uma tarde na praia

If you read our New Years post, you may remember that this year one my goals for this blog is to share more memories. More than that, I want to share them in new creative ways. I want to challenge myself to think differently, write differently and express more of what God is doing in my soul. I want to invite Him in so that He flows out of me, and a new creation unfolds.

For the blog, some creative juices have been flowing as we make way for change. Like these blog post titles, some of them will now be in Portuguese. I just love the authenticity of writing in the language my parents first spoke to me; it's the language I learned to speak as a baby. And it really just makes me happy! So if you can't read Portuguese and you're wondering what these titles mean, google is the next best thing! Lately, I've just been inspired. To use my hands creating new things...I think some of that comes from watching Joy the movie (love you Jenn! Yes, we're on a first name basis) but mostly I miss/love expressing creativity and being artistic. This year I'm focusing less on screen time and more on real moments. For the blog that'll mean less photos per blog post = less time editing = less time on my phone =  more time in the present, and more posts (because I wont be spending so much time working on each blog post). I also won't be announcing every post I share because some will just be personal although not private. I'm excited and so ready to live more intentionally this year! Here's short a snippet of today:

Woke up - energized

Afternoon - grumpy

Late afternoon - happy

Evening - coffee 

p.s. working on a way to make the vertical images not pixelated when they post!

It's the little things.

showing off my brand new pink sweater from my favorite place (Anthro) and my favorite MIL (Denize)

Ended the day with one last favorite thing, THIS coffee. I feel like I'm always dreaming of honey latte's since having one of these. Today's was too sweet thanks to not having any sugar for a week (thanks Whole30...I mean 6?!) -_-

THANKFUL. BLESSED. IN HIM, ALL THINGS BY FAITH.

resolution road

Some thoughts concerning resolutions have been skipping around in my head; year after year I have felt obligated to have some. In essence, have goals to try and accomplish in that year to move forward, to grow. I have always loved the idea of growing every year so I would become the person I was "supposed" to be. This burden was continually weighing on my mind : be better, live better, feel better. If I wasn't improving in life, well, that means I'm getting worse at it. And THAT was unacceptable. Regression was unacceptable to me, so I was in a constant state of frustration with myself. But my biggest problem was that everything that did not feel like growth was regression. Sitting, waiting, living in the tension meant something was wrong.

What lies I believed for so long. Thankfully, the past two years I have been learning that tension is the opposite of regression! Actually,  it is in the tension that growth especially occurs because you're forced to rely completely on Jesus to bring you to new life in areas that need growth. It's in the tension that God speaks directly to your soul, and you are in season to hear with open ears what He has to say. He is moving, transforming, and renewing you! He was renewing me, but I did not understand what was really happening during those times for many years. 

So thinking about resolutions this year, I feel pretty different about how to approach them than years past. Yes, I want to grow in all areas of my life, but now the pressures and burden I once felt has been lifted because I know that God is transforming my heart. I am asking and waiting for Him to show me where I need to change while trusting Him with my desires and goals. I love what I wrote last year on my post with a list of resolutions, "They may or may not all come to pass and for the first time I'm ok with that because I know and am choosing to believe that God goes before us this year."  High-fiving myself here because It's time to enjoy the ride! I will not beat myself up for not getting everything right, or not measuring up to others I admire. God is with me, he goes before me and in Him I rest. In Him I live. In Him, I am free! Free to mess up, learn and grow in His time. Free to travel on this resolution road.

One particular goal that never seems to leave my list of resolutions is getting fit and eating healthy. And I am sure you can relate! After the holidays I just feel heavier. I can't even tell you how many times I have called myself a whale the past three weeks! (I know..I know) But this year, mainly because we are in a MUCH warmer climate and school no longer takes up most of my time, I feel so motivated to get active and eat well. The desire is coming from within and not from me forcing any burdens on myself. So in these few photos I celebrate the start of a change captured on my first jog of 2015. It's the start of new life for this 24 year old body of mine.

What goals/resolutions/changes do you want to see happen this year?
As one wise Pinterest quote once said, "progress, not perfection."

First smoothie of the year! 

one cup of water

one mango

one large banana

one 5 oz. container of vanilla Greek yogurt (I use TJ's brand)

blend all ingredients till smooth