'Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for. '..... Epicurus

Today…I feel like it’s a good day. Still have the same issues going on but I just feel like and this sounds trite but I’m tired of being tired….

Soooo remember how I'm trying to dwelve deeper into the makings of a better me...perfect timing for this email forward...yes...yes I know its an email forward but considering I hadn't shared my recent needs to my ex sis-in-law and she sent the email to me this morning...I'm going to TAKE it as a sign that I'm on the right path...here goes...

An Angel says, 'Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice.'
1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5. Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19 Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try and pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good 'Thank you Jesus .'

27. Laugh.

8. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33 Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. '

If God is for us, who can be against us?'(Romans 8:31)

I like the list. Funny how simple and common sense just seems perfect sometimes.....

I am in no way a photographer but I love taking pictures. I love capturing the moment so that later on I can look at the picture and feel that same feeling again. I love looking at pictures days, months, YEARS later and KNOW what was going on in that picture based on the emotions, people and background. I love knowing that 60 years later, my grandkids can go through my photo’s and laugh at the right moments. Know the love felt between two people. Or know what I viewed as important. Just from one photo of mine at one moment in time.

But I also love L .O. V. E that at my amateur skill level .. I go to a website and a photographer, a REAL photographers web site, and I see a pose, or a shot, or a feel …something, that I do! God it’s wonderful. Not in no way saying that it’s a copy cat on either person’s part…just…the thought that with their skill and technology…I’ve thought of the same thing. AND THEY MAKE MONEY DOING IT.

Is that crazy??? Does this make sense???

*

I so want to be on a level plain. Yesterday…I felt really good. I have issues going on but I had peace. I actually liked my life. Was enjoying just… being. Today…I have anxiety. I feel anger toward 3 people, two who are very important and one that, well, is not as important. I want to run screaming away from things, burying my head and sand and wait for things to pass me by. Things are irritating me to the point of gritting my teeth and TRYING to bear it. AND. ITS. ONLY. 8 FREAKIN’ CLOCK IN THE MORNING.

*
My mother is on Facebook. And she is driving me crazy. The other day she asked me what the deal is with the hearts, hugs and chug so I explained it too her and NO she did not have to do it but lo and behold…guess who I get a hug, beer (for Oktoberfest) and a ghetto snack from? Yes, mommie dearest. Then she says…’I don’t know what the big deal is. Facebook isn’t that great. I think I will stop for a year’. What the deal is on stopping for a year, I don’t know but she was very precise in that.

*
Autumn/Fall (what do YOU call it) officially started on Tuesday but I believe we’ve been having Autumn/Fall weather for about 2 weeks prior. Except for leading into winter, I think I might actually like this season. Normally I am a full-fledged spring time girl but the sunlight around here lately has been gorgeous. Has me wanting to switch every candle in my house to something like pumpkin/spice or something like that. To get tons and tons of mums. To actually get a STRAW and decorate with a scarecrow of or something Halloween-y. To cook soups, gumbo and chilli. To curl up with my green blankie on my couch and read. And do it all with a smile on my face. To take part in homecoming activities, which we have 3 coming up this month, YEAH! Ton’s of photo opportunities. Parades. Battle of bands. Loves it. Oh! and the main thing is mazes. This one in particular. Check it out if you live near. If not, check one out near you. We go every year to this one and we have a blast.

Peace…

Most people make New Year’s Resolutions…I’ll stand before the crowd, at the podium, raise my hand and say ‘My name is Jakki…and I too, make New Year’s Resolutions!’ At that time, most of my resolutions are geared more towards the physical outward appearance sort and I usually break those. For some reason, about this time, close to my birthday or close to winter, I start thinking about the inner makings that make me ME.

And I want to change it all

Well not it all but pretty damn close

I start thinking about

Wanting to pray more
Wanting to go back to church
Wanting to forgive
Wanting to share of me more
Wanting to ‘walk’ in love
Wanting to do away with excess.

Wanting to stay away from negativity

I don’t know why that is. My secret fantasy of being a writer would say that…

Autumn is the beginning of the end….the time and moment where things die off…life forces slowly drain all in preparation of the complete silence and death of winter. Ah….winter….the dreaded but necessary completion of the grand circle of life. Because with every death…there IS a beginning. For anything dead, a nutrient is brought to those things that live, causing life to be more substantial than before.

In other words…I think I just want a new beginning. A ‘wipe the slate’ clean kind of thing. Saying it that way doesn’t seem as grand but its true. I go through these areas in time where I just don’t feel….right. Like, there’s a heaviness to my heart and my spirit. I will shake it off for a long time until…I have no choice but to deal with it and right now…I’m in the full throw’s of dealing with it.

Guess who had a birthday last week?????

He is now 2 years old!!

Never forget.....