Learn how...

...to inhale everything you need to inhale,

and exhale with all that you have.

Be still right where you are.

It is through moments like this

that you can find peace.

 Go outside to embrace the stillness.

Let nature do it's work in you.

You don't have to know the direction 

of every step ahead

to end up

where you were meant to be.

notes:

He came home holding a huge bouquet of daisies in his hand.

I'm all bubbly...."how special!! Thanks hon!!"

"they were going to get cut down anyway"

"they're still special...!"

"might as well not waste them."

"still special..."

(having a moment with my kiddo)

quit something to 

prioritize what's important

you are not defined by what you do

but who you are

look for areas where

you need to let go

be thankful

trust life

don't give in to dull disappointment

keep your hopefulness alive

learning to trust

means surrendering to the 

need to know what

will happen

hold your plans loosely

knowing they are prone to change

breathe deep

you will learn what your meant to learn

you will grown how your meant to grow

don't be faked out by what isn't valuable

or lasting

be patient

determine to make better decisions in you life

moving forward

bump your mood with a deep breath,

 exercise

nature

meditation and prayer

do something nice for someone

the choices you make in your life

change your reality and that of those around you

be well...

xoxo

💝

" The average teacher explains complexity;

the gifted teacher reveals simplicity."

"You know how every once in a while

you do something and a little voice inside says,

'There. That's it. That's why you're here.'...

and you get a warm glow in your heart

because you know it's true?

Do more of that."

"You can't give your life more time,

so give the time you have left

more life."

 

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."

Find a way...

"...to love your life so much that you feel

lucky to be you.

Like it's a privilege just to wake up as yourself.

Like you are  utterly charmed by your own life.

What a beautiful home you've built.

What incredible friends you get to text all day.

How  you spend your time and your life-genius.

What fun!

What a strong mind you have.

What a way you care about yourself &

listen to your needs.

What great kids, or dogs or cats or plants

you've raised.

Wow,

you've got this whole life thing figured out.

Or, if not, look at you,

trying to figure it out and fight for your joy.

How lucky you are

that you get to be you."

notes:

reality is a wonderful teacher

take a lighthearted view of trouble

seeing it as a challenge you can handle

(with God)

deal with it

the more unexplainable the situation

the easier it is to give into doubt

remember there is much  more going on than 

what you see

find your center in your own heart

create a nice environment for yourself 

work with yourself to make a healthier person

breathe in all the possibilities of what could be

exhale, releasing the need to control the outcomes

hold that mindset

life is waiting for you to participate in it

make plans considering how your wired

learn to trust & listen to yourself

about what you want

your life is yours

this is your life

if  your not careful

you'll miss it

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Rather than focus on getting every detail right

for the unknown future,

go deeper into the details of the 

story that's already being written."

"Will you spend your life pushing a boulder

uphill so that, once uphill,

you will have a boulder to sit on while

regretting your life?"

"Sometimes it seems like you've spent your whole life

preparing for an inspection that never happened."

 

Chin up Buttercup...

...a memory from my childhood.

Plucking the yellow flower to place under our 

chins to determine whether 

we loved butter or not.

We all did.

It's the nature of the flower to reflect.

I picked a handful in the pasture while hubby 

 did his farm chores.

I wanted to find out more about this little yellow flower...

Meadow Buttercup

symbolizes joy, cheerfulness, childhood innocence,

happiness, and humility.

Humility...

it's a word I have bonded with this last 3 months.

I have been vague writing about my latest health

concerns, but it was so unexpected,

and as I was walking into the unknowns...

I thought it best to take it as it unfolded,

lean into my faith, and pray for the mindset

to trust God with my fears and concerns 

no matter how scared as I was.

Few knew more.

 I was in good hands.

A brief timeline...

 started with trigger fingers in my hands

x-rays

referral to get an MRI on cervical spine

 & referral to an orthopedic surgeon

in waiting....

suspect a UTI 

call my obgyn

get tested

confirmed

start antibiotics 

day before ortho visit

3 injections in 3 fingers at ortho

next day get a call from obgyn

rare UTI not treatable with oral antibiotic 

 referral to Infusion center,

 & Infectious disease Dr.

& for a C-scan to check my bladder, kidneys and stomach

infusion center very next day

2 shots of high dose anti's (one in each arm) for 5 days.

follow up at infectious disease...

explanations...about UTI & that

future UTI's (thankfully not common for me... )

may likely be treated the same way

released

C-scan with contrast

all is well in area of concern,

however

 obgyn is concerned with bowel

she discusses it with  Gastro Dr. 

(who I have been to)

he wants to examine...

better to be safe

pull in the driveway for this appt. and get a call

he's been called to OR

a brief moment of "NO....!!!"

redeemed by the thought ..."someone needs him worse than I do"...

a little conversation with God ...

"this is Yours."

I trust Him.

 At this point I know He is in control...

&

I have learned that I am DEFINITELY NOT!

 I breathe...

 then carry on...

wait on hold to reschedule...

drive towards plan B, to get groceries in the meantime...

"can you come in an hour if he's back from OR ?"

"Of course. Sign me up"

*thinking of it as a little cliff hanger

as I've come to the final Dr. on this seemingly long list.

Uncertainty mixed with relief.

Dr. shows up.

I show up. 

We talk, he's thorough, reassuring and fun.

His nurse is too.

We find the humor in the situation,

and we all giggle through the exam.

And I loved them for it.

And..

I am okay.

It's stressful facing the unexpected and the unknowns,

and I will forever be learning how let go & to walk with trust.

Life keeps twisting and turning to make sure of it.

Truth is, this hit me in the place I thought I had under control.

It has been a humbling and teachable experience for me.

I am not in control,

but I know who is,

I close my eyes and whisper "thank You!",

and all is well.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Whenever you meet a ghost, don't run away,

because the ghost will capture the 

substance of your fear and materialize

itself out of your own substance...

it will take over all your own vitality...

so then, whenever confronted with a ghost,

walk straight into it and it will disappear."

~Allan Watts~

"The more you push against the things,

people and experiences you find unpleasant,

the more exhausted you will get and

the unhappier you will become."

"If the challenges of life waited for you 

to be ready for them,

they wouldn't,

of course,

be called challenges."

 

A Journal...

...with my hopeful thoughts & treasured memories.

And my camera ready to capture the small moments

that make up my story...

Buddy

Blondie

Price

Truth

💝

and create magic

when I simply sit and enjoy the moment in time

for the beauty that it is.

Notes...

what's important is not that you know what to do

but who it is you follow

waste your time with God

never stop looking for what's not there

reflect on the moves you've 

made to get here

love looks like letting go of old ideas

hold onto the time you have

find love right where you are

there's a natural unfolding of things

let go of control

and surrender to what will come

do the best you can

to end all suffering

stop it

when you let go

it goes away

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Fill your paper with the breathing

of your heart."

~William Wordsworth~

"Life is a series of things you do for the first and

the last time, the difference being that you know

when it's the first time."

"It is said that nothing lasts forever,

but there are moments in our lives

when we thing something will,

and it is the memory of those moments...

that lasts forever."

In your simplicity...

...dwells your power.

'Silence means rest, rest of body and mind

in which you become available for 

Him whose heart is greater than yours.'

Give up control over your actions and thoughts,

allowing something creative to happen

not by you but to you.

Silence is that moment in which you not only 

stop the discussion with others

but also the inner discussions with yourself,

in which you can breathe in freely

and accept your identity as a gift.

It is in this silence that the Spirit of God

can pray in you and continue His 

creative work in you....

Without silence the Spirit will die in you

and the creative energy of your life will float 

away and leave you alone, cold, and tired.

Without silence you will lose your center and

become the victim of the many who demand

your attention.'

( from  a Henry Nouwen reading)

some notes:

there is no randomness about your life

walk in the here and now

every moment is alive

ground yourself in truth and prayer

be still 

set aside a time for listening

blocking out distractions

reconnect with your soul

find the still-quiet place within you

a dream is planted there

discover what you want to do in this life

faithfully pursue it with integrity and hope

without this time

your soul becomes malnourished

set priorities 

and do the most important things first

stand in awe of the life around you

be merciful

learn to trust yourself

take care of yourself

simple awe is not complex

not expensive

sunrises & sunsets are free

live so much in awe of what's going on 

around you,

there's no time to live in judgement

of others around you

resist the distraction of comparison 

& criticism

be calm and quiet by yourself

fully awake & following with

close attention every move 

going on inside of you

seijaku (Japanese)

tranquility, serenity or active calmness

profound inner stillness and peace

maintaining a steady focused mind

a quality of quiet, even when noise is present

stay home with yourself

there's no shame in not having the answers

healing feels like finally finding a friend that understands

it might taste like the morning air that reminds you

of your freedom to breathe

when the mind gets quiet

something beautiful happens

you are most beautiful on the inside.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"In the end it's probably less important that you believe in God

than that there's a God who believes in you."

"I understand now that the vulnerability I've 

always felt is the greatest strength a 

person can have.

You can't experience life without feeling life.

What I've learned is that being vulnerable to 

somebody you love is not a weakness,

it is strength."

~Elisabeth Shue~

Peace in the moment....

.... after tornado sirens, hail, and severe weather alerts,

adrenaline rushes,

forgetting to breathe...

 and cramming cake in my mouth

as I started catastrophizing.

Tornado season makes me wiggy.

On my way to the Neurosurgeon today.

notes:

all is well...

do not be discouraged by the hard things you encounter

live a life of prayer

pray without ceasing

rely on God moment-by-moment

celebrate the gift of being alive

what you think about determines how you live

trust 

the uncertainty in your life 

reminds you that you are not in control

you can't google your way to a solution

or change your circumstances

don't look for a way out of the difficulty your in;

look for God in the midst of it

make your choices one at a time

each is contingent upon the decision that precedes it

slow down and appreciate 

the full entirety of the moments

it just is

do not despair

pay attention to the stillness in the silence of the moment

take time to enjoy the scenery each day

be grateful

center in your inner being

breathe

align with truth

sometimes you have to sift through

the noise to hear the real message

every moment holds so much

be well...

xoxo

💞

"Grace is the experience

of being delivered from 

experience."

"Slow down.

Don't allow yourself to fall into the trap

of glorifying busy-ness.

Life is intended to be savored

and this moment is the most important.

Move through your day consciously.

Notice the little things

and expand your awareness.

Flowers bloom for only a season;

children grow up fast;

and the leaves change and eventually fall.

Savor what's in front of you 

and appreciate the moment you are in."

 

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."