Monday's Musings: 3 Things Instagram Taught me About Beauty

by Mary Denman                 Twitter: @MaryDenman              Instagram: @MaryFDenman

Heard the phrase "Pinterest Perfect?" 

It means a life, or make-up, or hair that's perfect and pinned on Pinterest, inspiring others.

Or, it means someone else's life looks perfect on Pinterest compared to yours! 

Instagram can do the same thing.

However, as I've used it more, 
Instagram has taught me 3 things about finding beauty all around me. 

You'll see the very rare selfie on my feed and I generally don't follow celebs. Instead, you'll see the beauty I spot. 

Here's what I've learned:

Monday's Musings: Life Lessons from Migraines

by Mary Denman   @MaryDenman

I had a great post planned for today. But it's too hard to think right now. 

Why? I'm in the throes of another migraine. It will end. Eventually. But in the mean time, it makes thinking hard. Especially if I want to stay on track with my thoughts! 

I've suffered them for quite a while now. Years, in fact. I am doing better overall. Yet, at this moment, this particular one has been going on for quite a few days. Twelve to be exact. But who's counting? 

I know I'm not alone. Millions suffer from migraines. It can just feel like I'm alone during ones that drag on for days. 

I'm thankful it's not a full blown 10-pain-level-go-to-the-ER-kind of migraine. 

Monday's Musings: God's Already There

Mary here. I'd like to introduce you to my friend Lynn Blackburn who's filling in for me today while I have foot surgery. I hope you are inspired by her!

by Lynn Blackburn  @LynnHBlackburn 

Despite the fact that my young son has never been left and has absolutely no reason to expect me to forget him, this children of mine needs constant reassurance that I’m not going to leave him alone.

This summer, I arrived early to pick him up from Vacation Bible School. I took a seat at the side of the room and waited for the session to end. When it did, I moved in his direction. I knew exactly where he was, but the people milling about blocked his view and he couldn’t see me.

Monday's Musings: Are you Between a Rock and a Hard Place?

by Mary Denman    @MaryDenman

You've probably heard the expression, between a rock and a hard place. 

Well, I saw a tree between a rock and a hard place. Namely, another rock! 

It was a sight to behold. 

It started me thinking. 

How in the world did a tree grow between those rocks and the barrenness around it?

Monday's Musings: Do you have Courage or Fearlessness?

by Mary Denman    @MaryDenman

 For the past month or so, I've been really thinking about what I want to do differently this year than last year. 

Last year, I focused  on my daughter and her knee surgeries. She's finally on the other side of all the surgeries and getting stronger. She's been accepted to the university of her choice and her life is finally moving forward in a great way. I'm grateful this chapter of our lives is closing. So is she!

She needed my attention and I'm happy I could be there for her. But now it's time to shift my focus and energy. I willingly put other things on the back burner for her. It's exciting to move forward as my daughter does as well.

Because I put some things on the back burner for several months, like my writing, photography and blogging, I've had a chance to evaluate life without them. To think about how to get started again. To consider where to put my priorities going forward. 

Monday's Musings: Learning from the Storms of Life

by MaryDenman  @MaryDenman

"There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm." Willa Cather was so right when she wrote this. 

While I may prefer to live in calm, storms enter my life. They enter everyone's life. 

But what do we do with that? 

Do we run and hide or face the storm and learn during its onslaught?

As I said, I prefer calm. For the most part. 

I do like excitement. But I don't generally want to have to face a storm. 

Yet, they happen. 

Some are worse than others. Some hit hard and blow over. Others are long and drawn out. 

I know. I've been through both kinds.