No matter what ....

....year it was that you were born,

I hope that you aren't held back because of a number.

And that you don't rush into things because it 

feels like time is slipping by.

 
'I hope you do what's right for you.
Hold on.
Slow down.
And breathe in.
Your age is your age.
But more importantly, your life is your life.
Don't change your journey so that it matches
someone else's. 
We need to walk different paths so the whole world
can be explored.
Revel in the differences.
And enjoy where you are.'

~

notes...

it's not who you've been
it's who you are becoming

have a vision for the kind of
person you want to be

your  life is an accumulation of the
decisions you make 
make the healthier choices

love people as they are

change the way you show up

your mindset, attitude and your goals
take control of what your life looks & feels like

don't forget what actually matters

know what's important
somewhere to go
something to do
something that you enjoy
somebody that you can show a little love to

take care of yourself

awaken your heart to life

be well....
xoxo
💝

~

"You are being presented with two choices:
evolve or repeat."
~unknown~

"Sometimes deciding who you are is
deciding who you will never be again."
~unknown~

"Look at your daily habits and ask yourself if they are
causing you to evolve or revolve.
Are you moving forward, or just moving in circles?"
~unknown~

 

The interpretation ....

....of your memories

influence the story you carry around

in your heart.

It's the narrative you listen to every day,

influencing your perspective and the decisions you make.

notes....

Yesterday I follow a nudge 

to leaf-blow and

mulch mow.

This morning I walked barefoot in the grass

spread out the old quilt in the sun

and basked in the glow.

~

think well-being

treat your heart well

seek and strive for what your heart

& soul really want 

listen for intuitive cues

whatever task is looming before you 

always look toward God for victory

whatever you do 

do it with all of your heart

the habits of your heart 

lead to changes in the way you live

find peace within yourself

 the story in your heart is empowering 

or disempowering you

life is about cultivating empowered relationships

with God, yourself, and others

unforgiveness welcomes bitterness

which will keep your heart toxic

you give out to others what you have processed in your own life

be there for yourself

each step has it's own value

come home to the present moment

where you can enjoy peace

each moment lasts less than a tiny portion of a second

don't be afraid of missing out

beautify your mind

practice habits of finding 

joy, hope, and peace

walk in hope

ground yourself in what is true

your heart will surge with pride

& love

~

'What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax,

not be so preoccupied with getting

so you can respond to My giving.

Sit quietly with Me.

Steep yourself in My reality.

Allow Me to work with it all.

I see what is and will be

and it usually starts with the hope you

have inside. 

Practice plenty of that.

Pray for hope and look for it in the little things.'

~Jesus~

(sources: Jesus Calling, Mark DeJesus, Message Bible)

be well....

xoxo

💝

"Gratitude is the ultimate bio-hack.

It reduces stress, improves sleep, strengthens your immune system,

and even aids digestion.

The vagus nerve connects your brain and gut,

gratitude activates it, calming your system.

A grateful heart is essential for health."

~Dr. Mark Hyman~

"Sometimes you get what you want.

Other times, you get a lesson in patience,

timing, alignment, empathy, compassion,

faith, perseverance, resilience, humility,

trust, meaning, awareness, resistance, purpose,

clarity, grief, beauty, and life.

Either way, you win."

 

You are ....

....the light of the world.

notes...

'who has impacted your life

has it made you a better person

or has it hindered your life?

get rid of the idea that you can't make an impact on anyone else

you have a mission to impact someone else in a way that is good

the power of our impact will be marked by the character of our life

He has called all of us to be different

your are salt

you are light

it could be a dim light

but you are light'

be well....

xoxo

💖

Get back to ....

....the simplicity of heart connections in 

your own life.

Focus on what brings your heart back

to life.

lunch & honeymoon pics with my kiddo


notes...

woke up fairly early, and noticed a lack
of motivation to dive into devotionals,
no desire to write...
& a strong urge to just sit in silence
listen and breathe...
when all was said & done....I had written 
seven pages in my journal.

~

direct and redirect your mind to the present

become aware of the habits you go to

pull back on busy-ness and see what is there

work through new mindsets & habits
that will help you to heal

deal with shut-down

when you shut down a part of your heart
to pain
you also shut down joy, peace, love and hope

it's easy to shut down and get lost in your head
and lose the connection of God in your heart

re-align where you relate and connect from
get out of your head
and love powerfully from your heart

a disconnect in your heart reveals the need
to slow down & become more relationally wired

slow down and connect
make space for your heart to express

reformat your dead end habits
and reboot your routines

marinate in what you are hearing
and learning
give yourself space and time to experience it

all true beauty reflects some of who God is

He cleans out the debris & clutter making
room for His Spirit

collaborate by being willing to let go

live in His beauty

learn to sit in quiet
and enjoy sitting
sit down and do nothing
no thinking
let thoughts go
concentrate on 
enjoying your breath in
and your breath out
enjoy the fact that you are alive
it is nourishing and healing

be mindful of the wonders of life

~

'Keep Me before your mind. This is fundamental
for caring for your soul.
Direct & redirect your mind constantly to Me,
as a needle on a compass.
I know what you need,
I have promised to provide all of that-
abundantly!
Your sense of security must not rest in your possessions
or in things going your way.
I am training you to depend on Me alone,
finding satisfaction in My will for the moment.
Instead of grasping & controlling,
you are learning to release & receive.
Trust Me in every situation.'
~Jesus~

(sources: Mark DeJesus, Jesus Calling, Pause)

be well...
xoxo
💝

"Sometimes we need someone to simply be there,
not to fix anything or do anything in particular,
but just to let us feel we are supported and cared about."
~unknown~

"Talk less. Listen more. Feel deeper.
Love better. Open your eyes. Experience life."
~unknown~

"Listen & silent are spelled with the same letters.
Think about it."
~unknown~

 

Every wonderful thing....

....in your life is a gift from God,

an expression of His heart toward you.

All your precious memories, 

all the things you love.

lipstick kiss from our first farm truck ride

notes...

I put the kettle on the stove for coffee,

Hubby's gathering his things to head out for work and..,

" I dropped the farm truck off yesterday to have repairs done.

The rearview mirror broke off, so I asked them to fix it.

They said they'd have to clean everything off real good.

I told them they couldn't clean the mirror...

that it's been there for 15 years. 

They fixed it."

Then it registered what he was talking about.

"Is it gone?"

"No", he smiled, "it's still there!" 

My kiddo is on his way to town,

we'll grab lunch, catch up...

then he'll be on his way somewhere else...

It a sweatshirt, twinkle lights, and hot spiced chai kind-of-day...

~

throw your faith a lifeline

name the things you love

God made them specifically for you &

gave you the heart to love them

Love Jesus for each of the things you love

anchor in the beauty of what is most deeply true

life moves quickly & sometimes noisily

sometimes loves guidance comes in the

subtle moments where we would least expect

get quiet and listen

discover the benefits of finding your quiet place

tune into that still small voice of love 

through prayer, meditation, or reflection

envision a life you desire

find the message within the sounds that you hear.

God is speaking to you now.

be well...

xoxo

💝

 

Praying your way....

....through life isn't passive.

It's acknowledging a love, wisdom, & strength

that exceeds your own.

notes...

Polly was rubbing her face on my journal as I write,

sitting cross-legged in the sunshine that's streaming through the window.

She decided to stay, & rest there for a while.

I listened to to her purr...and took it as a cue to meditate.

It's a special day today

and I wish I could teleport myself somewhere else,

 so I could hug my Dad for his B-day

try as I might....I'll just give him a call.

~

falling on your knees means you understand a great truth

God works with you right where you are

 in your kinks & quirks along the journey to grow

your not surrendering to the problem-

your surrendering to the one who can defeat it

take all the help you can get

prayer is essential

don't let your well-being depend on your circumstances

the reason a situation bothers you 

is because you feel out of control

you prefer to manage life according to your terms

demonstrate a teachable spirit

be honest about your limitations

feelings

and faults

confront your weaknesses and examine your heart

accountability is a wise check and balance for your life

bring the most authentic version of yourself

to the world today

practice patience

~

'Put more energy into trusting Me & enjoying My presence.

Let everyone see who I created in you, rather than

the version your insecurities have manufactured over time.

Show up with humble confidence of My unfinished work in you.

Let go of your fears and allow Me to work.

I have a better plan than you can imagine.

Accept that I am in control,

and rest in the knowledge that I am always victorious.

Believe in My faithful Love.'

~Jesus~

(sources: Jesus Calling, Mark DeJesus, Charles Stanley)

~

be well...

xoxo

💖

"You deserve to be loved without having to hide

the parts of yourself that you think are unlovable."

~unknown~

"I am an old soul. I love genuine kindness. I love compassion.

I love poetry. I love soul connection.

I love old books. I love deep conversation.

I love depth. I love rawness."

~unknown~

"Free Nervous System Regulators:

Hum

sing

Gargle

Prayer

Sunlight

Saying No

Journaling

Safe People

Slow Exhales

A Walk Outside"

~Dr. Will Cole~

 

Less of a self-help...

....grind & more of an adventure with

God.

Fine tune your heart to 

what love says.

Pause. Breathe deep. 

Learn to be kind to yourself.

You've wasted enough hours, days & years

beating yourself up.

~

notes...

it is dark and gray, 

the sun is barely peeking through an opening

and a mist is falling in the ray of light

it looks like sparkles 

It's been windy

 a woman was entering the market with me...

she turned to me and said,

"Everyone keeps coming up to me and telling me it's windy!"

I smiled and said,

"It's windy!"

we both laughed.

We walk in together to grab a cart.

Two left.

I point out the obvious..

"Wow, no carts..."

and then we look at each other, and in sync

"it's because it's so windy...."

and we part ways laughing.

I have a new healthcare person in my life...

(as of yesterday)

he's local-ish & on the same page,

and I feel like life just got so much simpler.

Learning that when I let go, things tend to do that,

... get simpler.

your inner critic makes you an enemy to yourself

thoughts that beat you up keep you in your battle

"You defeat the inner critic by flooding your

heart with God's love for you."

Love is patient

Love is kind

Love is empowering

Love is healing

speak kindly to yourself

decide how you want to feel 

then make an effort to radiate that

a shift happens when you live intentionally

it's a practice

be well...

xoxo

💝

'Take more walks. 'Walk off a bad mood.

Walk to get some sun. Walk to listen

to something that teaches you...

or just listen to nature.

'Walk for your heart, your brain, and your 

blood sugar. 

One small walking habit can change everything.'

"You can walk off a bad mood faster than you 

can talk it out.

-Movement raises serotonin.

-Walking lowers cortisol.

Your brain was built to solve problems

at 3mph."

~Dr. Mark Hyman~

 

Invest in yourself...

....think quality not quantity. Be strong. Be patient. Pray. Take hot baths. 

Buy bubble bath. Buy bubbles to blow. Wake up early.

Do yoga. Write. Find a friend who truly listens to you.

Study. Read. Write some more.

Book a VRBO for a night away.

Write this day down, write it all down.

Cry. Feel homesick. Learn to be in silence.

Learn to stand being alone.  Drink good coffee and tea.

Eat chocolate while watching your favorite reality show.

Meditate. Stretch. Breathe Deep. Dance.

Buy overpriced coffee. Learn to be with yourself.

notes....

rainy morning, door open, smells like fall

quite content to just sit and savor this morning

meditate

being nudged on patience this week...

stillness and quiet seem to be enveloping me

in a very good way...

~

engage patience with your whole heart

self-pressure slows everything down

and makes it harder

let go of the time-table pressure

let the journey take its course

become more aware of your need for patience

every time something thwarts your plans or desires

use it as a reminder to practice patience 

practice in all the little disappointments of daily life

reframe setbacks as an opportunity to practice patience

"But let patience have her perfect work, 

that you may be perfect and complete,

lacking nothing."

James 1:4

be well...

xoxo

💖

"In a world drowning in fake,

people are craving what's real,

whole, and Holy.

When the spirit is nourished,

the body always follows."

~Dr. Will Cole~

"Nourishment isn't just food...

nourish your mind

nourish your soul

nourish your spirit

nourish your heart

nourish your body

nourish your nervous system.

A full plate was never the same as

a full life."

~Dr. Will Cole~

"A recent study found that having just one

meaningful conversation with a friend each day

can boost happiness, lower stress, and reduce

feelings of loneliness.

Connection is essential for health.

~Dr. Mark Hyman~

 

There are always....

...new and simple ways to capture the sense of 

everyday magic....

...you just have to go out and find them.

Magic for me is in the little things...

the nothing-but-beautifully-ordinary moments

that pile up like treasure to be stored.

notes...

just realized that the time changed

sitting with the windows & doors open

sipping on lemon ginger tea

the breeze blowing through the house 

& the leaves swirling in the wind

Polly dashing in and out like the air...

 enjoying a simple day today...

~

move forward in a way that keeps you enlivened

empower yourself with small choices 

that up the quality to your life

set some goals you want to make

that'll make you healthier & happier

simplify things

slow down

unplug and just BE 

recognize your day-to-day moments

you were created to take care of a small space in

the world for a while

it's a huge responsibility

pass in on better than you found it

preserve what's beautiful

'So be content with who you are.

Live carefree before God'

(1 Peter 5: 6-7 MSG)

"You have to find places where you recognize yourself."

be well...

xoxo

💖

'... I like to think that each breath is a bit more to my plot.

Some days life doesn't make sense,

but the longer we live, the more we look back,

we see the completing work & realize that each and every

moment becomes a sentence, a page, a stack of softly tattered tomes

that feel of well-worn leather.

We pick them up as the years soldier on, thumbing through

them to remember. To remember the good and the bad

and to marvel at the sound of softly falling leaves.'

 

Voices that say...

....your not enough

can derail you from your path.

But...

when you recognize that you have the power to change

those voices, 

you can become unstoppable!

notes...

a perfectly gray morning 

twinkle lights and candles aglow

started my morning with a guided meditation prayer *love

sitting on the floor with devotionals scattered around...

my journal, Polly pacing over me kneading certain spots to

settle...then not

hubby's Sunday bacon, and the smell of coffee...

feeling hooghly today....

~

self-critical and external voices have the power to shape 

how you feel, what you do, everything about you...

it doesn't mean it's relevant

if you are listening to those who say you are....

or should be....

and it doesn't align with the truth...

close your ears to them

one of the greatest enemies of joy in your life

is conflict with others

relationship problems can contribute significantly

to your sense of discontentment & despondency

dealing with difficult people is challenging enough

managing your negative thoughts about them

can be even harder

you may be stuck with them...

feel like you've had all you can take....

don't know what to do....

do the best you can

moment by moment

focus on your part

...we never stop growing

He never stops working....

~

'Meditate on My word.

Do not be discouraged by the difficulty of keeping your

focus on Me.

I am delighted by your deep desire to walk closely with Me

through life.

You can be so influenced by others and swayed by their opinions.

It's important that you realize I allowed these people into your life

for My purposes.

Instead of allowing them to become the focus of your thinking,

ask Me what I am teaching you or providing for you through them.

When inappropriate, ugly words, & deeds of others drive you to turn

towards Me

they can be unwitting agents of your spiritual growth.

So make the choice to turn towards Me.

I promise to give you the wisdom &

strength to deal with them with grace.

I am pleased with you.

Rejoice in the tiny triumphs.

I love you!'

~Jesus~

(sources: Jesus Calling, Charles Stanley, Bob Goff)

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Sending peace to those whose dreams were replaced

with survival mode.

I hope you do whatever the hell makes you happy!"

~Nate~

"Let them be wrong about you.

There's nothing to prove."

~unknown~

"When a person starts healing after living in survival mode,

they have a deep desire for honesty & authenticity.

They've had to fight for their ability to think clearly

& know who they are.

It's been quite costly.

They're not willing to engage with those who won't

respect that."

~Nate ~

"It's not only trauma people are healing from,

but the ways people treated them when they asked for help."

~Nate Postlethwait~

 

God, what are You...

...saying to me?

notes...

Surprise

God says something in a very special way

Personal

God what are you saying to me?

Specific 

Read the Bible with God's message to you in mind

Encouragement

He gives you words of encouragement

because He knows you need it

He wants you to listen

He wants you to believe He speaks to you

Serious

He wants you to understand when He's speaking to you

He can speak to you anytime

oftentimes you're not listening

Listen to Him because He has something to say

to you

He knows exactly how to get your attention

He wants the best for you

He will guide you

When God says this is what I'm going to do

you don't change God's mind

Frightening

When He tells you to do anything

He assists you.

You don't live by your feelings

you live by the truth

He will be clear enough that you'll understand

what He requires of you

Learn to talk to God

Learn to listen to God

Step-by-step

He will speak clearly

He will never tell you to do something that He

doesn't have a reason, purpose, or goal

Obey Him in the simple things

Trust Him no matter what

Watch Him work

He loves you

be well...

xoxo

💝

'Unforgiveness. A source of a great deal of conflict

and stress in your relationships.

Examine your heart.

Check to see..

*If you secretly hope someone gets what they deserve.

* Talk negatively about anyone to others.

*Indulge in fantasies of revenge-even seemingly harmless ones.

*Spend time mulling over what others have done to you.

*How do you feel when something good happens to a person who has wronged you?

* Do you blame anyone for how your life has turned out?

Do you find it difficult to be open & trusting with people?

*Are you frequently angry, depressed, or bitter?

*Do you find it difficult to thank God for anything that happened in your life?

If any of these is true for you, you may be harboring resentment.

Confess any unforgiveness to Him.

Lord, help me forgive wholeheartedly, 

just as you have forgiven me.

Help me to forgive others and to honor You.

Amen.'

(source: Charles Stanley Every Day in His Presence)

 

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."