Author: Mihaela Echols

As we are on this crazy journey of life together we see how God has been faithful to us. I write on our family journey through parenthood and adoption.

His Princess

Mihaela Echols15 Comments

Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Frilly dresses, tutus, crowns, glass slippers, and glitter….I love it all!

Some caution their daughters dressing up as a princess because they are imitating what they have see on the screen. Although we don’t agree with the morals in the Disney princess movies  we do agree with one thing. There is a Prince and what they are pretending to be is what they are…

A Princess.

This is such a beautiful reminder of God’s love for us.

When we accept Christ as our savoir we then become apart of his family.

1 John 3:1a See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

These imaginative moments are beautiful opportunities of sharing truth into the little princesses lives as they grow. The world may try and taint our princesses hearts through their lens, but that is because they do not know that…. 

at 4 our girls are princesses, at 12 they still are princesses even at 16. You see once a princess always a princess. 

The glass slippers may be kicked off and dresses are now jeans, but in her heart she knows shes the daughter of the King. 

 

 

My Blogs Story

Mihaela Echols29 Comments

For those who work with youth I want you to know that what you say is impactful. Reading the small pieces of my youthful heart my youth leader encouraged me to start a blog.

“You should start a blog.”

Those powerful words of encouragement year after year started to make me wonder if maybe my writings are worth reading and maybe she isn’t just being nice. Her blog is here!   When I started sharing my poems with my cousins and a few other people I became more confident in my writing and that is when the blog began. 

So at 16 I kept my journals close and at 20 I published my first writing.

My blog was mine a few years ago before it became ours. In fact it was hidden in journals before even publishing.  Some of my writings are about ten years old.

I am believer and I believe I was given a gift. My spelling may be off and my grammer well…lets not talk about that. My only hope for this blog is that if glorifies God and encourages others in their seasons that they are going through as well.

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Date Night Jars

Mihaela Echols25 Comments

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My husband and I have one of these and we love it! 

What I love about these is you can make them how ever you want!

You don’t have to use a mason jar like us. A simple list might just do the trick.

Dates:

Romantic:

*Bed and breakfast *go to a hotel *hiking *go to a flower nursery and buy some *he makes dinner while she gets ready  *he surprises her with a new dress and a note that says “be ready by…” *cute love notes everywhere before spouse comes home 

Out side: *pic nic *walks  *beach day *horse back riding *fair *zoo

Active: 

*play a two player sport together(tennis, bad mitten, throw a frisbee, ect.)  *fishing *swing dancing   *bowling  *wall climbing  *canoeing  *skiing *running   *hiking *walks *sign up for a run *ice skating *larping 

Indoor: 

*baking *cooking *gaming *build something *get artsy (paint, color, draw ect.)  *Do the holiday things (carve pumpkins, gingerbread houses, decorate, bake, dress up, ect.) *movie *restaurant  *board games  *coffee date *Indoor picnic *arcade 

Adventure:  

*double date *Go see a play *glass blowing *go to an art gallery or a museum *Monster truck show *go to a different restaurant for a three course meal 

Sharing:  

*read something together  *share your favorite Bible verse/story and why? *share what Bible character you think you are most like and why? *Take quizzes online to get to know each other 

 

The list could go on…..what are some other great ideas for a date?

Bibliology – Contenders

Mihaela Echols18 Comments

My Doctrinal Statement of Faith Concerning The Bible

The Bible is the Word of God and is infalible, innerant and immutable. It is inspired by God and God alone as the authors were guided by the Holy Spirit to write the words of God, and yet keeping their personalities and styles of writing. It is comprehensive and complete, historically accurate through internal and external proofs, grammatically accurate, and unique in comparison to any other religious article.

-Peter Echols

Bible School

Courses to contenders

Beauty Unseen

Mihaela Echols60 Comments

They believe her screams are tantrums. I know they are screams for help.

Only a help God can give. Because he knows her deepest cries.

They say her tears are attention seeking. And they are, the attention she always needs.

They rebuke me for holding her close. I wont apologize for making up what was lost.

They shake their heads at her delays. Well…. pardon her progress.

Shes seen as the worlds misfit. Soon she will learn it’s a good thing to be.

Some see a monster….I see my child.

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More here:

Daughter I’m Here Now

Bible School

Mihaela Echols16 Comments

This October Peter and I be going to Bible school!

Contenders Discipleship initiative is a free two year Bible school that gives Biblical education while mentoring students for full time ministry.

I never thought of even going back to school. But when we were told it was for FREE and it is two years of indepth Biblical education we could not pass up the opportunity.

“I’m looking forward to having a schedule for reading my Bible and growing spiritually as couple and as a wife.” -Mihaela

“I’m looking forward to how indepth it all is and for all the training. I will be very equipped for ministry and would like to grow in that area.”  -Peter

Please be praying for us on Monday and Thursday nights we will be in class.

 

Interested in going?  Contenders

Priority

Mihaela Echols22 Comments

We have too many things in our lives and too many directions we can be pulled. Where do we start to line up our priorities? What things mean the most to us in the end?

In this life as Christians our first priority must be Christ and the relationship that we have with Him. Yes our very first which means it comes before our marriage, friends, work, hobbies, etc……Some would argue otherwise but the Bible makes it very clear about where are priorities should be.

As I write, the word purpose seems to be intertwined tightly with priorities. If we don’t have a purpose there is no need to make priorities. You must have a purpose first.

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you were once not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

1st Peter 2:9-10

Peter is reminding the Jews who believed in Christ and were scattered throughout many parts of the nations that they are God’s people. And just like Christians who are scattered around the world today our purpose, because of His great mercy is to glorify Him. This now leads us to prioritize our life accordingly.

and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.

1st Peter 2:24

A Godly life isn’t only for certain people it’s for everyone. If we make Christ our top priority we can:

*Grow and walk in righteousness

*Die to sin

*Become more and more of a godly friend, husband/wife, father/mother, etc

*Pursue and love the Lord more and more each day

*Give everything we have sacrificially for Christ

*Be an effective evangelist in all ways and forms

So with all of that in mind is our priority Christ and the time we give to him?

Or is it just Sunday from 9 to 11?

When you wake up in the morning what are the first things that come to your mind?

 

Read similar posts:

What Drives You?

Her Identity

Oh To Fly

 

Hylaandpeterechols.com

Our Vows

Mihaela Echols47 Comments

 

When I started writing and thinking about what to post for our big year anniversary this writing started off very gloomy, but then…

I recalled our vows.

I recalled the day

I recalled our Purpose .

As I was looking through my pictures trying to figure out what  to post for our big one year anniversary I new I couldn’t come up with a bright and happy one it wouldn’t of been the right fit.

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It was Peter always seeing me as beautiful even if I didn’t act that way.

When I look at this picture I see our year unfold. 

It was exactly what you see when you look a little deeper with me.

It was grey. 

It was Peter loving me unconditionally.

It was me wondering why and yet still leaning in wanting to trust him but didn’t know how.

It was me not always wanting to make eye contact.

It was Peter always seeing me as beautiful even if I didn’t act that way. 

   Like I have mentioned in a few other writings before our first year was not a honeymoon it was a spiritual battle of thorns. Through and through we know that God is bigger and he has only made us stronger in the midst of it all.  We learned so much together and I am so thankful to have a husband who is completely in love with Lord. 

Peters Vows:

Mihaela, meeting you 3 years ago I had no idea I would be standing here today getting married to you. You have been involved in my life these last three years always around to talk to and to listen too. Our friendship slowly grew and grew encouraging each other in our walk with Christ.

I stand before you today Mihaela to make my vows to you. I vow to hold your hand in sickness and in health. I vow to always encourage and support your walk with Christ. I vow to be your best friend and walk through life together. I vow to give myself up for you, to die to myself daily.

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My Vows:

Peter even before we started dating you were always encouraging me in my walk with Christ through prayer. Because of you I have learned to trust again. I love you. Years I have prayed for you, and God has blessed me more than I ever imagined. Now and forever I promise to hold your hand in the battle field of life. I promise to be an encourager, your helper, your lover, your prayer warrior, and your companion. I promise to laugh, cry, and dream with you. I promise to die to myself every day for you. To love you through all our seasons.

(Here I took off my purity ring and continued the vows. Ring off.)

The ring I  am wearing is in the shape of a heart. This is symbolizing through being restored in Christ is my purity to you. My new ring will symbolize a promise to be forever yours with commitment I am making before God and man today.

 

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Goodbye Little Blue

Mihaela Echols13 Comments

We are moving! It’s so very bitter sweet. More bitter for me than it is for Peter.

When I think of this house I think of all the memories of our first year of marriage and how far God has brought us.

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Coffee dates

I think of my crazy season He Understands My Heart I think of how much I continue to learn from Peter What Peter Teaches Me I think of all the times we’ve cried, laughed, prayed, learned, sung, danced, cooked, worked out, read, planted veggies, and grew together. They always say it’s harder for the girl to say goodbye to the first house. I’m so thankful for my friend for taking these pictures. 

 

 

I look forward to the memories we will create in our new home doing house projects, and for when we expand our family…..down the road.

We believe our home could be used to bless others as well. Whether that be hosting for events, or using the extra rooms to fill it for the purpose we feel fit for it at the time. 

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Our Little Blue House

Goodbye Little Blue. I’ll miss you. 

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COTN Everyday Value

Mihaela Echols61 Comments

    I’ve been thinking about doing this for a matter of months now. I Finally got around to doing it! It amazes Peter and me how much we have here in America. I did this exercise to help open the eyes of others including myself to help us see how much we have by  what we wear. Now I would consider myself a low maintenance person always shopping at thrift stores and looking for deals but I was surprised at the results.

Exercise: Take an every day picture of yourself. Something you would wear on a regular day ( keep it casual) If you wear make up count the cost of the make up. If you wear a watch count it, ect.

COTN money and clothes

    I’ve always heard of COTN (Children of the Nations) but never got to hear someones heart after going on a missions trip until Peter came back from Malawi.  His passion for Malawi has only grown since then. On May 21st, 2016 he has started a Frisbee tournament  to help support a friend he met there. If you were touched by this I encourage you to share this post, and do the exercise yourself. 

Other ways you can help:

Sponsering

Gifts under 25$

Gifts up to 75$

Gifts 100 and up