freedom of thought, location, restraint, rules and a welcoming sense of
Peace, Acceptance, Love, Safety, Security and a DEEP Knowingness that ALL IS WELL
God is with me always, I need not fear any thing or any one
I have always believed that there is something I have to teach, to share, yet, I know I must learn more first, then, I can truly share my experience, strength and hope;
like the Oak Tree, my Prayers form with each root;
each utterance of this prayer is flown from the Birds and Butterflies who take them to the Heavens and are later turned into sunshine, rain or snow and fall back upon me softly to be absorbed, and the cycle continues
Darren the Dog decided to join them on this Daring adventure to see
Edward the Elephant and his
Friend, Falalat to
Gather some Flowers for a
Huge Spring party at
Iris’ house and swing by
Judy Joy’s to pick up a
Kite for Flying along the
Laurel River when a Lady Bug named Lily decided to take a rest on a nearby
Magnolia Leaf when her sister
Nadine Lady Bug joined her to watch as
Oscar the Grouch came by and said to
Patty Petunia – let’s ask if
Qualle Qualla Bear would like to play a Quick game of
Ring around the Rosy until
Spectacular Bubblemaster, Steve comes with his Bubble Show at
Ten o’clock on Thursday in the Festive Park with the Tall Trees that sway like
Ursula’s skirt in the Wind – oh! and
Viola plans to bring her new Violin and play for us a song that’s so much fun to dance to! It’s called
Wang Chung Tonight
Xavier will bring his Xylophone and his Mom, Nita and his Aunt LiLi are cooking all his favorites for his special surprise party. A very special Chocolate Cake and his favorite…..
Yabras!!!! Mm Mm Mm! And the last surprise is ….
Zena Zebra will lead the parade with sister, ZuZu ! – Don’t Miss it!
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.
Called to Write 