Manifesting Through May 2017

Loving this list of photo-a-day in May prompts. 

❤️

.         *           .

Moment of Silence

St. Joseph, pray for us and watch over us. 

❤️

.         *           .

April Love 2017 :: Day 29 - Serenity

Porch swing therapy

is serenity 

💜

#aprillove2017

.           *            .

April Love 2017 :: Day 27 - I love . . .

. . . being greeted by my precious 4 Sisters 

every single work day morning. 

💕💕

#aprillove2017

.         *             .

April Love 2017 :: Day 26 - Water

When dining out, my beverage of choice is almost always water. 

 What a pleasure to pair it this evening 

with a patio meal shared on a peaceful evening. 

#aprillove2017

.          *           .

A Perfect Spring Evening

Twas a perfect evening for my first ride in Sallie 

with her top down since we got her back. 

💜 

And, since he drives her everyday,

and it is spring,

 it was probably about hubby's 20th time. 

😉

.          *          .

Gathering of Spirits

"I hear the voice of my Grandmothers calling me....

...Listen, listen."

~song lyrics by Sandy Vaughn

This isn't the version I know but it's similar.

💕. 💕. 💕. 💕

April Love 2017 :: Day 23 - Bookshelf

There's a shelf under the table next to my chair 

and some of my most favorite books live here, 

making it very easy to pick them up again and again.

(and again)

#aprillove2017

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April Love 2017 :: Day 22 - Light

.             *             .

Mary's Prayer Garden in Bloom

.           *             .

April Love 2017 :: Day 19 - Legacy

I have so enjoyed my original "Circle of Loves" photo collage! When creating it, I had no

idea what an inspired blessing it would become and how deeply it would continue to touch 

me, 2-1/2 years later.

Having my Moma and grandmothers near, especially when baking or sitting in my chair, 

reminds me of their great legacy of love and all of the many blessings they have so kindly

passed down to me.

In the last little while, 4 more beautiful dearies, who have also all passed beyond the veil, 

have been on my heart so I've gathered them in another portable, Quartet of Grace.

As before, I had the picture above made into a magnet so I can carry them with me 

wherever I go, too. 

Hmmm... sorta like Ruth and Naomi. Smiling fondly now because I love that so very
much. 

Yes. 

💕💕

Please allow me to introduce you...

Clockwise from top left:

💗  Mary Ann - the dear church greeter who always gave me the biggest hug and called
       me her angel.  Her kind welcome always warmed my heart so much.

💗  Montine - the dear, dear little lady from hubby's church who, unlike so many others,
       always understood why I could never convert, nor did she expect me too.  While she
      often asked me to come, I always knew it was simply because she loved me that much.
      

💗  Judy - my very first hospital chaplain who took me under her wing and listened to
       and loved me in a way that nobody ever had.

💗  Mrs. B. - it was her mama that I caught the tradition of keeping a candle lit while I
       bake in my kitchen.  It was she who loved us like her own when Moma and Daddy
       divorced and invited us over for every single holiday after that.

#aprillove2017

.           *            .

Happy Birthday, Susie!

Happy Birthday to my sister, Susie! 

 Wishing her all of the very best on this, 

the day we get to celebrate her

and hoping her special day is awesome 

and filled to the brim with love. 

💕

Smiling big because we're standing at her kitchen sink 

in June of 1999 when we went back for my Grandmother's funeral.

That means she's been making 

her fabulously famous and very yummy French toast 

for us for 18 years...at least!

🎉. ❤️ . 🕯. 🎈. 🎂

.         *           .

April Love 2017 :: Days 14 (Air) & 18 (Bloom)

Bloom

Air

Grinning because this one was taken 

a few moments after my "Bloom" photo 

and my nephews had discovered the dandelions. 

Isn't it lovely how we each got to enjoy them in our own way? 

 😉

#aprillove2017

.           *            .

Happy Easter!!

Headed for church

From our house to yours,

sending warm Easter blessings.

After a yummy lunch and long nap,

we celebrated our patriarch's belated birthday.

.              *             .

Encircled in Love

I was recently asked 

about the women in this photo collage

so thought I'd share my answer here.

Before I introduce you, allow me to share the story behind my collage and how it came
to be...

In November 2015 I was taking an online course, "Honoring the Saints and Ancestors,"
and since these 4 women were the dearly beloveds I would be focusing on (and praying
with) and being very visual, I created my little portable circle of love then. I wanted to
feel them close to me during the month of remembrance.

Smiling because, unbeknownst to me, this was such an inspired idea!! Whenever I'm
baking, especially for a holiday, I will take this magnet off of our fridge and invite my
mothers close to me by placing them near where I am working.

Clockwise from the top left:

 My precious Moma who left us way too soon on January 6, 1997 at almost 57.
Of her 7 kids, I, her eldest, most favor her both in looks and temperament.
 
 Dear Grandma (Daddy's mom) passed on January 21, 1976 at 76.  I have such
fond memories of time spent in her kitchen and how she taught me how to bake and
crochet.

 Darling Grandma (Hubby's maternal grandmother) who considered me one of
her own from the very first time she laid eyes on me and I felt the very same love for
her. She was 72 when she passed on November 25, 1991.

 Grandma (Moma's mom) who I wasn't as close (or drawn) to but with my deep
love for the concept of the Communion of Saints (and the reason I was so drawn to
that online course in particular), I trust our relationship continues to blossom and grow,
just like all of the flowers in her garden that she loved so much. She was 89 when she
died on June 7, 1999 and had been a widow for 23 years.

Thank you for witnessing. 

  

.         *         .

.          *         .

<3

April Love 2017 :: Day 15 - I wish...

I wish... 

for a few more precious moments 

shared with some very dear beloveds 

that have passed beyond the veil. 

💕

In particular, 

the 4 beautiful women 

featured in yesterday's post. 

💕

.          *            .

#aprillove2017

Treasured Tradition

(Warm Good Friday Blessings)

🕯  .   💕  .   🙏🏻

.         *           .

Little Sister is Home!

🎉  .  🍾  .  🎊  .  🎈

.         *          .

April Love 2017 :: Day 12 - Black and White

.          *           .

April Love 2017 :: Day 11 - My Smile

My Smile on a gorgeous spring afternoon. 

💕

#aprillove2017

.          *          .

April Love 2017 :: Day 10 - Favorite Book

One of my favorite books right now is this one. 

 I'm particularly enjoying the section introducing 

Celtic traditions and holidays celebrated in each month, 

including stories about how those customs got their start 

and how they've evolved over time. 

After each month's lovely intro there are seven sets of prayers, 

one for each day of the week. 

#aprillove2017

.           *            .

April Love 2017 :: Day 9 - Wild

A close-up of the wildflowers in our backyard.

.          *         .

My Glorious Spring Beauties

.          *         .

April Love 2017 :: Day 7 - Patterns

I'm a sucker for small floral prints, gingham, and lace. 

#aprillove2017 

#countrygirlatheart

.          *            .

April Love 2017 :: Day 6 - Pleasure

This evening included 

the quiet pleasure of praying in crochet. 

💕

#aprillove2017

.           *            .

April Love :: Day 5 - Favorite Quote

This quote from 

The Language of Letting Go 

by Melody Beattie 

is one of the first I ever memorized. 

Decades later it still soothes, quiets, and comforts. 

#aprillove2017

.           *           .

April Love 2017 :: Day 4 - Noon

Today's midday meal held two treats. 

A yummy Ham & Swiss bagel sandwich 

and the arrival of a new book about 

Mercy, 

my word for 2012. 

(and the cover is Orange 😉)

Grounded

.          *            .

April Love 2017 :: Day 3 - Wooden

[Baby] Wood

Sweet Hubby grew up calling these seasonal spring strands "tree worms." Born and raised 

in a land where we didn't have a lot of trees, this was a totally new concept for me. 

Blessed with a bounty of hardwoods in our neighborhood, these clingy little strings are 

hanging from every single oak branch and falling to the ground. They are *everywhere*!

There are so many tree worms on each tree that, rather than a lovely spring green, our 

mighty oaks take on a yellowish, brownish green hue until all of the pollen has fallen.

Can you see them hanging from the branches in the distance to the left? And even 

farther off to the right?

.         *          .

April Love 2017 :: Day 2 - Favorite View

💜💜💜💜

(Surprised? 😉)

.          *           .

Sheltered in the Cave of the Heart

(and being held by the moon)

Mandala # 100 

💕

.           *            .

April Love 2017 :: Day 1 - Blue

Sweet baby sister wore a navy blue bow 

to her big brother's birthday party today. 

💕

Happy Birthday to our favorite (almost) 8-year old. 

💙

.          *           .