as well as how He has sustained us during our time here. How I have grown not just as a mom, or a wife, but ultimately how He has drawn me closer to Himself!

Stay tuned! I have some fun things to share, some serious things to share, and just some random things!

-Kristan.