The Longest Short Season- A guide to having a meltdown

Hello there, and happy Tuesday to you! Today feels very much like a Monday to me. I had yesterday off, and Tuesday's are chapel days at work which means my precious students and I have to be at school at 6:30 AM, so long weekends come to a very rude end for us. But that's not really what I wanted to discuss today.

If you've been following along with the Parrish world, you may already know that we have been navigating through a bummer season with the cancelling of the most recent Kutless tour.  The Lord has been so good to provide for us through all of it, and he has been so very faithful in preserving mine and Nate's relationship, but I have to be honest; we have had our fair share of meltdowns. 

I had a major one yesterday. I have had more than one in this season, and so has Nate. We get set off from different things, that usually have nothing to do with what we're actually feeling in our heart. Yesterday I lost my debit card, and I just lost it. I folded laundry in tears and poured out my heart while Nate just kind of sat and listened. Nate had a meltdown last week, and I actually don't remember what set him off. But it was my turn at that time to listen. Neither one of us ever really knows what to say, we just sit and listen.

This season started for us around thanksgiving. Taking turns having meltdowns and taking turns listening and encouraging. What I'm continuing to learn is that these seasons are the cost of following your dreams. Never have learned better the importance of prayer and being in the word, so that I can have the strength and wisdom to keep on being Nate's number one cheerleader, and to remember that following your dreams and your calling is worth it. Serving Jesus and living out your dreams is a scary thing. We're experiencing the not so fun side right now, and I am just now after 4 months of this, starting to learn this marriage lesson that the Lord obviously had planned. What has probably hit me the most about all of this was that I didn't learn it from being an awesome cheerleader... I got it from needing/having one.

Valentine's Day Adventure

Hi Everyone!

I hope your Valentine's day was nice! Nate and I were leading worship at Church, so we didn't really get much of a chance to do anything on the actual day of Valentine's day, though we did get a nice hearty Sunday afternoon nap in. Instead we tooka advantage of my Friday off and went up the valley to the little town of St. Helena. 

Napa Valley is postcard perfect. Every single thing is beautiful, so even just a little drive is romantic. It's wonderful. Also, Napa CA proper, doesn't really have all the wineries and restaurants, there are a lot of them of course, but the really big nationally known ones are up the valley in Yountville and St. Helena. Of course, we have never been to any of them, they are crazy expensive. BUT St. Helena has the cutest downtown, and it really is just fun to walk and see and look at all the shops. Here are some of the pics of our outing.

This really is what Napa looks like. Right now. It's a dream world!

I wish my slip hadnt been showing in this picture, but I really dont care all that much. This  old church that Nate and I parked by was so beautiful. It was built in 1859. Our walking date consisted of walking around downtown, and stopping to look in some of the shops here and there. It was just nice to be outside. It was a perfect 70 degrees as we were walking. You couldnt have asked for better weather.  It was such a fun date.

We'd never really been there on a date before, but we'll definitely be going back. This was more like a scoping out, rather than really taking it in. Can't wait to go back! How was your valentine's day? Did you do anything fun or romantic? Do you have valentine's day tradtions? 

Spring Reading

Hi Everyone!
Happy Friday! First off, let me say the response to Women in Worship has been so awesome! Its all I can think about!! Secondly, I've got a 4 day weekend ahead for President's Day! It also happens to be Valentine's day weekend! Nate's a spontaneous romantic, so I'm excited!

I thought I would share with you what I'm reading right now! I really love love love reading, it relaxes me, and takes me out of my busy world. I'm reading three awesome books right now. They are vastly different from one another, but they really so edifying in their diffferent ways. 

1. Anne of Green Gables- L.M Montgomery. Yep, you read that right. I read it when I was a kid, and I'm now reading it as an adult. I started reading it last summer and I've gone away and come back to it. I'm finally on Rilla of Ingleside, the last book, and I have to say, I'm kinda sad. I really dont want it to end. But for those of you who are fiction readers, let's just give it up for Anne Shirley, they really don't make female Characters like they used to. She is just my absolute favorite. Anne shows us how beautiful it is to be a normal woman. She's so beautifully and creacefully normal. I can't get enough of her. I wish she was my nextdoor neighbor and that she wass my best friend. It makes me also wish I lived on Prince Edward Island.

2. The Explicit Gospel- Matt Chandler. I've been reading this book with my high school students in Chapel Leadership. If you've been churched your whole life like I have, this is a great book. I was given a firm foundation of doctrine even in my childhood, but it was never really put all together to me. Why these doctrines matter, how they matter, and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His reconciliation on the Cross plays a major role in Heaven also. Doctrinal principles I have always been taught coming together as one full Gospel PRestentatin. Thats what this book is for me. It's not the easiest read, but it has really shown me so much about myself, our world, and our need for Jesus. Such a great book. Quite the contrast to Anne Shirley, but hey! It's all about Balance!

3. The Best Yes- Lysa TerKeurst. I was introduced to this book by a teacher I work with, her name is Val. I hope you gals have women in your life like Val. I just watch her in amazement. She is so awesome at what she does, and she so evidently loves Jesus. I wanna be like Val. I'm only in Chapter 1, but this book is already speaking my language. IF you're like me and you legitimate love saying "yes" to every request, and want to do every possible wonderful thing this world has to offer, but then find yourself pulling your hair out because you're way overextended, I would strongly reccomend you start reading this book (I know you'd be saying yes to another thing, but this one is worth it! I you need a book to sit in a coffee shop and read with a cup of coffee and a hi-liter, this is the one. 

So there you go everyone! A little look into my coffee/by myself time. Have you gone back and ready the books you loved as a little girl? You should! What are you reading? I'd love if you picked up The Best Yes, and shared your thoughts! Kind of like an informal book club type of thing. If you have a long weeknd! Get some extra rest and enjoy! See you soon!

New Column?! Leading Ladies: Women In Worship

Hey Ladies!

I've wanted to do this for a while, and I feel that now is the perfect time. Its no mystery that I have a passion for Music, and worship leadership in the church. The only thing is, sometimes when you are a leader, it's hard to meet other awesome ladies who lead, and hear their hearts and ideas. So, I feel that now is the right time to turn a new leaf for Parrish The Thought, and start including other ladies. My first column, of what I hope will be a few, will be Women in Worship. I'm sure i'm not the only girl who wants to know the hearts of the women who lead our congergations in to the presence of the Lord. I'm really excited about meeting and hearing those of you who share this passion with me! If you know a leading lady, or if you ARE a worship leader/pastor at your church, please shoot me an email at ParrishTheThoughtBlog@gmail.com! I wanna know you! I can't wait to hear from you.


Photo by Abby Castrillo (She also does all the Parrish and Kingdom Band photography)

Happy Monday!! A Word on Marriage

Hello!!

Happy Monday to you! Hopefully you're surviving the beginning of your work week! Today I'm sharing over on the awesome and beautiful blog The Radiant Life about Marriage, and what the Lord has shown me through my Marriage to Nate! Click on the Picture below to take you there.

Treasure

Hello everyone!

Happy New Year? I know, I’m way late to the party, but the fact is, I’m working on being intentional about this blog. I know it can be hard to tell, but I really do love this blog, and I love sharing my life with you folks.

I thought today I would share my heart for 2016 with you. I guess since it's February, it's about time!

Every year, our church fasts for three days in preparation for the new year, and this year was no different. Last year was the first time I had actually fasted food altogether and it was such a powerful encounter with God, that I was really excited about the fast this year. This year I fasted and prayed that the Lord would show me things that I need to change. I prayed for a change of heart, a renewing of my mind. I wanted to stop my poor me mentality, and take responsibility. 

I didn’t ask for a word from God to go into 2015, but I did for 2016. The word God gave me this year is “treasure”. A word to constantly remind me what I’m praying for; To care about the things that God cares about.  The Lord brought Matthew 6:19-21 to me, and it has rocked my world. “Where your treasure is, there your heart is also.” Yikes. What are the things that I treasure? Do the things I love and obsess over point others to Jesus or do they point to me? Does my marriage benefit from what I love, or just me? What are the things God cares about? Do I care about those things?

Nate and I went on a coffee date (I’ve finally worn Nathan down to liking coffee shops after 8 long years of trying, this is a HUGE victory) to talk about what we wanted to save for and how we wanted to go into 2016, and what kind of things we wanted to see come out of this year. It was so fun. It’s so fun to plan and dream with your spouse. You can express your goals and desires, and they are there to cheer you on, and keep you on track and vis versa! I can’t believe we’d never done it before! I even got a gym membership!

What are your goals for this year? Do you have any? I want to know! I wanna cheer you on! Let’s treasure the things of God together, and encourage one another in our pursuit of Him! 

Also check out www.TheRadiantLife.com on Monday for my feature in their Women Empowering Women: Marriage column! I couldn’t be more excited!!

Every Good Thing (Sponsored Post Feat: Banner Apparel)

Hello There! Happy Tuesday to you folks! It's definitely a happy Tuesday here at the Parrish place. There's just a whole lot of nothing going on today, which for the Parrish's, is a rare thing. I'm on Thanksgiving break, and we won't be traveling until tomorrow, so today goal was to stay at home and lounge around. To do list: dominated.

If you follow me on other social media forms (mainly Instagram, but a little Facebook) you may have noticed a theme when it comes to my recent posts: Nate and I are in a weird season. Not marriage-wise, in case that was a fear, WE'RE doing great, but it seems that all other facets of life are showing us how NOT in control we are. For example: due to foreseen circumstances, The Kutless tour was cut short. Out of 24 dates, only 4 got played and the boys got sent home. Not in our control, and not fun. Though it is nice that Nate had been home all of this time, I wish so much that it was on different terms. I like said, we're in a weird season. 

And while, this season isn't super great, I am always reminded of Psalm 84:11.

     Psalm 84:11(ESV)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;

    the Lord bestows favor and honor.

No good thing does he withhold

    from those who walk uprightly.

 No good thing does He withhold... I love this verse. God gives us EVERY good thing that we need. Including life-lessons. Including teaching us how to rely on the Him for everything. Including making sure sure we understand that His grace is sufficient.  Including there being no real function of the leaves turning from green to gold to red, other than it being incredibly beautiful. If you are anywhere near Napa, CA, you really should come and visit soon. It is insane how beautiful it is here. You can't help but the see the beauty of God in His creation. I know I sound a little bit like Socality Barbie (may she rest in peace), but I'm being serious. It is very easy to look around and think "Why not me? How come I don't {have, want, do,} that?" It is easy to think that God has skipped over us, and compare ourselves to the people around us, when in reality, God is intentional in the blessings he does and does not give. If you have Salvation, you already have everything. Easier to talk about than it is to apply, for sure, but when you come from that perspective, all of the sudden the process of sanctification is something you can be thankful for. Weird seasons (or more eloquently, seasons of growth), are actually huge blessings because we get to become more and more like Him. 

The timing of Banner's Fall line couldn't have been more perfect really. How would Danielle and Amy know that Psalm 84:11 is one of my all-time favorite scriptures? How would they know that I would have tons to say and think regarding this shirt? When they approached me about the fall-line, I knew that this blue shirt had to be mine. It's perfectly soft and vintage-y. Everything I love. I also plan on making it a little less casual in a future outfit post, so keep your eyes peeled :) But with a flannel, a long sweater, and a red holiday cup, you can't go wrong.