A thoughtful gift

We had a fun little birthday party a few months ago ...

 Target made it easy to make it festive. Did you see their "Oh Joy" decorations?

It was my oldest daughter's 30th birthday and for her gift I helped her fix up her house a little bit. We did it in stages a few weeks before her big day, so when it came for her actual birth day, I wanted to give her something special to open but I didn't want it to cost a lot. 

And I wanted it to be thoughtful. 

I decided to give her a gift of 30 quotes. You know how I am obsessed with quotes, right?

I thought it would be fun to give her enough for one a day for 30 days. I found them on Pinterest and printed them out on my computer - each sized to go in a 4"x6" frame.

I dug through my supply of frames and found one I thought was just perfect. The idea was that she could change them out for whatever mood she was in.

She placed the frame in her entryway.

You can see the quotes (and the sources for them) here.

I love that she took one of the quotes and put it in another frame.

She is a lot like me - she likes to put quotes around her house to remind her of things that are important.

Have a great Sunday and hug those close to you. We were reminded the hard way this week in our neighborhood and community that life can be cut short in an instant. Love is all that matters.

Dream big and be present

I like to have quotes around my office ... where I am working / spending a lot of my time.  I actually put them all over my house - things that are meaningful at the moment in frames or taped to a bookcase to remind me of what I want in my head ...

So when I saw these posters from Jess LC on PVE's blog - I knew I had to add them to my office. 

Dreaming big to me means to increase FAITH ... practice HOPE ... to PRAY intentionally and truthfully and to BELIEVE that with God the impossible is made POSSIBLE. 

Jess LC Design with Intention shop

But I also like the part about being present. Now. Today. In the life that I have at this very moment. Because that is where God has me now.  And it isn't perfect. But it is my life. 

So how ironic timely was it that just after I hung my new quotes on the wall I received an email from a friend that forwarded an email she received from Joel Osteen whose words say it better than I ever could ... 

"God has an incredibly bright future in store for you that is filled with His blessings and favor.

He's opening new doors for you. He's pouring out His favor. He's doing things on your behalf you can't do for yourself.

If you'll trust that God has you right where He wants you, God will take care of everything. He cares about every detail of your life - now and in the future.

But before you begin to see that future, you have a choice to make.

You can either get upset about your circumstances or you can begin to bloom right where you're planted.

I've learned that God often changes us before He changes the circumstances around us.

If you allow negative things to dominate your thoughts, they are going to keep you right where you are.

But if you want to see change, if you want to see God open up new doors, then you've got to decide to let God promote you where you already are.

You've got to bloom, right where God has planted you.

Enjoying and growing in the place God has you sows a seed of greatness into your future! It's the best thing you can do to help make something new happen.

Bloom where you're planted! Don't go through life thinking you've got too many obstacles or disadvantages. If you put your hope in God, He'll direct your steps.

 As you enjoy the place He has you in, He'll begin to move things around in your life. You'll be amazed at the outcome."

Jess LC Design with Intention shop

"The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives." - Psalm 37:23 NLT