Relinquishing control...

 ...may feel like you are giving up something valuable,

in reality you're letting go of striving,

which frustrates you more than it helps you.

notes...

the female cardinal (alias Mrs. Stanley) sat looking in the kitchen window

as we made our coffee and tea

we loved our morning at the beach so much

 that we decided to start our day there again.

My thermos tipped in the 

picnic basket, and everything sat in a puddle of coffee. 

Barely a cup was left.

I decided it would be enough, 

and taking in the moment was more...

the blue heron squawked 

& I savored that 1/2 cup of coffee

We came home to watch Charles Stanley's sermon

and Mrs. Stanley was outside our window

singing and dancing in the tree

(really a bush....but...you know...)

endeavor to celebrate your relationship with God

learn to walk consistently in the present

be patient

weigh the alternatives

make sure you make a wise choice

your mind is so strong & powerful

it can tell you you're inadequate

and limited

& it can help you to overcome obstacles

and position you to become what you envision

most thinking is 

recycled opinion

it's not really thinking at all

listen to the still small voice leading and 

guiding

and comforting you

not the voice of the world

expand your awareness

and see the way God sees things

and your part in it

do a check-in with your motivations

every so often

loosen up

you don't need to be uptight

when you are on edge it affects others too

you get to decide what part you are going to play

regardless of what your life looks like at this very moment

abundance is always available

drop your limiting beliefs

do your best for the moment

and then let it go

striving for excellence is a positive quality

striving for perfection is self-defeating

contribute to the world by making life easier,

happier, more beautiful, more fun, 

more interesting, more thoughtful, more loving

empower & compliment yourself

it will not make you lazy

it will nurture you

and enable you to give, do, and be your best

whatever you do 

bring something good to life

be well...

xoxo

💖

sign of a female cardinal ...

nurturing and care

good news & hope

brighter days ahead

turning dreams into reality

patience 

endurance 

emotional stability

"As a general rule,

your life story is more interesting,

the longer you can postpone the living

happily ever after."

"Somewhere amid life's endless distractions lies it's purpose,

each of us deciding for ourselves

which distraction it is."

No one...

...can ruin your life.

The only person that can mess up your life

is you.

notes...

'you don't need to sweat it

when He messes up your plans

He is trying to get your attention

most of us are poor listeners

God can't get through

He gets a busy signal

when it comes to listening to God

we all have ADD

He sees ahead 

and wants to spare us the problems

when He changes your plans

it is ALWAYS for your benefit

God's plan is ALWAYS good

God's plan is more rewarding

significance and satisfaction

come from following God's plan

for your life

God has a plan for your life

but He lets you choose

"Mary and Joseph just wanted to get married.

God had a better plan."

God is not going to give you 

a tinier plan

If you're looking for an easy plan,

don't follow God

God is more interested in your character

than your comfort

you don't understand it now 

but you will understand it later

your brain isn't big enough to 

understand all the ways of God

the only way to please God is by faith

frustration and & fear are the two warning lights

that you're not listening to God

if you feel far from God

guess who moved?

be well...

xoxo

💝

 

God doesn't give us...

'a detailed map to follow;

He gives us people to go with.

Ang

It doesn't matter which direction we go,

because God is more concerned with

who we become along the way

than where we go with our lives.'

notes....

beautiful morning

we packed up our coffee and journals 

and headed straight to the beach

the people around you

 are the ones that will shape you

they remind you who you are

& what's most important 

when you get off track

spend time together

what goes on in your heart is just as important

as what goes on in your head

embrace what you don't quite get

let them know what you're wondering about

let them know you have questions and doubts

by hiding your pain you also

hide your ability to heal

you are going to mess up;

that's just the way it is

always has been 

and will always be

don't be too hard on yourself

contentment comes from accepting gratefully

the good that comes to you

when you beat yourself up

it eventually affects the people around you

don't let mess ups keep you from fully

showing up today

somehow the wrong turns always turn out all right

no matter where you end up,

you'll be better off when you have a 

friend you can travel with

welcome healing

release expectations 

 embrace the blessings 

welcome newness

and possibility with open arms

you will see every day how Jesus' 

message of love really is

be well...

xoxo

💖

"A key element in the art of  communication

is the perfectly-worded glance."

"You can be your own best friend,

but happiness really begins when you 

become your own second-best friend."

"Maybe your not the best person

you can be,

but you have the best shot at it."

 

Cure yourself...

...'with the light of the sun and the rays

of the moon.

watching the lunar eclipse with Ang

With the sound of the river and the waterfall.

With the swaying of the sea and

the fluttering of birds.

Put love in tea instead of sugar

 and drink it looking at the stars.

Heal yourself with the kisses the wind 

gives you and the hugs of the rain.

Stand strong with your bare feet on the ground

and with everything that comes from it.

Get smarter every day by listening to your

intuition.

Jump, dance, sing, so that you live

happier.

Heal yourself, with beautiful love

and always remember you are medicine.'

notes...

grow strong in the light

as it shines upon you

you receive nutrients that enhance your 

growth and grace

take good care of yourself

time

in prayer & meditation

blesses you doubly

value the contribution of your life & 

the role you play

your are irreplaceable

this is your life

no rehearsals

no retakes

no delete button

realize how priceless you are

value yourself

you have been chosen to play

the lead role in your life

a mission that no one else

can accomplish

be well...

xoxo

💖

notes...on lunar eclipse...

marks a powerful point of release

soften your grip 

let the old dissolve

emotional clearing

make space for a life that feels more aligned

more honest

more true to the woman you are becoming

closing an old chapter for good

and opening a brand-new beginning.

 

Are you trying...

...to create a rich life

'from a dollar-store investment in yourself?'

notes...

The gentle sound of waves lapping at the shore...

 fish jump from the surface & return with a splash

 a circle of ripples slowly fade from view

A lazy breeze 

the Blue Heron squawking on the opposite shore

following it's foot prints along the shallow waters

to a small gift resting in the sand

Blue Heron (*sign)

patience, self-reliance, inner wisdom,

and connection to divine timing.

~

wait calmly for the right moment

stand alone and trust your own unique path

deep self-reflection & inner wisdom to handle life changes

adaptability & smooth transitions through uncertain times

~

be willing to invest in your dreams

you can't give the least amount of effort

& expect to find your way to your destiny

study hard

take time to learn all you can

develop a well-roundedness

in you that will expand

your possibilities

you have a life & a calling to experience

& no one else can make your dreams 

come true

if you don't invest in you

you'll find that no one else will either

God will send people out of nowhere

to support you

and encourage you

determine to believe in yourself

even if no one else believes in you

or sees what's inside you...

you do

popular or unpopular

appreciated or not

hold onto your dream 

and don't let go

commit to the unfolding of your life

conduct a constant re-defining

session with yourself

moment-by-moment

with God

be tenacious

prepare for success!

be well...

xoxo

💗

"If you are holding too tight to something,

loosen your grasp.

It is hard to let go when our minds and hearts

want to hold on.

Sometimes the only thing to do is release

that grasp,

which masquerades as the control we've already

lost.

Breathe. Accept.

Be ready for what is supposed to enter your life.

Let go.

Make room for the new things you want to enter 

your life.

When they appear, you'll understand why letting go

was the thing to do."

~Sunrise Gratitude~

What if...

..."your markers of success

were how well you slept at night?

How many books you read?

How easily you laughed?

How much time you spent storytelling,

feeling warm in the arms and homes

of people you adore?"

notes...

when you focus so much on what you must do 

you miss who you're doing it for

we try to organize our days

God wants to shape our hearts

productivity is a great tool

but not always the best way to build

and maintain relationships

reflect love, joy, peace, 

and compassion

you have the power to

transform the environment you're in

with love

the present moment is where peace lies

your mind will try to pull you away with problem solving or worry

and you live in your head

instead of experiencing the life happening right

in front of you

life can be good even in a broken world

you don't create your world from the outside in

you create and transform it from the inside out

the strongest person isn't the one that

controls everything around him

the strongest person is the one that 

learns to master themself

be respectful to everybody

appreciate their uniqueness

value their worth

do the best you can do 

with what you have

Know what matters

and what doesn't

let values guide your behavior

the only way you will have a remarkable life

is if you're willing to be different

the rest of your life 

could be the best of your life

be well...

xoxo

💖

"One difference between friends and relatives is that

a relative presumes you're innocent because you

didn't mean it;

a friend presumes you're innocent because

you didn't do it."

"Free Nervous System Regulators

Hum

Rest

Sigh

Sing

Swim

Walk 

Yawn

Dance

Laugh

Nature

Ground

Prayer

Stretch

Meditate

Sunlight

Gratitude

Pet Animal

Safe People

Cold Shower

Breath Work"

~Dr. Will Cole~

"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."

 

You may not know....

..."the impact you have had on someone's life,

the feeling you have given to someone

simply because of your kindness.

Your small act might have changed the mind of someone 

ready to give up.

Choose kindness.

Choose grace.

Change the world."

notes...

grace can't be outsmarted, out-worried

or outrun

throw back your arms & fall into it

grip love tightly

 instead of spiraling out of control

connect

love one another

keep your head clear

so you can focus on your purpose

look at your motivations

let others know how your life is impacted

because they are a part of it

evaluate your value system

and determine whether it 

aligns with God

or not

treat others as you wish to be treated

treat yourself as you wish others to treat you

examine your thoughts and feelings

look honestly at what you allow

to enter into your awareness

prepare for the best

even when there isn't the slightest 

sign of it

get into the spiritual swing of things

every perfect gift 

is already awaiting your recognition

be well...

xoxo💞

"Your imagination is a stepping stone

to waking up to what always has

been true about you."

"Imagination is more important than knowledge.

For knowledge is limited,

whereas imagination embraces the entire world,

stimulating progress, 

giving birth to evolution."

~Albert Einstein~

But little by little...

..."as you left their voices behind,

the stars began to burn

through the sheets of the clouds,

and there was a new voice

which you slowly recognize as your own

that kept you company

as you strode deeper & deeper

into the world,

determined to do

the only thing you could do-

determined to save

the only life you could save."

~Mary Oliver~

notes...

an unhealthy & unrealistic sense of self can 

make your life miserable & even ruin your health

you don't need to prove your value

your sense of worth can only be found

in the one who made you

"fighting keeps you strong,

but all of life is not about storms and battles."

wake up to the infinite possibilities of life

see yourself as you truly are

let the reasons NOT to fear

outnumber your reasons not to try

loosen your grip &

prepare for a positive transfer

be clear about who is in charge of your life

know thy self

you  have to know yourself

to live an authentic life

do not run from pain

embrace it

and then and only then can you move through it

acknowledge what you feel 

then affirm your trust in God...

out loud or in a whisper

erase the words 

"I can't"

from your vocabulary

'the hero is always more powerful

than the obstacles in front of them'

demand of yourself that you can

become who you need to become

to create the life you desire

keep connecting to what is beautiful

even when you don't feel beautiful yourself

keep connecting with nature

admire what is beautiful around you

break free from a hampering shell

there are more heights to climb

to reach serenity and a full life

love will win in the end

be well...

xoxo

💞

 

"No need for sight...

...when you have vision."

notes...

have a voice in your life you trust 

to run towards

acknowledge the obstacles in your way

& choose to fly over them anyway

your gift and your truth are in you

decide to stop wasting time 

& move forward

discover your true potential

stay the course

your faith in miracles & yourself

must be greater than your fear

however easy or rough the process is

be willing to fall down, get up,

look stupid, cry, laugh, make a mess,

clean it up and don't stop 

until you get there

no matter what

you can do anything

desire it

have faith

speak it

never give up

say 

"I will!"

be well...

xoxo

💗

"When you are sure you are aimed toward

destiny, 

you won't worry about the end."

"I'd rather have a couple of ideas fail

than have a faith that won't try."

"It's not about your circumstances

it's about who you become 

and what you believe is possible

for yourself."

 

She was happiest...

...."in her own little world.

She didn't need anyone or anything

to complete her.

She was whole all by herself."

notes...

...I took the long way home

stopped and sat in the shade

a friendly black lab came bearing a stick

wanting to play

I stopped in at a friends, and left at dark

she called to let me know I left my glasses

so I turned around

I parked in her drive and looked to the right

 coming eye to eye with owl perched on her car beside me

we sat transfixed 

seconds later it flew off

My heart still skips a beat when I think about it

Owl symbolizes:

deep intuition,

hidden truths, wisdom,

and major life transitions.

love in spite of imperfections

break old bad records in your life

and make beautiful new ones

become the kind of person who creates

exactly what you want

adventure, true love, and a whole new 

way of life awaits on the other side

of your comfort zone

decide to get over your s--t

you can do anything you want to do

break out of your mold

expand your beliefs about what is available

to you in all areas of your life

take a leap of faith 

connect with people who are near the place

you want to be

learn from them

(reached out to S this morning & set a date)

"Sometimes the best hello to new opportunity

is the good-bye you gave a dead situation."

dig your heels in 

and hold on with

faith-filled determination

be well...

xoxo

💞

"Happiness is simple.

Everything we do to find it is complicated."

"At the end of life our questions are very simple:

Did I live fully?

Did I love well?"

"I have just three things to teach:

simplicity, patience, compassion.

These three are your greatest treasures."

~Lao Tzu~

 

I don't crave...

 ...."extraordinary moments anymore.

Just small, gentle hums of beauty

streaming from below,

above, simply from paying attention.

Sound. Light. Shadow.

Art. Warmth. The night.

The the morning.

Dreams that are not faraway

but exist right here

already in my days,

hands, and heart."

notes...

'to thine own self be true'

pause long enough to calm the noise in your life

tune back in to what's important

 & the beauty that dazzles you

find a way to create a sanctuary in your daily life

because these safe places are within reach

if you'll stop long enough to see them

find your place in life and faith today

be well...

xoxo

💖

"I don't care much for things I can't take with me

after I die.

Give me love.

Moments.

Purpose.

Things that'll settle in the soul."

"Life is actually really simple,

but we insist on making it complicated."

~Confucius~

The trick is...

 

....to just follow your small moments of curiosity.

"It doesn't take a massive effort

Just turn your head an inch.

Pause for an instant.

Respond to what has caught your attention.

Look into it a bit.

Is there something there for you?

A piece of information?

For me, a lifetime devoted to creativity

is nothing but a scavenger hunt-

where each successive clue is another tiny bit

of curiosity. Pick each one up, unfold it,

see where it leads you next.

Small steps.

Keep doing that, and I promise you:

The curiosity will eventually lead you to passion."

~Elizabeth Gilbert~

notes...

work with the moment 

not against it

be well...

xoxo

💖

"We can't always choose the music life plays for us,

but we can choose how we dance to it."

~unknown~

'Humming bird symbolizes:

Joy, sweetness, resilience, endurance, adaptability, presence and focus.

Hope, healing and emotional renewal.'

Your gift of time...

...invest it wisely

to help you live fully today

everyday.

pretending she hasn't been anywhere
pretending I don't notice the tell tale signs...

notes...

the question....

"If you knew that today would be your last day,

how would you live it?"

...loving the people & animals I love, clinging to my kiddo

& taking few shots to capture our cherished moments...

Today's word :Practice.

a: carry out apply

b: to do or perform often

c: to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient

d: to train

That pretty much sums up my life in a simple word today.

Practice what I want to be better at...

that will be beneficial for myself and others.

Stop practicing & release the things that aren't.

Once you figure out what that is for you...

it simplifies things a bit.

Whatever you have learned or received 

or heard from me-

or seen in me- put it into practice.

Phil.4:9

it may take a long time

but keep waiting

keep trusting

keep learning

keep practicing

don't give up on all the cultivating 

you've done

'plans to prosper you not harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.'

Jer. 29:11

Live in the present moment

set aside time that belongs only

to God

place yourself in a position of receptivity

discover His personal love for you

allow the callouses to fall away 

as you've tried to guard your heart

from getting hurt

He cares about the heart behind it all

He loves and accepts you completely

He works on your heart

changes will come

some painful

some delightful

all of them purposeful

your life is happening in this moment

soak it all up right now

while you've got the chance

when it comes to the creatures you love,

the things you love,

the life you love,

what could possibly be more important?

each day is an opportunity

to make things better

express thanks for the smallest things....

hugs, smiles, second chances, music, 

AC....

appreciate the big and little blessings

that surround you

love and accept yourself now...

others too

be well...

xoxo

💖

"What are the things in my life that I most cherish,

and what did I do to cherish them today?"

"I have found that winning isn't everything,

and, in fact, in the relationships I most care about,

it isn't anything."

"We age not by holding onto youth,

but by letting ourselves grow &

embracing whatever youthful 

parts remain."

~Keith Richards