Girlie Giggles Galore

Spent Memorial Day with the family.

The pool was too cold so I watched.

Then we made necklaces.

After that, we played in "their" room at Papa's house.

Used to be that my sweet nieces didn't want to have their picture made. 

But now?  

They asked for this one 

which I happily obliged. 

So love starting them early on "Being Seen." 

💕

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Eventide Swinging

The view from my swing.

After doing some yardwork this afternoon, 

we sat and swang for a bit.

I do love him so!

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Sabbath Abiding

Intentionally Resting 

And gratefully

Oh, SO, gratefully 

Receiving

(I adore this sweet new birthday angel so much!)

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Timely Third

Well, lookie here! 

A third beauty awakens. . .

Abiding this morning in 

her gentle lesson 

that while it might feel late, 

both to those around us who have already nodded off 

and to our own aching hearts?

We all bloom in our own time. 

Indeed, there is a time for every season. 

❤️

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Blessed Birthday Beauty

.               *               .

Twinkling Twins

.             *                  .

Flowery Fireworks

Mother Nature's flowery fireworks  

in honor of our anniversary 

continues to delight and enchant. 

Although, 

she whispers with a soft smile, 

it's definitely the finale 

as the roses are all starting to nod off.  

As am I, she yawns. 

Sweet dreams!  

❤️

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Morning Mercies

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. 

His mercies...are new every morning."

~ Lamentations 3:22-23

💕

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Deep Breaths

Taking a moment 

to breathe deep 

and center.

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Lunch Bunch

My darlin' and me 

headed out for a nice lunch 

to celebrate #28. 

💕

.               *               .

Happy 28

Lovely lily laughter amidst annual anniversary amore 

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SaveSave

Breathe Deep

Rushing through my errands in an attempt to beat the darkening gray skies' threat of 

a heavy downpour any minute and the already building late Friday afternoon traffic, I 

whizzed by this eye-level shelf. 

Well, she adds with a grin, as fast as one can "whiz by" in a motorized cart.

Registering what I saw in passing, I backed up to "drink" in the wisdom 😉. 

A warm smile spread right there in the middle of the grocery store aisle lined with 

breakfast cereals, coffees, and teas as I welcomed and accepted the invitation to breathe 

deep.

Yes.

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Permission

I give myself permission...

...to be right where I am. 

                      Today it's tired, still a little tender, and yet playful (<-- which 

                      whispers to me of Hope). 

...and to take extra good care of myself.

                       I'm having a bowl of warm, comforting noodle soup and 

                       saltines for supper.  

While my body may not be sick, my heart is mending and convalescing (an old wave 

of grief rolled in this morning and, gratefully, seems to have washed over me rather 

quickly.)

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Touching Birthday Gift

On the afternoon that we celebrated

our May Sisters Birthday and Mother's Day,

my sweet girlie wanted to paint my nails.

So, of course, I said yes. 

💕

#touchismylovelanguage

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Abiding at Eventide

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Being Seen :: Voice

I misread the time for our nephew's tee-ball game this morning (by 2-1/2 hours!), not 

realizing it until I pulled into the parking lot and didn't see any 7-year old's wearing orange 

shirts and gray pants. 

I'd been feeling a longing to do some more processing via writing about our recent trip to 

Texas so rather than drive the 25 minutes back home, I went to a nearby store and bought 

a cute polka dotted spiral notebook (on sale!), a pen, and a bottle of water. I then parked 

under a nearby tree and wrote 6 pages, front and back. 

Wanting to capture and honor the memory of this self-care move, I took several selfies. 

In looking back at what I had, a wide smile spread to see the sunlight reflecting off a 

nearby car. That it highlighted my mouth felt like a gift. 

Yes. 

For me, writing is a very real way 

for my voice and my heart to Be Seen. 

💕

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Being Seen :: Mirror Meditation

Ever since I bought it over 3 years ago for my first time taking Liz's mirror meditation 

e-course, my black, handheld mirror has been right here beside my blue chair. Because of 

our visit to Texas to see my family last week, today is the first day I've actually taken some 

time with it since we began. 

Having been at it awhile, I've come to deeply appreciate this practice and it brought a soft 

smile to really see myself again this afternoon.  Smiling because as soon as I looked at my 

reflection I found myself greeting my eyes with a warm "hello there!"  

I like this picture and I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the black side can be used 

as a mirror too!  I really love that my quartet of guardian angels surrounding my sweet red 

oil lamp (my little altar reminding me of my word for this year, Abide) can be seen in the 

image as well. 

I wanted to tuck in a little encouragement, too, since I really do know that it can be quite 

uncomfy to take self-portraits, especially at first. 

For whatever it's worth, finding new ways and angles to take photos is like creative play 

for me. I just happen to be the subject. 😉  And for this eldest girl child, who has spent 

a lifetime focusing on seeing others and tending to their needs first (and often 

"exclusively"), this has been a very good practice for me. 

I also wonder if focusing on composition (how I'm setting up the photo - so what gets 

included in the frame and what doesn't) helps to take some of the pressure off. 

As I press "post," know that I am sending a little love to all of us as we find our way 

... together.

 ❤️

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Being Seen :: Tears

I took this photo this morning before I got up to get in the shower. I had just written a note to

myself of all of my fears and then, as invited in our Being Seen e-course, I folded it up so that

all of my fears were tucked inside.  As Brene Brown has taught me to do, I then wrote a 

permission slip on a blue post-it note, taped it to the top of my fears and held it to my heart 

along with a sweet little red heart that was close by.

When I was in daily mass a short while later, a ritual that comforts, blesses, and soothes me, 

and on my way to communion, I accidentally tripped and fell back onto the chair behind me. 

I am permanently on crutches and pretty solid on them so it was startling for me, and three 

women from three different directions rushed to me to see if I was ok.

While grateful for their concern to be sure, I felt embarrassed and also annoyed and frustrated 

with myself. One kind-hearted woman sensed my discomfort and warmly shrugged it off with 

a "it just happens sometimes" which was such a gift.

Returning from communion and sitting in my seat, I was surprised to have tears well. I reminded myself that this was a safe space and there was at least 10 minutes before mass was over so 

it was ok to let them fall. (hmmm.... tears well as I type). I think if I had been alone, I might've 

sobbed (we are headed to Texas for a short visit with my family later this week and work has 

been so tough for four months now with a new supervisor.  The transition simply isn't going
well for me). 

I had planned some errands after mass but was still pretty shaken up so I came on home and 

laid down. Afterwards, I looked at this picture and was surprised to see that in reality? 

The tears were already right there . . .

. . . here.

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Being Seen :: Open and Willing

May is my birthday month

and tends to be a tender one for me.

As a way to practice good self-care

and also to ensure that I'll remember to 

practice seeing and witnessing myself, 

I'm grateful for the opportunity to take

Liz Lamoreux's Being Seen e-course.

It actually starts in the morning

but I'm ready to begin now.

Open and Willing

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Tee-ball

Our Dax Attack!

My sweet girlie

2 girlies sharing Aunt Deb's hat.  :)

My other sweet girlie

Watching an ant on the playground

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