Savouring January - Day 31 - Believe

Dogwood bud 

practicing her belief 

in the promise 

of springtime.

#SavouringJanuary2018

Blessed be.

.           *           .

Grounded :: My word for 2017

Wishing us all safe journeys 

and traveling mercies

in 2017.

.          *          .

Already!

As I drove by the twin Dogwood tree sisters, 

Grace and Mercy, 

this morning I was surprised to see 

that they've quietly started 

their glorious dress change for the Annual Fall Ball. 

🍁

.            *              .

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

.            *            .

Spring is Coming

Guess who's starting to develop buds?

#mydeartreefriends

.             *           .

A Bath Ritual for the New Year

Had the most lovely New Year's bath this morning, courtesy of Deborah at La Padre. Her thoughtful kit, containing everything I needed, was the first gift I received this year and I've 

been looking forward to it ever since. 

I still remember how deeply touched I was by the personal ritual she created for me last summer. It was incredibly perfect and is one of my most treasured moments of 2015. 

❤️

.             *              .

Abide :: Contentedly

Contentedly Abiding 

this evening

in the pleasure 

of a new "Cinnamon Frosting" scented candle

 while enjoying 

the company of this sweet lovely 

created by a dear friend.

.            *             .

Abide

Peace was my word for 2015. She was good company and an important teacher who, as with all of my prior words (Grace, Mercy, Enough, and Hope), I intend to keep close by for her special, individual way of support and guidance.

For a couple of months I had thought my word for 2016 might be "Rest." So much so that I started the process of looking for a mug with Rest on it and a Rest quote to add to my email signature quotes to serve as visual anchors.

In recent days, "Abide" has shown Herself to me.  I remembered this photo that I took back on August 3, 2013 and, as I was sharing it with a class I was in then, the word "abide" just showed up and seemed perfect. 

Earlier this week I circled up my 4 new beautiful sister angels (a Christmas gift from hubby) in a spot where I can see them from here in my blue rocking chair. I knew they would remind me of the picture I've always held in my heart of all of my word companions as wise women who stay with me and surround me, each one lovingly offering me her gifts of wisdom. 

My sweet little oil lamp in the middle feels like a gently profound reminder to place myself 

--- to Abide -- 

in their wise presence.  Sure, I can Rest there if/when I need too, but the bigger, more important question for me feels like *where* and in *what* am I resting? *Where* am I putting my Trust? 

*Where* am I choosing to Abide?

And sitting with and seeing my sweet altar of angels for the past several days? 

And listening to Amy Grant sing "Abide with me," a song I have come to love? 

And the tears began to fall?

Yes. 

That's when I knew.

Abide has gently taken my hand and asked me to dance, and we are waltzing into the new year together. 

.            *            .

Morning Welcome

Rocking and welcoming my angels 

with the soothing warmth of a mug of chai tea.

.             *             .

Beginning

Potholder experiment

.            *           .

The Simple Beauty of Autumn

Her metamorphosis continues

(Here she is last week)

Stunning September Sunshine

.            *            .

Glimpses of Fall's Grace

Our backyard this morning.

The dogwood has started her transformation.

This little lovely is usually one of the first 

to finish dressing in her glorious, deep red dress.

(Thought it might be fun to take a photo each week

and watch her transformation.)

Such a blessing to find beautiful bits of Fall

tucked in the amidst this afternoon's waning sunshine

and green grass.

.            *            .

August Break 2015 :: Fire

Blessing the day

I so love 

sitting with a candle 

(and an angel!)

 in the morning.  

Intentionally 

creating this space 

in my day 

(when I remember) 

helps to quiet my mind 

and brings me peace,

 assuring me 

that I can be right here 

and rest in Grace. 

Just being is Enough.

.             *             .

Gratitude for Bridges and Honoring Crossings

I drew this picture featuring a poem I wrote two years ago, not long after a painful (and very right) decision.  The imagery of a bridge had just come to me and was an especially powerful and so incredibly helpful metaphor (a lifeline, really) for me at the time.

As I thought about them and what they might mean, bridges spoke to me of Hope, which I was in desperate need of.  Right as I was leaving something behind that was no longer working for me, I deeply resonated with the idea of leaving where I had been to cross over a bridge into a new place in my life.  While circled in grief and fear, and feeling very alone, the other side was calling out to me with promises of refreshment and new growth.  Alls I had to do was to step onto the bridge.  At first my steps were heavy and awkward and slow.  But, with practice, patience, and persistence, they became more steady and sure.

With time, as happens in life, it felt right to turn the page in my art journal and continue on in other areas of my life, too.

A few days ago the timing felt right to take a moment to turn back to my picture and sit with it, basking in and honoring my journey of the past two years.  I took this photo including my feet and crutches on Friday morning as a way to acknowledge Grace and Peace, and the few kind angels (human and spirit) lighting the way ... my way .... across the bridge.

Smiling softly because as I take the time to remember and honor my pilgrimage today, I am also intentionally and ever-so-gently reaching back to that battle-weary, grief-stricken, and fear-soaked woman I was.  As I do so, I am tenderly whispering in her ear, "yes, dear-heart, leaving was exactly the next right thing and I'm here to let you know that you will survive what felt so unfathomable and very brave (because it was) at the time.  Promise."  

(hmmmm.... tears)

Yes.

  

After taking a few pictures like this one, I wondered if it wouldn't speak to me more if I was standing on the other side of the bridge so I turned my art journal around and snapped a few more photos.  In the end, it just didn't feel right.

And now I know why.

With my photo framed the way it is here, I see (and feel!) very clearly the me of today standing firmly behind and supporting the struggling me of then.  This picture speaks to me on so many levels of my taking my place among the angels and wise souls that were there for me during An. Excruciatingly. Difficult. time.

(I love that about faith and mystery .... 

it isn't tied to chronological time at all!)

Smiling softly because it also reminds me of how, more and more, the little girl who still lives inside my heart is able to lean back on the me of today in complete trust.

Yes. 

This is exactly the way my photo is meant to be.

It's such a gift to take some time today to bask in gratitude 
for how far I've come and honor where I am now.  
 I am thankful for your witness. 
(and kind words are always welcome)

❤️

Before closing I'd like to add that, once again, I am so, So, *SO* very grateful for the encouragement and role modeling to practice seeing and loving myself thru selfies!!!  Gracious, who *knew* what a difference that could make!!

 .              *              .

Thy Word is a Lamp

Hubby and I went for a lovely breakfast 

at Cracker Barrel this morning.

I was enamored with this lamp

and so while waiting for my pecan pancakes,

I took this photo so I could remember.

I love the idea of looking for the light

as I Pilgrimage to Peace.

.            *            .

5 Deep Breaths :: It's Sinking In!

Today I want to celebrate that the 5 Deep Breaths practice is sinking in! 

I had an unsettling dream last night and while I don't always (usually) write them out, this one felt pretty important so even tho I knew it'd make me late, I took the time to journal about it. 

After that, it brought a soft smile to remember that I could invite Peace in by placing my hand over my heart and take in 5 Deep Breaths.  

So I did. 

❤️

Five Deep Breaths

This morning after practicing 5 Deep Breaths before leaving for work. 

(It's a little blurry but I kinda like the extra softness it adds ❤️)

.            *             .

From arms length

One Self-Care Move

 

With my hand over my heart, I took a quiet moment at work to read John O'Donohue's "For a New Home" from his book, "To Bless the Space Between Us."

This is becoming a very meaningful daily practice for me because, as I read his blessing, I gently remind myself that I am coming home into my heart more and more each day.   

It touches my heart each time. 

.             *             .

Setting My Intention for May

I've always loved that my birthday is in May (I'll be 53 on the 18th). Alongside the joy, pockets of tenderness also tend to be tucked in this month. I know this is simply the sweet little girl who lives inside my heart longing for a little bit more of the reassurance, healing, and love that she didn't get enough of when she was small. I want to be present, as best I can in each moment, to both her and the adult me as we continue to find our special way of partnering in this dance of life together. ♥

I intend to gift myself with good self-care this month by staying close to the photo prompts. Not only do I enjoy how this exercise helps me to connect with myself and my world in a gently curious way, I *love* the focus of looking for beauty in the everyday! Plus shared photo "treasure hunts" are such a delightful way to connect with others, too. :)

I'll also continue to practice, she adds with a soft smile, being just fine if there are a lot of selfies sprinkled in. Perhaps I'll stretch a bit by nudging myself to find beauty in the aching grief that may arise. Over the years I've come to really appreciate how photographing myself is a powerful way for me to truly see myself *and!* a very nourishing way to water my soul. (Hmmm... noticing, joining, and participating in my own life feeds me, imagine that! ;) )

(A warm hug and a big thank you to Liz Lamoreux for her affirming example. She is one of my very favorite pioneers!)

.            *             .

Everyday Beauty :: Stillness

May is my birthday month

and I've always loved being a May baby.

This morning was such a beautiful spring day

and knowing it was the first day of May,

and with work going so much better,

I felt so content, blessed, and yes, still.

Beautiful, too.

(and very deeply grateful)

.             *             .