Facts of Life

Words to Live By

Wanted to share a post I read that I bet you guys can relate to just as much as I can.

"As we grow older, and hence wiser, we slowly realize that wearing a $300 or a $30.00 watch - - they both tell the same time.

Whether we carry a $300 or a $30.00 wallet/handbag - - the amount of money inside is the same.

Whether we drink a bottle of $300 or $10 wine - - the hangover is the same.

Whether the house we live in is 300 or 3000 sq. ft. - - loneliness is the same.

You will realize, your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world. Therefore, I hope you realize, when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, have sung songs with, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven and earth - That is true happiness!!

FIVE UNDENIABLE FACTS OF LIFE:
1. Don't educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be Happy. So when they grow up they will know the value of things not the price.

2: Best awarded words: "Eat your food as your medicines. Otherwise you have to eat medicines as your food."

3: The One who loves you will never leave you because even if there are 100 reasons to give up he or she will find one reason to hold on.

4: There is a big difference between a human being and being human. Only a few really understand it.

5. You are loved when you are born. You will be loved when you die. In between, You have to manage!

6: If you just want to Walk Fast, Walk Alone! But if you want to Walk Far, Walk Together!

SIX BEST DOCTORS IN THE WORLD:
1. Sunlight
2. Rest
3. Exercise
4. Diet
5. Self Confidence and
6. Friends

Maintain them in all stages of Life and enjoy a healthy life. The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for."

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Morning Devotional - Spending Time with God

When do you spend time with God each day?

If you're anything like me, I'm sure you're feeling pressed for time. Maybe there are not enough hours in your day. Maybe you can barely workout or even get a few hours of sleep a night because you're trying to fit everything in. You might be running around with a scowl on your face because you're so focused on getting everything done. Maybe, just maybe, you're even missing out on the amazing things going on right in front of you just so you get everything done.

Stop for a second. Why are you doing this to yourself?

I remember shortly after our second son was born, I was stretched beyond thin. Not only did both my grandparents pass away within 6 months of each other, my other grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer, and then so was my mom, and I was working full-time, nursing, pumping, juggling a couple jobs, caring for two boys, managing a household and trying to be a great wife. To say I was tired was an understatement. I might have a slight problem asking for help.

But I'm also learning that we go through seasons and I was in a tough one. All of a sudden, Nathan started to sleep through the night and we gained an extra hour with daylight savings ending. I used that hour for me. I headed to the basement. I sat in silence, meditated and had conversations with God. I felt the overwhelm start to trickle away day by day. I became stronger and more at peace and started to own every day with grace and zest. I changed.

The more you have to do. And the busier you are. The more you really need to spend time with God. If you give God your time, He will give it back to you. And wouldn't having more time in your day be wonderful?

Remember, God is in charge of time. He knows how much you need to accomplish the things you really need to do. He can protect and help you manage it if you will spend time with Him first. Stop trying to "fit" God into your schedule. Make a decision to put him first. Then work the rest of your schedule around him.

Life does not have to overwhelm you or catch you off guard. Prepare yourself for the challenges you will face each day by trusting Him with your time.

When can you find time for God today? 

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Spirits and Orbs? Is there such a thing?

Is it really just a glare in the photo or is someone with us?

Have you ever looked at your photos closely? 

Ever notice an orb in them before?

What is an orb? In photography, an orb is a typically circular artifact on an image, created as a result of flash photography illuminating a mote of dust or other particle. Orbs are especially common with modern compact and ultra-compact digital cameras.

Most people know I love the sun. I love it's warmth. How it feels on my face. The brightness. It brings hope in my heart and so much promise for the day. So when my husband Karl came across the photo I took of the sunshine coming through the trees and leaves in a post I put up on Facebook, he said..."WHAT IS THAT??" And pointed to the green orb.

The moments I was thinking of Jim and felt such warmth and beauty

On Saturday, Karl, his mom, myself and the boys went out to the land. This is where his dad loved to be and hunt in his earlier days at the cabin. So after walking about at the cabin and being reminded in every corner that Jim was not coming back, we grabbed a couple beers, off-roaded in my late father-in-law's truck through an overgrown field and set out on a walk through the woods. 

It was beautiful and peaceful, but sad at the same time. Especially when my mother in law stopped and said how much Jim would love to be there. I could feel her heart ache. Mine did too. We stood in silence for a while. The sun was at the perfect angle and its light was cascading through the leaves and branches trying to cut through any darkness it could find. I remember feeling Jim there, but I have been feeling him everywhere lately. So I do what I do best when I feel moved by something and I snapped a photo. 

That is the photo Karl looked at. He told me there was something wrong with my phone and there was some junk on it. I showed him other photos. No orbs. We decided it must be the sunshine and reflection. So he asked to see another photo I took of the sun. There was the green orb. And another. The green orb. And so one. And then he asked to see a sun photo before his dad died. I showed him. No orb. I showed him another and another. No green orb. 

Just my every day sunshine pics...no orbs included and when Jim was still here

Some people believe that orbs are more than dust particles or drops of moisture on the lens--they are proof of guardian angels, captured on camera.  When these "spirit orbs" or "angel orbs" appear near a single person or a group of people in a photo, it's a sign that they are blessed with the goodness, positive energy, and protection of angels.  When orbs appear in a particular location, it's also a sign that angels are hovering nearby and the location is particularly blessed.

Green
In spiritual practice, green is associated with the heart. It is also associated with nature. Green orbs are sometimes thought to be an indication of the presence of a human spirit, as opposed to one that was never on Earth in human form. Likewise, green orbs may represent love or oneness with nature.

I don't know. Could be a dust particle or refraction of light on my phone lens. Or maybe...just maybe...Jim is with us. 

What do you think?? Am I totally losing my mind over here?

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Fun with the Koesters!

Just keeping you all up to date on all the fun things we've been doing (in photos!). We're just your average young family trying to balance it all while enjoying every single moment!!!

ENJOY!!!

Pretty sweet boy, huh? Love LOVE LOVE this kid. He LOVES his new firetruck shirt! Why? Cuz the "lights are on". 

Remember when it got cold in Minnesota quick? I was craving chicken noodle soup. I try and stay away from canned stuff, but it sounded SO good. I always ask...How can I make this dish healthier??? So I added veggies to make up for it!

HEARTBREAKER - 2.5 years old! A picture of a picture. I know... What year am I living in? 

Coffee on the front porch in the morning = AWESOME. Seriously was only 2 minutes worth, but that's OK. I take what I can get!

We took Jackson to a firetruck parade. He was SO scared. We did NOT expect this. Felt so bad!

The trucks were pretty loud though. Karl said J-man was shaking. 

I LOVE FRUIT!

Have I mentioned HOW NICE and WONDERFUL it has been to have KARL BACK!?!??!?! NO late hours. NO WEEKENDS. NO ON-CALL. I could CRY I'm so happy. The last 2.5 years were SO hard. I'm SMILING ALL THE TIME. I'm soaking up every SECOND right now!

Love our little stunt man!

Getting in stair climber 2x a week! Just dropped down to level 7 this week (36 weeks pregnant)

I could have this for breakfast EVERY morning. Overnight Steel Cut Oats with FRESH PICKED apples!

YUM!

My PiYo workout. Jackson LOVES to join in!

Yeah, this is how SWEATY I get from PiYo. I LOVE IT.

Healthy goodness!!!

Like I said, I'm obsessed with apples. We have four trees at work, though they belong to the office next door. So I have to ask permission every year. I swap them recipes for letting me pick their apples!

We read these books over and over and over. I LOVE THEM!!!!! Jackson is obsessed with smoke stacks and letting us know if there are wheels or tracks on the construction equipment. He is CRAZY smart. 

AGAIN. I can't get ENOUGH of PiYo!!!! I'm down inches in my arms and thighs. NOT in my belly. I don't know why? HA! HA!

My little helmet man

Super golfer!

Measuring things up!

Just perfect

SWING!

My boys in the woods! 

Some apple quinoa treat. SO SO SO good. 

Apple cookies. SO SO good. 

A book I finished in a few weeks because it was THAT good. 

Baby #2 closet READY! Kind of. 

A quick walk over my lunch break. Time to reflect.

My FAVORITE thing. ORDERING BOOKS!!! 

Pumping iron at the gym. Right now I get stopped by others at the gym to let me know I'm having a boy! 

The leaves are changing! SO PRETTY!

Have you been to Total Wine? Oh my. DEALS. STEALS. AWESOME. 

Mommy/Jackson day!!!!

Best jeans EVER for the tall, skinny toddlers. Kohl's Jumping Bean. $8.99 right now. They of course are all gone now. 

THIS MAKES MY HEART SING ON SO MANY LEVELS. My husband is SUPPORTING ME and MY DREAMS. 

FINALLY went out to a new restaurant. Turkey burger with chickpeas and cilantro and pistachios and all other healthy things. YUM.

Storm rolled in. I made a watermelon slushy with fresh-squeezed lime. 

Oh, and back to apples.... Apple pancakes!

Apple banana bread

My coworker made baby #2 a sweet blanket!!! NICE!

Even if my head feels like it's going to roll off, I've been taking time to soak in all the BEAUTY going on around me!

YUM. Only a few ingredients. $7.99 at Target. 

YEP. This says it all. Need I say more?

Why do I love being a Health Coach???? I get to HELP and INSPIRE others to get HEALTHY. Then I get rewarded with THIS. OMG. I can't WAIT to put these in our gym!!!!!! A ladder and a big gym ball! Have I mentioned how happy I am???

This guy is my world.

LOVE HIM. LOVE HIM. LOVE HIM.

Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats. YUM!

IKEA. First time EVER for me. I'm IN LOVE.

Steel cut Pumpkin Oats. House smelled SOO good. 

My purchase from IKEA for baby closet. I know were I'll be going while on Maternity leave.... 

There you have it!!!!!!!!!!!! Until next time!!!

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