Happy Saturday friends and happy (almost) official fall! Today I am so excited to share with you one of the cute fall additions to the shop! This travelers notebook insert is perfect for all of the donut and pumpkin spice lovin girls! Sweetly showing signs of fall colors and everything fall foody this travelers notebook insert is a perfect gift or treasure for yourself! This adorable Fall Travelers Notebook Insert is now available for purchase! (You can find it HERE!)
I love creating different journals for the fall and this sweet Fall Travelers Notebook Insert is the perfect little companion for this time of the year! This adorable insert will fit perfectly into your travelers notebook and comes with approximately 10 (20 double sided) blank kraft colored pages.
This Fall Travelers Notebook Insert is the perfect notebook to carry in your purse or even fit in your wallet if you have a larger size wallet (like a travelers wallet).
This Fall Travelers Notebook Insert turned out so sweet y'all and I loved the combination of the colors. I love the turquoise-mint green with the classic orange and brown fall colors that I am seeing shown for this season! Don't y'all love that? I love that it gives it a bit of a feminine touch to the classic fall rustic colors that is timeless.
If you are interested in purchasing the Fall Travelers Notebook Insert you can find it HERE. Over the next couple of weeks I will be adding more fall items to the shop! If you are interested in looking at other fall items that are in the shop you can find them in the fall and thanksgiving section of the shop by clicking HERE!
Happy Saturday friends! I hope that you have a wonderful day!
There are plenty of people who are a little short on confidence, but the good news is that there are always ways to give yourself a nudge in the right direction when it comes to that department. It’s just about making subtle changes in the areas that can be changed, and ignoring the areas that can’t be changed. You’ll find that there are plenty of things that are within your control, as we’ll see below. Work on fixing these aspects of your life, and you’ll see an increase in your confidence levels.
How You Spend Your Day
If you’re feeling a little low in any area of your life, be it your happiness levels or your confidence, it’s worthwhile looking at what you’re putting into your life. For example, how do you spend your day? If you’re sitting at home all day, watching Netflix and so on, then it can’t come as too big a surprise if you’re not flying high with confidence. Alternatively, if you’re spending your days improving yourself, helping others, and all-around pushing forward, then you’ll slowly but surely giving your confidence a boost.
How You Look
Rightly or wrongly, how a person looks has a tremendous impact on how they feel about themselves in today’s society. Yet their attractiveness is usually in their hands more than they realize. While you can’t change your genes (yet) and there are some areas that you can’t alter, there are plenty of aspects that are within your control. Your teeth, for example. If you’re self-conscious about your smile, you can get help from www.sleepdentistrydefined.com. Your hair and makeup are also within your control, so find the routines that have you feeling great. A few changes in these departments can really change how you feel about yourself.
Sense of Style
As well as your face and body, you can also look at improving your sense of style. If you’ve ever worn an outfit that had you feeling on top of the world, then you’ll know what we mean. For whatever reason, an outfit that works well and fits us perfectly can have us walking out in the world with confidence. This is also one of the easiest things to change too -- just grab your credit card, and hit the shops. If you’re famously clueless about how to dress, then you can look at hiring a stylist to pick your clothes for you.
Exercise Options
Is there anything that exercising can’t do for us? It keeps us healthy, makes us happier, and improves our confidence. If you’re not currently regularly working up a sweat, then look at finding an activity that you enjoy. You’ll have fun, and over time will notice an increase in your confidence levels.
Loving Yourself
Finally, let’s talk about loving yourself. Are you talking to yourself correctly? Are you lifting yourself up or putting yourself down? Pay attention, and if it’s not as positive as it should be, begin talking to yourself in the same way you would talk to a friend.
*contributed post*
Don’t be afraid...don’t despair.
Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you...
He’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.
The accumulated sorrows of your exile will dissipate.
I, your God, will get rid of them for you.
You’ve carried those burdens long enough.
-Zephaniah 3-
Today marks eighteen years since America witnessed one of the worst terrorist attacks in our history on our land.
When I was a High School History teacher I would show my students a documentary about September 11th as a way to help them understand the tragedy and the bravery of so many on this day. For truly in the darkest of moments the character and bravery of so many also came to light.
The documentary was a way to not only "pause and remember" but to reflect on the incredible amount of freedom that we experience in America and to remember to honor and pray for those who have given so much for our country in past and to thank and pray for those who are serving our country today.
I would also share my personal story of being on the first international flight allowed back into the country, dealing with the horror of lost loved ones and friends (and of friends who lost so many people that day), and of finding so much hope through the kindness of strangers and of a country rallying together.
A couple of years ago I walked back into Newark Airport for the first time in 13 years and was overcome by the differences. Instead of Air Marshall's guarding our flight and the tension that came with our long international flight and the regulations of being the first flight back into the US, my flight from California was peaceful as many people slept for the duration. Instead of the stewards and stewardesses crying, they were smiling. Instead of the passengers singing "God Bless America", we landed silently. Instead of rows and rows of planes not moving at Newark, planes were steadily taking off the ground. Instead of being greeted by soldiers lined up at our gate to greet and escort us to immigration lines, I walked off the and easily went to my next gate. Instead of Newark being a chaotic scene of red cross workers, rows and rows of cots, family members and loved ones in tears, and the haunted look of despair, Newark was busy with people excited to get to their destinations. I paused to look out at the exact place that I stood at 13 years ago and was overcome with emotion.
Emotion at the changes.
Emotion for those that lost so much that day.
Emotion for the way that our country rallied together and responded to the crisis.
Emotion for those who continue to grieve their lost loved ones.
Emotion for living in a country that fights for freedom despite incredible odds and terror.
As we stop to remember the loss of loved ones I thank God for living in a country that is free. A country that (though we may not agree with everything) is blessed beyond measure and rebuilds after tragedy. My heart goes out to all who lost a loved one this tragic day 13 years ago. May you feel the comfort and the love of so many around the nation and around the world as we pause to reflect on the bravery of so many. As we head into today I pray that we honor this day with service to those around us. Let's take a moment to thank so many that are doing so much for our country. I pray that we always remember September 11th and honor those who were lost, encourage the hearts of those who are grieving lost loved ones, and remember the bravery of so many.
Father Mychal Judge, who was killed on September 11th, gave his last message to many of the firefighters who were heroes on September 11th the day before the tragedy happened. Today, I wanted to share part of it with you as encouragement. May we always remember the bravery of so many that day:
"Thank you Lord for life. Thank you for love. Thank you for goodness. Thank you for work. Thank you for family. Thank you for friends. Thank you for every gift because we know that every gift comes from you, and without you, we have and are nothing. So, as we celebrate this day in thanksgiving to you, keep our hearts and minds open. Let us enjoy each other's company, and most of all, let us be conscious of Your presence in our lives and in a special way in the lives of all those who have gone before us. And Father we make our prayer, as always, in Jesus' name who lives with You forever and ever...
That's the way it is. Good days. And bad days. Up days. Down days. Sad days. Happy days. But never a boring day on this job. You do what God has called you to do. You show up. You put one foot in front of another. You get on the rig and you go out and you do the job - which is a mystery. And a surprise. You have no idea when you get on that rig. No matter how big the call. No matter how small. You have no idea what God is calling you to. But he needs you. He needs me. He needs all of us. "
(The Pictures in this blog post are taken from a visit to the 9/11 Memorial in New York City. You can read more about the visit HERE. If you are in NYC I can't recommend enough taking time to go and visit this museum that is absolutely wonderful in honoring those who sacrificed their lives and teaching the history of that day.)
Happy Wednesday friends! With the new start of a branch off show from When Calls the Heart (When Hope Calls available on the Hallmark Movies Now Channel) I have received numerous requests to re-share the devotionals that I shared back in 2017-2018 here on the blog based on the When Calls the Heart TV show. So for the next several months I thought I would re-share some of the most popular posts on Wednesdays. I hope that it is an encouragement to you during these days. If you would like to see the complete list you can find it HERE! I am also excited to share that these devotional posts will soon be available (without the tie to When Calls the Heart) in a new and upcoming devotional book, February Caravan, that will be released February 1st. Stay tuned for more information to follow! In the meantime I am excited to start sharing again with y'all and I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!
Dear friend, first, thank you so
much for stopping by to read these weekly devotional posts that have been inspired by "When Calls the Heart". For the next 45 Wednesdays I am going to be sharing a devotional post that I hope will be an encouragement to you! I never thought that I would write devotional posts based on a TV show
before, but have been so inspired by the show that these devotional posts came about
slowly as it wound its way into my heart. I first fell in love
with the sweet title “When Calls the Heart” from Janette Oke’s book when
I was a teenager. I loved the Canadian West series and even re-read them
recently. Several years ago I saw a preview on Hallmark Channel for “When
Calls the Heart” the TV show and the chords of faith, community, and love
resonated deeply within my heart and I immediately became a "heartie". At the time I was
struggling as I had become bedridden due to Advanced Late Stage Lyme Disease plus other health issues and felt cut off from the world. As I watched and re-watched “When Calls the
Heart” I was consistently inspired by the threads that were woven deep into the
show. Watching the show was an encouragement, especially during the difficult
season that I found myself in. I started writing these in the early part of the Summer of 2015, when I found unexpectedly found myself bed-bound again. I hope and pray as you read through these weekly devotionals that you are encouraged to a deeper relationship with the Lord through these devotionals that have been inspired by the seemingly simple yet profound quotes from the precious TV show, “When Calls the Heart”.
*Please note that the quotes used in these weekly devotionals are the sole intellectual property of Hallmark Channel, WCTH, & Crown Media, LLC. These on-line posts are in no way supported, endorsed, or affiliated with WCTH, Hallmark Channel, or Crown Media. They are simply encouragement inspired by Janette Oke and this precious show.*
The beginning of a new adventure or a new season
always comes with a twinge of uneasiness and fear. Sometimes it can seem that
the new adventure was a mistake, especially in the first few days. Even with a
qualified background in a new position we can sometimes feel at a loss or
incompetent or even silly.
In the fall of 2009, I found myself in this exact position. I was transitioning to a new out of state job from Washington DC to outside of Atlanta to teach high school at a new school. I was leaving behind a close-knit community that I considered a family, and one that had walked a very difficult road with me in the prior year, to live in a city where I knew no one and into a school that held a completely different culture than the one I was coming from. It was different, it was exciting, it was frightening, and at the start I often wondered what I had been thinking. I often questioned my decision, especially in the first few days.
The move itself was stressful as my dad and I traveled over 30 hours with my car and a large (and slow) U-Haul across seven states, ran into 8 hours of traffic that made our trip longer, and suffered the death of my car’s air conditioner, resulting in the driver "enjoying" the 105 southern summer heat as the sun beat down on us. When we arrived we discovered that unlike the help we had been promised we were alone in unloading my possessions to my 2nd floor apartment. Hot and sweaty already, exhausted from our trip, and feeling quite alone and forgotten, more than a few tears ran down my cheeks as I was completely discouraged.
In the fall of 2009, I found myself in this exact position. I was transitioning to a new out of state job from Washington DC to outside of Atlanta to teach high school at a new school. I was leaving behind a close-knit community that I considered a family, and one that had walked a very difficult road with me in the prior year, to live in a city where I knew no one and into a school that held a completely different culture than the one I was coming from. It was different, it was exciting, it was frightening, and at the start I often wondered what I had been thinking. I often questioned my decision, especially in the first few days.
The move itself was stressful as my dad and I traveled over 30 hours with my car and a large (and slow) U-Haul across seven states, ran into 8 hours of traffic that made our trip longer, and suffered the death of my car’s air conditioner, resulting in the driver "enjoying" the 105 southern summer heat as the sun beat down on us. When we arrived we discovered that unlike the help we had been promised we were alone in unloading my possessions to my 2nd floor apartment. Hot and sweaty already, exhausted from our trip, and feeling quite alone and forgotten, more than a few tears ran down my cheeks as I was completely discouraged.
I looked over at my kind-hearted father who was
exhausted and pouring sweat yet encouraging me through the difficult work in
front of us. I looked at him with tears as I knew that he was leaving early the
next day and I would truly be alone. I had lived farther away from home than
this move, but this one for me was a difficult choice and decision. These beginning circumstanced only heightened my feelings of doubt.
After several hours we finished the laborious task and I stood in my new apartment, looking at the total sum of my worldly possessions that were haphazardly scattered before me. I felt overwhelmed at the task of unpacking, orienting to a new city, and preparing for this new life. My immediate inclination was to start to straighten up everything but I knew that it couldn’t be done at that point. The night was quickly approaching and we still had to return the U-Haul, go to the grocery store to purchase some basic supplies and somehow find towels and bedding and pillows for the bed and sofa bed. There was a lot to do before I had to take my dad to the airport the following morning.
We took a minute and then slowly and tiredly made our way down to the cars and proceeded to check off our list one-by one of what we needed to accomplish that evening. The next few hours passed in a blur as we quickly grabbed a bite to eat, returned the U-Haul, went to the grocery store, and searched through boxes to find what we needed for the night. At last, well after midnight, I wearily crawled into bed. Foreign to my typical adventurous spirit, I felt shaky and nervous, and kept whispering to myself, "I can do this, I can do this, I can do this". The next morning found me repeating my words to myself like the Little Engine that Could as I wept and said goodbye to my dad. I wondered if I really could do what I had set out to do in this new place.
After several hours we finished the laborious task and I stood in my new apartment, looking at the total sum of my worldly possessions that were haphazardly scattered before me. I felt overwhelmed at the task of unpacking, orienting to a new city, and preparing for this new life. My immediate inclination was to start to straighten up everything but I knew that it couldn’t be done at that point. The night was quickly approaching and we still had to return the U-Haul, go to the grocery store to purchase some basic supplies and somehow find towels and bedding and pillows for the bed and sofa bed. There was a lot to do before I had to take my dad to the airport the following morning.
We took a minute and then slowly and tiredly made our way down to the cars and proceeded to check off our list one-by one of what we needed to accomplish that evening. The next few hours passed in a blur as we quickly grabbed a bite to eat, returned the U-Haul, went to the grocery store, and searched through boxes to find what we needed for the night. At last, well after midnight, I wearily crawled into bed. Foreign to my typical adventurous spirit, I felt shaky and nervous, and kept whispering to myself, "I can do this, I can do this, I can do this". The next morning found me repeating my words to myself like the Little Engine that Could as I wept and said goodbye to my dad. I wondered if I really could do what I had set out to do in this new place.
As I waved one last time to my dad who had finished going through security, I found myself standing completely still as the crowds in the Atlanta airport rushed around me. I took a deep breath and slowly turned and walked out of the airport towards my car. Glancing at the time as I buckled up I knew that I would hit some of the Atlanta traffic I had heard so much about. I was grateful as the time in the car gave me time to think. The last year had been extremely difficult on my heart as my ex-fiance' had walked out on our relationship only a few months before the wedding altering my life plans. The verse from scripture that promises that God is always with us was of particular comfort during that season and was now as I thought about the days and weeks and months ahead.
As I drove slowly home in the Atlanta traffic I decided that I would take a detour from
unpacking. All at once I desperately wanted to see the school where I would be
teaching. I didn’t stop to consider my appearance, although quite truthfully I
must have looked a bit rough. Despite a shower the night before I was still hot
and sweaty from lack of air-conditioning in my car and sitting in traffic, and
my clothes where a rumpled mess from having been packed in hot suitcase for the
last five days. My hair was thrown back into a messy bun and looked like it
hadn’t been combed for days. Despite this I moved forward with my detour plans.
I had an inexplicable and deep longing to walk through the new school and
community that I hoped to call “home”.
Nearly two hours after dropping my father at the
airport and sitting in traffic, I finally pulled into the school parking lot. I
ignored the cars that were parked around the front of the building and
tentatively walked into the school. I received several surprised looks but I
continued to walk on. I had only seen the school one time briefly before this, so I was intrigued by everything. I stopped to view pictures on the walls and glance in empty classrooms. After about
20 minutes of walking through the high school hallways, I decided to head home. I admit that instead of feeling more ready
for the task before me I instead felt extremely discouraged, alone, and
fragile. I looked at the empty 2nd floor hallway before me and
sighed into the quiet. Not for the first time in the last 24 hours I wondered
what I had done.
As I walked down the stairwell and opened to the
door to the 1st floor hallway I almost ran directly into a young
woman about my age. She had the largest and kindest smile and she quickly
reached her hand out to introduce herself. Her kind and welcoming words
changed everything. She was focused on me completely and her attitude showed
that she didn’t care about my hot and sweaty appearance, my messy bun, or what
I could offer her. Instead she was completely focused on welcoming me into her
heart and her life.
All of a sudden, because she took 5 minutes to intentionally
step into my life, my view of the world completely changed. Liz, I was quickly to learn, has a gift for making those around her feel supported and encouraged. Over the next three years that I had the privilege of teaching with her, I and many others, were the recipients of her dedicated, personal, and intentional caring and love. Liz has a beautiful gift of seeing to the heart of people and seeing the best in them. A beautiful and rare treasure in this world.
Never let it be
said that the time and intentionality of a Christian woman to listen and
encourage is anything short of a priceless gift to the world.
This encounter, much like the precious
conversation between Abigail and Elizabeth’s conversation in the first episode of season one, has had a huge impact
on my life and the way that I view the world. It has softened me and
strengthened me. Softened me to thank those who give encouragement and live in
the gratitude of their care and compassion. And it strengthens and challenges
me to take the time to see whom I can encourage in my daily life. It challenges me
to take the time to truly consider who is before me in my life, to turn off my
phone, leave the useless hours of scrolling through other people’s lives, and
to intentionally see the people who are in front of me that I can offer a few
words of encouragement to today.
Today, let us draw inspiration from Elizabeth’s
attitude of gratitude for kind words in the midst of change and new seasons and
hard times, and let us be challenged by Abigail’s strength and courage to offer
kindness to those who need it. Let us look around to those who cross our paths for a short or long
periods of time, to those who are hurting, and for those who are needing some
extra grace and words of encouragement today. We may never begin to guess the impact that our encouragement can be on one person and the ripple affect it can have on a community.
"Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
-I Thessalonians 5:11-
"Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
-I Thessalonians 5:11-
I receive several emails a week asking where you can watch episodes of "When Calls the Heart". You can find seasons 1-4 on Netflix or purchase episodes off of Amazon. You can purchase and watch all of the seasons and episodes by clicking on the links below:
It is with gratitude and humility that I am so delighted to share a new season that I embarked on this past week. I am so humbled to share that last week I accepted the position of Director of International Students at a local school and officially started this past week.
To be heading back to start a new school year after EIGHT long and extremely painful and difficult years away brings a wave of emotions with lots of tears.
To be heading back to start a new school year after EIGHT long and extremely painful and difficult years away brings a wave of emotions with lots of tears.
To be at this stage of healing is a gift that leaves me speechless...especially when at one point I had doctors from some of the most well-known medical clinics/hospitals in the world telling me there was no hope for life, let alone that I would never be able to return to a school again.
As I consider this past week and this new adventure, I am reminded of what my dad said to me for these years that I was literally sidelined from life..."these are just new marching orders Rebecca with a purpose and a plan for His glory"...and so as tomorrow starts a new set of marching orders starts with a variety of emotions I remember this simple and profound truth...that in each new set of marching orders the Lord himself is with us and is leading for His glory.
Thank you for rejoicing in this new season, for your continued prayers for me and my health, and for this time. I have received a lot of questions asking if I will be continuing the blog and YES definitely yes! I look forward to continuing to share about our Alaskan Road trip, the cruise that we took in August, and also many more future adventures. Thank you so much for your continued support of this blog and space!
“…a new set of marching orders. That is what always follows loss of any kind—a mother’s loss of her child, a wife’s of her husband, a lover’s of his beloved, a man’s loss of his job, his health, his self-esteem, his home—if only we have ears to hear those orders, eyes to see the gain God intends to bring out of our loss. Even when trouble stops our ears and clouds our vision, He goes on working in secret and perhaps years later reveals what we had not faith to lay hold of.”
Recognizing an addiction is the first step to beating it. Whether its gambling, smoking or playing video games, here are five ways in which you can overcome your addiction.
Get support
Having other people around you to support you can be the biggest motivation. These could be friends, family members, fellow addicts trying to give up or professional counsellors. You may want to start by first getting encouragement from friends and family. If they’re not enough, try meeting other recovering addicts – finding people who related to your situation could help. If this still isn’t working, it could be time to consider professional help such as heroin addiction rehab. Don’t feel you’re failing by relying on others – by seeking support yourself, you are helping yourself.
Swot up
Understanding your addiction, its causes and its negative impact can help you to quit. It may help you to identify root causes that need addressing or it could help spur you into giving up by being more aware of the damage your addiction is causing. There are books and sites that you can find on fighting specific addictions from fighting internet addiction to fighting alcoholism.
Create barriers
There could be way of putting barriers in the way to stop you giving in to your addiction. This could include getting rid of all the snacks in your home or avoiding your local bar. You may even be able to encourage friends and family to help set up these barriers – this could include asking them to change the wi-fi password to stop an internet addiction or having them guard your credit card to stop a spending addiction. Such barriers will make it much harder to give into temptation, making giving up a whole lot easier.
Find a replacement
There may be a healthy addiction that you can take up in place of your unhealthy addiction. This could include exercise, listening to music or snacking on healthy foods. Such a healthy addiction could help to fill the emptiness, giving you the endorphin rush you crave without any of the harmful side effects.
Keep a record
Keeping a record of your progress as you beat your addiction could help to motivate you. You’ll be able to see how many days you’ve gone clean and how many days you’ve got until your next milestone. You could keep a record of your progress simply using a calendar, or you could use apps to help you such as this app to stop you eating junk food.
*contributed post*
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