Keep Living...Keep Moving...Keep Being

I had a teacher in 6th grade who was a complete God-send. She was one of those teachers that had a tough exterior but once you got to know them they were the sweetest, most sincere and caring individuals you'd ever meet.

I can't recall the exact scenario she used (I believe it was a clock) but she'd give us these regular pep talks regarding life trials. Her words have stuck with me through some rough patches.  We're either going through, coming out or about to go through SOMETHING in our lives.  If we're going through, just hold on a little bit longer and you'll be coming out and can celebrate making it through that storm.  In celebrating, realize that the life lessons you've learned shouldn't be taken for granted and remember that feeling of exuberance when you face another life trial.

I remember going through a really dark period and her words came to mind.  It was probably 10 years or so after I'd been her student but clear as day I could hear her voice telling me to hold on and wait for the next season.

 

                                                                              Source: Uploaded by user via JenJen on Pinterest

There are times when I get frustrated because I'm not where I thought I'd be when I was all bright-eyed and new to the grown-up world.  However, I'm a true believer that the experiences that we have, the people we encounter, the life we truly live - all that shapes us to be wonderful unique beings that we are.

Happy Wednesday Divas!

Thanksgiving Blessings

Many blessings to you all - safe travels to those on the highways, skyways and byways.  For those who feel they have nothing to be thankful for, I pray they receive a gentle reminder of the preciousness of life and that whatever pain, hurt, or rejection that they are experiencing shall pass...let someone or something cross their paths to remind them of the preciousness of the gift of life.  Have a fantastic weekend Divas!

  


For This We Give Thee Thanks

For hands that reach and touch our own,
For baby's laughter in our home,
For shoulders that in grief are loaned,
Dear Lord, we give You thanks.

For lips that brave the tender words,
For eyes that speak what can't be heard,
For God's own precious Holy Word,
Dear Lord, we give You thanks.

For open doors and welcomings,
For friends who laugh and sometimes sing,
For everything each season brings,
Dear Lord, we give You thanks.

For large or small, the gifts You give,
For just the privilege to live,
For all we've had and yet You give,
Dear Lord, we give You thanks.

For promises that soon shall be,
Because He hung upon the tree,
For Love that lasts eternally,
Most of all, Lord, thanks, oh, thanks!

© by Joan Clifton Costner

Friendship Friday - Reflections on Gratitude

Happy Friday Divas!!!

I hope you've all had a fantastic week! It's been a minute since I connected with Create With Joy's Friendship Friday but this week's theme really made me pause and reflect on where I currently am in life.

Create With Joy's Friendship Friday

Question Of The Week

Question Of The Week
What are you most grateful in your life for at this moment?
What small things do you usually take for granted
But wish to celebrate now?
Join me in expressing those things you are most grateful for
At this week’s Friendship Friday!

Thankful Thursday - Month of Gratitude

Happy Thursday Divas!!! I hope you're all having a fantastic week :)

This month on my Facebook page, I'm challenging my readers and followers to reflect on something daily that they're thankful for. I'd love it if you'd chime in throughout the month.

This week I'm super thankful for the time change - gaining that extra hour on Saturday evening has been heavenly. Perhaps it's all in my mind, but I never seem to recuperate from the "lost" hour in the spring.

Report cards came home this past week, too. My son's realizing that not everything is going to come super easy all the time and I'm thankful for that. It means he's finally being challenged and now has to really apply himself, study and focus more.  Overall, he did fantastic but I believe he can (and will) do better.

This week I've learned a lot about effective communication - especially in regards to active listening.  I'm thankful for the experiences I've had because they've shown me areas I need to grow in and that there are just somethings in my life I have to let go and let be.

Finally, this week, last but certainly not least, I'm thankful for you. Those of you that take the time to read my blog, comment, email, interact on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest - I appreciate you in more ways than you'll ever know.

What are you thankful for this week? Are you joining in on the daily gratitude challenge for November?
Blessings to you all, Divas :)

#NaBloPoMo - 30 Days of Gratitude

 

My regular readers know that giving thanks is a recurring theme here on Divas With A Purpose - especially on Thursdays when I do my gratitude posts.  Each November I commit to giving thanks each day and focusing on the small blessings within my world.

This year, I'll be doing my daily posts on the Divas With A Purpose Facebook page and encourage you all to chime in.

Often times we get so bogged down thinking about what we DON'T have or CAN'T do that 
we lose sight of the awesomeness in every day, dare I say "simple" things - a brief moment of solitude, that light that stayed green just long enough, a funny text or email from a friend, a hug from a loved one, the list could go on and on. Those are the things that I reflect on a daily basis and I encourage you all to do the same.

Thankful Thursday - October 25, 2012

The words in the picture above pretty much encompass how I feel this week. It's been a great week but it's, also, been an emotionally trying week.

I have so much to be thankful for and many of them are things I choose not to discuss on my blog (even I try to keep some sort of line of separation, at times, believe it or not).

I can say, that I'm thankful for the lief experiences that have shaped me to be the person that I am today.  Many times we say I wish XYZ didn't happen or that ABC happened this way - I can honestly say I don't have those thoughts. I truly embrace the experiences that I have because I know they have and continue to shape me into the wonderful diva that I am :)

What are you thankful for this week? Are there unpleasant life experiences that you can now look back on and say you're thankful for the experience purely because it made you stronger and wiser?

Thankful Thursday - October 18, 2012

Happy Thursday Divas :)

I hope you've all had a fantastic week! I didn't do Thankful Thursday last week as my focus was on International Day of the Girl. Doing the research and connecting with others throughout the day gave me lots to think about and made me especially grateful to have been raised within a family of strong women who encourage and motivate each other to succeed.  Not everyone has that.  The thought of someone my niece's age (9) being forced into marriage or child labor saddens me and motivates me to continue bringing awareness to the issues that affect girls worldwide and to continue the conversation on what we can do to make a change.

MissV turned 1!!! We had a fantastic time celebrating with our family and friends.  My youngest sister even surprised me with a visit for her birthday. It was great seeing both my sisters.

  Overall, it's been a fantastic week!

 "Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." 

- Marcel Proust

Who's made your "soul blossom" this week? 

Thankful Thursday: October 4, 2012

 Happy Thursday Divas! I hope you're all having a fantastic week!

It's been a few weeks since I've done Thankful Thursday - and, honestly, a while since I really sat down and focused on my blessings and all that I have to be thankful for. I can definitely feel a difference in my spirit, my attitude and demeanor when I don't take that time.

Gratitude simply means being thankful, noticing the simple gifts you have in your life, and acknowledgement of the people, treasures and experiences in your life.  Focusing on gratitude helps to shift your attitude from what you don't have to the wonderful things you DO have that bring a smile to your heart and face.

There have been scientific and psychological research studies done that prove gratitude makes us happier, more resilient, strengthens relationships, reduces stress and improves our health.

That in itself is something to be grateful about!

This week, I'm thankful for:

~ the slightly cooler weather
~ the opportunity to sleep in this morning
~ that light at the end of the tunnel that keeps you moving forward
~ all things working together for a greater good - even when I don't quite understand the hows and whys
~ my wonderful, loving family

What are you thankful for this week? Feel free to share in the comments and connect with us on our Facebook page, too!

 

Tomorrow I will continue the 14 day challenge - picking up with Day 6.

You can see the inspiration behind the challenge and the first 7 days challenges below:

What a great way to start off the weekend by doing something selfish just for us!

Day 1: Write Personal Mission Statement

Day 2: Rather than criticize, coach. Motivate with positive feedback and influence.

Day 3: Do something nice for someone else - leave a soda money by the vending machine, pay for someone's coffee, let that extra car turn during your morning or afternoon commute, etc

Day 4: Focus on the positive all day. No negative thoughts. (Warning - often when you make a conscious effort to be positive, it will seem as though anything and everything that can go wrong will - keep smiling and stay positive through it all).

Day 5: Connect with at least 4 other people and commit to motivating and inspiring one another for the next 5 days. It doesn't have to be anything ornate - just a simple motivating text, email, Facebook post, etc.

Day 6: Have a selfish moment. Do something for yourself.

Day 7: Share lessons from your successes and failures with someone that can benefit from it.

You can see an overview and the inspiration behind this 14-day challenge here.

Thankful Thursday

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough."
 ~ Oprah Winfrey

 

Happy Thursday Divas! I hope you're all having a fantastic week :)

 

This week I'm thankful for:

 

~ my youngest son who thinks I'm the "most beautiful mom ever"

~ having an employer that understands the unexpected mom emergencies that come with having 3 kiddos and are willing to work with what I need when something pops up (like having to take my 4 year old and 11 month old into work for half the day)

 

~ International Delight Iced Coffee

 

~ friends who tell me what I NEED to hear and not what I WANT to hear

 

~ the support system of the blogging community - there are some awesome bloggers out there that have inspired and motivated me so much over the past few months

 

What's on your gratitude list this week, Divas?   

 

Gratitude Poem

Be Thankful For...
by Author Unknown

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary
Because it means you've made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

~~Blessings Divas~~

Thankful Thursday

Happy Thursday Divas :)

I hope you've all had a fantastic week! This week started off fantastic for me because my oldest son came home after spending 10 weeks in Texas with his father! It feels great to have everyone back in our household and get back to our "regular" routine.

Thankful Thursday..Better Late than Never, Right?

I woke up this morning slightly disappointed in myself for missing my weekly Thankful Thursday post yesterday.  So much went on in our household - along with my husband's weekly Internet radio program where he hijacks my laptop during my normal "work" hours.

I had a serious conversation with myself because many of the issues I've been struggling with came to head this past week and I've had to make some tough decisions - including ones that affected my children and I hate making drastic adjustments to their normal routines.

Did I really "forget" or get "too busy"? Subconsciously, did I push it aside because focusing on what I was thankful for this week was just too hard and I preferred to just wallow in self pity? ***Sigh*** Honestly, I'd like to believe I just got side-tracked with mommy duties. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

 This week my husband and I celebrated our 6th anniversary. You can check out the post I dedicated to him earlier this week here.

I've had people step up and provide motivation, encouragement and blessings in ways that I never expected this week and for that I'm eternally grateful.  I'll be paying it forward for quite awhile after this week, but it's more than worth it and I enjoy doing it so win-win for me!

What are you thankful for this week, Divas?

Thankful Thursday: August 9, 2012

Happy Thursday Divas!!!

I hope you've all had a fantastic week!

This has been a very special week as I celebrated my oldest son's 11th birthday on Saturday :)  He's spending the summer with his dad in Texas (another time zone away!) but we called and tortured him with our rendition of Happy Birthday at the crack of dawn his time.  I even had ice cream in his honor with my youngest two and sent him pictures of us scarfing it all down on his behalf...he didn't really appreciate that gesture, go figure...LOL

This week I'm, also, thankful for:

~ a break in the heat here

~some much needed rain - my grass, outside plants and water bill definitely appreciate it

~ random conversations with my 4 year old

~friends that always have a way of making me literally laugh out loud

~ sneaking sweet treats with my husband once the kiddos go to sleep

What's  on your gratitude list for this week, Divas?

Thankful Thursday - August 2, 2012

 

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

~ William Arthur Ward

Ever put into a situation where your forced to react to something that you really wanted to ignore? Ever been content with the way things were and something or someone throws a wrench in life and you have shift and switch your entire outlook on life?  That's the season I've been in recently.  I have to make some major changes that I've been really trying to ignore and ***hope*** they took care of themselves - yeah, that didn't happen.

This week I'm thankful these experiences even though I'm not quite sure what the end results are going to be. I'm going to remain positive and optimistic that all will work out the way it should.

My gratitude list for this week:

~my baby girl's first tooth finally broke through (any parent that's gone through teething knows the fun - yes, sarcasm - that entails)

~wonderful friends who always know what to say and when

~the gift of life

~a sense of humor

~half price drinks at Sonic from 2-4 PM :)

~half price desserts at Sonic after 8 PM :) :)

What are you Divas thankful for this week?

Thankful Thursday - July 26, 2012

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”
― Marcel Proust

Happy Thursday Divas :) 

I love quotes if you haven't noticed by now! And this one really made me reflect on the people who've kept me balanced and smiling this past week.

My family reunion was this past weekend and I got a chance to spend time with relatives I don't see much during the rest of the year. While my relatives have their moments (who has relatives that don't, right???) they are mine and I love them all the more for it.  We can have a spat one moment and be laughing and reminiscing the very next.

Whether it's needing to vent, share some exciting news, needing to be cheered up, or just plain bored or needing adult conversation after being around my 3 kiddos on a regular basis - they are always there in whatever capacity I need them.

Thankful Thursday

Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation. 

~ Brian Tracy

Happy Thursday Divas!!! I hope you're all having a fantastic week! It's been an interesting week around these parts but I'm thankful that I've been able to keep a smile on my face and laugh at my husband's corny jokes.

This week I'm thankful for:

~meeting my youngest niece and my sister and her family making their transition back to the East Coast from the West Coast. The baby of the family was born in April and I was unable to make the trip with my mom to visit. The little diva is absolutely gorgeous.
Here's a picture of the 3 newest additions to our family. My little diva is in the middle :)

~a reprieve from the heat
~my husband taking over cooking duties this week
~the awesome support network I have in my family and friends
 ~my oldest son calling to tell me he loves me
~random hugs and kisses from my youngest son
~my little diva's first tooth "almost" making an appearance

What's on your lists this week, Divas?

Divas With A Purpose, Your Virtual Network, Oh! My Heartsie and Central Bargains & Giveaways would like to wish you all a happy Thursday! 

Thursdays on the Divas With A Purpose network are dedicated to showing gratitude.  A group of wonderful bloggers have gotten together to thank you, our readers, for your support and contributions to our blogs and social networking communities.

One of our readers will receive a $10 Amazon e-gift card. This contest runs from 12:01 AM Thursday, July 19th through 12:01 AM Friday, July 20th.

Winner can receive $10 Pay Pal cash if they'd prefer.

Enter  below on the Rafflecopter form and GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thankful Thursday: Thankful through the Storm

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." - Epictetus

Just as I started to type this blog post - the rain came down and our satellite has frozen.  My son nonchalantly turned off the television and ran to his room to grab some trucks and cars for him and his sister to play with.  He didn't miss a beat. He didn't complain that he was going to miss the ending to the television show (even though he's probably seen it umpteen times). He just quickly and quietly moved on to the next thing.

Thankful Thursday - July 5, 2012

Happy Thursday Divas!!!

I hope you all had an enjoyable 4th. For those of us that had to return to work this morning - it was mighty rough but I made it!

"At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us." ~Albert Schweitzer

I absolutely love that quote! How often have you been feeling a little (or a lot!) down and one small act or kind word by someone else brightened your entire outlook? It's not easy being cheerful on a regular basis when life throws you curveballs, but purposely finding ways to spread joy and happiness does something to you and makes it hard for you to be down and out.  Today, I'm extremely thankful for the many people I've crossed paths with that have brightened my outlook, brought a smile to face, and an extra pep in my step - often without even realizing the effect of their words and/or actions. I challenge each of you to be that person for someone today - even if it's a smile to someone looking frumpy, a kind word or two, or a pay-it-forward act of kindness.  Those little acts may very well be someone's lifeline today.

Thankful Thursday - June 28, 2012

“You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.” 

— Sarah Ban Breathnach

Happy Thursday Divas! I hope you're all having a fantastic week so far. It's been a busy birthday week for me - my grandfather, BFF, and godson all within 5 days of each other. I definitely had my fill of birthday cake last weekend! One more party on the 4th of July and then I'll have a break until August. I heart birthdays! I truly believe that life is a precious gift and we should celebrate and live it to its fullest!

Thankful Thursday - June 21, 2012

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

— William Arthur Ward

I attended a conference recently that provided me with some ideas and thoughts that I needed to really process and digest. I knew the information could be very beneficial to me, but I needed to really let the words marinate for a bit to see how I could best put them to use in my personal and professional life. I left energized and motivated. Within 5 minutes of leaving, I encountered a group of Negative Nancies who tore the entire presentation down from start to finish. I had to step back and re-evaluate what was presented and what was said. How could I have gotten an entirely different perspective then these professional, well-to-do women? It came to me as I was driving home - I went expecting to receive something beneficial while they most likely went looking for something to critique. I was thankful for the opportunity to attend and wanted to make sure I did the company I was representing justice by being attentive and receptive. That's something I try to do on a regular basis - look for what I can take from an experience to better myself and build upon what I know.