Sunday's Inspiration

Happy Easter

My wish is that today you find the blessings the Lord has given you and that the time you spend with your families and friends bring you joy and happiness.  Happy Easter!

Sunday's Inspiration

it ...

just because ...

i think ...

my wish ...

don't give up

A little Monday inspiration.

t-shirt tuesday

I found this shirt while walking in the mall this weekend.  It seems so appropriate.  I've recently notice that Facebook has become a personal dumping ground for people to trash their friend, family and spouses.  I say that if you have a problem, confront it.  Go to the person.  Don't talk trash about them, while not mentioning their name.  Really?  Grow up!

What I'm reading ...

I saw Marilyn Meberg at a Women of Faith event and was quite intrigued.  Funny, entertaining and she opened my eyes to some every insightful revelations.  Her book is no different.  Defenitely a good read. 

you.

"Today you are YOU, that is truer than ture.  There is no one

alive who is youer that YOU."

 ~ Dr. Seuss

Welcome in January and with it a new word to explore for the month, YOU.

YOU are beautiful

YOU are strong

YOU are creative

YOU are brave

YOU are enough

YOU are loved

YOU are needed

YOU are perfectly imperfect

YOU inspire

YOU give

YOU shine

YOU ROCK!

Yes YOU

Share the beauty of YOU.  All the lovely, quirky, silly, fragile, fierce, complicated, amazing pieces of you.

This month is gonna be good!  I can feel it already.  Can YOU?

Hope Street

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation, He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  Psalms 62:5-6

 

My HOPE for 2012 is to ...

~ spend less and save/earn more

~ continue my journey with Weight Watchers

~ continue to strengthen my marriage

~ expand my photography business

~ stay more organized and not let needless clutter pile up

~ build 2 really good friendships

~ craft more

~ stress less

It's not a long list and some of the things listed I'm already working on, so attaining them or continuing to attain them is possible.  If fact anything is possible as long as you believe!  I do.

The Spirit of Santa

I've always loved Santa.  The "real" Santa and anything Santa related.  Santa reminded me of all the wonderful things from my childhood Christmas's and what that entailed.

I remember when I was a child and someone told me that Santa wasn't real.  My parents were so mad that they went to the child's parents and gave them an earful.  Well, last year we told "B" that there wasn't a Santa.  We didn't want to lie to him or for him to find out from someone else.  We wanted to explain to him our thoughts about Santa.

See, I've always believed that there is a Santa, as in a Spirit of Santa.  What that means to me is being of a kind heart and spirit.  Have I always shown these characteristics ... no!  Do I wish that I could have ... yes!  Christmas is a time to give and not receive, but in the past I didn't feel that way.  I felt that if I gave a gift, I should receive one in return.  This mindset just set me up for a lot of disappointment and anger.  I would get mad at anyone who I felt mistreated me and became bitter and I would close off from both family and friend who I felt didn't really care for me. 

Well, lucky for me I have had my eyes opened by some very special people who have shown me that that kind of mindset was not healthy.  This year I have come to realize that there are going to be people and I mean close people in my life who are going to disappoint me.  It is my choice as to how I'm going to react to those disappointments, and they're not disappointments if I don't let them be.

Aaron and I didn't want "B" to be disappointed, so we told him that there wasn't a "real" Santa but Santa was in all of us in giving to others even when we don't receive the same in return.  It took me 43+ years to learn this and we didn't want Brent to have to struggle with what I, and maybe my hubby also,  had to deal with.  We also want "B" to be a loving and caring child and soon to be young man who is genuine and cares for others no matter how he is treated in return.  My hubby is famous for being genuine,  kind and caring even when others treat him the wrong way and I love him for that.

I think Santa or the "Spirit of Santa" is a great tool in teaching children to be kind and caring and to show them that disappointment is only a part of your life if you let it.  Trouble is going to be a part of your life, but it's how you deal with it that show your true Santa Spirit.  I can still say that Santa is a big part of my life and always will be.  Is he a part of your life?  If not, why?  How about this year, let the Spirit of Santa be with you.  It may surprise you.

The Tale of Three Trees

The Tale of Three Trees

For three little trees who dream of what they will be someday - a holder of treasure, a fine ship, a hilltop beacon pointing to God - life proves to have something rather different in store. They are disappointed that their lives are so mundane. And, as the years pass, "the three trees nearly forgot their dreams." Yet each eventually gets its wish, although not in the way it had foreseen. When that happens, each discovers that things turned out just the way they should have.

This is such a moving and eloquent story. It's illustrations are simple yet powerful. Anyone who reads this book will be reminded that God has plans for every one of his creations, that He never loses sight of any of us. Children will learn that when they don't get what they want, it may be because something even better is in store for them. Adults will understand the concept of true happiness comes when we align our will with God's.

Expectations

In the past, I've had high expectations about the holidays and not just Christmas, but most holidays.  In my opinion, an expectation, if not truly controlled, is an evil thing.

Expectation:  (ex·pec·ta·tion)  Noun:  1.  A strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future.  2.  A belief that someone will or should achieve something.

I've been so guilty of having high expectations for the holidays and then being let down because those expectations aren't even remotely met.  Well, in the past few months I've allowed myself to not have such high expectations and it has been such an amazing release of stress and anxiety in wondering if those expectations are going to be met.  I've allowed myself to just enjoy the holiday season.  I'm not nearly done my Christmas shopping and in the past that would drive me crazy, but not this year.  I've been focusing on my blog, which you have seen, and that has allowed me to step back and take in the joy of the season. 

I've learned to not really care or get upset with what may happen when I'm out with other people at holiday parties and social gatherings.  This was such an issue for me that I didn't look forward to going at all and just wanted to stay home.  But it seems that others also have their expectations ... of me.  I'm sure there are times then I'm in the same boat as the others, in not meeting their expectations, but I've really just been trying to focus on me.  This is how it is with me now.  I'm the person God intended me to be, flaws and all!  You may not like how I act, how I dress, how much weight I've lost or how much more I intend to, what I may say, and you may not like the choices and decisions I make, but I can't help that.  I'm not going to change who I am to please you, just like you're not going to change who you are for me. 
So in saying all of this, what I'm trying to say is that I have learned to limit my own expectation to lessen the stress, anxiety, and disappointment in my life and I encourage other to do the same. Like people for who they are... flaws and all and do the same with yourself.   It's a very uplifting and fulfilling feeling.

I like this quote by Paul Rand ~ “Simplicity is not the goal. It is the by-product of a good idea and modest expectations.”

I'm actually looking forward to this holiday with modest expectations.  To enjoy spending time with my husband, son, and extended family and friends.  

Advent

Hope, Peace, Joy, & Love

The word Advent means "coming" or "arrival." The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God.

I never really understood the meaning of Advent until I started going to my new church, Ramoth.  I truly feel that I have been blessed by going to this church and have learned so much about myself and others.  It's been very eye opening, just like this Advent series that my pastor, Bill has been giving.  My favorite sermon was the first Pastor Bill gave about Hope.  He said that Hope is, "anticipation & expectation of the unseen & future things that God has promised with firm assurance that He is able to fulfill His Word."  What I heard was that we need to follow God even when we don't understand.  We need to trust Him even with our darkest fears.  God wants you to take the path that will show you the real you.  It's not going to be the easy path, you may not always like what you see, but it will make you trust God completely!  Deep stuff.

What's your Hope in today?

3 Phrases

The three phrases that sum up Christmas are: Peace on Earth, Goodwill Toward Men, and Batteries Not Included.

Good Old Days

Oh, for the good old days when people would stop Christmas shopping when they ran out of money!

The Polar Express

Yeah, yeah, so you've all seen the movie .. and if you haven't, what rock have you been hiding under?  My question is, have you read the book?  I fell in love with this story years ago.  It is such a wonderful story that tugs at my heart every time I read it, which I still do every year.  So ... you should read it!  Go on ... put the remote down and check it out and remember, "Seeing is believing, but sometimes the most real things in the world are the things we can't see."

"what Christmas is all about" by Linus

This is by far, one of my most favorite Christmas moments on TV ... ever!