Chosen

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Chosen

Last year when my husband and I were expecting a third child, we just knew this one would be a boy, our family would be complete, and this momma would be done renting out her personal space to little humans! The day quickly approached for the gender to be revealed. We received one simple text… a pink square. That’s right — another girl! We were excited, but my husband still had a desire to raise a boy. He began asking about adoption, because through it, we would know for sure that we were gaining a son. There would be no question or surprise.

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Just To Know Him

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Just To Know Him

As a momma to two little, firecracker girls, I have been thinking a lot about how to pass on to them a genuine faith and love for Jesus. Especially considering that one of them does not even like to talk to Jesus currently (palm to face). When I look around at our Western version of Christianity, I have noticed a trend in how we attempt to build our children’s faith. In most cases, I have found that we often focus on behaviors — be nice, be kind, be generous, read your Bible, don’t be a bully — and then try to point it back to Jesus. “Be nice/kind/generous because that’s what Jesus wants you to do”. And though this way has brought about some great, moral individuals, in most of my observations, I have noticed that it does not always lead to people who are in love with Jesus or a life marked by real faith. Now, I’m not saying we don’t teach our children particular behaviors. Of course we should do that as good, responsible parents. But we need to make one thing abundantly clear to them...

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Walk It Out

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Walk It Out

My name is Gabbi, and I have a problem. For two years, God has whispered to me about doing a particular thing (well, more like not doing a particular thing), and I have ignored it… ignored Him. See, I tend to do this thing where (A) I think I know better than God or (B) I convince myself that what I clearly hear Him saying is for sure not Him at all. I like to think that He finds this stubborn quality “cute” in me, and perhaps He does… for a time.

I have two daughters, ages 4 and 3, and believe it or not, they can be quite stubborn and rebellious at times (not sure where they get that from — must be their father). At first, I find this characteristic funny, adorable, and something to be admired about them. But after three or four times of them telling me “No” and them crying and running away from me (or let’s be honest, sometimes it’s me crying and running away from them), it is no longer cute… especially when it happens in public... and I want to scream in their face and say some choice words. I don’t, just to be clear before anyone reports me to social services, but I want to with every fiber of my being.

I behave this same way with my Heavenly Father when He asks something of me.

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Calm Down

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Calm Down

REST.

As a wife, momma, employee, and volunteer, the word “rest” sounds like a cute little fairytale someone made up. Or maybe a joke? Something to tease us with and keep just out of our reach. Or perhaps it was an idea to make us laugh? And, then cry shortly after because we so desperately wish it was a real thing and not a myth...

I don’t know about you, but I am a doer and overachiever. It’s not because I want to be. I am just competitive deep down to my core — something I am not entirely proud of. Secretly (or maybe not so secretly), I find my value and worth through recognition and striving to accomplish things.

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In Pursuit of Purpose

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In Pursuit of Purpose

Finding your purpose seems to be a buzz phrase in today’s society. At least in American culture that is. We’re all trying to figure out what our ultimate purpose for existing is. We take every personality test, strengths test, and aptitude test under the sun. Yet, somehow it still eludes most of us.

I was raised in a single parent household. My mom had to make some tough choices, and ended up working seven different jobs at one time in order to support us. Because of that, the way she began fulfilling her purpose (the how behind the why) looked much different than she had originally hoped for and planned. After growing up and seeing this, purpose has become something that I am extremely passionate about.

Sometimes, the mundane of life or the chaos of life blinds us to our purpose. We get caught up in checking the boxes, returning emails, making phone calls, doing the laundry, or running the kids all over town and we forget that we have a purpose that is far beyond simply finishing the task at hand. And I would even argue that there is a greater purpose in every single small task we execute that we often don’t realize is there. And today, I want to take a few minutes to remind us of that.

Here’s the first thing we need to remember —

we all have the same exact overarching purpose.

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Gut Punched & Fancy Free

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Gut Punched & Fancy Free

I love food. If it was a love language, it would be in my top two for sure... Seriously. I’m a pretty stingy person. I hate spending money on actual things, but I have no problem with spending “dolla dolla bills ya’ll” on food. Any kind, I’m not biased — fast food, Starbucks, pizza, chicken, ice cream... All good. All welcome here.

So when I participate in things such as fasting, I don’t often sacrifice my food. I’ll typically give up things like certain types of food or TV or social media. Things of that nature. But never all food.

At the beginning of this year, I felt like God was asking me to do a personal fast. I thought about it for a while. I knew I needed to do it, but I just kept putting it off.

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Confessions of a Procrastinator

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Confessions of a Procrastinator

Hi, friend. I’m Gabbi, and I am a procrastinator.

Seriously. It’s bad. For instance, I am sitting here staring at a pile of laundry that has yet to be washed or put away in over two weeks… That’s right. TWO WEEKS. I couldn’t tell you the last time I vacuumed our rugs or mopped the floor (probably should actually own a mop first. Making a mental note to put a mop on my grocery clicklist for this week). I usually like to put off cleaning the floors until absolutely necessary, which is when I either notice my children picking dirt off of their feet or family is coming over. But it’s not just the not-so-fun things I put off.

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