Happy Happy Happy

I know I've talked about this before, but I truly believe happiness is a choice.  Circumstances in your life or the lives of others can delegate happiness or unhappiness, but I believe that you can make a conscious choice to be happy even in the midst of pain.  When I look at the things in my life that are good, there are an abundance.  My life is not perfect, and I struggle with many things....some that I have not revealed to anyone but God; but I learned a long time ago to embrace the good and be grateful.  NPayne has taught me so much about this, and I am so very thankful that God constantly reminds me through my husband.    Now I'm going to take this from I to We.....When we step back and look at troubles we are facing vs. troubles of many others, it's eye opening and much is revealed.  I'm not minimizing our struggles and troubles, but it does put a lot in perspective.  Think about all of the children who are starving or dying from lack of food and clean water, all of the children who are slaves to sex trafficking, who are being abused, who are in physical or emotional pain, all of the children who are ill or dying from illness, who have nobody to care for them or show them love, all of the children who don't know Jesus.  I meditate on the following saying often...."Something You Take For Granted, Someone Else is Praying For"!  It's easy to get wrapped up in our own sadness, heartbreak; and I'm not saying we shouldn't....for a time....but then choose happiness.  What I try to remember is that there is a time for everything.....for me....right now, it's time for peace!

There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

Needs/Wants

I NEED that....actually I just WANT it.  I haven't had to do without many needs in my life, yes a few; but for the most part not many.  I certainly haven't had to do without needs that sustain my life or ability to live.  NPayne and I live on a tight budget.  When we were first married, we had a savings account (with money in it), owned a house, cars, socialized, looked nice, ate well, etc.  Once we had children, we SOMETIMES had a savings account (usually with not much money in it), owned a house, cars that are really old and paid for, socialized occasionally, looked nice, ate (not always well, but we ate), etc.  Coming to the realization years ago, that we simply can't afford many things was a little challenging; but as time has passed....I have realized even more that stuff and money aren't what make a family.  We have had to tell our kids NO to things, but they still have  A LOT!  We have had to tell ourselves NO to things, but we still have  A LOT!  We are about 3 payments short of paying off our house....seriously cannot believe we are to this point!  We haven't had car payments in at least 7 years!  We can clothe our children...thankfully they are not into labels and brands!  We do have food....not always organic (as I would like) or anything extra special, but then again....having food at all is extra special...isn't it?  As I look at our bank account today, I am thankful that there is anything in it and how God provides.  As I look at my daily email from Anthropologie and all the other specialty stores and discount offers, I realize that it is a good thing that our budget is tight.  I cannot see myself ever spending hundreds of dollars on a sweater, but that doesn't mean that I don't NEED...would like to have one.  Being on a budget has made me that much more aware of money and how we spend it and therefore that much more aware of those who don't have their needs met, because they simply don't have the money.  I hope and pray that my children will really understand the abundance they have...even when they hear me say...."We can't afford that"....and that they will always want to give back.   I am seeing that they do, and that is something you can't put a price tag on; because it is simply PRICELESS!

Today

I woke up, thanked God for another day and wished I had said "No" to a few things on my daily calendar.  It was a busy day today but in a good way....I'm tired as usual, but I'm thankful for the day that has passed. The weather was beautiful, and I rode my bike. Hoping to start a new ministry (or two) at church, volunteered at the pumpkin patch and sold lots of pumpkins, bought groceries, lost another pound, went to the library, got all my kiddos home after school and had nowhere else to go. I was in my pjs by 6:30...thank God for some down time!

The Good Life

The good life....what does that mean to you? When you think of someone who has "the good life", what comes to mind? Twenty years ago, my vision of "the good life" was probably different than it is now. Honestly I don't ever remember thinking of any celebrity, in particular, having what I would consider to be "the good life". I do remember thinking in the past .... "If only I had????"  Or "if only ???? would happen". I still often think ... If only thoughts. The difference is that now I don't think whatever that may be will determine if my life is good. I realize that my life is good...really good. I don't think much about what I wish I had or didn't have or even consider those wants as factors in making my life good. I do find myself longing for things like...time, simplicity, quiet, discernment, peace. Those things may sound like easy things to obtain but for me, oftentimes they are not. I have to work at these things, and I am still oftentimes unsuccessful. What I have learned is that sometimes I have to give up something really good or that I really enjoy to obtain one or more of these things that I long for, and that's okay!

Me & Blogging

I have missed blogging.  I haven't had time to write out my thoughts lately, and they are all jumbled up in my head.  I am going to have to sit down and WRITE soon!  I'll be back very very soon....maybe even later tonight.  So much is happening in my head, heart, with where I'm being led....it's so EXCITING, OVERWHELMING, WONDERFUL, INTIMIDATING!  I can't wait to tell you all about it!