Tell Me What Ya Think!

My family and I are heading out for our yearly, well deserved family vacation this Friday! We will be leaving from Indiana and making our way to Tennessee with an overnight stop in Kentucky.

Would you all like to see photos of our travels? I really enjoy this blog where Ron and his wife travel and share photos of where they are and what they see. They recently went to the Grand Teton National Park. So beautiful. Check out his blog today!

I’m not a good photographer like Leola or Vanessa, check out their blogs today. But I can get the picture inside the square.

Some posts throughout may only be pics with a few comments. Others, I may get inspired. Pray I get inspired! What better place to find inspiration than on top of the mountain!

Weigh in and tell me what you think!

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One Who Designs

Don’tcha ever wonder just how it all came about?

One minute calm waters, next you’re blowing your spout!

Anger spewing forth at a drop of a dime

And before you know it you’ve crossed the line

Thoughts are slamming from the back of you brain

Tumbling forward, what happened to calm you’ll always remain?

“Never” you vowed to again to lose your temper, they’d see

but instead they saw another jerk reaction of your knee!

Where do you go, what do you do?

How do you lift your head and vow anew

It’s becoming to feel like a constant cycle of defeat

But I know the God who sits on the Mercy Seat

He sees the hurt and pain we feel

He feels the pain of those whose joy we steal

He knows flesh is flesh, daily it must die

He hears how our angry hearts cry

The solution is repentance, turn around

Walking away from the anger that has you bound

And if you have walk away a thousand times

It’s ok as long as your feet point to the One Who Designs…

Your steps, your thoughts, your heart

He will strengthen you each new day from the start

Amy’s World Again!

Many of you responded positively to my post titled Amy’s World…so I got to thinking. Maybe I’ll share some more. Many of you were able to relate to my lessons learned.

A New Life got a new look. I got bored one late night and went through wordpress themes. I’ll be changing the picture on my icon soon as well.

Lexi is 25. She is my Autistic daughter. She grew up with me. I always say autism protected her from repeating my mistakes. She witnessed all of the ugly addiction I put myself through. I did alot for her over those years though. I should’ve been sober, alongside of her teaching her how to do things for herself. And now with two younger kids, there never seems to be the right moment to take her and work with her. She goes to Day Services which help, but I know she’s capable of so much more.

But I’ve gotta be capable of much more too, as I seem to control alot of what she does. It’s become a habit that needs broken. We will soon be sitting down, her and I, to go over our boundaries. What she’s responsible for and what I’m responsible for. I hope and pray this helps, as her behavior lately has become challenging. I’m thinking it’s because she’s maturing (maybe like 14/15yr old right now) and wants more responsibility and to have more say so, but has no idea that she does. I’ve also noticed her asking why about everything. This is someone who rarely knew where we were on the road when we’re going somewhere. Or when we showed up somewhere, she just simply got out of the car and came along. Now she wants to know why we’re going here or there. Just one example of the changes. Good changes, but hard on me to stop and explain each decision. Especially when the questions are coming at me in an accusing manner.

I was asked to do something this week by my pastor. It is pretty exciting if you look at the fact that the public schools have been forcing God out for years now. We’ve were given permission to set up a table for parents to sign up for our boys/girls scouts program we have at the church! Told ya that’s exciting! It was from 12:30-7pm today.

I took the first shift. It was interesting to watch the faces of the people walking by. They’d see the sign behind the table saying “church” then look at me, smile and keep going. Others saw the sign and then looked away and pretended quick interest in other tables. But some did come by, and some took papers, and some did leave contact info.

My uncle was in a bad motorcycle accident tonight. Broken sternum, fractured hip, broken rib, and his arm has something going on. A truck crossed the center line and hit him head on. Sounds like he will live. But he doesn’t live the abundant life.

Weird thing is, a friend of mine lost her uncle to cancer 2 nights ago. It got me thinking about my uncle and what if he died. I didnt pray for him then as I should have. Pray this accident wakes him about the meaning of life and God.

Things I’ve learned:

• Just because someone gives you advice…you don’t always have to take it. (That’s a freebie for ya about an unspoken situation)
• Sometimes the best way to be a mom is to not be mothering.
• I did the best I could with my oldest, considering my circumstances. I can’t continue to blame myself for her setbacks.
• I can’t blame myself for not doing something when I didn’t know that I should’ve been doing it.
• Never too late to set boundaries with those around you
• Even if no child signs up through the schools…We still got permission to go into the school! God is on the move!
• When someone who you haven’t thought about or spoken to lately pops into your head…pray for them
• Biggest lesson learned today….going into McDonald’s for your to-go order takes more time than the drive through. As the workers ignore the people face to face to deal with the cars!

The Moonlight Blogger Award

Thank you to my friend Stu for this new award nomination. His blog is inspiring because of his ability to overcome addiction and to help others. He’s also inspiring as he has been running an email prayer line which is an awesome way to help strengthen the kingdom of God. Click here to see his award and questions. And if you’d like to be on the email prayer line, simply comment on his post and he’ll get with you.

Here are the guidelines:

1. Thank the person who presented you with the award.

2. Display the original award image as your featured image and include it in your post.

3. Copy and paste the meaning of the award:

The meaning of the Moonlight Blogger Award, created byPurple Rose andDollfaced Writer, is to recognize bloggers who illuminate the lives of their readers. The bloggers presented with this award pour their passion into the content they share with their readers, who are deeply inspired. This award acknowledges the impact of their written words as they have the power to illuminate the darkest of places, just like the moonlight.

4. Answer the five prompts listed.

5. Present the award to one person.

Here are the prompts:

1. Share one thing you love about yourself that you wouldn’t change.

My past. I wouldn’t have been able to say last year, but now that healing has taken place, my past is what makes me…me! I wouldn’t have the insight or compassion I do if I would’ve had a smooth sailing life.

2. Share two of your favorite quotes:

To be honest quotes used to be my thing but I’d rather share 2 scriptures Joshua 1:9 and proverbs 26:17   He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

3. Give 3 reasons why you write:

It’s fun

It’s healing for myself

And I hope it can heal others

4. Give 4 pieces of advice for other bloggers

Numbers don’t matter. Neither do followers. I have almost 500 followers but about 30 -40 read and comment a day.

You must read and like others bloggers if you want an audience on here.

If someone follows you with off the wall views than yours, don’t block them, rather allow them to read your stuff, as your writing may change their views and their lives.

New bloggers…check your spam!

5. List 5 things/places/people that inspire you and wrote why you chose them.

My husband inspires me everyday with his ability to see inside of the people around him

My mother in law as she’s been through so much but never tries to get attention for it. But rather is graceful in her struggles and triumphs.

My church inspires me each time I walk in its doors. When the congregation is on one accord, you can’t help but be inspired to live for God.

The word of God inspires me to be a better person, wife and mother.

My children inspire me. Their sweet innocence compared to the cruel world out there reminds me of how blessed I am to have gotten out from underneath addiction.

I am giving this award to Renee. Thank you Renee for being friendly, kind and prayerful. I see your comments on other’s post and you are a constant encouragement.

Amy’s World

I want to try to write about my day to day life a bit and share it with you all. I’m always looking for ways to deal and cope with life and this may help as well.

The devotionals I was trying to write were fun. But I’ve found it’s really hard to be inspired on a daily basis to come up with something that can be turned to a lesson moment.

Poems still come to mind, but they come in waves. Sometimes they’re flowing in and I write and write. I’ll go back in my drafts the next day and am astounded to read what I’ve wrote. Those are the fun, “I knew it was God” times. Then there are poems birthed by one line. A line that usually comes when I’m in the shower or driving. Two places you can’t write in. Got one brewing right now. 🐄🐄 here’s a hint…cattle.

We had a garage sale over the weekend. Whew lots of work for little money. I was glad my husband helped with the majority of it. Thank you Mike. If you’re thinking about having one…take it from me. Don’t. Just don’t. Go fishing. Go for a bike ride.

My little one turned 7 this past weekend. We had a party for her at the park/splash pad. She said “best birthday ever!” when we got in the car. That’s when a parent knows they did a good job.

These two girls are the same age! Just goes to show how each of us are made different. My daughter is the tall one.

This week I struggled with feelings of wanting to tell someone off. A certain individual….a sandpapery person, as my friend Renee puts it. My flesh was flared up. My mind was wrapped in a conversation I wanted to have. I physically had to stop myself from making a call or writing a text several times. I don’t say this to brag. I say it to share…because deep down I don’t want to think a thing about any of it. I want so badly for it to blow over. But anger takes hold. Self righteous thoughts come tumbling in. Then compassion for the individual shows up. Then confusion. Then conviction. Ever been here? No fun. I’m on the backside of it, I believe. So that’s my God answering prayers.

Things I learned this week…

• Writing isn’t always as easy as some may think
• You make about 25 cents an hour when you have a garage sale. 👎
• Birthdays should never go ignored. They don’t have to be over the top. They just have to be about celebrating the child.
• If you have a friend or two that you can count on to pray for you, you should reach out in your times of need and ask them to pray for you. Thank you Mandy!
• Not responding, but turning the other cheek is taking the higher ground.
• People can hurt you and you don’t have to hurt them back.
• You can win a war by simply not engaging.
• Saying “they will get what’s coming to them” isn’t a good way to make yourself feel better. Although it may be true that vengeance is the Lord’s; we shouldn’t wish His vengeance on our enemies but rather that they come to terms with their behavior, repent and change.
• This is all easier to write than to do!🙄

Lastly, thank you to those of you who nominate me for awards. I’m sorry to those I don’t get to. I’m still open to them but most likely will do 1 out of every 5.

Roman’s 12:14-21

¹⁴ Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

¹⁵ Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

¹⁶ Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

¹⁷ Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

¹⁸ If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

¹⁹ Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

²⁰ Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

²¹ Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Lastly, Stu I stole your title! It was too good not to! Be blessed🙃

The Eyes of Jesus

I still have my mind on heaven. This is a repost of one of my favorite poems…

After a quick flight I land at your gates Where’s the knocker, is there a bell? Who awaits? As if my questions were spoken out loud, the mighty prophets appear. “Do you know where you are? Do you have what it takes to be here?” I knew, here, there is no more anger, no more […]

via The Eyes of Jesus — A New Life

Mom

Reposting this to my mother-in-law today because she’s just so important to us. Grateful for her and I hope you all know someone like her and have a present help like her.

I am your Ruth, you’re my Naomi. You’re such a crucial part of my testimony. Motherless, always searching for a mother to love. I found you and you showed me the way to the Father above. Patient and kind, heart full of charity. The mother I have in you surely is a rarity. Quick […]

via Mom — A New Life