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Light, Love, Hope

Light in the Darkness Surrounded by Love with Hope for those in need.

1968

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While I shared this snippet of my feelings on my personal Facebook page earlier this morning, I will expound upon it here on the blog:

On this day in 1968, my beautiful sister was born. There are not enough words to express how much I love her and miss her. Oh how I wish love could have saved her.  Today there is such awareness for the prevention and support with postpartum depression, but that was not the case in 2001 when we lost her.  She is the reason that I will forever speak up and speak out about supporting others and not adding to what others may be going through because you have no idea what they might be struggling with alone in silence. Sadly, she is not the only one that lost this fight as there are many, many others. However, I will not focus on how she died, but I will celebrate her precious life and the love that she gave to those around her. She did not have a large circle of friends, but she had a close family that loves her so very much and would have done anything in this world to save her had we only known. They hide it well, though, to protect the family. We should be celebrating her 56 years with our parents, two nieces (Brittney & Tiffany-Haven), a great nephew (Kingston), a daughter (Melanie) and three grandchildren (Oliver, Gianna, and Danny). My heart breaks for what should have been and for where we are right now. Alas, our hearts still remember her and celebrate her, just in a different way now. Happy Birthday in Heaven, Pamela. I love you far more than you ever knew when you were on this earth. I hope you feel it even still all the way up there in Heaven.

In the year 1968, two beautiful souls welcomed their first child, a daughter!  She was their pride and joy as their stories and the smiles on their faces revealed as they spoke about her.  Two and a half years later, another daughter (me) entered the picture.  We were complete opposites from the very beginning, from our physical features (her with auburn hair and green eyes, and me with blonde hair and blue eyes), to our personalities (her being an introvert and me being a little bit more outgoing but still on the shy side).

My first memories aren’t of us being close as we grew up, as we had a troubled childhood with our mom being sick and us having to grow up way too fast, taking on adult chores around the house at such young ages.  Yet, we grew closer as adults, and I treasured our friendship in our sisterhood.

We had lunch almost daily as we both worked in office settings near each other which afforded us this opportunity.  “Little or big?” was her way of asking if we wanted to grab fast food or have a nice sit-down meal together.

She often teased me for my “hooker red lipstick,” as I wore makeup while she chose to go all natural.  She would also tease me for pointing when I polished my nails or wore “fake nails.”  We don’t realize we’re doing it at times, but it draws attention to that which we are proud of … (i.e. our long beautifully polished nails).

Glamour Shots were so hot “back in the day” (being most popular in the 1980s and 1990s).  She wanted to go but didn’t want to go alone, so we went together for the experience.  When we walked in, they assigned a team of stylists to assist us.  They started the transformation as soon as we sat in the chair.   One lady began immediately on curling and styling our hair, while the other lady started slathering on the makeup.  I’m sure it was almost torture for my sister’s always bare face to have makeup almost caked on for this photography session.  With the harsh bright lighting, they had to put a lot of makeup on so we would have color in the pictures.   We had so much confidence after these sessions where they dressed us up in leather and feather boas and made us feel beautiful.  Ah, but when we walked outside, we were mortified at how orange we looked!

Another favorite memory of mine was when we went to Folly Beach together.  For someone who could not swim, my sister was fearless as she walked out into the water to jump waves.  She turned her back to the waves as they slapped against her, and the biggest smile would form on her face each time the wave pushed her forward.  She would motion for me to join her, and together we laughed like fools as we enjoyed the sun on our faces and the waves slamming into us.  Ah, the good ole days!  We would leave the beach fully refreshed looking like lobsters.

I have so many fond memories of time spent with her as adults, even if I can hardly recall good childhood memories together.

One of my most cherished yet bittersweet memories is of when she became a mother.  I’ll forever remember seeing her in the hospital bed smiling sweetly as she held her newly born daughter in her arms.  Her pride and joy!  Having always been a “picture person,” I got busy snapping pictures for keepsakes to capture that happy moment in time so we would have it to treasure always.  Little did I know that two weeks later, those pictures would bring such heartache and pain as we got the 35 mm film developed.  My sister was suffering from postpartum depression, and even though we, as a family, were with her as often as we could be or she would allow, none of us knew the depths of her despair.  There was speculation that her husband cheated on her.  When she found out shortly after delivering their daughter, the heartbreak she felt was so extreme that it lead to her taking her own life.

I was only able to witness my sister snuggling with her daughter for two weeks, but I know she loved her daughter so much.  I remember conversations when my sister was pregnant, and how she was beaming with pride at her baby shower.

Fast forward to the year 2024, and here I sit writing about our memories and wishing she was here.  Twenty-three years have passed, but I remember … I will always remember.

You Are A Child of God

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Mockup wall in the children’s room On the white shelf.3D Rendering

As you’re considering the perfect gift this holiday season, please direct your attention to You Are A Child of God.  This faith-based coloring book by author Michelle Fritch was a beautiful gift and reminder for baby Louis.  Out of the depths of her love, Michelle created this book to remind her friend’s precious baby how he is wonderfully made by our Heavenly Father.

This story touched a special place in my heart.  You see when my niece was pregnant with her first son, Oliver, the doctors gathered us in his office to break the news that something was wrong.  Oliver was missing a small mid-section of his brain.  As we listened, it felt like a kick right to our stomachs as the words shocked us all to our core.  The doctor offered different options.  We gathered ourselves the best we could from where we sat and made our way to the front to exit the office.  I went right into reassuring my niece that no matter what, this baby was going to be so loved!

Fast forward five years, and Oliver is thriving!  He is a precious and beautiful little boy experiencing and enjoying life.  I’m so thankful my niece didn’t accept the options offered to her but carried this baby to term and delivered him!

Oliver may never learn any of these facts as he grows.  However, he is walking, talking, living proof of how great our God truly is!  Oliver is a child of God!

We all are children of God!  Let the scriptures encourage you!

This coloring book provides a way to calm your heart and mind as you read the words to your child.  Then, allow them to color the different pages.  It is also great for you to allow your inner child to experience the soothing practice of “coloring.”  This would be a perfect activity to incorporate into a relaxing nighttime routine.

Please consider this as a special gift for someone you love this holiday season.  Everyone needs the reminder through God’s word, and we can draw closer to Him even through something as simple as a coloring book!

Order now!

Disclosure:

Many thanks to GoodWorks Mission for providing a sample of this product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own!

 

 

 

Holiday Joy

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This holiday season, we have so much to be thankful for! Our family has grown, and our hearts are overflowing with love and happiness.  We are full of holiday joy!

God has carried us through some extremely difficult times leading up to this point.  Now our family is rejoicing together for the beautiful little one God has blessed us with.

I have always known my heart carried such unconditional love for both of my daughters.  The love runs deep and wide, like the ocean waters.  Just when I didn’t think my heart could hold any more love, along came my precious and beautiful Grandson!

That September evening, my oldest daughter and son-in-law visited us for our Monday evening meal.  We get together more often, but Monday seemed to be the one day we all settled into for a weekday meal together at my house. They came over, we ate, laughed, and enjoyed each other’s company.  My daughter let me know when they arrived safely at home not realizing what the night held for them.  My husband and I went to bed with our hearts full after spending the evening with them right along with my youngest daughter.  Ah, such a sweet time we all had together.

Then …

I was awakened by my youngest daughter standing by my bedside with her sister on the phone.  For some reason, my phone did not ring when my oldest daughter called to say her water broke.

WHAT?!

Oh my!

I sprang to my feet, trying not to panic as this was the moment we had all been waiting for.

Fast forward to the hospital room where we were escorted to find my daughter and son-in-law wide-eyed and nervous yet so happy.  The moment had arrived when they would meet their precious little boy!

They wheeled my daughter away, and my husband and I sat praying for them.  Trying not to worry, yet knowing absolutely no peace until we received word from our son-in-law advising Mother and Baby were both doing well.  Oh, thank you, God, thank you!!  We would breathe a little easier now, but this mama’s heart was not going to be completely reassured until I laid eyes upon my daughter and my new grandson!  It seemed like forever before we were allowed back to see them in recovery.  When my son-in-law came to get me, I grabbed the only thing available at that moment – paper towels – as I knew I was going to cry.  I had no idea the impact laying eyes on them both for the first time after delivery would have on me, but I knew there would be some tears.

When I walked into the room, my sweet daughter was smiling so big and glowing as she held her newborn baby in her arms!  I was only two steps into the room when emotions swooped in, and I started sobbing almost uncontrollably at the sight.  It was tears of relief that they were both okay – better than okay, actually, they were both perfect – and tears of extreme joy!

My first grandchild!!  I thought surely my heart was going to burst wide open right there in the room.

It took me several minutes before I could get myself together enough to turn to face them again.  Then my daughter asked me to sit on the edge of the bed, and she placed the sweetest little angel in my arms!  I held him close to me and just prayed silently to myself, “Thank you, God,” as tears trickled down my cheeks yet again.

Yes, we have so very much to be thankful for this holiday season, and we are!!  We truly are!

 

 

God’s Not Dead – In God We Trust

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If we ever forget we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.  Ronald Reagan
Now more than ever, Christians must come together with the pending election in November.  While Taylor Swift is endorsing her preferred candidate, please think independently and do not be swayed by her or any other in the public eye.  Research the candidates, and what they stand for, and then pray over your decision before casting your vote in November.
In the meantime, get your tickets to see God’s Not Dead – In God We Trust (the most successful faith franchise of all time), which is in theaters today, September 12, 2024, in association with Great American Pure Flix and Fathom.  Click here for ticket information.
This film is so uplifting and inspirational, much like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was 85 years ago.  It’s relevant as we all prepare to vote in the November election.  Watch as Pastor David Hill approaches politics with moral courage.  He loves his country and stands up for corruption, as we ALL should!  We need someone in office who will represent the principles to make America great!   God needs to be in the forefront of this election and the United States of America!  Don’t let those in power attempt to erase religion!
Buy your tickets today and get fired up to ensure Christian morals and values will be at the forefront of this election and in the leader of the United States of America!
Watch as Pastor Hill forged his faith through the election process, debates, countless criticisms, and setbacks with an opponent attempting to separate church and state. Pastor Hill remains steadfast in ensuring that, just as our forefathers forged our country, GOD needs to be first and present!
Disclosure:  Many thanks to Pinnacle Peak Pictures for providing a sample of the product for this review.  Opinions are 100% my own.
#InGodWeTrustMIN
#MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart

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How many times have you laid down to rest at night, snuggled into bed, and took a deep breath only not to be engulfed in sleep, but instead worry and anxiety? The things that you need to take care of come to mind, and your anxiety starts to keep you up at night. I think we’ve all been there if we are honest with ourselves and each other.  What if you had an option when you go to bed at night instead of carrying the worries, stress, and anxiety with you? What if you revised your nighttime routine to include a book to try to clear your mind so that you can have a peaceful night’s sleep? If this is something that you are interested in, Lysa TerKeurst and Proverbs 31 Ministries have developed “Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart” which is a nightly devotional.  Perhaps reading this before bed will enable you to sleep well in a world that is full of troubles and worry. There are so many beautiful words of wisdom in this devotional!  Friend, I think you would benefit greatly!

We all know worrying won’t get us anywhere!  Yet, we are all guilty of it.  We know worrying about something beyond our control won’t do anything but harm us and our mental health.  However, it’s human nature to want to “fix” that which is out of our power.   Worry deprives us of sleep and fills us with anxiety. It’s so easy to say, “Turn all of your troubles over to God.”  Yet, it is so hard to do, especially when your head hits the pillow at night!

Often I’ve worried about things that did not even come to pass. I robbed my present self and family members around me of the joy that I could have had that day when I was worried about something that “might” happen in the future. We can think about the worst-case scenarios in just about every situation worrying about the “what ifs.”  Here’s a “what if” for you – what if we read the devotional, calmed our hearts, and said our prayers which allows us to release all of the troubles from our hearts to God above? Even if you fall asleep in the middle of your prayers afterward, don’t be filled with remorse or dread.  Also,  please don’t feel like you’re a failure because you couldn’t stay awake to finish your prayer.  Instead, think of it as receiving God’s divine comfort.  As a mother holds her newborn baby and rocks the baby to sleep, think of it as God holding you in His mighty arms lulling you into a peaceful sleep as you have cast all of your cares on him.

Now, I’m not saying it will happen instantaneously after reading a passage from this book.  What I am hoping for, though, is that focusing on something other than your problems will help relieve your mind somewhat so you can drift off to sleep and stay asleep throughout the night instead of replaying any problem over in your head on repeat all night long.

Would you be willing to try it?  What do you have to lose?  NOTHING!  You have everything to gain by picking up your copy of this devotional packed with wisdom from other Godly women (pssst, we made it easy – read more and order by clicking here).  Then, incorporate this into your nighttime routine so you can rest peacefully!   Let the words in this devotional and God almighty reassure you each night that you are so very loved and cared for.   Allow yourself to feel safe in the Lord as if He is right there with you holding you and rocking you into a peaceful sleep.

 

Disclosure:  Many thanks to Harper Collins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review.  Opinions are 100% my own.

Unshakable Moxie

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The “Unshakable Moxie” (presented by Our Daily Bread Ministries) really intrigued me as you don’t hear the term moxie very often. This series is about women who have struggled and overcome. It is about being real with what happens to us, but never losing faith. It is about resilience and trusting God the entire way through the trials and tribulations we face in this life.  A woman of moxie has unshakable confidence and trust in God.

I was unsure what to expect when I thumbed through the beautiful hardcover Prayer Journal and flipped through the inspirational cards with the Bible verses and powerful quotes. I thought it was beautifully designed, and the information I was reading was very encouraging and uplifting. What I was not prepared for was scanning the QR code for the first video to reveal what could’ve been me telling my personal story.   I could identify completely with one of the ladies when she started to reveal her story.  When women are going through a hard time, it seems like we are the only ones in the world facing trouble. The truth is that we are not alone in this. Other women struggle just as we have, even if it’s not in the same fashion, they are struggling with something so very personal to them. They are afraid to open up and be vulnerable with others for fear of being hurt, or fear of people not understanding, and their feelings being invalidated.  But there’s so much love and compassion and empathy and togetherness. When you find another lady who is willing to walk alongside you, admitting her struggles and vowing that neither of you will struggle alone from this point forward.  Oh, to have such a friend!  It’s hard to be that vulnerable when you open yourself up to another human being because oftentimes judgment follows, but there is such freedom in knowing that you don’t have to censor what you are saying to your friend and knowing that you are safe with them. It was so refreshing to listen as these ladies shared their hearts and were uplifted by the other.   It was then that I knew six weeks would not be enough for this study. Yes, it is wonderful to share (be it with a friend or with a small group), but this has to go on beyond just the six-week series because the world needs more of this so that we all can be unshakable moxies.

Do you have a trusted friend like this?  Someone you can confide in?  We may know a lot of people, but we don’t let a lot of people into our hearts to see the deep dark secrets we carry so close to us.  What if we were transparent with others and allowed others to help us through what we’re facing?  If you are blessed to have other godly women in your life, consider sharing this series with them.  You can go through it together one-on-one, or if you are part of a large church congregation, get a small group going using the videos and all the tools they equip you with within this six-session women’s Bible Study.  Together you will strengthen and develop your resilient faith.

The Unshakable Moxie invites you to discover what it means to live a life of resilient faith in this episodic video series.  You will learn from remarkable women who trust God — yes, even through the lowest valley!

Watch the series by clicking here.  Better yet, order your copy today by clicking here!  You can select the full series, or you may also purchase items separately.

 

Many thanks to Our Daily Bread Ministries for providing a sample of the product for this review.  Opinions are 100% my own and are not influenced by monetary compensation.

Be Present

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We all have a list a mile-long of things we need to do.  We may also allow ourselves to be consumed by things of the past or worrying about the future.  However, instead of being distracted by these things, let’s focus on the here and now.  Be present.  It doesn’t sound hard until your mind is racing in a million different directions.  It becomes difficult, then, to quiet the noise of the “what ifs” or even the “shoulda, coulda, woulda” that tries to take over at times.  We have to practice being mindful and being present in the here and now.

This past week, my husband and I took a trip to sunny Florida.  For close to a year, I’ve been reading about Anna Maria Island and how beautiful the sugar sand is supposed to be against the Carribean-like waters of the Gulf Coast.  Knowing I will be setting out on a new adventure in my career this coming week, I took the opportunity to celebrate the new and exciting things happening in my life.  We took a semi-spontaneous trip (we made sure to book an Airbnb before departure) to explore the island before school is out for the summer and before Florida heats up like an oven at 450 degrees!

As we traveled, I received a troubling phone call.  Great!  Just what I needed to zap the joy and. happiness right out of me as I set out on vacation.  Boy, I’m telling you. The enemy tries hard.  Do not let him win!

And so, I didn’t.

I was determined to still enjoy this vacation!

It took a lot to reign my thoughts in on several occasions while on this trip.  However, dwelling on something I cannot change will only keep my head and heart in an uproar.  I had to quiet these thoughts and focus on awareness and enjoying the here and now.  These moments won’t come again.  Once we live them, they are gone forever, never to return.  We can fill these moments with dread, worry, and ruminating over things we cannot change, OR we can take deep breaths focusing on being mindful and bringing our thoughts back to the beauty that surrounds us as we make memories together.

So, we packed up the little hardtop convertible Volvo complete with beach chairs, umbrella, sunscreen, and cooler and headed to the beach!  We did just like we did in Hawaii a few years ago and explored several beaches to find our favorite one. Bean Point was our favorite spot to see the sun setting.  It is literally the endpoint on the island.  While it’s not safe to be in the water due to the rip currents there, it is a gorgeous place to sit on the beach to watch the sun slowly drop on the horizon until it is seemingly swallowed up by the sea.

On this particular day, we woke up to rain.  Not just rain.  Thunderstorms with a tornado warning in Florida.  Oh boy.  My dad (oh how I love my parents) even called that morning to prepare us, just in case we hadn’t been watching the weather report.   Thankfully, though, the weather wasn’t as severe as we were afraid we were in for, and the rain stopped but was still cloudy as we made our way onto the soft white sand.  We had this need to dig our toes in the sand and be “grounded.”  We walked along the shore looking for beautiful shells and sand dollars, when suddenly the sun appeared!  It peeked out from behind some clouds that were rolling away, and we experienced being sun-kissed for the most perfect 45 minutes!  The sun reflecting off of the water revealed its sea foam green and emerald colors.  Ah, this is what people were raving about.  While not quite like the Caribbean, it still helped restore my soul!  I found myself strolling along listening to the waves crashing in and taking pictures of the beautiful colors in the sky silencing the inner turmoil.  I was finally present in that moment.  No worries, no cares, no troubles rushing in, no thoughts racing and tormenting me.  Complete and total peace washed over me like the ocean water rushing to the shore and soaking the powdery sand.

I left the beach that night refreshed and reassured of the beauty that surrounds me in God’s amazing world.  Just as things looked cloudy and bleak as I started my day, God reassured my heart and soul with the way things turned around.  Still desiring to see the shore, I took off for the beach even when the weather didn’t look promising at first.  I would have missed such a blessing had we decided to just call it a rain-day and stay indoors.  God revealed such beauty when the clouds rolled away and the sun appeared painting the sky as only He can do.   He will do this in your life, too!  Don’t give up.  Give him a chance to show you that things won’t always be dreary, dark, and bleak.  Sunshine awaits!

Be present, yes, and give all of your troubles and worries to Him.

I do not doubt that the prayers of my parents helped calm my troubled heart while on this trip as well.  There’s nothing like praying parents, and I’m so thankful for mine!

 

 

Mental Health

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Mental Health is important, but too often, people do not want to talk about this very important subject matter.  Recently on Facebook, I shared information from “To Write Love On Her Arms.”  This organization helped my daughter when she was going through a hard time in her life as a teenager.  They left such an impression on me when I learned of their mission.  I have purchased merchandise from them in the past with shirts displaying the message “Hope Is Real.”  That is a message people need to hear and cling to as well, especially when going through dark times in their lives.  I feel strongly about supporting this organization with the message they shared three days ago on Mental Health Action Day also; ways to make a change.

This post goes arm-in-arm with Action For Happiness, a ten-day challenge to help you change your focus as you look for what’s good in your life instead of being consumed with what’s gone wrong.  We all face challenges in our lives.  As both organizations state, “It’s okay not to be okay.”  We won’t always walk around with a smile on our faces or a song in our hearts, no matter how hard we try.  There will be challenges we face in this life.  It’s so easy to dwell on the negative and things that are wrong.  It is human nature to look for any dangers we may face and be on high alert to avoid them, but staying in this mindset day in and day out will steal the joy that surrounds us. If we shift our focus for just a moment to things that we are grateful for, it could help our mood and mental health improve.  It’s been proven that it helps to write about how you’re feeling.  That is the reason this blog was born years and years ago.  It is an outlet for me to share how I’m feeling but also to help others know that they are NOT alone in life.  It’s my way of offering hope to them and shining a little light along the way.

Experiencing a devastating assault resulted in post-traumatic stress rearing its head, attempting to steal the joy in my life and resulting in many sleepless nights.  When you are mistreated and others around you laugh or make light of it, that is another hard blow to recover from not just the physical blow experienced during the assault.  Thankfully, God sees to it that evil will not prevail.  We may not see justice being served in these people’s lives (even when they admit to what they did and others try to cover it up for them), but trust that God will NOT allow these people to come out on top for very long.  It may look like they are getting away with it.  Trust that they won’t, though.  At some point, they will pay the price for their wrongdoings.  They will receive their punishment and others that went along with them will, too.

The truth shall set you free, and I will continue to speak my truth about the assault.  My job, in the midst of all of this, is to hold tight to the truth, no matter who sides with the assailant.  Further, I am to hold on to my joy that the enemy tries so hard to steal from us.  No more!  It’s MINE, and I will rejoice in the people who celebrate me, love me, and rally around me, quickly dismissing anyone who doesn’t have my best interest in their heart and mind.

Connecting with supportive people is so important.  Nurturing our connections is vital.  However, make sure the people you have in your boat are actually rowing with you and not drilling holes to sink it, though.  I learned a very valuable lesson about so-called “friends.”  No matter what you do for them, they are fickle and easily swayed to turn against you when they are influenced by the wrong people.  True, genuine people will love and support you, go to bat for you, and speak up when an injustice is done to you.  They will defend your honor even when you are not around.  Those are your people, and those are true connections you need to keep.  Pay attention to who is in your boat.

I’m reminded of a situation that happened in high school many years ago.  I may have written about this here on the blog at one point or another.  Yet, I need to share the message.  You see, a black young lady named Yvonne was in our predominantly white business classes in high school.  One day, a ring came up missing. As a girl was typing in class, she was bothered by the ring she wore, so she took it off and placed it on her desk.  Later, she discovered the ring was missing.  It was as if it had vanished.  No one seemed to know what happened to this ring.  They searched for it, and asked others if they had seen it, but the ring was nowhere to be found.  A meeting was called by the teachers and the entire class of students taking these business classes.  The teacher opened it up by stating the ring was missing, and she asked everyone to go around the table one by one to give their opinion about what happened to this ring.  The black young lady became a suspect.  She was accused of stealing the white girl’s ring.  As each student had an opportunity to speak around the table that day, more accusations were made against this black young lady.  They were adamant that she stole the ring.  Harsh words were spoken when she was sitting at the table surrounded by her peers whom she thought were her friends.  Tears welled up in her eyes, even though she fought so hard to hold them back and not show any emotion as daggers were thrown at her with every negative word spoken against her.  When it was my turn to speak, even with all of my classmates glaring at me expecting me to join in stating why I felt Yvonne was guilty, I explained why I felt she was innocent, instead.  I’ll never forget the way Yvonne looked up at me, tears threatening to spill out over the rim of her already full eyes, as she lifted her head as I stated why I was supporting her.  She had ONE person speak up.  ONE.  I was happy to be the one even when everyone else was speaking negatively against her.  I felt in my heart she was innocent.  Finally, when it was my cousin’s turn, she joined me in speaking of why she, too, felt Yvonne was innocent.  Two people now didn’t succumb to the pressures of those around them.  Two people held firm to the truth about Yvonne.  It would have been so easy to side with the rest of the group, yet our hearts made us speak up for what was right and the truth WE knew about our friend, Yvonne.  In the end, it was revealed that a white girl stole the ring and took it to a local pawn shop.  This girl was supposedly best friends with the girl whose ring was missing.  The so-called white “best friend” was positively identified by the employee at the pawn shop.  Yvonne was innocent after all.  The truth prevailed!

Watch your circle.  Make sure your connections and “friends” are truly honoring and supporting you even in rooms you aren’t in at the moment.

It took a while for my friend to recover from the lies and accusations against her.  Her mental health suffered throughout this ordeal.  I’ll forever remember how she came up to me after she was cleared and thanked me for being who I am and for the words I spoke regarding her character.  She hugged me tight with tears in her eyes once more. I knew even if I was the only one to stand up for her, I did what was right even when all the others were against her.  She struggled severely with the accusations against her but found happiness once again when the truth was revealed.

Be the person who stands up for what is right.  It’s easy to go along with the crowd.  It takes courage to stand up and speak the truth.

Modern Menopause

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Here’s an Amazon review I posted today on the book Modern Menopause, which is currently available for free with Kindle:

 

This subject is often not discussed because of women’s fear of aging; however, I was relieved to find this book as it provides a wealth of information! The author spent years researching and studying this topic and has shared her findings to assist women so they do not have to muddle through menopausal symptoms alone anymore.

I love that she provided medical ways to treat menopausal symptoms but also provided holistic remedies as well. Some women are afraid of hormone therapy due to the perceived risks involved. Therefore, other alternatives were mentioned by the author to treat bothersome symptoms.

She even spoke of the sexual side effects menopause can bring and how to deal with these issues so you can continue to enjoy sexual intimacy for years to come. Sex doesn’t have to end when you hit menopause, which is refreshing in and of itself to hear someone actually speak on a topic others remain silent on. When one deals with the frustrations of such effects menopause brings, it is reassuring to have someone like this author remind them that this does not have to be the end of pleasure for you and your partner. I love her approach and feel this book will be beneficial for anyone approaching or going through menopause.

Since her mother passed tragically, she did not have anyone to pass on important information to her on what to expect or how to fight through the symptoms to feel like herself again while going through menopause. A lot of women won’t discuss this life change we all will go through, but it is needed as reassurance that help is available! This author provides that reassurance! If you aren’t comfortable discussing menopause with your friend group or even family members, pick up your copy or download the e-book. The author shares her knowledge, wisdom, and findings of her research to alleviate this stressful period in women’s lives. Exercise and eating right will assist you in fighting the side effects of menopause, but this author provides so much more information. You will feel such reassurance in the author’s words and how she suggests you approach menopause. Buy the book!  (Or, at the time of this writing, the book is available for free with Kindle.)

 

Wrapping Up And Starting Anew

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People everywhere are saying “Goodbye” to 2023 as we’re all wrapping up and starting anew.  Ah, a new year lies ahead of us all.  The year 2024 is full of endless possibilities.

We had a host of things happen in 2023, as I’m sure others did as well; some good, some bad.  We don’t cling to the bad; instead, we acknowledge, then open our hands and allow the winds of time to sweep the remnants out.

With high hopes and full of faith, we pray for our oldest daughter to be blessed with a healthy baby this year.  We have prayed so long for this, and believe surely God hears us and will answer soon.  She and her husband have struggled since the end of 2022, and it’s been painful to watch as they have gone through three losses.   While none were easy, the last one left us especially heartbroken when we learned the gender.  We were all in love from the very moment her suspicions were confirmed with the positive pregnancy test.  For some reason, though, it was not meant to be.  As hard as it has been to wrap our heads around this, we found comfort in knowing that as much as it hurts, we wouldn’t want a baby to come into this world if it would struggle or have anything seriously wrong with it.  There has to be a reason why this has happened, and after three losses, she “qualified” for further testing to dig deeper into this and take steps to ensure the next time will result in a beautiful strong heartbeat with no complications during her full-term pregnancy.  We look forward to the day we hold her baby in our arms and watch this gift from God grow and go on to do great things for His kingdom.

 

“He will bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,

the oil of joy instead of mourning,

and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.”

 Isaiah 61:3

 

My son-in-law is a worship pastor, and my daughter works alongside him.  He aspires to become ordained.  We knew when we learned of this that they would not be without troubles in this life they are leading for God.  It seems those who try to walk with God are oftentimes struggling in the valley as they face trials and tribulations.  How unfair, right?  None of us are promised a life without problems.  Yet, in what they have gone through, they have not lost faith.  Instead, my daughter has taken her tremendous losses and has tried to pass along to others a gift so precious and beautiful.  She has thrown herself into her photography business, which has really taken off this year – praise God!  With her extremely reasonable packages, the idea came to her to do something greater with her work.  She has now launched The Aurora Bundle, a care package gift for others who have walked this same path yet went on to have their rainbow baby.  It touched my heart tremendously when she mentioned her idea to me.  Then, she gifted me with one of her care packages, as she recognized the loss I endured 20 years ago when I had a different type of loss with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy which required emergency surgery.  She explained she wanted me to be the first recipient and how she only wished she could have helped me through it years ago when I faced such a loss.  Ah, but she did!  She was just a little thing at seven years old back then.  Clinging to her and being on the receiving end of this blonde-haired blue-eyed beauty’s hugs helped more than she could ever understand.  And one day, I truly believe she will have a beautiful child wrap their loving arms around her, and she will know unconditional love like never before.

And so, we extend our hands out in front of us in anticipation now of all the wondrous and beautiful things God will fill them with this year.  We lift them high with our faces toward the Heavens, ready to receive the blessings we know He has in store.  We believe as the light shines down from Heaven, God’s goodness will wash over us, and His favor will shine upon us as well.  We walk into this new year with empty arms but full faith that God will fill them with a little bundle of joy and blessing sent straight from Him.

Check out her work at http://earthboundmedia.mypixieset.com

 

 

 

 

 

Life In The Hereafter

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After Death MovieWith so many things going on in the world, we may question our purpose in life. We may also ask why things are happening and whether we are living in the end times. In all of our humanness, we may also wonder if there is life after death.

I had a unique opportunity recently to view a screening on this subject. Angel Studios is bringing After Death to theaters beginning October 27, 2023 to help answer some of these questions. Granted, you will have many more questions after watching the movie, as I sure have tons swirling around in my head now!

With details from survivors who recall their encounter with Christ in their near-death experiences, as well as doctors and scientists weighing in on this subject, it might just open your eyes. Based on true accounts, authors and survivors give us a look into what happens when we die.

I read 90 Minutes in Heaven by Don Piper previously because of my curiosity. In this film, a few more names I hadn’t heard of before weighed in on the subject. Dr. Mary Neal, the author of To Heaven and Back, John Burke, the author of Imagine Heaven, Dr. Jeffrey Long, the author of Evidence of the Afterlife, and Dr. Raymond Moody, the author of Life After Life, are interviewed in this film. As you can imagine, I was quite intrigued as I watched and listened to their stories.

The message of light (Christ), love (what we are to give to others), and hope (for a brighter future by applying all they learned on their journey once returned to their earthly bodies) rang through each account as the survivors told their stories. Some almost instantly felt as if they were swept away to Heaven to meet Jesus, while there were a few who felt as if they were being ushered off into Hell. It was when they cried out to God that they felt Jesus’ presence there to help them out of their darkest depths of despair. For reasons unbeknownst to them, they were saved and then returned to their lives on Earth as their time on Earth was not through. They were allowed to bring back this message for everyone, and it is my hope that those reading this will not scoff but use this opportunity to get their hearts and lives right with God today!

There are a few survivors in the film who turned their lives around after their near-death experiences. For whatever reason, they were allowed a second chance. Many are not given this opportunity, so while we have the time to get our hearts right with God, we need to make it a priority right now for none are promised another day.

I’m not here to argue with anyone about their beliefs. I’m only asking you to be open-minded as you watch the film. At the very least, allow it to help YOU as it has others so that in the end, your heart will be right with Jesus when you are called Home.

John Burke was very skeptical at first, yet after years of researching and speaking with people about their near-death experiences, he went on to become a pastor. Hear what he has to say in the film when it comes to theaters October 27, 2023.

Many thanks to Angel Studios for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

An Unfinished Conversation

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Last night I received an unexpected surprise message from someone I probably have not spoken to in more than ten years or longer.  Life is strange in that things happen and you drift apart from those you were once so close to, and unfortunately, this happened with us.  However, she reached out letting me know she was thinking of me, and of course, I have thought of her many, many times through the years, too.  My immediate response was to let her know that no matter what, I love her.  Why?  Because life is too short and you never know if you will get the opportunity to tell people this very important message.  You never know if you will be able to share this piece of your heart again, so I took the opportunity that was presented to me.

We picked back up like ten-plus years hadn’t gone by at all since we last spoke.  It was refreshing, although our “catching up” on the things we had missed in each other’s lives had their highs and lows.  I was thankful for that moment in time when she reached out.

As we were sharing our condensed life updates with each other, feelings came out about another situation I hadn’t dealt with.  There was another conversation that needed to be held but will forever remain an unfinished conversation.

In 2021 another friend and I reconnected after a long stretch without talking.  She was diagnosed with leukemia.  Hearing this news devastated me, and I reached out to her.  She was cold and distant at first, then started calling all the time like in years past.  We talked for hours, and I felt comfortable again with her so much so that I offered her a weekend getaway as a gift.  She spoke of regrets and things she always wanted to do but never had.  I went to planning, and it was my mission to give her a weekend where all of her dreams would come true.

We met halfway in Kentucky and the weekend was off to a great start!  She always wanted to ride a horse, so I scheduled a horseback riding adventure for us.  She spoke of her desire to kayak and see waterfalls, too, so I made sure we did both on our weekend.  We also were able to visit and explore a natural bridge!

Things were going well on our weekend until she brought up an ex-boyfriend of mine in front of my husband.  No one likes to think of their spouse with someone else, so as you can imagine, this struck a nerve!  She kept on with her inquiries about my ex until finally my husband could not take it any longer and asked her to change the subject.  She wouldn’t.  He asked her again to change the subject as she dug further into the demise of my relationship with my ex. I asked her to please change the subject also, but she would not have it!  Instead, she kept on about it until my husband walked off to avoid saying something harsh that would have hurt her feelings.

This changed the entire weekend.

My husband and I bit our tongues so as not to offend her or hurt her feelings, especially with what she was going through.  However, that did NOT give her the right to keep on stirring things up like she was doing.  It was as if her goal was to put a huge wedge between my husband and me that weekend.  Thankfully, that did not happen.  Instead of causing division, what actually happened is my husband and I were united so much that her attempts to cause waves did not rock our boat.  She did not create the storm in our marriage she was hoping for.  Yet, then she grew bitter because I stood up for my husband.  I became the bad guy in the story she told others.  I was okay with that because my marriage was strong and unharmed.  That is what mattered most to me!

She started a bunch of drama that weekend, but even still I didn’t want any ill feelings between us, especially with her diagnosis. I told her I still loved her and tried so hard to make things right even though she painted me as the bad guy in her story. Then we stopped talking because she pulled away. Upon our return back to our states and our own lives, she pulled away and would not speak to me.  I paid for her and her husband’s entire weekend and all of the activities we did during that trip to make her wishes come true, and this was the result of my kindness and generosity.

My heart was sad, but I let her go again. I knew my hands and heart were clean in this situation, and she chose this path just as she had chosen to behave the way she did in dishonoring and disrespecting my husband.  These were her choices when things could have been so different!

I have thought of her in the year and a half since this happened, but I did not have any ill feelings surrounding these events at that point.  I wished her well and honestly hoped she had improved and beat the odds, although I knew the stem cell transplant she was once hoping for wouldn’t come.  Her doctors asked her to stop smoking to remain on the transplant list, but she refused.  She made a choice there as well.

And then a message came in from a mutual friend two weeks ago that she passed away.

I remember standing in the middle of my bathroom preparing to greet the day.  Nothing prepared me for that message, and my heart sank and a numb feeling came over me.  An unfinished conversation remains, and there will be no closure here.

It’s all just so sad because, in her last year and a half of life, this is what she chose!   When she could have chosen love in her last year and a half, she chose bitterness!  It is incredibly heartbreaking.

As I told my friend last night, I’m still just so – I don’t even know how to describe the feeling – more than sadness that this is what happened.  My friend spoke earlier in our conversation of a situation where she felt she had an unfinished conversation, so I used her words as they seem to fit exactly what I was feeling. When you try, and this happens it just blindsides you and certainly knocked the wind right out of my sails.

I’m not choosing to focus on the negativity, although this long and drawn-out post makes it seem otherwise.  I said all of that to say THAT is why we should embrace every single moment God allows us to have with such joy and happiness and why we should be so thankful to Him for another day with our families. Life is so precious. It saddens me that although I tried to make things better when she was the offender – she chose this. And my hands were tied. I could only accept it. But my heart is so sad that she passed without having the love and support she could have had – not just from me but from others! She told me her own daughter wouldn’t speak to her before we stopped talking due to hurtful things from the past. I wonder if they ever made amends before it was too late.

Life is too short for all of this!

That is why when my friend reached out last night, I seized the moment and made sure to tell her that I love her.

I pray I will live to be a 95 to 100-year-old woman sitting on my front porch rocking my great-great grandbabies.  Yet, I realize no one is promised the gift of another day.  I want to live and love.  I want to explore and go on adventures, and I want to share precious moments with people that I love completely and who love me just as fiercely!  I want to ooze love, joy, and happiness and spread kindness while being compassionate and oh-so-caring to those around me.  I don’t want to leave unfinished conversations, and I certainly don’t want anyone to ever wonder how I feel about them.  I want them to KNOW … love is such a magnificent thing, and I want to wrap everyone I encounter in that love.

Join me … we don’t know how much or how little time we all have left on this earth.  Let’s make it count!  Let’s make God proud of us for sharing agape love!

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