If Not Now, When?
Don’t Miss Out!
Have you made the switch?
Time Out for Tea and Tidbits can now be found at https://www.debbiespence.com/
My latest blog can be found here. Just click the link. https://www.debbiespence.com/2018/05/28/let-the-yum-begin/
Be sure to get your FREE copy of my eBook – 24 Everyday Simple Pleasures
I’m excited to see you on The Breezy Porch
Join the Club
I can get distracted so easily sometimes. Squirrel! I hope you haven’t gotten distracted and forgotten to switch to my new blog site. Each post is filled to the brim with encouragement on enjoying an unhurried life.
Here’s a link to my FREE eBook which will give you a delightful, full color, inspiring guide to simple pleasures. Download it today and you’ll also be subscribed to my blog. Each Tuesday you’ll receive an email with a fresh breeze from The Breezy Porch.
While you’re at it, be sure to join The Breezy Porch Facebook group. Join all my Porch Pals in a community of lovers of all things fun, fresh and lovely.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1938031722891363/
I’m excited to visit with you on The Breezy Porch!
It’s Time to Switch
If you haven’t already, It’s time to switch! My ACTIVE blog site is now debbiespence.com. Hop on over and be sure to subscribe!! We’ve just started a new contest, “Beat the Blues” winter giveaway. You don’t want to miss it. Today on The Breezy Porch it’s all about nostalgic living. Join us!
https://www.debbiespence.com/2018/02/06/homesick-for-mayberry/
Simple Festivities for You and Your Girlfriends
Just in case you haven’t switched to the new blog site, I have the link for you. Be sure to subscribe to the new site!
http://www.debbiespence.com/2017/11/27/simple-festivities-girlfriends/
Time for Holiday Simple Pleasures
Don’t let the busyness of the holidays zap your joy. Enjoy the simple pleasures of the holidays. Join me today as we begin unwrapping each simple pleasure gift. Head over to my new blog site. Be sure to sign up for my FREE eBook so that you don’t miss any of the fun.
http://www.debbiespence.com/2017/11/07/time-holiday-simple-pleasures/
New Things Ahead
For the past six months my mind has been filled with Simple Pleasures. I stared at the end of last winter, curled in my cozy red chair and began typing away at 365 simple pleasures. Things changed and it grew.
Those simple pleasures turned into a FREE eBook of 24 Everyday Simple Pleasures, a new website, and a series of four eBooks each containing 75 pleasures. 75 Seasonal Pleasures – Summer and 75 Seasonal Pleasures – Autumn are complete and available on my website. The others are in process.
I can’t stop thinking about simple pleasures! Yesterday I sat down with my family to whip out a list of Christmas pleasures. We had 75 in no time. Due to the creation of these books, our perspectives have been enlightened to easily see the simple pleasures all around us. I am excited to share those ideas with you.
Here we are on the brink of the holidays. WHAT? ALREADY? Yes! It is like my father recently said, “Life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end of the roll, the faster it goes.” Did you ever think you life would be compared to toilet paper?
No need to fret about the holidays. They can be crazy or you can learn to find simple pleasures in the midst of the madness. I hope you’ll join me this season as I unveil simple seasonal pleasures to enhance your holidays.
You will need to sign up for my FREE eBook and when you do, you will be subscribed to my new blog on my new website. Then you will not miss any pleasures this holiday season. Just click on the link and come visit The Breezy Porch.
I look forward to visiting on The Breezy Porch
It’s Here!!!
I have been on a journey, the destination – my dreams! I am excited to share my first creation with you. I hope you enjoy each and every pleasure contained in it. Then if you’re thirsty for more visit my new website where you will find 75 more pleasures in my shop.
Here it is, 24 Everyday Simple Pleasures
Let me know what you think!!
Do you have time to help?
While my new site is under construction, I’ve decided to also post here. You can view my new website at http://www.debbiespence.com/
Subscribers, please go to my new site and subscribe so you will continue to receive my blog posts.
The free eBook is disabled temporarily, but soon it will be available for you to download.
Thank you for your patience. Now, do you have time to help?
I once called Houston home. Our little house on Jura Lane was the home that welcomed two of my newborns home. It is the home proudly featured in home videos as the guest star behind the scenes. I marvel at those home movies that show a home belonging to a young couple with much more vision than money. I was quite creative, and turned that house into a home for our family.
We’ve been gone now for 18 years, creating a new home in the corn and soybean fields of Indiana, but that house will always be dear to my heart. Most likely today that little house along with many others is under water.
The recent tragic flooding in Houston has left many lives disrupted. Many lives have been threatened and families displaced. People are reeling as their lives have turned upside down in only 48 hours.
Last year at this time our town was hit by a tornado. It followed a path through the center of town that another tornado had taken only a few years before. The same subdivision was shocked that they again were the victims of a ruthless mother nature.
Trials come to our lives, sometimes at the speed of light. Too many of us have known disruption due to nature, death, sickness or emotional turmoil. We all know someone at this moment who is dealing with something they wish would just disappear. They may be victims of hurricane Harvey or another hurricane they don’t want others to know about.
Last year when the tornado hit my life took a detour. Our home was fine, but as owners of a restoration company, severe storms mean all hands on deck. Our company was working at an apartment complex that had been hit hard. They were cleaning debris so residents could remove their belongings. I gathered food and water for lunch to serve our employees as they worked. When I arrived, my son had set up 2 tables with canopies for me to set things out. Before I even reached the table people carrying pans of prepared hot dogs asked if they could set the food at my table. “Sure!”
It was crazy! I had people stop by with empty boxes for the residents to use. The Red Cross left me boxed meals to pass out. Trucks drove up and dropped off mountains of bottled water. Someone else left boxes full of chips and snack type foods. Another ministry dropped off bags filled with toiletries and cleaning supplies. We had boxes of diapers and wet wipes, and boxes of hot pizza.
I became my own relief station. My daughter and I did our best to organize the supplies that were given to us and to humbly serve the gracious people who were scurrying to unpack their belongings. Every single person asked for less than they needed. They were kind and humble. They touched my heart so deeply.
At the end of the day, I felt odd with all this stuff. I had planned on visiting my son the following day so I began making calls to see who would take this over. I felt like God spoke to my heart and said, “I gave it to you.” So the next day we were back at it.
At the end of the day, the city inspector closed the complex. A ceiling had caved in on a woman and the structure was deemed unsafe. With the residents gone, the time came to close down our little relief station. I had to put the seats down in my suburban. We filled the back completely.
I took the “left-overs” to another ministry. I had started out with 12 Subway sandwiches, cookies, chips and Gatorade and after we had served an entire complex for two days, the left-overs filled the back of my suburban. I cried. I got to experience my very own “fishes and loaves” miracle. I also got to experience the miracle of generous hearts caring for others.
I saw a video today of a lengthy line of vehicles pulling boats toward Houston. They were on their way to help in the rescue efforts. There were caring people who made time to help. I’m sure these people have busy lives and hauling their boats down to Houston was not on the schedule. I cried again.
Our lives are busy, but I am so thankful to see that there are people who stop when they need to and help. It is wonderful when help arrives during a natural disaster, but remember people are also suffering every day from personal disasters.
Be willing to take a detour. Be willing to let go of the schedule and agenda that drives you each day. Do not be so busy that you can’t stop and offer your help. It may not be convenient to stop what you’re doing or change the plans you have, but someone, somewhere needs you.
The aftermath of Harvey will be long and expensive. Please don’t let their plight disappear from your radar. I’ve attached two links that you use can use to find ways to help.
http://www.texasmonthly.com/the-daily-post/ways-can-help-people-hurricane-harvey/
https://app.mobilecause.com/vf/Harveyrelief
How to Make Your Dreams Come True
“All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” Walt Disney
Walt Disney’s dreams came to fruition. Today millions enjoy the fruit of his dreams. It truly does boggle the mind when you ponder on how one dream, one little seed, produces something so monumental.
We all dream dreams. Some dreams are simple and some are world changing. Even if the change that occurs only occurs in your world, it is still world changing.
Walt Disney’s quote does point out a vital ingredient for dreams to come true. Dreams don’t always come to dreamers. Dreams don’t materialize from wishing hard enough. Dreams take courage, hard work and tenacity.
You need the courage to stick with it when your dream seems so much bigger than you are. You need the courage to tackle the unknown and unfamiliar. You need the courage to learn information that seems too difficult for you. You also need the courage when naysayers rise up, and your own thoughts tell you, “You can’t do it.”
You CAN do it. It might not be easy, but you can do it. You CAN do it. It may take longer than you ever imagined, but you can do it. You CAN do it. The vision may be adjusted along the way, but you can do it.
The main reason people fail, is because they give up when the challenges mount.
Do you have a dream? Is it time to begin pursuing that dream? I encourage you to begin. I encourage you to press through in the middle, and I encourage you to finish hard. It will not be easy. You will be stretched. You’ll want to give up, but don’t. Your dream is worth it. Just take the next step. Rest if you need it. Regroup if necessary, but don’t give up!
I have a dream. I want to create and publish books that will bring joy and wonder to readers. I want to make a difference in people’s lives and in our society. This blog, which I’ve written for six years has been a part of that dream. For the past few months I have been diligently working on taking the steps toward the fullness of that dream.
I have been working on my first ever eBook. It is now complete along with two others that are very near done. I have also been learning technology that is far out of my comfort zone, but my knowledge is growing. I am updating my blog and it will soon be an interactive website. This is where I’ve admitted my limits and sought help. I am so excited to share all of this with you.
The next post that you receive from me will be from my new updated site. I am so excited for you to see it. (HINT: Think Breezy Porch)
An important truth that I’ve learned as I have pursued my dream, is that we can’t do it alone. So many wonderful people have graciously given their time to me and my projects and I want to thank them all.
First of all, thank you Bobbi Jasay. Bobbi is my amazing photographer and it is her work that you will find in my new eBooks. Find her at ttps://www.facebook.com/Watch-My-Whimsy-Bobbi-Jasay-Photography
Thank you Anna Spence and Jolie Good. These two young ladies also contributed photos to my books.
A huge thank you goes to Sharon Watson. Sharon is my editor and eBook formatting guru. She has been so kind with her time and advice. Find Sharon at http://writingwithsharonwatson.com/
My books are filled with the beautiful images of family and friends who were so wonderful to work with. None were models. I wanted to represent real people doing simple pleasures, and they made the entire process a simple pleasure
Thank you: Anna Spence, Emily Spence, Joshua Spence, (so far the only male in the books) Rachelle Spence, Elliana Spence, Melissa Bannister, Dale Moore, Jan Rudolph, Candace Good, Jolie Good, Sophia Good, Jewel Jasay, Janette Jasay, Jill Moss, Anne Loisch, Charlene Dunning, Laura Kidwell, Josie Benaszak, Alexis Harmon, Juiana Harmon and Callie Wrightsman
Dreams can come true with courage, hard work and friends.
I also want to announce the winner of my last contest. Diana Metz you are my winner. I will bring your prize to you very soon.
Thank you dear friends for reading my blog. I know you will enjoy all the updates and eBooks that are coming. I will have contests and delightful prizes so stay tuned. Remember you can always find me at https://debbiespence.com/
Time Out for Tea and Tidbits 