"My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, 
apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them. 
From the perspective of wanting to live life to the full, 
I felt that I had to attempt it." 

- Richard Branson

Have an an amazing day!

"Stand at the crossroads and look:

ask where the good way is and walk in it...

and there you shall find rest for your soul."

Jeremiah 6:16

Be courageous, walk forward, count your blessings,
and just simply smile and shine your bright light.

You never know how one smile could change another's life.

Enjoy this beautiful day, live fully this amazing life.

via: tumblr

{Making A Life}

Time to laugh, time to simplify, time to find rest, time to find adventure, time to give, time to find joy.

Time to mean it!

Enough said!

image via pinterest.

Light up, Light Up as if you have a choice!

heliophilia:(n.)love of sunlight

Happy Day, Happy Life!

image via: tumblr

...And I Smile Over The Days to Come!

She is clothed with strength and nobility {dignity, valor),

and she smiles over the days to come. 

Proverbs 31:25

Sometimes you've just gotta look back at your 

past and smile at how far you've come.

Funny, at a certain point in life you 

think you know everything and have it figured out 

and life seems good, or how it should be...

...and then

 ...life hits you 

...like an elephant

...on a Safari 

...running at you with all his might.

No, I did not sign up for a virtual life Safari,

and DO NOT recall writing, 

"Going Through Valley of the Shadow of..., Eeeeeek." 

on my bucket list.

Who would do that? Not me!

Or, did I miss the have-to-life-payment in fine print 

on my tax form somewhere?

I need to start reading the fine print, I tell ya! {wink}

But, I wouldn't trade the last three years that has had me

literally on my knees, skinned, scraped and bruised,

but gently and earnestly on my face before my maker.

No matter how challenging to my heart it has been, 

I have learned so very much and God has walked with me to

get to the end of my fears, my failures and my unforgiveness that I kept holding onto and show me that He alone is Enough, and He is. I know that God is never a part of evil, please know this, but I do think He allowed me to go through some extreme times in order to turn my face to Him, become real, face me and learn how to walk in truth and grace to find solid faith.

I have said from the beginning of all of this, 

"If I can find joy right here, right in the midst of these trials, then I will be the most fortunate girl in the world." 

And I am! 

I smile more than I ever have in my life, 

not because life is easy, it's not, but because it's worth it 

to truly walk forward in grace, to become the kind of person that might just be able to shine a light, His light. 

I can truly state that I am gently 

"Clothed in Strength and Dignity and can 

Smile Over the Days to Come."

If you're going through life challenges, keep walking forward and 

keep pressing through, no matter what!

Even if you didn't write "Hell" on your bucket list, either!

You will get through it, learn to breathe and find great smiles,

and gain much even in the center of any storm and 

a trust in our creator that is 

greater than you can even imagine. If you look for Him,

you will find Him and 

your life will shine brighter than the sun.

I promise.

What could you not accept, if you knew that everything that happens, all events, past, present, and to come, are known 

and gently cared for by One Whoes only purpose is your good?

Praying and hoping your day is filled with

smiles, courage and so very much more 

in good than you can even imagine.

image via tumblr

{Perfect Peace & Trust}

You will keep in perfect peace whose mind is steadfast, 

because He trusts in you.

Isaiah 26:3

Know this and believe this.

So many times we get stuck. We get fearful. We lose our way, or go through our day and think that life has more to offer than just this..., 
or, I can't take one more challenge lest I crumble.
We forget that we have the ability to walk forward and really trust.
Trust that God is big enough. Trust that we have what it takes to walk forward and not sit in confusion, or feeling even an ounce of opression to circumstances. We forget that we have the ability to dust off, smile and say yes to faith, yes to peace, yes to exceeding and amazing hope and beliving that smiles and real joy exist in the tiniest and most delicious parts of our hearts if we are willing to look, willing to press in and walk forward in trust and just simply shine. Pressing in and on towards the goal to win the prize (Phil 3).


What kind of seeds do you need to sow today, so 
tomorrow has the chance to make your dreams possible
and even into a great reality?

Praying you perfect peace over your every moment

and trust that is unmoveable.

        
Have an amazing day ahead!

image: via tumbler

{Blessings Everywhere!}

Just a thought...

You may think you have challenges, but you have so many blessings. 
Sometimes it takes only a moment of conscious 

effort to recognize those blessings. Once you focus on the 

gifts instead of the problems, your whole perspective 

will change and you will see blessings everywhere.

Have an Amazing Day!


image via:Tumbler

{Super Tuesday: Georgia}

Please vote.

Of course it matters.

Enough said.

Image via: J Crew/google

Love is patient and kind. Love knows neither envy nor jealousy. 

Love is not forward and self-assertive, nor boastful and conceited. 

She does not behave unbecomingly, nor seek to aggrandize herself, 

nor blaze out in passionate anger, nor brood over wrongs. 

She finds no pleasure in injustice done to others, 
but joyfully sides with the truth. 

She knows how to be silent. 

She is full of trust, full of hope, full of patient endurance.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7


So very human, but so very willing to learn to walk this out right.

 Image via ffffound 

Just needed a giggle today....

"I am a ninja"

"no, you're not"

"did you see me do that?"

"Do what?"

"exactly!"

...big smile!

Hoping the rest of your day is wonderful!

via tumbler

{To FEED Another}

FEED 2 Kenya Bag

As I searched my soul to review 2011 and figure out a way to give myself, my money and my time differently in 2012, I started researching charities that would truly make an impact. Often concerning my heart is children. Be it children starving, sick or orphans thousands of miles away, or right here in America. The thought of a human not having food to nourish their body, or to know that someone cares about them and their well-being bothers my soul much. So, beyond being blessed through Compassion International to sponsor two girls, Evi Cici and Dainty in Indonesia, I want to do more this year, to be a part in some way of bringing Hope. So, here goes.

Soooo....

Enter into the world of Ralph Lauren. I have been so fortunate over 2011 to be able to spend many of my work hours putting forth effort along with a team towards making a few excellent products for Ralph Lauren. Prior to starting the project, I knew that beyond my total love for everything that Ralph Lauren represents in style, that it would help my work to research what the intricacies of the company were about. In that search, I found within this family a future member, now a member of this family, Lauren Bush Lauren. She is now married to David Lauren - Ralph Lauren's son. I found that she had gotten involved with United Nations World Food programme 6 years ago and had designed a bag reminiscent of the bags of food distributed by WFP. What makes this bag special is when you purchase one of these FEED bag products it in some way it helps feed one child, or more in school for up to two years. 

I thought..., I am so in and researched to find a bag to purchase! Certainly I would have to dig a bit deeper, but it mattered somehow then and does now, still.

You can read about her involvement here at Feed Projects.

So, I thought what a great way to bring a change not just in the world but in my soul too. Yes, I love beautiful things and I find all Ralph Lauren things in every way beautiful, but what I am about is loving people and if a thing like this can bring about some kind of hope, then I am sold!

They have many more bags, t-shirts and even bracelets for as little as $5 where that one came from at Feedprojects.com so you can get one too, if your heart is pulled in that direction.

I pray this to be a year where I not only talk about change, 

but make some changes to be a part of helping this world be of good and great hope!

Have a beautiful weekend ahead!

Images via feedprojects and the web