Find Your Happy

Perspective.  I am a victim of my circumstances. Just as many are here in this dark world. The difference between me and them? I’m a Christian. It’s a huge difference. And let’s be honest. My circumstances in almost all areas of my life are pretty good. See,  perspective. I have shelter, food, healthy children, healthcare, an education, a husband who truly loves me and cares for me and our children and selflessly provides for us, parents that never abused me and are even still alive, brothers that even though we don’t always get along and want to strangle each other on a constant basis will still come to each others’ aid when it is necessary, AND a freedom to do whatever I truly want to do, including the right to shout JESUS from the rooftops an sing his praises in the streets, all while passing out Bibles and telling the good news! But I don’t do that. Not many in the western church do. It’s sad.  Perspective. Many of my readers know that I am a military wife....

Ah, Fall.  🍁 A time of harvest, a time of reaping. A time of blessings. A time for family. A Time To Be Thankful.  I've been on Facebook for years now, and realize that I hardly know most of you. There are many I have lost touch with, and I wouldn't mind hearing about your story, about what YOU are THANKFUL for.  😊 As for me, I am most thankful for my Faith in God and my little Family. God has either used our circumstances or has altered our course over these past 14 years to le ad us where we are today. We've trusted him in the process, and sometimes we fought him. But in the end, HE knew better. (More to come on this later.) And our little family? Well, it's been the most special gift of all. Two children to love, and a husband that is pretty much amazing. I have a comedian, drum playing daughter, and a compassionate, violin playing, singing son. Neither of them are normal, and neither are their parents.  😂 My husband, James , is hardworking, has ...

It’s a cold, October day. I’m sitting here, still in my PJs, kids are off to school, I am sipping my bone broth and happy hot chocolate, hubby is sleeping in after working on his paper until late, and the only sounds are the clicking of my keyboard and the diffuser I have going. Thought I’d take some time alone and read some Word and devotion. The crazy thing: my devotion this morning is about mourning. Not mourning death, but mourning anything pertaining to short comings/immaturity in your walk with Christ. And the one for tonight: praising God through the difficult times. I’m reading a daily short devotional by Charles H. Spurgeon. (Side bar: If you don’t know who he is, please look him up. He is one of the premier theologians in Christianity. He is amazing.) Go read  1 Corinthian 3 . I’ll wait… OK, so now the verses I want to focus on.  “ 10  By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it....

Photo by Rebekah Bavry, September 22, 2017, NYC September 11. 9/11. A day that changed many lives. I didn’t realize it at the time, but it would change mine…forever. As I hear and see the memorial ceremonies and remembrance ceremonies flashed across everything, news, social media, etc., I can’t help but reflect on what this day means to me and how it impacted my life. I still remember that morning. I was blow drying my hair in my room at the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority house when I turned on the morning news. It was a ritual that I did every morning: get up, turn on the news, get ready for classes. As the headlines came across breaking news, that a plane had hit the World Trade Center in NYC, I remember thinking, “Lord, some idiot pilot lost control of a plane.” I then turned off the news, not wanting to hear all the crap that I knew was going to come from an accident like that. It wasn’t until I entered into Smith Music Hall at Marshall University that I found out what rea...

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) 11 “ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Oh, this verse. How I love this verse. Such a promise. You know what, though? It is one of the most misquoted, most tattooed, bible verses. Wait? What? Misquoted? Yes, misquoted.  Now stay with me here, because I LOVE this verse. There is a huge reason I love this verse. This promise to Israel is beautiful. So full of hope. But, it is always taken out of context. And there are two caveats to the promise. A past and a required action.  You see, the Israelites were in exile in Babylon. In exile. And this promise was a promise for the FUTURE. So, to have a future we must have a past, right? Well, that past was 70 years. And then, there is a required action! Let’s look at the entire context: 10  This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babyl...

Psalm 46:10 (NIV) 10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God” One of those mornings… Have you ever had one of those mornings? The ones that something happens and because everything else that is going on just compounds the issues into a heavy weight that breaks your back? That was my morning.  Our kids are now in middle school and we have to get up an hour earlier than last year. So this year our day starts in the 5 o’clock hour. Within our two hour window, while my kids are getting ready, I am making coffee, making breakfast for everyone, and helping make lunches. My daughter and I are on the ketogenic diet, so I have to make lunch special for her. As I’m making the homemade ranch salad dressing for her salad, I open up the spice cabinet and a nut grinder falls out and spills cinnamon maple pecan grounds everywhere. It isn't even supposed to be in that cabinet! And guess who’s breakfast it lands on…mine. And guess who drops the salad dressi...