Be True To YOURSELF

If you refuse to lash out when others hurt you some will think you're strange. If you choose to withhold judgment and not make rash decisions, but administer self-restraint and wait for the facts, some might wonder what you're up to. If you decide to work with certain people and attempt to understand them (even if they are a bit challenging) instead of finding ways to get them back, some might think you're wierd.

Written by a Festus 7th grade boy

As I posted in one of my Facebook status updates...my daughters communication arts teacher took all of the 7th graders stories and poems and bound them into a book and gave each student one to take home. The writings are amazing and so I thought throughout the next few blogs I would share them with you all. It is amazing how we think that teens don't know a thing but yet they know way more than we let ourselves believe. Yes they are learning and us adults are supposed to be examples for them. However, I think if we really pay attention, that many times they can be an example for us.  Below is a poem from a 7th grade boy at my daughters school. May we learn from him........

Lesson Learned

Ok....so like I've said before...I know I'm cheating by not writing this blog tonight myself but the holidays have kept me busy busy busy. This is a story I've always loved so I thought I would share with you all. You all know I love to share things with you that touch my heart. Although it doesn't have a Christmas theme I thought it would be perfect. There are so many crabby, cranky people out there right now and even though I know it may be hard, try to have some patience. You never know what someone may be going through. And so the story goes.......

Do You Incorporate a White Envelope Into Your Holidays?

As the holidays are nearing and I don't have as much time to write on my own as I would like to, I want to share some inspirational stories with you that I have read from time to time. This is one of my favorites at Christmas. Many people feel that commercialism has just taken over the real meaning of Christmas. (and boy is that ever so true) but some people also make it an excuse as to then not celebrate Christmas at all. Well that is where this story comes into play. May we all incorporate a white envelope into our Christmas.

A Little Bit of George Bailey Has Been in All of Us

I just finished  watching It's a Wonderful Life. I absolutely love that movie and I cry every time I see it. I'm sure most all of you have seen it at one time or another but it is annual tradition for myself. For those of you that maybe haven't seen it I will just summarize a bit.

If...

This really spoke to me today so (of course) I wanted to share it with  you. :)

I apologize

I am so sorry that I  have not been blogging daily like I had planned on doing. The holidays are approaching so quickly and it has been so busy busy. I promise to get blogging daily again at the beginning of the year. Until then I get to blog a few times a week.

I sure hope that you all are doing well. A friend of mine said it best tonight when she said that holiday seasons never fail to spark up that internal conflict between feeling thankful for what you have and feeling sad for what you've lost. It can be such a joyous time and sad time all wrapped up into one.

My hope is that, as Christmas is approaching, you all will find what is true and real about this holiday and that God will help heal any of your hearts that are broken.  Have a good evening.

"He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree."  ~Roy L. Smith

God gives us HOPE when there seems to be none. ~ Your friend, Lib

Happy Holidays??

I do happen to love the holidays but for many, many, people the holiday season is a very difficult time. I work in a psychiatric unit and during this time of year the beds are full.

You Ask?

I have had so many people here lately inbox me and ask me why I like going to church, what exactly is my faith, and how do I know there is a God.  Sometimes there are so many questions that I really don't know how to put it into words. I just really can't explain it because it really is something you have to experience to really understand. Well, I read this poem and it says everything I would ever want to say to someone who asks me why I love and feel like I need Jesus in my life.  I believe that without knowing Him I would have a life without Hope or joy.

"Adversity doesn't kill us, but the impatience with which we bear adversity."

Today I would like to share a "thought of the day" that a coworker of mine, Dennis, puts on our hospital's intranet. I read it and once again thought "Boy how true this is." and when I read things I love I want to share them with you all. This was the thought of the day.......

Even So

I had my blog planned out for this evening and then my friend Dawne shared this awesome message with me today. (Thank you so much Dawne!) So I will post the blog I had planned on writing another night and instead I will share the following with you all.  My hope is that you are inspired by it as much as I was. It is short, simple, beautiful, truthful, and sums up everything my whole being believes. It is titled, Even so......

Give Your Child Memories for the Holidays

You know...I have to say during this holiday season, that what you do with your children will far exceed what you could ever buy for them.

There Is ALWAYS Something To Be Thankful For!

Well tomorrow is already Thanksgiving. Time sure is flying by this year. It seems like we were just buying fireworks a few weeks ago. Personally I love this time of year and I love Thanksgiving. I enjoy the fact that there is a day set aside each year for us to reflect as a whole on all of the blessings we have to be thankful for. It’s too bad that many times we forget to count our blessings each and every single day. We do have so much to be thankful for you know. Even when we are going through our most trying times we can be thankful for something..........

When You Don't Think You Have The Time To Make A Difference

Many friends and coworkers of mine already know this story but I thought that I would share it again with those who have not. I especially like sharing this story around the holidays because to me it  helps shed light on what the holidays should really be about. So with BLACK FRIDAY right around the corner I thought this is a perfect time to share.

The Long Road Home

You know this life is so much easier to get through when we all share with one another our trials and our fears and most importantly our conquests. So tonight's blog is from a friend of mine who gave me permission to share a writing that they did when they were going through a rough time in their life. Enjoy it. And thank you my friend for letting me share it. :)

Your Words Matter!

Some blogs I have to think about and others just flow so fast I can hardly type fast enough. This is one of the blogs where I just can't type fast enough.

Back Tomorrow

Sorry Everyone...there are two days every month that are crazy busy at work where I am unable to blog when I get home. Beginning tomorrow I want to do a series of blogs about being thankful leading up to Thanksgiving.

Until then, I would like to share with you today that once again God has shown me how great His love is and how He is there for me at all times. Without Him I would not be able to survive. He is there for you all as well.

I hope you all have had a great last couple of days and you will hear from me once again tomorrow. :)

Please remember.....God gives us HOPE when there seems to be none. ~ Your friend, Lib

THERE IS SUCH THING AS A "LOSER"

I already know that not everyone will agree with me on this one but I got to thinking about this the other day when I lost the chili contest at Jamie's work (I was a loser). Now days everything is becoming so politically correct that some parents are adopting a sense of entitlement for their children and buying into the idea that "everyone is a winner" and everyone is entitled to a prize or a trophy etc. regardless of the outcome.

The two women exchanged the kind of glance women use when no knife is handy. ~ Ellery Queen

I'm writing this blog tonight because of something I observed today. I really think that women need to lift each other up more. Us women have so many special qualities about us but sometimes I see us being our own worst enemies.

Dear Mom and Dad,

Tonight I wanted to pay tribute to my dad. My dad is a funny, loyal, hardworking, God fearing, USA loving, family man. And let's not forget Marine. :) He has put his family first in his life in everything he's ever done. First in life with his immediate family and then when he had a family of his own. My dad is a rare gem because there are fewer and fewer men out there like him anymore.

You Can't Always Recognize a Vet Just By Looking

This is a combination of statements from stories and poems I've read, things I've seen, and things I have encountered. As we go about our everyday lives we see and interact with many veterans and may not even realize it because......

I AM NOT a "COOL" Mom and Proud of It!

Today I read an article that was titled How to be a Cool Mom. I couldn’t believe what I was reading. Personally I DO NOT want nor do I need to be a “COOL MOM”.  Here is a small excerpt of what was listed in the article….

A Love Letter Written Just For You

This is a letter created from many bible verses. It touches my heart every time I read it. This letter is meant for every single one of you! 

EAT CAKE!

I went to a wedding this weekend and it was great. I love weddings and I love the receptions too. I love to see what personal touches the bride and groom put into their special day to make it their own and I love to people watch at the reception. I like to see what people are wearing, how they dance, what they like to drink...how much they like to drink :). To me it's an absolute blast! And I don't mean watching in a judgemental way either....but rather watching in an entertaining, fun, way.

CODE BLUE

It’s funny how there is always something…every single day that makes me realize how short life is. Obviously for those of you that know me, I am probably a little more sensitive to these things but, nonetheless, the value of life is constantly shown to me on a daily basis as it was again today.

Is That a Monster in My Closet?

Do you remember as a child ever waking up in the middle of the night and finding your own room terrifying? I remember times when I did. Unfamiliar shadows and shapes would scare me. My closet door being open would be scary. (What if there was a monster in there!?) We had some very busy patterned 1970's wallpaper in our hallway and many times I would wake up and those patterns would look like a scary person was standing outside my room. lol

Worry, Worry, Worry

Worrying...we sure can do a lot of that sometimes can't we? I go through phases and at times I have been queen of worry. That is such a shame too because God tells us not worry and to place all of our cares on Him.  I am continuously working on that.  Worry can get hold of our lives and truly hinder us.  In today's world we have so much we can worry about too. 

1,924 VS 13,778

We all look so forward to the weekends don't we? I know I sure do. There are many Mondays I wake up and literally think...."just make it through the week the best you can Libby...it will be Friday soon."

Go Get Your Lollipop and Bubble Gum!

It was so much fun dressing us last night, as it always is, and I think what I enjoyed most was watching the little ones come up the driveway after they got first glance of me and my painted face. And...as usual...that got me thinking. All of those little kids approached me in a different way and it made me think about how differently we all approach LIFE.

Life is an adventure and with an adventure comes uncertainty, excitement, trials, laughter, fear, sorrow, and of course HOPE.  How do you approach your adventure known as Life?...

The Meaning Behind My Halloween Costume

I love dressing up for Halloween and my costume does not usually have a meaning behind it but this year it did so I thought I would include it in my blog tonight. This year I dressed up as as a sugar skull woman/Day of the Dead. I had seen a few people that had them as tattoos and when I found out the meaning I went and got a woman sugar skull tatoo myself! I'm spontaneous like that :)

Masks...they're not just for Halloween anymore.

As I was running around yesterday getting last minute items for my own Halloween costume I began to think about things. But that isn't anything new. I am always thinking and thinking and thinking about things. My brain just never really shuts off and what would be one simple forgotten thought to most people is a thought that I ponder on until I find a meaning.

I Forgave Me

"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." This is what Isaiah 23:45 says. I find such comfort in the bible verses that talk about how God forgives us. He forgives us and remembers our sins NO MORE. Isn't that awesome!? Too bad we have a hard time doing the same with ourselves. Not only do we have a tendancy to not be able to forget the wrong things in our past but we seem to dwell on them.

Who Cares What They'll Think!

I know of so many people that are having a really rough time right now. Our neighbors lost their home, friends are out of work, people are having to sell off their toys. Things are really bad for a lot of people.

So I felt the need to write this tonight...DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO, AND WHO CARES WHAT THEY'LL THINK!

Decisions...

Difficult decision making is something all of us go through at different times in our life and frankly, the whole process can be overwhelming. Here lately I've been trying to make a decision myself....hence...my blog post for this evening.

The Pits

You know, life can just really be the pits sometimes can't it? Have you ever seen a toddler throw themselves onto the floor, kicking, screaming, and making their face turn bright red? Don't you ever just feel like doing that yourself sometimes? I actually think we could all feel a little better if we did something like that every now and then. However, we all know there are better ways of dealing with things.

My First Time

Well tonight I created my very first blog. It has been something that has been on my "bucket list" for a while now and I feel that this is going to be a new hobby that I am really going to enjoy. I plan to share "Life" with my followers. The good.....the bad....and how to get through it all with a little bit of HOPE. Because at the end of the day it is Hope that keeps us hanging on. ~ Lib