Blog | The Barela Family

Latest Posts

open hands

Published by Aubrey

i was challenged this week with the posture i choose to live my life. i could choose to live with two tight fists coming together. nothing can get in. i am in control. “if i could just get the right job, the right house, the right car, another raise, if my kids would just get this stage….then i could let go. then i would be there. life would be good. i will be happy.” have you ever thought these things? i have. but we so quickly realize we never really get “there”.

maybe we have our hands folded per say. nothing can get in. we have given up. live complacently. “i know there is more out there but now is not the time. i’m not the right person. God can’t use me.” ever thought these things? yep, me too.

or i could choose to live with open hands. hands apart, palms up. a release of everything i have. “take everything out that is not pleasing to You. place whatever you want in my hands. i trust you.” yes, easier said than done. but exactly where God wants me. a surrendered life, open hands, trusting Him that whatever he places in my hands He will give me the strength and wisdom in how to move forward. whether it is functioning on little sleep because of a sleepless night due little people adjusting to new rooms, attempting to find our way around a new town, feeling lonely, helping me give grace and truth to the kids when parenting them. he will best help me when i have open hands.

so i sit. i pray. i listen.

and with great faith… at times wavering.

i open my hands.

5 on friday.

Published by Aubrey

highlights of being in indy thus far…

1. we have joined the community center and have already spent much time there. brian and i take turns in the morning working out. i’m enjoying an early morning cardio/strength class and have even met a few people. we also have taken full advantage of the indoor water park. not a bad way to spend 2 hours in the morning, swimming and splashing when it is snowing outside.

2. we tried out a church on sunday and we all loved it! the kids stayed in their own classes the entire time. this basically never happened in ohio for one reason or another. how refreshing to leave church after hearing an entire message and with smiles on our faces! we are looking forward to going back this weekend! here are the kids running into church.

3. we met the neighbors next door. she is a stay at home mom with 3 kids as well. she is very nice and welcoming. her middle child is the same age as mason. his name is saint. the girls have been getting confused and calling him satan. we’ll have to work on that one, but other than that i am thankful to have a fellow mom next door!

4. on wednesday evening we went to kindergarten orientation for new parents at mason’s future school. we both were really impressed with the school and the staff we met. mason was excited and nervous. it was fun to watch him interact with the other kids. he so wants to make new friends and go to school now! thinking about school next fall, (actually this summer because they start early august! what?) is a lot to take in but exciting at the same time.

5. yesterday evening we had our first relaxing evening at home together. the other evenings we have gone somewhere or we were still living among boxes and chaos. a big smile was on my face watching the kids play games and color, brian reading a magazine. this house has quickly become a home for us and my heart gives a sigh of relief. we made it.

give thanks to the lord for he is good. his love endures forever. psalm 136:1

mission control established.

Published by Aubrey

one of the best things about our new house is the purchase of a new desk and bookshelf for me. yep. all for me. i was so encouraged by brian in acknowledging the fact that i need a space of my own. to organize our life and family. to sit. to listen. to just be. and so he went out and picked out this amazing desk and book shelf and World Market. like i said it really isn’t the fact that he got me something but the thought behind it. he made me feel loved. appreciated. important. he’s a good guy. a good guy with great taste i might add. so i introduce to you mission control for the barela family.

from indiana.

Published by Aubrey

hello friends! welcome back to my blog now coming to you from carmel,in. i am officially a midwest girl once again. living amongst the flat cornfields of indiana. i think it will take a long while to get used to the fact that i live i indiana but that is besides the point. we are here!

our transition here has gone fairly smoothly. couple bumps along the way such as a no heat or electric the first day which may have led to the fact that most of us have a cold once again. i’ve already been to the doctor with the girls. but blessing in disguise i like the pediatrician i chose and think we will stick with her. the girls didn’t scream their heads off so that says something:) we are fairly unpacked but still living in chaos. i was kinda of a psycho mom/wife the first few days on a mission to get our home in order but i soon realized that wasn’t working so well for me or anyone else for that matter. so i’ve let it go and realize it will get done at some point. we are enjoying exploring our new town. one thing we have noticed that this town is crazy about traffic circles. basically the whole town is one big traffic circle. doesn’t help me who doesn’t have the greatest sense of direction. that’s it for now. kids are bed. time to tackle a couple of boxes. enjoy some photos of our new home!

happy valentines day!

Published by Aubrey

happy valentines day from the barelas!

we love because he first loved us!

1 john 4:19

5 on friday.

Published by Aubrey

1. We are packing boxes.

2. Organizing.

3. Packing some more.

4. How did we accumulate all this stuff in 8 months? Well this is what happens when a girl sits around pondering about the house she will someday have to decorate.

5. Oh, and our most precious cargo. We will be sure not to forget these 3 musketeers:)
looking forward to our last weekend in ohio.

we leave for indiana bright and early monday morning, we would appreciate prayers as we embark on this new adventure!

thankful thursday.

Published by Aubrey

with only 4 days left in ohio after 8 1/2 of living with my parents there is much to be thankful for. how do you thank 2 people who have willingly given up so much? their home, their personal space, time, energy and countless other things. there really isn’t a gift that will suffice all that they sacrificed for our family. (although there is a list of things that need to be replaced/repaired around the house because of us. maybe i’ll start there.) a heart felt thank you will have to do for now. and a list of some of the things i am most thankful for during our time spent here.

someone to share the dinner planning and laundry duty with. my mom and i…we had each others back:)
extra hands to help little ones go potty, put on a band aid or give a hug when needed
extra eyes to watch the latest star wars battle that was created, read a book, look for the lost little trinket or “night-night”
weekly bible study with mom
running with my dad, doing projects together around the house
you entertained my latest craft idea or obsession of the moment and usually helped me in some way
when others no longer understood what we were doing or were at a loss for encouraging words you weren’t
you did your best to let us be our own family, gave us time and space when needed

although it is not been what any of us expected and if we knew this would have been the plan from the start i don’t know how eager any of us would have been to jump in but i can truly say i have greatly enjoyed our time here and i am sad to leave….

but no worries i’m still packing our suitcases and your house will be yours again come next week.

a real life moment

Published by Aubrey

love this pic of our little guy doing his school work.

it’s not always the easiest managing school and keeping the girls occupied but most days it is a joy to watch him learn . he gets so excited and always gives me BIG hugs when he learns some thing new.

i love being his momma.

His love.

Published by Aubrey

We love because He first loved us.

1 John 4:19

i’m talking about this with the kids this week and relating it to valentine’s day.

how cool is it that he loved me before i was me. he knew all the days of my life before they here. and still he chose YES! and because of that unfathomable love i can love him and share his love with others. it all started with him saying YES to us.

gotta love it.

some things you may not know about me

Published by Aubrey

i have cereal almost every night before bed and usually put it in a coffee mug.

i generally drive over the speed limit and don’t have much conviction about it.

i will and do spend a decent amount of money on a pair jeans because it is totally worth it when i wear them every day.

i hardly ever finish a bible study that i start. bad habit. i get distracted.

i’m not into taking baths. never have been. i’m a shower girl.

i use trader joe’s shaving cream and i think it is the best ever.

some day i would love to go to a black tie formal new years eve party.

if i could i would eat a piece of my grandma’s or mom’s banana cream pie every single day.

most friday afternoons i watch grey’s anatomy from the previous night. my guilty pleasure.

i love the color gray right now. i’m kinda obsessed with it-like i want to paint most of the walls in our new house this color and i wear it a lot.

i always lay my clothes out before i get a shower. makes the picking out process go much faster.

i like my coffee super strong with cream and honey.

other than being a mom, my dream job would be an event planner/designer/decorator.

groups of color coordinated things like these crayons above, fabric, paper, beads etc. make me happy. i love to organize them!

my hair ends up in a ponytail everyday at some point.

i’m guilty of working out early in the morning and then not showering till much later in the day. my husband love this.

i like to be on time but usually push it till the very last minute to the point where i’m rushing around like a crazy person to be on time.

i’m salty person rather than sweet person. crackers and some kind of cheesy dip over candy, cookies, cake any time.

so there it is…my quirks and all. this is me!