Choose Joy, Be Brave, and Love BIG!

Hey Friends!

As I contemplated what I wanted to focus on with my blog this week, I thought about May from an educator's or student's perspective.  For many of my friends who have graduating seniors, it's the end of a milestone.  Side bar - am I the only one who cries whenever "Pomp and Circumstance" plays?  I look at all of the graduates walking in and they have a world of opportunities ahead of them.  And... did you know that Pomp and Circumstance has lyrics?  WHAT???  I found them as I was working on this post.

Here is a few lines:
Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free,How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee?Wider still and wider shall thy bounds be set;God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet,God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet.

Wow!! Even without words, the music evokes hope to me and then look at the last two lines... God wants you to be BRAVE moving into the next stage of life.  So, to my mama friends who shed tears this week at graduations... you be brave too as you send your precious gifts into the world wherever and whatever that is.

As an educator May is always full of endings.  We end a year with fabulous kids and parents.  We come to the end of careers as some of our favs retire who have served kids tirelessly for 30 years! There are also ends to one school and beginnings at others.  Change is part of the business.  It's hard!  I'm not going to lie.  I hate to see my people move on,  and now I am the one at the end of an era and moving into a new beginning.   It's all the feels, y'all!  

How fitting that I finished my book by Annie Downs this week?- have I mentioned I LOVE her? :)

Her book, Let's All Be Brave , has spoken to me so very much.  She talked about discipline (my New Year's word for the year) is the basis of being brave (my other mantra for the year).   She said, "If you are brave, you are willing to walk the map that is yours, the one with twists and turns you've never expected, and you must be DISCIPLINED enough to stay on the narrow road under your feet.  Step by step.  Each step leads to the next, and before you know it, you are walking in a rhythm of courage."  Sit on that for a moment.  It's so good, right?  

There are so many things that we cannot control in our lives.  All of the unknowns will cause major anxiety if we let them.  It's discipline that controls that.  It's reaching for the hope we have that we know who is in control of all things and walking in faith - step by step.  The first part of this year has had trials for sure.  I have come to know what true dependence on God is.  It's not easy because I'm a "fixer".  I want to handle things but, when I totally surrendered to pray God's will for my life with a period not a comma - so many things became clear.  Seeing how God used the circumstances to increase my faith continued to make me brave on my journey.  I say it all the time.  Life can be hard and messy.  Everyone has their own personal trials and successes.  I am thankful for the people who God uses to continue to encourage me to be brave every day.  

Today, I was scrolling through Facebook and this popped up.  My sweet friend makes the best signs.  When I saw it I immediately text her.  She already knew I would want this.  The post that went along with this sign seriously made me ugly cry with the snot nose and all.    I asked her if I could use the picture.  I added the link so you can order one too. (she doesn't know I'm doing that!)  These are my go to sayings.  So, if you need to remember to choose joy, be brave, and love Big, this is perfect.  

To order your sign:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdtX7Udk2jKeLgHMgDDidFcnFa9vs23c9VWiehHlmnlqwpLZQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR1RJCDMByreyzh7CqZfT1zfvlFa9vET1D7hopv0JrZmwQS2J-BaGUs_VSo

I'll end with my favorite quote from Hope Floats:  “Beginnings are usually scary, endings are usually sad, but it's what's in the middle that counts. So when you find yourself at the beginning, just give hope a chance to float up. And it will.”

No matter if you are at the beginning, middle, or end of a particular journey - have hope my friends.  You are not alone.  Be Brave and make a difference wherever you are planted.

Have a great week and  BE BLESSED... BE BRAVE and know you are EQUIPPED!

XOXO Stacey

THE SEVENTH LAP--- Don't Quit

Hey Friends!

I know it's been a couple of weeks, but I'm here feeling vulnerable as I share my heart today.  I talk about being brave as a theme for my blog this year.  However, I'm not going to lie.  I don't feel brave today.  Well, the fact that I dragged myself out of bed may be considered brave, but that's debatable.  

I'm going to say that I feel like I lost my way on this journey this week.  I went completely into panic mode for how God was going to turn a mess into a miracle- absolutely not doubting He could just not sure how.  I was melting.  This example may help you understand how I was feeling.  I walked around a store in the section that had signs with all the encouraging thoughts that said things like, "the journey may be bumpy but the destination could be beautiful"  Seriously I almost knocked it off the shelf.  Then there was this tote that said "Life is beautiful, enjoy the ride"  I turned it around.  I know... am I 12?  I kind of thought maybe retail therapy wasn't the way to go this time and went home.

I mean I was praying through these feelings and telling God I was scared and knew that the fear came out of anxiousness.  I'm so thankful I have a tribe of women that I can "Marco Polo" and say, "Girls, I'm struggling."  They are there to pray for me and lift me up.   

Today, I opened my Bible to Joshua.  I pretty much was in tears as I read through the first few verses as I was reminded in verse 5 "I will never leave you nor forsake you.  Verse 6 - Be strong and courageous... then again in verse 7 "Be strong and very courageous...

So basically - God is telling me to be brave - not in my own strength but in His.  Moving on through Joshua, I read where God wanted Joshua to lead the army to march around the walls of Jericho for six days. Then on the seventh day to march seven times.  On the seventh day at the seventh time around the city Joshua commanded  the army to give a loud shout; then the wall of the city collapsed so the army could enter.   Now God could have achieved this in any manner.   I wonder if Joshua wondered if this was crazy?  I wondered if he questioned.  Whether he did or not, he knew at the end of the day he wasn't to question but to obey.  He did and God showed up in a great and mighty way.  

If my current journey is like marching around Jericho - I have no idea what lap I am on.  Listen, this weekend I pictured myself just sitting down and stopping and being done.   It kind of reminded me of the time I hiked in Palo Duro Canyon with my amazing 4th grade team.  I was determined to hike to the "Lighthouse".  We made it to the base of the Lighthouse and I was done.  One of my teammates said, "Oh no, you dragged us all here.  You can rest for 5 minutes, but then we are hiking up the Lighthouse."  So, that's what I did.   Same thing this weekend.   Sometimes you need someone to basically say, "Girl--- wash your face!"

Today I sat at my sweet table on my porch and listened to the birds who reminded me how much more our Father cares for us and ever so thankful for the friends who hold out their hands to help me up.  So whether I am on lap 2 or the 6th lap of the 7th day, of my own personal battle of Jericho,  I will get up and march and know His mercies are new each morning.  He has promised to supply our needs and sustain us.  

No matter where you are in your journey, friend, don't quit.  You never know what lap you are on!

Have a great week!  Be BRAVE (even when you don't feel like you are) Be BLESSED... and know YOU ARE EQUIPPED.

XOXO Stacey

THE BIRDS-- BUT NOT THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK KIND!

Man, I love spring and summer!  I am truly a southern girl who loves the heat and hates the cold.  Sunshine just makes me smile.  Spring is also the perfect patio sitting weather, so when a sweet friend invited me to lunch at Gloria's (on the patio) I quickly jumped at the chance.  It was so good to catch up.   We circled around approximately 58 conversations while we were there.  Listen - if you have a problem, we probably solved it, so let me know! :) 

Because I am easily distracted (squirrel), I watched a bird dive onto the patio, grab a large corner of a chip in his yellow beak,  and fly back to his friends.  "These birds must be so happy for spring and patio weather.  It means a lot of food for them!" I said to my friend.  Without missing a beat, she reminded me of the scripture that says the birds do not worry about their food and yet our heavenly Father still feeds them, and how much more important are we to Him?  I just sat on that for a minute.  It's so true!  I went home and reread Matthew 6:25-34 which is the text from where our conversation referenced.  For the remainder of that week I promise you that every podcast I listened to and almost everything I read referred back to this passage.   I have held to this promise knowing that whatever personal struggle I may be facing or will face that God sees me and promises to provide.  Worrying changes and/or fixes nothing, yet it is the absolute hardest thing NOT to do. 

This conversation and constant reminder of this has changed my my outlook when I'm out driving or even looking out my kitchen window into my backyard with huge trees, I look at the birds a little differently.  They serve as a reminder to live my life not worrying about the future because in verse 34 of Matthew 6, the Bible says each day has enough trouble of its own.  Can I get an AMEN, here? While this has been on the forefront of my mind, I have had the privilege of sharing this with some of my closest friends as they have held me accountable for keeping my mind set on this scripture.   I say that to say this was delivered to my house yesterday for my sweet front porch. 

The sign on the table says "A place to look at the birds" and a lily to remind me to "consider the lilies of the field".   My people are so stinking amazing, y'all! We sat outside last night and just chatted.  It was breezy and perfect.  We may or may not have had wine... :)   This morning as I walked out of the house, I looked over, and it made me smile.  

Friends, whatever you may be facing, God has a plan and will provide just as he provides for the lilies of the fields and the birds in the sky.  I encourage you to think about how important you are to God when you see a bird or a lily in the field.  You won't be able to not smile.   

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me.

Have a great week, friends!  Be BRAVE, be BLESSED and know you are EQUIPPED!

XOXO, Stacey

Lessons From the Monkey Bars

Today, I picked up the Let's All Be Brave by Annie Downs.  Have I mentioned that I love her?  Seriously if she ever reads my blog, I totally want to have coffee and talk about all the things!

It's no surprise that I read something that I totally needed today.  She talked about "the monkey bar option".  You're willing to to let go of one bar because you can see the next one you want to grab.

Immediately I thought about a picture from the newspaper of me circa 1978-79 on the monkey bars.  I found it - because my mother keeps EVERYTHING!  Ok - so just this once I won't be mad at you, Mother! :)

Listen - I had skills.  I could even skip a bar crossing to the other side.  I am sure I was so proud when I got this down.  I don't vividly remember,  but I'm sure this great accomplishment didn't come without slipping and falling.  I think if you look closely you'll see a skinned knee! :)   Can I just sidebar here?  I did remember the skills I had when I was 9, so for some reason I thought they would carry over to my 49 year old self--- let's just say that didn't work out very well when I tried this on the playground recently.

Life is hard.  I don't know anyone who would disagree.  I wish life were like the monkey bars where we always knew how to get across and could see the next bar you needed to grab, where we always knew where the next bar was going to lead.  That would be awesome, however, that requires no trust or faith.   I want to grab on to what I know- where I am comfortable.  It's hard to let go of the known when you realize you are being pushed into the unknown.  In her book Annie writes, "The deeper call for courage comes when you let go with nothing ahead to grab.  She goes on to write, "But only in letting go are your hands free to grab on to the next thing."  Bob Goff writes in Love Does about palms up.  This is the same idea of when your palms are up and open, you then can receive something else to hold.   As a believer, I know this.  I know God's provision first hand, and I have seen him reveal his plan over and over again.  It's difficult for me to see these things in the midst of everything - maybe for you too.  However, I have chosen to be brave this year.  That doesn't come with stipulations like - I'll be brave as long as things are status quo.  This is where I am reminding myself to be careful for what I ask! :)   My word for this year is discipline.  In my mind I was thinking more of eating, exercise, budgeting --- all that.  However, I know God gave me that word to begin preparing me for the spiritual discipline I was going to need because unlike us - He knows the next bar we are going to need to grab.

This little girl on the monkey bars is not a person I really even remember.  I mean it has been like a minute ago.  However,  I wish I could tell her to hang on baby girl even when the struggle seems completely overwhelming--- life is hard.  Life is messy!  There will be nights you wish your eyes wouldn't open the next day, but they do so grab on to the promises of the day.  There will be times you are brought to your lowest.  Be humble and be kind always.  There will be times when you are the happiest you have ever been.  Relish in those moments, but don't hold them so tight you fear to let go when you need to in order to receive something else.  Be brave, little girl, God has a plan.  He will equip and provide.

Friends, be brave today to let go of whatever you may be gripping so tightly.  "Courage doesn't tell you to let go when you know what to grab next.  Brave people let go when it's time to let go.... Be brave enough to empty your hand without seeing the next monkey bar."

Have an amazing week, friends!  Go... BE BRAVE, BE BLESSED, and know YOU ARE EQUIPPED.

XOXO Stacey

WHAT'S YOUR NAME, MAN?

A few years ago a friend of mine made me a shirt that said, "My thoughts have been replaced by Hamilton lyrics".  This is so true.  However, my non-Hamilton loving or knowing friends (I can't even believe there ARE those people but it's true) don't get my references so it's not as much fun.  Side bar - I am FINALLY going to get to see it on April 14th!  --The opening number is entitled "Alexander Hamilton" There are a lot of names given as to who Hamilton was.  In the song, it asks "What's your name, man?'

Last Sunday the message was titled "Renamed".  It was so good and timely.  I have written about the lies that the enemy will tell us and we believe.  My entire adult life (and maybe during school too) I was convinced I was a horrible student.  I mean, I really went for the social aspect - shocker if you know me- so academics weren't my total focus.  I don't say that out loud too often since education is my livelihood!  Maybe it was more comparing myself to my best friend who was (and still is) totally scholarly.  She was in the top 10, always made good grades, got into A&M... all the things.  There was never a time she made me feel inferior at all.  She always cheered me on with whatever I was doing.   Fast forward to present day- March 23rd.  I went to my sister's house and she had a package that our other sister and mom and sent us.  My mother had gone through some things and thought we might want them.  The first of the items was my kindergarten report cards - one for each six weeks.  Each indicated I was progressing satisfactorily.  I loved Peggy Harmon.  She was an amazing teacher.  Then on to the next item, my 1st grade report card with Mrs. Calhoun.  She noted that each six weeks I excelled in writing and math and then in the spring semester reading was added to the excelled column.  I think it's also good to note that I behaved myself accordingly with good conduct marks and also was never tardy that year - thanks, Mom!  It's good for my people to know I was on time at some point in my life.  Then, I pulled out another paper and it was from 10th grade.  I had all A's and B's until the spring semester - which is when I turned 16 and had a boyfriend so I guess I didn't care as much about English II and my grades dropped to high Cs.  (Sorry, Cheryl Brown).  Then, I thought about college - I mean we are not going to talk about my first semester but after that it wasn't so bad.  During my masters program, I only had one B.  I was a little disappointed that I didn't have a 4.0 overall, but that was the class I was taking when my dad passed away so I'm ok.    With all of that-- why did I tell myself I wasn't a good student?  I am not believing those lies ever again.  I am renaming myself a good student who excelled in writing, math and reading (thank you Mrs. Calhoun).

So many times I am guilty of allowing my circumstances to create names for me such as inadequate, not equipped, poor leader etc... I am so thankful that God has surrounded me with wise counsel who speak into this to open my eyes and show me that these are names the enemy is giving.  I am tossing out all of those names and leaning into the promises our heavenly father has given.  I encourage you to do the same and RENAME yourself according to the Word that says we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14) among others.

In the words of Hamilton, "There's a million things I haven't done but just you wait-- just you wait.... What's your name, man?"

Have a great week!  Be BLESSED, Be BRAVE, and know you are EQUIPPED!

XOXO Stacey

MISSING THE MESSAGES

If God sent emojis with his messages, I feel sure He would have had this one for me this week.





Listen, I know I don't hear or see the obvious a lot of the time, but this week was that and more.  This past week was not bad but busy and a lot of late nights at school and moving parts during the day.  All of which makes for an exhausted educator.  I struggled getting all of my Stitch Fix done this week because I didn't get home before 8:30 every night this week.  It was just one of those weeks.  Yet, everywhere I went, read, heard etc... these two verses were the messages God was giving me that I wasn't hearing -  "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Ps. 139:23  The other one was Ex 14:14 - "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still".   With the weight of the world (in my mind) this week, I was getting clear messages but I didn't stop to listen.  As I was cooking today, and thinking about what I would blog about, a story came to mind.  Several years ago, a friend who lived close, and I walked together regularly.  I taught both of her girls and we have a great friendship.  So she was at my house with her youngest daughter.  Kerri and I were talking (I'm sure something totally meaningful and life changing) and Kaitlyn was saying something.  As an teacher I have learned to tune kids out when I'm talking to an adult --- big mistake here.  As Kerri and I continued to talk, I sat down and then screamed.  See, there was a pair of scissors sticking point end up from the cushion (I have no idea why- I'm sure I was in the middle of creating some type of masterpiece craft) and sat on them.  Seriously, it sounded like poking something through bubble wrap.   They are laughing so hard at my expense.  I made Kerri look at my butt cheek to see the injury - I mean she is a nurse as well.  I mean I was going to be mortified if I was going to have to go to the ER for stitches in my rear for sitting on scissors.  Just a little flesh wound - nothing over the top. Then Kaitlyn piped up again and said, "I was trying to tell you there were scissors there and to not sit down.  You weren't paying attention to me."  Oh - well maybe I should have listened more!  I still laugh about that.  However, the point of the story (no pun intended) was so true this week.  As I was praying through things going on, God was speaking but I was so focused on the issues I didn't stop to listen.   So, as I go through this week before spring break (yes, I realize most of my friends have spring break this week) and I am praying for wisdom to navigate through all the things I am already anxious about completing,  I will be brave enough to STOP and listen and not be so engulfed by the situation that I am tuning out the messages that are being given.

I hope you all have an amazing week!  BE BLESSED, BE BRAVE, and KNOW YOU ARE EQUIPPED!

XOXO Stacey

The Power of YES!

I know it's been a few weeks since I've blogged even though I said I was going to weekly.  I'm going to get to that a bit later in the post, but first I have to share with you the greatness I have gleaned from Annie Downs' "Let's all be Brave.  Living Life with Everything You Have".   It will all weave together.

The last chapter I read a few days ago was entitled Say Yes.  It hit me right between the eyes.  Saying yes to the things we need to do in order to be brave means saying no to all of the other distractions keeping us from being brave.

The last few weeks have been so hectic for me.  My thoughts were so random, I didn't even know what to even start blogging about.  Then I hear these thoughts that say, "You're a hot mess!  You can't even put two sentences together.  You don't have anything to give right now."  So, that is what I said yes to for the past few weeks.  Except that isn't what my REAL YES was to being brave.  I want to write.  That is what my yes is.  However, I believed the lies the enemy was speaking and making them my reality.  Listen, the hot mess part is mostly truth but the rest.... meh... :)   So saying YES to writing my blog every week is saying no to all the things that would distract me from doing it such as a tough week, being tired, feeling I don't have the words... etc...  Saying YES is believing the truth that has been put in my heart and saying NO to the lies the enemy would like me to believe in order to NOT accomplish my goals.

Annie (I hope she doesn't mind I have put us on a first name basis, because I already feel we are friends)😁 stated that "When God tells you to be brave, he will make it work.  It won't be perfect.  It won't be easy.  But it will be your story and your best story."  I need this in a sign for everywhere I go! 

My people have encouraged me to get back to my goal of writing telling me my words matter to them.  "Even when you are at your lowest...the place where you think no one can help, a kind word can go a long way to heal and to rescue and help you finish."  (Y'all this book is filled with so many nuggets)

There are so many other areas of my life that I have evaluated over the past few days as to what I should be saying YES.  I mean wanting to buy a house this year means saying YES to my budget and NO to unnecessary spending. (GAHHHH--- so hard)  Saying YES to the gym, means saying NO to hitting snooze at 4:40 a.m. three days a week.  Saying YES to eating more healthy means saying NO to all things tasty - just joking - but kind of true.  These are some things we all want to say YES to.  Yet, consider what the author says,  "Say yes to the situations that stretch you and scare you and ask you to be a better you than you think you can be.  Say yes to the moments that will only come once.  Say yes to serving.  Say yes to Jesus in every way - every change you get.  We have to say yes.  Even when it's scary or costly or unknown."

Y'all THIS!!!  It's so good and has been such great medicine for my soul moving into a new week.

Share with me what your YES is.  I would love to encourage you to be the best you!  Thank you for reading and encouraging me.  Your words matter!

Have a great week and BE BRAVE, BE BLESSED, and BELIEVE YOU ARE EQUIPPED.

ONE WORD

The last few years I have thought of one word to be my theme for the year.  Last year I challenged my school staff to find a hashtag that people would know them by.  Mine was #lovedwell.  Everything I did that year, I wanted the end game to be that I loved well through good and bad times.  I think I did just that.  Relationships are not hard for me.  It's just who I am.  I wanted to be intentional with my actions and taking time to spend with my tribe.  Let's face it, the first year as a principal and opening a new school at that --- I was exhausted most days and weekends.  The balance was (and is) still hard to find. I'm working on it. :)

Fast forward to 2019 --- what's my word this year?   I really thought long and hard about what I truly needed to be intentional about this year and one word came to my mind again and again----

DISCIPLINE

What areas of my life did I need discipline?  ALL OF THEM!!! When I started thinking about it I listed I needed discipline in my spending, reading my Bible, working out, eating right, keeping my house tidy, balancing work and life. ALL THE THINGS.  I seriously wondered how I even made it day to day.   It's a lot to try to revamp all at once, so I started with spending.  I bought a planner I loved from Living Well and Spending Less.  I love Ruth Soukup.  I started reading her blog a few years ago.  She is very inspirational, and I love her Podcast "Do It Scared" - It goes along with my being brave theme :)  Here's her website if you want to check it out:  https://www.livingwellspendingless.com/


So the planner has everything - goal setting, calendar (weekly and monthly) meal planning and, yes, the dreaded budgeting page.  For this month (so far) I wrote down every penny I spent and what category it went to.  I was doing great, but last week I was not intentional and I could tell when I sat down tonight to adult and pay bills.  I caught up on my week of receipts and saw the money I had basically thrown around.  The bottom line is discipline is all about choices.  Why does it have to be so hard? (Insert whine here)

I am continuing being intentional with my spending this week.  I am working on being mindful what I am eating because I have to weigh in every week for our school weight loss challenge and at Weight Watchers.  This week I am working on getting back to running.  Listen, this is huge.  I like to run.  However, I hate the cold and getting out of my warm bed with my weighted blanket at 4:30 a.m. when it's 30 or less degrees outside.  That's a lot folks!  I know many of you will ask why I don't just go in the evenings?  There's not enough consistency with my evenings to have a solid schedule, so mornings it is.   It's a choice.   It's a change I have to make daily.  I promise I am going to be brave through the cold mornings of Texas winter. 

Have a great week, my friends.  Be intentional, make good choices, and BE BRAVE!

I AM EQUIPPED

So, I didn't blog last weekend and totally got called out on it.  Thanks, friend (you know who you are) for holding me accountable. 

To continue my journey of being brave, I ordered a bed for my extra bedroom.  I mean, I could have only ordered a mattress for my existing futon but what is the fun in that?  Sidebar here--- I ordered from Josh & Main which is part of Wayfair.  Listen, they have the absolute best customer service EVER!  They have won me as a customer for future purchases. 

I was so super excited about this bed and bedding I ordered and couldn't wait for it to come in.  It's seriously better than Christmas morning.  A few days pass, and the text came in that boxes have been delivered.  I couldn't wait to get home.  When I pulled up in my drive way - there it was my beautiful bed and bedding in 3 beautifully plain big cardboard boxes.  I've never been so thankful for tile floors that allowed me to scoot the fifty pound box into my house.  I heaved it down the hallway to my extra bedroom until the weekend when I actually had time to put it together. 

Then on Saturday, I took everything out of the box and just looked at it.  I sent the picture below in a text to my friend with the caption "I don't even know what all these words mean!"

ALL of the pieces, y'all.  What was I going to use to put all of this together, you ask?  The answer, an allen wrench and a Phillips Screwdriver.  I just had to walk out of the room.  I thought there is no way I could possibly put this together by myself with those 2 things!  Insert whine and pity here! :)

 

 Stay with me --- I do have a point coming!

I took a deep breath and walked back in and looked only at step one and found those pieces.  I was resourceful at managing holding one end up and working on the other end.  Guess, what?  I found I was totally equipped with that little allen wrench.  Being equipped has been a huge part of my story I have been learning this past year.  It's only been the last month or so that I have been speaking it daily.

See, before our feet ever hit the floor each day, we are equipped by our heavenly father for whatever we are going to face that day.  There are parts of the day that I do have to walk away for a minute, take a deep breath, and go back and just tackle the first step.  Life is so overwhelmingly hard at times.  Being a principal is no different.  There are so many issues that are new every day, but they are not new to the Creator whose mercies are new each day as well.  What I learned from this experience is that I didn't need a lot of fancy tools to conquer this job (it's a good thing, because that would have been a problem).  It's the same with life.  God doesn't require us to have degrees or all these fancy titles and skills.  He calls us to faith.  The kind of faith to believe we are equipped each day even if we feel we only have an allen wrench in our tool belt that day.  Taking one step at a time (my friend refers to that in real life as 15 minutes at a time), I was able to accomplish the task. 

Once I got to this part, I felt totally empowered that I could really do this - by myself, with a screwdriver and allen wrench just like the directions said.  As Christians, we have the best instructional manual, but we have to read it to be able to follow it.  Something I am always trying to improve on.   However, don't you see, a little faith begets more faith.  Finally, my confidence was up and I completed the project.  I'm not gonna lie... I laid down on it just to make sure it wasn't going to collapse the first time someone laid on it. 

#winning

Now that my project was finished, I stood and looked at what I was able to accomplish with a set of instructions, determination, an allen wrench and a screwdriver..

Y'all!!! I.  Can't.  Even!  I know it may sound silly, but I was so proud.  I pulled out my other purchase for my kitchen and had it put together in no time.  I was equipped.  I had even more experience on how things go together for faster results the second time around.

None of this was done without a few mistakes along the way, scratches and a bruised palm from screwing everything in by hand (I totally think I need an electric screwdriver), but the bottom line was that I didn't have to be afraid of all of these random pieces, because I was equipped to put them in place.  

I thank the Lord for equipping me for whatever He has for me that day.  It has been a life changer for me.  I approach situations and people so differently, I feel.  Each day, I feel braver and stronger in my faith because I know it is not by my power that is making the difference but the power of the Lord.  This, my friends, is what  I know for sure:  I am brave, I am blessed, and most of all I AM EQUIPPED.  

Until next week, be brave, be blessed and know you are equipped as well.

I'm BACK!!!!!

Hello Everyone!

I realize it's been JULY of 2017 since I have blogged.  I really wanted to make my blog a priority in 2019.  Maybe it will be a "must read" for people - or not.  More than anything this is an avenue for me to hold myself accountable for goals I have.  It's scary sharing my hopes and dreams with the cyber world.  It definitely is a vulnerability that is outside of my comfort zone.  My goal is always to be real.  In a world where social media is everywhere, it is easy to get a false sense that everyone is leading a perfect life, and I probably look like a hot mess in comparison.  My life is good but so far from perfect or even where I thought I would be at this point, but I am real and don't pretend to be anything else.

I am currently reading a book, Let's All Be Brave.  Living Life with Everything You Have by Annie Downs.  First, let me say that if I ever met this author, I know we would totally be the best of friends.  She is so my people. :)  She writes real - not technical - but practical.   This exert gave me pause:  "Bravery begets bravery.  If you'll be brave, I'll be brave.  And when I am brave, you feel like you can be too.  We are holding hands and I promise I won't let go.  Let's all be brave."   OH. MYLANTA!!  I love this so, so much!

I'm taking Annie's advice here and going to share my new goals and dreams.  First, I have always wanted to write a book.  I mean I don't know what my book is going to be about yet, but I'm praying!  Then, I want to have opportunities to lead talks with people to inspire them.  I can see it in my head -- I just don't have all the details in place yet.  I told someone in my close circle what my dream was, and I was so nervous to tell her.  I'm not even sure why.  Did I think she would laugh or make me think I couldn't do it?  NEVER!  However, I was scared to say it out loud, but when I did, I felt like I gave my dream a little life.  Who knows, maybe this blog with give me the topic I need to start this project.

The goal for my blogging is to be brave.  To tell you the mountain tops on this journey and the valleys as well, because I know there will be both.

Last night I watched the Golden Globe Awards.  Maybe I was more emotional as my holiday break was ending and school started back today, but I cried so much during this show.  Listen, don't judge! LOL.   My most tearful moment was when Carol Burnett received an award named after her.  The snip its of her career was so sweet.  Also, I loved The Carol Burnett show growing up.  Listening to her talk about how she decided she wanted to be in the movies/TV when she was little.  She not only got to do those things but became an icon in the industry.  Seriously, I was sitting on my couch with tears streaming down my face thinking,  YOU GO GIRL. You did it-- BIG!  Another super cry moment was when Sandra O received a Golden Globe and the camera panned to her parents standing and cheering.  You could see the absolute pride and love of their faces for their daughter.  Then when Sandra O said, "Oh, Daddy!"  Y'all....STOP.  I.  Can't.  EVEN!

I don't want to be 5 more years down the road thinking, yeah, one day I want to do such and such... We are not guaranteed another day, much less another year... or 5.  Today, is my day to be brave and start somewhere.  So... I hope I giving someone the courage to be brave and step out to make your someday, TODAY!  Embrace 2019 and be brave.  I know I am.  Thank you, Annie Downs!