Friday Favorites

Would have never expected a whole week off because of snow! Enjoyed a trip to target today with my sister! I love that place! So here are my Friday favorites of the week!

1. I won a necklace of the month club from Caroline G! Please check out her shop and blog! She's incredible!

2. I got this in a birchbox and I love it!! With this winter weather, my face has been extremely dry!

3. This has been a verse that has been my focus and encouragement!!

Have an awesome weekend!!

Snakes in Disguise

On this "snow" day, I get to hangout with one of my favorite guys!! Maddox and I have built Lego buildings and watched Ninjago! As we were watching he kept telling me what was going on and then he turned to me and said "aunt B.... don't ever trust snakes... They bite you!"

Such words of wisdom!

Sometimes there are obvious signs of danger! Lies, drugs, and going in the dark by yourself. But sometimes "snakes" can be in disguise.

Good things can easily turn into something dangerous. The way we spend our time on social media for example! As I've been snowed in this week, I've found myself bored and on social media a lot. Now I'm not saying social media is bad. Just the amount of time and How we use it can be.

Comparison, feeling unworthy, wanting more, wishing for someone's else's life....can overtake us before we can even realize it. They have more followers, I wish I had a house, how am I still single... Thoughts can be dangerous! What we don't realize is we just get to see the highlights in others online and not the things behind the scenes!

If we took the amount of time we use on social media to invest in others.... we could change the world!

So today I'm starting to really take notice of my time and look for ways to invest in others!

Enjoy your day! 

Ps..... Look for HUGE announcement soon!

Shout out Wednesday!

Happy snow day!! I spent this morning with my sweet neighbors sledding on my green disk! My smile came from a place of such joy in spending time with people! I love my quiet time but being cooped up in the house with no face to face conversations was driving me crazy! Community is so important! It's easy to feel alone but we aren't!! Someone right down the road wants community as well! So I hope you reach out to neighbors and friends and do life together!! It's so much more fun with others!!

Here are my shout outs for this past week! I hope they will encourage you as they did myself!

Holley Gerth. We aren't alone!

Beautiful mess. Relationships

Holly Myers. Freedom in dreaming Big!

I hope you will go outside and enjoy this beautiful day with someone!

Start

These snow days are providing so much time to read and soak up Jesus' word and words of others He is using! Sunday at church Andrew our pastor, talked to us about one of the biggest excuses of not reaching our dreams/goals is: I want to but I will LATER!!

Starting is the biggest step! Fear, insecurities, and feeling unworthy are the many emotions that flood over us! Sometimes they overflow and we can't step one foot in front of the other.

This month I'm so thankful how God is helping me take some big leaps!! As I'm running this race God has set before me.... I catch myself looking over my shoulder waiting for something to derail me. "Good things are happening! They can't last long right? When is the bomb going to drop?"

What lies we are fed when the devil makes us think these things! We sabotage ourselves before we even begin.

So my friends, one thing I am finding that is helping shut those lies and helping me keep running is setting my eyes on Him. If I'm looking behind or to the side while running, I'm going to trip and lose my way. Another is sharing with my community of friends! When I become transparent and share my thoughts and fears, they are quickly encouraged and allows me to see more clearly.

My hearts desire is for you and I to be the best runners we can and pursuing our dreams. We were created to run!!

So start today where you are and do what you can today!

Control

What a surprise to wake up this morning to school being closed due to black ice. No one was expecting this. It reminded me how we have no control of the weather. Or our lives!

As I'm stepping and walking towards my dreams.... The knowing I have no control is getting more clearer. Of course we have the choice to try and take control of our lives but what I've experienced when doing this is frustration and emptiness. 

I shared a few weeks ago about having nightmares and even though those have subsided, I have moments of fear of things happening that I have no control over. My nephews are one of the most precious things in my life. I remember when they were really young and come spend the night with me and I'd follow their every move. So afraid they would get hurt on my watch.

Last night I went to bed thinking of my nephews. All of them! Even though I haven't met little Eston yet.... He was on my mind! Maddox is sick and I hate to see them suffer. I woke up this morning with them still on my mind! 

I have no power or control to keep them safe and out of harm. God has a beautiful and perfect way to speak to us. To draw us nearer and see more of His heart. God knows what's ahead and all he wants is us to be obedient. 

Maybe you have fears that pop up and overwhelm you. Your first defense is to take control. What god is leading us to do is take His hand and keep running our race. He has a purpose in everything.

I have no idea why we lost little Eston but I know God is doing a great work through his story and family.

So my Monday challenge has two parts:

1. Look inside you to see what fears or places you feel you have to be in control. Allow God to show you how to let go! We are powerless to do it ourselves.
2. Love on your family! One of my goals this year is to spend more time with my family and nephews! Aunt B isn't going to miss out on those boys lives!

To Eston: Aunt B loves you so much and I can't wait to meet you and give you the biggest hug! I know nanny pat, paw paw Joe, and nanny dolly are telling you lots of stories until I get there!

Friday Favorites

Well friends we've survived the week! With many two-hour delays, I can't complain too much! I am doing lots of planning for the BIG stuff coming up! Don't worry, I'll be sharing soon!

Here are my Friday favorites for the week!

1. I recently came across a site where you can order a necklace with your word of the year in it. I love mine!  Here is the site: Krafty Kash

    2. This talk spoke directly to me! It's long but so worth it! 

Christine Caine

    3. Jennie Allen does a great job at sharing her heart and what to do when we become restless!

         Restless

 I only have three this week but they were three really big ones!

I hope you have a great weekend!!

Confessions

Hello friends! I hope you bundled up this morning and have stayed warm today! This girl could get used to having 2 hour delays!

I have a confession today. More of a statement really. Usually a confession is something more on the negative side of something you did or are. But it's really more of an admittance I'm not ashamed of.

IM A DREAMER!! In the past two weeks, God has helped remind me of my core and that He created me to be a Dreamer! I used to be what my friends called me,"a daisy". One that always looked at the positive of things and based a lot of my life around a "fairy tale" world.

Until my parents divorced. My bubble was busted and I was hit with the harsh reality of this broken world. At some point through this journey I started burying my dreams and not allowing myself to think as a dreamer!

The last few weeks God has so beautifully reminded me of my dreams He gave me and that I was created to be a dreamer!

Maybe you have forgotten your dreams through hard circumstances. Maybe you felt that you had to hide the natural dreamer self inside because others told you it didn't fit in this world!

My heart and prayer is that God will start showing and revealing who you are and reminding you to dream!

There is freedom in being who you were created to be!

Shout Out Wednesday

Hello friends! I hope that the sunshine has helped you smile today even though it is really cold! I'm excited to share my shout outs today! If you're just coming in on this journey with me, my word for the year is WORDS! Words to encourage, learn, and create with!

Here are some great blogs and posts that I've been reading this week!! They have spoken in places of my heart that I've forgotten about! 

Enjoy!!

Jennie Allen.    Are you feeling restless?

Christine Caine.  She will blow your heart and mind up!!

Tisha.  What a story to follow!

Emily Ley.  You have 5 minutes... GO!! I want to get her planner!

Jeanie Allen and Christine Caine have some amazing videos on you tube!!

Make It Happen

Today's weather has been so crazy! Snowing one minute and sunny the next! Yesterday it was so warm and as I was running tried to soak up all the heat! It felt so good to be back to running!

Sometimes the hardest part in anything is getting started. We might know what we need to do but either not sure how to start or fearful to get started.

I've been working on my Make It Happen 2014 goals. I highly recommend these power sheets if you're like me and need help with the details of planning.

It's been so good to write these goals and plans down and the power sheets give you a great layout and guide. Go check out Lara Casey's site and where she's given some great steps on how to get started and MAKE THINGS HAPPEN!

Make It Happen

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others? MLK

I can honestly say "HAPPY MONDAY" today! We had an optional workday today because students were out for Martin Luther King day. I was able to be very productive and get a lot accomplished in my room, went for run, and now sitting on my porch enjoying this beautiful day!

I've thought a lot about Martin Luther King today and how he did exactly what he was created to do! God gave him a dream that only he could fulfill and he did it! How amazing it must have been to be there watching and listening to MLK give his speech!

This past weekend I had an amazing conversation with a sweet friend! I've had this dream for a long time. I've shared it a few times with close friends and through different seasons in my life... Just tucked it away for later! I shared it with this friend and suddenly realized its time for it to come alive!!

Have you ever had a dream you knew you were suppose to be a part of? Maybe throughout different circumstances, criticism, or fear you buried it.

Today my Monday challenge is that you allow God to unearth your dream and find a close, encouraging friend and share it! Find someone that will pray with you! My hope is we can be women who help remind each other of our gifts and dreams! Not people who criticize and compare!

Be looking in the next month for when I will share my dream with you and how you can be a part of it! It's BIG!!

"Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice."  Steve Jobs

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Friday Favorites

So excited to start sharing with you on Fridays my favorites of the week! They will range from products, moments, books, shows, and other blog posts! So let's get started on this weeks five favorites!

1. Holley Gerth's book You're Made for a God-Sized Dream   Check it out.  I had a friend who recommended this book for me to read and all I can say is WOW!!! I have she'd tears turning these pages because I have never felt like a book was written for me like this one has! It talks about we were created for Big Dreams and I can't wait to continue to dive in this book to see what God has in store! Her blog is also really good!
2. Birchbox : I love this concept of having a box of sample/small products delivered once a month  that you can try and use to see if you like the product before purchasing a regular size. It's like Christmas each month!   You'll love it too!
3. WORDS! Words is my word for the year! Words to encourage, learn, and create with! I heard this song and it goes so well with my goal!   Words by Hawk Nelson
4. Downton Abbey!! I love this show!
5. Ps. 91:4. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge. This verse I held very close this week when I was experiencing nightmares at night.

I hope you all have a great weekend!! I mailed my cards today! Don't forget to encourage someone this weekend! Also... Check out Passion 2014! They will be streaming live tonight from Atlanta, GA!

Passion 2014

Community

I just got back from a friends house eating supper. As I was driving home I thought about how important friendships and having people in your life are so important. When we create community around us, we are able to learn from each other and push others to reach their dreams. I'm reading a book that ill share about tomorrow, but came across this.

"We must call out and name the gifts we see in each other. We must speak up and encourage our loved ones when we see them coming alive."

I'm so thankful I have a community of friends who see my gifts and help remind me of them when I forget. I hope you have surrounded yourself with people who uplift you, listen, encourage, and challenge you. It's easy for women to compare and some help bring out the insecurities within yourself! Lets be a group of women who help bring someone else's gifts to life and create communities of encouraging women!

I love you guys! You know who you are! Thank you for helping push me to get this blog started, for always encouraging me to do more, and giving hugs when needed!:)

Shout Out Wednesday

I have always loved Wednesdays!! Something about them brings an excitement! Not sure if its knowing the weekend is around the corner or that I survived Monday and Tuesday!:) I've decided to take Wednesdays as a day to give a shout out to some other blogs I've been reading! It's so exciting to read other women's posts that you can connect with! The following are some I've been following and using as my MAKING THINGS HAPPEN encouragement and guidance! I know you will love them too!
Lara Casey Making things Happen

Hannah Brencher Don't bring anything into the web

Holley Gerth. Encouraging words

Brooke Simpson Less is more


Enjoy your Wednesday!!

Courage

The past few nights I've had horrible nightmares. The kind you wake up sweating and wondering if they really happened. I had a suspicion after the first one that it had something to do with fear and actually stepping out into pursuing my dreams as an encouraging speaker. After the third night.... I knew!!

Fear has always had a way of sneaking in and crippling me. I am NOT going to let it win this time. Have you ever got the courage to step out and start walking towards a dream or goal only to be knocked down by fear? Fearful we aren't good enough, could I actually do this, am I worthy, what will people say..... It has a way of rushing over us like a seashell caught in the current.

There is something different this time because this Dream God has given me is growing inside and no matter what, it has to come alive! Knowing that is what is giving me courage to keep walking forward.

As I'm walking, I'm claiming His word. I've had such wonderful friends send me verses of scripture to read before I go to bed. What I'm finally realizing is that He's got me. He's my protector.

If you have found yourself in a place of fear, I challenge you to find a verse that you can read, memorize, and speak out!

This week I'll share more about my fears in the past and how God's grew me and revealed more of himself to me.

Don't forget to write a comment when you mail your card!

A New Monday

Happy Monday!!! Said no one ever! Haha But I'm going to try and start using my Monday posts to help crank up our week on a good note! Each Monday I'm going to try and challenge myself and you to do something! Something that pushes us outside our comfort zone or to break outside the box. It also may just be to encourage someone who needs it!

My word for 2014 is WORDS! I know that sounds funny.... But it has been on my heart to use words to learn more, encourage, and create with.

So here is this weeks challenge. I love getting cards with words of encouragement or just to say Hi! We don't send snail mail like we used to! The excitement of opening your mailbox and seeing a card instead of bills is so refreshing. Pick someone you either haven't contacted in awhile or someone you feel could use a smile on their face and mail them a card. This takes five minutes..... And believe me will make someone's day!

Leave a comment below when you've mailed your card and I will in turn mail you a card!

My prayer is that we give others joy even on our Mondays when we aren't feeling it ourselves!

I'm excited about some upcoming posts and things you can be a part of! Get to writing your letter and ill be excited to hear how it goes!

Comparing Journeys

Happy weekend! I won't be normally uploading posts every weekend but since I just started.... I didn't want to wait till Monday!

I've always looked forward to weekends! Time to rest from the work week, to have fun with friends/family, movies, weekend getaways, or just being home with Netflix. There have been periods of my journey though that I have found myself hating Friday nights. Especially recently. When they arrive, loneliness, frustration, and questions flood in as well.

Are weekends hard for you? It's so easy when you're at a certain stage or step in your life to always be wanting to get to the next stage or skip the one you're in. Always asking, "what's next?". We find ourselves comparing our journeys to others around us. If you're single like me, then you might be wondering, "what's wrong with me?". You watch your sisters and friends one by one become engaged or married. Life shifts and you come into a place where there there are lots of uncertainty. Where do I belong? Who am I going to hangout with? Comparing journeys is such an easy thing to do but can be so damaging! No matter where a woman is in her journey.... We compare. "She has a husband, she has her own house, wow she has such freedom! Maybe you're married and raising kids. Life is busy and you wish Friday nights could be nothing but you and Netflix. Some time for yourself! Call me... I'll babysit! Ha ha. 

What I'm finding though through these moments that God takes me to a place of surrender and reminds me of my purpose in the NOW! 

So my challenge for you and I this weekend and in the future that when we find ourselves comparing.... We remind ourselves that God created us and put us on our journey because He knows we are strong enough to live it and His plans are so much bigger than we can ever imagine. So lets use wherever we are to grow and encourage others. To keep walking and pour into others. I have realized while pouring and investing into others, I take my focus off myself and become so filled with His joy!

Hello Friends! I'm so excited to be starting this new journey in blogging and connecting with you each day while sharing my thoughts and my story. I hope to encourage you wherever you are in your journey and remind you that you have a purpose and a gift that only you possess. One of my 2014 goals is to encourage others more and unearth gifts within myself and help young girls and women in finding their own gifts. Now is the time to make things happen! A popular quote floating around in social media right now is, "A year from today, you will wish you had started." So here I am starting this journey! I know God is going to do amazing things this year in and through you! If you want to get to know some fun facts about me.....check out my About Me page. Keep on the lookout!! There are some fun giveaways and prizes I'll be giving away soon! Talk to you soon!

I want to give a shout out to the Amazing Tessa who designed and set up my blog. It was such a blessing to have someone whom I've never met create something that was better than I could have ever imagined and felt me. Please check out her site if you are looking into creating a blog and need some help getting started. I am very pleased with how mine turned out! Thank you Tessa!!!  Tales from a Blog Designer