Slow down...

...your mind.

Sit and listen.

notes...

'Look for God in the change that you are going through.

You can find the face of Jesus anywhere if you look close enough.

Don't seek the comfort.

Listen for God's whisper.

He speaks to those that take the time to listen.

Don't ask why, but what.

Every situation is an education.

You'll grow better or you'll grow bitter depending on your response.

Don't focus on  the circumstance, focus on your character.

Don't focus on the problem, focus on your personality.

Don't focus on what's going on around you,

 focus on what God wants to do in you.

Some things you only learn through difficulty.

Expect opposition.

Learn contentment.

Contentment and character is something you learn.

Give thanks IN all circumstances, 

not FOR all circumstances.

Focus on what never changes.

Don't face change alone.

Trust Him in the situations you don't understand.

God did not bring you this far just to leave you where you are.'

be well...

xoxo

💖

 

Learn the magical...

...lesson that making the most

of what you have

turns it into more.

notes...

cool windy morning

wrapped in a shawl and

spiced chai lattes from our favorite coffee shop

dress shopping today

gratitude  unlocks the fullness of life

it turns what you have into enough

gratitude provides a helpful

framework for the things

that concern you

gratitude brings peace for the day

and creates vision for tomorrow

it makes things right

reflect back and grab important 

lessons from the past

in order to make better

decisions going forward

flying through life on autopilot

can deprive you of joy

carve out time to evaluate

the quality of your decisions

and direction in your life

reflect on things that are working well

in your life

honestly assess where you're 

missing the mark

modify your strategy

pause and reflect on the person 

you are becoming

become more tuned in to how

you are actually living your life

be well...

xoxo

💞

"The unexamined life 

is not worth living."

~Socrates

"The unplanned life 

is not worth examining."

~Aristotle

"We ought not to look back,

unless it is to derive useful lessons

from past errors, & for the

purpose of profiting by dear bought

experiences."

~George Washington

 

"I don't know"...

...is a game changer.

"When you give up having to  know

or needing to be right,

you feel lighter right away.

Surrender your stories.

The mind is not the boss of anything,

and it doesn't want to be.

Let life take over from here."

notes...

hubby joined me on the porch this morning

he's sharing a story of heroics as he rocks on the porch swing

with his coffee

&

 I'm listening intently while trying to capture droplets of rain

as they land in the garden 

experiencing an outside hygge moment

slow down your pace of living for a time

quiet your mind

when it comes to faith

if you're looking for proof

you won't find it

somewhere along the way

you have to make the leap from that which you know

to that which calls you from within

you need only a willing heart

and a truthful spirit

God will take it from there

 meeting you as you take the leap

the way before you may be steep

and rocky

it is nonetheless 

the path of life

you will have feelings of uncertainty

fairly often in your life

no matter what age

you may not have all the answers

but God does

you must be open to receive

you can receive inspiration, endurance, strength,

wisdom, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

self-control, 

or whatever else you require

He has plenty to give

you can't create those things yourself

losing your place in your personal story

is the way

that deeper discoveries come to life

confusion is a catalyst for growth

it helps you to lighten the load

for your journey ahead....

"....it's here to help you forget 

what you thought you knew

to reveal an even greater truth"

'be honest about your confusion

allow it

 to unwind your overstimulated nervous system

so that you can discover the safety

that is always within you'

slow your breath

life will be more gentle as you 

choose to be more soft and supportive

of yourself

relax into not needing to figure things out

allow understanding to find you

instead of you pursuing it on a regular basis

you will always know everything 

you need to know

exactly at the moment you 

need to know it

don't forget 

to remember

that everything good 

comes from God

He will lead you to life

at it's very best

be well...

xoxo

💝

"When it's time for something new,

you will feel it.

You will feel a desire to let go,

to shed layers, to move,

to re-create.

You will know because there will be

 subtle shifts all around you.

You will release the old because you 

are really clearing the path for what's ahead.

Trust the process."

"Be the reason someone still believes in magic,

truth, authenticity, compassion,

intelligent conversation,

loyalty, courage, and love that 

doesn't have an agenda."

 

Don't let failure...

 ....be final.

                                                                            notes...

my girlfriend was bullying me in my home

so I grabbed my purse and left.

It was almost dark & my emotions were over the moon

as I climbed into the John Deer tractor to drive away...

...then I woke up.

Stepped out into the dark morning to feed the birds,

 sunk my feet into the 

rain soaked grass and thought about trying to drive a

tractor as a get-away rig, and laughed out loud.

...tearing down the walls of control

building the walls of faith...

trusting the creator.

relinquish your desire for control

it's scary to let go

but walk in faith with God

& He promises to support 

you every step of the way

release your need to direct circumstances

trust

all you need to do is believe

and receive

when things are difficult

those are the moments

you find out whether you

really trust that God knows best

to feel safely rooted 

no matter what you encounter

be honest with yourself

by admitting how you feel

part of pain's roll is to make you

more honest with yourself

about the things

you can't control

it helps you become more open

and receptive

truth can be discovered once you

stop fighting against the natural forces

God is the best teacher

the more you turn things over to Him

the better it goes

your answers are inside you

you make your future anew every day

life is a mix of fate & free will

with a dash of mystery

"When you knock, ask to see God...

not any of the self-appointed intermediaries."

~Thoreau~

be well...

xoxo

💖

'At age 7 his family was forced out of

their home, and he had to go to work

to help support the family.

At age 9, he's still a shy little boy,

and his mother dies.

At age 22 he lost his job as a store clerk.

He wanted to go to law school but,

 his education wasn't good enough.

At age 23 he went into debt

to become a partner in a small store.

Three years later his partner died,

leaving him a huge debt which took years

to repay.

At age 28 after dating a young woman

for four solid years, he asked her to marry him

and she said "no".

In his 30's he ran for public office and he lost.

A couple years later he ran again, and he lost again.

At 37 years of age it was his third attempt to 

run for office, and he finally got elected to congress.

But two years later when he ran for re-election 

he lost.

 He had a nervous breakdown as a result.

At 41, (in an unhappy marriage) his four year old

son dies.

At 42 he ran to be elected as the land officer

and he lost.

At 45 he ran for the senate,

and he lost.

A few years later he ran for vise presidency 

and he lost again.

At 49, he ran for the senate and lost again.

At 51, he was elected President of the United States.'

His name....

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Abraham Lincoln

our 16th President

💞