That’s my advice to you guys today! I can’t get over how He comes through for me; HE EXCEEDS MY EXPECTATIONS!!! (HUGE SMILE) Like I’m bragging to my husband that we have the best kids in the world. I’m very passionate about my family, y’all!! Today is my elder daughter’s 20th birthday (Am I really that old?!?), and I sent Julie to spend the weekend with her (they are like an hour away from each other at separate New York universities). “You go and show your respect to your older sister!” I forced her to go because Ember has set such a beautiful example for Julie and our sons. We’re blessed to have her fierceness, consistency, wisdom, courage, and closeness to God, setting the PACE for the other kids. Mwah! Happy birthday, my baddie!!!

“You take your whipping, and you keep it skipping,” I just wrote to someone. The figurative whippings are all the disappointments that life throws your way, but the boys and I read this in our appointment with God today (written as if He was speaking to us):

“Shake It Off

The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? – Proverbs 20:24 (NLT)

I have a perfect plan for your life. So trust Me and try to see things from My point of view. When things don’t go quite the way you expected, shake them off. Look up at Me, shrug your shoulders, and say with a grin, “Oh well.” Then just let them go—and move on.

This simple act of trust will keep you from weighing yourself down with little frustrations. With enough practice, you will discover that most things you worry about just aren’t that important. Your energy and time won’t be wasted on things that really don’t matter—and you’ll have the strength to deal with big problems when they do come your way.

You know that thing that’s bothering you right now? Shake it off, and let’s move on together.” – Jesus Calling Devotional For Kids

And no one better to move on with than God, staying on the highest road possible, being our best, most loving, and excellent selves, all for His glory. God had the YouTuber, Stargirl, to speak directly to me in a message recently. I really need to take some time and write out all the wonderful notes through her to me, but today I’ll share two important ones: MERCY AND HOPE:

“I see that the Creator is going to give you a second chance at life. The Creator is going to show mercy to you (He did!!!). The Creator, or whatever you believe in, is going to give you a bone, throw you a bone, and give you a second chance at life, and you’re gonna be receiving generosity from the universe (I have!!!) that helps get you out of this tough place that you’ve been in.

…I’m seeing with the five you’ve been through some difficulty okay and especially with the beggars at the bottom, you have been humbled by the universe some unfair things have happened to you, you’ve been struggling with your self-esteem and you’ve been struggling in general with life. And I’m hearing that… God’s gonna come down and give you hope (He has!!!) or a second chance at life or be generous with you in your material reality to help get you out of this tough place that you’ve been in.”

Honestly, Stargirl is spot on with the generosity God shows me. I truly feel as if I’m His fav girl the way things work out for me (better than I can even imagine) and I’m filled with renewed hope for every aspect of my life.

God is personally involved with our lives, and why I can tell you to just keep going and give God your best because the world may disappoint, but God doesn’t. When the disappointments come, I write them against all the huge blessings God sends my way. As the devotional said, I practice saying, ‘Oh, well,’ and I keep it stepping with my eyes on God knowing no one can take away my biggest blessing: GOD! Amen! And once you have Him, you have all you need! Take your whippings and keep it skipping joyfully with God! He got us! Wink! Wink!