afternoon.
3:43pm to be exact! And it’s sunny outside. 🌞
We’re going dancing today!
I’m super excited! Can you tell? 😀 <3
Guys it’s been at least 2 years since I’ve been to a dancing event. I think it was in October 2020 actually. But I am so excited to go! Dancing makes me really come to life!
What makes you come to life? Comment below!
xxx <3
V
Listen up everyone! Today is a new day so let’s make the most out of it. Whatever things you keep putting off saying you will do it tomorrow…. do it today! Tomorrow is not promised.
These flowers don’t look like anything very impressive but I am proud to say that they have been living in this vase for over 3 weeks. Actually, it’s been 1 month. I’m truly shocked and delighted in these little guys. It’s amazing what pouring a little bit of water onto something living will do.
Speaking of living water, let’s pour “living water” of encouragement and love into our relationships. Everybody out here is living this hard life and trying to make the best out of their situations. The least we can do is support one another and show compassion. Things may be easy for me today and hard tomorrow, and vice-a-versa with someone else. We don’t need to add to the hatred in the world and kick other people when they’re down and add to the madness.
It’s amazing what a smile will do 🙂
I just want to take a moment to show some gratitude to God. I look around and realize that everything I have came from Him.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17
God does not change. He’s not nice today and rude tomorrow. He doesn’t get tired of loving us. He doesn’t give up on us and stop pursuing us and fighting for us. He’s not fickle and flaky.
He’s firm. Foundational. Strong. He doesn’t crack. He’s supportive. He upholds. He protects. He’s welcoming and inviting. His presence is comforting. He is peaceful to be around. I am so thankful for Him.
Lord, thank you so much for letting me know you. Thank you for answering my prayer ten years ago. When I asked for your help. Thank you for leading me in righteousness and helping me to choose your ways. Your ways are so much higher than my ways. I choose selfishly and narrow-mindedly when I’m not relying on your wisdom to guide me to make the right choices. You long for me to be dependent on You and trust you to live this life with you, not apart from you. You are my best friend, my guide, my Truth. I live because you live in me.
I hope your day is more fragrant than this rose, more pleasing to your eyes than its’ petals, and flourishes more vivaciously than its’ leaves <3
xxx
V
I’ma just take five minutes or so and write whatever on earth comes to my mind. So. We started our painting company. And… it’s been a busy summer! I can’t beLIEVE we are here mid-way through August. The last 7 weeks have absolutely FLOWN by. I’m just glad my husband and I made some intentional time to have fun 🙂
Lol. We took more pictures but they are all just awful. Gotta work on picture taking skills. Actually, I’m the only inept one. He is an awesome photographer.
Well I definitely just got distracted and came back 2 hours later! So much for that 5 minute brain dump post. 😛
Hope y’all have an amazing weekend. If you are in a relationship, look for the best in your partner today. Don’t meditate on the worst or on one little annoyance (or maybe a whole list!) because if you are with them there also is a whole list of amazing things that you love about them. And if you’ve forgotten those traits, it’s time to start looking again 🙂
Cheers!
V
I look around and see your provision. Everything I see has been given to me! Thank you for filling my life with so much goodness.
Knowing you is so sweet. Knowing the depth of your love and care and provision is incredible. It’s one thing to say the truth with words; it’s another to believe it in one’s heart.
You are who you say you are.
What an artist… what a story-teller. An author. What a dreamer, a visionary, a poet. What a romantic. A comedian. An inspirer. You give hope and inspiration to everyone near to you because you embody hope.
I think back to before I knew you and consider the direction of my life. I’m not sure what exactly I was striving for or why, but it probably had to do with acceptance. I wanted acceptance and I wanted love. But I was looking for it from people. And now I know where it’s found.
We love because you first loved us.
I can’t quite put my finger on why. Why you love us. But I know partially. It’s because you created us, and you call us your children. You want to pour yourself out before us and give us yourself. You already fully did it once, a long many years ago. But I find that you are constantly pouring yourself out, in goodness, love and mercy.
I love the life I am living with you. You fight my battles through me. I only walk forward in obedience. You’ve taught me a lot, and I know I have so much more to learn. But I have learned this:
-to listen for your voice
-to give you the glory
-to start my sentences with “but God…”
because I know these to be true:
-you really do know everything, see everything, and are sovereign over everything
-you really do work all things together for my good
-you really do love and care about me… even when it may not seem like it to the world. If my circumstances are troublesome. It’s easy for the world to say “where is your God now?”
But I know where you are. I know that you’re with me. And NOTHING can separate me from your love.
Have an amazing day!!!!!!!!!! <3
xxx
V
Lord,
It’s like this. Whatever it is that you’ve called me to do this day, I shall do it. And not resent it. I shall happily accept whatever it is that you have laid before me, that you have put on my plate, with joy.
I will not be bitter.
I will not complain.
I will not wish I were elsewhere or cry out “why is this happening to me?”
I will not let my feelings govern my steps. I will not keep using the excuse “I don’t feel like it”.
Instead of repeating “I’m so tired”, I will change it to “I’m SO thankful”.
Lord turn my grumblings into gratitude.
Help me be more forgiving of other people and see them through Your lens of compassion.
Oh, to have a Love like Yours.
Oh, to know You and be known by You.
What a privilege. What an honor.
Lord, in actuality, there are no words to describe what a gift. What a joy divine.
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
All I can do is worship.
“Everlasting Arms” by Iris DeMent
Go and trust Him today. He is making you into a saint today. He is working to make you holy. In His perfect time, at His deliberate pace. Trust Him.
<3
Love you all!
xxx
V
for the rain
that brings a grey shadow to my windows
and make the flowers grow
while I sleep a bit longer
and I thank you
for all the challenges that are presented day to day
in word and deed
that cause me to grow
bigger than this mushroom
okay, maybe not physically
not physically growing (I hope)
but in the capacity to love (yes)
and forgive (also yes)
and endure
and not grow weary in doing good works
but [learning to] encourag[e] each other
and all the more
as the day approaches (Hebrews 10:24-25)
grateful for this man
far beyond grateful, in actuality
for all that he is
all that he brings
pure, solid gold
and glittering fruits
that color my world
and for time
precious time
to reflect, refresh, and be restored
like this day
where I write and ponder and relish
on all of God’s goodness to me
His faithfulness to me
His love for me
and I rest in this Truth:
xxx <3 V
Seriously?
I have an ice pack on my groin.
Y’know why?
Cuz I just went surf-skating.
And uhh
I didn’t warm up.
Unless you count bombing down a hill for 15 seconds before jumping off the board so I didn’t die and then pulling a muscle in my downstairs.
Yahhh cool beans.
First of all.
Umm.
I really wanted to skate. And I only skated for 15 seconds.
Cuz I’m old.
And pulled a muscle in my groin-space.
After 15 seconds.
Yeah.
I’ma keep this on the down low.
HAHA JK IM GONNA PUT IT ON THE INTERNET!
facepalm-ness. lol
Guyz. I had an icepack down there.
TOO COLD
Okay. I’m done talking about that aspect. More importantly, this:
when am I gonna lean? To ease into things?
GOSH my haste makes waste. KNOWN DIS
lol why is it so easy to act impulsively?
without thinking of consequences.
lol
slow.
learner.
sometimes it takes me soooo many times before I learn a lesson. Golly
I know my punctuation is harrible. I am also spelling some words wrong because I think it’s FUNNEE
but the slow learning part? Not too funny :/
Anyway, maybe this pain will teach me a lesson.
WARM UP PROPERLY
Everytime.
Yeah. Take it from me folks. Ease into things in life.
Don’t rush in. For real. Whatever it is. Job opportunity. Relationship prospect. New church. Meal in front of you. Dawg. Take your time and enjoy.
Better yet, take your time and mull things over. Ease in. Breathe in between steps, bites, thoughts.
What on earth is the rush? She asks herself.
Yeah. Still trying to figure that one out.
K, love you guyz
V
Y’know, sometimes you just gotta write. So I’m coming atcha from Panera Braaads with my coffee and maybe, just maybe, a blueberry scone. And I’m sitting across from my twin who’s in her 80s and we both have dark-rimmed glasses and denim button down shirts on. It’s pretty awesome. Oh, yeah, and she has a blueberry pastry as well. A muffin, however. And we both have coffee.
And it’s a little quiet in here because we came at 10am instead of the normal 8:30. The reason being, we took a lovely walk this morning. And discussed women-owned businesses and the challenges that come with having one.
She talked about how men have a hard time reporting to women. That was in the nineties. I think it still happens somewhat today. And it definitely was way worse back in the day. I’m just glad that Jesus was always for fair treatment of women. He never degraded women. He only always elevated women. He taught and healed women. He first revealed Himself to a woman when he came out of the tomb. Galatians 3:28 says we are all equal. In Ephesians, husbands are supposed to “love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her”. Essentially, husbands are called to lay down their lives for their wives.
People haven’t actually studied the bible and don’t know God, yet assume so many things about God and the way He works and the way He loves. They assume God is a misogynist who wants to control, objectify and suppress women.
Yet God laid down His life for women. All women. While it’s true that not all people are saved, it IS God’s will for all people to be saved. All men, and all women.
mmk bye for now!
xxx
V
Of where my next check is coming from. Because God says this (please read each of these 2-3 times!!!):
He also says this:
And this:
And this:
And this:
I hope this has encouraged you. Let the Truth soak in. And join me in this prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank you so much for your Truth. Thank you that you are my provider and have promised to always give me all that I need. Thank you for transitioning me from one day to the next, one task to the next. Thank you that your grace is sufficient for me. Your kingdom is all that I need, and I am already in it. Lord, thank you for joy, hope and excitement. Thank you that when we lift our requests up to you, they are heard. Thank you that when we ask for your peace, you give it to us. Thank you that it transcends our understanding. Thank you for being my Father and for loving me, your daughter. I rely on you for my well-being, health, sound mind, and to reach all of my goals. Thank you for teaching me to show up and do my part, and then coming in and doing what only you can do. Thank you for this divine, beautiful relationship. You’re so powerful and amazing. I can’t WAIT to see you move. Amen.
Love you all! 🙂
xxx
V
“So like, where are the waves?”
Was the question running through my mind yesterday afternoon. The answer soon came from this summary of surfing: Surfing is 80% paddling and 20% surfing. 😂 #patience
Patience on the water seems easier to have because you’re anticipating that next perfect wave that will be both challenging and satisfying. And you get to enjoy God’s beautiful creation simultaneously 🌊 the glittering sunlight in the water… The beautiful people surrounding you. The wind over the water. Maybe an occasional dolphin or whale 🐬
Patience off the water can seem so frustrating. Being in a slow-moving line at the grocery store or in traffic or wondering why somebody in your life just “doesn’t get it” when you think they should have by now. It’s SO incredibly easy to take on the “let’s GO!” mindset of hurrying and being busy. So I have a challenge:
Will you join me in living a life of hopeful expectancy? That the waves (whatever “waves” you’re hoping will come) will come? That you’ll be able to ride them out and enjoy them?
Sometimes God puts us in a place of waiting, and it can seem like the thing will never be resolved or will never come around. I’m here to encourage you to wait, patiently, and enjoy what’s around you while you’re waiting 🙂
& coming from that mindset of gratitude and grace, you’ll then be able to ride whatever wave comes your way… Strongly and satisfyingly 💙 and encourage others along the way 🙂
❤️ If you’re with me!
xxx
V
