Tag Archives: encouragement

Book Review: Pelican Point, A Hope Harbor Novel

11 Sunday Nov 2018

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I received a copy of Pelican Point by Irene Hannon from Revell in exchange for a review.

Reading Pelican Point gave me the uplifting book boost I sought after reading and watching a few heavier stories. This sweet small town romance provides a fun story and encouragement for moving through life’s tougher situations. Though this book comes as the fourth in the Hope Harbor series, it makes sense as a stand alone novel. I fell right into step with the residents in town as I followed army doctor Ben there as he returned for his grandfather’s funeral. He and the other characters each face decisions on how to best move forward after loss, moves, and career changes. As they forge friendships and open themselves to possibilities, they find themselves improving their situations and relationships.

As many of us cue up the feel good Hallmark Christmas movies, I equate this with a similar style story. This does not involve Christmas, but it does end with a November wedding. So I say the timing for my reading could not have been better. Like the characters, I face decisions of how to move forward with my career, school and long term living situation. This story reminds me we all face difficult decisions but don’t have to do so alone. In this case, everyone gains confidence as they work together to save a lighthouse. The town coming together as a community to save a community landmark emphasizes the importance of a support network and connection to the world around you. With a little extra encouragement, we can pursue our potential. Sometimes what we need stands within our reach and we simply need to get out and open ourselves to the possibility.

 

This is my first Irene Hannon book, but it definitely won’t be the last. I’d like to go back and read the others in this series and look forward to the fifth releasing next year. As a Missouri native, I enjoyed the tid bit about her attending universities in Missouri and living there. I also found it interesting she chose a town in Oregon not far from where my brother lives and included a character transplanted from Texas, my last state residence. I look forward to returning to Hope Harbor to visit these characters again.

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#Write_On Challenge: Letter 2

02 Saturday Apr 2016

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Egg Press and Hello!Lucky promote National Letterwriting Month through their Write_On Challenge. They even sent me a card kit to get me started on more letters and included a zine for inspiration. The zine has 30 ideas for letters, and I’d like to give those prompts a whirl here.

Letter 2 is a letter to my future self:

Dear Kayla,

I hope this note finds you doing well. I want to remind you of the good in your life thus far and encourage you to keep focused on that good. The continued shift in focus helps you grow and fulfill your dreams and purpose.

By now I’m sure you’ve found your name in print another time or two, maybe even finished one of those books. If not, keep working on them. Dedicate a regular time each day or week to write. Those projects are worthwhile. I know how happy you felt as you began that young adult novel and spent Sunday afternoons at the library with Sheila. That, your children’s novel about Kensia and your hero idea all have potential. That depth you put in the pages through genuinely sharing your imagination and experience create hope and inspiration.

Keep up your work and don’t let those doubts in your head have any validation. They only come from voices who spoke curses or lies over you. Your words have a purpose, and they will find their way out.

I hope the rest of your life is going well also. You have so much going for you. Whatever you chose to pursue for school and career in terms of counseling and teaching, I hope you find fulfillment in your job and that it has the right balance of writing and engagement with people and ideas. Best of luck in all your endeavors. I love you more than you know.

Love Always,

Kayla

Meetings Follow-Up

22 Monday Feb 2016

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This week has started well, especially as I mentioned the importance of meetings in my last post. I made it to church yesterday morning and my support group this evening. As I’ve ventured out from my dip in isolation, I’ve found several supportive peers and friends eager to see me and encourage me. Tonight especially, I was repeatedly reminded that I need not travel this healing road alone and that sharing my struggle (as well as my victory) frees me and opens the lane for others coming down the same road; the content of the lesson on principle 8 associated with the twelfth step in the 12 Steps, which focuses on sharing God’s word and work by example, and a personalized word of encouragement from a woman who shares a similar experience as me have made me realize a truth that’s been on my heart: I need to continue forgiving and sharing my hurts, habits and hang-ups. I NEED to take this action.

Fortunately this action can make use of my spiritual gifts of writing, encouragement and teaching…and that’s just from sharing it via writing. Here’s to sharing my recovery journey, me seeing my healing and others seeing God’s light shining in and through it.

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Moving from Common Living to Dream Fulfilling

27 Monday Apr 2015

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            I just have finished reading a chapter in Max Lucado’s book The Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot about joining God’s family of friends through church community. He emphasizes the importance of each member having a specific role to play, using his gifts, and how we come together as one body to support each other.

            The church as a hospital for hurt people is a common image used for Christians. This chapter demonstrates how the community helps its members by providing physical and emotional needs during difficult times. As I’ve mentioned previously, I’m taking a course on healing from past wounds at a nearby church. We have spent the last couple weeks sharing our backgrounds and starting a healing process that begins with forgiving people who have hurt us and relinquishing lies, etc. I have immediately seen a significant difference in how I feel since I’ve had my turn in the “holy seat” on Monday evening. Maybe the true beginning really is as simple as acknowledging that certain people have hurt me and forgiving them as well as acknowledging and renouncing lies or curses I have believed as a result of those situations. Nothing has changed the past, but I have started to loosen its negative grip on me as I live in a healthier present.

            Feeling better has made me feel more equipped to start tackling some of my goals again, big and small. I have shared this readiness and some of the dreams on my heart with my group, and I have received enthusiasm and encouragement. Immediately, one friend wanted to introduce me to a writer at the church who currently seeks young authors. Then the group as a whole is happy to see me healing and reaching out to fulfill God’s calling for me.

            That’s exactly what the church family of friends does for each other. These wonderful women have stood beside me as I have started healing and as I shared my scars. I never once felt judged, rather felt lifted up and seen in a positive light for who I am rather than things I have done or that have been done to me. They are helping me get plugged into the church, eager to see me use my gifts. Each week, I am reminded that there is no such thing as coincidence and that God placed me in this group for a purpose.

            As Max Lucado points out, the church is a family of friends. It can come together to serve each other through sharing burdens as well as connecting people for community and getting people plugged into the right place to use their gifts. I am not a member of a church in my area yet, but I am encouraged to keep getting involved to receive further healing from the church as a hospital as well as use my gifts to lift people higher and bring them closer together in fellowship.

Happy Father’s Day

15 Sunday Jun 2014

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As I’ve ventured into the “adult” world, I have learned to appreciate my dad even more. Chasing my dreams and figuring out how to structure my life successfully for myself presents its challenges. My dad has always been my biggest supporter, reminding me to conquer all the necessary details in college and before so I would have a foundation later. Today, I look to him when I need to remember I have more potential than I realize. He encourages me so matter-of-factly, making it known my talent will make my dreams possible. Yet he loves me enough to be happy for me if I were to choose not to pursue them any longer (though that won’t happen because I know there’s more for me because my dad has shown me that). With his support, I continue to progress with knowledge that I have what it takes to have the life I want.

A Simple Smile Takes You The Extra Mile

06 Sunday Apr 2014

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Sometimes I fake it. I don’t even always realize it. The actions come pretty naturally. Take my customer service job. I see a customer, I smile, I provide assistance. Maybe I feel that happiness with the joy in my heart. Maybe I don’t. I’m there to make those people happy. Ultimately, it makes me feel good too.

Sometimes I need to make it my job to make myself experience happiness. I possess such a natural joy, but that doesn’t mean I always feel happy. My joyful disposition pairs with my sensitivity (to keep me balanced I suppose). I need to remind myself not to get lost in the sadness after I mellow out. Those feelings can escape and get replaced with happier ones as I smile through each situation.

I smile to all customers in an attempt to keep them satisfied, the curled lips a symbol to them and a release for me. The gesture releases natural endorphins. It brings a certain authenticity to even the forced smiles. That’s probably what keeps me from getting bogged down by the rude and mean customers.

I just need to maintain this practice in my everyday life. My life gives me so many reasons to smile, but it’s still life. It comes with its own obstacles. They weight heavier on me right now.

Yet I can still smile. I just need to get some good face time to show it. That involves a variety of acts and reminders. I take the time to take care of myself, even simply looking at myself in the mirror as I make myself presentable for high standards. I use my own social media to share positive messages with everyone that I myself need to consider. My friends take time to maintain correspondence with me as we write letters and talk on the phone. All these words and reflections make me smile. The smile ultimately shows happiness that matches the joy in my heart.

Flashback Friday: “Bigger Than My Body” Above The Pavement

04 Friday Apr 2014

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We all want to soar when it comes to life to dreams to love. In “Bigger Than My Body,” John Mayer declares, “Someday I’ll fly/Someday I’ll soar/Someday I’ll be/So damn much more/’Cause I’m bigger than my body/Gives me credit for.” Let us not forget that we have the ability to soar and that others possess this potential as well. Keeping this bigger picture in mind helps us reach our goals and encourage others as well.

Often times we hold ourselves back because, simply, it’s easier to accept the status quo. Most people understand that the rock stars we hear on the radio, the anchors we see on TV, the best-selling authors we read exemplify rare cases. Yet the poets who share their pieces with writing communities online also find success. They take the first step toward flight. Maybe it leads to a full-blown writing career. Then again, it might never lead to any published work. Emerging from their shell, no matter how slowly, marks the path to success.

Mayer points out the possibility that “Maybe I’ll tangle in the power lines.” Lifting ourselves from our foundation involves more risk. Obstacles surround us overhead, and the solid pavement remains below. It provides stable ground, but it also hurts as a landing spot after a tumble. The firm aspect serves as the core or the heart of the quest, the “more to learn.” We can always stand on this soil.

Then we can “shed this skin I’ve been tripping in/never to quite return.” For we continually change as we grow into our new found successes, even if that entails healing from scrapes or bruises along the way. Let’s stretch our wings as they allow to see how we soar. Remember there is always more than what meets the eye as we don’t see one’s full reach in one glance.

Flashback Friday: Beautiful Day Every Day

28 Friday Mar 2014

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I remember when I first heard this song. It’s on the Now 6 CD I bought over ten years ago. The U2 hit still rings true as ever as encouragement to not let the good in each day get away.

This seems like a good reminder for this season as we welcome the return of the green trees, pink and red flowers, golden sun. The days become more aesthetically beautiful, which makes it easier to embrace the beauty of life. We accept the change.

Yet that doesn’t mean the fresh growth is always easy. Sometimes we have to let go of people we love. Other times we have to tackle situations we didn’t expect. We can’t always predict how the seeds we plant might grow.

I have found myself in a new beginning in every aspect of my life, some planned others not quite anticipated. Sometimes it gets discouraging not knowing where my next home will be as I wait for a couple details to unfold. I still have my family, friends, and journal. What makes my house a home travels with me and will settle with me again.

No matter what, it’s a beautiful day. Some sort of flower always blooms. Take notice of the good and don’t let another day in your life get away unnoticed for its beauty.

Liebster Award

24 Friday Jan 2014

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The lovely Ginger Loves Makeup has nominated me for the Liebster Award! This gives me the opportunity to share a little more about myself and to encourage other bloggers with my own nominations.

Here are the rules I’m following for this Liebster post:

  1. thank the person who nominated you, and post a link to their blog on your blog.
    2. display the award on your blog — by including it in your post and/or displaying it using a “widget” or a “gadget”.
    (Note that the best way to do this is to save the image to your own computer and then upload it to your blog post.)
    3. answer 11 questions about yourself, which will be provided to you by the person who nominated you.
    4. provide 11 random facts about yourself.
    5. nominate 5 – 11 blogs that you feel deserve the award, who have less than 1000 followers.
    (Note that you can always ask the blog owner this since not all blogs display a widget that lets the readers know this
    information!)
    6. create a list of questions for the blogger to answer.
    7. list these rules in your post. (You can copy and paste them from here.)
    Once you have written your post, and published it, you then have to:
    8. Inform the people/blogs that you nominated that they have been nominated for the Liebster award
    and provide a link for them to your post so that they can learn about it (they might not have ever heard of it!)
    I would like to add that you can nominate someone who already has been given this award, as long as
    they have less than 1000 followers/subscribers. The idea behind this award is to recognize new bloggers and
    help promote them! The benefit is that you get from doing this is that you get some promotion, too!

 

Here are my answers to Ginger’s 11 questions:

  1. What is your favorite time of year?

 

Fall is my favorite season, and I enjoy the following holiday season

 
2.What’s your favorite type of nail polish?
OPI, especially red shades

 
3. What are your favorite TV show and movie of all time?
My absolute favorite TV show is One Tree Hill, and my all-time favorite movie is a tie between Finding Neverland and Stranger Than Fiction.

 
4. Who or what inspires you the most?
Typically, music inspires me most.

 
5. In your free time, what is your favorite thing to do?
I like to journal and write.

 
6. What is your favorite color to wear year-round?
Green. Just green.

 
7. How often do you normally change your nail polish?
I religiously paint my nails every Sunday night.

 
8. What’s your favorite thing to eat?
Ice cream.

 
9. Name three things in your purse right now.
my wallet, sunglasses, my new Swiss card knife.

 
10. What is one beauty product you cannot live without?
nail polish

 
11. And lastly, what made you start your blog?
I’m not quite sure. It was a new venue for writing to try, and it slowly lured me into sharing more of my thoughts.

 

 

 

My 11 facts about myself are:

  1. I have finally given Grease 2 (it came with Grease when I bought it a couple years ago), and I find it surprisingly entertaining.
  2. Mark Wahlberg may be my Fantasy Celebrity Valentine Day Date Draft pick for this year; it’s an inside joke since my boyfriend likes Mark Wahlberg movies so much. Mila Kunis may be a funny choice for him too since she was the romantic lead in a Mark Wahlberg and a Justin Timberlake movie.
  3. Valentine’s Day has always been my favorite holiday even though I’ve only had a Valentine once. I like the new idea around thinking of it as GALentine’s Day.
  4. I’m honored to share that my cousin asked me to be her Maid Of Honor at her upcoming wedding. I get to attend to beautiful weddings this spring!
  5. My dad’s had a Harley my whole life, and I’ve never ridden on a motorcycle. I refuse to ride one.
  6. My coffee mug today has a British flag on it; my dad and I have matching mugs from England.
  7. This year marks the 10th anniversary of my first real concert, Hanson (after seeing Avril Lavigne do a small mall show before releasing her second album that spring).
  8. I love Rock Of Ages and want to see it on stage in New York. The time period in that story is where I would go if I could time travel.

 

My 11 questions for my nominees are:

  1. What is your favorite musical?
  2. What movie is your favorite book to screen adaptation?
  3. If you could go to any concert this year, which artist would you see?
  4. What is your favorite pick up line?
  5. How did you choose your topic for your blog?
  6. How will you likely spend your Valentine’s Day this year?
  7. When was your last vacation and where did you go?
  8. If you were to host a party this upcoming weekend, what would be your ideal theme?
  9. What’s the biggest risk you have taken for potential gain or success?

10. Who has given you the greatest encouragement on your writing?

11. What movie or book character would you fancy for a Valentine’s Day date?

My nominations are:

There’s So Much To Smile About

Roamin4Happiness

Flux & Flow

 

Thanks To You, Shared With You

30 Monday Dec 2013

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I have another holiday treat to share with you all. As of Christmas morning, I have reached 100 followers on my blog! Now I would like to thank you all and invite you to visit and like my new Facebook page where I share my posts in addition to other positive words and pictures, both original and otherwise.

Thank you so much for taking interest in and supporting my efforts and perspective! I really appreciate knowing my thoughts, even when lost, can mean something and boost joy.

May the last of your holiday season be joyous! Happy New Year everyone!