Long time no blog...

Wow it has been a busy summer...some highlights;

~ finsihed dental assisting school (looking for a job...)
~ sent my one and only baby off to kindergarten (which is sad and exciting)
~ applied for a seasonal job at Bronner's (it's an amazing place to work!!)
~ signed Ava up for riding lessons (she took to it like a champ!)
~ lots of "back to school" shopping (Ava's school has a semi-strict dress code)
~ still "witching" it up making tinctures, poultices and other natural remedies (will post some later)
~ finished my first book about "regular" people (no witches, vampires, or other supernatural beings...yeah it was boring)
~ imagined a great idea for a book (always wanted to write one...if i ever have time)
~ Ava got her first loose tooth (still not out yet)
~ spent an entire week at the cabin with Ava & my parents (can't we just move there already)

Now that summer is over (can you say HOT) and fall is approaching I am in the mood for all things fall! I love warm drinks, hoodies, jeans, ugg boots, blankets, fires, sweet treats, Halloween, pumpkins, sunny & cool days, crisp leaves, changing colors, and so much more! Thank you God for the blessing of autumn <3

Love. Peace. Life.

I sense that I am at a very important place in my life. Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and what not. Some call it Saturn's Return, which basically means that during a persons 27th (ish) year, the planet Saturn is in the exact position it was the year you were born. I'm not into astrology or anything, but I do believe that God put the stars and planets in the sky to do more than just look pretty. Like how the moon affects the tides, which in turn affect so many other things! So I buy into the thought that this "return of Saturn" can have major effects on people...or maybe it's just that approaching 30 makes you sort out your life. Either way, I can see in my self that I am maturing and getting a wee bit wiser. Life has been one hell of a roller-coaster for a few years now. A roller coaster that I wanted off of RIGHTNOW! but God intended for me to stay on that ride for a while longer and now here I am approaching the end of the ride. I've learned so much and I know I have so much left to learn and I find it exciting.

Some of the big life lessons I am learning:
~ Be yourself; God made me to be ME. When I feel like I am being someone I am not, that's God saying "Uh, girlfriend that is NOT who you are supposed to be!" I can't spend my life trying to be who everyone else wants me to be. As long as I keep trying to mold my personal morals and ethics to the shape of God's then I am doing the best I can. You can take me or leave me baby!
~ Life is meant to be pure. I have a desire to live life more purely, not only in the way I think, talk, and entertain myself, but also in what I eat and do with my body. I'm not going to turn into some health-nut (come on now!) but I am realizing the importance of being healthy. Organic foods, herbal remedies, yoga, peace, tinctures, walks, nature...these are all the things I will be introducing into my life. This will be crazy hard because I am the laziest person ever and that lifestyle is not for lazy people! ;-)
~ Love is so much more than romance or caring for someone. True love is all consuming. I believe the purpose of life is love. Loving God, loving yourself, loving others. Every dark and evil thing in life is a result of someone somewhere losing sight of what it truly means to love purely and completely. If humanity would just learn to love and to respect things would be a lot different.

Couponing!?

I am trying to get into the whole couponing craze, but as a generally lazy individual I find it to take more effort than I would like. BUT I'm gonna suck it up and go for it anyway. I would benefit from the savings for sure and it's my little way of "sticking it to the man" hehe. I have the advice/guidance of my friends Jen & Sarah who are super-dooper couponers so hopefully their skills will rub off on me. If not I could always try to bribe them to let me buy their "freebies" off of them...? Eh, we'll see!!

What has got me talking about football...

...Tim Tebow of course!


I am NOT a sports follower, but I do know a few players (typically just the hotties). I don't really care how far they throw a touch-down or how many yards they can sack or whatever, lol. BUT I have an interest in Tebow, as does most of the country these days. From my limited knowledge I can gather that he is an awesome ball player, and an outstanding example of a God-fearing & God-loving Christian. So of course he is being attacked by haters. I was under the impression that each time Tebow scored a touchdown he would and I quote "praise Jesus in an obnoxious fashion while shoving Christianity down the throats of those watching". So I am thinking wowzers this guy is crazy! Then I see that in reality all he is doing is simply kneeling in prayer for a quick second....someone please tell me how that is obnoxious or forcing Christianity on anyone?!?! Tim Tebow seems like an outstanding guy in many ways. What little I know of his story is pretty cool and I plan to read his bio soon. It just makes me sick that in America we are expected to be soooo accepting of every religion, belief, lifestyle, etc. If a Christian speaks out against gay marriage, abortion, etc we are horrible people, BUT everyone else can openly mock Christians and it's tolerated and accepted. Makes a lot of sense to me *rolls eyes*.

A Jolly Christmas to You

I sincerely hope you had a great Christmas this year. As I said in my status update; "You have the ability to make this Christmas great no matter how unfortunate your current situation may be." And I hope you did just that.

Honestly, the holiday season could be torture for someone who is struggling with loss, hurt, dispare. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for some people, but then if you really think about it...Christmas is kind of a feeling of the heart. I mean of course it is a real celebration of the birth of our Saviour, but it's also about showing the love of Christ through your own heart. Even if you have no money to buy presents for your kids, you can still bless them with lasting memories and happiness.

Christmas Wish List

I intentionally didn't provide my family/friends with my wish list this year. I don't really NEED anything and I didn't want anyone to feel obligated to get something just because I put it on my list. However...it's close enough to Christmas that I can safely list what I would have wished for this year :)

~ tan uggs
~ macarons
~ tiffany button earrings
~ burberry scarf/gloves/hat set
~ Vampire Diaries season 1 & 2
~ Amazing Grace perfume
~ gift cards
~ overnighter at a B&B
~ Spa day!
~ Barnes & Noble membership

Part of Growing is Knowing when to LET GO of your Dreams...

"Who am I to so arrogantly assume that I deserve better?"

This is the thought on my heart today. I am always looking to the future, hoping and wondering what's next, waiting for something better. But why should I assume there is anything better out there for me?? There are so many people in impossibly rotten situations, and they hope for something better too...I should just shut-up and learn to be happy with the life God has given me.

I am developing a new appreciation for the little things in life. The way my heart feels like it might burst when Ava tells me she loves me. The taste & warmth of a cup of coffee in the morning. The smell of my favorite fabric softner. The feeling of snuggling into a warm bed each night. There are so many things that I truly enjoy in my simple everyday life. And that is what it's really all about.

Sure I'd love to be a successful career woman, have crazy amounts of money and travel the world. And of course I want Prince Charming and the castle and a bunch of pretty, perfectly-behaved children. But that is never going to happen, and I'm ok with that. I may never leave Genesee County (though I will certainly try!). I may never have a career. I will never meet my Prince charming. But I will wake up every day and be happy. I will slow down and appreciate the "sweet nothings" that light up my life. I will do my best to better serve the Lord, to be a better friend, a better daughter, a better mother, a better person.

At some point you grow up and realize that life is really just about surviving and making the best of the life you've been given. God has a plan for me, for you, for everyone. I have finally fully surrendered to the fact that I am not actually in control, God is. If I am meant for bigger and better things I know He will lead me along that path, but right now I feel like He is whispering to me something a friend recently told me... "Bloom where you are planted, love"