You know ....

....God's presence & understand His protection,

in part, through the friends & loved ones

He brings into your life.

notes...

up at 4 restless night

giving my journal entry the hairy eyeball

this morning

quite a healthy...

(*ahem )..wordy...

 venting session...

not proud, but authentically human

heading over to my girlfriends house for coffee

in the country...

it's still dark

  it feels a little adventurous...

~

nothing you do or don't do 

separates you from His Grace

don't punish yourself

you never lose His love

share your wins with someone

love isn't a limited resource

keep it simple

keep it real

find your joy in the details as you go through the day

your future is not rooted in how you feel

but in how you act

disciplined thinking

leads to right decisions

keep a level head

keep negativity out

keep your thoughts in a good place

watch your self-talk

you are with you all the time

so guard how you talk to yourself

whatever you want

get it in your head

take on the challenge of seeing who you can become

do everything you can to choose or create

 a wholesome environment for yourself

open your heart to expectation again

there is so much more to experience

choose things that bring you peace and happiness

rather than agitation and harm to your mind and body

mindfulness helps to keep you on track

mindfulness helps you to recognize which things 

you really need and want in your life

and which things you can do very well without

perfect moments are sure to be yours..

~

"Your relationship with Me is saturated in Grace.

Nothing  you do or don't do can separate you from My Presence.

It's utterly impossible for Me to stop loving you.

Let Me help you feel more secure in My love.

I am interested in everything that matters to you-

your pleasures as well as your problems

because I love you!

Live near Me.

There's no need to worry about the future.

I will guide you.

My friendship is your best refuge."

(source: Jesus Calling, Jesus Lives, Charles Stanley)

be well...

xoxo

💞

"The people you will always remember are the ones that made you 

feel loved when you were at  your lowest."

"Choose people who choose you."

"It's the small habits. How you spend your mornings.

How you talk to yourself. What you read and what you watch.

Who you share your energy with. Who had access to you.

That will change your life."

 

Life is full....

....of obstacles

and we get to choose our paths.

view from cousin's home

"Almost everything we do is by choice.

Whether we choose the right path depends on

our outlook and ability to right the course

if it seems wrong.

When faced with a decision, take some time to tap

into your intuition and find your inner compass.

You already know the answer, it lies deep within

you. 

Listen closely and your soul will speak it's truth."

~

notes....

the kids made it home early this morning

welcomed back by happy pets....

flickering lights & a crackling electrical outlet.

Thank God...they got home safe, 

when they did...

and

 for a kiddo that's learned to fix about anything on his own.

I made it home too.

Some good news & bad news.

Emotions are up and down for good reason.

Finding my center....

a yellow leaf falls & lands on my foot...

I open my devotional to a feather,

and the Blue-jay flies in squawking up a storm....

at the end of the day

these are what I get from those little signs...

yellow: intellect, caution, danger, betrayal

grey feather: balance, transition

Blue-jay: courage, strength, and protection

~

still your mind in the quiet

meditate

be conscious of each choice point during the day

you will never find security by trying

to anticipate all of the storms

instead of  wasting time worrying

talk with God about everything that concerns you

make better and healthier choices for yourself

remove all thoughts and feelings that are not

aligned with love, truth, power

just because you have a thought 

doesn't mean you have to agree with it

turn away from thinking that has become weedy

(resentment, unworthiness, bitterness, rejection...)

the areas where you are vulnerable 

are the areas where God is working

no blame

no shame

just recognition

moment by moment choose rightly

open your heart to receive God's Love

'it's okay that you're not okay

He accepts you right where you are in you junk

He loves you not because you are doing well

He loves you because He loves you'

be well...

xoxo

💞

"A thought is an idea, a premise, a conviction that determines

how you do, what you do, when you do it, if you do it."

~Bishop T.D. Jakes

" A lonely day is God's way of saying that He wants to spend

some quality time with you."

"Don't waste your time and energy trying to convince

people to value you. If you have to fight for their attention

and respect, it's time to move on."

 

It's not about ....

....' rules or dos and don'ts.

It's not about to do lists or

the importance of how much you know.

It's about having a childlike faith.

A childlike belief.'

'Jesus didn't come & die on the cross so we would behave better.

He came to connect with us in a way a child would understand.

Get back to the simplest version of your faith.'

notes...

another gorgeous day at my kiddo's

just got the call from Mexico

 they are at the airport waiting for their flight home

I'll be heading back home this afternoon

totally refreshed and refueled by family, nature, pets

home, exploring, meditating...quiet...

a whole week of

all the good stuff..

~

be intentional

practice good habits that shape your life

center your life on God and work outwards from there

practice appreciation

slow down and see the beauty

rein in your impulses to plunge into the day

mentally prepare for the day alone with Him

it's His gift from start to finish

at some point you have to realize that life is

right now,

'not someday when.....'

quit postponing things that are truly relevant

live in the present moment

keep your concentration on

what you're doing

rather than scatter your mind on distractions

scale down

make things simpler

easier

take yourself less seriously

become more childlike

not childish

remove negativity, self-pity and taking

life for granted

learn to take life in stride

be well...

xoxo

💖

"six year olds laugh an average of 300 times a day.

Adults only laugh 15-100 times a day.

Be six again."

"So what if you're alone right now. Embrace it.

Go get coffee alone. Shop alone. Drive alone.

Watch movies alone. Get to know yourself.

Nothing bad can come from riding whatever wave

of self-improvement you're blessed with in the moment."

~unknown~

"The trick is to enjoy your life.

don't waste away your days,

waiting for better ones ahead."

 

Be open to....

....the unknown ways in which life unfolds.

Make choices that honor who you are 

and say yes to the people and places

and things that give you meaning.

Say "Yes" to fully owning your one beautiful life.

And yourself.

~

notes...

little rain showers passing through as I sit on the patio

with a cup of coffee, furry side-kicks, and my favorite NY blanket

getting the Barnes and Noble nudge and a visit to the Antique Mall today....

packing up to head home tomorrow...

reach your own truth

show up for yourself

make adjustments and take responsibility 

for your life

recognize when you are part of the problem

your choices create your reality

be intentional about creating the space

for the person you want to be

learn to let yourself be

learn who you are

'self loss is our failed responsibility to be our self.'

let love in so the critic can die

resist outside clutter

let God's love work in your life

be in a state of giddy expectation

be well....

xoxo

💖

"None of us are getting out of here alive,

so stop treating yourself as an afterthought.

Eat the delicious food.

Walk in the sunshine. Jump in the ocean.

Say the truth you're carrying in your heart

like hidden treasure.

Be silly. Be kind. Be weird.

There's no time for anything else."

"Be yourself. Weird, wonderful, sensitive, impulsive,

crazy, mystical, vulnerable, lovable, magical,

and beautiful.

The right people will adore you."

~unknown~