Living Life To The Fullest
This is something I have been contemplating for a little bit.
I love writing and sharing my thoughts, feelings, opinions and truths on here….
However there is something more to presence, tone, and energy. And I wonder if that’s another layer I could bring with videos.
It feels more personable, like a real conversation.
Anyone have any advice or tips?
Pay attention to everything. Everything around you holds a voice, each with a story it longs to tell.
Listen deeply. Seek out the story in all things. Ask questions, pray, ponder, and meditate. The clarity you find will be surprising; even things you never noticed as unclear may come into sharper focus.
As you evolve and develop, understanding grows too—illuminating the past and offering glimpses into the future. But true sight isn’t achieved alone.
Seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door will be opened. God stands ready, always waiting for your call.
May I add to not be afraid of the answers that come your way. Trust that each revelation is here to liberate you, peeling back layers of uncertainty to reveal a hidden, beautifully defined path. Waiting…..just for you.
Every answer you uncover is a step toward clarity, helping you to see beyond the noise and confusion.
Let go of fear and allow the truth to guide you, knowing that, with each insight, you’re stepping closer to the person you are meant to be and the purpose you are here to fulfill.
I’m still in shock.
I’m currently recovery at home and it’s been about 4 days now since my surgery.
I will write another blog soon letting you all know what went down but I may not post for a while because I really need to focus on my healing.
Or a few of my posts going forward for a bit may be recovery and healing related.
One thing for sure I am incredibly grateful to be here. This was very sudden and completely unexpected. I have been overwhelmed by love from family and friends.
God truly carried me through this from the beginning and my trust is completely in Him.
I got home yesterday from the hospital (today is Saturday and this all went down on Tuesday) and being able to hold my children and stroke their hair and give them kisses is something I am not taking for granted.
I have learned so much from this experience and how much more eager I am to help and heal people!
Remember my friends, it truly is the littlest things that leave such powerful impacts.
Examples would be:
God bless all of you, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for being here.
Marie
When is the right time?
I don’t know what you’re going through, but maybe this blog can resonate in some way.
In some cases there is no “right time”. You just go, and trust it will work out or that you will figure it out.
However in some cases there is such thing as a right time. But it takes work to identify. There are cues and signs, you have to pay attention.
Have you ever gardened before? Or maybe grown a fruit tree? Let’s take a lemon tree for example, before they turn yellow and are ready to pick they are small, hard, and green. Picking a premature lemon robs it of its process. It cannot grow anymore once it’s picked from its tree.
You have to be patience and wait until the right time. When they are brightly yellow, they are ready and it’s time.
So some things do have a right time and trying to fasten things up is impossible. This lesson of a lemon tree can apply to many things. Learning to trust yourself is being able to identify the cues if something is ready or not.
Trusting your timing is so important in whatever your journey is. Deep down you can feel when something is right or not.
Understand that some things can be a go for it now type thing. But if there’s something you’re waiting for, well, you may have to wait a little bit longer. But that is okay, it’s more than okay.
Life is on your side always, no matter what. It will all work out as it always does.
I don’t even feel like I have green lemons yet on my tree. Right now my tree is barely sprouting. 😉
Lots of love,
Marie
Good morning my beautiful readers, how are you all doing?
I’m still here, and I am sorry that I have not shared anything in quite some time. To be honest I’ve just been very busy and this blog hasn’t been a priority at the moment.
I have 4 kids in case you didn’t know. An 8 year old, a 7 year old, a 4 year old, and a 1 year old. I’m a busy mama. And no, we didn’t just boom boom and decide to have kids back to back. Two of them are biological and two are adopted.
I know I don’t have to share that at all but I want those who read this to really understand. I like to joke that I got the “have a baby get one free deal” because that’s exactly what happened.
We actually just adopted my son (the one year old) in January. So thankful that that has been finalized.
I like to consider myself an open book so if you ever read any of my posts and would like clarification on anything don’t ever hesitate to ask me. We are friends on here I like to think.
Anyways, I’ve been busy. But it’s been a good busy.
I’m going to make an effort to release all that I’ve been absorbing and share it with you all.
I’m getting back into reading and I’ve already gained so much new insight! I love it!
Thank you my readers for taking the time to read what I share.
There’s something so intimate and comforting about being in the blogging community.
Lots of love, always
– Marie
The Wild Gems
I turned 34 this past Thursday, July 13th. The best day ever. Just kidding lol.
I actually had a really great day! My husband taking the day off for me was the best thing of all! He either took it off for me or low key took it off because he wanted to do the ghost ship obstacle course at the community pool. Either way, I had him!
We had a family breakfast at First Watch that my dad and step mom paid for. Which was delish! Ordered it up!
After that we came home and relaxed. I took a birthday selfie. Then we got ready for the pool. We spent almost 4 hours swimming. It was so much fun!!! My father in law came to help with the kids and my husband and I got to do the obstacle course at the pool by ourselves. We felt like kids again.
Once we were done swimming we all got in and out milkshakes and they all sang happy birthday to me. It was too cute. My daughters said happy birthday to me countless times followed by how much they love me. Couldn’t get enough of it. A nice break from, “you’re mean mommy!” Haha.
When we finally got home we just relaxed and my hubs took the kids to the neighbors and gave me some time to myself. He’s the best ever!
The next day a girlfriend of mine took me on a dinner date and we splurged at The Cheesecake Factory. The bang bang chicken and shrimp is BOMB. Curry and coconut flavors! So yummy!!
Ended with classic cheesecake.
I am so blessed. I am so thankful. I am so grateful. Spending my birthday with my family is the best gift I could ever receive.
Thank you Creator of the Universe.
Who do you spend the most time with?
In this season of my life my kids are who I am spending most of my time with, if not almost all of it. Two seven years olds, an almost 4 year old, and a 1 year old.
Yes, it can be overwhelming at times but it’s also always a party as my toddler says. “Mom it’s like a party here!” We have a lot of fun and so many priceless moments. They are my teachers.
I knew before I even had kids that when I had kids I was going to become a stay at home mom. I wanted to marry someone who really understood that this is what I wanted. I had my own personal reasons for wanting motherhood so badly but I also knew being a mother was a very important role. When I actually had kids I realized how truly IMPORTANT this role was.
I am shaping my children everyday. I influence them, and then they influence others, and then in a way I am responsible for the others that they influence. It can feel like a lot of pressure at times. Being conscious that you are shaping the world. You really want to make sure you’re doing it in a positive way.
Our time on earth is not promised. And my children already have this awareness about death. I remind them how precious every day of life is, that it is a gift to be here. And to not be afraid, to trust our Great Creator. When they get upset about something they are quick to brush it off and not allow something so insignificant to steal their time.
I’m so proud of my children. I love watching them grow and learn and be silly. I pray for them. Awhile back I watched something or saw something about a mother who lost her child. It just crushed me. And the mother said, “Pray for your children, just pray for them.” So I pray for them and I always think of that mother and the many other mothers who have experienced such a tragedy.
This cherished time that I get to spend with my children is not just for me. It’s for others too.
Have you ever been camping?
This is a funny question to me. I can’t help but smirk. A flood of camping memories come to mind.
Have you ever been camping is like asking me do you drink water? What kind of question is this!
Camping has always been apart of my life. Since I was a kid! Camping with family in Alaska, girls camp in cabins, and does sleeping in your backyard count? Sure it does, why not!
But the love for camping especially grew when my husband and I began dating and through our early twenties. Not everyone has the camping streak in them but with us, we loved it. And we still do.
Him and I would camp in tents and sometimes in his Dads little beat up Van. One of our favorite places to camp is at a place called ‘Eagle Creek’ in Arizona. It’s like a hole in the wall, only a few know of this hidden oasis. Lush trees, beautiful rivers. No RVS, no bathrooms, no service, it’s strait camping over there. Incredibly peaceful and serene and just so much fun every time. My husband has been camping there since he was a kid and I feel so incredibly special that he shared this special place with me and now we share it with our children.
However we have amped our camping lifestyle since then. I guess we are kinda like “glampers” now. We have an RV that we love and it’s much easier to camp RV style when you have kids. We enjoy the luxury and comfort that comes with this home on wheels. It really has become a second home.
With the camper we camp at the lake, the beaches in Mexico, the sand dunes, and sometimes just in the Mountains behind our home.
So yes, I’ve been camping. And I love it.
There’s a book I just began reading called, “A Child Of The Native Race.” A story of woman who was born to an Indian family but taken away at 18 months old and raised by a white family. It’s a story of returning to her roots.
In her dedication the author Sandy White Hawk says this,
“
Even if we came into this world in the worst of circumstances.
We are not that circumstance; we were sacred when we were born
separate from the hardship that surrounded us.
Our life is good and has a purpose.”
“
This quote above really resonated with me in such a way. I don’t know that I can fully put into words.
It resonated with me because of my own adoption story and discovering my roots and finding my biological family. And it resonated because of my daughter, and her adoption story.
And currently, we are fostering my nephew, who we plan on adopting.
It is sad? The circumstance? In a way, yes, yes it is. And that should be acknowledged. But it is also a gift as well in it’s own way. And the gift may not be recognized until many years later (I can testify to that). This quote above affirms what I already know. That each of us are sacred, no matter how we entered this world. No matter the circumstance in which we are born into.
When we enter into this world we couldn’t be anymore pure. Each of us, first born, are so full of life, curiousity, adventure. It is the world, the pressures, the fears, the power and greed that work to steal us away from who we are. We become confused, afraid, and we feed ourselves lies.
Listen to me….
We are sacred gifts. We are miracles. We are love. You must never forget that. Never forget how significant you are. Never doubt your capabilities. You are chosen. That is the truth.
Forgive others. Forgive yourself.
Many of us DO enter this world through challenging circumstances. But how we come into this place does not define who we are. We are still chosen to be here, despite the troubles that may surround us. And we will find our way.
Lean not on your own understanding.
Live your days recognizing the gifts that surround you. Remind others that they are treasure. Help others to see how remarkable they are. We are never alone on our journey.
Discussing and sharing is healing and it’s connecting.
Lots of love always.
– m.g.
You’ve probably heard someone say once or twice before, God is good. And how would you define that phrase?
I feel like I’ve had some type of revelation and I’m excited to share it. God is good.
In the past whenever I would hear that phrase I would repeat to myself, God is good. But then think, what does that even really mean?
How do we interpret that? Well for one, we can look around at nature and be astonished.
Like, are you aware of what an octopus can do! It’s pretty spectacular. That in itself points to an incredible creator.
But God also reveals his work and skills in tribals and in times of distraught.
Let me share a little story that just took place a couple of days ago. A story of my daughter getting some deep splinters and what unraveled into a spiritual lesson.
At our house we have a little wood deck that my husband actually made. Picture a yard of turf, then you can two steps onto this wood deck that bridges to a giant sand pit.
Our daughters have so much fun in our backyard. Tons of laughing and imagination. My husband and myself always say how much we love just watching our children play. It’s truly a blessing.
Well one late afternoon the girls and I had just got back from picking up a half pepperoni and half cheese pizza. The girls raced to the trampoline to play with the puppies that we just recently got (2 border collie pups, too cute. But they chew on everything!) I shouted to come inside to eat and then………
Then, I hear screaming. I look out the window and my 3 year old is sitting on the wood deck, head down, crying hysterically. Echoing through out the neighborhood. My other daughter is shouting, “‘mom! She has a splinter!” I knew it was bad. This wasn’t the first time that this type of situation has happened.
I had just sat down too and taken two bites out of my pizza. I thought of course, this is parent life. I walk over to the deck nonchalantly (I’ve learned it’s best to not react too much when they’re in distress. Makes it way worse) and look at her foot. I see it and think, shit.
There’s 2 splinters that are deep in her foot. These won’t be easy to pull out with just tweezers, she’s going to need “surgery”. I call my husband and tell him what happened. Luckily he was already on his way home from work. He tells me to soak her foot in water. I take her to the bathtub.
That was a struggle as you can imagine with a 3 year old. Although it quickly became a party in the bathroom. Her sisters were there fully supporting her. One is feeding her pizza while the other is making her laugh with silly gestures. Her foot is soaking in the water, she’s got a lollipop in her hand, a “bravery” light up watch/bracelet, and her unicorn baby doll. At this point she’s calmed down a little.
Then dad gets home.
She begins to cry hysterically all over again which I totally understand. It’s like when someone asks, “are you okay?” when you’re totally not and you begin to uncontrollably cry. We’ve all been there right?
My husband looks at her foot and with no hesitation but complete confidence says, “I can get those out.” In my head I’m thinking, ummm are you sure, did ya see her foot, and I even suggest urgent care. I reiterate that they are deep and I don’t know if he can do it. My confidence in him is slim.
He says, we’ll wait till she’s asleep. Or we can leave it and let her body reject it. I wasn’t for the latter, I wanted those wood pieces out of her tiny little foot. Splinters can be painful! We all know this.
She quickly falls asleep, I’m sure to the exhaustion of crying. My husband gets all prepped up for “surgery”. I say that with a sense of humor. Our daughter rests on our bed. I give him his space while checking periodically on the both of them.
In this inconvenient moment I think about how amazing my husband is and I think about what a great dad he is too. This is when God comes to mind and the spiritual message enters.
In this moment my husband revealed to me once again what he’s capable of. I saw him in a different light caring for our daughter, coming to her rescue, and even our other daughters took notice watching their daddy take care of their baby sister. As one of my daughters watches from afar she says, “Daddy’s my hero”.
I believe God works and reveals Himself in similar ways. How would we know how great God was if it wasn’t for the hard times. How could God show us what He’s actually capable of doing if it weren’t for those muddy waters that we get caught in? It’s in these times of fear and pain and discomfort that God steps in and says, “I got you, wait till you see how I’m going to heal you and make this better again.”
Do we trust God? Let’s be honest, not always. Like my 3 year old daughter with splinters in her foot, instead of surrendering her foot and letting us help her she held her foot close to her and kept it restricted. We had to wait till she was asleep before we could even touch it!
It’s these moments, which can be unbearable moments that actually bring us closer to God. He reveals different sides that we never knew. We learn more of Gods capabilities, powers, and healing through these moments.
My daughter getting those splinters sucked. But because of those stubborn/painful splinters I got to witness my husband caring for our daughter. So gently he took those out of her foot without her barley even noticing. My daughters watching from afar developed a new level of trust in their Daddy.
I do believe God works like this. And you know what? Yeah, God IS good. He takes unfortunate events and uses them to bring us closer to Him. God reveals that He can remove “splinters” and more. He can make those pains better. And sometimes like my 3 year old, we don’t surrender to Him. But it doesn’t even matter. He’s going to take care of us anyway.
If you want to recognize how God has been good in your life think for a moment of some difficult times. And think about the good that came from those times.
Read between the lines of your life and you’ll see and you’ll know how present God is.
Would love to hear how God has worked in your life or would love to hear a simple moment turned spiritual.
Thank you for reading! 🙂
The Wild Gems 