Let’s Talk about the Ugly

Let's Talk about the Ugly

Let’s Talk about the Ugly

Let’s Talk about the Ugly

Sometimes we avoid conversations because they are unpleasant. They take us places that we don’t want to go, in shoes that seem to tight, give us blisters or don’t seem to “fit” at all.

Who wants to wear something that they feel awful in? Like grief or anger?

Especially nowadays. We have so many things to “tuck us in” a dress or make us look good in pants. We’re taught to avoid hard discussions out of fear of loss, retaliation or labeling.

In the back of the book you’ll find a workbook that isn’t easy to do. It’s designed to make you THINK about the parable of the book. Help you work through who you were before all the baggage of life got packed on your shoulders and in your mind.

WHO were you before you were 10 years old?

Before the divorce?

Before the abuse?

Before the emotional bankruptcy?

Enjoy this adult parable about discovering who your created to be and what your gifts and talents are. Work through the workbook. I get told often people read it 3-5 times and gain something rich each time they do.

 

Run with your Imagination

RUN with your imagination!

Copper Stove Hood

Copper Hood Using Modern Masters Paint

I recently got back into chalk painting again and designed and painted my stove hood making it copper and aged patina. That’s what I wanted but couldn’t afford the real deal. So, I thought about it for months, looked around and found a paint that gave me the look I wanted. No, I’d never done it and it seemed like a big risk. I did it twice because I started out making it look like black rusted iron. Anyway, then I did my first transfer and making rose molds on an old antique cabinet I bought. Again, curiosity got the best of this cat lady. Corbels

When an idea comes across your mind, nourish it, think about it, read up or watch YouTube video’s then dive in. Take a risk and CREATE something wonderful! Let your imagination run wild or just run with your imagination! It will take you places you never thought you could go! THAT is how I’ve done almost everything I’ve ever done. THAT’S my “secret.” So when someone tells me I’m so talented, no really I’m just wacko brave and move with thoughts. What have you been wanting to TRY or LEARN that you think you can’t do? Take the word CAN’T out because you CAN DO anything you WANT to do!

I’m sharing the final photos of what I just did.

Antique Cabinet

Antique Cabinet Using IOD Transfers and Clay Rose Molds

Have fun and learn something new!

RUN with your imagination!

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3 Egg-Spectations in Relationships

Expectations

3 Egg-Spectations in Relationships

I want to go over three of the most important things to expect in relationships.

I’m talking about the hopes we have for ourselves or others.

We will ALL fall short.

Yet, my old saying; is it an incident or a lifestyle holds true.

We are certain to fall short, miss the mark and disappoint ourselves and others. Those that opt not to forgive and move on … well, that’s about them and you must carry on. Besides they proved “the test” wasn’t only about YOU but them also. God has a way of dealing with everyone’s heart issues (and bringing them to surface) in nasty, messy times in our lives.

So let’s get to them: 3 Expectations in Relationships.

  1. Honest. If you can’t come clean when caught with your pants down, how do you move forward. You don’t … NEXT.
  2. Honesty. Since you can’t be honest .. how are we supposed to have a REAL relationship? You can’t … NEXT
  3. Honestly. One person doesn’t own everything. Everyone shares a part in a problem. Even if it’s misunderstanding, expectations, contradictions that need clarity or repentance.

Truly (no pun intended) that’s the foundation we have to build on. If it’s cracked … fix it. You may have to get a huge jack-hammer out and tear it up but MOST people are worth it. Check character not content.

Is it an incident or lifestyle?

 

Pre-release SALE of Paperback ends February 13th at Midnight

I need your HELP please. 

Hurry, Sale ends 2-13-19 at Midnight!

This is a shameless promotion of the new adult edition of I’m an Eagle not a Field Chick.It is an inspirational book that helps people discover their gifts and talents through a parable. The book officially releases Valentine’s Day. You can buy it before midnight of 2/13 for $10. It will retail for $14.99 after that so it’s a real bargain. It is also available as an E book and in audio.

We need pre-sales and REVIEWS (that must be done obviously AFTER you read the book) even if it’s 2 words on Amazon! This would be a great Valentine’s Day present. Here’s the link you need to purchase the book.

Look what others are saying about the book.

Rebekah has a gift … the gift of connecting with individuals and audiences with her words, her insights and her ability to see a problem and offer a variety of solutions. As an author, her story telling connects … offering inspiration and a guide to “Yes, I can,” as well as “This is what I’m meant to be … to do.” Yes, Rebekah and her work as an author is a gift to all of us.

Judith Briles Best-selling author and book publishing expert | Founder of “The Book Shepherd”

Rebekah is one of the most passionate and resilient women I’ve met. She walks her talk when it comes to living a purposeful life. As a writer and teacher, her words come from the heart and land on the heart. I look forward to seeing the impact she will continue to make on the lives of those who are recipients of her encouragement, insight and hard-won wisdom. 

Margie Warrell Best-selling author of Brave | Founder of Global Courage

I had a chance to read this book and wasn’t sure what to expect going into it. As a female business owner who at one point wanted to ‘fit in’, I realized after reading this book that being the ‘norm’ or what others expect wasn’t in the cards for me personally or professionally.

This book spoke to me on every level and incorporating the Christian/Faith Based element lead me to a closer relationship with Christ. The way that Phelps used animals to deliver a message was smart. In a similar way Christ used parables, makes the story relatable and simplistic that even children would understand. This book reaches readers of every age with additional content for adults with thought provoking questions for a more personal journey.

I’m An Eagle is a must read! Bookin Around Town | The Audio Flow

Thanks for your support and please share this with friends!

The above link is an AUDIO clip.

In Over Your Head

Water Logged

If I had known how deep and vast this water was I wouldn’t have dove in. Yet now that I’m in (and water logged) I’m determined to beat the undertow!

When is the last time you started something and then felt like you were “in over your head?”


That’s how I feel at times about this “author endeavor.” I felt that way when I owned and ran my concierge business for almost 12 years. Even when I was making more money than I’d ever made in my life.


So “the feeling” is not about the reward but the effort. The rowing, the accumulation of knowledge and application overload! For me it’s about wearing so many hats that don’t fit! I’m a delegator and I like having people to hand something off to. It’s about seeing the light at the top and wondering if you’ll make it.


I dislike not being able to work smarter versus harder. That boils down to money. Hiring HELP!


Truth is folks, you are doing it because you are destined to be there. Fear and frustration is a shadow that lurks below or above. The more you push through the less afraid or discouraged you’ll be. So long as you have breath you’re going to work through normal human emotions.


If you’re a true entrepreneur (or author-preneur) you’re doing what you do! Getting in over your head. Figuring it all out, finding solutions, resolving problems and building!


Remind yourself: You dove into this water because of a dream! Now swim! Kick with all your might. Take time to float on your back for awhile and enjoy the beauty of the scenery around you! Let the water move you around and stop thrashing! Besides that’s what the sharks are attracted too!

Frozen in Time

My sister and dog nephew Finn. Before the Polar Vortex!

Frozen in time, frozen in shock or disbelief or simply still waiting for a “cold time” in your life to be over with.

Have you been there? We all have for various reasons.

The coldest I’ve ever been was waiting on the supreme court steps to get in one wintry morning. I arrived home with a bruised face and dried mascara which had run down the sides of my face. It looked like someone had been punching me for hours! That’s what the wind did to me. You also can’t imagine how embarrassed I felt. Knowing I looked like I dressed up for Halloween to visit the highest court in the land.

I’ll never forget the first phone call I got telling me my daughter had committed to a mental institution. My emotions froze liked a cold winter pipe and when they thawed it was like a backed up damn burst.

Unexpected events. Freezing Us

I’ll never forget my son standing in a yellow raincoat. Watching and listening to the raindrops hit him on the head and drop down on his cute bare feet. He was so entertained by all his senses.

Frozen in time, an image in our heart and mind.

Are you warm right now or frozen? How so?

Stay warm and enjoy this thought about being FROZEN. Also check out this YouTube video of what my sister made at her house last night (and you’ll get to see Finn). It is sooooooooooo cold in Madison, Wisconsin that water turns to crystal instantly!

Plans Change

Our Pretty Entry and Kitchen Island

Plans change, I remember saying to my mom once; “Life is full of changes and if you can’t handle change it will be hard to handle life.” My life up to that point had been full of unexpected “change.”

 
I’d make plans for one thing to happen and get a different result. From motherhood to marriage, it never turned out the way I thought it would.
 
So, I learned a long time ago to take a deep breath, bend my knee … Go back to God and say; “Now what?” I’ve learned to get up, sit and wait.
 
Not so much WHY this happen but what can you do with this now? Where do we go from here?
 
I’ve learned that when I’m asking WHY I’m asking from a confused, hurt and disappointed position. When I ask WHAT I’m in a better stronger place. A place of hope, strength to go forward and waiting for that lesson to unfold. What will God use this for? What can I do with it? What should I be doing while I wait?
“Life is full of changes and if you can’t handle change it will be hard to handle life.”
 
Most of us are looking at life through the scope of LIFE NOW vs. life in the long run. What’s the big picture going to look like? Through eternal eyes, through God’s? What are we putting significance on and what matters?
 
So I said all that to say; When we downsized and bought our RV (a 5th Wheel Ambition) to travel full time. We both felt we were doing the right thing (and that’s all anyone can do). We had loads of confirmation and everything unfolded and happen very smoothly. We took council and moved forward.
 
Bottom line we still believe we did the right thing.
 
Even though we are selling our BRAND NEW 5th Wheel 1 year later.
 
Hindsight or Insight ….
 

You won’t have either until you move forward. 

Kitchen & Living Room

 
Take a step or a leap, put blindfolds on if you are to scared to look. Just do it.
 
I mean especially if the confirmation and council is in place! The only thing in the way is you.
 
We wanted less STUFF and more of life, more of meeting and touching people’s lives.
 
I still want a lot less stuff than I have in 400 sq. ft. Go on a vacation for 2-4 weeks you’ll see you can live with less.
 
George discovered he needed a home base.
 
WE discovered I am cut out for this more than he is.
 
We also learned that if we were going to be in Florida for 6 months out of the year we don’t want to be in central part of the state. Second, for what it cost to RV you might as well have equity. So we are selling this gorgeous “little house” and downsizing back to a Class C (or A) to travel the other 6 months. George doesn’t want to deal with snow anymore and he “needs” a home base. Which is really kinda funny since I’m the one that likes to garden, sew, paint etc. etc. 
 
But we wouldn’t have known that if we didn’t move forward. Nothing has changed except WHAT we are in for 6 months in Florida.
 
So we are still on track with what we started out to do.
 

Ambition 38FB Living Room

Don’t get frazzled in the adjustment periods or times of reorganization. Readjust, reevaluate, recalculate your options. You can only get the best perspective once you’re in it. You see thing and know things you couldn’t otherwise.

 
We have gotten things done we’d never have been able to if we hadn’t moved when we did.
 
We know and understand things about Florida we wouldn’t have coming to visit.
 
We have met and made connections we couldn’t have if we had stayed because it didn’t make sense.
 
IF GOD had said; Sell everything you have, give away and donate what doesn’t sell. Buy a 5th wheel, go to Florida then 6 months later buy a house we would have had a good laugh and would still be in West Virginia. Neither of us never wanted to live in Florida. THAT wouldn’t have made sense.
 
It didn’t happen that way. It will never happen that way. 
 
It happened one step at a time with a few ideas in mind of how “the dream” would go.
 

Erma is her name. Hanging out in Virginia’s Fall

…and we are very happy about having the courage to take those steps, together. Our threesome.
 
Check out the RV for sale on RV Trader!
PS: Don’t bother rehashing questions to yourself like: We could have spent a lot less on the RV, we would have saved, we should have, we could have…. Should’a, would’a’s and could’a’s will get you no where. It is what it is. You are where you are … now go forward.
LIVE …
Being still and knowing that HE IS God and Philippians 4:11-13

Leave the Safety of the Harbor this New Year

Leave the Safety of the Harbor this NEW Year

John Augustus Shedd said; “A Ship is safe in the harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.”

That’s such a great quote and the one I picked to start us off into this NEW Year! For me, it’s not so much that I need to GET OUT, it’s that I need to remind myself to stay out … keep my sails up.

I’d like to make two suggestions. Rather than make “new weighty goals” for the New Year, let’s stop living in the safety of the harbor. Get out and use the gifts, talents and abilities YOU have.

Write down 1-8 gifts, talents and abilities YOU have that you can expand on in 2019.

You know things like:

  • Art / ARTIST – drawing or a craft
  • Teaching – what can you TEACH someone else? Could you tutor a child who needs help? An adult in business or another practical skill or talent you have?
  • Writing – what’s your topic? Can you write blogs for bloggers? Local Newspaper? Church bulletin? Don’t keep your thoughts and words to yourself.
  • Handyman skills: Could you help a senior? Single mom?

And of course, the greatest of all the gifts is ….

The more you USE your gifts, talents and abilities the more you’ll have to use. Your life operates as the same principle as trimming herbs or pruning trees …. It grows, blooms and flourishes as you use it.

Let’s make our harbor a place to refuel, rest, stock up and go back out. NOT a place to camp out and hoard what we know or what we have.

Beside you don’t want to wait for the STORM to come into the harbor and MOVE YOU out … do you?

Remember: you aren’t meant to keep it all to yourself. Gifts are meant to be given, shared, opened and enjoyed by you and others. THAT is why God gave them to YOU.

Look for opportunity to share and develop, it’s all around you!

By the way, check out my “Bubble” on BUBLISH.

Water it and it will grow!

Water it and it will grow! What if you went out and bought a plant. Then took it home and put it in yummy organic soil with some compost and fertilizer. Stuck that healthy plant in the moist dirt and set it in the light it loves. You know full sun or part shade. You could expect that plant to grow-up to be the healthy seed it was born to be. If however you took a healthy plant home, left it outside or on your partly sunny porch and forgot about it … what would happen? It’d die … right? What about you… How are you maintaining yourself? Mind, body and spirit? If you’re not “eating your daily bread” don’t expect to have a healthy spiritual life. If you aren’t watering yourself with nutrition, sunshine and a healthy balance of joy don’t expect to bloom. Your life is a garden and that garden needs proper care. The toxic weeds of life must be pulled that will choke out the good. Don’t expect to thrive and have “shade and blooms” (so to speak) to share with others if you let the “old weeds” take over!

 
________________________.
 
I was at Dr. Caroline Leaf’s conference in Dallas Texas. One evening after the conference I wrote what’s above. If you haven’t heard of Dr. Leaf you aren’t alone, I didn’t know who she was until February 2018. She wrote several books, the latest I got from her conference called, “Think, Learn, Succeed.” It is one of 2 books I took on my cruise to read. I’m new to Goodreads, so I’ll post a review later.
 
Anyway, back in February a friend introduced me to her work. Dr. Leaf is a scientist, who’s also a Christian. She’s teaching the biblical principles of “you’ll bear the burden of your words.” I LOVE her “21-day Brain Detox” program. Get it, hands down if you need help with your stinkin’ thinkin’ you found a way to change your brain!
 
She’s put into words what I’ve done for years just in a totally different way. I once did a biblical study on the tongue. The Word has MUCH to say about this topic and if you can’t control your mouth you won’t be able to control much else. As James 3:4 says; it’s the rudder that steers the entire ship!
 
I don’t know about you but sometimes old junk creeps up in my mind and makes its way out of my mouth.
 
You know things like; Well because of my past, I can’t ….
 
I’m not ever going to be as successful as …. Because …
 
Why are they able to do (or go or say) but I can’t ….
 
Or things like: I’m worthless, I’m not able, if I could only ….
 
Back to “water it and it will grow” ….
 
It’s whatever your watering … that’s what is going to grow.
 
Super simple but super missed by most of us.
 
We must get rooted in the right LIGHT
 
By the correct source
 
Planted Into a solid foundation,
 
Watered daily (with The Word)
 
And we must take care of renewing our minds, daily! Minute by minute at first. WATCH what goes into your head! Take those thoughts captive!
 
As a man thinks, so he is! (Proverbs 23:7)
 
That’s one of my stones of remembrance but put this way; The U, U C is the U, U B!
 
So True.

Stone of Remembrance