December 27, 2025

It was like celebrating Christmas in June.

AMAZING!

Christmas eve: twinkle lights and candles sparkling,

 windows and doors wide open to a nice evening breeze.

 Brandon, Molly, and I gathered around the 

table to finish our traditional Christmas puzzle.

When Gary came home he joined us and we

   played 5 Crowns & scoffed down freshly baked Swedish spritz cookies.

Yes...I scoffed.

Fritzy relished in his freedom to be indoors or out

as he wished, butt wagging, cuddling, and savoring a cookie or two

in between naps and travels.

Christmas morning:  Talked to my Dad.

Brandon learned to make coffee in the French press.

We ate our (now) traditional French toast bake at the table

served with fresh fruit on Grandma A's china set,

and opened the doors wide to invite the beautiful

Christmas morning to join us.

 I received some of the sweetest most thoughtful gifts this 

Christmas...

however,... the moments we shared?

 Perfect.

This Christmas was by far one of my favorites!

I sure do love my people.

notes over the holiday...

24th

I love early. 

I am out on the porch. Yay! I love this!

Mindful of the blessings.

"Let your hearts be warmed by the traditions, the garland,

the candle-lighting service.

But be shocked-be in awe of the baby in the manger."

25th

...too much sugar. Feel bleh...but fun.

Gorgeous weather. Peaceful morning.

Chickens laughing next door...

Thank you Father...so cute.

Happy Birthday Jesus.

26th

Surprise! Ate more sugar.

Cookies calmed me. Blood sugar is good.

I have a wonderful life.

"Choose to see the light in everything."

"It's OK if there are days when I feel a little out of frame."

What I focus on grows.

27th

Upstairs early sitting near an open window and Polly

purring on my lap.

Enough indulgence. Back to eating healthy today.

"Remember all the things that love is:

patient, kind, not envious or boastful or proud.

It honors people, isn't self-seeking, nor easily angered,

and it doesn't keep track of people's mess-ups."

(1Corinth.13: 4-5)

"No one leads people to Jesus;

He leads people to Himself.

All the pressure is off.

Just go love everybody."

Focus on ways you'd like to grow.

Begin doing the work required.

Each day is a new opportunity to live your dream

Tenaciously pursue what you want.

"You are asking God for more in your life, 

but you have to learn how to handle what you have."

'The moment you surrender is not when life is over.

It's when it begins.'

be well...

xoxo

💝

"How ironic.

You spend your whole life resisting the notion that there's

someone out there smarter than you are,

and then all of a sudden you're so relieved to know it's true.

All of a sudden, your not too proud to ask for help.

That's what it means to surrender to God."

~A Return to Love ~

December 23, 2025

It's 69 degrees and I've been pairing working in the yard,

with stretching and pulling my sourdough every 30 minutes.

The birds are singing, and the bluebirds are flying about.

A Blue Jay landed, with much to say.

It was carrying on so much that Polly hid under a chair.

I sat & listened until it flew off...then looked up the "sign".

I prayed last night for direction and clarity for something

weighing on me.

I fell asleep right away..., and had a dream about a room in my house

flooding.  I woke up...and had only slept for an hour.

So I looked up the "sign" for that too.

I've been experimenting with mindfulness, faith, and surrendering.

Being more intentional with my thoughts.

Practicing Philippians 4:8.

(my all-time favorite verse)

I enjoy testing things out.

To discover what works and what doesn't.

For me.

It's effective.

This year while I muttered, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

and "With God all things are possible."  while breaking old habits and patterns,

and talking to the cat...

 ...lately I've been muttering, "He will perfect that which concerns me."

while wondering why I've wasted so much time trying to "perfect"

things that really don't concern me.

And I still talk to the cat.

Paying attention, and taking notes.

Signs:

* Bluebird: 'Is letting you know to choose happiness at all time.

Life may not be how you want it, Bluebird encourages you to count your blessings.

It reminds you to take control of your life & not let anyone or anything

steal the joy you have found.

Place value on the pleasant things growing around you.

Your about to enter a new chapter.

Be open and embrace any change.

All will be well.

"There's beauty all around us if you look hard enough."

~Bluebird~

* Blue Jay: Spiritual messenger. Communication. Courage. Protection. Truth.

Clarity.

And...the *flooded room dream interpretation:

Being overwhelmed by emotions or life circumstances.

Represents inner turmoil, stress, or unresolved issues within 

your personal life.

Facing a major life transition, feelings of loosing control, or a

need of emotional cleansing.

That sums it up nicely.

be well...

xoxo

💗

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,

whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure,

whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-

think about such things."

Philippians 4:8

"Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me,

or seen in me-

put it into practice.

And the God of peace will be with you."

Philippians 4:9

\

 

December 20, 2025

I woke up weary.

Went to Horse Camp training to open up 

more areas to volunteer in. 

Revived.

Turned into the Zoo on my way home.

Only visitor there.

Bundled up from the cold, immersed in the calm.

Reenergized.

 A mad dash through the gym shedding boots and layers,

and arriving to join my peeps at Tai Chi class.

 Amused by our mess ups

and mishaps.

Determined.

Having fun.

Laughing as we learn.

Renewed.

Very mindful lately of where my energy leaks are, and what fuels me.

I've been listening for the whisper. 

Deciding what I choose to put my energy into.

What speaks to my heart.

What drains me.

What fills me.

Repairing some leaks.

Knowing that no matter where the journey takes me...

I am never alone.

Trusting in that.

be well...

xoxo

💓

 

'This is where you learn to grow, to love,

to trust.

This is life.

Take all the time you need to be undone, and breathe.

Through all the changes, hold onto wisdom, love, and gratitude.

No matter where the journey takes you, 

know that you never go alone.'

 

December 14, 2025

It's the way my cat tries to beat me from room to room.

The perfect quote when I need it.

The gratitude of going through the "difficult times".

A small gesture at the right time.

Pause. Take a breath, and notice everything

that is happening .

Appreciate what is, and allow

what is going to happen to enter

naturally.

Journal notes...

Life is messy, unexpected, and complicated,

and filled with magic, and overwhelming beauty.

Be firmly grounded in truth.

'When we live in our head, we miss the importance

 of of what is happening right now.'

Surrender. Let go. Find your new beginnings,

a new way of seeing. 

A grace filled way of life.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"The thing about magic, 

is you don't wait for it...

it waits for you."

~Jake~

'Amidst all the pressure to keep going & to keep going,

may you also take time to learn the art of being;

being Loved, 

being Held, 

being Seen,

being in the Presence of the one who calls you to rest.

Even in the pause you are still where you need to be.'