Thankful Thursday

“Your time is limited so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They already know what you truly want to become.” Steve Jobs

Time....it flies fast. Hard to believe it's thursday already or that my oldest is 16 and my youngest is in middle school. 
Time...we're only given so much of it. I want to use whatever time I have to listen to my heart...and follow it's lead. That means silencing the voices that try to discourage...or tell me something I want is impossible....or list reasons why something can't be attained.

I'm listening only to those people who believe like me....that nothing is impossible....and that everyone has the right to try for their dreams. This week I'm thankful for.....

-book sales of dancing softly have been wild. Someone bought 15 to give away; someone else took 6 plus 6 of my first book to sell in a quaint little shop in the country. She read my 1st book and wants to promote them. Woo hoo. And everyday I've been selling a few  online and off.
-encountered this older woman...amazing gentle and kind. It still jolts me when I encounter someone like that. I won't ever forget her or the way she made me feel. And I'll pay forward her kindness to me.
-The circle of giving. Some people this week told me I'm their hero...a mentor...someone they look up to....that also really humbled me and in turn there are those people I look up to....who mentor me....who shine Light in my life. I love that whatever we give out comes back to us.
-My city. It's the best....I love it. I love everything about it. It was actually listed as one of the best places to live. I'm grateful for living here.
-Grace.I don't fully get it except that it's something that holds me up like salt would in the Dead Sea..it keeps me afloat and never lets me sink.

Thankful Thursday

Linking up with Cami at thankful Thursday 

Gratitude can turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings. - William Arthur Ward

I woke up late....15 before 7 a.m......My youngest had to be at school for the music program. She told me it's okay...she could miss it...but I knew how much she loves going. Ten minutes later...the two of us...in in the dark and fog drove to the school. Before she left...she hugged me and thanked me over and over. Her happy sweet face will stay in my head all day.



Gratitude....it makes everything easy....and the feelings that come b/c of it....they're worth more than anything. This week I'm grateful for.... 

-S and D.....for all their support, encouragement and wisdom. They popped into my world at a time I needed them and they've become great friends.
-Things are slowly.....real slowly....super slowly.....beginning to turn around in my favor with this guy who took my manuscript.
-A young woman in prison....she's being held b/c she's in the country illegally. Her story is sad. By the time I left her, she pinky swore she'd hold onto hope....and I promised I'd see her every week until she's released. Sharing hope....seeing it come back in someone's eyes means more to me than anything. It humbles me.
-Autumn....best season of the whole year.
-Life.....hard to believe that once I wanted to give up on it. Now....I'm so grateful for all of it....but mostly that He's in my world flipping on the switch each day to new experiences....new friendships....new opportunities.  

Thankful Thursday

Linking with Cami at Thankful Thursday 

“Life is a lot more fragile than we think so we should treat others in a way that leaves no regrets...fairly, and if possible, sincerely.” Haruki Murakami

My friend died this week. He had lung cancer. He never even smoked. He was a guy who didn't talk much, but when he did....you listened. The most defining thing about him - He loved God. 

His death is a reminder that life is unpredictable and fragile. My friend lived with a sense of purpose and destiny. He made a difference....an impact on others. It makes me look at myself and what I'm doing with this gift of life I've been given. I'm too much of a fighter.....too intense for my own good. I talk too much....other times, not enough. I want to use my life to touch others....but sometimes I think I'm way too self-centred.  Still....I'm grateful for a lot, things like....

Grace - it gives me inner strength when I feel hopelessly weak
Grace- it pumps me with courage when everything in me is thinking I can't.....
Grace....it helps me forgive when someone hurts me...
Grace...it fills me with incredible peace so 'no worries' becomes a resounding motto.
Grace....the love that broke through and turned my life around. 

Thankful Thursday

תקווה Hope!  The two-thousand-year-old Jewish hope - To be a free people in their own land, was never lost….It was fulfilled by the promise….

Promises....they mean a lot. When someone makes a promise it immediately clicks in my head that it's guaranteed....a definite.... something to count on. I'm careful never to promise my girls anything I can't make good on....When I do...they wait for it....they expect it. This week I'm thankful for....

-My youngest for her keeping her promise and showing me I can totally trust what she says.
-My oldest said she'd reread one of my manuscripts. She not only did that, but she did some editing as well. I value her opinion and am grateful for her input. 
-the little things like being out in woods... on the trails...feeding the birds....seeing the small animals...breathing in the beauty....
-Someone's smile....always makes me feel good.  
-And mostly....for all His amazing promises - for bringing good out of the bad....opening up ways where there didn't seem to be any...and always being there in my world making everything shine. 

Thankful Thursday

Linking with Cami at Thankful Thursday

If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way. Mark Twain

Sometimes it seems that I always learn stuff the hard way....the most difficult...through trials that totally 'try' everything in me. I used to ask why all the time. But I think now.....some of life's lessons have to be learned the hard way for them to really become fixed.

And learning things the hard way usually makes me more sensitive to what other people are going through. So maybe it's not all bad. This week grateful for.....

-the freedom to write again. Editing and proof reading one of my stories I submitted to Diaspora. It feels so great to have the words flow again.
-the lawyer who is willing to fight for me in a case against a Christian man who stole my manuscript. Funny thing about this situation.....he claims to love God...the lawyer makes no such claim. She's not charging me anything and he's trying to take what doesn't belong to him.
-End of year parties and grads for my girls....seeing them happy and excited and growing....pumps me with so much joy. Funny thing about kids....they fill up places in my heart I never knew existed.
-Hope....without it life would be empty
-Mostly....Him in my corner....knowing He's always there....gives me courage and  makes me feel like I can face anything.....do anything....be anything.

Thankful Thursday

Linking with Cami at Thankful Thursday

“Faith isn’t the ability to believe long and far into the misty future. It’s simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step.” Joni Erickson Tada

Faith. It's hard to step out when you can't see anything in front of you. 
Faith. When everything looks the opposite of what my heart is telling me......my heart and my gut trumps what I see with my eyes. Faith I don't want to doubt. I want to trust...believe....even when it's scary. This week....am grateful for.....

-My buddy F. He's amazing. He pumps me with faith and pushes me to reach for my dreams.
-While at the prison orientation.....I met another volunteer...a Christian. We promised to pray for each other.
-March Break....love having the kids home all the time and all of us getting together with friends and just taking life easy. 
-Warm sunny days...tulips starting to bud. Totally loving this. 
-Guidance....sometimes I just feel shaky....not real sure of something....and I struggle to trust....and do the right thing. I'm grateful He's always there to listen.....and guide me into making the right and perfect decisions.

Thankful Thursday

Linking up with Cami at Thankful Thursday

"What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth ....the promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again." Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games.

My daughter told me the other day the hardest part of the year for her is near the end of winter when she can't wait for Springtime.

Spring - where I live it's not supposed to hit until April but lately.....the weather's been amazing. It feels great to not have to wear jackets, hats and mitts. And there's a feeling of lightness and joy. I see it on the faces of everyone I meet. Their smiles says it all. Today I'm grateful for.....

-the awesome weather.....being able to get outside and smell the air and see the buds beginning to push out on the trees.
-the guy I'm writing about is coming to see us this weekend. Writing his story has reminded me....no matter how dark it gets.......if you hold on.....and trust....things will turn around. 
-my daughter has been talking about which university she wants to attend. She still has two years to go but she's leaning on the one close to us. Yeahhhh.
-I got stuck trying to figure something out on the computer. My 11 yr old pushed me aside. Let me see. She said. In two minutes she unstuck me.
-No matter what the season....or what life brings.....He always shines Light, joy and freedom. Just like the cold and gloom of winter eventually leaves....so does the tough times in life. There's always  'springtime' to look forward to.

Thankful Thursday

“When we least expect it, life sets a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change. At such a moment, there's no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we aren't yet ready. The challenge won't wait. Life doesn't look back.”    Paulo Coelho
               
Changes.....I don't like them. Even when I know they'll be good ones....I still resist. I get used to the way things are. I feel a sense of safety in the familiar. But life is full of changes. Big ones and small. I need to stop feeling like I'm running from wild dogs  when something begins to change.....and just go with their flow.... and to remember that the new isn't replacing the old...it's just improving on it.  This week I'm thankful that.....

-my issues with my computer are finally resolved. Bought an IBM corporate machine with 3 yrs. on site tech support.  The price was perfect....it'll be ready for pickup later today.  
-My oldest turned 16. She's growing up and changing...She's a great kid who inspires me to live my best life. I'm totally super proud of her.
-Good friends invited us over and surprised my dgt. with a party. They're the family I never had. The people who are always in our corner no matter what......and we in theirs.
-A friend called and asked if we could pray on the phone. Pray? I didn't want to pray but I said yes to be polite. Turned out to be exactly what both of us needed.... Right after that I bought the new computer and her exhaustion lifted. Prayer....it's the thing that makes the real difference
-Grace and His unchangableness. Okay not sure that's a word but still it's true. He never changes. It's the one unchangable I can count on. 

Linking with Cami at Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

"We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same"  Anne Frank

The week hasn't been very exciting. I spent most of it writing. I'm up to 27,000 words and now just want to get it done and over with. Writing this amazing story has opened up a different culture and a lifestyle different than anything I've known. Yet the similarities outweigh any differences and reminds me how much the same we all are. I'm grateful for.....

-my friend's wife reading what I have to date and telling me it gave her chills...that she couldn't stop turning the pages. I love that.
-an older friend whose expertise has opened up doors that I couldn't have opened had it not been for her.
-People. They're what really matters. Things break, get used up, and are eventually pushed aside. People live on even when they're no longer alive.
-sometimes I look at strangers and they look familiar....like I've met them before...seen them somewhere even though I never have. It reminds me of our connection to each other.....
-relationships.....the best one is with Him. He centres me. Guides me. Shows me the value in me and in every person I meet. 

Thankful Thursday

"In life as in the dance, grace glides on blistered feet." Alice Abrams.

Living grateful makes the dance of life flow smoother.....  even over the rough patches..... and tough times that sometimes zaps my strength.  There's tremendous peace knowing He's always there. 

I've spent most of this week researching and writing. I'm consumed with the story because as hard as it is to read.....it's filled with grace and hope and overcoming. To me that's the best. This week I'm thankful for......

-hooking up with this wonderful lady who heads a prison ministry. She just finished reading my book and now she's helping me with the one I'm writing. Her expertise is invaluable. I'm very grateful for all her help and support. We live a couple of hours away from each other and have agreed to meet half way tomorrow.
-For N. She's consistently kind. When I talk to her I always come away feeling ten feet tall.
-For the lady at the Crown Attorney's office. She's trying to help me access achieved files I need for the story. She's a godsend.
-It's now official. the trip is officially book. We're definitely going to Europe end of April. When we go to Amsterdam we'll be within walking distance to the annex where Anne Frank hid.
-For the hope that's always in Him. I'm grateful He never gave up on me and that He never gives up on any of us. To trust Him is to 'Know Hope.' 

Thankful Thursday

The journey between what you once were and who you are now becoming is where the dance of life really takes place.
Barbara DeAngelis

Living is an adventure..... life for me today is all about having choices.....going new places...meeting fun people.....touching the world....living with excitement.  There's so many things I'm grateful for...things like..

-Showing up at a friend's place and finding them exhausted, stressed and in need of help.  They're in the process of moving and the movers forgot to take a bunch of things. We jumped in to help and loved that we could. It was great for them and us.
-It's decided....this spring we're heading to Europe...London, Paris... Switzerland and Holland. Yeahhhh. 
-Sold a bunch more books....I always think the book is done...that it's run it's course and then boom....another bunch of sales. 
-reaching out....making a difference and meeting so many new friends. Funny how life feels like a deep breath in......then slowly out.....and in again.....and out..... ☺
-Love....who knew that His love would be this incredible.....this amazing....and this freeing. Who knew that His love would fill all those empty spaces and places inside and make me want to fly. Who knew that love...His love would be the best thing ever to happen in my world. 

Linking with Cami at First Day of My Life

Thankful Thursday

Linking up with Cami at First Day of my Life

Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts to finding peace of mind and happiness inside. No matter what's going on outside of us, there's always something we could be grateful for." Barry Neil Kaufman

-Learning to exhale when things go wrong. My car should have been fixed on Monday. It was a simple bumper job. The garage called....they scratched it. Part of me wanted to get upset....the other part just wanted to breathe b/c in the grand scheme of things....this is just a peewee thing. 
-my sister who cracks me up with her craziness. I love listening to her stories and hearing her beautiful laugh.
-Researching and finding key people for the story I'm working on...people in another city who have pieces of information I need. I've discovered how much I love love love uncovering hidden stories.
-my oldest dgt. short-listed again for another poetry contest. It was for a poem called Rough not Tough. It's a beautiful piece about not judging people by the way they look. I love her heart.
-Mostly for His friendship...it's a constant....one that I can always count on. Knowing He's there....and will never ever leave, gives me incredible courage to face life's challenges.

Thankful Thursday

“Many things are not as they seem: The worst things in life never are.” Jim Butcher 

It's winter. The temps have been in the minuses.....the weather is definitely cold. But in the morning.....when I get up..... the sun is brilliant. It makes me think it's not so cold out there. Then I step outside.....and it hits me just how decieving that sun really is. Deception.....even nature does it. But there's also truth....awesome incredible truth and nature shows that too. It's easy to be deceived.....but once you know the truth....Wow!!! This week I'm grateful for.....

-Watching the women in my group grasp onto 'truth' and shake free of the lies they've held onto for so long..lies that have insisted that they're not good enough.  Listening to them become empowered is awesome.
-knowing that each one of us is unique and all of us have a life story worth sharing...and hearing their stories makes me respect others more.
-I walked out to the mall parking lot one day and found my car  passanger side smashed. I went back in and I was told a 17 year old had hit it. The kid called police and left all his info. The truth....there are some pretty amazing and honest kids out there like that boy.
-writing my friend's story shows me how easy it is for lies to become deeply engrained. I love that F. survived and lived to tell the tale.
-The best....His truth that shines in my heart. It trumps everything else and always comes out on top. And the best it doesn`t matter how much we mess up....He always gives us second and third and even more `second` chances...

Linking with Cami at Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday

"Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies"  Stephen King

The week for me has has been characterized by 'stories.'  I'm rereading Anne Frank, the 14 yr. old who lived in a 'crazy time.'  In spite of the awfulness of her situation......Anne always clung to hope.. That hope carried her and made her life shine. 

I've been spending hours pouring over archives in preparation of writing my friend's life story. He's an older guy who lived hard, tough, fast.  The course of his life shows that God really does trump man's best efforts. Reading...listening.....writing these stories has infused me with a greater belief that nothing is ever impossible to overcome. I'm grateful for....

-For the opportunity to share my story and the hope I've found in God with a group of women this week.
-Opportunities  - leaving to go to the women's prison in a couple of hours. I"m nervous and excited but really want to shine hope.   
-I managed to connect with people who've helped me access archives that I just couldn't seem to find. With their help....boom.....the material has been pouring in.
-for M. who believes in me and has let me ignite the passion of my writing in her. She's running with me in so many ways that it  leaves me more excited and humbled and for Jules who always sends me courage and strength that makes me  me feel like I can fly.

- Mostly....that He's become an anchor...something solid for me to hold onto. Because of Him.....I'm not afraid anymore. B/c of Him.....I want to make as many hope dents in the world that I can.

Guys can I ask something - 

prayer for Sandi at Rose Chintz Cottage...she's going for surgery this morning. And Ginny who'se recovering.

Hoping you all have an awesome incredible super terrific day out there.

Thankful Thursday

“But is it such a bad thing to live like this for just a little while? Is it so awful to nap in a garden, in a patch of sunlight, in the middle of the day, right next to your favorite fountain? And then to do it again the next day?” Elizabeth Gilbert 

I just love love love these holiday weeks. They're so laid back. We go to bed whenever we feel like it...wake up any time we want....no rush...no nothing. A few more days of this before we have to get back into routines....back to normal living. But for now I'm loving every minute of it and am grateful for....

-The wonderful laid back easy life with no pressures, no programs, no rush.
-Get togethers with friends to watch movies, chat like crazy, and 'ouch' - eat more. I'm starting to feel chunky from all the home baked cookies, snacks and treats.
-Ice cold temps means no hiking in the woods so we bought a treadmill. I love hopping on it and blasting music so loud the kids dash downstairs to dance while I run.
-Instead of the kids waking me up early...I get to tiptoe in their rooms and pounce on them...love their groans and giggle fits. 
-Mostly His presence in my life.  He's there...always...in my corner....and makes life one awesome amazing adventure. There are already some things in the works for this year....ways to shine His Light....ways to give hope. Will write more as they happen. Thankful Thursday...thankful everyday.....all b/c of Him who turned turned my world upside down and made it the best.