Ordinary day...

door open letting the outside in, sunshine and

a fresh breeze blowing through ...

 birdsong and chimes filling the air.

Brandon in and out for work.

Fritz in and out chasing squirrels.

Repotting houseplants on the stoop.

Chatting with my neighbor over the fence as

 she announces a new arrival coming soon.

Goats!!💞

And a spontaneous lunch outing at the quaint burger joint down the street.

I'm happily geeking out on this last day of Winter..

Notes to self:

It's never about all the things you know & even believe;

it is what you do about what you believe.

Train your thoughts to be positive and hopeful.

If you think about good things, you'll feel better.

Be purposeful, the most important work

you have in life is to be yourself.

Recognize your blessings.

be well...

xoxo

💝

"We believe:

An ordinary life can be extraordinary,

there is beauty in IMPERFECTION,

and that magic can be found in everyday."

"I like living. I have sometimes been wildly,

despairingly, acutely miserable,

racked with sorrow,

but through it all I still know quite

certainly that just to be alive is a grand thing."

~Agatha Christie~

"The magic happens after you accept 

that you can't regulate other people's

emotions or experiences.

That's when you start living your

most authentic life.

Some people will get you,

but what matters is that you get you.

Be kind, help others, 

but don't forget to live for yourself."

~Yung Pueblo~

February 1, 2026

A ride through the pasture,

breathing in the crisp winter air,

cows lazing in the sunshine chewing their cud,

and the mockingbird who tagged along beside us.

I'm totally a moments girl...

not everything has to be extraordinary to matter.

"Show  gratitude no matter what 

the circumstance."

~Mockingbird~

be well...

xoxo

💝

"Spending time in nature is as close

as we get to a magic pill

for decreasing stress and cortisol."

 

January 29, 2026

The enchantment of Winter is not missed by me.

"Wherever you are, be all there."

snow day movie date

Joy is that intense gratitude for someone of something.

Aligning with your core values.

Inward peace and happiness.

It comes from the inside out.

Journaling....

See things from a heightened, big-picture, perspective.

Meditate on the truth.

Absorb it into your very being.

"When you see faults in others, go a little easier on them.

The same applies to you.

Don't be so hard on yourself when you blow it."

"Faith isn't figuring out what we're able to do.

It's deciding what we're going to do

even if we think we can't."

"Our faith will grow when we regain

a sense of childlike wonder."

If you want a different outcome than what you've 

been seeing, adapt a new strategy.

Focusing on your difficulties intensifies

 & enlarges them.

'Get good counsel for your life,

but don't get head-faked by what 

the peanut gallery has to say.'

" Whatever it is that God made you good at,

do it with gusto like you're serving Him."

Nothing is too difficult for you.

(with God)

Choose gratitude over victimhood.

The biggest fight is with yourself.

Becoming yourself is an amazing adventure.

"Keep showing up;

you're the only you there is."

"No one but you is responsible for your happiness."

"Happiness leaps into existence from a positive attitude to life."

Make sure at the end of the day you are happy.

Life is too short for stress and unhappiness.

Be sure to taste the moment to the full.

be well...

xoxo

💝

'Remember when you were young and wanted

so badly to grow up?

Challenge yourself to see things through the 

eyes of your younger self.

Remember the hope and possibility you had.

Infuse your day with wonder and see that nothing is 

permanent-and anything is possible.'

" A man at the bottom of a deep well cannot

see anything but darkness and the sky far above him.

He cannot see the surrounding landscape.

He doesn't know what awaits him once

he climbs out of that well."

Contentment

Contentment is simple, sweet and slow.

It's that space within a moment that can leave

the mess of the outside world, 

and allow my heart to feel a mix

of peace and joy.

Buddy

Contentment is...
sitting on the floor,
  devotionals scattered around me,
Polly stretched out napping on my lap,
sipping coffee, and watching the snow fall outside my window.

The smell of bacon filling the house, 
something hubby fixes every Sunday morning.

 Blondie and Buddy.

Kleenex tucked into my coat pockets...
and memories of my gram always having one tucked into hers.

Coming into a warm home after farm chores on a frigid day.
Changing into our comfy sweats, and making a
pot of soup and cornbread together.

Mugs of hot chai, candles flickering, streaming "feel good" movies.
Hubby covering my lap with his warm blanket.

Journaling...

Do not focus on the circumstances that weigh you down.
Look to brighter times through eyes of faith.

What you believe shapes how you respond
 to the challenges that arise.

Ditch the desire for instant gratification.

Celebrate every piece of progress.

'Life doesn't tend to follow our plans.
It's more like exploring opportunities 
as we follow a trail of breadcrumbs.'

"No miner strikes gold with with first swing of the pick."

"Most prisons are of our own making.
A man makes his own freedom too."

How you perceive is how you respond.

Release the pressure to be perfect.

'Your life isn't meant to be a series of 
disappointments, nor is it intended to be
ordinary & stuck in a rut.
Stuff happens. You're not perfect.
God knows that.
Trust Him.
He has a  plan to get you through.'

'Peace is not something that happens externally;
it's an inside job.
Peace is based on your state of mind.'

'It's not how you start something that counts,
it's how you finish it.'

All big things come from small beginnings.

Clear away misconceptions.
Love more.

Love is an anchor for your soul no matter what happens.

be well...
xoxo
💖

'If something dulls your spirit, walk away,
shift the attention, or let go.
Choose things that light you up.
Be more aware of your needs.
Surround yourself with what brings you
peace, joy, and vitality.'

"Your own life is the greatest teacher you will ever have.
As with any teacher, however, you must be willing to pay
attention- with all your senses."

"Did you know cuddling or being in a loving
relationship can literally change your
gene expression?
It activates repair genes and turns off inflammation."
Love truly is medicine."
~Dr. Mark Hyman~

"A fit body, a calm mind,
a house full of love.
These things cannot be bought;
they must be earned."

 

Journal Dump

Today, I have a new soup recipe simmering on the stove.

A loaf of sourdough raising, and a batch of protein balls made.

The kettle is on for hot tea, and I'm getting snuggled in

to (finally) watch the movie

"Casablanca".

It's Molly-Mom recommended.

Some notes from my journal this week...

Give up striving to keep everything under control.

Faith often tells us to go in the opposite direction

of what basic instinct tells us to do.

Giving to life is our real need.

'Trust means you're ready to risk what you already have.'

God's not asking you to figure out all the logistics.

Bring what you've go. He'll take care of the rest.

'When we try to copy someone else,

we're no longer the incredible, unique person 

we were created to be,

but a poor knockoff of who they were created to be.'

'If you're worried that revealing your true self will 

change your relationships- it will.

Some will drift away,

but the truest relationships will stay.'

Negative thought patterns will grow weaker

practicing thankfulness.

You  can grumble, or you can praise.

Refocus on positive attributes rather

than the negative. 

Don't weigh yourself down with responsibilities

that are not your own.

Live in anticipation of the cumulative effects 

of the small daily changes you make.

Fight the urge to become apathetic & lethargic

or to procrastinate.

"Take away what you are known for,

and whatever is left is who you are."

Be the most genuine, authentic you.

be well...

xoxo

💖

This quote made me tear up this morning.

It's a (good) thing. 

I can lighten up.

"You need not leave your room.

 Remain sitting at your table and listen.

You need not even listen, simply wait.

You need not even wait, just learn to become quiet,

and still, and solitary.

The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked.

It has no choice; it will roll in ecstasy at your feet."

Snow

Waking up to a blanket of fresh snow is a peaceful sight.

Everything feels cozier and the world seems hushed.

Snow days are the perfect time to do nothing

for the sake of nothingness.

"Slow down. Calm down. Don't worry.

Don't hurry. Trust the process."

~ Alexandra Stoddard ~

"Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself

that this very moment is the only one

you know you have for sure."

~ Oprah ~

live well & in peace...

xoxo

💖

 

January 24, 2025

I was out of sorts, until I grabbed my camera,

& bundled up to go for a walk.

Once I was moving and getting some fresh air,

I felt so much better.

I'm learning that when I am at a low, 

not to use the energy against myself,

(judgement)

and make a shift in a direction for myself.

(compassion)

It's a tool.

Micro-shifts become breakthroughs.

 Day four of  the gut reset.

It's a challenge to completely change my eating patterns,

and the foods I eat. 

Meats and vegetables only.

Period.

I miss my rice and beans with avocado,

and my cup of coffee in the morning.

My blood sugar was 109, so I am happy

about that.

A few things from my journal lately:

Anything that makes you anxious is a growth opportunity.

Instead of running away from challenges, embrace them,

eager to gain the blessings in the difficulties.

Don't waste energy regretting the way things are or thinking

about what might have been.

Do not be tempted to despair.

Remain positive and optimistic.

"Life is 10% what happens to you & 90%

how you respond to it."

The perspective you take on life's flow and

transitions makes the critical difference.

Quiet your heart and mind and be still.

"If you can't change your fate,

change your attitude."

"Real progress only happens when we aren't 

focused on the progress.

The hallmark for your healing journey is to fully

accept where you are. 

For all that it is.

Release what is holding you back,

and nourish what is calling you forward.

"It's not the daily increase but daily decrease.

Hack away at the unessential."

~Bruce Lee~

Nurture, listen, walk, sing,

find things that are nurturing for you.

What nurture does your body respond to?

Take it one day at a time.

be well...

xoxo

💞

 

Just Breathe

I took a walk down the trail to the lake. My Dad's 

"favorite spot" when he has been here to visit.

I find a flat, dry rock, and decide to sit.

I turn my face toward the sun. I close my eyes...and breathe deep.

A Pileated woodpecker is raising a ruckus somewhere behind me on the opposite shore.

I turn trying to spot it, but it is hidden in the trees.

I call my Dad, because I want to share this moment, this spot, this beautiful day with him.

He answers, and then with a little chuckle....said he was getting ready to

call me too. 

An Eagle soars over the lake and tucks into the cedars nearby.

Dad and I have a nice catch-up-chat.

After our good-byes, I mosey back toward the path.

I pause to build a mini snowman.

I go to take a picture, and it topples over backward into the lake.

Three snowballs...bobbing...

I feel so bad, that I build another.

"Our lifestyles have made us into irritable, anxious

question marks."

'It's always the simplest things in life that

cause the biggest impact.'

"Simplicity is the key to happiness."

"Breath is the link between life &

the silence behind the mind."

"If you don't do something with your life,

life will do something with you."

xoxo

💖

 

January 10, 2025

Is sounds so cliche, and slightly overused...

that gratitude is the key to happiness.

I'm always grateful.

Mostly.

But I have noticed that sometimes when I am grateful...

it's usually quickly followed by a reason not to be.

It's my way of protecting myself from being too happy,

so that way, if it is taken away...I won't be too sad either.

 It doesn't work.

NOT a healthy pattern.

It's roots runs deep.

A worn out and very old coping habit.

But mostly a resistance to life at it's fullest,

and it makes life kind of meh.

We can choose to open ourselves up and go with 

the flow.

We can develop faith. Practice trust. and

engage more fully.

Trust in the things that make you feel whole.

Don't engage in things that you know will derail you.

Slow down, and acknowledge your wins.

Think about the things that you've nailed.

Decide you want to do something about the things

that aren't working for you.

Drop the doubt.

Live in the possibility.

Stay the course.

I'm sitting here unable to venture far from the kitchen table.

Not a side-effect from my acupuncture yesterday,

but I have been transfixed to the scenery outside my door.

The snow...the birds....the cat bobbing and weaving

in front of the window.

She's is in her own version of a virtual

reality game with her feathered friends.

I've chatted with my girlfriend on the phone over coffee.

Been receiving photo updates on my mom's antics through her

texts.

She's in her 80's and sledding down

the handicap ramp to her house. 

She makes me laugh.

I can't help but feel fueled by it all.

Could you imagine if every single one of us would wake up happy

 and just take some time to play a little more?

Some journal notes from this beautiful, snowy morning...

The more you trust God, the more He empowers you to do so.

"Go deeper than what you see, touch, and feel.

Encounter God's presence in the depths of your personhood

where the freedom & healing take place."

"God always knows what is in your best interest & acts accordingly.

Regardless of your circumstances, He knows how to 

turn them for your good."

You may not know what to do today, but God does-

perfectly.

"I want to make your life a glorious adventure, 

but you must stop striving for a lifestyle that

feels safe."

God

You cling to old ways because change frightens you.

'You can't be happy without feeling gratitude 

for what you have.

It's impossible'

'If you are grateful the world will bring you more opportunities 

for gratitude.

If you believe yourself to be a victim,

the same is true.'

You can see the world in whatever ways you wish;

you always have a choice.

Everything in life teaches us something about ourself.

Cultivate love for yourself.

See the joy and laughter 

where you once saw despair and darkness.

"Be aware of your feelings, listen to your emotions,

the are the language of the heart."

Your life emerges from how you feel.

"We lose ourselves under the distractions of the world.

Spend time with yourself & tap into your true identity."

"You are not a haphazard collection of failures,

weaknesses, duties, responsibilities, & rules.

You are a person of real worth,

you have value in this world,

& you add value to this world."

"You must let your inner light guide you out of the darkness."

be well...

xoxo

💖

P.S. Thanks mom for reminding me that it's ok to let loose,

and laugh at yourself.

I appreciate you for always being true to yourself, and 

your genuine-authentically-you-spirit.

You inspire me.

Love you!

 

January 7, 2025

One happy nugget, cause hubby invited me out for a ride to the farm,

the sun is shining making the scenery magical,

and these curious cuties always fill me with so much joy.

"Live in the moment that's given you,

it is your experience 

it's life doing it's thing."

A few little nuggets from my journal too...

'Don't start your day with broken pieces of yesterday.'

Train your mind to see the good in this day.

A thankful heart has plenty of room for God.

Fill up the spare moments in your life with

praise and thanksgiving.

Even the smallest thing can make an impact.

The world is more lovely with you in it.

'God made you to flourish. It is His gift & plan,

and when you flourish you are in harmony

with God, other people, creation, and yourself.

Flourishing means moving toward God's best version of you.'

"Please sit down and take an inventory of your life.

There are things you've been holding onto that 

really are not useful & deprive you

of your freedom.

Find the courage to let them go."

~Thich Nhat Hanh~

be well...

xoxo

💖

 

January 6, 2025

I would like to purge a few things today,

starting with my attitude.

I have some "stuff" I need to let go of.

I'm finishing up on my morning routine.

Coffee meditation and journal time certainly have paved the way

for a better day.

"Simple abundance:

1: and inner journey;

2: a spiritual and practical course in creative living;

3: a tapestry of contentment."

And here are some journal highlights from this morning...

Ask God to control your mind.

Time is a trainer, teaching you to wait

and trust God in the dark.

See your difficulties as setting the scene

for God's goodness and intervention.

God is actively working in your situation & guiding

you even when you don't perceive Him.

"He understands the cries of your heart, and the confusion

you feel when you don't know what direction to take."

He is teaching you genuine abiding faith.

He will give you just enough light on the path

to walk with Him one step at a time.

Know the power of your words.

Whatever you say to yourself today, let it be good.

Tell yourself nice things.

Weed out the  negative chatter.

Self-affirming words & actions are necessary

to counteract the unpleasant things you

 encounter.

Let go of the illusion that others are the 

source of your happiness.

Evaluating your worth based on how you look,

to yourself or others,

is always a trap.

A well nurtured soul can improve your appearance.

Learn to be a catalyst for your own change.

You already possess all you need to be genuinely happy.

You reach it through an inner journey

of emotional, psychological, and spiritual growth.

"Every once in a while you do something that surprises you

& catch a glimpse of the person you were meant to be.

As you do, you glimpse for a moment why God made you."

He is guiding you toward your best self all the time.

He is not in a hurry.

Your life is His project, not yours.

"If your in a period of waiting, take a deep breath &

know that all good things take time."

be well...

xoxo

💓

 

January 5, 2025

A dark grey morning, ice thunder, hot coffee, and a cat curled up on my lap.

I don't ever know how much I need Winter until I'm in it.

More books, more hot tea, and homemade soup.

More sitting around wrapped in soft blankets,

& more time to enjoy a slower pace of life.

I have set an intention for this year,

to spend more time relishing the things I truly love.

Keep an open space for what my soul yearns for.

I want less filler and more real.

Journal highlights for today.

"Passion is not something you find in life,

it's something you do."

Put your heart and soul into something.

Today.

'The words we think and speak hold great

sway over the kind of life we create for ourselves.'

Don't waste precious time pretending to like things

just because other people do.

Enjoy what you enjoy.

Listen to your heart.

Adverse circumstances become growth opportunities

when you affirm your trust in God.

Become unafraid of failure.

Lose the protective shell that holds you back.

Just go for it. 

Stop seeking approval.

Relax and enjoy.

God uses your experiences to deepen 

your relationship with Him.

Whether or not you receive His comfort

depends on how deeply you trust His character &

how surrendered you are to His will.

Let go and believe Him.

He will provide a way.

Not one of God's promises guarantees that

life will be easy.

"By accepting what is, you become keenly aware of what

isn't. When you know what isn't you can determine what you must do."

Accept that what is not for you is not for you,

no matter what you choose to tell yourself.

'The tough patches we endure, once we settle back down,

only seem to make us better. More complete.'

Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction

ends up being the biggest step of your life.

"Distancing yourself from people who always give you negative

vibes is self-care"

"Man often suffers loss through lack of appreciation."

"The picture the artist paints for love (of his art)

is his greatest work!"

" The people with whom we share a relationship 

of loving acceptance are okay

with our humanness & their own."

Live simply.

Love generously.

Speak truthfully.

Cherish the memories.

Laugh at the confusion.

Live consciously.

Enjoy life as it unfolds.

"Life is not about any particular achievement or experience.

The most important task of your life is not what you do,

but who you become."

be well...

xoxo

💗

P.S.

"The Forge"

on Netflix.

*highly recommend*

💝

 

Our Week

The temperatures plummet, the winds rise,

hubby is getting stronger,

and I am on the mend from the flu.

We tuck in and rest,

cozy and comforted.

 xoxo

💕

Anxious Heart

Twinkle lights, heated blankets, and all day in our P.J's.

Hubby's recovery isn't fun, but it's nice to have him home.

Favorite song for today...

xoxo

💗

Wish Tree

Last year my me and my girlfriend Angie decided to go

 explore a local antique shop.

We both had fun searching for and finding little treasures to take home.

I found some little floral saucers that day.

I have a thing for using the old and the mis-matched pieces (dishes, silverware) often.

I find them charming & a nice addition to my tea or coffee breaks.

It's all about creating something special out of the little ordinary moments.

I thank my beloved Swedish Fika-hygge gene for that. 

So anyway....

on the way out the door, there was a pretty pine tree

 covered with little slips of paper.

The shop keeper told us it was a wish tree, 

and invited us to add our wishes to the tree if we'd like.

We did of course! 

We made the wish, wrote it down, and fastened it along with 

hundreds of other wishes.

Honestly, I totally forgot about it after that.

The other day I was writing my prayer in my journal and thanking

God for certain things and also "for restoring relationships in my life"...

and that is when it hit me!

I remembered... that was the wish that I hung on the tree.

Dare to daydream. Imagine. Wish. Believe.

May your see them come true.

xoxo

💖

 

Satisfying Choices

I can't think of a time that I have not struggled with 

indecision. Maybe it goes hand in hand with 

being directionally challenged.

Maybe I'm missing an important gene or something.

So...last week on a cold and dreary day, hubby called 

to ask if I wanted to go to the farm.

I was all cozied in, and without hesitation I declined,

 only to have a feeling of dread wash over me right after I hung up.

( I want to get out....I want to see the cows....I think it will be good for me.)

I called right back, said "yes", threw on layers of clothing and my

boots, made myself a thermal mug of tea, and a cup of coffee for hubs,

 and was waiting by the door when he pulled in the driveway.

I have gone everyday since.

Helping with gates, climbing fences,

 treats and neck scratches for Blondie,

 feed and daily walks with Buddy.

I. LOVE. IT.

Any way....

I've decided, when it comes to making choices,

I can make one that supports the person I want to become....

or...

not, and feel...

well...

void-y. 

Despite the cold snap we've had lately, going to the farm

never fails to make my heart light and my spirit sing.

It's definitely at the top of my list for right choices!!

" I find that when I act like the person I wish to become,

the person I am tends to grudgingly follow along."

xoxo

💖

Walking Buddy

I walked the pastures while hubby fed hay.

Buddy decided to join me.

I stopped he stopped...I moved he moved...

he's such a good boy.

It was a great way to start the day. 

I sure do love the little butt head.

"There is no law that says the things that make your day

can't be every bit as trivial as the things that ruin it."

xoxo

💖