Fall 2021 Beauty Series – Self Care
If you love beauty products and trying new things, you have probably had fun in finding your perfect nail color, hair products, skin care and of course the even more fun part….make up! I understand some people would rather not think about any of that….you just do your best and get by with what you have to. That’s what makes our world go around….we are all different, we have our own likes and dislikes. I’m on the boat that loves it all! If I’m going to do something, I might as well enjoy it and have some fun with it.
I felt I couldn’t talk about beauty tips if I didn’t hit on the body image area…..Okay…this is where I don’t have so much fun. So, as you read this, keep in mind that I’m probably talking to myself. So here we go….I do pray that something I share is what you are needing to hear for encouragement or affirmation.
On the subject of basic health. If you have followed my writings for long, you know that I had a deep fear of doctors most of my life. I will say this, when I had my two babies, which everyone is always shocked that I actually went through that….I had the best OBGYN ever! I still remember him and his nurse. I had the best nurses at the hospital. Matter of fact, the same nurses were there when I had my second baby. Yes…they remembered me! Not sure if thats a good thing or not. They were the best. My main nurse had a name tag that is implanted in my mind. Ann Fear! Yes….I’m not kidding. The only time I went to the doctor before that was when I had to as a child. We just didn’t go to the doctor for much. When I was about 6 years old and very sick with I guess a flu bug and a dr. came to the house and gave me a shot. My brother had a cowboy suit on with his toy cowboy gun and told the doctor to leave his sister alone as I was basically running from him. I bet that was a wild visit for that doctor.
A dentist…oh my! I won’t share much…but, huge fear! As a child I had a really bad experience with a really mean dentist. Let’s just say my tooth he pulled flew across the room. That’s all I’ll share on that one. But, we had a neighbor who was a dentist when the kids were young. I went to him and he was the most gentle and kind dentist ever.
After my last baby was born, I went for a check up. Let’s just say I was horrified at the questions this doctor asked me. I was embarrassed, I never wanted to go for another check up again. I didn’t.
Last year opened up a new world for me. I went through several months of anxiety issues. I went to a doctor who is the husband of a dear friend of mine. He was so kind, so gentle and very understanding. Yes, he was shocked I actually went to a doctor. This began a few months of going to a gynecologist, dentist and even a natural health doctor. Yes, I even had a short stay in the hospital to have a test done. I have to say this…..I never felt so cared for and treated so kindly than I have at all of these various doctors and hospital. I know without a doubt the Lord blessed me in a great and mighty way. You just have no idea, the fear that had built up in me for doctors. You also have no idea, the amazing way that I felt total peace with every doctor and nurse I had to see last year. I’ve even been back for check ups. Yes, I break out in a sweat before I go, but, I almost skip out of their offices due to the peace and assurance I have felt. I know who goes before me. I can’t imagine not having that peace.
So here I am, encouraging you to take care of what needs to be taken care of. Even if it’s just a check up. You can do it. If you need encouragement, I’m here. If I could go with you, I would. Who would ever believe that Beverly would encourage someone to go to the doctor. I do have a long way to go in the fear area, but, I’m so much better, trust me. Deep down, I pray I never have to go back, but, I know check ups are important. Let’s don’t talk needles just yet, though.
Since this is October, we are seeing all the prompts to go have a mammogram, right? Lot’s of talk about breast cancer which will put the fear in to you for a month or so. I was encouraged by my natural doctor and friend to do Thermography instead of a mammogram. Yes, it was way out of my box and I just had to back my ears (as my mom always says) and do it. Yes, it’s embarrassing…..but, the peace of mind is worth it. Click here for more info on the office I went to for this. I can’t say enough good things about them! I follow their social media as well for much information and encouragement in the area of health.
That’s my crazy world on the doctor issue. Let’s move on as I’m now sweating just thinking about it all!
Now we come to diet and exercise. Yep, my other area of struggle. Okay, okay! I hate to exercise! I don’t like veggies or anything that looks strange. Yes…..I just got off the elliptical a few minutes ago and did some floor exercises, I try to walk each night a couple of miles and I try to eat healthy. But, put a croissant in front of me or a piece of chocolate cake and it’s all over! I am an emotional eater. I eat when I’m sad….I eat when I’m happy…..I eat when I’m bored. Breads, chips and mexican food are my favorite. I know! It’s a struggle. So in order to lose some weight, I have to say no to all of that and how hard it is. The I read after someone who says, “I just cut back a little and lost 50 pounds!” That hasn’t worked for me either. or….the weight loss groups…..I’ll lose, but the second I go back to eating normal….it comes back as fast as it left. The real story is, I have to make a lifestyle change. This is where it gets tricky…..I love my life….I’m happy…..so….making a “lifestyle change” is doubly hard. Again….I’m working on it. If it works, you will be the first to know. I’ll keep you posted. I’m not sharing my plan as I may change it a hundred times before something works for me. I never really had a weight issue until after my last baby was born! It’s all his fault. I’m laughing, it’s a joke. To have that little cute red headed boy, I’d gladly gain it all back again. Oh, wait…..maybe that’s already happened before….let’s move on.
Here is what I think it all boils down to. We can look great on the outside, but if we don’t feel good on the inside it will eventually show. We want to feel good on the inside so we can live long happy full filled lives. Don’t you think? How do we do that?
We make sure we are in good health. If not, we get it fixed. (yes, I’m a black or white person)
We exercise and take care of our bodies. We stay in good shape so as we age we can keep living that long happy fulfilled life.
We eat right. Our bodies need various things, so we make sure we eat properly.
We take vitamins and various supplements that make us stronger.
We think positive good thoughts. We fill our mind with good things so we have a good outlook on life.
Remember how I said to make yourself a research project. Do that today and figure out what you need to do to take care of the body God gave you. Study to learn some new things about health, be open to think outside of the box a little bit in the area of natural health. There is so much information; stay on track for what you need to do to live that happy healthy fulfilled life! Even with various ailments, you can still be positive and still be happy, healthy and fulfilled! Let’s do it!
Disclaimer*I’m not a doctor. Nor, could I never be one…I’d faint first! Take care of your body, it’s all you have. Pray, do serious research and talk to a doctor that you trust if you need to.
Did you miss previous posts in this series? Here are the links:
Don’t miss the next post….be sure to subscribe. The box to subscribe is on the right side of this post. If you have any issues feel free to contact me. Hope to see you soon!
Fall 2021 Beauty Series – Skin Care
When I was a young teen I washed my face with Camay soap. I don’t even remember putting a moisturizer on. I probably used hand lotion, I just don’t know. I do know that I loved Camay soap mostly because it had a cameo on it. I’ve loved cameos since I was a young girl. Show me a cameo and I want it! (I even wore White Shoulders Perfume simply because of the cameo on the bottle.) When I was about 15, my forehead broke out in little bumps. I was horrified. My mom took me to a Merle Norman boutique. We couldn’t afford much in those days and my mom splurged greatly and bought me the complete kit of face wash, toner and a moisturizer plus a bottle of pink stuff that was a mask to use once or twice a week. When I used the mask, I would hide in my room as it dried my face up like a hard shell. I always thought it looked like I had a severe burn accident on my face. When I would wash it off, my face would be red for hours. She also got me the make up. I used Merle Norman for many years. When it became too expensive while my husband was in seminary and those crazy years of zero money, I would use my favorite…Camay soap, Noxema (loved that smell) and Sea Breeze which would sting horribly. Then I would use Cover Girl make up. Aww…those were the days.
Many years later, someone invited me to a Mary Kay presentation. I loved the products and bought it all! I even signed up to sell it. I really did love the products. I was a Mary Kay consultant for 4 years and one day I just decided it wasn’t for me to selll. I’m still a consultant, but I just buy it for myself, family and friends.
I’m thinking about 5 years or so ago, I became bored with with the Mary Kay products. I love trying new things and I was always attracted to the pretty bottles and colors of other products when I was out shopping. I played around with Estee Lauder and Clinique. I always struggled with finding people that worked the counter that knew what they were talking about. It seemed they could care less what you bought and what was right for my skin. I kept trying other products though. I also tried Bobby Brown, IT and Elemis. I also have tried Rodan and Fields, which I love. Right now I am using Rodan and Fields lash booster. It really works, by the way. I am now back to using Mary Kay and I have my eye on another brand when I go through this last set.
I have another skin care set that I want to share with you. As you might have read that I love Southern Lady magazine and I have been to several of the conferences. There is a company that advertises in this magazine and at the conference this company always has a booth. I’ve been attracted to it for the way it looks and the story behind it and of course….it’s a southern company. Last year they sent me a sample set to try. I loved it. The only thing is while I was trying it out, was about the same time I went through a hard time with my health. So after I used it a few times, I set it all to the side and I just recently tried the rest of it. Click here to go to the Sapelo Skin Care site. I just love the packaging…that’s what always attracts me first to anything. The ingredients are natural and if your skin will look like the two ladies who created it….well…..it’s hard to not want to buy it all! Be sure to visit their blog as well.
I would love to hear what skin care is your favorite and if you are satisfied or looking for something new.
Now that we are in a new season and the weather is changing, this is a perfect time to make some adjustments in your skin care. If you are like me and you get bored easily, it’s a great time to try something new. I have dry skin and it gets even drier in the cooler months. I’m always looking for a moisturizer that is very moisturizing but not greasy feeling. If you use products from the department store, this is a fun time as most are offering special gifts with purchase. That is always fun. I have to be careful as I’m attracted to the beautiful colors and the special cases they offer. I’m a perfect candidate for marketing. Oh…..put a cameo on it and I’m SOLD! Or a PEARL….double SOLD.
A few years ago, a make up brand actually did their compacts of eye color and blush in sparkly cases with cameos on them. YES….I still have them…I bought several….I couldn’t stop myself!
Okay, back to our topic of skin care.
Now is a good time to set your sites on the skin care you want to use through out this season. Keep everything you use in one place. Some like to set it out, especially if it’s in pretty bottles on a pretty tray. I tried that for a while, but, I like a clear counter by my sink so I now keep it all in it’s own drawer in trays.
Go through all of your products you don’t and won’t use….time to say goodbye. I know…it’s hard!
Remember how we talked about doing research? Do a study on your skin type and the products that work best for you.
There are so many books and videos on make-up applications to try. If you know someone who does their make- up really well, ask them for advice. Be sure to keep your make up brushes clean. I clean mine once a week. Let’s don’t talk about all the cute make up brushes…yes…I just bought one that has glitter in the handle….yes I did!
If you have a young daughter, be sure to teach her early the importance of taking care of her skin. Make sure she is using products designed for her skin type. Teach her proper make up application. Never ever go to bed without washing face first. That’s a bad habit to get into. Yes…I did that as a teen sometimes when I was too lazy to wash my face at night…I remember mascara on my pillow….bad girl!!!
Once you find your skin care line and make up choices, be satisfied and content. I don’t think we should worry and always think we aren’t good enough. Just have fun with it.
I really feel sorry for young girls, okay, even us older ones in how we see models in ads, social media and on t.v. who are not really real. They are airbrushed…use filters and other things to look flawless. We can easily begin comparing ourselves when our skin doesn’t look smooth as silk with a beautiful glow and our lashes aren’t reaching up to our eyebrows while our lips are puffed up with the perfect shade of shiny color. The sooner we can learn to be content in who we really are, the better and easier life will be. Of course, isn’t it fun to try new things….who doesn’t want long lashes, smooth skin and puffy lips? We just have to keep our head on straight and protect our young girls from the comparison issue. How can we teach them that when we are comparing ourselves with filtered models? I know it’s a struggle!
Last but not least………You be you, everyone else is taken! Don’t take it all so serious, enjoy the process of taking care of you and finding just the right products that you love!
Previous Posts in this Fall Beauty Series:
#1 – Nail Care
#2 – Hair Care
Until next time…
Fall 2021 Beauty Series – Hair
Our hair is one of the first things people notice. If you are like me, if your hair is not cooperating for the day, you will just feel off. Maybe that’s just a me thing.
My hair is very thick, course and dry. So, I tend to like wearing it on the shorter side and I moisturize it constantly. I so admire people who wake up in the morning and just brush their hair and then style it for the day…..mine, not so much! I’m thinking because my hair is so thick and course, after I sleep on it it looks like I was in a tornado. I’m serious….ask Jim. Many times he laughs when I talking about my plans for the day and he’s looking at my hair in amazement. There is just no helping it. That is why I wash it each morning, so I can start fresh. I’ve learned to be fast in drying and fixing my hair for the day. If I’m too fast, it shows as my hair is just not cooperating for the day.
When I go to the salon I am always wanting to try a new hairstyle. Since my hair grows fast, my style will be outgrown in a couple of weeks. I always say by the time I get the hang of my style, it’s not working any more because it has already grown out. Yes, the struggle is real. But…..I’m not complaining….I’m thankful for my hair.
Are you thankful for your hair? Regardless the color, if it’s thin or thick, dry or oily, long or short; it’s important to love your hair. That doesn’t mean you can’t try new styles or even a new shampoo. Join me in working on not complaining about our hair. By the way, I feel led to share this….if you are going to a stylist and they complain about your hair texture or type….find a new stylist.
I was taught that if you haven’t had a compliment on your hair in a couple of weeks, then it is time to change your style. This could be an issue if you are around people who just don’t ever give compliments or notice anything. But, most women when out and about will notice a great hairstyle and will almost always compliment someones hairstyle. I was in a boutique recently and I walked past a lady that was checking out. She told me she loved my hair. I told her thank you and then she said, “Who is your stylist?” I then told her that I was from out of town and she said, “oh, no!” She was a sweet lady and the funny thing was it was one of those mornings to where I rushed fixing my hair and I didn’t feel up to par. Once she asked me that, I all of the sudden felt different about my hair. Isn’t it crazy how that works? We can really be our own worst enemy sometimes, don’t you think?
Something about this lady who complimented my hair. She was a bit older than me (I think) and her hair didn’t look bad at all. She seemed unhappy with her hair. She may have been having a bad hair day and didn’t feel good about herself. When I left, I was thinking about her and I had wished that I told her that I thought her hair looked great and if she just styled it a bit different, it would look even better. Her hair was flat and if she put some fluff in it and maybe tried some product to separate it, I bet it would have been pretty. I’m not a stylist, I have my own problems and I don’t know if that would go over in telling someone how to fix their hair. All that to say….take a look at your hair, does it just need a little fluff, a little product, using a flat iron or curling iron….just try some things and see how it works out. Speaking of curing irons. I used to always use one and I bought one recently thinking I would try it out again. I never felt so awkward and what a mess I made. It’s funny how you forget something that you used years ago regularly.
Okay, enough about my hair woes. Let’s talk about some things we can do to stay on top of our game where our hair is concerned.
It’s important to have a stylist you trust and who knows your hair and what you like and don’t like. You might need to make a change in that area if you aren’t happy with the results when you leave the hair salon. When you see someone that has a great style and cut, be sure to ask who they go to and maybe you can give them a try. Try to have a regular schedule of going to your stylist; depending on how fast your hair grows it could be 4-6 weeks between visits.
Fall is a great time to try something different or new. Try stepping out of your box a little bit. Have fun with your hair.
Have you ever done any research on your face shape? If you know your face shape, you can find certain styles that would look best on you. This also goes for the frame style of your eye glasses and even hat styles. Knowing your face shape is important.
Your hair color is a big part of your color code. Have you taken your color analysis yet? This determines the colors that look great on you or age you.
There are so many shampoos, conditioners and treatments available. Take some time to research and find something that works perfectly for your hair. Remember, you are worth the extra effort to find just the right products for you. In order to be confident and comfortable in who you are….you need to know all about you. You deserve the extra effort and time. Make yourself a research project!
This is a good time to go through all of your hair products that just aren’t working and get rid of them. Clutter with all of our hair products can make getting ready a struggle sometimes. Can you tell I’m talking to myself right now? I love trying new things, so I always make sure I don’t hang on to things that just clutter up my space.
Try to make it a habit to fix your hair each morning; even if you aren’t going anywhere for the day. It will make a difference in how you feel about yourself. Plus, you never know when someone will drop by! You can ask me how I know this to be true!
This fall season, make it the one that you revive some things you’ve let go. We’ve all been in a strange time over the past year and a half and it’s time to crawl out and find you again and what makes you smile when you look in the mirror.
“I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14
If you are on Pinterest; make a board of hairstyles that you would love to try someday. Click here for my hairstyle board for some inspiration.
If you missed previous posts in this series, here are the links.
Until next time,
Fall 2021 Beauty Series – Nails
Happy Fall! What a beautiful time of year; the changing of the weather, leaves on the trees, pumpkins, cozy blankets, delicious soups, yummy spice candles and…the list could go on and on. I just love it all, don’t you? What’s your favorite thing about fall?
As I was contemplating my new series on Beauty and Fashion, I thought I would just write each day this week on a different topic that hopefully will be of interest to you. To me, fall is like a fresh start. Really each new season is….it’s a good time to make some changes in our wardrobe, our style, freshen up our makeup with a few changes and of course how can we not talk about the beautiful styles and colors for fashion this season. Let’s get started and have some fun.
I’ll be doing the challenges along with you each day as well. I’m always looking for new ideas and trying new things. I never want to stop learning and improving in areas that need improving…….or just something fresh….I love change, can you tell?
How are your nails looking?
A few years ago, I had acrylic nails. I always loved how they looked with such beautiful colors and it would last forever. I wore them medium length. Long enough to still be able to do things around the house and work on my computer. I wore rubber gloves when I cleaned and washed dishes. Which, rubber gloves are always a good idea when cleaning and washing dishes. After a few years, I decided to give them up. I didn’t enjoy the process, I only loved the outcome. Sitting there for an hour or so and having that drill on my nails made a nervous wreck out of me. Not to mention the expense. What a nightmare my real nails were after taking them off. It took a good while to get my nails healthy again. I recently tried the dip on my nails, but, I had grown used to not having to sit for so long having nails done, I just didn’t think I could go back to that. Even the scheduling time at the salon when you are going out of town, etc. was more than I wanted to do. I confirmed it just wasn’t for me anymore.
If you love having your nails done, I am so happy for you. I think they are just beautiful.
After I got my nails back in shape; it took some getting used to being careful in not breaking a nail. My nails aren’t weak and they aren’t super strong. So needless to say, to have them all one length is a miracle. About the time they are all the same length I will break one and I am one of those that has to have all my nails the same length. It’s a never ending process. I keep files around the house everywhere, so when the break happens, I can fix it immediately.
I also keep polish on my nails. I love color and I think it looks so much more put together to have color on my nails.
Fall is a great time to try some darker colors. For me, I don’t like super dark colors on shorter nails, so I go with the lighter shades of a gold, beige or bronze shade of color.
If you know your correct color code for your hair, skin and eye color, you might stay within those shades for your nails. My color code is soft, so I choose softer colors so they go with my clothing colors and skin better. (At the end of this post, I’ll have the link to determine your color code.)
Do you paint your toenails? The fall and winter is a good time to go without polish on our toes in order to let them have a rest and get healthy. But….I don’t like seeing plain toes…I have to have color. I tend to go darker on my toes if I don’t do the same color on my nails.
A good file is important. I like the glass files and an old fashioned emery board works great. Be gentle when filing, you can do some serious damage and lose the shape of your nail. Your toes should be filed straight across and your nails can have an oval or square shape to them. For me, I like the oval.
Since we are talking about our toes, we might as well take care of the bottom of our feet. If you don’t get regular pedicures, you might want to take care of the rough, dry skin on bottom of feet yourself. You will feel much better when your feet are all soft and silky. I put foot cream on my feet every morning after showering. I also have one of those pedi-eggs that takes the dry skin off. Recently, I purchased one of those grate things that the nail salons have, but, I’ve been to scared to use it….it looks pretty dangerous. I guess I could use it to grate cheese because that is exactly what it looks like. It’s been in it’s little bag since the day I got it. Yikes!
“…How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:15
Hand cream is so important on your hands. With colder weather coming, it’s very important to lotion your hands on a regular basis. I keep little tubes of lotion around the house and in my purse for a quick treatment. Not to mention with us all washing our hands constantly, they need moisturizing. Hands are one of the first things to show aging, so the younger you are in getting in the habit of applying lotion to your hands the better. Make it a habit for sure.
I discovered a wonderful gel polish a few years ago. Sally Hansen gel polish and top coat is what I’ve been using for a long time now… and it comes in a few shades that I can wear. I also like the polish remover that comes in little packets. They are presoaked in the solution and it just seems easier and much faster than getting it out of the bottle. By the way, this polish will last a week and sometimes longer….depends on how active I am with my hands and if I remember those gloves when I wash dishes. )
As you can see, when it comes to nails, I’m simple, but, I love a beautiful nail color and keeping my nails in shape. I don’t want to spend a lot of time on them and I don’t miss sitting at the salon at all. Every now and then I like to go for a little pampering. I’m always on the lookout for a salon that is clean, peaceful, safe, beautifully decorated and not rushed! Who me? Picky…..yes, I am. I think at 62 I can be picky, right?
I hope you are inspired to take care of your nails and try out a new beautiful fall color. You are worth it! It’s the little things.
I hope you will give yourself a good pedicure and manicure, either yourself or at the salon.
Choose a nice fall color that goes with your color code.
While you are at it, clean out your polish drawer or however you store your things. I have a drawer that is just for polish and all the tools, etc. I love polish, so I have to go through it every now and then and get rid of what I’m not going to use and take inventory of needed items. Anyone want a foot grater? Ouch!!!
Find a foot and hand lotion you love and keep plenty and get in the habit of using them regularly.
Start using gloves to clean and wash dishes with. I know it feels weird at first, but you will get used to it.
If your nails chip… time to fix it asap. This is one I have to work on a lot!
I found this precious poem!
Her Hands
Her hands held me gently from the day I took my first breath. Her hands helped to guide me as I took my first step. Her hands held me close when the tears would start to fall. Her hands were quick to show me that she would take care of it all. Her hands were there to brush my hair, or straighten a wayward bow. Her hands were often there to comfort the hurt that didn’t always show. Her hands helped hold the stars in place, and encourage me to reach. Her hands would clap and cheer and praise when I captured them at length. Her hands would also push me, though not down or in harm’s way. Her hands would punctuate the words, just do what I say. Her hands sometimes had to discipline, to help bend this young tree. Her hands would shape and mold me into all she knew I could be. Her hands are now twisting with age and years of work, Her hand now needs my gentle touch to rub away the hurt. Her hands are more beautiful than anything can be. Her hands are the reason I am me. – Maggie Pittman
May our hands always be loving hands and our feet always going to share the good news.
Click here for the Color Analysis
Until next time….
70 (And Counting) Years of Labor…
Labor Day, 2021! As I was preparing for today, I got to thinking….”what is Labor Day about, anyway?” I tend to forget as we don’t hear much about it except it is a National Holiday….banks are closed, mail doesn’t run, some businesses are closed or close early and you may see flags flying more than normal. I looked up the actual meaning of Labor Day and this is what I found:
Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.
You can read more about Labor Day by clicking here.
I have to share with you the story of my mom who is my hero, by the way. My mom will be 83 this week. She still works to this day. Not because she has to… because she wants to.
I love to hear her stories of her younger years. They were tough and they got tougher as she got older. The sad thing is, it didn’t have to be tough. It was mainly due to choices of people in her life that didn’t see her value and worth. The good news is, it only made her stronger. I could tell you some amazing stories….but for today, I just want to share a tiny bit of her life as a woman who has been in the labor force for 70 years.
Mom began working in a movie theater when she was 13 years old. She worked at the popcorn concession stand for a man named Mr. Moses who owned the local movie theaters in Fort Stockton, Texas. He moved her up to work in the ticket booth selling movie tickets. She worked there until she graduated from high school. I have to share this bit of trivia. A lady came to the theater regularly that had a little girl that my mom describes as so very cute and mannerly. My mom asked the lady what her little girls name was. The lady answered, “Beverly Kay.” She had blonde hair and green eyes. As she walked away, my mom told herself that if she ever had a little girl, she would name her Beverly Kay. And, she did…..and I even had blonde hair and green eyes!
After my mom graduated, she worked for an oil company until she married. After my mom married, she helped my dad manage the movie theaters that Mr. Moses hired my father for in a small West Texas town of Crane and eventually in New Mexico. Shortly after, my mom became a telephone operator. As time went on and with three little ones, she always had a job as a store clerk, desk clerk etc. If you follow me, you know a bit about “my story.” We moved many times as my dad was a surveyor and we moved with a crew of people all over Texas, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
My parents divorced when I was 12. We were now on our own and zero money. When I say zero….I really mean it. My mom made it work somehow. I was beginning Jr. High and she began working as a desk clerk at a large hotel in town. Long hours and low pay. She looked for part time work to go along with that job and worked at a country club on weekends at the front desk. She also worked the concession stand at the professional baseball teams park. Yes, I was a babysitter for my two younger brothers. Lot’s of time sitting at baseball games waiting for my mom to get off. Life was busy and a bit hard, but, because of my moms hard work ethic, we made it! Let me just share this. My mom would have loved to have been a stay at home mom and raise us three kiddos. It just never worked out for her.
Our lives changed when I was 14. Jesus came into our lives and talk about a change not only in our personal lives, but our home life as well. My mom found a new job that would replace those three other jobs. She worked for the local newspaper office. She was the one who put the ads in the paper for local businesses. One day as she was measuring an ad for a church, she read about a group that was coming to town to sing. That is how we ended up in this particular church after never really knowing what church was all about and surely never attending as a family.
After attending and growing in our walk with the Lord, the pastor and his assistant came to visit and offered my mom a job as the church secretary. My mom was shocked but told them that she had just gotten this job at the newspaper office and was making enough money to make it. She explained that she couldn’t leave unless she were to make more money that she was. After they asked her how much she needed to make, she said that she was making $100.00/week. They then offered her $125.00/week. She then accepted the offer and worked as the church secretary for 12 years. She loved her job. She never complained and never talked about anything that was going on in the office. The only thing she would tell me is how much she enjoyed her work and the people she served. She also told me that they loved our little family and loved me and I believed her. I grew up always feeling safe where we were. Money was always tight, but, as hard as it is to explain…..we never did without necessities. I believe the Lord took care of my mom because of her hard honest work. She never thought anyone owed her anything. That goes for the government, too. We were never on government assistance of any kind. My mom felt that as long as you can work and have a job, you didn’t need assistance. If you don’t have a job, you get out and find one.
My mom did get a night job once cleaning office buildings for awhile when she left her church secretary job. She worked downtown as a secretary for a secretarial service and she had a friend who had a check cashing store and they asked her to manage that. When my husband and brother began their business they asked her to come work for them as a bookkeeper. That is what she is still doing to this day. Everyone loves my mom because they know she loves them and if they don’t see mom around for a few days, they will always ask, “Where’s Grandmom!”
Well, I could go on forever talking about my mom. I just wanted you to get a glimpse of a lady who has never been afraid of work. She has been working since she was 13 and will be 83 this week. Labor Day is the day to honor women like my mom! She is what makes America great!
May you have a great Labor Day and honor those that work for all that they have! If you ever need someone to teach about work ethic, you might ask my mom!
Until next time….
We Can Win The War of Fear
In my last post, I shared “My Story” of dealing with the virus of 2020/2021. (Click here if you need to read and catch up.) I do know that 2021 is not over and only the Lord knows what is in store for each and every one of us during this crazy upside down time of life. I told you in my last post that I would share my thoughts on how to win the war of fear that is involved with the “pandemic.” You do know that I’m not a medical doctor, right? Oh, I’m not a counselor either. I’m just a regular person who got the virus. I can’t even tell you how fearful of this virus I was. I don’t now how to describe it to share with you how scared I was. The crazy thing about it is…I didn’t know I was as scared as I turned out to be. I thought I had it all together. I had my sprays, my disinfectant wipes, I stayed home, I ordered groceries online, I made my husband change clothes in the garage when he came in from work…….yes, I did that. Did you not do that? I thought everyone was doing that and I thought it was perfectly normal. I’ve come to find out, not so much. I was consumed with the news in trying to hear all the latest and what we were supposed to do and not do, until, I realized how political and not so trustworthy the main stream media was. I was a mess and I crashed hard.
I have thought long and hard how I could have handled things differently. We know now that I had other issues going on from the past that I hadn’t dealt with so I had all that to deal with at the same time so it made my crash doubly bad. Someone told me it was the “Perfect Storm” for me and why I went down hard.
Back to my thinking how I would have handled it differently if I would have known what I know now.
Are you ready for it?
Putting all my trust in my Savior for everything and anything that was to come my way.
I know! Sounds so simple doesn’t it.
See, I had been doing that since I was 14 years old. The day I put my faith and trust in Jesus, I depended on Him for everything. I read the scriptures on fear, faith and trust. I tried to memorize them. I wrote them down and put them places I could see constantly. So why did I not remember to trust when all the craziness in our country and world broke lose? I know why, but, that is for another post soon.
I lost my way. I lost my self worth and my confidence in who I was as a child of God. I was a perfect set up for someone who was about to go down hard. Each day got worse and worse. I wasn’t listening to my Savior, I was listening to the enemy. I was scared. I couldn’t catch my breath enough to calm down and slap myself into reality.
Thankfully, I finally got back up and I fought like crazy to get back to where I should be. I had the help of a couple of people and then some friends who prayed for me and encouraged me each and every day! It took everything I had in me to get there. Guess who was waiting for me the entire time? My Savior! He picked me up, brushed me off and said “You are gong to be okay!”
I was sailing along, working everyday to get my mind back to where it should be and then BAM! The virus! I struggled and thought, “Why? I can’t do this! The thing I feared the most and I was doing so good and now I have it? Is this it? Am I going to go through the horrible things I’ve heard about? I don’t want to!”
So, I’m going to make a little list of some things that I did and what I wish I would have done to win the war on fear of the virus!
*Empty yourself before the Lord, give Him your fears, your anxiousness and your questions.
*Be still and quiet. Listen for His voice. Go to your Bible and go to those scriptures that speak on fear and comfort.
*Turn off the news for awhile. Be very selective in what you listen to. Fill your mind with good and happy things. Stay busy with things you love to do.
*Take care of your health. Eat as healthy as possible. Limit sugar! Begin a good regimen of vitamins. I was told to take, Vitamin C, D, Zinc and a Pro-Biotic. I also take a multi and a few other things for immunity building. I would talk to an expert or do some serious research and get a plan together.
*I was also told to take a small dose of aspirin each day. That is to prevent blood clotting which seems to be a serious issue going on.
*While I was sick, I did not want to get pneumonia. It seems you hear of that a lot. So, I made sure I stretched everyday as much as possible and walked. I moved my arms continuously. I tried hard not to lay in bed forever which was a hard one. I didn’t feel like doing anything. My husband also tapped like karate chops on my back each day to loosen up anything that might go wrong in the lungs.
*Calm yourself with deep breathing. When resting, I put my left hand on my tummy and my right hand on my heart and I took a deep slow breath through my nose with mouth closed and let my tummy fill with air to the count of 6 or 8, then I held it for about 4 counts and blew slowly out of my mouth to the count of 6 or 8. I would do this several times until I felt calm and could get my breath.
*The mind is a powerful thing. The breathing exercises helped me to calm down and focus on good things. Someone told me they would breathe in the goodness of God and blow out the fear. You don’t want to lose control of your thoughts and let fear win. You do whatever it takes.
*In order to go to battle, we must be strong spiritually, mentally and physically. That physically part is a hard one for me. Exercise is not my favorite thing to do. But, we need to be fit. Whatever it takes to get there, we must do. Any habits that hinder our health, we need to correct it.
*Scripture is important to me. I have a card case with scriptures on trusting God and not having fear. I had them by my side and read them over and over. When I had a really hard time, I actually held the scripture card and claimed it for myself. Bible study will keep you grounded and close to our Heavenly Father.
*Journaling is huge for me. I now have my journals during that season and it is very interesting to read over and see how the Lord comforted me and the answer to prayers. Not only that, just to get my thoughts on paper and out of my head is very good for me.
*Be prepared for the worst. Have a plan for treatment if you get sick. Remember I’m not a doctor, but, for me, I decided to get a protocol that many doctors are using to treat the virus. I follow and read after a group and they had a listing of doctors that you could do a teleconference with and they would prescribe a protocol for you to take if you need to. We have our protocol and we have it in a bag just in case anything were to happen. It’s a comfort to have a plan and to know what symptoms are before they ever happen. *Its almost like we were just sitting ducks, didn’t know what to expect, where to go, what to do, etc. We were just told to wear a mask, don’t go anywhere, don’t get around any one and if you get sick, chances are you are done for. I believe that we were handed a bundle of fear and told to take it and don’t ask questions. I also believe that is wrong. We are to be responsible for ourselves and our family, do research and be prepared for even the worst so you know what to expect. The unknown is what causes fear. We now know so much more and we also have the choice to listen to others besides the political figures and main stream media who obviously have an agenda. We also should do our own research and be wise in who we listen to.
*Then it gets back to the trust again. It’s a choice. Faith or Fear. They are two separate roads….we have to pick one. You can’t have both; they just don’t work together. The good thing is, God knows our fears and He understands. He wants us to be free from fear. Let Him take it from you. But, you have to give it to Him.
I hope that helps a little. Feel free to leave a comment or email any questions or thoughts. I only know what I know and I can steer you to someone much smarter than me if possible.
Can I pray with you?
Heavenly Father,
Thank you so much for loving us like you do! How thankful I am that I put my faith in you as a young teen. I thank you for each person reading the blog today and oh, how I pray that they know you personally! You know who each one is and I ask that you put your arms of comfort around them, let them know how much you love and care for them.
Lord, we are a fearful people when we don’t put our trust in you. Forgive us for putting our trust in those that don’t have our best interest. We trust you and we are giving you our fears and our anxiousness. We don’t understand all that is going on, but, you do! You know exactly how this is all going to end and we put our hand in yours and we know you will guide and protect us.
Lord, whatever you have in store for each of us, may we humbly and graciously accept it as your will. I pray for a peace that only you can give. I pray for joy that only you can give. We don’t understand all that is going on in our country and in our world, but, we want to walk through it with peace and joy.
We ask for wisdom and discernment to handle all the many voices we hear today and to understand what is right and what is wrong. Help us, Lord!
I ask for healing for those that are reading the blog today that are suffering either with the virus or with that awful thing called fear! Some of us have loved ones that are going through it and we are asking for a miraculous healing for each and everyone of them. You want us to walk in strong faith and courage. You want us to remember that every breath we take is because of your grace and mercy. You also want us to trust you in what is best for each one of us. Lord, whatever comes our way and however you choose for it to all play out, may we accept it with grace and humility.
How grateful I am for your healing of my mind and my body! I know many of the readers can testify to your goodness in their lives. May we be forever thankful and share with others all that you have done for us.
Lord, there may be someone reading this that has never put their faith in you. I pray that whoever it is, they would give their heart to you and you would save them and forgive them of all their sin, just like you did for me and so many others that are reading the blog today.
In Jesus Name,
Amen!
IF….you want to know more about putting your faith and trust in Christ, click here.
