Life is a series of unexplained events, unplanned laughter, unexpected tears, occasional sorrows and overwhelming joy. - Susan Gale

If you don't know it, I'm gonna tell you that we have a mighty, might God. He is Omniscient! And I am so thankful that He desires to have a relationship with me. 

A brief update on life:

Early this year I prayed and prayed for God to open the right door for a new job opportunity, regardless of the job. I just wanted a job where I could be used more in ministry and be the wife I wanted to be. Also, I wanted a job that wasn't as stressful as my job was. Well don't we serve a prayer answering God. Currently I am on my second month of a new job, that I thoroughly enjoy. 

Next, we recently traveled to MI and AL for a wedding and to visit with family. Little did we know how much God would begin to work in us and for us when we left for the trip. Shortly before we left I felt strongly that something great was going to happen for us. But I didn't know what, I didn't have the slightest hunch. While in AL, Daniel was prophesied over that "He would be moving" and took as moving into a new dimension spiritually. A week after returning home from AL and MI, I went home to spend Mother's Day with my mom. My mom's hobby is looking online at new homes, where she found a beautiful home in Portsmouth that I absolutely loved! So I sent it to Daniel and we scheduled an appointment to view it(mind you we have not talked about moving and were not interested in selling our home up until this point.) We both prayed that if it was God's will everything would work out, from viewing the home, to getting the loan, selling our house, purchasing the house at a great price, etc. On my drive home from my visit the realtor called to inform me that the house was already in contract. Although slightly disappointed, I was at peace with it.

A few days later, Daniel and I begin talking a bit more about our debt and how to knock it out faster. We both brain stormed ideas, and talked about looking to purchase a new house and selling ours. We both prayed, knowing that we wanted to give more in giving, but didn't know how. While in conversation with my mom I felt impressed with an "idea." I began to pray on that, because it would require great sacrifice on my part before I brought the idea to Daniel. The next day, Daniel and I were texting while at work and I told him I had an idea. So I brought it to him, and now.. a week later, we are packing our house for the greatest adventure of our marriage. In a few days, we will be placing our house on the market and moving into my in-laws garage apartment for a year to save for a down payment on our next house, while paying off debt to be 100% debt free and give greatly to the church. And I am at peace with this decision, because once again in my life I allowed God to lead and direct my steps. 

It's taken me a long time to get to this place where I rely so heavily on God to open every door in my life. But life has been so much easier since I began to do so. I do not stress the little things. I am content with what He is doing through Daniel and I. Not one bit of me thinks that I will be hindered by not having a house of my own for a year. Like I mentioned before, this is our great adventure. We plan to take a really nice anniversary trip and take bimonthly weekend trips. That I am SO excited about. 

As for my infertility... Well.. that's still a thing. And aside from Mother's Day. I'm doing really great. The thought of packing up my promise room is a bit difficult but my God is still faithful. I believe God asks us to step out in faith on somethings just to see if we will believe on Him. And I don't think that this is any different. We have 100% support on our next life opportunity and feel it is God's will. And as long as we are walking in God's will, I will still hold on to my promise knowing that God will supply my greatest desire in his perfect time. So I will pack up the room, and probably cry. But someday my baby(or babies) will lay in that crib. And we will more blessed than if it would have happened now. Also, let me add, I still believe that this year is my year. But a year is not a long time. I am not pregnant, but every pregnancy is 9 months, and we still have 6 more months in this year to get pregnant. So I'm not even in the slightest worried about it. 

So just to encourage you if you feel like you don't know where your life is going or what to do next with your life. Honestly just give it to God. Life isn't easy, and I can't even guarantee that giving your life to God will magically make your life easy. But knowing that you can lean on Him, and that He genuinely cares for you, all the time, no matter what you're facing is pretty awesome. You might not always get what you want, and it's hardly ever going to happen when you want it. But it will always be what you need and always be right on time. God's favor and blessings are always available to you, all He desires is your commitment to Him. Take the step in faith, and challenge God to meet your need. I promise whatever sacrifices you make you'll get back double. 

Hello 2017

                                       

So... I think it is safe to say that I am extremely terrible at keeping up with a Blog... However, maybe 2017 will be a new year! Because it is a new year.  First off let me play catch up.. I have no idea where I was in my life prior to fading off into the business of life. But I do know what I faced in 2016 was pretty heavy and full of hard trying times. I know that I learned contentment with my 2016 scriptural moto being 

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content" -Philippians 4:11. 

And even though I learned contentment, I still faced a much more difficult time than contentment. I faced a very deep and dark depression. For those that don't know, I have PCOS. I am not defined by it, but I do have it. There for.. I cannot conceive without the hand of God healing my internal body or going through medical treatments. I did the medical treatments for a little over a year and a half, before God told me to trust him, and so I did. But during the treatments I fell into a dark place, of low self esteem and self worth. I didn't like who I was. I gained a lot of weight by being on hormones, and the constant cost of prescriptions and ultra sounds were weighing on me heavy. Not to mention that it all felt like a constant reminder that I couldn't conceive. So with much prayer and a made up mind I pulled myself up and got out of the depression state I was in. God once again, taught me contentment! What a mighty God we serve! I began to really listen to him, and put words into action. I heard a women's conference message about preparing a room for your blessing, and then once again at another conference I heard to prepare the room. So I did. Daniel and I bought a crib, I painted and bought a rug.. I found a chair, a book shelf and a dresser and it was ready! I told Daniel, that God told me this room is to be our prayer room, it is where we go and pray, where we read, where we meditate on the Lord, because he is going to bless this room, it is the room we will bring our promise home to and it will be blessed and anointed because we obeyed the Lord and allowed him to reveal things to us and anoint us in that room.  Now it would be GREAT! If I could tell you that we are pregnant and due in a few months. But we aren't. And that's okay. I'm in a great place. God opened up the door for Daniel and I to be the youth pastors at our church, so we are growing in that. But I still hold onto my promise. 2017's scriptural moto is 

Luke 1:45 "And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord." 

And this was confirmed by God through my Pastor when he preached "The Season is Now" I've had many people that are near and dear tell me this year is my year. Most times I smiled and brushed it off, so as not to fall into overthinking and create something major and allow those thoughts to drag me down again. But I firmly believe with all of my being that 2017 is my year! I ask anyone that is reading this, and believes in a miracle performing God to pray this with me. And pray this for yourself. Your promise, your miracle, isn't too great that God can't give it to you in 2017. You have to hold onto the faith, and believe that he is able. Be Blessed, and Be Encouraged. XXOO

Finally Some Real Fall

So normally I love decorating my house for the different seasons. And with our new house of course I felt even more excited to get to decorate even more spaces for the changing seasons. Since we moved into our house right before Christmas I never got a chance to really decorate for it. Now I know, its not Christmas time yet.. but still.. my point is, I love the changing of seasons, and the ever changning decorating I get to do in our house!

But Fall took a LONG time to get here. For weeks I kept seeing everyone post about their fall decorations, even though it wasn't "officially" fall yet. But I just couldn't do it. Fall to me is boots, sweaters, flats (cause sandals are no longer acceptable) and hats. And it just wasn't cool enough for all that yet. So it didn't feel like fall. So I couldn't decorate for it.. or so I felt... but when it Officially said on the calendar "First day of Fall" that's when I decorated.. And so with out further ado.. my fall season decorations.. Minus the front porch cause I need a cute door mat.

A Few Fall Favorites

After reading one of my favorite bloggers Blog (http://natalienoack.blogspot.com/) I got inspired to create a Fall Date list. So during a slow day at work I was doing some research on some fun fall activities in the area and texting Daniel asking him about some things he wants to do this fall. He gave me plenty of things we will most likely save until another warmer season.. like "making ice cream." We created a nice starter list and we will continue to add on to it. Or we will just complete what we have and add more next year.
In truth, Daniel and I are really bad at making time for each other, and scheduling time to do something greater than the daily norm. So I'm really excited about this list and this new fall season.

We have been crazy busy lately. And it seems like it is only going to get crazier. We have no free weekend until the middle of December. Although being busy "keeps us young" I really enjoy the days when we get to just lay in bed until we feel like getting out of bed. And that's exactly what we did on Friday morning. Daniel and I are equally blessed in that we don't have work on Fridays, and typically our Friday's are filled with some kind of task we have to get done. But this past Friday we planned to lay in bed until Daniel had plans to go play golf with a friend who was out of town. So Thursday night we made a trip to Food lion and bought "laying in bed all morning" friendly foods. By that I mean, foods I didn't have to wake up and cook! So pumpkin spice donuts, iced coffee, chocolate milk and cinnamon rolls. Maybe not the most heart healthy breakfast. But it sure was a delicious one! We got a lot of good talking out of the way. Which we needed. There's just something about talking with my husband about somethings that just does my heart good, even when some things aren't always easy to talk about.

Want to create your own Fall List? Here's my cute stationary I used for mine!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/240238961349690590/

falling into a fall wardrobe

I'm blessed with a job gives me plenty of time to Pin. And with the weather getting cooler, I've been inspired to pin some fall outfits. So here are just a few inspirations I found recently that I love:

I love these looks. I love that they are both classy and comfortable. There are plenty of things I love about fall. And the fact that you get to dress comfortable is a huge reason. Comfy skirts, Big sweaters, tights and boots.

Follow me on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ralyons/

My Infertility Story...

I'd like to for-warn you that this is not for pity, if this post is anything its for your prayers. But this post could be emotional, or at least it is for me to write out. I have been through a very emotional rollercoaster these past few months and this is really just me getting it all out on "paper." I do want you all to know, that I have placed all my cares upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:7). Because he really is the only one who knows my feelings and understands all of my emotions. I do have a great support system. My mother, my husband, my sister, and my mother-in-law and father-in-law, and I'm so thankful I have them all to share face to face my current struggles.

About 10 months ago, after discussing with my husband, I finally decided to quit taking my birth control pills. At first my husband was in complete disagreement with me, but I didn't feel like a pill was going to stop God from having his way if he wanted us to have a child. And I also knew that there was a huge chance that having children would be a struggle for my body. Since day one of my cycle, I was not regular. I never really thought anything of it, until my sister found out she had Endometriosis. I then had to have my first OBGYN appointment. My mom had Cervical Cancer when I was born, so it was pretty much inevitable that I would have something. Not saying that I don't have a God that is bigger than all this, but in my human knowledge, I just had a hunch. 

All my life I just wanted to be a wife and a mother. It's been a dream of mine. When I came of the age where I had to decide "what I wanted to be when I grow up" I didn't have any dreams of a career. I just wanted to marry the perfect guy and have children. Now the dream is coming true.. but there is one problem, I "can't" have children.
Since about 17/18 I've been on Birth Control to cause a cycle. Without it I have no cycle. It all sounds great to some women, but honestly a cycle lets you know that everything is normal. And I was far from normal. So after my yearly OBGYN appointment in November I spoke with my Dr and decided to come off of the pill. In January, I went in to talk to her about my abnormalities and begin talking about the possibility of having children. And so the process began. We tried a few months without assistance. Nothing. Then I got placed on Provera to cause a cycle, so we went a few months with just that. Nothing. I then had to have an ultrasound to check out my ovaries, where we then learned that I have PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I learned that PCOS was one major reason I had gained a lot of weight in my first year of marriage, as well as being really upset emotionally about finding out about my infertility and lets face it.. it was "happy marriage" weight. PCOS affects 5-10% of women at child-bearing age. PCOS is responsible for 70% of infertility issues in women who have difficulty ovulating. And I am one of the 70%. After finding out about the PCOS, I was still taking Provera, and had to have a Progesterone test to see if I ovulate at all naturally without taking anything to cause ovulation. Well the Progesterone test let me know that I do not Ovulate at all, and that I will need assistance.

And that's where I am now. My Dr plans to put me on Clomiphene (works by stimulating the hormones in your brain that trigger an egg (or several) to develop and be released from your ovaries.) But before that happens she wants to make sure that my tubes are even open enough to release an egg. So tomorrow at 11AM I have to have an HSG Test and from what I hear its rather painful. My prayers are that it's not painful and that everything I'm reading is just hearsay. But after this appointment and if everything is clear, then Daniel has to go in to take a test as well. And if that is clear we will begin taking the Clomiphene. 

But until then I'm trying to stay confident that tomorrow will go well, and that it won't be as painful as everyone says. My mom and husband plan to be there with me. I'm a little nervous, and it all kind of makes me feel nauseous. But I know the Lord is on my side, and that he knows all and sees all. Even the things we don't see. He has to be my balance. Because it is so easy to think negatively, when God is a positive God.  There is nothing that happens that he doesn't see. And even in the most negative of times in our lives, he has a positive outcome, we just have to wait and be patient, and draw closer to him through the process. And I believe my miracle is on its way!

Birthday wishes and Kitten Kisses

World meet Pippi Elle or Pippi for short!

A friend of mine works at an apartment complex and sent me a sweet little picture of her and telling me how she was found in a gutter and that they were planning to call the animal control. Daniel and I had been talking a lot about getting a kitten, a little girl. Since Binx is not as cuddly and sweet as I hoped he would be. So when she texted me I instantly said I wanted her! The first few nights were really tough, Binx hated her and then after he got past hating her he wanted to play with her ALL the time, especially after we had went to bed. Now a week after getting her, she is exactly(so far) what I wanted! Daniel says she is one of my birthday presents.. but I honestly think that is just because he doesn't know what to get me for my birthday. 

Speaking of my birthday.. I turned 23 yesterday.. Not a big deal.. Another day another year older. I worked on my birthday.. I guess you can say I'm officially an adult since I worked on my birthday. But in truth, we can't afford for me to take off, money is pretty tight right now. So I came to work and my boss really did it big for me, which was so sweet and greatly appreciated. She bought me a balloon bouquet, and bouquet of flowers, everyone in the office signed a card for me. And then she bought me lunch. Which kind of defeated my diet... but it's my birthday! Monday night my parents bought Daniel and I dinner, with a gift card they had mailed me.. so it's not like I was eating on my diet Monday night either. 

I'm waiting to see what Daniel is getting me. He hasn't really done much, and not to put him on blast, but I haven't yet got to spend much time with him. But he did let me get a pedicure last night which was past due. My feet looked pretty rough, both literally and figuratively speaking. Then I went home and "pigged" out on Doritos and an ice cream.. which again is not on my diet, but in my defense.. One.. it was my birthday and two.. I really wanted a donut from Happy Day Donuts, so I drove there.. and they were closed down.. so there's that! haha Again, not a good excuse.. but I was SO disappointed that they weren't there anymore and that I drove all the way over there, and that their website doesn't even say anything about them being closed at that location. 

In overall, my birthday could have been better.. but lets be real, I'm an adult now and getting fun birthdays aren't really realistic. But I'm grateful for everything I have, for all the "Happy Birthdays" I received and the relaxing evening I got to spend by myself.