Behind the makeup: Holiday Stress? Read Away! It's A... and Let me keep it funky!

My loves! *waves excitedly* Yes I'm still alive and kicking! There's so much I want to cover so let me get going!

2 days until Christmas:

I shared this with my sisters at church but I had to share it here! This is my favorite time of the year but at times it can be the most stressful. There's this feeling and sense of urgency to complete your shopping by a certain date and to make sure you've showered everyone around you that you love with "stuff." But when you financially aren't able to do that, feelings of worry and hopelessness arise which can overshadow the true meaning of this time of the year.

Scott and I have huge families and I remember when we first got married we spent every year stressing out about what to get every family member and friend for Christmas. It became too overwhelming to maintain and even more overwhelming to have to explain that to everyone.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NCV) says this, "Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you NEED, always giving thanks. And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."

Nativity scene with one of the 3 kings on a horse

Before I begin listening to holiday music around the middle of November ;) I take my spirit to this place. A gentle reminder to not get caught up in what I don't have and can't give in the way that I think is acceptable but to focus my thoughts and praise on God and those small things He has graced us with to be shared everyday. God always makes a way beyond what we can see; His goodness is everlasting. I've had to learn to kill my flesh in its desire for "stuff" and really place my heart on those things that have no price: Spending time with my family and friends, laughter, watching old Christmas movies with my son, starting new traditions, centering my heart on this moment.

Yes that is a REAL camel in church!

I encourage you to not get swallowed by the world's idea of what's important this time of the year. I'm not saying don't give but I am suggesting don't allow the enemy any room in your spirit to invite his cousins discontentment, worry and fear to set up shop in your heart. Our heart of giving can be in the right place but if any of these are present we are missing it.

If you've already started feeling these things I encourage you ask God to search your heart, penetrate your spirit with His peace, and to really comfort you as you place your focus on the heart of the matter and that's Jesus Christ!

"Brothers and Sisters, think about the things that are good and worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. Do what you learned and received from me, what I told you, and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you" (Philippians 4: 8-9 NCV).

We've been READING:

I'm going to do a separate post about the books we read but since I checked out some seasonal books I wanted to post at LEAST the titles in case you wanted to check them out with your little ones over the break!

First Dog's White House Christmas- J. Patrick Lewis

It's Hanukkah- Santiago Cohen

Nighty Night Cooper- Laura Numeroff

Boys are Best- Manuela Olten

When Lions Roar- Robie H. Harris

What's in my BELLY!?

Baby and I have been getting adjusted to sharing my body but I'm excited to announce the who behind the fatigue!

Samanthanelsonphotography.com

Another BABY BOY!!

We are looking forward to welcoming our little boy at the end of May. My son is maintaining his stance on "not wanting a baby to come to the house" but we will see if that changes in the next few months. :)

Keepin' it FUNKY:

This pregnancy has been so different (which I know they all differ but geeze) I just knew I was having a girl. The idea of having someone to share ME with became more realistic as the fatigue-moodiness-food aversions-give me my sleep continued. I was so convinced that I completed an entire registry for a little girl. How's that for faith without works?! Lol! But I should've known that would all change when the Holy Spirit asked me one day if I would be "okay" if I had a boy. When I couldn't respond immediately I knew I needed to do a heartcheck. So I did. After two years of dreaming about a girl and never considering a name for a boy I picked out some names. Names my friends laughed at because you could tell I was still going through the motions but progress none the less. I also decided to save this picture that popped up on my facebook timeline of this beautiful family via MAD works Photography. When I saw them my heart fluttered and that was probably my second clue.

When I saw them I said, Lord in the "event" that this is a boy I will have this picture as a visual of what my life will be like. (Notice the " " ?) The night before our ultrasound I had a dream about a boy and a girl (God has a sense of humor). In the dream the boy came out and he and my son were instantly friends! They were chest bumping and such which, in the dream, scared me to death! Me, with a house full of boys, chest bumping?! Isn't that dangerous? Eeek! But as God would have it (because he knows my hair skills are lacking) he blessed me with two boys! I would've never imagined this girly girl would end up being the mom of MEN but God knows more about my abilities than I do apparently and I'm rocking with that! And as if the realization that God is GOD wasn't enough this article appears on my timeline My Ultrasound Tech Got It Wrong--TWICE. My ouch and CHECK MATE moment came when I read, "When I wasn't crying out of sadness or fear, I was crying out of guilt. I had friends who couldn't get pregnant. I had friends whose children had health problems. Yet, here I was crying my eyes out because the baby wasn't exactly what I wanted. I felt small and ungrateful." God reminded me how not that long ago I was, some days still, mourning the loss of a baby I only heard 1 heart beat from. Many times the unfamiliar keeps our heart from embracing the how and where God plans to stretch us! 2013 has been a year of stretching for me! My faith, my patience, my understanding, my GROWTH. And even though I'm slightly terrified in my role as a mother to teach and guide, along side my husband, these amazing boys, I'm not too flimsy for the stretch! I'm not the first to do it and I won't be the last! There is always something new on this motherhood journey and I want to make sure that I'm being transparent about my experiences, no matter how silly or ungrateful they might seem because God made me human. These are the moments that help me realize even MORE that I can't do this thing called life without him.

So here's to being a fierce momma to two boys getting unlimited kisses from my amazing husband like the gorgeous woman in the picture!

All my love,

Caneeka