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~

 

When you start....

....out your day with appreciation

rather than take everything for granted

your world becomes alive.

Look for what's right.

Look for the gifts.

When you look for gifts

you start to find them in everyday

 ordinary things.

notes...

a warm cloudy breezy day

getting the gel polish removed from my "wedding nails" 

smores latte and C.S. Lewis at the local coffee shop

a $4 yellow vase and $1 photo holder at the flea market

   dinner with my cousins at the Mexican restaurant 

 Cake with a case of the zoomies...

and Fritzy vigorously shaking a stuffed duck that broke free

 & catapulted through the air and landed in the side of my head....

loving the vibes...

~

what you do is an expression of your internal mindset-

every act begins with a thought

there is power in a clear top priority

if you get your priority correct

the rest will come together

real change must proceed from the inside out.

become aware of your thought patterns

your mind can be transformed

lean into the most important parts of your life

put some wheels on your ambitions

celebrate the skin you're in

and be happy pursuing your own destiny

do you

~

'Concentrate on relating to Me.

Refuse to live by the faulty standards & practices.

Adopt a new way of thinking.

Trust Me to do astounding things in you.

I don't enjoy seeing you fail.

I love watching you grow.

I call you to greater things.

It's not about what I want from you.

It's about what I want for you.

'In Me you find out who you are and what you are living for.'

~Jesus~

(sources: Charles Stanley, T.D Jakes)

be well...

xoxo

💝

"You can't give your life more time,

so give the time you have left more life."

"Your work is to discover your world and then with all 

your heart give yourself to it."

~Buddha~

"Every person's destiny offers fulfillment in doing

what God destined that person to do."

"The last thing you want your life to become

is a cautionary tale of what could have been."

 

You can't arrive ....

....at your destination,

if you don't consult the only One who knows

where you are going & how to get there.

notes...

kids are doing well

Fritzy, Cake and Edna are well loved,

and  have been a great source of love for me too

so grateful for google maps

even with it... I can get lost

turns out

being directionally challenged is a blessing of sorts...

loving family

the energy of the city

and the peaceful comforts of home

it's the perfect trio

~

Think about the places in nature that you  especially love

you love this place because it corresponds to your heart

God  knows where you are

and exactly where you need to go

no roadmap could promise more

stop searching and simply talk to God

you can't dabble in God 

& live mostly in love with the world

the world you inhabit fatigues and traumatizes

the soul on a regular basis

choose single heartedness

...the message of the story is simple.

The Spirit will lead you

and He can use you as you show up

~

'I am all you need, just when you need it.

You have been called to a ''road less traveled".

Come to Me and rest in My grace.

You will find all you need in My presence.

As you become aware of Me you find it easier to

discern the way you should go.

Concentrate on staying in communication with Me.

When you actually arrive at a choice point

I will show you which direction to go.

I will not leave you circling in deeply rutted paths.

Don't waste precious time wandering.

I will lead you along fresh trails of adventure,

revealing to you things you did not know.'

~Jesus~

(sources: Jesus Calling, Charles Stanley)

be well...

xoxo

💖

"If I waited until I had all my ducks in a row,

I'd never get across the street.

Sometimes you just have to gather up what you've got

and make a run for it."

"Never apologize for being too much.

Too passionate. Too strange. Too curious.

Because no, you're not normal,

and that is a blessing."

"Man finds it hard to get what he wants, because he does

not want the best;

God finds it hard to give,

because He would give the best,

and man will not take it."

~George MacDonald Scottish Pastor~

 

Rely on the Holy Spirit....

....or do your own thing.

notes....

you've done everything you know to do...

...you're missing something

...it's not all it was cracked up to be

you feel like you've been defeated

a walk is a continuous series of decisions

we are absolutely inadequate to live the Christian life

our responsibility is decision making

He sends us a helper

Yield

Rely 

Trust

live by faith

be well...

xoxo

💗

 

Your superhero power...

....is available 24/7.

Just tune in.

connecting with others

You carry all the 'stress-relieving,

life-appreciating, joy-delivering,

mood-lifting, source-connecting, butt-kicking

benefits with you all day long.

The best way to do this is through  your breath & prayer.

~

notes...

the kids are having a blast on their honeymoon...

and I am grateful for my little soul fueling getaway

I'm so proud of them...

and their wonderful little space...

going park hopping with Fritz 

it's another gorgeous day

take a moment to clear your mind

check in with your body

become present in the moment

and connect

find direction and purpose for your life

Give God first place

Let go of that hinderance-

it isn't serving you

it is only holding you back

from discovering the joy you long for

encourage others

condition your mind to be curious

about what life has to offer

don't talk yourself out of so many things

live a deeper life

don't waste your time or your life 

trying to impress people

stay true to yourself

stand firm in faith

~

'Learn to unwind whenever possible, resting in My Presence.

How twisted the world has become when people feel

guilty about meeting this basic need.

How much time & energy you waste by being always on the go

rather than take time to seek My direction for your life.

Make sure you enjoy your journey, rather than spend your time

frustrated trying to get where you "think" you need to be.

Get rooted & grounded in the things I want you to be rooted and grounded in,

like Love, confidence, knowing who you truly are.

Depend on Me more and more, & I will shower Peace

on all your paths.

I love you just the way your are.'

~Jesus~

(sources: Jesus Calling, Joyce Meyers)

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Some people are empowered by travel and some are

inspired by the warmth of home.

Some thrive in the spotlight and some feel called to support those

who are on stage.

Some people are comfortable half-dressed and cussing like sailors

and others prefer modesty and gentleness.

The thing is: we are all empowered and inspired in different ways,

and it's not our job to decide what that looks like for anyone else."

 

Appreciate everything...

....'appreciate the sunshine on your skin in the morning,

the quiet peace you feel when you're doing something you love,

the fresh air that reminds you you're still here,

still living, still becoming.

tree hugger

Appreciate the small moments too.

A stranger smiling at you,

a message from someone who thought of you,

laughter that catches you off guard,

a slow walk that clears your mind.

Appreciate the people who choose you,

the effort someone puts into loving you,

the blessings that don't always look big

but still change your day in soft ways.

And most of all, appreciate yourself for growing,

evolving, and continuing to show up for your life

even on the days it feels heavy.'

notes...

up at dark

more meditation...less journaling

a nudge for an early drive out to the big burr oak 

a group of cyclers riding from Kansas City

to St. Louis

on their way to Hermann tonight

one rider weighed down with cameras

we talk our talk...

he hands me an old 1970 camera he's been shooting with

looking in from the top to see ahead...

then he hands me another, (complete with a film advance lever)

 to shoot a few photos of him and his group before they headed out.

~

listen & believe

keep moving

keep growing

keep evolving

all life is either moving forward & evolving

or shrinking back & dying

push through the obstacles instead of running from them

if you want a new life

you have to do the work instead of  just

studying & discussing & wishing & wanting

you can change your entire reality in a moment

if you want it bad enough

wake up excited to be who you are

decide to make it happen,

 to be engaged with your life & let God work for you

trade your bad habits for some good ones...

good time management

good thought habits

good health habits...

get out of autopilot mode

be intentional

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Some of you are unaware of just how amazing you really are.

The way you make people laugh, lift others up, or spread some 

extra love. You do this even though you are struggling too,

and I think it makes you such a beautiful human being."

"At the end of the day I am thankful that my blessings

are bigger than my problems."

"Look around you. Appreciate what you have.

Nothing will be the same in a year."

 

Show up everyday...

...with a good attitude.

Do your best.

Keep your faith strong.

Lean back and celebrate what is...

and with grateful expectation

 and belief that God is in control.

notes...

at 4:20 I heard the kids leave,

then anxiety.

I sat in prayer

a two hour drive...dark...most likely tired

normal Mom worry 

mixed with wanting everything to be perfect for them

a text when they arrived at the airport...with plenty of time to spare

more prayer for more protection & provision

room darkening blinds and a sense of peace...

I rest...

& wake up late morning..

with Fritzy cuddled by my side....

(side-note...they arrived at their honeymoon destination

and all is well...)

~

surrender is the part where you hand the job over to God

have faith and gratitude allowing God to deliver

(*love-based thinking)

surrendering isn't about what you do

but who you're being as you do it

surrender is free-falling backwards into the unknown

let go

have faith

be grateful &

wait...

while your at it love yourself &

love others

remember...

God holds your story in His hands

sometimes it will look just as you pictured it

sometimes it will look way better...

~

' Your heart is where heaven and earth come together.

Remember that I created this day.

I am present with you whether you sense it or not.

Do not be afraid or discouraged.

Trust Me and find rest for your soul.

I understand you perfectly & I know exactly what you

are experiencing.

As you continue communicating with Me,

your mood will lighten.

Experience My Power in your life.

Stop focusing on your circumstances & believe in Me.

I hold your story in My hands.

Now, joyfully go about your day.'

~Jesus~

be well....

xoxo

💞

"Sometimes all you can do is accept there's  not much you can do.

And sometimes all you can control is how well you let go of control."

"Life is a balance between what we can control and what we cannot.

I'm learning to live between effort and surrender."

"One of the happiest moment in your life

is when you find the courage to let go of what you can't change."

 

You can't think too far ahead....

....'about where you'll end up.

You can only go where He tells you

to go today.'

'When you wake up tomorrow,

He'll show you where to go.

The day after that, He'll show you.

And the day after that. And the next day.

Moment by moment.'

~

notes....

heading to my kiddo's today

as they head out on their honeymoon

planning to visit some family and get back on

track with my meditation & nutrition.

A restoration-staycation

It's been a wonderful month of anything goes...

but looking forward to getting back into a healthy groove.

set priorities 

sharpen your focus

and ignore distractions

get to know yourself

check yourself carefully

make sure you have a solid plan

then act on it

expose and expel your rebellious tendencies 

whatever your body does effects your soul

don't let your feelings control you

have a lot of self control

you grow your whole life

age is a number

old is a mindset

take good care of your body

feed your mind an body things that strengthen

& nourish you so you can enjoy life

even as you age.

This requires discipline, faith, and an investment of time

get the most you can out of your time

your day

your life

~

'You don't have to search for ways to suffer.

Search for Me in the midst of struggles.

I'm dealing with you on a few things.

Your beginning to notice some behaviors you 

didn't pay attention to before.

You are important.

You have to get out of My way.

If what you want, I want, 

you'll end up with it.

You don't have to spend all your time trying to get it.

If you spend your time chasing Me

the blessings will chase you.'

~Jesus~

(source: Joyce Meyers, Jesus Calling, Steven Furtick )

be well...

xoxo

💝

"The six best doctors: sunshine, water, rest, air, exercise

and diet."

"Health does not always come from medicine.

Most of the time it comes from peace of mind,

peace in the heart, peace in the soul.

It comes from laughter and love."

"When you are resting because you are worn out,

you need to remember that you are not wasting time.

You are doing exactly what you need to do.

You are recovering."