it's the little things

{link up here}
little things that made me smile this week:

-chocolate coffee on a cold morning
-sweet emails from blog friends
-when someone says "i miss you"
-using my study bible for the first time
-a good book
-a good run
-new boots
-puppy kisses
-hot cocoa before bed
-my bff + her pursuit of happiness {go say hi!}
-surprise phone call from soldier boy#heartgoespitterpatter

what little things have made you smile this week?

Forgive Me

 

 Dear God,

Thanks for this beautiful life and forgive me if I don't love it enough.

{inspiration via pinterest; photo taken by me}

Thankfulness- Week 1

THANKSGIVING

-giving thanks in everything- 

prepares the way that God might show us His fullest salvation in Christ.

For each day in November I am going to log things I am thankful for!

Inspired by One Thousand Gifts and EUCHARISTEO.

In giving thanks, one finds Grace and Joy. 

Feel free to join in if you'd like.

Nov. 1

The ability to run. 

The beauty of the dark, cool, quiet, calm morning.

Coffee.

Nov. 2

The 23 flavors of Dr. Pepper.

Feeling every muscle in pain from running, in a good way.

Being able to talk to someone, via Internet, all the way in Afghanistan.


Nov. 3
My little brother, Madison. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Music. 
Catching up with two very dear friends.


Nov. 4
God's promises- Jer. 29:11
Comfort and peace with a big decision.
Chocolate.




Have a lovely weekend, my sweet friends!

Guest Post- Picking Wildflowers

Hope y'all have had a great week so far! 


Like to give a shot out to a birthday girl today. Happy Birthday Miss Chelsea !!! {aka-Pippa} 
I heart you, even though you don't like pumpkin, you weird ol lady.




Today is a special guest post from my friend (blog/real-life) Baily. This girl has such a beautiful heart. We are twins or more like sisters. We've fought. We've said some not-so nice things to each other. But in the end, we love and are there for each other. I am so thankful God has put her in my life at a time when I needed a friend like her. God has taught me a lot through her and our trials. We just get each other and there is so much beauty in that. Thanks for filling in for me Baily! -xoxo.

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Hello! I'm Baily, a real-life friend of Michelle's and fellow blogger-girl.  I am so excited that she has asked me to guest post for her while she is away "living a life of love" on her mission trip.  She is such a wonderful example of God's amazing grace and unfailing love and I hope she knows how grateful I am to have her in my life.

Our friendship was an acquaintanceship in our adolescent days.  It wasn't until we discovered each other in the blogosphere that we built a true friendship and when I moved back home to Florida last year, she and I were able to be "real-life friends."  As I look back on my journey and what has brought me to where I am today, I realize that God put Michelle in my life for a reason.   Through sharing our faith, I know she is my sister-in-Christ and I am able to relate to her in regard to our life experiences - our tribulations, our triumphs, and our yearning to live a life of love, despite somewhat jadedness.  (And that's okay, too, because I've learned that a little jadedness eventually becomes a blessing in life if you look at it as a strength and not weakness).

So, when I freaked out at the thought of what I was going to write about for this post, Michelle offered a prompt to write about the little things I am thankful for based off the book 'One Thousand Gifts' by Ann Voskamp.  I thought this was a perfect idea because 1.) I love this book 2.) I am one of those people that believes that it's the little things in life that matter the most and 3.) it's that time of year again when we celebrate all the blessings we have received.  But most of all, I thought this would be perfect because over the past year,  my life-story has been about redemption through God's grace and how to let go of MY plan and trust in His plan (regardless of how mysteriously He may have designed it).  Because of this, I relate to Ann Voskamp in many ways and find enormous inspiration in this book.  I urge you to check out the website!!

In celebration and honor of 'One Thousand Gifts' - A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are, here is a short list of just some of the little things I am thankful for.  It is powerfully healing to recognize the simple things that fill my soul with joy and it brings peace to step away from the materialized things we let overshadow the smaller things that mean much more. 

I'm thankful for:

• Supportive emails and FB messages I receive from friends of my parent's who read my blog... it does a special thing to my soul to know that I have touched someone else's. 

• Sharing my testimony while serving tables at a restaurant.  What got it started?  I was selling raffle tickets to benefit Breast Cancer Awareness and the man told me of his recent diagnosis with the same type of Stage IV lymphoma that my Dad is a survivor of.  He told me his prognosis was not the best but that he was in the care of good doctors who had a clinical trial treatment that he was going to undergo.  I smiled and told him all about my dad's treatment - which had also been a clinical trial - but what touched him most was when I told him the grace of God and His almighty power was the healer above all in my Dad's victory over the cancer.  I still get chills thinking of that convo.

• A break from social media.  Last week I sort of neglected my blog (again) and I simmered down on my I-Tweet-A-Lot-And-I-Don't-Care attitude.  I'm sort of having internet mood swings.

• Steve Jobs.  No, he's not a "little thing" but in comparison to our Creator, he is.  So therefore, let me be thankful for his innovations - he truly changed the world.  In all the celebration of his life, I have been even more enlightened to see my God so worthy to be praised.  One person's creations changed the way we live our lives and we are in awe at Steve Job's legacy and creative genius...  But let us not forget to also look at God and how in seven days He created this entire world for us.  He created man, the stars, the mountains, and oceans, and desserts, and gave us light to see it all.  What an amazing, sovereign God!

• The blogosphere.  What can I say?  I'd be lost without all the wonderful friendships I have made through blogging. 

"The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful and all things true, even in the small, who give thanks for it and discover joy even in the here and now, they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world."  -Ann Voskamp, 'One Thousand Gifts'

I'm also for thankful for Michelle letting me share those things with y'all today!  I hope your day is full of blessings of all sizes and that you are able to see God's love in each of them.  Thanks again!

peace & love

baily



Guest Post- Piloting Life

Hey lovebugs!!! Hope you are having a good week! Today's guest post is by another very dear friend of mine. We've even met, IRL, since she is now a FL girl. I adore this lady so much and I know y'all will too. Thanks Ashley! -xoxo

Hey there blog friends!

I'm Ashley... I blog over at { Piloting Life } 

and I'm thrilled to be here today guest blogging for Michelle.

I love writing about any and everything on my blog, but today I

want to share a few little things that I am incredibly thankful for in life.

I may not have the nicest house (my husband and I share a small apartment) or the biggest closet. I may have never met my mother's parents, and I may have grown up in a mobile home. None of those things are reason enough to feel sorry for myself. Ever. Each day is a blessing. We may never have all of the answers to life, but that should not stop us from trying and enjoying life in the process.

Sometimes it's easy to feel overwhelmed with life and all of the challenges it may present. I find myself wishing I had this or that in life, but then I remember to be thankful for exactly where I am and know that everything happens for a reason. Hindsight is always 20/20, and even if we're facing adversity... know that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

Each day brings new opportunities,

so I always try my best to wake up and give thanks for the day.

A simple "thank you" after waking up does the trick. (:

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Here are a couple of things I am incredibly thankful for

that I sometimes find myself taking for granted....

My health:

Not everyone has the ability to ride a bicycle, or even walk for that matter. When I find myself having a rough day, it helps to remember simple things, like functioning legs, and give thanks. There is no reason to complain if you cannot find a parking spot close to the entrance of a building. We were given legs, so why not use them... right? Something as simple as having the ability to walk myself into the grocery store is something I try to remember as often as possible.

Sunsets:

Every evening, unless it's too cloudy or rainy, we get to watch a pretty spectacular show. Since moving to Florida, we have made it a point to try and watch a sunset over the Gulf of Mexico at least every week or so. The beauty of something so routine as the sun setting is incredible. Watching a sunset is a pretty affordable way to get out and enjoy something that we often take for granted.

My job:

I may not have a job that pays the best, but during a time when many people don't have jobs (I know quite a few myself) it's hard to complain. My job may be one of those customer service type jobs that many people don't appreciate much, but that doesn't stop me from trying to make at least one person smile per day. I actually get much more enjoyment out of my retail job than I ever did my architecture job. That is no lie. I try my best to treat my job as a blessing and a way to make some one's day better with each interaction. It may not be the most glamorous job, but I am thankful for it each day.

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Even when times get tough, do your best to stay optimistic and grateful.

At one point I had been writing regularly in my gratitude journal,

and it's something I hope to resume again soon.

When life gets tough (and it will)

we must work even harder to find goodness and gratitude.

I hope you have plenty to be thankful for in life!

Thanks for having me Michelle!

Guest Post- Miss Alisha

Hi loves! I've got some lovely ladies guest posting for me this week while I am up in Georgia on a short-term mission trip. Please keep us in your prayers, that God will use us physically and spiritually to touch the lives of those around us. 

Today's post is from a lady very dear to my heart. She has been there for me through a hard time in my life, offering support, encouragement, and love...all via the Internet. Blog friends are the best.

Thanks Alisha! -xoxo

Howdy readers of Michabella's Living a Life of Love!  It's a pleasure to chat with you today.  My name is Alisha, and I blog over at the tiny blog Alisha and Brandon where I share bits of my life from my home, my photography, to my faith and my passions, and sometimes I even talk about my husband. ;)  Thank you Michelle, for letting me take over your space!!

When I first started blogging Michelle's blog was one of the first blogs I followed, and I knew I wanted mine to be just.like.hers.  She was the girl I looked to for advice and tips, you know, how to have a successful blog.  And since then {still can't believe it's been almost a year ago} Michelle has been absolutely the sweetest friend!!  Truly.

Source: polyvore.com via Kim on Pinterest

Source: thehouseofsmiths.com via Linda on Pinterest

If I never saw another sunset or if I never received another gift…I'd go to Heaven happy and blessed.  I am so grateful for all the good and perfect gifts that come from my Heavenly Father.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. -- James 1:17  

A gift doesn't necessarily have to be something wrapped up in pretty paper.  It can be so much MORE than that.  What about innate abilities?  Or opportunities?  Or a door opened?  Or friends?  Even when we don't deserve gifts, our Heavenly Father still blesses us.  And for that, I am so thankful for. 

Thank you, Michelle, for being a true blessing in my life and such a great friend!!  I love you, girlfriend.  :)

Sending love to Afghanistan!

Calling on everyone:

I am sending a care package to my friend who is stationed in Afghanistan.

U.S. Army Sgt. David Ward watches over the border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan August 27, 2011 at Torkham, Afghanistan. The port of entry is busiest in Afghanistan and the most important for the U.S. military, which imports more than 30 percent of all its supplies and military equipment through Torkham. (August 26, 2011 - Photo by John Moore/Getty Images AsiaPac)

I thought it would be a great idea to send some notes of thanks/appreciation to him and his fellow soldiers, especially as we are coming to the anniversary of Sept. 11th.

If you are a teacher or a mom: 

Would you be willing to get your students/kids to write thank you's and/or draw pictures?! And then send them to me? Makes for a great craft time! 

Any one willing to take the time to write thank you notes and send it to me, please let me know.

I am hoping to get everything by Sept. 9 to send the package out Sept. 12.

Leave me your email address so I can send you my mailing address.

Spread the word!!! The more the merrier!! 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!