hope

The Trade

Good Morning!☀️

I’m not sure if this new routine of getting more sleep is going to work. I feel like I’ve gotten too much sleep. It’s new so I will allow myself time to adjust. The real test will be how I perform throughout the day. Will I need to take a nap this afternoon or not?

Anyhoo, here’s a message I found in last year’s journal entry. I wrote I found it on LinkedIn.

The LinkedIn quote—

“Your new life is going to cost you your old life. You ready to make that trade?” –Author Unknown

The cost.

There’s always a cost associated with change.

When I declared that this side of 50 would be different than my last 50 years of life, I had no idea of what it would cost me. On some days I feel like I have lost so much more than I’ve gained. My life isn’t the same. (Just being honest.) Then, on other days—most days—when I’m working on my own projects or spending time with my loves (which is what I really wanted—the freedom to move and spend time as I please), I’m on cloud nine. But it did cost me.

Yes, I made the trade because I desired something different. I wanted to experience something different. I’m only a year and a half into it so it’s very new. I know that in time I will adjust and one day the things I lost will feel like a gain. Giving myself time, grace, and space to process it all.


That’s all for now. Not sure if 6:00 AM CT will be my new post time or not. We shall see. I did wake up around 3:30, but forced myself to go back to sleep. This is another thing I will eventually adjust to. I know in the long run it’s for the best.

I pray you have a wonderfully blessed day!♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Restoration

Good Morning!☀️

God is restoring everything! Everything you lost. Everything you thought you lost. This is restoration season. Can’t you feel it?! If you can’t, I surely can. I can feel it, and I can see it. It’s happening. Allow it to happen—yes, you must allow it to happen in order to experience the full effect.

I can hear the Winans singing, “Restoration has finally come. Been restored back to my place in God.”

What a wonderful feeling!

You are God’s child. Covered and restored.

Y’all, God is so amazingly good. There is absolutely none like Him. We are truly blessed!

I pray you have a beautiful day.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

Be Kind To Yourself

A little bit of kindness goes a long way. Have you been kind to yourself lately?


Remember to be kind and gentle with yourself. Nothing in life ever remains the same. You are growing and evolving like everyone else and deserve just as much grace. So please, be kind to yourself.♥️

Love you always,

Shaun

hope

Finally Home

I finally made it home from visiting my daughter. Before I got on the road, I also visited my oldest nephew and his wife. He lives about 30 minutes from her, so the visit wasn’t out of my way. However, once I got to his place, he wanted me to spend a little time with him, too—which I did because he’s also one of my babies. Lol. So we went to breakfast and talked for a couple of hours before I actually left town. Overall, I had a wonderful trip, but I am glad to be home. Now it’s time to rest.

I hope you had a lovely Sunday, and pray you have a relaxing evening.♥️

Love you,

Shaun


We had breakfast at Hen Mother Cookhouse. The food was really good. My nephew had their chicken and waffles, but I forgot to take a picture of his plate. Oops!😬

hope

Smile, You Are Loved

In case no one has told you today, you are loved. Never, ever doubt that you are. God loves you, and I love you, too.♥️

So… Smile,

Shaun

hope

Self Love Saturday

Sitting here reflecting on the past couple of days. Y’all, God is so very amazing.

Revelations 21:5 (NIV) says, “… I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

I wish you could feel what I am feeling right now. I’ve been hanging out with my daughter the past couple of days, and this is the first time—very first time—since I was around six years old that I haven’t had to worry about anyone else besides myself. Even when I joined the Air Force and left home, my siblings were always at the forefront of my mind. I’ve always been their second mom, so it was natural for me to be concerned about them. Afterwards, my babies became the center of my life, and then my parents.

Y’all, this is the first time ever that I am my only concern. This is the most liberating feeling I have had in my entire adult life. Like I said, I wish you could feel what I am feeling. Honestly, I never knew it was possible to feel this way. I am so, so, soooo very blessed.

I pray you’re having a wonderful weekend. Don’t forget to do something extra special for yourself today.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

Blessed! God is good.

hope

My Journey With God, No. 36

Happened to look down at my phone at the right moment. Love the 3s!

Feels so good to know I’m God’s child.♥️

hope

Woke Up Like This

Originally shared on March 15, 2021

I decided to go check out what I was doing the day I shared the quote above (March 15, 2021), and now I’m bawling. I began my journal entry with this—

“Today’s Monday. I turned in my letter of resignation on Friday.”

Y’all, I had just taken one of the biggest leaps of my life, and that was to bet on me!!!

I am so proud of myself for taking that leap. I had no idea what life would be like afterwards. I just heard God say it was time, and I moved. Whew!!

I didn’t expect to find all this when I searched my photos for the image above. I just kept hearing, “I woke up like this.” Who knew one image could hold so much meaning. That entire journal entry has me in tears. I did that!! Now, here I am, almost four years later, still doing what I love. Y’all, that was one of the best decisions I ever made, and I did it unafraid. I had absolutely no clue what was to come, and I was completely at peace when I did it, not one ounce of fear or anxiety. That’s how I knew God was in it.

When I tell you God is sooooooo amazing!! So amazing!

Yes, I woke up like this…BLESSED!


Thank you for reading. I pray you woke up feeling the same—Blessed.♥️

Love you,

Shaun

hope

My Journey With God, No. 35

Oh, what a season this is!

Smiling because it’s a season where I actually see and feel myself growing and evolving, and I like it.

No…

I LOVE IT!♥️

Shaun

hope

Today’s A Newly Blessed Day

Today’s a newly blessed day. Don’t take it for granted. New opportunities and blessings await you. Seize them!♥️

Love you always,

Shaun