Grounded :: My word for 2017

Wishing us all safe journeys 

and traveling mercies

in 2017.

.          *          .

We made it . . .

While a few days later than most 

(and I'm ok with that...feels like there's a lesson in there as well), 

Mary and I did complete our journey 

around my beautiful Advent wreath spiral. 

 💜💜💗💜

.           *            .

Basking in Love

Enjoyed wearing my sweet necklace today 

and fondly basking in the knowledge 

that it was lovingly made just for me 

by one very dear-to-my-heart little girl. 

 💗

.            *            .

Savoring January 2017

Loving the name of this one

and when I peek at the words

(because I don't wanna get too far ahead of myself),

I just sigh a big ol' contented sigh.

And it never has to be done perfectly, right?

Right.

(Isn't that part of what savoring means?)

.          *          .

Waiting

Looking to use up the last of our Flexible Spending Account money 

before the end of the year finds us 

sitting in the waiting area 

for darlin' hubby's eye appointment this evening. 

🤓

While this photo doesn't show it 

(out of respect for their privacy 😉), 

it would seem lots (and lots!) of other folks 

are doing the very same thing. 

😎

.            *             .

In the Beginning . . . .

So loving that this photo came up in my "On This Day" Facebook feed 

for today and, I've posted several photos of them here, 

thought it might be fun to revisit this, my very first posted photo of them. 😉

. . . . . . . . . 

❤️️

Smiling fondly as I had *no* idea 

what blessed and welcomed companions 

my beautiful quartet of sister angels 

would be all thru 2016. 

 Such a lovely example and quiet reminder 

to intentionally chose where to Abide, 

my word for the year. 

(And I have no plans to move them anytime soon. 😉)

.         *           .

Playing Santa Claus (Finally!)

Finally felt well enough 

(and germ free enough 😉) 

to mail some Christmas packages this morning. 

 Yippee!! 

🎉🎁🎄

.          *             .

Silent Night

My sweet hubby.

.            *            .

Catching Up

💜💜💗💜

.             *               .

Still waiting and watching over here

❤️

So Much Better

It appears the corner has (finally) been turned 

.            *              .

Provisions

Still lurching along over here. Grateful for a kind doc-in-a-box (or Walgreens 😉) and a 

willing hubby to take me. Tuesday's Strep throat is better (yay!) and now looking for the 

bronchitis and the coughing (oh, the coughing!) to finally take their leave of this Advent 

journey. 😉

.            *          .

Advent is for Everyday

"Relinquish expectations for holidays that are without conflict or problems or challenges 

[or sickness]. Christmas [and Advent] is about God embracing human life – with all of its shortcomings, mistakes, and struggles."

~ "Christmas Therapy" 

by Karen Katafiasz

Third Sunday Sojourn

💜💜💗

Eventide Journeying and Abiding

Eventide Journeying and Abiding

(love this photo)

..

Frosty Morning

Had a little frost on the ground this morning 

and a small patch of ice on the sidewalk too.

..

December Reflections :: In the Air

Raphael's branches

#decemberreflections2016

..

Second Sunday Morning Adventing

💜💜

And Circles 

#decemberreflections2016

..

December Reflections :: Light

Because the length of Advent is different every year there are only 24 stopping places 

on my wooden wreath.

Knowing this is a season of waiting and practicing patience, it feels right that there's a bit 

of waiting practice intentionally built in to the beginning of each year.

Still, she says with a warm smile, on Dec. 2, the day when it's time for Mary, donkey 

and me to start our actual journeying around the spiral always finds me breathing a sigh of 

relief.

One step, one day at a time feels like a holy thing to me, reflecting and honoring not only 

our Advent journey but our pilgrimage in life as well.

Blessed be. 

#decemberreflections2016

"Abiding in Love" Mandala

It's been a long time since I made a mandala and it was so nice to get out my notebook, 

compass, and markers and play last night.

When I started this one, just filling in spaces with colors that appealed to me in the moment, 

I saw a young one swaddled and held. When I'd finished and held it out at arms length, I saw 

an eye.

Now I see both and the theme of "Apple of my Eye" resonates. 

Or is that "Abiding in Love"? 

❤️

Today's Grace . . .

. . . on this chilly rainy morning 

is savoring a cup of hot apple-chamomile tea 

in the company of my faithful Advent pilgrims.

.           *           .

Advent Begins

The spiraling Advent journey under Grace's watchful eye begins ... again. 

 ❤️

Late Afternoon Advent Abiding

.           *           .

Sharing a Bowl of Oatmeal

. . . with The Pioneer Woman. 

😉

Home

Watching Christmas specials snuggled up with hubby 

and a warm cup of peppermint hot cocoa. 

(Perfect medicine)

 ❤️️

Safe Place Blessings

After a wonderful Thanksgiving day spent with family, 

we stopped to air up our low tire on our way home. 

 I was so struck (and saddened) by the need for this sign. 

. 

May all who don't have a safe place to come home to 

be blessed 

and may they find the help and protection 

we all need and deserve. 

❤️

Savoring Self-Care

This evening's self-care was taking the time 

to savor a cup of peppermint hot cocoa 

in a sweet mug 

while intentionally making the choice to rest 

(because I'm tired!) 

rather than doing one more thing. 

❤️

Work Thanksgiving Lunch

Our firm has a lovely tradition of treating those of us who work on the Wednesday 

before Thanksgiving to lunch out at a nearby restaurant. 

Today it was the Cheesecake Factory. Yum!

. . . 

So grateful that my favorite partner always lets me ride with him.

Thanksgiving Baking Play

This evening's play was trying my hand at coconut macaroons 

so we all moved to the counter that I usually bake on. 

 🙃

Not only does it hold my mixer and ice cream canisters, 

it's right next to my stove so it's very handy dandy.

Operation Butternut Squash

Starting a family favorite in the welcomed company of a lit candle reminding me of 

Grace and those on my heart, a cute pilgrim couple to share smiles with, and my dear, 

always-faithful kitchen angels gently reminding me that they are always, 

always 

close by, still loving and watching over me. .

Blessed be. 

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

💕 . 💕 . 💕 . 💕 . 💕

The 4 Sisters and Me

The 4 Sisters and me 

(walking away from the camera 🙃)

Can you see me leaning against Michael?

Raphael and me. 

❤️

Do trees photo bomb? 

 If so, that's Gabriel to the left. 

😉

Abide in Grace

❤️

The Dogwood Twins and Me

The Dogwood Twins and I this morning 

with a few unnamed (so far 😉!) 

friends in between us. 

❤️️

A view of Michael's amazing trunk

Abiding in Grace

❤️

The 4 Sisters

. 💛. 🍁. 💛. 🍁. 💛. .

The 4 Sisters

Raphael is in front, 

Michael is to the left, 

Gabriel is to the far right, 

and Uriel, the smallest and not a sycamore like her sisters, 

is in back.

. 💛. 🍁. 💛. 🍁. 💛.

Michael has a cool trunk

Thanksgiving People

Knowing how much cheer they would bring, 

Tadd asked me last night 

"Where are all of your Thanksgiving people? 

 Did we get them down yet?"

After he brought down the boxes and lots of smiles were found 

as I gently unwrapped each one, 

he carried them all into our front room for me. 

The biggest grin spread when I saw 

that he had lined them all up on our coffee table 

so that they could watch tv with us. 

 He's so thoughtful like that. 

😉

Well, lookie here. 

More smiles this morning. 

❤️️

Today's Truth

Billing can be draining

.            *             .

Raphael

💛 . 💛

Afternoon Goodie

(and, yes. It was as good as it looks!)

Mother of Mercy

❤️

Please God, Bless America

❤️ 🇺🇸 🙏🏻

Practicing the Ministry of Receiving

Taking a moment to breathe deep and intentionally practice 

the Ministry of Receiving. 

Gentle reminder to self: 

 Twinkle lights, 

a warm cup of creamy chai tea in a favorite mug, 

and a lit candle, 

all on a chilly, dark fall morning 

bless and fill me up so much! 

(So, *so* much!)

What fills you, friend? 

(I'd really like to know)

Wishing us all a blessed week. 

❤️. 🙏🏻. ❤️