Happy One Year Anniversary Jesus!

One whole year already!

November 5th, 2013 was the day that my husband and I attended the ownership class at Newspring. We almost didn't make it, wanting to do something else and thinking the class wouldn't be more then a 15 minute, get to know the church, type thing.

Little did we know how miraculous and life changing it was going to be for us! We were saved right there at the class, together!

Eric and I were not meant to find Jesus alone and I am so blessed He brought me to Eric so we can do it together. Having our relationship constantly grow together is such a beautiful thing to watch for me.

Life did not automatically become picture percect. This past year has been a whirlwind of laughter, tears, anger, frustration, joy and the most love I've ever felt in my life. The Lord just continues to pour His blessings all over us, even when the times are hard! The trials He has and is putting us through has made us closer as a couple and I have been able to get out there and help others with what we've been through. As I've said before, He uses our past for purpose. I wouldn't change the sequence of events for anything. It's all leading us to a greater purpose.

I am SO very excited for what is to come from here. I am always looking for my next step in this walk with Jesus. The best really is yet to come and I know that our hand will be held the entire way by a God who cannot wait to give us all He has in store for us. He really does want great gifts for His children!!!

I promise you, it's a beautiful freedom. It's a peace in knowing that, even though I may not be where I want to be, He is taking care of me and I am far better off then I was before. His love has pulled Eric and I through so many dark times. I pray for EVERYBODY to have a relationship with Jesus.

God is calling me to be bold and I am ready! I am so blessed to be in the process of becoming part of Newspring's worship band. I have been praying to be lead to serve in that way for a while; waiting for the right season in life to go ahead and audition. Music is such a huge part of my soul and I know it was given to me to use for the greater good of Him. Eric is also busy serving at church and really likes the area he's settled in! So if you see him directing traffic in the parking lot, give him a wave!! He's probably the tallest volunteer they have, haha!

These are our best days and most humble beginnings. It took me a while to appreciate what I have, what I don't have and what we are working toward. I am God's project and my heart and love for Him grows stronger everyday. I am so thankful for Newspring and all it has done to help Eric and I reach this point in our life. I cannot wait to see Makenna start attending Kidspring. The volunteers and staff members are just wonderful with teaching the kids Jesus on their level and I know she will love it :)

The best is yet to come.

On a different note, I am almost done with my holiday shopping! Woo hoo!! I have a few more little things to get to put together for family and for little M but I am so close to being done. That means I can go out on Black Friday and be selfish ;) Haha! No, but really, I just wanted to enjoy Makenna's first Christmas season not having to worry about running around and shopping like a mad woman.

Have any on you all put a dent in your Holiday shopping list?

Well, I am off to the flea market today to find some goodies! Hope you all have a great Hump Day!

If ANY of you want to talk to me about Jesus, forming a relationship with Him, any questions or comments, or you just want to get something off your chest PLEASE shoot me an email: gfmamaj@gmail.com. I love hearing from y'all!

Spread some joy out here today.

Much love!

I just LOVE them! :)

The Happy Challenge

Hey y'all!
I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! Ours was great. We were able to hang out with family quite a bit this weekend, which always makes me happy. Church was fantastic yesterday and the message, as always, left such an impression on my heart that I hope to carry throughout my week. For anyone that is ever looking for a great church, please check out Newspring Church online and I promise you won't regret it.
So I was challenged by a follower, on instagram, to write the 10 things that make me the happiest! This is in no specific order and I challenge all of you to do the same!
1) My faith:
I love my growing relationship with God. I am honored to be the child of a King! I'm constantly looking for my next step with Him and love how far we've come.
2) My family:
I LOVE family. I'd spend and see them all every day if I could. There is nothing like getting together with those that we love most and seeing them with Makenna.
3) DIY:
I am no an artistic person whatsoever but I love finding things to make on Pintrest. My daughters whole nursery is one giant Pintrest project.
4) Food:
I love to eat. I love to cook; especially the better I get at it. I try out new and healthy recipes all the time and love it.
5) My animals:
I am not a cat person and living with an 85 lb weimaner in a fifth wheel is not easy but I love animals; especially my own! They were our first "babies" after all.
6) Music:
Even if it's just in the car, acting goofy, I LOVE to sing and play piano. Music has and always will be such a huge part of my life. In fact, my new serving position at Newspring Church will be to sing and act with the kids in Kidspring. I am SO excited to teach them Jesus on their level especially through the best way I know how.
7) Driving:
I know that sounds silly but to me there is nothing like rolling the windows down on a beautiful day, putting on some country music and go cruising down some back roads. I did this way more before Makenna was born and even before I was pregnant. Eric and I would drive anywhere to see where we'd end up and just talk. Those days are so sweet to me.
8) Friendship:
I've learned a lot about myself through friendships I've either had in the past or have now. There are some friends that are so close to my heart, no matter how often we talk. I believe God brings people into your life for a reason; (We all know I'm about His reasons!) whether it's for a lifetime or just for a season. I am so thankful for all friends that I have, both past and present.
9) My marriage:
I love doing life with my sweet husband. I love how he makes me feel and I love the amazing guy he is and always continues to become. As you can tell, he's one of my favorite subjects to write about. He's definitely a huge reason for my happiness.
10) Motherhood:

This little girl right here is the light of my life. Makenna has taught me so much about myself more then anything or anyone.To think Eric and I created something so beautiful just overwhelms me. I am so blessed and thankful that God chose me to be her mommy. Motherhood is beautiful, stressful, amazing, fun, tiring and demanding of my patience but to watch her grow up and know that we are shaping her life just completes me!!

God gives us so much to be happy and grateful for everyday. Church yesterday reminded me of how beautiful my life is because of Jesus and how much joy He wants for me in my life. I could have listed 50 more things as to what makes me happy but these are the 10 that matter the most.

I would LOVE to hear from you all the 10 things that make you the happiest! Send an email (aljanson819@gmail.com) or write a comment.

I hope you all have an amazing day and hey! If you have a Facebook, make sure you find my new blog page and like it by clicking this link:

GFMama

Your support is much appreciated and gives me a reason to keep writing. Have a great start to the week!

Much love!!

His plans>my plans

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares The Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

Wow! Before I start let me just say that this is one of my favorite bible verses. I have a horrible time memorizing scripture but for some reason this one has no problem sticking in my mind permantely. And for good reason!
My whole life has been nothing but following a plan (whether I knew it or not) that God has had designed for me long before I even came to this earth. Plans that, at the time, I didn't always agree with and it wasn't till years later I saw how important every step was that I took to get me to the place I'm in now.
 For example:
Anyone that knows me well knows how passionate I am about music. I spent my entire school career preparing for the big world to make it as a broadway star. I trained, practiced and worked my way into a very prestigious musical theatre school called the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (a.k.a. AMDA) in Manhattan. I remember receiving my acceptance letter and feeling on top of the world and so excited to finally be starting my journey to my dream. Nothing could have possibly stopped me right?!
Wrong.
When it was time for me to go to AMDA in October 2008, I went with baggage. At this point it doesn't matter what that baggage consisted of, but I spent my first semester at my dream school missing what I left behind in my hometown instead of taking advantage of all the city and AMDA had to offer me. This led to me dropping out after my first semester and then eventually leaving NYC altogether and moving back home.
I abandoned my school, my life in the city but most importantly, I abandoned my dream over something so silly. Does this make me sad to think about what I threw away? Absolutely. Regrets? No way.
His plan overruled the one that I had for my life.
It's all lead me to where I am now. It has all been part of Gods plan for me. He knew everything was going to happen exactly the way it did. He knew the trials and heartache I would soon face that year and summer of 2009 would bring me to North Carolina where I met and married the love of my life. The pain of not being able to conceive for two years was all part of His plan when we finally were able to get pregnant and had our beautiful daughter. He has always come through and why wouldn't He?! My God is an amazing God.
Trials and seasons are a way to build us up; make us stronger.
It's not easy but I am learning to trust my life into Gods hands more and more. That He wants ONLY good things for my life. And that I need to let go and let His plan for me continuously fall into place.
I am so thankful for where I am now and as for my passion? He will bring me back to it when the time is right. Lately I've been feeling that He is about to bring me into a new season and I've been wanting to get back into my music more and more. So I decided to try out for my church's worship band! Whether it happens or not, it felt great just to have that sensation of auditioning for something again. It lit a spark in my heart again, just like He knew it would.
I'll give y'all an opportunity to hear it yourself in today's post!
If you're struggling with confusion, fear or even anger as to where you are in your life now, remember to trust! Trust that the God who gave you life, wants nothing more then to see you happy and successful. Put your faith in His plan.
As always my email is always available and so am I at aljanson819@gmail.com. I'll always pray with or for you and would love to hear of how God is working in your life! Hope you are all having a great start to the week.
Much love!


Here is the link to my audition video. Thank you much for reading watching!
Audition Song