Things I love: Parks and Taking My Kids to Them

 

This is our 2nd favorite park. Fin

Practice Positive Living

Steph

Spiritual: My Experince

A while ago... not sure exactly when but i believe in 2009 or 2010 (because it was just before i got married) i was at my fiance, now husband jeffery's, church. (cogp).
this church is so old school. long wooden pews with the slots for the bible and pencils. looks like the church from the rehersal wed scene from kill bill.

photo from my wedding. My bishop at head of church center and my husband to his right.

a choir of like ten or eleven people who are ... dont be mad cogp choir... but, they aint no ty tribut and the gang.
and our pastor. a man after gods own heart. truly blessed and full of thirst and reverence for gods word.
At the time i saw myself at a big church, where i could go un noticed sit in back AND FALL IN LINE...but no, my husband loves this place to worship and to study.
so there i was, pretty close to the front of the church during praise and worship.
idk if everyone knows about southern baptist churches. how during praise and worship they stomp and jump and shout and clap in worship.. oh and speak in tongues..
(Which I was not so sure about that kind of stuff at that point in my life and i didnt know what the bible said about it.)
so again, there i was, i was thinking, i am going to marry this man and i know the word of god says i should go to his church.
so i decided i better pray about this. right there during praise and worship I prayed..

"God, if this place is of You. the one true living God. and this minister of Your word is truly blessed by You to give your word please give me wisdom to discern it. And if it is bless this place oh god to always speak to me. becaues my spiritual health, my soul, which trickles down to my mind and physical health can not afford to be taught wrong teachings or waste time in a place where you are not . its too important. because this is the most important thing in my life. in jesus name, amen"

then i just remember wanting to give praise and thank god. and i did. i said hallelujah and thank you jesus over and over.

and then i heard the most absolutely breathtaking heartbreaking beautiful chorus of what sounded like to me like 50 people singing out hallelujah. singing it out longer than a human voice can manage. coming from my left at the very front of the church.. where theres nothing but window a wall  and beyond that the street. our choir had joined the congregation and were seated with their friends and family so it wasnt them and honestly couldnt be (love you cogp choir).

to shorten this, it took me several minutes to realize i wasnt "imagining" anything, to ask my fiance if he heard singing (that was still taking place during this reasoning!) and to look for our audio guy to possibly be messing up on the machine and pressed a button maybe, but nothing.. our band was playing the "doon doon doon dooon doon dooon dooon doon" that i associate with old southern style church worship. totally out of melody with what i was hearing.

It stopped and it was as if it never happened. i tried to brand the sound into my memory,
cried and then immediately gathered all that I could from the experience.

God is real. (we all say we believe. but after this experience- i know it like i know the most fundamental things- fire, water etc, it feels and is totally life changing)
I gathered one of the most important things which is that Jesus is real as well and that i prayed right or at least acceptably, so to me this meant god hears us as well. Also that it doesnt matter if you talk to him in Hebrew or Arabaic or English. I also gathered that the word "Hallelujah" is regarded as the highest praise..

from there I established other things things like I believe in the Holy Ghost and I recieve the doctrine of Jesus Christ as my life manual, no exceptions.

I dont know what else to write here. but I knew I had to share this with as many people as I can. Please feel free to ask me any questions about this or my faith. I will answer according to what happened and any faith questions according to the King James Version The Holy Bible facts I know. If I do not know I will try to get an answer through research. then well both know!

I love everyone!

Don't hesitate to contact me at any hour, day, holiday.. whatever! ("its too important.")

Practice Positive Living
steph
steph

Holiday: Getting Ready For the Seasons

Getting ready for the seasons

Lanterns all around

I can never keep treats in the candy dish between my husband and I.

Our table display until Thanksgiving

Activities: Zoes first Crafts Project

Every time I see this reef on the nursery door I smile. Zoes in a program called Early Start and we have the coolest kindest teacher, Jenni, : ) She had Zoe help her make this

It was really cool because its just a paper plate and felt leaves from Michaels. She had Zoe feel the texture and she described the feel and color to her. I Love It!

My Sisters Birthday and her Premier of internet radio show "Undercooked Rice"

For my sister in law, wrapped by moi.

Handmade gift tag by moi. Paintbrush and .. you know... the thing painters mix paint colors and hold in their hand while painting.

To inspire her creativity.

642 Things To Write About from Anthropologie

Also check out her internet radio show "Undercooked Rice" based on strong topics and even stronger opinions 10.26.12 

 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Undercooked-Rice/273913726053110

Good Ol Fashion Yard Play

Zoe and I drying off in the sun, after a long day of water play with our favorite neighbors and family : )

So if you haven't noticed i am more of a picture taker than a paragraph for every post type blogger. Id like to think that means that when I do have something to say in a post its noteworthy, quotable and darn important. So Im going to be true to that and I think Ill get a lot more posting done!

XO
steph
practice positive living

Gymboree with Zoe "Climbing"

I Love to Cook

Did I mention I love to cook? Well I do...

There, a balanced dinner

Garlic Fries, Lemon Butter Salmon and Broccoli

All done. My Anthropologie apron makes me feel super cute and domestic looking! Hehe! Now for the dishes : (

Gymboree with Zoe

Gymboree is the coolest thing ever for a baby or toddler! Ja'dore Ca! I got Zoe a membership here this month and I think I'm in love! Shes made little baby friends and her age group class instructor is so nice and really enjoys what she does!

True story: Zoe actually learned to crawl after 1 Gymboree class! My husband and I went because they have an ongoing promotion offering one class free on their website gymboreeclasses.com and Zoe started crawling that night after rolling around  to keep up with some of the other crawling babies in class that day!

I was so happy! ../ until Zoe started crawling under everything she could fit under. ..BUT happiness was my overall feeling!

Here is Zoe after her first class on our way home listening to her new cd Putumayo Kids Picnic Playground we got at gymboree. She wouldnt let go of the case.

DNC 2012 OBAMA! "Four More Years!"

The First Ladies speech was so touching I had to put the TV captions on so I wouldn't miss a word.

"When they told him to save adequate healthcare for all Americans for another day or another president he didn't listen, because he wasn't interested in the easy thing to do, but the right thing to do. My husband was raised that way" - Michelle Obama. Not a direct quote, but those of you who were tuned in to the DNC 2012 heard it.

I love that this gave you an inside view of our presidents integrity! I absolutely love our first family and that they have committed to the hard task of making the "American Dream" available to us all! Whooo hoo! "Four More Years!"

I want to be the Michelle Obama for my husband!

Uh oh! (In my jokster voice) Someone needs to write a song! " I want to be the Michelle to your Obama!" Somebody catch that! Pay me a few royalties when it goes top of the charts! hehehe : )

Did anyone watch the DNC 2012? Were you moved? By who? What did you think about the first ladies speech?

Practice Positive Living!

Steph