To start off, I wanted to say I am SO thankful to be on antibiotics! And thankful to everyone who has offered up prayers on my family's behalf! I haven't been this sick in my adult life! I got on some antibiotics today for my sinus infection....can't wait for them to start working!
Its a quiet afternoon for me right now with both babies sleeping and I'm upstairs looking out the window at the lake and the stillness. The other night I was soaking in the tub (trying to find some relief, at least for my muscles) and I started to pray. It began as a prayer asking God to heal my body and protect my family from anymore illness and then it became more of a prayer asking for a renewed passion for Him in 2012. I have walked with Jesus as my Savior for all of my life, I was raised in the church I now serve and work at, and began my personal relationship with Him at 12 years old.
I love Jesus, but I take Him for granted.
He is the one constant in my life, the One who will love me regardless of how many times I throw daggers at His heart with my sin. He is the only true Provider and Healer, yet I continually slip in to self-reliance and focusing on "The American Dream" to find a false security in the physical, only to be reminded, when things fall apart, that only Jesus is capable.
I love Him, and desire Him, but I place Him on the back burner time and time again.
In this time of prayer I found myself asking Him to move me out of the way of myself and really hear Him this year. Stop talking, stop doing for the sake of doing and just listen. I asked for clarity, that I might really know how best to seek Him, feel Him and follow Him. I asked that this year not slip away, day by day, week by week without significant deepening of my walk. That my worship not just be the same, but that it be transformed into something like never before, a space that is for He and I to commune.
I asked Him to help me be a better wife, an encourager and supporter of my lover, my best friend, my husband. To be a better mother to the beautiful babies He has gifted me with, to love, encourage and support, discipline, teach and be taught by. To protect their innocence and point them to the deepest love they'll ever know in Christ Jesus.
I asked to be a better follower of Him, and in turn a better leader in the ministry I have before me, at my church, with my worship team, and other volunteers that I will oversee. That He show me how to meet the needs of others and help them find places to use their gifts and talents for the greater Kingdom of God.
I placed a study on my nightstand. It was in a drawer. Seems silly, but in the drawer I didn't see it or think about it often. Now I see it, and I pick it up and I do it. I talk with my Father. I won't be perfect, I'll forget to or make excuses to not spend time with Him in devotion and prayer. I'll let a week go by without giving Him the time he deserves, the priority he should always be. This is me saying it like it is. It makes my heart sad to say it, but it's true. I will mess up. But this year, instead of letting the gap of guilt widen, I will continue to push myself out of a place of complacency and pursue Him.
I won't let Satan's voice telling me that asking for forgiveness one more time is one more time too many.
I may not be capable, but He is, It is in my weakness that He is made strong, that He is glorified.
This is me being transparent, honest and embarrassed at the person I am far to often. But Jesus can take the tattered parts of me and turn them into a beautiful tapestry. He can for you too.
Kristine
Monday, January 9, 2012
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Derailed...
As excited as I was to begin this new year with a bang, it turned out to be more of a fizzle. My intentions were to wake up on the 1st head to church and come home and starting planning for things to begin and accomplish this first week of the new year. Well, we made it to church and once we got home everything stalled. Addison after her nap started coughing and feeling icky, and I started to feel a lot of achyness (sp) in my joints and muscles as well as a headache coming on. Needless to say, we were going downhill and fast. Sunday night came and went and then Monday-- the aches and pains I had felt were intensifying in my joints and muscles and I spent the night buried under blankets sleeping in sweats and my robe, still freezing with chattering teeth that kept me up from 2-4:30am. Having not gotten to bed until almost 11 this was not much sleep for mama. Addison and Cruz both woke up at 6 so I was going to have to survive on 4.5 hours of sleep,with a now migraine headache and low fever. Addison was hacking and complaining of an upset tummy and Jake had to be off to work (poor guy wanted to stay home and take care of us but it is month end close so he really couldn't). Luckily for me, Cruz sleeps well and takes good naps during the day and he did so all day Tuesday. I took advantage of his nap-times and let Addison watch cartoons and movies while I cat-napped on the couch trying to regain some strength.
I know we had quite a few friends praying for us, I was worried it was flu and praying constantly all day that Cruz not get whatever Addison and I had. By the end of the day, both of us were feeling quite a bit better and seemingly on the mend. Addison's still had her cough yesterday but not too bad and is mostly back to her usual self. I on the other-hand felt 90% better yesterday and jumped on my usual daily routine only to be slapped back again around 4pm when I started getting the same aches as I had on Monday night. I spent the remainder of the evening in pain and started the on and off of feeling like I was freezing (despite wearing layers), then sweating. UGH! I believe I have come to the conclusion that I have fallen victim to Mastitis. I am calling my doctor at Sandpoint Women's Health today to see if they agree, and if so, to treat with antibiotics before it gets any worse. I do have the symptoms in my chest region that follow suit with Mastitis and being that what would have been "flu" never really progressed, this is where I've landed.
All this being said, all I can say at this point is wow! I had never really gotten sick while Addison was a baby, even a toddler and on, my first bouts with any illnesses came by way of a cold and GI bug this last summer while pregnant with Cruz. I was still a mother of only one child that I had to take care. Being a sick mommy of a sick 3 year old and still needing to take care of, nurse, etc. a 10 week old is a lot of work. I have a ton of admiration for the single mom's out there who's reality this is daily.
I am also thankful for the community of people in my life. I knew there were a lot of people praying for our recovery as well as praying for protection over my infant. I also had my doctors wife ask me if there was anything they could do and offer to bring me chicken soup. I mean how many people have a community like this? When I say community I'm not referring specifically to that of Sandpoint, but rather the community of people who we have relationships with, that care about us and us them. Those that pray for us and we pray for, offer to help out, etc. I believe that through these relationships and community, I can see the hands and feet of Jesus. And looking back on this week, the first week of 2012 that I had all these hopes and plans for, I realize that maybe God's plan for me was to stop (or be stopped) in order that I might take some time to realize all those in our lives that make up a great community of people who God has put in our lives to show us His love so that we strive at doing the same for others. A great reminder to me that this year, 2012-- might not only be about my hopes, intentions and aspirations, but rather what things God might want me to focus on hourly, daily, weekly, etc.
So, as this week starts winding down, and most of the things I planned to accomplish were derailed by illness, I believe I have had some time to be reminded that though my 2012 goals included following and growing in Jesus, HE reminded me that this is a moment by moment task, an hour by hour fine tuning of the ear to His voice, prompting and leading. To not allow my goals to get in the way of what He might have for me in the moment, even if its different than what I had planned for that moment.
Its Thursday, here's to the rest of this week and weekend. May our bodies be healed by His hand, our hearts be pulled closer to the Heart of the Father and our hopes, dreams and intentions be aligned with His moment by moment plan for our lives.
K
I know we had quite a few friends praying for us, I was worried it was flu and praying constantly all day that Cruz not get whatever Addison and I had. By the end of the day, both of us were feeling quite a bit better and seemingly on the mend. Addison's still had her cough yesterday but not too bad and is mostly back to her usual self. I on the other-hand felt 90% better yesterday and jumped on my usual daily routine only to be slapped back again around 4pm when I started getting the same aches as I had on Monday night. I spent the remainder of the evening in pain and started the on and off of feeling like I was freezing (despite wearing layers), then sweating. UGH! I believe I have come to the conclusion that I have fallen victim to Mastitis. I am calling my doctor at Sandpoint Women's Health today to see if they agree, and if so, to treat with antibiotics before it gets any worse. I do have the symptoms in my chest region that follow suit with Mastitis and being that what would have been "flu" never really progressed, this is where I've landed.
All this being said, all I can say at this point is wow! I had never really gotten sick while Addison was a baby, even a toddler and on, my first bouts with any illnesses came by way of a cold and GI bug this last summer while pregnant with Cruz. I was still a mother of only one child that I had to take care. Being a sick mommy of a sick 3 year old and still needing to take care of, nurse, etc. a 10 week old is a lot of work. I have a ton of admiration for the single mom's out there who's reality this is daily.
I am also thankful for the community of people in my life. I knew there were a lot of people praying for our recovery as well as praying for protection over my infant. I also had my doctors wife ask me if there was anything they could do and offer to bring me chicken soup. I mean how many people have a community like this? When I say community I'm not referring specifically to that of Sandpoint, but rather the community of people who we have relationships with, that care about us and us them. Those that pray for us and we pray for, offer to help out, etc. I believe that through these relationships and community, I can see the hands and feet of Jesus. And looking back on this week, the first week of 2012 that I had all these hopes and plans for, I realize that maybe God's plan for me was to stop (or be stopped) in order that I might take some time to realize all those in our lives that make up a great community of people who God has put in our lives to show us His love so that we strive at doing the same for others. A great reminder to me that this year, 2012-- might not only be about my hopes, intentions and aspirations, but rather what things God might want me to focus on hourly, daily, weekly, etc.
So, as this week starts winding down, and most of the things I planned to accomplish were derailed by illness, I believe I have had some time to be reminded that though my 2012 goals included following and growing in Jesus, HE reminded me that this is a moment by moment task, an hour by hour fine tuning of the ear to His voice, prompting and leading. To not allow my goals to get in the way of what He might have for me in the moment, even if its different than what I had planned for that moment.
Its Thursday, here's to the rest of this week and weekend. May our bodies be healed by His hand, our hearts be pulled closer to the Heart of the Father and our hopes, dreams and intentions be aligned with His moment by moment plan for our lives.
K
Saturday, December 31, 2011
2011 Moments
The last day of 2011! I can't believe it but am SO excited to move out of this year and into a new one! I'm going to carve out some time later today when the babies are both napping, (ut oh, did I just jinx myself?!) to write out a list of goals and things I wish to be able to look back on this time 365 days from now and see significant growth and improvement in my spiritual and personal life from.
However, as rough as 2011 was I do want to acknowledge the things I am extremely thankful for that came this year:
1. A greater dependency on Jesus as the sustainer of life and giver of everything we need to survive. My ability to trust in His plan was tested in many ways this last year. However on this side of the year, I believe I have the assurance that in what have been some of the hardest situations we've faced so far, I can rely fully on Christ to provide and continue to bless in the ways He knows are best for my life, 'nough said!
2. A strengthened relationship with my incredibly patient husband. Jake and I have been together now for 12 year and married for 8 and a half. This year was the hardest year we've faced together due to many changes we faced as a family. Outside of my faith in God, the one person/thing I could always count on and look to for "the next step" was my Jake. Not only was he dealing with the same strain of these changes but also a hormonal, morning-sick-ridden, pregnant wife for 10 months out the year. :) I know that life will still throw us many, many more curve balls but I believe that with Jake as my partner and best friend and the solid foundation of Jesus that we try to continually build our relationship on, we can take on the world and come out the other end with a deeper love and commitment to one another. Thank you my sweet husband for loving me and putting up with me this last year!
3. Addison Marie, my first born, beautiful little girl! My heart could not be more full than to watch Addison as she grows into a loving, gifted, relational and fiery little girl! Addison has gone from a new 2 year old just finishing up potty training ( *chuckling as I recall a Dec. 27th trip to CDA RaptorReef with The Bostock's and upon the excitement during the jumping on the bunk beds in the hotel room Addison, on the top bunk with Izzi proceed to have an accident that left me scrubbing sheets and blankets in the bathroom with the little shampoo bottles intended for hair, but destined poop-clean up instead), to a pony-tail wearing, dress loving "mini-sixteen year old" with a HUGE vocabulary, who loves to help mom in the kitchen, read with and be chased around the house by her dad, decorate the house :) and hang her clothes up on her "wings" (aka: hangers) in the closet. She had learned about independence and her "right"to choose to say "NO" but also has to deal with the consequences of not following directions from mom and dad when she disobeys. Addison is a light, she adores her new little brother, her dear friend Izzi, cousin Dominique and Daddy as well as enjoys spending time with her grandparents and cousins. I look forward to seeing her continue to grow and change and blossom into more of who God created her to be. OH! And she's as excited as can be to be starting up ballet classes this next week!
4. CRUZ HALE OLIVER!! Cruz made his appearance on October 21st (right on time as I was scheduled for my C-Section on the 21st). How exciting it was to welcome a little boy into our family! My parents were dying for a grandson and a grandson they got! Cruz is now 10 weeks old and growing faster than I can believe. He is just shy of 14 pounds already and just over 24 inches long. He is easily moving into his 3-6 month clothes and is blessing us with many smiles, silly grins and coos! He loves his tummy, and is already rolling over and moving his legs and knees underneath himself in attempt to show us he could be an early crawler? He is a great napper and is close to sleeping through the night. His face melts my heart and boy does he love his sister! When she is in the room he searches for her and adores it when he gets her full attention. I am so in love with our amazing gift. God has richly blessed us with Cruz and we are excited to learn more about our little boy this year and get to know his personality as he reveals it to us as 2012 unfolds.
5. Amazing mentors and friends. Blessed to be working along side some fantastic people at First Christian Church part time, I am in the company of some of the most awesome brothers and sisters in Christ. I have been challenged by many of their words and experiences and find myself regularly reflecting on these things and asking myself how I can change, grow and adopt a more Christ-like attitude, perspective and walk in my own life. And WOW, some amazing girlfriends that have enriched my life and been there for me when I've been completely unraveled and needed to "share" to the point of hearing my voice and exhausting their ears far to much. These women are some of the greatest blessings in my life and have shown me the love of God in so many ways this last year. Thank you girls, you know who you are.
6. Family. Jake and I couldn't be more lucky than to live in the same town as both of our families. For the support, love and constant belief in us, I couldn't be more thankful. There really isn't much more to say except that we are incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to raise our babies this close to both sets of grandparents and cousins. It makes my heart swell to know that Addison and Cruz will have them as an active part of their lives! How much more blessed could we be....
Well, I think that about wraps it up for me, there is much more I could write about, but these are the biggest pieces of my life and the things I am most moved to write about. I pray this day brings you some moments of reflection on 2011 and a push to think about what your 2012 hopes and goals are! May this year be the year of blessing, growth and a deeper commitment to growing in Him!
Cheers,
Kristine
However, as rough as 2011 was I do want to acknowledge the things I am extremely thankful for that came this year:
1. A greater dependency on Jesus as the sustainer of life and giver of everything we need to survive. My ability to trust in His plan was tested in many ways this last year. However on this side of the year, I believe I have the assurance that in what have been some of the hardest situations we've faced so far, I can rely fully on Christ to provide and continue to bless in the ways He knows are best for my life, 'nough said!
2. A strengthened relationship with my incredibly patient husband. Jake and I have been together now for 12 year and married for 8 and a half. This year was the hardest year we've faced together due to many changes we faced as a family. Outside of my faith in God, the one person/thing I could always count on and look to for "the next step" was my Jake. Not only was he dealing with the same strain of these changes but also a hormonal, morning-sick-ridden, pregnant wife for 10 months out the year. :) I know that life will still throw us many, many more curve balls but I believe that with Jake as my partner and best friend and the solid foundation of Jesus that we try to continually build our relationship on, we can take on the world and come out the other end with a deeper love and commitment to one another. Thank you my sweet husband for loving me and putting up with me this last year!
3. Addison Marie, my first born, beautiful little girl! My heart could not be more full than to watch Addison as she grows into a loving, gifted, relational and fiery little girl! Addison has gone from a new 2 year old just finishing up potty training ( *chuckling as I recall a Dec. 27th trip to CDA RaptorReef with The Bostock's and upon the excitement during the jumping on the bunk beds in the hotel room Addison, on the top bunk with Izzi proceed to have an accident that left me scrubbing sheets and blankets in the bathroom with the little shampoo bottles intended for hair, but destined poop-clean up instead), to a pony-tail wearing, dress loving "mini-sixteen year old" with a HUGE vocabulary, who loves to help mom in the kitchen, read with and be chased around the house by her dad, decorate the house :) and hang her clothes up on her "wings" (aka: hangers) in the closet. She had learned about independence and her "right"to choose to say "NO" but also has to deal with the consequences of not following directions from mom and dad when she disobeys. Addison is a light, she adores her new little brother, her dear friend Izzi, cousin Dominique and Daddy as well as enjoys spending time with her grandparents and cousins. I look forward to seeing her continue to grow and change and blossom into more of who God created her to be. OH! And she's as excited as can be to be starting up ballet classes this next week!
4. CRUZ HALE OLIVER!! Cruz made his appearance on October 21st (right on time as I was scheduled for my C-Section on the 21st). How exciting it was to welcome a little boy into our family! My parents were dying for a grandson and a grandson they got! Cruz is now 10 weeks old and growing faster than I can believe. He is just shy of 14 pounds already and just over 24 inches long. He is easily moving into his 3-6 month clothes and is blessing us with many smiles, silly grins and coos! He loves his tummy, and is already rolling over and moving his legs and knees underneath himself in attempt to show us he could be an early crawler? He is a great napper and is close to sleeping through the night. His face melts my heart and boy does he love his sister! When she is in the room he searches for her and adores it when he gets her full attention. I am so in love with our amazing gift. God has richly blessed us with Cruz and we are excited to learn more about our little boy this year and get to know his personality as he reveals it to us as 2012 unfolds.
5. Amazing mentors and friends. Blessed to be working along side some fantastic people at First Christian Church part time, I am in the company of some of the most awesome brothers and sisters in Christ. I have been challenged by many of their words and experiences and find myself regularly reflecting on these things and asking myself how I can change, grow and adopt a more Christ-like attitude, perspective and walk in my own life. And WOW, some amazing girlfriends that have enriched my life and been there for me when I've been completely unraveled and needed to "share" to the point of hearing my voice and exhausting their ears far to much. These women are some of the greatest blessings in my life and have shown me the love of God in so many ways this last year. Thank you girls, you know who you are.
6. Family. Jake and I couldn't be more lucky than to live in the same town as both of our families. For the support, love and constant belief in us, I couldn't be more thankful. There really isn't much more to say except that we are incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to raise our babies this close to both sets of grandparents and cousins. It makes my heart swell to know that Addison and Cruz will have them as an active part of their lives! How much more blessed could we be....
Well, I think that about wraps it up for me, there is much more I could write about, but these are the biggest pieces of my life and the things I am most moved to write about. I pray this day brings you some moments of reflection on 2011 and a push to think about what your 2012 hopes and goals are! May this year be the year of blessing, growth and a deeper commitment to growing in Him!
Cheers,
Kristine
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Something New!
Something New...
Yay for 2012! Counting down the last few days of 2011 has had me questioning if one more cookie is really worth it, and confronting the fact that I think I have a sugar addiction that started October 21st and is going to have to end January 1st. I decided after having Cruz that I'd enjoy the holiday food and not feel guilty-- well I think I over-indulged and now have a sugar addiction, ugh. That being said Jake and I decided we were going to re-kick off our at home BeachBody workouts (INSANITY for him and TurboFire for me) and we were questioning a new kind of "lifestyle eating" one that we could apply to our lives without feeling totally deprived of things we like to have ever so often... (my dad's cheeseburgers in the summer and mom's sugar cookies during Christmas are too hard to say no to). :)
Our church offered a new "diet" that is a lifestyle eating plan called "The Daniel Plan" this last year and after sampling some of the food and learning a bit more about the program (as well as being challenged to participate); We are starting this up on Monday and look forward to the journey as it encompasses not only diet, but spirituality and looking at the body as a temple, etc. Check it out here: http://www.danielplan.com/
Also, TurboFire will be something new for me, I've always been a runner and INSANITY girl but seeing that I am still nursing Cruz and will be for quite some time, INSANITY is just a bit too much for my body to handle, he depends on me, so I am going to try TurboFire this time and will see what happens. It is an interval training program as well but is more dance oriented with some weight incorporation as well. Did you see I said "DANCE" program?!? yikesssss! This could be a total flop but I'm going to give it a go! I'll keep my blog posted, ha, with my thoughts and progress! :)
I am going to throw one plug out there-- I am a BeachBody coach and if you are looking to order a home-based workout program (P90x, P90x2, INSANITY, TurboFire, Hip-Hop Abs, Slim in Six, etc.) get in touch with me: kristinemoliver@yahoo.com or go to www.beachbodycoach.com/mrsoliver to see what we got. I can help you find the right program :)
You can also get in touch with me via Facebook here: (like me) :) http://www.facebook.com/coachkristineoliver
Cheers!
Kristine
Yay for 2012! Counting down the last few days of 2011 has had me questioning if one more cookie is really worth it, and confronting the fact that I think I have a sugar addiction that started October 21st and is going to have to end January 1st. I decided after having Cruz that I'd enjoy the holiday food and not feel guilty-- well I think I over-indulged and now have a sugar addiction, ugh. That being said Jake and I decided we were going to re-kick off our at home BeachBody workouts (INSANITY for him and TurboFire for me) and we were questioning a new kind of "lifestyle eating" one that we could apply to our lives without feeling totally deprived of things we like to have ever so often... (my dad's cheeseburgers in the summer and mom's sugar cookies during Christmas are too hard to say no to). :)
Our church offered a new "diet" that is a lifestyle eating plan called "The Daniel Plan" this last year and after sampling some of the food and learning a bit more about the program (as well as being challenged to participate); We are starting this up on Monday and look forward to the journey as it encompasses not only diet, but spirituality and looking at the body as a temple, etc. Check it out here: http://www.danielplan.com/
Also, TurboFire will be something new for me, I've always been a runner and INSANITY girl but seeing that I am still nursing Cruz and will be for quite some time, INSANITY is just a bit too much for my body to handle, he depends on me, so I am going to try TurboFire this time and will see what happens. It is an interval training program as well but is more dance oriented with some weight incorporation as well. Did you see I said "DANCE" program?!? yikesssss! This could be a total flop but I'm going to give it a go! I'll keep my blog posted, ha, with my thoughts and progress! :)
I am going to throw one plug out there-- I am a BeachBody coach and if you are looking to order a home-based workout program (P90x, P90x2, INSANITY, TurboFire, Hip-Hop Abs, Slim in Six, etc.) get in touch with me: kristinemoliver@yahoo.com or go to www.beachbodycoach.com/mrsoliver to see what we got. I can help you find the right program :)
You can also get in touch with me via Facebook here: (like me) :) http://www.facebook.com/coachkristineoliver
Cheers!
Kristine
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
2012 Here we Come!
No lies here, I am THANKFUL 2011 is almost over. Rough year for the Oliver's but we did get the gift of a little boy name Cruz Hale who arrived 10.21.2011
Here are some pictures of our little boy who we adore!
Mommy loves her little man...
Such a sweet boy
I love these shots of him wrapped up so cozy and peaceful!
Christmas Gift!
Addison also was a light to us this year-- She is a sassy (wonder where she gets that?!?!) little thing and so far three (she turned three in late Nov.) has proven to be a little tougher than 2 was....She is very advanced verbally and her comprehension is unreal sometimes....so when I say tougher, I mean her attitude sometimes resembles that of a 14 year old :) ha! She is bright, funny and kind and ALWAYS wanting to be "in the know," again, like someone I know! We love our curious little girl and enjoy watching her reach new milestones. Here are a few pics of her from this fall:
So as we look forward, we are VERY thankful for the new start of a new year! 2012 we are coming for you and can't wait to see how we grow and make memories to last a lifetime in the new space you create!
Cheers to you and yours!
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