Tasting Life Abundant

Nathaniel is almost always the first one to come downstairs in the mornings. He usually comes into our bedroom while I'm doing devotions and wants to talk and snuggle. One morning recently, he brought down one of his Lego creations and was showing me and telling me about it. Then he asked if I wanted to see him build it and immediately started taking it apart.... Now, when I'm in the middle of my devotions, my quiet time to start the day, I don't really want to sit and watch Nathaniel rebuild a Lego robot arm... But I'm trying to be patient so I say "Sure". As I'm watching him put each piece carefully and thoughtfully back into place and listening to him explain why he chose each piece, and seeing his little hands (which aren't that little anymore, really) skillfully rebuilding this well designed, mechanical arm, I am suddenly struck with this realization: This little boy can't sit still in church or at the dinner table, but he can sit buildin...

"...Faith looks back upon the past, for her battles have strengthened her, and her victories have given her courage. She remembers that God has never failed her, that He never once failed any of His children. She recalls times of great peril when deliverance came, hours of awful need when as her day her strength was found and she cries,'No I never will be led to think that He can change and leave His servant now. Thus far the Lord has helped me, and He will help me still.' Thus faith views each promise in its connection with the promise giver and, because she does so, can with assurance say, 'Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!'" [Spurgeon&Beggs Morning and Evening Devotional] "Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, Who keeps our soul among the living and does not allow our feet to be moved. For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You broug...

Today I turn 32. For the record, I do not feel 32...I'm not really sure what I age I feel. I think that once your brain fully matures when you turn 25 or so, you just kind of feel like that's reality, and you don't really mentally feel older. Or that's kind of how it feels to me anyway. I do feel more mature and more self confident, and I would not choose to actually be 25 again. (And never a teenager!) I like where I'm at. I would even say that the 30's are better than the 20's. Alot of things have sort of settled and you feel a little more like maybe you can do this "adult life thing" after all. So look forward to your 30's if you're not there yet! The best is yet to come.😊 I am so thankful for the amazing life God has given me; salvation in Jesus, godly parents, all my siblings, an amazingly loving and supportive husband, two beautiful children, a comfortable home, and so very much more. I am tasting life abundant, and I am humbled...

Pad Thai is definitely one of my favorite things😍 My husband and kids have been asking me what I want for my birthday tomorrow and I though it might be fun to share my "wish list" and do a little Kayla Q&A about things not related to my health🙃 I have to admit, I laughed at myself a little looking at this list...I feel a little bit like what my Dad probably would call a "hippie", or what trendy people would call "crunchy", and you would imagine smelled somewhere between dirt, herbs and sweat. Lol Listen I shower every day and we do occasionally have Oreos in our house so I think I've got some kind of balance going, ok?😂 Anyways...the list: >Himalayan salt lamps- big, small, nightlights- I can never have too many.( I dont like the ones that are just a bowl with a pile of rocks in it though). They give off such a soft, warm, cozy light, and they are supposed to help purify the air too. 💛 Love it. >Houseplants- my collection of ...

After two months of waiting, I finally got the results back from the hormone test I did in April, and this time there were very clear answers for us. Thank you God! After having so many tests come back "in the normal range" or just slightly off in some areas, having results that clearly show what's going on and where the imbalances are is a huge blessing and relief. The test shows that I have been dealing with what my doctor said was "the most severe case of 'adrenal fatigue'/chronic fatigue syndrome she's seen, on paper, from one of her patients." Ok...wow. It also shows that due to the "adrenal fatigue" I am experiencing the same kind of hormone imbalance you see in someone with PCOS, or Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome. Interesting... This imbalance is also affecting my thyroid hormones, so that while I am producing enough thyroid hormone, it is not converting optimally and therefore creating some hypothyroid symptoms. Aha. The con...