Wedding Bells

Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married

Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married

Gee, I really love you

And we're gonna get married

Goin' to the chapel of love

Will you be my Maid of Honor? Brooke asks Mariah to be her Maid of Honor (Matron) for their 2019 wedding. 

2019 now brings a grand baby arriving in June and a September wedding. Congratulations Brooke & Alex! 

I need a day off from my day off. 

Getting 8" cut of hair cut off wasn't enough, I went back in yesterday morning and, "Let's go shorter!" I had several more inches cut off! My hair now bounces on the top of my shoulders and even I am surprised how thick and how much body my hair has with so much length cut off. It's a fun new look. 

Grandmomma to the rescue! Let's color! I stopped and picked up a coloring book, crayons, and donuts to teach my Sofia the fun of coloring.  

My girls together, we had a date day planned and while Mariah was struggling with morning sickness, she felt better once she was in the sunshine and out of the house. Brooke had a surprise question for her. Looking at beautiful Christmas decor, an absolute delicious chocolate dessert we went back to Mariah's and enjoyed conversation as my darling ornery grand daughter was eating her lunch. 

This is the furrowed brow of I don't want to stand here. She gets that expression from someone, I just don't know who? :D

My sweet Sofia is strong-willed and when I tell her she's rottenness, she laughs. She knows it, I know it. 

I love you Sofia. <3

A birthday lunch for both Alex (November 4th) and Brooke (November 8th) was strategically coordinated into the day between our work schedules.

I puzzled in Happy Hour with a bestie with a delicious glass of wine and my day ended with Brooke coming over and us marathon watching the rest of the season of Schitt's Creek. 

It was such a good day off and now I need a day off from my day off.

A Business Plan

It always begins as a thought that simply comes to my mind. 

A thought ...

     ... intrigue that captures my attention I ponder; 

           ... suddenly, I'm on a path I had never considered before.

Yesterday morning I was thinking about a business idea. Let me back up, actually its been an idea I've entertained in my thoughts lightly for a couple years.  

About a month ago I started giving it more thought and doing some research. My ideas began coming together and growing in different directions. Without an open opportunity it simply stays as an idea in my mind.

Am I capable? It's an honest question we ask ourselves. I hopped online and started doing some research and the gates opened in a lot of directions where I was saying to myself, "Yes". 

Yesterday morning I am doing some research and becoming more firm in my mind it's a really solid and needed idea, but there is one person who could open that door given the unique position that I am in. 

Do I have the energy to pull this off? I mentioned in conversation with God, "If You want this to happen, our paths are going to need to cross and You will need to make that happen." I'm not certain I would really pursue it left to my own will.  

That was yesterday morning.

Last night as I am cutting cake for a huge event and guests were lining up to select chocolate, vanilla or marble, there he was. 

The Mayor.

Okay, the challenge is on. I had said a prayer, God produced the person, in the same day! He's challenging like that. My smile was for God's humor and the Mayor who I've had only a couple short conversations with.

I told the Mayor when we last spoke he mentioned something that caught me off guard, because he mentioned something that I was very interested in. I shared I have an idea I'd like to share with him.

He said to call his office to arrange a time for us to meet. I confess I cowered a bit here, because I don't want to take his time up for an idea he may not be interested in and told him that I would put together a business plan and email it to him. If he is interested, perhaps we can talk.

He pulled out his business card said to call his office.

Listen, if you challenge a mighty God who produces a prayer upon not a challenge, but kind of a I will do ... if You ... it's time to put my big girl panties on and follow through giving 100%.

God's response was immediate. I will do my best and present my business plan to the Mayor. If it turns into something, wonderful. If it is doesn't and it is simply a seed planted, I was faithful to my prayer. Either way I have peace. 

Me being responsive to God is more important than a business plan. If He wants it to work, it will flourish. If the timing isn't right or He has another plan for me, I've seen His work and I know I'm in the perfect hands. 

Resolution

Resolution:

a. the act of resolving or determining up an action 

or course of action, method, procedure, etc.

b. the mental state or quality of being resolved or 

resolute; firmness of purpose

I'm reading this book, The Resolution for Woman" by one of my favorite authors Priscilla Shirer. When I go to the bookstore I always say a quick and simple prayer, "Help me find the perfect book."

Done. That's all it takes.

I saw the title Resolution and it struck a cord in me. This years resolution was financial. I went from short goals which had been hard to accomplish without a plan, to me far exceeding my expectations.

Thanks to the Christian author Dave Ramsey of Financial Peace, the thought of $1,000 in a savings account was impossible. Life is expensive and something financial was always draining what I had. My 1st baby step was to save until I had $1,000 in a savings account. Then, I started paying off small credit card debts one at a time in a snowball effect which lightened the load of bills that came in the mail. Selling my home propelled me into a far better place for me in a beautiful new beginning, wiping all debt, paying off everything including car loans and it provided me a nice nest egg. The only expenses I have now are rent & utilities.

I highly, highly suggest financial freedom as a resolution.

My gosh, I remember the year my resolution was learning to say, "No".

As we approach the holidays, what is my resolution for 2019?

Always loving and seeking to learn I couldn't wait to dive into what Priscilla has to mention with biblical truths. She covers topics:

• Surprisingly Satisfied
• Purposefully Feminine
• Authentically Me
• Faithfully His
• My Best
• My Blessing
• My Forgiveness
• My Integrity
• My Heart
• Loving my Children
• Living with Grace
• Leaving a Godly Legacy

Each choice you make determines the path you take, which determines the life you'll end up living, because of the tomorrow you end up shaping.

Perhaps being intentional about what we chose is a wise thing.

The secret to contentment was what I was reading last night and I confess, this an area I do well in as well as my daughters.

"Today we hear philosophy of happiness that's actually been training us for a long time not to be happy. It says there is always something else, something more, some additional requirement we need before we can really enjoy life the way it was meant to be enjoyed. Advertisements bombard us with suggestions, encouraging us to get rid of the old and acquire the new, to be dissatisfied with what we already have. Fed by such a steady diet of unclaimed desires, caught up in this vicious cycle, we consequently feel incomplete and substandard. Unhappy. Uncontrolled. Unfulfilled. Dissatisfied.

This is precisely why a satisfied woman is such a surprising woman. The rarity and uniqueness of a woman who has chosen to be satisfied with what she has, with who she is, and with where she lives is as uncommon and worth celebrating. She has chosen contentment over displeasure." - Priscilla Shirer

This chapter dives into a worldly view, a life of contentment view, and biblical truths.

Contentment is life-changing.

When you are happy and content you are at peace.

Both my daughters live content lives as well. They are content and grateful for what they have, they live enjoying the moment they are already in, not running around with their hair on fire seeking fulfillment, seeking sensationalism, seeking "things" to fill a void, or embarrassingly seeking attention.

I'm am proud of the young ladies they are, in a world out of control.

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned
to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is
to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned
the secret of being content in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty
or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
- Philippians 4:11-13

Happy Halloween '18

Her card arrived in the mail and I was ready on Halloween with a new book and a yummy treat. 

Aunt Brookie and Alex showed up in costume, because my girl loves to dress up! 

Brooke & Alex are settled in their apartment and loving life living together. Yes, even though he leaves wet towels on the floor and she junks the bathroom counter with girlie products. I knew she would love it and she does.

It may be raining and cold outside, but there is always something going on at my place!

Bright-eyed

One of the memories I hold near and dear to my heart were my visits to my grandmothers house in the mountains of Virginia. Waking up in the morning to the fabulous scents of a homemade breakfast being cooked just for me and how happy she was that I was there.

I want Sofia to love the scents of my home when she is with me and for her to confidently know in her soul she is deeply loved.

Little Miss Sunshine spent the night last night.

Bright-eyed and happy in her jammies, there is much to do. We made french toast together and she seemed to really like it.

She likes to investigate and be a part of everything ... and I let her.

Blessed are the curious,

for they shall find adventure.

A sweet moment captured of her kissing the baby in the mirror.

It's hard to believe another grand baby is on the way. I have a pregnancy app on my phone that gives me weekly updates as to the development of my grandchild. At 9 weeks, so much is happening. What a miracle life is. 

My sweet baby is coming back over this evening and I just took a cake out of the oven. She's pretty happy here. 

My Love, My Life

         

I saw this sweet photo of my Sofia and thought there is my love and my life. My daughters, my grandchildren, and my sons. The lives God entrusted me.

 

My love, my life.

Comfy at Home

I ventured out today to get a new book. There is something so comfy about being at home with a book, a soft blanket and a favorite mug with a hot beverage. I'm really into coffee, hot apple cider and hot teas right now.

The traffic. Get me home! It's like pre-Christmas shoppers out there on the roads and parking lots are full at every store. I could barely get to the highway by the mall due to traffic. Maybe because it's cold & rainy outside or perhaps people just don't know what to do anymore than search for more stuff.

Me, I'm almost done Christmas shopping!! :D

Making my Christmas list months ago and picking up things as I go so I don't have to use a credit card and thanks to Amazon Prime, I am almost finished.

It's been a year since I've used a credit card. It was a goal to see how long I could go without an impromptu purchase I didn't have money set aside for and the months have rolled into a year. If you want to form a new habit, I highly recommend ditching credit cards.

At the book store today the sales clerk at checkout acted as if I was nuts to pass on their credit card because I would have saved $8.00 today. [Eye roll] I can see she was passionate that I was missing out on an excellent deal, no thanks.

My girls don't use credit cards either. Both are really against them thanks to Brooke's Dave Ramsey finance class the high school offered and Mariah & Jeremy following Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace.

Curled-up moments are not for daydreams only. They are intentional moments of rest and relaxation and I for one am going make a cup of hot apple cider, curl up on my comfy chaise snuggled up under a warm blanket and open my new book. Guilty confession: with my neck massage on as I read.

Stay safe out there.