escape to the country

Today I’m grateful for being able to switch off – for having the choice to do so and having the time to make it happen.

My husband and I celebrated 3 years of marriage and 6 years as a couple by escaping the big smoke and hitting the countryside, for 3 days of relaxation and enjoying the beautiful northern new south wales national forest and breathtaking views!

Our long weekend was pretty simple and about enjoying the basics;

• no electricity
• no running water for a full day (though this got fixed!)
• saying no to the gas bbq and cooking on the fire
• midday snoozes
• board games
• early mornings
• late nights star gazing and cuddling by the fire
• peace and quiet and nothing but the noise of the wind whispering through the trees
• no neighbours for kilometres
• uninterrupted views from the kitchen and bathroom (hehe)
• enjoying each others company and loving it!

Would do this again in a heart beat.  The perfect way to switch off, get back to basics and enjoy how incredibly beautiful our country is and being grateful for wide open skies, with no interruptions to view all the stars (plus quite a few satellites and a shooting star!).

This is how I would love my life to become…one day it will happen!!

 

> Linking up for Grateful Heart Monday with Ember Grey Blog

the way, truth & light!

For healing Lord you are the way.

For direction and answers Lord you are the truth.

For hope, love and peace, Jesus you are the light.

Through every step I take, in every word I speak and every action I make, Jesus I come to you!   That Lord your Son becomes my breath, my waking thought, my lasting moment.  

That through every thought of confusion or heartbreaking cry of help Lord I come to you.  That my leaning into you for answers is enough.  That you provide me with the tools to not battle through a day but to ease through it. 

That I don’t have to have all the answers or have things the way I imagine them to be, but place within me that I am enough just the way I am, because I have you!

Grow this feeling, nurture it and let it bloom Lord. 

“Jesus answered, I am the way, the truth and the light. No one comes to the father except through me.”

John 16:4

Linking up with Emily fromEmber Grey for Grateful Heart Mondays

our response determines our future

the simplest of sentences can sometimes help you to slow down, take a breath and focus on what it is you are really doing in a moment.

This one, spoken at church a few weeks ago, has really resonated with me.

This goes for;

• what we say – they can so strongly affect our moods and feelings towards others, even if spoken quietly to ourselves.
• thought life – the way we speak to ourselves and the motivation we give ourselves means so much towards our own outlook.  Positivity and silver lining always – even a smile on your face can change your thought pattern.
• prayer – giving thanks and praise to God.  Such a big part of how we should respond to a situation.  Something I’m constantly working on. Pray away negativity and train yourself to respond to negativity through prayer!  Not in reacting.
• patience – realising that you don’t have to respond straight away to a situation or something spoken to you.  Think about your response.   Try not to be personally offended if someone upsets you with something you don’t agree with.  Take a breath, don’t react, push forward forgiveness and be patient with your response.
• change – something that has been at me for weeks now.  small changes mean the world and can change the world in you!  They can easily determine your future, just with the smallest of steps, thoughts or words.

It might be a simple statement but its something that means so much.  Simple is so often the best. I know my brain OFTEN over complicates things.

But I also know that I can choose how I respond!   It’s my future afterall!

So I’m keeping on with the small changes.  The small ideas.  The brave moves forward.

I only get one chance at this life and if the least I can do is respond positively, be grateful and have faith – I know I will be creating the best future possible.

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

> Grateful Heart with Emily from Ember Grey blog