When I Almost Let Fear Win

I might as well had been paralyzed.  I layed on that couch and I couldn't move. Sitting with my legs curled up and all was hidden underneath the blanket but my face. I needed to be able to see and hear. My body was turned so I could see the front door.

Waiting.

See I wasn't paralyzed physically. Nothing was wrong with my arms or legs. Even though my body felt like lead if I tried moving.

I was paralyzed by FEAR.

FEAR had sneaked in a small crevice of my mind and had spread like a disease. Out to kill me. Until it literally had camped out and overtaken my whole being. 

You may be wondering what I was waiting for and what had happened for me to get to this state.

I was waiting for something bad to happen.

The worse thing had happened in my life up to that point and it had opened the flood gates of a harsh world and busted my fairy tale bubble I was living in.  My parents had just divorced. For me this was devastating. My mind had a hard time processing and I started thinking irrationally. 

"If this could happen, then all these other things are possible. A stranger breaking into my house, a house fire, and other things I had never worried about."So I sat there night after night watching the door. It finally became too much.

I needed to feel SAFE.

When our worlds turn upside down. Whether through a break up, divorce, loss, or any other 
tragedy we find ourselves at our weakest. Satan knows this and will attack us while we are down.

When I am weak, He is STRONG.

After weeks of fearful nights, lots of tears, and knowing I needed to feel safe again...... I ran to my dad. He took me in and gave me a place to feel safe. He used encouraging words, reminding me of how BIG my God was, and making sure there were nightlights in the hallway.

I needed to feel SAFE.

Isn't that what our heavenly Father does? That in a broken world we can know to go to Him and give Him our fears and troubles.

My fears weren't fixed in one night. Sometimes they still pop out of no where. But I go to the place I can feel safe again. In the arms of Jesus.

Are you tired of carrying your fears and burdens? Let's start giving them to the one who wants to set us free!!

He Is Enough

My eyelids fluttered and opened as my alarm clock was going off. I was tired and my feet hadn't even hit the floor. 5 hours of sleep wasn't enough to feel refreshed.  I stumbled to the shower after I had gathered my things.

I knew I was going to need some warm water to help me feel refreshed. Clear up my clogged up brain and help me be ready for the tasks at hand. Today was the beginning of a weekend retreat for high school  girls. With being a table leader and giving a talk, it was going to require me to be on my A game.

Having just 5 hours of sleep wasn't the main reason I was tired. I had been pouring out everything in me in the last couple of weeks. Organizing and doing a women's conference, helping my family due to sickness, and my normal duties. Without time to recoup and restore, I was starting this week exhausted.

Physically, mentally, and spiritually!

Nothing. Left. To. Give.

Have you ever been so tired and overwhelmed that you felt like you had nothing left? 

What I found that day was that God knows how and when we need restoring. I thought I needed rest and a surge of energy. It never came. But what did come was God showing me He is enough.

When I am weak, He is strong.

Are you resting in Him today or trying to figure it out on your own?

Being Intentional With Friendships

Releasing a sigh of relief, we relaxed against the airplane seats. We had made it! Months of planning, excitement, and dodging obstacles of a winter storm, we were off on our girls trip. Heading south to warmer weather and sunny skies.

We had decided last fall that we needed a girls trip. We both love adventure and being single provides some advantages of flexible schedules. Not that you can’t travel when you’re married, but it requires a lot more planning and discussion between your spouse.

Our trip to Orlando consisted of a Luke Bryan concert, full day at Disney, a day in our Pj’s reading and collaborating on some upcoming projects, and great food and conversation.

Our day at Disney was so much fun! A highlight of the day was walking from different countries and experiencing the different cultures at Epcot. We decided to capture this experience by taking photos at each location with us wearing hats that represented the country we were in. This became such a fun game of which hat we were going to use and laughed at the ones we found.

In France, we stopped at a bakery that we had been told we must visit. We were not disappointed. Who knew a sandwich and dessert could taste so good. It was a wonderful day with perfect weather, not too crowded, and reminded us of magical places and dreaming big.

What do you and your friends do together for fun?

Maybe you’re in a season and having a hard time finding a time to hangout with your friends. Whether due to your busy schedules, newly married, or raising kids. Maybe you have forgotten how crucial it is to have quality time with your friends and have fun.

We have taken some time to answer some questions that we hope will encourage you and give you some ideas in helping you invest in your friendships.

1. How do you  keep up with your friends?

Brooke:

My friends will tell you I am a terrible phone friend.  It is actually one of my goals this year to be better at catching up with friends on the phone!  I do make it a point to text friends often to say hi or to send them some encouragement.  And I do love the old school way of communicating, sending letters or cards in the mail!  I think the important thing is just to be proactive in keeping up with your friends!  I love how with many of my friends it doesn't matter how long it has been since we have chatted we pick up right where we left off! 

Breeze:
Friends that are close by I usually see every week. We also will text each other throughout
the week. These people are who I go to for advice and share my days with. The friends that
don't live close, I have to make sure and be more intentional at having "phone dates" and

catch up with each other. I love to talk on the phone but I know several of my friends have
families and sometimes it's hard to coordinate a phone call. My goal this year is to be with friends more face to face.

2. What is something we can do when we are so busy to make room for fun with friends?

Brooke:

Be intentional!  As women we are always juggling lots of plates.  Whether you are in college, working, single or married, we tend to over commit ourselves which lead to friends being put on the back burner.  We must be intention in making time for friends, in order to foster those relationships.  Set weekly or monthly dates and put them immediately in your calendar.  Set phone dates or Facetime dates.

Breeze:
I agree with Brooke. Be intentional. Sometimes you need to plan ahead and set some fun get togethers. A group of my close friends and I have set Memorial Day weekend as a beach trip for the past 10 years or more. Now that school gets out later, we choose to go in June. It's something we all look forward to. It doesn't have to be a long trip somewhere. Plan a evening to paint or do pottery together at a local shop.

3. What are some of your favorite girls nights out for you and your friends?

Brooke:

I L.O.V.E girls nights!  One of my very best friends and I have a weekly girls night to watch one of our favorite TV shows together.  I go to her house in my pjs and we set up shop in her
girls playroom and watch Scandal. It is one of my favorite traditions.  I love grabbing coffee
or dinner with friends.  Going to concerts, movie nights, are other fun outings I love to share with my friends.  Weekend getaways are a great way to connect with friends and explore and enjoy new places.

Breeze:
I love evenings when we cuddle up in blankets on the couch and talk. Eat junk food and share each other's dreams. Sometimes it's Zaxby's and watching one of our favorite shows. I also love movies and popcorn.

4. How do you encourage your friend's dreams and goals?

Brooke:

I think it is so important to invest in your friends enough to really know what it is that makes them come alive.  It is such a great feeling to have people get excited about the things that we are passionate about.  On those girls night mentioned above, take some time to really listen to what your friends goals and dreams are.  Then help them move toward them.  Encourage them, look for ways to challenge them to move toward the things they love!  Partner with them in making their dreams come true!

Breeze:

I absolutely love hearing about my friends dreams and plans. I love getting to be a part of encouraging them with my words, help, or time to see their dreams come alive. I am not the friends who is able to give good steps and ways necessarily to get the goals achieved but I love to encourage a long the way and remind them to dream big and positive feedback.

We hope you will be encouraged to be intentional with your friendships. Tribes are 

important and need quality time.

Please check out Brooke's blog  Everyday Blessings and follow her on Instagram 

@friendbrooke.

Brooke resides in Hickory, NC but will always call Asheville, NC home.  She is a teacher who loves to travel, go to concerts and shop in her spare time.  Brooke is passionate about encouraging others through her blog, by sending cards and by making people smile!  

Where Dreams Come True

 I recently got to go to the "Happiest Place On Earth". You can feel the magic as you drive up to the entrance. I was giddy with excitement. From the parking attendants, security men checking our bags, and the cashiers their smiles were genuine and showed they were excited we were there. They made me feel like they had been expecting me. 

I was caught up in the details. The entrance with scanning our cards and fingerprints, the flower beds arranged with Mickey's silhouette, and the detailed buildings and atmosphere that transported us to a different country. No matter your age, this place makes you feel like your dreams could come true.

It all started with a mouse.

Walt Disney started with a dream. And years and years later, this dream is reaching millions of people in giving them a place to dream and believe in magic.

"All your dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them!"

                                                                            Walt Disney

That is my heart for She Dreams Ministry . That when women step out of their cars this Saturday for our women's event, they are met with volunteers who are excited they are here and have been expecting them. That through every song, session, and experience that they feel like their dreams can come true and see God's hand in every detail.

It all started with a feather.

A feather that represented a dream of a college graduate girl. A dream that she knew God had given her. Something only she could do.

I'm humbled and excited to watch my dream come alive. This Saturday women will gather together to be encouraged, equipped, and empowered to live and believe the dreams God has placed inside their hearts.

Dreams take courage!! Be a dreamer!!

When No isn't always something negative

No. Not yet. You're not ready.

Have you ever been told these words?

When it was your parents answer when you asked for candy, to spend the night with a friend, or when you wanted to practice driving the car before you got your permit.

Those may have seemed hard to hear at the time but they weren't devastating or life altering. 

But what do you do when it's your dream? Something you've been waiting a long time for. These words seem like an earth shattering echo over and over in your head!

NO!! No!!!

If you're like me, my mind processes these words in several stages.

Surprise. Hurt. Rejection. Failure.

I first usually get stubborn and do everything in MY own power to get my way. Pitching two year old fits if necessary. Then I run and hide and distance myself because I feel like a failure. 

But what if we could recognize the "No's" as protection from things we aren't aware of and save us from hurt and frustration.

Our parents knew candy was something our bodies didn't need. That we weren't developmentally ready to make decisions on driving or dating young.

God knows when we are ready for our dreams. In the waiting, He is equipping us for everything we will need. 

Let's take hope and not be afraid we will lose our dreams if the answer is no or not yet. He has something even better coming and He is never late.

Ephesians 3:20

He is able to do abundantly above all that we ask or ever could dream to ask.

Allowing Yourself A Time Out

Have you ever been in the middle of a huge decision and your brain won't stop screaming and chattering?

Which college should I pick? Should I buy this house? Is this a good investment? Is this church the place for me?

And if it's not enough that the questions you keep asking yourself overtake your head, suddenly your heart decides to get involved and joining the conversations.

What will my friends and family think? Will I let them down if I make the "wrong" decision? 

I recently went through this torture fight of back and forth questions. All I could hear was noise. I felt tense, overwhelmed, and no peace. I was trying to make the best decision and was struggling knowing what that was. I appreciated the wisdom and advice was given. But I also heard a lot of opinions.

What I needed was a time out!

Time to allow myself to process all I was feeling and wondering. I needed to find a place and time I could sit alone and hear nothing but God. 

It's ok to give yourself space. To allow the advice, wisdom, and opinions to quiet for a moment so that you can hear the only voice that matters. 

When I gave myself a time out, do you know what I found?

Peace. Encouragement. Courage.

Peace that passes all my understanding. Encouragement that I could and would make the best decision possible. Courage to do what I knew needed to be done.

The next time you are in a process that feels so overwhelming..... Take a time out.

It will do your heart and mind wonders!

3 Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day Single

Conversation hearts. Roses. Chocolates.

You know exactly what these all equal up to. Valentine’s Day.

For some of you this day of showing people you care how much you love them,  can bring joy and excitement. Plans of candlelit dinner, movie without the kids, or even a simple moment to share with your husband or significant other.

But for those of you single, this one day can be a day of feeling more lonely than any other day and a very easy day to feel insignificant or allow comparison to sneak in.

Why do I allow ONE day to change the way I feel about my life and feel less loved?

You’re Not Alone.

I have spent a lot of Valentine’s Days being Single. In fact, I probably could count on one hand the times I had a date or boyfriend on this day of Love. In the past I have allowed myself to envy those co-workers who had flowers sent to work, jealous of friends or sisters who had plans on this day and it left me at home alone.

The industry has over done the hallmark commercials, the pressure of needing flowers and chocolates  to feel loved and cherished.

We have the choice to get sucked in and made to feel we aren’t important and loved or use Valentine’s Day to bring us and others joy by doing something for ourselves and others.

3 ideas of how to spend Valentine’s Day

1.      Serve

When we turn the direction of our thoughts from ourselves to others, we are able to have a new perspective on our own circumstances and in most cases are able to be filled and blessed far more than we would have ever thought possible.

-         Offer to babysit for a friend, co-worker, or family member while they can go to dinner for a much needed time together.

-         Take valentine’s or homemade goodies to a local shelter, hospital, or place with people in need

2.    Plan a fun outing or host a party for your single friends

-         Showing hospitality in having friends over can make others feel special. It doesn’t take much but a few cute decorations, simple prepared food, and a fun movie or games.

-         Check for events with your local churches, community organizations, or venues that you could get a group together and enjoy.

3.    Do something for yourself

We forget that it’s important to take care of yourself. Find something that you enjoy and do it. Sometimes singles can be made to feel bad when choosing to do things that may appear to others as being selfish. Singleness can have it’s advantages when having a more flexible schedule, using your money how you want, and much more.

This Valentine’s Day, I’m choosing JOY!! My best friend and I are going to a local spa and having massages, pedicures, and facials. We are both so excited! 

How are you spending your Valentine’s Day this year? No matter how you are spending it, know you are worthy of Love, you matter to others, and you have lots of love to give to others.