Reviews and Giveaways

Life Counsel Bible Review and $10 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway

Barefoot Faith Journey

Life Counsel Bible Review and $10 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway

Life Counsel Bible Review and $10 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway

Life Counsel Bible Review and $10 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway.  Whatever you’re facing, the Bible has something to say. The CSB Life Counsel Bible contains articles from leading biblical counselors that will give YOU the tools you need to take action and FIND HOPE through all of life’s storms.

Featuring over 150 articles on topics related to marriage, parenting, relationships, mental health, and so many more- this Bible is like having a complete biblical counseling toolkit in one resource! Check out Life Counsel Bible for a full list of topics and order yours today!

Life Counsel Bible

The CSB Life Counsel Bible features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible. The CSB captures the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture’s life-transforming message and to share it with others.

Have you ever felt stressed, or been anxious, or experienced grief? Have you ever wanted to know how to help a loved one through addiction, or marital conflict, or parenting challenges? I’m really excited to share with you an amazing new biblical
counseling resource created in partnership with Holman Bibles and New Growth Press. The Life Counsel Bible provides practical wisdom for all, equipping readers with biblical truth and counsel on a wide range of topics and tough life issues.

With over 150+ articles this Bible is full of useful tools and resources for life application and discipleship. It’s great for couples, parents, ministry leaders, and anyone who has ever struggled with tough life issues (yep, that’s all of us!).

FEATURES

  • More than 150 full-length articles from respected Christian counselors and
    scholars on topics like anxiety, depression, abuse, sexuality, marriage and divorce, parenting struggles, finances
  • Callout quotes placed near each article provide truth, hope, and encouragement to apply to life
  • Over 100-word studies focusing on key words applicable to personal healing, growth, and counsel
  • Book introductions including “Circumstances of Writing,” “Structure,” “Contribution to the Bible,” and a special “Truth for Healing” section with an overview of key truths related to healing from each book of the Bible
  • Wide margins for notetaking and journaling
  • Robust page-end cross-reference system with over 25,000 cross-references connecting Scripture from Genesis to Revelation
  • Easy-to-read 9.5-point type size
  • Presentation page for gift-giving (this makes a great wedding/parenting gift)!

Links

Website: Life Counsel Bible

Disclosure

Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. A winner will be selected on December 8, 2023 and submitted to the company for the $10 Amazon giftcard. You must respond to my email with your information, if selected. If you do not respond, I will choose the next winner.

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The Old Testament Handbook Review and $10 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway

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The Old Testament Handbook Review and $10 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway

The Old Testament Handbook Review and $10 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway

The Old Testament Handbook Review and $10 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway. This Handbook would make the PERFECT Christmas gift!  Immerse yourself in the Old Testament Handbook, an elegant, full-color Bible handbook that includes robust summary content, charts, maps, word studies, illustrations, and more for every Old Testament book of the Bible. Constructed with high-quality cloth cover materials and a sewn binding, the Old Testament Handbook is designed to last a lifetime as a valuable companion resource for Bible study, teaching, and ongoing discipleship.

Discover your companion for deeper study and display. With a handbook rich in both study and physical materials, navigate the mysteries of Old Testament narratives as you ask questions and grow in your knowledge of God’s faithfulness. The Old Testament Handbook features the highly readable, highly reliable text of the Christian Standard Bible. The CSB captures the Bible’s original meaning without sacrificing clarity, making it easier to engage with Scripture’s life-transforming message and to share it with others.

Features

  • High-quality, foil-stamped cloth cover materials and Smyth-sewn binding meant to last a lifetime
  • Elegant full-color interior design, including maps, charts, illustrations, and other visual helps for every book of the Old Testament
  • More than 75 in-depth word studies of key words found in each Old Testament book
  • Ribbon marker for easy referencing between pages during study, teaching, or sharing

Links

Website: B & H Publishing

Disclosure

Many thanks to Lifeway Christian Resources for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. A winner will be selected on December 8, 2023 and submitted to the company for the $10 Amazon giftcard. You must respond to my email with your information, if selected. If you do not respond, I will choose the next winner.

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Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say

 

Be Careful Little Mouth What You Say because your tongue has the power of life or death. This past week, I was tootling along in life and I get a slap of reality upside the head. My knee jerk reaction is to withdraw and be alone. In that alone time, I continuously beat myself up. My thoughts are not kind at all. Almost immediately, I think that I am not good enough, I will never fit in, no one will ever be friends with me, I am worthless. See what I mean, not kind at all. Then, I think back to what I had said or done, what I could have done differently, and then self-deprecate to an extreme.

Healthy, I know.

Scripture

In Proverbs 18:21 (The Message) it says “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit – you choose.” I typically do not read out of The Message but the wording in this is really spot on for me. Typically, I read out of the NKJV and so this is the same verse in a different version. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” The Lord is really making me think today. Scripture also talks about the tongue being a double-edged sword.

How many times have I gone against Scripture and said things that I shouldn’t have said to people? That thought is so difficult because I have done that so many times. There are times when I am painfully aware of what I am saying and then there are times, like this one, that I am unaware until the damage has already been done.

Reflecting on This Last Week

There was something that was said to me that just hurt my heart. When I was driving home I kept thinking “why is this bothering me so much?” It stems back to being in school and never fitting in with anyone. I had 1 friend when I was super young, none really throughout elementary, middle, or high school. Honestly, none in my community college. I did have a friend when I started at Murray and we are still friends to this day. Then, there was my Lady. I find it easier to make friends with the elderly or men.

What Is Swirling in My Mind Now

Honestly, is how I speak to myself, my husband, children, etc. If, at 51, one statement can make me feel so small and “less than” how do the people that I am with feel when I say something stupid without thinking. I have to realize that not everything that enters my mind needs to exit my mouth. That has always been difficult for me because I see that as “speaking my mind.” In speaking my mind, I am hurting others without really even knowing.

I feel like that statement doesn’t make sense when I type it but it is SO clear in my head. What the enemy meant for destruction, the Lord is teaching me a valuable truth. I get so frustrated with the situations within my family, mind, work, etc. My hope and prayer is that I use this time to reflect on, not the negative, but the positive things about myself. I hope that this continues to be a reminder that I need to be mindful of my words. My prayer is that my words can now give life instead of pain.

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Overwhelming To-Do List

Overwhelming To-Do List

Overwhelming To-Do List is looming and all I seem to be doing is staring it down and seeing who will be the first to move. Will it be the list that lessens by one, magically OR will I be the one that tackles it? It’s a mystery. There are 7 Sundays left until Christmas. I am the person that most people can’t stand because my Christmas shopping is done by July.

Welp.

It’s not done.

No where near done, in fact.

I am close to panicking.

My Over Productive Brain

Honestly, I see the smallest things that, in my house, that I consider the nastiest thing in the world. Lately, there has been a smell that I can’t quite pinpoint, but it is there. Granted, no one else can smell it, but I do. It’s like when I was pregnant and had the nose of a bloodhound. The smell is there, it’s my job to find it.

I have yet to find it.

Aside from this smell, I feel my house is disgusting because the baseboards are gross, my window sills have families of spiders living in them, there are leaves everywhere outside, the weeds are everywhere, and so much dust. I can’t stand it. In the back of my mind, I know that it is fine, but the rest of me is screaming CLEAN YOUR HOUSE!

It drives my husband nuts.

Living the Stay At Home Mom Life

When I was a SAHM for 30 years, my house never got really dirty. I cleaned everyday. Everyday, there was a meal on the table. There was not a spot that was not painfully organized including my husbands 32 mini drawer nuts/bolts/nail holder that I organized by measured length, size, and shape. That might have been an issue because I was stoked, he wasn’t…I cried. It was a whole thing.

Things have changed since I went back to work. He helps more, I do less, and sometimes we eat what we can find. I hate that and I want to do better but I just don’t have time. Honestly, I didn’t think I had time when I was a SAHM and now I really don’t have time.

All The Things and Then Some

Between my doctor appointments, I have H’s doctor appointments, school stuff, work stuff, parental unit stuff, other kid stuff, and life. Lest I forget that 4 hour test I have to take for my licensure that I’m just now studying for, the ADHD-CCSP certification that is a 32 hr continuing education course I paid to do, and I’m taking classes on ASL so I can help a population of people that are not served well in our community. I just haven’t found my groove yet.

Yesterday, I Multi-Tasked

In between my cleaning, I got the grocery order done and my menu for the week finished. Also, I finished Christmas shopping for my mother-in-law (her gifts to my kids) and my mom. I also ordered some Christmas for my son-in-law and daughter-in-law, so that is done. Then, I sent out a group text about the celebrations for this month. My kids were over eating, last night, and we got name drawing done and ironed out the Thanksgiving meal. Also, I cleaned up the house after dinner, so all my husband had to do was sweep. There was not an inch of this house that was not cleaned, swept, dusted, or mopped. It really did my heart good.

Stressful Times

There are some things going on, right now, in my family that is causing some emotions in me. I process those emotions by A) getting sick B) having a PsA flare up C) hyper-organizing D) obsessively cleaning E) bouts of crying F) shows of anger G) cooking more than we can eat in a week.

I’ve done all those things and feel like that is going to continue until I have made peace with what is going on. Frankly, in my eyes, there is no making peace with it all. I just have to accept it but that doesn’t seem like it is going to happen anytime soon. Geez, there is so much I wanna say and I will…just not tonight because I hear my husband’s footsteps and that means he is fixing to come to bed.

My To-Do List

It will continue to grow.

Here are my goals:

  • Do something in small pockets of time throughout the day.
  • Take a lunch to drive and breathe
  • Finish Christmas shopping
  • Continue to feed my people and my parents
  • Pet my cat
  • Make appointments
  • Get bloodwork done
  • Attempt to participate in therapy
  • Do my job well
  • Keep my house cleaned up, daily, to keep me from getting overwhelmed
  • Find my crockpot recipes so we can eat a homemade meal again
  • Write a letter of clarity to someone I love because I’m done being manipulated
  • Stay in my own lane
  • Hopefully feel better by eating better
  • That reminds me…I need to start eating, that would be helpful

I’m sure there is more, but now I am tired and my body is already hurting. It’s like it knows to hurt all night just to give me a thrill. Sigh. Tomorrow is a new day…filled with new promises.

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Fight for the Soul of Your Child Review and Giveaway

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Fight for the Soul of Your Child Review and Giveaway

Fight for the Soul of Your Child Review and Giveaway

Fight for the Soul of Your Child Review and Giveaway. This book is by Jimmy and Karen Evans. It is co-written by their daughter, Julie Evans Albracht. “Fighting for the Soul of Your Child” is a powerful guide for parents seeking to nurture and raise their child in today’s ever-evolving world. This book equips parents with the tools and knowledge they need to raise resilient, spiritually grounded, and emotionally healthy children.

As a parent of many children (and now grandchildren), this is a practical guide to help how to pray and live your life in a way that honor’s God. My greatest worry is the salvation of my children and grandchildren. These concepts are not all new to me, but it is so nice to see it all written out, in one place, to remind me of the importance of this decision in their lives.

Key Points

• 1. Empower Your Parenting: Discover practical strategies and insights to empower your role as a parent in shaping your child’s future.

• 2. Time-Tested Wisdom: Benefit from the wisdom of Jimmy and Karen Evans, respected marriage and parenting experts with over 40 years of experience.

• 3. Protect Their Heart: Learn how to safeguard your child’s emotional and spiritual well-being in an increasingly challenging world.

• 4. Effective Communication: Unlock the secrets to open and honest communication with your child, fostering trust and connection.

• 5. Spiritual Growth: Explore ways to nurture your child’s faith and values, helping them develop a strong moral compass.

• 6. Navigating Challenges: Gain valuable insights on handling common parenting challenges, from peer pressure to technology addiction.

• 7. Family Harmony: Discover strategies to strengthen your family bond and create a loving, supportive environment.

• 8. Real-Life Stories: Engage with relatable stories and examples that illustrate the principles discussed in the book.

• 9. Transformative Impact: Experience the transformation in your parenting journey as you implement the proven strategies shared in this book.

• 10. A Lifelong Resource: “Fighting for the Soul of Your Child” is a timeless resource that will guide you through the various stages of your child’s growth.

Fight for the Soul of Your Child Review and Giveaway

Codes and Links

Moms, get this helpful book today! Use code MIN25 at the XO store for 25% off your order of Fighting For the Soul of Your Child today!

Website: LINK

Giveaway Info and Disclosure

Giveaway: 1 copy of Fighting For the Soul of Your Child. Please note that this is limited to US winners only. Please submit your name and email address for a chance to win by 11/11/23. The random drawing will be done on 11/12/23.

Disclosure: Many thanks to XO Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review.

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Adjusting to Returning to Work

Adjusting to Returning to Work since I started about 7 months ago. This has been something I have wanted to do for a long time. However, circumstances in my life have prevented it. Frankly, when I got this job, I was still constantly afraid that they made a mistake. Realistically, I thought I would get fired quickly because they would see through me.

I’m not sure what exactly I thought they would “see” through me, but it was still a constant narrative in my head. Honestly, I never thought I would ever get hired anywhere because of lack of experience. I definitely had the education and life experience but not “work” experience.

Previous Work Experience

I haven’t worked for another human since I was 20 years old. That was 30 years ago, so answering to others and following rules are not my strength. I have not been told what to wear in a long time. Wearing what is comfortable is priority but what is comfortable is not always appropriate.

My last job was as a secretary for the chief engineer at our local college. I ran errands, answered phones, and learned this complicated new thing called a computer. It was simple, manageable, and I mainly worked with a bunch of men. There was not one single person that cared what I wore or how my hair was in that entire facility.

Men are not complicated humans. There is no gossip, backbiting, lashing out, emotional moments or anything like that at all. I think there was 1 man who was a little high strung but I just didn’t interact with him much.

At my new job, I have a dress code that I have to follow. It is not hard LOL, just not my norm. Right now, I work with 1 man and the rest are women. That is totally different, so I also had to learn to adjust to this new dynamic. It was (is) a hard adjustment to make when you have that one experience and then for the last 30 years just been a mom.

Logistics of the Job

I go to 2 offices in 2 locations. This arrangment was something I had to do in order to be full time and still acccommodate my family. At the end of the day, family will always come first. Thankfully, this company understands that concept.

These 2 locations were not only in 2 different towns but they are 2 totally different vibes. 1 location is very professional, blocked off (in terms of how the office is laid out), and quiet. The section location is game on 100% of the time with a more laid back feel. It is the same work, just wildly different.

Professionalism is a high priority in both places but one is just a little different than the other. I had to figure out how to do my job properly, interact with staff, learn the computer system, and not drown. That is a feat in an of itself.

Overall…Me as a Human

By nature, I am an introvert. I really do not get out that much. Interacting with clients is my jam, but figuring out everything else was a challenge. I was so afraid that if I said the wrong thing, wore the wrong thing, etc, that I would be fired.

In my effort to fit in (again not my strong suit), I tried to be myself. Granted, I don’t “look” like myself because my hair is not pink or purple (and I’m going bald). I couldn’t dress like myself because I have to wear clothes that I am not comfortable in but I am figuring it all out.

I am a loud human. My whisper is loud. I am, typically, not one to shy away from confrontation and my face does not always dictate what my mind is saying or my heart is feeling. My goal is always for acceptance, kindness, and  helping when I can.

Learning and Adjusting

I am still learning and adjusting to going to an office everyday. From there, I am learning how to maintain my home, family life, self-care, etc. It has not been easy. I am so tired by the end of the day, my family can sometimes come away with scraps because I am “peopled” out.

It has all been a work in progress. I love what I do and I love the fact that my boss has compassion for me. That is a huge positive. My family continue to be supportive and understanding.

My point is this…you can start over at any age and stage of your life. There will be a learning curve but you will adjust and you will survive! So far, I am and that says a lot.

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Souped Up Apple Junk Recipe

Souped Up Apple Junk Recipe

Souped Up Apple Junk Recipe was so easy to make and a simple crowd pleaser. This is a recipe that I have been making for years. It really hits the spot in the fall but one of my son-in-laws absolutely loves apple anything, so I try to make something for him when he comes for dinner. This is simple with easy ingredients. Typically, I make this in a dutch oven, but I don’t have one of those anymore so I used a 13×9 dish and it worked out just fine.

Ingredients

2 cans of apple pie filling

Cinnamon and sugar

1 box of yellow cake mix

1 stick of butter

Brown Sugar

Caramel Sauce

Directions

In a greased 13×9 dish, put in your 2 cans of apple pie filling.  On top of that, sprinkle a layer of brown sugar and then the cinnamon/sugar mixture. Next, squeeze on a layer of caramel sauce. After that, pour on the yellow cake mix (just the mix, do not make the batter). Lastly, cut your stick of butter into pats and place it all over the cake.

Bake, covered, at 350 for about 30 minutes. Then, I took the aluminum off and baked it for an addition 5 minutes.

Serve hot and for weirdos out there, you can add ice cream (enter gagging sounds because that concept is NOT my jam).

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Let's Talk About Loneliness

Let’s Talk About Loneliness. According to Webster’s dictionary being lonely means without company OR cut off from others. I have been reading a book by Sheila Walsh called “Holding on When You Want to Let Go.” It is a very good read. I have have the pleasure of hearing her speak, in person, at the Women of Faith conferences that I have attended many times. She is an excellent speaker, writer, songbird, and more. Sheila Walsh is very relatable in a lot of areas. She is not immune to the hardships of life, but she holds onto her faith.

Being Alone and Feeling Alone

These two things are not the same. In her book, Sheila Walsh states that “being alone can be a beautiful thing, a time of rest, of reflection, of quiet. Feeling alone is a strange thing. You can be in a crowd and feel alone. you can be loved and feel alone. Feeling alone is like a silent ache, a feeling that you don’t belong, you don’t fit in, you’re not like everyone else. Feeling alone doesn’t need to make sense; it just is. It’s a gnawing ache inside. It’s like a piece is missing from your soul.”

That passage created a feeling in me and my brain began swirling and twirling. A few years ago, my sister, mom, and me went to meet my other sister for a day visit. We had been talking about it for a while and it was time to set a date and make it happen. My sister lives about 7 hours away and we don’t see each other as much as we would all like. It was such a good day.

That Ache of a Feeling

Once we got to our destination and we all loved on each other, we headed for food!  It is so nice to sit at a restaurant, enjoy each other’s company and laughter, and to be near family. For me, however, that moment was like an out of body experience. I was watching my sisters and Oak laugh, cry, eat, and just fellowship yet I felt so alone. This intrusive thought of “I don’t belong” permeated my brain. Did my family do that? Heck no. It was just that…an intrusive thought.

I was surrounded by people that love me and I love them yet my core felt empty, sad, and alone. That is something I never shared with them. Honestly, if they read this blog (which I don’t think they do LOL), that statement will make them wonder what is wrong with me.

Tolerating

Another passage from this book exemplifies how I felt during this interaction. ‘{I} felt like I didn’t measure up. I felt like I was not enough. {I} felt like I was tolerated rather than welcomed. I felt deep down there was something wrong with me. {I} looked at other who seemed happy and together, and i knew I’d never be like that.’

Honestly, I have felt like that at family dinner’s, in my own home, church, etc. These thoughts, I know, are from satan and I had to capture them. We had such a great visit once I extricated those thoughts. It had the potential to really cause harm, in my mind and spirit but I was able to recognize them immediately.

Depression Related?

This may or may not be related to depression, I really don’t know. I just know that it sucked to feel so lonely around so many people who love me. Do they always agree with me? Nope. There are times I don’t agree with them. Do we always like each other? I guess that is relative LOL. We love each other, completely, that I know.

Depression has been something that has been woven in and out of my tapestry for many years. I believe my doctor diagnosed me with clinical depression when I was like 19 years old. So much has changed, that that isn’t even in the DSM-5-TR anymore. Now it is labeled Major Depressive Disorder…mild, moderate, or severe. My depression comes in waves. There are periods of time that things are good and then there are times when I am deep in a hole. It is not fun but I know that I am not alone. I have a village.

Suicide Hotline

If you ever feel alone, please call 988 and talk to the person on the other end. You are not alone and they answer the phone 24/7. If you have intrusive thoughts, please get in to see a counselor, call 988, 911, talk to a friend or a pastor because intrusive thoughts are hard and they are scary but they are not real! You are valued, loved, wanted, and you make this world a better place by being in it.

To my sisters and my Oak…thank you for loving me well.

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Grandparenthood - The Greatest Role

Grandparenthood – The Greatest Role that I have ever been in to date. Oh my goodness. Can you even handle the cuteness of that picture??!! My grandchildren are phenomenal human beings and if I am blessed with more, that would be amazing. If I simply get to be the best Yayi ever to these 2 cuties…I am just as happy!

My kids have made a giant sacrifice to come hang out and have dinner every Friday night. I love it. Honestly, I know that it is hard and probably inconvenient for them but it fills my cup so much. I love having my children all around my table. The loud conversations, babies into everything, food cooking, kids eating out of the pans, everything to me is wonderful.

Silence

Since so many of my kids have moved out, my house is so quiet. I has been hard to transition from cooking for 14 people on any given night, to cooking for 4 and I am not a fan. The chaos is comforting to me, so when my kids come to my house, it is just bliss. I look forward to my Friday nights every week!

Lately, I have been picking a kid and I cook what they want for that evening. I started at the end of July with my 5th child. This seems to make my kids feel like they have a say and we are guaranteed they will like what I fix. Now, I have some “extra” kids that I may have to make something a little different for them, but I don’t even care. I will do what you want if you just come and hang out!

Grandparenthood

Frankly, I was prepared. I was thrilled when my oldest daughter got pregnant but my mind went to “I will never be like my Granny or my mom for that matter.” In my eye, grandmothers have short hair, gray, and wear bifocals and floral prints. I had pink/purple hair that was long and I don’t own florals. However, I do have bifocals. Seriously, I thought those were prerequisites and that I was ill-equipped.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of walking into a room and a child burst into a smile and scrambling to get closer to you. I bring them joy simply by doing that. They want nothing from me but to walk into a room. That fills my heart to a capacity that I didn’t even know existed. I feel like when the Grinch goes from this stone heart to it exploding.

Pure joy.

My Grandchildren

Then Charleigh as born. Oh. My. Word. First, watching my daughter evolve into the best mommy ever was amazing. Holy Cow. Then, they placed this perfection in my arms and I was done. Simply stick a fork in me, I am done. She was so tiny and beautiful with these giant eyes! We prayed for her to get her daddy’s big eyes and cow eyelashes and she did. However, she looks so much like Bug…my heart. I took care of her while they worked and it was glorious.

Next up, Apollo. Stop it right now. That child. His birth was a bit more traumatic then Charleigh’s and he was tinier than she was but good grief. That boy. I watched my second daughter sacrifice her life to bring this boy into the world a bit early. This was during covid and I could only stay for so long, in the hospital caring for my baby child. Whereas when Bug had Charleigh, I was blessed with night shift while she was there. Again, watching my second daughter rock this whole motherhood thing makes me think I did something right when I raised her!

Blessing Upon Blessing

I would love to show their faces. They, to me, look like a healthy dose of my daughters with a splash of their daddies! I love it and their unique qualities. Charleigh is content bringing all her toys and putting them in your lap or sitting and reading a book with you. Apollo never stops moving and prefers to go go go instead of being held. They love opera and the rat pack. Both the kids love to be read to and sung to with hand motions, of course. If a song doesn’t have hand motions, we invent them.

I would love as many grandchildren that my children want to have because they are what this world needs more of. However, I respect my children, their desires, their bodies, and their choices and if 2 is all I will ever have, then I am totally good with that. These two grandchildren….geez….if you could only see/hear them.

Our names were supposed to be Lolli and Pop. Charleigh started calling us Yayi and Poop. Now, it is mainly Yayi, mom mom, Llllllllllooollllllliiiii, and a consistent Pop. Apollo can say Pop but not Yayi (or Lolli) but we are working on it. He just meets us with this grin that is the best thing ever.

Sigh…….I love them and I love this role!

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Deion Sanders Quote on What Other People Think

Deion Sanders Quote on What Other People Think is something I ran across a few days ago. I have watched it on and off for those few days and each time I see it, I want to holler “can you say that louder for the people in the back?!” Then, I realize that that is not how I think. Honestly, I try not to let other people’s opinions matter but they do get to me and then I question all the things. It is exhausting.

Deion Sanders Opinion of Me

“I don’t care about anyone’s opinion of me. What about me makes you think I care about what your opinion is about me? Your opinion of me is not the opinion I have about myself. You didn’t make me, so you can’t break me. You didn’t build me, so you can’t kill me. God established me so there is ain’t nothing you can do to me…..I don’t care and I wish the world thought like that. Youngster’s do not give a darn about what opinions others have of you as long as that opinion is not consistent with yourself. You be you.”

Drop the Mic

WOW! I have heard my husband talk about him, but I am not a sports person, so therefore I will have to google who he has played for and such. With that being said, that statement, alone, makes me stand up and listen. I will say again, I have parents that love me and I was raised with morals, ethics, family support, and all the things. Yes, there were bumps in the road and things that were not pleasant but that is typical of any family.

I really don’t know why I think the way I do and have such self-doubt. It just always has been. That isn’t for lack of encouragement and my family believing in me because they did. Have they agreed with everything? I doubt it but they still love me and cheer me on. If I am honest, I don’t always agree with them, but I still love them and cheer for them as well. That’s called be a part of a family.

As I was Sitting Outside

I took a pause to call my Oak and take my dog out, my neighbor was outside. We live in a subdivision (gag) but the positive thing is that we live in a cul-de-sac where no cars come except for us, the mailman, and my 1 neighbor. When we moved in, we introduced ourselves and I took them dinner one night.

Then, his opinion of me changed and now every time we are all outside, together, it feels as if he looks at me with disgust and judgement. My knee jerk reaction is A) to confront him and use my non-adult words B) to move again. Neither of those are options so I just watch them and their stares and head shaking. They are disgusted, I am sure, of the things they think have been said/done.

So, mister man…reread the quote by Deion Sanders. I am holding my head high, waving as you walk or drive by, keeping my dog out of your yard (I have apologized for that), and I am not going to think mean thoughts about you. Your feet are not under my table, you are not my family, I do not owe you any explanation in the history of ever so your opinion of me (and my family) does not matter to me.

That really does feel better. Now, I have to use that thought process through the rest of my interactions until Jesus calls me home.

 

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