Remain Optimistic by Any Means Necessary
I thought I would start out this week, sharing this message with you because when I really sit back and think about my life’s journey it often holds to be true.
The rain will fall
the winds will blow
the thunder will roar
And the lightning will flash!
Some debri will fall and some structure damage may occur.
While in the storm you may be thrown from side to side, bruised and maybe a little broken.
But hold on cause after the storm the rainbow will appear.
And even as the storm is passing over, there are more blessings to follow.
I am so humbled to be posting today from our house! Thats right! Our very own home! No more nosey neighbor downstairs. 4 months ago I had no idea where we would be living and visions of returning home to mama’ em ran through my head.
But today is a new day and I’m finding joy at the end of the rainbow.
Dear reader – I pray that you continue to stand in your storm and when the winds get too rough, take hold of the anchor and know that soon the rainbow will appear.
Be blessed!
Galatians 6:9 NKJV
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Recently while standing outside in the middle of walking my dog on a windy day, I stopped to enjoy the breeze blowing the trees from side to side.
In that moment a thousand memories passed through my mind. It’s as if each branch had it’s own story to tell.
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Visions of yesterday run through my mind. The hours studying together in college, working in the mall (trying to make enough money to buy an outfit to wear to the weekend party), and sharing the heartbreaks of dating.
Those times when you complained of stomach pains, we thought it was just ulcers or some easy to fix diagnosis. Never giving it a second thought.
Time marches on. And who knew we would connect years later only to learn that those pains didn’t have a quick fix solution.
The diagnosis CANCER stage 4.
But you had beat it and were in remission. You let your light shine so bright, that you became known as Sunshine.
That light was so bright I felt it beam on me even from hundreds of miles away. That joy was an inspiration to so many.
And then on that day when the scans showed that the cancer had returned, you stood strong and ready to fight another round.
If anyone could beat it, you could.
But this battle you did not win.
My heart aches that you are gone, but I know you would not want any tears shed. Your journey was so meaningful to so many.
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So as I prepare to head back in from the walk with my dog I’m reminding myself of your sunshine and your love of life which included all the people in it.
I am better because our paths crossed on that day so many years ago. I am even better on this day because you spoke to me in the wind and reminded me that tomorrow is not promised.
And to be happy today.
Source: weheartit.com via Latorsha on Pinterest
Many times we look to tomorrow for things that we can do today. I’m not talking about things like laundry and scrubbing the toilet. I’m talking about those things to make your dreams comes true, that are on your to do list, and the many items on your when I get some time list.
This post is dedicated to my college classmate and friend, Shonda. Sun set December 27, 2011. RIP xoxo
I heard the song below right as 2011 came to a close and I found it so timely. Sometimes we gotta realize that we must smile in spite of our circumstances. My favorite verse in the song is Everday might not be perfect but today still has purpose!
Maybe you aren’t having the kind of day, week, month, year that you had hoped for but I want you to know that it is still okay to smile.
I hope that you will click the play on the video and turn it up!
And be sure to smile!
After listening, feel free to share a time when you smiled even when things weren’t in your favor. I love a good testimony!
After writing “Where are you going?” last week, I found the quote below by Steve Jobs, which is very inspiring.
I would like to know if it speaks to you too? If so, please share your thoughts about it in the comments.
Do you love the work that you do?
Source: Pinterest
Don’t forget to read How will we stay connected in 2012? and leave your comment to enter to win a Starbuck’s gift card by December 15, 2011.
Best thing I never had by Beyonce is one of those songs that might make you remember a rough relationship in your life that didn’t end the way you quite wanted it to. BUT when you looked back you realized that it truly was the best thing you never had.
As I sit back and listen to the words I can see how this could apply to other areas of your life. I think we all have had dreams to achieve something that didn’t go the way we planned. At least I know I have.
However, just maybe it really was the best thing for you at the time. If you have a few minutes, just listen to the words of the video below.
(Warning: Beyonce’s outfit will be distracting at times).
After listening, tell me in the comments have you ever felt this way in hindsight about something you once really wanted?
Sometimes we continue to carry our heavy load with us into our tomorrows. But I encourage you to remember that today is a brand new day. How will you make it a better day?
It is my pleasure today to have Lindsey the awesome blogger at Campfire Song as a guest today. She is university-educated, an ex-extrepreneur and serious multitasker. She cooks, clean, does electrical repairs and even repairs major appliances. And guess, what else? She has time to fit in being a mom, which she describes as a blessing.
A couple of old friends of mine are these people. I knew them when I was young and in school – back when I partied the hardest in the room. I was as liberated as they feel now, and of course I loved it. While we had a ton of fun together, I always knew that that would be a temporary stage in my life. I always wanted the mess of kids that I have today, and I feel more like my old friends are the ones missing out.Kids have given me a chance to grow and mature and have my very own family. Three generations from now I won’t be remembered, but what I’ve worked so hard to create will always linger in my family tree.
I never felt such a sense of purpose as when I became a mother. To raise a gift from God is a pretty big job – one that I don’t always feel prepared for, but it makes me want to be my best. I learn something new about me every day – I didn’t have the opportunity to do that before I had the responsibility of teaching life to kids. Guiding my children helps me to understand and finally overcome some of the struggles I faced as a child, to understand God’s love, and really allow me to feel like an adult.
You can love a significant other, your parents and friends, but there’s nothing quite like the love and protectiveness that you have for your children. The absolute innocence that you can see in them despite how they acted that day isn’t something that we usually generate toward our husbands, is it? Each night when they go to bed I know that, no matter how great or awful our day was, I’ve got three people upstairs to be proud of and we will try again tomorrow.
Freedom and spontaneity may belong to my friends, and I won’t say that I never miss my days as their single, childless compadre. But right now I’m busy doing exactly what I was called for, and can’t help but think that while their houses may be cleaner and quieter, their lives are no more fulfilled than mine.
