This past Sunday night we had strong storms and enormous hail in some areas..up to softball size hail. Luckily, I mainly got pea-sized hail with some golf ball size hail mixed in. It hailed for 10 minutes straight with the first 5 minutes being the loudest and hardest. I was praying my roof would hold up and after it was all over I walked through the house just to make sure nothing was leaking. But, I did think one of those hailstones was going to break through my back door window and shatter it because it was so loud and it kept hitting the window. So, a new roof is in order since it's around 14 years old.
Then early this morning another severe storm hit. I didn't sleep well anticipating the storm coming, so when it did come I was half awake. The initial winds were crazy strong! The wildest I'd ever heard or can recall in a very long time. They said some winds ranged from 60-90 mph. And some straight-lined winds that reached 95 mph tore apart some houses in a nearby suburb. A lot of damage from storms this spring and we've got more coming this weekend. I thought the winds this morning were going to launch something through my back door window, but luckily it's still intact as is my roof. So, I'm definitely thankful for that!
Although my sister wasn't as lucky. Their barn and chicken coop was thrown into their backyard and a few hens died. Thankfully her family is fine and their home wasn't damaged. But, there's a lot of debris all over their yard that they can't move by hand. They'll need someone with equipment to move it and haul it away. Like I said, crazy strong winds!
Sometimes the winds of change hit our lives in unexpected ways. The winds can be fast and furious, knock us off our foundation, and even leave us speechless. That's usually when God is saying a change was needed. You weren't going down the right path, or you weren't growing into your potential, or you simply needed a new perspective to get you going in the right direction. Whatever the reason your reaction to the situation will either launch you forward and propel you to something greater or you'll let the excuse of something bad happening keep you in the same place or let it push in backwards. It's really your choice even though it doesn't initially seem like it...it is! It's a forceful shift in your momentum of life. What will you decide to do? Will you be proactive or reactive? Will you step up and into the winds of change to experience something new and possibly exciting or will you retreat and find comfort in the anguish of the situation? Yes, we all have a choice at any given time...good/bad, yes/no, right/wrong, left/right, up/down, etc.
I'm hoping whatever strong winds blow your way will lift you up into fulfilling more of your God-given potential and will allow you to soar to greater heights in your life! May the winds of change bless you towards a more purposeful life!!
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Me First
Thinking of yourself sounds selfish, right? But then you hear "if you don't take care of yourself first you won't be able to successfully care for any one else." Which is it? A little of both...yes, that word "balance." How to have a "balanced" life. We all struggle with it and what is "balanced" is different for everyone.
I just read this blog post about self-care vs. self-reflection. Self-care meaning taking care of oneself through perhaps "luxury" services...massage, mani/pedis. And, self-reflection meaning through meditation, yoga, etc. Do you take time for both? Or you don't find time for either? Time is really the key to both of them. Do you take the time for yourself...to improve yourself, to decompress, to simply relax? Taking time for oneself sounds selfish, right? So then, do you MAKE time for yourself? There's a difference there and the more you value your needs in order to become the best person, mom, daughter, sister, spouse, etc. the more you'll see greater satisfaction our of all the things you do.
So yes, make time for yourself and truly enjoy the time! The time to just "be"...be present in the moment, be mindful of where you are, and be grateful for (yes) the time. Many blessings to you this last week of March!!
I just read this blog post about self-care vs. self-reflection. Self-care meaning taking care of oneself through perhaps "luxury" services...massage, mani/pedis. And, self-reflection meaning through meditation, yoga, etc. Do you take time for both? Or you don't find time for either? Time is really the key to both of them. Do you take the time for yourself...to improve yourself, to decompress, to simply relax? Taking time for oneself sounds selfish, right? So then, do you MAKE time for yourself? There's a difference there and the more you value your needs in order to become the best person, mom, daughter, sister, spouse, etc. the more you'll see greater satisfaction our of all the things you do.
So yes, make time for yourself and truly enjoy the time! The time to just "be"...be present in the moment, be mindful of where you are, and be grateful for (yes) the time. Many blessings to you this last week of March!!
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Spring Cleaning
Who came up with the saying "spring cleaning?" Do we have to do it? Of course not, but it's the process of going through the transition from winter to spring...putting winter coats away, switching out sweaters with tank tops and shorts and maybe even tackling one of those household projects we've been putting off. I suppose some of us do a form of "spring cleaning" when we usher in a new year...cleaning up our eating habits from the holidays or simply put it's "diet time" again, ramping up the exercise program and taking down all the holiday decorations (leaving the house feeling empty for awhile).
What does spring cleaning look like for you? Cleaning windows (inside and out), going through your closet and getting rid of out-dated/never worn clothes, getting your landscapes cleaned up, and/or simply dusting! It's really whatever we need to get done to feel like we've accomplished our "spring cleaning" for that year. So for me, on the to-do list is getting my landscape looking pretty again, maybe planting some flowers, I should wash windows but I'm not sure it'll happen, and getting the house more organized. Not too bad.
Whatever is on your spring cleaning list, I hope you dive in and get it done and feel better about your space afterwards. Progress, no matter how big or small is still an accomplishment, so enjoy it! Blessings to you as spring has arrived and you get all your spring cleaning done!
What does spring cleaning look like for you? Cleaning windows (inside and out), going through your closet and getting rid of out-dated/never worn clothes, getting your landscapes cleaned up, and/or simply dusting! It's really whatever we need to get done to feel like we've accomplished our "spring cleaning" for that year. So for me, on the to-do list is getting my landscape looking pretty again, maybe planting some flowers, I should wash windows but I'm not sure it'll happen, and getting the house more organized. Not too bad.
Whatever is on your spring cleaning list, I hope you dive in and get it done and feel better about your space afterwards. Progress, no matter how big or small is still an accomplishment, so enjoy it! Blessings to you as spring has arrived and you get all your spring cleaning done!
Sunday, March 19, 2017
March Madness
It's that time of the year again...where millions of people who normally don't watch college basketball are fixated on it and their brackets! Yes, me included! It's a fun time to watch favorites go down to under-dogs and watch the best rise to the top! The last minute buzzer beaters, the agony of defeat (for fans and players), and the elation of moving on!
March Madness definitely helps me transition into spring a little easier. As I've mentioned in previous posts, spring is my least favorite season of the year. Allergies are in full force, bugs start coming out, weeds scatter my yard and inevitably I get a severe attack of mosquito and fire ants bites. Why wouldn't I love spring...ha! But, watching nail-biting competition come down to the last shot of a game is thrilling and a good distraction for me. And this year, it's anybody's championship to win! There's no one clear favorite as there are several teams that could make a run and win it all! That's the fun of filling out brackets...who knows who will really win?! And as of yesterday, there are no perfect brackets in ESPN's millions of brackets that have been filled out by fans. So, lets see how badly our brackets look after today's round of games are played. So, enjoy the games today and later this week...and good luck in your brackets!
Blessings to you this week and may you enjoy the "madness"!
March Madness definitely helps me transition into spring a little easier. As I've mentioned in previous posts, spring is my least favorite season of the year. Allergies are in full force, bugs start coming out, weeds scatter my yard and inevitably I get a severe attack of mosquito and fire ants bites. Why wouldn't I love spring...ha! But, watching nail-biting competition come down to the last shot of a game is thrilling and a good distraction for me. And this year, it's anybody's championship to win! There's no one clear favorite as there are several teams that could make a run and win it all! That's the fun of filling out brackets...who knows who will really win?! And as of yesterday, there are no perfect brackets in ESPN's millions of brackets that have been filled out by fans. So, lets see how badly our brackets look after today's round of games are played. So, enjoy the games today and later this week...and good luck in your brackets!
Blessings to you this week and may you enjoy the "madness"!
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Do you celebrate St. Paddy's Day? Do you have any traditions? I don't really do anything for the holiday...most of the time I forget to wear green. So, it's not one of those holidays I have high on my list. However, Pi Day was yesterday...now that's a day I could get into...the pie kind, of course! The older I get the more and more I like pie! All kinds of pie! When I was younger, growing up on a farm in rural America, apple pie was my favorite...obviously!
I remember for all the big holidays all my aunts would bring a pie and my grandma would make several pies. There would be apple, cherry, peach, mince meat, etc. But now, I'm a big fan and love a buttermilk pie, chess pie, pretty much any fruit pie, chocolate, etc. Oh yes, Pi Day is a really good day! Because there's also pizza pie!! Come on! Enjoy a great pizza pie and then finish it off with a fabulous piece of dessert pie! What could be more satisfying?!
So, whatever you do to celebrate St. Paddy's Day...drinking green beer, parade watching, eating traditional Irish foods, etc....I hope you have a lucky day! May the luck of the Irish bring you many blessings the rest of this week!!
I remember for all the big holidays all my aunts would bring a pie and my grandma would make several pies. There would be apple, cherry, peach, mince meat, etc. But now, I'm a big fan and love a buttermilk pie, chess pie, pretty much any fruit pie, chocolate, etc. Oh yes, Pi Day is a really good day! Because there's also pizza pie!! Come on! Enjoy a great pizza pie and then finish it off with a fabulous piece of dessert pie! What could be more satisfying?!
So, whatever you do to celebrate St. Paddy's Day...drinking green beer, parade watching, eating traditional Irish foods, etc....I hope you have a lucky day! May the luck of the Irish bring you many blessings the rest of this week!!
Sunday, March 12, 2017
Holt Family Picnics
We just finalized our annual Holt International Family Picnic for the Dallas/Ft. Worth area this past week. It'll be held on June 3rd from 12-3 pm at Parr Park in Grapevine, TX. If you live in the area, please make sure you sign up to attend! I love seeing the same families come back year after year along with new families and meeting their kids. It's a lot of fun and there is a splash pad there so the little ones can stay cool. I've helped organize it for the past 4 years and it's been a fun experience.
There are Holt Family picnics all over the country, so definitely sign up to attend the closest one to you. Here's the full list so far: http://www.holtinternational.org/picnics/
The kids always have a good time meeting other adoptees, but I find the parents enjoy it, too, getting to compare stories and share experiences with one another. It's a fun family outing, but it's a great way to connect with others in your communities. So, take advantage of one of the picnics near you!
Blessings to you for a week-filled with great surprises...big or small! May your prayers be answered and may God's grace continue to show up in your life.
There are Holt Family picnics all over the country, so definitely sign up to attend the closest one to you. Here's the full list so far: http://www.holtinternational.org/picnics/
The kids always have a good time meeting other adoptees, but I find the parents enjoy it, too, getting to compare stories and share experiences with one another. It's a fun family outing, but it's a great way to connect with others in your communities. So, take advantage of one of the picnics near you!
Blessings to you for a week-filled with great surprises...big or small! May your prayers be answered and may God's grace continue to show up in your life.
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Marching On...
I can't believe it's almost mid-March already...and Daylight Savings time is this weekend! The first quarter of the year is almost over! And, it's almost Easter! What?!?! Man, I guess time does speed up as you get older. Someone was just stating that "fact" the other day...or maybe I just heard it on TV again.
Either way March is here, my grass is turning green, my allergies are crazy, the bugs are starting to come out and it's time to fertilize my lawn. None of these things are my favorite part of spring, but something that happens every year! It might not be quite like clock-work anymore with climate change affecting when these things actually happen each year, but they still come nevertheless.
What do I like about spring? Flowers blooming, cool mornings (still), birds chirping (except for the one that woke me up the other day), and fresh berries coming into season. What's your favorite part about spring? Longer days of sunshine?
Whatever makes you happy during this blooming season, I hope it's also filled with laughter! Laughter lightens our load...the things we worry about constantly, the anxiety that fills our bodies, the stress that affects our bodies, and the sadness that fills our hearts. They say to have a good laugh every day to release all those negative feelings, so what makes you laugh? Do you have a go-to joke you like to tell? Is there something online that always makes you laugh? Do you have someone you see daily that makes you laugh? Is there a memory you can conjure up that makes you laugh? Whatever it is DO IT and LAUGH!!
Blessings for a week full of laughter that brings lightness to your heart and soul!!
Either way March is here, my grass is turning green, my allergies are crazy, the bugs are starting to come out and it's time to fertilize my lawn. None of these things are my favorite part of spring, but something that happens every year! It might not be quite like clock-work anymore with climate change affecting when these things actually happen each year, but they still come nevertheless.
What do I like about spring? Flowers blooming, cool mornings (still), birds chirping (except for the one that woke me up the other day), and fresh berries coming into season. What's your favorite part about spring? Longer days of sunshine?
Whatever makes you happy during this blooming season, I hope it's also filled with laughter! Laughter lightens our load...the things we worry about constantly, the anxiety that fills our bodies, the stress that affects our bodies, and the sadness that fills our hearts. They say to have a good laugh every day to release all those negative feelings, so what makes you laugh? Do you have a go-to joke you like to tell? Is there something online that always makes you laugh? Do you have someone you see daily that makes you laugh? Is there a memory you can conjure up that makes you laugh? Whatever it is DO IT and LAUGH!!
Blessings for a week full of laughter that brings lightness to your heart and soul!!
Sunday, March 5, 2017
The Shack
Sorry I missed Wednesday's post! I remembered and then forgot and then almost got to it and then forgot again. I remembered again on Thursday and once again didn't get to it. It was one of those weeks!
My parents and I went to see the new movie, The Shack today. My mom and I had read the book years ago and I loved it! The first part of the book was hard to read because of the content of the chapters, but after that it provided such an insightful and thought provoking perspective of how God sees us and the world. There were SO many things that I saw from a new light after reading this book. It definitely gave me a greater appreciation and understanding of God's light and lessons for us in life.
They always say the movie adaptation of a book is never as good and that's normally true, but I did enjoy this one. There were some things that weren't in the book, but it lent to the story and there was much more humor in the movie that was unexpected. Yes, it's a spiritual movie about the spiritual growth of a man (to put it simply), but it's more about God's view and love for us that resonates. It's something we forget sometimes. I know I do from time to time. It just doesn't feel like he's there or listening especially during the hard, difficult times that we really need him and we're crying out for his love, mercy and answers. The waiting...and yes, the building up of our patience levels...can be frustrating, uncomfortable and maddening at times! They have been for me over the past year for sure! And, I'm still waiting for the answers! It definitely doesn't get any easier...at least it doesn't feel like it right now. But, in the back of my head I know God is there. I know he's walking beside me and guiding me. And, I trust in Him. I have faith in Him. Trust in the Lord. Trust in the Lord with all your heart!
At the core I believe all those things, but in times of angst, doubt, frustration, anger, disappointment and feeling lost at times it's hard to muster up those faith-based positive affirmations. Sometimes you just want to wallow in your own self-pity. It's easy, seems soothing, but only buries us further in our despair. So, how do we keep moving forward? Through God's grace...daily...step by step...one day at a time.
Most of us will never experience a "visit" from God as in the movie, although after watching the movie I almost wish I would, but we all have our own growth (spiritual or not) to face, overcome and learn from in our lifetimes. And more than likely it won't happen just once. Life is journey full of growth and continual learning...some greater than others. And some more consequential than others. But, life is about growing into the person we truly are...the true identity of the soul we were born with. Opening up our minds to learning, loving and living the life we were meant to live through God's ultimate plans for each of our lives. That's the beauty of his almighty power, grace and mercy.
The lessons in the movie and the book are something we ALL need right now! It's a great reminder of our common humanity and how we label and judge everything and everyone we meet. It reminds us of what's important to God and how he truly sees us. It's a great message. I highly recommend it to everyone...the book and the movie!
Wishing you thought provoking blessings this first full week of March!!
My parents and I went to see the new movie, The Shack today. My mom and I had read the book years ago and I loved it! The first part of the book was hard to read because of the content of the chapters, but after that it provided such an insightful and thought provoking perspective of how God sees us and the world. There were SO many things that I saw from a new light after reading this book. It definitely gave me a greater appreciation and understanding of God's light and lessons for us in life.
They always say the movie adaptation of a book is never as good and that's normally true, but I did enjoy this one. There were some things that weren't in the book, but it lent to the story and there was much more humor in the movie that was unexpected. Yes, it's a spiritual movie about the spiritual growth of a man (to put it simply), but it's more about God's view and love for us that resonates. It's something we forget sometimes. I know I do from time to time. It just doesn't feel like he's there or listening especially during the hard, difficult times that we really need him and we're crying out for his love, mercy and answers. The waiting...and yes, the building up of our patience levels...can be frustrating, uncomfortable and maddening at times! They have been for me over the past year for sure! And, I'm still waiting for the answers! It definitely doesn't get any easier...at least it doesn't feel like it right now. But, in the back of my head I know God is there. I know he's walking beside me and guiding me. And, I trust in Him. I have faith in Him. Trust in the Lord. Trust in the Lord with all your heart!
At the core I believe all those things, but in times of angst, doubt, frustration, anger, disappointment and feeling lost at times it's hard to muster up those faith-based positive affirmations. Sometimes you just want to wallow in your own self-pity. It's easy, seems soothing, but only buries us further in our despair. So, how do we keep moving forward? Through God's grace...daily...step by step...one day at a time.
Most of us will never experience a "visit" from God as in the movie, although after watching the movie I almost wish I would, but we all have our own growth (spiritual or not) to face, overcome and learn from in our lifetimes. And more than likely it won't happen just once. Life is journey full of growth and continual learning...some greater than others. And some more consequential than others. But, life is about growing into the person we truly are...the true identity of the soul we were born with. Opening up our minds to learning, loving and living the life we were meant to live through God's ultimate plans for each of our lives. That's the beauty of his almighty power, grace and mercy.
The lessons in the movie and the book are something we ALL need right now! It's a great reminder of our common humanity and how we label and judge everything and everyone we meet. It reminds us of what's important to God and how he truly sees us. It's a great message. I highly recommend it to everyone...the book and the movie!
Wishing you thought provoking blessings this first full week of March!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)