Your Authentic Self

      This week Pastor Marc spoke about David and the coat of armor that King Saul gave him to wear when confronting Goliath.  The armor was too heavy and uncomfortable so David choose to only wear his sling shot.  He was much more comfortable with just that to confront the beast.  This story then lead to a sermon about being comfortable in our own skin ~ comfortable enough to tackle this beast called LIFE, in your own skin.
     God made only ONE you.  There is no one else on the earth like you.  Live the best life you can with what you are ~ in your own skin.   Don't look to others on how or what you should be.  Don't be jealous of what others have whether it be wealth, power, beauty ......  Find the self-confidence to be comfortable in your own skin.   Being comfortable in your skin and living with authenticity is knowing precisely who you are and passionately adoring who you are.
     I read an article recently that pointed out 10 steps to being comfortable in your own skin.
1.  Get Real - Be Authentic, not for others but for yourself.
2.  Adore Yourself - You create what you what you feel you deserve
3. Trust your Wants - You have to believe that you deserve everything you want.
4.Stop trying to vanquish the Bad Stuff -Celebrate the Bad stuff because they provide us so much information.
5.Take responsibility - quit blaming others or "the system" for your circumstances.
6.Stop tolerating - change the things that you can change instead of just tolerating them
7.Get out of the Spin Cycle - Get out of autopilot
8.Permanently shift your beliefs - Changing your mind will change your life
9. Dream loudly - Don't always be so practical
10. Live passionately - Once you have uncovered your desires, hurl yourself at them
“To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Blast from the Past

The 80's Girls
Jolyn, Holly, Karin, Me, Ruthie & Julie

Yesterday I got a Facebook message from an old high school friend.  She was in town for the night and was trying to get a few old friends together for a drink.  The set time was 8:00 and if you know me, you know that's late (and it was a "school night").  I debated whether to go or not.  I hadn't seen these girls in years but it seemed so late.  I decided "What the heck" and took off to meet them.  I have to say, I had a blast!  We laughed and laughed.  We shared stories about old friends and old times and we laughed some more.  We caught up on husbands, kids and even grandkids and we laughed some more.  I am so glad that I didn't miss this wonderful opportunity!  It's nice to remember your roots and those that grew up with you!   Friends are a blessing and friendships have to be cultivated.  I am so blessed to have some wonderful friends ~new & old~ in my life!

It is one of the blessings of old friends

that you can afford to be stupid with them.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Father's Day

We celebrated Father's Day today.  Both of Bob's kids were gone but only one of my siblings didn't make for dinner this afternoon with mom and dad.

John Hugh Stolley

My dad was a hard working man.  The oldest of 10 children.  He had 5 children of his own ~ me and four brothers.   He didn't always show alot of emotion with the boys but he did with me.  I was his baby girl ~ his only girl.  Once a year was Our Day to go shopping for my mom.  Her birthday, anniversary and Christmas fall during the same week.  On Our Day we would shop and he would take me to lunch.  I always felt so special on those days.  When I was little he would always kissed me goodnight and fluffed my pillows.  As I grew older, he didn't tuck me in but I always kissed him (&mom) goodnight.  He grew roses for a time and when they were blooming I would find one in a vase on my dresser when I woke up.  When I was in high school, on National Smoke-Out Day, I got some pamphlets about quitting smoking.  I left one on his dresser with a note that said, "I hope these pamphlets mean as much to you as the roses do to me."  My dad quit that day and never picked up another cigarette!

When he became a "Papa" to Brady and Brooks, he became a marshmallow!  Those two had him wrapped around their fingers as soon as they took their first breathe!  He loves those two kids and would do anything for them!  I'm a lucky girl to have such a loving, caring, role model in my life.  My kids are lucky too!!!

Build a Bridge

Build a Bridge and Get Over It

 This was the title of Pastor Marc's sermon today.  It was the 2nd part of a 2 part series.  Last week he spoke about King David and the loss of his son and how he "got over" it.  This week he gave us real life ways to build a bridge to help get over hurt, grief and wonder whys.

Step 1:  Clear your conscience
Step 2:  Understand that Guilt and Life in Christ are in congruent
Step 3:  Understood you did the best you could - under the circumstances
Step 4:  Remember God uses us even when we are broken or messed up
Step 5:  Move beyond the anger and sense of entitlement.

Step 5 really struck a cord with me.  We were never promised a life without pain.  We must never think that we are "entitled" to have a smooth life with no bumps in the road.  Be angry but then let go of the "why me"!  I have always told Brady and Brooks that we are learning the most when things are the hardest! When things are humming right along, we are not learning as much.   Take a different look at a hard situation in your life and LEARN from it.  I hope that when they face trials and tribulations in their lives (and they will) that they will remember this!

My pray would be, that my children have unshakable trust in the endless mercy and steadfast goodness of the Lord.

22 years and still going strong!!!

22 years ago today I married my best friend!

Using the term 'best friend' doesn't sound so romantic but I think that is the most important thing that holds a marriage together!  To me, a best friend is a soft place to fall, a place of security, a place of acceptance and most of all, a place of love.  Bob is the one I want to spend time with, tell my dreams to, share my sorrows with, face the future with!

I'm sure there were those who thought it wouldn't last.  I knew it would though and I see 22+ years more in our future.  I love you Robert George Bacchus

and I am proud to be Mrs. Kimberly Bacchus!!