Beyond the Garden Gate

  Lately I have been dealing with a massive trigger but then as I journaled I realized this year God has presented me with numerous triggers, challenges to face, and ways for me to grow not only as a person but closer to Him.This year I’ve been sent to my knees over and over, I have learned to pray and offer up my pain, work on my thoughts, learned what is to really sit with my feelings, let go of expectations, face and shine a light on my darkness, be resourceful & built a business, grew friendships, found joy in simplicity, let go of habits like alcohol that with such triggers could have sent me in a dark path, and I have shattered numerous glass ceilings.This year had a lot of literal and figurative blood, sweat and tears, it feels like and was actually cut open and stitched back together, and not only my skin but also my soul have become more resilient with the beautiful scars.I kept saying that this year was really hard but I am actually celebrating that it has been the best y

  Today I had a fun discussion with a friend over this meme (at the bottom) and I want to see what you guys think. I personally highly disagree with it because in my opinion we have the duty as parents to teach our kids how to be successful adults and that means sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to do because you have a responsibility that has nothing to do with weather you feel like it or not. For example today as you guys know I have been super sick and I feel like laying around in my pjs sleeping off the cold and watching TV BUT I have a business to run, I have a customer’s anniversary flowers to make and deliver, it is my responsibility I can’t just say “I don’t feel like it, I need a mental health day” (even though I do feel like I need it) He is expecting flowers and for me to do a good job. It doesn’t mean our kid’s can’t take time off, we have weekends and planned time off, or if they are sick let them stay home, it’s not about asking them to be perfect either… it’

  Yesterday we decorated our gingerbread house and I was amazed at realizing how different the experience is from years past… Our experiences in life really depends on our thoughts. I have proven this to myself when making gingerbread houses. I used to dread this tradition because I wanted it all perfect, not to eat the candy because it was to decorate the house and would make her act crazy, not make too much of a mess, it “should be” like what ever was in my head and it ended up being different than that ideal in my head and I would end up frustrated, bitter, angry, end up snapping at people and making it a terrible time for everyone. Now I love it! because I know the thought/feeling/action connection (all feelings are created by what we are thinking and that results in us acting a certain way- best news ever- because we can be aware of our thoughts and stories we are telling ourselves and change them in order to feel what we want to feel intead) I decided on purpose to let go of thou

  “Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty.”  —Socrates Moving to Oregon and relaying on a Church pay budget was a big adjustment for our family, now with my flowers we are able to bring a bit more income thanks to my amazing customers, although it’s not much but it has helped us quite a bit. Being on a tight budget has taught us to rethink our spending habits and with that we have  realized that joy in the end is not found in our possessions.  We had to learn to cut back and make due with what we have. I realized how I had gotten into the habit of satisfying my discontent by simply spending money, didn’t like my clothes I bought new ones, I felt stuck or down so I numbed out shopping, etc. It was a tough habit to break but when I started to understand myself, my triggers, and why the lack of that thing was causing discontent or why I wanted that thing in particular and what whole in my life I thought having it was going to fill, is when I realized how I was using t

  My little one I would like to encourage you to always have flowers in your home, office, or just give them away to people the smiles will brighten your day/week/month   “Flowers always make people better, happier and more helpful; they are sunshine, food and medicine to the soul.” –   Luther Burbank To watch the video: With love, Luz

  “If we could see the miracle of a single flower clearly our whole life would change.” – Buddha Join me in my youtube channel as I show the behind the scenes while I make this beautiful arrangement Once the astromelias open they will look like these Oh and make sure to subscribe so you can see more behind the scenes videos! Have a blessed and joyful weekend & week! Luz

  Today I got to experience one of those contrasts as I mourn the loss of a dear friend and yet still had flowers to arrange and deliver to my clients… I got to bring joy to others in the midst of my sorrow, deliver smiles though my eyes were filled with tears, fill homes and offices with bright and light colors even though my heart and soul feel gray and bleak, create beauty and yet my soul feels blah… as I once more this year feel the deep sting of the death of someone so close to my heart… I keep being reminded over and over this is not our home, not to focus on gathering worldly credentials and things but on heavenly ones instead… by bringing joy to people and ease their cross, creating memories and spending time with family and friends, spreading kindness through actions and words, love and forgive by letting go of resentments and fears, etc… “Let your thoughts be on things above, not on the things that are on the earth…” Colossians 3:2 I came to this same street when my sister pa

  MY LITTLE YOU JUST CAME IN MY ROOM TO ASK IF WHAT SHE WAS WEARING WAS OK AND I SAID “MAKE SURE YOU PUT PANTS ON” AND THEN ANSWERED “OFCOURSE MAMA IT WOULDN’T LOOK APPROPRIATE FOR A PRINCESS TO GO OUT WITH NO PANTS” MADE ME SMILE! I’M SO PROUD OF HOW YOU ARE LEARNING THIS YOUNG TO HONOR YOUR BODY, FEMININITY, SELF, MAKING A STAND TO OUR MISGUIDED SOCIETY (ALL SHORTS SOLD IN STORES ARE AS SHORT AS UNDERWEAR AND OUR GIRLS SHOULDN’T BE WEARING THAT OUT IN PUBLIC… LOTS OF CREEPERS OUT THERE), AND KNOW YOU ARE THE DAUGHTER OF THE KING OF KINGS AND SHOULD HONOR HIM WITH YOUR APPEARANCE AND ATTITUDE NOT JUST BECAUSE OF A WORLDLY TITLE BUT BECAUSE THE ONE THAT REALLY MATTERS … THE HEAVENLY ONE My dear one I hope I inspire you to dress beautifully, dress classy, and dress like what you are: Heavenly Royalty. Alwayd treat yourself with respect, honor your femininity, focus on kindness, love, and respecting others not only with your actions but how you present yourself. You don’t need to buy exp

  Hi little one, Today I am pondering how life is full of contrasts and how only by the Grace of God we are able to navigate them… to celebrate happy events in the midst of mourning a loss, to feel both joy and sorrow simultaneously… Today we celebrated your grampas in their 46 year anniversary and yet is also the one year of the last time we had dinner with Tia Lety in Florida together as a family in this world. This year keeps reminding me why it’s important to make the effort, even thought sometimes it requires time or monetary sacrifice, to spend time with loved ones… specially family because we never know when they will be called back home and all that we are left with are the memories- even the simple and mundane times spent together- the laughter shared, the stories, the love… I hope you never loose yourself in this world, get blinded by the “successes” our society dictates (the degrees, the $, the big house, the fancy cars, the stuff…) But always have your compass set on what r

  “Give yourself a gift of five minutes of contemplation in awe of everything you see around you. Go outside and turn your attention to the many miracles around you. This five-minute-a-day regimen of appreciation and gratitude will help you to focus your life in awe.” Wayne Dryer (The wind blowing the sand)

  Well, it’s pumpkin season and hopefully you are not tired of pumpkin everything yet (like there is such a thing!) These muffins are so good it’s the only way I can convince Stephen to buy nutella. Nutella was banned from our house… because if there’s any at home I may or may not eat spoon fulls during the day, who knows?! Lol. No matter how hidden it is I find it, like the time he came home and found me reaching for it with a spatula (I may be 5.4 but trust me I will find a way!) now I have discovered that he grill tongs work much better muahahaha So, after going with you to the pumpkin patch I was inspired to well pumpkin-fy my baking! You were looking for a square pumpkin like the one from the movie you watched at school… and you found this one and called it “spookly” Since were are working on being frugal I got these  muffin pans  and just spray PAM (no need to buy muffin liners) Ingredients 2/3 cup pumpkin puree ( if you are like me you might need this: two 1/3 cups) 12 oz granul