Funeral Service

The emotional roller coaster hit the tippy-top yesterday when we went to the funeral for my mother-in-law. The emotions filled our eyes as we were at the gravesite burying her ashes. The mixed emotion of laying ashes underground is always perplexing to my soul. I understand our souls live on but the concept of burying a loved one in the earth is a weird concept to me.

This was a very emotional beginning of the day for my husband. As we proceeded on to the memorial service at our church, I was beyond grateful for the women who put it all together. Their gracious hands helped make the room look incredible and the food taste delectable. It is a blessing to truly have a church step up and be the body of Christ as we are supposed to be. This was a true testament to our faith and church!

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My husband was filled with sadness as we observed the photos and displays all around the room while they prepped the slideshow and music before the service started. It was a reality check to have my husband burry his mother and realize his estranged parents are no longer with us. This past month has brought years of history to surface and questions longing to be answered that no longer will hold an answer. The confusion, anger, hurt and sadness fills his broken soul.

Before the service began, we met an incredible amount of family that we never knew existed let alone lived in our backyard. They are all incredibly nice but what does it all mean? What relationships will form, if any? Are they willing to reach out and be there as family should? Why hadn’t they in the past? The questions fill our minds as the overwhelming meet-and-greet took place. The service itself was well done and emotional. The hard part for us as the new comers, is the fact that her career was the most important thing to her. My husband longed for a piece of that importance. Longed to know her as her co-workers did and longed for her to be his mother for years prior. This longing and desire is no longer able to be met. The hardship of hearing the stories sunk to the pit of our tummies as colleague upon colleague shared stories.

The bad comes with the good. We had three months of really good conversations and getting to know one another on a deeper level, but three months compared to a life time is a blink of an eye. The past 35 years flashed before my husbands eyes posing a lot of pain and heartache that he is left to figure out. This has been a complex puzzle for him and we long to finish it so our kids do not have to travel the same path. Breaking generational sin, hurt and abandonment is our utmost desire.

Although we are incredibly grateful for the three months, it’s been anything but easy. Praying for a difference and healing in my husband is the deepest desire for me as his wife. Knowing I can do absolutely nothing but pray for him is a difficult task but a refreshing task. God has it under control and it’s not my control!

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As the days proceed, I hope healing comes and I hope relationships continue. We will see what lies ahead and hope the Lord brings grace upon is as this past three months and more so the past month has been utterly exhausting.

Moment of Truth: I’m learning to grasp the reality of “now” rather than past and future. Holding to what is current and rolling with the punches will help calm the storm we’ve entered and are hoping to be exiting now. As the days progress and my husband deals with the new “normal,” I pray I have the words and wisdom to provide when necessary.

 

Toddler Two’s

Not quite wanting to jump straight in and call it the terrible twos, I decided I would give Cooper the benefit of the doubt as the past two weeks have been pretty ridiculously crazy. Between my mother-in-law passing away, Cooper being hospitalized, mommy and daddy taking off for a couple of days to only be rudely awakened to my arrival home along with 2 additional children all within  the same hour. With all the chaos I feel I can’t get too upset with Cooper. My patience this past week has been tested and tested with Cooper’s whining and crying and food tantrums while grasping the ropes of having three kids to care for.

Yesterday was a brutal day. Everything we did he wanted us right by his side to partake in his activities. The screaming and hitting that begins to follow the let down is horrific. This is a side of my child I have never seen before. It all began after we were hospitalized, he was a perfect gem prior and it is almost as if they unleashed the two-year old tantrums for us. Learning how to communicate with a child that cannot reason is extremely difficult. Feelings of inadequacy fill my soul as I begin to feel like a horrible parent with a child that is hitting me for not getting his way. Trying to figure out what lines of discipline are appropriate for his personality and age is the challenging part.
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I blame the hospital for this child that now screams and hits me because I sure don’t know what light switched got turned on or off since that wretched night. Previously, I could say his name with authority and he would look at me and instantly stop. Now a days, that means nothing to him. The battle of him learning boundaries and testing limits has been fascinating and difficult for him and I. The simply fact that a child is growing his little brain enough to understand when mommy says no doesn’t mean that he still can’t do it, is actually fascinating. Their little minds and souls are beginning to take place and explore their big and beautiful world while mommy sets limits on their big and beautiful world is now confusing. Taking the time to remember his little brain cannot process like mine, is a good reminder to help want to teach him rather than get upset.

Realizing I can’t implement perfect behavior is hard considering we really were blessed with a well-behaved child to now shaking in my boots trying to figure out if we took the wrong child home from the hospital. This cute little man can quickly wrap me around his little finger to get what he wants, but now……life has changed. Those cute little moments are not so cute anymore. The cute behavior in asking for more treats is only a sugar high that can’t be contained. Those cute little moments of wanting to play with his train table are now taking apart the track and throwing them across the room. Those cute little moments of wanting to snuggle are now anything but a snuggle! Don’t get me wrong, he’s still a doll and beyond adorable! But it’s those little moments that cloud my mind of the good times! I know he is learning, I know this is all normal for his age and development, but what I don’t know is how to not feel like a bad mom while trying to figure out what works for us!

Realizing raising my voice will only complicate the situation or scare him because I am supposed to love him and his little mind cannot separate the two and spanking is not for our household is a battle of learning what works for him. He can’t quite understand timeout but he can understand it a lot more than when I raise my voice. Having done this a couple of times, I feel horrible after knowing it accomplished nothing and ended up making me feel horrible! Ahhh– the battle of learning even more as a parent as every child responds differently.

Something about raising children simply doesn’t get the acknowledgment and respect is so deserves. Every mother out there knows what I am saying. Every man out there is oblivious to what it really takes to raise a child, implement proper behavioral skills, show love and teach respect along with all the household duties that follow. This is beyond a mans imagination and because we do it, they do not have to worry about it because it’s already done. I want to thank every mom out there for their job in raising their children and the immense pressure it takes to want to raise your child the best possible. God ingrained in women how to care and nurture for their family. He ingrained in the men how to be a hard worker and provide for their families. This is a blessing that we’ve been given and in the little moments that seem monumental, remember God gave you everything you need to make it through the next moment of bliss or tantrums.

So, with that, I will set out on my day to take the opportunity that maybe today we can take a positive step in learning our boundaries together and implementing something better today that wasn’t there yesterday.

Moment of Truth: Raising children is character building. Are you raising them to have confidence and respect, or are you teaching them how to walk all over you and get what they want because their attitude is too much sometimes that you quickly give in?

 

Spaghetti Pizza Bagels

Yes, this is incredible and yes it is mind blowing. Spaghetti and pizza all in one meal served on top of amazing bagels with pepper jack cheese. I made spaghetti a couple nights ago and decided to use the leftovers for something meant for a Friday Night meal while watching the NBA Playoffs! Pizza and sports always go well together, but what about spaghetti pizza bagels and sports? I think so!

We always enjoy watching sports in our household but now that the Blazers have won 2 out of 2 in the beginning of the playoffs we can’t peel our eyes from the screen.

Ingredients:

  • 3 bagels
  • 6 slices of pepper jack cheese
  • Spaghetti Sauce (recipe here: http://bit.ly/1gASUMw)
  • 8 oz pepperoni slices

On a foil lined broiler pan open bagels
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Top with Spaghetti sauce
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Layer with pepper jack cheese
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And top with pepperoni slices
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bake at 400 for 4 minutes and broil another 1-2 (baking helps crisp the who bagel rather than only the top)
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Serve with a fresh green salad to provide healthy roughage in the midst of the unhealthy. :)

 

 

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies

I love a good cookie and a staple cookie for me is chocolate chip with not too many chocolate chips. I love the dough more than the chocolate. I am a chocolate lover but for some reason prefer no chips in my chocolate chip cookies. :)

I made these today to add a twist to them and unfortunately it didn’t make too many cookies. Not because the recipe itself, but because a cookie dough thief comes and snatches all the dough before it can get baked. I used to be able to blame this on my sister because I would hide the dough from her because I was mean and not for any other reason. Sorry sis! But this time, I can only blame myself as I wouldn’t serve raw egg to my son. I hate probably ate half the dough today. I know have a terribly food baby rolling around in the pit of my stomach.

Needless to say, this is great dough and great cookies.

Ingredients:

  • ¾ cup dark brown sugar
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup coconut oil, melted
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
  • 1 cup mint morsels

Combine sugar and coconut oil in a standing mixer.
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cream well, but do not over mix.

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Add egg and vanilla. Mix well but do not over mix.
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This is how it should look without over mixing

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Slowly stir in flour and baking soda. Mix until incorporated. image

Mix until well incorporated, again being careful not to over mix.

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Add chocolate chips and mint morsels.
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Place on cookie sheet about 1 inch apart and bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes.
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Enjoy with a cold glass of milk or vanilla ice cream!
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Hope you didn’t eat all the dough so that you would enjoy the fresh baked cookies! :)

 

3 Little Munchkins

I returned home late Monday night to be awakened with a reality I wasn’t ready for. My son woke up really early allowing for a cranky attitude for not getting as much sleep and also to pay my back from being gone for so long. I also had to bid my parents ado for coming and staying with Cooper and than taking off to begin their journey home. I proceeded to grocery shop and then have two little munchkins arrive at our house at 11:30. Yes, this all took place before 11:30 in the morning. Mind you, I got home and in bed at 11:30 the previous night. Our vacation ended abruptly bringing a reality check the following morning that once you leave your destination vacation, your vacation has officially vanished into thin air leaving you with nothing but a distant memory.

I have agreed to watch two additional little munchkins for a gal who needs some help for a few months. The blessing is I am watching them within our dwelling which is helpful for Cooper especially since we just returned home and all of a sudden have a houseful. These two little munchkins are 2 years and 4 years old leaving me with 2 two years old and a 4 year old. Two boys and one girl. It is very time consuming, not that I didn’t know this already having my own, but three kids is a lot. I am excited to have playmates for Cooper, but I didn’t realize how tiring it was until I decided that 8:30 last night I was ready for bed.

I’ve had a couple comments that this will help prepare more for having more children, but lets be honest, it’s entirely different watching someone else’s children than your own. I think every mom would agree to this comment as there is a different relationship built. Not good or bad, but different. Different boundaries are help with someone else’s kids rather than my own. I can discipline Cooper the way I see fit because he is my child. I don’t take the role as a caregiver. I still implement rules to keep the kids getting along and setting boundaries to help things flow more smoothly.

I think it’s a really good opportunity for all the kids to be around playmates and force them to learn it is okay to share toys. I’ve enjoyed the little girl as well, considering I do not get a lot of girl interaction and she is your typical girly girl. It’s fun to do crafts and hear princess stories while the boys thrash around and do what boys do; be destructive. :)

Needless to say, I am busy with three kids 3 days a week, Bible study and volunteering at my church along with working for Jamberry, holding the household together, cooking, cleaning, and keeping my stories coming for you all. I definitely am busy, no doubt about that! They are all good things but I am learning how to better manage the little time I have. How to cook lunch and dinner while kids are running around and also wanting to interact with them while picking up toys and trying to keep things clean.

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This is the end of my cleaning…wishing I would have snapped a photo of the beginning state!

Yesterday started off a bit challenging. Kids came over, Cooper had a very nasty diaper that needed immediate attention. Realizing it was beyond my diaper skills, I went to start the bath. Returning to get the little munchkin realizing there is a trail behind him from one end of the house to the other. He managed to rip his diaper open and all the gel within the diaper was spread like cotton all throughout the house. If any of you have had experience with the inside gel of a diaper, you know it is IMPOSSIBLE to clean up. No vacuum, broom or mop could take care of this mess. It was amazing to me how impossible this gel really is. It took me forever to try and get the entire mess cleaned up while Cooper kept losing his balance and would slip like a deer on ice trying to walk to me on the wet floor. The frustration arose in both of us as I couldn’t clean it up fast enough and he was so frustrated why he couldn’t walk across the floor as usual.

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Sweet baby so happy to have his Lil Coupe for the Coop oblivious to what had just taken place.

I have a new appreciation for diapers and the way the gel works to hold everything in there for hours, but I also have a huge hatred in my heart for the gel when it escapes the diaper leaving my wood floors an utter disaster.

Moment of Truth: Sometimes life is unmanageable and seems out of control! It happens, we all have those days that seem to begin imperfectly, yet they can get better. A new day comes, or the moment passes leaving those memories to be laughable. Kids bring about crazy experiences yet I wouldn’t’ change it for anything. I still love my munchkin even though he has no clue what I do to clean up after him while his day consists only of play and sleep. Oh the glorious innocence of little minds!

Enough is Enough

As a mom you know the little joys that take place all throughout the day, or perhaps you know the little annoyances that are testing your patience. I’ve longed to be a mom for as long as I could remember. I used to play with my water baby who seemed so real and would pretend she was my child. She my baby and I was going to take her anywhere and everywhere with me. Where I got this notion, I’m not too sure, but I do know it has been a longing since I can remember putting the white jammies with little red hearts on her saying I would care for her as long as I lived.

Becoming a parent for me, happened entirely different than I had dreamt of. I thought I would get married and fall helplessly in love, travel and be the happiest family on the face of this earth. I did fall in love and I do travel with my family, but it didn’t happen in the order I had scheduled on my agenda. I got pregnant after knowing my husband for a short 6 months to only test the boundaries of love and what that meant for the little child within my belly. We decided to take the plunge and get married two months prior to our little bundle of joy entering this world. We traveled within three months of him being born and still do. We’ve made it work, it hasn’t been easy but we’ve accomplished the unthinkable. It’s been a long journey, there are days you think it would be easier to run away and give up. There are moments of wondering who my spouse truly is amongst the crying and laughter filling the house. There are moments of curiosity: will my husband and I get along without the babe around? Will we learn the depths of one another’s soul even with a toddlers pitter-patter running rampant throughout the house. These are all questions that are posed in the midst of falling in love and creating love all at the same time. But when the end of the day hits, I am blessed and thankful!
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There are many challenges to starting life the way my husband and I did. But, there are many joys and blessings that we wouldn’t have, had we not go pregnant and married. The pure bliss of our family is a blessing no matter the hardship that has occurred. You have to be willing to accept the difficult times along with the good. Fighting for your marriage no matter the cost. Choosing to get to know your spouse on a deeper level whenever possible. Choosing to let your family be your life!
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These are all things I’ve chosen to accept knowing that it will not be easy. My husband and I have officially been married for two years now as of this month. We look back and thank one another for being there through all the challenges we’ve had. We’ve gone through A LOT within those two years battling cancer, death, my health, my sons hospitalizations, extended family drama and addictions as well as every day life. I firmly believe if we can make it through that, we can make it through anything. We’ve dealt with more than we bargained for and have chosen to accept it and keep learning and growing with one another. I love my husband beyond description. I know he was meant for me since the day we were born. There are so many positives amongst the challenges and often, we overlook the good.

Two people come from entirely different pasts, and that is a loaded guns as is. :) When you deal with extended family there are many things that encompass “family.” Good and bad. Relating to one another looks different than how my husband grew up. I grew up extremely conservative while he grew up in a family of immense wealth and prestige. He also grew up with very little love and acceptance and dealing with things a young child should never have to deal with. Bringing his family and past into our marriage was a handful for me just as much as the love and extreme communication in my family was a challenge for him. Our idea of a family looked different. We have had to learn to adapt and grow with what we’ve learned throughout life and mesh together our new “normal.”

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With all of that to say, sometimes I get caught up in the mundane of life and say “enough is enough!” Forgetting how far we have come, home many more years of love and growth we have with one another, more traveling, more living and more being! Enough is enough when I have lost every ounce of patience with a crying child throwing temper tantrums and becoming severely dehydrated and being hospitalized all in the same week of losing my mother-in-law. Feeling I have to hold everything together, I do my best to not fall apart. I  reached the end of myself last week three days before we left town for vacation. Realizing that I wouldn’t have the love of my husband and son had we not taken the road we are on. With all the hardship and patience being worn, that’s all because I am married and have a little munchkin to share my life with. The little moments outweigh the challenging moments. Life keeps ticking away and the hours keep fading, but what still remains is my family of three. I’m thankful I do not have to embark on this life alone. I’m thankful I have a husband who comes home every night, I’m thankful I have a family to share dinner with and cook for. I’m thankful for the laughter that fills my home while my husband and son play. I’m thankful to travel with my husband alone and get to know him even more than I already do. I am thankful and blessed for the little things. Enough IS enough! I have enough and am blessed to have enough! I have the little giggles, I have the little hugs and struggle to enunciate the beginnings of his vocabulary. The incredible knowledge this little man holds is enough for my soul. I have enough with my husband. The moments together of laughter and holding one another, the planning of our future. The talk of more children. Cooking romantic meals for one another and simply being together is enough!

Sometimes mommy cannot be and do everything for the family. We tend to take on this role and try to fulfill the families desires, simply forgetting that we are an individual as well. We take on the roles of wife, mommy, housekeeper, taxi driver, chef, accountant and much more forgetting I am still Me without all the titles. Embrace the titles you hold! Without your family you wouldn’t have these titles. Sometimes they become draining but they are more exciting than having no titles and being needed by those you love. We are needed as a wife and mommy and through the constant questions and nagging, you are needed and have enough! At the end of the day, my frustrations and lack of patience is and will continue to diminish as I embrace the positive in having enough.

Here is an article that I saw this morning and thought it was beyond a good reminder on why we wear all the hats of being a wife and mom. It’s the little things that last; chores and cleaning will always remain but our little munchkins grow up!

Enough is Enough-Read this article to remind you of why you choose to be a mom and a wife!

Moment of Truth: Embrace the day for the simple fact that you are needed to help supply the needs of your family. You are needed to create the relationships and security between your family and you are the biggest blessing to your family. Embrace the little kisses, hugs and words that are uttered from your rug rats and embrace the welcome home kiss from your husband after his long day at work. Embrace the family dinners and family walks together. Embrace life; enough is enough!

Be Thankful Even in the Little Things

It’s the little things that often catch my attention the most, the little things that keep my perspective fresh and full of abundance. The little things that make me yearn for more of life’s blessings rather than dwelling in the dirty waters that seem to fill my day.

This morning as I was driving my tired soul to church, I was stopped at a red light observing what was currently taking place in the sidewalk ahead of me. I saw a blind man walking across the street with a walking stick to help him avoid any bumps along the way. I was beyond surprised by his confidence in walking through a popular intersection without hesitation.

This scene took me aback and made me contemplate his reality. He’s blind, must proceed with life, and can’t wait around for someone to always help him. He was confident, successful and what appeared to me, to be thankful he could get out and about.  Why do we take our sight and hearing for granted? I know I do, I do not think that my sight may be taken from me or that I may never hear again. I can’t imagine the obstacles in life you are faced with simply by these two things we forget we’ve been blessed with.

Thanks to im-true-believer-in-god.blogspot.com-

Thanks to im-true-believer-in-god.blogspot.com-

This simply moment brought me to thankfulness while my son clearly sees many exciting features outside of his window that he continually points out. He constantly talks and responds to my questions showing his little ears hear and hear so well. This was a great moment to remember it’s the little things that are the biggest blessings.

Moment of Truth: As you walk throughout your day, practice being thankful for the little things you have been blessed with. Thankfulness lifts you above your current circumstances blessing you with a fresh perspective.

Bacon, Sausage and Beans

Deliciously seasoned bacon with Kielbasa sausage and beans. What more can you ask for? Protein, protein and more tasty protein!

I made the bacon from an incredible breakfast place my husband and I attended while on vacation. We thrive off of new breakfast places as this has been our favorite meal of the day. This place in particular had bacon called Millionaires Bacon and have been on the Food Network for this alone. It was cooked with brown sugar, paprika and chili flakes. I wanted something with those flavors and ended up with this meal. Their bacon is so thick that you only got 5 slices from 1 pound of bacon. It was also $6.50 for two slices. But let me say, it was actually the best bacon ever and definitely deserved the title of Millionaires Bacon.

So taking this idea from them, I decided to prep our bacon a somewhat similar to the millionaires bacon but not taking the full amount of time since I have had three little munchkins running around the hours since I’ve returned home…. (more on that later)

Ingredients:

  • ½ lb bacon
  • 1 lb kielbasa sausage
  • 4 tbsp brown sugar, divided
  • ¼ tsp red pepper chili flakes
  • ½ tsp paprika, divided
  • 1 can kidney beans

On a foil lined pan, lay bacon and top with 2 tbsp. brown sugar and 1/4 tsp paprika and chili flakes. Broil bacon until desired crispness. (I did 5 minutes) Set aside.
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Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cut kielbasa sausage into small chunks and sprinkle with remaining brown sugar (2 tbsp.) and paprika (1/4 tsp) and add kidney beans.
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Cook on med-low heat until brown sugar is melted and sausage is heated through.
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Chop bacon and add to skillet.

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I served this with sautéed kale and quinoa. It was a well flavored and my son absolutely loved every bite. :)

Shrimp and Chicken Fajitas

I made these for dinner in a pinch not really wanting to make dinner as I have been thoroughly exhausted lately. So much so, that I honestly hate to even mention it. It’s pretty ridiculous how tired I’ve been and how long it’s lasted. I know emotionally and physically I am worn out, but when pushes comes to shove and I have to have coffee all day long and that still doesn’t accomplish my tired soul, I’m not sure what to do. We went on vacation for three days to San Francisco and returning home was a quick reality check on how quickly vacation is over. Once you return home, vacation has left 100%.

Paying for the fact that I left my son at home without us for three days brought him to be cranky with me for the entire day. Thinking he would be so excited to see us, he was thankful we were home and than instantly gave me an attitude that would make me never want to leave him behind again if this is what happens. It was a rude awakening to wake up yesterday morning with no downtime before he woke up. My husband rushed to retrieve him from his crib as he wanted to see him before work. Not thinking this through and the reality that I would be left with this earlier riser was clearly not a priority to my husband.

My gracious parents were here tending to his every need while we were gone. Thankful for them and their amazing help, they took off pretty quickly to return home. In the meantime I had volunteered to help out a gal with her two kids three days a week and today was the official start day; the day I got home from vacation. Oh how quickly my vacation was taken from me. My cranky child along with two more little rug rats kept me from accomplishing ANYTHING all day long. Children are exhausting and if anyone tells you otherwise, than they don’t have any.

In the midst of the chaos dinner quickly approached but with nothing to serve… I literally wracked my brain for anything and everything. After traveling I did not want something unhealthy as eating out three meals a day becomes tiring very quickly so I resorted to Fajitas.

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts, cooked
  • ½ lb shrimp, tail off
  • 1 large red pepper
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
  • 2 tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro
  • 1/4 cup lime juice
  • 2 tbsp. evoo
  • blue cheese dressing, for topping (optional)
  • Sriracha sauce, for topping (optional)
  • 4 flour tortillas

Cook chicken to desired taste. In a large sauce pan add EVOO, peppers, onions and garlic. Begin to sauté for 3-4 minutes on medium heat.
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Add cumin, salt, paprika, and lime juice. Mix well and add raw shrimp. Cook until shrimp is fully pink.
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Add cooked chicken and cilantro. Heat through!
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 Scoop into a flour tortilla and eat as is, or add dressing, sour cream and/or hot sauce. :)

Enjoy!

 

Forgiveness

Just when I think I’ve lost every drop of grace I have inside me and want to give up and move on, a song comes on in the background: 7×70 times by Chris August. If you haven’t heard it, then you must listen to it.

7×70

Although my night and many of them did not go as planned, I feel like this was the straw that broke the camels back. Not quite sure how to handle the situation I’ve just encountered but knowing it’s anything but good. I decided to ignore it in hopes that I wont have to deal with it anymore this evening. While in the kitchen making my husbands lunch this song came on and in mid thought interrupted me. “What am I supposed to do? The situation isn’t good, but that doesn’t mean I can’t forgive but it also doesn’t mean I keep continuing to be trampled on. So how Lord do I stop and forgive and where do I go from here?” The questions filled my mind while trying to concentrate on lunch making. “Forgive? How Lord?” I am trying to rationalize my thoughts, “How do you not forgive, I’ve forgiven you and all my children even when they continue down destructive paths, you must forgive and I will show you how.” This is what I hear as I am filling up with anger now that I’ve allowed myself to actually think through some of the facts. Okay, if the Lord is asking me to forgive than I must exercise this and allow the Lord to help me forgive. My anger must subside!

Thanks to uppercasewoman.com

Thanks to uppercasewoman.com

I’ve had the conversation many times with my husband that when you dwell on the negative it breeds a negative attitude and now is my opportunity to take my own advice. My routine when I become angry and feel justified is to pray for wisdom. Ask the Lord for the next hour to speak through my words or actions. Then I ask for grace; giving me grace to see the positive through the negative circumstances. Friends, this works! I am living proof of it. My perspective has change 180 degrees only by taking these small steps and my response has had a greater impact. Do not be fooled, it is not easy what-so-ever but it takes discipline and exercising faith to want to change bad habits. If you desire something enough, you will strive for that success.

Now forgiving doesn’t always mean staying in the same circumstances. The line needs to be drawn depending on each individual situation. I wasn’t asking to encounter this situation nor will I ever again. Forgiving can still occur even when tolerance doesn’t. My tolerance level is 100% depleted. When this song came on 7×70 times, I was struck by the simple fact that it doesn’t matter the circumstances, you simply forgive. We begin basing our forgiveness on selfish gain, how many times have you been wronged, how many times have you deserved better than that, how many times? How many times? How many times? These are selfish questions that bring about a negative, deserving attitude; the proper question needs to come from the Lord; “help me Lord to forgive with your grace and without expectations?”

By changing our thoughts and perspective we can begin to take those small steps to genuine love and forgiveness EVEN when others don’t deserve it.

I think it’s so important to address this issue as forgiveness is a daily battle and sometimes an hourly battle. Those of you with kids, spouses, and rocky family relationships or friendships all understand that this becomes a choice. If you don’t choose forgiveness your anger and resentment will turn your heart to stone. Strive to become the person people enjoy being around rather then wishing you away because you are emotionally draining!

Forgiveness

Moment of Truth: Sometimes we walk paths that are unexpected and continue to throw road blocks at us. We have the choice to continue to walk or stop and allow these road blocks to hinder any further growth. Don’t settle for ordinary. Choose extraordinary and seek forgiveness no matter the cost! Choose abundant life no matter if you choose it alone! God is here to help, BUT you must ask and wait.