I'm baaaaack!

Hello friends!

Yes, this is me Tiffany. This is not an illusion, and your mind is not playing tricks on you. I am actually writing a blog post. I kid you not!

Yes, I do realize that it has been...*gulp*...over two months since my last post. (yikes!) But in my defense, we have had a LOT going on what with the new position as youth pastors, us moving to Franklin from Nashville, and just life in general. I do realize everyone has a lot going on though, so it really should be no excuse for me. For shame, Tiffany! For shame!

The truth is, I fell behind in blogging. And then catching up seemed almost impossible...so I kept putting it off...and I kept falling even more behind and got overwhelmed...so the only logical thing to do was try and forget I had a blog altogether, right?

Oy...

Well, I've missed blogging. I've missed documenting our lives and the inspiration that comes from the blogging community. And I've missed you, my handful of readers. :)

So, here I am! I have returned! And I truly hope to not fall off the face of the earth again. That would be sad.

Since it's been so long since my last post, I thought it would only be fair to catch you up by sharing a few phone snapshots (I apologize for the low image quality) from some of the highlights of these past couple months...

Jonathan's sister Julie and her husband had their second baby girl. Natalie Claire! We love our new niece!

I ate my first Gyro (How do YOU pronounce that?), and it was DELICIOUS! The Greek Cafe is now a favorite spot of ours.




I looked at this face a lot. (And he completely stressed over the move...he's a lot better now.)

Celebrated this guy's 26th birthday! WOO HOO!



Said goodbye to our house in Nashville (pictured) and HELLO to Franklin!

I've been experimenting with some new recipes. Like this pasta salad from Pioneer Woman.

Went on little dates with this handsome guy! (Also bought my first Tazo tea lemonade from Starbucks, and it was yummy!

Hung out with our adorable nieces a lot.

Made roasted chicken for the first time. (Seriously, I don't know why I haven't done this before now! It's so easy and delicious!)

My dad and littlest sister came to visit us all the way from Maine! It was soooooo great to see them! :)

And, of course, we've spent lots of time with our amazing Real Life students! (These are only a few of them. This is from our trip to the Fine Arts competition!) This picture makes me happy. Love them all so much!

So, that's just a little of what we've been up to while I've been absent from the blogosphere.

How about you? What's new in your life? Let's catch up! :)

Right now I'm working on a post with images from our new home! We're still unpacking, and it's definitely a work in progress...but I thought it might be nice to show some "before" pics prior to doing lots of decorating and re-organizing. :)

Love and smiles,

Tiffany

faith, trust, and taking the first step.

Yesterday was our first official day as the youth pastors of Full Life. Even now, it seems so surreal that we've been blessed with this amazing opportunity. I am just in awe of how God has directed our life, one step at a time, to bring us to this place. And I know that He'll continue to do just that.

During the past couple of weeks I've been doing a lot of reflecting on the past year and the journey that it's been. I've been reading through my Moleskine notebook and journal filled with all my thoughts, questions, and prayers from the past year. One thing that was pretty consistent throughout the many pages was a question - "God, what is your plan?"

I asked this question numerous times over the last dozen or so months...and it's a question that I've asked a lot throughout my entire life. I'm a planner, and ever since I was a child I've loved knowing what to expect so I could be ready for it.

But life isn't predictable. In fact, it is quite unpredictable.

If there's one thing that God taught me (again) last year, it was to trust him completely with my life and everything in it. Trusting someone doesn't mean questioning what they're thinking or why they're doing something...trust is, as the dictionary puts it, "reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence."

During the times I struggled with doubt and uncertainty I would often turn to husband and say "I don't understand..." He would then gently remind me that "we are not called to understand, we're called to obey."

God doesn't often show us the big picture. If he did show me the big picture, I think I might be terrified and try to run in the opposite direction. His plans and dreams for our lives are always so much bigger and better than any plans we could make for ourselves (Jeremiah 29:11). His dreams are bigger than us and our capabilities and way beyond our comfort zone, so that we learn to lean and rely on him.

He shows us one step at a time, and our job is to be obedient and take that first step...and then the next one...whether it's a big step (like moving to Nashville away from family and friends) or a little one (like getting up at 6am to pray and read the word even when I feel like sleeping for a couple more hours). :)

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." - Martin Luther King, Jr

With Love,
Tiffany

favorite things: pinterest

Hello friends!

Today I was thinking...it's been a while since I've done a favorite things post, so here I am to remedy that!

One of my new favorite things is a nifty website called Pinterest. I've had an account on Pinterest for several months now, but only just recently started using it more regularly.

You may already be an avid user of this nifty site...but if not, you might be asking, "What is Pinterest?" Well then, I will explain...it's basically a virtual pinboard where you pin images from around the web to collect inspiration for a variety of categories. I have several pinboards (and they just keep multiplying) including fashion, hair, for the home, and quotes. It's really neat to look back and see the things you've pinned to your boards. It's a good way to feel inspired and get a better sense for your personal style.

You can also follow other people's boards to be inspired by the style of others. It's a lot of fun!

One thing I really like and appreciate about Pinterest is that it keeps track of the link and source of where you pinned your image from. For example, if you pin a dress from Anthropologie that you really like...you can later go back and look at that original listing and purchase it at a later date. It's like a visual bookmarking tool.

If you want, you can follow my boards at pinterest.com/tiffanyzajas/

Do you use Pinterest? If yes (or if you go create an account right now), feel free to leave a link to your board in the comments. I'd love to see what things you're pinning! :)

Lots of Love,
-Tiffany

Simplifying and the possibility of moving.

Now that we have made our big announcement about us going into full-time ministry, I can now share some of the many things that have been twirling around in this brain of mine over the past month or so. (Which honestly is why things have been so quiet around here lately...it's been difficult to think of anything else, but we've had to keep things confidential.) :)

Since our church is in Franklin and we currently reside in Nashville, we would love to live closer to make our daily commute easier. We would also love to live in the town where most of our students are, so we can better be a part of their lives.

(image sources: one, two)

We know we'll eventually move closer, but right now it's just a question of timing and working out all of the logistics and details. I'm not worried about it (although it's in my nature to worry), because I know God will work it all out!

But in the meantime, we've been wanting to take steps that will help make our move easier when that time comes.

Over the past several months we've been feeling the need to simplify, simplify, simplify. And I really wish we had listened to this feeling sooner, because now I see why. :) This month we've been organizing, tossing, donating, and just plain getting rid of things we don't need. We still have a ways to go until our simplification is complete, but boy...it sure does feel refreshing!

I've been reading lots of articles and blog posts online on simplifying and organizing and it's been really helpful. I'll try and share links to those in the coming weeks.

So, tell me...what are your tips and tricks for preparing for a move?

With Love,
Tiffany

P.S. If any of you know of any good rentals (houses, condos, apartments, etc.) in Franklin, TN please do let us know! :)

Exciting News!

We have some amazing news that we're just dying to share with you guys!

photo by sara renee 

Jonathan and I have accepted the position of Associate Pastors for Youth, Music, and Family Ministry at our church, Full Life, in Franklin, TN.

Excited doesn't even begin to describe how we feel about this wonderful opportunity to serve in full-time ministry! God has gradually been tugging our hearts in this direction for quite some time now, and it's just amazing to see how everything has unfolded in His perfect plan and timing.

We absolutely love our church, our Pastor and his family, and the amazing students that we get to lead and love.

Please keep us in your prayers as we enter this time of transition.

Have I mentioned that we're excited? We're SO excited! :)

-Tiffany

P.S. You can see Jonathan's post about it here.

NEW...a new life and a new thing

The past couple of weeks have been a whirlwind, but I hope to return to semi-regular blogging soon...

Last Wednesday Jonathan spoke at Full Life's Real Life Student Ministries on the subject of living a NEW life in Christ and allowing Him to do a new work in us.

This part of the message really spoke to me...

Know that God wants to do a NEW thing.

God was reminding His people about all the amazing things He had done for them. How he had provided for them and given them safety, victory in battle, and so many other miraculous things. But then in the middle of reminding them about all his exploits He says this…

Isaiah 43:18-19…

“But forget all that—it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?…”

God wants you to know that what He’s done in your life so far is nothing compared to what He’s going to do… and what He’s already started doing. He’s about to do a NEW THING.

It’s time to move forward from what God has done for you in the past, it’s time to press on toward what God is going to do and what He has already started doing.

I never want to limit God to what he's already done in my life. Sure, those things are great...but I want to always be open to and anticipating the great and new things that are yet to come! He has amazing plans that are far greater than anything I could ever imagine.

If you want to see Jonathan's full blog post on his message, you can look at it here.

I hope you all are having an amazing week and are anticipating great and amazing things this new year!

With love,

Tiffany

We've returned from Maine!

Hello friends!

I hope you all are having an amazing first week of the new year. I cannot believe that it's 2011 already! I definitely feel like this year has gotten off to a great start. It's going to be a great one! I can feel it! :)

For the past week Jonathan and I were in Maine visiting my family there. We had such an amazing time! It was such a blessing getting to go and spend time with them to celebrate a late Christmas and ring in the New Year. There's nothing like spending quality time with the people you love. Makes my heart so happy!

We're now back at home in Nashville, and it feels good to be back. A certain dog is pretty happy we're back too. :)

How is your first week of 2011 going so far?

With love,
Tiffany

(these images are a few that I snapped in my family's backyard while up in the Maineland. I'll be sharing more later.)