All is well with my soul

Some days, I’m really thankful for Facebook. Today is one of those. The ability to see what we’ve shared in the past is definitely an opportunity to gauge, change, or redirect today. I am so truly humbled, blessed, and covered in grace.

Two years ago I shared:

Other than the day my beautiful girl came into this world, I don’t think I’ve ever cried so many tears of joy. I’ve spent the last two weeks being off FB, which isn’t a bad thing, and it has been time well spent with family and in a state of “RE” – REst, REcuperation, REjuvination, REpurpose.

I received the best news ever this morning. My results from Monday’s procedure came back benign. This is the first time EVERYTHING removed came back benign and the first time in 6 years that there was NO signs of cancer in the polyps.

There are no words to express the love and gratitude for all the love, support, prayers, texts, messages, hand holding (and hair holding as I puked my brains out Sunday and Monday), FB posts (I have the best 20171111_191635little sister in the world), and words of comfort. I am truly the most blessed person in the world. God is great!

A year ago, I shared the above status with the added comment:

What a year it has been! People ask where I get my enthusiasm and positive outlook. It comes from waking up each morning knowing God has a bigger purpose for me than I can ever imagine. It comes from knowing that in the darkest times, He’s always been there. You only get so many second chances to truly live your life … so do/be/live/love what makes you happy / sets your soul on fire / makes you feel alive. Live a life full of adventure, stories, love, and laughter! It’s all about choices my friends!

Five months ago, which I didn’t post about, I received yet another positive (meaning good) report. It may suck @ss that I have to go in every year, but it does beat the alternative!

The reason of this post is to stop and pause and reflect. We (including myself) get so wrapped up in the day to day little things that, at the end of our life won’t amount to anything…and we forget the BIG things that have happened to us. We spend so much time in the she said/he said, drama of social media, hurt feelings, and what we feel we are owed or due that we forget what has been given to us – without any repercussions, cost, or action on our part.  So, no matter what comes up in my day to day, I am going to remind myself to reflect on what God has done for me, how much he loves me, and none of the garbage will matter in the end. The post served as a reminder today of how great life really is and how amazing God is.  Live BIG my friends!

Love, peace, and pie!
RED

 

PS. If you are old enough to be reading this, you are old enough to get a well woman/man check-up. Do NOT wait until the recommended ages. Had I waited until the recommended age for a colonoscopy, I’d be dead. If you have a parent who was/has been treated or diagnosed with cancer or severe issues of any sort, it is recommended to be tested 10 years younger than the age they were diagnosed. Get over yourself, and get checked out!

Holy Cow!

Well, today is day one, fully immersed in the “real world” and whoa what a day it has been already! Nothing beats spending some time in the morning on the phone w/ my SFAM (sister from another mister) Jen as she makes her annual trek back to the mountains of Montana. Oh how I wish I was loaded up and heading with her.

Okay, so I’m not quiet, but…

this morning I was hit with a HUGE …or as Pastor Duane would say, HUPER, revelation. T7f1e52a44de81f8ee8d41933396f247ais past weekend, there was a lot of revelation based around the difference between knowing and believing and this morning was another sign of the transformation that took place. As I was sitting there praying for my family, I realized that we often pray and ask God to give us (or those we are praying for) “stuff”: joy, peace, etc. Now, before you go getting all “churchy” on me, hear me out. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with praying peace or love or comfort over or for people. What I’m saying though is….we never stop to ask God to open our hearts and minds to the “stuff” he’s already given us! Seriously….he is not holding back waiting to grace our lives with love and peace and joy – it is OURS already!  We already have ALL of the gifts, tools, skills, talents, people, blessings, and support to be successful! But instead, we place the burden on HIM, and we don’t do any work ourselves. So if our day is CRAP, it’s His fault. If I’m in a bad mood, it’s His fault.

This hit me hard. Like a brick. I don’t know how many times I have cried out to God begging Him to grant me something and then felt abandoned or ignored because I didn’t get it….all the while, what I should have been doing was asking Him to open my heart, quiet my spirit, close my mouth, and prepare me to receive what it was He already had for me! So, when I FINISHED praying for my family this morning, I prayed that our hearts were open to the peace, joy, strength, and courage God had for us today. Prepare yourself and open your heart and your mind and have a beautiful day!

PS. Uhm…talk about not letting me sit in my comfort zone. I opened my email today to find my name on the agenda to speak at the New Mexico CowBelle’s Mid-Year Meeting held in June in conjunction with the New Mexico Wool Grower’s Annual Convention / New Mexico Cattle Grower’s Association Mid Year meeting.  Did I mention I haven’t even submitted a proposal yet?

Live BIG!

Love,
RED

De Colores!

ee33712f9709fa6541d1f74e233263a5Speechless. That’s how the last 4 days left me. Hardly able to string words together to form a sentence (shock, I know). There are no words in the dictionary to describe the journey, the process, the transformation that occurred on my Walk to Emmaus.

I came home today completely and utterly exhausted physically, mentally “drunk”, emotionally calm (which is EPIC), and spiritually made new. Not renewed…because of things I carried that kept me from accepting and believing God’s unconditional love and blessings over my life (there’s a huge difference in knowing and believing )…but new. I am a new woman with a new heart, spirit, soul and well of courage and faith I’ve never had.

I can’t thank everyone enough for the encouragement, prayers, blessings, and love this weekend and am forever humbled by the seeds that Monte, Tiffany, and Rodney planted in my life as well as mine and Gus’ (Shawn) future and the spiritual healing I received through Jimmy and Momma D (not to be confused with our Mama D).

Here is to a lifetime of fresh starts, agape love, grace (and snort) filled adventures, buttermilk pie, divine appointments, family, and freedom!

De Colores!
Live BIG!

Love,
RED

There is Always a Risk

They say, the greatest challenges come before the biggest revelation/blessing. That’s funny in itself because we’ve been under siege since December of 2015! Now, don’t get me wrong. I have had some huge blessings the last year and a half, but also a lot of heartbreak and setback. Last week, the enemy sucker punched me in the stomach and I let him steal my joy and I forgot for a while who I was. No, I’m no one important to you. I had forgotten who I was in HIM but this week, was reminded of how important I am to HIM. Today, as I prepare to leave this week for my Walk to Emmaus, I am reminded of dreams God has put on my heart.

From the archives of 4/21/16:

Your dreams were given to you because God equipped you to be able to accomplish them. He has put everything in motion, surrounded you with the right people, opened doors and moved mountains, just for you. Everything you need will be provided for you at the right time, just keep moving forward!2016_04

There is no dream that is too big or too small, too silly, too stupid, too out of this world. Want to save the world? Go for it. Teach school, join the military, make music, art, movies? Right on. Become the CEO, the janitor, or dig wells in 3rd world countries? Do it with all ya got!

The best part about the dreams we have is that we are only given a small glimpse of what God has in store for us! The future will NEVER look like we imagine, so live in today and make the best of it!

PS: If you don’t have people around you that support your dreams (even if they don’t understand they WHY of what you do), you need to find some new people! No one in your life should ever be holding you down or back – only helping to propel you forward, lifting you up,praying over you, and cheering you on!

~ XXOO

Live BIG!
RED

#dreamBIG #rideBIG #liveBIG #loveBIG #believeBIG #heartonfire#redhairdontcare #befierce #beyou

Jaded Hearts

Often times, images speak more to me than words do, but this morning’s devotional cut right through my heart: “Our attitudes are an outward display of what’s taking place in our hearts.” Normally, we tend to regard our attitudes as an outward reflection of what is going on in our lives, but very rarely do we stop and consider that our attitudes, actions, AND words are a reflection of what’s going on in our hearts. There is so much hurt in this world – no matter who is at fault or to blame – but I am here to tell you that the healing and joy available to you far outweighs the hurt! James 1:2 says, “dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great 33017joy.” It may not feel like it right now, but there is joy to be found. There is light in the darkness. There is healing in the hurt. I’m here to tell you, this is a challenge for me as well. While it is a struggle some days to rejoice IN all things, it is so important to guard our hearts and our words. Hurt people hurt people. Don’t let your attitudes and actions leave a permanent mark of a temporary place you are in. Let love, peace, and joy take root in your heart so that the flowers of your soul blossom.

 

Live Big!
Love,
RED