Ash Wednesday

Last night we feasted at Copeland's: crawfish etouffee, crab and corn bisque, cheesecake, and lots of beads were involved.
Today we reflect. We've decided for Lent this year to do a family "spending fast". Yep, Monday through Saturday absolutely no spending money, until Easter. (unless the car runs out of gas, or eggs are needed for cooking =) Then we're going to find a special use for the money that we save in the next 46 days. Hopefully we won't go wild every Sunday when we break our fast for the Sabbath day.
It has been great the last few years incorporating some of the liturgical holidays into our evangelical system. I think this year will teach us a lot.
I read a blog post today that quoted St Augustine and I think is going to be my meditation this lenten season.
"May I know You, who know me."
The rain is falling, thundering crashing outside, I'm cozy on the sofa. It's a perfect day for reflection and meditation. Will keep you posted as we get ready for Easter.

The hope of spring

Life from death. That is the hope of spring and that is what I have been clinging to this whole month. And I can't believe it has been almost a month since I last posted. February was just as challenging as January but there is still light.
We had many celebrations between Valentine's Day, Winter Break, and Tim's 33rd Birthday. I would like to share it all but as usual there is not enough time.Valentine's Day is best served in pictures.

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Winter Break we were able to have a get away to Callaway Gardens. There we were able to have some much needed family time, get in some successful geocaching, and be inspired by the amazing plant and animal life. Definitely began our spring fever.

Cache #1

Cache #2

Cache #3

Cache #4

So Beautiful!!!

Tim's birthday was a multiple day event. He and I were able to have a wonderful date night, fancy dinner, really hip exhibits (Dialogue in the Dark and Bodies at Atlantic Station). Then the kids and I treated him to free pancake day at IHOP and made him the traditional sports inspired "cake".
I love these pictures from the last 3 years taken in the same place in our house.

31st...Basketball Cake...Jadyn 2y

32nd...baseball cupcakes...Jadyn 3y

33rd...soccer ball cookies...Jadyn 4y, Isaiah 1y

Lots to come, hopefully I can keep up. Until then.

Thought Explosion

Are you ever just overwhelmed with "possibilities"? Give me an hour to myself (Isaiah is actually taking a good nap right now) and it is over. The only problem, always, is figuring out where to start. What is most important, where should my energies go.
As far as the New Years goals, I'm making progress.
~Read more...just finished A Brave New World, had never read it. Crazy! Pretty thought provoking.
~Be more intentional w/time & relationships...had 3 coffee dates this week with amazing women, hosted a brunch time a few weekends ago with friends, lots on the calendar already for Feb and March
~Be more active...tried out a Zumba class thanks to Thea and am now addicted. Though I can't fit classes into my schedule yet I've found some awesome YouTube videos that keep me moving and grooving at home. Also, as a family we have taken up the hobby of Geocaching which if you have never heard of, you should Google. It has been so fun already and I think will be a great family tradition/hobby for years to come.
The others I'm still working on but I have a whole year right? One that is getting a lot of my attention is the "eat better" resolution. As I've mentioned, our little Isaiah has many food allergies and sensitivities which have sent me scouring the internet for solutions. Right now I'm looking into moving our diet from an american one to a more asian based one to scale back on the dairy. This is pretty huge since I LOVE dairy. But we'll see. I found a really great website that I think is going to help.
http://www.oldwayspt.org/
So I'll keep you all posted on that.
February started out promising as January did but this week Isaiah got really sick again. He has an ear infection and "reactive airways" (probably asthma) so we've been dealing with all that. His new little nebulizer "penguino" (it looks like a penguin) has helped. And we're trying not to let it get us so much off track again. BUT, if you think of us, please send up some prayers and petitions for healing and focus. Sorry no pictures, we've been a little lax in that area. Maybe next time.

The Best Laid Plans

De-railed. That's the only way I know how to put it. January started out with such high hopes, dreams, excitement.

Then somewhere between the start of Snow-Mania 2011 and the loss/theft of my phone, those hopes and dreams got lost.

So easily distracted, defeated. Feels like the story of my life. Ideas only half realized, projects only half finished, books only half read and on and on.

I'm not one to blame everything on "the enemy" but this month it truly felt like there was a power out there working against me.

Now, with all that said I am ready to re-group. Give it another shot. I still believe that all those things I believed at the beginning of the year are possible. Maybe I just need a new approach. And being humbled as I have been I think it's going to need to start with some serious discipline. This week it will be in the form of prayer, fasting and meditation on scripture (thanks to The Outsiders for the reminders).
I have all the basics I need: truth, love of friends and family, and the promise of the Holy Spirit. If I can only hold tight to these.

Here's to February being infinitely better than January...cheers

And some January photos just for fun

5-6 inches

School closed for a week!

Skippy Jon "Jadyn"

Brunch Bunch Fare

Waiting Patiently

Christmas Present Thank You

This is your life, are you who you want to be?

Long title, I know. So if you've ever heard this Switchfoot song you know it's pretty convicting, and inspiring if you let it be. As mentioned, I'm a big fan of the new year and all that it promises. It is usually a big kick in the rear for me. 2011 has lived up to its expectations even in these first few days.

I never want to be stagnant, complacent, at ease. I'm hoping my resolutions/goals will help me to continue reaching, striving and expecting more. The 2011 list in brief...

1. read more
2. stick to our budget/save more/waste less
3. be more intentional w/ time and relationships
4. get rid of non-essentials (all areas)
5. be more active
6. eat better
7. continue learning
8. serve more/give more
9. pray more
10. spend time doing things that are important/that I love

May not seem life changing, but they could be. Like I said, it's only day 4 (or technically 5 I guess) and I'm already seeing a difference.

Today it manifested in having a really great nap, dance party/jam session with the kids, planning the month out with Tim, listening to Mumford & Sons. Which, if you haven't, you need to.
I leave you with a line from Sigh No More
"Love it will not betray you, dismay or enslave you, it will set you free
Be more like the man you were made to be.

There is a design, an alignment, a cry of my heart to see,
The beauty of love as it was made to be" 

Happy New Year

Under Pressure

The first post of the year. So many expectations, so much to catch up on. It's almost too much. So I'm going to take the easy way out and just sum it all up briefly (if that's possible).

December in a nutshell (deep inhalation)
...Isaiah 15 month appointment (I know right?), he's right on target except slight in the weight department (super model thin we call it)...Jadyn's Christmas performance at church (she was great except she just wanted to look at herself in the big screens)...3rd annual Pink Pig visit...Christmas Lights at Life University...Lexi's (Jadyn's friend) super fun birthday party...food poisoning Christmas Eve Eve...fun with the Nelson's Christmas Eve...brunch w/ Nonna & Michael Christmas morning...White Christmas (that's right, it snowed for the first time since 1880 something)...stuck at work Christmas night (I'm over the bitterness part but don't want to talk about it ok? =)...celebrate w/ the sibs on the 26th...Georgia Tech Women's B-Ball...allergy appointment for Isaiah (so far deathly allergic to sesame, peanuts, lentils, peas and highly sensitive to milk)...Atlanta Thrashers (for the boys)...stuck working again New Year's Eve but home in time to toast with my love...got the rest of the weekend off since my bosses felt sorry for me about Christmas (hurray!!! for pity)...Isaiah sick the whole weekend (just my luck)...
(and exhale)

Which brings us to 2011. And it is a much looked forward to "blank slate". For those of you who know me know that I live for the new year, the perceived fresh start, the chance to do all the things I didn't do last year. I know it's not magical...but it kind of is. I hope you feel that way too.

If you are visual like me, there are a ton of pictures up in our Picasa gallery...
http://picasaweb.google.com/briahnnavegas/Winter20102011?authkey=Gv1sRgCPmOqKTiuMvZ9wE#
and one for the road, a new fave