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encouragement, Featured, Uncategorized Andrea Portilla encouragement, Featured, Uncategorized Andrea Portilla

I find myself having to make lots of decisions.It’s that time of year, I suppose. Decisions have to be made such as which classes my children should take, curriculum choices, what activities should they pursue and all the things that surround those choices. It can be quite overwhelming and I get anxious and feel very inadequate for the tasks set before me.

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Uncategorized, Equipping Andrea Portilla Uncategorized, Equipping Andrea Portilla

At church we sang a song and the words struck a chord…”The Resurrected King is resurrecting me.” Resurrected means to restore to life, to bring new vigor to. In the bible when the resurrection of Jesus is spoken of, it literally means to wake or raise up.

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Equipping, Uncategorized Andrea Portilla Equipping, Uncategorized Andrea Portilla

We must continually be in God’s word if we are to be able to navigate the difficulties and uncertainties of each of the beautiful, crazy callings God has given each of us. God has called us to all of these things no matter what season of life you are in. We can not be full of the spirit and walking in truth if we are not immersed in our bibles daily.

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encouragement, Equipping Andrea Portilla encouragement, Equipping Andrea Portilla

A few years back I was lost. I had forgotten who I was, what made me the person I am. I forgot what I loved and what I needed. I was so consumed with trying to survive life that I wasn’t living life. I was overwhelmed with all that I thought I was suppose to do.

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family, Motherhood, Parenting, Uncategorized Andrea Portilla family, Motherhood, Parenting, Uncategorized Andrea Portilla

What Mothers must Remember at Bedtime

It's 3 o'clock in the morning and for the 3rd night in a row a little girl comes down crying and coughing. Her breathing is wheezy, Her cheeks are flushed and her eyes are so tired.We have had a permanent pallet on our floor for so many nights.We fall into parenting without missing a beat. We take temps, administer medicine, give water, hold, cuddle, kiss, pray over and she sleeps.5:45..."mommy..." she then proceeds to ask me a question. I have no idea what she is talking about! I'm not even sure if I'm dreaming or awake!7:00 a.m..."mommy, I\'m awake."We are all awake.The day passes. Nothing stops. We head to the doctor, the pharmacy, gotta make breakfast, lunch, plan dinner. I help my children with school, I wash dishes, I work on projects. I give medicine, check temperatures and make sure lots of liquids are being consumed. I prepare dinner, take one to piano, take another to swim practice.It's evening.Finally bedtime.

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Equipping, Featured, truths Andrea Portilla Equipping, Featured, truths Andrea Portilla

There are days when things simply do not go as planned.One time when I was like 15 my family and I went to Cabo San Lucas for vacation. The trip in general is what we affectionately call the "vacation from hell!" Everything that could go wrong went wrong. Oh how we laugh about it now, but it was the longest week which brought with it a new mess each day.

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encouragement, Featured Andrea Portilla encouragement, Featured Andrea Portilla

How to Throw off Obligations and Embrace Grace

I am standing at my back patio. It’s a windy night. The strong, cool breeze pushes against me as I breathe it in. The night is bright, a full moon is directly above me as scattered clouds hasten across the sky.For months I have been in a funk.Engulfed in a myriad of fear and doubt, insecurities and uncertainties.I’ve been bogged down by the noise and every time I have desired to rise, life manages to sucker punch me. Oh nothing out of the ordinary is occurring in our lives...from the outside in we are happy and healthy and fine.Yet, in the past few weeks I have been made aware of the fact that I have been wasting away. This crankiness, sour disposition and even bitterness has crept into my soul and has even plagued my relationships, my desires and mostly my faith.What’s going on? Nothing.Yet, you know how people say that attitude is everything...well, maybe they are onto something.As I stand out in the cool night I realize all of this life…it’s a gift.

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encouragement, Featured, Inspirational, Uncategorized Andrea Portilla encouragement, Featured, Inspirational, Uncategorized Andrea Portilla

Sharing Truth in a Noisy World

I’ve put aside this blog for a few months because, to be honest, I had nothing to say.I felt a little overwhelmed, a little insecure and well, I was totally flailing. I hadn't heard much from God and really, I wasn't listening. I was too busy. Too tired. Too undone.Plus, there has been so much noise. Unfiltered sounding gongs. I honestly haven't wanted to contribute to the noise. I haven't wanted to use my voice or words and I fell into believing the lie that more words were useless and they didn't matter. Who wants to hear about my little struggles or lessons or motherhood fails or desires? The world has been on fire in every aspect and so what difference does my life make in any of these things.And so I have been quiet.

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encouragement, family, Marriage, Uncategorized Andrea Portilla encouragement, family, Marriage, Uncategorized Andrea Portilla

To My Parents on their Anniversary and 5 Ways to stay married for 36 Years

There was never a question in my mind of you not staying the course.I know things were not always easy or perfect or certain. I know your relationship has walked through pain and heartache, rejection and fear. Yet, here you are standing stronger today than ever before.While I was growing up I got to watch you both grow up together. And being the observant, introspective child that I was (mostly I was nosy) I actually got to see into the heart of your marriage.

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