Are you expectations for yourself too high?

Good Morning friends,

What a Great sunny day.

I am so excited for so many reasons today.

First less then 10 days and my brother will be here with his family from Australia.

And I get to create something wonderful.

We are having VBS at Church and I got the job of decorating the entire church!!!!

I am so excited. I love nothing more then to paint and cut out and create and decorate and paint and build and paint!!! As you can see i'm so excited.

My only Issue now is time.

When I have to work around others schedules because I need a key or something it is so hard. 

It is so hard to dictate when I am most creative, which is usually in the later evening.

And also my time seems so precious this month.

I have about a month to get the church ready, and 2 baby showers i'm working on,

 and a wedding reception to decorate.

You see I love this stuff, did I say that?

So yes I tend to get over booked and tired, but I thrive on activity.

I need a dead line and a little pressure, and I am good to go.

But, that causes issues with my health and family so I have to learn to cut back on what I want to do,

and be more practical in what I do do.

And that is so hard for me, something I have found as I age is that I don't like change and once I get something in my head it is so hard to change it.I work so hard at not letting something get stuck there, so I can't be flexible.  And then it occurs to me that I can be like that in life too. I get an idea, good or bad, and can't seem to change the way I think. Like that I need to look a certain way or work or home-school my kids or have my yard or on and on and on. I'm not talking about keeping up with the Jones' but about the expectations I put on myself. What I have in my mind of what my life should be, and I get so tired trying to obtain that goal that I can't seem to do anything. So these are basically lies I tell myself I have to overcome and change.

So today I am working on not doing the biggest, greatest most awe inspiring thing (at least in my mind), and doing something that is great and perfect and less stressful and wonderful just the same.

So off I go, to create and enjoy a day of painting and design.

Be blessed today and think about what areas in your life are you not accepting change, or stepping out of your comfort zone, or setting too high of expectations for yourself, and pray about the change.

Be blessed today.

Always 

Suszi

Fake it til your glad of heart

Good Morning friends,

Joy. Joy. Joy.

I need a little today.

I have a joy in Christ in my heart but, the past few days it isn't on my face.

I really need to laugh and giggle til my tummy hurts.

I am overwhelmed with all I have to do in my life, and 

don't feel like doing anything.

I have so much to be thankful for, yet I just fight this stupid depression.

Not often does it rear it's ugly head but when it does it seems harder to shake.

So today I am going to dig deep and find some joy,

or maybe a tear or three, and get over myself.

One thing I have noticed lately though is I am singing again.

I used to always sing and be joyful, then I didn't for a very long time,

 being so overwhelmed with life.

It seems that part of me I thought I had Lost, IS BACK!!

So for that I am grateful.

There is a cartoon I love, but the theme song is so great.

Well, it's a sunny day

I feel brand new

There's about a million things

That I could do!

Whoa-oh-oh

Would you like to

Do them, too?

Yeah

Well, it's a big wide world

And it's waiting for me and you!

Let's look around

What will we see?

Round every corner, a discovery!

Whoa-oh-oh

There's no place I'd rather be!

Oh, yeah

Well, it's a big wide world

And it's waiting for me and you!

I have a busy day today and so many things to get done.

So I am going to sing and be glad.

Or at least fake it til I am glad of heart.

Psalm 33:20-22

We’re depending on God; he’s everything we need.

 What’s more, our hearts brim with joy since we’ve 

taken for our own his holy name. Love us, God,

 with all you’ve got— that’s what we’re depending on.

HE is everything we need, for this moment, this day, this life.

Bless His name

And be blessed today

Always

Suszi

Be the person you have always wanted to be

Good morning friends,

Welcome back after a lovely long weekend.

My thoughts of late are about age.

Not that I'm worried about aging, well because i'm not 

because the truth is...that we all age. 

It is so funny how people forget that.

It is getting harder for me to judge the age of people I don't know.

When I see people who I think are about my age and

I am now realizing are much younger than me.

It is interesting how I notice people who are young at heart.

As I get older I care less about my wrinkles, stretch marks, and body shape.

And more about how my heart is.

I want always to be young at heart, to have fun, and be silly.

To jump in puddles, dance in the rain,  to play and laugh and love.

My husband pointed out when we were at our sons kindergarten Christmas concert,

that we are the same age as the grandparents who are there. WELL,

that got me feeling old. But I have decided yes I am older then I feel. 

and yes I am old enough now to have grand kids my own children's ages. 

I also have more patience and experience under my belt.

I grew up with older parents, and I think they were better parents.

At this time I am realizing I don't really care what people think of me.

I have always wanted to dress retro like the 1950's, but felt I was past that,

 and over weight and couldn't pull it off. Well now I DON"T CARE. 

My husband says it is my midlife crisis. But I don't see it that way,

I see an opportunity to be the person on the outside, I am on the inside.

So today think about who you have always wanted to be. 

Think about making a baby step toward that goal.

Today I want to jump in puddles and create something.

To become who God wants me to be.

To dress and style my hair how I want to.

And Go in confidence with my wrinkles and flaws.

Because God made me who I am for such a time as this.

Be blessed today.

Bless someone today.

Always 

Suszi

What is keeping you from enjoying peace

Good post Independence Day everyone,

Our vacation this 4th got rearranged, Dave got severely dehydrated and so

 we decided being close to home was important.

But oh the fun we had anyway. 

We only had Ian, which is rare, and delightful.

And we had a cookout with dear friends.

Then I got to deliver pie to the middle of the bridge and bless my cousin.

Then the fireworks were beautiful, even if it one of the things i'm cynical about.

I hate that it costs so much for them, and see the needs of so many in our community.

But I tried to enjoy them anyway and watching them through the eyes of a child, 

will wipe away any cynicism. It was a joy.

Then we had a fire and watched it magically turn colors, from some cool color stick thing.

But the idea of Independence day is something that I hold dear, family, friends, freedom and food.

What more could any person want?

Having fun and being silly is i'm finding so important.

It doesn't matter how we dress, or what we drive or where we live, or how much we weigh, but

more about who we are, who we hug, how we love those around us,

and how we touch others for the Kingdom of Heaven.

I am understanding that pleasing God is so much more rewarding then pleasing man.

That our Joy and peace are the only things we need to carry us through this life.

Now to teach my children, that material things aren't what will make us happy.

That family is enough. It is so hard in such a materialistic world when at every turn it is right in their faces.

But I think it is the greatest thing we can teach them, to give, to sacrifice for someone else,

and not be self pleasing all the time. To rejoice and not whine.

So today as I teach my son he does NOT need yet another Transformer toy.

And spend the day with my honey and boy, forcing myself to regain my home from clutter.

I will ponder these truths and change in me those things which keep me from obtaining that peace and joy.

Be blessed today.

Always

Suszi

America the diverse

Good morning friends,

Thank God yesterday is over. Needless to say it was trying but my dear friend Megan, 

in her words "Let me put my cape on and i'll be right over"!!!

Thank God for people and professionals in our life as part of our team.

So thank you all for praying and for grace yesterday.

SO today, crazy as usual, but fun none the less, as we prepare to go up north.

Celebrating Independence day is one of my favorite days to celebrate.

I am very patriotic, and I love a party, and I love anything American or red, white and blue.

So today I'm thankful my journey takes place in a land where I am free.

I often think we as Americans forget how fortunate we are to live here.

We can worship, and assemble and speak without fear.

I'm glad we live where there can be "Pride" parades and demonstrations. 

Not that I agree with their ideals, but because I don't have to. 

That is the greatest thing about our country.

We are free to choose to live the lives we want.

And I could use so many examples of differences we have here, 

and each is as different as each person who lives here.

We don't have to believe like the next person, nor are we forced to believe in a certain religious belief.

So over this weekend remember to thank those who fight or have fought for our country, 

to make it the great place it is.

And regardless of beliefs or political or personal opinions, find

someone to share your life with, unconditionally and with

 the love and acceptance only Christ can bring.

Have a great rest of your day

Always

Suszi

My Irish-Hillbilly is coming out

Friends it is morning,

NOT a good one, by any stretch of the imagination.

My daughter was being and doing the worst possible things this morning.

And I am so mad!!! I really hate being so angry. I am attempting to pray and 

go on with my day but it is going to take some doing.

Some days I wonder what God was thinking.

Why me? Did it have to be me?

then I think... 

Where would she be if we didn't take her?

We are supposed to be thankful in all things and

trust God in all things.

Today is more like this...

"God put your hand around my shoulder, and over my mouth"

When I get angry my husband says "Honey, your hillbilly is coming out"

and I know I need to tone it down, but when I get this upset it has not only come out,

it came roaring out and has it's Irish on. (that means it is like the hulk, mad all green and angry)

I get upset sometimes but this angry, not often and I hate how it makes you feel.

Sick to your stomach and shaky.

And I wish I could encourage you today, but at this point all 

I can do is pray and hope you all have a blessed day.

Ill get over it, I just need to sit in quiet with my eyes shut.

So I will get to that in a minute and start my day over.

Hit the rewind button, call in reinforcements, relax, up my caffeine intake, PRAY!!

That is the plan for the next bit.

Then I get to go to my book club!!I'm so excited, and I will pray there too.

So encourage a friend today.

Be blessed

Always 

Suszi

Yell BINGO once in a while

Good Morning friends,

I was thinking about paying attention.

The other night I was playing BINGO on the computer

and realized I hadn't won in a while.

So when I actually took my eyes off blotting the numbers and

 onto the game I had won just hadn't hit BINGO.

So I started thinking how many times in life do we get so busy with what is right in front of us,

that we forget to look around and see life? Or how often we fight to survive and

 forget we need to look up and live?

I am realizing I am the worst for doing this.

I keep my eyes down to the grindstone and I forget to look up and appreciate what is around me or for that matter the journey. If you are always looking at the map for direction, you may miss the journey all together,

Isn't life like that? So how do we find a healthy balance? How do we remember to look up?

I guess we could pray and God will help, or ask a friend to remind you, or put a post it somewhere.

Another issue I have though sometimes is the opposite.

How do I look down? I'm a dreamer. I love colors all around and noises and pretty things.

We realized a long time ago we can't go to a sports bar/restaurant type place if we want to talk because all the televisions and things going on around me, distract and draw me in.

And I guess what i'm saying is that we need to find focus. Find something to look at so everything else fades away and it has your entire attention. There is only one thing I can think of that needs that kind of attention. That is my relationship with God. Of course we even need to look around there too, so we see those He wants us to help. So whether you spend too much time looking up or too much time focused on something, remember where your true focus should be and also take time to enjoy what is around you on this journey.

Have a blessed day 

Always 

Suszi