Starting Over

Hi Friends its been a while since I have posted on Island Soul Blog, I have been focused more on my other blog caribbeanculinary.blogspot.com.  Lots have happened during my absence. My three babies have grown up and and two is now living on the own, my daughter just finished high school a year ago and fingers crossed might start college soon. In the meantime I am enjoying the freedom of more time doing things that I love, like traveling  cooking, and writing my cookbooks, I have since written two and is now working on my third one, gardening, decorating, and antiquing, I am also working on preparing and eating more healthy meals as I try to keep my blood pressure under control. These photos are of my travels this past year.

Hosting a cooking Class Holland American Cruise Lines

 Curacao Boast some beautiful local buildings,and coffee shops where you get to sit and enjoy some of the islands cultural activities

This past year we sold our house in TN and bought a small cottage in SW Florida. Its really a Manufactured home but I prefer to call it a cottage because it sounds more chic ha ha, Call it what you like I love it and is having lots of fun fixing it up and working in my garden, I am planning to plant a country garden with the hope of using lots of recycle items including some car tires that I saved from the dump that I plan to paint and use as planters  I will be posting some pictures of my progress in other upcoming posts. And by the way if you have a small cottage like mine let me know what you are doing we could swap and share ideas feel free to comment below.
I titled this post "Starting Over" because I for one I am sometimes always starting over, I consider myself to be an overachiever and sometimes take on more that I can chew.  But I believe we all do that sometimes, My hubby who is the total opposite has to remind me that I can say no. when someone ask me to do something that I know I don't have the time or resources its okay to say no, I am not a bad person If I say no. So I am learning now to be comfortable with who I am and not try so hard to be a people pleaser. I can remember growing up and I always wanted everyone to love me, I did for others and I gave but for the wrong reason I was searching for love in the wrong places and from the wrong people. As humans God created us with a inner vacuum that only he alone can fill, I have seen lots of people not living the life God called them to live because they looked to the wrong people and things to filled that vacuum or void in their lives.
  Its amazing that as I get older and more steadfast in my walk with God That I know without a doubt That God has a great plan for all his children, and he is not hiding it from them nor is it a secret. His word said in Jeremiah 29 :11 For I know what plans I have for you said the lord, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Gods plans for his children is already set in place, Even before we came into this world God already had a plan for our lives it was already in place. All we had to do was believe and trust him.
 So in starting over What I know for sure is this I don't have to go in the back of the line ( God does not tell me Freda you messed up so you

need to go to the back of the line and start over) no he allows me to continue on the path just where I was before, He allows me to continue on my walk with him and if I messed up on the way all I have to do is repent of my sin, ask for his forgiveness and continue on the path he has already carved out for me to walk ( his plan for my life)
 My prayer in the upcoming months is that Gods will and purpose will be active in your life. Don't miss out on his plan for your life because Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow you all the days of your life. Psalms 23:6