Tag: faith

Peace Begins with a Smile

I’d like to start off by asking, “What makes YOU smile?” Is it nice weather, or a day off from work, or maybe something as simple as your favorite song playing on the radio? Well, that’s the question that I also want to ask of myself today!

What makes me smile?

So here goes…here are thirty things that make me smile.

  1. A well-crafted iced latte
  2. An intriguing book
  3. Capturing a good photograph
  4. Traveling to someplace new
  5. Looking into my Hubby’s baby blue eyes
  6. When my Mom and I call each other on the phone at exactly the same time
  7. When we have our good friends over for dinner on Monday nights
  8. Getting something for cheap, or free!
  9. A good conversation
  10. Get-togethers with my in-laws (there’s always great food and good laughs)
  11. A tasty meal – especially if I didn’t have to cook it 😉
  12. When our pets do something cute
  13. When someone comments on one of my blog posts
  14. Being able to help someone
  15. When my Hubby does a chore without my asking
  16. Knowing I have a God who loves me unconditionally
  17. Writing!
  18. Having a “good hair day”
  19. A soothing cup of tea (add a delicious scone, and it’s even better)
  20. Sliding under the toasty warm covers at bedtime
  21. Meeting someone who struggles with similar issues as I do (it helps me feel like I’m not alone)
  22. When my Hubby and I go over my brother’s apartment for “Movie time”
  23. Finding a good parking spot
  24. Listening to rain pounding on the roof as I fall asleep…thunder is good, too
  25. Going down to my parents’ house for the day
  26. Catching up with a close friend
  27. The smell in our house when I’ve had a crock-pot meal cooking all day
  28. A good hug
  29. The revitalized way I feel after I take a walk and get fresh air
  30. Knowing that I have a purpose and that I have a wonderful adventure ahead of me.

Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed my list! And let me ask you again…what makes YOU smile? Do any of the things that I’ve mentioned make you smile, also?

peace-begins-with-a-smile-quote-2

*I got the idea for this writing prompt from   at Psych Central.

*Featured Photo Credit: Eli Defaria

God’s Got Me

“It’s going to be okay. God’s got me. He’s got it all under control.”

This is the phrase I repeat to myself when I feel overwhelmed and like I want to give up. It doesn’t make my problems go away, but it helps me to get through them. And I realized today that God has been very good to me in keeping this promise.

This morning I had an ECT (ElectroConvulsive Therapy) treatment after three weeks without one. I normally go every two weeks – which doesn’t seem like a big difference, but it is with ECT. After the treatment I had three weeks ago, I felt very depressed and tired. It really made getting through each day difficult. So I was worried about my treatment today, that it would make me feel horrible again. But it didn’t.

As my Mom drove me home from the hospital this morning, she remarked that I seem a lot better after this treatment. And I do feel better. After the anesthesia wore off, I was able to wash some dishes, put away groceries, and take a shower. Normally I would just sleep all afternoon, so this is good for me! And my mood is better – I feel somewhat upbeat. This is truly a blessing, and I pray that it lasts!

All this to say: God’s got me. God’s got you. He’s not going to let us down (He never has and He never will!) Life is hard, but our Father is bigger and stronger than anything we will ever face. He showed me that today, and all I can say is that I’m grateful.

Thank You, Jesus, for always being there for us, and for walking with us through our darkest hours. And thank you for the times when the sun shines through the clouds. You are truly good!

At Day’s End

I captured the above photo after stopping in a parking lot on my way home from my final Career class today. I had been scared to attend, as we were scheduled to have mock interviews…and that’s not exactly my forte.

But I faced my fear, and even though things didn’t go as well as I had hoped, I was able to follow through and complete the interviews as well as the course.

God really is strong in our weaknesses.

At day’s end, I can look back and give thanks to the Lord for giving me the grace and strength to follow through with a task that was very difficult for me.

And that gives me hope and incentive to face a different fear tomorrow.