Quotable Quotes: Women’s Words of Wisdom

Posted on by

White-Rose.jpg

When I first read some of the following quotes by women, I was astounded by their wisdom. Perhaps one or more of these words of wisdom will encourage you in your life’s journey.

. NOTHING is impossible; the word itself says “I’M POSSIBLE” – Audrey Hepburn

. The way I SEE it, if you want the RAINBOW, you gotta put up with the rain – Dolly Parton

. Start living NOW. Stop saving the good china for that special occasion. Stop withholding your LOVE until that special person materializes. Every day you are ALIVE is a special occasion. Every MINUTE, every BREATH, is a GIFT from God – Mary Manin Morrissey

. When one door of happiness closes, another OPENS; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has OPENED for us. – Helen Keller

. Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn’t people feel as FREE to delight in whatever REMAINS to them? – Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy

. KEEP your face to the sunshine and you can NEVER see a shadow. – Helen Keller

. Defeat is simply a signal to PRESS forward. – Helen Keller

. GOD never sends us more than we can handle. – Mother Theresa

. When you come to a roadblock, TAKE a detour. – Mary Kay Ash

. LIGHT tomorrow with TODAY. – Elizabeth Barrett Browning

. A year from now you may wish you had STARTED today. – Karen Lamb

. If you don’t like something, CHANGE it. If you can’t change it, CHANGE your ATTITUDE. – Maya Angelou

. The BEST and most BEAUTIFUL things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be FELT with the HEART. – Helen Keller

. There are two ways of SPREADING light: to be the candle or the mirror that REFLECTS it. – Edith Wharton

Blessings on you,
Yvonne

What’s In Your Closet?

Posted on by

Self-help books have become a huge part of my library book collection, so I have decided to share some of these insightful books with you beginning with Jennifer Rothschild’s book, “Self-Talk, Soul-Talk.”

When I first presented this book to our women’s group as a possible women’s study at our church over two years ago, several women signed up unequivocally. Over a few short weeks, we discovered that our thoughts and self-talk (what we say when we talk to ourselves) impacts not only our relationship to God, but it impacts our relationships with our families and friends as well. Destructive, negative thoughts keep us from maturing and growing in the Lord and in His Word. We are a reflection of the way we think, and what we hide in our thought closets affects who we are.

Based on Biblical principles and filled with scriptures to help us on our Christian journeys, this study proved to be pertinent and insightful in helping us to develop as stronger, more loving individuals, who further learned to be more loving towards ourselves and to “love the Lord with all of our hearts, minds, and souls.” We also discovered ways to turn self-destructive negative thoughts into positive ones.

Since this book has become part of my self-help library, I have referenced it often. You can purchase a copy of this book at an online bookstore, a local Christian bookstore in your area, or visit Jennifer Rothschild’s website for additional information and for a list of other great resources.

Happy reading and blessings on you,
Yvonne

New Year’s Resolutions for 2013

Posted on by

Waterfall.jpgLearn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow!  Einstein

As I watched a portion of the Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve extravaganza hosted by Ryan Seacrest last night (okay, so I didn’t watch the ball drop), they indicated that the number one New Year’s Resolution from around the world was “to lose weight.”
In looking at past lists of New Year’s Resolutions, I noticed that they included:

1.  Lose weight

2.  Exercise more

3.  Become financially set for retirement

4.  Start a new business

5.  Learn a new language (or new skill)

6.  Quit smoking

And the list could go on and on.

Making New Year’s Resolutions indicates a new beginning, a fresh start, beginning your life with no regrets, and a moving forward to all that life has to offer. New Year’s Resolutions should help us regroup, refocus, reflect back on the old year’s activities, and help us to make realistic goals that will help us grow mentally, physically, and spiritually.

If I were to make a list, it would include the following resolves:

1.  Resolve to live each day to its fullest.

2.  Resolve to be a better friend.

3.  Resolve to mentor someone younger – helping them realize their goals/dreams.

4.  Resolve to love more fully (unconditionally) my family and friends.

5.  Resolve to learn something new, i.e. blogging techniques, taking a class.

6. Resolve to take a trip to visit a relative/friend I haven’t seen for a while.

7. Resolve to volunteer several times this year for a Non-Profit organization.

8. Resolve to contact a friend/relative on the phone and “catch up”.

I could go on and on with the above list, but I, too, need to be realistic.  God already knows our hearts and desires and I know that writing down goals (just like a food diary) helps us to remain steady and keeps us on track.  In September, my husband and I went on a 3.5 mile hike at Ricketts Glen State Park where the park boasts over 90 waterfalls.  Of the falls we were privileged to see along the trail, I was reminded of the power, and yet calming effect they had on me. Thousands of gallons of water rushed over the falls in a steady, persistent stream as if the water was on a mission trying to reach the bottom where there was a pool of calmer, deeper water. My goal in 2013 is to be consistent, persistent, and follow my God-given desires/goals and to trust Him more fully in every way possible, and to encourage my family, friends, and others to pursue their dreams/goals.

May the Lord richly bless you and keep you and may He make His face to shine upon you and give you peace in the coming months ahead.

Blessings,

Yvonne

Christmas 2012/Thanksgiving 2012

Posted on by

Where has the time gone?  It was just Thanksgiving week when I felt truly blessed being with my brother and his wife, my daughter and her husband, and our former foster son and his wife.  Thanksgiving Day was filled with eating, playing games, and hearty laughter resonated throughout the house.

Black Friday was enjoyed by two of the couples who left early in the morning and where they had to fight the crowds to buy that special Christmas gift at the lowest possible price,  thus ringing in the official start of the Christmas holidays.

I can’t remember when (or if) I ever went shopping on Black Friday.  I thoroughly enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday and want to savor every moment and enjoy remembering the blessings that we have received throughout the year.

Christmas 2012 will  prove to be a much quieter time for my husband and myself.   We won’t be having a lot of company from out of town, but we will enjoy seeing my daughter and her husband who, once again, will be traveling up from Virginia to spend the holidays with us as well as with his parents. Memories will be made during this time and, hopefully, in the not too distant future, we will share additional memories during the Christmas season with grandchildren as well.

One additional blessing that is a yearly event during the holidays is our anniversary.  My husband and I will be married 44 years on December 27.  We plan to celebrate by going to dinner and a movie and to reminisce how God has blessed us together as a couple and how we will continue to look forward with anticipation to what God has for us in the foreseeable future.

May each of you have a blessed holiday season as we celebrate the reason for the season.

Blessings on you!

 

 

 

Fall Forward or Backward

Posted on by

With the end of the summer months, the leaves have already started to change to their brilliant fall colors.  The clear, crisp, cooler air slowly beckons the beginning of the fall season.

If we fall forward, then the fall season is the beginning of what is to come–anticipation of what we are to expect for ourselves next spring.  It is a time of reflection, quiet, and rest on what has taken place in our lives over the heated months of summer–a look back at the past, but continually falling forward towards the future.

If we fall backward, that reminds us of the what if’s, could haves, and should haves that we missed on our life’s journey.  When we fall forward, we have so much to be thankful for and we are filled with an attitude that we can, we will, we are determined, and we are blessed.  And even in the midst of the winter months, we can continue to hope, dream, and anticipate greater opportunities so that we can truly morph into what God has created us to be.

Forgetting the past, we look to the future.  We can dare to dream and hope, anticipate only the good from lessons we will learn, create a new beginning, and forge ahead to bigger and better heights of lasting love, hope, and dreams.

Let us continue on our journey, anticipating what is to come, so that when spring does arrive, we will emerge refreshed and be changed for the better.

Blessings on you.