Seasons Change. Jesus Doesn't.

I LOVE FALL!

In fact, I love fall so much, I could shout it to the world!

I LOVE FALL!

There's something so magical about that crisp feeling in the air. It's a feeling I can't quite find the words to describe but there are moments when the sun is shining, the leaves are changing colors, the air is crisp and it just tugs at my heart strings.
To me, fall is another piece of evidence of how much our Creator truly loves us! :)

Entering into this years season of Fall, God has placed a few things on my heart that I'd love to share.

The simple minded part of me, loves fall for these reasons:
* Changing leaves 
* Pumpkin EVERYTHING
* Thanksgiving!
* Change of weather. Which brings me to..
* Cute, cozy sweaters to wear
* Bonfires and SMORES (gluten free of course!) 
* The promise that Christmas is coming!

But this year I thought to try and tap into the spiritual reasons there are to love Fall and came up with this:
Fall is a beautiful reminder that all things change; nothing ever stays the same. Seasons or trials will come and go. Things will grow and things will die. I am in a season of my life now where I feel things are forever changing. A lesson that God was teaching me last week is nothing even remotely relatable to what He's teaching me this week! Our church is forever growing and changing, along with, our Worship Team. (PRAISE JESUS!) My family just went through a rather tough little season. Our country is about to go though some major change as well. Change is everywhere!

Like I just said, nothing stays the same. Things are constantly revolving. Life is so unpredictable; so unstable Except ONE thing.

JESUS.

A couple of verses that I discovered that fit this topic are some I'd love to share with you.

"The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it; 
surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever."
-Isaiah 40: 7-8

"Jesus is the same yesterday and today and today and forever."
-Hebrews 13:8

"For I the Lord do not change."
-Malachi 3:6

So while the trees are changing colors and the leaves are dying and falling off the trees..while the temperature outside changes from hot into cooler weather, our God DOESN'T CHANGE.

His love, His mercy, His grace, His power, His patience, His strength, and His holiness remains the absolute same.
What promise and hope we can get from this truth in an ever-changing and evolving world!
What promise and hope we can get from turning to His Word and knowing that it will never be different. That everything He said and meant 1,000's of years ago, He still means them today!

His victory on the cross? Remains the same.

His promises for us? Remains the same.

His plans for us? Remains the same. We were born with God already knowing every move we would make and every thought we would have. And in this moment, even as you're reading this, He is WORKING things for our good. (Romans 8:28) WHAT A GOOD FATHER! 

So I promise that even though much can change in our lives and outside our windows, God will never ever change. His Being and His nature will remain true and the same for forever.

So with all that said, Happy Fall! Hope you are all able to drink some apple cider and enjoy a snuggly fire :)
Much love sweet friends! 

Inhale love, exhale gratitude

I absolutely adore this time of year. The chill in the air starts to set in for winter, everyone is busy holiday shopping, and families are getting together for one very special dinner of thanks! It's crazy to think that this time last year, I was already pregnant with Makenna and didn't even know it. Now she's here and I'm able to hold my sweet babe while stuffing my face with turkey this year.
I am so thankful for all that has happened in our lives this past year. I shamefully realize how much I take for granted every single day. Yes my roof may leak when it rains, but it's still shelter from the cold. My car may be in the shop every other month, but I am still able to get around. I may get my yearly sinus infection but for the most part, my family and I have our health. We may not be rich but my husband has an amazing job that's able to take care of us and provide us with an amazing, stable life. When times get hard, I don't always remember how great I really have it. God has blessed my little family with so much and I should recognize and be thankful for all of it every single day of the year.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.  For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. 

Psalm 95:2-3

With all the hate that has spread all over the news the past few days, this leads me to want to jump into my community even more. To take this relationship I have with Jesus by the hand and bring it everywhere I possibly can. I have been feeling even more appreciative of where I am at emotionally and spiritually today. This country needs love. This world needs love. Why not pour that sweet love we have inside of us to those who so desperately need it most this upcoming holiday season? And when the holidays are over, lets carry that with us wherever we go. There are so many places and opportunities where we can extend a loving and lending hand. I challenge all of you to take time this holiday season to reach out to anyone you may feel needs it.
Life can be made beautiful no matter what hand we are dealt. Focus on what you DO have tomorrow and what others would do anything for.
I pray all of you have a warm and happy Thanksgiving with whoever you may be spending it with. May your belly be full and your heart even fuller.
Much love to you all!

Five more things I am thankful for:

*A place to call home

*Our health

*How much progress Eric and I have made in our marriage

*Date nights

*Grace

Show me how to love the unlovable

"Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." Romans 12:9-10

I read the most amazing devotional yesterday morning from Proverbs 31 Ministries. It starts off with the verse you see above from Romans and then talks about "unrushing" your life and making time for the smaller assignments The Lord puts in our lives daily. While I could relate to the devotional and it really was a great read, this bible verse they provided made me think about something else that I know every single person (I know I do!) must struggle with.
Loving those who are the hardest to love.
It is hard for me sometimes to show love and compassion to EVERYBODY. There are those that have done me wrong, those that don't necessarily seem compatible with me, and those that I feel I should just avoid. I run away from those that probably need the most love. 
This is not like Jesus at all. Jesus ran to those that had the most problems: prostitutes, lepers, tax collectors, the poor and dirty, etc. He didn't hide away from those that were socially unacceptable. So why should we? It all comes down to judgement doesn't it?
The bible says to love and help others as long as it doesn't interfere with YOUR personal and growing relationship with God. I hide behind this when I do not want to extend a hand or kind words to those that need it most. My selfish feelings get in the way of doing what I know is expected of me as a Christian and I will admit, I am shameful of this. It's hard for me to give kindness and love to somebody that hurt me, my marriage or my family. I don't want to pray good things for them. I want anger to take over my heart because that is what I feel they deserve.
But you know what? I deserve anger too. I've fallen and still do fall short. Jesus is the ONLY perfect person out there. I have no right to not forgive anybody that has done wrong doing against me.
We love because He loved us first.
-1 John 4:19
I pray a lot that God teaches me to love how He loves. To forgive how He forgives. To be rich in mercy and slow to anger. (Psalm 145:8) How do I expect to bring others closer to Jesus if I pass any judgment or show nothing but anger to them?
I'm realizing that the more love I put out, the more love that can fill my heart. Anger and judgement will have no choice but to leave because there will be no more room in my heart to fit those emotions. It's not always going to be easy. The other day I tried to show compassion to the last person I would ever want to show it to and I have since received no response. Honestly, it bruised my ego a bit before I realized it's not about how good it makes ME feel but about just knowing that I am able to go out and do what God expects of me to do. It's Him I want to please and His work I want to complete. 
Try it out. Try extending grace and love to others on a daily basis, whether you follow Jesus or not! Run to those that need love the most. Set an example for others to follow your lead. Show a smile behind your eyes instead of jealousy, anger or judgement. 
If you have anything you'd like to chat about regarding this or anything on your heart, please do not hesitate: gfmamaj@gmail.com :)

On to a more different and yummier note! That soup looks SO good right??!

I found this great article of all these different kinds of Gluten Free soups! The weather is really starting to cool down here in SC and I am anxious to try out new recipes, especially some beef stew. (My faovrite!) So check out the link and let me know which ones you like and have successfully made:

Gluten Free Soup Recipes

Also during this time of year, I to just pour myself a small cup of wine at the end of the day while Eric enjoys a nice, manly beer! His taste changes all the time but my favorite wine happens to be Moscato. I'm always open to trying new types (just no red please) so I welcome any wine suggestions you may have :) Duplin has come out with their Christmas wines and I cannot wait to get those back in my fridge again!

Hope you all had an excellent week and have an even sweeter weekend! It's going to be nice here in Lexington, so I'm hoping we can make it outside for a little while.

Much love!!!

Hello my name is Amanda and I'm addicted to fall!

Why do so many people just love fall so much?
I could think of TONS of reasons:
-Pumpkin everything
-Thanksgiving
-Comfy sweaters and sweatshirts that make you want to snuggle with the first thing you see
-That crisp and chilly feel in the air
-The feeling that the crisp air gives you; the kind of feeling that just makes you think and feel good inside
-The constant burning of apple pie, whipped pumpkin pie and apple cinnamon candles in the house. Though I let those scents burn all year round.
-Knowing that soon after fall is Christmas!! (Anyone start their shopping yet?? This mama has!)
My favorite is the fun of going to a Famers Market on a nice day or the pumpkin patch. And these past two days, I have done just that :)

Yesterday evening we went pumpkin picking and hay-riding with one of our favorite little familes! They brought their daughter Olivia who was a little bit more into it then our sleeping baby. It was a nice night and we always have fun with them. Heres some pictures to share:

It was such a beautiful sunset last night! Made for the most perfect pumpkin picking environment

Eric was finally able to babywear Makenna, our little pumpkin head, and loved every second of it. Judging by the way she was passed out the whole time, I think she did too. She loves her daddy!

So many pumpkins to choose from!

Sunflowers are my favorite and have been since I was a little girl!

We made it home a little after 8 with some yummy Chick-Fil-A to eat and Makenna was wide awake. We've never taken her off her schedule before and probably won't again for a while since she was up till 10 pm laughing at the warning label in her bassinet, haha!

Today, Eric and my dad were able to go to the Gamecocks football game, (thanks to his awesome boss!) so my mom and I decided to check out the Soda City Market in downtown Columbia. It was AWESOME! So many cute vendors and fellow babywearers! Here are some pictures from today's adventure:

There was a breast cancer marathon going on as well, so we saw lots of pink! 

We were able to fill a box with as much farm, fresh vegis and fruits that we could fit. We took great advantage of that and I'm so excited to fill my fridge with it with so much healthy yumminess!

Makenna loved being outside in the fresh air for the second day in a row!

Now let me tell about this amazing restaurant we stopped at for lunch. The ENTIRE menu is gluten free! (Happy day for this Celiac!) It's also vegan and dairy-free friendly. They name of the place is Good Life Cafe and everything is raw. Their food isn't cooked, it's dehydrated (I hope I got that right) and never goes above 115 degrees. I had the eggplant/bacon sandwich on onion bread with a fresh fruit cup and kale salad. YUM! I recommend it to anyone of my SC friends!

Days like today give me an extra boost of a reminder of how good I have it. How life is just so wonderful and the blessings that surround me, even in a simple sandwich, amaze me! God works ALL the time. He never stops showing me how wonderful my life can be if I just follow His lead. 

I hope all of you are enjoying your fall so far! As always, my email is always open (aljanson819@gmail.com) with anything you feel the need to send. I love reading your emails and the audience I'm getting from across the world is amazing and totally keeps me motivated to keep writing! God is good, God is great.

Much love!