We Are Living Our Dream

I remember talking about our life together in 2007 when we started dating in college. I remember dreaming about what married life could be....and at such a young age. I remember getting engaged in 2008 and married in 2009, knowing we started our life together so young, and knowing we had our entire lives to work towards our goals and dreams as a couple! I remember our first little house together, getting our first couch and no longer sitting on the floor, doing things other than watching tv, because we didn't even have that yet. I remember how simple life was - and how perfectly content we were. I remember dreaming about buying our "forever home" together and starting a family. I remember finding that home and moving into what seemed like an enormous house! (I could no longer vacuum the entire house from one plug-in spot! haha) I remember planning which room could be a nursery in the future, dreaming about what our yard and property would look like one day. I remember our excitement of finding out we were pregnant, becoming parents together, bringing Nova home, creating this new chapter together with our happy little family. I keep thinking about memories and the sweet, simple moments I cherish.....

I stop and realize in this very moment that we are living our dream right now.

It is so easy to get caught up in adulting, in working, in setting goals and working towards them, in making plans for the next step in life, in parenting and being busy.

As I stop and take a moment to look at where we have been and where we are today, I smile and can honestly say that we are living our dream. What started as hopes in 2007 have turned into a journey together of being married, of parenting together, of doing this thing called "life" as a team.......and learning to love one another more and more along the way.





I love my days home with Nova. I love the look on her face when she hears you pulling in the drive way after your day at work. I love how we enjoy being outdoors together and we can have so much fun doing simple things together. Our family feels complete. "A chord of three strands is not easily broken" - Ecclesiastes 4:12. There is something so powerful in numbers of three and I find the simplicity and strength in our happy little family.

 While yes, we still set goals together and dream of our future with an "older Nova" - I want to slow down and simply live today, because the life we have RIGHT NOW is the life that I have always dreamed about. Life as a wife and life as a mom and living the way we are today is such a ginormous gift to me. I can see God's hand in it all. Living our lives differently and following His direction with a set-apart way of living has truly paid off....and will continue to!



I looked back at one of my journals from high school and saw one of my focuses of prayer was for my future husband.....I can honestly say that God blessed me in that area as well by giving me you! You're literally the description I wrote when praying for the man God would have for me. (even down to looks.....pretty amazing if you ask me!)


We are living our dream.

I am perfectly content with all God has given us and want you to know that living life with you is the best way to live. Living life as parents now with Nova is the icing on top.

  

  

 When I pause to thank God for all that He has blessed me with, I realize that the life I dreamed of as a little girl is the life that I'm living today! My heart is full and my soul is content!

 We have been made some bold decisions together when it comes to the age we were married, in our decisions with our career paths, and with how we live today. We have experienced deep heartache with losing my brother and learned to lean into God even more while sticking together for positivity. We have definitely experienced some ups and downs...and that is part of life, isn't it? Without the difficult seasons, we would not be as grateful for the sunshine filled chapters.....I know there will be many more ups and downs along our journey and I know that God will remain our foundation and our source of joy, peace, wisdom, etc through it all. 

Today I am simply filled with joy and am feeling 100% content with where we are in life...and I give all of the credit to God for paving the way, for providing for us, and for blessing our relationship and our family. Nothing we have is by our own works...it is a gift from God and when we look at it that way and realize we are to be good stewards with what God entrusts us with, (our body, our spouse, our kid, our home, our finances, etc) everything falls into place and we learn to appreciate the small things, to strive to be better not only for ourselves, but for our loved ones, and see God's hand in everything along the journey! 

Life is sweeter when shared with those you love......and I love what we have. 

#happy3

"I Don't Like You Mom"

Well. It happened. 

A few days ago I heard my very first "Mom I Don't Like You" as a very frowny "threenager" walked away from me with arms crossed. I'm not gonna lie. My heart sunk. I felt crushed.

What was it over? Me following through with miss Nova. 

Parenting. 

Boundaries.

Consistency. 

I am realizing that good parenting will involve those moments...even though they are NOT fun. 

Loving someone SO much means we must set rules and boundaries and follow through with them while that little person is testing the waters. Some moments are absolute bliss! Some moments I just want to squeeze her sweet cheeks from how loving she is to me. Some moments I also realize I must allow her to "not like me" because I am mean for not feeding her popsicles for breakfast or granola bars for dinner (Isn't it kind of comical when we take a step back at what little kids get so bent out of shape over? haha....they can be perfectly fine and then BOOM something sets them off!)

Anyways - Encouragement for parents who are reading this:

EVERY MOMENT OF PARENTING IS NOT PERFECT.

NOT EVERY MOMENT IS FUN. 

THOSE LITTLE HUMANS PUSH EVERY BUTTON WE HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO EMOTIONS...and that is OKAY!

Think about how we can become BETTER for our kids from what we learn.

Speaking for myself, I see areas where I am learning patience, sacrifice, and joy! 

Now think about what you are teaching your kid(s) in those not-so-popular moments...

When that "I Don't Like You" happens, when you get eye rolls, when an attitude pops up out of nowhere, it most likely means you are doing something right because you CARE enough to offer guidance and help mold their behavior. 

Another truth? NO BODY has this parenting thing 100% figured out...and no body ever will. Kids change from year to year. We change from year to year. And all the while we try something, make improvements, adjust as needed, go along with plan B, learn how to be better for not only ourselves, but also for them, and KEEP GOING. Go with the flow and attempt to maintain balance! 

Enjoy the Journey. 

Embrace this Season.

It goes by SO QUICKLY and one day we will look back and realize that even those unpopular moments were not "bad" moments, but rather part of them growing up and becoming who they are meant to be. You've got this. Hang in there! 

Oh yea, and don't be too hard on yourself on those "not so perfect days"

-Andrea Newkirk

Lasting Transformation...

Once I changed my mindset and how I tackled "results",  I truly found LASTING TRANSFORMATION! Life is too short to stay on the struggle bus, too short to battle with food, too short to dread workouts, too short to not splurge here and there also...finding balance is important and living intentionally and feeling amazing is priceless!

Wanna know more of what I've been doing....and not doing?

Keep reading: 

If You Say You Will "GIVE IT A TRY" That is NOT GOOD ENOUGH. I WANT YOU TO DECIDE.

DECIDE.

MAKE THE DECISION.

EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

Many times when I talk to people about transforming their overall wellness, fitness, mindset, etc, the most common phrase that I hear is "I will give it a try" .....

THAT HAS GOT TO STOP IF YOU WANT CHANGE.

Our bodies are limited. Our mind is not.

By changing the way we think, we will then change the way we live on a daily basis....and THAT ADDS UP TO TRANSFORMATION.

When you decide to join the movement and live the "Faithness Lifestyle", I am asking you to  DECIDE to "CUT FROM" the OLD YOU and make daily changes to become THE NEW YOU.

I do not look for people for my group who want to simply "try it" or "just see" if it will work for them. That is the wrong mindset and to me, I KNOW they are not ready yet in their journey to make those changes on a daily basis and commit to themselves...(but hopefully will find the value in that in the future and "DECIDE" to make the "DECISION" in the future!)

I want the DEDICATED. I want the GO-GETTERS. I want those who HAVE "DECIDED" that it is time for a new life. It is time to leave their old self in the dust and move forward in victory with the things they know need to improve!

Take that first step. 

Get after it. 

Make the decision to "pass a resolution"

DECIDE to make that DECISION.

......and once you do, your LIFE WILL BE DIFFERENT.

I KNOW you have what it takes. Have you realized that yourself yet?

-Andrea Newkirk

www.faithness.net 

Hold Every Thought Captive...

Worrying is STUPID. 

It is like walking around with an umbrella and waiting for it to rain.

How many times have WE ALL been guilty of that?

There are SO many things that can rob our happiness, our joy, our peace, our confidence, etc!