The Power of Transfer Purchasing
by Ellie Talley
How we save money every month using Young Living’s loyalty program
food for thought
Love is not a feeling in your chest; it is bending down to wash another’s feet.
Andrew Peterson
Tag: money
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#10: Love, Free and Clear
by Ellie Talley
This week’s letter is from a parent struggling with her child’s transition from childhood to adulthood. Raising kids is hard, holy work. Lots of parents love their kids, but love is not enough. In order to be a great parent, you must be willing to do difficult things to help your children grow. Read on for more!
Our Life In Pictures
We out here, @hersheypark! #hersheyparkhappy #ctfamtakes2019
A delicious Sunrise Breakfast to start our day! If you ever get a chance to stay at the Inn at Westwynd Farm, you’ve got to! The sweetest B&B. #ctfamtakes2019
The view from the front porch of tonight’s digs, a beautiful bed and breakfast just three miles north of Hersheypark. Spending all day tomorrow riding roller coasters, then heading to Philly for a few days. We are having a ball, y’all! #ctfamtakes2019
We made it! Took all backroads through Maryland and Pennsylvania countryside.. just an incredible experience. Hanging out here for a few hours, and then on to Hershey, PA! #ctfamtakes2019
When in Maryland, do the blue crab dip! #ctfamtakes2019
Coffee stop at sweet Wheeling, WV along the Ohio River on our way to Gettysburg! Gonna be a full day with this go-with-the-flow, fun-loving boy of mine. 😍💜 #ctfamtakes2019
Me and this stud just did 2.5 hours of zip lining in a freakin’ cave, man! Chap and I planned a road trip to Philadelphia to celebrate his 13th birthday, and this was stop #1. Thankful for a whole week with my oldest. (Also, he is way braver than his mama. 90 foot drops and 900 feet zips are not easy for this ole girl!) #ctfamtakes2019
Summertime with these buddies has always been so sweet. I sure am missing my partners in crime this week. Sharing parenting time with their dad is never easy. But I’m so thankful for the relationships I share with my boys and am honored that I get to be the one they call “Mama.” They’ll be home in just two sleeps and I can’t wait! #family
What a lovely capture of these bright blooms. 😍 #flowersaremylovelanguage
I’ve been taking time this summer to re-focus on my physical health. Cutting back on alcohol, upping my water intake, eating less processed food, and getting regular workouts in have been my top physical health priorities over the past few weeks. And it has NOT been easy, lemme tell you. I’ve been stretching and massaging my shins, calves, and hamstrings every morning with this awesome blend because, y’all, things hurt right now 🤣 and it’s given me some time to think about how I got here. If I’m being honest, I place too high a priority on my own comfort. I don’t like sweating profusely or having to say no to one more beer. But I’m learning that uncomfortableness is one of the keys to a well-lived life. Because it means I’m pushing myself and aiming for more than what just comes natural. I’m learning how to push through the self doubt and lean into the sore muscles because it’s all a part of my growth. Thankful for a peaceful, quiet place like this view from our front porch to take all of this in and allow it to mold and shape me. 💜
Seriously, she is so cute. 😍 #bostonterrier #bostonsofinstagram
Anybody else struggle with feeling like they aren’t measuring up? As I was listening to a podcast this afternoon on my drive home, following twisty-turny country roads, I literally laughed out loud. Because it dawned on me that the “standard” I often hold myself to is some figment of what I imagine a good, beautiful person is. But it’s just that... an imaginary thing. And completely unrealistic and unattainable. No matter what choices you’ve made up to this point, every single moment, we all have a chance to take our next step in the right direction. In the direction that is towards our most whole self. Don’t let your past define who you are. Let it mold and shape you into the person you were created to be. (Things I am reminding myself of today.)
There’s a difference between feeling emotions and giving ourselves over to how we feel. One of the most important things I learned in therapy years ago is that emotions are not absolute. Just because I feel something does not make it true. This was life-changing for me and completely shifted the way I viewed my emotions, my emotional health, and my relationships with others. So many times we either ignore our emotions or give them far more weight than is necessary. Both of these responses can be profoundly harmful to our mental health and relationships. I’m learning how to center my thoughts and ground myself in things that I know are true. So that when the deep feelings come - and they will, if you are actually paying attention to and participating in your life - I am anchored to something much bigger than my feelings. For me, I am anchored to the Word of the Lord and what He has shown me about who I am in light of that. No surer, safer place for me when the storms come. 💜 #grounded #emotions #emotionalintelligence
Talk about the perfect workspace. Just finished a full day of standards training and am putting the finishing touches on a class I’m co-hosting with friends for our sweet oily team. So thankful to be able to pursue my passions on my own terms. 💜 #theoilpress
Brainstorming essential and supporting questions. Can’t wait for my students to wrestle with this next year. If you’re an American citizen, you should also take a moment to wrestle with these as well. #foodforthought #ushistory #socialstudies #teachersofinstagram
