Posted in All In A Day's Time, tagged Goat Milk Soap, handmade soap, Inspirations, sunrise photo on October 23, 2011| 2 Comments »
I see visions of a Sunrise soap, to match this beautiful morning.
What better time of day is there to think, meditate, enjoy the peace? Even while standing outside in the crisp air, taking a photo, listing to nothing but the birds waking up, it was beautiful.
Sunrise soap – something citrusy, clean, fresh, and filled with hope for a new day!
Annie’s Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps – Smell and Feel the Goodness
Posted in Inspirations, tagged insensitivity, Inspirations, sensitive heart on April 7, 2010| 6 Comments »
Lighten Your Heart - Fly Like A Butterfly
When I am touched by something, or someone, that I cannot help, I feel compelled to write about it, hoping that it will touch another life in a positive manner. Many of the posts in my Inspirations and General Reflections categories came about from something such as this…
For those that have a tender heart.
We all get stung now and then. Little stings that seem to pop out of nowhere.
It is good to love and care.
But, please do not allow your own energy to drip and drain away because another being has been insensitive. Forgive.
Take a big healthy breath.
Be content because you do care.
And then, live.
“When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.” Proverbs 4:12
Posted in General Reflections, Health, Inspirations, tagged happiness, inner-drought, Inspirations, rainy days on December 3, 2009| 12 Comments »
Have you ever been busy enough to barely notice the rain? Have you ever laughed enough to not notice the darkness during a short winter-type of day?
Rain, it is something nature seems to require more of during the hot summer months, verses late fall when the deluge appears to check in for the long haul. The fact is, trees can die in the winter months from a lack of water just as easily as they can during a parched summer season. A drought can be reversed during any month of the year.
We, as humans, are in need of life-sustaining water as well. We can experience inner-droughts. But I am really not reflecting on the water that we drink to keep our bodies ticking. I am referring to the life-sustaining laughter and happiness that we require.
Do you know someone who is internally shriveled up, filled with bitterness, no longer able to see the break in the clouds, no longer able to laugh even during the darkest of days? I have. I would love to give them a drink of the good water, to nourish their minds and souls. Purge the ugly thoughts that seem to envelope them. End their drought…their lack of hope.
Do you think we need to remember that our bodies need replenishing too, not only with wet water, with spiritual water, to prevent an inner-drought? Do you think we can focus on love, laughter, humanity and gratefulness despite the dark days? The tree sustains itself during the darkest of months, renewing itself just in time for the dry summer months, should we do the same?
Posted in Inspirations, tagged faith, happiness, Inspirations on November 22, 2009| 10 Comments »
I have been concentrating on self-improvement recently. The result is not pointed directly at me. It is pointed at family, friends, my home, and life in general.
There is a deep-seated need within me, a need to share my happiness with others.
I do not see the world as an easy place to live. I face my own challenges such as weight gain, constant aches and pains, grown children that do not communicate across the miles, a husband that is out of work and not feeling well, friends that are having a tough time in life…and the list goes on.
I do not share my problems with people often, I share them with God.
Everyone has their own style. My style is to be as positive as possible. There is enough hardship in the world to bring us down without casting my own shadow upon others.
As my good friend, Omar, leader of a local Mennonite church says, “I should not complain.” God bless him. He inspires me.
I went to my shop today to work on a client order. I dug through the CD’s. Today I was troubled with the thoughts, “Should I share my troubles with everyone, or should I give thanks and move on.” I flipped on the CD, The Traveling Light, Songs From The 23rd Psalm.
As I worked I listened. It all became clear to me, “I shall not fear the darkness.”
I shall not fear the darkness. I hope that song sticks with me for days to come.
Life is beautiful. I am thankful. I pray for help, just like everyone else does. I have my moments. I dig myself back out. I am strong, I know I am. But I am also weak. I will admit to it.
For now, I choose to shine as much as I can for everyone around me. It is what I was designed to do.
Posted in Inspirations, tagged Inspirations, Motivation, Self-Doubt on September 12, 2009| 14 Comments »
A person very dear to me said, “I just cannot do this. I simply can not do it!” Yes, you can.
I admit, I was well into the middle part of my 40’s before I realized that all things are possible.
Self-doubt is very defeating. Dreams can be squashed by a little voice that whispers, “You might not be able to do this.” Self-doubt causes us to shun our aspirations, our hopes, and our plans. Self-doubt causes us to not make corrections in our lives that frees us to move forward. We vigorously ignore and take detours because it appears much easier than facing a challenge.
So sad. Such a waste of time and energy.
To the one that is struggling…call them brick walls, stumbling blocks, hurdles, whatever the term for challenges might be for you…if you never test the waters, if you never jump through the ring of fire (the vision that I use), you will likely not get where you want to be in life. As grandmother used to say, “Nobody is going to hand that to you on a silver platter.” You have to make it happen.
It is a fact, the more you accomplish, the stronger you get. Stronger = more faith in yourself.
I hope to not listen to the self-doubt voice ever again…but I am sure it will whisper something in my ear again soon. I love the challenge, because it reminds me that I am human, and that I am weak. But I also love it because it reminds me that I can freely do whatever good I know I can do!
“Let’s check and see if I’m going
ahead
or backward,
or nowhere . . . .
-Gladis and Gordon DePress
Posted in General Reflections, tagged Inspirations, Reflections on September 6, 2009| 7 Comments »
When I ask myself the question, have you been reflective recently? The resounding answer is a definite yes! Meditative? Very!
The world comes with trials, disappointments, and frustrations. What I do to armour myself against those trials is what helps me to win the battle(s).
My battles are won through faith in God. Period.
I could oh so easily throw my hands up in the air and say the words, “I give up, this is too difficult.” But I am not turning back, I am sticking with the One that created me.
Jesus said: “Do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’…But seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Matthew 6:31, 33-34
Amen! Over and out! When I find myself slipping into the notion of worrying about tomorrow, I quickly remind myself that it is up to Him to do the work. He has plans for me! I need only concentrate on this very moment, do what is best for my future today.
With love to all of you!
Posted in Blogging, Inspirations, tagged Blogging, Inspirations, The Lylah Blog on September 5, 2009| 5 Comments »
Color From The Flower Garden
Today I am talking about a blog that inspires me, The Lylah Blog – Simple Home Living.
I could not tweak my own words to suit the purpose, so here are Lylah’s own words, “The Lylah Blog is about encouraging women to apply the Simple Home Principles to become great wives, loving mothers and on purpose home makers who learn the value of creating sanctuary.”
In my own words, there are a lot of blessings in life, and Lylah is one of them!
In her post, Being an On Purpose Home Keeper, Lylah wrote: See, I am in no way perfect. I have not arrived. I am in process. And, when I write what I know is true, what I know is Biblical, what I know works and what I know honors God – I get reminded. I get to be challenged all over again. I don’t know about you, but I need that. I need the kick in the pants – as I run this race . . . as God develops character (His) in me – for the sake of the Kingdom and That Day (2 Corinthians 5:7-11).
Inspiring!
In her post, A Farm on Every Floor, an article embracing vertical farming and gardening, Lylah captioned a photo with: And, what would happen if we raised our kids on a farm? Think things might change?
Lylah surprised me in that post as well with a link to my own Annie’s Goat Hill blog.
Thank you to her post, My Friend LaRue. I finally have an idea how to display my grand-mothers colorful aprons! You need to go see!
Lylah authors more than one blog, her French inspired blog is: La Maison Et La Jardin . I drool over that one!
I lived in France for a couple of years as a young child. Now I have a few French-related blog posts in my drafts! My memory has been incredibly sparked! Life is good!
I think I met Lylah on Twitter. At this point, I do not remember, and it does not matter.
Blessings!
Posted in Inspirations, tagged Diabetes, Inspirations on September 4, 2009| 7 Comments »
Carol Stout holds an annual fund raiser for JDRF (the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation), in the Metro St. Louis area.
Carol recently contacted me, stating that she had received bars of my soap as gifts. She said, “I love what you are doing, your product and your spirit.” Thank you, Carol! You are a blessing in many lives, including mine!
Carol is the mother of a grown son who suffered from juvenile diabetes. He had several rough years, including missing half of his high-school years and 6 serious hospital stays. Carol said, “I had to do something and so along with family and friends organized a fund-raiser.”
Personally, I have participated in a few fund-raisers in my life, passively for the most part, donating money. Once I donated Samson for an evening cancer walk. Yes, he walked around the track, helping people earn money for laps completed. It was a huge event, and I was proud to offer my boxer boys’ assistance. I will be very happy to assist with Carol’s event as well! Carol asked if I would like to donate some of my products to be used in her auction or raffle baskets. I am delighted. I say, AS GOOD AS DONE!
The real topic here is Carol, and her friends and family, and more specifically the fight to find a cure for diabetes. Imagine, with help from people such as Carol and friends, if the cure for diabetes were finally found. What if children (and adults) no longer had to fight the disease as they do, no longer having to struggle just to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
If there is anything you can do to help with this cause, in your own area (I am sure there are chapters available), please do so. The link to the JDRF Metro Saint Louis blog is: http://www.jdrfstl.org/ . The blog post regarding Carol Stout’s efforts is: http://www.jdrfstl.org/2008/07/29/nothing-trivial-about-this/ .
Carol’s group of friends and family have been organizing this event for 6 years. Over 250 people attend annually. The event has raised around $47,000.00 for the Juvenile-Diabetes Foundation!
Carol, you are a blessing, to me, and to people around the globe, for your king sized efforts in the fight for juvenile diabetes research! We all thank you!!!
Posted in Inspirations, tagged Family, Friends, Inspirations, Reflections on August 21, 2009| 6 Comments »
From My Rose Garden
Stopping and smelling the roses isn’t all about the lovely rose scent coming from the plants in the garden.
As I grew older I began to realize that beauty was not just what a person could see. And the most important things in life were not material things. What is most important is people.
The phrase stop and smell the roses is referring to the act of slowing down, relaxing, and enjoying what is really of value in our lives.
Have you ever been so busy, so worried about “things,” or just so engrossed in a particular matter, that you forgot to pay attention to yourself or a loved one? The misguided focus one day soon grows into a week, a week grows into a month, and quickly an entire season passes. It is not a good feeling when the reality of the missed time and focus becomes clear.
Out of love, I am reminding you to stop and smell the roses, and out of love, I am going to schedule deliberate time to do the most important things in life!
Thank you to my friends, my family, all of the wonderful people in my life!
Have a beautiful weekend!
Posted in Inspirations, tagged Balance In Life, Goals, Inspirations, Reflections on June 24, 2009| 4 Comments »
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