{peace}

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I came across this quote and I find it so fitting. In life I try to be at a place of peace but sometimes situations and circumstances get in the way. I find it so necessary to get back in a place of PEACE. I usually whisper prayers to internally center myself. I also use cooking as a way to meditate and get away from it all. My mom always teases me and says, that she will come in my house and the boys will be running all over, Scott's watching TV and I am in a cool, dim kitchen chopping onions, pots boiling and I will be in my happy place.

One of the things I love so much about my husband is that he has a quiet peaceful personality. He is always able to talk me through some of the things that get me all stirred up and bring me back to a place of PEACE. I always jokingly refer to him as my own dose of NICOTINE. 

PEACE is so important to me whether at home or work and I am consistently seeking it. I know that life will happen around me, chaos and hardship...but I thrive to be at a place of internal PEACE.

How do you center yourself and get to a place of PEACE?

xoxo,

Ronita

HAPPY HOLIDAYS...

... to you and yours.

I hope you all enjoy the warmth of the season with people that truly love you. I hope that the love that is felt during this time is carried into the New Year.

Speak Love. Think Love. Be Love.

 ...and never forget Jesus is the Reason for the Season!

xoxo,

Ronita

For all the moments in your life....

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Reflection during my blog break....

***

I have taken a little over a week off from the blog and gave myself time to just be. Recent events have me reflecting about how precious life truly is. We are all only here for a brief moment and all those moments whether high or low need to mean something. This past weekend, I was reminded that God didn’t put us here to judge others or to compare our lives to the lives of others. You never know their story or what they are truly going through. Focus on your life and how you can be a blessing to others. Your life is your own and no matter where you are in that life be thankful. There is always something to be thankful for and if you just look there is always something to be upset about, the key is how you respond to both.

I have been thinking about my purpose in life. Staying prayerful and quiet so I can hear what God may be trying to whisper. Until I hear him I will continue to work on being a present wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend.

Tomorrow is never promised so be present for today.

Keep pressing on...

xoxo,
Ronita

30 before 30...

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My good sister friend, Barbie, and I were having a great conversation a couple weeks ago. We started taking about how life is so amazing and how things have changed for her since she and her husband have had their little darling diva, Lillian! She and I talked about all the things we wish we could accomplish soon that would just be the icing on our cakes! Our conversation got me thinking and before it was over we decided to both write a list of activities/goals we wanted to accomplish before we both turned 30.


I want to share with you my list and I will keep everyone posted on what I accomplish throughout the months. I will also place the list on the right bar of my blog and mark off the goals as they get accomplished. I have until September 26, 2013 to reach all of my goals.

Wish me luck!!!

My 30 before 30

1. Perfect making omelets

2. Howard Homecoming with Barbie

3. Travel to Italy and Greece

4. Visit vineyards in California- rent a convertible
5. Buy a house with a BIG kitchen, 4 beds, at least two baths, a man cave, big yard to share with all our family and friends
6. Host a major holiday in my new house- where I do all the cooking
7. Have 1 more healthy Dean baby
8. Make a really great gumbo without my mom’s help
9. Write a memoir of my family’s account/story of surviving Hurricane Katrina- even if not published something to keep in the family
10. Take French and Italian cooking classes
11. Organize a successfully romantic and super fun couples retreat for our close friends
12. Sew a dress from scratch
13. Master my sewing machine
14. Reunite with Zeta- become a financial active member
15. Skinny dip in the ocean
16. Get more involved at my church through a community group
17. Go on a mission trip with my church
18. Get on schedule to save $1,000/yr for each boy to give to them when they are 18 (set up accounts)
19. Volunteer with the boys at a soup kitchen
20. Organize a massive yard sale/purge all my stuff and donate the money to a battered women’s shelter
21. Pay off at least 3 major bills: car note, student loan, credit card- become debt free
22. Start a small business: I am too creative not to!!! - even if just on etsy (tooting my own horn)
23. Travel to visit all my girlfriends- by myself, no kids or hubby for some quality girl time (Texas; 2 parts, DC, Columbus, Cleveland, Cali, Arizona, etc)
24. Take a long train ride somewhere fun!
25. Master basic photography
26. Take better care of my health and encourage my family to do better
27. Communicate more with my grandmother and Scott’s grandmother- pick their brains for family history and stories from “back in the day”
28. Visit my dad at least twice a year
29. Continue to be the best wife and mommy I can be
30. Pray more and worry less- continue to grow in my walk with God and understand that God is in control.

xoxo,
Ronita

Eat, Pray, Love the MOVIE!!!

Finally!!!

I love this book and will for sure LOVE the movie!!!

xoxo

Ronita

Speaking it into existence.....a HOUSE in 2011!!!

People say blessings and curses are in the power of the tongue. Well, we are speaking positivity and blessings into our life and for our family and friends. We are taking 2010 to get our finances in order and our son enrolled in a great school so that our vision of our dream home can be obtained...

Some of the details I would love in our house... (my dream home)

Hardwood floors throughout

4 bed rooms (playroom, office)

Large eat in kitchen to practice my favorite past time, COOKING. I would love something that opens up to a family room with bar and island...

Spacious dining room to host dinner parties

Man Cave aka "Man Den" .....for my honey to escape and watch his favorite things (football, HEROS, Entourage...)

"Spa" Bathroom for my Mommy Time

Fireplace

An open backyard for BBQs, for the boys to run and play

I know that it probably won't be just like this but I can hope and I can dream...work hard and pray!!

 I am looking forward to whatever God blesses us with!!

The best is yet to come...

xoxo

Ronita

(photos from House Beautiful and google search)

Happy Giving Thanks Day!!!

(image courtesy of allposters.com)

I am thankful all my wonderful family and friends. I am blessed to have a great job, a place to come call home, food in the refrigerator, clothes (too many) for my family, my health, and all my 5 senses!! Thanksgiving never looked, smelled, tasted, felt, sounded so good! Thank you God for blessing me with such an awesome man (my husband) and 2 beautiful children!!! Thank you for all our family who are so supportive of us through everything! Thank you for all the hard times because I know those are meant to teach! Thank you for all the good times because those are meant to be cherished!!! I pray break through and healing for all those who are struggling. I pray for those who need to find you. With you all things are possible.

The best is yet to come!!!

Amen

Ronita