Blessed New Year

A New Year. Today is the start of a fresh beginning. Find your direction and Go. May God bless and keep you. May you be grateful and appreciative. May you use your days to glorify God. May you be loving and kind everyday. May you become who you were born to be. May you make a difference in your world. Have a blessed new year. Dont waste one minute!

A Seasons End

As the Holiday season is coming to an end, find closure. One more day to reflect on the year. Hold onto the cherished moments and let go of the hurt and unforgiveness. Make a plan, set goals and find order to take into a new year. Take what you have learned in this year and use that knowledge in the year to come. Start a new chapter, a fresh perspective and a new vision. Aren't you excited? Rewrite your story. Choose to love... choose to forgive... choose to live.

For last years words belong to last years language

And next years words await another voice.

And to make and end is to make a beginning.

- T.S. Eliot

Have a safe and blessed New Years Eve!

New Endeavours

As the year is coming to an end and 2010 is upon us, we think of the changes we'd like to make for the new year. Most people make new years resolutions, in hopes of improving the quality of their lives. Some stick to it for weeks, maybe even months, but routines sets in and we are back in our ruts. Lets challenge ourselves this year. Let us set some "Goals." Some that are attainable and specific. Like, I will walk more or introduce a new sport into my routine rather then the vast resolution of "I will lose weight." Try some slight changes that though might seem small - will redirect our course.

Here are some of my past goals for a new year:

Throw a party, take a class, Plant a garden, volunteer at a shelter, mentor a child, try a new recipe 1x a month, start a new bible study, learn a new skill, try a new restaurant 1x a month, join a gym, organize a closet, create something beautiful, look for opportunities to help others, eat more veggies, start a joy journal, encourage someone 1x a week, Make a new Friend ..ect...

All these are examples of goals that are fun attainable and can be marked off through out the year, or made into a habit. They can lead you to new endeavours and into uncharted sea's. Life can be fun and New! Be thinking of some goals for the new year.

To Change ones life: start immediately. Do it flamboyantly. no exceptions. - William James

Together in our hearts

The Christmas season always brings such a peace and unlocks memories of Christmas's past. The family, the moments spent together growing up. The togetherness. The JOY and laughter we shared. The love for each other. Though we are not all together this year, we are together in our hearts. May God bless you my sweet family as the new year is approaching. May God grant you safe travels back to your homes. May he bless each family member and their personal endeavours. May we always keep our eyes focused on God as we share his love with others.

Love Always, Lisa Loraine

Christmas Morning

My nephew, Jakob is with us this Christmas. Santa arrived to leave us gifts so we had to rise early this morning! Have a blessed christmas weekend with your family.

"The love of a family is life's greatest blessings"

All Decked out

A happy home all decked out. Have a blessed Christmas.

A Women of True Beauty

A women of beauty is a women who is not striving to become beautiful or worthy or enough. She knows in her quiet center where God dwells, that he finds her beautiful, has deemed her worthy, and in him, she is enough.

A women of true beauty is a women who in the depths of her soul is at rest, trusting God, because she has come to know him worthy of her trust. She excludes a sense of calm, a sense of rest, and invites those around her to rest as well. She speaks comfort; she knows that we live in a world of war, that we have a vicious enemy, and our journey is through a broken world. But she also knows that because of God all is well, that all will be well.

-John and Stasi Eldredge from the book- Captivating

Beauty

I did not ask for love, I did not ask for security, I did not ask for things. I asked for beauty.

I once was in a place where the beauty around me captured my heart, enveloped my senses and brought tears to my eyes. It was as if I was given an unexpected gift. I remember asking God that day if there was something I could have my entire life. I asked that he might bestow beauty before my eyes - All the days of my life. I am visual person and beauty fills my senses, brings me joy and inspires me.

Find beauty in the simple things, daily. It is all around us.

Peaceful Rain

Friday was a rainy nippy day. My husband was off work , so we did our favorite rainy day activity. We went to the bookstore. There is something peaceful about watching the rain from inside a cozy bookstore. Though we want to out of it and dry inside, I cant help longing to be near a window watching it, sipping something hot and reading something interesting. Such a relaxing peaceful day. As the rain comes softly pouring in on life, try to find peace in the center of it. Sit inside of your soul and look out peacefully. The storms will pass, the rainbow will beam across the sky and the sun will soon be out again. Learn to appreciate the rainy days and use them as times of reflection.

Rain showers my spirit and waters my soul - Emily Logan Decans

Live Out Loud

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

At times we are at a point in our lives when we are holding on so tight to something, it becomes painful. Not as it should be. Remaining the same, the way we know, the way have learned to be comfortable in has taken its toll... has worn its welcome. You need to make a change but fear the unknown. But you cant blossom unless you let go. Go ahead,take the risk... Blossom.

Live out loud.

Celebrate Cozy

We have hard wood floors in our home with no insulation. The house is always drafty, even when the heater is on. My hearts desire for this month have been for "slippers." Ever since the cold chilly days set in. Sweat shirts, hot chocolate and slippers, ah so cozy. However, a desire is NOT a necessity. So I had to wait. My flip flops had to do the job for the meanwhile. But today. Today... I got slippers! I set out for Walmart, of course. I was going for the practical slide on's, Except I couldn't get the soft furry type due to our dog, Bella boo. whom claims ownership of "every furry thing," assuming they are her stuffed toys. Carrying them around in and nahhing on them. So I as going for the sturdy rubber sole. Then I saw THESE. One try and I was Sold! Walking on clouds. Ooww... Aahh. Comfy, warm and downright cute. They met all my criteria.

Was going to save them for a Christmas present to "me" and put them under the tree, but my husband insisted I use them now. So how could I resist?

Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Being Alive is the special occasion. - Unknown

Celebrate cozy!

Sweet Peace

Don't you wish we all had this peace in our lives. I think God desires us to live among each other in peace. Today as I hurried around running errands, shopping, getting christmas cards done, I noticed something. In the season where we are supposed to be spreading christmas cheer and extending kindess to all, this is the time people are the most uptight, rude and impatient. I saw people taking another's parking spot, being rude to the employees and displaying obvious impatience as they had to wait their turn. Good..ness. Let's challenge ourselves to be the light in the busy season. Display peace and calmness in the madness. Smile, dont scowl when the lines are long and be kind to the employees. They are slammed with people needing their attention and are doing their best. Then as you lay your head on your pillow know you can sleep in sweet peace. May God bless you in this blessed busy season.

BLISS

This is BLISS, my rental spot in Homestead Handcraft's. (Address is on my blog.) Thought Id give you a peek of my latest christmas decorations. It turned out quiet peaceful. Creating brings me such pleasure and excitement. Its like a display of my soul. There is Bliss in everyday. You will soon discover you can create your own bliss.

Plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. - Veronica A. shoffstall

A Melody

Many People die with their Music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out. - Oliver Wendell Homes

Stop preparing to live. Live now. Dont wait till the end to start singing your song. Sing now with joy. Make sure the world has heard your sweet melody.

Daily Courage

Living takes courage. To go through all the trials life has to offer with grace takes a strength of heart. Be encouraged. Its only for a season. Whatever life issues may be tugging on your heart right now, know you are not alone. Its all part of the journey. There is light at the end of the tunnel, and know, when you step out, the sun will be shining upon your beautiful face... and you will be Smiling. Much love and Prayers to all who going through "a season of challenges" out there. Hang in there. Hold onto hope, There is always hope.

Hope is putting faith to work when doubting would be easier. - unknown

Inspire

What inspires You? Music inspires me, seeing goodness in this world inspires me, Creativity inspires me. Beholding beauty inspires me. Being the receiver of a kind gesture inspires me. Spreading Gods love inspires me. Making a difference inspires me. What inspires you? What brings out good from your heart? What breathes life into your soul, what fills you with emotion and stimulates you into action? Find inspiration in this world... and be amazed how inspiration can spur you on to make this world a better place.

Gifts and Talents

We each have been gifted with talents, something we are really we good at. What are you doing with yours? Are you using your gifts and God-given talents to make a difference in this world? Do you just waste it, not have time to pursue what really thrills you? You know what it is. Your passion. Use it... It was a gift.

When I stand before God at the end of my life I would hope that i would hate to have a single bit of talent left, and could say "I uses everything you gave me"- Erma Bombeck

Coats

Put on your Coats! It is cold in San Antonio. Even macho-man wore his today.

Hats and Scarves

Ya TEXAS, We are having a real winter here.Definitely hats and scarf weather. Get out and breathe in the brisk freshness into your soul! You have got to love it :)

But..No Mittens

The last great snowfall in San Antonio was in 1984. So you can imagine the excitement when they were PREDICTING snow! In Texas. The grocery stores were packed the day before, children anticipating missing school-dreaming of snowmen, fireplaces were prepared and logs set in. What a great day it would be. I bought a camera to capture the the event. The morning came. Frigid cold... We waited, watching out of the window as we went about our day...waiting... and waiting. Then suddenly...What?... the SUN came out??? I love the sun, but on A SNOW DAY? The day ended with sun setting quietly as all our hopes dashed away. No Mittens. I'm not giving up. I still have hopes, there is still some winter left in the season. Thank God for Hope.

"Hope" is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul- And sings the tunes without the words-And never stops-at all -Emily Dickenson

Bah Humbug

As christmas approaches enjoy all the delights it has to offer. Dont be discouraged at the commercialism of the season. Pull out the good parts. Make new memories with your family and make giving a joy not an obligation. Enjoy your freinds and family and be of good cheer. Decorate your homes and trim your tree with glee. and most of all remember the reason for the season! Have some christmas spirit and if you come across a "bah humbug"... bake him some cookies!