Weekend getaway....

to visit family

and that feeling I get when something

just speaks to my heart...

Movie night

while we wait to be seated for dinner

a room with a view

Easter with Jim, Josh, and Rutie

My grams brother, Jim's Dad


...it looks like,
smiling faces crowded around a table at dinner
a thunderstorm when we are all gathered on the couch for a movie
coffee huddles in the living room while
telling stories and catching up
meeting another cousin
a family walk on a pretty day
(traditional anniversary) pineapple upside down cake baked a
week early so I could celebrate  their 50th too
singing little ditties together
a feeling of ease, peace and contentment

a very, very, very, special weekend.



notes to self...

Love! This is great!
we visited the new Trader Joe's.

It's nice to be with the kids,
it's just what my soul needed.

the only thing standing between your current
life & the adventure you want is faith
don't settle
risk believing for greater things

be honest & vulnerable

Ruthie's mom was a "Rosie the Riveter"

take nothing for granted,
allow thankfulness to be as natural as breathing

weak on your own
strong together

return "home" where you are loved & safe

you are not off course

be the kindness, be the hope, be the sweetness,
these are the ingredients that fill your 
sometimes weary heart

it's about having things matter to you so much
you are willing to overcome a couple of impediments 
to get to them

keep your heart open 
and teachable

knowing who to call is where it all starts

be well...
xoxo
💝

"You can look upon life as dust to dust
or you can look upon life
as seed to seed."

"The hardest thing about reliving the past
is reassembling the original cast."

"Thanking God today for the love of family
the loyalty of friends
and the kindness of strangers."

Anniversary

Fourteen years ago today I was back home visiting,

 when Pastor Bob pulled me aside after our church service.

He placed Jesus Calling in my hands as a gift from him to me.

And so began the journey of putting God first every morning.

Sometimes requiring me to roll out of bed at 2 AM, to devote

an hour before heading to work.

My ritual has evolved over the years, and more devotionals have been

added, but Jesus Calling always starts the day. 

It has carried me through the toughest times.

Journal notes...

Focus on the beauty in life, and that is what I will 

most often experience.

The opposite is also true.

'Make a decision to believe in spite of everything.

Don't look to your circumstance or pay attention

to the opinion of others. 

Listen to God.

Open His Word and trust what He says.

"Small streams don't plan to become mighty rivers.

They just run in the direction they were created to move,

and their Creator decides what they'll become."

"I will instruct  and teach you in the way which you should go;

I will counsel you with My eye upon you."

~ Psalm 32:8 ~

Obey what He leads you to do.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"There is a universal, intelligent, life force 

that exists within everyone and everything.

It resides within each one of us as a deep wisdom,

an inner knowing. We can access this wonderful

source of knowledge and wisdom through our intuition,

and inner sense that tells us what feels right and true

for us at any given moment."

'Learn how to develop, listen and trust this inner voice.

Trust that there is a natural flow to life, and choose to go 

with it, not against it.

Instead of believing every fearful thought,

choose to listen to what your heart has to say.

Know that if there's tension and anxiety present within you,

you are disconnected from your authentic self.

If you feel peaceful and at ease, if love flow through you,

it is because you have chosen to relax into your true nature,

to allow life to guide you and to trust that it will take good care of you,

because it will.'

 

Charmed

This week...

An out of town stay with some old friends to catch up,

shopping for flowers at their favorite nursery,

and then lunch with the family at their grandson's favorite local cafe.

More heading out of town in another direction, to see my kiddo and his Fiancee.

Shopping at their favorite nursery for flowers, berry bushes and veggies for their garden.

Then out to an Italian restaurant to celebrate B's 30th. birthday.

The next day, (B's B-day) we hung some solar lights in the yard, visited 

the mall for a little B-day shopping, then swung by our cousins

who were celebrating their 49th Anniversary.

I watched as they all sat down to enjoy a piece of their traditional pineapple 

upside down cake.

Still watching...

....as Darla their dog managed to leap up and knock

my cousins plate, sending a good portion of her cake flying to the floor.

Then shortly after she gobbled up every crumb....

took another lunge managing to knock Brandon's plate, 

catapulting the rest of his cake to the floor (after bouncing off of his pants).

Bad dog.

More cake to make up for everyone's loss.

Lots of laughs.

Lot's of love.

Charmed by my own life.

Journal highlights from my week on the go...

Begin the day with open hands and a heart of faith.

Fear less. Love more.

Surrender to the unfolding of greater things.

Keep the heart open and teachable.

Live within the boundaries of today.

Humility is the gateway to wisdom.

'Don't settle for the dissatisfaction of what you know

rather than the openness of what you haven't tried yet.'

"Don't settle for the ordinary when

the extraordinary is right around the corner."

Trust that no matter how tough the experience is,

you will come out transformed.

"Let go. Surrender. Ease up. Sit back & simply

allow the magic to happen. It will."

be well...

xoxo

💖

"You were made for this moment.

Get back into your skin.

Dance and cherish everything,

as if you might never have the chance again."

 

Set Back

I got a little lot off track over the fourth of July weekend.

We went on a little escape to celebrate our 9th. Anniversary & independence day with family.

I totally self-sabotaged.

I ate WAY too much....(mostly sugary, and fried foods),

and one evening we visited a beautiful winery. Enough said.

 I did stick with getting up at 5 in the mornings to walk.

It was actually quite awesome (the first morning) in the city...

 no traffic, no people, having the whole city to myself.

Until I didn't.

 Then I ended up running up hill & back to base.

I'm not a runner.

(just a little scare, that's all).

I stayed closer to base on day two.

We did have a really good getaway.

It's always good to let loose and have some fun!

It was good for both of us.

I did set myself back on my health goals though.

 I'm not going to tell myself that it was OK.

I could have made some healthier choices.

I didn't. I went all out !

Fun is fun....but paying the price for 3 days because of it...

(I'm realizing)...is sorta dumb.

Today is the first day I felt somewhat back to normal again.

My blood sugar is still on high alert.

I am back on track with my self-care,

and I've evolved out of sloth mode...

it'll just take a while.

I ditched sugar on Monday.

(after we consumed all the sugary treats we brought home...).

This coming Monday, I start a 6 week sugar detox with Dr. Axe and Dr. Cole.

(both are speakers in my course)

I'm super excited? I think?

I want to do this. For sure.

I will be learning so much.

I have received the recipes for week one.

At first I was overwhelmed with all the new recipes 

and thought about quitting (already),

then...

 I changed my perspective.

Healthy new recipes, healing at the cellular level, detoxing...

uncomfortable yeah...

but I'm up for the challenge!

I've done this before. Two months on a candida diet.

Alone. 

I can do this!

  I have the support of coaches this time, and access to the Doc's once a week.

They have all the recipes, grocery plans, and everything I need.

All I have to do is commit.

I truly want to kick the sugar addiction.

It's my nemesis.

I'm ready...

this is going to be awesome!?

xoxo

💓

 

Conviction

I've been doing some deep reflection,

digging through things, working hard to

stay focused on the direction I want to go in life.

Blame came up.

A lack of responsibility to myself,

and blaming others, circumstances, or my lack of this or that, 

 for the unhappiness I've struggled with.

I suppose I could have run around blaming all I want,

forever.

I really wasn't aware that I did this...

until I was.

I had my little "Aha moment" when I was back home

with my family.

It was not a proud moment for me...

but I'm happy for the reveal. 

I just want to STOP.

So...I'm digging in to do the work.

This is going to be a hard habit to break.

I am so grateful for the conviction though...

 and the direction that comes from that.

Blame just made me powerless.

I am definitely motivated for a change!

I've been so stuck...and that was making me nuts.

Really.

I thank God for the clarity!

Recently I heard a pastor say:

" You can't settle into your blessing,

because you've been so settled into a negative experience."

Yep! Pretty much sums it up for me.

I've paid a special homage to my negative thoughts.

I'm learning.

It's time to shift gears.

Time to stop taking the great things for granted.

...some of the great things lately:

the perfect words when your open to receive them

mornings on the lake 

girl time, kayaks, coffee and lemon bars

a good laugh

walking  downtown

my kiddo

quaint bakeries

splurging for desert

sunflowers in my backyard 

granddaughters

huddled on a blanket in the yard & fireworks

kid art on the fridge

family

oldies on the radio

reading a good novel with my hubby

7 year Anniversary

the 1883 series

reading on the porch

not missing a day out of 144 of learning Swedish

cooler mornings

insight

a small group of support

xoxo

💖

" Trust that each new day holds untold possibilities

and remember:

In every moment, you have the profound ability

to make choices that will completely

change your habits and your reality,

either right away or over time."

 

Peace

"Surrender....surrender....surrender." 

Those are the first words I wrote in my journal this morning.

It's been a theme for me lately.

I'm not a fan.

Yet.

But it has peaked my interest.

This is a song that I have played over and over again lately.

It's just simple.  

Yet says it all.

I've made a few choices this week.  

Some were hard to make,

others were just changing things up a little.

side note* On June 17, 2011 I received Jesus Calling as a gift from my Pastor in NY.

"Pastor Bob" 

I started reading it every morning since.

I have added other devotionals, and books and switch things around. But Jesus Calling ?

Every. Single. Morning.

It's been 9 years!!

I can look back and see where I have been.

Best. Habit. Ever.

Change is usually always a little uncomfortable.  

Not changing is worse.

So I am looking through my Journal entries, trying to pick out a few things to share.

My intention was to get on here, and share a muffin recipe.

Did I mention that I am easily distracted ?

I'm just trying to do what comes naturally...

because it seems to work out better in the end.

I'll share the muffins on my next post.

Journal Entries:

The more we release to God, the better our lives become.

We cling to the very things that make us miserable & yet we are afraid to let go.

(fear, control, hurts the past...)

Your power level is dependent on the level that you surrender to Him.

We often make the mistake of being overly concerned with our circumstances

when our priority should be what is happening in our heart.

God is more interested in changing us than He is in changing our circumstances.

Learn To live one day at a time.

Meet each days challenges as they come.

Self-pity is a slimy, bottomless pit.

Break the mold & be bold.

Do not hide from the fear.

Bring your anxieties to God.

Trying to control the future is like trying to control the wind.

Surrender is not a "one & done" deal.

Surrender is a daily choice. We surrender right up until our very last breath.

Surrender has nothing to do with will power, & everything to do with surrendering to His Will.

" Today you have the power to let go and surrender from whatever it is that has you held

emotionally hostage; to really buy-in and give it all to God."

" You never have to be the victim of your feelings.  You can choose to look to God, listen,

learn, and move ahead."   ~ Charles Stanley

Sorry I got distracted, from the muffin recipe. 

They are pretty easy, and super-yummy.

It's turning into a weekly thing.

We usually gobble them up pretty fast.

side note* Brandon just stopped by, (working in town) and 4 muffins are gone.

Stay safe and be well !! 

            💖

Fifth

" he

did not

teach me

how

to love

myself,

but he

was

the bridge

that

helped me

get

here."

~ I thank God every day for you~

I hope you are well.

Be safe.

💖

Together

" 'Love one another.'  What is simple often isn't easy;

what is easy often doesn't last."

caught out in the rain

sneaking off to the lake

Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium

picnic on our float

coffee with a view

i dig you

making things together

living room picnic...cause baby it's HOT outside.

fireworks with you

And last we will.

Hubby.... Me and you.  

It hasn't been easy.

But...

I know your crazy about me.

And I know sometimes you are crazy because of me. ;)

Thank you for having rose colored glasses sometimes.

Sometimes that is all I need.

And just for the record....I'm crazy about you too !

May we have many more years of crazy together!

I love doing life with you.

Hugs & Love 💖

Six

Because...hubby and I have been together for six years. *love

And this is how we celebrated.

Bubby (click Bubby label for his story)

And it was the best !

Because these are the things we love...

these are the things we'll remember.

I am sure of it.

XOXO

Anniversary

We celebrated our first anniversary this week.

It's hard to believe !

 This year has passed by in a flash.

Have I ever mentioned how much I love this fella ??

July 4 2015

July 4 2016

I will never stop being amazed by his kindness,

patience and love.

I'm SO thankful every day, that I get to call him my husband  hubby.

AND I *LOVE all that he has added to my life.

*loving...

fireworks on our anniversary

wedding pictures

having a kid our first year :)

kisses

our families, our families, our families...*love

us

XOXO