Role of Women

Basic Reminders

Before we get into specifics, let's remember the basic truths we should remember:

1. We are loved by a holy God who wishes to redeem us.
2. We are saved by the sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
3. When we repent and turn to Jesus as Lord, we receive a new spirit and a new nature.
4. Our ultimate purpose is to glorify and serve God with all our heart, mind and strength.
5. God created woman to be in equal VALUE to man, not equal in role.

As Christians, we know God defines everything because He created everything! And here is what the Bible has to say about our role as women.

YOU ARE TO BE...

1. A Helper - In the original Aramaic the word God uses to call his creation of woman was 'helper'. It is the SAME word used to describe GOD when he is referred to as Israel's helper, so it's not an insignificant role by any means! (Genesis 2 :18-24) 

Until a woman is married, though, she is to still act in this role by being a helper in her home (if she lives with her parents), in her church and in any ministry she is able and willing to work in. We see many women helping and ministering in different ways in the early church of the New Testament. But Proverbs 31 shows us that this can also be through side hustles and businesses!

2. A Picture of the Gospel- The way man and woman complement each other is to reveal a larger picture of God's image, or character. Men show certain characteristics of God, and women show others, which is why mankind is known as the image bearers of God.

3. A Mother - We as women have been equipped to carry out the common day miracle of life! And unlike the common thought of the day, the Bible teaches that children are a blessing and reward.  (Psalm 127:3-5, Psalm 127:3) 

*And here is a note to any woman who has had a miscarriage: You may not have been able to carry your child through to birth, but God used YOUR womb to create a person with an eternal soul, and that person could not have existed without YOU.

4. A Primary Influencer - Did you know there's a much more important kind of influencer than the kinds you see on Instagram? It goes without saying that the role a father in the lives of their children is foundation. That being said, the mother, the woman of the house, influence their children more in the day-to-day life. (Proverbs 1:8-9, 6:20-22)

5. A Nurturer - Women have this nurturing and gentle instinct. Not only with children, but with those who are needy and vulnerable in general. We see examples of nurturing mothers throughout the Bible.

Hannah is one of my favourite, and we are told that when she gave birth to Samuel, she refused to leave him to do her regular trips to Jerusalem with her husband. She was firmly dedicated to raising and nurturing her son during those early and crucial years.

6. A Home Manager - Running a house-hold is a huge role for women. I truly believe this is why God designed the female mind to be so good as juggling multiple categories and multitasking. We are basically the secretaries; the personal assistants, if you will. We keep track of time tables, events, stock, supplies, etc. (Again...Proverbs 31 really drives this home!)

7. A Gospel Teacher - Whether it's reading bible stories with your children, challenging them to memorize verses, or praying with them, we are the primary teachers of our children. This is part of the Great Commission. Our children need to hear the gospel and become disciples of Jesus just as much as anyone else we know.

8. A Trainer of Women -  As we gain life experience and get older, we are to teach younger women. As the Bible shows, love is not merely an emotion but an ACTION. So we are to teach and train the next generation of women to do the tasks necessary to show show their love as mothers and wives and followers of Christ. (Titus 2:3-5)


READ MORE: In another blog post, I talk about the Characteristics of a Godly Woman, which is based on the roles God created us to act in. Please continue over there to understand even more about what a Biblical woman looks like!

A great resource that digs into what Scripture says about godly women is John MacArthur's book "God's High Calling for Women", highly recommend!

HEAR MORE: As if by providence, Lauren over at She Proves Faithful, recently released a podcast about Femininity and Masculinity: the roles of men and women. Take a listen for further insight! She is lovely!


I hope you are encouraged and challenged in some way today. Please share your thoughts, comments, questions or concerns down below. I would love to hear your responses!

I debated back and forth whether to have a gender reveal party, but ultimately I knew it would be a fun and wonderful time! We wanted to be able to tell as many close relatives in person as possible as well as some friends that we haven't been able to see much since we moved back from Egypt. Overall, we just really wanted to share this exciting piece of news with the people we cared about!

We managed to pull off a party for 20 people for under 150$! I'll walk you through the different areas and what we did to have a cute, backyard gender reveal party.

 LOCATION -

Because it's summertime, we knew an outdoor party would be ideal! We Canadians relish every last drop of summer. While we could have opted to rent out a shelter at a park, my parents have a large backyard with a deck and patio that could easily fit all of the guests. Not to mention close and reliable bathroom facilities, a kitchen, and indoor emergency space should the weather turn unexpectedly!

So, for location we spent 0$. If you don't have enough space yourself, ask family or friends who would be willing to host the party instead!

PARTY DECOR -

Fortunately, a gender reveal party means the theme is relatively simple. Besides the obvious Pink & Blue theme, I also opted for a Country Garden & Lace theme to complement our outdoor location. My parents had an old chalkboard from IKEA that I pulled from the garage, as well as the backdrop stand we used for our wedding as two major pieces of decor.

At the dollar store, I got:

• 6 rolls of 6 feet fabric rolls with different patterns (each 3$),
• 3 chalk board signs (2$ each),
• package of pink and blue balloons (1$ each)
• A roll of burlap fabric (3$)
• sticky note pads in pink and blue (1$)
• Pink and blue ribbon (1.50$ each)
• Two table clothes (3$ each)

Other decor I got for free by rummaging around were clothes pins, pink & blue paint, paint brushes and chalk.

Lastly, we bought some flowers at Safeway for 14$.

With taxes, we spend a good 55$ in total for the decorations. This could be cut down if you happen to have a lot of pink and blue craft and decor pieces already, or know someone you can borrow from!

FOOD & DRINK-

Because I wanted this party to be fairly casual, as well as easy on the pocket, we chose to make it a Potluck party! Not only does this cut down on cost, but it is easier to have enough food for the amount of people that come. Also, let's face it, there are family and friends we know that have specialty dishes that we would just love to have at the party!

With this in mind, we prepared 1 dessert, 1 main dish and took care of drinks. I got most of my ideas from Pinterest!

The main dish was Meatball Sliders. All we needed was meatballs, marinara sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, and 2 packages of buns.




For dessert I made mini Caramel Apples. Since my parents have an apple tree with more apples than they knew what to do with, I researched some apple-related desserts and thought caramel apples would be so delicious, cute and a great summer treat! Note: they did not turn out great since my caramel sauce (after several attempts to remedy) was simply too runny to really stick to the apples, but they were still yummy!

For drinks we had berry punch and pink lemonade, as well as lemon water. Because it was a very hot summer day, we also bought some ice and ice cream!

The party hits were the meatball sliders (yay!), my mother in law's spinach dip and my sister in law's amazing cupcakes! But honestly, everything that was brought was enjoyable.

In total we spent 50$ on food and drink.

There was plenty of food to go around, and a handful of left overs. No one went hungry!

PARTY SUPPLIES -

Once again, we went to the dollar store to purchase a few supplies. We scored when we found a party package of paper plates and napkins that were buried in the pantry! So all we got from Dollarama were:

• paper straws (to help tie in the paper plates which were multi-coloured)


• plastic cups


• toothpicks


• BBQ skewers (for the mini caramel apples)

In total we spent another 10$ at Dollarama.

REVEAL SUPPLIES -

We decided to do the balloons in a box reveal. My husband got a box from work, and I re-used some of the pink and blue paint mentioned earlier. All we had to buy for the reveal box was the wrapping paper (to help tie in the theme) and helium balloons. The wrapping paper was from the dollar store, and we went to Safeway for the helium balloons (since Party Stuff doesn't open until 10...) . I am especially happy with how the box turned out!

In total the reveal box, with supplies from Dollarama and Safeway balloons, cost 20$.



So, our total costs came to 135$, and it was a lovely time! The preparation was slightly stressful, but once the guests came and everything got rolling, we had a great time chatting up and enjoying each other's company. As for the reveal, I think this photo of my husband's face says it all!

Have you done a gender reveal party? What was it like? Do you plan on doing one? Do you have any questions about ours? Let me know in the comments below! Stay tuned for more baby-preparation coming soon! I will be venturing down the path of baby registries, and I plan to make a handy list of useful must-have items that will be helpful for every mommy-to-be! Also, only 3 more weeks until I start my third trimester!

Read Also: My Pregnancy Journey - The First Trimester

If you aren't already, you should follow my daily life moments on Instagram. I try to upload to stories often with either an update on my bump, preggo life, or my cute pup! See you there!

Things to Consider when packing Your Hospital Bag

1. Birth Plan - Do you know if you're, overall, expected to have a natural and uncomplicated birth? Or has your doctor already suggested that you will need a cesarean? The more complicated of a birth you are expecting, the longer you will be at the hospital. Granted, no one knows the future. But if you already have a heads up that you will likely spend more than one night, then pack accordingly.


2. Proximity - How close do you live to your registered hospital? The further you live, the harder it will be to send someone to go back to fetch you something. So you may have to be extra prepared.


3. Who Is Coming With You - Whether it's your husband, mother, sister, or friend, if you have one or two people that you plan to have by your side for the duration of your labour, be mindful of their needs. Ask them if they'd like some snacks packed, a book or tablet. Bring an extra charger or extension maybe.


4. Health Care - Depending on what country you live in and what kind of health care you have, the hospital may or may not supply some things for you. Talk to your doctor and other moms to know what that might look like for you!

What Bag I Use

First off, I want to talk about the bag I used. This is my precious Samsonite Pro-DLX 4 carry-on. It is slightly wider than the norm, and has the ability to expand even wider! A zip up flap keeps the two halves separate, with little compartments on the inside as well as pockets on the outside. It glides smoothly and overall is a great quality bag that I love for travel!

Since baby is the last person we will be reaching in this bag for, I chose the zip compartment to keep baby's stuff. That way, my husband and I can reach for our things without hassle and messing up the organization.

What to Pack for Baby

• 1-2 new born onesies
• 1-2 pairs of mittens
• 1 sleeper
• hat
• socks
• receiving blanket
• 2 swaddle blankets
• 1 burp cloth
• 3 newborn diapers
• wipes
• nail clippers/file (optional, but recommended if you're overdue!)
• pacifier

What to Pack for Mommy

Each mommy is a little different. While a lot of these are basics, there's a handful of things on this list that I want to bring, personally. For example, as much as I love to read, I know I won't be able to in a situation like this. But maybe you're already in the middle of a book, and it's the perfect distraction while labour moves along! Also, you might not give two squats about makeup, but I just happen to care about whether I look half-dead in pictures and when visitors come! Up to you, mama! Personalize your list to suit your needs and personality. Also, just a side note, I plan to bring my purse to contain the important basic things. Wallet, phone, lip gloss, sunglasses, and documents!

• 
  
  • Extra underwear (preferably simple granny-panties)
  • Nursing pads (in case you leak!)
  • Ultra thick pads (some ladies prefer depends)
  • toothbrush and toothpaste
  • deodorant
  • hair brush
  • hair ties, bands & pins
  • change of clothes (preferably something comfy for when you leave)
  • PJs (just in case)
  • slippers (a lot of women are encouraged to walk around in the hospital)
  • socks
  • phone charger
  • robe/dressing gown (for those walks or when visitors come)
  • makeup & toiletries (I just want basic makeup to cover up my natural dark circles and not look like a zombie post-labour!)
  • nursing pillow (great for just an extra pillow to prop up on)

What to Bring for Daddy

Maybe you have someone else as your support during labour. It could be your sister, mother, or grandmother. For me, my husband wanted to be in the room every step of the way, and I love him for it! I also had my mom but only during the last few hours. If you're bringing the hubby along, here are some things he will need and appreciate:

• shorts
• change of clothes
• hoodie
• pillow
• phone charger
• camera
• camera charger
• snacks
• headphones
• bluetooth speaker
• shaving stuff
• toiletries

That's everything I'm packing! Once I go through the labour and hospital experience I may update this, but I think this is a good list for someone who has never been in labour before. We first time moms can't help but want to be just a little extra prepared as we venture into the unknown!


Are you starting to pack your hospital bag soon? What did you pack the first time around? Is there something particular you regret you packed or something you wish you had at the time? Let us know down below!

It won't be long into your third trimester that you will start missing some aspects of the second trimester! And, while the third trimester might be just as bad as the first, the anticipation and excitement of baby is at an all time high!

The hardest part of describing the third trimester is the fact that it is a total roller coaster ride of symptoms that come and go. And it's hard to know how long the symptoms will last and when, or if, they will come back.

Still, there are some typical things you will likely go through that I've listed below. I do my best to offer ways to help deal and alleviate the discomfort, but be sure to always consult your healthcare provider.

Also, I'm featuring some shots from our maternity shoot in the snow! The photos turned out beautiful, thanks to our incredible photographer Neffi Bergen! Perfect winter-y shoot for a winter baby! Alright, let's get started.


Less Energy

Not sure which is worse. First trimester tiredness or third trimester tiredness. They are very similar. So don't be surprised if you feel the strong urge to nap in the middle of the day or sleep in an extra hour or two! Your baby is getting closer and closer to their full height and weight every week, so you need the rest!

Trouble Sleeping

I do not like sleeping on my side, so it was a hard transition for me to exclusively sleep on my left or right side. Also, forget sleeping on your right side right away, because acid reflux will be a constant companion! I usually have to wait a few hours into the night before my stomach has settled enough for me to switch sides. To help with the discomfort and pressure of a growing belly, I started using my Jolly Jumper nursing pillow as a body pillow. I would have one arm between my legs for hip/pelvic support and the other under and along my belly.

Constipation

Again, I've been pretty lucky in that I've rarely had constipation during my pregnancy. But when I did get it in the third trimester, it sucked! I don't know what triggered it, because I only got it twice. Once for about a week, and again for a few days. If you get it, talk to your doctor. At first they will likely suggest natural ways to deal with it. Obviously make sure you are drinking enough fluids. Foods you can try are blueberries and prunes. Even if you really don't like prunes, try to eat just 3 with maybe some milk. If you don't see any improvement or bowel movement for at least 4 days, your doctor might prescribe a stool softener.

REALLY Bad Heartburn

Ok, yes, I still think I had the worst bout of heartburn in the second trimester when it first appeared, but it can be very persistent and strong in the third! Granted, by the time I was in my last weeks of pregnancy, it settled down to be much more mild. I even reduced my prescription from two pills to just one with maybe a Tums or two throughout the day.

Emotional & Moody

You don't want to be around me when I'm grumpy and pregnant! Also, I cried at least once a week. Sometimes because I was genuinely upset about something, but most of the times I was simply overwhelmed with emotion. Heart-felt videos, watching labour vlogs, or just thinking about holding my baby girl was usually enough to set off some water works. It's perfectly fine! Try not to take out any grumpiness on others, but hopefully people around you are understanding that you're not entirely at fault, what with hormones and the symptoms.

Body Aches & Pains

As your body prepares for the birth, you will feel all kinds of weird and sometimes painful sensations. One day you will wake up and realize that you don't walk anymore, you waddle! Your hips and pelvic region will get sore and achy, your lower back and abdomen might feel some Braxton Hicks contractions, your feet and legs will swell up some more - oh joy! If you start getting very sore muscles, try heat pads, maybe a Tylenol, or you might even need a chiropractor. See what your doctor suggests!

Feeling HUGE

The last month, in particular, every day actions become significantly more difficult and uncomfortable. I even found that all my maternity clothes were tight! While people are always around to help, it can be a bit annoying to ask for help to put your shoes on, to get up, to tie your shoes, and just being dependent for simple things.

The Highs of the Third Trimester

Feeling Baby A LOT

This can be both a high and kind of a low as well, depending on how active your baby is. But it is so much fun to see baby roll over and feel those cute hiccups more pronounced. While it might not be as fun to start feeling the foot, bum or elbow poking out of your belly, it is fascinating and exciting to know baby is just about done cooking! While my baby girl could give me a hard time with her foot on my side and boney bum poking out, I tried to record every time she started really moving, because soon enough that baby will be out and about in the world!

Putting Together the Final Touches

Arrange the onsies, get the crib or bassinet in place, have the hospital bag ready. There are so many things that you can get done in the final weeks to keep you active when you probably just want to lay in bed. This can also help keep you positive as those emotional hormones start rising again. Take the last few weeks to really enjoy this special chapter in your life. I know, once that due date starts approaching you probably can't wait to meet your little one already!

The Arrival

When those contractions hit, or when you're induced, or when your water breaks, that's it. Pregnancy as you know it is over, and labour has begun! I will share my birth story soon, but for now I can say it is an experience unlike any other. Not going to lie, I do occasionally miss being pregnant! Guess that means more kids in my future! The moment you hold your baby is probably one that you have been dreaming about for quite some time now, well fret not. That time will come before you know it!



My pregnancy journey has come to an end. It is bittersweet, but greater things are coming! I still have some more pregnancy related topics I'd like to share and talk about, so stay tuned for those! Also, very excited to get my birth story down in writing so I can hold on to the memories of it forever.

Read More: My Birth & Labour Story

If you have just started your pregnancy journey, don't hesitate to check out my other trimester experiences along with any other pregnancy-related topics up on the blog! Questions? Comments? Let me know down below!

Last post, we talked about how the illusion of control causes stress, anger, and anxiety among other things. There is a reason we are told multiple times in the Bible to surrender control to God. One of the side effects of letting go is joy and happiness. This is even psychologically backed up, because we understand better that there are a great deal of things in life that we cannot control, and breaking away from the disillusion frees us from a twisted false reality.

So, we know letting go of control is good for us and we know that God is someone we can trust completely. So what is stopping us from truly surrendering to Him? Because, remember, we aren't called to surrender some, or even most to God. No, we are called to surrender ALL to God. It is one thing to listen to the GPS and follow it's directions, another to let someone else take the steering wheel completely! Yet, without true and complete surrender to God, we will never fully experience the soul-comforting peace that only He can give.

WHAT DOES TRUE SURRENDER LOOK LIKE?

We must always, always remember that God's will comes first! Even Jesus prayed "not my will, but Your will be done" the night he asked God to allow this suffering of the Cross to pass over him. Jesus, in his human flesh, did not want to go through the beating, the flogging, the whipping, and the piercing. His spirit knew what it meant to carry the sins of the world. But God's will to save mankind was the ultimate authority.

Real surrender is giving up our will for our lives and allowing God to direct our paths. It will never go how we plan or imagine, but by closely walking with God, we can experience true joy and peace.

WHY SURRENDERING COMPLETELY TO GOD IS HARD

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." Matthew 16:24-25

Like most things in the Christian life, this command is very hard. After all, we have to fight against our nature of pride and self-sufficiency. And, just like most things in the Christian walk, it takes a great deal of practice and asking God for help to learn how to give up control in the many areas of our lives. Some areas will be easier than others. Fortunately, there is plenty in the Bible that guides us in many major areas, such as money, relationships, and family.

You may be in a place, or have already experienced, a time when you realized how little you really control. How easily life can turn out very different from what you planned or hope. Sometimes, it turns out for the better, but we really struggle when trials comes. This is when trust in God can be most difficult. Yet, at the same time, it is the easiest time to surrender all.

When Times Get Hard - TRUST GOD

It's easy if things are going well, right? Even people with no faith can casually give credit to this distant idea known as God for all the good things that happen in life. But when we are in the valley of shadow of death, even sincere Christians can falter in their faith and trust in God.

But isn't it during hard times that loyalty, strength and courage are tested? Think about it. There is no product that you have purchased from a reputable company that didn't go through a series of tests. The medication you take, the diamond ring you wear, and the car you drive all had to pass tests that would put the product under stress to see if it comes through in the end.

"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:17-18 

Relationships are very much the same. It's easy to fall in love, or make a new friend, but it's through hard times, arguments or difficulties that you can see how sincere and strong the marriage or friendship really is. This is why God never, ever, ever promises that life as a Christian will be easy. In fact, we read that complete opposite. "In this world, you will have trials" (John 16:33). Even Jesus did not have an easy time on earth, in fact he suffered the weight of the world's sin in the name of love and came out victorious in the end.

So, while we are guaranteed to have difficult times, God asks that we trust Him, over and over again. The more we trust him, the more we surrender to Him, the closer we are to Him and grow more mature in our faith. When is a child closest to their parent? When they are completely dependent on them for everything. God wants this closeness, but it can't happen if we keep parts of our lives under our control. So, how do we get there?

HOW TO TRUST GOD WITH CONTROL OVER YOUR LIFE

If letting go of our expectations, of our desires, and control is not only commanded but can also bring us peace, how do we go about doing that? It seems so counter-intuitive. Because it is!

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6

Trust is just another way to say "have faith in". Now, it's always easier to have faith in a friend than to trust a stranger, so to trust God better, we have to get to know him better as well. As Christians, we know the three main ways to getting to know God:

1 - Reading his Word

We are told that the Holy Spirit will reveal God's wisdom and guidance to us, and it is usually done through reading the instructions of life that He has given us in the Bible.

2 - Prayer

You cannot grow a relationship without two-way communication. We have to do our part and spend time talking to God, sharing our concerns, asking questions or giving praise.

3 - Study

We have no excuse to remain immature in our faith and knowledge when we have thousands of bible studies, books, videos and series available to dig further into what Christianity, God and Jesus are all about!

As basic as these three things are, they are sometimes the hardest things for us to do in earnest. But there is no way around it! You just have to do it!



If you haven't already, be sure to check out the first half of this blog post "Surrendering to Joy". Let me know of any thoughts, questions, or musings down in the comments below! Any verse you feel speaks to anything in this post? Share it as well! I hope you feel encouraged in some way today.

We like to think we can write our own stories, forge our own paths, and find our own destinies. But if we take a step back and look at how things have unfolded in our lives, there are so many variables and factors that we have no control over. This idea of control is only an illusion, and we are only fooling ourselves.

You can't stop the rain from coming down on your wedding day, or from the company you work for from going bankrupt. You can't stop your parent from getting sick, or your house catching fire from a faulty wire.

The Illusion of Control

Like I said before, the idea that we can single-handedly arrange life to turn out how we would like is nothing more than an illusion. It's actually an issue that affects our psychology. The Illusion of Control was formally identified by Ellen Langer in 1975, and many psychologists and therapists recognize it in patients today.

To be grounded in reality, we must remember that the only things we CAN really control are:

• Our emotions and reactions to life situations


• What our focus and priorities are in life


• Our actions and words towards ourselves and others


• The choices we make

But too often we fall into a zone, a rhythm or simply a behaviour pattern where we seek to control more than is realistic.

WHY DESIRE FOR CONTROL IS A PROBLEM?

"The biggest problem with the illusion of control is that it leads to frustration and sometimes even to anger. We blame ourselves for outcomes that aren’t our fault. This is particularly true when the stakes are high." (Read Article)

To be more specific, we have the following problems when we seek to control more than is actually possible:

1. You Create Unrealistic Expectations because you have very specific, rigid and maybe unrealistic expectations that you are determined to achieve in order to make you happy. Nothing can go wrong. It must be PERFECT!


2. You Set Yourself Up for Disappointment- Reality will fall short one way or another for hundreds of reasons. Unexpected or uncontrollable things are likely going to throw a monkey-wrench into your plans.


3. You Don't Practice Trust- If we don't trust the people involved in our lives to bring about what we desire, it can become a bigger problem, since trust is a two-way street.


4. Your Focus Is Thrown Off - Chances are you are focusing on minute details or something that shouldn't be getting as much attention as it is.


5. You Become Overwhelmed - when you take everything into your own hands, you can drown in the work load, get burdened by the responsibility, or get lost in the maze of multiple options.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him,and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3: 5-6

We tend to do this is all major areas of life - family, marriage, finances, goals - where we forget that not every aspect is going to go or turn out how we want. It's a frustrating cycle that can lead to depression, anger or fear. I know, because I'm a huge planner. Stubbornly I have learned that I am limiting my happiness by doing this.

God knows this is a problem for us, which is why we are told in the bible to surrender our control.

HOW LETTING GO OF CONTROL BRINGS JOY

It seems counter-intuitive that giving someone else the reigns will somehow make us happier than doing it ourselves. Here is a simple illustration to help show the opposite is true.

My favourite part of my wedding weekend was my Bachelorette Party. It should be my actual wedding day, but I remember being so happy on the day of my bachelorette party (versus my wedding day which was a bag of nerves, anxiety, joy, hunger, stress, all in one).

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" Matthew 6:26

It wasn't just because my best friends and cousin flew in to support me on my big day, or that all my bridesmaids got along. I put my faith and trust in my sister-in-law to take care of the festivities and I enjoyed every moment of it! What made it such a success? Well:

A) My sister-in-law knows me pretty well in terms of what I like and my personality, so she could plan around that.

B) I trusted in her experience, good tastes and knew she cared enough about me to put her heart into my party.

C) Since I didn't have to do very much, I wasn't stressed, anxious, or worried and had no idea what to expect, which only made it more exciting!

While having no control over the situation, I found myself enjoying every detail of the moment. I didn't worry about what was coming next, instead I was looking FORWARD to the next thing!

THE SAME CAN HAPPEN IN LIFE WHEN YOU TRUST GOD

Instead of experiencing frustration, anger, and doubt when plans fall through or doors are shut, we can experience a joy and peace when we let go and leave things in God's hands.

Even Psychology Today recognizes that people of faith "are found to be happier; they think that things happen for a reason, that things will work out as they are supposed to, that a higher power is acting on their behalf... there is less need to worry or hold onto a pessimistic view to protect you... you will be happier." Other positive results is that you will be less likely to become depressed, suicidal, anxious, and less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol.

The psychological, emotional and spiritual benefits of surrendering control are healthy and positive for our well-being. No wonder God asks us to trust him in all things!

REASONS TO TRUST GOD WITH EVERYTHING

For a Christian, this may seem a redundant question to ask, and yet we need reminding on a daily basis of who God is.

"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." Psalm 143:8

1. God is perfect. So while it is hard to trust regular human beings because we fail often, God will never fail to deliver and to deliver something good. (Jeremiah 29:11)

2. God KNOWS you. Better than you know YOURSELF! Who else could you trust more in the whole universe? We may think we know ourselves, but we can be easily deceived and confused by the world.

3. God is your Heavenly Father. He loves and cares for you beyond understanding! He will never, ever disappoint you. (Romans 8:28)

4. God CONTINUALLY reminds us to NOT worry. In fact, the bible has over 300 verses where we are instructed to not worry or not to fear, because God is looking out for our best interests.

5. God gives us the confidence and strength to face life, no matter what comes our way. This alone is HUGE!

6. God blesses us when we give into his perfect will in a way that will always benefit us spiritually.

"Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord." Proverbs 16:20

These are all good, powerful and encouraging reasons why we should let go of illusions of control. How can we not place ALL of our trust in the one true God? It isn't easy. In fact, just about every Christian walk is a series in which we learn to let go more and more, and trust God more and more.



This blog post was originally twice the size, so I decided to split it in two parts. Stay tuned for part two, where we talk about how do we come to a place where we have full trust in God's will and plan. We also will look at how trails and hard times play a big role in developing this trust.

Feel free to ask any questions, share some insight, or bring something up in the comments below. We can have a discussion or simply words of encouragement!

Beauty and Hygiene:

It is far from the end of the world if you forget something in this category. But it is annoying to have to spend a few euros or dollars to replace it. Then to figure out if it's worth putting in your luggage to bring back. Don't forget these things:

• Bobby pins - SO useful! Not that easy to find in touristy areas


• Toothpaste - sure you can buy one in a market, but depending on where you are going it might be several hours before you get your hands on a tube!


• Sunglasses - especially brand ones!


• Hairbrush - do you really want to own TWO hair brushes?...


• Tampons - you do NOT want to forget these when going to SE Asia, you may not find them readily accessible


• Deodorant - if you are like me, you are picky about what kind of deodorant you like and works for you


• Razor - I have forgotten this twice! And my husband doesn't pack one for short trips!

Technology:

This category can cause a heart attack if you rely on technology to record the experience, particularly cameras. Double check for these items before you take off:

• Extra memory card


• Charged battery - always take time to charge everything up the night before!


• Cellphone - ok, mini story: I left my phone in my apartment, walked to the bus station that would take me to the airport, realized I forgot it, ran back, got it. Only to end up leaving it on the bus by accident...*double face palm*


• Charger - for laptop, camera or phone, it's not fun having to replace it, and you usually don't notice you forgot it until your battery is almost dead


• Plug Adapter - BIG no no when going abroad!


• Waterproof camera - twice we have gone to a beach-type location and wished we brought our underwater camera!

Clothing:

It seems like even if you double check your bag, you always forget at least one item when you're in transit and, most likely, in a rush!

• Running shoes/sneakers - very handy for good walking and hiking shoes


• Bras - it is one of those daily things you wear without thinking, and it can be easy to slip your mind. Yes, this has happened...


• Sunglasses -this is a nightmare to forget and you're going somewhere sunny and you have a pair of Raybans back home!


• PJ's - again, something you use everyday and don't really think about as you plan your travels, but super sad to forget!


• Extra socks - don't underestimate how quickly you'll go through socks when walking around everywhere!


• Flip Flops - is you are staying in a hostel, this is a MUST have. Do not go into public showers barefoot. Ever.

Other Useful Items:

Sometimes there is a really handy hack to help you while on the go or in a foreign land, like these:

• Laundry bag - very useful for long trips. Doesn't have to be fancy, but something to prevent the smell from spreading


• Corkscrew/bottle opener - careful not to pack a Swiss knife, but a corkscrew can be helpful if you buy a bottle of wine on a romantic picnic


• Hand sanitizer - when there is no washroom in sight!


• Basic First Aid - a band-aid, a bandage, or mosquito bite cream can make a situation much more bearable until it passes or you get to a clinic


• Tide To-Go - any portable spot or stain remover is particularly useful when you have limited wardrobe!


• Bounce sheet - anything you can use to stick in your bag and make your clothes smell nice is useful for long trips.

I really could go on, as there are countless occasions and stories of travellers forgetting one thing or another. One thing they all have in common, is that the person usually didn't have a checklist to help them out.

Avoid Forgetful Packing Mishaps

I don't know about you, but I'm very much a visual person and I like to keep a physical checklist to help me remember things, especially when it comes to packing. While I have a checklist app on my phone where you can create a list, sometimes it's hard to think of all the things you will want to bring on a trip. There have been some trips where I realize later 'oh man, I wish I brought such-in-such' or maybe the opposite, I think 'We really didn't need this thing-y'.

To avoid that, and to combine my love (read: need) for aesthetically pleasing visuals, I have designed and created a travel checklist print out, and I'm sharing it with you!

I made a Basic Travel Items that you will need on just about any trip you go on, click below to download it for FREE!




If you think this could be helpful to you, feel free to use it!

Don't forget to check out my Packing for Europe posts for more packing and outfit tips and advice specific for your season of travel!


By the way, I've had some people ask me about the bag in the pictures. It's from ALDO, fall season of 2015. If you want a similar style bag for a good deal, I found one on Amazon that is very similar! I personally like the pink one, though the black looks practical. Below are some other alternatives of varying budgets as well.




Speaking of lists, check out these 15 Travel Mistakes to avoid in your future travels for a smoother trip and holiday!

They say the second trimester is a time of calm in the middle of your pregnancy journey. I believe it is, for the most part, true! While the second trimester isn't all sunshine and rainbows, it is definitely the stage where I finally felt happy to pregnant!

Quite a lot happens in your second trimester. So I'm breaking it up into three phases that were each fairly distinct. And, of course, I'll be sharing tips and advice on how to deal with the things the second part of your pregnancy might throw at you.

Phase 1 - The Transition

This concept that pregnancy is split up evenly in 3 parts is really just a construct we invented to make it easy to keep track and generalize. Your body will go at its own pace, regardless. I definitely noticed this as I was technically in my second trimester already, but still reeling from symptoms I had in the first. Basically my nausea and vomiting peaked during the two weeks or so of transition. Constipation, however, is basically gone! Yay! Bloating stuck around for a while longer, but not nearly as bad as in the first trimester.

One day, though, the clouds will break and the sun will shine through! The nausea and vomiting will be gone! Unless you're very unfortunate...and it persists throughout your pregnancy. In which case, you have my deepest condolences.

Phase 2 - The Calm...with Interruptions

One of the best phases of pregnancy! You can finally enjoy most foods again, you have more energy to get stuff done (like preparing baby's room!), and it's smooth sailing until the third trimester! Ok, no. I lied. There are a couple things that will come up that are most unpleasant.

Aches & Pains - Chances are you're starting to show that you're pregnant. Well, guess what? It's because your muscles are relaxing and stretching as baby gets bigger. Your boobs are getting bigger, your organs are getting pushed around, and along with that comes muscle aches and pains. You may even start feeling pain in your feet from standing too long or not wearing supportive shoes. These are, however, minor pains compared to what comes next.



Round Ligament Pain -  That pain you feel across your abdomen, into your hips and pelvic bones? That pain that doesn't go away whether you stand, sit or lay down? That's round ligament pain. You might experience a few days of it. Unfortunately for me, one night it was extremely acute and I spent most of the night sitting in an arm chair.  Crying. But it doesn't compare to what comes next.

Heartburn - Never thought it would be such a big deal. I myself had never experienced heartburn before pregnancy. Well, the day it came, it hit me like a truck. Imagine getting stabbed in the chest with an invisible flaming sword. That's what it feels like at it's worse. I brought it upon myself, I suppose. We were watching a movie after dinner and my husband got snack-ish. He brought over chips and salsa.

Three tips to avoid to prevent bad heartburn are:

• eating late
• greasy food
• spicy food

So basically my husband set me up. I don't know if I have felt worse agony in my life as of yet. I spent, yet another, sleepless night sitting up and crying. My husband even went out just before midnight to a pharmacy that is open late to fetch me Tums. I ate the limit for pregnant women (which is 9 by the way) and it didn't even make a dent. It was too late. The volcano had erupted.

This was only one night though. Afterwards, the heartburn was much more manageable and my doctor even prescribed me something better than Tums, though Tums work great too most of the time.

Constant Urination - If your baby is like mine, they will enjoy cuddling on your bladder. Say hello to the toilet more times than you care to count! You will get frustrated, and yes you'll notice that you don't actually have to pee, but unfortunately your bladder doesn't know any better. Any pressure on it can only be interpreted in one way. But don't worry, the baby will ease up on it towards the end!

I swear, though, that's the worst of it! Apart from about a handful of days where new symptoms hit you, most of this phase is super pleasant! In fact, I basically had the worst of it within a couple of weeks, and after it felt like weeks would go by and I had nothing much to report at all.

Phase 3 - Growing Bigger & Heavier

It's really lame that your desire to prepare for baby grows as you become less physically apt to do it. I already mentioned the sore feet as your weight changes your center of gravity and puts pressure in places it didn't before. You also become more breathless as baby pushes organs into your diaphragm. As the third trimester gets closer, you will go through another transition phase where you are very aware of how physically different you are! Sleep gets harder, sciatic pain is more easily triggered (boy do I get it bad when I bend over too much!) and your feet start to swell up. Oh joy!

Tips for this stage? Pace yourself. Figure out your limits and don't push yourself, because a miserable mommy is no good to anyone. Get comfy shoes, learn some prenatal stretches, and keep doing what you do!

The Highs of Pregnancy

Just like in my First trimester post, I want to end on a positive note. Apart from the second trimester being the easiest part of pregnancy (with it's own challenges of course) there is SO MUCH to look forward to during this stage of your journey!

1. Seeing Baby - there is at least one ultrasound scheduled during this trimester (in Canada, unfortunately, it's pretty much the only one) that is very detailed. They take a look at all major organs and measure to see that baby is developing in a healthy manner. This gives you a solid 15 minutes to oggle at your beautiful baby! It's so cool to see the brain, the bones, the hands and feet! Yes, there is in fact a human growing inside of you!


2. Finding Out Baby's Sex - While not all parents are the same, Wayne and I were DYING to know our baby's gender pretty much from the beginning. We even held a gender reveal party to share the exciting news with friends and family. The moment we found out we were having a little girl was so special for both of us.


3. Feeling Baby - the privilege we women have of carrying new life comes with it's special rewards. No one else but mama can feel the subtle flutters and pokes of baby's first noticeable movements! It took at least 4 weeks for my husband to finally feel the baby kick, and now we can even see her move! Granted, I have a very chill baby, while others have crazy kick-boxers. Still, I know what could possibly trigger my baby to start moving about, and I just love observing her movements!


4. Talking to Baby - by the late stages of the second trimester, your baby can hear you pretty good! So talk or sing to your baby! Play music for your baby! For the record, there isn't much proof that Mozart does anything to stimulate more intelligence in your baby. But experiment with the different genres you love! Maybe baby will love them too once they're outside the womb.


5. Preparing For Baby - as you start preparing the nursery, buying a couple of essentials, building your registry and doing research on baby products, it all becomes more and more real! The excitement just keeps building. A baby gets bigger, moves more, your mind and focus on your child grows. And your love for your baby grows along with it.

While I'm a bit sad the second trimester is over, due to how much more pleasant it was to the first, now I'm onto the my third trimester! And that means that my baby is almost here!

Read More: My First Trimester Pregnancy Journey

What was your second trimester like? Did you get to experience the sort of "calm" that most women seem to? Do you have any questions about the second trimester that I didn't touch on? There is so much to talk about! So don't be shy, leave a comment or question down below!

Outdoor Activities

Walk in the Park
Is this one too obvious? Still, maybe you two don't go out too much, maybe you have a dog who could use the exercise. Either way, a walk is a great, simple and inexpensive way to spend meaningful time together. One key thing though: don't forget to put your phone on silent!

Bonfire

As great as bonfires are in the summer, I think they are even better in the fall! The sun sets earlier, and the evenings are cooler. Roast some sausages, or make s'mores! Once you're done, cuddle with a blanket as you watch the fire slowly die down. If you don't have a fire pit, maybe you have a friend who does. Make it a double date!

Hiking or Nature Walk

For those who are a little more outdoorsy or tired of city parks, why not have a mini road trip to a wild and untamed part of nature? Make it a half day trip, take a picnic, and some good hiking shoes! Maybe learn a new skill, like identifying trees or mushroom picking. Enjoy the little critters that may be getting ready for winter!

Hot Drink Under the Stars

Ok, let's face it. Fall is for pumpkin spiced lattes (did you know you can make them yourself?). Whatever your preferred hot drink is, fill up a couple of thermoses, grab a blanket, maybe binoculars, a scarf and head out of the city. Find a quiet place off the highway, maybe a field, and park. Spend the next hour star-gazing, drinking something hot, and talking with your loved one about things that you don't always get a chance to talk about.

Corn Maze Day

Why not throw in a fun challenge to feel young and in love again? A corn maze is great fun, for about 10$ a person, that can last quite a few hours! We go to one that also has a petting zoo included, and who doesn't like cute bunny rabbits, sheep and donkeys?

Lazy Photoshoot

Basically, this is a very casual photoshoot where you hire a friend who is no professional, but enjoys playing with the camera. Chances are, your friend will charge you a handful of cash compared to a professional. Yes, the pictures won't turn out amazing, but you will have fun! Why, because you're not stressed and taking it too seriously. To make it more relaxing and casual, do the photoshoot in an area or place that already has a lot of meaning and memories for you as a couple. Wayne arranged a photoshoot to celebrate our one month anniversary (how cute!), and we were able to get some nice shots to remind us of that day forever!

Indoor Activities

Fall Movie Night


If you've been married for a while or are past the age of 25, chances are you are an old fart like us and usually are in bed by 10. Make an effort to stay up long enough to enjoy a feel-good or romantic autumn film! Some popular ones are: Dead Poets Society, When Harry Met Sally, Fly Away Home. You can even do a comedy, like Trains, Planes and Automobiles. Then, of course, there are the thrillers and scary movies if you enjoy those.

Baking Together

When it starts getting chillier outside, time around the oven starts looking more appealing. After dinner, instead of sitting on the couch to watch the next Netflix episode, bake something together! Unless you have a great baking stock, it may be wise to plan the recipe ahead of time to have all the ingredients on hand. You could even go shopping for the ingredients together!

An alternative is learning how to cook a new recipe together!

Dinner by Candlelight

You can do it together, or take turns hosting the dinner. It doesn't have to be super fancy or go beyond your cooking skills. However, to make the dinner time last, try to serve it as a 3 course meal. Begin with a soup or salad, then move on to the main course, and don't forget dessert! Stick with the best meal you know how to make, maybe include one favourite from each spouse. Add a bottle of wine, and some candles, maybe some music in the background, and that is all you need! A simple, romantic and thoughtful meal that enables you to focus on each other.

Museum Visit & Local Events

Keep an eye out for potentially free or discounted museum entrance days for a free and interesting date night. Also take note of any small local events hosted by organizations. This is a great chance to branch out a bit into the artsy, geeky or cultural community. Encourage each other to stretch out of your comfort zone and try something new! Couchsurfing and Alliance Francaise are two event organizers that are usually free! Find your local one through their Facebook page or website.

Home Made Spa Night

How do you do this? Well, it's actually pretty simple. A foot tub, some bathrobes, a face mask, calming music, a drink, some massage oil (lavender is my favourite!) and you have the basic starter package! This is the kind of activity in which you will have to take turns serving one another, maybe with a foot rub, or shoulder massage. To finish off, have a hot bubble bath or shower together!



In the end, it doesn't take much to have a lovely time with your love. Which means the possibilities are endless!

What are some date night ideas you have done that are easy on the bank? Which of these are you going to try this fall?

Since we're on the topic of fall, can I just briefly talk about how much I love fall fashion? It's probably my favourite season because you can wear hats, scarves, boots, and cute layers like knitted sweaters, plaid dresses and stockings! I purchased a scarf from Modcloth that is gorgeous and gets many compliments! And I get to share a discount with you! Use my link to get 20% off your next Modcloth order of 50$ or more!

First Trimester Emotions

How you feel during your pregnancy is important. So I want to cover what went on mentally before I get to the physical stuff.

While our pregnancy was completely unplanned, and I had a bit of a freak out when I found out, we always wanted kids. So we quickly transitioned into feeling anxiously excited for this new chapter in our lives.

I was, however, very cautious about getting too excited. Even a student of mine noted that I didn't "seem happy to be pregnant". Why? Because, unfortunately, I was very aware of how common miscarriages are. We found out when we were pregnant at only 4 weeks, which is really early! I had done the research and read the statistics. I was eager for my 12th week to come around so I could celebrate more confidently. I'm not recommending or suggesting that you shouldn't be over the moon about your pregnancy. In fact, I'd advise you not to be so scared. As painful as a miscarriage can be, a pregnancy should be celebrated.

But, that's how I felt, and that's ok.

Another reason I wasn't carrying the 'happy glow' of a pregnant woman, was because of my first trimester trials...

First Trimester Physical Changes

Every ache, sensation, and symptom during your pregnancy will be new and unfamiliar to you and every woman will have varying symptoms. I'm being bluntly honest here, I really didn't like being pregnant during my first trimester. It really sucked. Some women have it worse than I did, and I pray yours goes better than mine! If you're not too squeamish, go on to read what may be in store for you.

Upset Digestive System

You know how when you get food poisoning your stomach aches and aches, and as it travels to the intestines, you have pains until at last relief comes in the form of diarrhea? That's basically what I had on and off (mostly on) from week four and a half until about week 9. The only upside to having this symptom is that it means I didn't have to deal with nearly as much constipation as would have been expected. Yay.

How I Dealt With It:

According to my doctor, I was allowed to eat whatever I wanted (with the exception of these foods), because he knew that during this stage there was very little I would actually want to eat! So I ate what I could and felt like eating, which wasn't much, but I tried to have snacks throughout the day so I wouldn't go hungry, and it helped with nausea. (more to be said in Morning Sickness)

Science Fact: The reason your digestive system gets out of whack (and usually causes constipation) is because your body is getting pumped with hormones that is relaxing all soft tissue muscles. This helps prepare your body to stretch and make way for the baby. Unfortunately, this also means that your intestines are relaxing which slows down your whole digestive tract. Hello gas.

Let's move on!

Exhaustion

You think you know tired? Think again! Maybe it's because you're living off very select foods and eating less, or because you're growing a human being inside you that is growing at a stellar rate, or both. It's likely both. I have a feeling it is a way to prepare us moms for those sleepless nights when our precious one is waking up every couple of hours...

Fortunately, this wasn't an all day tiredness. Thank goodness! I wouldn't have been able to teach otherwise. This exhaustion wouldn't kick in until about mid-day, and progressively got worse by the time I came home. Most days, I didn't even cook dinner. My poor husband lived on peanut butter jelly sandwiches and order-in pizza. It was during this time that I simply couldn't muster the mental or physical energy, nor the will, to keep up with this blog or almost any of my hobbies. When I did have energy, I would cook a decent meal, do groceries, and even hang out with people once in a blue moon.

This phase did let up, however, towards the last few weeks of the first trimester. So if you're going through it now, hang on! It gets better!

How I Dealt With It:

I went to bed between 8-9 pm on average and occasionally took naps after coming home from work. Rest. Sleep. There's no shame in it. You need it!

"Morning" Sickness

Let me start off my saying that there are a few misconceptions about morning sickness that I shall debunk for you right now.

1. It does not strictly happen in the morning. If it were up to me, a petition would be signed to officially change the name to All-Day Sickness. The sensation of nausea comes and goes throughout the day, and you never really know when it will hit you hardest. Apparently, according to doctors, most women tend to get it worst in the morning.


2. It is not the first symptom of pregnancy. Early pregnancy symptoms are usually confused with period symptoms, because they are nearly identical. Morning sickness doesn't start kicking in until closer to 6-8 weeks. Although, this is usually when most women actually find out they are pregnant. As for me, I found that my morning sickness was much worse during mid to late first trimester and very early second trimester.


3. You won't be constantly puking (hopefully...). It will be different for every woman and every pregnancy, but I think movies have led us to believe that pregnant women puke a lot more than we actually do. Again, I have encountered women who DID puke on pretty much a daily basis for a few weeks, but for many women it isn't so often.

How I Dealt With It:

• Eat small meals/snacks frequently. I found that by eating a small amount often, I could keep the nausea down.


• Avoid large meals. This is was probably the worst trigger for me, no matter how good you might suddenly feel, do not indulge!


• Listen to your doctor about those foods you should be avoiding! Greasy foods are not going to do you much good, even if it satisfies a craving.


• Keep it simple. Not only will you already experience aversion to certain foods as your tastes change, but you will probably notice that fancy and highly flavorful and spiced foods just won't go well with you.

First Trimester Highlights

I don't want to scare any young women off, or seem like the whole first trimester was a complete downer! So naturally I want to share with you the things from the first trimester that, not only were highlights, but could never happen in another trimester.

1. Breaking the News

Whether you do it shortly after you find out, or wait a while, sharing the news is an exciting time! You'll likely want to break the news to your family and friends before you start showing, which is why the first trimester is really the only time you can surprise your loved ones!

2. Hearing/Seeing Your Baby

Apart from the side effects of your raging pregnancy hormones, there is little for you to feel pregnant since baby is so tiny. So when you go to your first trimester appointment and ultrasound, it is both wonderful and relieving to hear or see your baby alive and well! I was very lucky to have multiple ultrasounds in my first trimester while in Egypt, and each time I felt this peace and assurance, and possibly tears...

3. The First Steps to Motherhood

I'm not sure how it is for most first time mothers, but my whole world changed when the reality of having a baby sank in. My goals, priorities and attitudes changed about many things. It's hard to describe these feelings, they are quite unlike anything else I have experienced. All I can say is, cherish this transition!



There is so much more I could share about my pregnancy journey and survival tips I could give, but those will have to come up on a new blog post of their own. I'm halfway through my second trimester, so in a few weeks there will be a blog post covering how that phase went. If there is anything in particular you would like to know more about, don't hesitate to ask! And if you're not pregnant, but already thinking about babies, maybe you have baby fever!

I'm curious to know how your first trimester went! Any ladies here still going through it? Share your thoughts and experiences for other mothers and future mothers to relate to in the comments below!