Note to Self...Twitter Is Awesome

I've had a Twitter account since early 2009 and quite frankly, I didn't get it...until this past weekend that is. Many times have I promoted my support and love of relationship author, Mandy Hale, and March 11th she released her second book, "I've Never Been to Vegas, but My Luggage Has."

So with pink highlighter in hand, I started to read her new book and much like her first book, "The Single Woman", Mandy helped me gain many a new perspectives on life, love and relationships of all kinds.

After finishing her book I took to Twitter to share with her my favorite quote of the book, which is pictured below:

If you can't read what it says in the photo: "I believe God brings people into our lives to teach us the lessons we most need to learn, and then once we've learned the lessons, I think He sits back and watches to see if we will be obedient enough to let those people go or if we will cling to them out of stubbornness, even though their presence in our lives is no longer fruitful. Everything that happens next is a result of how we respond to that test."

Wow. How I can attest to that! There have been people in my life that show up for a short while then exit my life. Then there are others who come and stay for many years before they leave, and the impressions and lessons they leave are always life changing. I think the main lesson that I've learned is to surrender these relationships to God. By doing that I realize THE best part about God - His relationship with me is not temporary. He is always there for me - He is sovereign. God knows what He's doing when He brings relationships and people into our lives and the lessons that were are going to learn from them. 

But back to Twitter! So, because I loved this quote from Mandy's book, I tweeted it out to her to let her know. Not long after other people started seeing the tweet and started to either "favorite" it (equivalent to a "like" on Facebook) or re-tweet it - even Mandy favorited it! I was thrilled! There were even some women who had never heard of the book and asked me for information on it. I willingly shared it. There was even one woman from a country that doesn't get the copy of Mandy's book that was very grateful that she was even able to read this little bit of it. I tweeted this photo on March 22nd and since then it has gotten re-tweeted over 180 times and favorited over 270 times! Yes! Twitter is Awesome! I hope that not only Mandy's message spreads but her faith in God does as well.

Since I had so much success with Mandy's quote, I thought I would try it again. Sunday night I went to a concert featuring Season 8 contestant of American Idol, Matt Giraud. I took my neighbor Lori to the concert and she really liked Matt's performance. We agreed that it would be fun to go and meet him after the show and buy his CD - being that it was her birthday! I agreed that it would add some fun to her special day - so we went and met Matt. I was able to get her to pose for a picture with him and was able to score his autograph on my brochure and throw a few witty comments his way to make him laugh.

On the way home we realized I didn't get to get my picture with him and we almost went back but decided not to. Later that night I had the idea to tweet him the photo of Lori and him and see if he remembered us. Well...he did! He favorited my tweet and sent me a message saying he liked my joke and that he thought I was cute! Ah!!! I was really excited that he actually responded!

So all in all I've discovered the fun of Twitter and how it can connect me with people that I wouldn't have a chance to otherwise. So if you haven't joined Twitter yet...do it! Oh, and follow me, too @PumaAlie10

-A

#SpringCleaning My Life

It hit a whopping 45 degrees here today! I'm officially calling it "spring" and have made my blog look "spring-like," too! Ah, there's a light at the end of the tunnel! 

When spring like weather starts coming my way this time of year, I have a tendency to want to clean out my closets and get rid of items that I've been holding onto for far too long. It is so refreshing when cleaning projects like that are finished and I can start anew and live a more simplified life.  

Much like when I clean out my closet in the spring, Jesus does that when He forgives us of our sins. There are areas in my life where I haven't allowed myself to believe that when Jesus takes a broom to spring clean my sins away, that I am truly free. Lately I have been able to latch onto this and it has allowed so much happiness and sunshine to enter my heart. I feel much like the guy in this video below: 

I just love that video and if you weren't able to view it on your tablet, click here!

I can relate to the main character in this video when I stop clinging to past sins and let Jesus take over. But when we do fall into this habit we become really stressed this causes our souls to become "winter-like" when God doesn't want this for his children! He wants us to let go!

Last night my mom and Grandma and I went to watch the most beautiful dance recital put on by Girls of Grace. They performed a skit where a woman was bogged down by her sin and just couldn't seem to surrender her life and sins to Jesus. All the while Jesus stood there waiting and fighting for her to break free of her sins. Once and for all she cried out to Jesus and He immediately rescued her and her life was a dramatic transformation and she was filled with so much joy...

I will never claim to live a perfect spic and span clean life. I can't do that - but through Jesus I can let go of the past sins that I have committed against Him and live a refreshingly free life through Him. And be HAPPY!

-A