Blessings Celebration - 16 years.

As I was reflecting on the past 16 years..... Wow. There were disappointments, frustrations, discouragements, and pain (lots of that), BUT..... there were also amazing experiences, overwhelming blessings, great encouragement, and still pain. 

However, as bad as the pain gets, the joy never diminishes. The joy is always there supplied by God! 

As I read through the Psalms, I love how David tells God how bad things are.... then David changes his focus to how good God is and who God is, and the characteristics of God. 

In reality bad things happen, and we can acknowledge them when they do happen. But we can't stop there. We need to remember to turn our focus back to God and in doing so, will open our hearts to God's amazing joy! 

16 years. Looking forward to all that God has planned for this next year and what wonderful blessings I'll celebrate on October 25, 2017. 

Thanks Living! Making sure that I don't lose focus of who God is and all that He is doing in my life.

Blessings Celebration Day!

This morning, I was thinking back over the past 16 years, and one thing that I LOVE is remembering the creativity of God in suppling each and every need and the fun surprises along the way. 

The details that God orchestrated to make sure everything was in place at just the exact moment it was needed. From places to stay, to Drs, to paying for medications, to the much needed fun adventures — including a ride in the Goodyear Blimp! (Yes, that REALLY happened!), to friends who came along side to support, encourage, and one very special friend who drove me to appointments whether in state or out of state. Just when I thought that God couldn't surprise me ..... He would! 

Only God could take a "grand stand" ticket and make it into a HOT PASS at a NASCAR race. (That was just awesome!) Only God could make a pharmacy pay for my medication. (YEP! And it was an EXPENSIVE one too.) Only God ......... 

so many cool and amazing gifts, adventures, and wonderful ways God each and every need.

I love taking time each year to reflect on God's amazing goodness. Each year, I continue to be overwhelmed the blessings that God has given me. I am a Princess of the King of kings, and I am blessed abundantly!

Thanks Living. Taking time to remember all that God has done. 

Thanks Living. Taking time to praise God for His goodness and blessings.

Today is the 16 Anniversary of my back injury. Today is not a day to focus on the pain, rather a day to focus on all the amazing and wonderful blessings God has given me over the past 16 years.

Please join me in my Blessings Celebration! Let's count our blessings... name them one by one!

Blessing Celebration 2016!

Blessings Celebration! 

Thanks Living! 

October 25, 2000. 

A day that changed my life in more ways than I can count. A day that began a journey filled with twists and turns. A day that  started me on a journey that God designed to accomplish His purpose in and through me. 

October 25, 2000 I coughed and felt a searing hot pain in my lower back. A pain so intense it literally put me on the floor. 

Now it's October 2016—12 surgeries and too many injections, treatments, and other medical procedures to count later — the pain remains. 

BUT—during these past 16 years God has showered me with the most amazing blessings! I stand in awe of His goodness to me. 

Each year, in October I enjoy a BLESSING CELEBRATION! It's a time to reflect, not on the pain, but rather what God is doing because of the pain. It's a time to reflect on God's outpouring of blessings! 

Psalm 21:1-3 sums it up! (Replace "king" with "princess", for I am a child of the King of kings! I am God's princess—who is wonderfully blessed!) 

Psalm 21:1-3 (VOICE)

The king {princess} is glad because You, O Eternal, are strong. In light of Your salvation, he is singing Your name. You have given him {the princess} all he {she} could wish for. After hearing his {her} prayer, You withheld nothing. [pause] True blessings You lavished upon the king {princess}; a crown of precious gold You placed upon his {her} head.

Thanks Living! Noticing God's blessings.

Thanks Living! Praising and giving thanks for who God is, and all He is doing in my life. 

Brighten Up!

But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You. Psalm 5:11 

Rejoice: to brighten up, cheer up

Put their trust: to flee for protection, refuge

Shout for joy: to give a ringing cry

Defend: to entwine as a screen, hedge in

Love: friend, have affection for

Joyful: to jump for joy, triumph

Trust = cause to brighten up, rejoice

Defend (protection) = reason to shoutout for joy

Love = jump for joy

No matter the circumstances. No matter the politics. No matter the chaos that surrounds you. No matter..... 

Trust in God. God provides a safe place of protection. God is worthy and deserving of our love. 

And in return, we have many reasons to brighten up, and shout for joy, and literally jump for joy! 

I like that meaning, "to brighten up". We all know people who when they walk into a room, bring a feeling of dread. When they walk in, the life is sucked out of the place. 

Just think, if each of us instead, brighten upped the room! When we walk into a place, we bring the joy of the Lord with us. We make others want to jump for joy because of God's goodness! 

There are some people who it's fun to be around. They are encouraging, uplifting and well, joyful. After you have been with those people, and leave, you have a spring in your step. The joy they had spilled over and spread to you! 

To Brighten Up!

Be joyful. Share joy. Brighten up!