Become childlike....

.... a child simply receives the promise of adventure

they live with an open heart, a sense of wonder,

& experience the joy of a day full of anticipation.

Open your hearts up with expectation again.

best things....

mom's call to sing Happy Birthday first thing this morning

 chatting with my Dad 

seeing him next week

a phone call from brother

opening the gift he sent while connected

an inside joke &

a very warped best memory as kids...

laughing so hard my abs are toned

my stepdad  finds my birthday written on a slip of paper

while he's cleaning his desk

realizes it's today

calls to sing Happy Birthday 

first time he's sang to me

a hilarious operatic happy birthday sung by an old friend 

left in my voicemail

a perfect fall day...apple orchards and pumpkin patches

apple cider that made my mouth so happy

the rest of me followed

an orange bird trinket 

 the orchard girls named nugget

nugget's now in my living room

exploring someplace new

 my kiddo on speaker phone 

talking wedding plans

sending him pictures

of the clouds

horses, goats, pigs, cows, sheep....

children playing, laughing & exploring in awe

dinner at an old favorite...

Mexican restaurant 

pregnant with my kiddo last time I ate there

nostalgia

an old jute box on the wall

 digging a quarter out of my purse

so hubby could play a song

he picks

"Crazy by Patsy Cline"

fall ice-cream flavors

a double scoop 

one eggnog one pumpkin

on a waffle cone

eggnog on top

a beautiful sunset on the way home....

dark orange, purple, and blue

feeling loved

a perfect day

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Relax wild one. It's not your job to be everything

everyone needs, and you don't have to be impressive

to be loved. Stop trying so hard.

Just show up and be real with the world.

That is enough."

"It is said that nothing lasts forever, but there

are moments in our lives when we think something will,

and it is the memory of those moments that lasts forever."

"Finally I realized I was never asking too much.

I was just asking the wrong person."

 

There is nothing....

....in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter

and good humor.

~Charles Dickens~

notes...

a  nice chilly overcast morning

 & the aroma of bread baking in the oven

paired with a freshly poured cup of coffee 

 a date with my kiddo in Springfield to celebrate an early B-day lunch

 definitely plan to indulge in a pumpkin latte for the trip home...

(it's been a couple of years....)

  a daily dose of laughter.....

and a few moments to celebrate a friend B-day too

be well....

xoxo

💝

"Lighten up, just enjoy life, smile more,

laugh more, and don't get so worked up about things."

"The cheapest therapy is to spend time with people

who make you laugh."

"True happiness is not found in materialistic things,

it comes from the love and laughter found with each other."

 

We must empty....

....'ourselves of all that fills us,

so that we may be filled with what we are

empty of.'

~Augustine

clearly His hand is in this...Luke 1:66 MSG

notes...

a gust of wind, and then the rain,

so I moved everything in again

cushions and quilt thrown on the floor

breathing in the moment through an open door

~

Beautiful reminders this morning...

(sources: Jesus Calling, Jesus Lives, The Message Bible & Charles Stanley devo.)

His ways are higher

and  He is capable of all you need

pursue a righteous life-

a life of wonder, faith, love,

steadiness & courtesy

seize the eternal life

..listen to the wind words

His heart is full of unfailing LOVE 

for you

you can relax and enjoy His presence

since you know He is taking care of you

your tendency to be anxious

grieves Him

awareness of His pain can motivate you

to break free from this hurtful habit

He is showing you the way

one foot at a time

Luke 1:79 MSG

surprise us with love at daybreak;

then we'll skip and dance all day long

Ps. 90:14 MSG

walk right up to Him 

and get what He is so ready to give.

Take the mercy & accept His help

He will take care of everything you need

He wants you to obey Him out of Love,

Joy, & Gratefulness-

not out of obligation

He wants to pour Himself into you

and shine through you

and give you a genuine Love

His purpose is never to break your spirit

or cause you pain

there is always a positive, crucial

eternal purpose in struggles

He works all the details together

for the good to those who love Him

you may not be at fault for what has happened to you

but you are accountable for your response to it

be well...

xoxo

💖

"So whatever you experience & however broken you 

may feel because of the trials that assail you,

always remember that I have a blessing in store for you.

Never give in to the thought that this is the end

or that there's a limit to My ability to redeem

even the worst, most pain-filled experiences

in your life & turn them into something worthwhile.

Accept that I know your pain,

I am powerful,

I love you unconditionally,

and I work in the unseen for you. "

~Jesus~

"When you speak to yourself, be more like a cool breeze

and less like a furnace of judgement.

Give yourself love and accept yourself exactly as you are.

Honor the journey you've been on with acceptance and appreciation.

As you wake up, think about all the things you have

accomplished.

Give yourself gratitude and love.

When you slow down to recognize who and what you are,

acceptance comes in like a breeze,

making everything better."

~Sunrise Gratitude~

 

Another freaking growth....

....opportunity.

AFGO

Those often 'frustrating, recurring, life challenges

or relationship hurdle that forces you to 

grow whether you want to or not.'

'Failing to grow into new horizons can blind you

to the beauty of life's adventures.

You become like a plant that's outgrown it's container.'

notes...

agitated, frustrated, intolerant, anxious

and weepy.

I can usually guess what's coming next.

AFGO

Tired, yes. Too much caffeine...probably...

uncomfortable and edgy...yep. 

Classic symptoms.

Tempted to eat a whole bag of Dove Chocolates

and then wash them down with a 1/2 gallon of vanilla Blue Bell 

ice-cream?

 Yep.

(side note...didn't go quite that far...)

It all fits.

It's a process I've repeated 

times a zillion.

Hate it ? yes!

Grateful ? again....yes, with reluctance.

Until I give it time...let it come up, and wait for 

the tsunami to hit, linger, and linger....

until it cleanses whatever it is...

(which I usually am aware of what it is....the "thing")

until it follows it's natural process....

I'm stuck in the precursor of the emerging "thing."

Once it's over....

and it is over...

(*Hallelujah!!)

there's a certain peace, (exhaustion) relief, and humility.

I feel it all today.

~

renew your mind with the objective truth

of the Bible

"Spirit's thoughts on paper"

there is no division between logic & spiritual

when all is said and done

it makes perfect sense

things come alive

you see something new

you will have more understanding

look for principles 

principles are timeless truths

like the laws of nature

you will know when it is meant for you

Spirit will lift something out of the context for you

read a little every day

be encouraged to ask for wisdom

instead of direction

'He who trusts in his own heart is a fool

but he who walks wisely will be delivered.'

Prov. 28:26

(principle)

the soul is healed through union with God

His words are the fuel that keeps you 

functioning properly

no matter how much you think you know

always be willing to take another step of growth

growth is a process

and sometimes it is painful

if you allow it 

it will stretch you so much further 

once you determine not to let 

your current situation define or constrain you

humility is key

"ask, seek and knock"

Let go

Listen to your heart & quiet the ego

Love can create a path to understanding

in those moments

trust builds and love grows deeper

be well...

xoxo

💞

"The true challenge we face is to look at ourselves and the world honestly.

To see what wounds there are, so we can help heal them.

Not to flinch. Not to spend our life wrapped in denial and trying to avoid pain.

Not to avoid the feelings. 

'...the most fundamental harm we can do to ourselves, is to remain ignorant

by not having the courage and the respect to look at ourselves honestly

and gently.'

Healing means living in the raw."