2025 Journal Pages ✨
𝓗𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓦𝓮𝓭𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓭𝓪𝔂 ❤️
It’s a warm(ish), but cloudy day in neck of the woods today, but it’s my day off, and days off mean lots of relaxation indoors for me, well, at least for now, but come Summer time, days off will be enjoyed on the deck, or some outdoorsy place.
I truly do need one day a week to do absolutely nothing, OR, a lot of what I love to do like cooking. I usually just drink lots of coffee, catch up on series I’m watching on tv, talk to a friend on the phone, and then panic when the clock says 4:30 pm because I know the other humans that live at home will be coming home from work, and the day off will be almost over, and it’s time to start a new day. 😂
But it’s all good… love all of it!
Every morning when I make a new pot of coffee, as the coffee is brewing, I walk over to one of the kitchen cabinets where I keep some of the coffee mugs and grab what calls me. This morning, this “Courage doesn’t always roar…” coffee mug caught my eye.
As I woke up with yet another throbbing migraine this morning (barometric pressure is poison for me and it has been bad the last few days), it made me reflect on all the years I’ve been suffering, yes, suffering, from this awful condition. I’m not sharing to get sympathy, but I think it’s important to also talk about our struggles in life, as well as our joys, and successes, we are all humans after all.
Next month I’ll be 53 years young! I got my first migraine 27 years ago, so I’m going on 3 decades of this horrific type of pain that takes over your entire body, and being, but you know what I am MOST thankful for?! I’m thankful that despite the pain, despite the agony that is to function daily (almost daily) with chronic pain, I have been blessed with access to medicine that helps me control it, a husband, and children that are SO beyond understanding, and loving when it comes to me having to take a break, or extra rest when I’m in pain, and friends that support me, and also understand when I’ve had to cancel plans because I just can’t do it.
I am grateful for always having the courage, and strength to do what I have to do no matter what. Work full time, keep a house, raise kids (grown now), and from time to time, focus on self care which can also be challenging to squeeze when you have a busy schedule, and life.
I think the reason I’ve been able to endure, and manage the pain while doing all those things, it’s because I love doing all of those things, and it all makes me proud.
I’ve tried every prescription medicine pretty much, every “do this and it’ll help…” suggestion, food changes, and well, you name it I’ve tried it. Knowing myself, and how my body works, and when I feel (felt) better in the migraine department, barometric pressure is HUGE for me, hormones, and also stress plays a big role. I experienced no pain during pregnancies, which was amazing, so I know that played a huge part in my migraine journey. Now, in menopause (well post after having had a full hysterectomy years ago), my body continues to change, and adjust.
Moral of the story here ☺️… “courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.” Because I know that the pain eventually will cease, the sun will come out, and this beautiful life of ours goes on.
This year I added a new journal to my series of journal books, I have 3 right now and I love them all! The newest addition is just to focus on gratitude.
Today, I’m thankful for a day off to reset, drink my coffee without having to warm it up a million times because it got cold from doing everything else, and for the gift of courage in my life.
Have a lovely, joy filled, and kind day!
If you meet a stranger today, smile! You might just change the course of their day! ✨
𝓗𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓜𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓪𝔂 ❤️
It’s almost 10 pm and I’m just sitting down for a minute to reflect on the day. I do this every night, it’s a good opportunity to unwind, reflect, and give thanks for another day of opportunities.
My day was pretty ordinary for a Monday. Work, a little bit of house work, and that’s about it, but… I did have a pretty awesome conversation with a sweet friend I’ve known for almost 20 years! Wow, now that I think about it I can’t believe it’s been that long.
After our 1+ hrs conversation on the phone this morning, I felt very grateful for her friendship, and the honesty in which we base our friendship.
It sounds, and seems easy, and almost a given when it comes to friendships, but having friends whom you can be completely honest, and vulnerable with, and be able to empty yourself out when your walking feels a little heavier than usual, it’s such an amazing gift, and blessing.
March has been a month of heart to heart conversations with friends, and I am loving every minute of it.
“I hate small talk. I want to talk about atoms, death, aliens, sex, magic, intellect, the meaning of life, faraway galaxies, music that makes you feel different, memories, the lies you’ve told, your flaws, your favorite scents, your childhood, what keeps you up at night, your insecurities and fears. I like people with depth, who speak with emotion from a twisted mind.” ~Author Unknown
𝓗𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓢𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓪𝔂 ❤️
March 23, 2025
Today has a nice day! A little bit of work in the morning, and early afternoon, church, and then lots of relaxation at home watching movies, and drinking coffee. I needed a day like today.
Yesterday we attended our friends’ daughter’s wedding, and it was an honor to be part of the couple’s special day and witness a brand new life ahead of them, new love, and fresh dreams.
Stan and I will be celebrating our 29th Wedding anniversary next month, but I can still remember our beginning vividly to this day.
On a (very 😉) separate note… I’ve been looking for a new series to start and I just can’t find one that keeps my interest. I’ve started a couple, but didn’t make it past the first episode. I shall continue the quest for a new series.
I recently finished “Adolescence”, and I absolutely loved it! I will write a short review tomorrow or sometime this week, I’m feeling kind of tired now it’s 8 pm and want to go to sleep soon, but Adolescence captured my interest from beginning to end, and the last episode brought up all kinds of emotions inside of me in regards of grief.
Have a lovely, joyful, and kind week ahead! ✨
𝓗𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓢𝓪𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓭𝓪𝔂 ❤️
It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood!!!
A little cool, but so sunny and gorgeous. I’m loving it!
I’m sitting with my cup of coffee by myself for a few minutes. I’ve taken our dog for a walk, she just ate, Stan is out, youngest (adult 😉) child is still sleeping, and I’m fully, and throughly enjoying this alone time.
I had the loveliest conversation with an old friend yesterday. We’ve known each other since our oldest children, now 27, were in preschool, and it’s always great to chat, revisit memories, and most importantly, talk about what’s in our hearts, and minds at the moment.
From day one, she’s been that friend that when you ask “how are you?”, she will never just say “I’m ok…” we have never been “I’m ok…” type of friends in conversations… NEVER. We fully, and truly always go deep into whatever we are feeling, and experiencing at the moment and I absolutely love that! It’s a rare gift these days I think, we are so much guarded about what we think, and do, but why?! We are ALL human beings going through life, trying to make something of it, we experience love, and pain, and disappointment, and success, and all the things in between.
How lovely to be able to say to someone, “I’m ok… but you will not believe what I’m going through.”, or “I’m ok… guess what I just did…” “I’m ok… I’ve had a great day today…” “I’m NOT doing great, I’m going through… I’m glad you are in my corner so I can be honest about my feelings.”
Since my conversation with my friend yesterday, I’ve been giving thanks for the gift of her life in mine, and in all honestly, I’ve been thinking about our beautiful friendship a lot since yesterday.
Our friendship has had ups and downs too, and maybe because we’ve always been completely honest with each other, but that is also such a beautiful gift. We know that no matter what, we will always be there for each other. Supporting each other, listening to each other, encouraging each other, and yes, also telling each other, “uhm, I don’t agree with you, I think you’ve been harsh… I think differently that you in that subject… etc…”
Good, and honest friends are important in our lives, especially, people that will protect our names when we aren’t present, and will lift us up in conversation with others. A gift, and a blessing.
I encourage you to say more than “I’m ok…” next time you talk to a friend. It might just unwrap the most beautiful connection you’d ever dreamt of! ❤️
Have a lovely, joy filled, and gentle day. Be kind to those you meet along the way, but first, be kind to yourself! ✨
𝓗𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓕𝓻𝓲𝓭𝓪𝔂 ❤️
March 21, 2025
Today was a good day, and in brief here is how it went… 😉
Woke up a little later than usual.
Exercised.
Drank lots of coffee.
Talked to a friend for an hour, and it was amazing, and heart to heart conversation.
Ran some errands for work.
Went to work.
Went to church.
Came home and ate something, and now, almost midnight and about to welcome a new day, I’m sitting in the living room by myself after the house has gone to sleep, trying to get sleepy myself, close all the “folders” in my head, and catch some much needed zzzz’s!
No work for me tomorrow, hurray!
Excited to wake up to freshly brewed coffee, time on the coach taking the day in, and then see how the day unwraps.
Have a lovely, and kind weekend! Share a smile or two with those you’ll meet. ✨
𝓗𝓪𝓹𝓹𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓭𝓪𝔂 ❤️
Ahhhh, it’s my day off today!!! It’s usually on Wednesdays, but I changed it to today this week because I had a very busy day at work yesterday. As long as I get one full day at home with nothing to do other than to drink bottomless cups of coffee, read, reflect, relax, and catch up on tv shows or watch a movie that I like, I’m a happy gal!
Life has been VERY eventful lately. I’ve traveled twice to Mexico within a period of 3 weeks for a super short period of time each time for different things. A family celebration, and my mom’s 78th birthday. Traveling is exhausting no matter what, but when you take EIGHT flights in that short period of time, and that often, especially for someone that doesn’t particularly enjoy flying, I’m telling you, it’s very tiring, and draining.
One of the flights on the way back home had a 10 hour layover and that about put me over the edge (figuratively speaking of course 😉), and took me a day or two to recover. Both times I traveled I went back to work immediately the next day, and didn’t stop, which didn’t allow my body to rest.
I am praying that today will be a very uneventful day in every way so I can allow my body to recharge, and reenergize, so I can continue to feel full, well, and complete in every sense. Rest is so extremely important, not just for our body, but for our mind, and soul. Rest is not something I take for granted, self care is about honoring ourselves, and acknowledging the fact that we are special, and unique, and deserving of all the good things in life God has planned for us. A life with purpose, and good intentions.
Hurray for the first day of Spring today!!! ❤️
Looking out the window right now you wouldn’t even know it, but the weather has been super decent this winter, so no complaining here. Yesterday, we had a lot of rain, it almost felt like torrential rain, and today we woke up with snow on the ground, go figure, that’s the Midwest for you! 😅
I’m sitting in the living with a cup of coffee enjoying this moment of quiet. The living room has a huge window that let lots of beautiful light in, and the sun is so strong and warm today it feels amazing.
I have a lot to share about the last few months, and I’m hoping to have a little extra time soon to pen my thoughts, and share some pictures too.
I’ve been a little absent here, but life has been a lot lately. I journal every single night, in fact I have three journals, that’s right! One journal is for gratitude, one is for the highlights of the day, and one is for Scripture reflection, and soul pouring… and I use them all three every day, it’s one of my favorite practices of the day.
Writing frees my soul, it’s like giving myself a retreat of sorts every time I write, I truly do enjoy it, and I love sharing on this platform too.
I walked into 2025 with a “do more of what you love…” kind of vision in mind. Writing is one of them, among other things, so I’ll work on making time for it.
I hope you are having a gentle day so far. May today unwrap kindness, joy, love, and a little bit (or a lot if you can and need it) of rest as well.
Have a lovely, and joy filled day! ❤️✨
