A Beautiful Day

God's hands were at work in my neck of the woods today. I awoke to the beauty that only he can achieve. 

Here are a few pictures I wanted to share.

Miz Maggie loves playing in the snow!

Winters Tough

Its cold outside and it seems it has been that way for ever. Arctic blasts with wind chill below zero.

Cold, wind and no sunshine! GRRRR! It is not a good combo for me.

And then the other day a friend said she was getting out her "happy light" and the light went on in my head.

This is the time of year with less sunshine and it does affect us in a lot of ways. 

Energy levels are at their all time lows for me. And that does not sit well as I do stay busy and on the move. But with less energy I cannot achieve the things I would like to within a day. But that does not seem to keep folks from requiring the same of me.

Moods are something else that take a big hit with the sunshine dimmer or non existing. Just ask the hubs, oh heck, you could even ask the dogs! I find that it not only affect me but hubs and the dogs are getting a dose of it as well.

Well a happy light might be the perfect cure. But I don't have one, so I have had to get creative in finding things to help me through this time of the year. 

The first thing that I had to work on was the energy level, which was non existent. So I have started to exercise. I walk, do kick boxing or Zumba for at least an hour 5 days a week. It has help, the energy has picked up a great deal. I am also being very careful to not eat any processed food. I am eating fresh and raw about 90% of the time.

Now for the mood, what could I do that would make a difference? Well I take 30 minutes for me.

  Now I have a devotion time every morning already, but this is different. This is a time I listen to relaxing music, sip a cup of tea or hocho while sitting in my chase lounge surrounded by my furry friends. So it is a time to relax and energize.

I also fine having things like these around me in winter is a big help and I had not even thought about it till all this began.

And when I started talking about it and began trying to change some of the feeling and such well Hubs went out one afternoon and came back with these.

They have such a wonderful aroma. I have taken care of them and cut the stems under water several times and replaced the water with fresh. So far yesterday was 2 weeks since he gave them to me. I think this is all working together to help those winter blues.

What do you do to fight the Blues?

****** "Hocho" is a word that we use for Hot Chocolate!

HATS!

How many hats do you wear? Okay, I admit I am not talking about your ball caps or wide brimmed beach hats.

No sirree, the direction I am trying to get your head to going is that of perhaps chief cook and bottle washer or maybe you cut hair in your family. Or maybe you do several things to help bring financial income into your family. 

I met a lady this past week and she really got me to thinking. She was a professional who had worked in that field for many years. She had in the mean time taken classes and acquired several different certificates and license to do other things. Some of these things she did while working her regular job and now she is retired and does all of them at some point in the week or month. It made me realize how interesting this lady was and how much energy she had and what all she was capable of doing and doing well.

So I ask you, are you satisfied with what you do now or would you like to enrich your life and that of your families? Perhaps even adding money to the household income?

I do several things and some of them add some income but this has really got me to thinking about my life and what I want to add to this world or at least my little part of it.

So how about it will you share what you do now or what you would like to do in the future?

Is it the End or The Beginning?

Kinda like is the cup half full or half empty?

We find ourselves here at the end of one year with another one right around the corner. But we do have some time left to complete those tasks that we had marked for 2013. So what are you trying to get completed before the bell chimes on the end of the year? Now I know that some of you will be determined to get all the Christmas decoration back in the basement/attic. Some may just be spending the week with the kiddos while they are off from school. And still some of you have another get together to host for family before you can call it done.

Well a nasty virus has fell on me and I have taken this as Gods way of saying, be still and listen. So I have had plenty of time to listen. And what I have decided is....... I have been moving at much faster pace with much to much on my plate in these last few weeks. So as I am resting and trying to heal I am pondering how I am suppose to approach 2014. You see we all have an entire year stretched out in front of us. 365 days waiting to be filled with adventures, experiences, a million tiny moments to be savored. Wow, what possibilities! I want to hold on tight and make this the best and biggest year ever. But then I also want to hold it loose enough to allow his will to unfold in my life. I want to do my part, but in such a way as to allow him to do his. That is when I know my year will be perfect. So I have been spending a lot of time in prayer and thinking about what he wants from me and not just what I want to do. After all, what I want most of all is to be in his will and do it his way.

So how do you approach life with a new year stretched out before you? What changes will you make from last year? Maybe not any changes, just keep right on truckin' just like before? I am sure there will be some changes on my end so more on that to come. Share with us and let us hear about your plan.

Happy New Year to you all!