Slow down...

....dawdle and linger

 take the scenic route

pause instead of rushing past

  make the stops along the way

keep your heart open

so the ordinary joys

the everyday miracles

can float in

 freely

when they will

every single day.

notes:

I can't think of a better gift than just being his mom..

but him slaving over a hot stove to fix me dinner?

OMG! The best!

#mothersday26 #beststeakever

'God is not in the earthquake, the storm,

or the lightning,

but the gentle breeze with which touches

your back.' 

just be available

listen

draw near

look at things that actually exist,

not all the things that don't

don't live distracted

allow space

enjoy the fulness of nothing

it's the moment that magic happens

stand firm in your faith

'God has already given you

everything you need to

lead a beautiful life.

Take inventory.'

look beyond the surface

look for the lessons

look for meaning

play your part well

the best is ahead of you

life is short

make choices that matter

'perfection is being who and where you are today;

it's accepting and loving yourself

just as you are.'

allow yourself pleasure

you're worth it

breathe deep and know peace

without knowing what comes next

be well...

xoxo

💝

"I don't ever crave extraordinary moment

anymore.

Just small, gentle hums of beauty

streaming from below,

above, simply from paying attention.

Sound. Light. Shadow.

Art. Warmth. The night.

The morning.

Dreams that are not faraway

but exist right here-

already in my days,

hands, and heart."

"It occurs to you one day that the reason 

God didn't always answer your prayers

is that He was answering your

Mom's prayers."

"Remember, being happy doesn't mean you have it all.

It simply means your thankful for all you have."

Thanksgiving

...was hosted by Brandon and Molly this year.

All Thanksgivings are special, but this one

was one of the best.

On the road trip there, I reflected on past Thanksgivings.

There were times Brandon would go to his Dad's and I 

would be invited to celebrate with my girlfriend and her family.

(The same family that played matchmaker & hooked

hubby up with my phone number, back in the day.)

Then there's the Thanksgiving that Brandon and I were pet sitting 

for his Dad and girlfriend when they went out of town.

 We had an invite to join those same friends,

but an ice storm moved in.

We had two choices.

Risk driving an hour to celebrate with our friends,

(and perhaps stay the night)

or risk a 10 min. drive to Walmart to purchase all that we needed

to have our own celebration at home.

We chose the latter.

A quick trip to the store, a thawed turkey with all the fixings for our meal,

and each of us selecting a movie to buy that we could watch together.

Mine...Eat, Pray, Love.

His...Zombieland.

A meal in the oven.

A fire in the woodstove.

Zombies & Zen and a kitten with the zoomies

who kept racing up the Christmas tree...

still ranks as one of my best Thanksgivings to date.

This one tucks right in beside it.

 Our families gathered and met, and stayed overnight.

Great conversations paired with copious amounts of laughter.

Pets to cuddle, football games, and an amazing meal.

Later, fun rounds of Shanghai Rummy, 

nibbling on homemade rolls & pie.

It's a Wonderful Life playing in the background.

Up early, and reconnecting at the kitchen table.

Getting to know little (quirky) things about each other,

sipping coffee, tea, and  Dr. Pepper.

 Brandon baking cinnamon rolls.

Then, a little Birthday celebration for Molly,

before we all headed back home.

It was perfect.

I'm swooning on a gratitude high.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"I am grateful for what I am and have.

My thanksgiving is perpetual."

~Henry David Thoreau~

"Happiness is the consequence of personal effort.

You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it,

and sometimes even travel around the world for it.

You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations

of your own blessings.

And once you have achieved a state of happiness,

you must never become lax about maintaining it.

You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming

upward into that happiness forever, to stay 

afloat on top of it."

~Eat, Pray, Love~

"I've never been good with farewells so...

that'll do pig."

~Zombieland~

 

Happiness

A day where I decided to take a road trip to see my kiddo.

A day where the sunroof was open,  

and the music a little too loud in the car.

A day where it felt like old times, just hanging out.

A day where we adventured on back gravel roads & 

sat under the biggest, oldest oak tree in Missouri.

A day where he fixed me a nice dinner, and we sat outside on the deck

talking about life.

A day where things were simple, and nothing was planned,

which made me ridiculously blissful.

A day where I decided it's time to lighten up, stress less, live more,

and just be happy.

A day where I noticed everything that was going right.

💝

A few nuggets from my journal...

Relax & be yourself.

Open your heart to everyone.

Refuse to worry about anything.

Don't close in on a problem.

Don't be afraid to surrender.

Exhibit the highest level of faith.

Don't try to control the situation.

Do your best. Learn & grown from your

mistakes.

Learn to love people instead of being right.

When you feel lack, it is because you

are not connecting with God at a deep level.

Quit letting fear call the shots.

Fear will rob you of your life.

Surround yourself with positive voices.

We will become what we spend the greatest amount

of time looking for.

Set your sights on hope & joy.

You know you are chasing the right things with your time

because they will be lasting and loving.

Open your heart, relax your mind &

breathe.

"I know that there is nothing better for people 

than to be happy & do good while they live.

~Ecclesiastes 3:12~

Be gentle with yourself.

Learn to live, enjoy your life,

& handle situations as they come.

Do not doubt your worth.

Your life is important.

You have an essential function in the universe.

Only you can do the job of being you.

'Your highest function is simply to be the person

you are capable of being,

and from that effort- the development of

your kindness & positivity

your vulnerability & availability to life,

your calling will emerge.'

Allow yourself to see the deeper truths.

God's love isn't as complicated as our

discussions about it are. 

Keep it simple: love everybody, always.

'Don't believe the people who tell you there is no hope.

It's everywhere.

It's like the smell in the air right after the rain comes.'

Focusing on your pain can make it stronger.

What you focus on is what you will feel.

What you keep your mind staid on 

is what will drive you.

"When the heart is at ease, 

the body is healthy."

Be happy & do good.

be well...

xoxo

💖

"You and I are not what we eat;

we are what we think."

 

Full Tank

The trip up was nice. It sounds so cliche,

but it is true that " Home is where the heart is."

We celebrated Brandon's 29th with pasta, then custard.

Heavy on heavy.

 Fun and laughs.

And on the next day I treated him to shopping and lunch.

He took me to some of his favorite spots.

We had a completely impromptu 

jump-in-the-car go with the flow post Birthday day.

I hated to leave, but I came home better than before.

 My heart was full, and I was happy.

xoxo

💖

 

Peaceful

Our stay concluded with me standing in the middle of a hotel parking lot, surrounded by every bag I could possibly carry, wear or drag...[arms weak, make-up perspired off my upper lip]...and realizing that hubby had the car keys.

And in a meeting.

 His phone on silence.

It was a bit unsettling. 

And a wee bit funny.

I love how peaceful and content being away has made me.

It was nice to have this time together,

and to get a break from our daily routines this weekend.

XOXO

Exploring

I told her I was going to explore, and take pictures

of the boats sticking out of the ground.

She was like... "what ???" [*rolling her eyes]...yeah...OK.  I'll go.

XOXO

Away

They were nice enough to let us check in early,

then we ran over the kind man in housekeeping, with the luggage cart.

The suitcase flung itself into the hallway.

 Hubby went to his meetings. I went shopping.

A little bit of chaos, a few giggles, a room with a view and  friends we treasure.

Just what we needed.

XOXO

Learning

" Some days I only need to stand

where I am

to be blessed."

Dan taking his break from shooting the convention, to work with me.

I had a little session this weekend

to quench my mad desire & passion

to learn more about photography.

It was so much fun to have Dan @ Dan Bernskoetter Photography coach me, and to

be a part of my day !

*loving...

going to hubby's conventions

being surrounded by nice people

the sun coming out... just long enough for a quick photo shoot

Dan taking his break from photographing the convention to help me.

[Thank you again Dan !! So much! ]

being out in nature

exploring a new park

always learning a little bit more...

Alka-Seltzer Plus and Puffs 

getting over a nasty head cold

hubby always wanting to help me feel better. Going the extra mile.

my sister friend that loves & takes good care of my babies when I am gone. 

being away...and returning home

XOXO

Columbia Weekend

This last weekend I grabbed the leash and the suitcase,

and raced Scotty to the car.

It was a great weekend for a road trip to Columbia !

We couldn't wait to see Brandon...and Bun ! :)

wrestle time

bathtime

photo bombed

Jim, Ruthie, Susan, Nancy

We also re-connected with family.

Nancy

Lilly

Our Saturday looked a lot like this....

We simply need more of these Saturdays

in our life.

XOXO