Live Like You're Dying

Since all of my posts have been so serious lately, I wanted to write a fun post about all my upcoming trips!!  Now, I will say I have some reservations because I feel like I'm running from all the "stuff" I'm dealing with in Houston, but sometimes you just need to get away and surround yourself with good friends!  And right now, that's what I need. First up Chicago/Canada:  I'm literally flying into Chicago, staying one night and driving to Canada!  I've never been to Canada so I am super excited!  I'll be staying at a GORGEOUS Lake House, sailing and relaxing and exploring!!! Four Days away!!! Then I have a trip to LA:  This will only be a three day getaway!  I will be having dinner at The Ivy Thursday night, Venice Beach Friday and head somewhere on Manhattan Beach for dinner Friday night!  Then Saturday we plan to sail over to Catalina Island!!  I'm hoping to visit the phenomenal Getty Museum as well, but we will see! And Then NY, NY...

**None of this is mine.  It is from Pastor Rick Warren and I just thought it was too good not to share.** Reminds me of my grandfather's letter to me: "Thoughts":  If we believe in God and we pray for strength and understanding to meet life's challenges, then I think that are prayers will almost surely be answered.  If on the other hand we pray for God to handle our problems for us, then I think an answer to those prayers will be less likely to be forthcoming.  Whatever the challenge, if we try to deal with it with God's help then our chances of coping are good. The Mark of Maturity by Rick Warren “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:7 (NIV) God has a p...

Yesterday, I received some encouragement from a friend. " You are so wonderful and worthy of being with a person who only wants to be dating you! Also, in my life I have really grown in this time of being single- it hasn't even been that long, but it's the longest I have ever gone without a boyfriend (really more than 2 months would have been the longest) and it sounds scary but has been such a blessing for me. I know I am rambling, but I believe God has the perfect person for us to marry, and I pray that my husband is out there growing up into a leader and amazing man while God is working in my life to prepare me to meet him. I know for me this means a little while of being single so I can be ready for the Right Guy. Anyway, that's just my little story but I am crazy about you and support you and wanted to tell you a tale... " What a word of encouragement.  But at the same time, I hope I am growing in faithfulness to be an amazing woman for that man....

Not that I have the success to be giving relationship advice, but just some thoughts from some experience and things I have seen. Lets take a look at some general strategies that will help you make healthy relationship decisions: -Go to God -Pray for guidance in the relationship -Choosing to have equal relationships - When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water... -Taking your time and choosing your partner wisely -Not losing yourself in your relationship -Setting and enforcing appropriate boundaries and limits -Having reasonable expectations of your partner and of what a relationship can provide you -Not making assumptions -Not confusing the present with the past -Taking responsibility for your own feelings, reactions, and projections -Working on developing your empathy skills -Agreeing to disagree and taking time-outs -Learning conflict resolution and fair fighting techniques* Women, I strongly encourage you to read Redeeming Lov...

"Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance I hope you dance"  That song is so important to me and my sister, so important in fact if I ever get married, she's singing it at my rehearsal dinner.  But more importantly, it talks about living your life with no regrets.  That's always been my goal.  And although I can't say I've always succeeded, I like to say, there's just a lot of things I'd never do again.  Thanks to a painful lesson from my dad last night, I can say one thing I will never do again - run. I was talking to a friend this morning and he was like, "aw did you runaway with your little back pack to the park and pout?"  Not quite, but what an image of immaturity that we all probably did at one point as a child, which is exactly what I'm doing every time I've run.  I run when I'm afraid of getting hurt or just r...

"But he said to her, You speak as one of the impious and foolish women would speak. What? Shall we accept [only] good at the hand of God and shall we not accept [also] misfortune and what is of a bad nature? In [spite of] all this, Job did not sin with his lips ." Job 2:10 Amplified Bible We all know the image of the Footprints poem.  About the man going through a rough time and getting angry at God for not being there for him.  And during those times of struggle God was actually carrying him. For months I've been in a storm from family stuff, work, and other personal relationships.  As I've prayed and journaled to the Lord about all of my stresses I began to feel more distant because of what I perceived as His  silence . I've felt hurt and agitated, as I would be with any one I went to with problems and felt they were indifferent to my woes.  But what if He can't always keep up? I know He never stopped caring about my problems. But what if I had jus...

Ever heard that the Devil will attack you most when you are following God's plan?  If not, now you have.  And I personally believe it's true.  I followed what God was telling me and moved to Houston even though it was not a decision I wanted to make.  Although, I am grateful for the time I had with my grandmother before she passed away, it seems like everything else in my life has fallen apart. I know as Christians we aren't supposed to be angry with God, but I have to admit part of me is.  I know the Devil is the one attacking me.  He's making all these unpleasant things happen around me for the purpose of me getting mad and distancing myself from God.  But I'm stronger than that and I will not let him win.  I guess the part that makes me upset is that I also know God is more powerful and he can change my circumstances if He wanted to.  Instead, He's giving me a longer lesson than I personally want.  And just when I think I'm at my low...