The Ameri Brit Mom

Stalking My Prey: A Narrative on Purchasing a Jacket :)

It is officially fall now and so we’re on to one of my favorite fashion seasons of the year. I love everything about fall fashion: boots, leggings, scarves, jackets, sweaters, and cardigans. A few months ago I was thinking about fall jackets and realized that I have neglected to buy myself a jacket in five years and all the ones I own are old and worn out. So I had been on the prowl. As the shops began to put jackets on display I caught myself stalking my prey. Until last weekend I still had not found the perfect jacket for me. All of that ended when I walked into Target.

I gravitated instantly to a cute, unique, black fleece jacket. I imagined how adorable this jacket would look paired with leggings and boots and then I was hooked. I checked the price tag and found out that the cost was $44.99. It was a decent price, but one that I walked away from at the time. I snapped a picture of the jacket tag on my phone for later reference, but convinced myself to return to the original purpose of this shopping trip: diapers.

The next day, I sat reading a book and my mind wandered back to the jacket. I grabbed my laptop and headed over to the Target website and pulled up the jacket using the picture of the tag I had taken. Lo and behold, the jacket was on sale for $30.00! I didn’t need any more convincing that this was destined to be mine. I added the jacket to my online grocery cart and within minutes I had purchased it.

Two days later the anticipated box arrived bearing the jacket I had gifted myself. I tried it on and fell in love all over again. The inside is lined with fleece and is so comfortable and cozy. Now, all I’m waiting on is the weather to cool down a bit so that I can head outside in my new jacket!

The Power of an Encouraging Word

Encouragement is a big deal. Encouragement can turn a rough day around and make someone who is struggling realize that their situation is really not the end of the world. Encouragement can point someone to Christ and better yet show them an example of what Christ is like. Encouragement offers hope and speaks life not death into the minds and hearts of those around us.

However, if encouragement is so full of life why is it so hard to do? Why is encouragement so easy to hear, but so difficult to speak? It may be that in order to feel equipped to encourage others one usually is being encouraged in their own life in some way. It’s like a chain reaction. If we don’t feel encouraged ourselves it makes it difficult to help another feel this way.

Lately, I’ve been trying to make a conscious effort to speak life and encouragement to the people around me. A lesson has become clear to me in this process: in order to encourage others it also takes me encouraging myself. In the past, I’ve dealt with a negative attitude especially toward myself. God is truly reshaping my perspective and helping me to see that before I can encourage the people around me I must also speak encouragement to myself. He’s put people in my life who encourage me. Friendships have been formed on the foundations of faith and encouragement and I’ve been blessed endlessly by these people God has placed in my path.

We have to be cautious that we aren’t motivated solely by the encouragement of others. That is setting ourselves up for failure. People will never encourage us enough to keep us motivated to do good works so our encouragement must rest with God and ourselves.

It’s really important to understand the consequences of our words and actions to ourselves and those around us. What we think may be an small negative comment has the potential power to destroy. Our words can give life or take it away. As for me, I choose to have my words be life-giving.

Today I challenge you to make a list of people in your life who offer encouragement to you. Beside each name write one way you could encourage that person as a “thank you” for all the positivity they bring to your life. Maybe that means writing them a letter, picking up a coffee for them, or spending a few moments in prayer with them for something they are going through. Whatever challenge you decide to take on I pray that you are encouraged in turn!

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:2-4)

On Being a Writer: Rest

I am joining a group of writers who are linking-up twice a week through the month of September to discuss some of the foundational ideas in writing. The topics for this link-up come from the book On Being a Writer by Ann Kroeker and Charity Singleton Craig. This link-up is being hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog entitled Heading Home. Today’s topic is Rest:

I’ve had a busy schedule as the school year has begun. I’m still working on a way to be sure not to lose my writing momentum that I worked hard to create over the summer. It’s insane how quickly demands can add up, but it is important to take time to rest. Without adequate rest one is prone to burn-out and more susceptible to illness. Neither of these conditions are things that sound appealing to me so as the first few weeks of school have come and gone I’ll admit that they came with a little rest from the regular schedule of writing. I’m looking forward to getting back on track in the next couple of weeks and plan to return to my regular routines fully by October. One thing I’ve learned from my journey of writing, however, is the importance of rest.

If I’m not well-rested my brain turns to mush. My words are futile and I can spend an hour staring at a blank screen. My purpose is weakened and my desire to pursue my passion wanes. Rest is one of the key components to writing, at least for me.

I’ve also been learning not to be too hard on myself. I set goals that I always intend to attain, but sometimes life gets in the way and that is okay. Writing is a passion and a purpose of mine, but it ultimately doesn’t define me. There are days when my writing must take a backseat to real life, relationships, and rest which I’ve come to accept as okay.

One goal of this blog is to write routinely in a positive environment. I feel that even though the months of August and September I have produced less unique content than months in the past that these were still successful months for fulfilling the purposes of my blog. I’m looking forward to what October will hold as I settle into a new groove. I appreciate all of your tolerance and continued readership during this period of re-adjustment. This much needed period of rest has renewed my drive to continue chasing dreams and I’m grateful for each and every reader who has continued to support me. Life moves in phases and sometimes we all need a little more rest to catch up on lost time. I’m excited to move on from this point, but am not naive to think that the coming months won’t have demands of their own. Life is all about balance and that’s why I rely so much on Christ and positive influences.

Be sure to make rest a priority!

On Being a Writer: Plan

Planning is one of the most difficult steps in the writing process for me. Okay, maybe not the actual planning itself, rather the time to plan. I am challenged to find adequate time to set aside to truly plan out where I’m headed whether that be with my blog or some of the other writing projects I am doing on the side. My planning is not super in-depth or detailed due to the lack of time I devote to the planning process.

For blogging at the end of each week I write out a plan for posts to be written the following week in my planner from Plum Paper Designs. I outline what I want to write about accompanied by a couple of rough ideas, but generally I don’t articulate too much until the time comes to actually beginning writing each post. With that process, it does allow for a little wiggle room and occassionally my writing will take on a completely different shape than what I had originally intended (which I think can be both a positive and negative thing).

With the novel I am currently working on planning has been a little more crucial. Before setting out to write any of it I created a chapter-by-chapter blueprint detailing some of the major events. As the story progresses I’m constantly editing that plan, but I found that having this plan has been very beneficial in giving me purpose each time I sit down to write. I’m nearing the half-way point in the novel and am looking forward to the road ahead. I also found that starting from the climax of the story and working backwards has also helped to shape this story. I guess time will tell how successful that plan actually is.

How do you incorporate planning into your writing?

Five Minute Friday: Celebrate

This week the topic for the Five Minute Friday link-up post is celebrate. What is a link-up? Essentially a link-up is when you join other bloggers and write on a similar topic. You share your blog posts with one another and begin conversations via a host site. You can head over to Kate Motaung’s page to check out other entries from inspired bloggers. Here’s my five minutes of uninterrupted, unedited writing on this week’s topic:

This weekend I have a lot to celebrate.

Last night the Teays Valley Vikings defeated our rival school, Circleville, in our first league football game of the year. This is the high school where I work and we defeated the high school that I attended as a student. As a family we had an (American) Football Family Night under the stadium lights and enjoyed watching our boys take the W. Go Vikings!

Next, I am celebrating the beginning of fall. I love all things pumpkin and I’m super stoked to hang out with my friend, Ashley, today and work on some new fall decor crafting ideas. She’s not a big crafter, but I’m trying to convert her. I’m really looking forward to making a new wreath for my front door while sipping on Pumpkin Spice Lattes. Can I get an AMEN!?! Here’s a look at a project I’d like to complete this weekend from my Pinterest board Fall!

Finally, I’m celebrating the weekend. I absolutely love my job and I give 110% every single day and so by the time the weekend rolls around I am in need of some rest and relaxation. This week it seemed like the weekend would never arrive so, hallelujah, it has!

Thanks for stopping by to share in my small celebrations today. I hope every one has a wonderful weekend.

Birthday Hangover

I’ve been a little behind in my posting this week. I’m going to blame my lack of writing on the inevitable birthday hangover I experience every year after Arianna’s birthday celebrations finally come to an end. As a family we spend months in preparation for each birthday. For me, it is an emotional time every year as our baby presses on to a new age and more independence. I began researching and pinning ideas for Arianna’s gift this year around July. By early August we had settled on a plan and the following month would include the execution of said plan.

We’ve been blessed to have a loving and intelligent daughter who would rather spend her time crafting, drawing, or painting than playing with toys so we decided to create an inviting space she could call hers where all of these activities could be organized and take place. Our home is a two story home. We have an open loft on the second floor that we really hadn’t done much with. Previously, it housed a comfortable chair where I would occasionally read. Without too much moving around we were able to clear the loft and redesign it according to the needs and preferences of our young artist.

Sam decided to undertake the task of building Arianna a desk from two shelves and a Medium-Density Fiber Board. I ordered some polka dot wall decals in orange, teal, and purple from Polka Dot Wall Stickers. I also consulted Pinterest for the best process for storing supplies and decided to hang pails holding utensils on the wall. This allows for her to see all of her options while also keeping her supplies from becoming a mixed-up mess inside a box or on the floor.

We designed wall space on which we framed some of our favorite pieces created by Arianna as well as a picture of Elsa that one of my students drew which Arianna loves. Over our utility closet we hung a curtain to help bring out a theme in the decor for the space. Finally, we created a wall for displaying her own arts and crafts.

Unrelated to the loft/craft room we also decided it was finally time to convert her bed to a Big-Girl bed!

Things have been busy, but fun in our house since the big reveal. Arianna really loves her own space and she refers to it as her “office.” It was a fabulous birthday and although it may seem like a boring gift to redo a loft for a three year-old she truly was grateful for everything. She’s already spent hours on her own in the office working on several little projects. Watch out, Van Gogh, Arianna is going to give you a run for your money!

Reblog: Purpose Driven Mother

This past week I came across a very convicting and well-written article that I wanted to share with those of you who follow my blog. The blog post was entitled Purpose Driven Mother and was written by Inez Bayardo over at Novice Mommy. In this article Inez speaks about her experience as a children’s pastor. It’s a compelling story about an encounter with a parent of a student in her ministry who saw the salvation of her child as less of her own responsibility and more of the responsibility of the children’s pastor.

Parents, this is a message for you. As parents our responsibility to our children is to provide them opportunities to encounter Jesus through children’s ministry programs and things of the like, but it is also our responsibility in the home to constantly be pointing our children to Jesus. Pray with your children. Minister to your children. Grow with your children.

As your children grow you should not just hope that they have accepted Jesus and make it to heaven you should know without a doubt that it is the case because you were the one to lead them to that place. Children’s pastors were not created so that parents could have a hands-off approach to the salvation of their children. Their role is to provide re-teaching of the foundations that were already laid in the home by the parents.

My prayer is this for my family as it should be for all of us:

“…choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Please check out this article by Inez Bayardo and then check out other articles on her site. She is a new mother in ministry and has some amazing content on her blog.

Five Minute Friday: Same

This week the topic for the Five Minute Friday link-up post is same. What is a link-up? Essentially a link-up is when you join other bloggers and write on a similar topic. You share your blog posts with one another and begin conversations via a host site. You can head over to Kate Motaung’s page to check out other entries from inspired bloggers. Here’s my five minutes of uninterrupted, unedited writing on this week’s topic:

On this same day three years ago I was unknowingly about to become a mother. The contractions had begun and within hours my water would brake. My life would change in those twenty-four hours more than any other. I would go from a young independent person to one that lost focus on my goals for a while in order to devote all of my time and attention to my newborn.

I’ve learned a myriad of lessons over the past three years. My life would never again resemble the one I led on September 12, 2012. I learned to set aside my selfish ways to be the mother my daughter needed. My focus became my daughter and her health and safety.

The relationship between my husband and I would also never be the same. I would love my husband in a completely new and exciting way as he coached me through the labor process and held our daughter for the first time. The next few weeks would unfold and although we would be exhausted we would admire one another in our new roles. This would include a lot of encouraging and teamwork.

The life I lead today in no way resembles the one I led in 2012, but I love who I have become because of the young toddler who stole my heart. I’m enjoying this journey and would never trade a moment of the last three years for anything. God has blessed me and my family and Arianna is a big piece of that puzzle.

Happy 3rd Birthday, Arianna :)

On Being a Writer: Discover

When I write I find myself. The emotions and deepest thoughts buried beneath layers of the things that make me uniquely me. I find those things when I sit down with my fingers ready to type or my hands ready to write. I pause and in the silence God begins to peel back my layers and reveal what it is that I’m made of. I find my strength. I find my faith. I find my voice.

Writing helps me to discover the plans that God has for my life. Some days God’s purpose in my writing is just to cause me to reflect on who He is and what He has done in my life. Other days God has a specific story for me to share whether that be a real experience or a creative piece. Without writing I would not have documentation of this journey of life and evidence of God’s provision and plan for me and the world to see. Writing provides me an opportunity to share what my mind is incapable of explaining. For me the eloquence of words on paper comes much more easily than spoken word. I can be heard more clearly and louder than any voice when I express myself in writing.

I thank God everyday for this gift he has bestowed on me to help me discover my story and share it with others around me.