Santa

I unearth this photo every Christmas hidden amongst the decorations.

I sure loved that sweet boy.

The goat, not Santa.

Well, I love Santa too.

Oliver with Santa 2018

Today, may we all... take a deep breath, slow down, 

 believe in miracles,

awaken to a sense of wonder and awe,

and trust that love makes it possible to believe in all things.

Grab a cup of your favorite warm beverage, sit down & enjoy for a moment.

"Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus"

by Francis Pharcellus Church 

Published in The New York Sun

1897

"Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.

He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist,

and you know that they abound and give to your life it's highest

beauty and joy.

Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus!

It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias.

There would be no childlike faith then,

no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.

We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight.

The eternal light with which childhood fills the world

would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus!

You might as well not believe in fairies!

...The most real things in the world are those that neither

children nor {grown-ups} can see.

Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn?

Of course not, but that's no proof that they are not there.

You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside,

but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the

strongest {grown-up}...

that ever lived, could tear apart.

Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance,

can push aside that curtain and view...

the beauty and glory beyond.

Is it all real?

Ah, Virginia,

in all this world there is nothing else so real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever.

A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand

years from now,

he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood."

I believe...

xoxo

💝

Feet

" What your Feet would say if they could talk....

If  you want to get from here to there,

put one of me in front of the other.

If you're reaching for the moon

keep one of me on the ground.

If the ground slips away,

use both of me to find your footing.

But if you want to make a quantum leap,

use your heart--

& if you follow your heart,

we promise to find you a road."

Sometimes, when you can't go forward,

backward,

or sideways...

just go up.

Meet up with God.

He gives the best directions !😉

And I am pretty sure, it makes him happy when 

He gets you all to Him-self. :)

Hugs & love 💗

Reflecting

April.

It started out weird....and never quite righted it's self.

From what I've been hearing.... I think it's been a "thing"

for a lot of us.

Have you had a weird month too ?

Truth is...I feel like I lived 120 days, 

in one month.

The loss of Oliver just made everything more weighty & complicated. 💔

BUT, as I sit here looking back....

 heartache, chaos and weirdness aside,...

there have been wonderful little gifts tucked away.

The simple, little things.

There have been days like this.

" When you focus on what you don't have

 or on situations that displease you,

your mind also becomes darkened.

You take for granted life, sunshine, flowers

and countless gifts from Me."

~ Jesus Calling ~

I hope you find and enjoy the simple, little gifts 

tucked away in your weekend.💛

XOXO

Listening

Because yesterday she grabbed my hand,

and we walked around the yard and talked

about the little things.

She didn't know Oliver had passed away,

and it made her a little sad.

But then she looked at me, and said

that Oliver and Jesse [her dog] were in heaven playing together.

I said  "Yes" 

And we agreed that they would both be happy

 to have each other

to play with.

And it made us feel better too.

Still holding tight to my hand...

 we searched for dandelions to wish on...

and she explained how,

" There are two kinds of dandelions. The yellow

ones...then the white ones. Those are the ones

you can make wishes on."

She then, picked a white one from the ground,

  squeezed her eyes shut, made her wish, and blew.

I made a wish too... 

I hope that all her special little wishes comes true. :)

XOXO

March

Dear March,

You have my permission to slow down now.

You have been so busy with your crazy weather,

and abundant blooms.

Your days have been marked with birthdays, doctor appointments,

lunch dates, hair appointments, and sadly a dear, & special man's funeral.

Your moving so fast,

 that this morning I poured a cup of coffee,

and when I went to warm it up...

there was already a piping hot cup waiting for me !!

I don't know how you did it !

It was just like magic !

But seriously...I've had very little time for myself.

I appreciate all the joy you have provided.

Don't get me wrong.

Giggles with the sweet girls, 

playing with Oliver & Scotty,

yoga with my friends,

and snagging a lunch date [at my favorite place] with my favorite guys,

I am definitely a fan !!

I just think you need to slow it down a bit...

maybe take some time to stop & smell the daffodils !!

They really are delightful !!

XOXO

Reflecting

Yesterday I cycled with my friend Mary.

She is one to listen, take in all my information, [drama] [never with judgement]

and when the timing is right,[could be minutes, weeks...or months] she gives me helpful feedback.

She lovingly holds me accountable for my s--t.

And...she's one that will give me a good kick-in-the-butt if I should happen to need it.

[thankfully I have yet to need it...*phew :) ]

 I love her for so much...but

more, because of that. 

Yesterday was one of those days.

It usually goes somewhat like a "good news" 

"bad news" session.

And she usually gives me the "bad news" first.

Followed by the " good news"....which usually means

I have cleared another hurtle...

warded off another butt-kicking.

I so appreciate her honesty,

and how she won't let me fail myself.

So with that...this morning, I reflect over the pages of my journal.

To retrace my steps so-to-speak, over the last few weeks.

I took note of the stars, and underlines of the penned words I have written,

during my daily, morning devotional and prayer time.

The words that nudged me in the right direction...the ones that impacted me in that moment.

The ones that pulled me from one page of my story....to the next.

I thought hmmm... if they helped me, maybe I could share them with you.

So I decided to pick seven things out of the jots and notes that stuck with me.

[ because 7 is one of my favorite numbers]

Here are some of my journal shares:

1.  The more of myself I release to God, the more I will be fulfilled

and experience His peace and joy.

2.  Let GO of what lies behind & enjoy the life Jesus has for me.    

3.  Live by faith, leaning on and trusting in Him, and NOT on my   

 own misunderstanding.

4.  Lessons come wrapped in difficulties. It's an opportunity to trust

Him more.

5.  Where the mind goes, the man follows. [fear, anxiety...trust, love]

6.  If I struggle to make things happen & they are NOT happening,

it's Me trying to run the show & NOT allowing God's plan to unfold.

7.  Look for the love in others.  Accept them.  What they do.  How they are.

I hope that these words make your day just a little bit sweeter.

They did that for me.

Have a happy weekend !!!

XOXO

                                       

Reboot

Less internet....more other things.

Like time to be outside.

Read books . Draw. Learn. Play.

Make friends with #39. :)

I am using my free time to relax, and have fun!!

Also to unwind and clear my mental cache.

[it's a process]

This week I did take a class for my CE on 

"Eating, Mental Health, Inflammation

and the Aging Brain."

I am still trying to download all of that information.

There are a lot of things we can do to keep ourselves healthy.

Tons.

I have always tried to make healthy choices,

but lately [2 weeks ago] ,I noticed I was starting to feel really bogged down.

I kinda knew in my heart it was social media, blogging, Instagram....

searching the internet. 

I love to learn....and stay in touch,

but my brain, well, I'll just say, it gets overloaded easily.
Easier the older I get. ;)

I have had to prioritize to a quick daily check.
15 min. or on some days....I do with out.

Information overload is truly a "thing" for me.

So in honor of my brain,
and it's well being,

I am taking some time to reboot.

Stay tuned. :)

Have a good rest of  your week !!

Be well !

XOXO

Bits

Some good things: Wintery and Spring- like days intermingling.

Riding in the old farm truck,[cassette player & wing windows].

The smell of hubby's coffee in the air...while I sip hot chocolate.

[the best of both worlds]

Watching the herd get so dang excited for alfalfa hay....that

they they don't seem to mind the cold so much.

Icy days, seemingly giving us permission to slow down.

Oliver on ice.... :)

Dana's warm & cozy house being just down the street,

when I need to shower, and our hot water heater decides to take a time-out.

Lincoln's quotes. [because today is his birthday 1809 :)] 

" I want it said of me by those who knew me best,

that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower

where I thought a flower would grow."

~ Abraham Lincoln~

Happy Monday !!

XOXO

  

Skippy

Gratitudes: Those little things that put a skip in my step.

Taking a road I've never been down before. 

Stopping at a Ma & Pop store for sweet snacks.

A warm sunny day after a cold, grey one.

My girlfriend wanting to ride with me to get hay, just for the fun of it.

Old trucks !! 

Oliver loving his new hay.

Coming home, & Hubby patting on the couch next to him, 

motioning me to ...

" come tell me about your day..."

What are some little moments that just add a little skip to your step ?

XOXO

Loving

Gratitiudes: Lovey stuff.

Brandon calling me when he is sick.

Phoning a girlfriend [call me old fashioned...]

and hearing her voice...her laugh...her quirkiness.

The way Oliver looks at me...like he is 100% sure of me.

Letting the cat in for a bit when hubby's at work, 

[cause pets don't  come in... ;)]

just to listen to it's purr.

Hubby smiling, when I tell him about it later.

Sitting beside each other to eat... and sharing our prayers.

Twinkle lights, on.

Candles lit.

What lovey-stuff are you loving about your life today ? 

XOXO

Trees

I sat and read on a log for a bit.

Then a friend came and identified some trees, 

so I wrote the names on some rocks and placed them at their base.

XOXO

Aspiration

This weeks lesson:

When I have a dream...
dare to take the first step.
[no reasoning. no excuses. no blaming someone else.]
Be fully responsible for my dream.

XOXO

Things

Three things I love about today.

A day in the country...with the fur-kids.

Throwing brush and weeds into 40 mph. winds...and having them land on brush pile down wind.

That accomplished feeling after a hard days work. 

 Hubby stopping by to help...

then coming home with flowers in one hand & oranges in the other.

And...having more than 3 things that I loved about today. :)

Happy Weekend !!

XOXO