Mother of 5 beautiful children, friend of books, avid reader, bubble baths are life! I enjoy long walks and hiking, I seek adventure. Writing makes me a better person, I love to share my thoughts.
Today I have been thinking about all the nature shots, scenic views and beautiful displays I have captured! I truly love to take pictures of nature. I am thinking of buying a fancy camera one day! However I think I do pretty well just on my phone! I would like to share a few with y’all. I normally have a lot to say but lately it feels more like quotes or phrases of gratitude.
Your Grace and Mercy Brought Me Through
I took this one the other evening on a drive home, the sunset was breathtaking!
Summer Clouds
Beneath an endless sky, my eyes come alive.
Hope of the horizon
Rainbows seem to follow me. I am truly blessed!
Blush ☺️
This beautiful foliage makes me think of being in love.
Rain on the Lake Hike Views
I hope these brought you as much joy as they did me, a photo still doesn’t do God’s Earth justice! As they say…”You just had to be there!” Blessings to You!
“I am consumed with the fear of failing. Reaching deep down and finding confidence has made all my dreams come true.” The anticipation that I have felt these last several weeks, this image is all I can describe the feeling. The sounds of restless chatter as the seats are filling up in a large theater. The eager crowd waiting for the show to begin. We know this is what we have talked about for days, months, or maybe even years! There behind the dramatic curtains are all the people aligning themselves in place for just the right moment. The onlookers silently hoping that the show will start in time.
The big changes that are happening seem scary, exciting, and challenging. We will be taking a big chance at a new opportunity. My husband’s new job will lead us into uncharted territory. There is a part of me that wants to step back into what is familiar and comfortable. The boldness that is deep within me, screams GO! GO! GO! I must take this leap with faith without borders! My fragile little prayer thrown out to God, BUT where will we live? How can we travel as a large family? How will it all work out? Then as a loving God, he silences my fears with his love. ““Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’” Isaiah 41:10 NKJVPexels Free Library
THE SHOW MUST GO ON:
The audience that is watching my life is my family, friends, peers, my children, and many people that are watching that I don’t even know about. I know that both my husband and I are afraid to step out into this new territory because what if we fail? Lord knows that would be a hard place to walk into. However just as the disciples were challenged to follow Jesus, they were not experienced with what he was calling them to. This life would require them to leave careers, families, friends, the familiar and walk by complete faith.
“Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19 NKJV
These twelve men, heard the command of Jesus and followed him and although it was hard, scary and even unfair at times; they still followed. Life’s journey often seems like a loss, or setback but in reality it’s preparation and growth. There comes a time when we have to put into practice, what we have already learned on our journey. How do we do that? The next level of our life may not look familiar, but we must trust that we have been equipped our whole lives for our destiny. There are people waiting on the other side for my family to show up!
View from my vacation rental last week.
HIGH AND LIFTED UP:
Last week we took a quick vacation to my favorite place, the beach. We stayed in this really nice condominium that was twenty-three stories! Our room was on the seventeenth floor, and the view was amazing. It made me a little dizzy the first time we went up to the room. I could see for miles on both sides, and on the other side, was the endless ocean. The ocean is always such a healing place for me, it makes me think of the vastness of God’s presence, and the way that he pieced this world together. How can I be so afraid, when my God is full of this kind of beauty and majesty? Forgive me Lord. I desire to trust you more.
The Lord is sovereign and in full control, the darkness of this world makes us afraid. When I sat on the rear balcony and looked out at the ocean, I felt the tears flow down my cheeks. I was shocked by this response. I couldn’t stop the tears, I had to get up and walk away from the view. The beauty, the awe, the presence of God has overwhelmed me. All I could do was go inside because I felt like a fool, I had to start worshipping and praying right away. JESUS LIVES!
The Rear Balcony
THE WIND, AND THE WAVES:
The experience made me think about something I have heard a lot recently, “God is a God of movement.” When faced with hard times and uncertainty we often result to thinking that God has forgotten us or that he is not doing anything! That is simply not the case, God is always at work in our lives and lining things up for the appropriate timing. Out on a sea like this, Jesus spoke to the wind and the waves and calmed them instantly, a deadly storm was raging and he was completely undeterred. That is the kind of faith that God is leading us to! The sight of the ocean rocking, rolling and crashing all around me was enough to remind me of the greatness of God; in this uncertain time.
It’s almost SHOW TIME, may we all be ready for the curtain to rise, and show what we have been working on behind the scenes! Be Blessed and Happy Reading!
I anticipate opposition but I do not fear it where I set my vision is the part I play straight position To the joy that is set before me I remain pushing Beyond the limits I must stretch let the struggle cushion my hustle The more the God of all teaches me each moment of pressure creates eternal wishing waiting upon your return the cares of this life no longer my concern.
Our life should be one of progress! We may struggle, stumble or maybe even fall in certain areas, but we should have some positive progression. I just turned thirty-seven a few days ago, and I look at myself and I am happy to see the growth. I still have a ways to go, but so grateful for growth!
2025 Growth:
Less time on social media, I used to be on socials around 4 hours a day! I was addicted to scrolling and time wasting. I was addicted to the validation of others.
I have read twenty books this year, compared to thirteen books last year. Reading is a passion and I am happier when I am doing what I love! My goal was twenty books this year and I will most definitely supersede that goal!
I am learning to pray more, I used to think I had to pray in certain settings, now I pray in my heart, I whispers prayers as I fall asleep, as I am driving, or just doing the mundane tasks.
I have read my daily Bible verse for one hundred and four days and been on the Bible app one hundred and forty-five days this year so far! Not to mention reading the physical copy of the Bible with my children.
I am learning the power of “NO,” I don’t have to say “yes” to every opportunity, event, or unwanted interactions. This one was hard because I always wanted people to like me.
Learning to rest more, and not feel guilty about it. Busyness is not a sign of achievement!
I have been writing more, which is another thing I love.
Drinking more water and less sodas!
I have so much to be grateful for and even though this has been a trying time of life, I must trust the process. My growth is what will sustain me through the next levels.
2025 NEW SEASON (Pexels Free Library(
My husband and I have been quite busy, he has been offered a new job in a new state. The job will be a traveling position, we are excited but also nervous!! This is a big change and probably somewhat uncomfortable, we are trying to prepare for it. We travelled to the new state last month, it was really beautiful. The climate is different, the people, lingo, everything! I always felt in my heart that God wanted me to move from my state but I was always too afraid.
I moved a few times away, but always came back to what was familiar. As we embark on this new journey as a family, I hope that we will find a rhythm and be able to maintain all of our responsibilities well. This is a big job for my husband and we also have a large family. Our relatives are sad, but we have tried to reassure everyone that we will be coming back often as we can! We will keep our current home for now and commute between the two states regularly; it’s exactly six hours away.
I have been so busy with everything that I haven’t made much time to blog. I have missed all of you! I will try and get still more to write. Summer is always a busy time of year, but one that I love! I hope you guys are having a great week! Happy Reading!
Here are 5 fruits that will change your life: FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT (Galatians 5:22)
LOVE: I could always use more love in my life. The Bible says that what good is love that is only extended to those that love us in return! We must seek out the unlovable and practice loving them beyond their pain. Hurt people hurt people as we have heard. I can admit that I have said the HATE word in anger and pain. I regret it and as I realize my great need for love and acceptance, I am learning to love a bit more. We are to love God and others, sounds simple but love is not what we see in the movies!
JOY: The Joy of the Lord is our strength. God has called us to remain content, and endure through life’s difficulties. The Joy that comes from trusting God in the unseen realm. We are not happy all the time, but joy is knowing that life is meant to have highs and lows. We appreciate life more because of the struggles.
PEACE: Inner peace, a peace that comes from knowing a sovereign God. The resolve to stay in peace, this one is a hard one! Not to let worry take over.
PATIENCE: There are different seasons in our life, just like the weather or like farming. There is a time to plant, cultivate, and then reap a harvest. The weather is always changing even if it is subtle changes, from one season to the next. It takes patience to grow things, we must wait for the product of our labor. God desires for us to wait on Him, we learn to wait and have patience during hardships.
KINDNESS: The world is broken, there are a lot of hurting people. We cannot turn a blind eye, we must share our resources, time, love, and empathy with the world. It doesn’t always have to be grand gestures: a smile, a word of encouragement, pay for a meal, etc. We all have had experiences that could have turned us bitter and unloving. We choose each day to see the good in others. It is with love and kindness that God draws us to himself.
These are only 5 out of 9 fruits of the Spirit, that are discussed in the Bible, I wanted to stay on theme but all are for our benefit. These fruits are the product of having a relationship with God and allowing him to guide you. The Holy Spirit helps us to grow from faith to faith. Our fruit develops over time and grows better and more tasteful.
Everyone has different temperament’s and some of these things may come easier to you than others. For example I tend to be a pretty upbeat and optimistic person, just by nature. I have been called smiley, because I often smile for no reason! That’s good news in the development of our character is that some of these we are already naturally inclined to. Now for me patience is not my strong suit! I tend to be in a hurry all throughout my life and I want to always know what is next.
What fruit is in your garden?
We all are a work in progress, and until we take our final breath we will always be developing and learning. I hope that you will read up on these fruits, because they are what leads to prosperity, great relationships, and peace beyond external challenges.
Class of 2007 (Key from my high school graduation 👩🎓)
“Every locked door has a key, every problem has a solution.”
This key says: “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart…” (Proverbs 3:5).
May 24, 2007
This was the day I was graduating from high school, seems so long ago. I was eighteen, I didn’t know much but I knew that I was done with high school! Friends, family, and church members all gathering around to wish me congratulations. My friends and I were planning what we would wear after graduation, and what party we would go to later. The ceremony was long and boring. I was nervous as I crossed that stage, not sure what life would hold next.
As I was taking pictures with everyone, they were coming up and handing me love gifts. I received quite a bit of money, cards, and little trinkets. My hands full with my acquired diploma, and the gifts I smiled a cheesy grin. Smile! Another photo! I was ready to go now! My little black Honda Accord calling my name, I was ready to put high school behind me. There were lots of good memories but many poor choices as well. Such is life, we all think we know everything at that age! Some days I wish I could grab my shoulders and shake that little girl!
However regrets wont get us too far we have to accept that our mistakes and failures, they shape who we become. I am proud of the woman I am now, but there is still a lot of growing up to do. I used to think thirty-six was old, now that I am here I know I have a long life to live. Matter of fact my birthday is less than a month away!
The Key to Success
There were a handful of church members that came to my high school graduation, I truly appreciate that they did that. It was so sweet of them. One guy named LA, gave me this key in a beautiful little box. I have had this key for eighteen years this month! How in the world has it been so long? I immediately loved this gift because it was so unique and I carry with me all the time. I keep it in my purse. I am surprised I still have it! LA died several years ago, and I still can see his smile in my mind. He was such a kind man, he was always impeccably dressed, and had a little dance in his walk. He didn’t know that that gift would be still special to me, all these years later.
Capstone to Faith
Capstone: Is the final stone that is placed when building a structure. The significance here is that God wants us to have that image of completion in our minds. The good work God is doing, he will finish. The final piece to the puzzle is just as important as all the rest, but sometimes it can be what motivates us to keep working towards a goal; to think of the finished product. I took this key out of my purse and I put it on my dresser. It serves as a reminder of God’s promises to me, and a symbol of hope. I know better days are ahead. I look at it each day and I move forward.
What does your capstone look like?
The other day I was listening to a sermon that was talking about we need to start dreaming and trying again for things that we have given up on. The preacher told a story about Zerubbabel in the Bible, who had a dream and mission to rebuild temple, but he faced adversity and almost gave up. God encouraged him to finish.
“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 NKJV
He had only laid the foundation, but the people began discouraging him and he gets down and stops building. Then fifteen years later a prophetic word comes from Zechariah:
“So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6 NKJV
Have you ever given up on something you really wanted to accomplish? Maybe because of adversity and discouragement, like in this story?
This story should serve as a reminder to us all that sometimes our dreams may get delayed for various reasons but it is okay to begin again. God never starts something that he doesn’t plan to finish. He has a plan for our lives and we should look to him for guidance. Today I am encouraging you and that younger version of me, not to give up. To keep believing and working hard to accomplish all that you have in your heart.
What did you want to be when you “grew up”?
I always said that I wanted to be a secretary, because I loved office work and being organized. After high school, I went to a technical college for Medical Office Specialist. I began doing clerical work in various positions over the years. I truly enjoyed it and learned a lot. However, there were other dreams as I evolved and matured. I desired to be married, have a family, write a book, travel, sing in public, buy a new home, earn my degree, etc. So many dreams! I have many accomplished many of the dreams but there are still more. Sometimes my dreams scare me, they seem too hard or impossible. However that is where faith comes in: faith is the evidence of the unseen.
Pexels Free Library
How to Begin Again:
Review the past. (Sometimes we can’t go forward until we go back.) Study what worked and what didn’t.
Align your goals and values. (God’s will vs. My own) What is your WHY?
Forgive yourself (Move forward without regrets and shame)
Plan the next steps. (Start small, but START!)
Embrace change, welcome help from others.
Keep learning, trust your abilities, and be persistent!
Hey YOU! Yes, you don’t you dare quit! Get your fire and passion back and GO GET IT!
Step out of the box, don’t let the fear of people keep you from your destiny! GOD has approved you.
VALIDATION ADDICTION
Being addicted to others approval, has harmful impacts on mental health, relationships, and self-esteem. I can be the first to admit that I have struggled with desiring all too often to be liked and approved by people. There has to be a deep sense of knowing who we are despite if other people validate you. The issue with our society, is that we all are seeking to be approved by the wrong audience. God wants us to follow him, not the trends of the ever-changing world. If you base your decisions and life on what other people think of you, it will cause you to walk someone else’s path. What God has for you may be unique, uncomfortable and different than the social norms.
“Are you sacrificing who you are because you’re addicted to approval, worried about what everyone thinks?” -Joel Osteen
Signs of Approval Seeking Behavior (Sourced: Choosing Therapy.com)
You struggle to form your own opinions
You have trouble saying no
You apologize too much
Low self-esteem
Constantly putting others needs above your own
You go along to get along
You feel anxious about what other people think of you
You attempt to control others
You try and present yourself in the best possible light
You are terrified of rejection
Let me tell you friend, we can take advice, listen to wise counsel, and learn from others, but don’t take it to heart so deeply; that you ignore what you know deep down. We all have insecurities, and we need to learn how to silence the noise of others. We don’t wallow in pity and tear ourselves down based on our weaknesses. These perfect images, lives, and stories are what people want you to see about their lives. Don’t take social media to heart, and compare your life to others. Each person has a timing for their life. My timing is not the same as yours, my growth rate also will be different from yours.
Sometimes you have to do it alone.
There are paths you will walk alone, and may not have the support or approval from others. Many times, that is just a distraction that will paralyze you from moving forward. The doors of opportunity, are not open to everyone; some doors are only for you. The Bible is also clear about not seeking people to approve what God has put in your heart. “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29 KJV). People will always love you when you stay in the metaphorical box that they put you in. You cannot control anyone’s mind and thoughts about you.
How to overcome Validation Addiction (Sourced: Choosing Therapy.com)
Go with God. (Led by the spirit of God)
Be more assertive. (Practice expressing yourself better)
Learn to set boundaries. (No, is a powerful word)
Seek approval from yourself first. (your values, beliefs, moral code, intuition)
Limit social media exposure. (Take breaks regularly)
Listen to the voice within. God has called each of us to certain things. There are people needing you to walk in your uniqueness and live your truth! They will need the words of wisdom, your personal accounts, testaments of faith, and your help. We can impact lives greater when we are our true selves. You are not a clone, there is one you! Take the high road, live with integrity.
Some of you have deleted content that was pure gold, because you worried if people would agree or like it!
Many people who are creatives, they get caught up in what is trending, what sells: therefore they dilute their work to fit society. God gives us messages to share, and sometimes they are hard to say. We cannot water down the message, or filter it to fit social norms. Break out of the mold, some people will not approve you anyway. God is the one we should be living for, and audience of one. Hold your head up, you are special and loved! Your true identity is found in the creator that made you! You are not just another number. I challenge you to get in God’s word and see what he has to say!
Let me help you here are some affirmations from he word of God:
5 Scriptures That Define Your Worth:
You are beautiful. (Psalm 45:11)
You are lovely. (Daniel 12:3)
You are loved. (Jeremiah 31:3)
You are special. (Ephesians 2:10)
You are chosen. (John 15:16)
I am learning to appreciate ME! This is me, no makeup, flaws and all.
STOP 🛑 Living for LIKES, COMMENTS, APPROVAL!! I know it’s hard but WE can do it! Let’s be authentic and genuine!
Good morning, or maybe it’s good afternoon! Wherever you are tuning in from. First, I hope your day is going well, if not hold on, this too shall pass! I am laying in bed listening to the birds, my husband snoring and the cars that are passing by, outside my home. It’s another day. I feel grateful.
I have been blogging for one year now, and it’s been on my heart to say THANK YOU! I want to shoutout my small but mighty followers! I appreciate the support and kind words. Thanks for taking time out to read my blog! I know there are some of you who only read or comment for the reciprocity and that’s okay too! It’s so important to share. When we share we are showing up for ourselves and others!
When I started this blog, I wasn’t sure that anyone would connect with my thoughts. Perhaps it was just ramblings of a mad woman lol! 😂 I have always been a reflective and deeply emotional person. When I started writing as a child, it felt wonderful to have a place to express myself. This blog gave me a window to the world, I never knew I needed! I have learned from you guys, laughed, cried and truly connected to your stories. Writing comes in so many forms, I used to write fictional stories, I have stepped away from that.
When I started blogging, I almost felt a sort of betrayal to my younger self. She wanted so badly to just write a fictional story and have it published. However, life has taken me through unimaginable situations and I had to start sharing those truths! I could no longer hide behind my safe, pretty stories. I had to emerge from the shadows and be a beacon of hope. Yes, you can go through abuse, rejection, abandonment, heartbreak, depression, anxiety, trauma and still have a voice! You can refuse to be silenced by the darkness.
There is a part of me that still wants to write that fiction book, but my heart tells me this is the important work. The journey of healing, through what I have always found solace in: writing. My words have transformed into a map, the path to a new beginning. When you go through extreme trauma, one of the main responses is to retreat into oneself. The shame of sins you didn’t commit becomes like a scarlet letter. The process of sharing personal experiences has been a struggle. There is the wounded part of me that wants to isolate and conceal.
However, the Lord has given me an opportunity to turn pain into purpose. I began to realize that I must share. I testify of his faithfulness in world full of chaos. I know that there is still beauty in this life. This blog has been a blessing to me. I appreciate all of you! I hope that I can continue to inspire your hearts!
Thank you, and for those who are unauthentic: I hope you learn to be better. Don’t comment or like someone’s writing or posts for your own gain. Try and be genuine and the followers will come! There are enough plastic people in the world.
Yesterday’s beauty right in my own yard!
“I feel like my story just proves how important not only social media is, but how important it is to be your authentic self. Because when you’re really truly your authentic self, the right people will find you. And when they find you, it will be for exactly who you are.”
Sisters of Grace 