Be Thankful

Being kind is a trait that changes lives and being thoughtful and genuine are characteristics that all of us should strive for. There is always someone to be kind to, and situations that require us to be thoughtful and genuine to others even if they are not that way to us.  Despite what our circumstances are, there is always something to be thankful for.

 

 

They don't know...

Has anyone ever given you a compliment and an insult at the same time?

Oh....

That's never happened to you? It's happened to me more times than I care to admit. When someone does this,  it is being what the Bible calls double minded. A compliment does not need to be wrapped in a thinly veiled insult. Someone recently gave me a compliment and then completely negated the compliment with a generous salt shake of negativity. 

That's what is known in slang as "low key shade"

I listened and pondered whether to curtly say thank you or rise above this present situation because it was abstract. 

Not Black.

Not White. 

It was a dingy shade of gray.

 Cloudy with a chance of rain. That is until I smiled. I carry the sunshine with me ya know:-)

God says I carry his spirit, so there will be no dark, dismal gray in my presence.

People are quick to put others in boxes and tie it up with a  bow.  More often than not, people are more comfortable looking at who you were, rather than who you are in this present time and space. When someone looks at you and only sees what you were and not who you are, they are handcuffing you to your past. If your present is not your past, no one has the right to try to take you back to a land God delivered you from. Do you know anything about that? I could have come up with something snarky to say, but I didn't.

So how did I handle it?

I used two little words that shut down any further communication.

Thank You.

Blog Vacation

Hey Loves! It has been a couple of weeks since my last post and sometimes life just gets in the way of things. It is very easy to get burned out and as a single mom I have plenty on my plate, so a brief blog vacation is much needed right now. I am really looking forward to taking a little time for myself:-) Who knows, I might share a post or two during my vacation, but you can expect me to be back and completely refreshed in a couple of weeks!

 

Bloom

I never met a flower I didn't like. I love all types of flowers and frequently have fresh bouquets around the house. God thinks a lot about flowers too. He values them so much that there are over a million species of flowers in the world. Each flower is unique, colorful and beautiful. Just like those stunning flowers that God created, you are beautiful too. There is something unique and beautiful about you and no one else has it. I think if more of us realized that we are unique creations, we would stop focusing on the flower blooming next to us.  Be the light that you want to see in others and remember that embracing another woman's beauty and positive attributes does not diminish your own.

I adore roses, but I have a special spot for french tulips. Have you ever noticed that they tend to droop a little bit when you put them in a vase? French Tulips lean towards the sun, which is the reason they lean over in a vase. They are looking for the light...

Guess what? Somebody is looking for you? Because if your heart is pure and right, then you are light and we need more of that in this world

Rare

Colorful

Vibrant

You

There are some flowers that go through a different process and those flowers are among the most awe inspiring, but those flowers are the way they are because they started as a small seed that had to grown during rough, unpredictable and inclement conditions. As a matter of fact, it emerged from somewhere no one expected and that is the most amazing part.

You are an amazing creation. It doesn't matter if you are a Rose, Tulip, Peony, Tiger Lily, Anthurium, Sunflower, or a Hydrangea, YOU are beautiful, just remember to smile and celebrate the flower next to you instead of competing with it. (you can enjoy a similar post by clicking here)

And now its time for you to do what you do best...BLOOM

The Successful Womans Credo

It takes a lot to build a solid foundation in the midst of naysayers, scorners and mockers, but a woman with the sky above her, fire in her and the earth beneath her can do amazing feats through the power of God. It is God that guides the footsteps of those that follow him and puts the fire in a woman to build something amazing with the bricks others have thrown at her.

She Can.

She Will.

Watch her.

Build

Pay Attention...

I have a heart for people. I give people a lot of passes, even the ones that don't deserve it. Sometimes I see a clear visual of who someone is and I try to paint a new picture. The reality is that even when people aren't talking they are saying something. Sometimes the loudest message comes from what is not spoken.

And then there are those times when what is not spoken parallels with what is spoken and the pain of what you see is like a jagged javelin going straight into your heart. And the pain of your discovery has you in an Anacondas grip.

Swift.

Unmerciful.

And if you are not careful, it will choke the life out of you. I believe that every problem has a solution and sometimes its simple. No matter how subtle, when someone shows you who they are...you better believe it. Deception is subtle and never obvious, otherwise it wouldn't be deception.

Have you ever discovered something about someone that you wish you didn't know?

 

Happy Birthday to Me!

Birthdays...

We love cake, ice cream and presents don't we?

When you get older and wiser you realize that each birthday is a special gift from God. I remember when I was younger I couldn't wait for each milestone birthday. At the age of 12 I couldn't wait to be 13 and then 16 and then 21 and then somewhere after 25 I stopped counting.

I think its funny that I am getting closer to being able to order from the senior citizens menu, but that is a blessing too. Wrinkles and laugh lines are blessings even though society says we should be ashamed of them. A wrinkle and laugh lines say that you have lived long and well and that is something to be celebrated.

Now I reflect more on my birthdays because I don't know when it will be my last one and I want my life to mean something. Even though a lot of us like to make life about us, I find my deepest joy comes from making someone else's life a little better. I am usually in the shadows doing things for others that no one knows about because I don't crave the spotlight. Most of the time, I run from it.

I go through a lot, but one of the lessons I have learned is that my life does not have to be perfect to be a  blessing to someone else and my trials and tribulations do not define me.

 I have been through hell and high water and I am still here.

I am still standing STRONG

Forgiveness has been the hardest lesson for me to learn because the people that were the closest to me, the ones who were supposed to love me have inflicted the greatest pain upon me and that includes family, as well as friends. They have lied on me, talked about me behind my back, made me the subject of vicious gossip and laughed at my challenges. How do you reconcile in your mind a person that would rather believe a lie about you than the truth?  Or a person that gets close to you just to try and hurt you? How do you love someone who treats you like that?

You can't.

Unless God helps you. The hardest lesson in my life has been loving people that are unlovely. Those are the ones I am on my knees praying for at night. 

And now with the wisdom you only get from experience, I love them from a distance because everyone does not deserve a seat in the front row of your life. If their hearts are wrong, they have automatically disqualified themselves.

Joy and happiness are my constant companions

I take the time to stop and smell the roses and have the kiss of the ocean on my face. The beach has always been my happy place

My steps are ordered by God

Strength and Honor are her clothing and 
she shall rejoice in time to come - Proverbs 31:25

Photography: Stacey Gutierrez

Dear Past: Thank you for the lessons

Dear Future: I'm ready!

Holiday Cheer!

I love the holiday season! Experiencing the holidays with Children is always magical, so I am sharing a few holiday snapshots of me and my son:-) Enjoy!

Breakfast with Santa at the Music Center has become one of our family traditions:-) My son had a great time. Three generations here:-)

Decorating cookies!

Nothing like a Gingerbread Man

Okay, not perfect, but eating it is the fun part

Priceless

My cutie pie in the rear view mirror

Another one of our Christmas traditions is to go to Candy Cane Lane. They have an amazing display of decorated homes

My son got such a thrill out of all the Christmas displays

it was dark out but my son wanted to take this selfie

isn't this beautiful?

Happy Holidays!

And of course we always bake sugar cookies

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from us to you! What are your holiday traditions?