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I’ve got great news.

The groundhog did not see his shadow.

Early spring—here we come!

If you are from western Pa, you are well- aware of this yearly superstition/tradition in which we call, “Groundhog’s Day.” There was even a movie about it. You know, the one where the guy repeats the same day over and over.

Lately, I have felt like I’ve been trapped in sort of Groundhog’s Day.

Every day with all of the snow seemingly the same…and not getting out and socialized.

Today we are going to a birthday party and it made me anxious. It’s at a bowling arena and a place with high stimulus. Laser Tag. Arcade. Lights.

My five year old son was invited, so of course we are going…but it sounds like possible chaos.

But it made me think of what a hypocrite I am.

Here I am, running this awesome website called, “Party Gatherings,” and I’m not even looking forward to a birthday party? What gives? Celebrating life is what I live for and some anxiousness shouldn’t keep me from what I love to do best—to be with others and to party!

I do suffer from anxiety. But I do have a God that has promised me to always be steadfast and true. And Amen to that! Today I will get out of this house (something I have been complaining about for a week now), and today I will celebrate life!

Life is for living. And with God anything can happen. Birthdays especially, SHOULD BE celebrated! Just like Groundhog’s Day–they only happen once a year but they are a perfect reminder of how grateful we should be to simply be alive and enjoy God’s grace. 

“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.” Psalm 18:2

We have been snowed in for a week now.

No school.

And I’ll be honest with you, it’s getting hard.

By the time my husband gets home from work my son and I nearly jump on him as we are merely glad for a change of face and events. We are slowly getting what I believe they call, “cabin fever.”

And yet we love one another with all our heart.

It got me snippy today though when school was cancelled yet again… and I looked outside to see it snowing. Again? I thought…again?!

It made me think of God’s love for me though and how He can make so many things again and again and still not grow weary. With His strength I can be comforted if I look to Him instead of trying to do things on my own. And today was one of those days I needed cleansing.

It always helps too when God gives you a little reminder of His LOVE for you.

And this window sticky—as tacky as it seems, did the trick. Perception is important when you decide to be positive about life. Things seem to suddenly get much better. Just look up.

Have a good day. Celebrate life and love.

“Create in me a clean heart, O God.” Psalm 51:10

Every morning when I wake up, it’s a race to the coffee pot.

I do this every single day.

My day starts with attempting to get one cup of coffee down, or at least made before my five year old wakes up.

Many days I succeed (like I did today), but other days I find myself dragging along. The entire time my dog, Tyson, watches me patiently. He is the perfect “watch dog.” Because that is all he really does.  His boxer droopy face is without expression. However, he is probably the most patient and gentle creature that exists on earth, and yet so many times I’ve found myself exasperated in simply “taking him out to go potty.”

It got me thinking this morning about the big race of life and how much I can learn from the creature that seems to just “droop” at me, but more than that it made me realize that I am an example to not just him but to all of those around me—including my five year old son.

My coffee this morning didn’t have creamer and normally this would have set me on a path of disturbance, but instead…today…I took a lesson from Tyson and bucked up.

I used chocolate milk instead.

And I must say, it ain’t too shabby. 😊

Until tomorrow, may the sun shine down on your early morning moments and late night dreams.

Peace Out.

“He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

Since I was in the seventh grade, I have hot rollered my hair.

I like it big and poofy, with lots and lots of hair spray.

Call me a kid from the 80s, now an adult…I still enjoy this hair style more than anything else I’ve ever tried. I choose not to change it. So don’t even try to budge me. I must say though, it is some work to do this every morning and many times the straight iron would suffice (and maybe be more hip). I don’t care. It is the magic that makes me feel most like myself.

It got me thinking this morning though (after I was in hot rollers and my kid’s school was cancelled), that just because I hot roller my hair doesn’t mean my day was going to be any better. Or did it?

That extra effort to get out of my yoga pants over the past five years since I had my baby has taken huge amounts of hope and effort, but at the end of the day putting on my makeup and normal clothes has helped loads. It’s helped me get back to myself again and I notice that I accomplish much more when not in my yoga pants. Articles of clothing alone, maybe what is on the outside actually does do something for what resides within. Sometimes.

That’s why it’s important to always at least wear a smile. And I can do that!

So for now, even though we are snowed in and below temperatures outside, I will hot roller and find myself in casual clothing—and find myself saying no to the yoga pants and not the yoga. Until tomorrow, be well! And stay warm.

“Give preference to one another in honor.” Romans 12:10

There is something about filling in shapes on a blank canvas that I can’t get enough of.

I will admit something to you.

I am an adult colorer.

As funny as this may seem, the so called, “Adult Coloring” that I’ve done in the last six months or so has brought me a lot of stress relief and even enjoyment. I think labeling it as “adult” though to be very tongue in cheek, as my son is easily able to color (obviously) anything I would give him and this includes many more detailed and defined images that I have on my phone.

I use a phone app called, “Happy Coloring.” It allows me to simply “poke” at my phone using a paint by number system. To say this is brainless is an understatement. But today I wondered if the opposite was true.

I have done so much thinking when coloring on my phone.

The intensity of my thinking doesn’t compare to the mindlessness of my actions. But then again…I think they somehow call this mindfulness. It works. It relaxes me and allows my anxiety to somehow filter away and at the same time, I feel as though I’m being constructive about it all.

I started writing this blog yesterday and yesterday’s post was much better. But I erased it. Today, I regretted erasing what I had already written just to get a step ahead today. But then I thought, what if I kept every single thing I did write every day? How would I ever have room for what lies ahead or what I should be focusing on daily?

What if I kept rehashing yesterday’s words? It was today that the epiphany came that: Moving on is good even if it’s hard and somehow it all works out better in the long run if I move ahead from day to day as best that I can.

So, I started fresh. And this blog is all of today. It may not be as good as yesterday’s start, but I can sure finish today in knowing all of me was present and moving forward. Amen to that.

Growing every day can be painful but only if we see it that way. Perception plays a big part in our happiness and today I choose to be present, joyful, and happy. It’s what helps me serve the Lord best.

“Do not be conformed to this world. But be TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING of your mind.” Romans 12:2

 

This morning I woke to my kid screaming at the top of his lungs.

I was DEAD asleep and having a hard time even moving a muscle let alone leaping out of bed and running, but I did it anyway.

I DID IT ANYWAY.

He was terrified because his form of “comfort blanket,” his, “cozy dog” was missing.

I sighed with relief. Nearly slumping. And pulled back the covers to reveal this hugged to death small stuffed animal dog that was right beside him. And he was fine. Both were fine.

It got me thinking later about how God must sometimes feel this way. Us screaming at the top of our lungs for mercy or help and him being right there the whole time, right beneath the blanket. It motivated me to be more patient and remind myself that He is always there and has promised to always be with me.

God give me the strength to endure and the patience to listen. Thank you, Jesus, for being patient WITH ME! Help me to find patience with others in doing your service. Amen.

“Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness reaches to the skies.” Psalm 36:5

Today. My mascara died.

It was such a good tube and one that somehow got better with age. Maybe it was a good batch? I dunno. Either way, it was something that caused me some grief and its what made me begin to think about change and how change is always so difficult, no matter how BIG or SMALL things may seem.

There was something about this mascara that made it volumize my lash in just the right way. I became accustomed to its ease and every morning greatly enjoyed using it to literally PLUMP up the volume on my face.

But those days are gone.

And how do we move on?

Pain.

There is something about pain that is the greatest part of this equation. It is the roughest, most toughest thing to do but it must be dealt with. Otherwise, we become stuck in the past and in days in which things that we want are no longer available to us and won’t ever be again. That’s what some call a “rut” but I call it pure living hell.

You’ll see people who live completely in the past. They are the ones most often times that seem the most miserable. It’s unfortunate but true.

I used to be this way.

I still am to some extent.

I’m human.

Count every day for its blessings no matter how small or big things seem to weigh on you. Ask God for his guidance. HE comes. I promise. If you are faithful, regardless of the death or circumstance or pain that may seem unreal that you are going through right now—He is there. Even if you feel alone, you are not. Praise God for his mercy.

And thank Him for new beginnings. I have thanked him for this new mascara. It is not “like” the old one, but in time I’m sure I will learn that new things and old things go hand in hand. It is how we appreciate our lives as a whole. Take one day at a time.  And Amen to that. 😊

“He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

Well, we survived the storm. All in all, it turns out that it was the snow shoveling that took home the prize. It proved to be a much-needed male bonding exercise that I’m still flabbergasted (somewhat) about. My son was so excited to simply be helping his daddy. And because there are only (2) shovels, this mama got to stay inside where it’s warm and take photographs for her Facebook page.

That’s right, I said it: FACEBOOK. The F word. The fractions of time that add up to huge ones when we begin our life journeys and include social media.

I was watching Elevation Worship yesterday because the roads were so bad, and I love more than anything to hear that man preach. What’s his name? Steven Furtick. He’s the bomb. Anyways, like most Sundays, he has a lot of great things to say and valid points that he brought up regarding devices, reality versus behind the scenes conforming, and finding true joy instead of feeling pressured to be joyous, etc. Long story short, he brought up the F word. And there I was, getting ready to run outside and not only take a picture of my son and his dad shoveling, but also include a video clip for the “just in case” moments I oh so crave.

It was also then that I decided NOT to feel guilty for using F.

Right now, I sense fear. Fear that I will be someone who condemns, and that is the last thing that I EVER want to do. I do not want to ever speak ill of someone, especially publicly online. But the whole time he was going on, I kept thinking about how enormous the power of the Lord has become simply because of that church’s social media outlets. And that’s it. BAM!

I decided to F it, and Facebooked the snow shoveling day and was very happy I did.

I’ll tell you why.

Memories.

Without all of my Facebook posts from the past five years—Yes, that’s right FIVE. And I mean every single day for FIVE YEARS. FACEBOOK…has become my historian. It’s like when the past me looks out for the future me. I love those “I’ve got your back” moments. The memories and moments that were captured (that I still enjoy every day) would be gone. So, I’m glad I did. I am glad I used F.

Living in the moment. Being present. Finding that happiness? I get it.

But for now, Facebook is something I have decided I will continue to use for MY purposes. Not to show off anything or to be hyper focused on what others are doing, but for my own mental catalog of what I’m doing. We (more specifically) what WE are doing as a family. So, until next week Steven F., I think I’m going with social media this time. And don’t worry, I will continue to share you consistently on my F. 😊

Love & Giggles,

PG

Jesus is MY healer. I must remember that He gives me the strength to endure. It is within me that He dwells. When I am feeling the pangs of guilt, I must question where this emotion is coming from before proceeding because most of the time, it is merely a worldly matter. And most of the time? It doesn’t concern me. Most things that are worried over are things that truly don’t (in the long run) mean much of anything. Cleaning my plate, shoveling my side of the street, and moving on, helps me to stay focused, balanced, and in control of what my daily motivators with Him, are and that includes no one else. It helps me to stay healthy both physically and mentally. And I thank you, Jesus, for this awesome gift. It is where I find my Joy.

“They brought to Him all who were ill…and HE healed them. Matthew 4:24