Seasons

....of change, unexpected twists, truths

and differing moralities.

Facing the challenges 

and some gritty realities.

In the midst of uncertainty, clenched fists, and

bouts of tears...

I find faces & spaces,

that comfort & sit with me in my fears.

Notes to self:

You can't avoid negative distractions,

but you can choose to let it flow by.

You can relax, and trust that the changes you

experience will be right for you.

Focus on today.

Do not be discouraged when you encounter

problems and pain along the way.

Trust God rather than yourself, or your resources.

Make the decision to believe Him.

Be careful whose words you take to heart.

Stop focusing on your problems and limitations-

and believe that the way ahead is really an open road,

in spite of how it looks.

When you are struggling, simply take the next step.

Do not worry is a command not a suggestion.

You can decide not to worry.

Pay attention to the nudges & be confident.

Learn from faith stretching situations.

Befriend your wounds & let them reveal

to you your own truth.

The pain hardest to bear is your own.

Learn what practicing peace is for you,

and what it's not.

Stop putting yourself down.

Peace doesn't mean everything is perfect,

it means you are able to find your breath

and a cushion of calm at the center of your life.

Stay present. 

Over and over.

Live abundantly today.

Pay attention to the details.

Freude (froy-da) 

German

Joy

be well...

xoxo

💞

P.S.

....for having my back, and bringing calm 

to my storms, along with a few laughs.

Thank you Dad.

I love you!!

💖

"....And whenever she starts to forget

the story of her original bloom,

the flowers of this green earth remind her

she too will spring up from the ground again.

Gravity will not retain her,

for the sun and the rainfall will propel her

up from gritty soil into open morning air,

and Light will meet her there

and she will begin to unfold in the way

she is meant to."

~Morgan Harper Nichols~

Everything I know...

I have learned from being directionally challenged.

 Remain calm.

There's always another way.

Pay attention.

Be aware of your surroundings.

Be present.

Avoid being distracted.

Take it slow...and go with the flow.

Trust your instincts.

Watch for obstacles.

Don't spend too much time looking in the rearview.

Move forward. Back up when necessary.

Make sure your tank is full.

Keep your vehicle maintained and repaired.

Have essentials on hand...tissue, wipes, water and a healthy snack.

Rest if your tired, or weary.

Stretch.

Always have a blanket and a poncho or umbrella or both for protection.

Have a bag or two....to collect snacks, nature, trash, or gifts along the way.

Take a time out. Enjoy where you are....

and the moment you're in. 

(sit in the grass, people watch, read the signs,

take pictures, freshen up. Recalibrate.)

If  you start to become stressed, shake it off, turn up the tunes & sing,

 turn off the tunes and pray. Always breathe...

ask for help, and trust in your GPS. 

Even if it doesn't make sense.

Life is fleeting...cherish the moments along the way, even if your lost.

Do your best & enjoy the ride.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Life is an exercise in the pursuit of happiness,

the actual experience of happiness confined to brief pauses in 

the pursuit..."

"Perception is a clash of mind and eye,

the eye believing what it sees,

the mind seeing what it believes.."

" A life of contentment abounds with gratitude.

When you feel that things aren't the way they should be,

find the things that are. 

Shift your attention to the positive aspects of life

to cultivate a content heart.

When contentment grows, our perception of reality

changes and things that used to bother us

don't hold much power.

Our minds are powerful, and if we focus

our attention on gratitude and positive thoughts,

contentment is a result.

What are you grateful for today?"

~Sunrise Gratitude~

Presently

.... taking changes in stride as they are...

an not how I wish they were...

moment by moment.

I chose to ditch worry, and to trust.
To believe, and accept as best I can.
It was a choice that lead me toward a
more positive outlook.

I am choosing to keep it simple. 
Slow.
Enjoy all the ordinary moments.
It frees up so much energy.
I can see what's going on, and notice more of what's right.
There's so many little, beautiful things worth noting
in the course of a day.

Yesterday....I went to the orthopedic surgeon.
I watched as the people entered and left.
I noticed most everyone was smiling, &
 how oddly comfortable it was in the
 great big mixture of us. 
Noticed the light-hearted conversations, and attention to each other.
A few youngsters were on their phones, and a distinguished man sat reading his book.
More connections being made, than not. 
Some of us (me) gravitated toward the sunlit atrium,
while others stayed close to where they'd be called.
Giggles came from a little girl squishing in between her Mom and Dad in chair built for two.
Folksy, upbeat music streaming overhead added to the appeal.
A family of Amish entered, and Mom removes her outer bonnet, to expose an inner bonnet.
The man tipped his hat and nodded a greeting.
Outside the window, a huge space is filled with smooth, round rocks...
I love rocks.
I notice that it's a fountain....and tell myself to come back when it's warmer,
to see it in action.
(Checking in earlier) the receptionist shares that my Dr. is an adorable 33 year old that acts like a big kid.
I have visions of Gray's Anatomy dancing in my head.
I get called to go back. 
I meet my doctor.
He's not "McDreamy".
  More like, McCharmy.
He's wearing an orthopedic boot on his right foot from a pickleball accident.
I like him.

He sits across from me with the X-rays,
and then tests my trigger fingers. 
(no bone spur as told by NP)
2, on my right hand. Stage 2 middle, stage 3 thumb.
Stage 1 on my left thumb. 
"Injections" he suggests.
"To fix, or to band-aid?" I ask.
He is confident it will fix.
 I order 3.
He says "we're going to play, good cop, bad cop."
I tell him I want to be the bad cop.
He tells me he is, and his assistant will spray my hand with
a cooling spray making him the good cop.
 as he "bad cop's" each of my fingers.
"Your not going to love it." he says.
I told him I might cry.

I didn't love it, I didn't cry.
It was not as bad as I had heard from
others in the past.
I just turned my head and breathed as they
shot down the perps.

"Come back in June if you're still having problems...
cancel if your good."

*smiles & *happy waves good-bye*

Today....sore and stiffy, however
quite a positive shift in mobility and the ongoing pain.
Yay!
Extra bonus:
Brandon and Fritz have been here for work...
 and bunking here this week, it has been fantastic.
All is well with my soul.
*big exhale*
Over-the-top-giddy with gratitude.

be well...
xoxo
💝


"When life takes the wind out of your sails,
it is to test you at the oars."

"Life is short,
God's way of encouraging a bit of focus."

Baking Things....

...I felt creative, so I made some massive cinnamon rolls.

 I used a slightly healthier version of the 

Maple Cream Cheese Frosting...

and thought...hmm....

I bet that would be good on a sliced apple too.

So I tried it.

And. It. Was. Delicious!

Healthier version of Cream Cheese Frosting:

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temp.

1 cup full-fat cream cheese, room temp.

4 Tablespoons Pure Maple Syrup

1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

A squeeze of lemon or orange juice (1 tsp.)

Beat it all together, and chill for 10 min.

Makes about 1 1/2 cups.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"There are days when I am unaccountably happy,

and, in fact,

that is usually the reason for it."

"Most happiness, like most worry depends

pretty much on small a thing you can make important."

"It is still possible to be a cockeyed optimist these days-

you just have to be a little more cockeyed."