impatient

i am not qualified to talk about patience

at all. . . 

if i have to wait, i am seriously not happy about it

i’ve been known to whine and moan… complain and cry… sometimes quite loudly!

not that it has ever gotten me anywhere ~ but hey, a girl’s gotta try, right? 

i’m not particularly fond of opportunities to grow and haven’t always embraced them like i should 

but here is the most important lesson i’ve learned on this journey to patience. . . 

the truth is that i can’t control life’s circumstances ~ the only thing i can control is how i respond

when i get upset over waiting, i’m the one who hurts

when i take things into my own hands, i usually make it worse

perhaps we can work on it together

take care

Girls Night Out

One of the best things about living in town, is that my girl is so close...  so when she asked if I'd like to come over for a girls night, to say I was excited was an understatement.  

It wasn't really a girls' night out per se, more like a girls' night in.  We ordered takeout Thai food and watched a movie we got from the library.  It was a perfect evening none the less.

We watched "The Intern"  with Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway.  IMDB.ca says 70-year-old widower Ben Whittaker {De Niro} has discovered that retirement isn't all it's cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin. {Hathaway}  

The story line while fairly predictable had its share of silly moments, a few innuendos and the obvious work place drama. But overall this was a great movie!  One I would highly recommend.

Whether we're watching a movie, playing a game, going for a walk, having a cuppa tea.  I absolutely love the time we spend together.   I am so very thankful for the relationship we share.

Thanks for the wonderful evening, Krystle, I look forward to doing it again!

Take Care

Either or...

Positive or negative? 

The glass half full, or half empty?

Do you see the rainbow, or the rain? 

The cloud? Or the silver lining? 

Simply put there are two ways to look at life… positive or negative. And I’m guessing we’ve all experienced both, at one time or another. 

Tell me friends, which way do you lean? 

Sadly, I am a negative person. Oh sure, I have my days of being positive, and believe me there are times when I have had to fight to stay positive. But sadly, my true nature comes out. 

Too often I get caught up viewing my life with a half-empty perspective, thinking that “Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.”  Where do all those negative thoughts come from? It took a long time for me to realize that my “worst case scenarios” are likely never going to happen. And I realized that I needed to remind myself of Philippians 4:8

It didn’t happen overnight, but after some time, my thoughts became less troubled, and soon my attitude was a little more positive. 

So when you think about yourself, are you thinking positive, or do you often see the negative side of things?

Take Care

Limited

Quite often I find that when you ask people “how they are?” the response more often than not is “busy”... 

I too used to proudly wear busy as a badge of honour. 

Busyness made me feel productive and needed, and I overlooked the havoc it was wreaking in my life. 

Oh, there were warning signs, but I just kept telling myself myself I was a strong, confident woman, who could handle the stress and chaos. 

But contrary to what many of us have been told, we simply can not handle it all, nor should we. 

It took a long time for me to reach the place in my life where I finally came to accept that I am chronically ill.  It’s something I’ve been working on for the last several years. And thankfully, I’ve come to a place of acceptance and am okay with traveling down this road in my life. 

Having a limited capacity is not a flaw in my character. It is by glorious design and for an incredible purpose: to realize my need for Him. And that means letting my life be about what I am meant to do, what God created me to do, and not what the world thinks I ‘should’ do. 

God has a plan for each of us.

“In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths”.
Proverbs 3:6 {English Standard Version {ESV}} 

So I’m committing to be content rather than busy, and continue to ask God to help guide me.

Take Care

Will you?

well?

Take Care

Overwhelmed

Sometimes life gets overwhelming. 

I have moments where it feels as though I am in a fog and my brain simply can't or won't compute anymore. The details are too much, the to-do lists are too long, the worry and stress and anxiety are all weighing too heavy. My breath quickens, my heart races, my mind is going a mile a minute but not landing anywhere concrete... 

Overwhelmed. 

It seems to be happening more often lately. 

Maybe I overwhelm easier these days.

When I start feeling overwhelmed, I look for opportunities to retreat… 

Sometimes when I'm overwhelmed, I plop on the couch, put in a season of Once Upon A Time on, and hit play. And then I watch the next episode. And then the next one. And the next one. 

Sometimes when I'm overwhelmed, I pour myself a glass {or two} of wine. 

Sometimes when I'm overwhelmed, I'll distract myself with fun errands {rather than the ones I should be doing}. 

Sometimes when I'm overwhelmed, I'll sit quietly and listen to K-love christian radio and allow the words to those songs to wash over me 

Sometimes when I'm overwhelmed, I'll crawl back into bed. 

And, apparently, sometimes when I'm overwhelmed... I write about it. 

What about you? What do you do when you're overwhelmed?

Take Care

Content not content

Well, here we are in the middle of the second month of year. 

How are you doing with living out your word? 

My word for 2016 is 

content :satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else. the state or feeling of being contented; satisfaction; 

not to be mistaken with 

content…something that is contained, something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech,writing, or any of various arts, substantive information or creative material viewed in contrast to its actual or potential manner of presentation.

It’s only been two months and I am already being stretched.  It’s amazing how many obstacles are being placed in my life to teach me to be content… not only has this process been exhilarating but it has also proven to be quite challenging. But we often learn the most when we’ve stepped out of our comfort zone.

Choosing One Word has helped simplify my life and has helped me to stay focused.

What will keep you focused and prevent you from being distracted?

Take Care

Brownie Bites

It’s been awhile since I've made dessert, so when surfing through Pinterest, I came across this. 

Mini Peanut Butter Cup Brownie Bites

{photo credit and recipe website}

Creamy peanut butter filling in a chocolate fudge brownie bite covered in a soft chocolate ganache. 

Ingredients:
Shortening and cocoa powder
Base 
1 (18.4 ounces) Pillsbury Chocolate Fudge Brownie Mix + ingredients called for 
Center 
1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 
4 tablespoons butter 
1/3 to 1/2 cup powdered sugar 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
Topping 
1 cup + 2 tablespoons milk chocolate chips 
1/2 cup butter 

Directions: 
Brownies 
Preheat the oven to 350℉. 
Rub shortening into each cavity of a miniature muffin tin. Dust with cocoa powder.
Prepare the brownie mix according to package directions. 
Fill up each muffin cavity 2/3rds full. 
Bake for 18-21 minutes being careful to not over-bake. 
Remove from the oven and push a 1/2 teaspoon measuring spoon into the center of the brownies. 
Allow to slightly cool and then gently twist the brownie and pull out. 
Allow to completely cool. 
Center 
In a bowl, beat together the peanut butter and ROOM temperature (do not melt or soften) butter until creamy. 
Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract. 
Add powdered sugar to your desired thickness (I like a "lighter" less dense peanut butter filling.) 
Fill up the completely cooled brownie cups evenly with the peanut butter filling. 
Use a knife to scrape the top so it is even. 
Topping 
Cube the butter into small cubes. 
In a microwave safe bowl, combine the milk chocolate chips and the butter cubes. 
Melt in the microwave in 15 second bursts, stirring in between each burst for at least 15 seconds until the chocolate is completely melted and smooth. 
Dip the peanut butter filled brownies into the chocolate or spoon the chocolate over. 
Allow to completely set. 
Enjoy!

Peanut butter, chocolate and brownies - what better way to I love you ….

Take Care

Plan B

I’m a planner…so it it only makes sense then that I like to make plans. 

I like knowing what I'm doing tomorrow or the next next day, next week, month, heck, if I could plan my whole year, I think I’d be just fine… 

however there is a difference in “making” plans and “following” through with them. 

Setting goals for your life can help keep you in the right direction, and making plans helps you achieve all that… it’s not necessarily a bad thing really, but it can be a bit misguided. 

There are times in our lives when we know exactly what we should be doing, other times we can get distracted, take a detour, perhaps get a little lost and learn a multitude of life lessons along the way. 

Quite often when I am in an active cycle of my illness I get distracted by the little things and then “MY” plans go awry. And when I have run out of energy at the beginning of the day, you know my plans are out the window and I have to resort to Plan B… and I remind myself of this: 

Jeremiah 29:11 {New International Version {NIV} “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

so you see, it’s not really a Plan B after all…

Take Care

NoT ToDaY

I get tired very easily. 

The more effort something requires, the more quickly I tire. The more stressful or emotional a situation is, the more quickly I will tire. There are only so many Spoons in a day {know what I mean?}

Most people start the day with unlimited amount of spoons {possibilities, and energy} to do whatever they desire. Me, on the other hand, have days {like today} where I count them on a single hand. One of the hardest things I ever had to learn is to slow down, and not do everything. I fight this to this day.

I’m SO tired lately. As the saying goes, “I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired”. I’m overwhelmed, exhausted and simply want/need to stay at home ~ unfortunately this is becoming quite common for me. 

When I’m in an active cycle of my illness the only way I can cope while I endure the worst of it is by reading a book or watching something really good on TV {or a movie} doing something/anything to distract my mind. Not everyone, however, has the opportunity to do what their body needs. People have kids and jobs and families to attend to. I'm fortunate that I can pretty much sleep/rest/read/watch/do whatever and whenever I need to.

My hubby is an amazing man. He's my hero and my greatest supporter. Without him, I'd be so very lost.  It's very important for friends and family to be supportive ~ there is nothing worse than having to prove to those around me what it’s like to live with Fibromyalgia.

And while this is something that I will likely struggle with for the rest of my life ~ I will “Be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b {New International Version {NIV}} 

Take Care

Vacay...

It had been a long time coming, and was badly needed. 

A vacation. 

A change of scenery. 

The ocean breeze and the sound of the waves have an immediate effect for us. Although I do not consider myself to be a beach girl {I do not sit in the sand or get in the ocean}, my mind is completely calmed by the sound of the God’s magnificent creation. 

The moment we walked onto the beach, we were drawn by this view. 

Stunning, huh? 

Most mornings, Wayne and I walked about 3.5 K down the beach and back to get some exercise. It was a good time for us to talk and process the week and life in general. We talked about how incredibly blessed we are. Family, jobs, and so many more blessings that we do NOT take for granted. 

VACATION, for me, also means reading a good book. I had been saving the newest release from Nicholas Sparks especially for this trip. As usual, I was not disappointed. If you have never read any of his books, you simply must. I’ve read all of his books, seen a few made into movies and I highly recommend them. 

The week passed so quickly, and we left the Dominican wishing for a second week. However, I am quite content with the week we had.

Take Care