landing softly with a trickle-trickle sound as it travels through the downspout to the ground
Birds perched in the trees, chirp and rejoice as mother earth also welcomes the fresh water to nourish her parched parts beneath the lush green grass.
A Rain Day … I’ll take it
We didn’t have snow days this winter not even one, the first ever in my 50+ years of living the Appalachian Mountains, this will have to do.
And I, like the birds, grass and trees, welcome the sounds with open ears and an open heart to be still and listen.
There’s an expression I’ve heard or read: “Wherever you find yourself, therein be content.”
Today I have found myself in my little corner room, window open to hear and enjoy the sounds from the rain and birds and experience the wind as it gently blows across my cheek.
A familiar refrain comes to mind ‘Where does love go when the lights go out?’
Love is always here residing in the Heart, the Whisperer reminds me
The only thing required from you is to ‘Believe’
The answers may not be evident. Waiting is required. I’m not good at waiting.
Yet, I know, when the door opens effortlessly, I am walking in alignment with the Source of All Knowingness and Love, and once again, All WILL be Well.
says an excerpt from one of my Daily Meditation books…
this line reminds me that HOPE is alive also
FAITH in something GREATER than myself I believe exists in everyone’s life
HOW are we connected; HOW are we made in the Creator’s image? I have this very concrete image that it is our HEARTS that connect us ALL.
I’ve been drawing illustrations of my conversations with the Creator, God, Divine, True Source using Hearts as the focal point.
Let me know your thoughts regarding these drawings and reflections.
~ Anita 2022
Defining the God of my UnderstandingAsking for Guidance.
Since COVID arrived, my life like everyone else’s has been disrupted in a way that has given me a lot of time to read, meditate, walk in nature, draw, write, create and so many moments to notice and be grateful for all the comforts and abilities I have. I am Called to Write.
PEACE to you and yours always….. Anita, Writer, Artist 8/12/2022
Those who know me, know that I often refer to Gratitude.
You may ask How did you know or get introduced to GRATITUDE? While listening to Krista Tippett’s podcast On Being, early one Sunday morning, she was interviewing Brother David Steindl-Rast, Founder of Gratefulness.org . This podcast was such a pivotal moment in my life as he described so many things, people, experiences, sounds, sights, smells, he was grateful for. I am a contributor to Gratefulness.org through monetary donations and my Photography. The practice of Gratitude I continue today. When I feel stuck in a ‘funk’, and I can’t think of anything to be grateful for, I begin with the letter ‘A’ and list whatever I am grateful for that begins with that letter and proceed through the alphabet. It’s amazing what comes out. Here’s a list of late:
A = Alicia (my daughter), Art, Air, AFG, Apple Trees
B = Brothers, color Blue, Blue Berries, Books, Birds
C = Chocolate (Dark Chocolate), Church, Couch, Catholicism, Creating Collages, Crows, Camera
D = Dawn, Doves, Daffodils, Drawing
E = Elephants, Ears that hear, Eyes that See, Europe
F = Faith, Father, Friends, Family
G = God, color Green, Grayson, Greeting one another
H = Home, Hot water, Hiking, Hawks
I = Imagination, Irises
J = Jesus, Juicy Pears and Apples, Job, Joy
K = Katharina (a faithful friend), Kites, Kibbeh, Kayaaks, Kayak, Kelly
L = Love, the sound Laughter, Lincoln
M = Mom, Memory, Mountains
N = Nandina, Notecards
O = Ocean waves and sound, Oxygen, Oranges, Orchids
P = Patience, Prayer, Pink Tulips, Peruvian Lilies, Photography, Pencils, Pens, Paper, Pope Francis
Q = Quiet moments, Quilts
R = Rest, Richard (son), Red Poppies, Robins
S = Steve (husband and friend), Sailing, Swimming, Seeing Smiles again
T = Trees (all kinds- Oaks, Redbuds, Weeping Willows, Dogwoods, Beech Trees), Today, Travels
A typed note rests on my desk with this question Where am I headed?, and I read it every day.
I don’t know where I am headed
I do know that I am being prepared for something else; And I will recognize that calling or destination when the door or window opens
My prayer each day is your will for me God, and others
I listen and wait
Look and notice
Close my eyes and grow silent
Working and growing in compassion to meet the challenges of the day before me, as best I can
Nature and prayer are the balms that soothe my soul
Bathing under the canopy of the forest
Listening to the wind as it sways the trees’ trunks and limbs, they join in song, singing to one another is the music of my heart
Early morning, the birds’ song and banter brings a feeling of comfort like a flannel blanket on a cold day
Creating art from photos or gathered pieces of paper and moss, paint on canvas, herbs wrapped in string and presented as bouquets
Where am I headed?
Perhaps the answer is to grow deeper in gratitude for all the gifts I’ve been given – a compassionate heart, a listening ear, eyes that see, arms and legs that move and carry me from place to place, a knowingness that all is well …. and, more will be revealed – Hope.
Today – I missed the basking in the warmth of the sun
Yesterday – I missed a walk in the evening
A Year ago – I missed celebrating Good Friday with my Mom
Missing the smiles behind the masks, the hugs from those I know and love, and those I like, but know not – yet
All the moments and hugs from my grandsons from September 2020 until now
Life and its fluidity
Making the most of those moments and grateful for the comforts I have – a partner, a home, eyes that see, ability to feel with my heart and mirror the love back that’s been gifted to me.
Called to Write 