Spring cleaning....

...inside and out.

Throwing out. Tidying up.

Refreshing my surroundings

in every way.

weekend with Ang

It seems like no matter how much I clean and organize,

the clutter returns as if it has a mind of it's own.

It started to annoy me, clutter on the

outside, makes me feel edgy on the inside.

So this week I went Full Rambo on it.

It's so freeing.

I'm over the moon.

 Quite happy in my simple, open space.

Less is definitely more.

Notes:

being is more important than having

life is a gift to be shared

relationships are the school we learn in

assist and support each other

happiness joy and a sense of well-being

comes from within

you will never know your highest and best

unless you give your highest and best

you can't have what your unwilling to become

become the person you want to be

transformation isn't always pretty

the detoxification process is a way of life

release toxic thoughts, resentments, beliefs,

emotions...

choose to question your beliefs

rather than spend your life blindly playing victim

to the cranky old "truths" that no longer work for you

start with a clean slate every day

notice negative patterns

give yourself a course correction

come together to change,

create, play, grow,

become more yourself

be free

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Love in action has the kind of power 

many of us haven't tapped into yet."

"Being out in nature strips away many distractions

of our everyday life.

Adventuring outside resets our hearts & minds

individually and with one another."

'If you find your here and now intolerable &

it makes you unhappy-

you have three options:

Remove yourself from it.

Change it,

or

accept it totally.'

"Detox your timeline, your page, your home,

your refrigerator, your counters, your closet,

your ride, your phone, your life, and your mind."

"Don't believe everything you think."

 

Singer teachings...

never get old. 

The message he conveys...

 calls me out, & helps me see 

the error of my ways.

"The most precious thing in anyone's life is time.

What are you going to do with that time?"

"It doesn't matter how much time you have,

but what you are doing with your time."

"You can't take stuff from the outside &

make it good on the inside."

"Don't look outside for something that's inside.

Something outside is not going to fix your inside."

"There is a reason for everything that is."

"...you walked into a moment that has

nothing to do with you."

"Learn to use your will to put your

consciousness onto something healthy."

"Honor and respect the moment unfolding in 

front of you."

"You didn't create the moment

the moment created itself.

The moment you are seeing 

is a moment no one has ever seen before

and never will again.

This is your moment."

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Nothing makes you a good and decent person

like having friends who stubbornly

operate under that assumption."

"Do things while you can and while they matter to you

because neither is a permanent state of affairs."

"The reason life works at all

is because not everyone in your tribe

is nuts on the same day."

 

Friendship

Once upon a time, many years ago...on a cold winter day,

she woke up with a sudden urgency (huge nudge),

to get to the airport.

A bit confused, and somewhat anxious...

she started her morning off in the usual way.

Angie

She drove her kiddo to school, then returned home with her unshakable nudge.

She decided to follow the nudge, but felt very freaked out by the random weirdness

of it all...

so she called her "Barbara Mama".

Barbara Mama had taken her under her wings over the years,

and had become her spiritual warrior.

Mama spoke in a comforting voice, and kind words, & then prayed with her.

She then encouraged her to get ready, and head to the airport.

"Don't ignore this. Just go! You'll know when you know."

Following Mama's suggestion, she wiped away her tears, pulled herself together, 

and headed out for her one hour commute.

She pulled into short term parking, her heart pounding in her ears.

*deep breath*

She made her way into the lobby. Totally awkward & directionless...but

curious. She visited the airline counters and picked up a few applications

at the rental car counters. 

That didn't satisfy the nudge.

 She was missing something.

So she found a bench, and decided to sit for a while and just be.

She heard laughter, and looked across the hall into

the gift shop. Miss J, and Miss R, were working,

and looked to be having fun.

That seemed to draw her attention and pull her right into the 

shop to ask if they were hiring.

Jokingly they made a few comments, 

and then disappeared to grab an application.

She filled it out and gave it back.

After a few more synchronous events...

a week went by, and she was asked to join the team.

One day her manager told her she was going to meet

another co-worker.

"You are a toned down version of her"

he said.

"I think you two will hit it off nicely"

They did hit it off, & discovered they had much in common,

  a love for twinkle lights, nature

and all things cozy.

And, both of them lived far from their families.

One's from the East, one's from the West.

They bonded instantly,

 becoming sisters.

The girl loved working at the gift shop, and the people she met,

 but the commute was long, 

and the hours were wonky. 

She wanted to be closer to home.

So after a year she closed the giftshop for her last time,

and stepped into her new chapter as a fitness instructor.

As for her sister?

She continues to plan weekend stays.

They spend all day in sweats, one sips coffee, the other, hot tea,

and they cackle like chickens when they laugh.

They talk...and talk...

and talk...

and hug when they cry.

Then...

cackle some more.

They never ignore the power of the nudge...

for now they know the reason why.

be well...

xoxo

💝

 "Gratitude is a way of being."

"People who are living life in balance...

tend to be more often at the right place

at the right time."

"I think people really underestimate

how attractive it is to be passionate and real

instead of trying to be everyone's cup of tea."

"When 'I' becomes 'We', even

illness becomes wellness.

Kindness is medicine.

Friendship is medicine.

Connection is medicine.

Reaching out is medicine."

~Dr. Will Cole~

January 10, 2026

The aroma of fresh coffee before that first sip.

The song and dance Polly goes through before

finally finding a place to settle down on my lap.

The lightness in my soul after an evening 

spent with an old friend to share our struggles, dreams,

and our faith paired with pizza, and pup cuddles.

My kiddo's thoughtfulness, random texts, and charming sense of humor.

The way the sunrays shine through the window and warm my skin

on a cold morning.

The letter that formed in my

journal notes this morning.

I may not always know where I'm going -

but today I sense that I'm 

heading in the right direction.

Dear beloved,

The more you trust Me, 

the more I empower you to do so,

Trust me here and now. You are in vigorous training-

on an adventurous trail designed for you alone.

I am doing things you can't understand.

Trust Me.

Cling to My hand as you follow this trail

of shadowy darkness.

Find hope in Me beloved, for I am taking care of you.

Focus on enjoying Me and all that I am to you-

even though your circumstances scream for resolution.

Refuse to obsess about your problems, &

how you are going to fix them.

Affirm your trust in Me, wait hopefully in My

Presence and watch to see what I will do.

I always know what is in your best interest & act accordingly.

Regardless of what your circumstances look like,

I know how to turn them for your good.

I am aware of everything influencing the situation

as well as all the potential consequences for you and others.

I alone comprehend the totality of every decision.

Stay in continual fellowship with Me.

You may not know what to do today,

but I do - perfectly.

Seek Me and pay attention to what I am teaching you.

I am faithful to lead you in the way you should go.

I have plans for you that are good and lasting and important.

Work with what you have - 

not what you wish you had.

Times of desperation often lead to great revelations

if you make the choice to be open and look for them.

Invite Me to build something beautiful and lasting.

Participate in life to the best of your ability.

Relax. Your best is good enough.

~Jesus~

be well...

xoxo

💝

"A spiritual journey truly is unlearning fear &

remembering love."

~Gabby Bernstein~

"What you think 

becomes what you believe.

What you believe

determines how you behave.

How you behave determines 

what you experience."

"You are today where your thoughts have brought you;

you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you."

~James Allen~

Bake Me Happy

 Historical downtown at night.

Christmas lights reflecting in windows and on rain-slicked sidewalks.

Drops falling as I stroll under a nature-print umbrella.

A gift from my kiddo. 

 Ducking into the warmly lit eatery for a baking class.

Sipping spiced chai as we wait to begin.

my first loaf of sourdough💞

A girlfriend walks in.

A surprise for us both.

A few women and an older man.

Uniting around a sizeable butcher block table,

mingling in black, flour-dusted aprons and super-sticky hands.

Story telling, laughter, and learning.

Stretching, folding and proofing our dough.

A freshly baked loaf and rolls to go.

I've been wanting to make my own sourdough.

Half to keep and half to give away.

I am making another loaf today.

be well...

xoxo

💖

" Fikabröd 

are the freshly baked goods

that accompany coffee."

"Who needs therapy

 when you've got floury hands and a warm loaf? "

"Behind every great sourdough

is a messy kitchen and a happy baker."

"What begins as flour and water

becomes nourishment through love and time."

 

 

November 5, 2024

Today the constant swirl of to do's seem to be fading away,

leaving some space for dreams, and creativity.

I have been enjoying some quiet rainy days at home,

reflecting, unpacking and just putzing around the house.

Twinkle lights, candles, books and a cat on my lap.

 Hygge mode.

Today I am thankful for:

Hubby coming by to pick me up so we could go

vote together

My dad. Today is his birthday.💖

Long catch up phone chats with my girlfriends.

It was good to hear their voices after 3 weeks.

The sun peeking out from the clouds, 

and a walk in the woods by the lake.

Hubby picking up Mexican carry out for dinner.

Graduating as an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach.💞

Finding a quote that I wrote down  from the movie "Dog Gone"

(Netflix)

"You live in a bubble,

eventually you suffocate."

My favorite journal takeaway for today:

Avoid the temptation to doubt yourself.

Be willing to go for what you know, when you know it, 

with or without the company of others.

Happy voting !

xoxo

💗

 

November 2, 2024

I woke up feeling refreshed and happy this morning.

 It felt good to get the house spruced up yesterday. 

If felt a little stale and stuffy when I returned home

after being away for two weeks.

It's overcast and breezy today. We've got storms moving in.

Otis just let out a howl.  It makes me smile.

He's our neighbors hound dog, and I just love the big ol' goofy guy.

I just noticed the message on the label dangling out of my mug of tea,

and it reminded me of a moment from back home. 

My childhood friend and I went on a little outing,

had lunch at a quaint little bistro, and then an afternoon walk to

 soak up the gorgeous day, & our rapidly dwindling time together.

"We are all fabulous in our own way."

~tea tag~

We thought she was a hip older woman.

When we reached her, she turned out to be really hip young woman. 

We appreciated her and send her much love. 💗

Here are a few top picks on things that I am so grateful for this morning:

3 apple cider donuts (from Taft Farms) 

that I carefully packed away in my carry on traveled well.

Having a coffee & donut moment with hubby.

Sharing a special treat with the taste from home,

and the cozy memory of my Dad and I having our first cup of coffee & a cider donut 

the morning I left.

Wildflowers still blooming in my garden,

and vases of freshly picked blooms brightening up my windowsill.

Wearing the same hoodie I wore on the chilly mornings back home,

and feeling comforted.

Waking up to cloud dappled sky, in blues, pinks and greys,

and the chance of a storm moving in.

Feeling so much love for & from my family and friends. 

And (now that she's over being mad that I left) Polly too.

And my favorite takeaway from my journal this morning:

"You are not bouncing haphazardly through time and space.

Invite Me into your decisions. I know how to get  you where you want to go.

"The greatest service you can offer to Me, yourself & the energy

of the universe is a blessing."

~God~

Sending you blessings.

Be well.

xoxo

💝

 

Between Friends

I unearthed an old sketchbook/ journal today.

I remember the day I copied this text off of my phone,

it was from my best friend.

I still remember the day.

I believe it was the start of a new level of healing.

We're still healing together.

It was dated 2-5-14.

Ang: Hi sister! Thinking about you! Checking to see

how you are? Love you! XOXO

Me:  Awww! Love you so much ! How did you know?

I am doing better now...

(sent a pic. of kleenex scattered, devotionals, and my

journal.)

Had a come to Jesus this morning.

I gave him some more "stuff".

I honestly want to let go of it...but it keeps multiplying.

Eventually I will flush it out.

How are you?

I was thinking about you last night.

I am so thankful you're my sister.

I adore you ! XOXO

Ang: It keeps multiplying because you are actually

dealing with it.

When we stop hiding and burying our shadows &

bring them into the light to be seen through &

healed, it sometimes seems like we aren't getting

anywhere.

Just remember you've been burying stuff since you were

a child, and so it's like an onion...

peel one layer off and lo & behold there's another

layer, and another...

But eventually we come to the center of our

Brilliant, Beautiful, Amazing, Authentic self, 

and we see the point of it all.

Even now we have moments,

and even sometimes mornings or afternoons or days of clarity,

and being centered.

Remember this is not a destination but rather an

exciting, joyous, loving, magnificent, & sometimes challenging,

eternal journey.

We are on a GRAND adventure!

You are doing and being exactly who,

what, and where you need to be right now.

You are surrounded by love and light.

That is your true identity.

And when you feel less than love filled,

just remember that at that moment,

you are just playing dress up and it's just a game...

an activity you made up to hide your true identity while you play

this particular game we call life.

It's all good my powerful, amazing, loving, kind sister!

It's all good !

I love you!!

*mwahhhh*

xoxo

💝

 

Superbowl

Last night I watched the Superbowl game with 

some precious ladies that have become my

family, over many many years.

It was an incredibly exciting game.

We all may have woke up with some stress related issues today,

but it was well worth it. 

I did (however) practice being mindful

and remembered to breathe.

So... I *give myself a pat on the back*

for that.

I started on the 10th week of my coaching course today.

I was reading about emotional self-care, 

and on the list of suggestions for better emo care

a few mentioned were:

Connecting with others.

Making plans with a group of friends to do something you all enjoy.

Practice being in the present.

Expressing how you feel out loud without judgement.

And...

Letting yourself cry, scream, laugh, or growl, depending on 

what needs to be expressed.

(we expressed all of them...)

Chiefs won 25-22

So many things to fill me with gratitude today.

The women, the win and the emotional care. 

"Feeling safe in someone's energy is a different

kind of intimacy. That feeling of peace and

protection is really underrated."

xoxo

💝

 

Wish Tree

Last year my me and my girlfriend Angie decided to go

 explore a local antique shop.

We both had fun searching for and finding little treasures to take home.

I found some little floral saucers that day.

I have a thing for using the old and the mis-matched pieces (dishes, silverware) often.

I find them charming & a nice addition to my tea or coffee breaks.

It's all about creating something special out of the little ordinary moments.

I thank my beloved Swedish Fika-hygge gene for that. 

So anyway....

on the way out the door, there was a pretty pine tree

 covered with little slips of paper.

The shop keeper told us it was a wish tree, 

and invited us to add our wishes to the tree if we'd like.

We did of course! 

We made the wish, wrote it down, and fastened it along with 

hundreds of other wishes.

Honestly, I totally forgot about it after that.

The other day I was writing my prayer in my journal and thanking

God for certain things and also "for restoring relationships in my life"...

and that is when it hit me!

I remembered... that was the wish that I hung on the tree.

Dare to daydream. Imagine. Wish. Believe.

May your see them come true.

xoxo

💖

 

Think Good

It's a good morning to have a good morning.

*side note- I am a morning person.

It was a wonderful weekend.

I had my girlfriend Ang here for a few days.

(she recently lost her Dad 💔)

I am getting ready to start on Module 4 of my course today.

I reached out to a MO course mate,

( a total stranger...awkward)

 and planned a connection via Zoom 

( also awkward as I will need to learn how to initiate the meeting)

to meet this Wednesday.

I was invited to go with a friend and her Mom to their church yesterday

to watch the MSU Choral perform.

It was so beautiful we had tears dripping.

It couldn't be helped ( I tried..).

The lumps in my throat were about to explode.

Powerful. That's all I have to stay.

Hubby and I went out to the farm for chores.

He made his rounds...

and I walked the pasture and played with my Buddy boy.

We did turn the herd out into a new pasture,

  I was curious to see

if he'd pick (what's left of) the grass

or me.

Guess what he picked.

Mmm...hmmm....

 he still loves his human Mama.

I finished Module 3 last night. 

and my big take away is this:

believe in yourself

have fun

don't let any one influence you from your path.

Do one little right thing each day to work towards

your dreams.

My biggest hurdle has always been to believe in myself, (truly believe)

and to stop being influenced by....well...influencers.

It takes a great deal of believing in yourself,

(and in my case, God too)

to dodge the bullets of negativity, doubt, skepticism,

cynicism, fear, insecurities and all the distractions today

and be courageous enough to stay true to yourself.

My biggest tool in the last few years

 is to be more mindful of my thoughts.

(always a work in process)

We can choose what we want to think.

We can use our mental energy positively. 

We can empower the good or empower the bad,

the choice is ours. 

What we empower grows bigger.

Our choices are just a bunch of little habits we can change.

Remember habits take time to change, but it is totally doable.

We can't control much else, but we do have that power,

and it makes life so much more joyful.

xoxo

💖

 

 

Gather Yourself

 When you start to feel crazy,

it's a wake-up call to let you know

something in your life is out of balance.

Take a small step to achieve more balance today

and again tomorrow & the next....

Things that help me:

Yoga

meditation

journaling

lollygagging at the farm

being outside in nature

heart to hearts with my girlfriend

reading to my hubby

reading on my own

gardening

drink more water

get more rest

slow down

deep breathe

cut out sugar

picking up sticks in the yard

playing with the cat

playing with my granddaughter

talking to my kiddo

watching a good comedy 

learning something new

creating cozy spaces in my home

decluttering

exploring (even if it is in my own backyard)

music

dancing

doing something nice that no one knows about

going for a walk

baking

chalk art

laughing 

fixing a cup of herbal tea

having a good cry

stay present in the moment

see the good

pray

xoxo

💖

Live Fully

"As cliche as this may sound, you can do what you love.

Doing what you love is a choice and commitment to yourself,

with no excuses permitted.

Spend time losing yourself in what you enjoy.

If you want to paint, paint.  If you want to write, write.

If you enjoy losing yourself in a novel, then read a book.

If you want to walk barefoot in the grass, do that.

Schedule it in if you must; set aside a few minutes daily

or one day a week-whenever you can.

Just don't allow a lifetime to pass

 before you commit to doing things you truly enjoy.

All the small moments add up and become the life you live.

So, don't trudge through the moments,

but turn them into the steps 

in the magnificent dance that is your life."

xoxo

💗

 

Praise

Today I am....

grateful, thankful & peaceful.

I went for a walk with my sister-friend Angela yesterday,

and  I shared my concerning thought...

" I feel like something is wrong with me, 

to NOT feel like there is something wrong with  me."

She laughed, and said " Isn't 60 great?"

I smiled and said...." Yes...yes it is!!"

And my heart is wooed into thanksgiving & praise 

for what has been given me.

" Learn to be present and engaged in the present moment.

Be happy with what you have, what you know and who you are right now.

Don't allow your mind to trick you into thinking that you won't be happy

until you get where you want to get."

Appreciate what's in front of you.

xoxo

💖

 

Conviction

I've been doing some deep reflection,

digging through things, working hard to

stay focused on the direction I want to go in life.

Blame came up.

A lack of responsibility to myself,

and blaming others, circumstances, or my lack of this or that, 

 for the unhappiness I've struggled with.

I suppose I could have run around blaming all I want,

forever.

I really wasn't aware that I did this...

until I was.

I had my little "Aha moment" when I was back home

with my family.

It was not a proud moment for me...

but I'm happy for the reveal. 

I just want to STOP.

So...I'm digging in to do the work.

This is going to be a hard habit to break.

I am so grateful for the conviction though...

 and the direction that comes from that.

Blame just made me powerless.

I am definitely motivated for a change!

I've been so stuck...and that was making me nuts.

Really.

I thank God for the clarity!

Recently I heard a pastor say:

" You can't settle into your blessing,

because you've been so settled into a negative experience."

Yep! Pretty much sums it up for me.

I've paid a special homage to my negative thoughts.

I'm learning.

It's time to shift gears.

Time to stop taking the great things for granted.

...some of the great things lately:

the perfect words when your open to receive them

mornings on the lake 

girl time, kayaks, coffee and lemon bars

a good laugh

walking  downtown

my kiddo

quaint bakeries

splurging for desert

sunflowers in my backyard 

granddaughters

huddled on a blanket in the yard & fireworks

kid art on the fridge

family

oldies on the radio

reading a good novel with my hubby

7 year Anniversary

the 1883 series

reading on the porch

not missing a day out of 144 of learning Swedish

cooler mornings

insight

a small group of support

xoxo

💖

" Trust that each new day holds untold possibilities

and remember:

In every moment, you have the profound ability

to make choices that will completely

change your habits and your reality,

either right away or over time."