Journey of a Thousand Miles

He took me away from bad exes and healed me from the guilt and shame. He forgave me for that mess. He taught me how to express my emotions. He showed me how He can use my suffering for his good. He got me a job and my car and answered my prayer for a good boyfriend. He helped me to let go of negative friendships. He is teaching me how to forgive. He brought me home to my family. He wants me to experience joy again. He wants me to laugh again. He wants me to experience His love for me. He wants me to use my talents for His good. He wants me to find freedom in forgiveness. He wants me to know true love and stop hiding behind so many layers of hurt. He wants me to heal others. He answered my prayer for a sweet man who loves me for me. He has kept me from dying or getting ill. He has given me all my limbs and parts. He provided jobs for me when I needed money. He provided unemployment when I lost my jobs. He gave me Recovery when I needed help. He gave me counselors. ...

I wrote this when I was 26 years old. I am 33 now, and I still want to be this type of woman:  I want to be the type of woman who loves, appreciates, and accepts herself, imperfections and all. I want to be the type of woman who is not embarrassed by herself, but is gentle with herself. I want to be the type of woman who is gracious to herself and doesn't beat herself up. I want to value the experiences I've had and the lessons I've learned, even the hardest of lessons. I want to be the type of woman who knows who she is and doesn't let anyone else tell her otherwise. I want to be the type of woman who stands up for herself and doesn't back down for anybody. I want to be the type of woman who stands apart from the crowd, who shines out with confidence and doesn't back down out of insecurity. I don't want to hide who I am; I want to give glory to what God has given me. I want to be at ease with myself and at ease with life, knowing that I am exactly where I...

So I have to say, I am very, very excited for this new year. Ain't nobody can stop this year from being amazing, and 2017 is already off to a much better start than 2016. Last year, I was going through a very difficult breakup, and I felt so heartbroken. This year I am in a new, much better relationship with a way better man. And although I don't know where we'll end up, I am just happy to be with someone who is so loving and better than all the others. It's a learning process. I thought I would be single throughout the holidays, and instead God surprised me by reintroducing a special person into my life, and I got to have a boyfriend for Christmas and New Years and my upcoming birthday. Aside from my love life, I am excited for my career this year. I am finishing my album come January and releasing in the Spring, and going on tour in the summer. I plan to write many more songs and seek sync licensing. I know it may be too soon to expect a decent living with music thi...

I just wanted to update because I'm very happy with my life right now. I've been talking to someone new- a crush from high school- and we recently reconnected, and we are finding that we have sooooo much in common, it's not even funny. He might move to Australia with his job, but I am still enjoying this bit of time we have to talk and get to know each other. I can't believe this is my 3rd relationship this year- I usually have 1 relationship per year, and I give myself a long break in between. But I feel that God has lifted the barrier of me not dating anyone, and now He is giving me free reign. So far, so good because I have been dating MUCH better men than my usual. So I am happy because we enjoy all the same hobbies, the same music, the same everything! We do have some differences on religion (he's a Christian, but he doesn't celebrate Christmas), so that may be the make it or break it deal. But in the meantime, I am very happy getting to know him. In ot...

I am pretty excited for my goals for 2017. This was a long, arduous year, but I got through it, and I think next year will be ten times better. I just wanted to share some of my goals for next year (I have a lot). Finish "The Clockmaker's Quest" - This is the book I've been writing since 2007. This year I focused on plotting, and I am not finished, but I hope to finish the first draft next year. Then I will submit to an editor, a critique group, and start finding an agent.  Finish recording and release my 2nd album! - I have already finished writing songs for the album, submitted them to my producer, and I hope to go back to Nashville in January to finish recording. I hope to release sometime in the Spring, then go on tour in the summer.  Get a synch license - I have been researching different ways to make money as an indie artist, and synch licensing is the way to go. Basically, that means getting your songs into TV/film/commercials. They pay big bucks for the...

Life is going better for me. I'm happy. I'm hopeful. I'm excited for what's to come in 2017. I came a long way this year. I thought I wouldn't survive this year because the beginning started off so rough. God had to pluck things out of my life that didn't need to be there, and it was painful, but now I feel that He is planting new seeds that are growing, and I am happier for it. I have a good Christian community around me. I'm more involved at church. I'm moving in the right direction. I'm EXERCISING (what?!). I'm taking better care of my body. I'm reading His Word and fighting the spiritual battles with the right armor. I'm waiting on God for answered prayers instead of taking things into my own hands. I'm sitting still (for once), but I'm also working diligently towards my purpose. I'm allowing God to grow me. It's been a good last half of the year. I'm making big plans and planting seeds for next year. I think 201...

I am excited about life. Happy about life. Hopeful and everything in between. I am happy for the season I am in. I know that God is pruning my life, uprooting all the things that don't belong there, the things that aren't producing fruit, He is getting rid of that. I am no longer sad and depressed about being single. I am happy as a single because I know that God has a husband for me, and he will come in God's timing. I am no longer unsure about my music career. I know this is where God has me and where He wants me and where He is leading me. It is time for SELF-DISCIPLINE. It is a time for PRUNING. It is time to STAY OFF SOCIAL MEDIA. It's time to get serious about my songwriting. I am trusting the process. This is going to be a good season because I am CHOOSING to be happy. Yay!