Self-Satisfying

I've nailed it! 

Making sourdough bread by memory now.

I swore I heard Professor Higgins saying,

 "By George, she's got it!"

from somewhere in the Universe.

(My Fair Lady)

Dare I say, this is the "Best loaf ever" ?

I will.

I say it every time.

It's no small thing to celebrate a simple life.

To turn away from mainstream,

and allow lovely things to define my moments,

and let the rest of the 

world just fade away for a while.

Journaling....

Worrying causes us to be all over the place,

but seldom at home. It pulls us apart 

and makes us lose our center.

Instead of looking for things to complain about,

look for reasons to give thanks.

The world is starved for genuine love.

Every act of love is a profession of faith

because it whispers His name.

'We don't have to spin- because we know

our happiness is anchored in

something greater than anything we

can see here and now.'

The lie: I am a victim of my circumstances.

The truth: My circumstances provide 

opportunities to experience the goodness of God.

"Once you start seeing seeing things to be grateful for,

your brain starts looking for more things to be grateful for."

Choose gratitude &

rewire your brain.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Stop confusing being busy with being fulfilled.

One fills your calendar.

The other makes you feel like your living

your life the right way."

~Yung Pueblo~

 

"Happiness comes from cultivating a spirit of contentment.

You are exactly where you need to be.

All the things you wish for may come,

but for right now,

everything you need has been provided.

Look at your life knowing that everything is

as it should be. 

Breathe in this truth and find peace knowing

that all is well.

Lift your arms to the sky with gratitude.

Feel your heart swell with appreciation

and attract happiness by choosing to 

be content."

"I wish you knew that anything that brought you joy

or peace was anti-inflammatory."

~Dr. Will Cole~

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding."

Proverbs 3:5

Contentment

Contentment is simple, sweet and slow.

It's that space within a moment that can leave

the mess of the outside world, 

and allow my heart to feel a mix

of peace and joy.

Buddy

Contentment is...
sitting on the floor,
  devotionals scattered around me,
Polly stretched out napping on my lap,
sipping coffee, and watching the snow fall outside my window.

The smell of bacon filling the house, 
something hubby fixes every Sunday morning.

 Blondie and Buddy.

Kleenex tucked into my coat pockets...
and memories of my gram always having one tucked into hers.

Coming into a warm home after farm chores on a frigid day.
Changing into our comfy sweats, and making a
pot of soup and cornbread together.

Mugs of hot chai, candles flickering, streaming "feel good" movies.
Hubby covering my lap with his warm blanket.

Journaling...

Do not focus on the circumstances that weigh you down.
Look to brighter times through eyes of faith.

What you believe shapes how you respond
 to the challenges that arise.

Ditch the desire for instant gratification.

Celebrate every piece of progress.

'Life doesn't tend to follow our plans.
It's more like exploring opportunities 
as we follow a trail of breadcrumbs.'

"No miner strikes gold with with first swing of the pick."

"Most prisons are of our own making.
A man makes his own freedom too."

How you perceive is how you respond.

Release the pressure to be perfect.

'Your life isn't meant to be a series of 
disappointments, nor is it intended to be
ordinary & stuck in a rut.
Stuff happens. You're not perfect.
God knows that.
Trust Him.
He has a  plan to get you through.'

'Peace is not something that happens externally;
it's an inside job.
Peace is based on your state of mind.'

'It's not how you start something that counts,
it's how you finish it.'

All big things come from small beginnings.

Clear away misconceptions.
Love more.

Love is an anchor for your soul no matter what happens.

be well...
xoxo
💖

'If something dulls your spirit, walk away,
shift the attention, or let go.
Choose things that light you up.
Be more aware of your needs.
Surround yourself with what brings you
peace, joy, and vitality.'

"Your own life is the greatest teacher you will ever have.
As with any teacher, however, you must be willing to pay
attention- with all your senses."

"Did you know cuddling or being in a loving
relationship can literally change your
gene expression?
It activates repair genes and turns off inflammation."
Love truly is medicine."
~Dr. Mark Hyman~

"A fit body, a calm mind,
a house full of love.
These things cannot be bought;
they must be earned."

 

Simplicitites

"Year by year the complexities of this spinning world 

grow more bewildering and so each year we need all the more

to seek peace and comfort in the joyful simplicities."

~Women's Home Companion, December 1935~

Simple things...

 The moment of shift.

 From rush to a long pause,

 as I wait for some random chicken to cross the road.

Little boy giggles over T-rex arms, and horse poop.

Singing along to Abba as we walk around the arena.

Taking the long way home on country roads,

just me and my camera.

Brandon laughing on the phone, as he recapped his

snowmaggedon experience at the local market.

Struggling with a decision. Praying about it.

And Hubby walking in, answering the question

I didn't even ask.

The heat in the old farm truck as we roll hay out for the cows in the snow,

a mug of hot tea,

and getting a call from my Dad.

be well...

xoxo

💝

'Here's the thing about joy:

You can't catch it, or manufacture it.

You can only experience it.

It will never trespass nor arrive uninvited.

It loves to be welcomed & will leave 

if only it is being ignored.'

" 11 Rules of Inner Peace:

Stay honest

Heal your past

Let go of tension

Be kind and giving

Speak your boundaries

Pause instead of reacting

Connect with good friends

Live in the present moment

Maintain a grateful mindset

Don't get attached to drama

Be flexible, change is inevitable."

~Yung Pueblo~

Synchronicity of Things...

Going back to a call made to schedule an appointment,

 which somehow led to

chatting about the year of the snake, 

and the shedding of old skin.

Followed by subtle signs & a strong nudge.

 The green light.

Cueing me that it's time to begin.

Resistance.

I set & circle a date, and decide to go with the flow.

My head is ready, but my heart whispers "slow".

My neighbor visits & hands me

a package, unexpectedly sitting at my door.

A note from home & a thoughtful gift.

 Some tears, a call, and much, much more...

the timing was perfect, 

I felt the tug at my core.

Fear, doubt and uncertainty come near,

the circled date also, a birthday of someone dear.

Listening to a talk-show while visiting Mom... they mention..."the year of the horse".

I look to see the date, and it's the one I have in a circle, of course.

Journaling...

If you want something, take action today.

Every small step leads to change.

Anything that makes you anxious is a growth 

opportunity. Embrace the challenge eager

to gain the blessings hidden in the difficulties.

Start in the present moment-

accepting things exactly as they are.

Give yourself.

You see many things that miss the mark,

and it's uncomfortable.

Don't run away.

Be clear in your mind of exactly what you

want to happen. Leave the how to God,

even if it's unrealistic.

"Be faithful in your affirmation that God

has not deserted you, but calls you in the middle of all 

the unexplained absurdities of life.

Be deeply aware of this."

~Henri Nouwen~

"Explore. Dream. Discover."

~Mark Twain~

be well...

xoxo

💝

'Sometimes there's no one to turn to.

Sometimes you're all alone.

And those times?

You have to keep the faith.

Remember that even if you can't see them or 

feel them, your people are out there

waiting for you.  Even after you're gone.'

~Grey's Anatomy~

"The master has failed more time

 than the apprentice has even attempted."

~Proverb~

"There's a reason Scripture tells us,

"Do not worry about tomorrow."

Matthew 6:34

Fear accelerates aging.

Stress disrupts hormones.

Worry weakens digestion.

We're called to trust.

It heals us spiritually and physically"

~Dr. Josh Axe~

"There are so many reasons to be happy.

Waking up to see a new day is one of them."