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

💝

 

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~

 

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."

 

Our life comes...

...."to us moment by moment.

One moment disappears before the next comes along:

and there's room for very little in each.

That is what time is like."

notes....

up very early to get some quality Jesus time

car half packed

blogging while eating a bowl of oatmeal

& admiring my freshly polished nails

 (Thank you M. xo)

my heart is racing

I get to see my family today

it's been way too long

running on coffee and excitement

~

God is good- always good

God is loving- always, entirely loving

God is always involved in the cares of your life

God is in control

do the best you can do

it's not all up to you

believe in the kind of Love that is true

Love will not give up on you

journey through the wild of where you are

Celebrate the life unfolding before your eyes

pay attention to the stories

listen

keep an open heart

breathe

"Love goes deeper than what you can see

it rattles the soul."

~

'Live fully in the present, depending on Me each moment.

Train your mind to seek Me continuously.

Rely and lean on Me in every situation.

This will enable you to enjoy life more

& face the day confidently.

You are never working alone.

Include Me in more and more of your moments

See me shining brightly on your future.

Focus on the abundance around you.

Love and be loved.'

~Jesus

 

Become childlike....

.... a child simply receives the promise of adventure

they live with an open heart, a sense of wonder,

& experience the joy of a day full of anticipation.

Open your hearts up with expectation again.

best things....

mom's call to sing Happy Birthday first thing this morning

 chatting with my Dad 

seeing him next week

a phone call from brother

opening the gift he sent while connected

an inside joke &

a very warped best memory as kids...

laughing so hard my abs are toned

my stepdad  finds my birthday written on a slip of paper

while he's cleaning his desk

realizes it's today

calls to sing Happy Birthday 

first time he's sang to me

a hilarious operatic happy birthday sung by an old friend 

left in my voicemail

a perfect fall day...apple orchards and pumpkin patches

apple cider that made my mouth so happy

the rest of me followed

an orange bird trinket 

 the orchard girls named nugget

nugget's now in my living room

exploring someplace new

 my kiddo on speaker phone 

talking wedding plans

sending him pictures

of the clouds

horses, goats, pigs, cows, sheep....

children playing, laughing & exploring in awe

dinner at an old favorite...

Mexican restaurant 

pregnant with my kiddo last time I ate there

nostalgia

an old jute box on the wall

 digging a quarter out of my purse

so hubby could play a song

he picks

"Crazy" by Patsy Cline

fall ice-cream flavors

a double scoop 

one eggnog one pumpkin

on a waffle cone

eggnog on top

a beautiful sunset on the way home....

dark orange, purple, and blue

feeling loved

a perfect day

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Relax wild one. It's not your job to be everything

everyone needs, and you don't have to be impressive

to be loved. Stop trying so hard.

Just show up and be real with the world.

That is enough."

"It is said that nothing lasts forever, but there

are moments in our lives when we think something will,

and it is the memory of those moments that lasts forever."

"Finally I realized I was never asking too much.

I was just asking the wrong person."

 

If you imagine...

...that something is missing,

it is because you haven't caught your cue to 'look

deeply enough within to find your source & supply.'

notes...

brisk start to the day

donning slippers with the hoodie

a single hummingbird still filling up for it's

 departure...

Otis's choppy, mournful howl in the distance...

still making me smile. Loving that ol' floppy eared hound.

feeling the buzz of activity for the fall festival..

Ang coming for the weekend, Price performs later...

her happy place

hubby munching on burnt peanuts as he heads to work...

this morning all seems well with the world...

~

You can make positive changes in your life

you create your life experience with every word 

& thought

negative thoughts and behaviors are habits

when you say "life sucks"

it isn't life that sucks

it's your thinking that sucks

the way you choose to think right now

is just a choice

make the choice to think thoughts

that make you feel good

good health comes from love and appreciation

healthy thoughts create a healthy atmosphere within

and around you

the cells of your body respond to every thought you have

with positive thoughts they work easily

with negative or stressful thoughts 

your body is working at a disadvantage

"Filling your mind with pleasant thoughts

is the quickest road to health."

the only moment you ever live

is this one

be present where you are

every step can be a step in faith

pay close attention to your thoughts 

check in frequently

remain hopeful

hope is an anchor for your soul

exercise patience

try it:  

I'm not good enough or

I am making positive changes in my life.

or 

I can feel good about myself....

or

create your own..

practice

practice

practice

be well...

xoxo

💖

'I can see down to the very core of who you are,

and I'm crazy about you!

I mean head over heels about you!

Not someone similar to you- actually you !

Comparison is a trap.

It might seem to be a way of life,

but what if it isn't the way?

What if you settled into how I made you

and celebrate others that do the same?

If I'm head over heels about you,

you should be too.

When I make something, I do it right the first time.

You are a unique blend of temperament, giftedness,

and life experiences.

No regrets.

No mistakes.

No do-overs.

Don't rush what I'm doing.

I understand what you need and stay with you.

Slow down and see what I am up to.

I see you, know you, and love you

~Jesus~

*journal notes*

 

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

💝

 

She was happiest...

...."in her own little world.

She didn't need anyone or anything

to complete her.

She was whole all by herself."

notes...

...I took the long way home

stopped and sat in the shade

a friendly black lab came bearing a stick

wanting to play

I stopped in at a friends, and left at dark

she called to let me know I left my glasses

so I turned around

I parked in her drive and looked to the right

 coming eye to eye with owl perched on her car beside me

we sat transfixed 

seconds later it flew off

My heart still skips a beat when I think about it

Owl symbolizes:

deep intuition,

hidden truths, wisdom,

and major life transitions.

love in spite of imperfections

break old bad records in your life

and make beautiful new ones

become the kind of person who creates

exactly what you want

adventure, true love, and a whole new 

way of life awaits on the other side

of your comfort zone

decide to get over your s--t

you can do anything you want to do

break out of your mold

expand your beliefs about what is available

to you in all areas of your life

take a leap of faith 

connect with people who are near the place

you want to be

learn from them

(reached out to S this morning & set a date)

"Sometimes the best hello to new opportunity

is the good-bye you gave a dead situation."

dig your heels in 

and hold on with

faith-filled determination

be well...

xoxo

💞

"Happiness is simple.

Everything we do to find it is complicated."

"At the end of life our questions are very simple:

Did I live fully?

Did I love well?"

"I have just three things to teach:

simplicity, patience, compassion.

These three are your greatest treasures."

~Lao Tzu~

 

The trick is...

 

....to just follow your small moments of curiosity.

"It doesn't take a massive effort

Just turn your head an inch.

Pause for an instant.

Respond to what has caught your attention.

Look into it a bit.

Is there something there for you?

A piece of information?

For me, a lifetime devoted to creativity

is nothing but a scavenger hunt-

where each successive clue is another tiny bit

of curiosity. Pick each one up, unfold it,

see where it leads you next.

Small steps.

Keep doing that, and I promise you:

The curiosity will eventually lead you to passion."

~Elizabeth Gilbert~

notes...

work with the moment 

not against it

be well...

xoxo

💖

"We can't always choose the music life plays for us,

but we can choose how we dance to it."

~unknown~

'Humming bird symbolizes:

Joy, sweetness, resilience, endurance, adaptability, presence and focus.

Hope, healing and emotional renewal.'