Savouring January Day 31 :: Hope

When I took this photo, I was looking to capture 

both my "Hope lives here" necklace and sweet silver angel. 

 Looking back and seeing the blue afternoon sky over my shoulder 

brought a warm smile. 

Yes. 

That speaks to me of Hope, too. 

#savouringjanuary2017

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Savouring January Day 30 :: Light

#savouringjanuary2017

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Savouring January Day 28 :: Now

Introducing "now" to "then."

#savouringjanuary2017

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Savouring January Day 27 :: Smell

Soothing scent of hot chocolate 

wafting up from a special mug 

 warms body and soul 

on a chilly Friday night in January. 

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Savouring January Day 26 :: Dream

Reckon our forsythia's buds are already sweet-dreaming about spring 

and how their happy little lemon colored blossoms will cover the 

branches in lacy clusters?

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Savouring January Day 25 :: Smile

Cheerful origami flowers and playful washi-taped popsicle stick frame are cherished 

Christmas gifts, handmade by my sweet girl. They've been sitting on the wooden heart 

table next to my blue chair since the evening we brought them home. 

💕

When we were at her birthday party last weekend, I was delighted to learn that she wanted 

me to have the little ice cream-sized paper cup lined with hearts and filled with treasures. 

It was the very last of the little girl party favors. 

💕

Thinking of my niece, her thoughtfulness, and how very dear she is to me always brings 

a very big smile. 

💕

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Savoring January Day 24 :: Drink

Last night's milk cup cheerfully welcomes me into a new day. 

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Savoring January Day 23 :: Up

#savouringjanuary2017

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Savouring January :: New

Special pink birthday shoes, turns out both pairs were a little big for our wee ballerinas. 

When offered the option of trading for a smaller size, my two dear nieces quickly assured 

me,  "I'll grow into them!" 

Mama later let me know that their new shoes were removed only long enough for bath time.

#SavouringJanuary2017 

#HeartFilledAuntie

Sharing a quiet moment with my girl. 💕

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Birthday Party!

All ready to celebrate our girlies today! 

 💖  .  💜

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Savoring January Day 20 :: Listen

Taking time to intentionally listen to wisdom 

(both external and internal) 

this morning 

while practicing Peace 

and Grounding myself in the presence of angels. 

💕

"I can't feel your feelings for you. I can't think for you. I can't behave for you. I can't work 

through the disappointment that limits bring for you. In short, I can't grow for you; only 

you can."

"Boundaries" 

by Cloud & Townsend, pg 86

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Shhhh....

Supplies for a fun birthday girlies surprise. 

💕

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Savoring January Day 18 :: Eat

My usual workday lunch is a scoop of cottage cheese polka 

dotted with raisins 

(it's easy! 🙃) 

plus a handful of Wheat Thins. 

.

Today's munch time entertainment 

was reading a few pages about a new-to-me idea, Hygge. 

Scrumptious concept that one! 

🕯

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Happy Birthday, Moma

💕

She's been gone 20 years now

(how can that possibly be?)

and would have been 76 today.

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Savoring January Day 14 :: Fun

Fun

... is looking back and smiling 

at this cute photo of my darlin' nieces and me 

taken 4 years ago. 

My heart still swoons 

at the sweet pigtails and little belly 

and how tiny they both were! 

And now they have a new little sister 

due next month to join them 

and their two brothers. 

💕💕

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Savoring January Day 13 :: Work

Intentionally choosing my Hope mug 

and taking time to sit with my angels 

and candlelight yesterday morning 

was a very good way to practice being 

Grounded 

before heading off to work. 

(And, Gracious, was this self-care needed)

(And it really did help . . . a lot!)

#SavouringJanuary2017 

#Grounded2017

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Peeping Blue

 The weather was warm enough to eat lunch on a patio

and seeing bits of sky blue peeking out in January

was refreshing bliss. 

Ahhhh

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Savoring January Day 12 :: Love

Along with a few cards to dear ones, I mailed my first of three weekly Love Notes this 

morning.

Do you know of the Love Notes Project? If not and you adore snail mail it's a fun little way 

of trading notes with an assigned new friend.

We use post cards so there's no big pressure to write a lot and no worries about what to write 

about, Jennifer sends us prompts. This week's was "I can trust the universe because..."

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Epiphany Blessings

I've written a holiday letter for about 20 years now. I enjoy the whole process of writing

the letter and mailing it to people I love, most of whom I've been sending Christmas cards 

to for even longer than that. Smiling because I have several fans who have told me that they 

look forward to my letter in particular every year.

My busiest time of year at work now falls in November and December and, between that 

and my biggest grief anniversaries falling in December, I found that it was just getting to 

be too much.

And yet abandoning it all together just never felt right.

About 4 years ago, the Graced idea of sending my love letters at Epiphany dawned and I've 

mailed them In January ever since. In fact a couple of years ago I had the space to write our 

letter in December. But when I tried that idea on? I smiled and thought, "nah, I'll stick with 

my new, cherished tradition instead."

Another thing I love about it is, in some traditions, folks bless their homes at Epiphany time. 

The idea of tucking in love for my dear ones and also a little blessing for their homes as well 

gives me great joy.

Plus! The word Epiphany means having a new insight break through and the magi were 

following a star (a part that I especially appreciate) and that still small voice inside. 

What a great holy-day to celebrate! 

 ❤️

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January Joy

Ah, so I'm not the only one who loves to dawdle with the 4 Sisters!

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Bedtime Blessings

❤️

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Savoring January Day 10 :: Kindness

Found a lovely surprise on my desk this afternoon. 

As soon as I saw the box 

a wide smile spread 

because I knew exactly who'd left it there. 

My favorite partner at work, 

who feels like a big brother, 

enjoys brightening my day by occasionally leaving 

little treats for me to discover.

...

(I think one of his love languages is Gifts. 😉)

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Star Surprise

Reaching for the light switch this evening, 

I noticed my Star sister has a little bit of glitter on the front of her dress.

...

Well, she adds with a twinkle, 

that led to a whole new angle for photos!

...

So love that even after more than a year 

my angel quartet still holds new discoveries 

that surprise and delight. 

❤️❤️❤️❤️

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Savoring January Day 9 :: Nourish

Regulars found on my self-care menu are 

soft, lullaby-like music, 

quietly rocking to the steady rhythm of tick tocks, 

wise words affirming my way, 

and intentionally Abiding in the presence of angels. 

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Savoring January Day 8 :: Warmth

Steaming, creamy chai tea latte in a sweet mug 

gifted to me by someone who knew I would love it 

(being known that well is heartwarming all in itself!), 

comfy gray sweats, and soft navy slippers 

on a chilly Sunday evening. 

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Savoring January Day 7 :: Move

While I'm pretty good at using kitchen counters, 

tables, and chairs to get around 😉, 

for longer and trickier trips, 

I'll call on my ever-present crutch companions, 

Bert and Ernie. 

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Butterfly Birthday Blessings

Today is my sister, Lisa's 50th birthday and, as I think of her, 

I am sending many wonderful birthday blessings her way. 

💕

Smiling fondly, I took a moment to raise my butterfly sister mug 

in her honor and offered a toast to her good health. 

I live several states away and it would be lovely 

if we could gather together once in awhile

and share a warm cup of our Moma's hot chocolate in person.

💕

Last year, I sent all of my sisters a mug on their birthday. 

All but one (they were discontinued before I finished, darn it!),

have a butterfly similar to mine on them and a word. 

Lisa's butterfly is purple and her word is "Blessed." 

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Savoring January Day 6 :: Read

A very dear friend suggested this book to me awhile back, saying she thought I might enjoy 

it. Excited to give it a go, I checked it out from the library. To my disappointment, I found 

that I wasn't connecting with it so rather than force something, I returned it.

Right before Advent, an opportunity presented itself to try 'er again. I bought the book this 

time and I'm so glad I did!! Turns out my friend was spot on after all. (As she so wisely said, sometimes the timing isn't quite right.)

Smiling because I haven't made my way all the way through it yet. With reluctance I had 

to put it down again in December and, as I did, I knew that I had found my word for this 

year, Grounded, and promised I'd be back.

I've recently had the pleasure of picking it up again and am falling in love with the first 

few chapters all over again.

. ❤️. 🌳 . ❤️. 

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Savoring January Day 5 :: Gentle

New little traveling companion gently reminding me to Abide.  

💕

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Savoring January Day 4 :: Energy

Today's lunchtime nourishment included 

food for my body and food for my soul, 

both providing the energy I needed for this afternoon. 

#SavouringJanuary2017

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Savoring January Day 3 :: Soothe

After a "mixer" for work, 

grateful for some soothing quiet time 

with my sweet circle of angels 

who ever gently remind me to be Grounded 

and Abide in this very moment. 

#SavouringJanuary2017 

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Savoring January Day 2 :: [Visual] List

Preparing for a soothing soak

#SavouringJanuary2017 

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Savoring January Day 1 :: Quiet

#SavouringJanuary2017

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