Everyday Blessings

Good Morning!

Last night a group of my friends and I got together and went to celebrate the Holidays with a Minnesota tradition called the Holidazzle! It is the last year they are holding it so we thought it would be good to see it for the last time.

It was very cold so I made sure to be prepared to be freezing while watching it.

I wore my favorite black shawl coat with a black beanie and some gloves.

The Holidazzle is a parade of stories from our childhood where they decorate the boats according to the story and they add lights and things related to the holidays.

 After the Holidazzle, we went back near home and got some dinner and drinks!

Haha, she is so cute :)

I got tomato basil soup- it was so good! I also got mushroom ravioli but I was so hungry that I forgot to take a picture! LOL. 

They honestly had the best tomato basil soup I have ever had! Definitely going back :)

& today I am of course thanking God for another beautiful day! I plan on finishing my Christmas shopping today and making some holiday goodies :) Stay tuned for that!

I hope you have a Happy Saturday! A new blog post will be up tomorrow!

Christmas Wish List

Well, it is officially less than a week before Christmas!

Christmas is my favorite time of year... not only because family comes together but because we get to celebrate and remember all Jesus has done for us! I am so thankful this year for so many things!

Since Christmas is just around the corner, my friends and I have been doing a lot to get prepared and get into the holiday spirit. 

The other night, I made more than 60 cookies! I did chocolate chip with added peanut butter M&M's (everyone I know loves those). I am giving them away at work today as well as to family and friends :)

The tree and present are pretty much all done as well! There are still thing coming in the mail but for the most part, everything is wrapped! 

- Top Left: Spaghetti squash dinner with a side salad and garlic bread

- Top Right: Missmatching (but super comfy) fuzzy socks

- Bottom Left: Enjoying my favorite wine, roscato, with some candles :)

- Bottom Right: Cant leave our some hot chocolate from Caribou and a gossip mag :)

I have about 3 secret santas going with friends and family so I am not only excited for the exchanging of gifts, but also excited to see who got me!

What is on your wishlist for christmas this year?

I have pretty much all I need- so it was hard deciding on things that I want! But I was able to decide on a few things.

Here are some of my picks this year:

I heard from a friend that this book is super good- and helps break the habit of trying to be perfect! I am excited to read it :)

Every girl loves a good pair of boots- and these have been on my eye for awhile- a hint of leopard print with a black leather front- I could see me wearing these with so many different things!

I have been wanting a ring that has three strands. It reminds me of the verse in Ecclesiastes 4:12: A cord of three strands cannot be broken. Also, I have been wanting a simple ring I can wear everyday :)

I saw these on my instagram feed and fell in love! Sport and fashionable- love that idea. Unfortunately, they are $170! Wishful thinking... :)

My Macbook is getting pretty old now and because I know how expensive Mac's are, I will have to start saving for one! So, on my wishlist goes a giftcard to apple towards a new computer :)

I have featured these on my blog before because they are so gorgeous! I didnt buy them because they were $110 and I just had other things I could use that money towards. But now they are on sale! So I have put it on my wishlist as a gift to get :)

Last but not least, every professional needs a clothes steamer! I saw this on HSN, an this would be perfect to fit in my small space. That way I wont have to always drag out the iron to get a nice smooth finish on my fabric.

Have a great rest of your day!

xoxo,

-A

Here is a song I love! Enjoy! :)

Welcoming the falling of the leaves: Oktoberfest

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

I got an awesome opportunity to enjoy a beautiful fall day with my girls this weekend! I felt blessed indeed because I hardly get to see them anymore!

We got together for an Oktoberfest gathering at my best friend's cabin.. We got lucky too because it has been rainy all week here in Minnesota but Saturday it was sunny!

We enjoyed some craft tents, some German beer, and german food. We also played hamerschlagen.. who knew hitting a nail into a large stump of wood could be so fun! 

Im a big nature girl so it was fun being on the lake, seeing all the leaves fall with the wind, the different fall colors, and searching for the sun spots on a cold fall day! lol :)

Heres some pics from the weekend :)

One of my favorite things to do during the day is grab some coffee! But I am not a typical coffee drinker so usually I go for Caribou Coffee's zebra hot cocoa (its white and milk chocolate, mixed!)

So many pictures! 

- Pictures of Lake Millacs

- I went with 5 other girlfriends

- Enjoyed some hamerschlagen

- ate some fresh fruit, has a brat and an apple cider beer

- enjoyed my friends and fall fashion!

This weekend we also got to celebrate my big sister's birthday! She is now 24! whoop whoop! lol

We celebrated tonight at her favorite restaurant and I was craving a cheeseburger so thats what I got!

I am so ecstatic of what God is doing in her life and what He is going to continue to do. He is a marvelous Father and I give Him the glory and thanks for giving my sister another year! She is learning so much and growing into such a beautiful woman and mother-- He is truly blessing her! I am excited for what is to come in her life and the many blessings that are to come.

-TGI Fridays

- My burger

- A pic of my grandma, my sister and I. Love them!

How was your weekend? 

I'm perfectly human & I will be announcing the winner of the giveaway very soon! Thanks for all those who participated!

xoxo,

Fun, Food, and enjoying the Lord's Presence

Thank goodness its Thursday! Only one day left before a long weekend! 

What are your plans? Going to the cabin? Hanging with friends? 

My plan is to hang around and make no plans LOL.

This week has been crazy and LONG to say the least. But I was thankful today because I got to get a break with my work team and head out to the MN State Fair for some fun and food! If you dont know about the MN State Fair, its a two week long fair full of fried food- on a stick most likely. Its a great place to splurge on some goodies, spend time with friends or family, listen to good music and enjoy nice weather. I always make sure to go once a year. 

I have made such good friends at work. I am excited to meet many more! It was great spending time with people I get to work with everyday, but not necessarily learn about them everyday. So it was nice getting to know my team on a more personal level- and they are all great!

What I ate: 

- Foot Long Hot Dog: a must! I LOVE hotdogs so adding another 6-7 inches of hot dog is a must have for me! LOL

- Lemonade: I love the State Fair's Lemonade- squeezed with lemons and limes (sometimes) and there's even sugar free so you don't have to feel so guilty!

- Cheese Curds: I can never eat it by myself, but they are oh so good!

- I usually get the deep fried candy bar, but after all of that, I was sooo full! I couldnt eat any more!

You know when you go to any sort of fair or carnival, you have to dress comfortable in case you get bloated from eating to much or you have to walk around a lot! Here is something that would be good to wear to the fair where you will be cute & comfortable:

A maxi skirt or shorts with a loose top work well because they are comfortable and keep you cool- but they can also be really fashionable. Pair it with a comfortable pair of strapped sandals and you are good to go! Best to wear a wristlet or over the shoulder bag so you can have two hands open and not worry about theft! Sunglasses and sunscreen are good to have to protect you from the sun. 

I was really happy to get to spend time with my team at the fair today, because this week I was starting to get very burnt out. I couldn't help but thank Jesus for the great people I work with and a break from my hectic work schedule. 

I love enjoying Jesus everyday. 

I got to talking to someone today about different problems in the world, but I told them that I trust in God for everything! They said " oh, you believe in angels and heaven in the clouds and when you get up there an angel is playing a harp welcoming you and all is so happy?". They were being sarcastic and told me they hope they get re-incarnated into a hawk... ANYWAY, I could've taken that offensively, but I couldn't help but be joyful because Jesus chose ME to save and do His Will and has helped me every step of the way to truly live for Him and be the light and vessel for Him. 

I am not ashamed of believing in Jesus 

and I know there is no other way to live- or to have true life. Jesus has been talking to me a lot about what it means to have a solid foundation in Christ and how to be the light of the world and for people who don't believe. He wants us all to be the light to people that don't see it or may not have the light themselves. And the most important thing you can do to be a light for Jesus, is to love EVERYONE- even if they curse you or say nasty things to you. Because it shows them love and compassion- and thats what Jesus showed the world. Love, compassion, joy sacrifice and so many other wonderful things... He paid the price for us and I consider it an honor to live for my Father. To show the world that there is so much better for each and everyone one of us than the world has tricked us to think. We have become so conditioned to what the world says we should be like or what we should do- but I thank God for continually breaking me free of that conditioned mindset and molding me into what HE wants me to be. I am SO thankful for that.

We all have our flaws,

 and sometimes are not the light that we want to be or that we think Jesus would want us to be.. but there is forgiveness and Jesus is the best Encourager to help you continue to be a bright shining light. 

Lets all try to hold in the nasty words we can say, forgive those who have done wrong to us, and pray for them- hope for them. 

What does it say about someone who instead of seeking revenge or growing hate, they grow love and seek to forgive people.. and hope for those who may not hope for them?

I would say that is a supernatural gift and a supernatural kind of love. Jesus always hopes for us when we may not hope for ourselves,  encourages us when we mess up or feel down, blesses us when we don't ask or don't deserve, and loves us unconditionally and more than anyone ever could love. Its a process, but 

God is ALWAYS with you to cheer you on :)

" Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails..."- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Have a good rest of your day! 
xoxo,
Aisha

Walking by Faith

How was your weekend?? The weekend always flies by, doesn't it? 

Mine sure does.

This weekend was great.. 

I hung out with my sister and nephew, hung out with my dad, saw my girls after not seeing them in awhile and welcomed my favorite aunt in town from Wyoming! A weekend full of many people I love! 

This weekend, something special happened and I have felt compelled to share my story of how God is showing me how walking by faith and not by sight can do wonderful things. Here is my testimony..

My mom and dad have been split up since I was 4, so growing up with separated parents was always normal for my sister and I. But growing up, my dad has always been really harsh and it has effected my sister and his relationship a lot. Well anyway, they havent really had a good relationship for about 10 years, and havent spoken in about 2 years. My dad hadn't met his grandson who is now 13 months and my sister was getting to the point where them meeting just wouldn't happen at all. I understand why, but God has showed me that with people, you need to forgive them and need to be the light to people who don't see it. Jesus told me when I first got saved that I would be that light to my family and that I would be the bridge to reconnecting my family together and bring them to salvation. Seems like a tough job, right? Believe it or not, Jesus has been working everything out, all in His perfect timing. 

Anyway, this weekend I had so much going on, but my dad called me last minute to go out on the river with him. I didn't want to go- but I felt compelled to go. He had been talking about meeting Michael (my nephew) for about a month now and while out on the river, he brought it up again- and he even bought him a carseat earlier that day. God has been telling me through this whole process to show my family his goodness, and only speak the goodness of people because He has showed me how one negative comment can cause a negative domino effect of thoughts and emotions. So, in these months of sometimes feeling like a messenger between them, I would speak as many good things as I could to them. I went along Saturday thanking Jesus for another opportunity to talk to my dad about God, how family is a gift, and praying for their reconnection. I then went home and told my sister that my dad got Michael a car seat. Not knowing what Jesus was doing behind the scenes, I didn't think about what was to come from talking to my dad.

I woke up today thinking I was going to go to Sunday school then to regular church service and it would be a regular day. But something told me I wasn't going to go. To be honest, I did not think it was God at first because He wouldn't tell me not to go to Sunday school, right?? (so I thought in my head) but then he clarified to me that He had somewhere He needed me to be instead of Sunday School this morning. So I was going about my morning wondering if anything would happen to make me not go to Sunday school. All of a sudden when I was eating my breakfast, my sister walks out of her room and says " I think I am going to take Michael to meet dad today." I paused and in my mind was saying WOW Jesus! So I said, lets get ready and go this morning. I prayed a quick prayer of it being a pleasant meeting and off we went. 

My dad finally saw his daughter after 2 years and met his grandson for the first time. Two people who refused a relationship with one another- were now face to face. I couldn't help but tear up because you could feel the joy they had. And it was beautiful how my dad fell in love with his grandson the moment he saw him. God is so good, isn't he? I am so proud of my sister, because as much as she could have held a grudge, she opened her heart to show compassion and love- and forgiveness. I have seen how God is working in her and it is truly beautiful to see and I am so excited to see what He has in store for her.

The moral of the story is, that walking by faith and not by sight ( 1 Corinthians 5:7) truly makes a difference. 

When you have faith, nothing is impossible. 

Jesus says that if "you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." ( Matthew 17:20)

Although it may not seem to the human eye that my dad is close to salvation, or that my dad & sister would have a good relationship again, but when you look at it by faith, you see Jesus working and having things come to pass and answering my prayers. But faith is just that - 

"..being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  (Hebrews 11:1)

And even though they may not see what I see, I trust Him with all my heart and this is one of many prayers He has answered. But to think how fast He can make changes for us is truly amazing. I continue to have faith because I rust Him,  it reaps many benefits and lets Jesus work. 

I am all around grateful and overwhelmed with how AWESOME He is to my family and I. His love knows NO bounds and I cant help but want to share how God continually changes my life and the lives of those around me. HE IS SO GOOD! So good. And I lay my head tonight in awe of his faithfulness and grace. I am Thankful!! 

I thank my sister for allowing me to share a personal testimony. 

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Goodnight!!

xoxo,

Aisha

Pray Better! From the book: The Power of Positive Thinking

Happy Friday Everyone!

I wanted to share some things that I have been learning through a few books I have been reading on finding Peace, Happiness, Confidence, Trust, and Positivity.

One book in particular called "The Power of Positive Thinking" has been extremely helpful.

It has been teaching me how to think more positively, how to gain self- significance, how to seek in the Lord, and also how to find inner power through prayer.

Remember back when I was saying that some things were going on in my life that made me look at things from a different perspective? 

Well part of that is looking at yourself before you look at others. And in between those, seek the Lord in whatever you do. Because he will always lead you on the right path. 

I have been saying two particular quotes in my head SO many times a day, that they are now starting to be imprinted in my train of thought.

Those are:

1. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." from Philippians 4:13

2. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" from Romans 8:31

It helps you build TRUST in the Lord and have FAITH that everything that happens will be okay.

Try it!

I also wanted to share with you some prayer technics I have learned. They have helped me a lot in connecting with God and bringing more positivity in my life, regardless of some of the hard times that occur!

Here is the list ( in reference to The Power of Positive Thinking)

1. Set aside a few minutes each day and do not say or do anything. Use that time to think of God. 

2. Then pray orally, using natural word. Talk to God like you would anyone and say exactly whats on your mind. He understands anything! 

3. Pray about anything during the day. Pray as you go about your business. Use minutes during the day to think about the Lord. 

4. Dont always ASK when you pray, but instead affirm that God's blessings are being given, and spend most of your time giving THANKS!

5. Pray with the belief that sincere prayers can reach out and surround your loved one's with God's love and protection.

6. Never use negative though in prayer. Only positive thoughts get results!

7. Always express willingness to accept God's will. Ask for what you want, but be willing to take what God gives you. It may be better than what you ask for :)

8. Practice the attitude of putting everything in God's hands. Ask for the ability to do your best and to leave the results confidently to God.

9. Pray for people you do NOT like or who have mistreated you. Resentment is blockade number one of spiritual power.

10. Make a list of people for whom to pray. The more you pray for other than people connected with you, the more prayer results come back to you. 

I hope those "rules" can help you like they have been helping me. Just in prayer can you find such happiness, peace and POWER! :) 

Be happy :)))

Here are the people in my life that make me SO happy! 

My two best friends: Michelle and Maggie

Sisters :) 

little sister :) 

Peace & Love everyone! :)))))