Better Than a Hallelujah

Happy day!  Is Winter over yet?! 

This has been a good day.  It's cold...we are in hibernation.☺ But, we have a nice fire and don't have to go anywhere. The littles have been playing nicely together, while I worked on some small projects.  I even had some time to listen to some of my older Cd's (in peace).  I love how a song can take you back in time...unleashing emotions that swirl through your being... just as meaningful as the first time you heard them. I used to write lyrics in a notebook. My best friend teased me and still reminds me of it, today. I love the essence of each poetic line.  Sweet melody in my ears as the words danced through my mind. 

This song...

It is so beautifully written. The truth is, that God wants all of us.  He wants us to be reliant on Him, and him alone. He wants us to fall at his feet, cry out to him, cling to him. He desires a relationship with us. The prayers we whisper through tears, are melodious lyrics in HIS ears. He longs for the honesty and truthfulness of our broken spirit. 

The way that He loves me...is overwhelming.  

"Better Than A Hallelujah"

God loves a lullaby

In a mother's tears in the dead of night

Better than a Hallelujah sometimes

God loves the drunkard's cry

The soldier's plea not to let him die

Better than a Hallelujah sometimes

We pour out our miseries

God just hears a melody

Beautiful, the mess we are

The honest cries of breaking hearts

Are better than a Hallelujah

The woman holding on for life

The dying man giving up the fight

Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes

The tears of shame for what's been done

The silence when the words won't come

Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes

We pour out our miseries

God just hears a melody

Beautiful the mess we are

The honest cries of breaking hearts

Are better than a Hallelujah

Better than a church bell ringing

Better than a choir singing out, singing out

We pour out our miseries

God just hears a melody

Beautiful, the mess we are

The honest cries of breaking hearts

Are better than a Hallelujah

We pour out our miseries

God just hears a melody

Beautiful, the mess we are

The honest cries of breaking hearts

Are better than a Hallelujah

(Better than a Hallelujah sometimes)

Better than a Hallelujah

(Better than a Hallelujah sometimes)

Perception

My husband has encouraged me lately, to make time for dinner and lunch dates with friends.  I tend to be a homebody, especially during the winter months.   I have made a dedicated effort, and have been delighted to catch up with friends (old/new) and family.  It is such a fun thing to reminisce with people who really know you, or have known you; your whole life.

 Recently, a group of my dear friends got together for dinner.  We talked about a wide spectrum of topics.  Funny stories about our children, grandchildren, parents,  childhoods, faith, husbands, dates, jobs...etc.  I loved asking and hearing answers to questions about their lives... just catching up.  We all stay in touch, but not on a daily basis.  I am so thankful that each of us has the desire to continue to be in each others lives and share a friendship. This group included a pair of sisters that I started elementary school with, remaining friends through graduation.  We even lived together briefly.  It was interesting to watch them sometimes go back and forth on the details of a story or memory... each of them remembering it a little differently.  

Later that evening, I watched my favorite show... This is Us.  ( My husband refers to it as my therapy hour, as I cry pretty much every week, while watching it.❤)  I DO love that show!  One of the siblings talked about how he wished their childhood had been filmed.  Then whenever one of them disagreed on the details of how they remember something happening... they could say "let's go to the film".  Wouldn't that be awesome?!  I actually do that now... kind of... with my husband... and Google...... of course, we KNOW the Internet is always right!  Well, it usually is on actors, or movies that we are disagreeing about!  

Anyway.... perception is a funny thing.  I heard Dr. Phil say that "perception becomes your reality".  It really stuck with me. He went on to clarify, that it might not be accurate or the truth, but it becomes what you VIEW as truth.  If you tell yourself something enough times... it becomes your truth.  Regardless if it is true!  Those words, spurred me to ponder some of the hard times in my life...to look at it from a different view.  Is it possible, that I chose to see it in only the light that would benefit me?  Did I pause, before I dug my heels in ...."knowing" that I was right and justified in indignation?  Hard questions to ask.  

Things I've observed and learned about perception.  It can take over your life.  It CAN become your reality. The things you whisper to yourself....  the way you believe.. ("PERCEIVE")  that people see you... and the way you FIXATE on that view.... that WILL become what YOU see.....when you gaze into the mirror.  No one's voice is louder in your head... than your own. Not only what you tell yourself, but what you perceive about others. 

Think about that.

 Have you judged someone, from what a good friend or family member, has told you? Your perception has been tainted.  It's something that most of us have done. We talk in confidence with friends and family... not realizing that our words, our comments., our tone.. our vent.....is tainting anothers perception. We’ve all been on the other side if that, as well. It’s a frustrating place to be.

It's hard when we are not judged by the same standard we profess to hold.  

I fall flat on my face most days.  I am incredibly thankful for grace and second chances. I am striving to hold myself accountable and to be humble enough to look from the other side. Perception is a funny thing though... it has a stronghold and is sometimes anchored in arrogance.  Arrogance that clouds honesty and self awareness.  It would be amazing if we could "go to the film" or even Google something that we perceived differently, than another.

Sometimes the biggest lie we tell ourselves, is the very thing we can't/won’t let go of.  

If you read this.... thank you, for following my blog... and thank you for following my ramblings!  I don't profess to have words of wisdom! I don't profess to be a  writer!  Just sharing my thoughts.
I'm still learning & growing.

Be kind...  We are all in this together! 

Happy New Year!

Well...  I didn't do a very good job in 2017.... or 2016!  I still take many, many pictures of my children.  However, Instagram has become my social go to.  It's so easy to edit and post pictures. I love to to see pictures from old and new friends. I will include several pictures in this post for those of you who don't do Instagram. 

I am so thankful for my kiddos.  My first baby is graduated and going to college ( and working a lot ). He shares a little house with his best friend.  We miss him dreadfully, but it helps knowing that he is only a couple minutes away! He takes time to visit, call and text his mama.  It makes my heart happy to know he misses us too, even in his new found freedom!  Independence is important.  I think everyone should live on their own for awhile. I am so proud of him.  He is an amazing young man. He has a kind heart and always looks to help others. 

I am so thankful for the two little people that still live here. They make me smile and laugh everyday.  The days pass so quickly.  I only blinked a couple times and my first one....flew the nest. What I wouldn't give to have him back in my arms, if only for a few hours.  These two littles... they squirm and think I hug them too long sometimes.  But, I know... just how quickly they will outgrow my lap. Yes, the days can be crazy!  I'm not a young mom... but, I'm so grateful for it all.  Only 8 short years ago.... I had accepted that it wasn't going to be.  I had a beautiful child and he was more than enough... and I was so thankful for him. 

Thank you Jesus, for all that I have. I still remember (vividly) the prayers for the extra blessings I now have. 

I hope your days are full of many reasons to smile. 

 Choose JOY