Why do Bad things Happen to Good People?

The closer you get to God, the more the devil will put trials in your life. The more you pray the more obstacles the devil will put in your path. If the devil is leaving you alone, you should be more concerned than those who are enduring the afflictions. Because if the devil is leaving you alone, he most likely already has your soul.

Whether you are a Christian or a satanist, you can't believe in one and not acknowledge the other. It amazing how many atheists call out to God in their final moments of life. In war, in accidents and in times of crisis. Even more amazing is how many people blame God for the bad things in their lives, as if the devil doesn't even exist.

We were given 'free will' to decide our own path. It isn't love if there is no other choice. It isn't right if there is no wrong. You can't understand good if there was no bad. You wouldn't know what beautiful is if you couldn't see ugly.

We live in a war between the devil and the Lord. The devil is doing all he can to win souls, and God did one thing to save souls. He gave us His son in human form to show us it is possible to live for God and be rewarded with heaven. God doesn't have to fight the devil. In the blink of an eye, He could destroy the devil and all his followers, and He will in the end.

God lets us fight our own good fight. It's our own choice to follow the path to heaven or to serve the leader of hell. In the end, God will prevail. Hell will be destroyed and all those who chose that path. Those that served the Lord in this lifetime, will go on to serve Him in eternity.

If one thinks this little life is all there is, I feel for them. There is so much beauty, precision and great details in the world and all that inhabit here. There is no way this is all there is. This life is but a learning phase, to bring us to what is coming next.

Our world is but one little marble in God's bag of marbles. Our universe his playground. Imagine being the only ONE of what you are. You too would create things to watch, interact with and to love. Something to give you love in return. If you had the power to create anything and everything, what would you use the power to do?

God created us for His joy and pleasure. He gave us free will so that the love would be a true choice.

The devil thinks he is an equal and our souls are the score card. The more people he can turn from God the more he thinks he's winning.

So I will say it again. If the devil isn't tormenting your life, chances are he already has your soul. The closer you get to God the stronger the battle with evil.

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  Blessed by God

Life is a challenge @ the Bright side of the Barn

Thanks for stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

People Never cease to Amaze Me

 Wow! I can't understand why people would resent improvements. The house stood empty for over a year, because potential buyers 'didn't like the neighborhood'. Meanwhile the new property owners are busting a butt to make improvements and upgrades to the community. 

 I guess there is a reason some folks don't garden. You can't plant a seed one day and expect to eat the corn the next. It takes time to grow and mature into the beautiful golden ears of sweet, delicious corn. 

It doesn't happen overnight. 

 I totally get it, that people don't like 'change' it's an uncomfortable feeling. Old habits are hard to break. I know, smoking has always been my 'crutch'. It took a fruity vape to get me away from cigarettes, now the habit isn't as unhealthy as before, but it's still a habit. Taking a minute to sit down and rest, inhale the sweet taste of strawberries over the stale taste of a cigarette. 

We're human, we are programmed to function, repeat and continue ~ doing the same things over and over again. 

 I don't know how people can keep the same job for year after year. I have to change jobs frequently, to keep myself challenged and I love learning new things and meeting new people. Which is probably why I love what I do now, with ever changing duties. I get to drive to places I've never been and see things I wouldn't have seen going 'to and from' work everyday. I meet people from all aspects of life. Some poor, some wealthy, some older and others younger than myself. Each one successful in their own journeys through life. 

 I've lived in a lot of places. 2 countries and many states, provinces. City life and country life. People are different everywhere you go. 'Fitting in' has never fit my personality. I've always been on the edge or outside of the circles. I think being at least 2 years younger than my classmates growing up might have attributed to the molding of my character. "Wise beyond my years" is something I've heard said often. Resented for being smart by 'fellow students'. You learn to be yourself and be satisfied within yourself. 

 Opinions are like 'asses' everyone has one. Some stink! Others are unnoticed, most are accepted as part of who you are. It's life - we all have the same body functions. It's how you carry the body that makes the difference in the world. Some people look for the positive and share compliments while others are seeking out the negative, always looking for something to complain about. One of the world's problems is that there are 10 to 1 more complainers than there are complementors. 

 They say you can't please everyone all the time. I say you can please yourself most of the time. Just by being the best you that you can be. You can't live trying to please others. You have to be you. One should never change to satisfy someone else's opinions. You will find yourself miserable within your own soul. You have to be you. You can choose to be a 'good you' or you can choose to be a 'selfish you'. The choice is yours and yours alone. There is regret or satisfaction with the choice.

  There is a difference between being selfish and being self-satisfied. Doing things that can benefit others is a bonus. Being selfish is never attractive. Thinking only of oneself has become popular in today's world. Thinking about others and how your own actions affect those around you - well that is a dying habit that few think about. The words consideration and respect seem almost extinct in today's society. 

 I'm always hearing people make the comment "What's wrong with the world today?"  Personally, I think people forget to 'check the mirror' before they walk out the door. With the way people dress - yes. But also, the attitude people carry out in public. And with what they do with the information they take in during the day. You can either see the good, or you can find something negative to complain about. 

 I've lived through a lot of situations and circumstances that would probably crush some folks. Even in the lowest moments and hardest times, I've always found something beautiful and good. Something to be thankful for and something to praise God for. I've managed to pull myself out of some pretty dark holes in life and see the beauty and have hope for the better. I've been blessed over and over again by God, so grateful for my family and I have some pretty amazing friends in my life. 

Blessed by God

Life's amazing @ the Bright Side of the Barn

Thanks for Stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

I'm so Blessed and Lucky

 I can finally say, 'we're home'.  Got my ducks lined up and things are moving forward in a positive direction.  Felt good to finally unpack.

I found a 4-leaf clover and then a 5-leaf clover today.

How Rare Is It to Find a 4-Leaf Clover? - Biology Insights

The chances of encountering a four-leaf clover are significantly low. While traditionally cited odds suggest one in 10,000, a 2017 study analyzing millions of clovers across Europe found the frequency to be closer to one four-leaf clover for every 5,000 three-leaf clovers.Finding a five-leaf clover is an incredibly rare occurrence, with odds estimated to be just 1 in 100,000 for new finders and even slightly better at 1 in 20,000 for collectors. This rarity makes them much more elusive than their four-leaf counterparts.

Yes, four-leaf clovers are considered lucky due to their rarity and historical significance.

• They are believed to bring good luck, with the chances of finding one being about one in 10,000. 

  
  
• In various cultures, they have been associated with protection against evil spirits and the ability to see fairies. 

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• The symbolism of four-leaf clovers has deep roots in both religious and pagan histories. 

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• This belief dates back to at least the 17th century. 

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• Overall, they are a universally recognized symbol of good fortune. 

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Why Are Four-Leaf Clovers Lucky? | Four-Leaf-Clover Meaning

One legend has it that the luck factor comes from Eve herself. As Adam and Eve were leaving the Garden of Eden, Eve is said to have plucked a single four-leafed clover as a souvenir of paradise, and this religious connection has led to them being considered lucky ever since. Four-leaf clovers were also seen in fables. “Children are recorded in folklore as carrying them in the hope that they could see fairies, and more generally, people carried them in a pre-modern world because they believed it would bring them luck and ward off illness,” says Cronin.

However, the belief that four-leaf clovers are lucky may have already existed among the Celtic peoples, probably because of the proliferation of clovers in Ireland and the rarity of finding one with four leaves. Many Celtic traditions were blended with the new religion over the years, and the importance of the clover was one of them. The four-leaf-clover meaning became intertwined with Christianity, so the first three leaves came to represent faith, hope and love, and the fourth leaf, God’s grace or luck.

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Why Are Four-Leaf Clovers Lucky? | Four-Leaf-Clover Meaning

So, one can't help but wonder if this is a sign of super good luck to come my way. Wonder if it helps that I married an Irish man and my last name is O'Hara?

Life has a way of twisting the complicated into making sense. Sometimes it hard to see the blessings until they appear right in front of us. Many wonderful things have happened in life over the years. This last year being a true testimony to the faith, and miracles from God. He uses people not magic to make things happen. The results are magical no doubt about it. But the people are the true blessings. 

I never would have chosen this place on my own. I put my trust in God, and this is where HE put me. {I prayed not to send me to Lynnwood and told Him I would go if that was where He wanted me} But he gave me Bothell instead. And shaved 15 minutes off my travel time to the barn. 

So far, it's been pretty amazing. Nice neighborhood, lot of places I work at are close by, including parks for Chanelle and its super bike friendly. Not too far from my horse and family. Love the area! Minimal graffiti, no homeless camps, super clean and well-kept throughout this end of the city. Close to a lighthouse park too.  

Personally, I couldn't have made a better choice. The park owners are doing a ton of work to improve the place. If it's anything like the mobile home community they own in Black Diamond, where I lived before - they did an amazing job there of renovating it. Can't wait to see the improvements here too. I like the manager too. She reminds me of Sarah who was an amazing manager to the community. 

I don't know how much luckier I can get ~ We'll see. 

Blessed by God

Life's a journey @ the Bright Side of the Barn

Thanks for Stopping by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.

Busy Days and Sleepless Nights

Getting settled in.

The moving is complete. What's going to be unpacked is unpacked. Need to do some catch up laundry, blankets and such. Still a few things needed to get. I have a new garden hose, so I can water everything from back to front. Maybe even be able to wash the car! 

With all the new expenses, I've been taking on more assignments than usual and being offered much higher paying assignments with consistently being done twice a month. While there is more work entailed, it's still easy money. They say you can't make a living on 'mystery shopping'. I would have to disagree when you can make more in a month mystery shopping that you receive on Social Security. 

Not all mystery shops are 'shopping'. I do a variety of things. Business inspections, compliance inspections, property inspections. Inventory of specific companies' products. Merchandising for other companies. Easy Peezy things like online quotes for work to be done, screen shots replace in person calls. Online applications and inquiries. Of course there are the gas station shops, fast foods and nice sit-down restaurants. {I love food!}

I'm not really into the travel and hotel shops. Yes, you can make money from airport shops and hotels, rent a car and so many more. Family entertainment - like theme parks, adventure places and even the movie theaters. I wish I would have known about it all when the kids were younger. We would have been able to do so many things that 'we couldn't afford'. 

Added in a few Notary appointments and I'm doing okay. I am hoping to get a few things off the 'need it' list, and it would be nice to get a few of the 'need paid' list accomplished before the Holiday season. I'd like to start the New Year with a little less debt and a little more comfortably. 

Recent doctors appointment tells me I'm getting a little older and life is getting a little more complicated. Another appointment coming soon, hopefully we will have removed some of the threatening health issues. Weight loss is still high on the list. It's causing complications to my breathing amongst other things. Not all of it is a result of too much food or to little exercise. There are inner body malfunctions aiding to the situation. Hoping to get some of them fixed soon. 

The lack of sleep or being able to sleep through the night, doesn't help. In the last 7 days I think I've had one solid night's sleep. To bed late and up early seems to be the new normal. With an hour of wide-eyed energy in the middle. No more pills, I already take too many medications I don't want to add any more So sleeping pills are out of the options. 

Hoping to get a new walking schedule started with Chanelle, hopefully getting back to the daily walks will help with both the weight and the sleep. Plus, we have a whole new community to explore and there are so many trails and parks around here. I'm actually looking forward to getting out there and making new discoveries. 

It's time to get around and head out to a friend's house to accomplish one more of her 'to do' lists. Yesterday was spent helping one friend get a few things done around the yard, today is helping another friend - find the inside of a room! One that has been accumulating 'boxes' with no where to go. 

As you get older, you need to let go of 'things'. Try to reduce the burden on those who will be left behind. It's a reality, we all have to face. Our time here is limited. Make the most of it. 

Blessed by God

Life's ever changing @ the Bright Side of the Barn

Thanks for Stoppng by

Until next time, Stay Safe and Happy Trails.