31 + 1

Life lessons at 31, seem so different from the life lessons that you learn at 5. I think everyday I learn something new and a lesson that is for my good. Some lessons are easy to learn, however the older I get, the more I realize that lessons learned at 31 are hard. At 31, you are set in your own ways...your own time...and in your own ideals. Life at 31 taught me to trust...even when you don't want to trust. It's taught me that trusting people will often times dissapoint...and that all I need to do is trust in His voice of reason and His ways. Life at 31 taught me that time is precious...from sharing happy moments with friends, to listening to the stories of the lonely strangers on the street. That time is theirs and in those moments of grace...I have learned to be present...and to cherish their time. Life at 31 taught me that my own ideals aren't always the best. They are just simple collaborations of the chords of my heart that sound a tune I like to hear. When my ideals should sometimes be entertaining the the sound of a different tune. Life at 31 taught me that love is not a fairytale...and that often times it will come when it is least expected...and when time stands still. To throw away the ideals of perfection and to accept the heart that shines hope. Above all be willing to trust, enjoy time, and accept different ideals. I hope that in this year of 31+1; I would be granted the opportunity to shine with grace, the lessons that I have learned at 31- and remember that even when I am set in my own way...my own time...and in my own ideals...that these lessons are used to capture the sound of His ways, His time, and His ideals.

- In the world of Cinderella's -

Fairytales are the magical stories when two people fall in love and live happily ever after. Usually the prince has mastered his way into the girls heart and been captured by her beauty. I have been thinking about fairytales alot lately, and do they really exist in today's world. The hopeless romantic within me believes with all my heart...that indeed fairytales are real and yes even still come true. - - In the world of Cinderella's there's always that moment where they fall magically in love with their prince. What is it about their prince that crept into their hearts and allowed them to fall? - - I always loved the story of Cinderella when I was little. She was naturally a beautiful girl and yet day in day out she dealt with the sufferings of her awful stepsisters. She had grace towards them that always seemed so genuine though they were so unkind to her. Nevertheless, Cinderella pressed on and continued her daily tasks, always hoping that someday she would meet her prince charming. The time came and she met him and all because the glass slipper was found and placed on her foot, she was the right princess. - - Only if in this life...if love were so simple...as to finding the right slipper to fit the foot of the right person. Seems cliche to say: but that's all it takes. The right slipper may not come for the prince or the princess that one expects. - - The slipper that you hold may indeed be pretty, and the person that is to wear that slipper to the ball, may not be an exact representation of what one expects. Just like Cinderella, she would have been the last chosen one to wear that slipper. However, her prince saw the beauty of her soul. And let's not forget that Cinderella had some magical help from the fairy god mother, when she showed up to wave her wand and make Cinderella the star of the fairytale. - - At the strike of the midnight clock that would all vanish, and every peice of her beauty would fade away...leaving behind the hope for her prince to find the girl of who the slipper would fit. - - The prince was captured by her initial beauty...and wanted to find his princess, and well we all know the ending that indeed he finds his princess and the glass slipper fits. - - The truth is fairytales look much different today: and often come with alot more complications than finding the princess to fit the right slipper. Perhaps though in the day to day tasks this Cinderella will find her prince--

beautiful grace - -

Beautiful grace encompasses the heart and allows the spirit to sing. It's refreshing to see a pure soul flourish and a wondering heart find peace. The beauty of each new day abounds with a new hope. The new hope leads to the refinement of a spark. There's a flame waiting to burst and with new found glory it will ignite a fire. Such a time as this - - for the pure soul will find peace - - and peace will be the spark for the the bursting flame to ingnite - - His beautiful grace will encompass the heart -

Only by His Spirit....//

" Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord." ~ Zechariah 4:6 In recent weeks: this verse has shown up in my everyday life- and I have taken some time to reflect on this verse and how the Lord transforms our lives according to HIS will and according to what HIS Spirit desires. When life seems to be swerving and moving in a different direction that what was anticipated---we have to realize that it's not about our might or power. It truely about the Lord's will and following His spirit for our lives. The Spirit of the Lord is present in each Christian's heart, and we must use our senses to determine the Spirit of Light over Darkness. The Lord desires that each of His of children know not only Him, but His Spirit that is ever so present in all that we do and every decision we make. Thoughts: It's not by our might or power that ANYTHING is accomplished in our lives. In life we can make decisions that, yes, would lead us into success and give us a sense of power. The true way we reach any sort of success in our lives is allowing the Holy Spirit of the Lord guide our every way and determine our every decision. He is moving HIS spirit to give us the strength to feel and discern His wisdom----so that at the end--- the decisions that we make---not by might, nor power, but by HIS Spirit within us. * His Spirit is moving---we must be viligent to discern the message of HIS Spirit*

the dark hole....//

Beauty rides in the sun and awakes in the dark. Darkness takes over the sun and leaves a mysterious dim light- What did we do? Where did we go? When and how did we get there? These are often the questions asked when one deals with some sort of depression. It's as if one is a dark tunnel and can't see a hint of light at all. Pitch black- Ever been there? Ever experienced a moment of pure sadness? Sadness that has crepted into your soul and haunted you? Well let me tell you - a true/genuine story about a real girl- who fought a battle for a long time- but didn't even know she was fighting: depression. It's a good life that she leads: she has a family: ones who love her and would be there for her at any moment of the day or night. No hard trauma in her life: sure there were disappointments in every year of her life, and things that yes didn't go her way. To the person looking in : you would think: she had it all. She had success in the greatest sense of the word...she had a good job that she was often thankful for, but often times regretted she had. She had friends and family whom she often socialized with daily. Never letting on the true emotions she had inside. You see, she didn't know that what she felt was normal-- normal in the way that depression feels. This same girl: would often times cry herself to sleep and often times didn't want to get up to face each day. Each day that was a gift-- with new surprises and opportunities for her to embrace. She was so far in a dark, destrought hole of her own disappointments that she couldn't find strength to embrace her own life. Sure, she lived her own life, had her own success, and held it all together for those she loved, but didn't feel the worth of herself within her own heart...that it took only moments for those who met her to experience. This same girl: helped others who had much of same problem as she did, however the words she spoke as encouragement, that she so beleived for those people: She didn't believe those same words for her ownself. One day this girl woke up and said: it's a new dawn, it's a new day, and it's a new life for me! She went thru much counseling and support at this time in her life- to get to that point---a few months and several doses of some good medication-- may have helped her....but nonetheless she got the point- She got who she was- where she wanted to go- who she wanted to be-- and most of all what she wanted her own life to reflect. This journey was one of the darkest and most lonely paths she had ever walked. She walked it faithfully- didn't even know she was battling the same thing as most of those around her- and yet was able to help and inspire some great people to achieve some grand goals in their own lives. That was truthfully the grace and mercy of the Lord working thru her spirit! Cause what her Spirit felt--- couldn't have possibly helped those people. As this girl began to understand her battle of depression: she realized that there was a greater story behind it all: her story: the story of her life-- the story that would touch and help others-- by an experience that she could barely work thru on her own terms. She realized that though she had dealt with very dark and dreary days: there was light to be seen, life to be lived, love to be felt, and joy to be embraced. This girl found the joy and the happiness that she had daily experienced at one point in her life- but had been so struck by the dark...that she had forgotten what it was like to see light! To live life, to embrace moments, to feel and accept love, and most of all to express the true joy of her soul. My friends and family: this story is me! One usually can't just sit down and express their feelings so blatenly- but I can tell you- this girl can- and this girl will- This girl wants others to embrace who they are, and be able to exprience the life that they are meant to lead...thru joy, and happiness. The true/ genuine feeling of joy and happiness comes no other way but thru the Grace and Mercy of our Lord- There is a pure sense of life when one sees the light for the very first time after being in the very dark hole of depression. If you haven't experienced depression at some point in your life: you are very blessed individual! And to those who have: know exactly what I am talking about! And to those who I hope don't have to walk that road, but might end up there- and not even know it, like I did, it is my hope and prayer that you make it out---by striving and knowing that you will indeed see the light again! For you will-- and when you do-- Grace and Mercy will take you by each hand and pull you out of the dark and treacherous hole! Keep walking and may the experience of dark hole of depression, lead you to the greatest light that shines hope, faith and love in your life! For the beauty of life is where the sun shines out of the dark! Blessings to each of you who I have read thus far! :)

the heart of me

As of late, I have taken a break from writing on this blog and have tapped into other interests. I have a new found joy for writing in my little green book of important sayings or blessings that occur to me throughout the day. This has been an uplifting encouragement and allowed my attitude to flourish throughout each day. It has allowed to be in the moment with those around me and allowed me the opportunity to experience the blessings of the people and friendships that surround me to be more evident and given me the grace to embrace each moment. When I was in high school: I used to write sayings down that people would say and I would tell them, how that phrase would go down in Kimberly's book of Knowledge- That book has yet to come into existence, however, I found myself recently formulating brilliant conversations and intertwining the blessings of everyday life to write a book of encouragement. Now every writer has her or his muse. Lately my muse, has been found within discovering the heart of me- In recent months, I began formulating a mission statement: I hesitate to share this: as I fail to live it out daily: however, I feel that in discovering more about the heart of me: I had to go to the root who I am, what I beleive, and what I want to accomplish in this life. So I share this mission statement in hopes to inspire someone and begin a new adventure of fully striving to live this out on a daily basis: This statement has been a work in progress for several months, and I feel confident that though it may take me a lifetime to successfully accomplish the goals outlined within this statment: it is my purpose: in which I find great fulfillment in embracing each day with grace- ***** -to seek adventure- to capture the present moments as gifts from above- to evaluate myself- to inspire and illuminate the souls of the ones who cross my path- to grow and embrace the gift of grace- all for his glory to shine- *****