tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17450862825507074232024-02-06T18:33:24.902-08:00Real Gurl LifeReal Gurl Life! Real, meaning authentic, true, and comfortable in our own shoes. Gurl, incorrectly spelled, to acknowledge that some days just don't go right, no matter how hard we try. We are messy, make mistakes, and don't follow directions sometimes. Real Gurl Life is Authentically Imperfect!A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-33034954043422465322020-08-30T19:40:00.011-07:002020-08-30T20:34:27.843-07:00I've Disappointed You<p><br /><br />The most challenging part for me is disappointing others. I want so much to be my true self. I NEED to know who I am, and live a life that is honest and true before God. First, I must find my true self, but it seems like the more I am myself, the more kick-back I get! I have struggled as an adult woman to reconcile myself back to the One who made me. I let myself get so off-track trying to satisfy my hunger to please everyone in my life, only to find that was entirely impossible and I woke up laying in a pile of rubbish, smelling like every dirty thing you can imagine. I was all used up by the roads I traveled to feel loved and accepted. <br /><br />As I started with earnest the pursuit to find myself, the real me, imperfections and all, I was ready to accept a rocky pathway and mistakes along the way. The problem was no one else way ready for that. All the cheerleaders seem to be okay with cheering but not so okay with failures as I would take big lunges forward only to find I had crashed into the glass staircase. Many were the times that I could not hold in my frustration and pulled into a dark parking lot and screamed into the ceiling of my car, loud and long. Eventually those screams gave way to short road trips to the falls, quick phone calls to a mentor, prayers, repeating of promises God made, a verse from a song, or any weapon that I was using at the moment to help me move forward when things were anxious for me.<br /><br />During all of this back and forth, to and fro, struggling with myself and God, wrestling with the right and wrong of who I was and who I was meant to be, I disappointed a lot of people. They let it be known too. I have lost count how many people let me go, in one form or another. I am not saying that I did not deserve it. I am saying that I was hurt that so many people did not keep standing near me while I was in such a critical place. Now I can say that God knows the future, He sees all the plans, He knows each season and He knows every tomorrow. There is nothing hid from Him. But in my despair I wondered where did my people go.<br /><br />Here is the best thing that I have learned about times of distress, anxiety, and unknowing times. God understands when we are strung out. I have learned to picture it like a big coffee table and my life is a huge puzzle on the table. Pieces are everywhere. Sections are started, edges began, piles of pieces, some fallen on the floor. It can look quite disheveled and overwhelming to me. But God is sitting right beside me. He is working on it with me. He is encouraging and smiling. "Oh, look! Here is that piece we were searching for! I found it under the table!" He is a helper and a friend indeed. He isn’t looking down on me, waiting for my perfection to show up, He is sitting right beside me, working on my mess with me. He does not expect me to know everything. He is teaching me His ways. He lifts my chin up when I’m crying and He is eternally my Best Friend. <br /><br /><b><i>You can never, ever disappoint God so much that He does not care about you.</i></b><br /><br />It was also pointed out to me that others aren’t used to me being my real self, the changes that come when one is tackling a complete redo, especially taking a firm stand for my own good. Of course, it surprised them and caught them off guard when I did that. It really is an art that takes mastering, delivering my new and also ever-changing self to friends and family who have known me a long time. It's not like I can hold a news conference and say, "Hey, please bear with me. I am not quite myself and I may be on quick-change personality for a while. God's not through with me yet. I sure appreciate your love and patience. In fact, I need it more than ever!" (this is still very true!)<br /><br />I wish I could have given everyone warning. Because what I have come through was bigger than Hurricane Laura. But God is big enough to take care of all of my needs. Even old friends, new friends, my children, and my two grandbabies....and things I don't even know about yet. He is still working on my puzzle with me and I am still changing.<br /><br />And I’m learning.<br />Every. Single. 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<br /><br />I have lately gotten braver at being me and the clumsy sure comes out! And with that comes people quick to point out that I don’t act, look, or believe like they do. These are people in my “friends” list that haven’t spoke to me about anything personal in months, maybe years. <br /><br />In the past I would have shrunk away, changed my behavior to fit the circumstance, anything to appease the person who was critical of me. I just wanted peace, to belong, to be loved so much that I would give up who I was to get it. Yep, that’s an addiction. Addiction to anything is not good. It means that you will lie, cheat, steal, or kill to get that particular HIGH or feeling. It doesn't have to be drugs or alcohol or food. There are lots of things people "think" they get their fill from besides God and being their real selves through Him.<br /><br />And I lived this way, changing my answers, looking for worthiness, my entire life and made many life-altering mistakes. Finally, I was seeking a way out and I willing to do anything to find it. I was blessed to get in a program that taught me a better way and a new way of thinking. I learned that God made me to be who I was so that I could fulfill a calling He had just for me! No more faking to be liked by someone else. It was time to find out who God wanted me to be so I could be my real self and receive the true love, God's love, that He had for me. He already knows we aren't perfect. He made Adam and Eve and knows about the garden and the apple. We are no surprise to Him. He has mercy and compassion for us. <br /><br />So I truly appreciate words like those above that remind me to be imperfect is to be real; to make mistakes and be clumsy is a part of living. One important differentiation: hurting others intentionally is not okay. I know this is long but this is truly where my heart is. You may see me wobble and I may have to apologize. But my struggle to be myself and to know who that is and what is important to me is fairly new. But I love this freedom and the ability to draw boundaries that I never had before. If I am around folks that I feel are toppling me over back to my old ways, I must draw the line. We must know who are the folks that cheer us on and hang around those folks!<br /><br />Thanks for reading and I wish you all a Real Gurl Life. Authentically Imperfect. <img src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tf0/1/16/1f338.png" /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/realgurllife?__eep__=6&__cft__[0]=AZXfVS1rA03TxXmra9_44uFluzGgDd_69GOn879XDHgU8AhP3elyW0BEGYVB_qjhOspSQE7_nlanoWsEYZMecsaks3GyLRdKGfBWMxMq0WBxtf4bNdY6-ZdBoowFXIU7evo&__tn__=*NK-R">#realgurllife</a>A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-73874829611415457072020-07-16T21:25:00.002-07:002020-07-16T21:28:52.429-07:00Calling All Real Gurls<div>
Calling all Real Gurls!</div>
I AM BACK!<br />
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As you can see from the last post, it was October 2016 when I last posted. And so much has happened since then. </div>
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I have been busy, busy, busy but so has God. My life has changed dramatically and so has my mind and my spirit. There was a good amount of stressful times but it all came around to God answering prayers that I truly wasn't sure I would see come to pass. </div>
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This post is to tell all my friends to get ready for opportunities for friendship, either here online or at my home, or possibly other local places close to Gresham, Oregon 97080. My ideal plan is to occasionally have a time to cook dinner together, eat together, and then sit back and share what's happening in our lives. This would be nice to offer twice a month for two different groups. Also, I would like to offer 1 weekday morning each week, a Coffee & Courage Club. Come with your coffee of choice or I will have a pot ready. We will have some uplifting talk or a study and send you on your way! Additionally, perhaps a monthly outing or game night. You get the idea. Time to join in together, build friendships, support, and growth.</div>
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Suffice it to say that I have experienced heavy growth during the past nearly four years. It all started with a dvt and pulmonary embolism and I nearly died; two complete knee replacements and one led to a hematoma and I was in the hospital for two weeks; followed by a fundiplication surgery on an extra large hernia that caused my stomach to be pushed up into my chest. There were other odds and ends in the midst of all of this such as finding out I have a blood clotting disease, hereditary. But I am here and ready to get back to it!</div>
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Please feel free to call, email, text, facebook, instagram or tweet if you need a friend or have a question. I will be posting here on the home page on the right hand side any upcoming activities as they are scheduled. I will also be posting on Facebook but you can always count on the website to be true.</div>
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Love you all, and hope to see you soon,</div>
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Lauren</div>
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Real Gurl Life🎕</div>
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A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-70793542000944110782016-10-26T16:52:00.001-07:002016-11-03T21:01:36.876-07:00Number One Rule for Building FriendshipsBrowsing the web this afternoon for advice on friendship, I found no shortage of advice and frilly, playful sayings. Here are a few that I found:<br />
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A true friend doesn't leave when the fun stops and things get uncomfortable.<br />
True friendships are hard to come by and the ones that are really your friends will be honest with you.<br />
To have a loyal friend like that is a rare find.<br />
People come and go, but a true friend will be there to weather the storm.<br />
Two are better than one, because they will have a good reward for their labor.<br />
True friendship is like sounds health; the value of it is seldom know until it is lost.<br />
A true friend is not only there to celebrate with you but also to encourage you during rough patches.<br />
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But the very best piece of advice is as old as the sun and we all heard it from our grandmothers when we were knee-high to a grasshopper:<br />
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"If you want to have friends, you must show yourself friendly."</div>
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So I leave you with this brief piece to consider, with more friendship information to come. We can always use a tune-up and right now before the holidays is a great time to get the attitude adjusted and the behavior practiced. We should probably get our mirrors out too...since we will be learning how-to "show ourselves friendly." <br />
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This is gonna be fun!</div>
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A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-18193836975360676612016-10-15T20:37:00.000-07:002016-10-15T20:39:07.588-07:00The Desires of Your Heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Sunday!<br />
I have been in church my whole life and have heard this Psalm many times. I always loved it because 1) I loved any verse about the heart and 2) it promised me that God would give me the "desires" of my heart. <br />
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The <em>desires</em> of my heart.<br />
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Really? If I just delight in Him then I will get all the things I wish for? That just seemed too good to be true. So I placated myself with the thought that it surely meant that God knew what was best and that He would only let me have what was good for me. That's child-like, simplistic thinking for you.<br />
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It wasn't until many years later, I was cleaning house and right as I stood up from wiping a wall down, I saw our ceramic wall hanging with this very verse on it. I was stopped in my tracks. I felt like I was just seeing it for the very first time. I said aloud to myself, "Why, He doesn't mean He will give me the desires of my heart! He means the <em>desires</em> of my heart...like, God will actually put the desires in my heart. He will <em>give</em> me the desires that I should have!<br />
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I know, right? It takes some people a while. But hey, it's still a good word to remember. God is not a piggy bank, or a good fairy to call upon at will. When we live as He calls us to live, we are delighting in Him and He will give us the desires of our hearts, or the passions that so fulfill our lives. He is a good, good, Father!<br />
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Delight in Him every day. Let God be your Father and fill your heart with the desires and passions that are your calling so that you will live a fulfilling life with Him like you have never known!A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-66081399912600811812016-10-14T20:45:00.001-07:002016-10-15T20:40:35.397-07:00About Stress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I saw this meme and it got my mind thinking about how badly stress took over my own life. I <span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">would like to add that undue stress challenges our even our most precious relationships, too. Stress is a destroyer and should not be underestimated. Many of us, when asked if we are stressed, blow it off like it is no big deal. We get all macho or act all strong and capable. Hear you me...Stress is an enemy of our desired lifestyles and can attack on many fronts - ALL AT THE SAME TIME. It doesn't wait until your are ready and it doesn't allow for do-overs. Stress marches on and leaves it's marks very obvious on our lives. </span></span><br />
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<span aria-live="polite" class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">If someone happens to mention or notice your stress level to you, you might just stop and take a close look. It is worth the examination as it may cost you more than you ever thought. Don't be so smart that you are dumb. Don't be ashamed either. Seek help, and it doesn't always have to be professional.. Ask for advice from your spouse, colleague, mentor, doctor. Take time off or at least away from the routine so you can take an honest look. Get your spouse or friend on board to help. De-stressing in even small ways can add up to big wins!</span></span><br />
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One of the major stress reducers? Prayer or Meditation. True story.<br />
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<br />A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-13681551518021911442016-09-13T00:25:00.003-07:002016-10-14T21:25:02.831-07:00Kick-off Meeting Soon<br />
KickOFF meeting is planned and scheduled for Wednesday night, October 26th from 7-8 p.m. We will meet this first time only at Starbucks on Stark Street in the Alberstons Shopping Center near MHCC. They have a long table that I will secure for us. This is going to be a planning meeting and should be lots of fun! No purchase necessary. Just come hang out and voice your thoughts on the ideas we have in mind! Don't be a Charlie Brown and miss the football but come be a part of the game plan! More news will be revealed at them KickOFF!<br />
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<br />A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-77909796752625721172016-07-11T17:13:00.000-07:002016-09-12T23:14:21.595-07:00Real Gurl Can't Find Lost Lake<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It's a true story. I couldn't find it. It's not a joke. I was lost at least four times. I will tell you all about it soon. Stay tuned!</span><br />
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A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-597369850628195502016-05-05T20:04:00.000-07:002016-05-23T14:00:55.597-07:00Of One Thing You Can Be Sure....<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1PER7TaBV5215E_mm0WbpP6J5MwS_Ag7YHo9XYC_k-tYSECuxkmvut1fTekkaneaEJRdnCY2QjuDAbVouRzkEl4doUsMrozp2Tu51D4X9SAVEazInI-cNiO0Mcy31MbAIxbo5McrrA/s1600/Change-600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA1PER7TaBV5215E_mm0WbpP6J5MwS_Ag7YHo9XYC_k-tYSECuxkmvut1fTekkaneaEJRdnCY2QjuDAbVouRzkEl4doUsMrozp2Tu51D4X9SAVEazInI-cNiO0Mcy31MbAIxbo5McrrA/s200/Change-600.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Change. I hate it.</td></tr>
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In this life, they say you can be sure of only death and taxes. Well, I beg to differ. After the physically exhausting and emotionally draining weekend I just spent moving and breaking all kinds of ties that bind, there is one thing that I know for sure...you can also count on CHANGE.<br />
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I think change is more sure than death and taxes, or at least it is more frequent. I think I might not mind change so much if I knew it was coming on April 15th of every year, like our tax returns. If I could just prepare, be aware, go shopping for chocolate, get ready for the big meltdown. But no...no such luck. Change hits us when we are least ready. <br />
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Through sickness and health, change seems wedded to me and determined to stick it out and make it work. I don't want any more change. I would like to settle in a comfy, leather lazy boy and while away the hours reading to grandgurl. Again, that brute named change just won't stay away.<br />
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So, through the aching muscles and the copious amounts of tears, the re-homing of my precious Sophie of 8 years, and the butchering of longstanding ties that bind, it appears that I have grabbed change by its lapel and hung on for dear life.<br />
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I have no idea where I will land. I have no idea where this is leading. I threw the road map out the window YEARS ago and as one country song says, I am working on tearing off the rearview mirror and giving it the heave-ho too.<br />
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I am sure there is yet another lesson in all of this. Right now I don't want to talk about lessons. Frankly, I am sick of lessons. I am tired of feeling judged by all the change in my life, the constant upheaval that no one else seems to experience. I see the eyes that roll and I can read the thought clouds over head as I begin to tell the latest happening in my life. I know it seems impossible for all these things to happen to one person. I feel the same way. Hey, I wish they didn't all happen to me, too. All I want these days is peace. I don't need any endowments, lottery winnings, or even to own land. I just want a small piece of comfort and a slice of stability. Maybe a lick of love. A hug from grandgurl.<br />
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Let me just end on that. <em>Grandgurl.</em> This past weekend I was blessed to move into grandgurl's home with her and her mom and dad. On the first day of move-in I needed to carry in five different baskets/boxes. With each trip I took across the threshold of the front door she was in full parade mode, yelling "yay, Gaga comed" and "Hurray, Gaga" and "Hi, Gaga" over and over to the tops of her lungs, and I felt like the biggest super star, Disney hero, or caped-crusader ever. She certainly has a way about her.<br />
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Yup. Change is one thing you can be sure of, and you may not see it coming. I was blind-sided for sure but I am happy, happy, happy to say that being Super Gaga is one great ending.A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-64989458977690941732016-04-17T17:44:00.001-07:002016-04-17T17:44:08.705-07:00But I Just Want to Understand!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Sometimes we just want to know why. Sometimes it just isn't fair and we want to understand. I have been stuck in this place for far too long. I DO believe there is more to my story than yesterday's mess. I may never know all the whys. My heart may never again feel the love or hear the words I long to hear. But there is still ink in the pen and paper in the drawer. And I have faith that Someone very trustworthy is holding onto the precious memories for me and the answers that I cannot understand today on this earth. Here are some of the words from a song I was listening to just today. I hope it helps you to move on past the mess and into the message of your life. There is still ink in the pen!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsGRmf7oD5SD02sKFedihyXoRku916AicvN9kSsCjglVsbc1sRkKaFG84NRMJL0wnRgsV1wiuY0oD4pbnNv-Dzr5y98ywcXuwsjEhFXoFmZavYS732vqTkigVttag0w78SXfnTRl56A/s1600/ink+in+the+pen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLsGRmf7oD5SD02sKFedihyXoRku916AicvN9kSsCjglVsbc1sRkKaFG84NRMJL0wnRgsV1wiuY0oD4pbnNv-Dzr5y98ywcXuwsjEhFXoFmZavYS732vqTkigVttag0w78SXfnTRl56A/s320/ink+in+the+pen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I believe in the rest of the story.<br />I believe there's still ink in the pen.<br />I have wasted my very last day trying to change what happened way back when.</div>
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Until someday all that's crazy;<br />All that's unexplained; <br />Will fall into place.</div>
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<br />And someday all that's hazy;<br />Through a clouded glass;<br />Will be clear at last.</div>
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Every puzzle's missing piece rests in the hands of Someone who holds you; for someday.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Someday by Nichole Nordeman</em></span></div>
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A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-89058416016209464612016-04-01T16:32:00.001-07:002016-04-01T18:39:16.398-07:00You Just Never Know<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have believed in miracles all my life. Optimists are just born that way. My favorite saying is, "You Never Know." Because it's true. There is just no knowing for sure how each day will turn out. Hope springs eternal!<br />
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Today has been a marathon of miracles. Since the end of June 2015, on my last day of work, praying that "something" would present itself and fretting over what I was to do, I have been awaiting my miracle. The answers and potential have been ebbing and flowing over the past months. But today, LIFE! <br />
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First, an email came in this morning from a client whom I have been waiting on for nearly a month. This is like the dream client and you can't rush dream clients. This is a big deal! The email said they were interested in starting a pilot program! I am so excited.<br />
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That email came while in route to an early morning appointment with yet another big opportunity. That appointment also went great. There was good, common ground and no glazed-over eyes. <em>(Glazed-over eyes: The kind of eyes that say "I am not interested in one word you are saying. Faces masked with pretend interest but with blank eyes, while you are pouring your heart out.)</em> Those are the worst. But none of that here. The meeting ended with another verbal commitment for future work. Exciting!<br />
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Busy day today led to a third appointment where I really had to lay my heart on the line. I had to be completely real, explain clearly, and show my true heart for this ministry. Again, I was afraid to I would be met with glazed-over eyes but instead, I was met with the eyes of the Father. Eyes that saw the good in me. Eyes who believed and felt my hope and passion. Eyes who had seen me a few years back, broken, wounded, and seemingly in an eternal pit. Eyes now willing to hear my story and offer a hand to a nervous and scared Real Gurl.<br />
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God knows just how to bring things together. In the weeks leading up to today I was concerned that maybe I was on the wrong track. Glazed-over eyes can sure make you feel that way. When I come face to face with the glazed, bored look, I immediately know they aren't my peeps. Just like the storm troopers in Star Wars...the ones that are told by Ben Kenobi, "These aren't the droids you're looking for." Not everybody is going to believe. Not everybody is going to get it. "Move along."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4ciliDghw_nOr_zSwWZm5uI5wfDANLz3I_bLlZiq2XxQhhQonyCI5t_F-cMwB26IBZLYuw_z5fcj-KMdCfe8R6eDyiTWjDUQ1KBGzfGHCh6wuvv7ch_iFdcZQ0EQove5EnFmNSH9MA/s1600/the+aren%2527t+the+droids+you+are+looking+for.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4ciliDghw_nOr_zSwWZm5uI5wfDANLz3I_bLlZiq2XxQhhQonyCI5t_F-cMwB26IBZLYuw_z5fcj-KMdCfe8R6eDyiTWjDUQ1KBGzfGHCh6wuvv7ch_iFdcZQ0EQove5EnFmNSH9MA/s320/the+aren%2527t+the+droids+you+are+looking+for.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Today however, God showed me what He had been working on all along. I wasn't met with a masked storm trooper face. I was greeted with hope that can only come from God. Hope that is confirmed with the sun on my shoulders and a sweet breeze blowing my hair!<br />
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There is so much that has happened in the past couple of days that it truly is Miracle Madness...so many miracles that I can't enumerate them all.<br />
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Wherever you are in life, hang on. It may be Friday, but Sunday is coming. God is watching over you and will prepare a way when there seems to be no way. You just never know when your Miracle Madness is coming! You just never know...<br />
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#RealGurlLifeA Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-16752499677928470342016-03-18T10:58:00.000-07:002016-03-18T11:40:08.441-07:00Day 78 ~ Not Too Late!Day 78 of my New Year and it's not too late!<br />
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My mind travels back to January 1, 2016. I was sitting in a booth, having lunch with my friend, Rhona. We were openly sharing our lives and the events of 2015. We talked about things we wanted to do better and goals for the coming year. I had read my journal from the year before and the entries were almost identical. I was still struggling with the same issues. I was ashamed to admit that I was in the same, exact, place as the year before. There was no growth, and surely nothing exciting on the horizon. I tried to quickly cover my shame by acknowledging that I wanted this year, 2016, to be different. I talked all tough and strongly asserted that I did not want another year to pass and not have something to show for it.<br />
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Rhona, is wise as a dove. She asked all the right questions and listened with intent, until she found growth that she could point out to me. I had made amends to 9 people in December and when she heard about that, she said, "See that right there? That's growth!"<br />
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(Can I just tell you that everyone needs a Rhona in their life?)<br />
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Making amends with those 9 people was difficult, and not all of the efforts were successful. It took me aback to consider that maybe I had accomplished something after all. As always, Rhona made me see the situation in a different way. I smiled a little bit. Maybe, just maybe, I WAS moving forward.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's plenty of time to make a change.</td></tr>
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Today marks Day 78 of this New Year and it is time to measure for growth. Take inventory. Look for changes, no matter how small. Don't be afraid to acknowledge change. You deserve to pat yourself on the back. Any forward movement or upward tick matters, because it shows you are headed in the right direction. Things may not go the way you planned. That doesn't mean failure. It means opportunity!<br />
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Real Gurl Life started off slooooowwww and I am one of those Fast-Food Life-Change people....I want it fast and now! However, the slowness has made it better as it allowed for new people to have input making way for better decisions, fresh ideas, and new options to come to light.<br />
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As an example, Real Gurl Life has a small, but working board. Shelly Patrick and Amanda Garcia could not have been better choices to serve as directors. They have proven themselves to be thoughtful, smart, encouraging, team members. More than once I have been sweetly surprised by their offerings of support. When I have felt like, "what's the use" they have guided me back to basics and stopped me from biting off more than I can chew. These ladies share the work and we each take on what matches our skillset. Together, we made a list and I am working on it!<br />
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I am also diligently pursuing health and new relationships with others. This is very uplifting too, as I see my quality of health is going forward with purpose. I am also rebuilding old relationships and start brand new ones as well! All of this adds up to a general feeling of well-being.<br />
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What does this all mean? Day 78 in a leap year means (according to Google) that there are 291 days left. Progress, at any rate, is progress, right? With the support of others you can accomplish more than if you try it alone. Who knows what the next 291 days could hold?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my best advice.</td></tr>
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Don't try to do life alone. We all need people in our lives that laugh like fools with us, love us in spite of ourselves, cry like a baby because we hurt, and show up for the hard stuff. Doing life together is the best way! Live well, my friends. The days add up to a life. Make it a life well-lived, a life well-loved.<br />
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#RealGurlLife<br />
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<br />A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-46511721754616694972016-03-10T11:41:00.003-08:002016-03-10T12:13:56.262-08:00Real Gurl Life Clubs!<div>
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We are a women's group working towards putting Real Gurl Life Clubs (after school) in middle schools. Here are some of the details of how these clubs will work and the curriculum that is being developed.</div>
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These clubs are geared for girls 6-8th grades. The basic theme is strategic life-planning. We aim to teach young ladies to learn who they are, where they want to go in life, what's it going to take to get there, and what rules are needed to keep their life on track. We will assist them in developing strategies for facing the many tough situations that young girls face today.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decisions made early will stick!</td></tr>
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We will encourage planning decisions regarding their approach to education, health, friendship, ethics, safety and more. We will use journaling, role playing, guest speakers, and weekly challenges to encourage these young ladies to make choices that will lead them to the life they envision; a life that is entirely possible by virtue of their choices, attitude, standards, and work ethic.</div>
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It is our belief that youth who have pre-determined their own "rules for life" before they are faced with a bad situation are more likely to feel empowered to stand their ground and choose what will benefit their life plan.<br />
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It is part of the "dream" that these young ladies will know who they are BEFORE they are in the back seat of a car with a boy and to make sound decisions when faced with the knowledge of their friend's deep secret and are tempted to inform the entire eighth grade. These are simple problems that can have long-lasting consequences and impact on our girls. We want to equip them with knowledge on how to make choices that will follow their life-plan and what to do if they need help or have problems facing down a particular issue.</div>
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Are you a friend of Real Gurl Life? Have you LIKED our page or FOLLOWED our website? Please help us by clicking LIKE on our Facebook page and follow our website. We want to keep you informed of our progress. We are also accepting donations towards getting this program up and running. We appreciate your support in any way....just sharing our website would be great!</div>
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Currently we are working with two school districts to see how this program can fit into the current activities of their schools. We are open to public or private schools, church groups, girls' clubs, teams, or any place a group of girls gather! This can be an on-going meeting or a one-time engagement. There is no fee. Our group and our sponsors are helping us with this outreach.</div>
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Do YOU have a girls group that you would like us to visit? Would you like to start one? Let us know!!!</div>
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Questions or Interest? Contact Laura Holzbach at <a href="mailto:laura@realgurllife.org">laura@realgurllife.org</a> and you will be contacted shortly. We look forward to hearing from you!</div>
A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-12018193673148846702016-03-04T11:55:00.002-08:002016-03-04T11:59:05.905-08:00Because! It's our March Monthly Meeting!Hey Real Gurls!<br />
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I have been out of pocket the past two weeks with health issues. I cannot tell you how excited I am to see everyone. I sure hope you can make our next meeting. We will be hosting Interest Groups on three topics that are sure to interest you. Interest Topics are: Friendship Rules, Safety & Defense, and Dollars & Sense. Groups will be hosted by Laura, Shelly, and Mandy. <br />
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We will be having a large group discussion regarding the word,<br />
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LOCATION: M&M Restaurant in Gresham has agreed to host our group in their meeting room (where Gresham Rotary meets) without a fee. Orders will be taken for those who opt to eat a meal or have a tea or soda. No purchase is necessary so please do not worry about that! <br />
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We hope you will come and bring a friend. This is going to be a FUN meeting!<br />
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M&M Restaurant </div>
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137 N Main Street </div>
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Gresham, OR 97030</div>
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A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-42620642865370876982016-02-29T22:37:00.002-08:002016-02-29T22:37:15.150-08:00Change of HeartMy last post was about Joey Feek and I hope you will bear with me just one more time. I just read an update and she only has days to live. She is has been sleeping for days. Joey has said her most precious goodbyes. Her husband, Rory, says that Joey has given their baby girl her last, sweet kiss. Only a few unsaid good-byes remain.<br />
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Most of you know that I was hospitalized last week. Four days of poking and prodding and gurneys and no sleep and I thought I was having it rough. The pity-party line of well wishers were coveted and the visits, flowers, and attention were intoxicating. Released on the fourth day, the doctors figured out the problem and sent me on my way with follow-up instructions and a new RX for life. But there were no threats to my existence. Certainly no countdown established or hushed words of the gut-wrenching variety.<br />
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I have been home for two days now and it is quiet. I got too much attention at the hospital and not too much here at home, alone. It sounds so selfish as I read back aloud what I just wrote. I want to just hit the backspace and undo. I bet some of the folks who I know currently facing a harsh reality would love a backspace button. <br />
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I am called to change my ways in a hurry. Nothing short of a switch from my Granny's bush in the Carolinas seems fitting. My heart is sad and I feel small and rebuked. What have I been thinking?When exactly am I going to learn how short it all is, how fast it all goes? When, when, when? <br />
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Love, people! Love is the thing. Love them all.<br />
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I guess it is getting morbid for some of you but hopefully cathartic for most, because here is the thing....that one thing that really, really, stuck out to me; something of particular note; a phrase said by Rory Feek of his wife, Joey. Here are his words, as they were written:<br />
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<em><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;">"In the 40 short years that Joey has lived, my bride has accomplished many great things… she's lived a very full life," he wrote. "But even more than that, she has loved those around her greatly and been loved greatly in return. I can honestly say that Joey's isn't just a life well-lived, it's a life well-loved." (see note)</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A life well-lived...a life well-loved.</span><br />
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What a beautiful life.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"><em>Note: Quote was taken from ET Online article, dated February 29, 2016 by Meredith B. Kile</em></span><br />
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<em><span style="font-size: xx-small;">#RealGurlLife</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-15748668693890114312016-02-17T23:34:00.001-08:002016-02-22T14:58:27.335-08:00If Not Now, When?What courage. What bravery. What commitment. What a love. Such devotion. How rich a life. So quick. Too soon. <br />
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I have had some pain in this life. Many of you have heard all about my heartaches and heartbreaks....and it's fair to say that I have had my share. But when I read the story of Joey & Rory Feek....when I listen to her perfect voice sing those perfect words of "When I'm Gone," well, I feel small indeed. <br />
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Listen here to Joey Feek sing "When I'm Gone"</div>
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The magnitude of their grief makes mine pale by comparison, for the glaring difference between my grief and theirs is that I was able to spend 23 years married, not just 14. The pain and brokenness that ended my union was born of sheer and utter neglect. Not a dreadful, unyielding disease for which there is no cure. I was blessed to get to see my three children grow up. Their baby just turned two. As I think of the Feeks and the shortness of time they must be feeling, I realize that I am shamefully late. I have wasted too many good years that the Feeks would now give anything to have. <br />
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As I gather myself to read their blog or a headline catches my eye, I glance through the news story quickly and with trepidation, dreading the announcement of Joey's last day. Her <em>last</em> day. She's too young. She has a baby. Please wait. Don't go.<br />
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Joey has not treated life as a rehearsal. <a name='more'></a>She hasn't wasted any time during her brief, earthly stay. It was just a few days ago that Joey's husband, Rory, reported that she was still giving him gardening instructions so that when she was gone, he would be able to have freshly picked vegetables for their now 2-year-old daughter. Not one minute of life wasted, I tell you. Caring. Planning. Serving. Loving. Committed. <br />
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The Feeks have been married just fourteen years this Valentine's Day, nominated for a first Grammy, and celebrated their baby girl's second birthday, all in a short week. They have squeezed out, used up, and wrung out every last drop of living and love that they possibly could. How shamed I am feeling tonight at how easily I lost my most valued life. It is somewhat like watching the teenager in the car next to you driving and texting. They think they have a hundred years to go. Now I just fear I can't get it right before it is over.<br />
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I am moved by the Feek's story. My heart is deeply touched. The realization of a lesson learned almost too late is weighing heavy. I need to know more about how to treasure the people in my life and how to value time. Get busy living, so they say.<br />
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They may not know it but the Feeks are the blessed ones. They did not squander time and their love will carry on long after the earthly end of the story. From following their story, I would bet my last dollar that they do indeed know how blessed they are. In my case, I must remain and face my choice of loss. The Feeks will have created glorious memories of moments well-spent. Perhaps not as many moments as they had planned, but glorious nonetheless. I am envious, in the sweetest way possible.<br />
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What brought this on, you might ask? Tonight, I listened again to the song that this lovely couple cut just a few short years ago, well before the devilish cancer had put its claws into their romantic tale. As I sat and thought about how many of us waste time, I just had to get busy writing.<br />
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Please listen to the song. Join me in hearing the call to a deeper part of our soul....it is a simple warning not to waste even one more second. We need each other. The Feek's example is a fine place to start. Just begin. Anywhere.<br />
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It's time to dance with the fireflies and smell the daffodils and hear the whippoorwill's song. Time to enjoy the glorious morning blue skies, the cricket's call, and whisper our loved one's name. Before we are gone.<br />
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Godspeed, Joey. Your legacy is calling me to a different place. With God as my witness, I will not waste another day.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">#RealGurlLife</span></div>
A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-60725956994619511122016-02-12T11:29:00.001-08:002016-02-22T13:44:27.484-08:00Real Gurl Life Friendship<br />
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<em><strong>Two are better than one, as they have a good return for their labor:</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>But how can one keep warm alone?</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.</strong></em></div>
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<em><strong>~Ephesians 4:9-11</strong></em></div>
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<span class="_Tgc"><span style="font-size: large;"><span data-dobid="hdw">friend·ship <span style="font-size: small;">/</span></span><span style="font-size: small;">ˈfren(d)SHip/ <em>noun - </em><span style="font-size: large;">t</span></span>he emotion or conduct of friends; or the state of being friends<em>. </em></span></span></div>
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<span class="_Tgc"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Friendship</b> is</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="_Tgc">affection </span><span class="_Tgc">between two or more people. </span></span></div>
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<span class="_Tgc"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Friendship</b> is a stronger form of </span></span></div>
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<br /><span class="text Eccl-4-12"> </span></span>P.S. So if you need me, call me. I will be there for you!<br />
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#RealGurlLife</div>
<br />A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-28541714744193349322016-01-28T13:50:00.002-08:002016-02-18T11:22:44.189-08:00Voices in My Head - Talking to MyselfRecently I was reading an article about conversations we have with other people. It gave some clinical rules of the road for social conversations. It was a bit heavy-handed and included a bunch of research and obviously sought to help others. Now, I don't want to short-change science and I am the first to admit that I have not a scientific bone in my body. I know that how we speak with others is important. Our tone, our word choice, everything comes together to create the sum of communication.<br />
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In my line of very unscientific heart-thinking,<a name='more'></a> I am often brought to a place to consider the conversations we hold with ourselves. It is interesting to me how we can change our lives if we will change the conversations we have in our own head! I'm not making this up. I have lived this out and can tell you for certain that it works. It is a shame that we are more careful about how we speak to strangers than we are when we comment, criticize, and berate ourselves.<br />
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Listen to me: This is important! We must get control of our thoughts. What we say to ourselves is either going to build us up or tear us down. There is no getting around it. It is the law of the land: what we plant, we sow. Go ahead and plant negativity in your mind field. Don't be surprised if that is all you hear. I'm dumb. I'm fat. I have no friends. No change is coming. It will not work. Why am I even trying?<br />
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Then you know what happens? Those awful, terrible three words take over. <br />
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<strong>ALWAYS. </strong><strong>NEVER. </strong><strong>EVER.</strong></div>
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It has <strong>ALWAYS</strong> been this way.</div>
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It will <strong>NEVER</strong> be any different.</div>
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I don't believe it can <strong>EVER</strong> change.</div>
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Those three little words just brought finality to the fault-finding voice in our head. Now I am not only dumb but I will <em>always</em> be dumb. I will <em>never</em> not be dumb. I can <em>never, ever</em> change being dumb.<br />
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The criticisms in your head become statements of fact and doom for life. They become them a permanent tape running in our head and it gets into the very fiber of our being. And all of sudden, without warning, depression and loneliness step in. We have definitely lost ourselves on our way to who we were made to be.<br />
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Our inner voice is powerful. What a difference when we are loving and kind to ourselves. How awesome to realize that God, Himself, made us. How important it is to listen for the Voice of Truth!<br />
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I AM capable. </div>
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It IS possible. </div>
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I CAN do it. </div>
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It COULD happen.</div>
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My good friend, Sue, once said to me: "If you are going to talk to yourself, then tell yourself something good!" This is great advice!</div>
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Again, I can tell you for certain that taking control over that voice is one of the most important steps to being all that God made you to be. It is worth all of the effort to correct the negative comments and replace them with words of Truth which will always bring comfort, possibility and encouragement. The Voice of Truth will not condemn. God made you and He is FOR you. <br />
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Listen for the Voice of Truth!</div>
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<em>Day 28 - What are you doing today to make this year different?</em></div>
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What are <strong>YOU</strong> doing?</div>
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#RealGurlLife</div>
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A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-44172203431161075802016-01-25T14:33:00.002-08:002016-01-28T12:53:52.229-08:00RX: A Good Friend and ConversationThis past weekend I was fortunate to spend with a long-time friend. I accompanied her on a business trip so that she wouldn't be driving alone and we had plenty of free time to fill on the long drive and between meetings.<br />
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I have known Shelly since the beginning of high school. I have always admired her vim and vigor for life. She is one of those people that loves to be active and busy. She not only runs, bikes, and all the normal stuff but loves pickle ball and even had a skydiving adventure this past summer! As we reminisced this weekend, we spent plenty of high school days in my orange Datsun B210 and eating Taco Bell. (<em>Who doesn't eat Taco Bell 24/7 when you are in high school? Don't judge!)</em>We currently live in the same city and see each other with some regularity, but now we had an entire, glorious weekend!<br />
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<strong><em>We talked our heads off!</em></strong><br />
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Honestly, before I even got into the car<a name='more'></a> we were chatting and except for sleeping, I don't think we stopped....the entire weekend.<br />
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<strong><em>It was wonderful.</em></strong><br />
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May God bless you each with a good friend that you can share your life with and not hold back. It is so wonderful to be yourself, say what your feeling, and not be judged. My friend and I caught up on the many years we have been in different locations, we commiserated about struggles and what we learned, we talked about our goals and dreams and what we are looking forward to in the future.<br />
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What a gift to have someone to bounce ideas around! A friend to validate and give helpful critique in the most supportive and graceful way is one of God's richest gifts. I am so blessed to be able to say that I have a handful of these friends, and I am grateful for each and every one. To be able to have even ONE of these confidantes is a miracle. They just don't come along all the time.<br />
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If you are struggling with life and feel cornered with no outlet, I highly suggest you grab your special friend and get somewhere quiet. Go somewhere that is unique or a place you don't go very often and just let the words flow. Be yourself. Be open. Listen. Talk. Be honest. No need to try to fix anything. Just air it out and let your mind be free. It is amazing how it opens the doors and windows to new thoughts, fresh ideas, and a new and deep appreciation for that special friend.<br />
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<strong><em>"Best counseling session I've ever known is to be with a true friend." Laura Holzbach</em></strong><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">#RealGurlLife</span>A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-46751107872648430122016-01-22T21:21:00.001-08:002016-01-25T14:06:09.593-08:00It's Your Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At our first Real Gurl Life meeting last week we took on the challenge to raise our efforts a little bit, just one degree. We are going to try just a little bit harder, love just a little bit longer, give just a little bit more, forgive just a few more times.<br />
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Here's the thing....If you are looking for change in your life, it isn't just gonna come up and smack you in the face. Change requires something be different. There must be movement, either more or less, to create change. You will be waiting a long time for the results YOU want if you cannot choose to make a change.<br />
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Here's a great thing about change....Change brings Hope. Most people do not deal very well with change. In fact, most folks avoid it.<br />
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Ever try to get help moving the living room furniture around? Ha! <br />
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How about letting your hairdresser choose a new haircut? No way!<br />
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Just try it! You will find it to be true that Change will make you feel alive. It brings Hope that something can be different. You either get busy changing or get busy dying, as the saying goes.<br />
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So....Whatcha gonna do? It's your life!<br />
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Change something.<br />
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#RealGurlLife<br />
<br />A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-49878196224279366712016-01-19T21:55:00.000-08:002016-01-20T18:27:46.142-08:00My Peeps ~ I Have Found Them!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Tonight went better than in my best dreams! We had 24 friends attend and I have found my peeps! It is good to come together and share our lives, to hear something new, to get a fresh take on things. One person is very limited in information but 24 women have an abundance of experience. Thank you ladies, for being part of my calling tonight. I will never forget this first meeting. I am blessed.<br />
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Remember, it just takes that one degree of difference, just that little bit more, and the water turns to steam that can run a locomotive. Just give it a little bit more and see what happens!<br />
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A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-64418199535220751922016-01-16T13:31:00.003-08:002016-01-20T19:19:34.848-08:00It's Almost Here - First Introductory Meeting!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong>Tuesday, January 19, 2016</strong></div>
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<strong>6:30-8:00 p.m.</strong></div>
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<strong>East Hill Church - Kid City Bakery Classroom</strong></div>
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Every Second Tuesday we will be holding a monthly meeting for Real Gurl Life. These meetings will be held from 6:30-8:00 p.m. and location for each meeting is posted on The Schedule on the website, <a href="http://www.realgurllife.org/">www.RealGurlLife.org</a> for your convenience. <br />
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Note: <em>If you LIKE our Facebook page or sign-up on the website to receive updates, you will be sure to get an invite to any activity that Real Gurl Life offers.</em><br />
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Real Gurl Life has a heart for women who may feel like life will never change; who may feel stuck with no way out or needing a fresh outlook; who may be looking for encouragement; and mostly to provide skills and tools to live an "authentically imperfect" life with passion. Collectively and in small groups we will search out who God called us to be and discover the joy of serving others. Friendship building is an important part of Real Gurl Life and we will offer networking activities as well as a lesson at each meeting. It's important to have friends!<br />
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Events will also be set up, mostly on a quarterly basis. The first quarter activity will be Eat, Pray, Books! You will find out more about <br />
this fun, networking, friendship-making event very shortly!<br />
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Real Gurl Life will also hold varying skill building classes each quarter. There are a wide variety of topics and dependent upon each woman's interest. The topics are also listed on the website under Study Series. There will Bible studies, marriage, self-awareness, parenting and more. The classes available will rotate each quarter.<br />
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You will learn a lot more about Real Gurl Life at THIS First Introductory Meeting! I am looking forward to you joining us as often as you can and please always feel free to bring a friend!<br />
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If your church would like to host a meeting of Real Gurl Life or are looking for an event speaker, please do not hesitate to let us know.<br />
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We will make every effort to honor your time and end on time. We know you are all busy ladies! Please help us by being ready at 6:30 p.m. to start the fun!<br />
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<strong><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: large;">See you there! I just can't wait!</span></strong></div>
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A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-34005406908347571152016-01-14T20:25:00.002-08:002016-01-14T20:25:57.337-08:00The Way I See It - Day 13<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The day started off better than most and I was feeling happy and fulfilled until.....the lion roared.<br />
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It is difficult to set boundaries. I hate dealing with the confusion of when to be tough and when it's not as big a deal as I am making it. I do understand how important boundaries are, and I am trying.<br />
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So I go "all-quiet" and distance myself from the situation while nursing the continual wound that keeps getting reopened with too much regularity. In an effort to get further away, I text my daughter and ask if she possibly needs me for babysitting any earlier. How awesome to find out that she was already on her way to me to go on a ride to Salem for her work.<br />
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I quickly got ready and walked outside to the car where she was feeding the baby. Off we went down I-205 South to Salem. Weather was rainy but the traffic was not so bad. We hit our exit and were just a block away from our intended destination when we entered the left-hand turn lane with traffic signal. We had a car waiting at the light in front of us and just as we neared the car ahead, another car jumped into the turn lane....well, actually they jumped smacked into my daughter's car! Metal hit metal with the quick sound of fingernails on a chalkboard. We had been hit!<br />
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My daughter saw them from the corner of her eye coming into us and reacted so I reacted and braced myself, not sure where it was coming from but expecting a hit. It felt like a hit but it looked like a scrape down the passenger side of the car and ripped the side of the tire too. Not really so bad with the damage. Nothing Jerry's Custom Paint couldn't handle!<br />
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My daughter, however, was experiencing her first auto accident with the baby in the car. She was clearly anxious and needed to park quickly to check on things. In the meantime, we were also considering how we each felt. I immediately felt it in my low back, I think because I braced for it. It took my daughter just a bit longer to begin to feel it up her back, down her arm....plus she was still trying to get her composure and recover from the anxiety of it all. For all that she had been through in a quick, hot minute, she handled herself like a champ.<br />
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Later, as I walked through Fred Meyers, I realized that my kneecap also felt odd and painful. All of the insurance info was properly collected and contact made to insurance companies. The physical hurts of the day will be taken care of in due time.<br />
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Why do I tell you this personal story?<br />
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Because all of the things that happened today could happen on any normal day. These are the every day blips of life. We get up and we just go from one blip to another and we forget to weigh the importance of each decision, each blip. We hurt others, we break things, we get anxious, we get hurt, we worry.<br />
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The day could have turned out a whole lot different. The accident could have been a whole lot worse.<br />
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I guess as I review the day on paper, I wonder why we aren't more concerned about how we treat others? How quickly things can change and there is no chance for making it right; no time for speaking those unsaid words that we keep pent up inside.<br />
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Why keep them pent up? Why is it so difficult to let the guard down and love others? Exactly how long do we think we have on this earth? Let that love flow. Give it away! Our days are numbered, though we do not know the count.<br />
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I have loved and I have lost. I have lived and I have felt dead. This is one thing I know for sure:<br />
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LOVE WINS.<br />
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There is nothing, no nothing, that can overcome love. As I have said before and will say many more times, I am sure....I only believe in unconditional love. Love that has the word "if" in it is a contract; an agreement. The word "if" nullifies unconditional.<br />
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Don't leave the important people in your life in the dark. Everyone needs genuine love; the kind that is steady as a rock. The unconditional kind. Love breathes life. At least, that's what I believe.<br />
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<i>What are you doing today to make this year different?</i><br />
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I don't want to zone-out. I want to zoom-in.<br />
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I don't want to fight for the couch. I want to fight for my life.<br />
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<i>What are YOU doing today?</i><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">#Real Gurl Life</span></div>
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<br />A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-67129470421079689802016-01-12T21:14:00.004-08:002016-01-14T20:25:47.135-08:00Sore Spot? Everybody's Got One -Day 12It is tough to admit when you face a loss, a failure, defeat...Most of us cannot bring ourselves to admit we even have a problem. It feels too close to our <em>sore spot</em>. The spot that appeared unnoticed until that sudden knife-like pain hits us unexpectedly and makes us react with a vengeance, wondering where in the heck did <em>that</em> crazy reaction come from?<br />
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I am hoping you understand me here, because, gosh, I hate to be out here on my own with this stuff.<br />
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I am going to admit to you that today, someone hit my <em>sore spot</em>. My reaction wasn't vengeance, unless you count crying over half the day as such.<br />
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<em>Sore spot?</em> Everybody's got one.<br />
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As I was writing of the glories of answered prayers yesterday, today held different answers. Or, to be precise, the answers from yesterday were changed. I felt deflated. I felt it in my<em> sore spot</em>. The brooding and the endless questioning began. Unfortunately, I had no plans today so I had time to entertain those two knuckleheads: Brooding and Questions.<br />
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As I reflected on the joy I felt when things were going my way, (actually mourned is a better word), I remembered something from church on Sunday. Our pastor's wife talked about when the answer doesn't come, how we need to trust God. He has something bigger and better than we could ever plan. In fact, she said, we could even go around shouting, "Yay, I have a problem!" because we know the outcome will be better than the problem.<br />
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Still, there's that <em>sore spot</em> to deal with.<br />
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During the sermon about God being "over all" I began to think about the people and things in my life that needed an answer. I could picture all of those things under His wings. I felt like God wanted me to RELAX with every answer, good or bad, and just say, Yay, I have a problem!<br />
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Okay, so maybe the <em>sore spot</em> isn't hurting quite so bad right now.<br />
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I put my sons, my health, my finances, and this group ALL under HIS wings. I can relax into the acceptance of how things are and move forward, knowing His answer is bigger and better than my problem. It's really such a relief to let go. I don't have to figure it out. God's working on it.<br />
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What's YOUR sore spot?<br />
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<em>What are you doing today to make this year different?</em> I don't want to zone-out. I want to zoom-in. <br />
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I don't want to fight for the couch. I want to fight for my life.<br />
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<em>What are YOU doing today?</em><br />
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#RealGurlLife<br />
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<br />A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1745086282550707423.post-14443230283675442732016-01-11T17:34:00.004-08:002016-01-11T17:40:15.315-08:00Want Relief? Relax It was my intent to post every single day as a new year resolution but wouldn't you know it, the first weekend out, and boom! I fall off the wagon of my goal to post every day. It is very rare that I have such a busy weekend. We had a family birthday, church, family football game watch and Sunday dinner. It was a great weekend and I feel completely rejuvenated, although I have to admit that I felt guilty about the lack of posting.<br />
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When I went into the weekend, I had many things on my mind. Some of them were problems, some of them were wants, and some of them were real issues that needed answers. I have a lot of questions about the direction of my life, my health, and I do a great deal of soul-searching. I am always looking for a clue to the answer. I want answers to hurry up and get here!<br />
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As I sat in church service with my family and we sang songs to God, I was overcome with answers pouring out. The pastor and his wife also provided the message. I don't know what everyone else heard, but I heard that I need to follow my calling, wherever that may lead and no matter who is for or against me.<br />
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I also heard something else important. Many of you know that I will be revealing my Word for 2016. You see, for the past two years I have been working on congruency. This year I have a new mantra, but I felt like God added to that mantra. He added: <em>Relax. </em><span style="font-size: x-small;">(The rest of my mantra is to be revealed at the first Real Gurl Life meeting on January 19th. Visit </span><a href="http://www.realgurllife.org/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">www.RealGurlLife.org</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> for details.)</span><br />
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<em>Relax.</em><br />
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As I rolled that word around in my mouth, seeing how it tasted, I could see myself from an outside perspective and understood immediately what it all meant.<br />
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You see, I am someone who sees the big picture pretty quickly. I can usually make good, solid, decisions in a moment of necessity because of seeing the big picture. I rush to answers before anyone else takes a breath. I have it all laid out and decided without any other input and while the group may eventually arrive at the same decision, I have generally alienated the group by my hasty arrival at the end result without due process or hearing one opinion.<br />
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<em>Relax.</em><br />
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Let it roll. Don't be the first to respond. Play it cool. Fly casual. Be thoughtful about when and how to answer.<br />
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You know, as I rolled the word around some more, it was <em>not only Relax, it felt like Relief</em>. What? I don't have to bear the burden of figuring it all out? That sounds good! I can let go and have some relief! A spiritual need for change: <em>Relax.</em><br />
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<em>Relax.</em><br />
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Before the weekend even started, I received an email from a women's convention asking me to consider being the speaker for the two-day retreat this year. What? This is something I have only dreamed of doing. Speaking? I thought it would be a very long while before this would come my way. I am honored by the request and excited by this move forward in my life. A personal dream answered.<br />
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On Monday, today, following the weekend, I received a call about a health issue. The doctor called to say my surgery was approved! It was up in the air and I was hoping it would be approved. The doctor had already requested approval last year and it was denied. The doctor put through the paperwork again with my new insurance for 2016 and it was approved in a matter of days! A health issue: approved.<br />
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So in one weekend, God provided, in His own way, in His own timing, answers to:<br />
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a spiritual need for change; <em>Relax</em><br />
a personal dream; Speak<br />
a health issue; Approved<br />
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No kidding, it felt like by letting go, not being in a hurry to answer the question, by taking the <em>"Relax"</em> approach, I was able to actually <em>"Relax"</em> and give up trying to figure it out on my own. I could let the answers come and not be in a hurry. I could be accepting of the answers because I am under God's umbrella, as is every thing and every person in my life. <br />
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Real Gurls, it is time that we let go and what we are holding onto so tightly and roll with God's plan. I am going to continue to challenge myself with the question:<br />
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<em>What are you doing today to make this year different? </em><br />
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<em>What are you doing today?</em><br />
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<br />A Real Gurlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05539639532155012885noreply@blogger.com