This Life Is What It Is

[manyraquelseries]

I am beginning to realize that life is what you make it! People will come and go, things will not always go the way you want it to go, but guess what…you are still here! God has kept you for a reason. Do not wait on people. It wait on The Lord! He is always on time and will grant you the prayers of your heart! He has known what you wanted before you knew what you wanted. I can testify to that! I have had so many upas and downs, downs, downs that I sometimes thought I would never be happy. I realize that it all got me where I am now. Happy and grateful for every bit of grace and mercy that God has granted me, even when I didn’t deserve it. Some people were removed, some situations were changed and my routes were detoured, but guess what…HE, GOD was always there! I always say that one of the best gifts God has given us is the gift of free will…we can think for ourselves and do what we want. AND what we do will impact our lives and might even impact others. We hopefully learn from our cases of “bad judgment “…every day I learn from mine.

So why does God allow us to do things that are harmful to ourselves and even others? I think part of it is to get us to a point where we realize that we don’t know everything and that you can’t do wrong and expect good. It even teaches us that when we do wrong and don’t get what we deserve, how powerful God is and how much He loves us. How we can go to Him in prayers and ask for forgiveness and know that Jesus is real and that Jesus died for our sins so that we could have another chance and do the right thing for His glory! I have reached a point in my life where that means EVERYTHING! I do my best to do the right thing and give God the glory.

[manyraquelseries]

Well…2022 is here! I am trying something new this year…which I have been testing out for a few months now. I am trying to adapt to a lifestyle of “Slow Fashion “. This is a lifestyle of being more aware and conscious of the clothes that I purchase and having a classic wardrobe that can work for me all the time. I am doing this along with my Yoga instructor…she has started this challenge and I decided to try it with her. I think it will be great! I will concentrate more on decor for my home when I need to buy something. I will only purchase clothes if I ABSOLUTELY need it. Wish me luck, I will try to post pictures of some of my looks if I remember lol. More to come.

[manyraquelseries]

I am going to be 50 this year. One of the amazing things that the crazy year of 2020 has taught me is how to make the best of everything in a tough situation! God truly spoke to me and I listened COMPLETELY this time. Life is short and I am learning to live in the moment and I have received so much clarity on my relationship with God. It is the most important relationship in my life, He always speak truth to my heart and soul and He has shown me who my true friends are. It was a hard process that I have been working through for quite a long time! I have dealt with feeling lonely and like people did not care. I felt empty inside, and if you give that space to God it will be filled with love and all that is good. How awesome is that? I don’t feel empty or unfulfilled, I have learned to live my life...even during this pandemic. I am decorating at home, getting more organized and when the time is right I will be able to host small, intimate gatherings in my home with the right people! God IS love! He loves all of us and if we dedicate time to Him it is so worth it! As a result I will post part of my journey on this blog and really show how I am happy with all the God and life has to offer me in my lifetime!

[manyraquelseries]

New beginnings...

Well...I’m doing much better. The face you see is the sign of a new thing in me. I feel like God has been calling on me to get back in line with him. I’ll never forget I was watching an interview of one of my favorite childhood singers many years ago. She had mentioned how she was empty inside …and God filled that emptiness! I feel like He is the only one who can fill the void, the emptiness that I have been feeling for years. I have placed way too much faith in people and it has left me feeling empty! I have a great family and I need to focus on them and keeping them close. I must seek God first in ALL things...and everything else will fall into place in His time. I’m gonna start listening to some sermons and faith filled videos on line and eventually find myself a good church. I will take my time finding a church and figuring out how I am called to serve. I’ll be patient and pray more often... lean on God more.

He is what I’ve been missing and I’m looking forward to growing in my relationship with God again! It’s what I need!

[manyraquelseries]

Fresh and new and full of color!

I am excited to say that anew thing has been created in me! I am tired of wallowing! I want to be the creative and fun loving person I have always been! I am ready to embrace this wonderful thing called life and live in each and every moment it brings! No more sadness and wondering about who is not a part of my life because my life will continue to go on and I want my children and husband and grandchildren see what it means to make the best of EVERY single day that we are given! Life is short and I want to have a wonderful legacy that will bless others!

I will embrace a spirit of gratitude, even when my bank account says I shouldn’t. I’ll express humility, I’ll smile even when someone decides to do something to hurt me...and figure out how to prevent that from happening! I’ll take the highs and lows because that is what the world offers, the only thing I can control is how I handle it. I’ll help those in need when I can and embrace all the positive energy that I receive from people! I love love and I have a loving husband who gives me that, so do my children, grandchild and those that really love me! Wait and see all that I have to offer this beautiful world!

[manyraquelseries]

Well today is my birthday! I’m 48 years old! I think I look pretty darn good, fresh face, no makeup and showing all of my freckles! I’m grateful to God for another trip around the sun!

[manyraquelseries]

Do you see these precious dogs? They are different but they are both dogs. I can almost guarantee that they do not spend all of their time and energy comparing themselves to each other. They don’t worry about who the fastest runner is, who’s fur is shinier, who is thinnner and who looks better. They just run around have fun and enjoy every moment...living in each moment and just enjoying life. We need to be the same way...we compare ourselves to each r way too much. I have made a decision to no longer compare my life or journey to anyone else’s. I will live my life, live in each moment and be grateful for every moment! Love my life! 😀❤️😀❤️

[manyraquelseries]

[manyraquelseries]

Soooo...I have had a dilemma for quite a long time. My dear best friend passed away almost 8 years ago. It was the best friendship I had since high school. We spoke on the phone almost every other day. We talked about everything. We talked about parenting, finances, men, family, careers…everything! She was truly my confident and I love her to pieces. Well since she’s been gone I have yet to find a friendship with another person. I do try often... I try to let it happen naturally and I get nothing. People are busy with their lives and are not in the market for building new friendships. Then I have some people that I’d like to call my friends... but it’s not the same. They never call me, I rarely get a text and I feel like I’ve been forgotten.

I am praying that God will send me a few good people my way that will bless me with positive energy and a great friendship! I’m getting older, I’ll be 48 in a few weeks and it would be nice to know that someone is thinking about me! I will not push myself on someone and I am open to meeting all types of people, no matter their age, gender, race, etc. I am so open for this, at the same time I am asking God to keep bad people way from me! Only positive people..someone I can introduce to my husband and family. At the same time I’m excited to see who God brings to me. I will no longer compare my life to others.

[manyraquelseries]

Well hello...

I had a good day today! Went out and had a lovely breakfast with the hubby and kids which was yummy! The little things make me happy. I enjoy spending time with my family because they are awesome and I love to make them 😂. It’s a gift I have. Then we just did a little window shopping and all is well! Still waiting for spring to arrive...I’m patient until April and it’s still cold outside lol. That makes me a bit crazy!

[manyraquelseries]

Well here we go...

Well for the past few years my finances have been way out of control! I am so over being a slave to bills. I want to pay down my debt, save for retirement and be comfortable! When I turn 50 (which is 2 and a half years) I want to visit Paris! I’ve wanted to visit this beautiful city forever! Knowing what I know now, I want to go there knowing that I did not have to rob, beg or steal to get there. After that, in another 2 and a half years I would love to go to Africa or Spain. I’m not a rich person but if I get my finances in order I can visit these beautiful places God willing while I am still healthy! This is doable and I just know that I will need to be strict with my money, pay only cash for my purchases and cut a few corners! I am ready to get this started so HERE WE GO…

[manyraquelseries]

Well.... it has been ages since I have posted but I’m back. Get ready for this new chapter. I’m changing the tone a bit just like I changed my name! Be ready it will be more fun and inviting! 😀

[manyraquelseries]

Never alone...

Yes, please remember that you are never alone.  God is always with you...when you are sad, happy, hurt, confused, hungry, full and all that jazz.  This past year has been quite interesting.  I was at a job that caused me much misery and left with not a single job prospect... and found a new job 3 weeks later which is much better to me.  I keep forgetting that I have to stop looking for happiness in things and money.  These are things that can provide temporary happiness...after a while you can begin to feel unhappy again.  That is what happened to me.  My job is ok...I am not short on money but something was still missing.  It is hard to find good friends.  If you have good ones don't take advantage of them.  spend time with them and show them how they are appreciated.  I have maybe 2 good friends...one is in another state and one here in my home state, I have many associates though.  I have been looking find interesting ways to spend time with them and have fun.  Life is too short and good friends are hard to find.

[manyraquelseries]

True happiness

Well...2016 has been a very interesting year. I prayed and prayed for God to deliver me from an awful place of employment ...and He did. I am so grateful for this blessing. I am content at work, I work with decent people and I am even making more money. So why do I still feel that a part of my life is empty??? My family is healthy and save , I have a roof over my head and we are all decent people. I am truly starting to believe that I need to seek the kingdom of God first and that is where I will find true happiness and He will fill that void! I have not been attending church regularly this year and I am very ashamed of that. I was not attending because I felt lost in a big church. I was not able to meet people and develop any friendships. I guess I really need to stop looking to people to fill my emptiness. I continue to do that and need to get away from that. People are busy and just do not always have the time to call, email, write and visit. I even find it hard to find the time as well. When I am lonely I need to say a prayer to God and say "thank you" . It is hard at times though because I think back to when I was in high school and in my 20's and I had some very good friendships. Hard circumstances separated us unfortunately and I miss having friendships like that...I crave it often. To bee continued...

[manyraquelseries]

God will deliver...

Hallelujah!!!!  That is the best way to start this post.  God has delivered me!  I took a huge leap of faith and resigned from my job.  A true leap of faith...I just could not be there anymore and I needed to move on.  The stress everyday was just way too much for me and I was very unhappy!  My soul and spirit were in turmoil.  I had not peace at all.

Well I have been on a few interviews over the past weeks that I have been home and I have received an offer for a job!!!  God is so good!!!  He is always worthy to be praised even when you are in the valley!  Words can not express how happy I am.  I can now enroll in school and take classes toward the career that I want and do the things that I want to do.  I can get back to being with my family, not working on weekends and have my peace back.  This experience has truly taught me that if you have faith in The Lord, He will deliver you from your valley.  When you are at the end of your rope, He is right there with you.

To be continued...

#faithworks #heisonthethrone

[manyraquelseries]

Deep in it...but going through it!

Well...things are not getting any better at work.  I am still struggling to keep up with crazy demands, I have found myself caught up in some “he say...she say” and to top it off I just found out from my supervisor that one of my colleagues that I considered a friend has been lying on me.  This is just so ridiculous, I am no longer in junior high school yet I am wrapped up in the childish games.  A person that I thought was my friend is stabbing me in the back...or is it my supervisor trying to create an alliance with me while causing division.  I am not sure any more and this is very difficult.  Plus I am on probation at work!!!

I am a very trusting person and always give people the benefit of the doubt but now I feel like my senses are just off and it has put me in a bad place.  The first 4 years at this job things were good...but it seems like once a certain person has entered the group things have changed.  I just want to be able to come to work and go home.  I feel like I can’t trust ANYONE in my department and I just want to keep to myself.  I am tired of crying, of the backstabbing and I am just praying for God to deliver me from this.  I know that God will, but while I am deep in it and going through it...my life has become very difficult. In addition, I am having trouble sleeping, I am working 10 hours a day 3 or 4 times a week, I miss spending time with my family during the week and on the weekends I am so tired that I do not have the energy to do anything.  I can’t keep up with my house cleaning and it is just awful.  I don’t like living like this...my life is out of order.

it is times like this that I know I need to lean on the Lord.  I know that He will get me through this and not leave me in this forever.  I will remain faithful and remember that He is with me.  God is in control and I feel like He is preparing me for something...and it will be something great!  I have not been in this place is a long time.  There are a lot of distractions out there and right now my job is my distraction.  It is trying to take my focus off my true goal which is to get my degree and change my career.  I want to be there for my children and family again.  I have cried so much over this phase of my life, but I know that God will deliver me.  Isaiah 40:31 is the scripture I look to at times like this.  If anyone reads this please pray for me...sometimes I feel like giving in...but I won't!!!

[manyraquelseries]

Let’s start from the beginning

Well, as you know 2015 has not been a great year for me career wise.  Hmmm, now that I think about that word “career” it confirms that I really do not have a career...I just have a job.  How sad is that?  Well the good news is I am now at 44 years old starting to make moves toward my career.  I am going back to school to get my degree in Sociology so that I can have a career in social work. I want to help people.  I took a sociology class in my 20′s and I absolutely loved it and know that I wanted a career where I could help people, but instead started working in a field just to make money to support my family...a necessity as a single parent.

Well, now is my time to begin my true career and where God is moving me to go.  I want to help domestic violence survivors and/or children in any way that I can...since I am a domestic violence survivor I want to help others through their journey to feeling safe and independent!  Glory to God!  We no longer have to be victims we can be survivors and continue to help others.  New beginnings are so wonderful...and it is not always a new years resolution.  It is just starting from “your beginning”.  My beginning is now!!!  My future is looking bright, I am keeping my focus on God as I know he will guide my steps and He will get all of the glory!!!