Sometimes we just need a little encouragement and inspiration, and flowers are full of both.













Have a wonderful day, and buy yourself some flowers.
Xo m.g.
Living Life To The Fullest
Sometimes we just need a little encouragement and inspiration, and flowers are full of both.













Have a wonderful day, and buy yourself some flowers.
Xo m.g.

Yesterday morning we sat down at the dining table that is covered in scratches and memories with a black and white notepad and a blue R.S.V.P. pen and we discussed and wrote down our reflections for the year. I was originally going to do this personally but then I thought it would be super fun and interesting to listen to my daughters answers on these specific questions. I also felt it would be some overall good bonding time.
It was an opportunity to really recognize our accomplishments and things that we each want to work on.
It was very humorous listening to their responses. They each listened to each other and we giggled about things that we actually forgot until we were encouraged to remember. Now that we have finished our reflections I think we’ll look at some photos from this year and begin our 2023 visions.
– love from TheWildGems

Side story:
I never use to drink coffee, really. I was just never that much into it. Maybe so often I’d get myself a mocha frap or a caramel frap, but that’s about it. (Can’t really drink those now if I’m being honest, way too sweet for me.)
It’s hard to believe now that I actually functioned without basic coffee. But I have been drinking coffee now for over 10 years, maybe 15! As you get older things become like a mirror after a hot shower.
But coffee has become my hug in a mug every day! So soothing and comforting. It’s like watching snow fall, but better.
If I’m feeling spontaneous I’ll add whip cream on top with some cinnamon. I’ll even wake up an hour early for this shit before my kids wake up so I can close my eyes, savor every sip, and not have to constantly nuke it up in the microwave. This is my adulthood.
My husband, who was my boyfriend at the time would drink coffee every single morning with his favorite hazelnut creamer (he’s been drinking coffee for YEARS) Whenever he would make his coffee it smelled so satisfying. I couldn’t help but request a few sips and indulge in the goodness. And he would share. He did love me apparently.
Well, over time my sips slowly morphed into me inhaling almost all his coffee every time. Where eventually he began making me my own cup of coffee along with his. I think he was done sharing with me. He had to flip the switch. I don’t blame him at all.
Anyways, it’s became our morning thing with him and I. And still is our morning thing. Every. Morning. I just cherish this thing that is ours.
And well, ladies and gentlemen…that is how this coffee lover/addict/enthusiast was born. Thanks for reading my little coffee story.
Now who wants some coffee? Because I for sure do.
– mg
Comment your favorite!




















“For the Lord is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold
From those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!”
Psalm 84: 11-12
Do you ever think about what would happen if the sun were to just disappear, vanish, be gone!
Have you ever asked yourself what really does the sun provide to us? What’s it’s purpose and how do we, and life benefit from it?
Well, one thing for certain without the sun we wouldn’t even be able to exist and earth would completely freeze over if the sun were to disappear. Life would very well come to an end.
The sun is essential to life. Nature knows that but do we? How many of us take our sun for granted and rarely acknowledge it’s importance.
The sun is earths guardian and giver. The same way the Lord, God, is ours.
To trust in our Lord is to trust in God, and those who seek God know that he is essential. He is the provider and giver of our lives. He remains very present and so many of us take our God for granted and do not know of His importance.
May we continue to reach for God the way nature reaches for the sun.
An example of nature reaching for the sun is take a plant inside your home and you will notice that it will always lean and grow towards where the sun is shining. Even if you turn the plant, it will change direction and always follow the sun.
The next time you go outside with the sun shining bright take a moment of gratitude and be reminded that we have our own sun providing, protecting, and giving us life. To each and every one of us.
“For the Lord is a sun and shield”
Amen.
Dear Readers,
I’m going to create a category called “dear readers” where I can be transparent and raw with my feelings and experiences for a moment. A way to release all that does not serve me in a positive way. I would like to reveal a vulnerable side of myself to better connect with all that follow this blog.
But as well, I would like to write these to share with my children one day.
I’ve reached a point where I desperately need to express and empty in writing all these unresolved emotions and “traumas” that I have been carrying for many years. I do not wish to past these to my children. But I hope to gain solutions and euphonies to help them when they face these obstacles one day.
I’m not really into your typical therapy. Talking about it can only do so much for me. Writing and reading are my therapy. I have to write it all down. I have think about it. I have to soak myself in emotion and words and allow myself to shiver.
It’s a puzzle that I know only I can truly solve.
Since childhood writing has always been a therapeutic tool for me. A way to strip the emotional pain or negative emotions from myself.
It’s always been a processing tactic for me. The only thing was, I would write it all down and then just completely ignore what I wrote. Well I’m older now and instead of ignoring the problems after I write I’m digging deeper for discoveries to better myself.
Writing was the release…..but as my love for reading has grown I also know how reading others writings can encourage and help others. Which is why I decide to share and write what I do on this blog.
My mom was in an abusive relationship during a good chunk of my childhood. Lots of screaming and crying behind closed doors. And I would hear her get thrown around often behind those closed doors. I know they didn’t want to fight in front of us, but our ears provided plenty of visuals.
This could be where my love for writing stemmed from honestly. I would write as they would be fighting. Expressing my hate for my stepdad. I would write prayers for help. It was all so sad really. The most vivid memories of this are from ages 9, maybe 8 to 14.
I know it was sad because there was a moment where I sat down (I’m thinking early 20s) and read those old childhood journals and it disturbed me so much that I didn’t want to remember any of those memories ever again. So I destroyed those journals.
But just because the words are destroyed doesn’t mean the actual memories are erased. My body still remembers.
Being much older now and developing a more sense of self I regret destroying those time capsules. Because now I’m really trying to heal myself to be a better mother to my children and those journals were like a cheat sheet to healing.
And now it’s like playing a guessing game. Something will trigger me and I’m sitting there left and confused, pondering it all day.
Truth be told I thought I was completely fine and “happy”. It wasn’t until I had children that all my repressed emotions began to expose themselves like weeds during a rainy season.
There’s a great part of me that sometimes feels overwhelmed, like now for example. Where I have to sit in a puddle of feels and just think about it.
It’s like, thinking you aced a test and then getting your test back and seeing that you failed. Sometimes I feel/think like “I’m healed, I’m good. I’m past it all.” I think that I can officially move forward and then I’ll have a humbling moment (usually provided to me by my kids) and I’m left dumbfounded. I’ve been shown that my emotions from my past are still greatly controlling me. That the work is definitely not complete.
It’s extremely frustrating. Parenting. Having “screw up” moments is really hard. Putting your tail between your legs in front of your children is super hard.
You want to be the best mother for your children however life shows you that you’re still a child yourself and that you’ve got lots of growing to still do.
Anyways, today I share and tell and I’m looking forward to sharing more.
Lots of love always,
m.g.
Servings: 12 sliders
What You Need:
For the Sliders
1 pack of Kings Hawaiian sweet rolls (12 rolls)
1 jar (8oz) of Classico Basil Pesto
12 slices of Turkey deli meat (I used Hillshire Farm Ultra Thin)
12 slices of salami or 24 pieces of snack sized salami (2 snack size on each slider if you use those)
12 slices of mozzarella cheese or a few handfuls of shredded mozzarella cheese
For The Butter Spread
1/4 cup of unsalted butter melted
1/2 – 1 teaspoon of raw honey
A dash of garlic powder
Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 375 and lightly butter a 9×13 glass dish.
2. Place the bottoms of the rolls into the glass dish and layer with 1/2 of the jarred pesto, turkey meat, salami, and cheese. Spread the remaining pesto on the bottoms of the tops of the sweet rolls. Press down rolls to secure.
3. Brush the rolls evenly with the melted honey butter leaving just a little to spare for when the rolls are done.
4. Cover baking dish with foil and bake at 375 for 10 mins. Remove foil and bake for an additional 10 to 12 minutes or until cheese is melted and tops are golden.
5. Brush rolls once more lightly with the butter and enjoy!


Encouragement is defined as, “the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.”
Encouraging another human being doesn’t cost a thing but it gives them more than anything. It can be life changing for some!
A small act of encouragement pushes people, gives them strength, reassures them, gives them something to hold onto and maybe even fight for…..especially during challenging and sorrowful times.
Even a smile is an act of encouragement.
Don’t fall into the common trap of belittling yourself and your capabilities. You are power.
You can save lives and you DO save lives. You may not know exactly how, but does that really matter? You influence others more than you know. That’s something to think about.
Who knows what doors you have opened for others.
Know in your heart you make a difference. Pass on the love, pass on the encouragement, pass on the hope. The world needs it.
The world needs you.
– m.g.
“The Police Officers Wife”
The wife holds his face and kisses him softly
She clings to him like a child, afraid to let go
Her eyes whisper—be careful
Watching him drive into the unknown her heart begins to sink
Drowning in her fears for just a moment she begins to pray
Allowing her faith to shield and protect her
The world doesn’t know the weight he carries
The world doesn’t know about the sorrow that lingers
The world doesn’t know what his eyes have seen or the anchor of pain that can’t be lifted
The world doesn’t know about the evil that lurks
The world just doesn’t know
He walks through the door and she hides her self, not wanting to be caught just yet
Closing her eyes in gratitude, Thanking God, loosening the chains of anxiety
She must be strong
But waves of pain still erupt as she holds her husband close
She knows there’s another wife, hanging by a thread, waiting….
Waiting for him to walk through the door
Waiting to collapse in those arms
Waiting to take a breathe of relief
Waiting to hear—I’m almost home
She’s waiting
Tears begin to fill her eyes
Her heart begins to choke
Gasping for air as in a dream when you can’t scream
She buries her head in her hands hanging onto to hope
She knew what she became apart of
She knew the sacrifices
She knew what doors could open
She knew what doors could close
She knew
She was a wife, that stood by her Husband who held the weight of the badge
Always supporting, always loving, helping with that weight of the badge as best as she could
The world just didn’t know
💙
THANK YOU to all those that serve, protect, and do what’s right.
– m.g.
“I WILL bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.”
Psalm 34: 1-2
We are surrounded by creation. We marvel at nature and it’s intricate details but sometimes fail to acknowledge the creator of it all.
How we are all so connected and dependent on one another. Creating some type of mysterious puzzle. May our eyes begin to see.
To even be apart of this creation is miraculous. To be conscious of it all is worth praising. We must give gratitude daily. What a gift every moment is.
Acknowledge this plan, pray without ceasing, notice even the smallest of details, and there are many. Hope is alive.
As plants reach and point to the sun, life points to something bigger than ourselves. Thank God for our senses to allow us to fully engulf what God has made for us to enjoy!
Such a power, such a gift, that our God wants to share with us, because He loves us! As a parent loves their child, you are loved very much.
But yet, we forget how amazing the details are. We chase the world. Our attention goes towards greed and power, constantly looking to satisfy what we think we need. We crave control and have a difficult time surrendering to our creator. The flesh is strong, but the spirit is stronger. This I believe. We must never loose sight of the important things in life.
God can be found in all things. But we must eagerly seek. Stay curious like a child.
Thanks to our Lord, who has provided such a path to draw us to our Heavenly Father. Who has given each of us life. We shall praise, and acknowledge daily. Turn from our ways and follow his.
What You Need:
Paper straws
Red and pink tissue paper
Glue
Glitter
Cardboard cut into heart shapes (I used a heart cookie cutter to trace on the cardboard)
Steps:
1. Start by cutting tissue paper into small squares. Have your kids scrunch them up really good.
2. Next allow them to glue their scrunched up tissue paper to the cardboard hearts. Once glued they resemble little roses
3. Have some fun with glitter. Make a heart shape on the back or whatever! Get creative!
4. Hot glue gun your paper straw to the heart.
Cute and simple! It can be a wand or place then all in a mason jar and now it looks like a small bouquet of hearts.

