Struggles and Snuggles

So, we've made it to mid-August and for the first time in months, we are trying to upkeep our budget. Yes, we are struggling to steward well right now. I'm grateful that the Lord has been faithful to protect us from our own foolishness by granting wise counselors in our life who have strongly advised that we wait until we have saved a minimum of 20% down prior to searching for a home; and - having listened to enough Dave and other Ramsey personality podcasts - we have refrained from opening any credit cards. We do currently hold 2 cards beyond our debits, but they are directly tied to our debit account and we take the hit immediately without adding payments to the end of our months.

Small steps we are taking is to remedy the lack of budgeting. We are determined not to be the statistic for struggling marriages, with fights revolving around money and financial stress.

I have gone back to using cash for grocery purchases and divvying out fun monies, so that has been helpful. In addition to these, I have been diligent to planning menus and keeping our grocery bill to a minimum. I will be honest and confess that we have not been diligent in paying down our debt and this is not helpful for our big picture family goals.

Some of the big picture work is being done, though - in the little things. The kids have all been waking up with us and we start the day reading a chapter of Proverbs together. It has been such sweet time in the mornings to enjoy family cuddles and Bible reading. The girls and I are also going through the creation account in Genesis and my heart melts in their excitement as they boldly ask, "God created everything?!" each time we read the passage.

AJ is learning how to put others before herself as she is constantly wanting to be the one who chooses the show and plays with the toys her sister is already enjoying. E is learning how to speak gently when she wants something and not yell and throw a fit to get her own way. T is learning how to eat and stay on the carpet. Coincidently, these all tie into what mommy is learning as well.

I am also on a book launch team, which goes through September, for Risen Motherhood. Laura Wifler and Emily Jensen are sisters-in-law who started a podcast together a few years ago and it has grown into a non-profit ministry for moms needing the reminder of the gospel. I love it and I am so enjoying the book, which comes out September 3. It has been eye-opening, to say the least, and such godly encouragement, conviction and help through some of my wrestling through selfish thought patterns and behaviors.



PJ and I are really enjoying the Parenthood book from Tripp again. We are working through it slowly, but I like that we are taking all of the principles and talking through them and working them into the way we speak to our kids. It's truly helping us to apply these principles into parenting instead of just reading for the sake of finishing a book together. It looks like we will not finish until end of September or October at our current rate.

Defining Success

I just wanted to check in with a quick family update!

PJ continues to do well at work. It was tough for him to receive the December results on their store's numbers and find out that they were not number one, a spot they had held pretty tightly for a few months prior. It was a slice of humble pie for him to remember that there is never a time to stop pushing. However, it was a good opportunity for me to support him and encourage him in the accomplishments that he has achieved beautifully over this last year. Just because they did not make number 1 in December does not negate the hard work that has been put into making his store a success over the last year.

In the last year they have gone from underperforming and stress-filled to a well oiled machine where the environment has been uplifting in the coworker relationships. Please be praying for the growth and maturity of one of his new coworkers who is working to find her place in the store. Also, the lead technician will be taking some time off to recuperate and connect with his family before his paid family leave runs out. Pray for a time of refreshment for him as well as diligence for us. That PJ would take care of the schedules in a timely manner and that I would encourage him every step of the way over the next 3 weeks.


I have been working on finding a flow that works for the girls and I as I am amping up exercise and meal planning. May the Lord help me to be creative in making new meals that keep AJ interested and keep me in check not to deprive myself of so much at once so that I may continue on my weight loss journey with success not only for myself, but also for my family. This journey is not just for me, but it is for me to be a more fruitful home manager and trainer for my little ones, as well as a biblically submissive wife who takes care of her hubby as he leads us through the challenges and blessings of life.

AJ has been testing boundaries day after day. It is a continued challenge for my patience and drawing a clear line of consistent grace and discipline. Each day seems to bring difficult set backs, but when I take her to lunch and she eats well and socializes with our family or I can sit her in a chair while I get my eyes checked at the doctor, it is clear that the Lord is giving me enough grace to successfully teach my children well.

E is taking rice cereal at night, which is elongating her sleep time, but there is still a challenge to get her through the night. Please pray for consistency in her schedule and that we would not be lax in what we know might work for her instead of taking the easy routes of feeding when we know she is capable of rest. She is rolling from back to belly pretty consistently now, in that, whenever she is placed on her back, she flips for a better view then gets frustrated with her lack of strength to hold herself up for an extended period of time. It is adorable and she is enjoying the flip game!


That seems to be all for now. Thank you for your love and encouragement as our little family continues on our journey! It is such a blessing to know the love and support we have from our church family and all those around us. We love and appreciate you all so much!

-Jessy

Life Update - December '16

Someday, I'll go back to keeping a schedule and having consistency in writing. For now, though, we have consistent fluctuations in our home, so it is what it is!

AJ is doing great! She is 14 months now and on the move. She loves being tickled, her favorite game is Peek-a-Boo, and she adores her baby sister. E is already 2 months old getting more tummy time and squirming all over the place. She enjoys the lullaby on her baby play mat and watching the mobile. She is such a happy baby, and we cannot get enough of her smiles.

PJ and I had an awesome anniversary vacation together. We decided to stay in town and celebrate with Disney passes. As excited as I am for Thursday mornings at the parks with our little family, I am ecstatic for mommy-daughter dates with AJ in a few months when E is on solids and we can sneak away for a time to enjoy Fantasyland, Pirates, and Haunted Mansion together, as well as California Adventure's Monster's Inc, The Little Mermaid, Bug's Land, Cars Land and the Frozen show. Hubby and I are also looking forward to rare Fridays off to enjoy with one another and letting our littles stay with their grands!

Today PJ had to go back to work, it was tough, but he survived. There were just a couple of issues, but the smooth transition back was aided by an excellent team that kept ahead of the scripts. We are so grateful for his team, he because they all help him look good and the store is in an excellent position; me because when he is encouraged, I am encouraged. As much as I dislike his commute and the fact that trying to have lunch with him is a whole day event that is a rarity, he loves his team and neither of us can imagine him having to be at a new store with new coworkers.

Jessy is trying to find a rhythm for life, but there always seems to be something coming up. Prayerfully, the Christmas season will go smoothly, but we really feel that maybe this is not the best season to have an infant. If the Lord blesses us with more growth, we hope that number 3 comes sometime in the early summer so we can sleep more by the holiday season!

God is so incredibly gracious. Jessy is growing in patience and having the teaching of kindness on her tongue. PJ is still listening to sermons on his way to work. We are trying to do sermon application questions as our weekly study together. Our small group is working through Ephesians, also, so we work through that together to prepare for discussions. We are so proud of AJ and her ability to play with the big kids at group. Now, if we could just get her to be comfortable enough not to scream and fuss on Sunday mornings in the church nursery. Thank you, nursery workers, we love and appreciate you!

I think that's it, for now!

<3 Jessy

How Is Married Life?

"How is married life?"

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Molina

This is a question I would often ask my newlywed friends. Quickly, I am realizing that (as a single woman) I was asking the wrong audience if I wanted to learn the real answer to that question. My hubby, PJ, and I returned from our honeymoon last Thursday. After two weeks of our phones in "Do Not Disturb" mode, scarce views of any social media, and only a quick glance on our emails, we came home to this same question from many of our friends and family.

In all honesty, I can say that married life is wonderful! Marriage is amazing, because so far, it includes seclusion from the world and life in our own lovestruck bubble. I could live in this forever. This, however, is not real.

It's Honeymoon Time

Three days home and I have fiercely been struck by the to-do lists, the housework, the organizing, the cleaning, the laundry, the demand of having a husband, the holidays, and the blessing of being a wife.

Yesterday was our first day back at our home church. It was so encouraging to reconnect with our church family and be reminded of how much they love us. So many people stopped us to congratulate us, again, on our marriage and asked about our honeymoon. I know that there are so many people there rooting for us and for our marriage, and I am incredibly grateful for Foothill Bible Church.

Today is our first day of work life. We are establishing a schedule that works for us and finding a rhythm where we are not rushed before PJ has to run out the door for work and I am not without time to work through my to-do list before he gets home.

Today, we are still in set up mode and I am in the process of changing my name, email, and address. This sounds simple, however, it is quite tedious, having tons of websites, blogs, social media sites, and other accounts that I have to update. To top it off, I cannot complete most of these things (i.e. Voter Registration, vehicle registration, etc.) until my name is "officially" changed. We shall see how long it takes the county records department to send our certified copy; we were told about six weeks, so I will be in update mode through Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas! This is not only PJ and I's first holiday season as a married couple, this is our first Christmas together ever! Welcome, Jessy, to 2 sets of parents' schedules and everyone trying to do Christmas their way... Nope, we have lots to figure out in the next week!

It would be easy for me to look at two pages of to-do lists and be overwhelmed. To have several people ask me "What are you doing for Christmas?" with an expectant look and be stressed out at the thought of saying "I don't know." To think of all the things that need to happen around the house in the next 4 hours and scramble about. Even something as small as wanting to just ditch the work that needs to be done and hang out with my family and come to the realization that I am no longer a single woman... Yes, that is a weird thought.

However, I will not be overwhelmed, stressed, scramble about, or run away. I am incredibly blessed with an amazing husband who loves me, encourages me, and challenges me. I wouldn't trade that, because now I am a helper; I have another amazing family to make time for; I have a husband.

I am so excited for this new season of life!