Explore the heart
With courage and might

Knowing that there’s a love
That is just right

Look in the corners
And around the bends

Or soaring across the sky
Is the love that never ends

Don’t be afraid
Just go with the flow

Your heart will always smile
Because it will always know

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Do You see What I See

I love speaking to ladies groups, kids and just encouraging others.  I’m hoping to do more of it in this next year.

I recently had the privilege of speaking to some wonderful ladies that have been or are in a local Battered Women’s shelter.  I spent the week thinking about some of what they may have endured, what they probably tried to do for them, their children and to bring peace to their home and focused on how those events made me see them.

Here is how I see these ladies.

YOU ARE:

BEAUTIFUL – Your beauty comes from deep within.  Nothing or no one can ever destroy it.  When you gaze into the mirror, look past the surface, go deeper….deeper still.  That beauty that is deep within you is ready to bubble up and gush out!  Let it bubble up and out freely.  Our physical beauty is limited, but the beauty that is deep within our soul outshines and out lasts the physical and has a positive effect on all of those around us! YOU are beautiful!

COURAGEOUS – Yes, YOU!  You lived in fear, you live with fear and have many fearful moments ahead of you, but look back with me a moment.  Look at how far you’ve come.  The courage you’ve shown to get out of the abusive situation and into something better is nothing short of amazing.  You’ll continue to move past the fears, move past the doubts and other horrors you face daily that will try and hold you back.  Your heart may tremble, your hands shake but you won’t let that stop you.  You can do this as YOU are courageous!

STRONG – You are strong! You’ve endured abuse that others can’t possibly imagine, and that takes strength.  You’ve tried to fix things, make things better and be the right kind of gal but that was never the issue.  You then stepped out, with children in tow and are working towards a better future. The strength it takes to be a single mom, to ease their fears, to show them what is right and good is unbelievable.  You are strong, you fight through difficulties, you fight to survive and you’ll push past the barriers that try and hold you down.  You will make it! YOU are strong!

WISE – Yes, I said wise!  Don’t sell yourself short.  We all make mistakes, we all make decisions that we wish we could take back and moments we wish we could order up a “do-over”!  Look at you! You are moving forward, learning and making things better. You are doing the right things right now! Don’t look back at the mistakes, unless you are choosing to grow and learn from them!  Hear me….YOU are wise.

CARING – You have amazing hearts!  You care so much.  That’s why you tried to work things out, why you sacrifice for your children, that’s why you are the wonderful person that you are.  Your heart is huge for others and you want to make a difference and believe me you DO!  YOU are caring!

PERSISTENT – You put one foot in front of the other each and every day.  I’m sure there are days where you feel like throwing up your hands and saying “what is the use”, but you move forward anyway.  You grow tired from the struggle, but you get out of bed and face the day.  You wonder about tomorrow, next month and next year, but you keep looking, hoping and knowing that the future is there, waiting on you to grab it up with both arms, embracing all the wonderful things that are waiting you.  You keep trying, learning and going! You push yourselves as well as push your children! YOU are persistent.

IMPORTANT – YES – YOU!!!  You make a difference every day!  You bring smiles, warm hearts with big hugs. You encourage, motivate and teach.  You give hope to little eyes that wonder about a million things a day and love to hearts that need it.  You are important to today and the next generation.  The great things that you are doing today, will have a huge impact on tomorrow and the future.  YOU are important.

CAPABLE – YOU can do this!  It is so easy to look and see the negative, see where we feel like we have failed and think we just can’t do it.  We don’t have to teach our children to see the negative, but we do have to teach them to see the positive, do what is right and look for opportunities to make a difference.  Use those negative things that creep into your mind, trying to make you feel horrible to remind yourself that you’ve learned from that. You’ve come a long way from that point and you are not going back, simply because you don’t have to.  Use the past to remind yourself that you are capable of moving forward, doing whatever it is you set your mind on doing.  YOU are capable.

ADAPTIVE – This is so important and you excel at it!  Think with me for a moment.  You knew when you had to keep the kids quiet, when you could let loose and enjoy the laughter in your hearts. You knew when “he” was home that certain things had to be done a certain way and you adapted.  When he wasn’t around, you lived, loved, laughed and adapted to that as well.  This is a priceless ability for when the storms of life are raining down on you.  This ability will serve you for years to come as you face the mountains in your way and your initial thought is for the mountain to “swallow me up, I can’t face you.”  You will adapt time and time again! YOU are adaptive.

SENSITIVE – Your hearts are tender and it grows stronger every day.  You’ve seen situations that many have not had to see, much less endure.  This has made you even more sensitive than most.  You can see the sadness in the eyes of a child quicker than most and know how to turn that frown upside down. You can see the loneliness oozing from the hearts of others and know that a simple hug and smile will help to ease that pain.  Because of this sensitivity, you have an opportunity to make dark days brighter; you have the chance to be the light at the end of the tunnel.  You can shine brighter than you ever thought possible.  YOU are sensitive.

SPECTACULAR – YOU are beyond awesome!  You have a huge heart, a loving spirit and the willingness to fight through whatever comes your way. You don’t ask for much, yet are willing to give all for your child.  You will take lesser portions, step in front of physical harm and remind your child that tenderness will get you further than being demanding and hateful.  You amaze me at the courage, strength and abilities you have to make it through each day. YOU are spectacular.

These attributes are evident in all of us if we look deep enough.  We tend to stop just short of the surface because that is what society is teaching us to do.  We need to look past the surface.  We need to look at the things that matter, which is far more than physical features.

It is my desire that as you step into a new year that you’ll be more aware of these wonderful qualities about you.  I hope that you’ll focus on the positive and grow from the negative. As you look at yourself, I hope that you’ll see all of these wonderful things in a wonderful new light this year – and always.

{{HUGS}} yall

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I love catching shapes in clouds & the mountains are always beautiful

I’m in a valley.  It’s true.  Have been for about a month now  AND  I love it!  I do!  I’m working in beautiful Salem Virginia.  Mountains are everywhere I look.  The ride to and from each week has been gorgeous with the color of the leaves changing to burnt orange and bright reds.  Megan even asked me when I started working there, what it was like.  My reply was, “I’m in a valley,” to which she responded ohhhhhh, niiiiice! I had to smile because I knew that I’ve been wondering about life’s valleys.

Being in this majestic valley has got me thinking lately about “life’s valleys.”

We all go through the valley in life, there is no escaping it.  It’s a matter of when.  My question to myself has been why don’t I “look up” at the wonderful surroundings when I’m in life’s valley, just as I’m doing while working here in the valley of Virginia? I know that I’m surrounded by a million little things that make life glorious and I also know the valleys are going to happen. So what is the disconnect?

Could it be that I’m so focused on the issues that I forget to look up and enjoy what is around me?  Or maybe the discouragement during that time has put a huge cloud over me and I can’t see the beauty that is all about me? Could it be that discontentment wastes my energy and I have no strength to focus on making it through the valley?  Why have I never thought of looking up before?

We all have so many blessings in our life that should carry us from one valley to the next but when we are in those valleys – we tend to forget them, so our stay there seems much longer than necessary.

The valleys of life are hard. I’ve been in many of them and do not enjoy them during that time.  I’m always thankful for friends I can come to for help, but like many – I sometimes choose not to ask, for fear of being a “burden”.

I faced another closed door a few weeks back.  My heart ached with great pain, discouragement and no music was there. Until I poured out my heart in the following words that day, I sat in silence. No singing, no happiness and fighting back the tears from yet one more closed door.

The Closed Door

Sometimes the hurt is too much to bare
Even though you say I can, I feel I can’t share

The Load is heavy, the road is long
The heart is weary and has lost its song

I know there’s hope that never ends
But for now it seems my life won’t mend

I just want to be held, I’m tired and weak
I’ll simply rest in silence, as I can’t even speak

You are strong, I’m not.  I can’t even try
I can’t stop the tears from falling from my eyes

This is me, this is all – there is nothing more
Such is my life – as I stand, facing the closed door.

Will I remember this in my next valley? Yes. Will it make a difference? I honestly don’t know.  Will I struggle along alone? I hope not. I hope that I will have the courage to ask for help that day, but it takes courage for that, and I’m far from courageous.

What do you think?  Why do we not look up when we are in life’s valley?  Why do we struggle alone – without asking for help?  We have great friendships and tons of resources, yet we choose to limp along through the valley – alone.

Tell me, what is the disconnect?

{{HUGS}} yall

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Holding Pure Joy! Thanks Chris!

Some time ago, I came across a saying

It’s the little things that make life Big

and instantly I fell in love with it, because my heart has always celebrated little things.  I even asked my mom recently if I had always loved the little things in life as a child and she recalled that I did.  That the small, wonderful and simple things were always amazing to me. Learning that made my heart smile.

Many that know me, know I love Reese Cups and the picture here is me holding a “GIFT” from a student that had just attended the concept of Spreading Joy presentation at their school. I held it up to Angie, saying in my mind “LOOOOOK what I just got!!” I was so excited because I came to the school that day to GIVE to the students, not expecting a single thing in return and he put what he had just heard to work by spreading joy MY way.  Those kinds of unexpected little things will make my heart float through the day!

Inspired from a calendar of 10 Happy Things a day I purchased as a treat for myself last year, I started keeping a list in the back of my journal of the wonderful little things that make my heart smile.  I’ve decided to share them with you here, hoping that as you journey through your day with a million little joys floating around you, you’ll take time to notice them as well as appreciate them.  Who knows, maybe you’ll start a list of the little things that make your life BIG too! (I’m ordering the 3,650 Things To Be Happy About Calendar again this year. Click the link and you can to )

In no particular order at all – Some of the little things that make my life BIG!

Whew…. that is a lot, I know.  but trust me. this list will continue grow.  Maybe the next set will be in color…as I do love writing in color.  All of these things listed in my journal are in different colors.

What are some of the little things that make YOUR life big?  What JOYS do you see daily that make your heart smile?  I hope you’ll take the time to tell us! You never know who YOU will inspire!

{{{HUGS}} yall

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I do hope that you’ll stop, take a moment and tell us below some of the things you’ve done for others.  It will not only encourage people to do more, but may spark ideas in some hearts as well…and THAT is spreading joy too!

I’ll keep reminding people every where I go – “There’s NO joy like Spreading JOY!” Your heart will be flooded with such joy and happiness when you are doing something for others that makes a difference.  Even if it is a smile, hug or something you consider small.

If you think that you do not have the finances to do for others and make a difference.  Think again.  Here are 50 Ways to make a difference without spending a penny.

If you’d like to make a difference by providing a meal/drink etc for someone – go to this page, click the “tickets” – print freely and enjoy spreading joy to others!

Thank you for your efforts in spreading joy!

YOU can do this!!

TELL ME – how are you spreading joy?

{{HUGS}} yall

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I wish I knew what was going on
I wish you’d let me see
I wish I could bring you smiles
Just the way that you do me

I wish I could melt the hurt away
I wish you’d let me in
I wish for you great happiness
And that your heart will soar high again

I wish away the sorrow
I wish away the dread
I wish you a thousand blessings
Upon your life instead

I wish you every kindness
I wish you joy and peace
I wish you amazing laughter
And great love that’s within reach

I wish these great things for you
And even a million more
And for every one that’s granted you
I wish for hope restored.

What do you wish for?

Have you ever wanted to help someone and didn’t know what to say or do? What did you do?

{{HUGS}} yall

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A HUG is……

LOVE wrapped around you so tight

WARMTH when your heart feels cold

PEACE when the ocean within you rages

A SMILE when the tears flow

COURAGE when fear abounds

FULLNESS when the soul feels empty

DELICIOUS when the world tastes bitter

HARMONIOUS when your life is out of tune

HEALING for the one that is grieving

KINDNESS in the midst of hatred

STRENGTH for those weakened by the journey

WISDOM when confusion is all around

ENCOURAGEMENT when you feel defeated

PURE JOY when happiness is hiding

A WELCOME HOME after the day has been cruel

REASSURANCE when all confidence is lost

CERTAINTY when all is unsure

PRICELESS when the heart feels worthless

EXTRAORDINARY when typical over throws the day

MYSTERIOUS as the miracle of its uniqueness takes form

A WHISPER – I love you

What about you?  What is a hug to you?  Have ever received one at just the right moment?   Have you encountered a hug that was a smile from across the room that helped to dry the tears?

HUGS – Do you cherish these priceless miracles?

{{HUGS}} yall

**got to thinking, I should add a picture of the BESTEST hug I have received all year!! ENJOY**

The Best HUG ever. I'm so glad we get to be together for your birthday!

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