Wife After God

I have been spending the past few weeks working on how to be a better wife - Godly Wife.   I have been reading the book:  Wife After God by The Unveiled Wife.  It's a 30 day devotional book.    It's drawing me closer to God and my husband, Alex.  

I have been learning that my spouse is a gift, the ministry of reconciliation, my need for companionship and serving my husband.   There are many interesting topics and quite eye opening.   Even though we have been married for 9 years, I am still striving to be a good wife.    Especially having Max in our lives we are learning EVERYDAY!   When I was pregnant with Max we involved ourselves in marriage courses and that truly brought us closer.  Prepared us for parenthood.  Here we are 13 months later and I can honestly say it's been challenging.  We've done our best at date nights, but the thoughts of always asking someone to babysit can be daunting.  So, what we have been doing is making time at HOME to have date nights.   Doesn't cost us much and we don't have to worry about a babysitter.    Last night, we came home from bootcamp, prepped our meals and got Max to bed by 9pm. WHEW!    But we were able to relax, watch a movie, holding hands and just enjoy QUALITY TIME!   It was like old times, snuggled up and not being interrupted by Max.   It might sound selfish but it's really not.   Our marriage is VERY important to us.  If we are not right then how are we going to be examples to Max?   It's our job to be sure that he is raised in a Christian home where he sees that Mommy loves Daddy and Daddy loves Mommy.  I've personally come from a broken home so I know what it's like to not have both parents in the home.  Marriages today are not what they used to be.   There is no more love, respect and communication. Divorce has become the new normal.  Now I don't know about you but for me personally I want Max to look back and be PROUD of us.   Proud that we shown him what marriage is about.  Proud that we kept God centered.   Proud that we worked towards our marriage.   

To us, marriage is not about sacrifices....it's about team work!   Putting our energy into what we believe.  Granted, we can agree to disagree but that is where love and respect play in.   Marriage can and is a beautiful journey.  Having a partner that encourages you daily, striving to reach goals and creating memories as a family.   Granted, it is not peaches and cream and we have had our fair share of arguments/fights over the years.  By the grace of God we were able to restore our marriage.  I truly believed that God SAVED us.   

So, having moments like we did last night really makes me appreciate my marriage more.   There does not need to be fancy dinners, diamond rings and extravagant trips - nothing personal against that.  But those are just things.   Marriage to me is about loving one another, holding hands, praying for/with each other, creating memories and dreaming together.   

Here's a perfect example: 

You are a wife, committed to your husband.  No longer operating in selfishness, you now seek to serve, respect and love your husband.  Your marriage will give ample opportunity to grow and mature.  The changes you will experience through the different seasons of marriage will lead you to refinement if you intentionally choose to accept marriage as a way for God to transform you.  The choice to embrace God's ways will always be up to you and it will always begin by submitting yourself to Him.   - Wife After God

No matter where you are in your marriage, continue to work on it.  Don't get comfortable.  Grow together.  Pray for your husband.  Never talk bad about him.  Cook him dinner.  Watch his favorite show (Even though you don't want too).   Hold hands when driving.  Allow him to tell you you're beautiful and say THANK YOU.  Take marriage courses.  Never FALL out of LOVE.  

God Bless you and your marriage. 

Live Out Your Dreams

Such a beautiful morning here at The Zapien household.   Maximus woke up happy, had his Shakeology and I got to spend a few minutes reading my mommy devotional while he played quietly.   These moments are rare so I made sure to look over, smile and thank God.   In the midst of that my favorite worship song came on:  God is Able and I just felt like dancing!   Sing and Dance to the Lord - Psalm 149:3.

Lately I have been sharing my dreams and goals with through my Facebook and Instagram posts.  NEW YOU has been my motto.  But as I was reading my devotional is what so fitting for me.   It talked about God desires for all his children (You and Me) to live an abundant life.   But we can easily get caught up in the day to day "Mommy Duties" to think about the additional plans God has for us.  We can be happy and content which is fine but are we really doing what God has called us to be/do.   Ask yourself "Am I doing everything God is calling me to do?"   When I read that I thought WOW God you are really speaking to me.  I can honestly say I am!  Yesterday I shared that I was challenged by my mentor to step out of my comfort zone and be a leader!  The funny thing is I prayed that God would make a way for me to do this. Of course I did not expect it to be so fast HA!   

So, whether you are a stay at mom or you work outside of your home - God has a special project and opportunity waiting for you.   We all have a purpose here on earth.  If we just stop thinking short of ourselves and DREAM BIG with faith, even the size of a mustard seed, you can live out the dreams God has for you.    Do you have DREAMS?  Are they written down?   Are you reviewing daily?   Praying about them?   

I feel it in my heart that God has placed me in your life for a reason.  Whether it's to get you in the best shape of your life or to simply bless you with this blog post.  But before so, ask yourself these questions: 

Aside from family,  What brings you JOY & HAPPINESS?  What do you get EXCITED about?  What do you DREAM about?  What is HOLDING you back?  Guilt? Fear? Uncertainty? 

*My home, PLBC, being a fitness coach brings my JOY & HAPPINESS
*I get EXCITED about waking up everyday and making a difference in someones life
*I DREAM that one day I will take all my testimonies and write a book to help others

Yes, sometimes I have fear but I know that I am greater than that!   I know my life, my goals and my purpose is all in Gods hands.  He has blessed me to be the Coach that I am today and I know that it's only going to get better.   

The same can be for you - Are you willing to Live out your Dreams??

Inspirational Scripture

These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full - John 15:11

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control - 2 Timothy 1:7

Will you step out in FAITH with me? 

Happy Monday

Hiiiii Party People!

It's MONDAY - A fresh start to the new week!   How did you start your day?    We are already up and running in The Zapien household.  Coach Alex went to the gym at 5:00am to work on himself.  From what I can tell it benefited him.  He came home, we prayed and being the man of the house he really set the tone for us all.   His focus:  LEGS!  

Each time I ask him how was your workout, this morning he shared in his own words, "The hardest and most challenging for me because I am not in such a rush to get to work because my wife supports me to continue this journey.  I felt that today's workout was rough in a sense of spiritual growth and being able to stick to my routine and new found journey of competing.  But with the Grace of God I will continue to work at it every single day. "  

By hearing his inspirational words it pumped me up to get my day started!   I been able to work on my Beachbody business, kick off Week 2 in our Challenge groups and check things off on my TO DO List.   I am sharing this because I CAN NOT do this alone.   In our home we work as a TEAM.   Coach Alex supports me and I support him.   Not only do we inspire each other but we are setting the example for Maximus.   We want to show him you have to wake up with a POSITIVE mindset and go after your dreams.  Nothing will be handed to him.  He will learn balance, structure and most importantly God.  

When I was listening to Beachbody's National Coach Call, our leader shared her testimony how she went from a bartender, in debt, single mom to being the TOP COACH of 2013 in Beachbody!  Now that is simply amazing!  If she can do it, why can't we?  Of course all of our goals and dreams are different but having the mindset of NEVER GIVING UP is what needs to keep us going.   You don't have to be PERFECT, but just willing to grow.

With that said, I stand her writing this blog to let you know that you are capable of growth.  It's instilled in you.  God has a huge plan for your life, you just need to seek Him.   Go after it!  DREAM BIG!  LIVE LIFE!  BE HAPPY!  BE WEIRD!

I'm going after my dreams.  I'm setting the path. I will be at Beachbody's Cancun trip next year!  I will be all that I am designed to be.  I will continue to share my passion with you.  I will continue to drink my Shakeology.  I will continue to share my P90X journey.  I will continue to be ME!