VernetteOutLoud

BBQ: Flaws and All

Flaws

When Leah posted this on Monday, therein was the one line I needed to read that day and it stayed with me for the rest of the week.

I know that I have many..many flaws. There are those I freely admit to – my temper, I cannot stand people sometimes, I cuss…a lot. And there are those I keep hidden from you. Those closest to me…know the ones I’m talking about.

Leah’s words resonated so much with me, that they inspired this post. When you’re hurting or doubting yourself…or just in a eff-this-ish kinda place, you need some simple truth.

You are enough. Flaws and all.

Don’t be afraid to show the world exactly who you are.

Leah is another one of my favourite bloggers and she is also the author of Red Circle Days. You can read my review of this little gem here. She’s fond of words – a lady after my own heart and you can read more about her on her blog Little Miss Wordy.

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I’m participating in this wonderful series created by Kozo over at everydaygurus.com If you haven’t heard about it please click here to read more.

BBQ
If you want to be part of this awesomeesauce BBQ, here’s how you do it:

  • Take a quotation from a favourite blogger
  • Create a BBQ post with the quotation
  • Link back to the blogger you quoted
  • Tag your post BBQLUV
  • Link to other BBQLUV posts (optional)

Yup! It’s that simple.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Family

My sister and I with our brother on his wedding day.

Family: My sister and I with our brother on his wedding day.

Enough

Enough

Enough. These few words are enough.
If not these words, this breath.
If not this breath, this sitting here.

This opening to the life
we have refused
again and again
until now.
Until now.

~ David Whyte, Where Many Rivers Meet

Hey you, reading this right now…

***take a deep breath and exhale.***

You are enough.

Just as you are.

Right where you are.

In this moment

you are enough!

You Are Loved

When I chose my One Word for 2014 I was so not prepared for things to start MOVING so quickly. Be careful what you ask for…or you just might get it!

I started this year in prayer asking the Lord to begin something new in my relationship with Him. I gave my life to Him and I asked Him to move in my heart, because I cannot achieve anything this year without Him.

Today at work, I found out that I am MOVING to a new department at the beginning of February. It’s more responsibility and just what I have been praying for and working hard towards. I praise and thank Him for His blessings.

14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.
~ Psalm 139:14

Who are we to doubt Him?

Today, I say to you, trust the path that you are on. For you – in all your unique, idiosyncratic glory – were lovingly created.

You are His masterpiece.

You are loved.

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Today’s post is a two-fer.

I’m doing my monthly One Word Update where I share the evolution of this One Word journey on the 15th of every month. So stay tuned for my next update on February 15th.

Aaaannnnddd….

Coffee-for-Your-Heart-150Last week, I discovered that there is a lovely bunch of ladies who share coffee and encouragement every Wednesday. I was like…whaaat…women having coffee and encouraging each other??? I have to get in on this.

So today I join the lovely Holley Gerth for her, “Coffee for Your Heart” link up.

You can read all about this lovely cup of goodness by clicking on the button to the right.

Joan Didion and I could totally be pals…

proustSo I took Vanity Fair’s version of Proust’s questionnaire and guess what…Joan Didion and I should have coffee someday.

Here are my responses:

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?

    That extra five minutes just before getting out of bed, where I set my intentions for the day ahead.

2. What is your greatest fear?

    Living a mediocre life…and leeches. SLUGS and LEECHES!!!

3. Which historical figure do you most identify with?

    I’m really stumped here. I cannot think of anyone…right now.

4. Which living person do you most admire?

    Hmmm…I really am stumped here also. I admire a lot of people for a lot of different reasons. ***I would so change this answer to Joan Didion now***

5. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

    I procrastinate a lot. Case in point the time this post is going to be published today…

6. What is the trait you most deplore in others?

    Disloyalty.

7. What is your greatest extravagance?

    Travel. I’ve been bitten hard by the travel bug. And Van Houtte’s Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Coffee K-cups. *stops to make a cuppa*

8. On what occasion do you lie?

    Those “How are you?”…”I’m fine.” occasions.

9. What do you most dislike about your appearance?

    My big forehead. Thankfully, my boobs are kinda big…so there’s that.

10. When and where were you happiest?

    Exploring Manhattan by myself last October, while on vacation.

11. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

    Starting before I’m ready.

12. If you could change one thing about your family, what would it be?

    Not being honest with each other. There have been too many family falling-outs because people were not 100% honest.

13. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

    Being able to be strong for my mother when she needed me the most and being strong enough to let her go when she needed me to.

14. If you died and came back as a person or a thing, what do you think it would be?

    A dragon of course. Because…dragons!

15. What is your most treasured possession?

    A pair of earrings my mum always wore. They’re not expensive…the beads probably cost $5 but to me they are priceless. I remember wearing them to the movies one evening and when the lights came on I couldn’t find one side. My sister and I looked EVERYWHERE. We were there still frantically looking when the staff came in the sweep the room. They saw how near-tears I was and they kindly joined in the search. I guess they probably thought I was crazy looking for such a cheap bauble. Anyways we didn’t find it and I left completely broken-hearted. Until I got home and opened the bag with the extra slice of Tiramisu I bought…and found the earring inside. I’ve never worn them out of my apartment since.

16. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

    Seeing the one you love and not being the one they’re with.

17. Who are your heroes in real life?

    My uncle Earl. He’s been married to my aunt for 53 years. He is the father we all know. And my brother. I watched my brother take care of my sister-in-law during her pregnancy and that experience changed my view on men, husbands, fathers and brothers. When he grew up and became a man…I don’t know. But my sister-in-law is blessed with a good man. And yes I’m a biased big sister.

18. What is that you most dislike?

    Hmmm it would be disloyalty. Yes I said that before but disloyalty is like a pebble in my shoe.

19. How would you like to die?

    Old and grey…peacefully in my bed with my loved ones around me.

20. What is your motto?

    Love now.

I read Joan’s book, The Year of Magical Thinking shortly after my mum died. One of my friends gave it to me and that was the time I needed to read it. She’s 79 years old now…but I think she understands this writing business. Joan said that she never understands how she feels about something until she’s written about it.

I write entirely to find out what I’m thinking, what I’m looking at, what I see and what it means. What I want and what I fear. – Joan Didion

We should so have coffee…or tea…my Keurig makes both.