Moving on

Ju Ju Beans and Jenny at the chicken pen

Well it looks like our time here in North Carolina has come to an end.  Rocky and I are moving back to New Joisey to begin a new chapter in our lives!  We are so excited but of course it will be a bittersweet goodbye.  I know cousin Mark will take good care of the homestead but we will miss living on this beautiful property and all our critters and of course my cousins!

Driveway next to the house

The biggest reason we’re moving is to be closer to our families.  I think Rocky could live anywhere in the world but my heart remains tied to South Jersey where I grew up.  I always feel torn between New Jersey and North Carolina but we can always visit down south once or twice a year until we decide what to do with the house.

The challenge now will be can we maintain our “sweet, simple life” up there amidst all the hustle and bustle but I think we can and it’ll be worth it because most importantly we’ll be closer to our families.  Of course, I can’t wait to see the beach and all of my favorite spots like Batsto Village, the Wildlife Refuge and Cape May!  New Jersey here we come!

Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge

Being Content

I really liked today’s reading :)

But godliness with contentment is great gain. ~1 Timothy 6:6 (KJV)

Joy doesn’t come from having your circumstances in order and under control; it comes from what’s in your heart. For example, the world is full of people who have what they think they want, and they’re still not happy. In fact, some of the most unhappy people in the world are people who seem to “have it all.”

Contentment is not about fame or being well-known, how much money you have, your position at work or your social circle. It’s not found in your level of education or what side of the tracks you were born on. Contentment is a heart attitude.

There’s nobody happier than a truly thankful person, a truly content person. The word content means ‘being satisfied to the point where nothing disturbs you no matter what’s going on, but not satisfied to the point that you never want any change.’

Taken from Joyce Meyer: Promises for Your Everyday Life – a Daily Devotional – Day 34

A funny thing happened…

So the other day I was minding my own business and reading Joyce Meyer’s daily devotional and decided to share that day’s Bible passage on my Facebook page. And out of nowhere an old childhood ‘friend’ openly mocked me and my beliefs while imposing HER views on me.  (This was after a very open and heartfelt email I sent to her a few weeks prior, responding to her email mocking me and another old classmate for the same thing.) Now, I think some people would actually consider that a form of religious persecution and/or cyber-bullying. But I’m not going there.

I’ve had enough time now to think and pray and discuss this “what the heck was that all about?!” thing. The verbal attacks were a little painful at first. But then that funny thing happened. In the midst of the belittling, there was this deep place within me that felt so peaceful and yet strong and I felt like yelling, “You can’t hurt me!” It was so weird. I think my faith actually grew even stronger that day.

I have been on many different spiritual roads which have actually led me right here to Jesus. But I don’t mock those other roads.  They served their purpose at that time for me. This is where I am right now, and plan to be for a long time, and I’m not going to apologize for that.  Friends and family will mock me, and some have never respected me as a person to begin with. But we all have hurts, past, present and future. I am learning to ride those waves and turn to that secret place within where there is peace and joy. And most importantly, I am learning who’s opinion of me matters most…

All glory to God…and thank you God for giving me such a good husband and tremendous support!

“No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; And every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn.” ~Isaiah 54:17

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” ~2 Corinthians 12:10

“If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway. ” ~Taken from Mother Teresa’s “Do It Anyway”