What Do You Love?

My lovely sister in law sent me an email today that really hit me to the core.  I really can not say much more than what was said in this daily devotional from Renee Swope.  My search for significance is really about "becoming the real me."   I hope you are as blessed by reading this devotion as I was and still am.   Lake Louise, AB Canada Becoming the Real Me Renee Swope

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13 (NIV)

What do you love to do? If finances were unlimited and failure was unlikely, what would be your dream?

The facilitator of our team-building activity asked our small group to answer these questions. I didn't have an answer. So I decided to start praying we'd run out of time before it got to me. But just in case I had to answer, I listened to everyone else describe their dreams, hoping to get ideas.

One wanted to be the first female president of the United States. Another friend said she'd always wanted to sing in a Christian rock band. I knew I was in trouble.

Here I was, 32-years-old at the time, and I didn't know who I was or what my dreams were. Eventually everyone looked at me for a response. I stumbled over my words. Then I finally admitted I didn't really know what I loved to do.

I didn't have a dream. I'd never taken time to think about or answer those kinds of questions. Instead, I had always tried to be who others wanted or needed me to be. But honestly, I wasn't very good at it. I often had this uneasy feeling in my heart and a sense of just not being happy. And I was a constant candidate for burn out.

I wasn't living out the truth held in our key verse today: "[God] created my inmost being; [He] knit me together in my mother's womb." (Psalm 139:13, NIV)

I was not designed to be who others expected me to be, or even wanted me to be. I was created to become all that God planned for me to be. But I was lost in the process of my becoming.

After I fumbled around looking for an answer during our team-building time, our facilitator encouraged me to ask God what His dreams were for my life.

I took her advice and started the process of becoming the "real me" who had gotten buried in the busyness of life and people pleasing.

As I read books that talked about discovering our passions, gifts and personality traits, I started to identify what I liked. I recognized strengths that came natural for me, and learned what I needed emotionally to encourage my heart.

For the first time, I realized there was an important reason I was who I was — with my passionate preferences and mixed bag of emotions. Instead of wanting to be like women I knew and admired, I sensed God wanted to use the unique way He made me.

Isn't it easy to neglect ourselves to meet the needs of everyone around us, and call it self-sacrifice? It sounds godly. But in doing so we risk shutting down a place in our soul where God's dreams and gifts are waiting to be revealed.

So, how well do you know the real you? Have you ever taken time to think about what you like to do? What would make your heart come alive if you had the confidence and resources to do it?

Although it might feel self-seeking, it's actually God-seeking to take time to get to know the woman He created you to be. Remember God had a plan in mind when He made you. When you surrender your unique passions and personality to Him, God will use them to guide you towards His dreams for your life.

Lord, I want to know the woman You had in mind when You created me. I don't want to grow old and never know Your purpose for my life. Show me Your dreams for me so I can offer what You want to give to those around me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

To get more information go here or to read directly from this website: Proverbs 31 Ministries Daily Devotions

Can you answer Renee's questions for yourself?  How well do you know the Real You?  Have you ever taken the time to think about what you like to do?  What would make your heart come alive if you had the confidence and resources to do it?

~ Selena

Favorites: AKA Guilty Pleasures

Okay, come on, you know you have them.  Those little things you do in life that you really don't want to many people to know about. Or maybe no one at all.  Those guilty pleasures, we all have them.  It's like what I am teaching my son, it's like butt cracks, everyone has one.  Yep I said it.  So I know you have some guilty pleasures.

I really don't know what I want to get out of this post.  Maybe I want to be able to confess my little obsessions, so I can be released from the torment ... oh heck no.  I want to hear about your guilty pleasures so I feel better about mine.  HA!  So I am expecting some good stuff on here.  I know, I know you are probably saying to yourself... why in the world would I want to confess my little secrets on a blog... because it is all in fun.  We can all get a little red faced together without even having a drink!   I want to first say, no judging will be had on this blog.  No shaking of the head or rolling of the eyes.  You don't judge me and I won't judge you.  Okay lets have some fun.  Cuz we all know a little fun is good medicine.  Ready, set, go... time to tell those embarrassing, lame, silly little things about ourselves.

Remember no judging....only giggling.  :-)

Prince William

I am one of those people who are fascinated by the Royals.  I loved reading and watching exclusives on Princess Diana and Prince Charles and their crazy lives.  I like watching all of the coverage on Prince William and soon to be Princess Catherine.  That lifestyle entrances me.  From my view, it looks like a fairytale.  Or maybe it is because William and Kate are around my age.  And get this, when I was younger (much younger) I dreamt that one day I would be Princess Selena.   Because you know Prince William was going to find me in the far away distant land of Indiana, sweep me up on his white steed and take me away to Windsor Castle.  Yes, you can laugh, because I am.  Guilty pleasure number one.  

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Angry Birds
 If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch you know what Angry Birds is.  If you don't, you need to know.  This is my favorite thing to do to pass the time away.  I love the sound effects the best.  The oinking of the pigs.  How they sneer and laugh at you when you didn't wipe them all out, cracks me up.  Being able to sling birds through the air is so fun!  Watch out, you may have too much fun, disregard everyone in your presence, and become addicted to this game.  

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Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen  

Is this the real life?

Is this just fantasy?
Caught in a landslide,
No escape from reality....

I see a little silhouette of a man,
Scaramouch, Scaramouch, will you do the Fandango
Thunderbolt and lightning, very, very frightening me
(Galileo) Galileo (Galileo) Galileo, Galileo Figaro...

I crank this song up every time I hear it.  Enough said.  

Merek at the Krispy Kreme Bakery

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My fourth guilty pleasure is Krispy Kremes Doughnuts

These wonderfully, sugary, heart stopping, cholesterol raising, diabetic coma inducing little pleasures are sooooo good.  And the best way to have them is right out of the oven at the Krispy Kremes bakery.  I have only had the pleasure to go to the bakery twice in my short life, but oh it was soooo mouth watering good.  

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Figure Skating.  Yes that is what I said.  Figure skating.  C'mon you can admit it.  You like to watch poetry on ice.  I watch it every Winter Olympics.  From Scott Hamilton, Kristi Yamaguchi, Brian Boitano, Sasha Cohen, Michelle Kwan and Evan Lysacek.  The graceful dance, the elaborate costumes, the amazingly difficult jumps, and who can forget the controversy.  I think it deserves a 10!  Hello?!?!?   You don't watch figure skating....I'm the only one?  Hmmmm. Shoot.

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Edward or Jacob?  

Twilight

My sixth guilty pleasure is Twilight.  Don't give me that look.  I love this series of books.  The movies do not do the books justice, but how can you make a vampire shine like little diamonds and make it look realistic.  So it doesn't upset me too much that the film industry can't get it right.  Or the fact that they leave out parts.  Most people wouldn't sit in a theatre for the length of time that they would have to make a movie with all the parts of a book. Like I said, most.  ;-)  But as serious as I can be, I love the way Twilight is written.  It brings a whole new look to vampires and fantasy.  In a non-slut-filled way.  I am addicted and I don't care what anyone says.  I hop on Stephanie Meyer's website every once in a while to see if there is anything new coming out.  I have her other book, The Host, and it is super good too!  P.S. I am on team Edward.  I didn't say team Rob, let's make that clear.  Team Edward.

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Bags

I like all kinds of bags, purses, backpacks, wallets... I could keep going.  I don't know why I am obsessed with bags??  And the irony of it all, is that I hate carrying a bag into a store.  What?  I know. I am crazy.  I just like the look of bags.  And I like to buy bags.  But I don't like to use them (all the time).  Again, what?  I try to get out of using the diaper bag for the twins each time I go into the store. It is one more thing I have to take in with me and keep track of.  But inevitably I will need something out of it, like most importantly a bottle or a diaper.  Sigh.  What is wrong with me?  :-P

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McAlister's Sweet Tea is theeeee beeeessssstttttt sweet tea ever.  period.  This yummy goodness is so incredibly sweet and addicting.  Oh and never fear, you can buy it buy the gallon.  ;-)

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I love my sleep and I do my best sleep on my Jersey Knit sheets.  It is just like wearing an old t-shirt, without the smell.  Ahhh.

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I can watch cartoons all day long.  Never mind that I have kids and they like to watch cartoon too.  We watch a lot of PBS Kids and Qubo.  But the other night I was flipping through the channels and came across the Qubo channel and they were play She-Ra!!!  Oh you are kidding me, I thought.  Then I said YES!  And I watched the whole cartoon.  She-Ra Princess of Power and defender of the Crystal Castle. 

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Ice, Ice Baby.  Hehehehe.  I know all of the words to Vanilla Ice's hit Ice, Ice Baby.  And I ain't scared to sing them.  Out loud.  Or dance to the song.  Just ask my cousins.  They can tell you.  I think Vanilla 'Selena' Ice made an appearance at their wedding.  

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Okay last two.  I know there are more, but one can only handle so much in one day.  

I like to watch Kathy Lee and Hoda,in the morning.  They are corny, they crack me up, and most of the time give some good advice.  

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Ellen

Last but not least.  Ellen.  She is HIL. AR. I. OUS.  Hilarious.  I laugh out loud at her and her crazy antics.  The funny things she makes 'stars' do, the crazy games she has her audience play, and the amazing love she shows everyone is so great.  One day I will go to the Ellen Show.  

Okay now it is your turn.  Let's hear it.  What is is your little secret pleasure(s)?  It's okay to let your hair down for just a bit to humor yourself, and me, and maybe the 3 other people that read this blog. I'm waiting...

~Selena 

Sweet Sunday: Melt My Heart

I would like to dedicate every Sunday to something short n' sweet.  Whether it is a sweet treat, a sweet word, a sweet song, a sweet picture, a sweetie pie.  Just something that I have found to be sweet.  Hopefully you can join in too!

The absolute sweetest thing I have ever heard... 

"Momma, I sure am glad that Jesus gave me to you."     ~ Author - My son.

OHHH.  Melt my heart.

Do you have something short n' sweet?