God knows my name.  And He knows your name too. I'd venture to say that most of us want to be known. We want to be loved and accepted.

But the messages we hear from childhood often create an image in our head about us. If you were teased or told you were fat or not pretty, this can stick with you all of your life.  The world seems to love youth and beauty.  If you don't fit that mold, the message can be interpreted as you don't fit in or are less than.

I am a part of a private Facebook group of women who are striving to live a healthy lifestyle. Some are working on losing weight.  Some are trying to eat healthy.  Some are trying to make exercise a lifelong habit.  Yesterday I read a few stories of women who were made fun of as a child, being the 'fat' girl at school. To this day, they still carry that label even though they are no longer 'fat'.

In our preschool class we try to teach the children that we are all made differently.  Some children are tall. Our skin colors are different. Some children are dark while others are light. Heidi and I always emphasize that it's OK to be different from one another. Of course, we always add that 'we're all friends'.  We watch for those who are sidelined and not included. Life can be challenging even at such a young age.

I applaud Dove for their beauty campaigns.  This video is only 3 minutes long and well worth taking the time to view.  If you can't view this video, try clicking here.


We need to appreciate our natural beauty, no matter what stage of life we're in. As I'm getting older, I tend to focus on the lines on my face that seem magnified in my mirror.  It takes so much more work to keep my weight down than it did when I was younger.  Then I glance at the vinyl lettering decal I place on my bathroom wall as a reminder before I head out the door to work.

Pinterest

I remember Psalm 139:13-14:

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."

I am linking up with Kim of Just For Clicks Blog for Weigh-In Wednesday.




Blessings and love,

Prayer is powerful. Never give up on prayer.  I've heard many anxious parents and grandparents talk about loved ones who aren't living for the Lord.  Most of the children were raised going to church every Sunday. They heard all about Jesus and their need for salvation.  Some of them may have walked an aisle and prayed a prayer.  Some were baptized.  But at this time, they were living in rebellion and doing their own thing.

To continue reading, please link over to Laced with Grace .

Blessings and love,

I've been on a journey of counting my every day blessings.  Today I reached my #1,000 blessing.  So what's so special that I would write an entire blog post about it?  It's the blessing of ...you.

You who read Heart Choices.  I know some of you don't add your comments but I know you read it.  I've received private emails so I know.

I began blogging in 2007.  I really started to find my voice about 2010.  As I looked back over the posts I've written, I see a recurring theme.  I love to encourage and inspire others.  I am so grateful for all I have been given in this life. I've enjoyed much prosperity and then not so much.  In the process of releasing many material possessions, I've learned what matters most.

The relationships and people in my life are what's important.  And what binds them all together is my faith.  It is woven into all that I write on Heart Choices.

I am so grateful for the blogging relationships that have developed over these past six years.  Sonja of bits and pieces is like a sister to me.  Our hearts were knit together with our common Norwegian heritage and our love for Jesus.  She continues to be an inspiration to me.  Felisol of On the Far Side of the Sea was another Norwegian sister I came to know and love through our blogs.

I've had the pleasure of meeting many bloggers over the years.  Although this list isn't complete, here are a few of my favorite bloggers I had the pleasure of meeting in person:

• Lisa of Lisa Shaw Cares is the most loving, kind and giving friend.     
• Kathleen of Sassy Granny and I spent many a day together.  She used to live in Arizona after all.
• Mary of Pile of Smiles is such an encourager.
• Charlotte of Charlotte's Weblog and hostess of Spiritual Sundays is now a friend.  
• Iris of Grace Alone and Laced with Grace  has become a good friend.
• Lori of Lori's Reflections was there from the beginning of my blogging.
• Sarah Dawn of Splashin' Glory is a sweet young mother who moved back to Arizona from the mission field. 
• Denise of Refine Me was visiting the Phoenix area so I had the pleasure of dining with her.
• Barbie of My Freshly Brewed Life was visiting friends in town so I got to meet her in person for coffee (of course) and conversation.

I've made many friends from all over the world through blogging.  I think of Lidia of Crown of Beauty who lives in the Philippines.  Debbie of The Way We Are  is from California and Janette of  Janette's Sage is from Texas.  I know I'm missing many of my blogging friends but this post would go on and on.