Thinking Out Loud

If a bird had only one wing, it would not be able to fly. 

If a human being did not have a heart, they would not be able to live, love, forgive, or even exist. 

Each one of us has a heart - yet, for whatever reason choose to hold unforgiveness that creates resentment, animosity, hurt, and many times health issues. Human beings are an interesting creation. Each one is unique in their own way - while carrying attributes passed down from generations before. 

I am curious why human beings think it is ok to inflict emotional pain on another? What is it they gain? Recognition? Power? Fame? Control? Could it be the people who do this harbors animosity towards people? Maybe this how they think they fit in. 

My very existence came from a place of power and control over another human being. How does one break free from the mental and emotional chains that weigh down the heart and mind? Therapy, Counseling, Treatment of some kind, medications? What if others took accountability for their actions instead of playing the victims in the outcome? Does that not justify the means? 

It is exhausting to live in a world where there is so much evil. Whether it be unforgiveness, power, hatred, control, or betrayal. Somehow the minds of human beings need to shift. But how? 

If a human being did not have lungs, they could not breathe. Without breath, they would be nothing but a mere vessel of bones without life. 

I want to take a deep breath today and exhale all the pain, the betrayals, the wrongs, the hatred, the control, and the evil that human beings have inflicted on me. But how...? Is it not all about accountability? I am held accountable for everything I do by others. Then why is that not the expectation for them? Oh wait -maybe they feel they are above reproach or accountability? 

Accountability - everyone needs it. Everyone needs to be responsible for all their actions whether they are good or bad. That is what is wrong with our land today because so many people before us and currently, just shrug their shoulders and turn the other way. Good grief. 

Yet, if I were to falter - I can guarantee my wrongs would-be put-on display for all to judge. Then why is that not the case for those around me? 

I take joy in knowing that one day - every single human being (regardless) of what you believe or not - will stand before the Almighty Judge, God the Father and be held accountable for all of the thoughts, the actions, and the wrongs as well as the rights that they have ever done. 

The next time you want to have a thought about something evil, remember - that too will be judged. 

Regardless of who you are. One day, there will be a Day of Reckoning. The time draws nearer each day...how are you going to answer? 

If the bird did not have a song, it would not sing. If we did not have a heartbeat, we would not breathe. 

There is time to make things right. Amends need to be made before the heart stops beating. Once that happens, it will be final. No more chances to make wrongs right or turn hate into love. Unforgiveness can be forgiven if there is true remorse. Only the person staring back at you in the mirror can control those actions. 

What is stopping you to turn the page to a new chapter in Life? 

Heart to Heart Soul Creations

H2hsc2020

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3/15/2020 Ten Things of Thankful

Photo: A red heart hangs from a wire. "Ten Things of Thankful" is written to the left of the heart.

This is my second week of participating in the Ten Things of Thankful event. After reading their announcements, it looks like they are gearing up to celebrate Seven Years of doing their TToT. How fun is that!!! 

Thank you or the warm welcome and the comments left from my first post...I feel the love already!!! 

Thinking about things that I am thankful for this week the list looks like this: 

1. My family (I'm now able to be around my youngest grandson once again. I have been on strict quarantine since the 1st of March due to being extremely sick. He turned 3 months old this last Wednesday).  Meet Caiden Oliver Hays. 

2. The beautiful birds in the backyard. We have placed two DIY bird baths and bird feeders in the yard. I enjoy sitting and watching the Cardinals, the Blue jays and, the Doves. There are also other types of birds. They all bring a smile to my face. 

3. We created a memory garden for my mom. I planted several types of flowers in it. We ventured out to Hobby Lobby last weekend and I picked up two rabbits from the Easter Clearance 80% off aisle to place in it. I'm thankful the flowers that were planted are beginning to peek through the dirt. (I thought we lost them before we placed the bricks around due to them being whacked by the weed eater). Each week, I am going to add more color. I'm in the process of making another bird feeder to put near the wheelbarrow too! 

4. I'm getting my mojo back with regards to crafting. The joy of doing so had been sucked out of my last year due to a life situation...slowly, I am finding joy in crafting again. That was obvious last week when I made the Memory Album for my mom to honor her memory for Mother's Day. Here is a canvas I created a few weeks back just piddling around...the flower is a napkin. 

5. I'm excited to meet new friends through blogging and social media. Only to learn that possibly we may even be cousins - even if it's distant, I love it!!! I'm very thankful for the new friendships. 

6. Something I don't take for granted is life. I'm very thankful today I live and breathe. I owe all my gratitude to my Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ. (This is a glue book I made for another challenge I am in participating in called, Self-Love).

7. Journaling has been something I have done for most of my life. Never in a million years did I think it was blogging. I'm thankful a friend was very persistent with me last year to start my own blogging journey. It has opened a whole new world for me. Still a newbie at it though and I'm sure, my style isn't like many others. That's okay. That's why we are all UNIQUE! 

8. Walking with my ancestors - I get excited every day when I make new connections by way of DNA matches. Just this morning, I received an email from a person on my mom's paternal lines that I don't know much about. My heart jumped up and down with excitement. I'm thankful for the family connections of total strangers. 

9. Love -- I'm still navigating this one after a life situation last year. I am thankful though I know the power of forgiveness. 

10. Thankfulness - there was a time I wasn't thankful for anything. I carried the chips on my shoulder and was mad at everyone because of life situations. Today, I can honestly say - - I am VERY thankful for many people and many things in life. I call those tribulations the 'stumbling blocks in life which I have turned into steppingstones". 

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Throwback Thursday

THROWBACK THURSDAY

While looking through some envelopes the other day, I ran across several photos of yesterday.

My Granny Inez (Letha Inez Chenault Gordy Schoonover) and granddad Dick (Richard Dudley Schoonover) raised me until their deaths in the '70s. I miss them...

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REFLECTION

20 Apr 2020
The Ultimate Blog Challenge

R E F L E C T I O N 

As I sit here and think about the last year or so my mind goes to many different scenarios I've encountered in life. In fact, I can't just sit here and reflect on only the last year. There have been many life lessons learned. Many failures and many accomplishments.

One of those accomplishments was starting my blog in January. I had been approached several years ago to think about starting a blog on crafting, but I didn't feel like the timing was right so I set it on the back burner. In August of 2019, I was approached again and I begin to put serious thought to it. I had been having conversations with my son in law about the ins and outs of setting something up like a website, the traffic, the how to's, and so on. I begin researching a few things and November I put things in motion. 

I already had a crafting page set up on Facebook that only a few people were following as it was where I posted my crafts that I had made versus showering my main Facebook page with them. I'm sure many folks don't have an interest in what I make or the whys even. I began tweaking this page and brought to life my Heart to Heart Soul Creations page to encompass my vision of Crafting, Blogging, Family Genealogist and Influencer. I added the H2hsc2020 so it would be easy to find. 

As I reflect on previous blogs I've written and the why's behind them, I'm reminded of the many triumphs in life that I've had. Yet, at the same time, I'm glad there were also stumbling blocks to navigate. Like anything else, there are always lessons to learn. That's where we find our strength, our resilience, our inner fight, and our will to survive. It's also where we learn what works and what doesn't. We are people and we are all different. I'm thankful that we aren't the cookie-cutter effect. That would be very boring and mundane, to say the least. 

I am sure my writing skills aren't perfected like many in the blogging world and that's okay. We are all unique. We all have strengths and we all have weaknesses. For me, it's in those weaknesses that I become strong and where I thrive. 

At times I get frustrated with myself...not for messing up or doing the wrong things but setting the bar very high for myself. I recall as a young girl when I was told I 'couldn't' - I'd set out to prove them wrong. It was always about the choices...those life lessons, the failures, the accomplishments, the accolades. They all go hand in hand. The good, the bad, the ugly, the indifferent, it didn't matter. Experiences are where we learn how to turn those stumbling blocks into the stepping stones. If everything came easy, when would we learn? 

I find it funny that simple things are difficult, while the more challenging things come easy for me. It doesn't make sense. I always want to think outside of the box, asking the questions when others go silent on. I didn't want to do just what the job description said, I always wanted to go above and beyond. Be a team player, excel and grow. At times, this is a wonderful thing and at other times - it doesn't hurt to put self on autopilot and hold steady. Both are important and very much needed in order to be successful. There's always a learning curve. The squeezing. The uncomfortable feeling of criticism and failure. It's in those feelings though I find resolve. I press in and continue moving forward regardless of how uncomfortable things are. 

Blogging is no different. I've written from my heart. Shared crafting stories. I've talked about my journey with the ancestors through genealogy and have written about many other things, too. I've read several times that blogging can be a place of venting, inspiration, education, sharing life experiences, making others laugh and so much more. 

Taking part in the Ultimate Blog Challenge, I have had the opportunity of commenting on many other blogs and receiving comments on mine. When I read the comments left from other bloggers, I gain insight. It empowers me to continue on the journey I've set out to accomplish and at the same time, they teach me where I need to grow.

There's still many things I need to learn about blogging and in time, those things will be in place. For now, I'm going to reflect on some of the comments that have been left on my posts. 

Talking about genealogy seems to be a big hit with many people. Especially when I share vintage photos or other memories. It's interesting to me when I've said something that will jar a memory for someone else. Those are valuable lessons for a blogger. They are like the bait and hook...

Many of my crafting posts have received many positive comments. I enjoy it when I share something and someone comments that they would like to try what I've shared. That's what crafting is about - - to inspire another human being. I enjoy seeing other's creativity and if they were to try something I have shared, I'd love to be tagged in that!

Talking about life lessons is a topic that is near and dear to my heart as well. It's through those lessons that I have learned how to be who I am today. I learned a long time ago, I'm the evidence that recovery happens. I'm living it daily! I walk it, talk it, live it, 24/7. However, one must remember not to become proud. I remain humble on a daily basis. When I share my life journey with others I do so from a place of strength, hope, acceptance,  transformation, honesty, rejection, failure, learning, abandonment, my truth, loss, empowerment, inspiration, peace, brokenness, humility, and grace. It takes all of these to BECOME...

Reflection...looking at the person in the mirror staring back at me, am I happy with who I see? YES, I am! 

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