2012 - You're Winning!

I can't believe we are almost into 2012!  This year has been phenomanal, lots of highs and lows, and most important . . . full of change.  Change is the one thing, we human beings, have absolutely no control over.  It's inevitable.  Our lives will change, our bodies will change, our attitudes will change, no matter how much we try to stop it, it just happens.  The best way I've learned to deal with any change, good or bad, is to embrace it, and welcome it trusting that all things are working together for my good. 

2011 contained different life experiences for each of us.  Some of the situations we faced in 2011, we wish we would have never had to go through.  While other events, we wish we could re-live over and over.  Either way, 2011 was a year of promotion and growth for all of us.  When I say promotion, I mean spiritual promotion.  We've learned (or are learning) to accept ourselves exactly the way we are, and our relationship with God continues to grow.

As I go into this new year, and celebrate this holiday with my family, I just want to thank God for everything in 2011.  The good, the bad, and the ugly lol.  God showed up in my life, and He showed out.  As you go into this new year, re-evaluate your inner circles.  Surround yourself with positive, uplifting people who are working towards a goal, or goals.  This energy is so contagious, and as you watch your inner circle of friends receive their blessings, you will receive yours as well.  Remove the people who are bringing you down, you can always love someone from a distance, and sometimes silence is the best form of communication.

No matter what your 2011 was like, believe that 2012 is going to be far better than anything you could have possibly imagined for yourself.  Look beyond what your eyes can see, and tap into the faith that has gotten you to this point in your life.  Activate the peace that surpasses all understanding and thank God for the presents (blessings) that already have your name on them.  In 2012 . . . YOU'RE WINNING!

Be Blessed all!

  

For the Ones I Love:

My inner circle consists of my husband, my immediate family, and about 4 very close friends.  You guys have been so supportive of me, and I love you more and more every day.  The blessings I've witnessed you receive throughout this year brings tears to my eyes because I know you deserve it!!!  God has given me so much just by giving me each of you, and I hope I can give you guys back what you've given me plus more.  I love each of you so much, and I love being on this journey with you.

 Dasha 

Your B12 Shot

This week was a tough one, yet very rewarding.  In fact, it may have been one of the toughest weeks I've had in a while, yet I've received some of the greatest rewards.  I like to think of myself as a positve person, and an encourager.  But sometimes the encourager needs encouragement, and that is exactly what I received, and it was from unexpected sources.  (Side note: It's funny that everything we are looking for, everything we need and want, is usually right in front of us.)

As an encourager and a giver, I find myself growing weary at times.  There are times when I feel totally drained, totally out of it and ready to check out.  At those exact moments, God always gives me some type of good news.  I'll never forget, when my daughters were born, they stayed in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) for 8 days because they came 6 weeks early.  Those were the hardest 8 days.  It was so difficult for me to leave them there.  So I visited throughout the day.  When they were about 3 or 4 days old, they were put in an incubator.  This was the first time they had been put an incubator.  They were maintaining their body temperature pretty well, so I thought, "Why now?!  Is there something wrong with them?!"  I wanted them to come home.  After that visit, I cried for a while.  My mom had to almost carry me out of the hospital.  (Post-partum hormones weren't helping either lol).  While I was crying in the car with my mother, I got a phone call, it was my doctor's office, they had the results of our daughters' blood tests.  This test would confirm if they were identical or fraternal twins.  The nurse delivered the news, "Your girls are identical.  Congratulations!"

I thought to myself, WOW!  Our babies are identical!  How often does that happen?!  How blessed are we?!  HOW BLESSED AM I?!  Needless-to-say, that call was delivered at exactly the right moment.  At that specific moment, I felt so depleted, so worried, so distressed, and God gave me my B12 shot.  He gave me what I needed to get through the next few days.  They were born when I was 34 weeks, and were expected to stay in the hospital for 4 weeks, I believe.  Those strong little girls came home in 8 days.  8 DAYS!!!  They ate well (and still do lol) and maintained their body temperature with no assistance.  They are strong, independent little Queens and I can't wait to see them become the trailblazers of their time.

I wrote this tonight, so that you can give yourself a B12 shot.  The holidays are a very joyous time, but the hype of it all, can make some people feel a little down.  As long as you're doing the right thing, believe that God will give you what you need right when you need it.  He will send something or someone your way to encourage you, and remind you of all you have overcome, and remind you of who you are.  Each one of us has power within us that is so strong, it simply cannot be measured.  Our hearts are remarkably resilient.  When you feel depleted, when you feel like you have nothing left to give, be still and wait for the blessing, because it's already been given to you, you have already received your advancement, God is just waiting to deliver it at the exact... right... moment.

Believe it and Receive it!

Love you all!

Dasha

BOLD AS A LION

As I sat and relaxed this evening after a fun and eventful day (my son celebrated his 9th birthday!!), I opened the Bible to book of Proverbs.  Now, I have to be honest, I haven't opened the Bible and just read in a long time.  (I definitely need to get better)  I have a forever growing relationship with Him, and when He speaks to me, sometimes it's so bold and so clear.  Tonight, when I opened the Bible, and was led to Proverbs 28:1:

The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

It immediately gave me so many answers on so many different levels.  How many situations do we avoid because we just don't want to deal with it?  When God said we have the power to move mountains, IT WAS NOT A LIE.  Within us, we have an amazing ability to transcend every situation we have ever faced and will face in our lives.  Speak LIFE into your spirit and encourage yourself.  As it's been said before, we were fearfully and wonderfully made.  We were not created to run, we were not created to be cowards . . . we were created to rule, to govern, to reign.  It's time to take control of your thoughts, take control of your emotions, let faith, logic, and His wisdom guide you.  When you feel like running away, BE AS BOLD AS A LION. 

Now I don't live in the wild, and don't have too much experience with lions lol... but when have you ever seen a lion run away?  When have you ever seen a lion get too emtional and not be able to protect his pride?  Never . . . as a matter of fact, a lion will fight until death to protect its pride.  That is an interesting word . . . pride.  In the same way a lion protects his pride (his family), we have to protect our pride (our confidence).  As C.S. Lewis has written, too much pride is the greatest sin.  So we have to be careful with this.  We must always remember to keep ourselves humble as well.  However, I believe too little pride and little faith could also be the greatest sin.  Believe in yourself, and believen in your GOD.  I tell you this, and tell myself, BE AS BOLD AS A LION.

Dasha