Your gift of time...

...invest it wisely

to help you live fully today

everyday.

pretending she hasn't been anywhere
pretending I don't notice the tell tale signs...

notes...

the question....

"If you knew that today would be your last day,

how would you live it?"

...loving the people & animals I love, clinging to my kiddo

& taking few shots to capture our cherished moments...

Today's word :Practice.

a: carry out apply

b: to do or perform often

c: to perform or work at repeatedly so as to become proficient

d: to train

That pretty much sums up my life in a simple word today.

Practice what I want to be better at...

that will be beneficial for myself and others.

Stop practicing & release the things that aren't.

Once you figure out what that is for you...

it simplifies things a bit.

Whatever you have learned or received 

or heard from me-

or seen in me- put it into practice.

Phil.4:9

it may take a long time

but keep waiting

keep trusting

keep learning

keep practicing

don't give up on all the cultivating 

you've done

'plans to prosper you not harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future.'

Jer. 29:11

Live in the present moment

set aside time that belongs only

to God

place yourself in a position of receptivity

discover His personal love for you

allow the callouses to fall away 

as you've tried to guard your heart

from getting hurt

He cares about the heart behind it all

He loves and accepts you completely

He works on your heart

changes will come

some painful

some delightful

all of them purposeful

your life is happening in this moment

soak it all up right now

while you've got the chance

when it comes to the creatures you love,

the things you love,

the life you love,

what could possibly be more important?

each day is an opportunity

to make things better

express thanks for the smallest things....

hugs, smiles, second chances, music, 

AC....

appreciate the big and little blessings

that surround you

love and accept yourself now...

others too

be well...

xoxo

💖

"What are the things in my life that I most cherish,

and what did I do to cherish them today?"

"I have found that winning isn't everything,

and, in fact, in the relationships I most care about,

it isn't anything."

"We age not by holding onto youth,

but by letting ourselves grow &

embracing whatever youthful 

parts remain."

~Keith Richards

 

Journal Questions

"Buffaloes are spirit animals that help us learn the skills

of adaptability, stability, and grounding.

They also provide protection and guidance on our

spiritual journey, helping us to stay firmly grounded in our beliefs and values."

Journal questions to ponder.

Turn inward.

What would you like to have happen in your life this year?

What would you like to accomplish?

What areas of growth would you like to have happen to you?

What character defects would you like to have removed?

What good would you like to attract in your life?

What would you like to attain?

Where would  you like to go ?

What would you like to have happen in friendship and love?

What would you like to have happen in your family life?

What problems would you like to solve?

What decisions would you like to make?

What would you like to happen in your career?

What would you like to see happen around you?

What do I want to feel more of this year?

What do I want to move toward?

What tools do I have access to that can bring me back 

to connection with myself?

What are the things that are stopping you from feeling connected?

How can you eliminate or change those?

"What is not started today is never finished

tomorrow."

be well...

xoxo

💝

 

December 16, 2024

Maybe it's my meditating habit, maybe it's the work

I've been doing spiritually, or perhaps just being dang grateful

for my life for a change.

I looked back over some pictures from over the last 

10 years (piling up in my phone gallery),

and it hit me how many blessings I've been given.

My photos are a way of revisiting the timeline of my life...

and all along, I have definitely been grateful.

 That was always the prompt to take the photo in the first place.

 It was a desire to capture and hang onto the moment I was grateful for.

However....the unhealed victim mentality I have had to 

learn to let go of...(still...)

well, it sucked juice out of the blessings...

and that is a fact I am well aware of today.

Old friends. This weekend in
Monett. We go back over 40 years. 

I wrote these words this morning after my meditation.

They just came up.

"Always when...

then it will be better.

Wishing away the moments before me.

Trading in the now & investing presence, time, and energy

for a tomorrow of uncertainty.

Looking back, wishing I invested more in a time gone by."

I may not be voted Miss Poetic anytime soon...

but my heart feels happier, and I'll take that !

"People come and go throughout our lives.

We make friends and lose friends in cycles.

Some people are meant to be in our lives for a season

and others for a lifetime.

Each type of relationship valuable,

because each soul we encounter is a gift,

offering a lesson.

Reflect on your relationships today

and give thanks for the lessons and for the souls

you've been able to meet in your lifetime."

~Sunrise Gratitude~

The last few days have been packed full of journaling notes.

I'll share a collaboration on my next post.

For now this is enough.

Hubby has a Dr. appt. in the morning.

It's a cancer screen.

Please hold him in your thoughts and prayers.

xoxo

💝

 

 

Imagine

"Can you imagine what would happen if for one moment,

with every fiber of your being,

you allowed yourself to believe that you can have life

exactly as you choose to have it?"

Or:

" Imagine that your brain was removed from your body

and all you had to use to make everyday decisions 

were your feelings.

No logical thinking.

No memories of how things are

or how they'll probably turn out,

no judgements or fears that you'll look like an idiot,

or disappoint someone.

How would that change things for you?"

I'm not going to lie...

somedays I feel like my brain has been removed from my body!!

These are questions I have pondered today!

xoxo

💗

 

 

Us

Us... that's a tough one. 

And easy.

It was my photo prompt yesterday.

There are so many different ways to capture "Us"

Family...friends...pets....

I love us.

Whoever it is.

This is what Us looked like yesterday.

Us was with my hubby...and this adorable lamb.

Us is not perfect...

it's messy and complicated

and good...

and we try our best.

It's the mix of bitter and sweet,

sweat and tears,

strong and weak.

That's what makes it wonderful.

*good things

this little guy

dandelions

feeling little babies breath on your skin

pop up thunderstorms

scent of rain 

pink, yellow, and white blooms on the trees

walking around the neighborhood

hanging out at hubby's clinic

sitting in the grass

hubby's work boots

talking to girlfriends on the phone

talking to my kiddo on the phone

quiet

planting flower seeds

birds on the feeders

a robin living in the back yard

Us...all of them :)

XOXO

Explore

" When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul

and brings you joy, care enough about yourself to make room

for it in your life. "

Yesterday my photo prompt was EXPLORE.

Easy.

This was on our way home. Something we pass frequently.

We had dentist and things. It was a day that I didn't have time to get out and explore, explore.

Actually...that's more like and adventure for me. :)

Because I am an explorer everyday.

Sometimes my mind wanders... or I'm distracted,

or worse... running on auto pilot.

You know.

But all I have to do is pay attention...

live in the  moment...

 and I am always reminded

of the beauty that is right in front of me.

There are so many things to explore and be thankful for. Always.

good things...

old homesteads

 purple fields

the sound of thunder 

talking to the neighbor over the fence

working in the yard

digging my hands in the dirt

bulbs from my friend in NY blooming

Oliver following me around the yard

Scotty tossing his tennis ball around to get me to play

writing in my journal

a hubby that stops for me to "explore"

[the book and the movie] The Shack 

XOXO

Shape

Puzzle pieces.

No shortcuts.

Patience.

One piece at a time.

A work in progress.

Sometimes difficult.

Sometimes falling right into place.

Appreciating the pieces...

the sections....

the growth...and watching it take shape.

My photo prompt for today was SHAPE.

[doing this with a group i joined in January]

It made me think of it as a verb...

and how we shape our lives.

Piece by piece.

Then I thought of a puzzle.

The shapes.

How we piece it all together to form a masterpiece.

I had a lot of thoughts...

but going to keep it simple. :)

good things...

creating something

helping someone

reading a good book

appreciating the basics

listening to a robin sing

hoodies and slippers

de-cluttering

Oliver standing at the door steaming up the window with his nose breath :)

photo prompts that make me think

XOXO

Imagine

" The simplest things in life are the most extraordinary. "

My photo prompt for today was IMAGINE.

Imagine...

keeping life simple. Always.

I loved this simple shot. I took it yesterday at the farm.

Keeping this blog simple today.

Maybe forever.

Enjoying other *loves*

simple *pleasures...

photo prompts 

wind-blown hair

curiosity of a child

gigging and silly talk

stuffed tiger cuddles

old farm trucks

cowboy boots

stormy winds blowing through open window....

hubby coming home from work.

dinner in the oven

my favorite T.V. night.

XOXO