5.30.2014

So Thankful

As i sit here in the 2nd to last hotel - (we have 4 more days before we are home)we will take before we head home, I am so relaxed, blessed and happy and thinking about how good God has been to me, how he has protected us as we drove thousands of miles, thru many rain storms, thru many thunder and lightening storms and thru Tornado  city Kansas ( so we are told)

He has kept us safe while we slept in hotels that we had no idea of the ratings ( we looked them up online but they are not all there), he kept us from bed bugs etc... we all had comfortable beds to sleep in especially last night, the bed felt like the moon, it was amazing .

I am especially thankful to God for giving me this great job and for them allowing me to take some vacation time only after being there for 2 months, God knew all along how this would work out.
I am so blessed.

We have met some wonderful people along the way ( more detail later) but God is so Good to me.

5.26.2014

Marriage Mondays- Love Story of MayB and The Guy


Today is our first Love Story- this one touched my heart. Thanks for sharing my friend, pour a cup of coffee and read this Love Story. 


Originally posted at
Wade and Bronwyn at the look out
2007- We were so young!
I liked him - he was tall and funny - but I was sure the world would stop spinning and birds would sing as soon as I met "the one" so I didn't know if I was convinced.


I was so naive.

The thing was: I couldn't stop thinking about him. He was funny and interesting and after a few dates I knew he was pretty special.  I realized I didn't want him NOT to be in my life.

I think back to that girl I was back then. Scattered, emotionally damaged, wandering but on a holding pattern, and, honestly, a bit of a tool.

The Guy had a lot to do with me calming down and getting more focused. He helped me relax and be more comfortable with who I am, so I'm not so worried about being silly.  I am a better person now because he has been in my life and I like to think he's better too.

That's what the me of 7 years ago didn't get.  Love isn't about earth shaking and harps playing - it's about two people who make each other better versions of themselves. It's about little things every day that show love and appreciation.

Untitled
2014 - it's our year

I'm glad that girl smartened up. I'm glad she took a chance.  

I'm reaping the benefits.

And there are still a lot more to come.


Bronwyn MayB writes at I, MayB.  She has this to say for herself. 
I am woman, wife, dog mom, crisis worker, and friend.  Though I am much more comfortable in my own skin now that I'm past 30 (and closing in quickly on 40!) I still am figuring out who I want to be when I grow up.

Mostly, I do dumb things and then I tell you about them. My life is an open book (much to the chagrin of my husband!) I am who I am and I'm not shy to share it with anyone who asks and most people who don't.

I've been married for over 4 years to a wonderful man I call "The Guy" in the online world for his own protection. It's a bit like changing the names of the innocent.

464 Havana - love - B
This is love.


If you would like to share your love story please comment here or email me, I would love to have you share. 

5.20.2014

Vacation Time





Our Itinerary for the next 18 days are:

1st night- New York
2nd- 3rd Night- Ontario, Canada
4th Night- Indiana
5th Night- Sunday May 25- Minneapolis 
May 25- 27- Kansas
May 27- 31- Minnesota
31- 4th- Journey back home
If you live in any of those places or close by, I would LOVE to see you, please leave a comment or a email and I will get in touch to make plans. 

I have some guest posters while I am away as well :) 

5.19.2014

Marriage Monday- Rachael's Love Story


Welcome to Marriage Monday
Today I have a beautiful Love Story for you, grab some coffee and sit back and read this beautiful story
______________________________________



marriage love commitment


Those simple wedding invitations...how could I forget...

"Boy Meets Girl...Come Hear All The Details!"

That was us almost ten years ago...at the ceremony that proved to me that our God does hear & answer prayer!

But I'm getting ahead of myself now...

It was 2001 and I was a single mom of two small boys. I still heard faint whispers of a past that taunted, "You'll never find the right man...they're all the same." Many times burned, and was simply committing it all to Jesus now. Praying often. Praying that the right one would come my way.

I had recently moved to a townhome survey. Many children were always roaming the complex, unsupervised and seemingly very bored. Boredom often led to trouble.

I decided to start a fun little 'kids' night once a week. It grew. I had so many kids that I couldn't handle them all by myself, alongside my own two children....I needed a helper. Male, preferably, to help keep the bigger and more difficult teens in line.

I asked around. Guess who God brought my way? You'll never guess :)

So Jeff, myself, and a few other young people started meeting every Tuesday for the kids night.

 I began to take stock of this man. 
Hmmm, very good with kids.  
Gentleman.
Fun.
Caring.
Committed to his faith.

But I was scared...I had been really hurt. I didn't ever want to go back to that place again...so I prayed. I waited. I talked to trusted people in my life.

After a few more months I was asked out for 'coffee'. (you know, the well-known coffee invite for Christian women?!) 

That night I was excited, but fearful.
 My nerves were on edge the whole time I was getting ready.

There was actually no need for the fear. We had a wonderful time! We laughed, we chatted, we inspired each other sharing future dreams. I left thinking that perhaps, just maybe, God was here answering a prayer of mine.

I waited.

Another few months flew by and this time we were both conscious of the other's affection. We chatted on the phone throughout each week. We sat near each other at church on occasion. He finally made the 'big move' and asked me out!!! 

I felt like a princess in one of those Cinderella type movies. 

It was within the year that he proposed...and then came the beautiful, and much anticipated, wedding!

Yes, when God writes your love story, you can look back & see His fingermarks woven throughout the entire journey.

I realize that learning to trust God in this area, at least for me, was a process. A process that took much longer than necessary because of my poor choices as a teen & young adult.

However, God is so merciful. He is so good. 
Our life choices, well they sort of remind me of a GPS system. 
If you make a wrong turn, simply ask His forgiveness, and He'll get you back on track. 
He'll do it. He is faithful!

 marriage life love christian

Sometimes between: paying the mortgage, running after little ones, running businesses, cleaning the house, volunteering at church, working through the challenges of life and whatever else may be on one's plate- it is so easy to forget how you came together. You know, your beautiful love story? 


Even though many years have passed since we our 'story' began, we can still say we love one another. In the tough times we've persevered & come through!


homeschooling parenting faith marriage love food

Rachael's 'own' plans were divinely interrupted when she met & married the babe of her dreams! Now she is a mother of five delightful children, and a self-employed business owner.  Her time is filled: homeschooling, studying nutrition, leading women’s bible studies & blogging.  She is the author of Diamonds in the Rough and would love to connect with you! Feel free to join her for on PinterestGoogle+Instagram and Twitter.






5.16.2014

Confessional friday

It's another day to Confess whats on our minds


I am linking up with Leslie

Today I confess

1) I am very excited that vacation is so close that i can taste it now, we leave at 7 am on Saturday morning.. i am not even packed yet for a 18 days vacation.. yep i am a #procrastinator
 
2) I was up at 4:30 am, had the entire basement cleaned by 5:30 am, then went back to sleep for an hour, i was so stressed, I could not sleep thinking of my to do list.

3) In one week from the day we leave we see my sister and her babies, I am thrilled to meet this little dolly and see my little man again and off course some sister time.


4) We had some yummy pizza yesterday at work, first time I had it from this place and wow, I will go there again.
5) I have so much to do yet before we go 
-packing
- clean house
- pack
- laundry
- couple projects at work to finish

What's on your mind today


Truthful Thursday- Blind or deaf

If you want to find out more about Truthful Thursday, head over here 

 Would you rather be blind or deaf- It is another thing in life that we take for granted, we don't even think about it each day, we just open our eyes in the morning and see our way around to get ready for our day, then we also have ears to hear the radio on our way to the office, we hear our spouse say- i love you, have a great day etc. 

I think I would say deaf, there are aids to help you hear, there are no aids that i'm aware of to help you see, to be honest though, I would say neither, I cannot imagine not being able to hear the birds chirping, see the beautiful creation he made for us. 

I cannot imagine not seeing my husband to sweet baby girl, my niece and nephew, my best friend, there are so many beautiful things in my life that I would not want to not be able to see. 

How about you?


5.14.2014

Wednesdays for Women


God’s Strength In Your Weakness

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
We know our own weaknesses only too well. They are the areas that trip us up over and over. We often try to hide those weak spots. We hate to even acknowledge them. They may be areas we like to gloss over, like procrastination; or they may be serious life threatening addictions.
God tells us that when we invite Him into those very places of weakness they become the entry point of His amazing strength in us! What a promise! Acknowledge the weakness today that is dragging your life down, invite Jesus into that very area and watch the truth of His word become real.
Thank you, Heavenly Father, that Your amazing grace is ENOUGH to cover all the weak areas of my life and character. Thank you that my weaknesses, though hard to admit to, are the very entry points of Your grace and power. Help me to change the way I view my weaknesses and rather than shrink from them and try to hid or cover them, may I bring them to You to fill with Your power. I look with confident expectation for Your help and Your hope. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

5.12.2014

Marriage Monday: Love Story of Heather & Allan


In 2004, I suddenly became single. The marriage I was in was not working. The man I was married to was floundering and our lives had become a mess of emotional and financial ruin. It was the lowest point of my life. Here I was a single woman in her late 40's, two (yes I said two) failed marriages behind here, no career to speak of and no place to call home. For the next couple of years, I lived in an apartment in a sketchy area of town and worked rebuilding my life while haphazardly dating. When I turned 50, I said to my best friend Helen that this was going to be the "Year of Heather". I was determined to turn my life around, buy a house (thanks to a great government scheme that allowed for minimal down payments), get a promotion at work (or change careers to selling real estate) and meet the man of my dreams. That was in February of 2006.
By June, I had bought a little house. It was going to be the "forever" house. It was a quintessential single woman house with two bedrooms and a little garden. I had also gotten a promotion at work and was able to finally afford to enjoy life a little more without having to eat Kraft dinner if I went out to the movies that week.  But the dream man......that wasn't happening. I was still languishing in serial dating the wrong guys. And with my career in full swing and a new house to deal with, I decided that life was full enough and that I didn't NEED  a man to make this "the year of Heather".  And got down to the business of living.
Parkwood Estate, Oshawa, Ontario Annual Gala 2006
And life was full. Between my kids and grand kids, travelling for work and some charity work that included involvement at a fundraising gala for the local historical home, I was busy. As I attended the gala that year alone again for the third year, I thought to myself that I needed to find someone who I could bring to this type of event. Someone who didn't mind dressing up in a tuxedo every once in a while. Someone who wasn't looking for a commitment, but who was just looking for a date every once in a while.
www.plentyoffish.com
When I got home that night, I figured it wouldn't do any harm to spend some time surfing the web for some online dating services to see if that man was out there - you know, the handsome tuxedo wearing casual dater who wasn't looking for a commitment but was looking to be able to go to the occasional artsy movie and knew about Holt Renfrew  (that was the benchmark question as my daughter worked at this upscale store at the time). They didn't necessarily have to shop there, just know that it existed - I couldn't afford to shop there after all).
After seeing this smiling face, the description of how he was looking for someone to go to the movies, to have a quiet dinner and who lived in the big city, I clicked on Alan's profile. One click. One moment that changed everything. And it was magical from the first moment. In fact, it was so right I was worried that it was wrong. This wasn't what I was looking for. This lovely man was too good for me. I didn't deserve to be with such a good person.
Our Wedding Day - May 21, 2009
But apparently I was. Because today is our 4th wedding anniversary. Today we will celebrate by going out for one of those quiet diners. In our new town in our new life in our new happiness that just feels rights.
I love you, Alan, in so many ways.
Your love, compassion and understanding has brought out things in me I didn't know existed.
Thank you for making my life complete.

Weekend Recap


Friday:

Had a busy day at work, trying to get caught up from being away last week, Brooke had a friend over for a sleep over, she hasn't had one in a while, I took a hot bath and then I laid back to watch some Drop Dead Diva and i fell asleep, Andrew took care of the girls for me and I slept 'til Saturday Morning, I am still trying to catch up on my sleep I guess. 

Saturday:

I was up pretty early after getting lots of sleep the night before. I cleaned the house a bit and did mounds of laundry, then went to buy a Mother's day gift for our Pastor's wife- we always honour her on Mother's day, this year we got her a SPA gift certificate, we also got her some roses, we adore her

Watched the Bruins win against the Canadians, it was beautiful game. 

Sunday: 
Happy Mother's Day
It is a high honour to be a mother to this beautiful girl

Brooke- Thank you for making me a momma, I adore you 

They spoiled me rotten...
Breakfast in bed
cooked me steak and shish ka bobs for lunch with a nice salad
got me chocolates
and a new outfit that I will buy while on Vacation this coming week. 
I am Blessed. 

We had a special Mothers day at church, I made the presentation to our Pastors wife and she was so excited, she has been wanting a spa day so she got one. They gave us Bath and Body Works and a beautiful notebook.
We had a baptism today, one of the ladies who is like a mother to me, got baptized 

I love helping with baptisms. 

After sunday PM service, a bunch of us went to Dairy Queen, we usually go out somewhere every sunday night but this time was special as it is the last time we will see them for 3 weeks, I am excited to go on Vacation. 

Have a great week :) 

5.11.2014

Happy Mother's Day

Dear Mom ,
There are not enough words to declare my appreciation and Love for you, so I am hoping these few words can say it a little bit;


Thank You For Your Unconditional Love And Friendship
You are my friend and you always have been. I’ve seen your love in my life, and the events that have been important in my life, I love how you love Brooke and Andrew- we are your entire life... Not to mention, you have shown me how to love others and how to love them well.
Thank You For Showing Me Grace When I Didn’t Deserve It
Perhaps it is easier for me to take my frustrations out on you than anyone else in this world because you love me limitlessly and unconditionally. There were times when I was a total brat to you; I was rude, selfish and unkind. Still, you loved me anyway, and for that, I am forever grateful.
Thank You For Giving Me Everything
You never told me no and I appreciate that generosity. I know kids can be expensive and demanding.From supporting me emotionally through my awkward middle school days, to sacrificing your personal time after your long days at work to talk me through my problems when no one else cared, to supporting me financially through college, you have always been there.You have sacrificed so much in order to give me a better life than you had when you were a kid.

Thank You For Always Believing In Me
Life has been difficult and there have been times when I’ve felt like giving up, when things were not going my way. Each time, you were there to remind me of my worth as a human being.
You encouraged me to keep reaching for the unreachable and never settle for anything less than I deserved. No matter how bizarre my dreams were — from becoming president or a meteorologist or a professional dog walker or a food truck operator — you always told me to go after what would make me happy.
As I get older, I realize more and more how much you have done for me and continue to do every day.
This Mother’s Day, thank you  “Mom” for being the best on the planet at her job. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.


I am so thankful that I to am a Momma to a wonderful, perfect little lady, I am so glad you made me a momma <3 


5.10.2014

Book Review: How I overcame my Family's Legacy of...

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.


The book seeks to give the reader the ability to identify the markers of abuse and abusive pre-behavioral assessments as well. The book also highlights areas where mental health loopholes, add to the abundance of abuse in the country, by way of physicians ignoring the warning signs of abuse, including anorexia, bulimia, sexual and mental relationship-driven abuse. The author also points to techniques which can help remedy this situation by trained hypnotherapists.
Invisible Witness is a powerful, deeply emotional look at what happens to the silencing monotony of the abused in this country, the seemingly forgotten souls who suffer day in and day out, in the shadows of downtrodden relationship-driven abuse, in a way that is engaging; the book is a call to arms for community-driven persons looking to help those around themselves to end the cycle of abuse.
It is a book that every person should read, whether or not you have been abused, you may be able to help someone else.
You can purchase this book for your kindle 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using <a href="http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOM5d642dae1b923f2357930899eff52a9e" rel="nofollow">Tomoson.com</a>. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

5.09.2014

Confessional friday

http://www.blondeambitionblog.com/
it is time to confess again, linking up with Leslie

1) I confess I wasn't going to blog at all today, I feel like my blogging will power has left me... but alas here I am, it may be short and sweet.

2) I had a whirlwind of a flying trip back home on Monday, it was worth it though to see Grandpa one more time

3) I slept from 6 pm Wednesday night - 7 am Thursday morning, first sleep I got since last Sunday.. so much travelling and no sleep, left me feeling very cranky, so hubby took over and I slept

4) I really really and I mean Really miss my Grandpa, it feels so empty to know he is no longer a phone call away, I cannot hear his voice anytime I want to, he wont be there to give me a hug when i go home, I know he is at peace now but it is hard without him.

4) So Proud of my Girl- she participated in a Band Festival and she won an award, we are not sure what it is until Wed at 7 pm, so proud of her.

What's on your mind?

5.07.2014

Life


Truthful Thursday will resume on May 22

as i sit here in the quiet of the airport, after my flight being delayed again and again, I really hope I can arrive home very soon, I am thinking about how fragile life really is, just how quickly it can be taken from us...
Grandpa got sick in December and now 5 months later he is gone
Life is so fragile, we should never taken any time for granted, it can be taken from us so quickly.
i know he was sick and it was expected but we are never prepared for it, never ever prepared for it.

It just goes to show that life is so quick..

There are many people coming and going, each person has a story to tell...
Some people have been away for work, some people are coming home from Vacation, others are heading to visit a sick family member or to stand in someones wedding , some people like me are heading home to say "See ya Later" to a person who is so  important in your life.
 
It doesn't always seem fair that life takes some of the best people in the world, while some people live forever and ever...
I miss my Grandpa more then words can express, it has been hard for me to know he is no longer just a phone call away, I know he is looking down at me, but it is hard for me, it is hard for all of us.
 
His service yesterday was just the way he would want it, there was some laughing, there were tears, there were lots and lots of hugs, he would have been so happy to see his entire family gathered together to celebraten him and his wonderful lilfe.
 
It was nice to be with family that I have not seen in a long time, our hearts felt torn in shreds, to watch his wife say good bye to him, she had some beautoful words she spoke to him, it has to be hard to loose your best friend, they were so in love and so happy together...
 
Ya know, take that extra few mins each week, call your grandparents, call them and just chat with them because you will regret it otherwise when something else happens.
 
Thank you Grandpa for showing me:
~ True Love
- you loved your 2 daughters and 2 sons- you respected them, if there was ever a problem you were helping them thru it, not always advice they 'wanted' but advice they needed.
- you adored us grand children , all 10 of us, then you also adored your 21 great grandchildren- they were your entire world, and you made sure they knew that.
 
~ The Love of Jesus
- you went to church every cahnce you got, you always song songs and worshipped.
- that was one the things most people said yeterday at your service was, you were a worshipper and they will remember you for that.
 
~Rich- is not always money
- You died a very rich man, you had the love of your entire family, the love of your wife and the love of your friends, and siblings.
 
~ Faith
-You always said: Grandpa will pray
 
Thank you Grandpa for being sucha  positive influence on my life, you are gone but never ever forgotten, your memories will live forever in my heart.
 
Rest Sweetly my Angel <3

Week 6 - Goodness


{To Inspire and Encourage}




For the next few weeks I want to share a little study about the Fruit of the Spirit. 
Week Six: GOODNESS


good·ness
  [good-nis]  Show IPA
noun
1.
the state or quality of being good.
2.
moral excellence; virtue.
3.
kindly feeling; kindness; generosity.
4.
excellence of quality: goodness of workmanship.
5.
the best part of anything; essence; strength.


so are you a good person? are you kind to your neighbours, do you help the person who cannot help them self, do you treat others with respect... 
We live in a world in which basic values such as kindness, humility and compassion are not often given the importance they are due. In the media, selfish and arrogant behavior patterns are often glorified

Some ways you can be a good person 

Identify what it is that being a good person means to you personally. Some people think that being a good person is as simple as not doing harm to another, but it is not always about what you don't do, but what you do for others. You might not be a bad person, but are you a good person?

Try to look at the bright side of things. "It is better to light a single candle than it is to curse the darkness." Be that light. When you see controversy, try to be the one who changes the subject by suggesting a solution. Don't state what you would do, but ask everyone to get involved.

Accept everyone around you as your brothers and sisters no matter what race, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or culture. Realize that we have feelings, and should be treated with respect.

Don't try to correct people when they're angry by saying something irrational, just look with compassion and remain quiet. Saying 'I understand' is usually the wrong answer. If you say anything at all, just say, "I'm sorry you feel this way, is there anything I can do to help?"

Stop comparing others with yourself. Try to understand that some have it better than you in life, but at the same time, many have it much worse. 


Every day, try to do an act of charity for some one else, even if it's something small. Even reach out to people who have been cold or indifferent to you. An act of kindness and generosity can go a long way.

5.05.2014

Marriage Monday- My love Story

Welcome to Marriage Monday
My 12th Anniversary was yesterday, so today I am sharing Our Happily ever
________________________________


Our love story begins when i was 13 and he was 14
Yes i knew that young…

My cousin invited me to go to a youth camp with her
I have seldom been away from my parents and this was several hours away
But they reluctantly let me go…



The first night of camp, i sat across from this cute guy and i asked him to "please pass the water", he did and smiled… 
Wow, in the instant i fell in love with him, YES at 13..
I told my cousin that i was marrying him and they laughed at me.. but I knew in my heart he was the one.


I went home and didn't speak more to him until Sept when i went to the mail box and there was a letter address to Terri Lynn White- so not my last name but i assumed they were looking for me…:p
This was a hand written letter from him, the first few years letters weren't anything more then pen pals and that was ok to he got my name straight as well, still tease him about that. 

3 year later he called me on the telephone( most of our relationship was long distance) , i was shocked and had no idea what to say.. besides the fact that everyone was home and it was on the only phone in the house.. i was mortified and scared, embarrassed
and there was a lot of silence, i thought for sure i wouldn't hear from him again. A few weeks later he called again, this time there wasn't as much silence, but still some.. hey, i was getting better. ( now he tells me he wants that silence back, haha)

several months before his high school graduation he asked me to be his girlfriend, the way he said it was so sweet though..  he said… Spring, when a young man's fancy, turns to love, Terri, will you be my girlfriend? I cried so hard, it was the sweetest thing ever heard. 

He invited me to go to his high school graduation, while at his high school graduation we went for a walk on some trail ( just the two of us, we seldom got alone- which is a good thing really) while on that trail he turned to me and said " do you know what i would like to do right now, i said i have no idea, he said come closer, i will show you, We then shared our first kiss…. he is so romantic. 

The next year i graduated high school and asked him to be my date (off course), we had a great time, the more i was with him, the more i loved him. 

I moved to where he lived for school, and while there i became so homesick that i came back home and went to school closer to my parents, a few days before i left he gave me flowers for my birthday, i remember the night before i left, he looked at me and i thought i had lost him forever, but thankfully i was wrong. 
It took me some time to get over what ever i was dealing with, and i went a while with no contact with him because I had to make sure this was what i needed and wanted. I missed him so much during that time. 
I was very very thankful to have this amazing man in my life. 



When he graduated university, he came to visit me for 2 weeks, we had such a great time, it was also during that time that my dad got him a full time job with the local ambulance serve ( not what he went to university for), he took the job to be close to me, 
January 2002 while walking in a snow storm, he proposed to me, it was the most romantic thing ever, i cried again and couldn't believe it was actually true, i kept saying is this for real..

We got married May 4th ( 12 Years Yesteday)- and it was the best day of my life.


I love him more now then that first day i saw him, i fall more in love each moment I'm around him, off course we fight, but that makes your relationship stronger. 

We have one daughter and he is an awesome daddy to her. 




I am thankful to God that he brought me this man. 

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