keep on keeping on

Yesterday was a little rough.  

It started out with major communication irritations, peaked in a nostalgic-sentimental mood and then plummeted into a furious funk.  I still don't really understand how I went from one extreme to the other, but it happened nonetheless.  Gratefully, I didn't say or do anything yesterday that I regret today. 

As I wrote complaints from the cloud of fury into my journal last night, the negative energy was overwhelming so I wrote out a simple prayer and asked God to "meet me right now... to raise me up to him... to save me from my mess... from myself...to help me stop hating the things I cannot change about this life... to give me strength and courage to change the things I can..."  I also told him that I am "desperate for you to answer because I am on the last fiber of the thread that was once a rope."  I ended with two thoughts of gratitude (in direct opposition to the pervasive funk!), put my pen down and shut my journal.  

This morning... not too long ago, actually, I heard encouraging words in my heart, soul and spirit.  Words that are just too good to keep to myself.  So in case you need a reminder (like I did...), here goes:

"We are building something here that does not depend on how you feel at any given moment.  It is not about your lifetime; it's about your legacy."

I am holding onto this nugget of truth today and I hope you will grasp hold of it too.  We are part of something much greater than we can see, fathom or completely comprehend.  Let's encourage and remind each other (especially on the rough days!) that we are cultivating a legacy so it IS worth it to keep going.  

credit

beautiful things...

Today I have been talking with my good friend, Holly about life, parenting and simplicity... celebrating and honoring the gift that you are as an individual... doing this for others as well.  Playing to your strengths... One of Holly's many strengths is party planning.  (Click here and here to see proof!) While I like me a good party, planning one all by my lonesome is not so much my thing.  It is A-OK that Holly is PartyPlannerCentral and I'm not.  I don't have to pretend to be PartyPlannerCentral either... yet I can honor and celebrate the awesome giftedness of my PartyPlannerCentral friend... and hire her to plan my events lol!  If I had to plan an entire event all by myself, everyone would be dead and there would be no party.  *Insert howls of laughter from me and Holly here*

It is a beautiful thing to honor and celebrate who we are.

It is a beautiful thing to keep everyday life simple.  Remembering that life is not about the clothes you wear, the car you drive or the company you keep.  No, who we are is all about what we do--not so much job-wise, but our actions, reactions and interactions with others in the passage of everyday life.  Showing Love, Extending Grace, Navigating Relationships, The Words We Speak, Parenting and just Living Day to Day Life is supposed to be a beautifully simple extension of who we are.  It is the grateful acceptance of this fact: there is more than enough room for You to be You and Me to be Me.  Both valued, cherished and respected as a work of art from our Creator.  

So whether you are thoughtful, creative, rational and observant like Holly or a silly, creative, and bossy daydreamer like me, know that God is making a beautiful masterpiece of your life.  "A colorful mosaic" is how my pastor described it on Easter Sunday and the absolute coolest thing of all is that our Creator's work is highly specialized.  He ONLY makes Beautiful Things...

"You make beautiful things...

You make beautiful things out of dust.

You make beautiful things... 

You make beautiful things out of us."

 -Gungor, Beautiful Things

Today let's stop pretending like life is so complicated.  For me today is all about laundry, homeschool, this blog post, a little bit of planning for an event this weekend, jammies, Lego blocks and My Heart On Legs singing, "You make beautiful things out of us and dust." 

Today can you trust that God is making a beautiful thing out of us?  

Because He is... 

For real.  

Even when it don't look like it.  

What if we just do the thing that is directly in front of us... and then keep doing whatever is in front of us over and over again?  I am convinced that each little action we take is part of this giant mosaic of Life.  

Open your heart, your mind and your eyes to recognize and embrace simplicity, which really means to see the beauty of any given thing.  

you are what you speak

image credit

Our words have tremendous power.  I think we all know this, but do we live it?  My awesome auntie says that we must exercise wisdom regarding the words we speak for we will live in the reality of our words.  Today I am thinking about the words I speak.  Living in them.  Makes me want to exercise wisdom and restraint just a little more.  For the most part, I am an extremely positive person; however, I have a tendency to make off the cuff comments that are equal parts hilarious and inappropriate.  I like to make these types of comments.  Did you see that: I like to make these types of comments.  I think they're appropriate because they're truthful and hilarious.  How could you go wrong with laughter and the truth?  Easily.  I promise.  And so it is my dear friends that my thoughts are precisely where the change must (initially) take place.  It is likely that I have resisted for so long because I'm not being super raunchy or anything like that; however, if my Granny were sitting there, I probably wouldn't say it OR I would find a more graceful way to express the thought or idea.  As long as I can remember, I've always had little quips to throw out here and there, but it is time to exercise a higher degree of discernment, wisdom and grace when it comes to my speech.  It is time to be impeccable with my words.  I believe that I am a world changer and I believe you are too.  Let's harness the power of our words and move forward in our calling, purpose and destiny.    When we are salt and light (in word and deed), we will season the atmosphere with love, hope and grace.  And that sounds like a tasty dish.  


  

a picture transcends a thousand words

This picture is very special to me.  

The photographer captured a very tender moment that (still) moves me no matter how many times I look at it.  You know... the photograph that perpetually touches your soul because the image is stirring and haunting in all the right ways.  Not every picture has it, but you know when it does...


I love this photo for several reasons; however, the heart of the photograph still knocks me right off of my feet.  Locking eyes with the one I love. Moments before we vow to do life together ...forever.  


I knew what I was thinking at the time, but what was he?   When I asked him about his expression in this photograph, his response made me swoon.  Literally.  He said that he never doubted his decision (to ask me for my hand in marriage) and at that moment when our eyes locked he (once again) knew that he had made the right decision.


Will somebody bring me my fainting couch and smelling salts please?  *fans herself* 
Is anybody else hot in here or is it just me?  


This pic makes my heart swell with glee... makes me feel like I'm the richest girl in the world.  I see the absolute, undeniable truth of his statement (in his eyes everyday and) whenever I look upon this picture.  As a child, I remember hearing people say that a picture is worth a thousand words and at the time I did not fully understanding what they meant.  Now that I totally understand the cliche, I have come to see that a picture actually transcends a thousand words because it encompasses thoughts, feelings, words, ideas, emotions and sometimes... the very essence of your heart is on display as a 5x7 or 8x10.  


Today find simple pleasure by revisiting a beautiful memory from your photograph that transcends a thousand words.  Let your heart fill and overflow as you feel the love of yesterday today.

The 4 Agreements

Jadyn Noelle Photography

Today I am reminded of a book that I read several years ago: The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.  I absolutely love the four agreements:

1. Be impeccable with your words.  Speak the truth in love.  Say exactly what you mean.  Speak positively about yourself and others (don't gossip).  Your words have power.  Direct them appropriately for you will live in the reality of the words you speak.  

2. Don't take anything personally.  The actions of others has nothing to do with you.     Every individual is personally responsible for that which they are projecting.  We experience unnecessary suffering when we believe the lie that so-and-so did such-and-such because of me.  Nope.  So-and-so did such-and-such because so-and-so decided to do such-and-such.    

3. Don't make assumptions.  Be courageous.  Ask questions.  Seek clarity.  Speak clearly.  Bypass the drama. This agreement alone can change the world.

4. Always do your best.  Knowing that your best will vary from day to day based upon the dynamics of life, simply agree to give your best effort.  No judgement.  No condemnation.  All inner peace.  Bring it (your best effort)*.  Everyday.  Do your best and forget the rest*!  

I purpose to live my life in a manner that reflects these ideals so it's nice to have a lil' refresher today.  While I don't always get it right, I do keep trying and this is part of the growth process.  Along the road to authentic living, I have found that in order to establish healthy agreements (like the ones above) I had to break a few several unhealthy agreements first.  I've also realized that some folks didn't appreciate it when I stopped reading from the script and started making another movie altogether.  

(Bless their hearts...)

Right about that time I (thankfully!) remembered agreement number two... nothing that others do has a thing to do with me.  Instant release.

What are your thoughts about these four agreements?

Do you by live them? Why or why not?

*(Shout out to Tony Horton in P90X)