How Much Does it Cost to be Happy? Learning to Embrace Simplicity

Are ya feeling happy?....Most of the time?

Ever find yourself sliding into a state of glum?

What do you do when life begins to feel dreary, dull?


I wonder... how many of us are guilty of using a little retail therapy at one time or another when gloom is hovering overhead and has threatened to darken our day? If you just had a flash of  Isla Fisher frantically grabbing a pair of boots in a scene from the film Confessions of a Shopoholic and are ready to proudly shout out an emphatic...

"Whoa, that is NOT me! 

Don't enjoy shopping for clothes, accessories or cosmetics at all. Not a Diva, not me!"

You may want to hold off on busting-a-move. Let's take a look at what the word "retail" really means. 

Retail is the sale of goods and services from individuals or businesses to the end-user.

Hmmm, retail = sale of ANY goods or services. 

Okay? Still not sure? Well, let's wade a little deeper... goods and services are the outcome of human efforts to meet the wants and needs of people. 

Goods and Services would/could be: food, a new song for your playlist, coffee, socks, going to a movie, a pet, a haircut, a new car, a new house... oh, the possibilities are simply endless. Now, if we rewind to my original question of... Have you ever participated in Retail Therapy to help you feel better?  I am guessing every single one would have to agree to the fact, indeed we have.

{Source: the things we say}

I mean really, with our culture swooning us with the latest, fastest, most improved technology. The daily reveal of the hottest new product, that we simply can't function in our daily lives without. The more effective work out method or health product to keep us in our fittest, best looking condition. The new trends in fashion that you long to showcase, avoiding being left feeling like a slumpy dog around your friends. And let us not forget the cost of education...we must have all of the information we can possibly stuff into our brains to be informed in the areas we care about, with the extra bonus of impressing others...at WHATEVER COST. I mean it simply makes us better people right? Isn't that the lie that we have been making a silent agreement with?

Wouldn't you agree the world we surround ourselves with tells us there is a certain look to having it all together? No matter what "style" category you personally fit into - a nerd, hipster, a fashionista, sporty, earthy, what have you. There is a look to it. You must have certain clothes, items or knowledge to pull it off. To feel good about yourself.

And really don't we believe having it all together brings us into a state of happy? Is there the slightest chance we buy into the belief that if we can't have it all together, we can at least impress others with the appearance that we do...which would make us SEEM happy?

I think we see the counterfeit of this in our head, but still...

Does this cycle of trying leave you in a space where you really end up feeling happy with yourself?

With your life?

Or more, like, exhausted.

How long does the joy of your latest purchase last before you feel the need  of acquiring something else? Doing something else? Being something else? Knowing something else?

This leads to a more, MORE, MORE pattern. We must keep trying until we finally find the precise spot where we possess happiness, or are perceived as happy? Go bigger, go better!!! Someday you will finally arrive at your destination.

Or will you?

I am thinking not.

No, you will not.

I will not.

No one will.

EVEN IF you get what you want.

It just won't EVER work. In the blink you receive the desired possession, the next blink will leave your eyes gazing upon something else desired.

No matter how hard you try, how many hours you work, how much money you spend looking great. It will not bring happiness. The harder you try to fill up your life with a counterfeit, the more empty you will end up feeling. The bigger, the better, the higher the cost - the deeper the void.

I am certain of it...

Encouraging, huh?

{Source: Pinterest}

Let me get even more encouraging....

The bar of "BEING" is rising with each generation. Our houses are getting bigger, cars per household are increasing, recreational vehicles are on the rise, annual vacations are a requirement if you are anybody. If you are an actual somebody, you will visit someplace tropical or European at least once every few years. There is a COST to feeling RECOGNIZED as a SOMEBODY in our world, people.  We silently believe we must do GREAT things, or have GREAT things, to be recognized as GREAT by ourselves and others.

Do we actually? Is this truth?

I would be surprised if this was not resonating with you on some level. It may be a little painful to face head-on, yet you understand it on a gut level. Girls, we are striving so hard because we are starving for TRUE satisfaction. For TRULY being accepted right where we are - right AS we are, bare of anything or heaped over and stuffed with everything. We long to be seen as great in our TRUE BEAUTY, the very core of who we are.

Deep down most of us probably know all of the things in the world will never fully satiate us. Oh, perhaps we will pretend we don't know better, we will keep trying and we will starve ourselves unto death as we are in the process of stuffing every.single.thing we can into our lives to create happiness. Stuffing to Starve. Oh,, when will it stop? PLEASE, make it STOP!

The first step to filling that empty, starving place inside of you is to admit He, Jesus Christ, is right there. Talk to Him, get to know Him. Start reading some Bible Verses. Ask Him to reveal himself to you. Yeah, starting a relationship with Him is that simple. If you already have the relationship but are lacking the depth - talk to him, get to know Him better- plug into some good teaching (love Beth Moore, Stasi Eldredge has a terrific new book - Becoming Myself: Embracing God's Dream of You)

Embracing True Simplicity starts by getting down to the basics. Reducing the "stuff" will help you to free up some time to add some quality. So, are you ready to release your grip on all of the stuff you are stuffing yourself with?  Well then, reach out to God for wisdom on where to start embracing simplicity.  God is at the heart of everything that makes you great! He designed you with perfection. He knows what will fill the void and make you shine.

It's not that fashion, health, style and education can't be a piece of who you are, but they won't ever MAKE you. They so quickly get wonky when they become our measure of identity and success. Without the creator of us speaking into what we are meant to be, we find we have flip flopped our lives to a state of upside-down that, like mentioned earlier, retail therapy has no hope of tipping topside back up. Don't get overwhelmed,  it is as simple as an ask, He will show you bit by bit.

If you would like to read up on some practical ideas of how to start simplifying, the article link below by Relevant Magazine is a must.

A Guide to Living with Less by Relevant Magazine

-Simply Sublime

You are more loved than you know

Just a quick post, as I am reflecting on my love relationship with Jesus. Tonight I would like to make one point for you all. This relationship with Jesus is THE most important relationship in all of my life, all of every single persons life. It isn't something to joke about, take for granted, or ignore because....well.... you just don't feel  like it right now.  It is life or death.  Jesus gave His absolute ALL to be in a love relationship with you. He simply wants to do life with you. 

Oh, I understand if you feel the weight of your past choices seem too unbearable to face but try TRUST.  Just give it a try. Open up your heart and ask Jesus to reveal himself to you. Trust him with your heart. Trust Him to reveal His heart FOR YOU! Anything you believe keeps you separated from Him is a lie. There is nothing that keeps you from Him except for doubt.  You can face him. There is NOTHING you have ever done that can keep Him from being head over heels in LOVE with you!  It is an amazing, all consuming love.

He gets it... we mess up. We will always and forever mess up. It is our messing up that is the foundation of our relationship with him in the first place. Our mistakes are what leave us deeply needing to invite Him into our lives.  It is the very thing that leaves us AMAZED at His deep love for us. Be vulnerable and let Him meet you right where you are! He is just waiting to show you the depth of His incredible love for you! Don't wait a second longer.

I loved the quote above and the excerpt below from an article written above by Timothy Keller. See if it speaks to you as well. 

" The gospel is the good news of gracious acceptance. Jesus lived the life we should live. He also paid the penalty we owe for the rebellious life we do live. He did this in our place (Isaiah 53:4-10; 2 Cor 5:21; Mark 10:45). We are not reconciled to God through our efforts and record, as in all other religions, but through his efforts and record. Christians who trust in Christ for their acceptance with God, rather than in their own moral character, commitment, or performance, are simul iustus et peccator- simultaneously sinful yet accepted. We are more flawed and sinful than we ever dared believe, yet we are more loved and accepted than we ever dared hope at the same time."

-Simply Sublime

Merry Christmas from our Family to YOURS! Don't be afraid.

So thankful for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. To think he would lovingly come here to this earth on our behalf. Oh, it was difficult. We know this well, right? Being human isn't always easy. We reach, we grasp, we fall, we bruise. You know there had to be moments where he wanted to flee the pain and the anguish he was enduring, especially towards the end. Yet he couldn't unwrap his heart from the complete love of his life...YOU!!! He did it all for you! He came here for you!

Can you wrap your head around his heart for you? It's a bit hard to receive the fullness of it - COMPLETE. PERFECT.LOVE. He is just waiting for you to get to know Him. He has so very much to tell you, so many words and actions to love on you with. He is the Papa your heart has been longing for since the moment you came into existence. Why not accept the amazing gift? Time with Him, the one who created you to be in relationship with Him.

It's simple. Just start talking. No perfect words to be said. There is no magic prayer. He knows you completely anyway. He so admires you. He finds you to be smart, funny, beautiful and caring. He knows you have messed up but that isn't His focus. He simply wants to just love on you and show you the wonders he has to share with you. Turn your heart towards him and start some dialogue.

The moment you start doubting his love because of your past, remember this:

{source: pinterest}

He may not like every single choice we make, but he gets us and loves us with a deep abiding love. His love covers it all.

{source: pinterest}

He isn't about fixing us to make us acceptable to him. We are acceptable just as we are RIGHT NOW! Hard to believe isn't it? That even with our current yucky, messed up choices he is welcoming us into his arms? Picture a scruffy little street boy who's clothes are full of holes, saturated with grime and smelling of an unidentifiable stench. His slimey dripping nose is running down his face and he has wiped it across his cheek. He is a complete mess - and there in the distance is Papa. His arms are wide open. He kneels down on one knee and gently calls the boys name. As the boy skeptically approaches him Papa meets him with knowing eyes full of love and compassion. The boy can recognize that Papa knows all and has nothing but love for him. Papa wraps the boy in his arms, kisses his forehead, sweetly washes his face and wraps a cozy blanket around him. This is the beginning of a beautiful relationship - where Papa leads the boy next is not for us to know right now. We can be sure, however, that life from this point on is going to be full of adventure and wonder. 

{source: pinterest}

We can't confuse his perfect accepting love with a belief that he is okay with our sin. He isn't. I am sure Papa is going to have some heart to heart conversations with the boy on where he has been. There are probably some wounds that need to be tended to with some healing balm. The boy will also probably need some new essentials to face the exciting journey ahead and be fully equipped.

Papa's love for us can cover our sin when we bring it to him and ask. Sometimes we are even unaware of our ick but through a very gentle process he will show us areas we can release to Him that can help us to be a bit more unhindered by the things that weigh us down. It is all done through love though. The more we know of him the more we are freed up to enjoy all that is around us.

{source: pinterest}

Many times I find people are afraid to approach God. They spend a great amount of effort actually running away from him, pushing him out of their mind. They are unknowingly exhausted by the effort it has taken them to run away. The belief is if they face him they will be crushed and humiliated with the mistakes of their past. What they don't understand is running away in fear is so much more work and exhausting. The truth is we were created to be in relationship with our Creator. Just turn around and face the ONE who sees you, the ONE who knows you, the ONE who loves you to pieces.

Praying that your Christmas and all the days following are absolutely full of the love Jesus Christ. 

{source: hello awesome}

-Simply Sublime

How do you LOVE? Who deserves it?

This is my eldest girly-girl, Elissa. Well, she is my eldest child regardless of gender actually. She was the unexpected, life changing, help me grow up quick, I am going to be a Momma, surprise when I was at the ripe old age of 19. I should note here about how I matured incredibly to the age of 20 in the 9 months I was prego with her. 

{Source: Pinterest}

The early years were not easy on either one of us. I got married after I found out I was pregnant because that is what you are supposed to do, right? Despite the well-intention of the people in my life this was a very BAD idea. The relationship I had with her Father was toxic, unhealthy and after a windy, spinning, explosive 6 months married Baby Elissa and I  were left alone. 

The dreaded moment I had always feared officially arrived... "What would PEOPLE think?" was on our doorstep and ringing the doorbell.  Do you know who I was  worried about? Who it was I was most concerned would have negative thoughts about me, look down on me? The people I grew up going to church with. Hmmm, interesting eh? (Nope - not Canadian, I just like saying it) 

Why is that? Why when we make mistakes or end up in hard times do we first fear those who claim to have Jesus Christ as their Savior? What Jesus stood on this earth for is the very thing we are needing extended to us in those moments and yet we fear the hearts of those who love Him. We fear they will reject us, judge us, distance themselves from us or simply just be done with us. We are afraid we are no longer GOOD ENOUGH.

{Source: Pinterest}

At that moment of abandonment, almost 25 years ago, was it my overactive imagination at that time that made me believe I would be judged? Was it insecurity?  Is it possible the enemy wanted to make me believe I did not have the Body of Christ that I was connected to?

Could it be that because I was raised in the church I felt there would be no grace for me not "knowing BETTER?" Honestly, I think that was it. I was a Christ follower. I had parents who were leaders in the church. I knew right from wrong....so why did I choose WRONG? It was on me - all me. I made the decision and therefore I deserved the disastrous outcome. I had it coming.

I had absolutely no doubt these same people I was concerned about would be spreading their arms wide open for those messing up who did not know Jesus yet. They would also have a ton of grace and love for those that were victims to someone else's sin. Somehow my situation seemed different. Again it came back to my choices led to my outcome. My belief was there is no grace for that, because I had asked for it. 

Here is what I believed their thoughts for me were: If only I had listened to those who had been speaking into my life. If only I had watched the example of others. If only I had been in the word more, prayed more. If only I had a better understanding of how much God valued me. If only I had waited until I was older. If only I had been ready.  IF ONLY....

IF ONLY I had ...

I would...

I have to say I had a person in my life who represented Jesus to me through it all. If I only had broken pieces to bring - she offered me her WHOLE love and the hope of Jesus. If I only had enough strength to barely walk in the door she offered her loving arms around me to help me make the journey. If I only had messed up ideas on how to proceed from that point on? Catch this... she did NOT always give me the answer that she thought was right for me... she would grab my hands and offer words up to Jesus to help me decide. She believed Jesus was BIG enough to speak to me and she believed in me enough (despite my messes) to believe I would listen and try to follow.  If what I had to bring was a mess - she loved me despite of it - possibly because of it. She was a safe place where I knew I was unconditionally loved. She reminded me that Jesus was the answer - no condemnation. Just come - COME to Jesus.

{Source:Pinterest}

A part of me would like to say that her example of Jesus love in my life changed my sin pattern and my messed up decision making forever. But it didn't. What it did was show me that the act of love is far greater than words. She taught me to love people despite where they have been or where they are headed. To love people despite of their situation, even if it was their choice. I would go so far as to say ESPECIALLY because it was their choice. 

It is time we believe to the depth of our core that JESUS is enough. It is time we act it out. We are to LOVE WHOLEheartedly - we are to love EVERYONE. 

PSALM 103 

^1-2 O my soul, bless God.
    From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
    don’t forget a single blessing!

^3-5 He forgives your sins—every one.
    He heals your diseases—every one.
    He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
    He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
    He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
    He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.

^6-18 God makes everything come out right;
    he puts victims back on their feet.
He showed Moses how he went about his work,
    opened up his plans to all Israel.
God is sheer mercy and grace;
    not easily angered, he’s rich in love.
He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold,
    nor hold grudges forever.
He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve,
    nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.
As high as heaven is over the earth,
    so strong is his love to those who fear him.
And as far as sunrise is from sunset,
    he has separated us from our sins.
As parents feel for their children,
    God feels for those who fear him.
He knows us inside and out,
    keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.
Men and women don’t live very long;
    like wildflowers they spring up and blossom,
But a storm snuffs them out just as quickly,
    leaving nothing to show they were here.
God’s love, though, is ever and always,
    eternally present to all who fear him,
Making everything right for them and their children
    as they follow his Covenant ways
    and remember to do whatever he said.

^19-22 God has set his throne in heaven;
    he rules over us all. He’s the King!
So bless God, you angels,
    ready and able to fly at his bidding,
    quick to hear and do what he says.
Bless God, all you armies of angels,
    alert to respond to whatever he wills.
Bless God, all creatures, wherever you are—
    everything and everyone made by God.

And you, O my soul, bless God!

-Simply Sublime

Family Easter Ideas: DIY Activities & Projects to bring Jesus to the Center of Easter

As many of you probably know, my dear hub and I are the Commanders of our churches mid-week children's program. The ministry is called Awana - and it is FABULOUS! We have typically 300-400 kiddos who participate every week, from ages 2.5yrs old  to 6th grade - plus a smattering of middle schoolers and high schoolers. 

I think many people think a churches mid-week program is something they take their kiddos to in order to learn about the Bible. They believe they are dropping off their sweet things to the professionals who know best how and what to teach. F A L S E ! The best peeps to train up the kiddos are the parents. Parents are called to train up their children in the way they should go.... and WHAT? When they get older they will not depart from it. It does not say.... Sunday School teachers and Youth Leaders train up children in the way they should go. 

Before the little hairs stand-up on the back of your neck, please hear me out. We LOVE what we do. We want to invest in these kiddos and we feel passionately about being able to play a part in helping these kids to know, love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. We also feel a BIG part of our role is to help parents feel capable and excited about being the main spiritual leaders in their children's lives. 

So, with that being said, we decided Easter week would be a great time to take a week off of our club and allow opportunity for the parents to create an Easter Experience night for their families. We gave parents a few ideas on activities that would help them to create a fun family night of learning what Easter is really about.

So move over EASTER BUNNIES...

Here is the list we passed out to the families as they left club tonight. The last idea about the revised Easter Basket came from OhAmanda.com  in her Easter emails she sent out. She has a wealth of information and inspiration to share. So make sure and check her out!

-Simply Sublime

Stuck in the Muck or Moving?

MUD...MUCK...MIRE 

• Sometimes we find ourselves losing our footing and slipping in it. 
• Often after coming into contact with it we find remnants of it stuck to us. 
• Yet other times we get temporarily stuck, pulling, prodding, grasping at ways to get out of it. 
• If deep enough sometimes the grip it has on us holds tight enough we can actually lose a piece of ourselves in it.  

Avoiding it is nearly impossible - at some point we are all touched by it. Heck - not only can we walk into it  - we can pick it up and toss it at others. It looks messy, feels messy...it IS MESSY. No matter how hard we may try every single person will be splattered by it. 

So would we change the route that led us to the mud pit? Hmmm - a question we probably all think about at times. I have a few pits I know I would want to avoid now looking back. Although I have to say - I developed some muscles and wisdom in the exit strategy. 

I have also FINALLY learned a bit about the mud removal process. I have learned the quickest way out is to reach up - grab God's loving hand - climb out (or be lifted out) and stand tall. 

I have spent SO MUCH of my past crawling out and staying in a crouched position, head bowed. I was left feeling relieved to be out of the pit but unworthy, undeserving, ashamed. It wasn't until recently that I learned the JOY of my loving Father. Oh - I have known him for a long time. I accepted him as a wee one and have had an up and down relationship with him until my late 20's. A couple years ago I finally began to grasp the depth of his LOVE though. A love so deep and kind. A love that chooses not to see the past because it has truly been forgiven. 

My Abba Father draws me lovingly out of the muck and mire, wipes every spot of the mud from my grubby little face and kisses my cheek with a BIG "I LOVE YOU MY CHILD!" 

You know, the more I think about the muck and the mire  - the more I fall in love with Him. His love is unconditional. He gets me. He thinks I am adorable as I am trying for something... He can foresee the mess ahead - but He gets that I can't. 

He knew my foresight would be limited, so he made sure to have me covered. He arranged a way ahead that would guarantee I could wallow in the mud and find a way out unstained by it. He took his own precious Son, Jesus Christ, to live in the mud for awhile - to experience what we do here on this planet. He then, after living here, chose to die on the cross for me - so my mud could be washed off. All so I could spend eternity in relationship with my Abba Father, in a loving relationship FOREVER with him... AMAZING!

Let's not take the mud for granted - let's not take the process of cleaning it up for granted either. Without getting dirty we don't understand the need for getting clean. Without getting bound up and stuck we don't understand the need to be free. The way out is easy... it is one simple reach towards your Loving Father. He is just waiting oh so patiently - he knows, he understands and he has it all covered.

He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.    -Psalm 40:2 esv

I hope the next time you tromp into a little mud, or wash your kiddos grubby little face it brings a smile to your heart. 

-Simply Sublime

Memorizing the Word, Transforming the MIND with James: Mercy Triumphs by Beth Moore

SCRIPTURE MEMORY BOOK

click to purchase in my etsy store

Feeling crafty? Below I have a HOW-TO create your own handcrafted version.

I LOVE a good Bible Study - in addition I LOVE to create systems, projects - to bring a concept to life.   Well in this new study I am participating in at our Church - Beth Moore's 

James: Mercy Triumphs 

there are several different levels you can choose to participate in. One option in the study is to memorize the entire book of James. Yes you read me right.... the ENTIRE book. Now we do have 5 months to accomplish this - so broken down enough this is VERY DO-able! The key would be to finding a system that works, a system that you will stick with. 

Many people have offered creative ideas about how to accomplish this. Sheet protectors with a chapter per page. Index cards. Use the first letter of each word to spur your memory. For the auditory learners say it out loud to yourself. All of these GREAT! 

Well I decided to take the ideas I knew would work for me and PRETTIFY them. Yeah - I made that word up. I like it though! Don't you? 

After a few minutes cutting and pasting scripture into my graphic program I decided to see if anyone else had  already accomplished this & had it to share out in cyberland. Sure enough I found this lovely blog by Laura @ Lauraboggess.com who created 3 x 5 cards. 

(you may need to scroll down her page a little to find this link - it is a hotlink that says "PDF" after some photos of her journal with the cards posted on the pages.)

On this blog Laura decided to spread verses out over 54 weeks but to keep it simple I decided I would memorize 2-3 of her weekly cards each week to fit them into my 5 month timeline. This made my task at hand SO MUCH easier. 

I printed out one copy of the cards and trimmed each one down to the size of the border. There are 54 cards total. Once they were all stacked up Week 1 to Week 54 I began trimming my craft paper to 3 1/2" x 5 1/2". 

As this was my first attempt I ended up making my pages one sided, one week card placed on the front of the page and the back of each page is blank. (for the current ones I am making for friends I decided to put the weekly cards on the front and back of each page to decrease the number of pages total = less materials)

Once I had enough craft paper cut I began using a wee bit of adhesive to tack the scripture cards onto the craft paper - just enough to hold it in place temporarily. After this phase was completed it was time to run them through my heat sealer. I LOVE ME SOME Laminated Pages!!!! Did I sound like Beth there? :) 

As with all laminated projects trimming with a small border of the protector left around the edges is important to keep the seal - also remember to round corners as they can be quite sharp. 

I have a Zutter Binder System for Wired binding projects and I always DELIGHT in the finished product when using it. Love the finished look. You could also one hole punch the corner and use a ring binder. or use two or three ring binders down the side to hold them together. 

As you can see this is my first book I made which is quite thick - the new ones are about half the thickness of this one. Which will make them so, so easy to pack around in your bag, everywhere you go.  Now here is what makes this SUBLIME.... are you ready?

This great tip came from my Mentor...With the laminated pages you can have whoever checks you use a DRY ERASE pen and highlight areas you need to improve on without interrupting you mid-way. How AWESOME is that? No really... 

and isn't this just the CUTEST?

If you don't have access to a heat sealer you can go to your local office supply store and they can laminate for you. They can even bind it. Now - this is just my idea of what will work for me. I love it SO MUCH I want to pack it in my bag, hold it, even HUG it!!! I know call me crazy. 

-Simply Sublime!

UPDATE: I have created a thinner, easier to pack around version and I have it for sale in my etsy store. So if you don't feel like making your own you are just one simple click away from being able to buy one or link here.

A Love Story: M I N E

"Once Upon a Time..."
Yesterday a dear friend was sharing something profound at our Building Character Co-op during chapel time. She was opening up our minds to grasp how God, from the VERY beginning, was creating our S T O R Y.  She went into movies that deeply impact us and the why behind it. Many times it resonates within us because we are being called to be BOLD, or perhaps to be the one rescued. We long for adventure & romance. We were created for it.

Yet so often we find ourselves discontent in our daily lives which consist of tasks & check marks. Done, check that off, done, done, D O N E! It seems mundane, disconnected, lonely. Example: It is a fact that I cleaned the fridge, swept the floor & made dinner but I certainly am not creating some captivating scene here.  Nothing story worthy at all really. Except maybe to the ones receiving the work of our hands.

Then there are the days that we are literally slapped by some unforeseen force that knocks us down hard.  How many of us would willingly sign up ahead of time for abandonment, abuse, loss, heartbreak or tragedy? Still whether invited or not it becomes a part of our story.

Today I have been pondering on this, my journey, My S T O R Y. At times, especially in the beginning, I longed for that- "always feel good, be happy, found love, happy family, keep smiling", life. It only took a few steps down the road to realize my vision was short-sighted...or was it?

I have certainly had my share of ups and downs. Growing up I had an extremely close family who all lived within a 60 mile radius - most of us lived within a 10 mile radius. Our family that lived in the same town went to church together, vacationed together, had weekly dinners together, most worked together. My Grandparents and Parents both stayed married together. As a little girl this seemed perfect. Right here in this moment is where I set my romantic life vision "This will be my life".

As I stepped into the teens I began to see a different side to life...tragedy. My beloved Grandfather began having health issues. After years of cancer he passed away. He was my hero! This was my first taste of heartbreak. He holds such a dear place in my heart to this day I can't whisper his name without tears brimming. I knew from this moment on my story would be forever changed. It could not possibly look as simple as what I had planned.

I won't go into all the details of my real story as this would be a novel. I will tell you it could indeed be a novel, and most would not believe it to be true. I have experienced immense love, loss, tragedy, extreme pain, I have been rescued and I have gone on amazing adventures. I wouldn't say I would voluntarily sign up for all of it, had I been given some foresight, yet looking back I wouldn't trade it for anything. Every single line of my story has been richly written by a loving hand. I know I can trust the Author. I have found this to be true. All of the ups and down in the journey have helped me to realize there is only one hand I can completely trust to reach up to...and He just happens to be holding a pen in the other hand!
-SimplySUBLIME

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. -Hebrews 12:2

In my thought process today I thought it would be fun to  create an etsy treasury representing a small portion of my story. Here is a link to it.
My etsy treasury of the day, but for my life.