Abiding and Adventing

.          *           .

Grounded in the Light

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Black & White Challenge ~ Day 4 of 7

No people. 

No explanation. 

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Shutter Happy ~ Day 12 ~ A Hobby

It brings me great pleasure to pair a quote 

or a prayer that I love with pretty clip art.

Another favorite hobby of mine 

is collecting hearts. 

❤️

#shutterhappy

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Shutter Happy ~ Day 2 ~ Something that I Wear

It brings great delight 

to be able to wear one of the special word companions 

that have become quite dear to me on any given day.

...

And sometimes? 

 It's just the little Light I need to help get me thru. 

#shutterhappy

...

Grace - 2008 - 2011 

(plus my fond nickname for my HP)

(Mercy - 2012)

Enough - 2013

Hope - 2014

Peace - 2015

Abide - 2016

(Grounded - 2017)

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Breathe September 2017 :: Day 10 - Joy

May the blessing of Joy abide within you. 

May the blessing of Peace rest upon you.

May the blessing of Love flow out through you.

May all the blessings of Grace be yours.

~unknown

#BreatheSeptember2017

🌻   .   ❤️  .   🌻

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August Break 2017 :: Day 23 - Sign

When Abide was my word last year, 

I created this sign and taped it to the back of my office door. 

Whether it registers that day or not, 

each time I close my door for lunch 

my faithful little road sign is right there, 

quietly, gently guiding me home. 

#augustbreak2017

#breadcrumbs

.          *          .

Breadcrumbs

Over here I'm being serenaded by froggie hymns and hubby snores. 

 The sun has set and my twinkle lights, 

which I haven't turned on in a l-o-n-g time, 

my beloved circle of angel Grace, 

and the jar of cheerful silk sunflowers 

are quietly, 

gently 

reminding me to b-r-e-a-t-h-e

while leaving breadcrumbs for me, 

reminding me of my way Home. 

.    .    .    .    .

While not my favorite thing ever, 

I'm intentionally reminding myself

that it's ok to wake up and find myself in Indiana

(once again). 

I really do know my way Home 

and, just as I have so many times before, 

I'm slowly thawing and remembering 

that I really can and will find my way again.

Just be here, sweet soul.

Amen.

(Because it feels like a prayer)

.           *           .

Evening Mass

I have been occasionally slipping over to this smaller church

for evening mass for around 15 years now.

The former pastor used to Anoint the Sick 

every first Saturday 

so, when I could, I would always try to make

it over there on a first Saturday.

To my disappointment,

the new pastor hasn't been following suit

(which he certainly doesn't have to).

I was so *delighted* to hear on Saturday that 

I would have the opportunity to participate

in this special sacrament again that night.

It's been a year or more since the last time

I've been anointed so this felt like a real gift.

.    .    .   .    .   .   .

After that, I went about my usual, personal traditions:

Lighting candles and whispering prayers

 🕯 💕 🙏🏻

And seeking out and admiring pretty flowers.

.          *            .

Follow Grace . . .

. . . with my face, 

(Just like a beautiful Sunflower does.)

🌻

.             *           .

Back to the Basics

Restin' and Abidin' 

in Grace, Mercy, Hope, and Peace. 

💕

.         *          .

Saturday Snippets

Reclining

Gloaming

✨

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Angels Watching Over Me

Intentionally taking time to be 

while trusting that my angels are watching over me. 

💕

We'll be going to visit my family soon where tensions are high and have been for a good

while now. 

My practice this week is breathing in Grace, Mercy, Hope, and Peace while asking for 

strength and guidance that I may bring love (with boundaries so as not to get pulled under) 

as this family that has been so hurt ~ *gracious,* have we been hurt! ~ continues to find 

our way home to healing...

 and, hopefully, 

given enough time

and patience 

and work

and love....

 to one another. 

(If you feel so inclined, your love, prayers, and warm thoughts would be welcome.)

 💗

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April Love 2017 :: Day 2 - Favorite View

💜💜💜💜

(Surprised? 😉)

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Studying the Enneagram

Spending some quiet time 

on a chilly, damp Saturday morning 

all cozied up 

and learning about the Enneagram. 

 I had an old test and reconfirmed that I am a 2.

Then I listened to an interesting podcast

by Pace Smith.

.         *            .

Hemming the Morning in Prayer

There's something so peaceful for me

about the practice of gathering treasures, 

arranging them in a pleasing composition, 

and then taking a photo

(so I can pause and remember

anywhere, anytime) 

.          🏮         .

#grounded2017

.           *              .

Grounded and Abidin'

(and playing with an app in the wee hours 

when I couldn't sleep)

.            *           .

Trustin' in Grace and in The Wisdom of the Body

So I had a Lent themed book picked out but when it came time to order it, I was having 

trouble finding it. When a copy finally arrived on Tuesday, some of the pages are so messed 

up in places that I can't make out all of the words. While disappointed, after sitting with it 

for a bit, I knew.  It will need to be returned.

In the midst of all of that planning, this preordered book quietly arrived a couple weeks back. 

I remember smiling when I opened it to see more orange, and both the title and cover spoke 

to me. I then set it aside with a promise to return to it... later.

After reluctantly giving up on my first choice for a Lenten companion, I picked this one up 

last night and started reading.

And lookie what I found just in the intro of this book that so clearly chose me:

"You are beginning the long and beautiful journey home."

"The body speaks truth if we would only learn how to listen."

"... the body calls us fully present here and now."

..

Ah, she says as a wide smile spreads, if practicing Grounded means to practice being 

fully in this present moment, doesn't that mean being fully in my dear body as well?

Yes. 

🍊

#grounded2017

.            *             .

Abidin' in Grace, Mercy, Hope, & Love

Grace, Mercy, Hope, & Peace

My sweet little red oil lamp isn't burning right 

so I haven't sat with my angels surrounding a light

in a very long time.

Too long.

(So long that, even tho they are still in my line of sight,

 they were falling off of my radar.)

So while I was out this afternoon picking up a few things, 

I added this little candle to my cart, 

a fill in ...  for now.

This little altar of mine remains such an indescribable blessing,

speaking to me on so many (non-verbal) levels.

Blessed Be.

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Savoring January Day 5 :: Gentle

New little traveling companion gently reminding me to Abide.  

💕

#SavouringJanuary2017

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