Very random thoughts...

....and a letter from the past.

dinner, a selfie,...and if you look close...a cat on my head....💝

I feel the winds of change. 

Sticking close to God and

trusting in Him for direction.

I have this wonky energy of standing at a starting gate,

 waiting for the gun to fire...

while attempting to wait patiently...

and wait...

and wait.

I watched a movie with Hayley Mills and Diane Keaton 

the other night. Love them both.

Hayley Mills? 

I developed a bit of a girl crush...

she is 80 and so freaking adorable!!!

Both are a light.

Our chicken neighbors have been popping over the fence

for a visit from time to time.

The other night, one went missing... so we hunted in the dark.

 Later I received a photo text of

 a big speckled chicken sitting up in the tree.

Ellie May looks pregnant

the thought of little kids hopping around next door

makes me happy.

Can't wait!

My neighbor is baking Brandon and Molly's

wedding cake. 

She brought over a practice cake for us to try.

I may have teared up a bit.

Brandon made an express trip into the area 

I met him for dinner, and to bring him

some cake.

He told me he started writing his vows...

 I told him I was going to be a blubbering mess.

He said his friend N.. will be OK unless he sees someone

cry. 

Warning to N....don't look my way.

I'm about to mosey into the advanced class in Tai Chi.

My classmate battles with Parkinson's .

He's advancing with me....or I won't go.

Yesterday we were stretching up on our toes like a ballerina,

and I said, "I'm too wobbly today..."

and he said,

"I have a hard time even making my feet work."

and we both laughed

He has a good spirit.

He seems to move more smoothly during practice.

There's something to it.

I've been filling up journals like a madwoman

16 pages....14 pages....stuff is coming up,

ideas, direction, non-essential....quotes,

memories, flashbacks....

a lot. 

waiting....waiting....studying...

practicing...

patience.

I am combing through my journal notes from the last month.

Pilfering... sleuthing...

revisiting highlighted sentences, starred & underlined areas

while highlighting more as I go.

I'm under investigation,

by me.

Putting the pieces together...to start coaching

and taking steps forward as I take in more...

I am in the flow...

yet....still not fully ready to launch.

This morning, I read a letter that formed on the 9th of last month....

it was on a Sunday...

I had just prayed for patience...

wanting to default into DIY and help God out.

Let's go!

And also wanting to wait for His perfect timing...

no easy task.

I know I am still processing....

& there is a lot going on.

I seriously trust that He has a better plan than mine anyway...

so with that said...

I'll place my trust there.

.....

'Dare to begin to be happy. You will go forward in the way before you,

you will soon receive the promise,

I will give you your heart's desire.

I understand perfectly things about you which you have

yet to discover. Open your heart fully to Me.

You will experience My boundless Love.

I want your life to bear fruit.

No one can go it alone Spiritually.

I will lead you to a place I know you will thrive. Be obedient to wherever 

My Spirit leads you.

Stop worrying, fretting, and being anxious.

I will help you through this.

Get real with your mess-ups, and don't act like you have it all together.

I am more concerned about you faking it than if you blow it.

I want you to know I see you, and there is nothing you can do to

make Me love you more!

Don't go into hiding. Keep it real.

Let me enter into your failures with you &

watch what happens.

Do something with what you believe & fight back against boredom of a 

faith without activity.

Faith without works is as useless as a pen without ink.

I don't need your help.

I want your heart, and you will understand more about Me

the more you engage in your faith.

You will be alright, for you are still learning what it means to be strong.

Keep going.

Find a place to rest.

Then rise up and begin again.

Have a blast today.

Search for little signs, take a walk, but

find your adventure in Me and express your faith

in love and in action.

Talk to Me all the time. 

This single habit will improve every area of your life.

Hear Me say,

"That's my girl!"'

~Jesus~

(compilation of notes....)

be well...

xoxo

💞

"There is a lesson to be learned from reading biographies,

it is that no one enters this life with a plan."

"To know all the facts about anyone is to be considerably

more informed on the subject than they are."

"You cannot change tomorrow by changing yesterday,

that is what today is for."

Day by day...

...God's peace is found in the spaces in-between.

In the pause. In the quiet. In the stillness.

'Slow down to notice the spaces where 

peace naturally flourishes.

It is a gift of grace.'

sandpiper: living in-between spaces, adaptability & flow,
persistence & purpose, vigilance & mindfulness

notes...

the blank pages of a new journal 

a big sneeze from the drop-off line at school

that echoes over startling the cat

trees swaying in the breeze

a pause to walk along the waters edge

a small blue heron feather floating on the shoreline

& the sandpiper leading the way

accept each day exactly as it comes to you

the journey is just as purposeful

as what you accomplish when you get

where you want to be

pause to take a look around

take time to savor special

even ordinary moments

see how much more you glean from them

when you are fully present

allow your heart to be wooed into thanksgiving

and praise for what has been given you

gratitude generates enthusiasm

there is a plan for your life

& it unfolds slowly

let go of your need to figure things out

to feel in control

allow things to happen

enjoy the moments of your life

even the bumpy moments

respect time as a valuable commodity

you have been told that all things shall work out

for your good 

put simple trust in that truth

events will unfold as they should

be well

xoxo

💞

"Let the beauty of what you love be what you do."

~Rumi~

"When enough of God's people are overflowing

 with the life of Jesus Christ,

this crazy, mixed-up, sad, searching, hungering,

thirsting, yearning, violent world of ours

is going to say, 'I want that. I want what you have.'"

~Charles Stanley~

"You don't find peace. 

You choose it, by what you ignore,

by what you release, by what you stop giving energy to."

~Bruce Lee~

 

He gives us...

....clear direction for our life.

Don't move until you have it.

Peace is the umpire.

notes...

Charles Stanley is my favorite.

He's soft, caring, comforting, Fatherly....

I listen to his audio books in the car,

before I go to sleep, & sometimes in the morning 

when I just want to be still and be soothed by the word.

I've binged Charles this week.💖

He's also hubby's favorite...

so that's a bonus.

God gives us the capacity to make very wise 

decisions and gives us clear guidance

clear the pathway

a pure heart

exercise patience

be willing to wait

be alert to pressure

exterior pressure:

people telling you what you ought to do

how you ought to think

and give you advice

no matter what the circumstance is

if God doesn't give you clear direction

do not step into it because of pressure

shoulds, oughts, and musts,

will get you in a lot of trouble

persistent prayer

when you are praying for something

don't let go of it

meditate on God's word

He tailors words to fit you

it will grab you and give you direction

wait for peace

harmony and oneness

disorder, disharmony, unrest, frustration, anxiety,

fear, all those things are not God

your soul wait in silence

not murmuring, fuming, criticizing,

and blaming

avoid the pressures

wait in peace

the circumstances may not change

but you can walk through the difficult times

and face them

create harmony in your heart

be well...

xoxo

💝

 

What is missing....

....from many of our days is a true

sense of enjoying the life we're living.

filling up at an old pump

Savor the small, authentic moments that 

that make you smile...

and simple pleasures that often get overlooked.

notes...

an unexpected refund, 

a flatbed full of pumpkins

& sunflowers

pulling up to fill the tank at an old gas pump...

sharing a story with my kiddo...and laughing over the phone

enjoying the simple things....

embrace moments of happiness that are

uniquely your own

you can spot God's gifts all 

around you

be aware of the little things

that bring a smile to your face

keep a list of what triggers delight

your day

stop thinking that things outside of 

your control are going to make you happy

happiness that can't be taken away 

grows in your soul

be willing to pursue it

commit to making it a personal

priority in your life

hunt for small surprises

in the midst of the mundane

realize the value of a minute

and how precious the seconds of 

your life are

protect your time

and how you spend it

you have a life to live

one that has purpose and meaning

daily meaning is important as daily bread

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Every time you make a choice you are turning

the central part of you, the part that chooses, 

into something a little different from what it was before.

And taking your life as a whole, 

with all your innumerable choices, all your life

you are slowly turning this central thing into either

a heavenly creature

or a hellish creature."

~C.S. Lewis~

"I compare the pursuit of happiness

to a day of fishing--

it helps if you stock the pond."

"Perhaps if one knew when one was happy

one would know the things that were

necessary for one's life."

What if...

...we could make the most of the detours

we didn't plan on,

and discover what there is to see and 

explore along the way?

What if we braved the long way

with our mind set on learning,

adjusting, and opening our hearts

to fall deeper in love with life?'

What if we hit the pause button and resist

the urge to fix something or someone

letting the good and bad grow together

trusting God to sort it out when the time is right?

What if it gets us where we want to go

because it gets us to where God want's us to be,

no matter how inconvenient &

 even if we didn't think we wanted to be there?

notes...

...the purpling sky at dusk 

the warmth of a friend's understanding

the laughter from a child as he splashes in the lake

a flock of geese swimming to shore then taking

flight so close I can feel them as I stand with my feet 

in the water...

a refreshed, revitalized mind is able to sort 

out what's important and what's not

have a steadfast heart

do not worry about your life

(Matthew 6:25)

while it's fun to imagine yourself differently

don't get trapped in a life

thinking you need to be different

remove your focus away from the complexities 

of your own broken heart

toward Jesus

embrace His unconditional love

God doesn't want us to be a better version of us

He wants us to be a more accurate reflection of Him

don't miss your prayer and meditation time

get your mind clear

you don't have to be captive to bad experiences

if you're not flexible enough to change 

what's in your head

you can't change your life

change your mind

or you won't change anything else

allow a new truth to be planted in your mind

the sooner you develop a clear mindset

the more efficiently you will use your time

appreciate the value of time

by focusing on what's 

in front of you

not by lamenting what is behind you

the years zoom by

time is your most valuable resource

it can not be reproduced or replicated

learn to guard it and hold it precious

live on purpose 

make conscious choices

there is no going back

live in the present today

God is in the subtle nuances

be well....

xoxo

💞

"The peace of God is tranquility and quietness

of the soul.

it is the assurance that,

no matter what is going on around us,

everything is secure."

~Dr. Charles Stanley~

"Did you know your thoughts,

habits movement, sleep, and nutrition

can all help you rewire your brain

through a process called neuroplasticity?

Small choices, repeated daily,

can have a profound impact on your

mental health and your life."

~Dr. Mark Hyman~

"The butterfly counts not months but

moments, and has time enough."

 

She allowed ...

...her life to be purged

so that she could live in a manner

that reflected who she truly was.

Blossoming into the fullest expression of her best self.

She didn't want to merely survive,

she wanted to thrive.

notes...

begin each day with joyful expectation

get clear on what kind of life

will make you truly happy

be honest

meditate on God's word

one of the best things you can do

to improve the world

is to improve you

believe beyond what you can see

learn to pause

breathe

be

see the miracles happening all around you

where you put your attention

there is your power

turn your thoughts to

happier things & enjoy 

what is good and pleasant 

around you

don't miss what life is

meant to be

be well...

xoxo

💖

"Don't settle for nice, for pleasant, for familiar.

Keep looking until you find something that really

moves you,

that resonates with your core.

And I mean this for people,

interests, for hobbies,

for your possessions, clothes, music,

books, art.

Everything.

Curate every aspect of your life,

as much as you can.

It's in the things that deeply inspire us

that we find ourselves.

Surround yourself with truth,

and you'll have built yourself 

a heaven."

~unknown~

 

Relinquishing control...

 ...may feel like you are giving up something valuable,

in reality you're letting go of striving,

which frustrates you more than it helps you.

notes...

the female cardinal (alias Mrs. Stanley) sat looking in the kitchen window

as we made our coffee and tea

we loved our morning at the beach so much

 that we decided to start our day there again.

My thermos tipped in the 

picnic basket, and everything sat in a puddle of coffee. 

Barely a cup was left.

I decided it would be enough, 

and taking in the moment was more...

the blue heron squawked 

& I savored that 1/2 cup of coffee

We came home to watch Charles Stanley's sermon

and Mrs. Stanley was outside our window

singing and dancing in the tree

(really a bush....but...you know...)

endeavor to celebrate your relationship with God

learn to walk consistently in the present

be patient

weigh the alternatives

make sure you make a wise choice

your mind is so strong & powerful

it can tell you you're inadequate

and limited

& it can help you to overcome obstacles

and position you to become what you envision

most thinking is 

recycled opinion

it's not really thinking at all

listen to the still small voice leading and 

guiding

and comforting you

not the voice of the world

expand your awareness

and see the way God sees things

and your part in it

do a check-in with your motivations

every so often

loosen up

you don't need to be uptight

when you are on edge it affects others too

you get to decide what part you are going to play

regardless of what your life looks like at this very moment

abundance is always available

drop your limiting beliefs

do your best for the moment

and then let it go

striving for excellence is a positive quality

striving for perfection is self-defeating

contribute to the world by making life easier,

happier, more beautiful, more fun, 

more interesting, more thoughtful, more loving

empower & compliment yourself

it will not make you lazy

it will nurture you

and enable you to give, do, and be your best

whatever you do 

bring something good to life

be well...

xoxo

💖

sign of a female cardinal ...

nurturing and care

good news & hope

brighter days ahead

turning dreams into reality

patience 

endurance 

emotional stability

"As a general rule,

your life story is more interesting,

the longer you can postpone the living

happily ever after."

"Somewhere amid life's endless distractions lies it's purpose,

each of us deciding for ourselves

which distraction it is."

No one...

...can ruin your life.

The only person that can mess up your life

is you.

notes...

'you don't need to sweat it

when He messes up your plans

He is trying to get your attention

most of us are poor listeners

God can't get through

He gets a busy signal

when it comes to listening to God

we all have ADD

He sees ahead 

and wants to spare us the problems

when He changes your plans

it is ALWAYS for your benefit

God's plan is ALWAYS good

God's plan is more rewarding

significance and satisfaction

come from following God's plan

for your life

God has a plan for your life

but He lets you choose

"Mary and Joseph just wanted to get married.

God had a better plan."

God is not going to give you 

a tinier plan

If you're looking for an easy plan,

don't follow God

God is more interested in your character

than your comfort

you don't understand it now 

but you will understand it later

your brain isn't big enough to 

understand all the ways of God

the only way to please God is by faith

frustration and & fear are the two warning lights

that you're not listening to God

if you feel far from God

guess who moved?

be well...

xoxo

💝

 

"No need for sight...

...when you have vision."

notes...

have a voice in your life you trust 

to run towards

acknowledge the obstacles in your way

& choose to fly over them anyway

your gift and your truth are in you

decide to stop wasting time 

& move forward

discover your true potential

stay the course

your faith in miracles & yourself

must be greater than your fear

however easy or rough the process is

be willing to fall down, get up,

look stupid, cry, laugh, make a mess,

clean it up and don't stop 

until you get there

no matter what

you can do anything

desire it

have faith

speak it

never give up

say 

"I will!"

be well...

xoxo

💗

"When you are sure you are aimed toward

destiny, 

you won't worry about the end."

"I'd rather have a couple of ideas fail

than have a faith that won't try."

"It's not about your circumstances

it's about who you become 

and what you believe is possible

for yourself."

 

I don't crave...

 ...."extraordinary moments anymore.

Just small, gentle hums of beauty

streaming from below,

above, simply from paying attention.

Sound. Light. Shadow.

Art. Warmth. The night.

The the morning.

Dreams that are not faraway

but exist right here

already in my days,

hands, and heart."

notes...

'to thine own self be true'

pause long enough to calm the noise in your life

tune back in to what's important

 & the beauty that dazzles you

find a way to create a sanctuary in your daily life

because these safe places are within reach

if you'll stop long enough to see them

find your place in life and faith today

be well...

xoxo

💖

"I don't care much for things I can't take with me

after I die.

Give me love.

Moments.

Purpose.

Things that'll settle in the soul."

"Life is actually really simple,

but we insist on making it complicated."

~Confucius~

Release the hold...

...that discontent may have on you.

Make a habit of noticing the little things

 that you're thankful for,

and your mind will begin to look for such things.

The more you practice,

the easier it is to see the good in each day.

When things aren't how you'd like them to be,

shift your focus to acknowledge what is going right,

and what you are grateful for.

notes...

I may not be very good at sitting 

to meditate at long lengths and 

allowing thoughts to flow by...

or not getting caught up in them and

sometimes starting to spiral...

but give me a camera, a garden & a bird,

I forget I even have a head.

it's a beautiful unfolding 

as your gifts open doors for you

determine where you're going to be all in

dream big

don't let the world stifle your imagination

there are endless ways to enjoy life

if you open your heart and your eyes

"God is not  limited by the rules you make up.

He doesn't want you to be either."

be wise and generous 

with what you've been given

 do the best that you are able

wherever you are 

be mindful of your actions

& whether they will improve or worsen 

your situation

remember that your health is more important 

than trying to prove your point

pause

give yourself a time-out

'the gift doesn't shine

if the giver is extinguished'

as best you can 

handle situations with wisdom

and grace

think healing thoughts

feel your feelings

learn from them

then release them

pray

Love is greater than fear

pursue the unique calling you are given

what lights you up?

what are you good at?

what is lasting

 important, 

 meaningful

and purposeful?

what has worked in the past?

what have you bounced back from?

these point to your calling

get clear on your current calling

release the things you've grown out of

welcome new connections

& new opportunities God brings your way

your gifts are the many ways in 

which you express who you are

friendship

kindness

patience

joy

peace

forgiveness

gentleness

love

hope

trust

and many others.....

be vigilant in your faith

life is about learning &

loving &

growing into your best self

not seeing how much

torture you can endure

you don't need special powers

you just need to make good use out of

what you already have

discipline your mind to center on productive thoughts

positive memories

winning moments

small wins

God

be well...

xoxo

💗

"Where shall I find my happiness today...

in my memories, in my dreams,

in my appreciation of the moment?

That last one would be a novel idea."

"It is a sad lament--

the happiness you might have found if

you had taken the road that still lies

right there in front of you."