Love.  That feeling we all long to have; the emotion that sets all things right.  Or so we think.  It's Valentine's Day and expectations are in the air.

When I was a teenager, my mom told me I was in love with love.  I talked about love.  I loved to wear ribbons in my hair.  I was a romantic (and still am one).  I dreamed about my prince charming.  I day dreamed, planning every detail of my wedding and future home. I envisioned the beautiful garden and the white picket fence.  I named each one of my children.

But life happens and ..hearts get hurt.

Plans don't always work out as we envision.


Thankfully, I'm happily married to my hubby Greg for 29 years.  We've had our ups and downs (as any couple who is truthful will admit).  But I have to say we've reached a point in our relationship where we love each other more than ever. We've had lots of money and we've had not so much.  Going through the stress of the past few years has actually brought us closer.  And for that ...I'm so thankful.

Greg is my Valentine.

I'm also thankful for my dad. He's always been there for me. I always loved that my birthday falls on the first day of February and my dad's is the last day of February (at least most years).  He will turn 85 years old on February 28th.

God has blessed me with strong, loving men in my life.  But I know that not everyone is fortunate to have that.  I look at the sweet faces of the little girls in our preschool. I wonder how their lives will turn out.  Will they be happy?  Will they feel loved?

On this Valentine's Day, I want to remind you that there is someone who loves you very much.  His name is Jesus.  I've known Him for many years.

• He never disappoints.  
• He gives me strength for each new day.  
• He gives me love that overflows to others.  
• He never leaves me. 

Maybe you feel alone.  Maybe you don't have a special someone in your life. Just know that

You are loved.

I am linking up with Bonnie of Faith Barista as we write about LOVE.




Blessings and love,

It's February 12th; the day I was invited to be the Ambassador for The Heart Truth program. Just in case you didn't know it, February is heart month.  We want to get the word out.

Heart disease is the #1 killer of women.  

Too many people consider heart disease to be a man's disease but that's not true. I want to encourage women to take better care of themselves and to know their risk factors.

I was so excited that the theme for today is:

Share an Inspirational Quote!

Now that's right up my alley.  I love to inspire and motivate people to make healthy choices.  I worked as a cardiovascular nurse for 25 years after all.

So I will get the ball rolling and begin sharing:

• "Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." John Wooden
• "You are what you repeatedly do." Aristotle
• "You must do the thing you cannot do."  Eleanor Roosevelt
• "Exercise in the morning before your brain figures out what you're doing." Unknown
• "Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles; it empties today of its strength." Mary Engelbreit
• "A goal properly set is halfway reached." Zig Ziglar
• "When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there."  Zig Ziglar
• "Hope is the power that gives a person the confidence to step out and try." Zig Ziglar
• "Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." Tony Robbins
• "A year from now you will wish you had started today." Karen Lamb
• "Don't wait. The time will never be just right." Napoleon Hill

Blessings and love,

Soul rest Sunday.  Even the sound of those words sound restful to me right now. Bonnie of Faith Barista started a new community where we share and link up each week.  Her post today was about ...allowing love in.


Allergies, coughing and fatigue have plagued me for more than three weeks. I am so tired and yet I need to persevere.  (I am now on antibiotics.)  But when I get home, all I want to do is retreat to my bed and ...rest.

I've been using an app called YouVersion to read the Bible in one year on my Kindle.  The first think I do every morning (before getting online to check email and Facebook) is to open this app and read from God's Word.  I can't tell you how often I will read a verse that I've read many times before and see something new. Maybe it's because I'm at a different season in my life or maybe God is taking me deeper in my walk with Him.

Too many people read about God from other sources. There are many wonderful Christian books to read. And believe me, I've read many and continue to read many.  I find inspiration from reading other's experiences in their faith walk.

But there's nothing that can take the place of reading God's Word for myself. Too many people think they hear enough going to church on Sunday. Other people feel the Bible is too hard to understand.


I can personally tell you that the words of the Bible have changed my life, my perspective, my desires. We are not left alone to navigate this life.  As a Christian I have the Holy Spirit within me.  He will teach me and guide me. I pray for His wisdom as I read my Bible. It's one thing to go through the motions of reading. It's another thing to truly listen and obey what it teaches me.

It's all about LOVE.  As I spend time reading, I feel His love for me.

Jesus loved you and me so much that He took on our sins upon Himself. He lived a perfect life and sacrificed Himself so that you and I could live in peace with God. How can I help but feel that love?

Many of us have been hurt by people. It can be easy to close your heart to avoid getting hurt. But Jesus can heal those hurts.  As I meditate upon His Word, I feel peace and love.

Will you chose to open up His Book of love?  It will set the tone for your day. Don't leave it up to pastors and priests.  You can read it for yourself.  There are so many Bible study tools available for free online.

I've been touched by God's love for me as I spend quiet time with Him each morning. How about you?

Blessings and love,