Entertaining a Teenager- My First Christmas as an Aunt

I can remember feeling both worried and super excited about all the changes that occurred in 2015.  One of these was becoming an aunt (officially) and wondering what teenagers (more specifically college students) these days deem as “fun”.  I’m laughing at myself because I realize how “old” that sounds.  (She says in granny voice, “What are these teenagers up to these days?!!).  Criminey to Pete- It’s only been like 16 years since I was that age.  Things can’t be THAT different, right?  “Well since you use phrases like Criminey to Pete, you MUST be out of touch with things and these teens will think you are “old” and stuff, ” her inner critic says.  GAH!  Then again, I’m sure not many of my peers say “criminey to Pete” either.  I’m just … Continue Reading

Everyday Miracles-God Sent Me a Heart!

God loves us quote

Sometimes people want to know where my joy despite the tough stuff comes from.  Why am I so perky?  How do such serendipitous things find their way to me? etc.  It really is because of the presence of God in my life.  This is part of my testimony and I know it’s something that not everyone relates to, but I have to be authentically me.  I experience little everyday miracles frequently, and I know that is because of 1. God’s love & grace and 2. My awareness of them.  I am willing and open to receiving them,  noticing them, hunting for them (being a blessings hunter, which you can read more about that on my website’s About page), asking God for them, thanking God for them, and making sure I … Continue Reading

Childhood Christmas Traditions-A Christmas Gift for Jesus

The week of Christmas is upon us!  I have been a busy little elf (away from my writing desk) and immersed in making fudges, cookies, wrapping gifts and making sure our cottage styled home looks magical and cozy for Christmas and Winter.  I am sure you all have been busy too and have barely noticed my little elfish hiatus ;).   As we celebrate this sacred season together, I thought I would share a little piece of what Christmas was like for me as a child.  Mom instilled the spirit of Giving in us from the time we were small.  She came up with the coolest way to keep the reason for the season at hand, and I thought maybe it would inspire some of you parents out there who … Continue Reading

Angels Among Us-On Being an Angel to Your Fellow Man

With the holiday Season upon us, our hearts are often filled with love and goodwill towards our fellow man.  To me, Living Inspired means Living this way year round.  Even in my own toughest times in life, reaching out to help others made a profound impact (lifting my own spirits as well).  When we are putting an energy of love out there, we are in turn going to attract love and kindness unto ourselves. This is where true miracles happen!  Today’s inspiration is a true story that happened to me (and my family) a month ago.  It is a story of goodwill, kindness, love, and strangers. **Make sure to watch the YouTube video at the end of this, as it goes with my story and I think it will touch … Continue Reading

The Pearable-What a Bucket of Fruit Taught Me About Life Part 2

Today I am bringing you the continuation of a true story I call, “The Pearable-Or What a Bucket of Fruit Taught Me About Life”.  If you have missed the first part of the story, part 2 may not make as much sense.  You can click HERE to read part 1.   Arm in Arm we set out at dusk (Matt & I) that crisp October eve, with the exuberance of children going door to door at Halloween asking for candy.  Only we weren’t the ones receiving.  We were the literal bearers of fruit…a bucket of fruit, that is.   It was like a grown up version of trick or treating-this random act of kindness we were about to do.   We knocked on various doors with our bucket of freshly … Continue Reading

The Pearable-or What a Bucket of Fruit Taught Me About Life

Who knew that my latest inspiration would come from a bucket of fruit?  (This is what I am talking about when I say “living inspired” guys..there is SO much inspiration around us.)  Seemingly mundane, everyday life can provide Life Lessons. Wisdom. Truth.  AND a sense of Fun.  We just have to Open our eyes, our hearts, and Awaken our senses.  There is a story to tell in every day life.  YOU have a story.  I have a story.  And-today a piece of fruit has a story.  😀  I call this story “The Pearable.”  (a special thanks to a woman in my writing class named Violet Harlow for thinking of this brilliant pun when I was recalling this story to her as a regular parable).       If you read my last … Continue Reading

Inspired by Hugs- Be a “Reckless Hugger” & Love with Reckless Abandon

Today’s Inspiration is – HUGS!!     This brain of mine thinks of many things (curious and an observer, not too much unlike my furry friends 😉 ) , and one of the things I got to thinking about recently is how as children, we are both the receiver and the giver of hugs frequently!  Often we received hugs from parents, other family, friends,whomever and gave them out freely as well.  I have this theory that children tend to be more open to freely giving affection.  There is a type of innocent, reckless abandon in youth that causes us to not typically over think things as much, or worry about what others think.   I can remember as a child not only receiving lots of hugs, but showing affection to others freely … Continue Reading

Liebster Award

 I was randomly given something called a Liebster award for blogging, so for today’s post you will find out some fun facts about the girl behind the blog (me!..well duh, you are saying 🙂 ) While this post is a bit long, I hope you will find getting to know me better interesting.     Have you heard about the Liebster Award? I had heard it in passing, but thought it was a   weird name and didn’t know what on earth it was.  It turns out it’s an award bloggers give to one another to help spread word of newer or little known blogs. To get one means the person who gave it to you appreciates the work you do.  So, I especially want to thank Tonya at Nearly … Continue Reading

Cat Colony Christmas Photos (Their First Christmas)

One last set of photos to share from Christmas for (mostly) Wordless Wednesday.  If you have been keeping up with my blog, then by now you know about my efforts to help a Feral and Stray Cat Colony issue in my neighborhood.  All of the photos today are of colony cats.  Some of them are the outside ones we help, and some of them are indoor ones that have now been adopted.  This was their first Christmas! 🙂 We wanted to bring a little joy to their lives.  If you would like to read more about the colony cats I care for and their stories, you can click HERE to be taken to the archives, or just look for the Cat Colony tab on my website.  Looking out for the … Continue Reading

The Praise Project (Spreading a Lil’ Sunshine)-My Results

Could you go an entire week without uttering one negative word to another?  Not one criticism, sarcastic comment, or complaint?  How would it affect yourself and those around you if you used your words to only speak praises to people?  Life giving words.  Edifying words.  Sincere Compliments.  Sincere words of appreciation and gratitude.  Letting people know how you feel about them while you can, instead of keeping it to yourself and regretting not telling them later. This was the concept behind “The Praise Project” that Tonya and I did this week.  What is this “Praise Project” you ask?  Click HERE to catch up if you missed Monday’s article on that, and click HERE to read how my friend Tonya did during her one week challenge if you missed Tuesday’s article.  … Continue Reading

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