I melt for no one

You can’t make me 

 say any certain words
 

feel any certain feelings

 

think any certain thoughts

 

look any certain style

 

act any certain way

 

be any certain woman.

 

You can criticize, cajole, critique, advise, intimidate, mock, “help” 

but still
 

You can’t make me anything.

I choose my actions, reactions
 

I choose to know who I am

to who God made me to be.

 

Blessings

With Thanksgiving in my Heart

Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.

Give thanks to Him, and praise His name.

~ Psalm 100:4 {New International Version {NIV}}

As the scripture reminds us, we are to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. But, if you’re like me, this is sometimes more easily said than done.

I find that a lot of my days I am not very thankful. Nor do I give a lot of praise. I tend to go through my days complaining sometimes too loudly about all the things I cannot do anymore. I tend to focus on the negative rather than look for any good in my life.

You know those days when you just feel blah? When everything seems to be going wrong?

I'm learning {slowly} that gratitude is the only solution.

I can be thankful. I am thankful.

On one such day when I was truly NOT thankful and complaining, I said to Him, “Lord, do you remember when I could just get up and do whatever I wanted to without any pain?” And He whispered to my heart, “Beloved, do you remember when you were so busy running here and there, you never once considered what a miracle it is?”

Do you ever have those moments? When you realize that you are not thankful?

So rather than focusing on the negative I am trying to focus on the positive. Like I am thankful that my husband loves to work and makes enough for us to live on without needing me to contribute to our finances. Or that he took his vows of in sickness and in health very seriously. I am thankful that I am able to help our kids when needed and that I still have the strength to do it. Or that I am still able to go for walks, make dinner and do simple household chores.. .. .. sure there is more, but I think you get the idea!

I am learning to “Be still and know that I am God” {Psalm 46:10 {New International Version {NIV}} and while I still do not have a firm grasp on the concept, since my inner being is constantly reaching for that “busy-ness” from before, I do get a great deal of comfort from that passage.

But I belong here. In the midst of all this. It’s what God has called me to. In this season. It’s my right now and thankfully not forever. I am blessed to be here {if I stop and really think about it}. So I will stay…

I know without a doubt that God has a plan for my life. I have days when I feel amazing and days when I don’t feel so hot. I have learned to take one day at a time. I also have learned the benefits of keeping a positive attitude about every situation in my life. I know that I am blessed. I know that I am loved. God is so good!

My challenge to you to is turn around the negatives in your life and find a way that God can meet that challenge and teach you something beautiful through it.

Blessings

ps. this post was written a month ago and was to be posted for Thanksgiving in October, but since I did blogtober this was post-poned until today!

...and we're back

we arrived home late last night and now i sit with piles of laundry to wash, photos to upload, bills to sort through and memories to write about - check back soon!

blessings

Musical Interlude

enjoy!

Blessings

on a break

things will be a little quiet here, while the hubs and i are on a much needed holiday. 

see you soon!

blessings

While I wait

I have no sense of direction. Really, really! I can walk into a store walk look around at a few things and when I leave I have no idea which way we came from nor which way to go… I can easily get lost in a closet. While that might seem funny to many, it actually is quite terrifying for me. I wrote a little about it here.

Thankfully when I am in the car and we lose our direction I have a handy little GPS, which helps me quickly find the right way to get to our destination. There is however no GPS in life. Many days I’m just frustrated. I’m still trying to figure out who I am and what He’s created me to be. I just can’t seem to measure up to what I feel I should be. These past few weeks I’ve been feeling stuck… in my ways, ideas, passion, purpose... my life feels out of control.

“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again

and expecting different results.”

~ Albert Einstein

I’m waiting for something… anything…

Do you know I’m bad at waiting? It’s not just that I’m impatient ~ although I have to admit I am. It’s also because when I’m waiting, the doubts start to creep in. Let’s be honest here, when I don’t get instant results I get impatient. And who out there loves to wait…

“Yet those who wait for the Lord ; will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.” Isaiah 40:31 {New American Standard Bible {NASB}}

Waiting on God can have a similar effect.

When nothing seems to changing. Does that mean that God is not listening? Or could it mean “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” Romans 5:3-4 {New Living Translation {NLT}}

In his song “Sovereign” Chris Tomlin sings;
“In your never failing love
You work everything for good
God whatever comes my way
I will trust you”

Patience doesn’t come easy for me. While some people might naturally be patient, the rest of us are given opportunities to practice and practice and practice and…

Blessings

So I smile...

I have very strong Type “A” tendencies ~ make to-do lists, needs to be sheduled and organized, likes to be on time, and I tend not to be very spontaneous. I like knowing what I’m doing tomorrow, next week, the following month even perhaps into the new year… I like my world quite structured.

So when our son Kyle called on Sunday wanting to come home for the week for some holidays {he doesn’t start his new job until next week}, we changed our plans and made the drive to Orillia.

It easy for me to get caught up in my plans, my wants, my way of doing things that sometimes I end up missing opportunities for developing relationships.  I need to remind myself over and over again that relationships are more important than any to-do list.

Time together is what matters most. {photo from Krystle's blog}

Whether we're playing games, sitting in the hot tub, having dinner, or just hanging out ~ I treasure these moments we have.

With everyone out on their own, these times together are few and far between... and rather than worry about what needs to be done, or that the house is in complete chaos, I’ll sit and enjoy each and every opportunity we get.

 

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”  ~ Dr Seuss
 

Blessings