Big Picture, A New Focus: What’s Love Got to Do With It?

Hey hey!

Happy July:). I’ve missed you! Maybe some of you’ve noticed or maybe not, but this is my first post in a while. Blog post that is. (You can still catch my almost daily musings via twitter or instagram). My life, Drew’s life, our life has changed quite a lot over the past several months. Why? Because we’ve gone from a party of two to a party of three!

 

We welcomed our sweet boy Houston George Lesiuczok on January 19th, 2017. And it’s been an incredible adventure ever since.

Houston at his first wedding!

 

 

Though I haven’t written here for a while, I haven’t stopped writing. My notes section on my phone has been a constant companion to keep track of the highs, the lows, the learning, the love, the lessons and the blessings. And so dear friends, here’s what’s been on my mind and heart…

CONFESSIONS OF MOMMY LIFE. Raw. Organic. Unfiltered.

1. Children are a gift from God-a living miracle. And it’s a daily choice …at times a moment-by-moment choice to never forget the miracle in our midst.

2. Babies go through SEVERAL growth spurts…and so will you. It’s challenging, exhausting, frustrating at times, rewarding at times for baby…and you. Don’t give up. Don’t treat a for now moment as forever. This too shall pass.

3. Motherhood is the most physically and emotionally demanding job. It’s a 24 hour, on-call, no days off sort of role. Aside from cute outfits and the cute baby, the main calling of motherhood is to love and love well. Love often. Love when it hurts. Love when we are tired. Love like we’ve never loved before. Love the miracle that is in our midst.

4. Big Picture. Fine Focus. Live like Jesus? Love like Jesus. Love when it is inconvenient. Love when you don’t think you can love anymore. Seek the best and speak the highest.

5. Each day we have a choice as to how we will live our life. How? By consciously choosing how we will use the gifts we’ve been given. Eyes-will we see with eyes of faith or eyes of fear? See with grace or see with greed? Ears-will we listen with compassion or listen with condemnation? Mouths-will we speak to encourage and elevate or discourage and deject? Hands/Feet-will we help others or hinder others? Heart-will we love fully or partially, unconditionally or conditionally, full-time or part-time?

6. Parenthood is a privilege.

7. The best parenting advice comes from the best parent of all…our Heavenly Father

8. When all else fails, love more.

9. If you’re looking to just coast through life, don’t have kids. Parenthood is the ultimate roller coaster-thrilling, scary, full of twists and turns, highs and lows, screams of joy and screams of frustration. It’s one wild and beautiful adventure. And once you’re on, there’s no going back.

10. Love takes no days off.

11. “Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:1‬ ‭NLT‬‬

12. I can’t put him down. I try to put him down to nap in his crib but he cries a short time later. He wants to be held. I’m tired. I just want to lie down and sleep. But this little one, his needs come before mine. Motherhood lays down our wants for our little ones needs. I asked God to help me become less selfish and prideful, he gave me a baby. Each day is about learning to let go of my wants and ways and to reject the invitation to the daily pity party. Instead it’s about become more selfless and loving like Jesus. “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

13. I fail daily. Yes, failure has become a regular part of my life. People can advise. I can read as many books and Google as much as my heart’s content but at the end of the day, it’s up to me to make the next move. It’s up to me to take action. And sometimes my actions end in the result I hope and sometimes it doesn’t. It’s all a part of the journey. Failure is a part of the journey. And so is grace.

14. Love is a full-time job. Too many people want to love part-time but reap full-time benefits.

15. My daily prayer: Heavenly Father, Help me to be more like Jesus today than I was yesterday. Amen.

16. “For I was hungry (for love), and you fed me. I was thirsty (for Jesus, purpose and meaning, eternal life), and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger (unknown and unwanted), and you invited me into your home. I was naked (no dignity), and you gave me clothing. I was sick (broken), and you cared for me. I was in prison (full of shame and guilt), and you visited me.’”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:35-36‬ ‭NLT‬‬

*(added by me)

17. When our eye changes, our I changes.

Do. No. Harm.
Dignity for all, not just reserved for a selected few.
“Love by example.”-Ophellia McKnight

18. Are you an option or the only choice?
Design vs Design for Good

19. I am greedy when I should be grateful.
I am selfish when I should be selfless.
I am boastful when I should be humble.
I am critical when I should be compassionate.
I am judgemental when I should be merciful.
I am lustful when I should be loving.
I am ________ when I should be _________.

I am a work in progress. Always have been, always will be.

20. “You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭19:21‬ ‭NLT‬‬

21. The Not-So-Little Mermaid Choice: I was at a birthday party once and the parents of the little girl had hired someone to come as Ariel from “The Little Mermaid.” She came and entertained the kids, singing songs, playing games, and reading a story. What’s interesting is that on that day, I learned that there are different levels of Ariels you could hire. There’s the top-of-the-line Ariel (level A), the pretty good Ariel (level B), and the average Ariel (level C). Depending on your preference and budget, you could choose which Ariel you want to hire. This got me thinking. How many times do you and I behave in this manor? If someone treats us well, level A self comes out. If someone treats us poorly, level C self comes out. How often do we let our feelings, circumstances (including the way we are treated by others) determine which level we operate out of? The problem with this is that when we let our feelings and circumstances determine the level we operate from, we have handed over the control. But there’s another way. Every morning, you and I have the opportunity to consciously choose who we will be. And more often than not, this is a choice that needs to be renewed several times throughout the day. Friends, there are many things that are out of our control: inconveniences, how people treat us, circumstances, etc. But choosing who we will be no matter what…is up to us. All in. Wholehearted living and loving. At any cost. Do you dare?

22. Dear mamas-to-be, before you read any #baby book, read this!  #motherhood #ParentingAdvice #breastfeeding

23. Unsupermommy.com

24. In 2016, I found out that I was pregnant with our first child. It was surreal. We had waited 2 years for this moment and it was finally here. And then we waited. We prepared and we waited. During this season, I did whatever I could to stay healthy (mind, body, and spirit) for our little one growing inside of me and for the newness of life that would occur once he/she entered the world. In 2016, I felt like i was pregnant for the entire year. It’s often like that with our dreams. God plants a seed. We get excited but nothing seems to happen immediately. He plants, we wait. And wait. During this time so much is occurring beneath the ground that we cannot see. No one can see. And then the day arrives where we break through the ground (like finding out we were pregnant) but there’s no fruit yet. We’ve got a lot to grow. Then there’s the whole giving birth thing. It’s hard. It may very well have been the hardest thing I’ve ever done thus far. It took every ounce of everything I had and then some. No drugs. Just love. And grace. Lots of God’s grace and strength. (Insert those who trust in the Lord will find new strength). I remember saying “I think I’m dying…” The pain was real…and overwhelming yet even in my state, I knew that it would come to an end and relief would be felt. The question was…when? That’s often how you and I behave when we face discomfort and inconvenience. We want it to end…NOW. But God allows us to wait-not as punishment but as privilege. Why? Because He in His infinite goodness knows the fruit that it will produce-the life that will bring life to others.

25. There have been moments when I’ve woken up (typically after a rough night) and thought, “I don’t want to be a mommy today.” But the calling of motherhood (not of being pregnant and giving birth) but of being an active, loving, and present mother, is not a casual job or a part time role. It’s a 24-7 job in which the rewards come in the form of hugs, cuddles, sweet smiles, “wow” moments when your child does something new, being faith to the one that God entrusted into your heart. Motherhood is not an obligation, it’s a privilege.

26. Smiles and snuggles, kisses and cuddles, and the undeniable connection-the sacred bond between a mother and her baby is something that money can’t buy. It’s a moment-by-moment, choice-by-choice investment.

27. If your life has moments that money can’t buy, you are rich. True wealth is made up of things that money can’t buy.

28. Daily Focus:  “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else…”-Matthew 6:33

29. Daily Reminder: “The Lord is my shepherd…”-Psalm 23

30. Parenthood has revealed just how selfish I am…I’m a work in progress

31. If you think you’re perfect, become a parent. You’ll quickly learn that you are not.
If you know you are imperfect, parenthood has your name on it.

32. Our goal as Jesus followers: “We want(ed) to raise children who would pierce the hearts of people for Jesus.”Rebekah Lyons *brackets were added by me

33. “Could I wait on Jesus to meet our every need? Could I make Jesus my only source of security, comfort, and provision when everything else seemed to be falling through? The testing had begun.”Rebekah Lyons

34. Freedom is not found in striving after the things of this world but in complete surrender to the One who holds it all together.

35. In a world full of darkness, Jesus is looking for the faithful few who He can glow through.

36. As parents, we long for predictability (nap times, behaviour, etc.). Parenthood teaches us patience. Will you love me even if I don’t nap at the same time for the same length of time as I did yesterday? Will you love me when I have a meltdown in public? Will you love me when your life becomes less flexible and spontaneous with me?

37. Lord, help me get out of your way in my life.

38. Temptation is everywhere. The devil invites us daily to play the game of “all the ways you’re not _______ enough” and “all the reasons why you are doomed.” But when I am tempted to play the comparison game (a.k.a. When my physical eyes fail me) which is often, may I remember this:

“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭2:15-16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

39. I prayed for many years, many seasons to become a mom and when I did, I wondered if I was cut out for this role. The long hours, the late nights-early mornings, the lack of sleep, the constant pressure to (self-imposed or otherwise), I encounter my own shortcomings and internal ugliness. But it is with God’s grace, that I am able to take another step, breathe another breath, give a little more, and forgive myself. Sometimes the person we need to be the most gentle with is ourselves. I’m still working on it.

40. To you this may be an ordinary photo.
To Drew and I, this is a testament of God’s faithfulness. See years ago, while in Texas, we purchased this onesie and it hung on our vision board. Years ago, we also purchased this soccer ball for our little one who had not yet arrived. I remember the days of looking at that onesie hanging on our board and thinking, “I can’t wait for the day we take it down for our sweet baby.” The day arrived on January 19th, 2017 when Houston made his debut. Years ago, he was birthed in our hearts and this year he was birthed into this world.
Dear friend, when God places a desire in your heart, know that He WILL bring it to pass. It may not be in your timing but His timing is perfect. God is faithful. He always has been and always will be.
His will. His way. His timing:)

 


The lessons continue and so does this new reality of mine. What does that mean? It means that for now, the blog posts may be infrequent and for now I may not get to write/design as often as I’d like. It also means that when I’m not writing, you can be sure I’m spending those moments making memories with our precious little boy. My word for 2017 is: SAVOUR. Savour the little things. Savour the moments. Savour the smiles and the snuggles. Savour the fact that he’s only little for a short time. Savour that each day before my very eyes, I get to witness and play a part in nourishing and nurturing this gift from heaven…

What would your life be like to savour a little more?

About Joann Lim Lesiuczok

Lifestyle Designer. Catalyst. Connoisseur of Life. Perfectly Imperfect. Foodie. Allergic to Nuts, Shellfish, and Mediocrity. Love Naps. Thought-Provoker. Soul-Stirrer. Multi-instrument Musician. Professional Dreammaker. Drew's Wife. JE SUiS. 1 Corinthians 14:1. When We Change The Way We Love, We Change The Way We Live. When We Change The Way We Live, We Change The Way We Love. #dangerouslove #generationamazing #lifeclass