Walking the pavement of Birmingham...

It isn't often I get to Birmingham, Alabama, but when I do, I love taking a stroll down some of the downtown streets before eating at one of my favorite fish restaurants. This particular photograph was taken about 6th downtown. I love the tall old medical buildings and apartments. Thinking about all the history that has happened there. I remember the fish restaurant when it was a hole in the wall shop and people would wrap around the block. Then they moved into a larger facility to accommodate the growing population. There were no coffee shops or small eateries lining the first floor of the popular lofts near the ball field when my oldest son spent much of his first years of life at Children's hospital. Then parking was limited when the eye foundation was our home three morning a week the year I turned eighteen with a damaged cornea. Many changes, all for the better, for this amazing city that doesn't sleep to the people that have walked these exact streets then and now. All because God is a gracious, loving and protective Father that is always love and good and in turn does the same for us.

Psalm 121:8 says that...

...the Lord will watch over my coming and going both now and forevermore. 

He will yours too. The thing is sometimes we read these verses and it says "coming" and "going". Eventually we will come home and our going will be less because we are home. This home will be the rest place of peace, joy and gratitude of living in His grace, His salvation. It would sound so much more natural to say, going and coming, but He didn't say it that way. Once we are home, knowing Him through His amazing salvation, we are resting forever in the knowledge of His eternal security and love. Because of that salvation and knowledge, I want to serve Him, love Him, know Him and be obedient in all things.

Thus, His ultimate protection will be with me, guarding me within and without. I am forever grateful. My Father who is looking after me, loved me so much that He sent His son to a cross, rose on the third day and went to Heaven and one day I will be with Him (John 14). Changes come to a city, but the heart of the pavement and the people remain the same because they have come home and reside in this place.

Hugs, Rita

Feathering Things in the Grace...

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I have this amazing friend that I met through social media who is an amazing quilter. The great "pond" separates us. I have said a thousand times that one day, I am going to get on my broom and fly over, walk into her shop one day to surprise the thread out of her stitching! When I was on the golf course with Garrett and the Special Olympic team as they practiced last week, I found a white perfect feather. I had to take a photo of it. My friend posted that she had seen so many feather this past week and I replied that it was a sign for her to design a feather themed quilt. When I gave the feather I found to Garrett and he quoted the verse, somewhat, of "Eagles wings..." When I went to find the verse to put with the photograph, I came across Psalm 91:4, "He will come you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield..." Taking the imagery of a mother bird and her babies within a carefully constructed nest is the way God is with us. We can't be plucked from His refuge if we believe and put our faith in Him. 

Over the past few weeks, I have talked with many people about their life journeys and decisions to get healthy. The stories are vast and reasoning to make a difference in their lives will encourage others like a ripple in a stream as pebble is skipped across the waters. That is the way the witness of anything we do in our lives should be, to encourage and press others toward their goals and dreams. 

One story is of a woman who lived through a tragedy that I will tell you now will be difficult to hear, read or write. You may want to leave now. As the story unfolds, she was thirteen at the time, living in a subdivision in an upper income neighborhood. The people had lived there most of her life and her family knew they all well. On this particular afternoon, she had been riding her bike and stopped in the driveway of an older couple's house. The drive was to the side of their home which was on the corner of two streets. As they chatted, the wife went into the house and the older man walked over to her bike and before she realized what was happening, he pulled her off her bike, hand over her mouth, leaving it in the driveway and pulled her behind the house. Threatening her, he raped her. When he was done, he simply left her there and went into the house. When she was able to get her clothes back on, she made it to her bike and walked home. When she went into the backdoor of her house, she walked into a heated argument between her parents with her mother crying. The young girl, broken and not sure what to do, went to the bathroom, cleaned up and went back outside.

When I found my voice, I asked, "What did you do?" It was chilling to know that there was no voice to never telling what has happened to not this one but so many. She didn't tell of the experience and the man never acknowledged what he had done. When she went outside, she knew she had a choice to let it take up space in her head or let it go because her home life wasn't stable nor did she thing anyone would believe her. Then she said, "While I was being raped, I prayed for God to protect me. It was the strangest thing that at that moment I saw a bright light and don't remember all the details of what he did not even to this day. One thing I knew, I trusted in Christ that very moment with my life, heart and soul." As an adult she told her mother about what happened to her, just as she thought, her mother didn't believe her nor did her siblings. The man died long before her telling her story. However, feathering things in grace multiplies like the grass under our feet when we trust Him for our protection and with our very lives.

Once again, I see forgiveness, grace and living in peace. We have a choice to allow crises and circumstances to rent space in our heads, live in chains, prisons and bondage or we can take the key we hold in our hands and use it at anytime. Freedom is ours, the door can be open, chains can be broken and prisons can be released. We live with no excuses for wallowing in our on whining, bitterness, pasts or circumstances. It is a choice. Why allow anything to take up residence even for a second within our being other than what is joyful, good and godly? Living forgiveness, grace and love is living a life free, with no excuses. It's time to live a healthy lifestyle and it begins with breaking free without and within our being.

Break the chains that hold you from freedom...

Live a life with no excuses...

Hugs, Rita

Cloud Rainbows are the Best...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs at #PointMallard #DecaturAlabama

If is a really big word. However, I have to think that "if" I had thought my options through as a child to teenager, would I might have made other choices in what I would have been when I grew up to be an adult. When asked as a child, I would tell my Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Alexander, every single Sunday that, one, we were moving back to Phil Campbell, Alabama to our family farm, and, two, I was going to be mayor when I grew up. Then regardless who you were or what "test" I took that asked me what my big dream was for the future it was to be a wife and mother to which I succeeded at both. The wife part lasted thirty-four years at least but the mom part is a lifetime even when a child might want a different mother, heard a child say that to his mother one day. With all THAT said, I think I would have studied clouds. I have taken so many photographs of them over the years. As a child and then as a mom with my sons, I would watch them, making up stories about them as they floated overheard.

Garrett loves to say, "Puffy clouds" this or that when referring to rain coming or the possibility of a change of weather other than a warm sunny day. This is usually when he can't play golf. Puffy clouds come our way beyond the weather. They come in situations, circumstances, people, places and things. It is how we handle the puffy clouds that determines the inner ability to deal with them and experience continued joy and peace. If we don't have a well deep in abundance of peace and joy stored up then we can't deal with puffy clouds and what they may bring our way. It is easier to watch them pass over when we have water plenty within our wells.

This mom that had her child say, "I hate you! I want a different Mother!" told me how it broker her heart when he was a child and said this, but then when he said it again as a teenager, she begin to realize, he meant it. Thinking he would someday out grow it, she sees now that he hasn't. I asked her how she was handling this and she replied, "I have so much peace about the situation, knowing that someday, he will make the decision to turn around." The rest of the story is that he was also verbally abusive and due to the already domestic violence in the home, the husband, the boy's father, did nothing to correct the son in his behavior. The boy grew up, educated, good job and a family of his own, but estranged from his mother. To this she said, "I have apologized for my part in the breakup of our relationship and let him know he is welcome to come home." She showed me a box, white and not decorated, the top folded into itself. She gently opened it with hands shaking a bit. As I looked inside, there were cards in envelopes, gifts wrapped and then items laid inside. I asked her what they were for and she replied, "Each holiday or on a random day, I put something in this box so that when my son comes home, he will know I have loved him all this time and that more than me, God loves him."

Tears came to my eyes. Without excuse, we live forgiveness. There is nothing that can or will be done to me or you that can't be covered in grace, love, and forgiveness. One day, we will come face to face with the One who gave the ultimate grace of all wrapped in love and nailed with forgiveness with a cross, nails, a tomb and eternity. There is nothing I can do more than what He has done for me. When I asked this mom what she would say to her son when he comes home, she said, "I will say that I love him and for him to forgive me." I was again wrapped around the words. Nothing in those words of the past. Nothing in those words of forgiving him. Nothing in those words of "if". Nothing in those words but grace. Nothing more than no excuses. 

Regardless if this son comes home to this mother, she is living grace and she is living peace. She isn't walking in regret or unforgiveness. She is walking a healthy mindset of what life is now, not worrying about what could have been or what will be. She isn't living in what ifs either. She is living a life with no excuses. It is ironic how I know about a life living with no excuses and my greatest desires is to please Him by living grace, living love, living forgiven.

Maybe it's time we open the box and release the gifts it holds...

the gifts from our Father...

He has been holding them so long for us to come Home.

Hugs, Rita

Reasons NOT to lose weight! Seriously...

The impossible things have to be so visible to us that when we actually see it, we are in shock that it actually is the reality in front of us. We take a photo of a rainbow and are in awe when we look at the photo again and see not only a solid, end to end rainbow, but we see two of them. We are in a heart felt state of thankfulness and a bit of emotional, heart rendering knowing that God is real regardless of how we may normally feel on a regular basis. I for one, believe.

I get this same reaction when people see my before and after photos of weight loss. They do a double take before the questions start pouring out of impossibilities and self-doubt of their ability to do it as well as a list of those they know who need to do the same thing. It amazes me, though, of the reason why people say they can't or won't lose weight to live a healthy life style. Here are a few I have heard:

"I don't want to get wrinkles." I immediately pulled the compact mirror from my purse for fear I had developed something really bad on my face since that morning makeup session in the privacy of my home.

"The Bible says, '...all the fat is the Lord's!" Yup, I was told this with a straight face... Enough said...lol... (Lev. 3:16)

"I don't want saggy skin and I don't want to work out to get bulky." Wow, that was one that I didn't see coming. Let me think... No, can't come up with anything for that one.  I love working out, leading a fitness class, reading running magazines. I know how much better I feel after I workout or run. I haven't gotten bulky from working out, but I want more muscle and think I would be fine with that type of body. After weighing 450lbs, I am going to have some skin left, but not near what I had full of fat!

"I don't have the money." This has expanded from buying healthy food to joining a gym, but food is the same price if you buy pre-packed, healthy foods or eat fast food to going in the gas station for snacks. Then working out can be purchased or free! The road is free, parks are free and simply going to the mailbox ten times in a row is free! Climbing steps anywhere is free! Money shouldn't be a hindrance. God says that He will provide all your needs. My grandmother use to say that if it's a hindrance, He could remove it. Food for thought, sorry for the pun.

"I don't want to lose my bottom or my boobs." Seriously!? Don't you want them to be firm rather than sagging? That's my thinking... Don't ask your spouse...just don't. It's not nice to put your partner in the place of answering questions you already know the answer. They love you regardless and if they criticize any part of your body, mind or soul, then run! Run fast. If anyone is negative about you in any way that is untrue then you need to move away from them because more than likely their panties are too tight and they have deeper issues within themselves to get help with. Now if you are lazy, have habits, hangups or other problems that you know are truths, then get help...

Everything if Possible and I am living proof of that as well as knowing there is no excuse to live healthy. The benefits of doing so is joy, happiness, peace and hope. I can't explain how the stresses seem easier, bills coming in the mail don't seem so bad, people don't bother you as much. Then there is the endurance you feel physically as well as the oxygen to the brain to make clearer decisions and think better. These things can't be explained unless you make the decision to change your eating habits and add a workout routine. I challenge you to do so for thirty-days. Simple. What do you have to lose? Thirty-days! That's it, no cheating, no excuses, no compromise, just do it!

Hugs, Rita

Rejected to Rejoicing...Moving past the "R" words to a healthier lifestyle...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs 

Want to lose weight and get fit...

then we have to face our "issues" and live beyond them!

Each month, we get a schedule in the mail that lists all the Special Olympic activities. Garrett and I are very active in our local group as well as regional and state level teams and competitions. It makes a difference for Garrett to be active, his social skills as well as his emotional stability. I am blessed to have a personal scheduled that works around home, work and him. This month's calendar was late arriving due to staff scheduling and it was fine, but Garrett is all about routine. We had planned to go bowling on Wednesday since we didn't have a schedule. This is what we do when golf isn't in season. However, when I picked Garrett up and his bowling ball then we were at the coffee shop getting his "energy" tea, I got a text saying, "Golf at 3:00." I had to tell Garrett. I should video that lol. To change his routine brings on no bad behavior but it does bring 1k questions, anxiety and a transformation in the thinking process. We managed and headed to golf, which is his favorite active we do.

On the golf course, I walk the far edges of the holes we are playing just in case the team hits the ball into the "far land." While walking the edge of the woods, high grass, and waters, I find a number of golf balls left by other players. I feel complete if I find five balls but have found as many as seventy. It's great because our Special Olympic team can use golf balls all year long! This particular day, I found one with "R" on it. My first thought was, "Wow, I found one for "R"ita! "R"ight! Lol then I showed Garrett's partner and coach, Mark English, to which he replied, "...or regrets..." He and his wife know my whole life story... I got to thinking about that...

There a lot of "R" words that come to mind that you and I have experienced. Many life-experiences came to mind and some are hard to read much less to think about...Racism, Railroaded, Rape, Rebellion, Ratty, Ruthless, Repressed, Repulsed, and there are many more, but one I can't type because it turns me completely off even as slang, the "R" word.  Regardless, yet another emotion in itself, we all have felt the sting of words, but the one I want to focus on is "R" ejection.

I knew the reality of rejection, but had not actually faced the it until my husband walked out. It took me a while and through my son's eyes and verbalization to realize that, "Yup, this happened." Hearing the words, "I never loved you," when he walked out handing me papers, unexpectedly, made since to me immediately. I believed him. There is always a puzzle that you can't find that missing piece. Then when you find it...the picture is complete. That was the missing piece that put many situations in my life together. It exposed not only him but other relationships I had at that time but also my whole life. Rejection defined it, not the root of their behavior.

Rejection has the opportunity to plant many emotions and reactions. However, you get to decide what is planted in that soil and what you get from that harvest. I decided to plant and sow in faith. I had to stand up for what was right, to take care of myself and my son; however, also I had to provide in the realistic world as well as to trust that harvest to yield beyond my feelings and live my faith. That is where I decided to do these things every day from day one after this life-experience happened:

*  I wrote three things I was thankful for every day regardless if I felt like it or not.

*  I got up and hour earlier every day and read five different devotionals every morning.

*  I went to my room every night one hour before bedtime and read five other devotionals every night. (Btw, I still have these books and use them often, my devotionals are more personal now).

*  I wrote out my prayers and have them in a notebook today. Why? Because sometimes I didn't have the words to say or know how to pray. God honored and blessed those prayers. 

*  I found a Bible believing, teaching, preaching church and community and got active.

*  I found DivorceCare and Celebrate Recovery. There are more support groups out there, but for me, I needed people. I was married for thirty-four years and needed to know how to speak, react, behave with a child that will always be a child, adult children, estrangement, negativity, court, and even being a foodoholic. I needed to know how to never go back to my past of being with people that chose habits and hangups in their lives over God and their partner and spouse. 

*  I never (not even now) talk about my relationships of the past in my home or in front of my children or my mother, who I am the primary caregiver. Instead I encourage them to see those that hurt me in a positive light and listen to their on pains, channeling them toward a better reflection of how our lives have been blessed and what our home is today with the hopes of tomorrow.

*  Get this if nothing else, social media was not the place I posted harmful, hurtful things during any life-experience. Break that habit regardless what your immediate reaction, emotion might be to any situation you are in. Social media isn't the place to air your drama or dirty laundry, if you will. 

* I was extended love and grace beyond my comprehension, it was time for me to learn to extend the bit I could. I love the people that hurt me, pray for them continuously, however, it is the enemy of darkness, the habit, the hangup I battled, not the person. I had to learn what I was battling. 

** Know these are just a few things I did to change my focus from rejection to rejoicing, rejection to redeemed!

#RitaHutchesonCobbs

During my time of transition, I took photographs

added inspirational words to them to encourage my family and myself.

You may have grown up in alcoholism,  drugs, abuse, food addictions, or rejection. You can change the future, end the cycle, create your today. Rejection is dealt with in scripture. Let's read Lamentations 3:24-26: "...The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him. The Lord is good to those whose hope in Him; to the one who seeks Him; it is good to WAIT quietly."  Sometimes we are called to wait, but the thing is we have our hope in Him and in that the courage. I lived that hope, not in bitterness or regret.  Rejection is an invitation to live in expectation of something more, an appointment, if you will, to make room for tomorrow. You have a choice, regardless how tired you get of me saying that, you have a choice to rejoice regardless of your life situation. What seeds are you planting and sowing? You will reap what you sow from the seeds you plant. When rejections come, sow the seeds of rejoicing, thanksgiving. Moving to a better place, a happy place, one of joy and thankfulness is a choice. I have no excuses to live a healthier lifestyle by moving my stresses to being thankful and rejoicing regardless what is happening in that garden. Weed out the negative, the past, and let it go. 

It's time to live Rejected to Redeemed,

Rejected to Rejoicing without definition 

and with no excuses!

Hugs, Rita

Coffee Calories...or any beverage...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs

I am forever fascinated by people who can go without food. Seriously, I so wish I was one of them. I am a fast'in failure too. I try to sit and pray, "Lord, don't let me be hungry during this time of us being together to pray about this thing..." He laughs, I hear Him! I don't mean to make light of fasting so please don't send me ugly comments. It is one of the things I have a section for in my notebook, but so don't want to ask Bro. Doug to preach about. A righteous fear, yup, that is what we will call it. However, if I have ever heard of anyone say, they go without beverages, liquids, I don't remember it. Dehydration has to be one of the worse things ever. I have had a partial feeling of this from being sick a couple of times, but seriously, nothing deathly. 

#RitaHutchesonCobbs 

Keeping a food journal is important because when the weight loss stops or you hit a wall, then the food journal is a great place to track areas like beverages when the food is all good. We don't realize the hidden calories in the things we drink. Additives to our water, like the tiny packets to flavor water to hidden sweeteners. Sodas, regardless if regular or diet, will cause us to retain weight. I lost nine pounds coming off both regular and diet sodas. I tell people try going without them for thirty-days, see for yourself. Tea is another one that has hidden calories, but also, tea, coffee and even green tea will cause you to retain water regardless if it is de-caff or not...it goes back to the leaves and beans. Google it...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs

Then there is something else...labels. Often the labels on what we get are either wrong or all the ingredients are listed. Did you know that if there isn't enough of an ingredient in an item, it doesn't have to be listed? Peanut butter, for example, is used to thicken canned chili and to close frozen egg rolls, but because there isn't enough in the food item, it doesn't have to be on the label. For me, allergic to nuts, this could be a very bad thing. 

Did you notice the labels on my coffees? Three different coffees, three different times, three different locations and they all "know" me...yup, I am a junkie BUT I also know my ice coffee, calories, points, fats, etc. I tell them when I order, even though they know what I drink, because I am a regular. However, it got put in wrong three different times. Calories AND fat that I otherwise might not have allowed for in my daily food intake was there. The next weigh-in I would have been at a loss as to why I had gained weight or maintained when I thought I had been so very careful.

When living a healthy life-style especially when it comes to food, you have to know what is in your food and beverage even if it is water. Don't get into the politics of it all, just know the basics. It is important to your health and goals to know the ingredients, the calories, the fats, etc, not to your mind what the politics or opinions of a food or beverage might be ((yup, I had to throw that in there, so don't message me!)) I bought a gallon of milk once that had a fat-free label on the front and a 1% label on the back! Seriously! I took it back to the store. The past two Saturdays, the dates on the fat-free sour cream were a month old... better read, know, watch and focus. Also, I will suggest, learn all the big word ingredients. Many of the ingredients have hidden fat and calories. I am a fat focal person. I will eat sugars before I eat fat. Then of course I ask my thighs which they would rather wear. We usually head to the fresh vegetables... They grow heavy as we walk toward them...protesting all the way!

I think being "labeled" is why so many people are going to clean eating, gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian...it sounds hard but in truth, it is an easier way to eat and live. You know what you are eating, planning meals is easier and the food has become priced reasonable. Fresh food markets and farm markets are popping up as well as roadside stands. We know people that have small gardens that will share or barter. I have a fabulous girlfriend that has always baked her own breads and now has a building business from it. Who know, "labels" may define you or even what you may be doing to make your life, that of your family or mine better tomorrow. 

...but please, don't take away my coffee...I have two coffee pots and a Verismo...Coffee and water rock my beverage world.  I will ask questions and make sure my labels are right, my coffee is a free reward, but my name can be wrong...just call me for coffee...

Hugs, Rita

Dating God instead of Food! Yup and intrucing my new Boyfriend!

#RitaHutchesonCobbs w/#ChocolateFurCobbs

I think we will just linger on the title of this blog post for a moment. ((Breath in your nose and out your mouth...do it...again!)) Now, let's continue on. You read it right! Dating God instead of food! I will get to the boyfriend part later, you can wait. 

Several yeas ago, I had to have reconstructive surgery on both my feet. I called them Ethel and Louise. I was on crutches for a whole year, having to keep them propped up after each surgery, wearing out three pairs of crutches. It was the only thing, other than the skin I am tightening up, that I had happen due to weighting 450lbs. The bones in my feet separated and had to be put back together, yup, seriously! I had to learn to run and walk all over again. I refused to have the surgery if I couldn't run again. Looking down at his shoes, the surgeon, promised to have me going again. LOL he was way to cute to argue with! Thankfully, he was right and I have had no pain as a result.

During that time, I mediated, read the Word, did various Bible studies, listened to audio books from various ministers and Bible teachers and inspirational music. I was getting to a place that I had no idea God was preparing my heart and life so that I would be ready for a life-experience that would change my life and that of my son. It is funny that when crises happen, we tend to head for whatever will comfort us the most, people, habits, hangups, even hurts that will fill the pain, confusion or frustration. I sat for about an hour before I was face down before God and said, "Let's do this!"

I have had many life altering experiences. When I tell people that they have no excuses to not reach for their goals or get healthy, I am telling the truth. This particular life-experience is just one that brought me to the point of deciding that I would date God and not food. During this situation, I had to grow up, learn to do things for myself, and make decisions for myself. I could have just stayed in bed and covered my head, whined, got on social media and tore it up with negativity, but I didn't. I took this as an opportunity to live joyful, happy and learn to do the things I was never able to do before. 

I could have ate, drank, not workout or run again. It was the perfect time to go back to eating processed food and live on what people use as the greatest excuse of all, "It's cheaper to eat the packaged foods." I did not do these things even though I had to watch my money since I was left with nothing. I am the definition of, "When God is all you've got, He is enough. When God is all you've got, God is good enough." I had nothing but my sons. I learned that everything I had was not what I thought it was including the relationships I had lived with almost my whole life. The reality was wide open for all to see, the closet doors were removed all the way to the attic and the lid was literally removed from the bottles. People saw what my life was like from living conditions to the relationships. 

Things like food can't control your life. People, things, stuff, jobs, or circumstances can't control you. The thing that has to control you is choice. It is a decision to allow your life, mind and heart to be controlled by the negative of life or to be influenced by the joy and happier things life has to offer. God is my source and choice. I decided from the start to date God. I wanted to be sold out to Him, allowing Him to control my present and letting for of my past and future. I wasn't going to worry about any of those areas, give a lot of forgiveness, grace and declare love. I have spent the past years sold out to Him. I have spent time in the Word, doing Bible studies, reading various books from different venues, finding who I am independent of my past. I found a church of believers that plumb lines with God's Word and supports my son as well as my calling to caregiving.

All this may not make sense, but turning to food is not the answer to any problem much less celebration. It is time to think about dating God or something filled with more than our selfish desires. When a selfish desire pops in, go take a walk outside around the house, do it twice...then decide if that is something you should do. Food just like other desires have it's place, but not in place of the ultimate joy of life. I am naturally happy and bubbly. It frightens a lot of people, but I still eat mindlessly, drink coffee all hours of the day, going to bed and sleep easily. I have had to learn to control my choice of what I date and what I entertain. You may better controlled than I am...your 'oholic may not be food, work, hobbies, sports...it may be laziness, busyness, anger, selfishness, control, appearance, talents, education, even church. It may be time to date God too...

My life is totally different today. Living full and happy can be done with food and activities in your life in a way that is balanced, healthy way. God has poured out his blessing since the day my life was altered. I made the decision to allow the changes to happen, live in the present, not worrying about the future. During that time in my life, I maintained my weight, continued my lifestyle plan and made the changes to better other areas of my life that needed to be healthier. Sometimes, we need to find the sources or reasons why we run to such things as food.

Until God brings the Hallmark Movie into my life and drops it into my lap, then I would like to introduce you to my new boyfriend...He is in the first photo...Yup, I renamed my dog, Boyfriend lol... Loving it...

Hugs, Rita 

"My Story" 

Feasting the Mind...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs

The mind feasts on what it is focused on. What is your focus? I have heard our pastor, Doug Ripley, say this repeatedly, "When your eyes look at something, it has taken a photograph of it. Then your mind will reply it again and again." I got to think about that during my devotional time one morning. What I feast my mind on, think about, is what I'm devoting my energy, soul, and giving my time to. 

I had to stop going to restaurants that offered general admission to the human food trough. I grazed from one end of the buffet to the other. My parents use to go to one restaurant in their city at 3:45 pm in the afternoon so that they could enjoy the benefits of the 4:00 buffet additions but a the lunch prices. At 4:00 pm, the price was raised. Now, before you belittle them, they got the senior rate which was good from opening to closing. However, many did the same thing I am sure. We usually participated in these buffets on Sundays. Chinese was our favorite usually. 

Just like the buffets, our minds can feast on the good things that will make us healthy and strong or on the bad things that will decline our nature a little at a time. So often, we don't realize that our appetites are hungry and thirsty for something more pleasing until we are too deep in the harsh things until we are waiting in line and buffet is empty and there we stand, waiting for more. It is then that we have a decision to make. Get made at ourselves for making the choices we have made or at those we expect to feed us our pleasures. 

Which is it? Who are you expecting to feed you? Which buffet are you feasting on? The eye takes a photograph that the mind will treasure for a lifetime. We need to refocus our minds on the good things God has blessed us with. We need to make a u-turn and change our direction. We have nobody to blame, no excuses to give. It's a choice. Let's get our minds, souls, hearts and bodies healthy and strong, pleasing to God and pleasing to ourselves. 

Hugs, Rita

Journaling...

#RitaHutchesonCobbs

This weekend, books I read, articles I glanced through, podcasts I listed to all pointed to journaling.  Each said to write down everything from your thoughts to focusing on your strengths to notes from even the book I was reading. Writing things down brings them to the front of your memory just when you need them the most. It helps with retention and even with conversation. I thought these especially were interesting because two of the greatest fears among people today is losing their memory with age and carrying on a conversation with others regardless of age.  Regardless how journaling is defined...It might be worth considering.

Journaling Ideas:

Thoughts

Daily Living

Question and Answers

Book Reading 

Thanksgiving (Lists)

Prayers or Praise

Poetry

Dating 

(Don't laugh...I have a friend that lists what she wears)

Meetings (Positives/Negatives)

Articles

Recipes/Cooking

Bible Reading

Devotionals/Meditations

Last Thoughts of the Day 

(My Small Group Leader has us doing this for a year)

Daily Food Intake

Daily Exercise

Financials

Work Experience

Decorating

Blogging

Art Journaling

...and there are so many more...write...

Hugs, Rita

Happiness to Joy begins with Love.

Downtown Hartselle, Alabama

Friendships. Family. Fellowship. I have thought a lot about these three areas of my life this past week, thankful and grateful. I have also came face to face with the road ahead in areas of fellowship, especially in my church, that I need to work harder. Everywhere we look there are people who need our friendship, your love, want you as family, crave some fellowship. It's up to you and up to me to take the time, schedule the time, make it spontaneous, do whatever we can to love. We are commanded to love. Regardless. No excuses. Happiness to Joy begins with Love. 

Hugs, Rita

Instagram.com/RitaHutchesonCobbs

The Rain...

 Sitting at the Decatur Starbucks on Sunday...it began to rain...

Just thought the drops of rain on the glass were beautiful...

Journaling prompt: drops of rain...

What will you do with them...

Hugs, Rita

Grandmas and Birthdays Scrapbook Layout

 Grandmother and Golden Coral Restaurant were two things that just went together each year when my Grandma Newell hit her nineties. Grandma has had her life celebrated long ago and Golden Coral in Russellville, Alabama has gone out of business, but I can't think of one of her birthdays without thinking of the other. She and my parents enjoyed the restaurant and the time of getting together with family. So the papers for this layout were perfect, bright, bold and happy...celebrating her milestone...

 When I found a recipe that was this large, or in this case a collection of recipes, I gave it sole space on one page. The embellishments fit perfect along the side.

I had three photos that wanted to bring to this layout in an unique way so I used my Creative Memories Cutting System to cut all four photographs, only bringing my grandmothers to the focal point by matting it and popping it up on foam dots. I added a journaling spot using a punched spot at the bottom corner. I love how even with both pages together, the photograph of my grandmother brings your eyes to her face. I loved her then and I love my memories of this amazing beautiful lady. Many say I look like her... If foam pop dots can bring our eyes to a photograph on this page, what can make that do so in your life? What makes life pop for you? Is is something simple, large, small...what?

Hugs, Rita

Did you know...or maybe you did...

 One day I was playing with my cell phone. It is funny that I can't remember not having a phone. From the time I was about twelve-years-old, I had a phone in my bedroom. Then at some point, we got cell phones, now I feel strange if I don't have it near me. So, I toyed with the camera one day I was at my favorite coffee shop, Starbucks...this is one of the shots...then...

I changed the settings and got this...

...then this...

...and this...

...wow...and this...which was my dress by the way...

my first ever sleeveless dress!!! WOOT for me...

...check this one out...fun...

...and this dizzy one...

...and how crazy is this one...loving it...

....more fun with the dotty dots...

I couldn't help but laugh out loud, seriously...

...got dizzy with this one...

...sorta liked this one but then I couldn't do it again if my life depended on it...

I may have been drunk on coffee here lol...

...oh yes...Halloween ready...

...and there you have it...the fun coffee house on the cell phone...

Something totally random that I wanted to share with you that was really fun on an afternoon while I enjoyed my coffee. I just needed some respite. =)

Hugs, Rita

Hidden treasures...

In the midst of the oddest places...

...are the strangest forms of life...

...the depths of those beings that touch of lives forever...

I am making a memory this week or that it the plan anyway...

I can't wait to tell you about it...

Sending positive thoughts and prayers that it is blessed as this amazing find inside this tree stump...

Life is loving like that, bringing friends and adventures into our lives...that is rockin' awesome...

Hugs, Rita

A tiny bit of advice for today...

"sunset steeple" photography by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

I don't normally ready Horoscopes except the day after to see if it really happened (I see you nodding your head yes...you do that too lol)...but I noticed today it read:  "You have a lot of good ideas, and now your need a plan. Whittle down your list. Pick three actionable items you can follow through on today. Action will bring you focus." ~ Decatur Daily Newspaper Thought that was a very good advice for today. =)

Hugs, Rita
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Spring has arrived...

"yellow & reds of spring" photography by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

As I walked out the back door of our home, I saw this...are the colors from the Red Tip Tree and the Forsythia not amazing? The yellow is golden and the red is so vibrant that I felt spring wrap around me at that very moment. So, I had to share this photo with you and let you know that I am thinking these colors with green just might show up in an art project very soon...=)

Love, Blessings & {{{Hugs}}} into a wonderful season of spring...
Rita
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Achieve...

"the barn" scrapbook 12x12 shadowbox framed photograph

by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs.

"the barn" color photograph by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

"the winter barn" by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs

I photographed this on Christmas Day 2010...

Alabama's never before white Christmas morning.

This is the 12x12 scrapbook page prior to framing. I love the embellishments

that offer the vintage appeal while looking fresh and comfort. 

You want to visit this spot, I know you do. =)

Achieve What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today. (Author: Tara [...] reverb10

Love, Blessings, and {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Early Morning...

The Tennessee River Wild Life Refuge photographed by Rita Hutcheson-Cobbs.

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.

Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

~ Psalm 143:8

I must admit mornings are not my favorite thing to experience,  but how could I possibly get a photo like this one without a morning drive. While people are rushing to begin their week, I am looking past the obvious facts like today is Monday, the long week has begun or that the fog is so thick it could be sliced with a knife, as my dad use to say.  That is how it is with life, our busyness or the crises at hand can't let us see past the fog to the sunrise of victory that awaits us when the fog lifts. Regardless of the haze or the fog, God loves us, as His Word declares. We are to trust our faith and rely on the hope of what is to be. Outward appearance should reflect that faith and that hope by smiling and being happy. However, that large cup of coffee sprinkled with vanilla doesn't hurt either. =)

Thinking a green jadeite and red kitchen could really spark morning creativity for our family. What do you think? 

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},

RHC

www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com

Art Journaling at the River

 I wanted to share a couple of art journaling pages that I plan to use in a digital project. I love the colors that create the center of the right page. The little white flowers was something I created using the wooden tip of a brush. I am falling in love with water color crayons and pencils.

I am truly loving this layout and the colors that it represents. The bottom color is popping through the white paint and I loved that. These art journaling pages I will also use in a digital project. The stamps made the perfect third layer background. Love these colors.

The Tennessee River tonight! I wanted to capture these colors so that I could find paints in my stash to match these vibrant amazing colors of the sky reflected in the waters which are mirroring the fall colors of the leaves in the trees at the waters edge. I felt this was a reflection of my soul, bright, sunny, happy as I think about the whole day. God is so rich and good to give me this opportunity to thank Him for a happy spirit. If I were to write a song at this very moment, it would say "Create within Me..." I want others to see my strong faith of hope, love and peace. In all that paths that I have walked, and there have been many, I know where my strength comes from and that is in the personal relationship I have in Him and the many friends that share my love for creativity and art. There is power in creating with color.

Love, Blessings, & {{{Hugs}}},
RHC
www.RitaHutchesonCobbs.com