Sacrifices...

Good morning lovees!! Hope y'all slept well last night!! The sound of the rain was calming. The sounds of thunder, and the strikes of lightening, not so much!! Because of it, I kind of sacrificed some of my sleep. But sleep isn't typically my friend anyway.

Speaking of sacrifice...what does that word mean? Well, by one definition, it means this...the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim. Throughout our lives, we sacrifice many things. We sacrifice time. We sacrifice money. We sacrifice possessions.

Sometimes though, we sacrifice things far more costly than what's listed above. Sometimes we sacrifice our dignity. Sometimes we sacrifice our sanity. Sometimes we sacrifice our security. Sometimes we sacrifice our health. Amongst many other things.

There are also times these things are sacrificed for us or taken from us. When these things are taken, without our permission, it can be quite devastating. But we can recover and rebuild. Every setback is an opportunity for a comeback.  Do not let what's happened to you take anything more away from you! Pick yourself up, dust yourself off and move forward!! It's time for your comeback, and it's time for mine!

Have a blessed day friends!! Go out today and be a blessing!!

Love and hugs...

Love should be FREE...

Good morning lovees!! It's chilly today, is it not?? Well, in my neck of the woods anyways. I hope wherever you are today, you are loved!

Love is one of my favorite subjects to talk about! Which is somewhat odd, considering love has been kinda cruel to me in the past. But I still, wholeheartedly believe that love is beautiful and I believe it should be shared, freely, with others. Read that line again...share love FREELY with others!!!

Love should be FREE!!! Love shouldn't cost you things. Things like time. Money. Your dignity. Your sanity. Your financial security. Love shouldn't be cruel or mean. Love shouldn't cause you pain or anxiety. Love shouldn't hurt. Love shouldn't require repayment. Love should be given FREELY, period. Love shouldn't have boundaries...relationships should. Don't misunderstand the two.

Give your love away FREELY! If you haven't before, start right now, start today. Love people where they're at, without cost. Have a blessed day friends!!!

Love and hugs...

Communication and relationships...

Good morning lovees!! Happy hump day!! It's a great day to have a great day friends!!

Relationships are so important to us. I believe they're a part of what makes us who we are. Relationships with friends, family, coworkers, our significant others and other relationships we may have, all help cultivate us daily into who we are. Some relationships bring joy. Some bring frustration. Some come with stipulations. Some come with no restrictions. But all of them, all of them take effort and communication. Especially love relationships...

When we embark on a love relationship, what we are doing is taking on the life of another soul. We are allowing our own flaws to be seen and becoming vulnerable to let the other person in. We are showing them all of our flaws and asking them to love us still. We are learning, or should be, that love is not selfish. We have to want to fulfill the other person's needs. When we do that, our own needs will in turn be met.

I think the most vital part of a relationship is communication. It's also one of the hardest parts!! Sometimes, one person is better at communicating than the other. Sometimes one person needs more than the other person does. I myself am a talker. I know, I know, you're shocked....lol. I can talk the paint off the wall. But I also know when to listen. My point here is this, without communication, relationships have no hope. So, if you're not a great communicator, learn. Read a book, talk to someone who is better at it than you, seek counsel from a professional. Do whatever you have to do to learn to communicate. It will only help, I promise!!

Have a blessed day friends!! Share a smile with a stranger today. Hold a door open. Be a blessing!!!

Love and hugs...

Just cry...

Good afternoon lovees! It's another beautiful day! I love the smell of rain. There's something cleansing about a good rain!

You know what else is cleansing? A good cry. Tears are beautiful raindrops from our souls. Tears speak words sometimes our mouths can't utter. Tears are prayers our hearts can't speak. Tears are NOT a sign of weakness. Tears are NOT ugly or unattractive. Tears do not make you weak, no matter what you've been told.

I've said a million times that I hate tears. And on some level I do. But I don't think it's tears so much that I'm sick of. Perhaps more that I'm sick of crying. Or having cause to. But I am learning that sometimes, I just have to let them fall. Let them heal. Let my tears do the praying I sometimes can't.  I know God will wipe my tears when there's no one else around to do so.

Maybe you're like me and find tears weak at times. Maybe you've been told to be strong for too long. One of my favorite songs by Mandisa is entitled Just Cry...the first verse goes as follows...

Why you gotta act so strong
Go ahead and take off your brave face
Why you tellin' me that nothing's wrong
It's obvious you're not in a good place
Who's tellin' you to keep it all inside
And never let those feelings
Get past the corner of your eye

I'm telling you today, it's ok. Go ahead and cry. Let those prayers roll down your cheek. If you need a shoulder to cry on, I'll lend you mine...

Have a blessed day friends!!

Love and hugs...

Stuff...

Good morning lovees!!! It's a beautiful day to have a beautiful day!! Thank you God for touching my heart today! And thank you God for waking me up!!

My post today is two-fold and a little long, so please, bear with me...

I've heard it said that if we threw all of our "stuff" into a pile,  when we saw what others had to deal with we'd want our stuff back...such a true statement. Every single solitary day as of late, life has thrown something at me. I should really take up playing ball, I'm getting really good at catching...lol. And yes, I chose this life. I made big girl decisions to get me here. I'm responsible for this entire mess. Blah, blah, blah. What I'm trying to say is this...we all have "stuff"!!  Life is just hard. Let's not beat each other over the head with our stuff. Let's instead be more empathetic with someone when they tell us about what they're going thru. It's not a competition...

Everyday I wake up and do my very best to put my positive pants on. I'm not gonna lie to you, some days they just don't...well, fit. Lol. But then I'm reminded of this...what if I woke up today with only the things I thanked God for yday? Wow!!

Someone somewhere was called home during the night, while I woke up to a brand new day. Someone somewhere slept in a cardboard box while I slept in my home. Someone somewhere is without a job, while I now have 2. Someone somewhere lost their child, while I have 3 beautiful healthy children. Someone somewhere has a child locked within themselves who cannot run and play and giggle loudly everyday, while my child is physically and mentally in tact and can do all of those things without thinking. Someone somewhere can't afford to buy food, while I have food I sometimes forget to eat. I could go on and on and on. My point is this...even with all the "stuff" we are going thru, we need to find the blessings and be thankful for them.

Have a blessed day friends! If your team won last night, congrats. If your team plays today, I hope they win. Enjoy!!

Love and hugs...

Strength...

Good morning lovees! So glad to be greeted by another day, aren't you? Someone somewhere wasn't afforded that same privilege today. If you're reading this, that means you were and for that, you need be thankful!

Strength...one of several definitions given for strength is this...something or someone that gives one strength or is a source of power or encouragement, sustenance. I've been taught through various life circumstances how to be strong. Sometimes, it was my only option. You see, I've learned that humans are just that, human. And they will disappoint us daily. Because I've been let down by so many, is the very reason I'm there for everyone else. I know the sadness from being let down. I know the sting that life can leave.

So where then does one draw strength from? I draw mine from Him. From the creator of the stars. I don't lean in as often as I shoyld, and I know this, but I'm sure trying. And through Him, I am able to share my strength. The bible says we are to carry one another's burdens....

I don't know what you may be going through today, but know this...Know today that you're not alone. Know today that you are loved. Know today that you are thought of and prayed for.

Have a blessed day today friends!!

Love and hugs...

The journey...

Good morning lovees! It's another beautiful day!! That k you God for touching my heart to awaken me today. I'm blessed beyond measure.

I woke up today with my head full of thoughts! Ever happen to anyone else? I've thought about my dreams and plans. My aches and pains. My stresses and bills. My heartbreak and the possibility of future love. My insecurities and my strengths. And a host of other things.  In fact, it was these things that kept me up during the night.

This past year has been a journey, one that I'm still navigating. I'm learning more about who I am and what I want out of life. I'm learning to speak up for what I want and need. And I'm learning that it's ok to do so! I'm learning, or trying to, that I don't have to be perfect. I'm learning to let go. I'm learning that there are moments when the only one I can count on is me, and that's ok too. As I've said before, I was given this life because I'm strong enough to handle it.

I say all of this to say this to you....perhaps you're walking a road today, on your own journey in life. Breathe my friend. Breathe in the winds of change. Exhale the winds of the past. Cherish every step of your journey. Feel the power and weight of each step. Move forward friend. And keep moving. You've got this!!! And you know what, you're not alone. I'm right here with you! Let's walk this journey together! Let's encourage one another along the way.

Have a blessed day friends!!! It may be cold, but the Son is always shining.

Love and hugs...

Happy Birthday Daddy...

Good morning lovees!! Such a beautiful day! I just LOVE the snow! It glitters like diamond dust! And this girl loves her some sparkle! Thank you God for the amazing artistry!

On this day, 89 years ago, the most amazing man I've ever known was born. Tall, dark and handsome. Strong and bold, yet soft and sweet. He was my rock, my stronghold, my best friend, my mentor, and best of all, my daddy. Thank you God for blessing me with such an amazing daddy. And thank you God for taking care of him these last 10 years. He is missed more than anything here on earth, but there is comfort in knowing he is safe with you, watching over me from above. Happy birthday in Heaven daddy!! Love, your baby girl.

My prayer for each of you today is this...that you cherish each moment given to you on this earth. That you live each and every day to the fullest. That you're thankful for each day granted to you. That you love with all that is within you. Know that you're loved today. Know that you're thought of and prayed for each day.

Have a blessed day today friends. Stay safe. Stay warm.

Love and hugs...

Confidence...

Good afternoon lovees!!! Such a beautiful day we're having! I so LOVE rhe bewuty of the snow! It looked like a winter wonderland this am!

What is sexy? Hmmm....theres a question for ya! Is it the way someone dresses? Maybe. Perhaps its the way they look? Perhaps. There are many things folks classify as sexy. For me, it's confidence!! Confidence is sexy! I don't mean the cocky, arrogant kind of false confidence some people have. I am talking about the I am who I am, I'm OK with myself, head held high kind of confidence. The kind that makes one secure in themselves and not in desperate need others approval. The I am fearfully and wonderfully made kind that comes from above! That my friends is "sexy"!!

I hope you are confident in you today! In who you are! I am confident in you!! You are AMAZING! Don't you ever forget it!!

Hope y'all have a blessed day!  And a beautiful weekend.

Love and hugs...

You are...

Good morning lovees!! It's such a beautiful day today! Thank you God for another blessed day!!

I know I've said it before, but it's on my heart again today. So, here goes...today, I want you to know, that you are beautiful! I want you to know that you ARE enough! I want you to know that you are AMAZING!! I want you to know that you hold the power within you to be happy! The power to dream big dreams. The power to do amazing things!

You my friend were fearfully and wonderfully made by the creator of the universe. The very one who commands the stars and the moon each night to stand still, holds your heart in His hands today. You were NEVER created to be neglected, abused, used, controlled, or manipulated. You were created to love and be loved. You were created to do great things! You, sweet friend, were created By Him and FOR Him.

Realize your worth today! Realize how beautiful you are. Realize how strong you are. Just realize, you are! You are not alone today! If you need someone to be in your corner, call me. I'll stand with/for you. If you are facing any of the challenges listed above, seek some help. Don't let anyone make you feel or believe that you are less than! You are so much more than!!

Have a blessed day my friends!! I love you all!

Love and hugs...

Positivity

Good morning lovees!!! It's another beautiful day!! Time to rise and shine, then keep on shining!!

Sometimes in life, we come in contact with negative people. People so infected with negativity and drama, that just being in the same space with them can "infect" you too. We need to immunize ourselves against negativity! How do we do that? There are several ways...

First, check your positivity levels. Be sure you have a full tank! If they're not, do whatever necessary to fill up! Read a book. Find some quotes on positivity. Look at a blog or two. Follow a leader in positivity.

Second, analyze where the negativity comes from most. Is it just the world, or is it someone close to you? If it's the latter, perhaps it's time to incubate those people for a while. You don't have to completely cut them loose, because they could surely use a dose of your "medicine"(positivity)! But you can lessen your time around them for a while.

Lastly, guard your mind. Do not let the negativity get to you and bring you down!! Once infected, it's a disease that can spread quickly!

Have a POSITIVELY blessed day friends!

Love and hugs...