January 1, 2025

I am embracing this clean slate of a new year.

Breathing in the newness, possibility and hope.

*deep breath*

I feel...hmmm....fresh today.

Sounds a little cheesy....but it's all I got in

my available words at the moment.

Yesterday, was an interesting day.

I tried to get on here so many times to share my 

thoughts and feelings....

and it just wasn't in my heart.

My heart wanted to tuck in and rest.

And I honored that.

I journaled, but did not share.

My mind wanted to, but my heart wasn't there.

I let go...

and listened to my internal needs.

Let me back up to Monday.

I took a step in my health and healing with acupuncture.

When I was in massage school (2002) I had some treatments

for anxiety and depression. 

My healers name was Blaze.

She was also one of our instructors.

She was amazing.

My healer this time was Beth.

I asked her if she knew Blaze.

She did. Very well. 

She is her Mom.

It was a small-world-complete-circle-moment for me.

During the treatment, she told me I was holding a lot of sadness and grief.

Makes sense.

She took a picture of my back to show me what was going on.

Deep down...I knew this, but didn't know how to release it other

than in tears....which I seem to have no shortage of.

My triceps have felt like they needed to explode this last month, 

not to mention other issues I was having.

I left feeling very light and serene.

I woke early yesterday, and had

barely enough life in me to crawl to the coffee pot.

Slightly exaggerating.

Normally I'd be pushing myself to feel productive,

motivated, and upbeat.

Nope.

Even my inner critic seemed a bit lethargic yesterday.

It was all a little out of sorts.

In a good way.

Moving on...

The very first thing I wrote in my  journal this morning were...

"Moving on...up...open...enthused."

And then,

"with God."

"With God".

It is a fun tool I have started using.

It can go two ways...

to cover pretty much any of my rambling thoughts.

When I feel like I can't do something....

I add "without God".

When I feel I can do something, I like to add "with God".

It's powerful.

And, it's my truth.

So, now I feel like I've caught up.

I'm optimistic about this new year ahead.

I changed out my devotionals,

purchased a new one (tradition),

and I kept "Jesus Calling" out as my first read.

Always. 

(since 2011)

PLUS...now I feel I have been given the perfect words for a

mantra to start off every day.

"Moving on, up, open, and enthused."

I want to start this year with a mindset that is focused and more conscious

of  that, 

and the good things in my life.

Build from there.

It's a start.

Hoping to operate more on love and non-resistance.

Grounding there.

Continue to let go of the old (lifelong) habit of pinpointing the things that need to be fixed,

and focusing on that.

Trying to control what I can't.

Especially things that are not mine.

What a waste of energy.

It's a slow learn.

"The good  life is a process not a destination."

Today's journal highlights...

Have a teachable spirit,

eager to be changed.

Do not cling to old ways in the New Year.

"Do not conform to the patterns of this world."

~Romans 12:2~

'God's plans are  to prosper you, not to harm you.

Plans to give you hope and a future.'

Let go of control, trust God today, &

allow Him to lead step-by-step.

When I allow myself to be influenced by what others

say & do, it makes blots and smears

on the pages of my years.

Pondering His love will transform your life.

Take each day at a time. Hour at a time.

Minute at a time.

No matter how you feel about yourself,

embrace the truth:

God loves you, &

longs to shower His goodness upon you.

Fear is misdirected energy & must

be redirected into faith.

To get rid of fear,

walk up to the thing you are afraid of.

(with God ;)

Be aware of your thinking hourly.

Detect is your motive for action

is faith or fear.

What are you serving?

Happy New Year!

And thank you for being here.

I Sincerely appreciate you, and  the fact that we are all in this life together.

May we all find our way.

Moving on, up, open and enthused.

With God.

Be well...

xoxo

💝

"The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book,

waiting to be written."

We can help write that story by setting some reachable goals.

Journaling serves as a great tool.

Tomorrow I'll share some food for thought for the new year.

Amazon link to my favorite devotional, Jesus Calling.

(Copy and paste in your browser.)

https://amzn.to/4gAXA6d

December 27, 2024

This morning I started writing in my fresh, new journal.

It's like starting a new chapter.

Which I am...continuously....always, it seems.

I have been setting some intentions for the new year.

Getting them on paper.

Little things really, like writing more letters,

more time connecting, more self-care, and 

what I can eliminate to keep life more simple.

Focusing on what's important to me.

A roadmap to refer to if life seems to start going

sideways, and I have to find my footing.

It's good to have some tools ready.

I don't have any resolution to set.

If I need to start, or stop something, 

I just do it.

But... a new year does give me a sense of a fresh start.

So I'm taking all that I learned this year...

packing it in my carry on, 

and rolling into the New year stronger, wiser

and open for whatever.

Some Journal notes:

Be still so He can strengthen you.

Trust God in every situation.

God knows what He's doing in your life.

He always knows what's in your best interests,

and acts accordingly.

Draw close to Him rather than your circumstances.

Pruning is necessary for spiritual growth.

It can be frustrating and scary to lean on God,

and not your own wisdom.

It is always best.

You can trust Him.

He won't steer you wrong.

"Doubts and fears poison the mind and body

and imagination runs riot,

attracting disaster and disease."

Trusting that you are doing the very best you can will 

increase your peace.

You are responsible for your effort & 

not the result.

The consequences of the action are up to God 

& the Universe.

Be nicer than you think you should be.

There are countless ways of looking at life.

Keep an open mind.

Believe in yourself & respect that others

are entitled to do the same.

You don't have to invalidate anyone else's views

in order to validate your own.

It's alright to disagree.

"Think for yourself & let others enjoy

the privilege of doing so too."

~Voltaire~

When you start believing, 

you'll discover that all things are really possible.

be well...

xoxo

💝

P.S.  About the Nativity tray..."maybe new tradition",

I read in a book that it was an English medieval tradition,

and it served both animals and humans...on Christmas Eve.

To leave a tray out with gift offerings for the passerby.

So I took a tray, and lined it with cloth,

and placed on it,

a small dish of cat food 

a small dish of dog food

cranberries

2 cookies stacked

hay

sunflower seeds

and a fleece hoodie.

I was going to place it on the porch, but Brandon thought that

might be kind of  creepy if a passerby was on our porch...

good point.

So I walked it out and placed it near a bush close to the road.

Not your average sight, but that made it even more fun for me.

(Pretty sure my neighbors get me.)

Waking up early, I  snuck outside to see if anything took the offerings.

Both bowls of food were empty and undisturbed.

One of the two cookies were eaten.

(which I thought was kind of cute)

and the sunflower seeds were a little scattered and

half eaten.

We all had our own version of what we imagined.

It was fun.

It served.

I think I'll do it again next year.

💝

Sharing the amazon link to Simple Abundance

by Sarah Ban Breathnach

(the book I speak of..)

Copy and paste in your browser: 

https://amzn.to/4iMpduB

 

Good-bye and Thank you!

Good-bye and thank you

2022 ! You will go out as a bittersweet year for me.

You have provided so many wonderful moments with my family

and friends... 

and you have also been one of great sadness.

I leave you with the loss of 

my beloved sister-in-law, my cat Adam, and my dog Scotty.

And if I may be honest....a part of myself, 

that I am super-happy to part with.

(thank you very much!)

Fritz...my grand-dog

You leave me, with a deep sense of gratitude,

teachable lessons, growth, and insight.

I am so thankful for the whole

crazy mixture you served me, and all that I take away.

You are definitely leaving a mark in my heart, 

and I will forever be changed from this amazing time with you.

Thank you !

Dear 2023,

"May we all resolve to be a light of hope.

Be a force for good in the world.

Seek out the positive.

Treat other people the way you want to be treated.

Be nice. See the good. Do the work.

Take the risk. Make mistakes. Own your actions.

Exercise your brain. Do your best.

Believe in love. 

Forgive everyone and everything.

Smile. Dream. 

Say please. Say thank you.

Take action in your heart.

Put your phone down.

Look people in the eye. Be present.

Love. Be kind.

 Set goals. Write them down."

Wishing you a happy, healthy and love-filled 2023 !!

Cheers to you !

And a big hug too !

xoxo

💖

 

Hope

" God uses uncertainty to chase us out into the open

where we can find him all over again."

Happiness is...

 .... being yourself in a world that is constantly 

trying to change you.

 Journal entries that have started off my year:

The greatest miracles in my life will come in the biggest messes.

The most productive parts of my life will not be the prettiest.

What if "normal" is something you've never known?

Hope is a focus, not a feeling.

You have a choice. Your choice is your focus.

If God is squeezing me, something productive will come from it.

Succeed at home first. Don't loose focus on the things that

are important to you.

If you're not winning at home,

you're not winning anywhere.

Comparison will always steal from the creativity and the calling

on your own life.

If you can't change the situation change your attitude.

The best thing  you can do during this season of your life, 

is find your own voice.

You need to figure out what uniquely makes you you,

and unleash that!

God made you you !

Praying you are staying healthy and well, and that

this year be filled with fresh new beginnings. 

May you be happy, content, and feel so very loved!

Happy New Year!!!

💖

Intention

" Don't let fear steal your opportunities

and leave you on the sidelines wishing you'd tried."

What if I fail ?

What if I fall ?

What if I can't handle it ?

What if's....

My intention this year is to do what I believe

is in my heart.
To believe more...
doubt less.

💖

Learned

Yeah....this is what I see first thing in the morning.

They hear me getting my coffee...

and come running to the door.

I recently joined a group, that prompts a picture a day for 30 days.

The prompt was...your favorite view right now.

This was it.

It's my favorite every morning.

Well...along with my hubby's face...

but he wasn't home at the time. 

So far, this year has been perfect.

Cold weather, has been a big plus !

It's kept me in...so I can get caught up with myself.

It's given me time to think back on things I learned last year...and to get a direction on where I want to go this year.

I have learned [in life] not to "plan" too much....because things don't always turn out the way you planned,

or the way you think they should.

Things seem to go a little easier...if you just do your best...

and not worry so much about the "hows" and "whys" all the time.

Or as the saying goes...

 " Do your best, and let God do the rest." 

Easier said than done.

Things go wrong, that don't always get fixed...

or are never the way they were before.

Some things break...and stay broken.

And we can get stuck... and frustrated,

 'cause we try to figure everything out.

It's basically just a waste of time.

And exhausting.

I HAVE learned, that you CAN get through the rough, confusing....and the hardest of times, 

and continue to hope for better ones, 

as long as you have people that love you.

And a Father in Heaven that loves you so much more.

So this year I just want to live each day with hope and zest...

and just try to do and be my very best ! :)

*loving...

that hubby and I are competing to shed a few pounds

eliminating some of my lesser loves...to spend more time on the ones that matter most

having too many loves

reading books together with my guy

dinner dates with Brandon

cold... stay-in-my-sweats.. with a stack of books and hot-tea- days

being blessed with a man who loves me. truly.

my family...my tribe...my peeps....they know how to love *big

photo prompts

daisys on the table

Oliver's love for banana peels...and the "NOM NOM" sounds when he eats them

When he tries to run and jump like he did as a little kid....and was a little more bendy...but he's a *big boy now.

[I can relate]

Still so dang cute.

XOXO

Uncomplicated

 "Be as simple as you can be;

you will be astonished to see

how uncomplicated and HAPPY

your life can become."

" I think we like to complicate things

when it is really quite simple;

find what it is that makes you happy

and who it is that makes you happy

and your set.

promise."

*loving...

a sparkling New Year

my family

making memories

farm time

a curious two year old...and the never ending "why" questions :)

simplicity

XOXO

A Merry Christmas

The holidays have been filled with so much good stuff
all smooched together.

Price

Brandon

Years of trying to learn on my own....Santa sent me some help :)

Bun

Vivi and Crystal

Zach & Price

Farm chores

I am grateful.
I believe that God has smiled on me big time.

As I say so long to 2015 and welcome to 2016...
 I want to whisper a little prayer...short and sweet.
" Thank You " !

I hope you all enter the New Year with big dreams, 

fresh starts, and the belief that anything is possible.

Believe in love.  Love is the greatest gift.

Savor the little things along the way,

they are what make life meaningful.

See the beauty, honor your passions.

Give thanks, and get excited. 
Be well !!
Happy New Year ,with love !!

XOXO