Happy Autumn!

Last Autumn when Lydia was 8 months old, now she is 18 months old!!

"Life starts all over again 

when it gets crisp in the fall."

                       -F. Scott Fitzgerald 

For as long as I can remember autumn has always been my favorite season, and I'm pretty proud of being born around this time of year! I love when the weather slowly begins to cool down and the leaves start changing shades of color. The smell of the air is crisp, and cinnamon sugar becomes the signature scent of my home. Everything just feels cozier. I'll be able to start wearing my fall uniform: a chunky sweater or flannel, jeans and boots. I cannot wait til I can wear boots again!! Food seems to taste better this time of year too. Winter squashes are at their peak, and boy do they taste mighty fine roasted, sprinkled with pumpkin seeds and served over kale. I also like pumpkin pie, pumpkin oatmeal, and pumpkin smoothies heavy on the spices.

There's a lot to love about this season. It seems to always inspire people to get together more whether it's to watch football (not me, I'm just there for the food), go to harvest festivals, host seasonal parties, go apple picking, etc. There's really no solid reason not to fellowship with your people when autumn is here! I am most looking forward to starting traditions with my family. I think Lydia will love jumping in freshly raked leaves, going to our towns harvest festival and helping me bake lots of delicious treats in the kitchen.

What are you most looking forward to this autumn? 

New Year, New Goals

Hey. It’s the start of the new year and also the time I usually start mapping out realistic yet challenging goals to accomplish within the next twelve months. And I am sure you all do the same! It’s a wonderful thing because even if I didn’t get around to all my goals, I’m given another year to start again. Making goals for myself not only makes me feel motivated, it also gives me an excuse to get out of a slump in the dead of winter. And because I’m starting this year as married lady, I’m more inspired to grow not only as a person but as a wife. The goals I have for 2014 are very much cohesive with the events that happened in 2013 and even 2012. For instance last year three life changing events happened to me which impacted the person I am today. 1) Putting an end to my avascular necrosis by getting both of my hips replaced. 2) Getting engaged to Michael. 3) Marrying Michael on a warm November day!

Read more after the jump.

Hello friends,
I gotta say my weekend was encouraging, awakening and incredibly relaxing! My sister Aria, mom, Esperanza and I drove to Maryland for the Women’s retreat at Sandy Cove.  But before we got there we stopped at Delaware for some lunch. My lovely mother found a spot called Fresh Thyme’s a small organic cafe run by a mother and daughter, that serves vegan and gluten-free options! I enjoyed a veggie burger with fresh avocado, tomato and sprouts, a side of quinoa tabbouleh and a delicious (yet very crumbly!) brownie that I shared with Aria. All and all everyone enjoyed their meals and I can honestly say the food was satisfying, wholesome and yummy! After enjoying lunch, we walked around the town for a little, then headed over to Sandy Cove to check into our rooms and relaxed a little bit before our first session.
Every year I look forward to the fellowship, escaping from New Jersey and most importantly enjoying Gods perfectly crafted creations. This year the theme was “Incomparable Christ” and a lot of testimonies were shared over the weekend.  To me the woman's retreats are a time of basking in His word, worshiping in His name and all the extraordinary things He’s done in all of our lives! This retreat left me with a very basic statement which is: in order for God to reveal things to you, you need to let Him in. That means you have to be willing to surrender everything.  For the longest time I thought I was right with God, I thought that loving Him and treating others nicely was enough. But nope, a relationship with God is so much more than that. It actually involves me to include God in everything and not to only run to Him when things get bad. I should be talking to Him always! The truth of the matter is that investing a relationship in Christ will reward us with the biggest gift any of us could ever imagine! And, what could be sweeter than that?
“How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!”
Psalm 119:103
(sweeter than agave, if you’re vegan!)
Until next time,
Jeffie Jessica