Hey There Beautiful Souls,
Welcome to the first issue of Beauty & Blessings for the New Year. If you missed it, I recently shared my vision for this year including a link to my 2016 manifesto (available in two colours). I have been making it a point to read it every morning and before I go to sleep. Can I tell you something? 2016 has been amazing and it’s just begun. Keep reading to see why…
Here’s wishing You a year beyond your wildest dreams, days overflowing with love and laughter, moments that reveal the miraculous, and encounters that remind you that You. Are. Love(d).
Happy Weekend!
Love,
My ONE Word. What’s Yours?
It’s Not About You and It’s All About You…
January 7th, 2016
While Ukrainians around the globe celebrated Christmas Day, I was about to take part in a miracle…only I didn’t know it.
I had stopped by the mall to see return something and I was about to leave, I decided to stop by Sephora to see if they carried a skincare line called Tata Harper. They did. While I was looking at the products, I noticed that they were offering complimentary facials! It had been a long time since I had one so I asked if there was a line up. There wasn’t. I sat down and the girl noticed my cross ring. I mentioned that I use only natural products so she used the entire Tata Harper line on me! At one point, she said to relax and she was going to give me a hand massage (I just kept saying “Thank You Jesus” in my heart as I knew this was a gift from above…I was certainly getting a facial longer than 15mins)! We chatted about various things including how it was Ukrainian Christmas and I mentioned how Drew is part Ukrainian. She said, “You will make beautiful babies.” I told her that I’d show her a photo after we were done. As we finished up, she reminded me about the photo and we ended up talking about relationships. She asked about how Drew and I met so I shared the short version of our story (including how I am severely allergic to walnuts and how when Drew was younger, he had made himself sick eating walnuts; our brothers are born on the exact same day in the exact same year, etc.). She said she was getting goose bumps listening to the story. We got on to the topic of faith (perhaps after seeing my cross ring). I told her that God has someone for her. Don’t give up. She told me that she had prayed that very morning for a sign, for Him to send her someone. I guess I was that person! She told me that when she was working on me, she just felt that she needed to do more than the 15 minute treatment so she gave me the whole works! God is so good. I told her about the 100 day challenge that begins next week, which is one day after her bday:). As I was leaving, she gave me a hug and said, “I am so happy that I met you. God is real.” On this January 7th, Ukrainian Christmas, those three words: God. Is. Real. …what an amazing Christmas gift.
I was in a place where most people put stuff on (make-up) and here I was, taking stuff off (physically and metaphorically). After her treatment, my face was glowing and my heart…it was on fire.
“The ingredients for a miracle are always in our midst. The problem is we don’t often recognize them.”-@ChristineCaine
Dear friends, miracles happen everyday. And you and I get to be a part of these very miracles. You my friend, are a miracle.
The very next morning (after the “God Is Real” incident), I opened my daily reading (“My Utmost for His Highest“) and this is what it said:
The #LIVEOUTLOUDEVERYDAY 100 Day Challenge begins next Saturday January 16th, 2016. If you or anyone you know is in the area, come join us for this special LOLE Life Class!
This Is What Love Does…
My 6-year old niece Brooklyn was reading something she had drawn in her book. I could hear her say, “I love mommy, I love daddy, I love Marilyn, I love Jillian” and then she stopped and said “what does this say?” Upon looking at her picture, my heart melted because there in front of my eyes was “I love Drew and Joann.”
…Because I(t) Can.
Who can you love on today? Who can I love on today?
Through The Lens of Love…and Gratitude.
Better Place
By: Rachel Platten
I’ll tell the world (I’ll sing a song)
It’s better place since you came along
Since you came along
Your touch is like sunlight through the trees
Your kisses are the ocean breeze
Everything’s alright, when you’re with me
[Chorus]
And I hold my favorite thing
I hold the love that you bring
But It feels like, I’ve opened my eyes again
And the colors are golden and bright again
There’s a song in my heart
I feel like I belong
It’s a better place since you came along
It’s a better place since you came along
[Verse 2]
I see the whole world in your eyes
It’s like I’ve known you all my life
We just feel so right, so I pour my heart into you hands
It’s like you really understand, you love the way I am
[Chorus]
And I hold my favorite thing
I hold the happiness you bring
But It feels like, I’ve opened my eyes again
And the colors are golden and bright again
And the sun paints the skies
And the wind sings our song
It’s a better place since you came along
It’s a better place since you came along
[Outro]
Now I’m alright, Now I’m alright
Everything’s alright
Cause It feels like, I’ve opened my eyes again
And the colors are golden and bright again
There’s a song in my heart, I feel like I belong
It’s a better place since you came along
It’s a better place since you came along
- Ladies (and Gents) Who ________: What’s Your Legacy? - May 15, 2018
- A Letter For Every Mother - April 17, 2018
- Dear Beautiful Soul… - March 28, 2018