What is Your Message?

Keep adding to your bucket!

You may have heard about this before, but just in case, here's a review. In 2007 Hollywood produced the movie, The Bucket List, which was all at once humorous and insightful. Complete strangers asked themselves if they had accomplished all they wanted to in life before it was too late. They decided they needed a list of things to do that they had never gotten around to doing. This whole concept became very popular for many of us!

Now that we are on the way to reinventing our lives exactly the way we want, we encourage you to start a list of your own. It can be serious, silly, or simple. It might be something you've done before but not in a very long time. Or it might be daring and adventurous (safety first though!). These might seem ridiculous to family and friends. But all that counts is this list is real and important to you--no one else. While you are thinking, let's have some fun.  

Top 9 FSM Bucket Gems

1. Dress up and go out on a Wednesday afternoon for no particular reason.
2. Pick pumpkins at a local family farm. 
3. Paint a piece of furniture poppy pink (try chalk paint, it's easy!)
4. Put on some dance music when it's too quiet.
5. Send yourself flowers.
6. Find two other single-again friends and take a class together.
7. Sleep in the middle of the bed.
8. Eat dessert first before a meal.
9. Save up and buy a beautiful gemstone ring on Valentine's Day.

There are a million more things you can do. Keep thinking and you could create categories of bucket lists for yourself: a Bucket List for. . . home, career, health, travel, kids, budget, adventure, etc etc. You've got the idea. Keep the momentum going! 

Tip of the Day

Speaking of lists we need to get going, a very important one not to skip would be a journal-type list (that means you start it and then keep it going!) Although this one is private and confidential, you'll see it's necessary and meaningful to our lives. 

How many of us wish we could be closer to having a relationship with God? Maybe we have not ever asked the Lord into our lives. Or maybe we have asked Him, but then never continued the journey with Him.

So we need a relationship bucket list as a starting point. This would be a continuous journal entry to add items daily, or weekly, or when ever you need to speak to Him. Here's three items to get started

1. If I haven't already, I need Jesus in my life. Just ask Him.

2. I need a Christian Bible to find out what God wants for me. 

3. We have all sinned, so now is the time to ask Jesus for forgiveness.

For "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" (Romans 10:13 NLT).

"If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9 NLT).

 

Smiles Are Contagious, Be A Carrier

Happiness comes to everyone eventually!

We can really only laugh about life. That unavoidable season we love to hate is called aging. And yes, it's a real eye-opener when we realize we're old enough for our savings to start paying off!

Survival, mid-life or otherwise, will only come with a good measure of laughter! We all know that no one on this planet has yet been able to stop time, banish the wrinkles, and lift enough skin to make us look 23 again. But people keep trying! 

So, the better choice is to have a sense of humor, because it happens to everyone eventually.

Enjoy a smile with these unexpected blessings about maturity:
1. We can have "lights out" before our college kids even leave on a date.
2. Karaoke is our favorite music with words.
3. We can eat breakfast for dinner and lunch for breakfast.
4. Our grandkids are shocked if we know the identity of One Direction.
5. A good party begins at 7pm and ends at 10pm.

See how many more you can add to this fun list!

It wasn't so long ago that age was honored as one who had gained wisdom through life experiences. Of course, we didn't reach each decade without ever knowing anything, regardless of what the Post-Millennial generation, aka iGeneration, thinks (apparently, those are necessary descriptions since we ran out of the alphabet with the X, Y, and Z Generations). You're still smiling, right?

Tip of the Day

What do you imagine God thinks about all this self-admiration? Quite a lot, matter of fact. One only needs to read the Old Testament to see that vanity isn't just a modern problem. It began way, way back in the Garden of Eden and continued right along into the New Testament and has now caught up to this century.

Among God's descriptions of a wise person, He uses the words humble and understanding, one who invites counsel, and one who fears (respects) the Lord. He is serious about this aging thing!

No matter what our age, from 20s to 40s to 60s and beyond, we can welcome the fact that we belong to Him who IS wisdom. The good news: we can work towards that beautiful goal and help each other along the way, sisters! Heaven waits.

"Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God" 1 Peter 3:3-4 NLT.

What Makes You Comfortable?

Lavendar = Comfort

What is your favorite means of comfort? For many, it is the luxurious, fragrant, deep, warm water of a bath to soak in for hours, especially after a stressful day. A cozy bed with lots of blankets and clean sheets in a cool room can put some (uh-hum, I think I qualify) into deep, relaxing sleep.

To make it even better, my earplugs and a sleep mask are heavenly! Or as the candy companies already know, chocolate is a definite favorite, melting in our mouths. Ice cream too! There are thousands of ways to feel comfort. Some are good and some are detrimental to our health.

As single-again women, sometimes it's difficult to find the comfort and affection we need and long for regularly. So what positive things can we do about it? First, let's stop and remember, we have a brand new life now. It will not be the same as in the past. And that's not always a bad thing, ladies! It's been said that many women are lonelier within their marriages than when they divorce. Huh? Yes, there is a difference between being lonely and being alone. One is positive and one is negative. You know which one is which.

So let's get creative and find what will make us comfortable. Start with our home. Does it need an uplifting, fun color on the walls of some rooms? How about in your bedroom? It's usually suggested to stick with calm, neutral colors or pastels, especially blue. Definitely not bright eye-blinding colors unless you want to stay up all night with the owls. The furniture could be the next thing. Like a deep, comfy sofa that "hugs" you. Yes, yes, I know there are those of you who love leather. I would have to decline on that choice as it is cold in the winter and sweaty hot in the summer. Torture in my book, but heh, smile, it's your choice. Have fun with it all!

Tip of the Day

Aside from all that revamping of your surroundings, which is important, how about the actual physical side? Of course, if you choose, there is dating on the horizon, but I won't get into that since I am definitely not a psychologist. Except to say simply, take care of yourself. You are precious in God's sight, and He loves you. You know what I mean.

I am suggesting you surround yourself with friends and family. People who support your decisions and are not stingy with hugs. Friends who will be there when you are having a bad night to hold your hand while you get used to your fabulous new journey. And if you have children still in the house, you hug them. They will hug back for sure. They will feel loved as much as you.

One thing is for absolute certain. The Bible says God is there to hold your hand anytime you need it; day or night! That's called Comfort with a capital "C." Hang tight, dear one, ask Him and He will reach you with a very strong hand for as long as you need it.

"Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand".
(Psalm 37:24 NLT)