Gokotta

Swedish. Experience. Culture. Dawn. Nature. Birdsong. 

Well-being. Stillness. Appreciation. Beauty. Coffee.

Flowers. Trees. Rustling. Moments. Personal. Fresh. Peaceful.

Grounded. Organic. Heritage. Simple.

Noun 

Zyohh-KOH-tah

"The act of waking up early in the morning to go

outside and listen to the first birdsong of the day,

enjoying the stillness and beauty of nature at dawn."

A picnic at dawn.

It is like a great, deep breath before I start the day.

Be well...

xoxo

💖

"Those who wish to sing...

always find a song."

~Swedish Proverb~

 

Resisting Change

Today I'm tired, and my hubby's surgery date 

is inching in on us.

 I'm tired because we've barely recovered from 

two surgeries already this year, and this time they

are removing his kidney.

I'm tired because caregiving is tough, and painful,

and it's hard to stay encouraged and strong when

you can't see any break in the clouds.

I'm tired of all the struggles we've had to get through,

  all the changes,

and the uncertainties that are ahead.

I'm tired because I want to do my best as a wife,

a mother, a daughter, sister, Aunt, Grandmother and friend.

I want to do my best as a student and a pet mom.

I'm tired because there's all the normal lifey things

like keeping the house in order, the yard mowed, 

planting my flower garden (which is essential for me..)

grocery shopping, meals, and all the daily chores.

Today I am just tired.  Things catch up to me, and when

I need a break from it all...

I beat myself up for that too!

It's been one of those mornings. 

I'm stepping out of the boxing ring at the moment.

Taking a deep breath, and pulling up Yoga with Adriene on YouTube.

I'm turning my brain off for a while.

I know it makes it harder when we resist changes that come our way,

and we should allow life to unfold as life does.

I can now look back at oodles of times when I've

worried and fretted, and honestly it never solved a thing.

It just wastes precious time.

I guess that is why I beat myself up for doing it now.

Still learning...

 

I prayed this morning to hear God's words, 

and that my heart would be receptive.

In my journals I write the words I read,

as God speaking to me. 

I make it personal.

Here are a few of the messages I received today:

" You can lash out and resent difficulty, & feel sorry for yourself,

or you can look away from the problem altogether,

and turn toward Me, and see the obstacle as a momentary trouble."

" Allow your heart, intuition, and brain to catch up to each other.

Have faith. Patiently sit and be still."

" I chip away at your rough edges of self-will & earthly bondage

to reveal all I created you to be.

I will bring you into greater wholeness."

" It's important that you cling to Me regardless

of the trials that arise, and yield yourself to My will

even when it is difficult."

" Do not resist what I am doing. 

There is a much bigger picture.

Take heart."

So I'm off to do some yoga, surrender, and align.

Then I'm going to channel the swede in me, 

and make some chokladbollars (chocolate balls).

Chocolate always helps. 

xoxo

💞

 

Grateful Scandinavian

Today I am....

celebrating Leif Erikson Day !!

(and 234th day of learning Swedish)

I clicked on a wrong link this morning, and it directed me to 

 a woman ( kvinna) talking about this special day.

So with that, and having bits of Scandinavian blood pulsing

through my veins, I decided  to honor this day.

Cuz without it ?

There's a pretty good chance I wouldn't even be here.

 

So the story goes, that this is the day, back in 1825 that the Restauration ship

arrived in New York Harbor from Stavanger Norway.

Leif Erikson is credited with bringing the first Nordic people into America.

The reason it was made a day.

" .... our Nation is stronger and more dynamic because of the 

contributions of Nordic Americans.

On Leif Erikson day, we express our appreciation for 

the many contributions of Nordic Americans,

who have enhanced American Society and strengthened 

our cultural diversity."

So Skal Leif Erickson! And tack sa mycket !

" We are all leaders-whether we want to be or not.

There is always someone we are influencing-either

leading them to good-or away from good."

~Leif Erikson~

xoxo

💓

 

Lately

We wore fake tats (my o came off...) munched on Swedish treats, and laughed 

at our attempts to recreate the messy bun we saw on Instagram,

she thought I was sprouting my wings. (pic)

My car has engine problems...I just purchased it in Jan. 

It's towed to Ford.

I'm dealing with some things I don't want to deal with anymore.

My life is filled with struggles and blessings.

Mostly blessings.

Some words of wisdom from my peeps:

" Don't sacrifice who you could be for who you are."

" Your feelings are not here to hurt you, they are here to heal you."

" Obstacles are opportunities."

" The line between chaos and order is wisdom."

"Stand up straight with your shoulders back!"

"Play the hand your dealt the best you can."

"You are more than you think you are."

"Let fear push you, not stop you !"

"Life is a struggle. Do you want to waste it and struggle?

Or live it and struggle?"

My thoughts:

Honor life. Honor God. Honor myself.

He takes my moments of defeat and teaches me something that will help me later on.

Self-pity is a habit. One I want to break.

I am at a major crossroads in life.  I have been devoted,

honest, and have tried my hardest to do my best in a situation.

God knows, I absolutely, positively have done all I am capable of doing,

even at the expense of my own well being.

It's out of my hands, and I surrender it into His.

xoxo

💗

' He brought me up out of the pit of destruction

and set my feet upon a rock.'

 

Camera

Dear yesterday,

I picked up my camera, and headed out to the farm with hot tea to go.

Hubby needs to heal a bit after his angiogram, so I was the official

gate-keeper, and feed-bucket carrier.

Taking care of the animals while

 capturing shots of the icy scene energized me.

Thank you for providing  some sparkle to my day.

isig: (my Swedish word for the day) 

icy, frozen

"Whatever makes your soul happy,

do that."

xoxo

💖