Getaways...

I recently returned from a getaway to San Juan PR, to celebrate my husbands birthday!

Lemme tell ya. I think I found my 2nd home. I've never considered myself a "beach" person, but I may have had a change of heart. The weather was perfect, bright sunshine, nice breeze and great food.

I enjoyed every part of Puerto Rico, except for the traffic heading down to old San Juan. But, it was somewhat of a fun experience, but not one I'd like to repeat anytime soon. I think next time I'll just stay on the beach :)


We went snorkeling, which was a first for me. It was a great experience and if you've never snorkeled I highly recommend trying it!  It was just a peaceful experience. Alone out in the ocean, swimming with the fish and just hearing yourself breathing. Very relaxing!

Well, the trip is over and I'm back in the 'real world', but at least I still have my memories that I will think on when I need to find my 'happy place'!

Blessings!

1Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

12 Rounds...

Many of you will probably be huddled around the big screen with friends watching the Manny Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Marquez boxing match. I've watched previous fights of Pacquiao and he's a tough little fella.


I admire these guys. They battle until they're bloodied, tired and barely able to stand but they keep punching until one of them gets knocked out or the final bell sounds.

Life and achieving your goals/dreams are alot like a boxing match. You start out pursuing your goals with vibrant energy, bright eyes, smiling faces and full of optimism. Which is a good thing, but what you don't realize you're just in the first round. It's easy to maintain high hopes that the victory is yours. But what happens when the enemy sneaks in a left hook, or uppercut and pops you on the chin. You may get a little wobbly, but you stay on your feet and try your best to regroup.

You stay in the fight and during the next several  rounds you continue holding your ground, throwing some of your best punches. You  bob & weave, implement your best attempt at the Ali shuffle to try and avoid your opponent. But, in spite of your best defensive moves he tags you again. This time he gets you against the ropes and just pummels you while your high hopes of victory begin to wane. With each punch, you feel your knees begin to buckle, your eyes swell, your nose bleeds. You just want to give up. But off in the distance you hear your trainer yelling instructions, and encouraging you to keep fighting. Somehow you find the energy to reach down deep inside, to stay in there, not give up and continue to fight for the victory!


Today, I'm your trainer/coach **grabs you by both shoulders and looks you straight in the eyes**

1) You can do this!
2) Never give up! Never, never...Nevah!!
3) When you feel like you can't go on. Take a step back, re-group and get back in there!
4) Have Faith!
5) Dig Deeper (--Shaun T)
6) The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.

Which round are you in?

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

Disappointment...

Ok, so the beloved Rangers lost the World Series :(  But, that's okay, we'll try again next year. It was an exciting series and both teams played well. But in the end there can only be 1 winner. Next year Rangers!! next year!!! :)

It's always sad when something that you want to happen, doesn't. Whether it be your favorite team winning, something good happening for someone, something good happening for yourself.

If it doesn't happen on your timetable doesn't mean it's not going to happen. It just means it's not your time 'yet'. It's okay to throw yourself a little pity party. But don't stay there, get up and shake yourself off and get back at it. And once you have a clear head, you just may realize that the negative news you received was actually a blessing.

Maybe the news you received came from someone that you 'thought' had your best intentions in mind, but in actuality, it was a wolf in sheep's clothing. Gah!!

Maybe the job that you thought would be perfect for you, was given to someone else. But it ended up being something it wasn't. You find out later, that the hours changed, they brought in a new mgr, who apparently just escaped from San Quentin and off her meds. Several months later, you see the person who got the job instead of you and they looked like they've aged 20 years! 

The man or woman who you thought was the 'one', married someone else.  You find out later that they're compulsive liars, in need of serious anger management classes and making the person they're with miserable. And no worries if that man chose someone else. Take heart from the words of singer Billy Soul Bond - "When he says scat cat, another says here kitty kitty!"  LOL!

God opens doors for sure, but he also keeps some doors closed for your own good. For reasons, you've not yet seen or understand, but one day it will be made clear and on that  day you will Thank God that door wasn't opened for you.

“When one door closes another door opens, but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.”
- Alexander Graham Bell -

Proverbs 3:5,6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Long time no see..

Wow...I've been gone away for a while. I'm going to get back on a regular blogging schedule.

Been away, but it's all good stuff. My daughter got married to wonderful man! It was a beautiful ceremony! Yes, I cried like a baby!

Let's see, on the writing side of things...Uh, not too much happening there. But, I've promised myself that I would get back on the writing bandwagon this weekend... I'm going to try.  I'm going to do it!

Oh, and the Insanity work outs have ceased. But, I will get back on the wagon in this area as well. I completed phase one, now onto phase two! Woot Woot!

Happy days are ahead of you. Expect Great Things!!

Blessings!

Beth

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

It's a new season...

It's a new season
It's a new day
Fresh anointing is flowing my way
It's a season of power and prosperity
It's a new season coming to me
All things are possible, possible
possible... --Martha Munizzi

It's a new season and time for change! Can you feel it? It's harvest time!! Time to reap what you've sown!
I've always loved Autumn and the changing of leaves to pretty fall colors. Well, um, yeah...I now live in Texas, so uh, not so much. I think it's supposed to hit 100 again tomorrow.

I have great memories of past Ohio autumns, especially when I was young and my parents would drive out to the apple orchard and bring home apples and fresh cider, not apple juice, cider. Just heat up a cup of that stuff--instant happiness!

It's a new season!!!

Expect GREAT things to happen for you!!!

And have a cup of hot cider with me!

 Ecclesiastes 11:1 Cast your bread on the waters: for you shall find it after many days.

Guest Blogger - Jeaninne Stokes

My first guest blogger!

Jeaninne Stokes

Visit her website, read her blog & register to attend her upcoming seminar "How to Write and Publish for the Christian Market" Oct 1, 2011 @ Concord Church - Dallas, Texas

 

Have a vision? Have a plan!

Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house, and go to the land that I will show you. So Abram departed as the Lord had instructed him. He took his wife, Sarah, his nephew Lot, and all his wealth. (Genesis 12:1-5, NLT)
When God told Abraham to leave his homeland because he wanted to make him the Father of a new nation, Abraham stepped out and departed. But he didn’t just leave.  He had a plan for his departure.  He took his wife, his nephew and all his wealth to help him survive his journey.
If you believe God is calling you to leave a secure job to pursue a career as a Christian writer, don’t be afraid to step out in faith.  But before you go, make sure you  have a sound plan in place for your journey.  Make sure you’ve discussed your decision  with your spouse or significant other and they support you leaving your job; make sure you’ve determined how you (and your family, if applicable) will survive without your income, and make sure you have a plan for your future expenses.
Leaving a secure job to  pursue a career in Christian writing is a step of faith; but if you  have a sound plan in place for your survival while on your journey to become a Christian writer, you will make it to your promised land!
Sharing the  Writing journey,
Jeaninne Stokes
Christian Author & Speaker
www.JStokeswritingministries.com

INSANITY!!!

Yep! I've climbed aboard the INSANITY train. The first week was a beast!  But I made it through-Woo Hoo! I've always enjoyed working out, but I'd reached a point in my life where I needed something heavy duty.

You see, I've found joy in consuming something bad....you may have heard of these 2 evil products.

You should avoid these products at ALL costs! Step away, Do not sample, Do not even look down the snack aisle, Do not...I beg you, I warn you,,  even  TOUCH the bag, cause that's an automatic 5lb gain. I promise you!! They're crazy addictive!!

And we all know that BEING OVER 40 + EXCESSIVE SNACKS =











So, uh, yeah...I needed to really kick it up a notch in the workout area and Shaun T is the perfect motivational coach!  The workouts are very intense, and you will sweat like a pig in August, but you will feel great and although it's only been a week. I'm starting to feel like my old self again--pre-evil snack days!

I'm proud to stay that I've kicked my evil snack addiction....and you can too! Just give Shaun T a call and he will advise you to DIG DEEPER!!!!!!

Psalm 121:1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from where comes my help.