Change is never Easy

You know when you need to change. Whether or not you're willing to admit it, is what makes change a possibility or not. Tomorrow I am taking a new path and setting out to change what needs to be changed in me. I'm not excited and I am not looking forward to it! It's not that I fear change, but I have set out so many times and fallen flat on my face. So I say to myself "What makes me think that this time will be different?" And to that, I have no answer.

Life: Where Are The Instructions??!

When you buy a car it comes with a manual. When you buy piece of furniture it comes with instructions. When you buy a blender it comes with directions. When you're born the life is slapped into you, you get food shoved in your mouth and life is good.... Right?
  Growing up is hard. Everyone's story is unique and is personalized to their own personalities and circumstances. Not one person's life looks like another's. Some people have to grow up a lot sooner than most and some people never grow up. Times like these make me wish there was an instruction manual... WAIT! There IS!! It all starts in Kindergarten! What? Let me explain!
Kindergarten Rules:

There it is. Right there! Easy enough, right? Well, unfortunately we are no longer in Kindergarten and maybe some of us can't remember that far back! ;-)
My life is NO where near perfect! I face challenges and trials just like everybody else on the earth, but I have an advantage! I DO have an instruction manual! GASP!
"Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God's Law and Prophets and this is what you get." Matthew 7:12 MSG. I LOVE THIS! The Message bible really sums it up, but if you're still not own over, here is another; "...Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:39. This is another message to us. Love your neighbor. Who is your neighbor? Everyone! We have next door neighbors, next city neighbors, next country neighbors, and many more! Love them! It doesn't say you have to like everyone, but you must love them and treat them with respect. Remind you of the kindergarten rules?
  The Bible has so much wisdom and, though, it can be overwhelming at times, it all boils down to this:
  1. Love God!
  2. Love people and treat them with respect and dignity! Whether you believe what they believe, think what they think, or not. You can love people and have different views!
  This only takes care of one, or more, of the many lessons the Bible has to offer. If you feel lost open it up, read with an open mind and heart, and let the lesson begin! Like any lesson, it is tough, but it will benefit you in the long run and the finish line is the main goal!
  Remember to love and keep it classy people!

It's YOUR right and YOUR choice!

I woke up this morning and so many thoughts were running through my mind. Thoughts about God, family, friends, the world... So many paths. I settled on a thought that has been on my mind for the past few months. For so many years I have let the media decide what is good for me. I let them take my thoughts, my initiative, and my voice. I let them slowly poison my body and the bodies of those I love and I didn't even realize it was happening to me!

Necessary Steps of Faith

Today I have a short story to share with you. It is simple and shows how easy it is to follow God even when we get in our way and complicate things!

Real Food Recipe #2- Pumpkin Oat Bars!

Summer is coming to an end and autumn is coming up fast! A lot of people get sad and wish that summer would last forever... NOT ME! I am ready for boots, scarves, layers, sweaters, and flavors!! Baking is one of my favorite things to do and eating clean has challenged me to change the way I bake and to be more creative with my ingredients! So here is a delicious recipe that tastes like fall and looks like Heaven!

Naked and Exposed

I stand in front of the mirror, nothing hiding my body. I am not covered by drapery that can hide my every flaw or underwear that shapes my figure so that it is pleasing. My hair is a mess and my face is bare. I stand there looking at myself, judging myself. 

Angel's How To: Sparkle Phone case!!

It's craft time! Today's craft is how to glitter a cell phone case!

Real Food Recipe #1: Cinnamon Vanilla Glazed Popcorn!

I have been doing a lot of research on real food! This just means chemical free and no GMOs. What are GMOs? Well it stands for Genetically Modified Organisms! It means that food has been tampered with in a way that has changed it's DNA. It is something that cannot occur in nature and is actually banned in some countries! I will talk more about GMOs and why they are bad for you in future posts, but today we will be making POPCORN!!

My Fabulous Introduction!

     My name is Angel and this is my blog! Best introduction ever!! Seriously, though, my name is Angel I am a stay at home mom, a worship leader, a nanny, a singer, a songwriter, and so much more! I know there are many moms out there who can add many things to that list. I have an amazing husband, Justin, and two awesome boys, Peyton age 7 and Makani age 3. I love Jesus and I am creating this blog to share and interact with people. I, as my husband would agree, always have a lot to say about everything! So my blog will be about EVERYTHING! I am so scatter brained that I couldn't keep it to one topic if I tried! Lucky for you!! Let's begin!

    I want my first post to be significant and astounding. I want it to be groundbreaking and opening ceremonies worthy, but I really want to know what you want to talk about! Seriously! Music, parenthood, Jesus, Facebook, chocolate, making things, COFFEE! As many of my fellow stay at home moms can attest, being alone with kids all day does something to your brain! You know that commercial with the mom who is home with her baby all day? Her husband comes home and the first words uttered out of her mouth are "Is daddy-waddy home from worky-jerky?"  I am that woman sometimes!! I have asked my husband if he needs to go potty! When I jog on my treadmill, I pretend that someone is jogging next to me and we're racing... Probably should have kept that one to myself! Well, you see what I am talking about! I figure that if I am feeling a need to get out there and socialize more, there must be other people, too!

     I am not claiming to know everything, so don't count me as arrogant just yet, besides there'll be plenty of time for that in my later posts! I do have insights and opinions and I am happy to share and discuss in a civilized manner. I am not looking to argue and I am not looking for cruelty. Good old fashioned discussion, encouraging words, funny jokes, and whatever else comes up! I'm not here to judge because the bible tells me that I am judged for judging and I definitely don't want to be judged by my creator! The verse in the bible that I am referring to is Matthew 7:1-2. 

     Before I sign off on my first post, I want to share my morning with you. It wasn't particularly special or eventful, but I found myself wandering in my mind. You know, down the road called "What if". It's a dark road with no conclusions only scenarios that you can make up to your liking. There is no absolution and there is no end. There is " I bet this would happen" or " I would probably be better off" and " I would have more money", but the truth is you never win with the "what if" game. I say to myself "What if I were skinny?" "What if I were rich?", and my answers turn out the same. I wouldn't be me. I wouldn't be the person I am right now, I wouldn't have the amazing family that I have right now, and I wouldn't have the wonderfully, crazy life that I love! God told it to me like this "Everybody's walk with God looks different. Nobody's is perfect or better than someone else's, they're just different. God cares about us all and dwells within us all. We all have different paths, different struggles, and different ways to communicate with God. My walk doesn't look the same as yours, but it leads to the same place! I have to remind myself of this because I catch myself asking God if I can follow somebody else's path. I see how we'll they're doing and feel like my path is too bumpy to follow. I forget that mine is designed specifically for me, by the creator himself. That is a big deal!! He is thinking of me! The God of the universe thinks I am the greatest thing ever!! Forget the seven wonders of the world, they pale in comparison to the children of God!! Jesus wasn't sent here to die for beautiful waterfalls or tropical paradises! He was sent for you and me!! God's plan for Jesus was for him alone. Nobody else could do it and I am glad Jesus didn't stray from it. I don't know what God has in store for me, but I will follow the path He chose because only I can fulfill it!!"

    Thanks for reading! I look forward to blogging more and connecting!