a few thoughts from the MRS.

I am blessed to have the life that I do. Since being married for almost 8 months, I have realized just how beautiful life really is! I have learned that life is precious, that life is way to short to be mad about anything for too long. My life has been filled with so much joy in seeing what really matters in this life.

Since being so far away from both of our parents, we have needed to learn how to make our house, our home. I was telling Jarrod the other day that our apartment, finally feels like its ours. We have decorated as much as we can, we have made it cute, cozy but most of all, ours. It's such a great feeling.

With us being both future minded, we are dreaming and planning our lives together. We love looking at future homes together, we love dreaming what our little kiddos will look like, and who they will resemble. Where will we be in 5 years? in 10? in 20? it all seems so far away, but yet, it is so very close and our future is at the end of our finger tips. It amazes me, that in a few years I will become a mommy.. and he will be a daddy. I hope to raise our kiddos with so much love, support, joy and allow them to know how much Christ loves them. It just amazes me at how our lives have changed the last year in so many ways, but more so, how it will change in the years to come.

In the meantime, we will keep dreaming.. keep making our house our home.. and enjoy our loved ones, while we reflect on who we are and how much our parents and families have impact our lives.. Here is to the journey of being dreamers.

Check out the little Jarrod and Chelsie. ;)

For the record,
CB

What will YOUR word be?

Last year, I was challenged by my boss to pick a word and focus on it for 2011. My word last year was'TRUST'. 2011 was a year of firsts for me.. i moved to OKC my last semester of college, i graduated, i got married, i moved, i was learning how to live on my own with my husband and looking for jobs that would support the two of us. So, it was a year of worry, a year of new beginnings and a year of trusting in God knowing that he had and will always have a plan and take care of us all. With 2011, behind me, i can now look back and see how i did that year. Looking back, i know with everything inside of me, that i learned how to let go and trust God. Without him by my side, and putting people in my life, i would not have enjoyed 2011.. Whew..

Now, with that said, a few weeks ago, i decided to pick a word for 2012 that I would focus on, center all my goals around.. personal and professional, and a word that would allow God to work on me in such a way, that i will be transformed from the inside out.

That word is, JOY
Finding Joy in my marriage, my job, my students, family, friends, God...
Finding that Joy that only comes from God in every single situation in my life.
Allowing myself to feel and experience Joy so I can show others what God's JOY is all about.
With JOY, there is such an amazing freedom.
Being in the presence of God give us JOY and a PEACE and a LOVE for others and everything around us..

So JOY, I want to experience it to the fullest.

So what will YOUR word be for this new year?? What area will you focus on that will allow God to shape and mold you? Think about it..

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The JOY of the Lord is my strength,
Chels