Striving To Be "Christ-Like"!

Don't ever have someone to demand you to apologize when there is no reason for it. If you truly have a reason to apologize than that is different. Or when you humble yourself before the Lord, and apologize and the situation truly changes than that's different. But if you find yourself constantly apologizing and that situation or person is only worsening... it's time to pray about being removed from the equation. That's how it was for me, more than once in my life. However, people get really good at playing the victim and not admitting their mistakes nor choosing to change for the better. I chose to now be an open book. I'm aware of my flaws and shortcomings. I'm not afraid to discuss them with anyone either. It's a part of my testimony. I've apologized to save face before. I've did it at the demands of people in authority and leadership (i.e pastors). I've did that for these reasons: being a people pleaser and truly not knowing how to stand up fo...

I had a very busy, but memorable, first three weeks of December 2022. I went from a weekend trip to Mentone, Alabama with my parents and cousins... back home to pack and travel to Georgia with my family there... to Florida for a Disney World trip for a week... traveled back to Georgia to finish celebrating Christmas with my family and friends there... then rested up to drive back home to Alabama a few days after Christmas. I'm spent New Year's at home, in my bed, catching up on some rest, while still trying to figure out what day it is hahaaa?! I've lost track of that over the past few weeks. I am thankful for my family by my side, for the memories we've made, and for the Lord giving me good health to enjoy all of this. Though I have had some in office procedures this year and some sickness, 2022 is the first full year, in 10 years, that I haven't been put to sleep for a surgery. That is a miracle, and the best Christmas gift I have received! For all that went wrong...

I'm bringing in the New Year thankful for my faith, my family, my friends, my health, my adventures, and my memories! Here's to 2023! It's not how 2022 started for me, it's how it ended for me! On a high note! Full of peace and hope! I became a stronger and more independent person, as I approach the last year of 30s. I pushed through much challenge and adversity. I traveled by myself *on a week long trip for the 1st time in my life*. I very much enjoyed it. I had peace to go and trusted God would take care of me. I weeded out and removed toxicity in my life. I battled my way through depression once more that had a grip on me for months. God's loved me through it all the last half of 2022, even when I got silent with Him! He never abandoned me in the midst of the hurt, anger, and frustrations! I hope for another year without a surgery! I'm still beyond thankful to go a whole year, for the 1st time in 10 years, without being put to sleep for a surgery! I can't...

Christmas at Disney World - 2022. It was magical. It was my Disney "do over" trip. It was a family vacation. It was as near perfect as you can get, because we plowed right through those small hiccups. And perfect is not reality, while still living on earth. But God made it as close to perfect as possible for us. All the reservations worked out for us. We were shown favor throughout the trip. We got there and back safely. There's no tired like Disney tired, but it's worth every sore muscle or blister or bruise... seriously. We all experienced things there for the first time, in different ways. It was my fifth visit. Those dinners or rides may not last, but we will have the photos and memories that will always last. I'm beyond thankful God made a way for me to go back for a 2nd time in one year, and to also take my 1st cousin's family with me! Thank God for making this trip happen for me!! He paved the way! Christmas at Mickey Mouse's house was a blast, and ...