Unconditional Love

Christmas is almost here. Just a few days away. Today I was overwhelmed by the thoughts and memories of last year's Christmas. This time last year Briston and I were in a very dark situation. I think back and I can only thank God for bringing us to where we are now. What a difference!!!

I think back to last year and I realize that although I loved very much and had lots of hope for the relationship I was in with all my heart, my love alone was not enough for that relationship. I realized today that the problem was NOT that I did not love enough or did not love him enough (because Lord only knows how my heart aches for him), the problem was that my relationship with God was not strong and his relationship with God was non-existent. We did not have the peace, joy, comfort, and love that ONLY God can give us.

This year I am just in awe with the overwhelming feeling of peace, joy, and happiness that only God can give me. It is finally true love that I feel from God. I have searched for so many years to feel truly loved and I was looking in all the wrong places and in all the wrong people. God loves me for who I am. It's so different than being loved for what you can give, what you have, or what you look like. God takes me for who I am, what I am, with all the mistakes I have made, no matter what I look like, no matter what I give or don't give, etc. UNCONDITIONAL LOVE! Wow.....

I do realize that God has created us to love each other in the same way - with unconditional love. I say this because I have loved unconditionally. Last year I was loving someone unconditionally. So I know that it is possible and I know that God can bring two people together to love each other unconditionally. BUT, I have learned now that you must first receive and live by God's unconditional love so that you can then receive a person's unconditional love - cause if not you just won't understand or get it!! Unfortunately, the person that I loved unconditionally never understood it or got it! It makes me very sad, but I know in my heart that God will bless me and Briston - big time - with someone that will love us unconditionally one day soon. To love us no matter what we have, what we give, or what we look like. All of us loving God together and experiencing God's unconditional love.

Lord thank you so much for bringing Briston and I to where we are now - in your peace, comfort, and happiness. Your light has given us hope and joy. Thank you for rescuing us from the darkenss and bringing us into the light of your love and grace. In Jesus' name - AMEN.

God Working in Our Lives

Sorry for not posting any blogs for all these weeks. I truly apologize to those that have followed and prayed for us. So much has been happening in our lives the past few weeks. God has been moving and shaking things around for Briston and I.

I don't know why it still shocks me and amazes me how God can move mountains, open doors, close doors, make impossible things (impossible in our eyes only) happen!! BUT it does continue to blow me away how God works. I am in awe and trying my best to enjoy the journey although it is painful at times. I am walking in Faith with GOD these days!

There is so much to tell, so many stories, so many changes, so many blessings, etc. etc. etc. that have happened in the last few weeks. GOD IS SOOOOOOO GOOD!

God has such an amazing plan for Briston and I. I don't know what it is or the specifics, but I know his blessings are already around us. God has strategically placed people, places, circumstances, and events in our path the last few months of our lives as blessings. There are always angels among us (see previous post). READERS --- Never under estimate the acts of God and God's blessings for you through the people, events, or places you come in contact with on a DAILY basis!!! God can and does use anyone and all of us to speak, act, and bless people.

Thank you Lord, for all your works and your angels. Thank you for loving us all so much. Your ways are better than anything I can imagine or even pull together myself. Please continue to provide me the strength and courage to surrender it all to you. In Jesus' name - Amen.

Love comes responds ability

Taking care of kids takes responds ability and of course love to your kids. You lead them to the right spot where you have to let them go. God will look after them like how wonderful you have done for them. They will know that you have done a good job taking care of them and they will always think of you. Always think of your kids as lovely, sensitive, and caring. And you will think of them like that.

sincerely, Briston

Angels Among Us

Ever wondered what an angel looks like? I believe that God sends us angels all the time. I think many of us miss the opportunity to identify them as an angel sent by God because God uses regular every day people as his angels. You see, I believe that I have been a recipient of an angel sent by God. Yes, my son is the most precious angel God has sent me, but I am referring to an angel that God has sent as an every day person of the world. This angel is sent to help, bless, encourage, give a hug that is needed, or just any need.

For me, the angel I want to tell you about today is an angel God has sent to help me with a work project. Months ago I was assigned a very large project and felt overwhelmed with the task ahead of me. I was uncertain that I would be able to manage this project on my own. I prayed for God's help, strength, wisdom, anything God could give me to get through it. Well, about a month into the project a Project Manager was hired and my project was the first project he was assigned to manage! Talk about God sent!!! This project manager was sent straight from God - UPS delivery (UPS = U Prayed Sister!)

Now months later and near completion of the project, I truly realize that God did in fact send me an angel. So, I tell you all - DO NOT underestimate anyone - I mean anyone - that has provided you any kind of assistance. It may just be one of God's angels serving you!

Balancing work and being a Mommy

Briston has been off from school for 3 days now. It seems longer than that to me! He has been staying with his Grandparents for the past few days. Thank God my father (Abuelo) is retired and can watch over Briston while I have to work. I have missed Briston dearly the past few days. The house seems empty and I feel unsafe without my "little man". It's really funny how when he is around I feel protected - he is a 9 year old! I don't know! When he is not here at home with me I hear every crack and noise. Everything scares me. I think it is just plain missing him! He is my side kick.

When he is off from school for vacation it is hard for me to have to go to work. I wish I could be with him and spend time with him. He has grown so fast. And days go by so fast. Time just goes by before my eyes and my little boy is flying by in growth right with it. But Mommy has to work to provide for us. I already think about all the days, moments, minutes that I have missed because I have had to work since he was born, but I know that our moments although few in my eyes, will be treasured. We try to make them - 'golden moments'.

I will say that the little time I do get to spend with him is all about commands. I get home from work and we go into:

• Do your homework
• Eat dinner
• Take a bath
• Clean up your room
• Brush your teeth
• Get to bed
• Turn off the TV

So the couple of hours a night we do get goes by with battles because he does not want to do any of that. But I know that it is all worth it in the long run.

Thank you Lord for blessing me with the ability to provide for my son and I. You have blessed me and provided me with employment and wages. Thank you Lord for the time that Briston and I get to spend as a family. Thank you for blessing me with such a precious gift. Lord please continue to guide Briston and to show him the righteous way. In Jesus name, AMEN

Letting GO

I find myself ‘growing up’ more and more each day as my son, Briston (9 years old), grows with me.

When he was a baby I held his little hands to hold him up on his feet so that he could take his first steps. As he learned and took those steps, there came a time where I had to 'let go' of his little hands so that he could walk on his own. This was a bitter sweet event for me along the road of motherhood. I think back to that moment in time when I ‘let go’ of his little hands so that he could walk on his own and I realize that I did not know then what I was headed for as a mother. That was just the beginning of MANY ‘letting goes’ along the way of the road of motherhood. (first day of school, first day of going to play at the neighbors house alone, first overnight stay at his father’s house, etc.)

As he gets older the tougher the ‘letting go’ projects get. Thank GOD that I grow along side him and that as I grow God equips me with just enough strength to convince myself that I can get through it. God teaches me many valuable lessons as I am a mother for Briston. These ‘letting go’ projects are teaching me to trust in God more and more; and to rest assured that Briston is in God’s hands first and then in mine. I can ‘let go’, but God never ‘let’s go’!

God has blessed me immensely with this little boy. I tell Briston every chance I get that he is an angel sent from God for me. Briston is God’s special gift to me. I love him more than words can ever explain. Briston and I have been through some really tough times together and some very happy times together. He is my side kick, my friend (sometimes, lol), and he can even act like the husband I don’t have! He and I are a team. Unfortunately, his father (my ex-husband) has always been a little ‘disconnected’ from his life. As Briston has grown he has learned more and more about families and that there are families with Dads and Moms. I have already dealt with the “Mommy, why don’t I have a Dad at home?” question from Briston, but as he gets older the more he understands and wants to get to know his Dad.

This is where I am now on this road of motherhood (which, I think has no destination because we never stop being Mommy!). I have to ‘let go’ of my angel so that he can spend some quality time with his Dad. My prayer is for his Dad to want to get to know his son, the angel, the special gift that God gave us. I pray that Briston’s father can see the light that shines through that little boy.

Thank you Lord for blessing me with such a precious gift - my son and thank you Lord for giving me the strength, courage, and love that I needed to get through yet another ‘letting go’ project. Amen

The start of the journey of Blogging

Well, Hello world! I am new to blogging. I have a dear friend that has been blogging for a few months now and she has inspired me and has planted a seed in me about blogging. Since the day that she made a comment to me about me blogging, I have been thinking about it. It has weighed heavily on heart. For the past few weeks I have experienced, felt, and thought of many things that God would want me to share with the world. So here I am!

I do want to warn you all - I will be sharing my deepest thoughts and emotions. God has placed this task on my heart in order for me to break the chains and bondage that I currently struggle with. So, my prayer is that all of you will encourage me and grow with me as I 'cruise' (not run! It will be a while) through my journey of becoming a better Christ Follower, Mom, friend, daughter, sister, co-worker, leader and woman. Know that I can only strengthen and become better at any of these roles in my life through the Love of Our Lord Jesus Christ! So, it will be a journey to grow closer to Him and to seek His peace, love, joy, forgiveness and happiness.

Thank you all, in advance, for your love, encouragement, and understanding. Jesus tells us in John 15:12 "to love each other as He has loved us." Thank you for your obedience to God's commands. I am honored and humbled to be able to have the opportunity to share my journey with all of you. THANK YOU SO MUCH for cruising with me!

God Bless you. Love you all,
Liza

Happy Birthday Gloria! This post is dedicated to you. Thank you for loving me and for being the light of Jesus Christ!