The After Party

The other day I was chatting with a friend about future plans and goals.  When I was in the moment I was so excited for the future and hopeful.  I may or may not have been doing internal round offs and cartwheels.  If you had asked me to I would have ran down the street giving away high fives and hugs.  You're right, I probably wouldn't have ran, but I would have definitely fast walked. ;) 

So, we parted and in the moment that my feet started to go the other direction it hit.  What I have so lovingly coined "The After Party."  The party can start moments, hours, days, months after something happens.  What is the after party you may be wondering?  Well, the after party is a collection of negative emotions that like to set up camp in my mind directly after an event or conversation takes place.  During any given after party you will find doubt, fear, envy, selfishness and if it a big shabang resentment and bitterness show up.  Woooeeee, that's some party, eh?  During these moments where my mind has taken a turn for the worse I can feel my insides heating up too.   It is just plain awful! Some days I can stop the party as soon as it starts. I can go all peace warden on myself and say break it up kids, break it up.  Other days not so much.  Um, and on those days the after party can turn into a pity party or what I like to call "take me to an island and leave me" party. It is ugly.  Trust me.  

Want to know something cool though? As I have been working to strengthen my inner peace warden, by God's grace, the later parties are becoming fewer.  Can I get an amen?  I write because I know I am not the only one who struggles with after parties.  So, we must learn,  train, learn and train some more to think on what is true.  Philippians 4:8 all the way! 

I have to share this someecard with you.... my friend sent it to me yesterday at the perfect time!  It fits so well.  Love y'all!

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8

LOVE

I was thinking this morning about what Love is like.....These aren't new ideas, but to me they mean more than a box of chocolates or flowers. <3

Love is seeing you've made a mistake and choosing not to say anything about it.
Love is wanting to change the channel but enjoying instead.
Love is giving a hug and kiss before you leave even if you are angry as all get out.
Love is getting up at 3 am to fill the wood stove.
Love is a card unexpectedly.
Love is accepting.
Love is always having fresh brewed coffee ready to go in the morning.
Love is holding hands.
Love is giving the last sip or bite.
Love is praying together.
Love is fighting fairly.
Love is forgiving every single hurt.
Love is not giving up on each other.
Love is imperfect.
Love is laughing your heads off.
Love is agreeing to disagree sometimes.

And the list goes on....

Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” - Emily Bronte

(my friend showed me this quote and I loved it!)

Take it or Leaf it

I want to write today about the beautiful maple that stands in my front yard.  
                                                         

Isn't she lovely? Even today as she is being weighed down by the latest snowfall, she is majestic.  Notice how she stands out amongst the other trees.  Taller, branches that reach to the highest heights, (well, or the heights that my camera can capture).  If you walk a little closer you'll notice something that at this distance you cannot see.  She is full of holes, I mean tons, from years of providing maple syrup for a local maker.  Her bark is falling off and cracked in several places.  Some of her limbs have broken off, leaving only a bump on her side as a reminder.  This beautiful maple has weathered years of unpredictable moments.  She has been home to countless birds, provided hope in Springtime as her branches start to green and shade in the Summertime as the temperature turns up.  In the fall she provides a beautiful canopy of orange as her limbs become exposed once again and her leaves reach the ground.

I wish we all had the courage to be like this maple.  When life provides a storm, we embrace it and dig our roots in deep.  We weather the seasons of life with grace and strength realizing that each season has beauty if we take the time to see it.  Let's stop and see those moments.  So I guess in this case..... if life gives you lemons, make some maple syrup. :)

 

 

 

 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  James 1:4

 

 

 



Balance Beam Me Up Scotty

I love, love the game show Wheel of Fortune.  My favorite puzzle to solve?  Yep, you guessed it.  Before and After.  Someday I hope to experience the thrill of buying a vowel, but until then, I will just keep doing my daily life as we know it.

This past month has been one of quiet reflection for me.  There is nothing I love more than getting alone with a cup of coffee and spilling my thoughts out over the lines of my journal page.  When there is an emptying of my mind, there is a filling of my heart.  I sort out the lies and remind myself of the truth.  This is one thing that Josh helps me with on a daily basis.  We often stop and think, "What is the truth?"  How often do we just go around letting thoughts fly in and out of our mind, or sometimes mouth, without thinking?  This is something I may struggle with more than the average person.  This thought sorting has taught me the value of reflection and waiting.  Wisdom waits.  That has been my motto over the last few months.  I have been making progress, but still have times where wisdom doesn't wait, rather it acts like a bull in a china shop taking out everything in the way.  For those days that wisdom doesn't wait I have to forgive myself.  I have realized that if you can't forgive your own faults, how on earth are you going to forgive the faults of someone else?  Speaking of forgiveness (nice segue, huh?), I wanted to share my latest aha moment in the before and after category and it has to do with forgiving others as I am learning to forgive myself too.  Before:  I used to think that when you forgave someone, that meant you had to do your best to become BFFs with them and go out of your way to make things right, peachy, copasetic, what have you.  After:  I realize that you can forgive someone and not have to be involved in their life.  Sometimes, you have to move on and separate yourself from that person......and it is okay.  It takes great wisdom to figure out who would fit into this category, because on some days I am sure we all could end up forgiving everyone and then becoming a hermit.  Winky smiley face.

Until next time....

Keith Urban Myth
Optimus Prime Rib
Sugar and Spice Girls

Ok, ok...I'm done :)