Making the Transition to Health{ier}, Where Do I Start?

Today I want to talk about 7 steps to begin the transition into a healthier lifestyle. Approximately 20 years ago I took my first steps towards a more self sufficient, more healthy and less expensive lifestyle.  I have found, on my journey of recovery from emotional trauma, that self care is very important. Good nutrition and better sleep will do far more for your recovery than you may realize. Bit by tiny bit, I have been able to discover what works for me and change many things about our daily routines that add to our health, save our money, and create less dependence on the factory food system. When my body feels better, so does my mind.

Dandelion Bliss~ the Mission

It has recently come to my attention that I need to clarify a few things about the blog. I have not been clear enough about my goals or my mission for writing here.
Today I want to begin to remedy that problem.

This blog was born out of a passion in my heart to share with, encourage, offer hope & laughter to, and inspire women to live a life full of LOVE, passion, forgiveness and healing.

How God Brings Change Sometimes

There are times when we pray prayers asking God to renew us, refresh us or bring something new into our lives. We don't always know what we are asking for.As churches we all shout "Bring us revival. Lord! we want to experience your river!"

As individuals we cry and beg "Please change my situation, Lord! Give me something, anything! I want new and hopeful!"
And then when He begins to answer us...to rain on us... sometimes we panic and beg for it to stop.

You Are Pretty

Today it's time to remember. It's time to tune out the negative voices and remember that You. Are. Amazing. You are beautiful!

 You were created BY God. But you were also created In. God's. Image. Think of that! Did you get that? In...God's...Image...
Right this moment I want you to stop believing the lies that you are not as pretty as, or as skinny as, or as desirable as...anyone else. You are exactly how God designed you to be. You are not just His creation, if you have invited Jesus into your heart, you are also His daughter. He knows every tiny detail of you, from the last scraggly and glorious hair on your head, down to the tiny pinky toe with chipped nail polish.

He knows your inward parts, too. The ache in your heart, the longing in your soul, the confusion in your mind.
He knows you have been wounded. He cares...just like you always wished someone else would.

Scarred to Love

Sometimes I mess up. I do stupid things...Not on purpose, but because I'm human.

There are days when I wrestle demons of the past. Days when my experiences tell me to handle a situation a certain way. Not because of what MIGHT happen, but simply because of what has already happened to me. I learned my lessons well. Like a straight "A" student.
I regret that I have scars in my life. I wish I could make them go away. I suspect they will always be with me. The scars were part of the healing. The places where the hurt was so deep, the fear so strong, the things I saw were so evil... that I bled. From my heart. That deepest part of me where the love lives. The scars formed eventually and covered those places over ...marking me, in a way.

Taking it Back to Ordinary

I started blogging approximately twelve years ago. It was a fantastic adventure when I started. I met so many new friends, several who are
still friends today, and I enjoyed the daily interaction with other moms struggling to keep their lives in order, just like I was.

We started our own link parties and blog hops without any fancy online help sites. We had rough looking blogs sometimes,
without the slick magazine style that is so popular now.

Plain Vanilla

Wherein I praise the mundane and ramble on about nothing.

  This Friday we discovered that our cat likes to play "football toss" with us. We throw the ball (we are using a nerf one in case the kids are nearby when I throw it, because, I am not exactly a pro or anything) and the cat bounds across the ground
and pounces on it. He even uses his paws in an attempt to pick it up. Maybe he wishes to throw it back? I am convinced we have a genius in the family.

  We followed this PE time up with a trip to the brand spankin' new local cafe. The theme is fishing, and the owner is an inspiring woman-mommy-single-entrepreneur. We ended up