When Life Hands You Lemons...

Growing up, every time when I was going away or planning on doing something fun one of my Great Uncle's would tell me to make sure I ate a lemon when, just to ensure I didn't have any fun.  The next time I would see him I would tell him that I had a lemon, but that the sour taste of the lemon didn't ruin my fun.

This game I played with my Great Uncle always reminds me of the saying that says, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade."

Life will hand everyone lemons, but it's up to us to decide if we are going to let the sour take over, or turn it into something sweet...something delicious.

The past few months I've felt trapped.  Very trapped.  Trapped in sorrow.  Trapped in pain.  Trapped in confusion and hurt.  Each time I felt pain, I would pull away even further from the people around me.  I quit talking to people, because it was emotionally exhausting to reach out to anyone...and I didn't feel like anyone was reaching out to me.  In the past few months I have felt more lost than I have ever felt in my entire life.  I suppose I let the sourness of the lemons in my life take over.

When life takes a turn you didn't ever imagine possible, it's so easy to get trapped in the pain that you lose sight of what is important.  That's what happened to me...and that's what the enemy would like to happen to us all.  He wants us to feel defeated and alone.  He wants us to doubt our purpose and destiny.

Reality is though that the enemy has already been defeated.  He was defeated when Jesus rose from the dead.  I just need to cling to the hope that God is in control.  He knows exactly what I need...just as He knows exactly what you need.

There's a song I've been listening to called "The Anthem" by Jesus Culture.  There's a line that says "Wake up child, it's your time to shine.  You were born for such a time as this."  That's become my anthem.  It's time to wake up...time to make lemonade out of the lemons.

A Voice

I started this blog 2 years ago because I felt like I was to use it to be a voice to those who would stumble upon it.

A lot has happened in those 2 years.  There have been ups.  There have been downs.  I've shared pieces of my journey on this blog, but in May I lost my inspiration.  I lost my passion.  I slowly stopped writing.  I would continously think of new posts to write, but it seemed like so much effort to take those thoughts and turn them into something that made sense.  I contimplated giving up blogging entirely.  I almost closed my blog from the public...but I couldn't bring myself to do it.  Even though I had lost my inspiration for why I was blogging, I knew deep down inside that I wasn't to stop forever.  It was only for a season. 

For the last month or so I've started up new blog posts, to get back into the blogging world, but I didn't finish them.  I felt like I didn't have anything important to say.  I felt like my voice was gone.  Tonight my mom reminded me that I do have a voice.  I may not be great at public speaking.  I may be awkward at starting up a conversation.  I may have a hard time opening up to others.  Yet, despite all the things I'm not good at, I do have a voice.  I find it easier to communicate on paper than in person.  It's just who I am. 

So, I'm not going to close down my blog.  I've decided to begin sharing again.  I'm opening up my life again.  It's time to blossom, not hide. 

I invite you to join me on my life's journey!

Power of Life or Death

It has been forever since I have written a blog post.  I need to get back into it, and get caught up on where I left off, but tonight I just have one thing to say.

Proverbs 18:21 from the Message...

"Words kill, words give life;
they're either poison or fruit—you choose."


Watch what you say...because if you don't, the words that come out of your mouth can truly kill.  They can be the poison that destroys someone's dream...and I have all to well seen the results of this...

A Reason, A Season, Or A Lifetime

I have no clue who wrote this...I received it as a forward a couple years ago and it has always stuck with me.  I think sometimes it's good to be reminded that everyone goes through similar situations in relationships...because not everyone will be in our lives forever. 


"People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.  When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person..

 When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. 

They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support,
To aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.
They may seem like a godsend and they are.
They are there for the reason you need them to be.
Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,
This person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.
Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.
What we must realize is that our need has been met,
Our desire fulfilled, their work is done.
The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.
Believe it, it is real. But only for a season. 

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.
Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.
It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime."

True Love

"When Someone dries your tears
 When Someone wins your heart
 And says you're beautiful
 When you don't know you are

 When all you long to see is written on His face
 Love has come and finally set you free
 On that wedding day
 On that wedding day"

~Casting Crowns

All About Me In 30 Days - Day 1

A Photo Of Yourself And A Description Of How Your Day Was

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope you are all having a wonderful start to your weekend...I sure am!

My day today was amazing!  It started off by sleeping in!  After a long week, sleeping in was amazing!  My grandparents are visiting for the weekend, so for brunch we had incredible food that was mostly made my my grandma and grandpa.  Since my grandparents were bringing some of our favourite 'traditional' foods my mom's cousin and her family came over for brunch.  We had a good visit with them! 

Then after they left I took my grandparents out for a ride in my 'new' car!  They hadn't seen it yet so it was nice to show it off! 

After that we had a relaxing afternoon, waiting for the turkey to cook, and for my friend to come over.  Traditionally our family has always spend Thanksgiving just as a family, but this year I really felt it on my heart to invite a friend over as her family has moved away.  It was great to have Sarah over!  We had a dinner/evening full of laughter...much to the expense of my brother!  It felt great to have my entire family together, with my grandparents and Sarah! 

God has blessed me abundantly!  Though times have been extremely tough lately, I can't help but have an overwhelming sense of being blessed. 

I am living closer to my extended family than I have since I was little.  (And now a whole 15 minutes closer to my little cousins and Aunt and Uncle!!)  God has brought me an amazing friend who is honestly more like a sister to me.  God is also been bringing me a couple more friend!  I just feel blessed, and extremely thankful!

And finally, I am so grateful for Jesus' amazing love for me and my family!  He will never let us go...no matter if times are good or bad.  He's holding us in the palm of His hand!  I am so thankful for His great love for us all!

Missing:  Mom...who was taking all the pictures!

Like A Child

"And [Jesus] said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 18:3

I've been thinking about this verse ever since Friday night. 

In case you missed my last post, on Friday night my little four year old cousin asked Jesus into her live.  I saw my grandparents on Saturday and my grandpa told me of the conversation he had with Nevaeh the night before.  It completely melted my heart! 

...but it made me think.  When I told some of my siblings (cause I was SOOOOOOO excited!!!) one of them said "but she's so young."  That's just it.  She's young....with pure faith.  Like Jesus said, we can only come to truly believe in Him if we come with the faith of a child...pure and untainted by the things of the world.  That is why I believe Nevaeh understands the love of Jesus more than someone who is much older than her.  As we get older we try to examine and take apart everything, where as small children take everything how it is.  They don't try to pull it apart based on circumstances.  They just believe.  And God honors that. 

I don't think I'm explaining all this very well.  I just found a video that may help to 'explain' through seeing a 5 year old girl sing her heart out to Jesus!  Enjoy!

Click This Link To Watch The Video  ...sorry...I'm not sure how embed this video!