And then...

...it happens.

"One day you wake up

and you're in this place.

A place where everything feels right.

Your heart is calm.

Your soul is lit.

Your thoughts are positive.

Your vision is clear.

You're at peace, at peace with where you've been,

at peace with what you've been through,

and at peace with where you're 

headed."

~unknown~

be well...

xoxo

💖

 

Stop. Look...

...and listen.

This just simplified a few things for me.

notes...

It's okay to be who you are meant to be

The 5 things that make you, you.

    ' S  spiritual gifts

H  your heart

   A  your abilities

        P  your personality

       E  your experiences

there are certain things you don't do well

what are you really good at?

what do you love to do?

don't believe every message you hear

test it

How do you know if you are hearing His voice?

It passes all 7 questions:

~Is it in harmony with the word of God?

truth never changes

whether you believe it or not

~Does it make you more like  Christ?

life is a test, a trust

a temporary assignment

~Does your church family confirm it?

~Is it consistent with how God shaped you?

He doesn't want you to be somebody you're not

He made you to be you

there are certain things you don't do well

what are you really good at?

what do you love to do?

~Does it concern your responsibility?

if it's not your responsibility

why should God talk to you about it?

don't try to figure out other peoples

lives.

Is it convicting rather than condemning?

condemnation is not from God

Do you sense peace about it?'

confusion is not from God

"If all you hear is negative messages

something is wrong."

be well...

xoxo

💖

Be comfortable...

...with your own truth,

so those around you 

can be comfortable with you.

notes...

stay conscious of the moments

as you go through the day

peace is an inside job

the moment you let you negative feelings

melt away

you're on the road to 

freedom

keep your mind on the good things

your mind-set makes

a tremendous difference

in your perspective

bring out the best in others

pride loves to compare

humility says we flourish

side by side doing our best

take responsibility for your own

happiness

instead of pretending it's

in somebody else's hands

'give your hurt, anger & resentment

the heave-ho'

joy does not simply happen to you

you have to choose joy

and keep choosing it every day

it's based on the knowledge 

that you belong to God

there is perfection

even in the midst

of messy imperfections

message:

"slow and steady win the race"

pay attention to details

trust the process

and stay in the moment

bigger, stronger, and faster

are not always the best ways to reach 

your goals

ground yourself

stay focused on the present

(Painted turtle )

things are about to get more colorful in your life

follow through in what you've been doing

good news is forthcoming

a time of healing, decisive progress in relationships

and rewards for your efforts

"Your mind is not playing tricks on you!

You did hear that.

Trust what you receive."

~turtle~

be well...

xoxo

💗

"Feeling safe in someone's energy

is a different kind of intimacy.

That feeling of peace and protection

is really underrated."

"There are different stages in a lifetime,

each lived by a quite different person.

It is a shame that the person who finally

achieves the lifelong dream

cannot go back and present it to

the wide-eyed child who first

dreamed it."

"Ironically enough, when you make 

peace with the fact that the purpose of life

is not happiness,

but rather experience and growth,

happiness comes as a natural byproduct.

When you are not seeking it as the objective,

it will find it's way to you."

 

Feed your mind...

...full of images, things

and experiences you want in your story.

Be picky about listening to the stories that you

or others have been telling over your life

that just aren't true.

You'll know if it's God telling the story

because it will always be one filled

with hope, possibility, peace and love.

notes...

the stories you tell yourself

shape you

breathe in hope 

breathe out your life

spend your days looking for virtue

look for virtue in others

not ridicule

keep it positive

stay engaged

push back against the chaos

with love

it isn't about positive thinking

it's about being  positive about your purpose

plant your feet on solid ground

worry is a debilitating state of mind

take time to listen for the ever-present

voice gently guiding you

you are more powerful

than you give yourself 

credit for

everything you've been through

prepared you for where you're headed

your life is a beautiful tapestry

of triumph

you are capable of great things

Quiet your soul

listen to your spirit

wait for guidance

give yourself the benefit of

the doubt

look over your past and remember

God's faithfulness

look at your future 

and trust Him now

the scars are only there to remind you 

that you're human

the power to unleash you

is your faith

you have nothing to lose 

and everything to gain

you have got to get a handle on your thoughts

if you want to change your life

clear out the chatter in your brain

create a clean uncluttered space

to impress the thought of what 

you want

believe

do what you can to make some upgrades

to where you are now

be well...

xoxo

💗

"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."

"...it is when the desire to go forward 

is greater than the memories of pain

that a person has the power

to create again."

"Sometimes what we think we want

isn't what we need-

and the pursuit of it causes us

resistance and anxiety.

When you find yourself in the midst of this

type of confusion,

take some time to center yourself and find

your intuition:

your deep inner well of wisdom.

Surrender to what is meant to be

and let go of whatever you are holding

on to.

Answers arrive when we let go and make room 

for what's meant to enter."

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,

he is a new creation;

the old has gone,

the new has come."

2 Corinthians 5:17

 

Every time you worry...

 

...'you strangle the life out of your life.'

'Personal stress is at record levels.

The highest it's been since World War II.'

The top stressors:

job

health

relationships

poor diet

media overload

lack of sleep

'Keep your mind on good things,

be content in all things,

refuse to worry about anything.

"Worrying about something you cannot change

is worthless.

Worrying about something you can change 

is stupid."

'Worry is learned &

you can unlearn it.'

"We are the only thing God made

that doesn't trust Him."

'It's worry that makes you sick.'

'The only thing that worry changes

is you.'

'You are as happy as you 

choose to be,'

'The battle is between your ears.

What you feed your mind with

will determine the level of stress

in your life.'

"Mind pollution is the most 

serious pollution.'

"Some people are so open minded

their brains fall out."

"If you look at the world, 

you'll be distressed.

If you look within,

you'll be depressed.

If you look at God, 

you'll be at rest."

~Corrie ten Boom~

Whatever you...

...spend time looking for

you will find it.

Looking for discouragement and cynicism?

You will find it.

Looking for hope and joy?

You will find that too.

notes...

...arriving home this evening. Shifting gears.

Up at 2 to take hubby in the morning.

connect at a deep level

refuse to worry about anything

switch from problem to presence

stop striving

watch in hope

surrender control

press on

don't let anything or anyone get you off task

you know you are chasing down the right things

with your time because those things

will be both lasting and loving

don't get distracted

don't mistake quantity for quality

believe things will come together

all by grace

for the better

for the good

break up with stress

celebrate your life unfolding before you

there is more than one happy path

you get to choose your way forward

be methodical and intentional

tune out what isn't true

find out what you need to be your best

and get it

only you understand what it takes for you

to be your best

accept the situation

center yourself in God

set priorities

don't believe the people who tell you 

there's no hope

hope is everywhere

surround yourself with positive voices

who speak words of truth

exhibit the highest level of faith

you can endure no matter what happens

never underestimate the power of a small step

notice where you are

notice what it feels like

pause

breathe

it's a gift

one day you will see the struggle

was beautiful and necessary for your growth.

All is well.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Life is full of lessons and there

is great beauty in imperfection."

"Happiness is not something ready-made.

It comes from your own actions."

"Be sure where your feet are."

"I know that there is nothing better for people

than to be happy and to do good while they live."

Ecclesiastes 3:12

 

Chin up Buttercup...

...a memory from my childhood.

Plucking the yellow flower to place under our 

chins to determine whether 

we loved butter or not.

We all did.

It's the nature of the flower to reflect.

I picked a handful in the pasture while hubby 

 did his farm chores.

I wanted to find out more about this little yellow flower...

Meadow Buttercup

symbolizes joy, cheerfulness, childhood innocence,

happiness, and humility.

Humility...

it's a word I have bonded with this last 3 months.

I have been vague writing about my latest health

concerns, but it was so unexpected,

and as I was walking into the unknowns...

I thought it best to take it as it unfolded,

lean into my faith, and pray for the mindset

to trust God with my fears and concerns 

no matter how scared as I was.

Few knew more.

 I was in good hands.

A brief timeline...

 started with trigger fingers in my hands

x-rays

referral to get an MRI on cervical spine

 & referral to an orthopedic surgeon

in waiting....

suspect a UTI 

call my obgyn

get tested

confirmed

start antibiotics 

day before ortho visit

3 injections in 3 fingers at ortho

next day get a call from obgyn

rare UTI not treatable with oral antibiotic 

 referral to Infusion center,

 & Infectious disease Dr.

& for a C-scan to check my bladder, kidneys and stomach

infusion center very next day

2 shots of high dose anti's (one in each arm) for 5 days.

follow up at infectious disease...

explanations...about UTI & that

future UTI's (thankfully not common for me... )

may likely be treated the same way

released

C-scan with contrast

all is well in area of concern,

however

 obgyn is concerned with bowel

she discusses it with  Gastro Dr. 

(who I have been to)

he wants to examine...

better to be safe

pull in the driveway for this appt. and get a call

he's been called to OR

a brief moment of "NO....!!!"

redeemed by the thought ..."someone needs him worse than I do"...

a little conversation with God ...

"this is Yours."

I trust Him.

 At this point I know He is in control...

&

I have learned that I am DEFINITELY NOT!

 I breathe...

 then carry on...

wait on hold to reschedule...

drive towards plan B, to get groceries in the meantime...

"can you come in an hour if he's back from OR ?"

"Of course. Sign me up"

*thinking of it as a little cliff hanger

as I've come to the final Dr. on this seemingly long list.

Uncertainty mixed with relief.

Dr. shows up.

I show up. 

We talk, he's thorough, reassuring and fun.

His nurse is too.

We find the humor in the situation,

and we all giggle through the exam.

And I loved them for it.

And..

I am okay.

It's stressful facing the unexpected and the unknowns,

and I will forever be learning how let go & to walk with trust.

Life keeps twisting and turning to make sure of it.

Truth is, this hit me in the place I thought I had under control.

It has been a humbling and teachable experience for me.

I am not in control,

but I know who is,

I close my eyes and whisper "thank You!",

and all is well.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Whenever you meet a ghost, don't run away,

because the ghost will capture the 

substance of your fear and materialize

itself out of your own substance...

it will take over all your own vitality...

so then, whenever confronted with a ghost,

walk straight into it and it will disappear."

~Allan Watts~

"The more you push against the things,

people and experiences you find unpleasant,

the more exhausted you will get and

the unhappier you will become."

"If the challenges of life waited for you 

to be ready for them,

they wouldn't,

of course,

be called challenges."

 

I never knew...

how much I resisted 

until I  realized how much I was.

sunflowers starts & girl friends..

A jet echoed from above...I couldn't see it anywhere...

no proof, but I could hear it, 

it was louder than usual,

and it continued on for some time.

It makes me think of God.

I may not always see Him, but I can hear Him

& I know He's

here.

This morning, (as in most)

a letter formed from my Jesus notes.

I write as I hear...and in order of

how I receive the words from different sources.

I use * when I switch sources.

I thought I'd share today's.

My child,

Hope refers to the future. Wait patiently for Me to 

fulfill my promises.

If patience isn't a strong point,

remember that it is a fruit of the spirit.

Ask the Holy Spirit to help you.

Rejoice that you are in My company.

I am more creative than you can imagine.

Delight in this privilege of being with Me.

* Prayer is acceptance, knowing I will

become known to you in the nature around you.

In the people you meet, and the situations

you run into.

Receive Me with open hands, and with love.

* When you meditate on Me you will see life

from a different perspective.

Even your own personhood changes

because you learn to see all with My wisdom.

At first your frustration levels will be high,

but the pressures will dissipate as you sit with Me.

I accomplish all things for you.

I can fully help you with whatever concerns you.

Nothing can defeat Me.

I provide, protect, and deliver you from all harm.

True biblical meditation will transform your

spirit, emotions, and even your physical body.

Spend time focusing on Me.

I will provide a fresh outlook for your life,

and peaceful rest for your soul, despite the difficulties 

of the day.

Seek Me for every burden. Seek My perspective for all

that concerns you.

* I created  you and have good works that you are to

accomplish for Me-

assignments that require your unique mix, talents,

personality, experiences, and abilities.

I am Author and Finisher of your story,

and not the half has been told.

You have a very limited perspective of the plot,

and as long as you insist on forging your own path,

 I will not write My living will on your heart.

Once you acknowledge Me, I will show you

My viewpoint of your life-

what I'm accomplishing-

and guide you into wholeness, fruitfulness, 

and blessings.

Stop evaluating your worth and look to Me.

I continue to work in you.

* Hope makes your life a page turner.

Every good story has unexpected twists and

even the best hero might lose her way for a few chapters.

I write more chapters.

I have the power to turn the story around.

There's more to come.

* Check out everything, and keep only

what is good. (1Thes.5:21Msg.)

*Silence the voices that do not align with

with My messages.

Create space within your heart to hear what I am saying.

Eliminate junk mail, various voices (media, other's opinions) trying to sway you

one way or the other. 

* Practice peace. Learn to let stuff out.

You should always feel safe.

*Stop trying to control.

*Surrender to Me with complete and intimate trust.

I hear you. I see you. I know you.

I love you.

xoxo

 Jesus

be well...

xoxo

💝

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,

kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

"It's a persistent daily challenge--

trying to change your life for the better

without changing it."

"I am told to just be myself,

but as  much as I have practiced

the impression,

I am still no good at it."