Encourage/encouraging

I am so happy it's Friday. I love what I do, but I love being home even more. This morning I am certainly appreciative of another opportunity to work and make a difference. Do you agree that everyone should live to make a difference and not just "live" to make it? When our focus is on making a difference, burdens are lighter, there's less frustration and faith is multiplied. My personal and professional goal this year is to transform and build on what I learned last year. Most of us don't realize how fortunate we are to be surrounded by people who care about us. There are some who would rather surround themselves with negativity because it's easier to speak "down" on our situations. We fear speaking life because what we speak may just come true and we haven't positioned ourselves to receive what our hearts truly desire. So this morning I will no longer be an "enabler" to those who are not living up to their true ability/speaking life. I will hold them accountable and I want to be held to the same standards. Let's put in the work/effort/time and get to our goals. Happy Friday. Encouraging you as I encourage me. TeamEncouraged/Encouraging. Bblessedloveyou 

I'm Out Of Order

YGood morning family. I hope everyone is having a productive/prosperous week. My week has been busy as usual, keeping up with home and work life. I have a confession to make, Monday I was all out of character. Not feeling up to anyone's challenge including mine. You know those days when you don't even feel like turning the music up and singing loud, that's the kinda day I had. As I stood at the sink Tuesday morning I thought about my behavior and felt embarrassed. My "mood swing" startedSunday evening. Women, why do we do ourselves this way? Out of nowhere our whole attitude can change. It doesn't take much. I think mine started because I was tired of cleaning up so I just checked out mentally. I don't know about you but I really need to process my life more carefully. There are times when I feel like I'm carrying the load, constantly cleaning. It feels like I'm the only one who cares about keeping things orderly. But that's the thing, my definition of orderly and someone else's can be totally different. My feelings or just my feelings, sometimes not reality. I ask God to forgive me because my way isn't always the proper way, my feelings aren't always valid and most times I'm totally out or "order". I ask God to help me stay focused and "stay out of my feelings". Understanding that my/our feelings can get us caught up in whole lotta mess. I don't want to have the "Martha" complex, thinking I have to do everything. I want an attitude like Mary's, relaxed, enjoying life. For most of us, the way we keep house is a sign of being "grown and mature" and for most of us, we love being viewed as good housekeepers, but I don't want the title of "good housekeeper" if it's going to cost me my sanity. Thanking God for a dose of reality and a reminder that life is to short to be getting upset because the house is "out of order". AMEN. TeamI'mOutOfOrder. Bblessedloveyou.

Discipline First

Good morning family. Enjoying a nice Sunday morning. Listening to the kids fussing around downstairs. Listen closely to the conversations children have with each other . Very interesting how they think and how they see the world around them. The one thing they all agree on is "grandma is old". They mock me when they think I'm not listening and find some of the things I do hilarious. I love that they find humor in my behavior because there are times when I feel guilty for being hard on them or for making them do things they don't like. What my grandkids have taught me is that they want and need guidance. Their faces may not show it and I may not see or hear it in their reactions but they appreciate leadership. As parents we sometimes "rob" our children because we're afraid of damaging our relationships if we go against what they want. We work so hard to keep them happy by giving them things but this only delays their maturity. I can honestly say that I didn't give my children all the tools they needed to face life. Being a young mother and a young wife was/is challenging especially if your faith is not rooted in the word of God. Life has taught me to pay more attention and that love is not in the giving of material things, but is found in how we lead/examples we set. I'm thankful that my children picked up on my good habits and forgave me for my bad. They are beautiful parents and they understand what it means to discipline out of love. This morning I thank God for lessons learned, for a full house and for the opportunity to help parent my grands. No doubt one of the greatest gifts and opportunities our Father has given. TeamDisciplineFirst. Bblessedloveyou

Journey On

Good morning family. Coming off of a busy week but so thankful for the stress and relief. I'm ready for Saturday activities and looking forward to the goodness Sunday will bring. Sitting here thinking about change and patience. So many times we loose our patience out of frustration and denial. Frustration because things don't/aren't working the WE want them to and denial because we don't/won't accept/take ownership of OUR issues. It's like we over medicate ourselves with "negativity", only seeing the wrong or the lack in our lives. We were not created to be this way. God wants us to embrace life but live it through pray and faith. I had to learn and I'm still learning that every situation doesn't require action or comment. Sometimes we just have to sit back, let the moment pass and thank God for what He's showing us. I say all the time that I'm so proud of my family. They've taught me so much about myself and trusted me with their love. They've shared their dreams with me and sometimes their fears. Our God is awesome because His word tells us to wait on Him and when we do all our dreams based on His will are manifested. This morning I thank Him for renewed minds and spirits, for hearts that soar even in the midst of storms. I give the glory because He is and always will be the source of my joy. Ya'll better get some. A huge shout out to my husband and children. We've come a long ways. Just "another day of journey and I'm glad". TeamJourneyOn. Bblessedloveyou

Partnership

Good morning family. Welcome to Friday. It's supposed to storm in Jax today. Glad I work indoors. I can't believe we're already hearing about tornadoes. How did we go from snow to tornadoes that fast? Our God is amazing. This morning I'm very thankful for all life brings. The little frustrations and attitudes come but they don't last. What's most important in life is that we understand the promises of God and not focus on the things that are wrong. His promises override everything. This morning as I pulled out of our driveway, I thought about the partnerships that I've been blessed to have. Partnering begins at home. We learn how to function in the world by how we treat and/are treated by our family members. What I know for certain is that if we aren't/can't work together as a family unit then we will be unsuccessful out in the world. Some say it's easier dealing with non-family members, but is it? Most times non-family members don't get a good picture of who we really are and we tend to be a little less understanding when dealing our loved ones. I have to be honest, I was challenged this morning but I ask for forgiveness. I'm quick to get upset when things don't go my way and when people I depend on don't do what "I think" they should. Asking God to continue working on me, helping me understand that it's not always about me. I have to stay out of His way. Amen. TeamPartnership. Bblessedloveyou

Respectful Communication

Good morning family. Praying everyone is up, moving around, getting ready to enjoy a beautiful Sunday, the Sabbath. Thankful for a busy/productive week and looking forward to conquering whatever comes in the new week. I know most if not all of my Jax family and friends are feeling some kinda way about the Jordan Davis verdict. I questioned it myself because if you're found guilty of attempted murder how could you not be found guilty of murder. True enough, he will serve time and he will still have to face murder charges but my heart breaks for Jordan's parents. A guilty verdict would have brought them a little bit of closure. I've never been selected for jury duty so I can't begin to understand/imagine the pressure the jurors were/are under. At best and the most important thing we can do is pray for all involved. The sting of loosing a child is a feeling that has the potential of breaking a parent's spirit and will to carry on. It's like having your own life snatched from you and not being able to get it back. It's a feeling of total and complete emptiness. Michael Dunn's family will feel a loss as well because his sentencing will interrupt life as they know it. The price paid for exercising bad judgement and lack of patience. This morning I pray we all understand the importance of respectful communication. I ask God to open our hearts and minds so that we make a conscience effort to understand and not judge cultures we're not familiar with. Asking Him to move us from making assumptions based on what we see in the media. Understanding that "we teach others how to treat us" by what we put in the atmosphere. Thanking Him for bringing us to this day, giving each of us an opportunity to change, educate our children and ourselves. Lord we ask for healing in our communities. Father our children are dying because there is a lack of passion and love. Help us teach the younger generation to love themselves, protect themselves and live productively. "We've come this far by faith leaning on the Lord. Trusting in His holy word. He never failed me yet. Can't turn around, we've come this far by faith." AMEN. TeamRespectfulCommunication. Bblessedloveyou. Proverbs 9:11-12, Psalm 34:11-22, Psalm 35:1-16

Release & Learn