Ok, so I know that officially Thanksgiving Day ended about an hour ago. But I just felt compelled to write this latest blog before I close my eyes for the night. I have had my heart re-awakened and my faith regenerated since my last post. And it is not because of some miracle cure, or some one-stop-shop solution. Each of the problems, heartache, and worries I had in my life two days ago are still there. And I have not had any real solutions to most of the imperative issues affecting me right now, however I have had a a few small miracles trickled in to my life over the last two days and I can finally see that someone IS there and working behind the scenes.

I was able to spend the day with my family and enjoy a fantastic meal with the treasure of genuine love and caring around each of us. That may not seem like a big deal to some, but for me and my family, it is a huge milestone. And when I think about those who are truly all alone with no one to support them, I realize that I am so blessed. I no that no matter where I end up, I will be loved. And loved by so many.

I have so many reasons to be thankful this year. Many of these things I know see I have taken for granted. I guess we all fall into that bad habit from time to time. Perhaps that is why so many people I know are facing some huge wake up calls as they say. Every one in my immediate circle and even those that are not, are dealing with major life changing issues. So it is hard not to wonder why there is so much pain and misery around me. But I take a deep breath, and know that the answer to my last post, Is There Anyone There?, has been answered.

I AM THANKFUL!

I am thankful for...
Jonathon, Samantha, Mikayla & Mia
My friends and family that love me so
tragedy being avoided and keeping my son in one piece
spending another holiday with mom
laughing and joking another day with dad
the gifts and talents that God has given me
the proof that a broken family CAN be healed
the old memories with dear friends and the chance to make new ones with them again
the love of music that I have and how it speaks to my very soul
the trials and setbacks that have made me the person I am
the trials and setbacks that will continue to develop me into the person God wants me to be
the renewed faith in my heart and trust in my soul that tells me I know God will take care of me...no matter what.

What are you thankful for this holiday season? I am sure if you really think about it, you can find at least one thing to keep you thankful. The next step is to find a way to turn that thankfulness into a blessing for someone else.

Until my next post, I will still be in waiting. As the blog says I am a...

LLadyNWaitn

Is anyone there?

I find myself asking this question lately, way to much. I can not even begin to describe the circumstances surrounding my life and how they continue to spiral out of control. Everything in my grasp is slipping away, and I can not understand why I am on this path.

So I find myself yelling out loud, " Hello? Is anyone there?" I am all alone and struggling for answers! Well, that is at least how I feel sometimes anyway. But I came across this poem a few weeks ago, wrote it down and then forgot about it. Partly because my mind is a mix of oatmeal and lumpy potatoes right now, but probably because it just did not make any sense to me at the time. For I was filled with doubt. And even that mustard seed of faith had left my being...until I read it again today.

I am posting this poem with the hope of it reaching someone else the way it has reached into my soul. I know that giving up and letting go could be very easy right now. Probably to easy for many to understand. And yet I know that as I sit here now, NONE my questions are answered. NONE my worries have gone away. NONE of the problems have been miraculously solved. And I I don't know where I will end up or how things will turn out over the next few weeks. I don't know if things will get any better or if they will get any worse. But I do know that I have to read, ...No not read...but BREATHE this poem into my every step, every action. 

I Am There

by James Dillet Freeman   

Do you need Me?

I am there.

You cannot see Me, yet I am the light you see by.

You cannot hear Me, yet I speak through your voice.

You cannot feel me, yet I am the power at work in your hands.

I am at work, though you do not understand My ways.

I am at work, though you do not understand My works.

I am not strange visions. I am not mysteries.

Only in absolute stillness, beyond self, can you know Me.

as I AM, and then but as a feeling and a faith.

Yet I am here. Yet I hear. Yet I answer.

When you need Me, I am there.

Even if you deny Me, I am there.

Even when you feel most alone, I am there.

Even in your fears, I am there.

Even in your pain, I am there.

I am there when you pray and when you do not pray. 

I am in you, and you are in Me. 

Only in your mind can you feel separate from Me, for 

only in your mind are the mists of "yours" and "mine".

Yet only with your mind can you know Me and experience Me. 

Empty your heart of empty fears. 

When you get yourself out of the way, I am there. 

You can of yourself do nothing, but I can do all.

And I AM in all.

Though you may not see the good, good is there, for

I am there. I am there because I have to be, because I AM. 

Only in Me does the world have meaning; only out of Me does the world take form; only

because of ME does the world go forward. 

I am the law on which the movement of stars 

and growth of living cells are founded. 

I am the love that is the law's fulfilling. I am assurance. 

I am peace. I am oneness. I am the law that you can live by. 

I am the love that you can cling to. I am your assurance. 

I am your peace. I am ONE with you. I am.

Though you fail to find Me, I do not fail you. 

Though your faith in Me is unsure, My faith in you never

wavers, because I know you, because I love you.

Beloved, I am there.

This poem received a lot of attention in 1971 when it was taken to the moon by astronaut James B. Irwin on Apollo 15. Irwin's mother gave it to him before the flight and he actually left a copy of the poem on the moon. The author, James Dillet Freeman, is poet laureate of the Unity School of Christianity at Unity Village. He wrote the poem in 1947.

Simple Words, Simple Truth

Looking for a quick inspiration? Soooo much turmoil, I don't even know where to start. All the thoughts, worries, saddness, pain, and emotions are locked inside my head. I can't even cry them out, speak them out, or write them out...which is my absolute favorite thing to do. Not to mention the cathartic benefits that I get from my writing.

So I found this poem and thought to myself, well maybe if I can't write it, I will post some one else's work who could. And maybe by posting their work, and a little commentary of my own, I can find my peace again to get back to my passion and love of writing. I found these words so simple and true, so I thought I would take a chance and share it with you.

Faith Will Come
by Carlo Caretto

You say you have no faith?
Love - and faith will come.

You say you are sad?
Love - and joy will come.

You say you are alone?
Love - and you will break out of your solitude.

You say you are in hell?
Love - and you will find yourself in heaven.

Carlo Carretto, 1910-1988, was an Italian Philosopher and Christian youth leader.

Fleur De Lis Necklace

We all have a heart and sometimes we wear those hearts on our sleeves. Or sometimes they are so full and over-flowing that it just feels like it could literally explode. We may even keep our hearts hidden, the true desires of the heart that is, and be afraid to let that show through us for fear of ridicule. But the biggest thing when it comes to our hearts, is how we handle it when they get broken or hurt and the pain that is welling inside your heart seems it will never go away. And you wonder how you could ever move on from this unbearable suffering and continue on with your everyday life. Somehow, though we find a way, to keep pushing through and even though the pain is still there, and may always be there, we know the only choice we have is to keep moving forward.

So how does the word 'mystic' fit into this? Well, Webster’s New World College Dictionary defines the word mystic as:

• Beyond human comprehension
• Filling one with wonder or awe
• Having magical power

That definition spoke volumes to me. And as for God's word on it, well, the heart is our guiding light, for as in Psalms 44:21 it says "...would not God have discovered it, since He knows the secrets of our heart?" 

Stay Away from the Hemlock!

OK, I am a history buff! And I read this article today and so much comes to mind. Cleopatra, another lady from history's list of Ladies In Waiting...waiting for their moment to shine, waiting for the "one" true love, waiting for their life to finally mean something!

Do you believe the snake bite is what did her in? This article claims it was not the common story of the snake bite but rather it was a mixture of hemlock and opium that did it. And she drank it..willingly. (Hemlock? Socrates anyone?) So this poison thing, drinking it willingly, made me think of how much we do WILLINGLY to poison ourselves. And this goes for all Ladies In Waiting, as well as the Gents out there too!

The Millionaire Mindset...Not What You Think!

I read this article today and I really found it to be a total life lesson! The name of the article Cultivating the Millionaire Mindset Using the Law of Attraction was a re-post on one of the several newsletters I subscribe too. As I read it, I realized that some of the principles discussed in this article can benefit total well being for anyone who is willing to follow them.

Did you know that millionaires:

1. Live below their means? 
2. Live a frugal lifestyle? 
3. LOVE their work? 

Wow! I know that most of us have

The Messages You Send Yourself - In Touch Ministries - Dr. Charles Stanley 2010

The Messages You Send Yourself - In Touch Ministries - Dr. Charles Stanley 2010

I can't say enough about the message this week from Dr. Charles Stanley of In Touch Ministries. In keeping with my own project of self-esteem building for children, I go through this week's sermon on "The Messages You Send Yourself" and truly ponder what things I have led myself to believe about my own abilities and accomplishments.

I find it hard to take a compliment, and as soon as the words have left the mouth of the person giving me one, my mind immediately starts to cut it down. Why do we do that to ourselves? Instead of being humbled and thankful, we tear down any credible testimony to the accomplishments we have completed. We act as if we don't deserve them. Because in our minds, we did not do enough complete it. To get it right. To stop it from happening. To make it better than it is.

But guess what? That can all stop with the messages that we send to OURSELVES. We must learn how to send messages to ourselves that reflect beauty, joy, humbleness, pride (but not haughty), and success. Then, those messages will be easier to send to others. The funny thing is that most of us do not take compliments to heart. Yet, secretly, we all long for them and want someone to pat us on the back and say "job well done." And that goes for all of us in our homes from our family, our friends, our children, as well as in our professional lives. Since we know that we long for those compliments, we also need to keep finding ways to compliment and encourage others. Even those that WE think (judge) may not deserve it. Kind words will go a long way. C'mon, we learned that in elementary school, didn't we. Why as adults do we suddenly forget that?

We need to bask in the glory of our Lord who does not judge us for "what we did not do". He will judge us for the love we gave and the success we made in loving others. We need to learn to accept the kind words that are given to us and continue to give those words to others. For each of us is "wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14) and we need to remember that everyday.

The Self-E-Steam Series

 I hope this post find you well and on your way to living a live of peace and joy. I have had so many things put on my heart in the last few weeks and they all seem to be coming alive literally at the same time. But then again I guess that God knows what I can handle and what I can not. I am learning to trust that more and more everyday.

So with the many writing projects and developments I have underway, I am working on a children’s series of developing self esteem. But as I began to write it I realized that many adults are battling this same issue right now as I type this blog. Most were not taught as children how to develop their own self esteem, and be proud of their accomplishments. How can we then expect those same adults to be able to teach and guide their children who may now battle with self esteem issues? We can’t.

Self esteem impressions take root at an early age. If that child is not encouraged or given the support needed to make them feel they are capable of making good sensible choices, then that barrier to promote a well balanced view of their accomplishments exists until they become adults as well. And most of us keep living that cycle of “what I did wrong” or “I am such a failure” for years after we have truly established ourselves as capable, responsible adults.

A Heart Filled Commitment

I just watched the movie Fireproof for the 4th time. And it was like watching for the first time all over again. I cried and cried over the message that movie brings to light. It’s about so much more than saving a marriage. It’s about seeking the right things in your life in order to make the changes that you need to make to not only save your marriage, but save yourself from living a bitter, haphazard life filled with unappreciation and condemnation.

My A-HA! Moment

I am up so late because I can't sleep. In the middle of all my drama and trials, God has granted so much for me to be thankful for, and part of that was finding some truly encouraging men and women of God. They have been put in my life "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14). I am working for the life of abundance that I know God has planned for me and my family, especially my children. Each one of them is truly a blessing.. sent from heaven.

The One Flaw In Women

I received this from a friend today via email. The author is unknown to me, but it spoke volumes to my heart today and really wanted to share it with you.

What do you Believe? (Mason's Scripture 1 Corn 10:23)

I am posting this blog based on a post from a Facebook entry that I put online earlier tonight. After leaving Bible study tonight, and battling and I mean really battling with some choices and issues in my life, I decided to come home an pout. I decided to come home and be depressed. However, when I pulled up at the house, I thought "Now really Tracie, what good is that going to do." So instead of wallowing, I started listening to music. I didn't plan on writing, blogging but I am learning that what I plan and what God plans for me are two diferent things!

Crying, Laughing, and Holding On for Dear Life!

There have been so many times that I have wanted to just yell at the top of my lungs, "God, I don't think I can handle it anymore!" And everytime I am ready to do that, I realize it is just a another lesson for me to overcome, and put in the file cabinet for later, because I know I will need to make reference to it again. So I will just cry a little, laugh a little, and then hold on for dear life because I know the ride is not over yet!

Just the struggle to stay alive is enough for anyone, man or woman! Pressure to conform to a world of lost people, trying to "make it. (Yeh, the old addage "keep up with the Jones'.) Pressure to survive financially and yet still enjoy this thing called LIFE. And it seems we all turn on each other so quickly, especially now, with a society that preaches it is all about "ME". No one is willing to accept their part of the blame; the best thing to do is to blame someone else. It really is just the easier thing to do isn't it?
Is that what we want to teach our children? Because everytime we do not take ownership of our mistakes, we are teaching them how to find a scapegoat. And then we wonder why they don't tell us when they made a mistake...

"Pray" on a Happy Face!

Ladies,

I know how hard it can be... mother, wife, daughter, employee, sister, and best friend, volunteer, the list goes on and on. And we somehow get so caught up in the every day life duties, that we can't break free from their obligations and do the one thing that will get us through: PRAY.

I am sure, most of us think either one of two ways...

Looking for a Renaissance

As a young student, I always enjoyed history. Even now as an adult, I still love history, watching the History Channel or reading about some part history that shaped our world. My favorite time was the Renaissance period. I used to just think of it as that "time with all the cool medieval art" that went along with what they showed in the history text books. I never really understood it or took value in what it really was, ...and that being a rebirth.

What exactly is a rebirth?