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Second First Yogi

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Second First Yogi By Deena McDaniel – Positively Beautiful Blog 1/30/26 Is the first time you accomplish something really the best time you’ve accomplished it? Think back to a moment when you were working your tail off. Then came the relief — the reality of success. Funny how success can feel both fast and slow at the same time. You graduate from school… then the job hunt begins. You get the job… then come the promotions. A job change, a layoff, even getting fired — and suddenly you’re starting over again. Life circles back. Begin again. Not just in careers — we hit the reset button as people. It’s every single day. Starting again takes courage. In one month, we mark two years of a major restart. My Florida roots of 20 years don’t fade quietly. Winter reminds me to use my “fake sunlight” — those special spectrum bulbs — because darkness can press hard on my spirit. Yet nothing grows unless something first dies. A seed sown changes form completely, but its essence remai...
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Merry Fence-mas

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Merry Fence-mas by Deena McDaniel, Positively Beautiful blog 12/20/25 Christ is Christmas! There’s always a blur this time of year. The tree is set up, and a plethora potpourri of decorations abounds. Some reflect the silliness of the season’s Santa and his elves, while others may point directly to the “Reason for the Season!” Christ-mas is Savior centered. Even Pagans and other religions might take the 25th to exchange gifts for the fun of it. Who wants to be left out of a celebration? Everyone loves parties! “And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh.”-Matthew 2:11 We all battle the business! There's one kid’s party at school, a work event, and then the local Christmas celebrations too! I missed the “drone display” again, but the videos were outstanding! Endless opportunities call us in, but discernment takes the front seat ...
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Every Last Breath

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Every Last Breath by Deena McDaniel Positively Beautiful Blog 1/2/26 Resolutions become revolting in mid-January! Failure is common. Intensions are with heartfelt solutions. And then comes complacency. Give up and give in to past indulgences or take a 360 spin. Change is a process and not very often a “poof” of an instantaneous shift. “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”- 2 Peter 3:8 Recycle that resolution. What exactly is a resolution, if not a resolve to change? Change begins with your mind. Where have you put your thoughts throughout the day? Naturally, we petition the Lord with our wants and often our needs. Wants trigger the heart motive. Why? Why do we want _____? Several months ago, I made prayer cards about the ones I love. Spending mornings going through the list of wants and needs for each, I’ve also included myself. Scripture accompaniment is vital. Pray back the promises...
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Cookie Kiss

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Cookie Kiss By Deena McDaniel Positively Beautiful Blog – 1/10/26 When we moved to Florida in 2004, the culture shock was—well—shocking! Suddenly, the entire world walked across my path. Every tribe, tongue, and nation had a presence in my life. Our past life in Montreal, Missouri had created a very homogenous existence. Everyone was mostly like me. The town closest to us had 81 people and a gas station/diner/laundromat combo—nothing like Buddy’s Diner for breakfast! And then…transplant to South Florida! I cried for two months trying to adjust. Making friends, finding a brand-new church, and navigating an unfamiliar culture with four kids ranging from 14 years old to 18 months had me constantly running to the Cross. Winter was sunny, yet I was praying for Son-shine. Now, opening the door to 2026, cozy in my bedroom with my granddaughter snuggled into the pillows playing Minecraft, I gladly choose the path God set before me—hindsight is clear. Now is the time to begin again. Have you ...
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Sasquatch Sighting by Deena McDaniel Positively Beautiful Blog 2/21/23 Yard work is an ongoing chore. It’s easy to neglect a certain section of our yard, only because it’s filled with vines. Grass never would grow there so I made an alternative ground cover. In the middle of the intertwined glory sits Sasquatch. We are the jokers. Hey, he might be real. And a crazy goal is to have a destination point of a Bigfoot Museum roadside attraction, once we move back to Missouri. But when? As I began the tidy-up of the vines, I made my way to the statue. I broke out in laughter. A single plant had made it up his “crack” and thus the scowling face made more sense. I imagined the time it took to sprout from the ground and find the wiggly plant sneaking up his butt cheeks. I’d seen the scary guy there for quite some time but had no idea how long he’d been in that one place. Well, long enough for the growth to happen. God worked weird things in my mind through the weir...
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Oh, Nose! By Deena McDaniel Positively Beautiful Blog 1/7/23 Paving the way for her sister Abigail, Rosey had no idea her actions would be a blessing over 2 years later. Our children are honorable in how they conduct themselves in our home. (Remember commandment 5?) We know that both our girls dreamed of the day of their first tattoo. Their older sister Mary, who is out on her own sported skin art. Each tat had a memory attached. Rosey turned 18 and got a tat. And then Rosey wanted her septum pierced. (A septum is that little part where your nose attaches to your lip, i.e., the cartilage between your nostrils.) For a couple of years, Rosey pleaded her case until we finally said OK. The whole thing scared me. And to my surprise, I really liked it on her. It’s a metal rod/ring through your nose area like a pig. “It’ll keep her from rooting!” my husband laughed because they do put a ring in pig’s nose to keep them from digging up the ground with their nose. Now let...
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To Tree or Not to Tree by Deena McDaniel Positively Beautiful Blog Can you remember the very first Christmas tree you put up after you went out on your own? Decorations meager lights simple, and a star made of tin foil. I remember. Popcorn strung together with tiny red cranberries decorated my first tree. The very first Christmas tree was with my wonderful boyfriend Mickey. (Then on December 30th he was my husband…eloping was easy!) Each year I’d make sure to wait for the 50%off sale of Christmas ornaments and get a cherished new treasure for the following year. Then as the children were born a new one for them and me, child after child Christmas after Christmas my tree is a banquet of memories. That very first tree Mickey brought up to my apartment. “I went out and cut one.” He laughed. The lot next to the apartment complex was an empty lot with scrub trees, but beautiful in his hand. Eggnog and popcorn stringing the Christmas classics filled the air. It wa...
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