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2021 is Winding Down

Only a few more weeks to find out the true transformation that has taken place during this year.

What have the trials produced? It is really true that hard things that we go through will make us stronger in the long run. Even if it’s not something that we want to hear or even think about. Life is just not always going to be smooth and easy on this earth.

Some seasons will be smoother and more joyful and others will feel like trudging through quicksand. One thing is for sure, they both pass. They do move on to the next season.

It was quite unbelievable that today there were several “suddenly” things that happened. Like several things that were just amazing miracles. An auto that had been sitting in the back yard that sold. A grandchild that had been suffering a heart defect healed. My husband told by the Veteran’s Administration that they were doing a back pay on all money that he had spent on medication back to a certain point! And last, all of his tests came back great after having Covid earlier this year.

Last week I was seriously starting to feel like things were getting hopeless. That is ALWAYS a lie! Things are NEVER hopeless, no matter what! The battle is usually in our mind and lies that we believe. If we are not feeling well, we are a little more vulnerable for falling for lies. Falling into negativity is a slippery slope.

There are many things to look forward to in our lives. Picking out the word for 2022 is something I look forward to. That’s a tradition for me… I’m thinking about my word now but haven’t settled on it 100% yet. One thing that I do know is that Marty and I have been reinvented this year and the main thing is eating more healthy. I think we’ve had some mindset changes also. We’ve had many things be a SLOW process when we would have liked to move a little faster… that’s okay though….sometimes:

I remember about thirty years ago hearing Joyce Meyers husband making that remark at one of her conferences and it stuck in my mind.

That has seemed to be a true statement this year about many things. I don’t think I have ever had this certain thing hit home as much as it has this year. It’s seemed like all of the things that used to work in the past changed and there were new rules to the game and I had to adjust.

I am adjusting and I am moving forward. One thing that I will not choose to be and that is stuck. Whatever I have to go through to be unstuck will work for me.

The next few weeks I’m praying and seeking my word for 2022 and I’m dreaming about the days ahead and seeing what God wants to happen in my life next year. I’m closing out the transforming that took place in 2021 and I’m grateful for the wonderful miracles that all happened in one day this week.

•We never know what can all turn around in just one day!

•We can’t listen to lies in our mind…we have to fight for truth!

•Reach out and talk to someone if you are sinking, we are never really alone!

•Do you have a word for 2022? Sort of a theme for your life next year?

•There is ALWAYS hope no matter what!

•I’m here if you need me!

See ya’ll next week!

jill🌸

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Re-invent

When I picked that word for this year I felt highly inspired by God to do it. He must have been thinking that it was time to shake things up a bit.

Hebrews 12:26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”[e]27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain.

What this says to me is that sometimes things have to be shaken up to get rid of what needs to change. I am not saying in any way that God brings bad things upon us. No way! God is good, loving, kind in every way… He is LOVE. He handles us like we are HIS children. If we have to shake a piece of candy out of a child’s hand sometimes it’s not so pretty. He’s teaching us to hold onto everything with open hands.

The first really big shakeup was in May when Marty came down with Covid and had to go into the hospital. He was very sick. He was a very healthy vibrant person before he got this virus. It was unbelievable to watch him deteriorate. Days and days of 103 temp. Going to hospital only to get sent home the first time. More days of 103 and returning to hospital almost gone from the earth. He did have an amazing miracle in the hospital after five days. Gold came into the room and his lungs started popping like Rice Krispies. He was home in two days.

He came home on oxygen and was still very ill. I had to fight for my faith at that time to know that it would finally pass. I was taken back to the thing that I have learned all my life… it’s a process.

Yes, it’s been a process…it’s lead me to do things that I wouldn’t have normally done before. Do things that I feel led to do even though he doesn’t. It’s made me have to “Let Go and Let God more,” and practice the things that I’ve learned in recovery.

I took two trips this year, one to my Lemongrass Spa business conference in Orlando which was wonderful. Just a small time later to visit our daughter’s family and five grandkids. It was there that I noticed a personality change in Marty. He was not the same as he was before. Could he be being “reinvented?” Could I also be?

We got home and things went well, it felt good to be home. I joined in something that I felt very called to do at my church and had been waiting for my whole life. He didn’t want to commit to it. He was behind me doing it, but he wasn’t ready. You know what? That’s ok. It takes time to get over being that sick and Marty and I were in a process! I even realize as I’m writing this that his strength is still not 100% yet and it takes time for some things.

The biggest blessing happened in October when we got to go with my brother to Arlington Cemetery and see my dads funeral. It was such a surreal experience. It really touched Marty’s heart because he had also been in the army and has been walking out transformation from PTSD.

As soon as we arrived at Washington D.C. I got the call that my mom had fallen and was being taken to the hospital. They went ahead the next day and saw some sites and I spent my time in a hotel room finding care for my mama. They X-rayed her and no broken bones. Two weeks and much pain later she went to another hospital to find two fractures in her back. This all was lots to process! Could I be being reinvented?

Then a young man that I hadn’t known very long was cleaning a gun and accidentally lost his life. He was only 13 and turned 14 on my birthday. Just a day or so after the tragedy. This has changed our community of believers. Could we all be being reinvented?

My mom is still in rehab and slowly, slowly starting to walk with much help. I’m sure she’s getting tired of not being able to go home for so long. She seems to do well a few days and then not be able to do the physical therapy for a few days. More process going on. We have had to go in and find her clothes after laundry and get them all back into her room. We have had to personally talk to nurses and beg them to shower her. We’ve had to call a talk to the Alliance in our region to help get her the care there that she is supposed to be getting. All new territory for me.

Then the last thing…I had been on medication for an infection and at the tenth day my fever shot up to 102.5 and stayed all night. I went to urgent care and got tested for everything and they gave me a strong antibiotic shot plus sent me home with strong antibiotics. In a few hours no fever…went home and rested. That night fever again so I decided to go to the ER. Tests all came back great. In the meantime I start getting texts from my ex husband that he is getting all my bills from anything medical, what? I don’t even know what his address is? Ok just like always in my life… I have to trust something bigger and more powerful than me to deal with all of this….

What is being reinvented in me? Time will tell when the process is over. But I do know that it led me back to sitting still and writing. Letting my voice be heard, and digging deeper. It’s almost time to pick a word for next year and I think my word for next year will be “Peace!”

Numbers 6:24 to 26

24 “‘“The Lord bless you
and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.”’

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After the pause

Our whole month of May was on pause in some ways but very active in other ways. As for social events we were in quarantine, as for private events we were very busy.

To be perfectly honest, Marty almost left the planet. I watched an extremely active, nonstop person within a few hours get taken down to nothing.

That’s when all the arguments about “should I get the vaccine, should I not”…get brought down to the reality of, “What are you saying Father?”

Each and every person has to make their own decisions about things. After Marty was on remdesivir for four days, along with our Heavenly Father entering the room, he got a miraculous healing and his chest started popping and cracking and he was home two days later.

Then I get things sent to me about how bad remdesivir is and I didn’t ask anyone for any information. The same way the day after my first vaccine I got information sent to me about how damaging the vaccine is to your body.

How are y’all sorting these things out? I have to go by life experiences. First off, my ninety three year old mother got her vaccine and it gave her freedom to leave her apartment again after a year. Second, my brother is a pharmacist and has taken a job giving the injections.

One afternoon I just had a feeling that I needed to go get the vaccine. I called the local pharmacy and set up a time later that day. I told them I wanted the J&J shot and they wrote me down. I called my brother and talked to him about it and he said, “I would get the Moderna,” I called and changed it to that.

It was so ironic the next day after I got the shot that J&J got put on a pause because of side effects.

Three weeks later, Marty got a fever and tested positive, I tested negative and made it through the whole next month fighting Covid with him and didn’t get it. That is my experience and story.

Someone else’s story may be different. I respect your story, can you respect mine? I literally watched my Heavenly Father rise up above ALL things and save my husband’s life. There are no conspiracy theories that can figure that out. It’s beyond reason.

I encourage you to hear the Father’s voice for you. What is He telling you to do about everything? I’m always checking that out. It’s about His will, not my will be done.

If you need any help hearing from the Father for you, let us know! We are a no judgment zone to help sort things out!

Much love to you today!

We all have our own story!

Let’s not judge!

Be kind!

Love never fails!

See you soon!

You matter and you are the best!

See you soon!

jill🌸

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The Pause

Well it has hit our home, the dreaded COVID-19. Marty tested positive and I tested negative. Today is the third day that he’s had it and he’s not doing too bad.

His fever is down, he’s still trying to do a few things because everyone said, “Try to stay active.” We are on our third day of quarantine.

How am I doing? Well me being the extrovert person that I am, I instantly canceled a speaking engagement, canceled a hair appointment, canceled two lunch dates, a meeting I was supposed to attend and decided to settle in.

The first day I was a little sad and angry. I just went with that feeling and let myself feel it. Then I decided I may be being a little selfish and started giving more compassion to the one not feeling well.

The second day I asked my great friends from a recovery group (we do a group text everyday) to let me have a phone meeting with them the next night. They all kicked in and started showing the love…They made me cry!

I also got to make a video on my business page about self care and practice what I was saying. I have a checklist that I’m doing everyday. We got a sweet FaceTime from a granddaughter checking on Papa, I got many phone conversations with people that I don’t normally talk to and sorted out some things in my life.

Third day…which is today. Marty still holding fever down, many people letting us know that they love us and checking on us, some even bringing little gifts to us. We are finding out how many people love and care about us.

This has been the theme of my life and I’ve checked into survival mode now. Using all the tools that I’ve been given.

Gratitude is the next one. What do I have to be grateful for?

1. God and my faith.

2. Marty not being severely ill.

3. My mother still being alive and all of our family.

4. So many wonderful friends that love us and care about us.

5. Prosperity and provision.

6. America and the blessings I have had growing up here.

I will keep working on this list.

I have a friend flying in from out of town and we get to talk today.

Let’s always remember to take a pause and remember what we have. It might just help us see things from a different perspective.

Blessings to you today!

Always fight to stay positive!

Never give up!

Have faith, hope, and love always!

You deserve the best of everything!

If you need anything let us know! That is my favorite thing that people keep saying to us!!

See y’all soon!!

🌸jill

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Change is good!

Just because we have been doing something forever and getting good results doesn’t mean that we are supposed to do it forever. We can get stuck in a rut and get unhealthy in that place.

We have to remain open to new exciting things. My word being Re-invent this year is actually stirring that up to happen in many different ways!

The dream of an old business venture has blessed me so much last month and refreshed ideas of things I always wanted to do but thought that they died!

Our heavenly creator changes things quite often! He wants us to use our imagination and dream BIG dreams! The more people that we can come in contact with, the merrier!

It was so fun last month getting to share my story at a Trauma to Triumph Summit for women and then in the same month got an email to make a video to send to Terri Savelle Foy ministries to share my testimony about how vision boards have changed things in my life!

These are amazing dreams that have come into being from writing my vision and making it plain.

Terri Savelle Foy has written books and courses about vision boards and for her to ask me to do this is nothing short of a miracle!

I’m not excited about these things for my behalf, I’m excited to be able to encourage and help others with stories of miracles that have taken place. Miracles that are truly for everyone. Miracles to change lives!

I hope that you haven’t lost hope in your life! If you have please contact me! I have been through so many horrible things that there is no way I should be so full of hope! But with a change in mindsets, just the right positive relationships that can help build you up, and a God that loves you no matter what… positive change can happen!

Last year and this year so many changes and miracles have happened and I have to keep sharing these things with others!

Change can happen for you!

No room for negativity!

Remain hopeful and move forward!

Contact me if you need help!

See you soon!

jill 🌸