Joy

The secret to joy is to keep seeking God where we doubt He is...

Reading this morning and this sentence hit me for some reason.. remembering to keep seeking him to continue to discover the joy in my current situation whether it be in the big things or just the small things.. seeking him to see how he will use the current situation you have found yourself in even in the smallest of ways to bring joy and change and maybe even restoration...

Merry Christmas!

Well Christmas came and went so fast. All that work and it is over in one big poof! I am very blessed again this year to have had a busy and fun holiday with family. Lot's of good food, laughs and memories made. I look forward to what next Christmas will bring and I will continue to hold onto hope and have faith..

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and here's to a GREAT 2012!

blasphemer

You would be very ashamed if you knew what the experiences you call setbacks, upheavals, pointless disturbances, and tedious annoyances really are. You would realize that your complaints about them are nothing more nor less than blasphemies-though that never occurs to you. Nothing happens to you except by the will of God, and yet [God's] beloved children curse it because they do not know it for what it is..

~Ann V (one thousand gifts)

This is so hard for me right now.. How do I do this with my fight and struggle with infertility? But isn't this what everyone going through pain and suffering would ask? With so much pain, so many loosing battles, fighting battles and with such brokenness in this world how do we truly do this? This for me is where TRUE faith steps in. The faith to hold onto this truth that we do not know and that God is good and that nothing happens without a reason and a purpose. But we need to remember that is up to us though. To not let go, to take the circumstance no matter what it is and allow the light to shine through it. But gosh this is so hard! But as I am challenged to be thankful, to each day count my blessing even in the small things like my warm coffee.. by writing it down it has really been helping me. The book one thousand gifts has really been opening my eyes. The blessing of community has been huge for me because some days all you have is for someone to understand and just help you walk it out. There are woman that I do not even know or never have met that have impacted me beyond belief and I thank them for being open and not being silent or ashamed. I challenge myself to do this each day so that in the end it is not for nothing at my choosing and remembering that my job is to continue to let the light shine while remembering that God is good and I just need to be strong enough to walk it out.. Some days though I will be honest I lay down. I grow so tired. But I thank God today for those who drag me, give me that piggy back in life that I need. Remember today if you are struggling.. one day at a time. Everything is going to be ok. Stop.. breath and try to find something good.. Something that will allow you to hold on just one more day. xoxo

What really matters...

As I sit and really think about Christmas and what is suppose to mean while all the noise and stress of the holidays fills my mind I am reminded that the little details dont matter. Its the big things that matter. As I remember those that have lost loved ones who will no longer be with them this Christmas I am thankful that we have everyone special to us this year. As we try to make all the little details perfect which allows us all to be crazy and at each other wanting things our way let us remember that we would miss those we are bickering with if they were not around so maybe just maybe we should take the gloves off and step out of the ring.. Hoping everyone is having a good holiday so far. Dustin and I had some fun getting our tree this weekend! Many blessings this holiday..

Knowing who you are allows you to hold on in the dark times..

Remembering today to be a proverbs 31:25 woman. As I wake up feeling down, tired and discouraged I need to remember that I may not determine my circumstances but I do determine who I am and it allows me to stand strong in defining who I really am. It is easy to be you in the easy times, but being you in the hard times brings on true character. For today, I am a wife to a wonderful man. I live a beautiful life, I have wonderful friends and family and although I may not hear the pitter patter of those little feet running around my home I would never trade what I dream of for what I have right now. The love of my life that I still get butterflies thinking about, the way his smile makes me feel when he comes home, the way he always knows just what I need and loves me even in all my many imperfect ways. Yes, I want more and I will never allow anyone to make me feel selfish for that.. but I also know where I am now, and I am blessed for this storm as I know that it is only preparing me for what lies ahead.. what that is I do not know but I am willing to walk it out and find out. What I have learned is as your storm goes on for what feels like forever. Find ways to remind yourself of the truth of the matter when you have those days that you have a hard time holding on. The pictures I create, the quotes that I display are all ways I do this because it is hard... so hard to some days not just allow the lies to swallow you up. Find ways to allow the light to shine in always..

Thank you for reading and taking the time to share in my journey as I continue to Walk tall while leaving my bold footprint on this thing called life one day at a time...

Pinterest

Loving the site Pinterest! It is so addicting.. I have been pinning so many new idea's and even tried some. Here are some of the things I did today. Kind of loving the crafty side that I am discovering..

Painted glass.. peace..

Painted glass.. Love..

Wreath with chalkboard paint board behind

Joy...

The lens we choose..

I think at times we struggle with the real life emotions that we have. Life seems to go by so fast. Each day we carry heavy burdens. It is hard to slow life down and really be present in moments that we often look back on and wish we could do different. Times we are quick to anger or to just miss an opportunity to be nice. I had one of those moments the other day. I woke up not feeling well and in a funk. One of those days you just don't want to see anyone or talk because you know you can not be the version of you that people want you to be. I felt stretched, stressed and just worn thin. One task I had to get done was to go to the post office which I was dreading. As I pull up to the post office even too tired to have washed my face or put on any make up I think, I will just go in and out real quick as to avoid as many people as possible. As I pull into the parking lot I see it is very full and lots of people with packages. I sigh with frustration. I see an older couple, a very cute couple with many packages I am guessing for loved ones, maybe grandchildren.. As I get out of the car seeing them in front of me, consumed with myself and my funk wrapping around me squeezing me tightly I begin to move quickly as to get in front of them so to enter the post office before them to avoid waiting in line behind them. You know, my quick get in and get out plan. As I am doing this I find myself called to slow down, think this through, (Eucharisteo). As I do this I begin to grab for the post office door while looking over my shoulder at the cute older couple with packages overflowing in each of their arms and I, at this moment have the opportunity to get over myself or continue on as I may have done so many other times before. I choose to continue to slow down, take a deep breath while I open the door for this couple that I could not help but smile at when I see them. I help them in the door with their packages. As I do this the older man looks at me and tells me what a big help this was and today I was Santa's little helper. I am thankful for this as I find my funk, which was squeezing me so tight that I could not breath ,releasing. I found myself smiling. As we stood in line the older man reminded his wife that I was before them but took the time to help them out so I should go ahead of them as I only had one package. Wow, this man, who thought I was such a blessing to them that day was to me. I am thankful for him and the little ways he helped me realize what I was about to miss that day. I kindly told them thank you but that I am in no hurry. As I really was not. So that day my gift was the act of slowing down and embracing the joy of another and the view I had on the difference one small decision can make.

Taking the time to stop, breath and allow our powers to release us of our chains bonding us to the darkness so that there in that moment there can be light.

Beauty of the season

The beauty of Christmas is such a gift.. one I am enjoying to open up this year..

Holding onto Hope, opening up to love and finding Joy this holiday season.. Wishing the same for you.