Yesterday was Valentine’s Day! It was a time of reflection for me of the great love I’ve been blessed with. God has surrounded my life with love. Sometimes when I’m struggling with an issue or a person I love, I tend to forget how much love is poured into my life through other sources. I have been blessed! Today provides the opportunity to be grateful for each of these people. You know who you are – and thank you!
Category Archives: Things to ponder….
Jewelry and A Life Story…..
My husband surprised me with a lovely bracelet made by a local artist for my birthday. Meeting the artist was part of the surprise. She studied under her father and eventually took over his business. He established himself many years ago making jewelry. All pieces are totally handmade sporting a silver aspen leaf. Most well-known are the belt buckles. Each leaf is hand cut, engraved, and shaped. As special as the bracelet is, she said something that has not left my mind. When she creates a piece of art, it is not complete until it is worn. Each piece of jewelry tells the life story of the person wearing it. That means scratches or worn marks carry the history of the person who wore it.
How unlike my experience with other pieces of jewelry! I’ve had jewelers tell me if I bring a piece into them, they can buff any scratches out. I also frequently thought when a piece shows wear or scratches, it is no longer perfect.
I love this introduction to thinking that life is reflected in the seemingly imperfections caused by time and wear.
How true that is of us also. None of us are perfect though many spend time, effort and money to appear so. The reality is life leaves its mark on us. Some of those marks may be nothing more than laugh lines as we age. Or they may be more serious scars resulting from accidents or medical care. Some of the marks left on our life are not visible on the surface. It does not matter what they are, they are the marks of the life lived. This has left me wondering what kind of marks I’m leaving behind.
The Season, The Reason, My Direction……
The holiday season is winding down. If you’re like me, you’ve enjoyed the season. For me it is the holiday lights, the Christmas story, the music of the season and time spent with family and friends. The past year is coming to a close, and the new-year is almost upon us.
How’s your year ending? I’ve looked back on the past year and was amazed at the number of people I connected with, shared experiences with where we built memories together. I recognize I’m adapting to life in a new environment and a different phase of my life. When moving, I took the advice of a dear friend and was cautious about committing to things this first year of my retirement. (Sometimes I wonder if it is really retirement or transition. More on that another time.) The commitments made were to things core to me – a Church small group, a book club, a writers group and a group of friends. I love where we chose to live. I feel more grounded and at peace with myself. I’ve made progress on some of my goals. I’m learning to be more responsive. I’m learning more that God wants me to set goals, but to be flexible and change direction when He guides. I guess I’m learning to dance with Him and let Him lead. What a lesson for a lady who thought she could follow God and still be in control of so much of her own life!
So where does next year go? I don’t know! But I’m open to the adventure, the challenge of growing more, exploring more and learning more about the part of the world where I currently live. I have some goals, but hope to remain flexible enough to change and tweak them as necessary. I desire for my life to make a difference to those I come in contact with. For me, the dance continues.
What do you think your next year will look like and who’s leading it?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Today is a special day in many homes in America, mine included. Be it tradition or faith — this holiday calls me to deeply reflect on what I’m grateful for. As I’ve grown older, learning to live with gratitude and appreciation daily have changed my life. I’ve become a happier, more settled person. I believe that has allowed me to have a positive influence on other’s lives.
Your list of gratitude may be completely different than mine. Yet it is my hope you will have time to reflect on things to be thankful for today and enjoy those around you.
For those interested, here is my partial list: I’m grateful for the life I’ve been given and deeply grateful for the people who are part of my life. I’m grateful for the beauty of the physical world and how varied it is. I’m grateful for the family I grew up in and the things I learned there. Some of those things were not easy, but each has contributed to who I am today. I’m grateful for the children and grandchildren who are part of our family. I’m grateful for the family of faith I can call my own and the love of God so richly bestowed upon us.
Excuse me! This is my seat!
This last weekend I attended a Heroine’s Journey writing program. The program is designed for women, to help them identify where they have come from, what they have overcome and who they have become. All the while you accomplish this, you learn skills to improve your writing. It was an amazing, intense and crazy wonderful weekend.
The following is one of the writing prompts used during the weekend. Some of you may already recognize me in some of these chairs and some of you may learn new things about me.
Thank you to all the beautiful ladies who made the weekend so special! You know who you are….
Excuse me! This is my seat.
Excuse me! This is my seat. This seat is reserved for one who has endured hardship inflicted by others and recognized that to stop the abuse, you have to take the control away from the other person. Sometimes that is accomplished by putting space between you and the other person and sometimes it is accomplished when you recognize you only THOUGHT they had control. This person has learned forgiveness, both for themselves and for others.
Excuse me! This is my seat. This seat is for one who has learned you must determine for yourself the things that are important in your life and live for those things. Not to spend your life just collecting things others say are important. This seat is for someone who sees the beauty of the world around them without thinking they have to own it.
Excuse me! This is my seat. This seat is for one who has struggled against the control of others trying to hold them down and recognizes that only happens if you allow it. This seat is for one who has learned that sometimes you have to shut a door to find freedom, and remembers God never closes a door without opening a window.
Excuse me! I believe this is my seat. This seat is for one who has worked for another. Has spent much time and effort developing and creating things for another’s benefit. This person has learned to work with different people in different situations to accomplish the goal or task at hand. This person has learned to plan, both for the benefit of their employer and for themselves. This person can also determine what is important to self.
Excuse me! This is my seat. This is for one who has been given the gift of love and recognizes it is not something that just comes along any day. This person has learned to cherish the gift, accept the freedom and responsibility that comes with receiving and giving this type of love.
Excuse me! I believe this is my seat. This seat is for one who has learned to treat herself with gentleness and forgiveness. One who accepts her weaknesses and knows her strengths. One who knows what things will bring healing to her soul and who wants to help others find that healing also.
Excuse me! This is my seat. I am a woman. That does not mean I know everything, it means I’m okay with me.
Happiness! Where is it?
While reading “The True Secret of Writing” by Natalie Goldberg, I came across the following statement:
You don’t do happiness. You receive it!
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about this thought. It resonates with who I am and how I live.
Does it speak to you, or do you have other thoughts about happiness? I would enjoy hearing from you.
What’s the most important factor in any relationship?
None of us are an island to ourself. Our relationships to others impact us. How are your relationships impacting you?
Survival War Games
I need my hunter home. I spent the best part of the day protecting our patio tomato plant from a brazen chipmunk hussy who thinks she can sneak from one end of the long deck to another to eat the fruit of our labors. I see her scamper past the patio door. She hears the door open and freezes, looking first to the right and then to left. Her dilemma – where to go? To the left is a drop-off, to the right is a solid wall, and to the rear is another drop-off. Oh, my! The only way out is to zigzag back the way she came, with me chasing her. Racing off the deck, she jumps to the walkway then leaps off the wall and scampers under the island deck. Safe again! We have played this game for hours today, and she wins once again. Or do I? Our tomato plant is still unharmed. Or so I think….
I do not see her again for some time so I return to my work. Later I look out the front door to find an entire branch from our patio tomato lying at the threshold. She did not even bother to eat the fruit, just left it by the door to wither in the sun.
When the hunter arrives she will have more than I to face. His aim is good. He has nurtured and protected this tomato plant from the wind and extreme heat. I do not believe he will be willing to surrender the plant to the chipmunk. I believe the rules will change! Let the games begin…..
What does living a life of faith look like?
A friend asked, “What does living a life of faith look like to you?” WOW, what a powerful question. I think the answers to this question are as unique as the people to whom it is asked.
For me, living a life of faith means living my life in such a way that the love of Christ is reflected to those around me. Some days, I do accomplish this better than others. Yet the truth is, God intimately knows me, knows my weaknesses and loves me! Loves me, just as I am. This is a powerful truth to grasp and because of this truth, I can start fresh after I have failed. To me, living His love means I need to accept others where they are; I need to not judge others for their shortcomings; I need to be able and willing to speak of His work in my life; I need to attempt to bring a piece of heaven to those around me. Each of these efforts is not to bring glory or praise to me, but to draw others closer to the love of Christ in hopes that they too will experience a personal relationship with him.
What does living a life of faith mean to you?
Half full or half empty. You decide….
I saw this on our son’s refrigerator. I think it solves the debate of if the glass is half full or half empty. For me, I always thought my glass was half full. I appreciate this changed perspective! My glass is full! This leaves me free to simply keep filling my mind with positive, encouraging, loving thoughts — and leaves no room for the negative things that attempt to creep into our minds. I hope this will challenge you to think about your life and thoughts.
Journey to the Heights 