VernetteOutLoud

BBQ: This too shall pass

This Too Shall Pass

***Spoiler Alert: This is a BAH HUMBUG kinda post***

Christmas Eve 2010…while I was liming with my sister and a couple close friends I had a major epiphany: There was absolutely NOTHING I felt I had to rush home to bake, clean, hang or wrap. There was nothing I had to do on Christmas Eve except what I was doing at the moment. It was effing depressing. I miss my mother.

Christmas was her time of the year. Cooking, cleaning, family, singing…or paranging as we say in Trinidad…that was ALL her. I realized that day that as I got older, Christmas was about making her happy. When she died, my Christmas spirit pretty much went with her.

Don’t get me wrong, I spend time with my sister and brother and their spouses and my extended family as well and I smile and I act happy…but this is a lonely time for me. I miss my mother. And nothing is the same without her. I thought this year might have been different and we would have a child with us to celebrate and shower with all things Christmas but God had other plans for that too. May they both rest in peace.

Yep…this is shaping up to be another so-so Christmas and I’ll drink some ponche de creme (eggnog for some of you) and smile and go through the motions.

Today’s BBQ comes from Terri Cole’s post on The Daily Love which you can read here. She sums up the Christmas blues perfectly. So I will sip my ponche de creme and go through the motions this season and I will do so while I smile through my blues and trust that by New Year’s Eve I will be feeling all kinds of better.

You can read more from founder of The Daily Love, Mastin Kipp and the other awesome TDL contributors here . Terri Cole is an inspiration and you can read more from her here as well.

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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.

BBQ: Save yourself!

Save yourself

It’s Saturday so you know it’s BBQ time! This week the down-to-earth Vikki Caflin kept it all kinds of real on her blog Laugh Lines with this hilarious post on the joys of menopause, kids moving out and turning the BIG FIVE-OH.

Now while I am nowhere near menopause nor do I have any kids…far less grown ones, that line of hers really made me laugh and commiserate. Because it describes me to a tee. When I’m in my dark place and there is no coming out…you better save yourself!!! I almost feel sorry for my future husband and kids when that time comes!

Vikki describes herself as “Goofy, often irreverent (usually at the most inopportune times!)” and you can read more about her shenanigans on her blog: Laugh Lines. Trust me, you wont be disappointed.

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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.

BBQ: The past cannot be undone

A Life Surrendered

Yesterday, Michele-Lyn from A Life Surrendered shared a really lovely post on how to deal with the heaviness of regret. I chose her awesome words of wisdom for today’s Beautiful Blog Quotes–BBQ Lovin’ because as I prepare for 2014, I’ve been doing some soul searching and this almost always leads to thinking about the past. When I get into that mode, there is always some regret over an action or inaction, a hastily said word or me not speaking up when I should have. I really liked how Michele-Lyn’s message puts the past into perspective.

You can read more about Michele-Lyn’s journey on her blog: A Life Surrendered.

_________________________________________________________

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.

BBQ: Moving Mountains

Moving mountains

…or climb them.

Elizabeth Griffin wrote The Art of Moving Mountains a couple of days ago and I’ve been thinking about it in the context of my life ever since.

Sometimes I don’t move my mountains because I need them. I get resources from the mountain. I rely on the animals living on it for my food, it’s snow melts into my water and it’s caves are my shelter. In a way it replaces God meeting my needs. Why trust Him for water when I can just get it from this muddy pond? The mountain provides me with some identity as well.

Our mountains mark us. Maybe you are the girl with the eating disorder. Or the man who never had a father. Financial crisis is your go-to. No matter who says they love you, you will always be the one who was rejected. We cling to our mountains because they have been feeding us for years.

This hit me for six! <<cricket term

Because of course she is talking about me here. Forget about God having my back and trusting that His will is being done in my life. I cling the hell out of certain mountains because they make for the perfect excuse. I can’t move it or even attempt to climb it because I need it.

I chose the background for this quote carefully. This photo of Fort Duvernette was taken on my trip to St Vincent and the Grenadines. It is a rocky pinnacle out in the ocean and is only accessible by boat. I felt that it truly represents saying to whatever our “mountain” is Be lifted up and thrown into the sea!

But sometimes, even when it is in the sea…that mountain can still be in our way! That’s why I love the fact that the some of the 255 steps to the peak are visible. It says to me that moving a mountain…climbing it…dealing with whatever is holding us back or blocking our way can only begin when we decide to move towards “moving” it. When we take that first step forward and then another and another. Moving a mountain happens one step at a time.

Elizabeth’s post really made me stop and think and it is only fitting that it be the inspiration for today’s Beautiful Blog Quotes–BBQ Lovin’. If you haven’t heard about this wonderful series Kozo over at everydaygurus.com created…click here to read about it.

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.

I would love to hear how you deal with the “mountains” in your life…do you “move ’em”, “climb ’em” or “cling to ’em”? Please feel free to share below.

BBQ Lovin'

Yes folks…I love me some BBQ. Beautiful Blog Quotations that is.

One of the best things about blogging is the community among bloggers. I love that there are bloggers supporting, encouraging and inspiring each other to keep going. Kozo over at everydaygurus.com has created this wonderful series which shines a light on all that is great about blogging.

What is so special about this series is that I can share something that spoke to my heart, a word or quote that made me stop and think and perhaps changed my perspective a little bit. I’ve decided to do a BBQ post every Saturday. This way, I am more mindful about all the goodness I read during the week and I will highlight the quote that truly spoke to my heart.

That said, I am totally psyched about this series and I’m thrilled to be doing my very first BBQ post.

*drum roll please*

Dangerous Love

On Tuesday, Stephanie wrote a heart-warming piece in remembrance of all that the world lost on 9/11. Twelve years later, I still feel some anger but she chose to celebrate the good in people. Her last line really stuck with me, because if we all truly dared to live and walk in Love, hate could never, ever flourish. I choose love. Every. Time.

Stephanie keeps it real and I love her for that. Want some CrazyExhaustion in your life check out her blog here. Trust me…it will be totally worth it.

So are you feeling the Love?? Do you want to be part of this awesomeesauce BBQ? Well 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)

It’s that simple!

I’m really looking forward to reading more BBQ posts.

I would love to hear some of your BBQs so please feel free to share them below.