LOVE, Even When it's Hard

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"If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect ,therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:46-48

I had ignored this verse for a long time. When I wasn't ignoring it, I was assigning it some trivial meaning. You know, something like "well I just need to be polite to everyone, even those who are not polite to me". Really Jami? Sad, but a true story. And maybe I was polite all while having sinful thoughts about that person or making a snide comment later.

More recently though, God has been showing me what this verse truly means. It has nothing to do with being polite, especially when it's phony. What it means is to truly LOVE those who are difficult to love. Do you truly LOVE those who drive you crazy or seem stand offish when you meet them? I will admit that I did not. 

God has used a couple of different relationships to show me what He calls me to in this verse. 

When you have a bad run in with someone do you write them off? I used to. With no regard for what they might be going through. No regard for what may have brought them to the point that I feel they are impossible to deal with. When I actually take the time to look past the surface and listen to people, get to know them and hear their story, my whole perception is changed. This may not always be the case but in cases where I have set myself aside and LOVED on someone I wouldn't have in my own spirit, He has blessed me for it. I have made some dear friends that I never expected.  And don't I want people to give me that same chance? I am certain that every first impression I have ever made has not been stellar {no need to send me examples}.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1-2

What about a long going relationship that you thought was hopeless and had given up on? Yep, I've had that too. I may have even fed off the drama of it {ouch, that's hard to admit}. What I can be sure of is that I spent a lot of time focusing on the other person and not myself. But God calls me to love those that are difficult for me to love. The key word there being "ME". Whether or not I LOVE someone is my choice. It should not be based on how I feel the other person is treating me. And when I finally let go and let the Spirit take over God blessed that relationship as well. It's not always perfect but He will always come before me and pave the way.

So who in your life is difficult to LOVE? Will you choose to love them anyway? I hope so.

Lovin the Beach

My family loves the beach! Any beach, any time. The kids can play for hours and I always feel truly relaxed. There is something so wonderful about packing a lunch, a magazine, and a couple shovels and pails and knowing you are all set. It's almost too easy.  During the Summer the kids and I go once a week with friends but the beach is also a favorite for family vacations. Nothing can keep us away. Here are some of our favorites...

My boys on Doheny state beach

One of our favorite spots is camping on the Colorado River at Moabi. You get your own stretch of private beach. Heaven!

Every member of the family enjoys it. Is Chief on vacation or what?!

Another favorite are the beaches in Big Sur. It's unbelievably gorgeous there and if you go off season you can practically have the beach entirely to yourself. 

This is proof that nothing stops us from going to the beach. This is my 3rd born at 2 weeks old. We went camping at El Capitan.

Our most recent trip was to the Sacramento Delta. A little stretch of beach was all the kids needed to have a great time. 

Happy beach going everyone!

{Wordless Wednesday} - Big Brother

Window Graffiti

I never thought seeing pictures all over my window would be lovely. That was before I discovered Crayola window crayons. Have you seen these? Maybe I'm way behind. My mom bought these for the kids and they LOVE them.

It does take some elbow grease to clean but it's worth it.

They love to draw faces and look through them.

I think part of what makes it so fun is me letting go. Letting them make a mess. They can hardly believe they are allowed to draw all over the windows!  I will admit the first time they used them I did cringe a bit but I quickly got over it. 

I recommend them, we are having a great time!

Happy drawing!

13 Years

This week is our 13th wedding anniversary. I am sometimes in awe at the life God has given us. When I met Hubby at 16 I could not have imagined what we would become.

I was 16, so of course it was all very romantic. He was close to perfect, I was a wonderful girlfriend (insert humble face here...or not) what else could we possibly ask for?

Try to contain your giggling when viewing this picture.

We dated for 6 years and even stayed together while we went to different colleges. I know, I know, true love.  We were married 2 weeks after I graduated and began our lives together.

This was my favorite wedding picture until Hubby pointed out it looks like he only has one leg. Thanks for that.

What I didn't know then was God's plans were much bigger than ours.

While I was focused on the wedding, thinking that was the greatest thing to ever happen to me, God was planning the truly wonderful for later.

It was after our wedding day...

that we truly found the Lord,

that we learned we are not in control, He is,

that we had some of the darkest days of our lives,

that we had the most wonderful times,

that we discovered what our marriage vows really meant, lived out,

that we were blessed with 4 beautiful children,

that we learned true love and grace.

I'm grateful for our history. We have a lot of shared memories, good and bad, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. I wouldn't trade the inside jokes and the nick names that sound ridiculous to everybody else. I'm grateful to know we are both in this for the long haul. It won't always be easy, but God and love will always be in the center.

Thanks for the wonderful 13 years Hubby.

I'm your biggest fan and I love you!

"God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

The Word

When I read the prompt for today's inspiration workshop I didn't automatically think about what inspires me creatively. I thought about what inspires me in my life.  There are many small things that inspire me day to day, but none more than the Word.

I just have to let my bible fall open and God always has something there waiting for me. We all need inspiration daily. How else could I joyfully fold that 10th basket of laundry or clean up the 5th glass of spilled milk (on the floor I just mopped)?

Luckily for me I also found Jessi from Naptime Diaries. She is an amazingly talented sister in Christ who takes the scriptures and makes them even more beautiful. These are truly some of the words that speak staright to my heart.

This scripture inspires me when a task or a problem seems "too big". 

buy it here

This verse reminds me that no dream is too big.

buy it here

This inspires me when I feel timid.

buy it here

Proverbs 31 inspires me in my daily duties and reminds me of the characteristics the Lord has called me to. It also happens to be where my blog got it's name.

buy it here

I hope these scriptures speak to you as they do me. And a big thank you to Jessi for using her talent to glorify God and make my house a little cuter all at the same time.

You can buy all of these prints and get custom work done here.

Things for My Bedroom

I'm back from vacation! We had a wonderful time and of course pictures will be coming soon. 

In the meantime I am starting to get ready to decorate my master bedroom. Right now I'm focused on lighting and drapes.  

Here are some things I am loving right now...

Opinions?

Know where I can get some great vintage fabric?

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Say "Hi" to Alyss

My final guest post for this series is Alyss from Oh What a Day it is Today. She may be one of the most honest, funniest women I have ever met. When I visit her blog I never know whether I'm going to wet my pants from laughing or cry at her thoughtful words. She is a wife and Momma to Jude and you must go visit her. You'll be blessed for sure. Thanks Alyss!

If I didn't have a husband, I'd...

Live with my best friend.

Stay up late watching America's Next Top Model marathons.

Go away for the weekend with friends.

Read every night.

Travel internationally.

Enjoy the downtown nightlife.

Take that job in the city.

Have guy friends.

Spend way too much money at Nordstrom.
Workout every night.

If I didn't have a baby, I'd...

Watch a movie. Then watch another one.

Shave more than one leg at a time.

Sport anything other than a ponytail.

Join a book club.

Clean my house.

Sleep past 6am.

Eat a warm dinner.

Wear a bikini.

Finish reading a magazine.

Go away for the weekend.

Have my Masters Degree complete.

Hold a teaching position.

If I didn't have a dog, I'd...

Actually be okay. What?! She bugs.

In some alternate universe, there's an Alyss that's living it up with friends and staying up 'til all hours of the night creating mayhem. And by mayhem, I mean hosting ice cream/pajama/movie marathons or reading a book cover to cover. Her passport is full of stamps. She's a rockin' elementary teacher, already holding her Masters Degree in Education. She's still really close with a lot of her friends from college because she either lives with them or goes away every other weekend to visit them. She's a skinny mini because not only has her body been spared from having the equivalent of a basketball stuffed under its epidermis, but she also has the time to workout consistently. Oh, and her legs are always shaved.

Her life seems ideal. Many people envy it.

But I know better. I know that I am actually the one with the goods.

I'm the one who gets to wake to the sight of a squealing baby reaching out to me as my husband brings him into bed at 6 am. I get a front row seat to watching the wonder and act of discovery displayed in my son's eyes. I get to share my life in the most intimate way with my best friend. I'm the one who has that special someone to cry with and delight with. I get to kiss smooth baby cheeks all I want. And you better believe that I kiss them a lot.

Recently, I experienced the worst feeling in the world. You can read about it here if you'd like. For a brief moment, I thought that this life of mine was shattering. I saw a glimpse of what my life would be like without my son, Jude. In that split second, I thanked the Lord that I was given this life, and not the other. This life of dirty diapers and screaming car rides and unnaturally early mornings. Of leaving parties early and burning all bikinis and sacrificing my career.

Every part of this life is a blessing. Even the baby cries that make you want to pull your hair out. And even the lack of nice things because you either can't afford it after the hospital bills or because your child will ruin it anyways. All of it is lovely. All of it is a blessing. All of it is evidence of the presence of a little life in your household. That is something to be thankful for.

How quickly it could be taken away.

We are not promised a tomorrow for ourselves. Nor are we promised a tomorrow for our children. Please don't become discouraged by the frustrating actions of your children. Discover a way for you to quickly deal with feelings of burden or frustration when dealing with your children. Get past those moments so that you can get back to loving every moment with them. We are blessed to have even one minute with them.

Say "Hi" to Casey

Today Casey is visiting and I'm so grateful. She is a true blessing and if you aren't already reading her blog you are missing out. Her honesty and vulnerability are gifts and her family is precious. Casey penetrated my heart right away and I am thankful for her friendship. Love you Casey!




My name is Casey Wiegand, I am a freelance artist, wife and mama. 

I love painting and sharing our life through my blog...where you can expect pieces of my perspective on life, faith, kids, marriage, with touches of art, creative inspiration, projects and things I love along the way. I have two little ones in the hopes of lots more and am married to the love of my life!

I posted this post recently on my blog about being thankful for the little things :)

Slowing down.

On my birthday when Chris and I had the day to ourselves I took a lot of time to read.reflect.think.

I was thinking about life and how we all (or atleast I) seem to be rushing through it. Are we just throwing it all away? What am I missing?

I was thinking about all of the things that make me happy....the interesting thing is it is mostly the little things...

opening a fresh tube of paint

hearing my feet pound the pavement on a jog

watching Aiden learn something for the first time

picking a fresh piece of fruit off a tree and eating it

playing the stereo loud as we clean the kitchen

Ainsleigh's giggles

the smell of my kiddos when they are out of the bath and in their jammies

the way the floors creek in the middle of the night

the way Christopher smiles at me

are we missing out on those as we "rush" through our days?

I came away thinking I just need to slllllooowwwww down. I am moving way too fast. 

It's okay to say "no" more and to not get everything done. 

Notice the little things. 

Give thanks.

Once a day I thank God for my sight. I am not joking........ something so small that we probably all take for granted.....Can you imagine? Not being able to SEE?

You know when we better ourselves it is a gift to our spouses and kids. We are better friends. 

You know choosing the gospel is dying to who we were before. 

There absolutely should be a transformation.

Something that has helped me in areas I struggle in is to just PAUSE. If Aiden is in the middle of a full blown meltdown, instead of just reacting...I will freeze time for a moment in my mind. 

In 20 minutes how will I wish that I reacted?

Fruit of the spirit here....gentleness, patience....

Okay, unfreeze.

It helps.

Then I imagine after years of doing this in all situations, it starts to become who we truly are. 

It gets easier. I think?