It's okay....

...to learn from other people,

but when you start to emulate them,

you lose the unique way God created you.

Don't let anything hinder your growth and transformation.

Keep pushing ahead 

because there is more inside you than what you are

right now.

notes....

church group & 

friends who pray together

morning appt. at the new (cute) dermatologist, who after an exam gives me an A 

and jokes that I'm boring...in the best way

Little House on the Prairie playing in the lobby

& Albert with a calf

leaves blowing in the breeze

a moment of pause near the pond

a shade tree to lean on

a place I revisit to be still and find peace

among the swans ducks and geese

~

listen to everyone with new ears

be on the lookout for something unexpected

do everything you can to have unshakable faith

surround yourself with people who know more

than you do

identify what continues to hurt you

allow God to shine the light on things

you'd prefer to leave in the dark

what you watch shapes you

you become like the people you watch and

a little less like yourself

it limits your ability to do things the best you can do

a day will come when you take a breath

and see through your own disguise

this recognition frees you from the shackles of

ignorance, lack, limitation, fear, doubt and worry

if your not growing

your dying

listen to the call of your heart

prayer will open your eyes so you can see 

who you really are

enabling you to see areas where you

need to change

 to be fully alive

and on the path of healing and wholeness

take time for pauses

it's when you rest that the growth happens

your story isn't even close to being over

remind yourself of this truth

everyday

 for the rest of your life

as it all comes together

you will be able to look back & see your journey

& be grateful for all of it

good

bad and ugly

because it took all that to get you where

you where meant to be

growth is a natural process

make sure your head and your heart stay 

connected 

be well...

xoxo

💞

"I know your situation, sacrifices, regrets, shame,

loneliness and pain.

I realize how hard you try, and I proclaim that what

you do out of love for Me is important.

So do not despair. 

Do not give up.

You matter profoundly to Me.

Get up, trust Me and keep going."

~Jesus~

"Travel light-

love will never weigh you down."

 

Echoes of a story....

...that started long before you were born.

"We were already born into a story that was 

already mid-chapter."

'Sort through the luggage and decide what is worth

keeping and what needs to be left.'

"It starts when you look at the heaviness in your spirit

& say 'This isn't mine to carry anymore'."

'Walk forward with your hands empty & your heart open

to whatever is actually yours.'

You're no longer a passive passenger in your own life.

You stand alone against the tide.

You stand up as the protector you always needed.

The story takes a different turn, the pen is in your hand.

Your harsh inner critic begins to soften.

Stop blaming yourself for how you were shaped.

'Moving forward requires you to look at the gaps

without letting them swallow you.'

'You are not what happened to you,

you are what you choose to become.'

Your spirit needs specific things to thrive

You have a heart with it's own set of instructions.

Take up the space that was always yours.

'By taking care of yourself,

you are actually becoming a more

grounded present person for 

the people you love.'

You have more energy for the people 

and things that actually matter.

You have to be okay disappointing people.

You are finally home.

notes to self...

be willing to let go of familiar comforts

so you can say a wholehearted "Yes"

to life

don't waste your energy projecting yourself

into the future - trying to walk through

those "not-yet" moments in your mind

you have unlimited resources,

and a vast army of angels at

your beck and call to provide

what you need

pray as you make decisions

what is driving you?

reject discouragement

there is a benefit in the challenge

settling for the ordinary when 

extraordinary is right around the corner

doesn't get you anywhere

identify what is keeping you back

pray for the guts & grit to do something

about it

be well...

xoxo

💞

"To let no one ever know of your vulnerabilities

is to let no one ever know of your courage."

"You pray for a miracle--

for divine intervention--

until one day it finally hits you--

that you are the tool by which God intervenes,

that your prayer for a miracle

was answered on the day you were born."

"One thing that we probably have in common with the ancients

is that they didn't know they were living in biblical times, either."

 

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."

A Cinderella story...

... of our own. 

A desire to find true love.

"God finds each of us in the cinders of a less

than perfect world, held back from the life

we dream of living.

He longs to raise us up to a high position,

transform us and grant us His power,

so he seeks us out,

inviting each of us to dance with Him.

And yet each of us needs someone to affirm our

inherent value and encourage our transformation.

We each need a Cinderella story of our own.

Each woman's relationship with God is such that

He finds her in the ashes, held back from the life

she dreams of living.

He seeks her, invites her to dance with Him, 

transforms her by revealing the beauty hidden beneath

the ashes, then confers on her His power and position.

Dancing in the arms of God is a relationship between 

you and God that is based on love and mutual respect.

The two of you communicate in a close, intimate setting.

He holds you, but His embrace is the embrace of a lover,

not a restraint of an oppressor.

As partners in this dance, God leads, and you let Him,

moving with the flow of His leading.

You are not enveloped in God, losing your 

identity as a unique person,

you are who you are,

retaining your freedom and individuality at every turn."

~Women's Devotional Bible~

be well...

xoxo

💞

"Let life happen to you.

Life is in the right, always."

~Rainer Maria Rilke

 

Don't let failure...

 ....be final.

                                                                            notes...

my girlfriend was bullying me in my home

so I grabbed my purse and left.

It was almost dark & my emotions were over the moon

as I climbed into the John Deer tractor to drive away...

...then I woke up.

Stepped out into the dark morning to feed the birds,

 sunk my feet into the 

rain soaked grass and thought about trying to drive a

tractor as a get-away rig, and laughed out loud.

...tearing down the walls of control

building the walls of faith...

trusting the creator.

relinquish your desire for control

it's scary to let go

but walk in faith with God

& He promises to support 

you every step of the way

release your need to direct circumstances

trust

all you need to do is believe

and receive

when things are difficult

those are the moments

you find out whether you

really trust that God knows best

to feel safely rooted 

no matter what you encounter

be honest with yourself

by admitting how you feel

part of pain's roll is to make you

more honest with yourself

about the things

you can't control

it helps you become more open

and receptive

truth can be discovered once you

stop fighting against the natural forces

God is the best teacher

the more you turn things over to Him

the better it goes

your answers are inside you

you make your future anew every day

life is a mix of fate & free will

with a dash of mystery

"When you knock, ask to see God...

not any of the self-appointed intermediaries."

~Thoreau~

be well...

xoxo

💖

'At age 7 his family was forced out of

their home, and he had to go to work

to help support the family.

At age 9, he's still a shy little boy,

and his mother dies.

At age 22 he lost his job as a store clerk.

He wanted to go to law school but,

 his education wasn't good enough.

At age 23 he went into debt

to become a partner in a small store.

Three years later his partner died,

leaving him a huge debt which took years

to repay.

At age 28 after dating a young woman

for four solid years, he asked her to marry him

and she said "no".

In his 30's he ran for public office and he lost.

A couple years later he ran again, and he lost again.

At 37 years of age it was his third attempt to 

run for office, and he finally got elected to congress.

But two years later when he ran for re-election 

he lost.

 He had a nervous breakdown as a result.

At 41, (in an unhappy marriage) his four year old

son dies.

At 42 he ran to be elected as the land officer

and he lost.

At 45 he ran for the senate,

and he lost.

A few years later he ran for vise presidency 

and he lost again.

At 49, he ran for the senate and lost again.

At 51, he was elected President of the United States.'

His name....

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Abraham Lincoln

our 16th President

💞

Biophilia is...

...a desire or tendency to interact or be 

closely associated with other forms of life

in nature:

a desire or tendency to commune

with nature.

"love of life"

Behaviors such as...

filling your spaces with houseplants or pets

feeling peace or awe when viewing natural

landscapes

designing your home or spaces with natural

light, wood, and water elements

Benefits...

reduces stress

lowers blood pressure

boosts cognitive function

notes...

we sit on the dock, kick off our sandals,

& dangle our feet in the water

the sun hides behind the clouds, and

the breeze picks up

the gull finds it difficult to stay

balanced in the rough waters

the minnows swim in schools around our toes

the waves lap at the shore

the bird song echoes in the quietness

and the sailboat passes slowly by....

when you are with someone you trust

completely

you feel free to be yourself

when you are real

it brings out the best in you

relax and enjoy your friendships

a happy heart is good medicine

and a cheerful mind works healing

your heart and mind are intricately

connected

it's impossible to have a happy heart

when your mind is full of negativity

if you are open 

sudden change can happen

at anytime

be ready for a miracle 

and willing to be surprised

inner turmoil makes it virtually

impossible to enjoy life

or your blessings

forgive

don't be loud

be love

create more good in the world

listen for the truest voices

decorate your life and heart with

compassion, empathy,

generosity, & joy

add a touch of whimsy

love

hope

and patience

are always good accents

as your heart and mind merge together

life tends to lighten up

....maybe it's merely waiting for your

heart to open

so you can witness first hand a truth

only you are destined to see

when you focus on your blessings

life feels abundant

when you focus on what's missing

life feels incomplete

think about the multitude of things

in your life

that are going well

persevere and know that something

amazing could be waiting 

right around the corner

keep watching for signs God

places in your path

He doesn't want you 

to miss His perfect will

for your life

He provides guidance so you'll

grow in the right direction

you are not your backstory

you are the story writer

be well...

xoxo

💝

"There are voices which you hear in solitude,

but they grow faint and inaudible as we 

enter into the world."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

''A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Proverbs 17:22

"In all things of nature

there is something of the marvelous."

~Aristotle

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed,

and to have my senses put together."

Life is always...

...full of wonderful surprises

if we're open to them.

Some mornings you wake up

not knowing what will happen

during the day....

and you get a helping hand, 

a trip invite from friends,

 and an arbor in the

yard.

notes...

each moment is like a seed

that carries within itself

the possibility of 

becoming a moment of change

you no longer need to 

run away from the present 

time in search of the place

where you think life is really

happening

focus on your living hope

feed your mind with high-quality

ideas & limitless possibilities

you are writing your own life story

with each subtle thought you think

right thinking is a choice you have to make 

for yourself

be intentional and persistent

improvement is preceded

by improved thinking

see the perfection of who you are

even with your faults

accept yourself relentlessly

there's beauty waiting for you to discover

build a beautiful day

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Life moves pretty fast.

If you don't stop and look around

once in a while,

you could miss it."

~Ferris Bueller's Day Off

"Dwell on the beauty in life."

~Marcus Aurelius

 

When you open...

...your mind,

the beautiful parts become more evident.

notes...

Trying to think of a name for the squirrel that

flattens out on or under the wicker chair...

Flat Stanley?

The coon is back. 

I read it is not good to relocate them,

 I love animals....

I decided to leave a dish of food out.

I was sitting on the porch

 writing in my journal,

 and something flew up and brushed my arm.

A bird landed on the pillow behind my back,

it startled me...and I startled it when I jumped.

I'm pretty sure I made my best loaf of sourdough this morning.

I decided to make a fresh "start" last week...

my last loaf was definitely meh.

Love sees the perfection in the person

& in the moment

take time to be still and

consider how beautiful

life really is

the more you give and receive love

the more you'll see truth

you are hugely responsible 

for creating your own reality

'you don't know how your story will end

or where a chapter will take you

don't let the unknown keep you from 

living

give it everything you've got

your story is written as you live

so live fully.'

love the people around you authentically

grow more into the person you want to be

tomorrow

your self-concept 

influences your attitude toward life

"Your true self-worth is based only

on what God says about you,

not on how you feel about

yourself."

filter out the junk that steels your joy

dance with God,

knowing that whatever you need 

one way or another

will always come

love can change a flawed perception

love is it's own reward

unity is our protection

you choose your conduct

your happiness & health are 

up to you

retelling old stories can 

hold you back from healing

you don't heal the past by dwelling there

you heal by living in the present

thank your hurts for all they taught you

be gentle with yourself

your in charge of noticing

that life is really in charge

you are not what others think of you

you're not even what you think of you....

you are an original masterpiece

whether you understand it

it is the truth

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Nature makes us aware of the preciousness

of life.

Nature tells us that life is precious

not only because it is,

but also because it doesn't have to be."

"Speak to yourself as you would to the one you love

the most.

Honor and respect your mind, body, and soul.

Take care of yourself by catching negative self-talk

and reframing self-judgements.

You deserve kindness, love , and approval.

Say something loving to yourself each morning.

With practice, your thoughts toward yourself

and others will change.

Love will emit from you powerfully

and you will become irresistible."

~Emily Silva

 

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."