Take the Time

     We all have busy lives. Our world is ever changing daily right under our feet. It moves so quickly these days that we can barely keep pace. 
     Even though we run as fast as we can things around us never stand still. So, stopping for a moment to take a breath, finding a sense of balance if only for a minute or two can do wonders.
     In this season of planning, shopping, decorating and preparing for the holidays we all need to take the time to acknowledge the wonderful blessings bestowed upon us.
    Life isn't always handing out gift cards, wrapping presents and sitting down to a home cooked meal.  Sometimes it is handing out blankets, giving to your favorite charity, helping a homeless person or family, remembering those that are aging and alone and those that are on deaths' door.
     We all can take the time to see that especially during the holiday season we can be more, do more, care more and love more. Yes, it is really that simple.
     For all of you around the world, where ever you are, serving others and being of service to those in need, I thank you.
     May all of the people in world be blessed not only this holiday season, but every day of your life.
     Take the time, to love, for love is the greatest of all things that we do.

Great blessings to all.

CJ

Family counts

     I don't know how many times people have told me that I really need to let my grown children find their own way. Really? Exactly what does that mean? Does that mean if my children are hungry don't feed them? 
     Does that mean if they don't have money for gas in order to go to work don't give it to them? Does that mean if they are sick and can't afford to see a doctor don't worry about it?
     My family, my husband, my children, my grandchildren are the very life source of who I am and family counts. There are far too many family members in this world turning a blind eye from one another. Is this God's plan working here? I think not.
     I swear, I hope that I never get too old, too rich, too lazy to care about my true family. A true family never, never, never turns it's back on one another, no matter what.
     We are bound by God's law to love one another. Love is the greatest of all great things that we are charged to do. So, if I can help feed you I will. If I can cloth you I want to, if I can provide shelter then let me. 
     For God so loved the that he gave his only son, for us.
How can I do anything less than that, why would I?
Family counts. It counts to God, it certainly should count to all of us.

Hoping for love, the world wide over.
Hugs, 
CJ
 

Up River

Paddling up river might seem like am impossible task, but when you finally get to where you want to be, well the struggle really can be worth all the trouble.
I always want to know that whatever struggles I have, there's the success of where I end up, in a better place.

Be at peace with your own soul, share peace with everyone.

CJ

Sunshines

     My sweet little sunshines have gone home, back to Alabama. I had an awesome time with my grand girls while they were here for there summer visit.
It will be a few months before I see them again and until that times comes I will have such sweet memories of our days spent together.
     I hope that I am able to leave them with a few good thoughts about their Grammy that isn't quiet like any other.
We don't spend our time baking cookies and reading fairy tales these days. But all in all the time that we do have together is just beautiful sunshine.
     The sun shines brightly on my heart and within my memory.
     I carry their love and voices everywhere I go and until I can be with them again, I am basking in their sunshine.
     My love always to my bama girls.

Grammy CJ

sorry

I can't image the daily hassle of worrying about every person that might have a bad thought regarding me.
Having to constantly say I'm sorry for every single word that escapes my mouth is just too much to think about.
There honestly are people who are always more worried about what others' think of them than they are about living their lives.
Life is way too short for anyone to sit around having to say they're sorry for every little thought or disagreement that they have.
As I continue to travel through this life I have, one thing I know for sure is this:
I live my life to please my own conscience. Whatever choices I make, I have to live with and I answer to no one but my God.
I can't be perfect, therefore I do not live a perfected life, instead I find quality in all that I pursue.
I give my best as often as I can and when it doesn't reach someone else's standards then I simply walk away and continue on my own path.
I will not be sorry for who I am or how I live.
Sorry, but that's just the way it has to be.
I am free to be me.
Find peace within your own heart and live your life.

CJ

My here and now

     Ah, summer has finally arrived and how glad I am. As always my grand girls from Alabama are here with me and so the fun begins. Everyday I realize that my here and now has great value. Knowing that I have a rich and very blessed life helps me to see the wonderful and oh so joyous moments of my life.
     For me, I pray that all of those around the world who suffer can find the joy in their here and now moments. Sometimes we are challenged to look beyond the pain that we feel and see the sunshine. It's not easy to feel happy when we are bogged down in life's sorrow, but rainbows are coming if you just have faith.
     My here and now at least for the moment is spending as much positive and glorious time with my family and friends as God's sees fit. I wish all of the world wide webbers all around the world the best and greatest time for your here and now.
     Be happy, be blessed, be fulfilled. Peace to all.

CJ

Feeling the greatness

      Summer has finally arrived and I can't express how wonderful it feels. My grand girls are here visiting for the summer as usual. How long it seems to take for my vacation time to make it's way back around to us all being together.
     We were so happy to be able to celebrate another birthday with our middle granddaughter. Wow, how quickly they grow up in a blink of an eye. If we are super lucky will be able to also celebrate our oldest granddaughter's fourteenth birthday before we close out our visitation time.
     Being a wife, a mother and a "grammy" is the greatest job I have ever had. God has been plenty gracious with my time on earth. He has given me the most wonderful persons to have a life with. How excited I am everyday to wake up and feel the greatness of each person that I love. There's so much beauty and happiness in my life how could I possibly be unhappy at all?
     Feeling the greatness of life as it fills my soul and spirit is joy without limitation. Knowing that God has truly blessed me beyond all expectation allows me to faithfully believe that he watches over me everyday.
My greatest hope for all children of God is that you too can feel the greatness that he gives you in all that touches your life.
     I pray for good things for all of God's children and hope that somehow we can come together in peace and harmony, loving and living in kindness, always.
Be blessed, be happy, live fully.

CJ

Posting here

  If I wasn't posting my thoughts I'd be very bored and maybe perhaps even boring....

Just putting down these crazy thoughts in a place where anyone can view them is so cool.

Share what you know, share what you think, share what you feel.

You never know when someone just might need a little encouraging, or some laughter and even just another view point in order to go, hummmm, well, you never know.

Peace to all.
CJ

Being in the moment

     There are so many times in my life that events come and go and I hardly take notice. Today, once again I was off to the cardiac doctor for heart tests. These tests aren't anything new to me, but being in the moment when I stop long enough to feel the impact of what is going on can take my breath away.
     I've had a thousand heart tests and procedures done over the last fifteen years. Each time I'm in that moment where I begin to feel concerned about what is happening, my thoughts turn to fear. 
   Realizing that when the results come back everything could change for the better or for the worse. It's such a haunting feeling, the not knowing what's to come. Being in the moment opens my mind and heart up to really understanding the importance of having my heavenly father in my life.
     Now again, I will say that I am not the preaching kind, but I don't mind sharing what I believe and what has value to me.
     Being in the moment, knowing that God has got my back and believing that he will over see what ever the test results reveal. No matter what may come my way, I can endure,  I will survive and in the end all will be well either here on earth or in my father's kingdom. 
     Being in the moment, being present, being alive and living my life having the faith to get through anything. Now that's a good day in the neighborhood. Don't you think so? I do.
Be in the moment and live well being blessed every day.
Sweet dreams all.
Just A Thought.....

CJ

Bigger than self

    So many times while I'm in prayer I ask God to help me do the right thing. Honestly, I've often wonder exactly what I was asking of him. Does that mean help me not to tell a fib, that little white lie that sometimes can just slip right out of my mouth. When we don't share the whole truth, does that mean we aren't being completely honest?
    Then, there again when I ask God to help me be a better person am I asking him to help me have more money so that I can in turn share it more freely with those in need?
     If I want to be a better person does that require that I ask God to make me become and stay friendlier with all persons I come in contact with, always remembering the art of forgiveness.
    Most of the time I truly don't know how to be a better person, so I ask God for his help. When I sit back and think about who I am and how I behave daily the answers I seek reveal themselves to me.
    Being better for me simply means thinking of others' before myself. Understanding that giving is the art of self sacrifice. Which means learning how to give from the resources I have and not thinking about the replacement of what I've given.
    Knowing that every smile is worth more than a millions dollars and being kind is a simple task from the heart.
    Loving is not easy, if it was the world could live in peace. It takes work, patience, endurance and lots of understanding, all of these things God has for each of us.
    This life we all live is so short, so small and doing the right is always bigger than self.
    What we do today will shape our tomorrow, lay way for our future and become how we are known by all that come in contact with us.
    Wouldn't it be awesome if all of us, each person alive could be bigger than ourselves, doing the right thing which is acting with love and kindness, everyday that we are blessed to be here.
    Here today, gone tomorrow, always with God's love at the helm guiding us forward to our eternity.
    Have faith, it's all good. 
Be blessed.
CJ

Please and thank you

This all may sound so very old fashion, however I guess since I'm "old" and hopefully still have a little of fashion sense about who I am, I would like to address manners.
Has the concept of parenting our children to have, well let's just say some sense of manners too off beat? How is it that now a days children and for that fact a lot of grow ups don't even bother with simple manners anymore.
If we want to viewing world to see our nation as a kind, caring and generous people doesn't our behavior, or lack of politeness count? Please don't let me beat this drum too loudly about something as simple as , the PLEASE and THANK YOU words used in our everyday conversation.
Does anyone realize how wonderful it is to hear, young people, children and even grown ups saying thank you for the simple things that we do for one another. How about a please, if you will when asking something of someone. 
For Pete's sake folks, it ain't that hard, right? I was raised to acknowledge anything a person would choose to do for me by a simple thank you.  Saying please when asking something of another is just plain descent.
No one owes another person a thing, so if all we have to do to show kindness and caring is by using these two simple phrases, then let's get on with it now.
Believe it or not, whether it is the right thing to do,  people also judge you by how you speak. Speaking well and being polite shows respect and care not only for another person, but yourself as well.
So, my hope is that we all just give it a try. Let's see if we can do a little better in our manners department.
PLEASE and THANK YOU.

CJ

Is time on my side?

Well, here I am world wide web, finally getting a little time to write. Just when I think that I've worked things out with my schedule,       ( being a busy house wife and all) strange things happen.
But, anyway today I'm going to work on blog and my story and hopefully time will be on my side.
As always I wish all you webbers a awesome day and weekend. May God(yes, I said the G-word) bless you and kept you safe.
Peace out . Oh, and don't forget, do something nice, like hummmm , smile. It does make a difference.

Later,
CJ

COULD BE WORSE

EVEN THOUGH THINGS HAPPENING IN MY LIFE THAT ARE TOUGH, I KNOW THAT IF I CONTINUE TO BE STEADFAST IN MY BELIEF THAT MY GOD IS WITH ME IN ALL THINGS, THEN I CAN RISE UP TO ANY CHALLENGE.

LIFE CAN HAND US SOUR GRAPES, OR WE CAN CHOOSE TO TURN THOSE SOUR GRAPES INTO SOMETHING MORE TASTY.

DON'T LET ANYTHING GET IN THE WAY OF WHAT YOU WANT. IF YOU DO THEN YOU ARE BOWING TO THAT WHICH WOULD STAND IN THE WAY OF YOUR CHOSEN PATH.

AS FOR ME, I BOW TO NOTHING OF THIS EARTH, RATHER ONLY TO MY GOD, WHO PROVIDES ALL THINGS.

BE AT PEACE WITH YOURSELF AND THIS LIFE. SOOTH YOUR SOUL SO THAT YOU CAN FIND TRUE PEACE.

WITH HAPPINESS IN MY HEART, PEACE OUT,
CJ

 

Un-stressing the Stress

Of late I seem to be over stressing everything in my life. I'm not sure what's going on with me, but today I just sat down, cried and tried to figure out how to un-stress the stress.
Where exactly do I begin to let go of those terrible little things that seem intent on driving me crazy. People just can't own my emotional being, all the time, unless it's me letting them. 
I often wonder why it is that I worry so dog gone much.? What does it matter if I was not a perfect version of what I think I should be? Pushing myself in the wrong direction is all too nutty and so adds to my stressed out self.
One day, I believe that with enough work, a lot of prayer and, yes, I do believe whole heartily in praying, that I will be able to free myself from all this stress.
Maybe I need to just take a deep breath and relax, learn to let go. Okay, so I'm working on a few things with myself. Learning how to stay connected to the things that are really important and stop letting junk claim my un-used space has got to go.
For now, I'm just hanging on, praying and reminding myself that I'm not suppose to be perfect and not everyone has to like me. More importantly is I have to love myself, have comfort in who I am now, not what I have been and take in the awesome changes that make me better today than yesterday.
Living to un-stress the stress may not be easy, but at least it's an honest start to who I have become.
Loving, being kind and caring others' is a good start to a stress-less life. Having faith that it will get better day by day.

Peace always,
CJ

What?

What would happen if we just love one another more than we hated our differences? 

What would happen if we took the time to care for our neighbor instead of gossiping about them?

What would happen if made an effort to feed the hungry in our community rather than complain about having to give to the local food bank?

What would happen if we just stop , looked around and took a step towards those persons that were all alone?

What would happen if we just loved one another with asking for something in return?

What would you do if you were in need of just a kind word, or a hug to comfort your sorrow and no one cared?

What can you do to help spread kindness today?

What would happen if we simply loved, rather than hate?

Be kind, it takes nothing from you and cost you nothing.

CJ

One

Being one with the universe is a hard thing to do, when most of us can barely be one with ourselves.
Truth promotes a certain kind of harmony that is reflected in your oneness.
I pray that I can be one with myself first then one with the universe and all that abide within it.

Blessing to all,
CJ

More Than.......

If I can love more than I despise, then I have begun the journey for true and honest healing. It heals my soul and my spirit. 

Be free to love more.

CJ

Think, Think, Think..........

I love writing. It gives me the opportunity to let go of the real moments of my life. Somewhere among the stars and universe are people that I have never met. Yet, when I begin to write faces and characters begin to formulate within the tiny brain cells I like to call my imagination. Everything that I see inside of my mind is alive. I feel each person that I create and their lives. How they live and what they feel become the most important thing to me.
Writing isn't just words on paper,nor is it just a simple vision of my imagination. How I create any character is as important to me in my literary world as how I chose to live in reality. What each reader sees is what I want them to see, my world, my vision of that place and the people that fill the pages they live on.
Being a writer, whether I am one of those famous names or just the type of writer who enjoys the written words, is the very essences of who I am inside. My joy, sorrow, hope and existence are all wrapped up in my presentation of each character and story.
Words that carry you the reader far from your present world to the place that I have invented is the joy of writing for me. I want you to experience all that my imagination has to offer.
In many ways I am not a famous anything. Nope, the reality of my world is that I'm just a women that loves to write. So the next time you see my name, think, think, think of the many worlds, places, faces and adventures that you and I can enjoy together. After all, what do you have to lose? It's only time that you need invest that allows you to step out and become part of a new and exciting adventure.
Think, think, think, of all of the possibilities and those my friend are endless, as far as your mine can carry you.
Now that's living.

Feeling Good

Knowing how fragile life is, it is always a blessing when feeling good replaces sickness and despair.
The world has very few moments to come together in peace to feel good about the human race.
I pray that this year spectacular Olympics can offer that feel good moment that all of us so desperately needs.

Seeing the blessing of feeling good can offer you a moment to be good. Embrace the world and all of its people.
We can be a world of great nations and great people.

Great blessings to all.
CJA