My Heart Is Really Smiling

Sept 2014

Wow

I can't believe it, what a fast summer. 

After spending 4 weeks in NH followed by a week in the GSMNP I wasn't sure how life would be back here in FL. 

You know the life with dishes and vacuuming, husband and cleaning. 

Yea that life. 

I must say it has been a tough season. 

For whatever reason my entrance back into FL life was a hard challenge. 

My self talk got real negative and words like "hate" entered my vocab. 

What? Hate? Even I know I don't like that word.  

Needless, I'd begin to come out of it and then choose to step back into it. As if I deserved what I was thinking. It was a tough transition. 

But that is not where this story ends. 

No. 

It ends with a listening to the Holt Spirit;

It ends with a trip over The Stumbling Block. 

It ends at the beginning. 

The beginning of a change in mindset,

A change in self talk. 

A turning my 

eyes, 

heart, 

head, 

thoughts and words 

to Christ and the Truth that is the Word of God. 

I actually ran across one of Steve's college books from one of his Master's of Counceling classes at Liberty University (yes my man is a nerd, he just works construction for the love of it); anyway the book is "Telling Yourself the Truth" - so far good stuff. 

And

Good stuff that is challenging me to change my talk to reflect what God says about me. 

I believe this season has been an attack from a loosing enemy. 

An attack before a victorious season because Christ lives in me and I am a Royal Priest. 

Well 

Until next time

And let's hope my next time involves me typing this from a computer instead of...

...on my iPhone,

...on Aubry's bed,

...well past bedtime in the dimly lite room we all call ours. 

-hehe

And I say to you all: peace and love 

Kind thoughts

Scripture meditation

Xoxo

-m

Back in the Saddle Again

So I've somewhat settled back into the real world.
You know the one with a house to manage and jobs to be done.
Truth be told I prefer summers in NH. The weather, the woods, trees and carefree evenings with family.

Not that I don't like Florida, I mean I've lived here for 13 years, it's just NH will always be a part of who I am. When I'm there I feel a little more in my place on this earth, summers in Florida remind me of how my fair skin and light eyes were not made for the intensity the southern sun has to offer.
Of course send me to NH in January for a month and I very well will be singing a different tune.

So we're back.

Adoption should be complete by October, upcoming weddings and a 40th birthday celebration await us in the upcoming months.
Until then I will be sticking close to home. Living on a farm in small town New England for a month reminded me of how I love a life at home.
Simple.
Quiet.
Home focused.

And blogging-- perhaps I will blog more. I know once the adoption is final I will have the freedom to share more of Aubry May's story.
I had the privilege of being highlighted on my friend Doris' blog; go and check her site out- it's very encouraging and will surely touch all who read her writing. http://dorisswift.com/2014/08/06/welcome-to-the-blog-hop/

Anyway- patience as I can only blog through my sad, dying iPhone, as all technology at some point in time always seems to rise up against me in revolt and quit working--- talk about Rise if the Machines :)

Happy Thursday
for Thursdays...
are just a fun days!!!

Anyone else enjoy my movie and music references?? They made me smile.

Flowers and Acorns, Pine Needles and Trees

We stop and smell the flowers a lot.
What should be a 10 minute walk becomes a 15-20 minute one; simply because we took the time to stop and smell some flowers.
Or watch and inchworm,
Collect pine needles,
Grab a rock for our rock collection,
Whatever the reason we tend to enjoy the life that is right in front of us.

I mean don't get me wrong, I rush around some days, many days??-- but mostly I try my best to enjoy what's on my current plate.

Our flower smelling, and picking, makes us late often
But allows for conversations to be had, lessons to be learned and memories to be made and that's what really matters.

My BFF from hs has two little sisters, one of them told me yesterday in regards to the third sisters suicide 17 years ago that she has chosen to "keep on living. Some people loose someone very close to them" she said, "and they hold on so much that they don't live. I chose to live life." I love that!! She is choosing to: Live. Right. Now.

What happens has happened and what is right here right now is what matters.

While I often wonder if my flower picking time schedule, which often makes us late, I wonder if that in it's flaw is disrespectful to the people and things I arrive late at?
Idk
But what I do know is that flowers make pretty centerpieces and a bowl of acorns makes my heart smile. So we'll continue to stop and smell the flowers.

I'd encourage you to do the same and share it in a comment here or on FB.

Oh and one last tip, when slowing down and smelling the flowers, take a breath, breathe it in. Actually smell the flower- then in the wise words of Aubry May "it smells good"-- God is good.

Taste and see The Lord is good.

Happy days,

Breakdowns Are Adventures You'd Have Missed

I have spent many an hour sitting on the side of a highway, broke down somewhere on the eastern seaboard.

It was 2004 and our then family of four had just crossed the state line; our Virginia-Georgia vacation was coming to a close when we found ourselves pushing the little white Kia Rio off the exit ramp. We were towed back to GA and settled into a hotel with a jacuzzi and across the street from a dollar theatre! We were in Heaven.

2010 found us sitting under an overpass waiting for the Cadillac to cool down. That trip allowed for an urban photo shot, pool swimming, Waffle House eating and an impromptu trip to Savannah, GA.

Now I lay here in a hotel somewhere 300 miles from my hometown in NH. The engine in my car is junk. I should be somewhere well south of the Mason-Dixon Line headed to my home in FL. Yet here I am in PA waiting on a tow back to where I just left.

Is this fun? No. But yes, of course it's fun. What other outlook can I have.

I've learned lots sitting on the side of the road. It slows me down. Makes me think.

When life happens outside our control then joy is the only option. While we may desire for things to go different it is in accepting how they ARE that makes the moment or breaks it.

Sure my day and week is not at all how I want it to be going but it is how God sees it going. Since God knows best I have to move on; and moving on with a smile, a seance of adventure and a good attitude sure beats the heck out of the alternative.

So whether sitting on the side of I-84 in PA or wherever life has that is broken down, take heart, look to The One who knows the why and the how; trust it to Him and look up,
Look around,
There is a whole world out there that had the breakdown not happened you'd never have seen.

For me. I got to experience some of the most amazing people. I had the opportunity to be blessed with a ride, crayons, water for the dog and some great stories of an old man!!

Had I not broke down I would not have had the moments to be blessed by strangers and to maybe have blessed them, we did after all help in the mechanic shop with organizing and clean-up!!

Had we not broke down we'd have missed  a "top 10" playground and this town has the best climbing rocks!!

So love where you are!

Be loving, be peace;
Until next time,