some holiday humor ;) Blogmas day #1

Hiya hiya beautiful people! I hope you are doing wonderfully! But if not, then I hope this post will bring some sunshine to your day. ๐Ÿ˜Š I am so very excited to welcome you to the 12 days of Blogmas here on Sunshine & Rain! ๐Ÿ˜‰ I have so much planned, and you’ll get to see into what my world is like around this time of year. AHHH I am so happy to be doing this again! This is such a fun thing to do while counting down the days till Christmas, (11 days and counting!!) I get to share so much with you in preparation for the holidays and I absolutely love it.

For day #1, I have picked out some favorite holiday memes to bring you some laughs! Laughing is probably my favorite thing in existence, so what better way to start Blogmas? Some of these are just way too relatable, and too wonderful not to share haha!

(i’m still laughing at these as I write out this intro ๐Ÿคฃ) Alrighty y’all, enjoy Blogmas day#1 ๐Ÿ˜‰

Ahh, and that concludes the first day of blogmas! (please tell me I’m not the only one who thought those were the best things ever haha! which meme was your favorite?) Sending much love to you all, and many thanks for poppin in! I think this blogmas is off to a great start. ๐Ÿ™‚ I very much enjoyed putting this together, and I look forward to sharing the rest of this Christmas season with you! What a beautiful Christmas season this is; what a beautiful time to celebrate the birth of our savior Jesus. โค Have a wonderful rest of your day frens, and I shall return tomorrow. ๐Ÿ˜‰

walls of our minds (this open room) ~ hma

I decided to visit this room again

for what must be the thousandth time.

Gave me a sense of comfort

like you were still here.

My heart won’t accept that you’re gone.

~

It felt like everything was the way it used to be

left the way it was meant to play out

but it lead us through a different story,

now the silence has never been so loud.

~

In this room, dust is left upon each thing

each memory I dared not touch

for I was afraid to mess more up.

I wanted to keep as much as I could

the way it once was.

~

Thorns and thistles have taken over

the flowers that once bloomed here.

This room is plain and small,

but it was everything to me.

It once had color, when you were here.

~

Before you decided to leave,

to leave it all and walk out,

there was safety in the air.

Now it’s all empty

and I’m not sure if I want to be here.

~

I walked in that room

and felt along the wall for the switch.

Ah, there it is.

Lights strung across the ceiling flicker on,

and everything comes back.

~

It’s colder here now

but I guess we haven’t come here in awhile.

cold weather,

a gentle and sweet

autumn breeze

always makes me think of you.

~

The hum of our music still fills the room

your footprints still there in the dust

from where we danced.

~

Your footprints are left across the floor

and fingerprints across my heart,

and now they’ve turned to scars.

The lights here in this room are on,

but with you it was never this dark.

~

Your laugh still fills the empty space

the most lovely sound in existence.

I’d give anything to hear it once more.

~

I’ve closed up this room

so nobody may come inside

and touch what belongs to me,

but was never rightfully mine.

My mind has always known

I couldn’t keep it forever,

but to the things this room holds,

my soul is tethered.

~

I know I shouldn’t still be here

wallowing in the longing

for what I cannot have.

It’s unhealthy and suffocating,

but oh, how I want it back.

~

I stand in this very room

where we used to dance

and sway to our own melody

that only we could hear.

But all of it feels so far away,

just a distant memory.

~

Pictures cover the walls,

glimpses into the best moments,

though they’ve begun to fade.

Crumbling to pieces

I cannot make them stay.

I cannot bring back the color

to what those moments were.

~

Too many times i’ve come back here

letting the longing take over my soul.

Too many times i’ve sat and cried

on this floor where we once stood together.

Too many times has my heart

broke for you all over again.

~

Too long have I held onto someone

that already let go.

~

This empty place

has been the home of both happiness,

and hurt too.

Here I now begin to pick up these pieces

and tuck them away another place.

Here in this room I begin to clean

and wash away the hurt

of what was once here,

but is no longer.

~

Here in this room,

I begin to make space

for something new.

~

Someday,

someone else may come

to heal the wounds left by you

and make this our room.

~

someone for my heart to hold to.

and so December arrives :)

Why hello there beautiful people!! *waves and hops excitedly*

Ahh, it seems that I took another blogging break without notice just as I said I wouldn’t, atleast twice before. My apologies for another sudden disappearance; I have found that taking time in between to rest helps me to regain my inspiration. Rest has been something I have very much been needing in all different areas of my life. But I know that i’m not done here and will not be for a very long time, for I find myself still coming straight back here with great joy after each break ๐Ÿ˜‰

This is a slightly delayed post, but it’s only 3 days into the month so I think you can forgive me. I wanted to pop in to cover a couple of things, but first let me wish you a very Happy December!! *aggressively tosses confetti* Ahhh can you believe that this year is almost over? And Christmas is so soon?! (22 days and counting! ๐Ÿ˜‰ ) I am so happy with how this year has gone, and I have accomplished more than I can even recall. I very eagerly await what the last month of this year will hold! This year, I am doing Blogmas a bit differently. If you’ve been following since last year, you may remember I did 25 days of Blogmas. Though it was really SO much fun, it was also quite overwhelming. But I was actually very proud to see I made it all 25 days without missing a single one! Haha, I surprised myself with how far I could go! But this year, I have decided to only do 12 days of Blogmas. Between work, school, church, and family, 25 days of blogging would be too much. This will give me much more time in preparation, and just take off a load of unnecessary stress over lack of time ๐Ÿ™‚

I have been writing down and preparing SO many ideas for Blogmas 2021, and I am thrilled to share them with you starting on Dec 14th! You might get a peek at my own wishlist, gift ideas, a day in my life during the holidays, a Christmas song cover, and much more… so keep an eye out!

I am not quite sure whether I will be posting anything between now and the 14th, (hehe, i can be a very spontaneous person and i love it) we’ll just figure it out as we go along! Thank you so much for the love and support you’ve all given me, I am very excited to start checking out y’alls Blogmas posts! (if you’re doing 25 days, stay strong! If i made it through, so can you!! ;D)

I sit here at the kitchen table, wrapped in my favorite light cardigan, as an orange December sunset shines through. So much has happened, and there is still more ahead. Oh, how I love the Holiday season.

The best it yet to come ๐Ÿ˜‰

gardens

I’m gonna build myself a garden

filled with marigolds and roses

oh, to run in green pastures

and hay meadows golden.

there may come fear and hurting

but let it be that it all flows freely

in the rivers that keep this garden growing.

tears that stain and sting but later on made

the flowers oh, so sweet

the brightest colors rise from the dirt.

I’ll lay in these grass fields

and gaze up in wonder at the stars

while I inhale the aroma of the earth

beneath my pounding heart.

tears are the rains that flood the grounds

and reap beautiful things.

sunshine on my skin that warms my soul

and reminds it there is still more coming

it gives peace and reassurance

through unknown and painful things.

gonna have trees to climb with branches up high

rooted safe and strong in the ground

if i should slip and fall

I pray you’d catch me, don’t let me stay down.

give me the strength to let go

to surrender and let it be

please show me this hope and this peace

cut these ropes that hold me captive, set my soul free.

you just watch

you’ll wait and see

one day these seeds will sprout

and flourish from the scars of the ground.

let go of this ego

and their standards of living

planting seeds every place that I go

shifting things in this big world.

watch this garden grow

reaping beautiful things that

were sown from sorrow.

uprooting trees that have fallen long ago

blocking paths into new things unknown.

slowly watering and reviving

the flowers of my past that have wilted

and ripping away the thorns that once overtook them.

I’ll live something different from

anything ever seen

sharing the pure joy and love

of the One who walks these paths with me.

I will flourish and thrive

blossom and grow in every aspect of this life

complete enjoyment with peaceful sighs.

hear the beautiful song this garden of mine sings

that has risen from the ashes

of love, and broken things.

my life is a garden.

๐ŸŒผ Summer 2021 bucket list: I have returned ;)

AHHH, hello loves!! This is Hailey (hope you still remember me hehe…) and I am SO HAPPY to be back in the blogoshpere after taking a break these past couple months. No, my break from blogging was not planned, but it was a decision that I am quite glad I made. I got some much needed time, still I apologize to all my blogging friends for just falling off the face of the earth haha!

At the beginning of this year, I was really on an inspiration and motivation burnout, stress started to take over and there had (and still has)been so much going on, that I really needed to step away and focus on different things. I have been experiencing so much change and it was so hard to keep up with everything, I was overwhelmed. I needed to take a step back, slow my mind down, and see what I really needed to set my gaze upon.

I am in a season of growth and discovery. It has been and has continued to be a painful and confusing journey that I am walking through, but it has been one of healing and restoration. I am learning what it means to let go, and let God. I have lost what feels like so much, yet through that there is so much more I have gained. My God has been faithful, He has placed in my heart a new perspective and through Him I have begun to experience real peace. He has been my guide and my comfort. He has given me so much, He has truly been so good. Every day I am continuing to seek Him out and what He has called me to. I have grown in my faith, in my trust, and in my own confidence. He is walking alongside me in this season, I can hear God speaking to me that this is my season of revival. He is restoring, healing, and doing just what he promised He would do, if I would just begin to turn my heart over to Him. And of course, I did just that.

Eventually I will post something explaining more in depth of what i’ve been up to since March, so much has happened and I’ve been altogether going through so much growth. New feelings, new friendships, opportunities, ideas, etc. Through this journey I have been on recently I have been leaning further into my Jesus and depending on Him, which has been such a beautiful thing. I am experiencing stronger gratitude, joy, and shifts in perspective. God has been working within me and renewing my heart. He has revealed to me many things about both Him and myself. He has been my guide, comfort, wisdom, and reminder throughout this walk I’m on with Him. I rejoice in the fact that I am becoming closer to Him than I have ever been before. I am learning to count my blessings and hold to Him when things start to shake. He has been a great Teacher & Father to me. I see myself as a flower, and Him as the gardener. I have been put through sunshine and rain (get where the blog name comes from?) but it has put me through so much growth and change for the better. He continues to watch over me, love me, to care for me while I bloom beautifully into the woman He has created me to be. I can say that I am truly a pretty different person than I was only a year ago.

So here I am again with a soul refreshed and a heart being restored. Hello again, I hope you are doing well, I have missed you so ๐Ÿ˜‰ (that was by far one of the most sporadic, spontaneous intros I have ever wrote… and I love it, okay moving on!)

Well my goodness I forgot how much I love doing this! Today I am very excited to share with you my big ole’ summer 2021 bucket list! *yayyyyy* After being gone for this long, I thought this would make a nice post to return with, and this just makes me so excited and happy that it’s SUMMER!! Ahhh ice cream, flip flops, sunshine, flowers blossoming, evening walks, all of it. I just love visualizing everything, and I look forward to checking off all that I can on this year’s bucket list! (and this isn’t all there is… I add more and more ideas to my list as the season goes on ;D) Feel free to draw inspiration from any of these, and let me know what you look most forward to this summer or what you have on your own bucket list!

I believe that this will be a beautiful season.

Hailey’s 2021 Summer Bucket List: ๐ŸŒผ

(more still in the process of being added ๐Ÿ˜‰ )

  • drink plenty of water daily
  • spend lots of time outside (soak in the sunshine!)
  • go thrifting
  • watch a thunderstorm
  • work towards clearer skin
  • go swimming/to a pool party
  • eat ice cream
  • get a good natural tan
  • ride a roller coaster
  • skateboard
  • take morning/evening walks
  • stargaze and cloud-watch
  • play in the rain
  • climb a tree
  • collect and press flowers and leaves
  • have a picnic
  • journal and scrapbook
  • grow the blog
  • get more plants
  • eat a delicious burger or sandwich
  • watch fireworks
  • have an outdoor bible study/time with Jesus
  • road-trips
  • swingsets
  • bonfire with s’mores
  • cookout
  • eat lots of fruit
  • drive with the windows down
  • bike rides
  • kickball
  • go out with friends
  • rock my summer wardrobe
  • trampoline games
  • body paint/henna tattoos
  • write encouraging notes & leave them for a stranger
  • earn and save some cash
  • write pen pal letters
  • make a new friend
  • make a chalk masterpiece
  • play hide n’ seek
  • take lots of pictures
  • walk a nature trail
  • DIY face masks
  • spa day and do nails
  • write a fan letter
  • take chances and try new things
  • paint something
  • eat salads
  • go to the movie theater
  • see a rainbow
  • make a fort
  • go roller skating
  • go to a concert
  • catch fireflies
  • turn old jeans into shorts
  • play basketball
  • make flower crowns
  • teach Tank (my doggo) new tricks
  • jump rope
  • play on a big playground
  • add to my rock and crystal collection
  • have a sleepover
  • root beer floats
  • grow out my hair
  • bookstore and library trips
  • take Harry (my ferret) on a walk or trip
  • game night
  • pet goats
  • make bracelets and jewelry
  • get chick-fil-a
  • have a jam session
  • watch bumblebees
  • see a blue jay and a hummingbird
  • set up morning and nighttime routines
  • fruit smoothies
  • recycle something
  • give lots of gifts and hugs
  • random acts of kindness
  • cookies and milk
  • rock the flip flops
  • run barefoot
  • plant flowers
  • invite friends and family over
  • DIY perfume
  • learn a new skill
  • do outreach/volunteer work
  • go to the lake
  • see a butterfly
  • smell something sweet
  • make guacamole
  • read, read, read!
  • experiment in cosmetics
  • grow in my faith
  • photograph lightning
  • learn to play a new song
  • dance party
  • collect more stickers
  • go to Plato’s Closet
  • stay positive and confident
  • see a dog in sunglasses
  • compliment a stranger
  • try boba/bubble tea
  • decorate sunglasses
  • cuddle with the pets
  • call a friend or family member
  • have a yard sale
  • keep up with writing
  • make an awesome summer playlist
  • doodle on a band-aid
  • pull an all-nighter
  • pick berries
  • cold brew coffee
  • late night dinner
  • gluten free cookie dough
  • technology breaks
  • ice cream sundaes
  • collect seashells
  • shopping day
  • see a waterfall
  • FaceTime photoshoot
  • make ATC’s (artist trading cards)
  • lemonade & sweet tea
  • go to a baseball or soccer game
  • play with bubbles
  • chips and dip
  • zoo trip
  • candy store
  • pick eachother’s outfits with someone
  • try new hairstyles
  • donuts and milk
  • wear pretty dresses & skirts
  • outdoor movie
  • makeovers
  • pray always and constantly
  • see a turtle
  • choreograph a song
  • stay cute ๐Ÿ˜‰
  • do something silly late at night
  • blow dandelion fluff
  • eat out for breakfast/eat out in general
  • take a trip to an outdoor market/festival
  • snow cones, popsicles, & slushies
  • afternoon naps
  • run in a field
  • rock messy hair, don’t care
  • live a beautiful summer โค

Ahhh there’s many reasons summer is my favorite season (hey that rhymes) and I hope you can see them all. Summer reminds me of joy, growth, and beauty. I feel like this season will be full of those things.There is so much planned for this summer and I honestly cannot contain the joy and excitement it brings me!! (I have a pool party with my friends this evening actually, so you can imagine my excitement for that!)This summer is a wonderful gift, and I intend to use it the very best I can ๐Ÿ™‚

Thank you very much for checking out my latest post ;D I have alot more upcoming stuff planned here on Sunshine & Rain that I am quite excited for! Including photo dumps, favorites of the month, bullet journal spreads, new poetry/short writings, weekly favorite moments, Igniting Inspiration, maybe even a room tour and much more ๐Ÿ™‚ The Sunshine & Rain site is also under construction so you may notice some change in themes; I’ve been updating and switching some things around and I am very much looking forward to it being finished!

I am so delighted to be back and writing again. I hope you are doing wonderfully, and have a day as lovely as you ๐Ÿ˜‰ โค

Later tater!

*sigh* it’s good to be home.

Igniting Inspiration Week 18 (2/21/21)

Hello there and good Sunday morning to you lovely people! I am very excited to be bringing to you Igniting Inspiration Week 18! I always love putting together these posts as a good close to the week past, and a celebration for the new week ahead. This past week has been a beautiful one for me, and there were some pretty special moments. I’d like to try something new on this series and share with you guys a little bit of how my week has been ๐Ÿ˜‰

This week seemed to strangely go by pretty quickly. Before I knew it I realized that the next day was Friday and the weekend was almost here again! Quite a bit happened, as always there were highs and there were lows, but I am grateful beyond anything for another beautiful week God gave me the opportunity to experience and live out.

I had a great Valentines Day! Haha it was really great, even though nothing really big and special happened, and this year I had 4 different Valentines you could say! 1. Was my Daddy (he’s the main one every year, he got me a sweet card and wrote in it ๐Ÿ˜‰ ) 2. I mean Jesus, of course 3. My Doggo, Tank, because I asked him… i mean i think he said yes… and 4. Was my bestie, Livy! We agreed to be Gal-entines because we’re lonely ๐Ÿคฃ So yeah, overall Valentines Day was great.

Monday, I watched 10 Cloverfield Lane with my sister and parents. That’s actually all I remember from Monday, but it was a great movie and I am very excited about the fact that there’s supposed to be another Cloverfield movie being made.

(I don’t remember anything from Tuesday, I need to get better at remembering to write these things down)

On Wednesday night I joined a youth group get-together, which I am so happy I decided to attend. It was only my second time visiting this youth group, and the whole night was really great. (we are exploring other churches right now, which I haven’t said anything about on here before, but we have been looking for a new place to call home ๐Ÿ™‚ ) I met a couple of new people who I hope are becoming good friends of mine now, we played some great games, had a wonderful short sermon, and we basically just cracked up and goofed around the whole time. It was nice meeting some new people, I haven’t gotten the chance to meet some new friends in such a long time. I actually can’t wait for the next youth get-together, I really enjoyed it!

Thursday, I decided to pull up my big girl pants and save and set free what looked like a baby stink bug. (i am normally terrified of bugs and i’m trying so hard to get over it) I managed to catch it into a cup, cover it, and release it outside. I think that should count as a brave moment this week ๐Ÿ˜‚

Friday, ahhh I think this day was the highlight of my week, even though it was a mix of highs and lows. The day started off smoothly, but later started going downhill from there. I got pretty upset and worked up over many things and let my emotions take over which effected other people too. I eventually lost any motivation to finish what needed done that day and lost all hope of it still turning out as a good day. It got really bad. But, I guess my sweet Mama understood that I was just upset and didn’t mean to make anyone else’s day harder. I really needed a break and just something to enjoy, and that’s what she gave me. She took me out to go Spring clothing shopping at Plato’s Closet, which she had talked about doing sometime before. We were there for awhile, but she didn’t seem to mind. We found some really great things and I am very happy with my new additions to my Spring 2021 wardrobe! (be on the lookout this week for a clothing haul post!) It was alot of fun taking a shopping trip like that, I haven’t gone clothes shopping in awhile. Afterwards Mama took me out to eat at Rusty Taco, where I got some delcious BBQ brisket nachos. (my fave) I had an amazing time with my Mama and I made sure to thank her for taking me out, because I had a terrible attitude that day and really didn’t deserve it. While we were driving to Plato’s Closet earlier that evening, there was the most beautiful sunset I have surely ever seen. The sun was glowing golden orange setting low on the horizon, the clouds covering the top to where just to golden bottom was shining through, and the sky splashed with pinks, and blues, and oranges, and yellows. It really reminded me that no matter how difficult or even hopelessly terrible a day or something may seem, the sun with always shine again. There is still happiness and joy and hope to be found. Just that small act of kindess from my Mama, made the entire day wonderful. Ain’t nobody got a greater, more lovely Mama than me. Love you Mama ๐Ÿ˜˜

And Saturday, in the morning had a beautiful try-on fashion show for my sister with all the new clothes I got! I am quite excited to start wearing all my adorable clothes, if only this freezing snowy weather would go away now ๐Ÿ˜ฆ

Wow I very much enjoy sharing even those small moments from my week! I hope you enjoyed reading about it, what were some special moments from your week? ๐Ÿ™‚ I’d love to hear all about it! Welp here we have come to the middle where I share some of my favorite quotes with you! These quotes of encouragement really spoke to my heart this week, and I hope they do the same for you! Please enjoy xD

*disclaimer: none of the images/quotes displayed below are my own. all credits to Pinterest*

Which little bit of encouragement was your favorite? I find all of those so inspiring and uplifting, and discovering all those simple quotes make me so very happy.

Now, I guess you could say this is the grand finale haha! I know you guys love the MEMEs as much as I do, Igniting Inspiration thrives off of them! xD I cracked up when I found these, and my goal is to make you laugh too! I guess the laughs add a little extra spark of joy to these posts, and hopefully to your whole week!

Alrighty, I am going to bid my farewells right here so you can go ahead and try your hardest not to laugh at these (i DARE you not to laugh mwahaha)

Well, thank you so much for checking out the latest here on Sunshine & Rain! I hope that you enjoyed this post, and if you aren’t already then be sure to Subscribe to the blog by email so that you don’t miss out on any future posts! YOU GUYS WE ARE NOW AT OVER 200 FOLLOWERS! Ahh, i can’t believe how much this blog has been growing recently, even though 200 can seem pretty small, I appreciate all of you more than words can say. I am sending much love to all of you, have an amazing day my lovely little Jelly Beans! ๐Ÿ˜‰

And on we go!


New Year, New Things: My 2021 Glow up Goals & Resolutions

*my own photo :)*

Hiya hiya, my beautiful jelly beans! I hope you are doin alright this lovely day ๐Ÿ˜‰ And Welcome to the first post of 2021 here on Sunshine & Rain!! xD

Ahhh haha, it feels really great to be back. Not sure if anybody noticed, but I recently took a break from blogging this month (until now) so I could really take time to set some things up for the New Year, and take some much needed time for myself.

BUT. I AM BACK. AND I FREAKIN MISSED YOU.

So yeah like HAPPY 2021!

I thought that for my first post of this year, I should do a little reflection of the year passed, and some Goals for the year ahead. I’m calling my hopes for this year my goals and resolutions because some of these are things that I would just really like to do, but most of these are things that I am really going to commit to. Its a mix of both.

This new year, is for new things. I know that all the chaos of 2020 isn’t going to just magically disappear because the clock struck 12 on the night of December 31st, but this year is going to be what we make it. We make our life what it is and we have the power to live fully and joyfully. I left behind and lost many things this past year, things that absolutely shattered my heart, but I feel that its time to move on from that. Of course i’m not saying i’m going to just forget it all, but i’m going to use the struggles and hurt of this past year and the lessons it taught me for the better. I think we all should, don’t you? ๐Ÿ™‚

The world we live in today is so crazy, but we have the power to keep our eyes not on the storm but on Jesus. All things happen for a reason, and God promises that all that happens is for the greater good. It’s for our good. People you love turn their backs and walk away and cause excruciating hurt, but I know that there is a reason God lets it happen. The world is complete madness but I know that God is still in control of everything. We lose what or even who we love and it shatters our hearts, but I know that there is a reason. This past year there was so much chaos, and I am positive that there is still more to come, but God’s hand has been in everything we have experienced so far if you can look back and see. All the heartbreak and fear and madness of this past year, brought so many more people back to God, and brought people to want to know God! There was a reason for everything you and I went through this year, and God isn’t finished with his work yet. You know why? Because we woke up this morning. We made it to this place that neither of us even imagined we would be.

That was something I realized just a few days ago, in the morning as I sat there eating my cereal and looking out the window, these words just came upon my heart and into my mind. It was what I like to call my beautiful realization.

The words were, “I am here.”

These words brought such beauty and I realized what they meant.

I made it here. I never thought I would ever go through this amount of hurt and I thought I would never be happy again and everything felt too hopeless. But guess what. I made it.

I am here.

I never thought i’d see the light at the end of the tunnel. I never thought I could make it through. In the middle of my chaos I always think that I am stuck forever and it’s hopeless. But guess what? I made it, and you did too.

In every season there is a restoration in Joy coming. There is a restoration in hope and strength.

I am here and I get to live this beautiful life today. And so do you.

I look back to my past self, just from a year ago and think “Oh how unprepared and oblivious to whats coming she is.”

But I also think “Oh how oblivious she is to what she’s gonna get through.” Past me never expected any of what came that year, but I got through it and I grew through it.

Just the fact that I am here, is incredible to me. This beautiful life is a gift, and look, we are still here living it.

We lose things all throughout life. Things that we hold so dearly that when we lose them we feel that we lose everything. But hon, in the end of each season there is always a promise of light. There is always a promise of restoration, and there is always a promise of something better.

What’s coming is better than whats gone.

God promises that he never once let go of us, and he knows our heart. Honey my realization was that when nobody else truly gets it. when nobody else truly understands, He does. Hon’ He knows. I promise, and He promises. He knows and feels your heartbreak. He knows your most painful memories, and your most joyful moments. He knows you hearts desires, and your most hopeful dreams that you so happily daydream about.

Honey he will fulfill the the greatest desires of you heart and even more, as long as you cling to him. You are His everything, and He wants to be your everything.

Heartbreak hurts but heartbreak brings growth. When there is a season of waiting, a season of hurt, a season of confusion, fear, a season filled with tears. That my friend. That means God is doing something extraordinary. God is doing something so big and unimaginable, that we wouldn’t believe Him if He told us right now. (Habbakkukk 1:5) So don’t be discouraged hon’, we are all fighting our own storm, and God is teaching us how to hear His voice through the pouring rain and crashing thunder and when everything feels lost and hopeless and you feel numb and you inside everything in you is just screaming….

there it is.

that gentle whisper. His voice that calls.

He is saying “I am here

He was always here.

He is teaching us to grow, and He is teaching us to see the purpose through our pain. When all feels lost, when all you feel is heartbreak, when all you feel is that you lost everything you loved, there He is.

The exact reason God is letting this happen is unknown, but I know and believe with all my heart that He is using it all to draw us back to him. He is calling out over, and over to you, He wants you to hear His voice.

This past year, really led alot of people to God (including myself) because when all hope feels lost He is our hope.

Yesterday, today, and forever, He is our hope. And as life goes on, into a new year, we must continue to cling to Him.

2020, was definitely not my year. It was strange, and confusing, and painful, and chaotic, but it was all for the greater good as I look back on it now. Last year taught me many things. I experienced growth. I went through some painful & scary changes. I met new people, and some people drifted away. I learned what it means to be grateful, and so much more, but overall I learned to hold onto God. He has been so good, and he has been faithful. He keeps his promises, and he loves.

I look back on 2020 and see so much change, so much hurt, but so much growth. This past year I have learned so much more about life, myself, God, the world, etc. This past year also revealed to me so many things, that I really need to change.

So, here are the things that I am really focusing on here in 2021.

  • Self Care & Working towards my Dream Body

This year I want to focus alot more on keeping my body naturally healthy, and beautiful. When I say “dream body” I don’t mean I want to be the skinniest girl in the room who eats 0 carbs and 0 sugar and works out every single day. Sadly, that’s what today’s society normally makes a dream body seem like. But I mean I want to be the healthiest I can be. I want to make good choices for my body, and take care of it because my body is a gift. All bodies are beautiful, and deserve the right care. Clearing my skin, drinking more water, keeping my nails & hair healthy, and being active, are just a few examples of things I want to focus on this year for my body. I was not so great at taking care of myself last year, and that needs to change.

  • Confidence & Self Love

I want to work hard this year at becoming more confident in who I am, and truly loving myself. This has always been such a big struggle in my life, and I dream of the day that I have mastered not caring of others opinions about me and still loving myself. Confidence is always hard, and as I look back on last year… sadly I cannot remember a single moment when I was truly confident. Confidence is not “they will like me”, Confidence is “i’ll be fine if they don’t.” I want to work at walking with my head held high because I know who I am and who I belong to. (and, that would be Jesus by the way, which leads to my next resolution ๐Ÿ˜‰ )

  • Closer Relationship with Jesus

I want to be the closest with God I have ever been this year, and have the strongest faith I have ever had. I want to spend more time with God and really put in my commitment to being with Him. I want Him to be my guide, and comfort through it all. This year I want to seek and find Him in everything, and He was & He is my everything.

  • Finding Joy

Although difficult, the art of seeking and finding joy is quite beautiful. This year I want to train myself to see the light in all situations, even when it feels impossible. Positivity has never been something that I am truly great at, negativity often creeps in on me and just screws things up. I want to seek joy through the pain and find the positive side in all things. I want to seek joy in everything, and find the joy in everything, and I feel that this will really improve my life this year.

  • Being Genuine & Staying True

This year is a new chance to really stay true to my heart, and not be anything other than who I am made to be. I want to stand up for what I believe in no matter what others think. I want to use my voice for the better, and do what I can any chance I get. I want to be my own unique person and not have to change myself for others. I want to be genuine and pure in everything, and do what is right and good even if i’m afraid. All the time I have chances to speak up for something, but sometimes I just don’t. And that too should change.

  • Working Hard in my Education

Ahhh, school. The one thing that I never fail to struggle with. Haha, This year I want to put in my best effort into all my work. I want to learn all that I can, and no matter the struggle with it I want to stay committed and work hard. Last year was honestly a terrible school year for me. I was overwhelmed and ended up making some not so good decisions which brought guilt and even more stress & struggling that I couldn’t handle. So this year, schoolwork really needs to be something I put more dedication into.

  • Grow the Blog

Sunshine & Rain has really became a huge passion of mine this past year, and I want to continue to use that passion for good. This blog is my outlet into the world and this is how I can really spread things out there, so I want to make Sunshine & Rain the best it can be. This blog grew so much this past year in so many ways and I want that growth to continue! I want to spread light through my blog, and use it to make an impact on those around me. From remodeling the design to maybe even going self hosted/premium (which I actually have lots of questions about so feel free to shoot me a message and tell me anything about it because it would be greatly appreciated.) I want Sunshine & Rain to grow for the better. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • New Things & Practicing Bravery

This year I want to explore a little more, and be more open to trying new things. Last year I really held myself back from so many things and it actually started to drastically lower my self esteem. There are so many things that I wish I would have gone for, and didn’t because I was too afraid. Bravery is being afraid and showing up anyways. This year I want to pull up my big girl pants, put on my brave face, and do so much more.

After all, I haven’t seen everything yet, and perhaps, that is a beautiful thing. ๐Ÿ™‚

– got that from a Morgan Harper Nicole quote, love ya Morgan xD

  • Being the Light

Kindness. Love. Compassion. I have always had a huge passion for all of these things, but sometimes I let my own emotions get in the way of showing these. I want to do better by showing anyone and everyone the light & love of Jesus, because we are called by Jesus to show these things. I love love, and I love loving people. And I really want to become better at showing that throughout daily life. Not just to the people in my home, or my close friends, but also to the people outside. Strangers need kindness and love and compassion too. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Finding my place

This is the year I want to work towards finding myself, and even creating who I am. I want to discover who I am made to be, and what I am able to do. I want to find where my heart belongs & where my soul fits. All of this will be a life long process, but this is where I officially start the journey.

All of these things I have talked about lead to my word of the year. I’ve never had a word of the year before, but this really summarizes everything i’m focusing on this year.

My 2021 word of the year, is Discovery.

Discovery.

I want to discover more about the world around me. I want to discover more through my faith & relationship with Jesus. I want to discover new people & friendships. I want to discover who I am destined to be by God. I want to discover my own unique voice and what i’ve been equipped with to make an impact. I want to continue to discover the lessons, and joy and beauty of life.

This year is going to be my year,

of Discovery.


Don’t worry I shall return super soon, I’ve got a lot more coming so be sure to Subscribe so that you don’t miss out ;D Okay bye loves xD