You don't always....

....have to do stuff. Or achieve stuff.

'You don't have to spend your free time productively.

You don't have to be doing Tai Chi and DIY and bread-making.

Sometimes you can just be and feel things and 

get through, and eat chips and

that is more than enough.'

notes...

 a gorgeous morning

first hoodie of the season

repairmen here early to fix a few things...

my kiddo is sick...

a special person who was a part of my life growing up

stopped breathing yesterday

off ventilation tonight

infection

there is a loss on my Dad's side 

too young

ALS

I have a bad tape running in my head...

it's not God.

My body is stressed, anxious.

I make it worse by resisting

time to be present

His voice finds it's way through my muddled thoughts

I need to walk

~

it is vital that you stay present

keeping God central in your thoughts

can discern order & design in a

seemingly chaotic world

what you do with the hard times

is your choice

if you hold a negative thought in your mind 

then your body is powered by that belief

in the midst of grief, transition, transformation, learning,

 healing, or discipline

it's difficult to have perspective

let love, light and hope guide your steps

give yourself some grace

be well...

xoxo

💕

God, let our hard times be healing times.

May we be held in your comfort and peace.

Amen

 

A great lesson....

.... to learn is to soften during difficult times.

Times where we might rather shut down

and throw up our protective walls.

'When we open up, soften, and allow things to flow,

it provides opportunity to grow into our fullest potential

allowing amazing things to happen.

notes...

...laying down on the yoga mat draws the cat to my chest like a magnet 

she tries to shift with the all the changes

& sometimes she tries to hang on...

Chatting with a classmate/friend this morning

 we met during our coach training

 at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.

she says...

"We've been on the phone for an hour and 45 min."

 

it's been a while...

we go to hang up

but we continue...

it's cooler this morning

 I caught a mosquito with tweezers

to feed a spider

 & my coffee tastes amazing

~

there are always challenges

you make the choice of whether you 

want to shut down or grow

frustration is your teacher

listen to what it has to say

about your beliefs

you may have to stretch a bit

face every situation with faith

not fear

get a bigger perspective

if you live for the approval of others

you will die by their disapproval

stay focused on your purpose

not your problem

life is meant to be fully lived

approach it with full involvement

understand timing on every detail

in your life

know when to speed up and when to slow down

remember God can bring good out of anything

He knows how to make the most of your life

more than you do

relax

He doesn't ask you do to anything

without providing you the power to do it

be kinder to yourself 

and to others

experience tenderness for who you are

be softer

be willing to love more today than you did yesterday

be well...

xoxo

💖

"When you blame and criticize others,

you are avoiding some truth about yourself."

"Beware of the half truth.

You may have gotten hold

of the wrong half."

"You gotta look for the good in the bad,

the happy in the sad, the gain in your pain,

and what makes you grateful not hateful."

 

The bad news is....

 ...you can't change your past.

The good news is that you can have a new beginning.

notes...

'born again means to be born anew

to have a new beginning 

a spiritual nature

He created you because He desired to love you

and receive your love in return

unbelievers can't understand

logically and reasonably the lost

person is thinking right

minds have been blinded

human reasoning and logic don't work

the clean-up work is done

by the Holy Spirit

whoever looks and believes

some things you consider

this 

you have to decide'

be well...

xoxo

💝

"It is amazing what God can do to a troubled heart

in a short period of time

when a person understands the meaning 

of 'meditation upon the Lord'"

~Charles Stanley~

'It doesn't matter who you are, where you're  from,

or what you've done- 

God want's a relationship with you!'

Prayer...

"Jesus, I've tried to do things on my own for too long,

and I know it doesn't work.

I need something deeper.

So, today, I give my life to You.

I believe that You died on the cross for my sins

and rose from the dead to give me eternal life.

Thank you for your love, forgiveness, and this new beginning.

I know I will never abandon me! I am so excited to 

be a part of Your incredible family.

Amen."

Anxiety is....

...a faith battle.

notes:

Our emotions are a gift from God and they carry a lot

of influence in our life.

we control them

or they control us

survey #1

anxiety is the most prominent emotion

distracted

pulled apart

what is anxiety

a feeling of dread, apprehension and uncertainty

God is not the source of anxiety

be willing to face up and deal with it

many people are physically sick from

their emotions

it is the way they think

and the way they respond to the way they think

all anxiety is a reaction to some circumstance

anxiety is against scripture

it doesn't fit who we are

if we truly believe

negative side effects:

divides your mind/distraction

slows productivity

effects your personal relationships

leads to unwise decisions

steals your joy and peace

wastes time and energy/you can't do your best

God does not want us to live in anxiety

we could all work up a nervous break-down in 

30 minutes if we wanted to

here's the plan

bring it to God and tell Him about

lay it out

or

it will keep taking it's toll on your life

have a spirit of thanksgiving

thankful for Him

God love's you unconditionally

He wants to help you

and He can

He wants the best for you

He will protect you

 you give it to Him with one hand

and yank it back with the other....

give it to Him

He wants to take it

why is that complicated?

He can handle whatever our anxiety is

let Him have it

trust Him

take your hands off

how long you keep it is the key....

as you think

the health of your body will follow

the light turns on

the smile comes back

be well...

xoxo

💝

 

Something is shining...

...inside of you.

'And despite what you may be telling yourself,

you probably already know what it is.'

Simply let the light within you shine in the things you do.

It will breathe new life into you.

Live with your soul wide open.

notes...

look within

you may be quite surprised

by all those many good qualities

tucked away under those layers

great things take bravery

think about your dream

take the doubts and fears &

breathe courage into them

make time alone with God a priority

it affects & influences every single

aspect of your life

live in that sense of awe at the 

infinite possibilities that are 

right within you and all around you

the direction you go with your gifts won't matter

as much as the fact that you went

you moved

you saw a need and you did what

you could to meet it

let the real version of you authentically show up

& you will experience a new take on your life

and the lives of those around you

keep your belief in limitless possibilities

keep a positive mind-set

strong and unwavering

affirm the good until it sinks in and feels real

do something beautiful with your life

be well...

xoxo

💖

"The two most important days in your life

are the day you are born

and the day you find out why."

~Mark Twain~

"If I knew what I was really like,

chances are I'd like myself much better 

than I do."

"We're all deeply flawed & even

more deeply Loved by God."

He gives us...

....clear direction for our life.

Don't move until you have it.

Peace is the umpire.

notes...

Charles Stanley is my favorite.

He's soft, caring, comforting, Fatherly....

I listen to his audio books in the car,

before I go to sleep, & sometimes in the morning 

when I just want to be still and be soothed by the word.

I've binged Charles this week.💖

He's also hubby's favorite...

so that's a bonus.

God gives us the capacity to make very wise 

decisions and gives us clear guidance

clear the pathway

a pure heart

exercise patience

be willing to wait

be alert to pressure

exterior pressure:

people telling you what you ought to do

how you ought to think

and give you advice

no matter what the circumstance is

if God doesn't give you clear direction

do not step into it because of pressure

shoulds, oughts, and musts,

will get you in a lot of trouble

persistent prayer

when you are praying for something

don't let go of it

meditate on God's word

He tailors words to fit you

it will grab you and give you direction

wait for peace

harmony and oneness

disorder, disharmony, unrest, frustration, anxiety,

fear, all those things are not God

your soul wait in silence

not murmuring, fuming, criticizing,

and blaming

avoid the pressures

wait in peace

the circumstances may not change

but you can walk through the difficult times

and face them

create harmony in your heart

be well...

xoxo

💝

 

Echoes of a story....

...that started long before you were born.

"We were already born into a story that was 

already mid-chapter."

'Sort through the luggage and decide what is worth

keeping and what needs to be left.'

"It starts when you look at the heaviness in your spirit

& say 'This isn't mine to carry anymore'."

'Walk forward with your hands empty & your heart open

to whatever is actually yours.'

You're no longer a passive passenger in your own life.

You stand alone against the tide.

You stand up as the protector you always needed.

The story takes a different turn, the pen is in your hand.

Your harsh inner critic begins to soften.

Stop blaming yourself for how you were shaped.

'Moving forward requires you to look at the gaps

without letting them swallow you.'

'You are not what happened to you,

you are what you choose to become.'

Your spirit needs specific things to thrive

You have a heart with it's own set of instructions.

Take up the space that was always yours.

'By taking care of yourself,

you are actually becoming a more

grounded present person for 

the people you love.'

You have more energy for the people 

and things that actually matter.

You have to be okay disappointing people.

You are finally home.

notes to self...

be willing to let go of familiar comforts

so you can say a wholehearted "Yes"

to life

don't waste your energy projecting yourself

into the future - trying to walk through

those "not-yet" moments in your mind

you have unlimited resources,

and a vast army of angels at

your beck and call to provide

what you need

pray as you make decisions

what is driving you?

reject discouragement

there is a benefit in the challenge

settling for the ordinary when 

extraordinary is right around the corner

doesn't get you anywhere

identify what is keeping you back

pray for the guts & grit to do something

about it

be well...

xoxo

💞

"To let no one ever know of your vulnerabilities

is to let no one ever know of your courage."

"You pray for a miracle--

for divine intervention--

until one day it finally hits you--

that you are the tool by which God intervenes,

that your prayer for a miracle

was answered on the day you were born."

"One thing that we probably have in common with the ancients

is that they didn't know they were living in biblical times, either."

 

Relinquishing control...

 ...may feel like you are giving up something valuable,

in reality you're letting go of striving,

which frustrates you more than it helps you.

notes...

the female cardinal (alias Mrs. Stanley) sat looking in the kitchen window

as we made our coffee and tea

we loved our morning at the beach so much

 that we decided to start our day there again.

My thermos tipped in the 

picnic basket, and everything sat in a puddle of coffee. 

Barely a cup was left.

I decided it would be enough, 

and taking in the moment was more...

the blue heron squawked 

& I savored that 1/2 cup of coffee

We came home to watch Charles Stanley's sermon

and Mrs. Stanley was outside our window

singing and dancing in the tree

(really a bush....but...you know...)

endeavor to celebrate your relationship with God

learn to walk consistently in the present

be patient

weigh the alternatives

make sure you make a wise choice

your mind is so strong & powerful

it can tell you you're inadequate

and limited

& it can help you to overcome obstacles

and position you to become what you envision

most thinking is 

recycled opinion

it's not really thinking at all

listen to the still small voice leading and 

guiding

and comforting you

not the voice of the world

expand your awareness

and see the way God sees things

and your part in it

do a check-in with your motivations

every so often

loosen up

you don't need to be uptight

when you are on edge it affects others too

you get to decide what part you are going to play

regardless of what your life looks like at this very moment

abundance is always available

drop your limiting beliefs

do your best for the moment

and then let it go

striving for excellence is a positive quality

striving for perfection is self-defeating

contribute to the world by making life easier,

happier, more beautiful, more fun, 

more interesting, more thoughtful, more loving

empower & compliment yourself

it will not make you lazy

it will nurture you

and enable you to give, do, and be your best

whatever you do 

bring something good to life

be well...

xoxo

💖

sign of a female cardinal ...

nurturing and care

good news & hope

brighter days ahead

turning dreams into reality

patience 

endurance 

emotional stability

"As a general rule,

your life story is more interesting,

the longer you can postpone the living

happily ever after."

"Somewhere amid life's endless distractions lies it's purpose,

each of us deciding for ourselves

which distraction it is."

No one...

...can ruin your life.

The only person that can mess up your life

is you.

notes...

'you don't need to sweat it

when He messes up your plans

He is trying to get your attention

most of us are poor listeners

God can't get through

He gets a busy signal

when it comes to listening to God

we all have ADD

He sees ahead 

and wants to spare us the problems

when He changes your plans

it is ALWAYS for your benefit

God's plan is ALWAYS good

God's plan is more rewarding

significance and satisfaction

come from following God's plan

for your life

God has a plan for your life

but He lets you choose

"Mary and Joseph just wanted to get married.

God had a better plan."

God is not going to give you 

a tinier plan

If you're looking for an easy plan,

don't follow God

God is more interested in your character

than your comfort

you don't understand it now 

but you will understand it later

your brain isn't big enough to 

understand all the ways of God

the only way to please God is by faith

frustration and & fear are the two warning lights

that you're not listening to God

if you feel far from God

guess who moved?

be well...

xoxo

💝

 

Cure yourself...

...'with the light of the sun and the rays

of the moon.

watching the lunar eclipse with Ang

With the sound of the river and the waterfall.

With the swaying of the sea and

the fluttering of birds.

Put love in tea instead of sugar

 and drink it looking at the stars.

Heal yourself with the kisses the wind 

gives you and the hugs of the rain.

Stand strong with your bare feet on the ground

and with everything that comes from it.

Get smarter every day by listening to your

intuition.

Jump, dance, sing, so that you live

happier.

Heal yourself, with beautiful love

and always remember you are medicine.'

notes...

grow strong in the light

as it shines upon you

you receive nutrients that enhance your 

growth and grace

take good care of yourself

time

in prayer & meditation

blesses you doubly

value the contribution of your life & 

the role you play

your are irreplaceable

this is your life

no rehearsals

no retakes

no delete button

realize how priceless you are

value yourself

you have been chosen to play

the lead role in your life

a mission that no one else

can accomplish

be well...

xoxo

💖

notes...on lunar eclipse...

marks a powerful point of release

soften your grip 

let the old dissolve

emotional clearing

make space for a life that feels more aligned

more honest

more true to the woman you are becoming

closing an old chapter for good

and opening a brand-new beginning.

 

You may not know....

..."the impact you have had on someone's life,

the feeling you have given to someone

simply because of your kindness.

Your small act might have changed the mind of someone 

ready to give up.

Choose kindness.

Choose grace.

Change the world."

notes...

grace can't be outsmarted, out-worried

or outrun

throw back your arms & fall into it

grip love tightly

 instead of spiraling out of control

connect

love one another

keep your head clear

so you can focus on your purpose

look at your motivations

let others know how your life is impacted

because they are a part of it

evaluate your value system

and determine whether it 

aligns with God

or not

treat others as you wish to be treated

treat yourself as you wish others to treat you

examine your thoughts and feelings

look honestly at what you allow

to enter into your awareness

prepare for the best

even when there isn't the slightest 

sign of it

get into the spiritual swing of things

every perfect gift 

is already awaiting your recognition

be well...

xoxo💞

"Your imagination is a stepping stone

to waking up to what always has

been true about you."

"Imagination is more important than knowledge.

For knowledge is limited,

whereas imagination embraces the entire world,

stimulating progress, 

giving birth to evolution."

~Albert Einstein~

"No need for sight...

...when you have vision."

notes...

have a voice in your life you trust 

to run towards

acknowledge the obstacles in your way

& choose to fly over them anyway

your gift and your truth are in you

decide to stop wasting time 

& move forward

discover your true potential

stay the course

your faith in miracles & yourself

must be greater than your fear

however easy or rough the process is

be willing to fall down, get up,

look stupid, cry, laugh, make a mess,

clean it up and don't stop 

until you get there

no matter what

you can do anything

desire it

have faith

speak it

never give up

say 

"I will!"

be well...

xoxo

💗

"When you are sure you are aimed toward

destiny, 

you won't worry about the end."

"I'd rather have a couple of ideas fail

than have a faith that won't try."

"It's not about your circumstances

it's about who you become 

and what you believe is possible

for yourself."

 

It's Okay to ...

...hate where you are 

if it takes you where you want to be.

notes...

'there is no recovery without prayer

with prayer we recover even when

it's caused by our own impatience.

Jesus didn't run anywhere.

God is not in a hurry with your growth.

with prayer we recover even when... 

...we are paralyzed by our emotions

...when other people tell us it'll never happen

with prayer our vision will be open and 

we'll see things we could never see before &

what's important in life

with prayer we can fully recover

and even use our failures to help others

recovery only comes when we pray for the recovery

of others

you have to keep growing

God wants His children found.'

be well...

xoxo

💖

 

The best place...

...to put your body is in a grateful state.

You have to work at being grateful

when life seems to be challenging you.

Practice intentional focus.

As soon as your feet hit the floor in the morning...

or any time of the day...

(could be fun)

say out loud...

"I am grateful for ...."

pick 3.

Start  the day right.

Set yourself up to get to a joyful place.

notes...

I complicate things.

I've been nudged

to stop it.

I want to fix everything

(I do well to fix me...)

 so I let it go...

then

it comes back 

thee old habit 

I'm learning to

replace it with more positive habits

look for the good..

trust in life

and it gets a little easier

definitely more effective.

I read that

there have been studies proving

'faith resonates with your cells accordingly'

it makes you healthier

& you feel better...

it's a win win

you are indeed lovable

since it is God's love

that dwells in you

find your own uniqueness 

in His Love

"And the peace of God,

which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds..."

Phil 4:7

don't try to understand 

what God is doing,

when He says it

surpasses your understanding

Access where you are right now

and where you're trying to go

spot bad habits

take action

shift your focus

imagine letting that habit go

how does your body feel?

you can release lousy behaviors

and what isn't working

bust yourself on the false rewards

pay attention to the small things

greatness has to marinate

no task is too great or too small

when done in love

be well...

xoxo

💞

'Choosing joy when life feels heavy can be a potent

shift in perspective and energy.

Take the time to quiet discontent, sadness,

frustration, and anxiety with joy

to interrupt the discomfort you feel

in lower emotional states.

When you flood your body with memories of purely

joyful moments,

you change your chemistry and the way you react.

Your nervous system responds to the flood of positive

emotions and your mood lifts.

Think about a time when your felt immense joy.

Carry that moment with you throughout the day.'