December 14, 2021

I LOVE analogies. It must be how my brain figures things out. I have to look for similarities to then be able to compare something that's already in my head to something new. But if I start to focus on the differences, I tend to lose the original thought and purpose. Once I make the connection, I must relish in the Aha moment and let go of the rest.

   I can picture my entire life as a video game. I fondly remember Super Mario and Frogger in my days after high school graduation. As a new player, you quickly realize that you're not that good. But as you press on and try again (and again) you develop skills and begin to know how to work your limits well. Characters are presented for figuring out our strategy in order to get the gold coin. Each level becomes more difficult and requires more patience, more knowledge, thinking fast, and reacting quickly. The farther you advance into the game, the wiser you become. Then you not only focus on each level's activities, but begin to add in thoughts of how to win the game. By then you will have obtained super powers and have collected many gold coins in the top levels.

   in my own life, I look back and see myself as always on the defense, simply trying not to die (survival mode.) If I kept myself alive, I thought I was doing great. And then someone came along and said, "Hey, the game is so much more than that. You have to be willing to take some some risks and learn ways to avoid pitfalls. I can help you with that. Are you ready?" It's like I woke up at that point in time. I started noticing different things, I was bold enough to even ask other people about their strategies, I couldn't get enough. No longer was I going through life mindlessly - going to work, going home, making supper, going to sleep, only to do the same thing again the following day (a few of my kids' sports games thrown in there too!). But life begain to change. Opportunities arose to challenge me. I started to look at circumstances with different perspectives (hence the analogies) and I began to study and learn and grow.

   With each semi-truck that I side jumped on top of, (I may be remembering Frogger incorrectly) it propelled me farther along to places I couldn't get to on my own. I was learning and growing stronger with each onward jump.

   I've had many jumps in life and have learned many valuable lessons (I'm still learning!) I carry with me many gold coins or "nuggets" as I like to say. Nuggets of information from books I've read, podcasts I've listened to, videos I've watched, Scriptures I've studied, conversations I've had, lessons I've learned. And I still continue with those to this day, making sure I stay teachable.

   I'm at a place in my life where i can see others where I used to be. I want to tell them how life can be so much MORE. Some want to listen. Some don't. But please remember, my dear reader, winning the game requires studying, learning, applying, sharing, and growing. It takes diligent practicing with each new level in life. Let friends come alongside you and help you when you get stuck. And when your game is over, I hope you win and get the prize of Heaven. Lord only knows! Here's something to think about: Do you think you will be rewarded with Heaven if you keep yourself content with staying on level 1 ?

(There is no answer, just a question to give you a different perspective and make you think)

I firmly believe God crosses our paths with specific people in order to learn very important things from each other. And that we are called to not only believe in Jesus, but to have an intimate relationship with Him by reading His Word as often as you can and let Him be Lord of your life and the only One who has the ability to save you from your sins of the past, present and future.

November 2021

Thanksgiving is a time of year when we pause and reflect on the past year about what we're thankful for. We prepare a feast and decorate with pilgrims to remember finding our own land and finding a life away from harsh England. That story reminds me of the Israelites and God leading them out of their harsh life to the Promised Land, the land flowing with milk and honey.  As I'm reading throught the Old Testament, there is a theme I read in almost every chapter of how God reminds us that He is our God and we are His people and how He saved us out of Egypt, out of slavery and gave us freedom. Oh, how the Israelites grumbled in the wilderness about the food not being as tasty and they were actually willing to go back to that old hard life for what --better food??? They were not grateful to God for saving them at all or so the story goes. God gave them everything they needed, and they were not thankful, they could only focus on what they wanted. And yet, He still loved them and wanted a better life for them.  We all experience some kind of our own "wilderness". God just wants us to remember Him and all He's done for us. He wants us to be grateful because that changes our hearts. He deserves our worship and praise all day long because He is perfect, trustworthy, and is always working everything out for our good. So that is the theme that I keep reading over and over throughout the Old Testament. And the New Testament in the Gospels, Jesus wants us to remember what HE has done for us. The Last Supper tells us that when Jesus broke bread it was a symbol of Him breaking His body for our sake and pouring out His blood to cover our sins so that when we admit our sinfulness to God, we are forgiven. And all that comes with another gift, a gift of Grace that none of us deserves, the gift of Salvation, which is getting to be with Jesus in Heaven forever because He rose from death for us to be united with our Heavenly Father. God is perfect, and all of us are not perfect, but He sees us as perfect because we have Jesus covering us so then what He sees is not us, but Jesus. 

   I have had a year of many changes in 2021. I have no regrets. I have learned many things. The best part is that I have grown closer to the One that saved me out of my own "Egypt." And every time I fell down, God picked me up, dusted me off with tender loving care, and said, "Now let's see what we have to work with'" and He always worked everything together, the good and the not so good, and worked all things together for Good. I am so grateful for that! All of us have wandered off the path, chasing our own dreams and desires, and God is always there, always wanting to bring us back to the path (the path that leads to Him) becasue He loves us so much! When we say "I'm sorry Lord, I messed up and tried to go my own way, He says, "I forgive you. Now try again. And this time, my child, follow ME"

July 2021

Recently I experienced

the Covid Virus myself. I have to admit that I wasn't too worried about it before I got it. As someone who rarely gets sick, even when I do I always snap right back after having a bug for a couple of days. This, on the other hand, was totally different. It really racked my whole being, body and mind. I won't list all of the symptoms I had, but what started as a scratchy throat and horrible headache soon transposed into debilitating body aches and a cough that left me gasping for air that didn't seem there at the time. As my body was recovering physically, next came the wave of intellectual and emotional pain. I would sit and stare at nothing, not wanting to do anything or think about anything, as my mind couldn't process such detail. I just wanted to cry all the time, not only because my fiance and I had to postpone our wedding, but because life as I knew it was ripped from the knowledge of anything in my brain up to that point. I remember sitting outside in the sun, looking at nothing else but God's Creation, watching ants on the patio. I wanted to be an ant, having a job to do and working diligently at it, not worrying about what to eat, or what to drive, or where to live. An ant with a purpose, working for his Creator.

Then came the absence of caring. I cared about nothing anymore. There were no passions or desires in my heart. Feelings of DEPRESSION that I've never had before in my entire life. I felt like a zombie, just passing through hours of emptiness, only to do it again the next day. I struggled to read my Bible, but I did continue on, knowing somewhere deep down in my heart my Jesus was right there with me, even when I couldn't feel His prescence. He was carrying me through something I couldn't fathom, protecting me from an evil that was too much for my brain to sense. I held on, my head dizzy from the journey, as I buried my face deeper into His arms. I cried out to the Great Comforter, the Master Healer, to heal my heart, my mind, my body. I listened to praise and worship music to fill myself with audible healing to my soul, that I knew I still had somewhere. 

My good friend was a huge help in much needed encouragement. She had me repeat after her out loud in rebuking Satan who was a big, dark cloud over my head. That actually was a starting point of recovery. My fiance was as supportive as he could've been, as he was in his own struggle not long after mine began. He took care of me, read Scripture to me, and prayed over me, as he rubbed my back to comfort me as best as he could. 

Going through this experience has shed a new light on helping other women through their pain and struggles. I can't even imagine not having someone supportive to go through it with. Women are the nurturers for everyone else, and don't speak up for their own needs. I would like to be of help with supporting other women in soothing comfort and care. Come in for some much needed relaxation, a gentle touch to make you feel better, a time to just be there with you in support, or someone to listen to your heart and pray over you as needed. We all need someone to pray with us and over us. It is calming to the soul, and healing to your whole being.

January 2021

Getting a new

hairstyle or lash set makes you feel pretty. Getting your nails done makes you feel fancy. But getting an excellent massage flushes out toxins, not only what’s stuck inside your body, but also what’s stuck inside your heart and mind. Yes you can change the outside for how you look on the surface, but when you address your deeper issues, you will GLOW from the release of what’s toxic in your life. Imagine how amazing your entire body will feel once you can lift the burden of weight off your shoulders, calm the storm that rages inside you, and finally control your anxious feelings. Everything is connected: mind, body, and spirit. Physical, emotional, spiritual. I used to avoid confrontation and would stuff my feelings. I didn’t want to rock the boat. For years I felt empty and lonely inside. Trying to fill myself with things that didn’t matter. I learned how to communicate my feelings and replace old thoughts with healthy, loving truths. I started reading the Bible. I became a sponge, trying to soak up all I read and listen to. The reason for my emptiness became crystal clear. I needed to open my heart to Who was knocking. I kid you not, I have no more empty feelings. What I have is an overflow that I know I am to bless others with. I am still learning. My desire for you is to be completely refreshed and renewed, and believe me when I say you will look and feel absolutely radiant!

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Jesus is

our one true love. Perfect love. He forgives our sins when we completely become vulnerable in our faults and weaknesses and have a heart that longs to be better. Jesus takes that pain that we are holding on to and swipes the Magna Doodle clean and doesn’t speak of it ever again. True love, His love, keeps no records of wrongs. We need to try and be like Jesus. 

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 The Lord is

the Master Orchestrator. He has us cross paths with people that we need something from. And in turn, who also need something from us. Take no detours or interruptions lightly! Feed your soul with the Good that is all around you. Like a sponge soak it all in. Lest you come across bad company and need to dip out of the surplus to be of help to them, as Jesus was. 

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Conflict -

I tried to avoid it in my childhood, my adolescence, and my first marriage just to keep the peace. Not good. God allows us to go through trials and hardships to shape us and make us stronger. Conflicts are actually tools for us to use wisely, and along with them, good communication goes hand in hand. I have found that many conflicts stem from differences in a man’s view vs. a woman’s view. Strive to always be “teachable “ and learn to see each other’s perspective. Perspective is huge! So also is being able to fully listen without thinking of a response at the same time. Remember our battle is against the devil, for he knows well what triggers you. So try to be on the same side and feel compassion for one another. Do you value the relationship more than that particular result?

We have to get right with God before we can get right with others or other issues in our life. I too felt something was missing but I didn’t know what it was. I had a craving but nothing I tried would satisfy it. God allows us to struggle and feel weak so He can offer us strength in an Ah ha moment and we grab His hand and hold on tight.

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God called me

out of darkness and into His marvelous Light. To do His marvelous Purpose. He knows what I am capable of, what I was made for. My soul longs to please Him, and He delights in that. I can’t find peace with the things of this world, true Peace for me is letting Jesus into my heart and having the security in knowing that He’s coming back to take my hand and walk me into Heaven. 

God is changing my heart. I need to let Him renew my mind and replace old thoughts with His new thoughts. In the moments of insecurity, I need to lean on Him to help me not focus on myself but others. Insecurity steals my JOY. 

I can’t force it myself, but instead surrender control and let God change me, bring me new thoughts. Then I can be obedient with new actions to put into practice and apply them to my life. Retrain my brain. I’ve done it in other areas of my life. I can do it for this too. Overcome my insecurities and keep the peace. His Peace. 

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You have to be prepared for conflict. It’s inevitable, you can’t avoid it. Instead of stuffing feelings, be open and honest. Talk about it. Women tend to tip toe around the issue, men tend to just say it as it is, which can come across as harsh to a fragile heart. Men need to be softer, women need to be more on point. And once it’s talked through, women can’t keep it in their bag to bring up later as leverage. Bring it out into the Light, and then let it go. If there is a hurt associated with it, don’t keep holding it up to somehow justify that you’re still hurting. Visualize in your mind Jesus’ healing salve touching it. Every time it comes to mind. Every time. Until it doesn’t. God is telling you “You are special. You have so much potential. That’s why I allowed this circumstance to grow you“ Thank Him for the lesson learned. 

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 This is

exactly where my mind goes in moments of threat (jealousy). What MIGHT happen. I think women (mothers) tend to think ahead. Raising children we always envision the bad outcome when our child is doing something. Don’t do that because that will happen. I’m not sure if it’s just a habit I need to overcome, or if it’s something I’m holding on to, since my kids are staying distant. In the moment, I let my full love tank drain away and Satan is the one pulling the plug and laughing because he knows exactly how to bring on fear. I need to stay firm and keep the faith. Count on what is true. Count on my confident God. 

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Decluttering.

It’s something we have to do all the time and more thoroughly now and then. I like the question “what are you holding on to?” Are you holding on to anything instead of God? Past memories, accomplishments, things that make you feel warm and worthy (instead of going to God for our worth)? 

What’s on your shelf?

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 Taking every

thought captive is what my reading plan is on (with 3 BSF ladies) Here is what I wrote today:

Perfect Peace. That’s worth striving for. I like where they said to practice taking every thought captive, and eventually it will become automatic. That is hopeful! 

I also like Paul saying take control of our thoughts we can wield the power. When we focus on good and on God, it’s slaying strongholds left and right. I envision myself doing the virtual reality Ninja Fruit game, as I’ve done before with my youngest son. When I can picture something in my head, it helps to remember it.

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“God has

given you a measure of faith. Let God increase your faith to work your vineyard. I pray that your faith grows strong as you diligently run your race. Don’t be distracted by what’s going on around you. Run with patience. “

I love that. God has given me an assignment. I am to learn and not let it overwhelm me. I need to welcome advanced learning assignments because the Teacher wants me to use my abilities and talents to be all He’s created me to be!

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Every little thing

you carry from your past has a small weight associated with it. Tiny as each one seems to be, lumped all together they are heavy. We carry our weight as burdens on our shoulders and as a blanket around us to hide and comfort and protect us. God wants those things from your past. Each and every little one. 

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It’s fairly easy

to think of ourselves as a good person and tell ourselves that we forgive others and don’t hold grudges. But sometimes when a memory keeps coming to our minds every now and then, I wonder if there is a reason. Maybe we’ve forgiven in our own power but God calls us to look deeper. He wants us to experience His forgiveness in that memory. Find the hidden sin way deep down in our heart. When we see and admit our OWN fault, and humbly ask for His forgiveness, that is the posture by which He wants us to extend to others His Grace and Mercy. It’s all for HIS GLORY. 

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“We are Gods

masterpiece” Eph. 2:10 NLT

You should say that to yourself every time you look in the mirror. Don’t see the flaws. See perfect imperfection. Take pride in and care about how you look for only God’s glory in thankfulness. Don’t indulge in sinful pride, sinful comparison, or sinful intimidation. 

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We are

God's masterpiece. He delights in us. He gives us unlimited mercy - not giving us what we deserve. He also gives us unlimited grace - giving us in abundance of what we don’t deserve! We are called by Him to give in the same way to others. We don’t deserve to go to Heaven - we are all sinners. Christ paid the price for us to go to Heaven. He is the bridge between us and God. When we accept Him and have a relationship with Him, He clothes us in His blood, filling in all our holes and flaws, no matter what we’ve done, which makes us perfect in God’s eyes to be reunited with Him in Heaven. Thank you Jesus!

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Lord I want to

thank you for giving me a gift. The gift of life, of my body. You are my cheerleader, my encourager, longing for me to ask you for your help in everything. You want to give me your strength, and want me to see myself as You see me. I want to show you my gratitude by taking care of this gift and preserving it as best I can. It is your temple and it houses Your Holy Spirit, which is You living inside me. Help me not turn to food instead of You. Help me be satisfied with less in all aspects in my life, and crave more of You!

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He speaks to

me as if I’m His only daughter, His only love. Like He only has eyes for me. He is so captivated by me, He wants me to feel special. He calls me to a higher place, letting go of myself so He can live through me. I need to focus only on Him and trust His journey, trust that He’ll keep me safe in my weakest moments. Pure love casts out fear. My fragile heart longs to be healed. Lord help me let go of control and let Your pure love wash over me. The one thing You want from me is all of me. 

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My journal today :

I am strong and courageous. I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me. I have the power within me by the Holy Spirit. I am a warrior for God so I must keep good care of my body and stay sharp. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. I will be positive today in my thoughts and actions!

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Too many

temptations, I don’t have the right kind of food, I will eat better tomorrow, healthy food is too expensive, are among my excuses. I love what she calls it - RELEASING the weight. Not losing the weight. When you release it, you are realizing that you’ve been holding on to it and no longer need it or want it. When I massage someone who is super stressed or uptight, I’ll get to her arm and try to move it and she’s holding it tight. So I tap it so she will relax it. Jesus finds a spot in us that we are holding tight. And He taps it. Then we realize it’s an area we are not releasing. He wants us to give it over to Him. Only then will we be free of its bondage.

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Lord help

me prioritize my schedule each day to focus on you first and foremost. And guide me in the way you want me to go. I release all my fears to you. Let me be bold in tackling even the smallest of jobs and not put off or procrastinate. That was me in my old self. Let me put on You and take charge. I am a Child of God!

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Today was

about feeding your emotions so this is what I wrote:

I used to drink as a coping mechanism. Or I guess to not really cope, but escape. Numb the feelings. I am free of all that in my new life in Christ. I used to eat when I was bored. I still do that now and then but I try to stay aware of that temptation now. I ask my Heavenly Father boldly to take away feelings that are hurtful or sinful. I strive to be Mary at Jesus’ feet but find myself being a Martha sometimes and refocus.

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I will say that

writing down everything that you eat is like having an accountability partner in itself. It makes you think before you eat any little thing. Which is excellent, because it makes you pause and if it’s not worth being accountable for, chances are you will not eat it. You will realize you don’t NEED it. So many times we put junk in our mouths mindlessly. Without thinking. Or get a hankering for one little cookie. And before you know it, since the package is open and sitting right in front of us, we suddenly realize that we’ve eaten half of the entire package. It tastes good. It feels good. I’m worthy of feeling good. What we need to realize ( and I know it’s hard in the moment ) is that God puts a longing deep inside us so that we turn to Him. That nothing else will satisfy. Ask Him to take away the cravings. And to fill that void with His perfect, pure love. That we will truly FEEL His love and allow that to satisfy us!

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You are my Creator, Lord. You formed every intricate detail of me. My soul knows You well. My heart longs for You for You made me that way, that nothing in this world will satisfy like You. You want to be my everything. I will seek You with all my heart and give you my first fruit of each morning, to read over Your Word and just sit and experience Your perfect and pure Love. And listen for You to teach me Your ways, for I want to learn to be more like You, just as the closed flowers turn toward the morning sun and open. So do I want to turn toward You with an open heart, drinking in Your Word and Promise. 

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I sing out

to you Lord when I am on my morning walk for exercise. It is the best thing ever! It is so good for my thoughts to focus on You, for me to praise You in worship, for me to thank you, and just tell you out loud what’s on my heart at the time. I cherish that time spent loving You Lord. Fill my heart with Your Peace and Joy so that others long for that inner peace and turn to You. All for Your Glory!

He makes me lie down in green pastures. That would be looking up to the sky, taking in the splendor of it, with the uniqueness of the clouds with the sun, and the chirping of the birds flying overhead that sing praises to their Creator. You would have to notice the fresh earthy smell of the green fragrance and the feel of the texture of the pasture underneath , it no doubt tickles and perks up your senses. Then after taking in all His Glory by sight, smell and touch, it is then that He refreshes your soul. He whispers “I created all things of nature and even the stones sing my praise. But it’s all nothing in comparison to how much I love and cherish you. The mystery of it all lies deep within your heart. Pure rest is found there, Beloved!”

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How Great Thou

Art! God you are great indeed -always satisfying to those who seek You. And Your Art is breathtakingly spectacular-becoming a new masterpiece with each new day. From sunsets to snowflakes to spiderwebs to sparkling little stones. So intricately detailed, I marvel at what you paint for me. The Master Artist, lover of my soul!

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God chases

and pursues us until we accept Him into our heart. Then He wants us to follow Him. Chasing Perfect sounds like we are just trying to be like God as He calls us to be like Jesus. But if we strive for perfection and we let it become an obsession, that is not what God wants for us. Jesus makes that clear with Martha. If we’re striving to be perfect in ourselves with obsession, we are making ourselves like our own god. We need to have the right posture and check our hearts to make sure that God is our focus and we constantly sing His praises, and not our own. 

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“Then he said,

“I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What does it mean to become like little children? Most children aren’t strong willed, so they will go along with God’s Will. Be carefree, trusting, loving, and dependent (on God). Not always trying to figure out details, worrying, suspicious or arrogant. 

That’s what I’m going to strive for this year!

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Acts of Kindness.

Ready to serve others in little ways to bring a smile to their face. Is your first thought doing that for friends, kids, coworkers? Or is your first thought doing that for your spouse? 

I’m listening to a podcast on blessing your spouse with kindness and being intentional on improving your marriage to become more godly and Christ centered. Let me know if you want the link! 💗

What could have been viewed as a prison was actually a protection. A provision. Let’s take a deeper look into a “familiar” story. Noah was obedient in waiting on God. He knew about the 40 days of rain but God had him stay in the ark until he called him out. For over a year! Even when Noah had seen signs of it being time to “get on with life.” With the mountain tops visible then dry land. Just think of what he might have seen if he hadn’t waited - the horror of sin, dead bodies, ugly desolate wasteland that he couldn’t see from where he was. Perhaps God protected him from that and wanted him to come out into lush green new life for him to finally see God’s glory. God has a purpose for your waiting!

Written just for you from Ellen

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Even Eve

believed Satan’s lie that there was more out there to make her better. Adam was totally in love with her. She was living in paradise. No other women to compare herself to. Yet she was deceived. The grass is always greener. It’s easy to fall prey because Satan knows our insecurities. He is a liar! Keep yourself in the Truth everyday to constantly remind of God’s promises and find your security only in Jesus. Remember she was content until she listened and wondered.

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Trust in the Lord

with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

We are human with limitations. He is God with no limits. Even the most intelligent person in the world cannot come close to His Wisdom. People try to understand God. Some even think they’ve figured Him out. They like to make Him fit in their God box. But He will blow their theory out of the water in ways our wildest imaginations can’t comprehend. 

In the same way that I don’t waste my time trying to figure out how a smartphone works or even the internet because my mind can’t begin to understand that complexity, I trust in the God who knows it all and more. Who loves me enough to leave the 99 to go after me when I wander, and when I stay close to Him to listen to His voice everyday as to not wander off again, He lovingly smiles, looks compassionately into my eyes and says “I’ve been waiting for you”

Less Stressful Holidays   December 2018

We all know how stressful life becomes during this time of year. We have more to do, and more people to put up with. We tend to compare our lives with other’s, and often have feelings of envy, guilt, lonliness, and being overwhelmed. If you feel like you are behind in your decorating or buying gifts, don’t get discouraged. I’m here to encourage you! Not to go go go do do do, but to step back and think outside the Christmas box. You don’t have to do it all.  Does it stress you out? I’m more concerned about what the stress does to your body.

Some things aren’t always as they seem. The perfectly dressed families on the perfectly handwritten Christmas cards look perfectly happy, but they all have their own issues to deal with, believe me. I stopped making cookies this time of year because it was always a huge waste of time, energy, and money. I found that they either looked beautiful and tasted horrible, or looked horrible and still tasted horrible.Unless you love baking, save yourself the hassle and skip the cookie tradition. Make the decision to not feel guilty about it. No one needs the sugar anyway! No mess - no stress! Or do best of both worlds and buy a few already made cookies!

Another top stressor is decorating. Yes, I too had too many boxes of Christmas decorations. The more the merrier, I always told myself.  I would justify it by saying I could rotate my displays every couple of years. One year I would not feel like putting much out. And the following year I felt like going all out. Eventually, I didn’t feel like decorating very much at all, no matter which year it was. I eventually dreaded getting all those boxes out, and of course, taking it all down and putting it all away when the season was over. It was major stress that I changed my whole mindset about. I still enjoy looking at all the beautifully decorated trees everywhere (that are literally everywhere), but for me and my house, I choose to serve the LORD, and keep decorations to a minimum. It keeps my focus on being more intentional on the inside than the outside.  Being a slave to God instead of a slave to what my house looks like. Again - less stress on my body!  You’re not a humbug, you are a smart woman!

Gift giving is something we envision as delightful. The perfect gift is opened and the recipient is genuinely appreciative of such thoughtfulness. In reality, it usually doesn’t turn out that way. When I was young, families didn’t have much. So when you got some gifts for Christmas, you really needed or wanted them! These days, it’s hard trying to figure out a gift to give to someone that they will actually keep (or use).  Giving yourself is much more fulfilling! Serving others in the form of spending quality time, helping with a project, treating them to a dinner out, or inviting them over for a home cooked meal. Have some deep conversations and really get to know them. 

Decide for yourself what you truly want and what is important to you.   Then scale down and simplify. It’s the first step to feeling better in the new year! Do what’s best for you, and then be prepared to stand your ground when those certain people start asking questions. 

Again, if it’s your thing - do it! Have fun with it! But if it stresses you out and isn’t worth the time or energy, then skip it, go simple, enJOY! Keep that JOY in your heart this blessed season. It’s a time of being generous and giving without expecting. Then carry that JOY far past Christmas and celebrate not only a new year but a NEW YOU! 

Water Is Cool - Why Its Your Summertime Essential   August 2018

Although a hot shower may feel great on your body, it is not good for your hair, especially long hair. After shampooing, rinsing your hair in cool water is highly recommended. The cooler temperature smooths the cuticle surface of your hair, helping it to be less tangly and promote healthy shine. Be sure to make it part of your regular routine for best results. See https://www.health.com/beauty/15-big-benefits-of-water

Do you skip the recommended shower before swimming in a pool? Don't. Chlorine is damaging to the hair, so you should at least get your hair soaking wet with cool or lukewarm water prior to diving in. Having water already in your hair will keep the chemical absorption to a minimum. Block it even more by rubbing in a little conditioner right after you wet it. Then remember to shampoo it after swimming, even if it is several hours later. Any chemicals from chlorine left in your hair will fade color, damage the cuticle and dry it out, so better late than never!

Hydrating is actually at the top of my list! If you want any part of your body to look healthy - it starts from the INSIDE and goes out. Eight glasses of water is recommended, but if you don't get that much down every single day, six is better than one! I am a firm believer in vitamins and supplements. I take several of these first thing every morning. I definitely feel better throughout my day if I take them slowly, one by one, with several ounces of room temperature water between each. 

After sleeping all night without food or drink, our bodies are slighly dehydrated. Drinking 2 glasses of water early in the morning upon rising not only rehydrates, but gets all 7 systems of the body functioning optimally. Interestingly enough, seven is the number of perfection in the Bible, so that tells me that God made the body to be able to function perfectly! See https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2017/03/14/why-you-should-drink-water-first-thing-every-day/99123938/

Room temperature water is ideal for replenishing. Extreme temperature is fine for the rest of the day, if you keep up with the recommended amounts. If you are trying to lose weight, drinking hot or ice cold water helps speed metabolism because it forces your body to work hard at bringing it to body temperature before using it.

Women need about 90 ounces of water a day, and men need about 120 ounces a day. Keep in mind that this is average. It will vary depending on how active you are, how much you sweat, how much you eat, and which medications you take. Check with your doctor to find out if your prescriptions affect your fluid balance. 

Be mindful about foods you eat on a regular basis. Many fruits and vegetables have a high water content, which work toward your healthy eating plan. Salty, sugary, or bad fatty foods all work against healthy eating plans. I add fresh lemon to my drinking water on a daily basis. I don't drink any sodas. At restaurants, I order ice water with lemon. The lemon makes the water alkaline, even though its acidic when directly applied to the skin. The typical American diet is very acidic, so the more often you can drink lemon water, the more you will be working towards balancing your body's healthy pH level.

So, water replenishes our bodies in many different ways, proving itself very essential to our health. While ice cold water is refreshing to drink in the summer time, cool water is equally refreshing to your hair anytime of the year. To help repair your dry and damaged hair from the harsh summer, I offer many options for reconditioning and removing chlorine buildup. For more information on any these topics, schedule an appointment with me. I will be happy to further discuss these with you! Come in for a Touch of Grace and to share your Faith! Enjoy the rest of your Summer!

Are You Fighting with Your Hair?   July 2018. 

Let's face it. We're all guilty of this. Wanting our hair to look like a picture in a magazine or on the internet. As a hairdresser, I remind my lady clients that yes, I can cut your hair the same as the one in the picture, but you really need to consider all of the factors that may make a difference in the outcome. Differences such as hair texture, degrees of fineness or coarseness, natural wave or curl, the natural growth pattern, those stubborn gray hairs, chemical alterations (perms, haircolor and/or highlights/lowlights, straighteners) to name a few. You also need to take into consideration the shape of your face, head, and neck. Yet another major factor is the quality of the hair products you use and also the effort you put into styling, according to your lifestyle. Believe it or not, some people think that the hairCUT is the only thing they need for their hair to look a certain way without using styling products or styling tools such as a blowdryer, a diffuser, hot irons, etc. 

There is nothing wrong with having the desire for your hair to look a certain way for fashion. Fashion is fun and it creates interest and excitement. But if you are not willing to invest the time, the money on products, and the upkeep of maintaining a hairstyle with frequent visits to the salon, chances are, you will not be satisfied with your hair. 

If you find yourself fighting with your hair often - you want it to do one thing and it wants to do another - ask yourself if its worth all the hassle. Does it make you a complainer? You may not only be dragging yourself down, but you could also be dragging others down too. Don't be a drag!

I encourage my clients to love themselves and embrace the way God created them. You are Unique! Your looks, your personality, and your talents were all given to you to work together in harmony. Learn to accept your hair for what it is. It's part of what makes you the adorable YOU!

My friend, please don't be obsessed with what your hair looks like. Take another look. A bit deeper. I asking you to let it go and take delight in the personality of your hair. Yes I said personality. Think of it like a piece of jewelry or a hat that accents an outfit. Your hair accents your body. It's supposed to be natural. I assure you, no one will even notice the part of your hair that took an extra 15 minutes to redo 3 times and made you late. And by all means, if they do, then have the confidence to laugh at yourself and don't take it personally. Something I might say is that my nails look so good today that my hair was jealous and wouldn't cooperate.  :)

Once you change your mindset and stop fighting with your hair by learning to ENHANCE what it wants to do naturally, your stress level will drop, your face will brighten, and a glow of true beauty will adorn you!

Come in soon for a consultation and let's discuss what works for you!

First Posting:

Let me start by praising God that you stumbled across my website. I would say that it wasn't just by chance. We are all here for a purpose, and in His Divine Plan, we are here to help and support each other. 

As I go about my daily life, as soon as women hear that I am a hairdresser, the question I am asked first is usually "What would you do with my hair?" It's never a simple answer, nor a single one! This leads me to asking a series of questions to gather more information. I find out if their hair is colored, naturally curly, what percentage of gray, what their current lifestyle is, what kinds of products they use (if any), and what their goal is. I then invite them to visit my salon for a complientary consultation, where I can put my hands in their hair, to feel how thick it is, how coarse or fine, and if it is healthy or in poor condition. It is also an excellent time to find out what their expectations are, and if they are realistic or not. For example, some women show me a picture of what they want their hair to look like, but aren't  willing to either A) have it cut to that short of length, or B) use product on it for the desired results.

Now I invite you to visit my salon for a complimentarty consultation, where we can do the series of questions, together with the hands on experience, to find out what works best for you!

Gift Certificates are just the best! Super simple to purchase! No more buying "STUFF" that collects dust! One size fits all!

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I look forward to hearing from you soon about your special gift! Your recipient will love it! 

Call or text me at 260-609-6088 or email me at ellen@adornedsalon.com

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