WINTER TREES

     I absolutely LOVE Winter Trees!  Trees without leaves show the masterpiece of God's work.  As I look at the details of each branch behind a beautiful sunset, my heart smiles!  It's good to shed the leaves in our lives and show the strength God has gracefully given! Leaves can be a camouflage of what lies underneath.  Being exposed without that covering is uncomfortable for some.  So many people I know do not like winter,  do not like the cold grey dreary days, do not like the snow and ice and long for summertime.   Many deal with seasonal depression and winter can be a long season of sadness.  I LOVE winter and all it offers and I've always felt this way.  This cold, ice, snow, freezing rain, school closings and delays are wonderful and I look forward to it each and every year.  The bitter cold reminds me of what is important in life...the basic essentials.  Food, clothing, shelter and let's not forget companionship and love of family and friends!  God tells us not to worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself.  It's so therapeutic for me to spend time at home cleaning, cooking, laughing, watching movies, sitting by the fire, snuggling, spending quiet time with God and listening to the silence.  Snow is magical and exceptionally beautiful and the peace that falls from the sky is simply magical!  The excitement I feel waiting for it to arrive takes me back to being 10 years old!  Winter trees is the beginning of a beautiful season of reflection and wonder and I savor each winter day of the season!  Enjoy the stillness and quiet moments once the snow falls and look for the blessings!  Take a look where you are now and where you want to be and what you are going to do to get there! Bundle up and take a walk,  stay in and make a hot beverage, have a conversation or not,  light some candles, take a nap, run a bubble bath and soak, play some music, eat something soulful and savor the goodness!  I'm thankful to feel God working in my life and I'm thankful to feel HIS strength every day! Blessings beyond belief!  Much love y'all! <3 Jodi 

F.E.A.R

F   E   A   R

Forget Everything and Run

                        Or

Face Everything and Rise Up

Thoughts:

I saw this quote and fell in love with it!  This is so very true.  When I hear the contaminated words that leak out of the mouths of some and witness the actions of some…at times I shake my head briefly and ask WHAT IN THE WORLD is going on in their lives???? (Remember, we are all fighting a battle)  However, some are fearful of facing the reality in their lives and this translates into a clouded mask over one’s heart.  When you are fearful, hate can brew and spill over into the lives of innocent people.  When you face your truth, you are then enabled to rise up, climb the mountain and conquer your challenges.  I wish more would choose to rise up instead of brewing and running from reality.  “You cannot change what you don’t acknowledge”(Mcgraw) and I know this to be truth for sure.  God has a plan for your life and He never promised it would be easy!  Who’s going to face your FEAR and RISE UP?? If you choose to do this…God will be with you every step.  If not… then all that running will eventually wear you out, so either way, get ready for a work-out!  God is good!  Much love y’all! 

The Cross

I am who I am because of the cross!  God is so very good always and gives purpose in all things!

My Momma :-)

     I haven't written openly or in great detail about losing my Momma and I don't write now to receive attention or sympathy.  I write because of my desire to help others who have lost.  When you love someone with ALL of your heart and you've lost this person, you are vulnerable. You had security and a safe place with this person and most of all, loving a person with ALL of your heart who received this kind of love back without question is rare.  Once this person is gone, a void is present and life takes on a different meaning.  My Momma was just that...she was "my person"...my Mom...not my Best Friend,(we had a thing about NOT calling each other "best friends" lol)  but she was simply my Mom.  She gave love and received love and returned it back to people and to the world in an endless cycle still circulating today.   I respected her and honored her and I knew she loved me up to the moon and back!  To this day she is more present in my life than ever and my time of reflection comes and goes without warning.
      December 1, 2008 my world stopped when I lost my Mom. It's been 7 years (now 10) and when you love someone to your core, time seems to lose its way after a death. Looking back, right after her passing was like seeing squiggly lines moving without end in an uncontrolled pattern of craziness. I didn't understand how the world could continue to go on.  When time completely stops in your own world, it's hard to fathom why it continues ticking with no pause.   I thought, "The clock should just freeze in this moment and yet it doesn't!"
     To those of you who have lost loved ones you care so much about... you know this loss I speak of. It's a pain like no other...virtually indescribable. Children shouldn't lose their parents and parents shouldn't lose their children and we shouldn't lose people we love so much, yet it happens every second of every day. And, we continue moving forward by choice. Some stay stuck in an unhealthy place of pain and some find that new normal allowing us to continue living with purpose.  We don't forget the love and memories made, but moving onward is what our loved ones would want. I will see my Mom again in Heaven and I hold on to that hope by having Christ live in my heart.
     This time of year during the Holidays used to be incredibly difficult and with each year that passes, I've learned to reflect and soak up the goodness!  My Mom was an amazing cook and her Thanksgivings were legendary. (enough food for an army) Our home was filled with beautiful Christmas decorations and Christmas Eve was a time spent with special friends, relatives and neighbors who visited and munched on her traditional goodies and punch.  It wasn't the gifts we unwrapped on Christmas morning that I remember most, it was the time she spent with us her whole life that I remember the most.  She gave us gift after gift with her presence, her love, her laughter, her hugs, her smiles, her encouragement and words of endless wisdom and those are the things I remember most.
     There are other favorite memories like: Drinking sweet tea out of a mason jar, eating peanut butter crackers in the sunshine while sitting in the cool grass, spitting watermelon seeds, walking on our paths through the woods while the leaves crunched under our feet, making homemade ice cream, laying in the field on a blanket late at night searching for shooting stars, smelling the popcorn popping on the stove top, piling in the car and going to the drive-in movie and going camping in a neighbors field hoping not to get shot! :-)  I loved feeling her brush and braid my hair and watching her pick out a beautiful ribbon to finish off her handy work.  I loved watching her build a fire in the fireplace or when she built a fire a the bus stop so we would stay warm while we waited. I loved the orange metallic lipstick she wore, the Birkenstocks on her feet and the taste of double-mint gum every Sunday in Church. I loved how she listened, her non-sugar coated responses and the depth of her hugs.  And coffee always tasted better at her house! But, my favorite memory was her holding me until the hurt went away. These are some of my favorite things I remember.
     When the death of a parent whom you loved so much grabs you in the gut whether expected or not...your life changes forever!  You don't sweat the small stuff as much, you love more deeply, you don't take things for granted, you are even more thankful, you want everyone to experience the same love that you had, you want to cherish each moment as if it may be your last.  You want to hug longer, laugh more, take lots of photographs (I drive my family crazy lol),  speak words containing emotions, cry during movies, gaze at the stars in awe, smell the scents of the holidays and savor the tastes of the seasons with meaning and just stop every now and again and reflect.  You want to live life with a positive outlook and purpose and help those see the glass half full instead of half empty and just sit and breathe!
     I still find myself reaching for the phone because I want to call her and talk. I want her to know all the incredible things about the kids and let her know that my husband loves me, or tell her something funny my brother Rod said. I want her to know that I have an amazing Mother and Father-in-law or the sunset was beautiful or it's snowing.   Somehow, I think she knows.
     My Momma had Lupus and COPD and battled this for a long timed she spent the last 2 and a half weeks of her life in the hospital...but her death certificate read "Heart Failure."  My Momma's heart did not fail...it excelled and her heart continues to love today.  She was a survivor of an abusive marriage, she was a strong Hefner woman who didn't take her life lightly, she showed affection, cooked southern food, prayed out loud, wore overalls, drank lots of coffee with cream, sat in the sand, worked in the dirt, spoke her mind, got mad when she needed to and loved us ALWAYS through everything no matter how hard life was at the moment!  I love you Momma and I always will and although I could write forever, I will end tonight by saying Thank You for loving with ALL of your heart and never putting a snuffer over your flame that shined so bright!  Much love y'all! There is beauty from ashes! Make good and beautiful memories that will last forever and remember Philippians 4:13.  Through Christ ALL things are possible...<3Jodi
     
   
     

Rain!

November 12, 2015 RAIN: 

     I left for work this morning in the pitch black while it poured rain and came home today in the light while it poured rain.  I've never minded rain or its longevity and today I had many thoughts in my mind.  Savor the peace of the rain...savor the slower pace...savor being limited to activities inside.  I think sometimes we overlook the joy through the rain.   And when we long for the sun, we are missing what is right before us.  Even though these last couple of weeks have been crazier than normal, the peace of this rain has been much needed in my life. Thank you  God for slowing me down...thank you for the sun that's coming and thank you for reminding me to praise you in the darkness as well as the light. Much love y'all!

     I posted this on Facebook a few days ago after a long stint of rainy, dreary and cloudy days.  I had much to say but also didn't want to bore those reading my FB...hence why I love having a blog. Hahaha...  I ponder blessings and joy and the reasons for having challenges and heartache.  Every time a curve ball is thrown I think of WHERE my true joy and satisfaction for life comes from.  It ONLY comes from Christ...true joy that is!  When the rain drops fall many days in a row if you don't place your faith and joy in heavenly things, this world will drive you crazy!  You will long for the sun and not be able to see it and be let down time and time again.  Fixing your eyes on heavenly things will allow you to see and feel the sun through the rain!

     Embrace where you are no matter what kind of weather is happening outside.  Give your control over to God and let Him direct your path.  If you can live in sunshine while it's pouring then YOU got it!!  Make the most of every moment.  The rains will come and your struggle will be real, but don't allow yourself to stay in that place called dreary.  You just never know when your time is up and you never know when life will throw you that curve ball.  Prayers for all of you during this beautiful fall and winter season.  I can imagine the snow right now...I cannot wait! Much love y'all...Jodi <3 

MAJESTIC!! What I saw tonight...WOW!

Tonight on my ride home around 7:45pm something happened to me that has never occurred before.  And before I tell you let me just say, I am a CHEESY person!  For those of you who are content to sit on a front porch or back deck for hours with no conversation while holding a hot cup of coffee during the light of morning or during the peace of dusk while nature sings its beautiful songs…YOU will get this.  But for some…you will say…what a CHEESE ball this girl is!

 Lol…Anyway,  I’m about 2 miles from the house traveling on a road known for daily deer sightings so I’m driving around 38 mph in a 55 with my eyes peering for deer eyes in the dark as always. But what happened next blew my mind!  To the right of me, I caught a glimpse of something flying down toward the road.  A Barred Owl landed in the exact middle of my lane in the road and I stopped my car right then and there frozen with disbelief.  He just stared at me and I just stared at him with intense locked eyes.  I’m sure he was going for a mouse and was blinded by my headlights and decided to take a break from flying, but for at least 10 seconds, the world stopped! 

The first word that popped in my head and I said it out loud was, MAJESTIC!!!  I just sat there frozen looking at this magnificent creature God made and was in awe of his beauty!  He was fluffy and sleek all in one with the most beautiful round face of white feathers…and those eyes were captivating!  Then as quickly as he landed…he ascended into the darkness with a wing span of at least 3 ½ feet!  I was so excited because my entire life I’ve heard Screech Owls calling out and I’ve seen a Great Horned Owl sitting on a branch while hiking in the NC Mountains, but I’ve never seen a Barred Owl before!  Cheesy…YES…but MAJESTIC! 
     Of  course as I accelerated around the next curve and I  asked myself, WHY did that Owl fly into the road in front of me?  I mean, we had a nature moment and I always go further in thought than what’s presented right in front of me!  So, I Googled the symbolism of the Barred Owl.  Haha…whewww…I found some good stuff. 

Symbolic meanings for the owl are:

-         Intuition, ability to see what others do not see

·         The presence of the owl announces change

·         Capacity to see beyond deceit and masks

·         Wisdom

·         The traditional meaning of the owl spirit animal is the announcer of death, most likely symbolic like a life transition, change.

Who  knew I was gonna find this!  God has given me the gift of intuition like many of you and the ability to see beyond deceit and masks and I’m good with change because I’ve had tons of it. I wonder if change is coming?   But, the announcer of death…yikes!

I know it’s just an owl and it just happened to fly in front of my car, but what phenomenal beauty and what respect I have for what God has created and allowed me and you to see.  I feel like sometimes we only get a glimpse of MAJESTIC things in life…and then POW...it’s gone. But, the memory of those moments can last forever! Savor each second of your life and make yourself  freeze and take it all in as it happens right in front of you.  Look for further meaning in your life and know that God has a plan…a plan much better than what we have planned for ourselves.  This MAJESTIC owl was 10 seconds of pure goodness and a little moment in my evening that I won’t soon forget.  So get out there folks and enjoy the simple things in life!  Much love y’all! Jodi <3

                                                                                                                  

   
                                

Lunchtime Thoughts: Be More!

Thoughts:  “To all the other dreamers out there, don’t ever stop or let the world’s negativity disenchant you or your spirit!  If you surround yourself with love and the right people, anything is possible.” Adam Green  I love this quote but would add…Make God first in your life!  And to remind you of Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  I’ve thought A LOT lately about the people I surround myself with and how very blessed I feel to be in their company.  It doesn’t matter where you’ve come from or what family name you have.  What does matter is how you’ve risen above your circumstances and how you are making your mark in this world right now.  This world can discourage you so easily and negativity can be felt daily if you allow it.  Don’t allow it y’all!!  Rise above it, stand firm in what you believe in and let your spirit shine!  God has given each one of you gifts and He expects us to use them.  Love more, smile more, encourage more and just be MORE than what you think you can be!  God will give you the strength if you TRUST!  Share your story…invest in others…surround yourselves with those who will build you up, tell you the truth, love you no matter what, cry with you and laugh with you until you cry again!  Don’t be afraid to live this life with beauty and LOVE JESUS!!  If you claim it…then name it!  Happy lunch and much love y’all! J