"I don't know"...

...is a game changer.

"When you give up having to  know

or needing to be right,

you feel lighter right away.

Surrender your stories.

The mind is not the boss of anything,

and it doesn't want to be.

Let life take over from here."

notes...

hubby joined me on the porch this morning

he's sharing a story of heroics as he rocks on the porch swing

with his coffee

&

 I'm listening intently while trying to capture droplets of rain

as they land in the garden 

experiencing an outside hygge moment

slow down your pace of living for a time

quiet your mind

when it comes to faith

if you're looking for proof

you won't find it

somewhere along the way

you have to make the leap from that which you know

to that which calls you from within

you need only a willing heart

and a truthful spirit

God will take it from there

 meeting you as you take the leap

the way before you may be steep

and rocky

it is nonetheless 

the path of life

you will have feelings of uncertainty

fairly often in your life

no matter what age

you may not have all the answers

but God does

you must be open to receive

you can receive inspiration, endurance, strength,

wisdom, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,

self-control, 

or whatever else you require

He has plenty to give

you can't create those things yourself

losing your place in your personal story

is the way

that deeper discoveries come to life

confusion is a catalyst for growth

it helps you to lighten the load

for your journey ahead....

"....it's here to help you forget 

what you thought you knew

to reveal an even greater truth"

'be honest about your confusion

allow it

 to unwind your overstimulated nervous system

so that you can discover the safety

that is always within you'

slow your breath

life will be more gentle as you 

choose to be more soft and supportive

of yourself

relax into not needing to figure things out

allow understanding to find you

instead of you pursuing it on a regular basis

you will always know everything 

you need to know

exactly at the moment you 

need to know it

don't forget 

to remember

that everything good 

comes from God

He will lead you to life

at it's very best

be well...

xoxo

💝

"When it's time for something new,

you will feel it.

You will feel a desire to let go,

to shed layers, to move,

to re-create.

You will know because there will be

 subtle shifts all around you.

You will release the old because you 

are really clearing the path for what's ahead.

Trust the process."

"Be the reason someone still believes in magic,

truth, authenticity, compassion,

intelligent conversation,

loyalty, courage, and love that 

doesn't have an agenda."

 

It will go by...

...in a blink of an eye.

Mississippi River

Reggie

 Huckleberry Finn & Tom Sawyer

Love locks

You cannot do everything

only some of it.

What do you truly want or need?

Find your some.

Know your limits.

Life doesn't have to be frantic and frenzied,

just full.

notes...

an invitation to go camping for a week

I chose to join them on their fist stop 

to be there for her birthday

we explored caves

  & soaked up all the history, myth, and legend

we could in one day

then they headed to Wisconsin

I headed home

Happy 73rd dear friend.

xoxo

stay connected

be faithful for the path laid out 

before you & take your next step

not someone else's

stay on your path

often the next "right" action

in life can be felt

as a palpable inner pull

you may not know what the correct route

will be tomorrow

but in the moment 

if you listen

you'll be shown step-by-step

the way to go

don't pay attention to the opinions 

of others

believe God for greater things

don't make it too complicated

love people right where they are

do things that will last

if you have to choose between

 projects or people

pick people every time

people will remember the way you

made them feel

of all the things you accomplish in 

this life

only love remains

go big on love

& let the rest work

itself out

focus on what's present & working =gratitude

or what's absent & ineffective =anxiety

your choice.

there's only one place to start

and that's right where you are

the place you begin

is with you

immerse yourself in good things

bypass worry

cherish life for what it is

a gift

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Small streams don't plan to become

mighty rivers.

They just run in the direction they

were created to move,

and their creator decides what they'll

become."

"Good friends, good books,

and a sleepy conscience:

this is the ideal life."

~Mark Twain

"Twenty years from now you will be

more disappointed by the things

that you didn't do than by the ones

you did do."

~Mark Twain

"Keep away from people who try to belittle 

your ambitions.

Small people always do that,

but really great make you feel

that you, too, can become great."

~Mark Twain

"You cannot succeed, in anything which

you do not like,

because you must be interested

before you can succeed."

~Molly Brown

"I don't know what my destiny is,

but it isn't to be sunk in the sea

or blown into the air."

#titanic

~Molly Brown

"Sometimes at night, in a new hotel,

I put myself to sleep by listing all 

the people whom I really love;

and all the people who I know trust

and love me;

the little list I'm working on of people

I allow myself to need."

~Molly Brown

 

To celebrate...

...is to delight in the gift

and to show gratitude.

Celebrate the lessons from the past

and the love.

Enjoy the beauty.

Celebrate all that is your life

 and all that is good.

Celebrate you!

notes...

We celebrated America's 250th

and our 11th Anniversary.

We kept it relaxing & simple.

The clouds have been so gorgeous lately.

Summer is flying by....

"....It has been and exciting 11+ years.

The next 11 will be even better....."

~Hubby

you do not have to try harder,

be better,

be perfect, 

or be anything you're not.

Your beauty is in you,

just as you are,

each moment.

be thankful on a daily basis

love the people around you

connect to the truth of your own heart

make inspired heartfelt choices rooted in love

not fear

true belief is more than something we say

it's a path we follow

write your own love story

move toward what you want to experience

say yes to the right things

and no to the wrong things

back off and look at the way you

have been thinking about your life

create space for the light to get through

do your best at whatever is before you

you feel what you dwell on

whatever holds your attention

molds your intention

when you go negative

you cannot produce anything positive

fix your mind on blessings

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Some things take longer than others.

The end goal may not be the reward;

perhaps the process is.

We can learn many lessons along the way.

Growth, insight, and perseverance are some

of the results we can see

throughout the process.

If something is taking longer than 

expected, stop and reflect on what you

stand to gain during the wait.

Be patient and thankful, even if it 

seems though.

Transitions generate discomfort and help

us achieve a new 

level of comfort."

 

Let go of...

...the need to control.

Let go and be freely who your are.

Don't hide your light. 

notes...

family and friends gathering together

love and laughter filling the space 

...she asked if I ever thought about doing

something with my photos

I've learned so much over the last

few years

the path I had in my head

looks nothing like the path I'm on

deciding to lean in

to trust (that was a hard one...)

& believe

 has lightened my load

the best antidote 

is always love

everything speaks to you

trust His goodness

let go and see what bread crumbs 

come for you to follow

it's all about timing

'you'll miss the blessing

if your refuse to open your heart

to Him fully'

sometimes what you're asking for

doesn't fit with His plan for your life

and He has something better

believe He has a plan

quit adding to it

thinking there's a different plan

'you live your life best

where your passions & purpose 

& your capabilities intersect'

use the gift He gave you

and love the people around you

no matter where you turn

you'll find Him already there

if your looking

you grow on the way

love no matter what

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Stay in the moment.

The practice of staying present will heal you.

Obsessing about how the future will turn out

creates anxiety.

Replaying broken scenarios from the past

causes anger and sadness.

Stay here in this moment."

"Sometimes all you can do is accept

there's not much you can do.

And sometimes all you can control

is how well you let go of control."

Do you....

....want to go with me later to preg some cows?

notes...

Mmm...maybe...

 Yes! I will go. It'll be fun.

Plus I have been wanting to for a long time.

I woke up thinking I was going to make

this the best day...I thought that yesterday too...

I used to think it was up to someone else.

It's soupy outside.

I've been in the purging mood lately,

and that makes me happy.

 find something greater than you

and surrender to it's grandeur

you get the steps as you go

invite harmony, curiosity 

and wisdom into your life

enjoy the moment

you don't need to complete

anything

just breathe

refresh yourself

focus on the goal of your faith

listen to the right voices in your life

and drown out the voices of 

doubt, fear, and insecurity

listen to your dreams

& your values

awareness takes practice

speak of love, beauty, trust,

acceptance, grace and forgiveness

you can't honor God if you don't 

honor one another

be kind

love one another

be well...

xoxo

💝

"I'm beginning to suspect that the second 

half of life is about learning to let go 

of everything I feverishly collected

over the first half that wasn't

loving or human."

"Practice what you know,

and it will help you make clear

what now you do not know."

~Rembrandt~

 

Most of the time...

...we just don't know

the whole story.

Give God some room to write

in the margins of the story

you came up with.

notes...

We had 3 inches at the end of the day...

almost 4 by this morning.

Sitting on the stoop listening to 

the Wrenn singing,

Otis howling in the distance

and two cats growling at each other.

Polly is right here.

Hubby asked if I wanted an Arbor for our 

Anniversary.

"Steel is the eleventh anniversary gift." he says.

Umm...Yes!!

What a great idea!

The brush pile transformed itself into a garden

& covered up with morning glories

and a few Zinnias too.

I'm easily mesmerized by the droplets on everything.

The cats are growling again...

this time it's Polly.

..."but those who plan what is good

find love and faithfulness."

(Prov. 14:22)

challenge your disempowering 

stories

you have to believe it's possible to 

change a crappy story

then take action

jump in 

go deep

there will be setbacks and difficulties too

but don't let that keep you in the shallow 

end of your life

sometimes you just need to look a little longer

and a little harder

when setbacks come

treat them as a learning experience

setbacks are the path to 

your future

refuse to waiver in your faith

continue on in 

wholehearted faith

your dream makes the potential

struggle worth it

actions show that your faith is real

communicate love in 

every way possible

be well...

xoxo

💖

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

but we can choose how we dance to it."

"We can always choose to perceive things differently.

We can focus on what's wrong in our life,

or we can focus on what's right."

 

Every life...

...'needs a little space.

It leaves room for the good things

to enter it.'

notes...

Today, I'm amazed at how everything 

seams to find it's own order.

open your hands and your heart to receive

this day as a precious gift

the best way to dazzle God

is to go be you

you don't have to pretend to be

a certain way to get the acceptance

& security you need

cultivate a committed mind

be teachable

listen carefully

fix your thoughts on what's true & honorable,

& right, & pure, & lovely, &admirable.

( Philippians 4:8)

resist outside clutter

trust where the flow is going

let go and allow the old skin to shed

'there is a place that you are to fill,

something you are to do,

which no one else can do.'

come to terms with the natural order 

of life itself

be gracious with yourself

listen to what your body needs

be well...

xoxo

💞

"For the great doesn't happen through

impulse alone,

and is a succession of little things

that are brought together."

~Vincent van Gogh~

"Get outside for a walk or any other

outdoor activity for at least 20 minutes.

This will melt away 90% of your 

mental anguish."

~Dr. James O'Keefe~

"If you struggle mentally & physically

but rarely find time for exercise-

that's your biggest problem."

~Dr. James O'Keefe~