Getting Started

The book store was amazing! 

 A small little shop filled with old used books.

I wasn't really looking for anything in particular,

so I wondered if I were to be searching for something,

who or what would I want to find?

I thought, a C.S Lewis book would be nice .

I've contemplated buying one, but was unsure

which one I'd want to read.

As soon as that thought left my head...

a big fat book sat tucked right in front of me on the shelf.

"The Complete C.S. Lewis Signature Classics."

$15. Done.

I love synchronicity.

It was a beautiful spring-like day today.

 Me, a blanket, my grand-dog and my journal.

Outside.

All day.

I started on my goals.

I decided my  first goal is to improve my imagination.

A few journal notes from today...

Set my mind on things above, not on earthly things.

'Your failure and successes are only 1/2 of the picture.

The other 1/2 is love & it will outlast everything else.'

"God doesn't play hide & seek with our hopes and dreams."

He places beautiful desires in our heart's.

'The thoughts that arise because of your doubts will

wear you out, discourage you, cause you to act rashly

and limit you from perceiving God's perfect work on

your behalf.'

There is a champion within you. God. He won't let you down.

Position yourself to receive, not resist.

'Walk through the doors in front of you,

and if one seems closed, find a window that

is ajar to climb through.'

'There is no limit to what is possible-

that's simply the way the world was made.'

'Trust in your God idea more than other people's ideas.

Reach for the sky, and the sky will bend down to 

greet you.'

No challenge. No reward.

"Imagination, focus and courage are the fuels for the fire,

the steel that builds a house where dreams can become real."

'Your inner compass is trying to lead you on a fantastic voyage.

Each step has the potential to lead you in new directions 

or take you to a new level of accomplishment.'

'Nothing should be more important than achieving what you want.'

live well & in peace....

xoxo

💖

 

Life Lately

 

The kids are away on vacation, so I am on a little 

retreat as well.

Staying with the grand-paws.

I'm loving the Autoimmune way of life.

I'm into week 6.

I can have coffee now.

My coach split our session in two yesterday.

She will meet back with me next week.

In the meantime...

she wants me to "dream big", and set some goals on moving forward 

with my "story".

Never have I ever...

 dared to dream big...

or set goals!

I can follow someone else's plan....but create my own?

 In detail ?

By next week?

I'm thankful for her pushing me...

I think?

She offered a visual for me.

Holding a big book up to the screen,

she turned the page to somewhere in the middle.

She described the pages in the past as my life,

half of it already written.

I'm to take the lessons I've learned with me as I write the rest.

Then she started flipping page by page toward the end....

and said, " Each day that you don't make a choice, is another

page of the story left unwritten. (which made me tear up...)

 You can continue to keep writing as it is, 

or you can see it with all the potential of it being a wonderful second half, 

with the ultimate relationship being with yourself & God. 

Include your emotional health, physical health, and your environment."

"Remember to be specific."

The weather here has been gorgeous & and my "Dad's-tinker-in-the-yard-gene" has kicked in.

I have been picking up

limbs and sticks, and cleaning up the yard.

The kids haven't had the weather to get outside and work since they've moved in.

I have.

Caught up with Dad on the phone that day...he planned to do the same. 

💝

I'm heading out to explore the city's downtown area today.

I love downtowns, and

there's a quaint little bookstore the kids thought I'd like.

A few notes from my journal lately....

Examine your likes and dislikes. 

Do an audit.

A grateful heart protects against negative thinking.

We become what the people around us say we are.

You are never too old to set another goal, or to

dream a new dream.

The power to decide a new path is always in your hands.

"It's not life that bores you, 

it's the habits you choose to live with."

" If God closes someone's heart to you or denies

you access to a particular opportunity, 

it's not because you've failed

but because it is not His will."

~ Charles Stanley ~

Dare to walk the highroad.

My own understanding will weigh me down

Trust God absolutely.

I can look at life in whatever way I choose.

I can shape it into whatever I wish,

heaven or hell, it is my choice.

" Right now, you don't need to have enough faith to finish,

you just need to have enough faith to get started."

"Don't give into hopelessness or imagine there is 

nothing left for you."

~ Charles Stanley ~

'God can intervene at any moment om ways

that would absolutely astound you.'

Don't give up doing what it right.

Faithfully endure.

Confront your fears.

"When you give into fear, you're a failure."

Think your actions through before you do

something you will regret.

"There is a season to serve someone else's dream.

There is also a season to go after your own."

"Don't seek opportunity; seek God,

& opportunity will seek you."

'Don't be in such a hurry to begin the next chapter of your life

that you fail to ace the lesson the current chapter is 

trying to teach you.'

If trusting God were easy, everyone would do it.

live well & in peace....

xoxo

💞

Elated

This morning I woke up giddy.

I'm in the fifth week of the Autoimmune Health Reset, &

yesterday's homework was to fill out an inflammation assessment like 

 I did at the start of the program.

Then compare the two.

It could be interesting?

It wasn't. 

It was mind blowing!

Here is the list of systems assessed....

and then my totals.

Beginning...and now.

Brain & nervous system: 12 - 7

Digestive system: 9 - 6

Detoxification system: 8 - 2

Blood sugar/ insulin system: 15 - 9

Hormonal (endocrine) system: 8 - 3

Musculoskeletal system: 16 - 9

Autoimmunity 10 - 3

I. Was. Elated.

Ultimately they like to see  scores at a 5 or lower.

This makes me happy.

Yay me !!! 

More happy things from today....

Following that inner pull to participate in this program

with Dr. Will Cole and his team.

The bird perched on the feeder as I went to fill it, &

giving it some light strokes 

before it flew off.

Sitting in the sunshine streaming through the windows.

Seven pages written in my morning journal,

while Polly lay purring on my lap.

My neighbor Otis frolicking in the snow,

his big ol' floppy eared head plowing under and resurfacing with mouthfuls

of the white fluffy goodness.

(hound dog)

The green flag to reintroduce a few fruits...

& caffeine. Limit one cup a day of each.

I can have Coffee !!!!!! 

*happy dance*

I haven't had either yet.

 I am waiting for a compliant/toxic free

coffee ordered from Amazon. 

And the fruit? I'll wait.

I know me. 

Once I start sweets...I want more sweets.

Even if it's fruit.

 I'm taking more time.

I have come too far to botch it up.

Hubby offering to be my uber driver to go to the Chiropractor this afternoon.

(the roads are fine, but how could I resist?)

Hitting the 1040 day mark on my Duolingo Spanish.

Four months of meditating for 10 min. in the morning.

Listening to a really good podcast...

while decluttering a closet.

The right messages at the right time.

Feeling encouraged, hopeful, and empowered.

Purple & white flowers blooming on my indoor plants.

 Some journal notes and quotes....

Learn to live from your true center.

'When your Spirit is controlling your thinking &

behavior, you feel more alive, more real, more content.'

The desire to control can sabotage you.

God's will may appear to be anything but perfect. 

Trust Him.

Even if you don't understand.

Be miracle minded.

" Think of life as a canvas. Every time you draw on it,

you are creating.

You can  use your time aimlessly doodling,

or you can go after what you feel compelled to do.

You can begin to draw a masterpiece one stroke at a time.

you can start right where you are.

Make the stroke you do today a good one,

an intentional one."

You can own your power to choose the path that is right for you.

live well & in peace...

xoxo

💝

"When life gets you down, just keep on swimming."

~Dori~

 

Snow

Waking up to a blanket of fresh snow is a peaceful sight.

Everything feels cozier and the world seems hushed.

Snow days are the perfect time to do nothing

for the sake of nothingness.

"Slow down. Calm down. Don't worry.

Don't hurry. Trust the process."

~ Alexandra Stoddard ~

"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself

that this very moment is the only one

you know you have for sure."

~ Oprah ~

live well & in peace...

xoxo

💖

 

Sleepy Thought

"Be the change you want to see."

That was the first thought in my sleepy little head 

this morning when I woke up.

I have read that a lot over my lifetime.

And I usually tell myself..."Yeah ! Be that change! Be your best.

Love others. Serve. Forgive. Be open."

Then 10 minutes later, I'm going down the rabbit hole,

of thinking how my life would be better if *blank* would

happen...change....or disappear. Usually in some form of judgement.

Not exactly what I had in mind...and not the change 

I'm wanting to see.

This morning.... I didn't tell myself the usual.

This morning it was more of a sweet whisper to myself...

..."girl...you need to dig into this more closely."

And I am.

No matter what cards  we've been dealt in this life,

we can not only request a new hand,

we can create an entirely new game.

If we stay on the self-discovery, self-healing course,

life can continue to get better,

and we can live in a more empowered way.

'We don't know where we're headed and it's very scary.

Old dreams are resurrecting, new desires are wooing.

Instead of clarity we feel confused.'

'Women have always known how to deal with monsters

hiding under the bed, or lurking in closets.

We turn on lights and reassure worried souls with love.

We need to slay the monsters in our heads the same way.

Pick up the double edged sword of light & love.

Remember that it's simply

 not an adventure worth telling

if there aren't any monsters. 

But as in the best old tales, 

at the end of your exploring, 

you will live happily ever after.'

"We shall not cease from exploration

And the end of all our exploring

Will be to arrive where we started

And know the place for the first time."

~ T.S. Elliot ~

Journal bit's lately...

'You need stillness outer & inner to hear the 

gentle whispers of your heart.'

Be still. Let go. Relax.

'Let's just go ahead & be what we were made to be,

without enviously or pridefully comparing 

ourselves with each other, or trying to be

something we aren't.'

Use what you have to get what you want.

What you give, you will receive.

'Train your imaging to good, health, wealth,

love, friends, and perfect self-expression.'

"Whatever man feels deeply or images clearly,

is impressed upon the subconscious mind,

and carried out in minutest detail."

"Love yourself first & everything else falls into line."

'Trust the journey. Things always shift with time.'

You have been created for a special purpose.

'You need a dream that scares you.'

Surrendering a situation means

 surrendering your thoughts about it.

Think thoughts that are most creative, positive,

insightful & beneficial.

Fixing people is God's role, not yours.

Restrain your urges to solve "their" problems.

Listen to them. Pray for them. 

Don't bow down to ego's scarcity & lack.

"God's will doesn't have to seem perfect to you

to be perfect for you."

What we do need to be right only for you.

Set boundaries. Let yourself be who you are.

"You really have to love yourself to get anything done in this world."

~ Lucille Ball ~

live well & in peace...

xoxo

💝

 

Healing the Heart of a People Pleaser

As a recovering people pleaser....this really says it all.

Journal notes:

'Learn to cast away negative feelings & thoughts within 

your head to move forward & live the life you were 

called to live.'

Get your mind right & focus on the positive.

Dispel negative, fearful thoughts & push forward.

Keep your thoughts in a good place.

Protect the positive person inside you who

 is telling you that you have what it takes.

Watch your self-talk. Tell yourself you will

make it- no matter what happens, no matter

what anyone else thinks.

Don't let other peoples negative thoughts

hold you back.

Think on the things that are true, holy, just,

pure, praiseworthy;

these thoughts will cancel out the negative.

Get back on track and find the true key to happiness-

yourself.

Acknowledge how great God is.

'Build the tools needed to nurture yourself back to health.

You are the only one who can dedicate yourself to 

daily practice & free your heart from the false prison

passed onto you.'

Another persons behavior has very little to do with you.

Let rejected feelings go.

Replace old messages of  "not enough"

with messages of love & kindness.

Come to love yourself.

live well & in peace...

💖

" Finally, brothers, whatever is true,

whatever is honorable, whatever is right,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, 

whatever is of good repute, 

if there is any excellence and if

anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things."

~Philippians 4:8~

"Don't be afraid of losing people,

but be afraid of losing yourself trying to 

make everyone happy."

"Had I not created my whole world,

I would certainly have died in other

people's."

~ anais nin ~

After Dinner Walk

A sweet treat was something I reached for after every meal.

It's a habit, but it also connected me to my childhood,

and having weekend meals at my Grams, and fresh deserts after

dinner. It's got meaning to me.

It was a feeling of safety, love, care, connection and home. 

It's one of the hardest habits to let go of.

Since fruits are not allowed in this phase of the program,

I have been satisfying my urge for sweets with a hand full of organic coconut.

(which is in my protocol)

and then I drag my butt into my Zen den and do this 10 min. after dinner walk.

I. Love. It.

I'm usually amped after that, and pick up the hand weights and give thee

old arms a workout too.

It has been a wonderful little addition to my evening.

"You don't have to build the habits everyone tells you to build.

Choose the habit that best suits you, not the one that is most popular.

There is a version of every habit that can bring you joy and satisfaction.

Find it.

Habits need to be enjoyable if they are going to stick."

Journal bits ....

Desire to rely on God wholly is a worthy goal.

Many of the difficulties encountered are designed

to help with this goal.

'Be filled with courage not doubt.

Be around life, not death.'

'Lean on God's power, wisdom, & love.

Yield to His plan.'

"Allow your desperation to lead you to 

dependence on Him."

'In stillness we find the answers that lie deep

inside of us. Our souls speak when we drown 

out distractions.'

"When something feels impossible,

it may take some time to find your way."

'We will learn by listening, trusting &

following through. Listen to the voice within.'

'Give fully to the adventure of today.'

'Do not give into fear or worry,

those robbers of abundant living.'

'Fix problems as they come, rather

than trying to anticipate them.'

"Go inward. Surrender to  life as it is,

right where you're at. Learn to be still,

bless & embrace it all,

without limitation, without escape."

You can trust God and yourself.

live today well & in peace...

Happy Valentines Day !!

xoxo

💘

Nervous System Regulation Exercises

Settling into my fourth week of my gut reset/phase 1

of the Autoimmune Reset Program. 

Feeling some stress due to lack of sleep lately, but otherwise good.

It takes a while to heal and adjust...and I know that,

however it makes it more challenging when your tired.

So I decided to dig into the resources available in the program on relaxing the

nervous system.

Otherwise I'd be pining for a cup of coffee and a sweet treat.

I just completed this session.

It was good, and the movements were easy.

I need easy today.

I am trying to get a little collection of tools together.

I'll share them as I go.

"Through persistence, we step into our greatness.

It takes hard work, dedication, and practice to embrace our

truest potential.

We need times of rest and compassion throughout

the process.

Don't let perfectionism take over.

Give yourself compassion when things don't go as planned.

Rest when you find yourself burned out.

You are meant for great things and each step you take brings

you closer to your potential. Acknowledge all the work you've 

done with pride. Give yourself credit for all you have done.

You are amazing!"

live today well & in peace...

xoxo

💖

February 10, 2025

'Imagine how it would be if the things you love,

were the reason for your existence.

Think about how your life might change

if you were living according to that purpose.

Imagine that someone is writing a history

of the world and they are writing about

what you added to it.'

Some journal nuggets lately...

Learn to not let how others define you affect you.

Be you. Be authentic. Don't get caught up in your

own hype. Be true to God. Be true to yourself.

Confusion is when you are overly focused on your plans.

'God doesn't promise a trouble free journey,

but he promises to make your life meaningful.'

'Faith in a positive outcome doesn't mean you deny

the problem; it means merely that you are affirming a solution.'

Your mind believes what you tell it.

Like yourself as you are.

'The key to loving how you live is knowing

what you truly love.'

"Put an ear down next to your soul &

and listen hard."

~Anne Sexton~

'Your heart will always tell you what's working

and what's not.'

Allow space for what's meant to leave

so what's meant to be can fill the space.

Feel it. Deal with it. Heal it.

Hold gratitude deep in your heart.

Trust yourself.

'Don't just pray for a miracle to happen;

participate in a miracle happening.'

See through the eyes of love.

'Take off the chains of normalcy & stretch

beyond your comfort zone.'

Start hanging with  people who are going in the 

same direction you want to go.

'The company we keep influences us in more

ways then we realize.'

Push past feelings of discomfort. 

Become familiar with new ways.

"It's not what happens to us, but what we choose to think

to think about what happens to us,

that determines what will happen next."

'We choose in life whether to live in victimization

or in victory.'

'We have the power to use against ourselves,

or power to use to free ourselves,

We always have a choice.

"If you have reached a place of exhaustion & emptiness,

then look to God & let Him breathe His power

into your spirit."

live today well & in peace...

xoxo

💝

" When a woman falls in love with the magnificent possibilities

within herself, the forces that would limit those possibilities

hold less sway over her."

~Marianne Williamson~

February 6, 2025

"There's a lot in this world you can't see that

you still believe in,

Like love & courage.

Well that's the way it is with faith

Just because you can't hold it in your hand

doesn't mean it's not there."

~Delany Sisters~

Blondie

My focus on living slowly & simpler,

no plans, no expectations, no strategies.

Just showing up & being present. 

Just living.

There is loveliness in the ordinariness.

Journal notes and quotes....

The only thing you can grasp without damaging

your soul is God's hand.

Your most persistent choice is whether to trust God,

or worry.

"A Happy heart is good medicine, and 

a cheerful mind works healing."

"Your heart and mind are intricately connected.

It is impossible to have a happy heart when

your mind is full of negative thoughts."

"Open your eyes and see what is around you 

in this world."

"The problem is not the Father's ability to bestow

what you need, but your ability to receive it

when fear or the desire for control governs you."

~Charles Stanley~

'When you have what you need spiritually,

all else falls into place.'

Live today well & in peace...

xoxo

💝

"It's all a matter of paying attention,

being awake in the present moment.,

and not expecting a huge payoff.

The magic in this world seems to

work in whispers and small kindnesses."

 

February 4, 2025

On the way home I drive past the zoo. It was a a gorgeous 

day, with all the Spring vibes & the gravitational pull was

mighty strong...

And there was a baby giraffe.

Some of my very best days are often unplanned.

Journal notes & quotes...

I will know through my heart what my mind cannot discern.

Wait and watch things unfold.

'Take deliberate steps each day to bring your heart, mind, and body

under control & listen to God for wisdom.'

'You don't know what will happen today, much less tomorrow.

Your path may take an abrupt turn.

Keep your mind on the present journey. Walk by faith.'

"Stop sleepwalking and start doing what makes you

come alive, fully alight."

"In the end, ironically, our quest to matter gets in the way

of doing the things that matter most."

You don't need to be more,

you just need to be more you.

A renewed mind is present focused.

Life opens up when you open your eyes & look for 

new ideas and insights.

'Have an insatiable quest for knowledge.'

'You always need good information to continue your

journey forward.

'Life is much sweeter when the heart is tender &

not tainted.'

"When man is harmonious and happy he is healthy."

'Resentment, ill will, hate, fear, etc.., etc...,

tear down the cells of the body and poison the blood.'

Lack & struggle are not of God.

"Our task is to say a holy "yes" to the real things

in our life as they exist."

~Charles Stanley~

"God has planned little gifts along the way to brighten your day,

& sometimes BIG delightful surprises - perfectly timed,

perfect for us."

"Don't wear yourself out with analyzing & planning.

Let thankfulness & trust be your guide."

"God is in all things."

Let go of negative programs.

Turn to God first & find what your heart yearns to find.

"God is good - to you. Stop doubting &

believe in His Love for you."

live today well & in peace

xoxo

💝

" I want to get into my car and drive until I find what I'm

looking for. Maybe it's purpose or maybe it's a new start

or maybe it's a sky with unclouded stars."

~unknown~