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

These people above with me are just the coolest of people and I am blessed beyond measure.

My precious friend posted this verse today.


‎"my soul magnifies the Lord, for He has done great things for me!" Luke 1.46


It was given to her heart today, it's hers today, but I knew I needed to see it. 
As if God was like. "Hellooooo girlie, pay attention to this." So I did!
I knew I needed to speak this verse. I knew I needed it somehow to be laid gently and written solidly on my heart. I needed to be thankful and count my blessings one by one.


I see these people, my niece Gabrielle and my nephews Zachary and Jake and my heart somehow gets overwhelmed with how awesome I think they have turned out, but also what they mean to my soul.
That must be just an ounce of what it feels like to be a parent to a child.


I could easily sit and boast of their accomplishments which individually would be MANY, but as of late, kind of overwhelming in one good thing after another that makes me want to sing their praises! 


But....


It's not their accomplishments I delight in. It's just NOT.  Certainly I applaud their great accomplishments, but what I love is their souls and the cool people they have become. Not perfect people, but in every way, great people and I just love being around them.


So, I just wanted to say I am thankful for each of them and that I simply love them. They are my blessing and I am grateful.


Have a blessed and amazing day!

The hero is the one who kindles a great light in the world,

 who sets up blazing torches in the dark streets of life for men to see by. 

The saint is the man who walks through the dark paths of the world,

himself a light.

Felix Adler


image: Mine. Morning view off my back deck.

{Ahhhh, this looks nice!}

I know I read in the good book that God rested on the 7th day, 

but I think I I must have missed that memo, {wink}!

So, this image might do me well to find a happy place today beyond this girlie that is just tired to the point that tears fall to the site of a tender Christmas car commercial at 3am. Never mind that I have lost site of how to dry my hair after pulling it up for two weeks to work in the trees. I laughed as I looked at my hairdryer with a question of how do you use this thing again? Ha ha ha... and seemed to find some humor with myself, so all is good. Christmas installation will be complete this coming Saturday. So very excited about this!!!!!!!!! Goodness, everyone stayed safe and that is no small task seeing that at any time we often find ourselves dangling like monkeys up in some tree lighting away at 1am to make the season merry and bright. Every property turned out beautifully and we are so fortunate to have this business. I returned to my real full time job Wednesday after this working-vacation of mine. I thought to crawl under my desk for a moment of zzzzzz's, but seriously it had to have been God alone that found a way to keep me awake even without a Starbucks fix. Is it me or is it so very hard to stop that little expensive addiction? It's my struggle. I love to start any morning by greeting those happy people in the green aprons with the starbucks logo and say "I would like a Grande Non-Fat Latte" to their reply..., Oh my, what is going on with you, "Kristin...are you OK? You usually get a Triple Venti bla bla bla"...(yes, they know my name and a few might add me to their bestie list, wink!). I have to giggle, but seriously people to have a cup of their coffee nestled in my hands and in my tummy...well, it doesn't get much better than that other than being in the company of the ones I love much.

At any rate, I am needing the beach and sunshine after we installed 78+ trees up to 30 feet in height and more lights, boughs and wreaths than I can even fathom to count. Who am I kidding...I might need one of those drinks too with the cute umbrellas! How can one install all that Christmasness, but still be trying to find that Christmas feeling? So, on Sunday I will take an intentional mind break, a place to sit for a moment and be thankful and breathe.... and find my own home fa la la and laughter this weekend and put up a real tree, hang some sparkly things and cozy up by the fire, play  Michael Buble Christmas music and just smile.

Today I am thankful that God finds me as his own and that there is actually a reason for this season beyond all the sparkly Christmas decor. I am thankful that I am strong and whole and well, can I add in ...full of energy too. I am thankful that my family and friends are healthy and safe. I am thankful for Faith. I am thankful for a sense of humor. I am thankful that I have been and am blessed and prosper even through hardships...yes, God has well done this for me and I don't have words. I am thankful that I am courageous and confident. I am thankful that I am capable and successful. I am thankful that beyond all of my weaknesses that God is complete, strong and pretty amazing if I don't say so myself. I am thankful that God has knitted me and my life perfectly together for His good and I pray to be a bigger giver than taker and blessed to give a glow, a smile and be a blessing. I am thankful that I am clothed in strength and dignity and can smile over the days to come. Oh, and so very thankful for the gift of laughter too. Amen.

Hoping your day is perfect in every way. Hoping you find smiles in the smallest of details and praying you peace beyond measure!

Happy Weekend to Ya!

image via//botib