A beautiful heart.

A beautiful heart can bring things into your life
that all the money in the world couldn't obtain.

I read that quote this morning and thought - What is a beautiful heart?

Here's a few thoughts:

A soft heart (one that feels and cares and is humble)
A loving heart (one that forgives and understands)
A happy heart (one that finds and creates joy)
A patient heart (one that endures the trials of life and waits upon the Lord)
An open heart (one that is not closed to ideas and suggestions)
A kind heart (one that seeks to always be kind)
A grateful heart (one that appreciates)
A lifting heart (one that lifts those around them)
An in tune heart (one that hears the needs of others)
A true heart (one that is real)
A brave heart (one that stands up for what is good)
A serving heart (one that serves those around them)
A trusting heart (do what you say)
A musical heart (sing)
A prayerful heart (one that prays)
A teachable heart (one that learns and hears and changes for the better)
A wise heart (one that knows and moves forward)
A friendly heart (one that makes room for old and new friends)
A welcome heart (one that is not closed and has room for love!)

What would you add to the list?

PS: I agree, living with a beautiful heart brings blessings, peace and JOY that money can't buy.

Every day.

A few little things from my day so far ...

Driving to Prosser and seeing Mt. Adams - gorgeous day, clear view, filled me with renewal!
(I love mountains)

Shopping for outdoor yard flowers at the Home Depot - flowers are so amazing! Pure joy.

Waving at my neighbor and her 4 adorable kids - they add so much happiness to our neighborhood.

Thinking about where to plant the beautiful flowers in the yard ...

And the list goes on!

Enjoying the little stuff makes the day so much better and happy :)

What little things are going on in you life?!

Hello, pink ...

These flowers are beautiful ... just wanted to share a little happiness and joy today!
And if you get the chance, stop and smell the roses.

Happy Monday -

Wendy
:)

Don't give up.

H. Jackson Brown Jr., Author of the best selling -  "Life's Little Instruction Book" series has this to say about success: Overnight success usually takes 15 years.

I love that quote! Great reminder that stuff takes time.

Don't give up. Keep moving forward! Train your mind to see the good in everything - even the hard days. And on the days when things are good and the game seems to be going your way - celebrate. Do a happy dance if you want!

Time, it's a gift. We can use it to do all sorts of amazing things!

Good luck! You got this ...

Paying it with LOVE ...

Let me just say: We didn't watch the Super Bowl yesterday ... 
so we didn't see the Super Bowl Ads ...

At the beginning of the year, my daughter broke her arm. (She was sledding out of town with a cousin and we received text messages from the ER with updates.) It was a bit traumatic and not the ideal way to start a new year. (We learned a lot together from this experience!)

Jump forward 4 weeks and it's time to have the cast removed! Today was the big day...

8:00 AM - cast off. x-rays taken.

8:30 - Meet with the Dr. - get instructions on how to get the arm moving again ... reminded that it's still broken and fragile. (The arm is much smaller than the other arm due to being stuck in the cast and restrained from movement.) My daughter felt a little discouraged ... (I think she thought once the cast was off, it would be all better.)

I offer encouragement as we check out. We got this! We can do this ... So proud of you!
:)

8:45 - Walked out the door ... I planned on taking her straight to school. She was a little bummed that the appointment didn't take longer as she wanted to miss first and second period :) ... remember those days?

She mentions how much she likes McDonald's pancakes...

8:55 - At McDonald's - we order her breakfast!

Cashier: "Hug!"

I wasn't sure what was going on ... there were people behind us full of smiles ... So I give my daughter a side-half hug ...

I try to pay with my debit card ...

Cashier: "You've probably seen the commercials ...You can pay with love!"

I see the total and try to pay again with my card.

Cashier: "Just hug ... and your meal is paid for!"

(BIG HUG)

Love. It matters.

This morning will stay with us for a long time ... great reminder of how important kindness is and how good it feels to give and share love!

Thanks McDonald's - WE GOT THIS.

What and Who ...

Energy is contagious, positive and negative alike.

I will forever be mindful of what and who I am allowing into my space.

And - I will forever be mindful of the energy I share.

26 simple ideas to enjoy the little moments that matter

26 little suggestions for enjoying the little moments that matter -

(26)

It all begins with LOVE ...

Families are Forever ...

Saturday, January 10th, 2015 -

Dear Self,

Remember this day! So filled with love, peace, hope and happiness!!  :)

Me.

Keep looking up ...

This made me smile ... Thanks, Snoopy.

"Keep looking up ... that's the secret of life."

Happy Cupcake Day ...

Red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. Oh so yum ..

Click HERE for a yummy cream cheese butter cream frosting recipe!

Happy Cupcake Day!

Thankful.

Gratitude. It matters...

Watch with glittering eyes ...

Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you.

Because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.

Anticipation.

Anticipation ... I like that word! I get butterflies when I say it :)
It means there's something exciting, great, or unexpected on the horizon!

What are you anticipating?

Find the blessing in everything ...

Train yourself to find the blessing in everything. I like how this quote uses the word 'train' ...
If we want to see the blessings, we need to look for them. And when we look, we find them!

The blessings are everywhere.
Slow down.
See them.
Appreciate them.

Train yourself to always find them.

Love.

Above: My cousin and her hubby - Congrats. May you always be in love!

PS: I believe in love. I believe in the ability we have to give and receive love ... I believe love is the most powerful force there is. Love lifts, heals, inspires, supports, gives, reaches, helps, touches, and most of all, it helps us become the best version of us there is.

Love. It matters!

You are stronger than you realize ...

 

 

“Stand tall and walk in the light … You are stronger than you realize.
You are more capable than you can imagine. Your destiny is a glorious one!”
~ Dieter F. Uchtdorf

 

 

Always believe ...

Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen.

 Love this quote!

I believe ... :)

Accept what IS...

Love this quote!
Great reminder to - Live in the now. Let go and keep moving forward with FAITH.

Happy Monday.

Perspective ...

Perspective / The way a person sees the events and moments in life.

I wonder if we are given kids to teach, or to learn from?
-Author Unknown

Last week I took a bike ride with my daughter to the park. We went to see a live band do cover songs from the 60s and 70s. They were really good and it was fun to spend time together - on our bike ride home, we bumped into the weed pictured above. She stopped her bike in front of the big round ball and said: "THAT is the best thing I've ever seen!" and then she asked if she could take it home with us ...

She couldn't get it to break free from the stem so we rode home and got scissors and then rode back so she could cut it down and bring it home. She named it Steve and placed it in a glass jar on the back patio.

I couldn't help but reflect on her perspective ... so many people would see that big round ball as a thousand weeds. She saw it as a thousand wishes and a beautiful piece of nature that deserved to come home with her, be named and admired!

How do you choose to see the events in your life? Is it with wonder and awe or woe is me and doom and gloom?

The way we 'see' and act determines our experience and ultimately our destination and happiness.
Today - Choose to look, see and appreciate the good and magic in the moments that decorate life!

Name them if you want, take them home ... celebrate all the wonders of THIS DAY!

Introductions …
{Remember to hold your light high}

Introductions play an important role! Not only in life (person to person stranger to stranger) but on the pages of a book as well. It’s as if the page comes alive and talks to the reader.

Introduction: “Hi it’s nice to meet you’
Reader: “Nice to meet you too!”
Introduction: “Would you like to know more about me?
”Reader: “Yes, that’s why I’m reading you here and now.”
Introduction: “Great! Dive right in and make yourself at home.”

The introduction is often times the part of the book that makes me feel the most emotion. I have cried several times after reading an author’s heartfelt words and sentiments and immediately knew that I HAD to have his or her work of art. This happened when I picked up “Life’s Little Instruction Book” by H. Jackson Brown. The introduction to that book is one of my all time favorites! Five out of five stars in my book…

I can honestly say that writing an introduction to a book is my favorite part of the book. If I can write an introduction, I can write the book.

Below is the introduction I wrote for It’s the Little Moments that Matter – (Now we’re not strangers anymore!!)

Introduction

Are there dust mites in heaven?

Moment – A time or period of success, excellence, satisfaction

Did you know that your house is filled with dust mites? I didn’t realize that until recently. My oldest son came home from school with a Bug Encyclopedia and together (my two sons and I) read through it.

I was horrified when we reached the page about the house dust mites. We discovered that there was no escaping them – It was a ‘dust mite invasion’ discovery!

According to the book, we breathe them in constantly. My sons were so excited by this information, they opened their mouths and inhaled as many of the dust mites as they could! Their excitement was contagious and before I knew it, the three of us were slurping down the dust mites! It was a beautiful moment full of love and laughter! Sometime later, out of the blue (we were driving) my younger son asked me if there were house dust mites in heaven. I told him I didn’t know. I also told him it wouldn’t really matter because in heaven everyone is happy – even if we do share our time and space with millions of dust mites! And he said, “Yeah, just like at our house!”

Later that night as I thought about our dust mite slurping episode, our little hugs, our discussion about heaven and the opportunity I have to be the Mother of three beautiful children, I thanked Heavenly Father for the chance I have to be alive!

And just before I drifted off to sleep, I closed my eyes and thought – Life is full of beautiful moments that really do matter! And WOW … I get to choose what to do with them ALL.
From my heart to yours

This little moment matters -
I hope this book will help you recognize and appreciate the little moments that decorate your life. And then I hope you’ll use your little moments to LIVE, LOVE and CELEBRATE each day!

PS -
In my attempt to hold my light high (You’ll read about that in letter H.) I wrote this book to say – Your life matters, you are worth it, YOU really DO make a difference and mostly – It’s the little moments that matter! So cherish them and enjoy every step of your awesome journey called LIFE!

All my hope and love,
Wendy L. Christensen

© 2004 Wendy L. Christensen
All rights reserved.