Living the Width

“I don’t want to get to the end of my life and find that I just lived the length of it. I want to have lived the width of it as well.” -Diane Ackerman 

Hmm… living the width??

I first read this quote in my graduation card from my Auntie, Uncle, and cousins. As I realized what it meant, it posed the question, "How do I live the width of my life?" 

Obviously this varies for different people. But as I asked myself this question, I thought of some things such as having a positive attitude, staying close to God, noticing the small things, finding joy, making a impact, being productive, etc. 

All of those are nice, now not all of them I can say I have achieved. Let's brake some of these down into bite sized pieces. 

How we can have a positive attitude, my ideas are:

-Smiling

-Laughing

-Dealing with the bad but…

-Dwelling on the good

-Singing 

-Dancing

-Writing kind notes to leave around the house

-Not griping about chores/work
-Praying for a positive attitude
-Thank of all the things your thankful for

How we can stay close to God, my ideas are:

-Prayer

-Reading the Bible

-Bible study aka digging deeper 

-Write about God

-Go out in nature

-Practice trusting Him

-Spreading the Word

How we can notice the small things, my ideas are:

-Take your time

-Stop and smell the roses (if you want, take that literally)

-Listen to the sounds around you

-Look for the small things

-Don’t take the small things for granted
-Do something you haven't done in 5 years (Basically do something that reminds you of your childhood.)

How we can find real joy, my ideas are:

-All of the above, but most importantly…I think we have to ask God to give us joy that comes from Him.

How we can make an impact, my ideas are:

-Use your talents!

-Be kind

-Through your words

-Through your writing

-Be different

How we can be productive, my ideas are:

-Don’t be a couch potato

-Get outside

-Get your hands dirty

-Get organized (easier said than done, I know)

-Work hard, but have fun while being productive! 
-Set achievable goals

-Fill your time with the things that you feel accomplished when your done.

In the end, living the width of your life is essentially living it for God.

These are just some of my ideas on how to live, not only the length of life, but also the width as well. I know there are lots of things I missed, because that list was just the beginning! 

How do you live the width of life?

Words to Live By

Words to Live By

Written by Brooklyne

Light up the dark

Shine through the fog

Pray through it all

Dance in the rain

Walk in the sun

Pray through it all

Tear down a barrier 

Lift up a friend 

Pray through it all

Toss out the lies

Embrace the truth

Pray through it all

Dwell on the good 

Deal with the bad

Pray though it all! 

I encourage you to say a prayer right now. Talk to our Father. Tell Him what your going through today, and thank Him for all that He has given you! 

And remember this, when you are down to nothing, God is up to something! 

He is working. He is teaching you today. Listen. 

Pray through it all! There is power in prayer! 

Have you ever forgotten to pray when you needed to the most? 
How can we learn to dance in the rain? How can I pray for you? 
 Lets talk in the comments below! 

That Moment When Life is Like a Roller Coaster

That moment when you wait in line, not sure of what the roller coaster is going to be like. 

That moment when you fasten your seat belt. 

That moment when you say a prayer. 

That moment when it starts off.

That moment when you start your slow climb to the top of a steep incline.

That moment when your almost to the top. 

That moment when you want off the ride… right now!

That moment when the roller coaster goes from strait up to strait down. 

That moment when your hanging on for dear life. 

That moment when you can't breath. 

That moment when you scream.

That moment when you raise your arms up.

That moment when the rides over in a second.

That moment when you laugh.

That moment when you go and ride it again.

Roller coasters go up and down, right and left, upside down and right side up. They might seem unpredictable, but really, they are mapped out and planned to go wherever it’s tracks take them. When riding a roller coaster, you might be having the time of your life, you might be scared for your life, or both. 

I think roller coasters are fun, but don’t ask me to go on one that goes upside down. Nope, no thanks, I would rather live a nice and long life.

Some rides make me dizzy, others, I want to ride over and over again. Some rides I am terrified while on them, but when its over, I’ll think that it was super fun! 

I guess what I’m trying to say is, just like the roller coaster goes up and down, right and left, upside down and right side up, so does our emotions when we are on them. 

Isn't this so much like life is? 

That moment you are waiting, not sure of what’s ahead.

That moment you are getting ready.

That moment you are saying a prayer.

That moment you are starting a new season in life.

That moment you are moving slow, but you know that it won’t always be this way.

That moment when you feel like you are on the top of the world.

That moment when you regret a decision.

That moment when life plummets strait down at record speed.

That moment when you are hanging on for dear life.

That moment when it hurts so bad.

That moment when you scream.

That moment when you finally are joyful.

That moment when you are out of the woods.

That moment when you laugh.

That moment when it starts all over again.

Although your life might feel unpredictable and scary at times, always remember that God laid out your life's tracks. He built it and mapped it out just for you, and His ways are always better than what any man-made plan can even begin to compare too.

Enjoy where you are on this crazy roller coaster ride they call life. Because one day you’re going to look back on all that you have been through, all the times that flew by so fast. Times that were fun and times that were terrifying. When that season in life is over, you might even miss it, wishing it back.

Life is like a roller coaster. Take the chance, pray always, and cherish ALL of the ride, both highs and lows. Trust Him with the outcomes of each situation.

Stay rooted to the “tracks” that God has made for you, and thank Him for the carefully laid plan that He has for you, because when we are following God’s plan for us, there is no limit that is too high or too hard for us. 

Do you like roller coasters?

Can you see how roller coaster rides and life are so much alike? 

How can we enjoy this ride, even if it's hard? How can I pray for you? 
Let's talk!

August 2018 Unique Wrap-Up Post!

I thought I would try my hand at a wrap-up post since it is the end of August and summer is almost over… but not completely over yet! If you notice in the title, it says unique wrap-up post, that's because this is going to be a little bit different than what I see going around the blogosphere. And since this is my first time writing a end of the month wrap-up post, please excuse the randomness and be sure to let me know if you want to read more wrap-up posts like this in the future! *crosses fingers that it turns out ok!*

Ok! Lets dive right on in then! 

➳➳➳Windows down ➳ Diesel smoke ➳ Cornfields ➳  Hay bales ➳ Pasta ➳ Reading the Bible ➳ Driving home ➳ Looking for a horse for sale ➳ Finding the right horse ➳ Shadowing ➳ Room remodel planning ➳ Making soap plans ➳ Mowing the lawn ➳ Gardening ➳ Canning Pickles ➳ Shopping at a flea market ➳ Getting a great deal on LOTS of books! ➳ Going to a gun range ➳ Waking up in the middle of the night to let my dog out ➳ Driving ➳ Going in and out of eating healthier ➳ Got sick ➳ Riding Rosie ➳ Stepping out of comfort zone ➳ Ice cream! ➳ Feeling awkward ➳ Eating corn on the cob, but taking it off the cob ➳ Set a record for reading 3 full novels in two days! ➳ Feeling tired ➳ Morning walk ➳ Smoothies ➳ Listening to music ➳ Movies ➳ Us girls loudly singing our favorite country songs in the car for 6 hours ➳ Taking lots of pictures ➳ Getting braces ➳ Watching Studio C videos ➳ Getting addicted to Studio C videos ➳ FROZEN HOT CHOCOLATE DRINKS! ➳ Deciding that I love cornfields ➳ Panera two days in a row! ➳ Buying room decor ➳ Playing Volleyball ➳ Veggie sushi ➳ More shadowing ➳ Library ➳ Feeling overwhelmed ➳ Started my own Pinterest account ➳ Hiking ➳ More frozen hot chocolate drinks! ➳ Writing ➳ Reading ➳ Designing a bulletin for our youth church service ➳ Trying to notice the little things ➳ Collecting my favorite books for a new book case that I have yet to build ➳ Writing inspiration late at night ➳ Four wheeler driving ➳ Living ➳ Loving ➳ Laughing ➳ And learning ➳➳➳

➳➳➳My awesome family ➳ All of our crazy animals ➳ Time together ➳ Watching sunsets on Winds of Faith ➳➳➳

➳➳➳About song lyrics that we misunderstood ➳ Funny pictures with memes ➳ At old videos on phone involving a rope swing ;) ➳ At photo albums ➳ At Tucker, our little chihuahua ➳ With sisters ➳ With cousins ➳ Just because ➳➳➳

➳➳➳To trust God in the unknown ➳ That todo lists are helpful but extremely overwhelming ➳ That finding Joy is possible ➳ To NOT throw the baby out with the bath water ➳ To persevere ➳ That it's up to me to trust Him ➳ To notice the little things ➳ That life is fragile ➳ That making a difference it possible ➳ That eating healthy is hard ➳ That sometimes you have to do hard things ➳ To think positive ➳ To see the good ➳➳➳

Psalms 118:1 

"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." 

What did you think of this wrap-up post? Was it too unique? What is one of your goals for September 2018? What did you laugh about this month? What is God teaching you this August? Lets talk about it! 

Dirty Dishes and Dog Bowls

I live in a very small house of five people and six dogs. I love my family and our dogs very much, but sometimes life happens and— Dishes get piled high, overflowing the sink. Dog bowls seem to disappear into thin air. It’s not like they have sprouted legs and walked off! Well, here is a simple solution to these occurrences… 

1. Wash your dishes as soon as your done using them. 

2. Have a designated spot for all your dog bowls and put them back when you are done  feeding the dogs.   

It’s as simple as that! But honestly, is it really that easy? Not sometimes. These chores seem so easy yet they usually build. One day of leaving dishes in the sink, and you will have a mountain of dirty dishes the next day. One day of leaving the dog bowls where you fed the dogs, and the next day you will have forgotten where they are! 

Dirty dishes and dog bowls aren’t the only things that seem small but build bigger problems. I could make a very long list! 

Does it get overwhelming? Yes. 

Are these chores always fun or easy to do? No. 

But they are necessary. People and dogs have to eat! So, how do we go about our day and not drag our feet on the jobs that we don’t enjoy? How do we become less busy so that things, big or small, don’t get pushed back? 

To answer the first question, lets look to see what the Bible has to say.

1 Corinthians 10:31

“…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

We are to glorify God in WHATEVER we do! Even in the small tasks like cleaning dishes or feeding the dogs. We are to praise, exalt, honor, and magnify God our Father. God has given us so much to be thankful for! Take washing dishes, for instance. Instead of looking at the mess, look at the blessing. Are you thankful for the food you ate off those dishes? Are you thankful for the help of your dad, mom, or siblings that help you wash the dishes? Are you thankful for a dishwasher? etc…

Also, in Philipians 2:14 with very clear instructions it says, “Do all things without complaining and disputing.” 

Notice it didn’t say do SOME things without complaining, it said do ALL things. This is hard! But, it is really important to stay positive. Complaining just wears us down.

Another verse that goes hand in hand with this is Philipians 4:11 “…for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:”

Paul says to the believers of Philippi that he has learned to be content. Having contentment means to be in a state of peaceful happiness. To be satisfied. I’m still learning this, myself.

So, how do we go about our day and not drag our feet on the jobs we don’t enjoy? We have to learn to be content where we are at. Complaining gets us nowhere. If we focus on giving thanks to God for His many blessings, then we might not even notice the things that used to make us drag our feet.

The last question was, how do we become less busy so that things, big or small, don’t get pushed back? Everyone struggles with being busy. Sometimes having a busy schedule is a good thing, but not when it takes away from your goals, your chores, your family time, and most importantly your time spent with God. 

How do we keep this from happening? This answer is different for everyone. Ask yourself these questions. What do I choose to spend my time doing? Does it strengthen or weaken my relationship with God? What comes first in my life? What can I say “No” to, so I can have more time for the things that are important to me? 

Time management is important! There is only 24 hours in a day, so we need to be spending that time on the things that really matter.

Colossians 3:23

 “And Whatever you do, do it heartily, as unto the LORD and not to men,”

To sum up, dirty dishes and dog bowls, though small tasks, may grow to be giants. But hang in there, God defeats giants! Don’t complain about your mundane tasks, choose to be in a state of peaceful happiness. Think through your time management. And throughout it all, praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Have you ever felt like small everyday tasks can easily become overwhelming? How do you manage your time? How can we find peaceful happiness, or joy even when doing the jobs we don't like? 
What was your favorite bible verse from this post? 

How do you like the graphic for this post?? Would y'all like reading a wrap-up/highlights/end of summer/end of August/etc. post next Wednesday?
Lets chat in the comments! :)
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