New Seasons

We are entering the third month, here in Southern California, of the hottest summer I can ever remember! There was no June gloom, just an average of 90-100 degree weather most everyday. As Fall slowly approaches, we look forward to blessings of slight dips in temperature and the teasing cool breezes of the changing seasons. Our lives undergo changes in seasons sometimes as well. I continue to teach and write, but am now looking forward to taking on a new 'hat' as a small biodynamic farmer. It has been a dream of mine for awhile to have a farmhouse in the country where I can grow a lot of my own food and maybe raise some livestock. I recently applied for a small farm loan and will hear back in a couple of weeks. I'm praying that this will be my time, that I will soon see another dream of mine come true. Here is a picture of the farmhouse my son and I are hoping to get:

In my next post, I will include a picture or two of the land we want to put our home on. These next two weeks are going to be the longest two weeks I've ever gone through😊

Trials

All throughout life, we encounter trials that test our faith and perseverance. They may be little things that once they happen, get handled and we move on. Other times it can be very difficult things that take a lot more courage and strength to get over and deal with before we can get on with life. But life does go on, whether we want it to or not. We can't stop it, it's not going to wait for us. It has its own schedule and a plan is set. We can choose to move with it or against it, but it will continue moving forward. So the question is, are we going to move forward with it, or stay behind?

Preparedness

After all the rain California has received this winter, especially the last couple of months, I don't think we have to worry about being in a drought anymore! Someone told me we broke history records with these storms and the rain level. I believe it! I always believed in the importance of being prepared, too, for anything. In this case, sometimes back-to-back storms. I made sure the gas tank was full, we had plenty of groceries and water jugs, and dog necessities. Also, I made sure we had bath tissue, trash bags, and any other household items that might have been necessary. Any bills that needed to be paid, bank runs, and any other errands were done before the storm hit. It is dangerous to be out in a storm, especially bad ones. This one that hit yesterday caused flooding within the first few hours after it started! It was all I could do to drive home! Lanes were flooded and had to be bypassed, stores were putting up sandbags by the sidewalks, and visibility was not the best. We made it through and the storm only lasted until night, not the two-day storm they thought it would be, thank God. Now we'll enjoy the few nice days before the next one comes sometime this week!

stewardship

I am promising myself that starting this week I am turning a new leaf and going to be a better money manager! I'm tired of just getting by. I am sure that if I budget better and quit impulse spending, even though it is not much, I will be able to start coming out ahead. God willing, the tides will be changing soon for the better and I will be able to pay all my debts off! What a blessing that would be, and I will not go that route again! I am making plans on how I can make my skills and talents work better for me and help myself out, but I also need to get rid of a lot of unnecessary debt.

Joy

Someone told me today that happiness is what brings us joy, but I think it can be said that it is joy that brings us happiness. Joy can be many things: the smile on a child's face, the completion of a hard-earned task, the feeling we get when we see the happiness we have brought others. Joy comes in many forms and for many reasons, yet for some, it seems like it is always beyond their reach. Maybe some people's expectations for joy are too high. More people will obtain joy if they only look for it right in front of them, in all the wonderful things around us that God has created. Joy doesn't have to exist in big things, it can be in the smallest of things as well.

blessings

What a great way to finish off my Friday! I had just left school (teach third grade) and one of my student's parents told me they heard Heather from the Air 1 radio morning show this morning talking about one of my books she had bought with a caller! She really liked my book and was sharing some of the information in it with the caller! Of course, I immediately tweeted her and thanked her for her positive comments. Hope this means future blessings in the way of book promotions, sales, and offers from agents/publishers!

Perserverance

Success can be viewed many different ways; some people say if they have a lot of money and prestige they will be successful, others say if they accomplish all they want to achieve in life then they are successful. I think if you live your life with others in mind, not just yourself, and keep God in your heart and in your sight, you will be successful in whatever you do. It's not all about what you do, it's how you do it.

What's been happening

I can't believe we're almost halfway through January already! It seems like Christmas was just last week! The years have been seeming like they're only 6 months long. My kids say the same thing. I think it has to do with how busy we keep ourselves, it makes the time seem to go by faster. I hadn't posted for awhile as I was on a two week cruise to Hawaii over Thanksgiving with some of my family, then it was a rush to get ready for a mountain trip for my birthday, and then Christmas 10 days later and I was hosting! What was I just saying about keeping busy? It sure made the holidays go by quick!!! I like to plan some things but I also enjoy being spontaneous at times. This time of year is always a time of reflection and goal-setting for a lot of people. I like to look back and reflect on what went well and what didn't, then see what I can do differently in the coming year. I know I want to give more, in time and money; I want to devote more time to marketing my books; I want to spend even more quality time with my kids and grandson, not just around the house but in doing experiences with them-crafting, camping, taking trips, etc. This year, though I can't control everything, I feel is going to be life-changing in a positive way. I am looking forward to it! Happy New Year everyone!