Savouring January - Day 31 - Believe

Dogwood bud 

practicing her belief 

in the promise 

of springtime.

#SavouringJanuary2018

Blessed be.

.           *           .

All Hallow's Eve

Fondly remembering their love. 

#AllHallowsEve

.         *          .

August Break 2017 :: Day 27 - Stone

Believe 

❤️

#augustbreak2017

.             *           .

Anchors of Change

Awake in the wee hours Thursday morning,

I pulled images from a magazine that drew me.

That evening, I put them together in a collage.

(This mandala is my 98th)

I kept reading "Authors" as

"Anchors"

and that feels right.

All are pearls of wisdom when walking thru big changes

like I am both at work 

and in my family of origin.

Rest

Say yes 

(to listening well and to what feels right)

Be in the now

Believe 

Simple Beauty

⚓️️    .     💙    .     🙏🏻

.          *            .

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

.            *             .

A Gift of Grounded

Before I begin my story, I want to tell you that my word for this year is Grounded. 

.          *          .         *          .

I was so delighted to learn that signing up for a year of Talisman of the Month Club meant 

that I'd receive a soap stone bowl to hold all of my talisman. Knowing Liz intentionally 

chooses what she sends to each person, I practiced Trusting that the color of my bowl would 

be just right. 

Still, she adds with a twinkly grin, I was hoping for a lovely deep pink or beautiful turquoise 

blue.

When my box arrived, part of me wanted to tear into it right then. Instead, since I was headed 

for work and wanting to give myself the gift of receiving my package intentionally, I waited. 

Turns out, the anticipation was indeed delicious. When the time finally arrived I settled into 

my chair and took my time with each little envelope and discovering the treasures tucked 

inside. Opening the little muslin bag and finding this month's talisman, I'm sure I must have 

purred (just as I did again just now).

Kind, Brave and Curious? 

Yes. 

After putting my hand to my heart, closing my eyes, and whispering a little prayer to Trust 

the process (and Liz), I care-filledly unwrapped the deep purple tissue paper and found this 

soap stone bowl. When I first saw it, my heart fell a little bit because truth be told, the color 

Orange has never ever really been one of my favorites.

Gently noticing my disappointment and tenderly encouraging myself to Be Kind, Be Brave, 

and Be Curious, while I wasn't sure about the middle, I reminded myself that I do so love 

hearts and the swirls around the edges reminded me of the Valentine's Day roses sweet 

hubby had just given to me a few days before.

As I sat with my chosen-just-for-me bowl here next to me for the next few days, it dawned 

on me that Orange has actually been showing up in a few different places for me lately. It 

started when I was making a small quilt for a friend 8 weeks back and orange wanted to 

be a part of it. "Orange?!" I surprisedly thought to myself. But as I tried different fabrics, 

I knew. 

Yes, Orange. 

A couple of days ago in looking around at my little corner from the vantage point of my 

chair, I noticed that the sweet popsicle frame, a handmade Christmas gift from my darling 

6-year old niece has 2 lines of orange washi tape on it. And the "You are my Sunshine" cross 

stitch picture made for me by my goddaughter (her first project!) last year? Most of her 

stitching is in Orange. Sitting next to it is a gift from a dear friend from several years back, 

such a cheerful picture with a lot of Orange in it as well.

Ok. So now I really *was* Curious and googled "which chakra is Orange?" As you already 

know, Orange is the color of the sacral chakra. 

Interesting how I keep reading it as the "sacred" chakra. 

I learned this color represents my pelvis and gut feelings, "the centre of being through 

which we connect with the deepest voice of the self, the deepest stillness and wisdom".

And when I think about having bone cancer in my hip as a teen and that my crutches 

are permanent... so it literally has been hard for me to physically stand my ground at times

and sometimes in my truth... and remembering that we really do work thru things in a 

spiral - hey! like the spiral in the middle of my bowl! - and realizing that the center of my 

heart bowl feels like my heart, especially when I'm gently holding it in my hand, like in 

my photo....

Hmmmm.... this is feeling more and more right.

  

So maybe, just maybe, she adds with a twinkle, I received the perfect bowl for me after all! 

Smiling softly as the truth is 

I have become quite attached 

to my Orange heart 

and I wouldn't want any other.

Well lookie here, she says with a warm smile.

A gift of Grounded. 

Blessed be.

.           *              .

SaveSave

Oranges 2

.            *              .

Heber Springs Bound

When my Uncle Tom died I had a real sense that I needed to be there for his funeral.

Not only is he very special to me,

I am so *hungry* for stories of our family 

and, 

with my Moma dying almost 20 years ago, 

I can no longer ask her.

But.

 I can ask her siblings.

So off we went.

A piece of our rental car's trim came loose so made an unexpected stop to get it fixed. 

The Arkansas line snuck up on us and we missed it!

The moon followed and watched over us throughout our whole trip.  Good thing. A critter
ran out in front of us and hubby wasn't able to miss it. So that piece of trim that came loose
on our rental car earlier and we stopped to have it fixed back in Birmingham?  Well, it's
loose again.

But under her watchful eye, we made it safe and sound. 

.      *      .

And the Deer (Angels) continue to show up.

Smiling warmly because when I called our insurance company earlier this week to adjust 

our coverage to include our rental for this trip, the kind agent said that, as we'd been talking,

she'd been watching a sweet little fawn outside of their office window!

Then, our trip in had several glitches ... all more on the smallish side but had to be worked 

thru before we could continue on ... and we pulled into the hotel at 12:52 a.m. this morning 

(1:52 a.m. our time). Not too long before we arrived here, a doe crossed the road in front of 

us. 

As I sat resting in a hot bath this morning, a fond smile spread. What if all of the "glitches" 

were timed so that this dear little one would be crossing the winding country road at just the 

right time?

Indeed, it appears that all is well.

.           *             .

July 17 :: Outfit of the day

Above all else, clothe yourselves with love, 

which ties everything together in unity. 

Col 3:14

(When this prompt came up again, 

I wanted to play with it a little bit <wink>)

.             *                .

Blessed Comfort of Daily Mass

There's something so special for me, and has been since I was a small girl, about daily 

mass.

The pace is easier and the seats are usually filled with gray heads, creaking joints, kind 

smiles, and big hearts that have seen and withstood many a trial. Some of the wrinkled 

hands hold prayer books while others caress rosary beads, worn beautiful from being 

fingered for decades. Knowing these dearly beloved elderly people gather daily to pray 

on our behalf brings me deep, indescribable comfort.

Smiling softly as I've been a member of this parish long enough now to witness the 

changing of the guard, so to speak, as my parents' generation (and younger!) are now t

he majority in the seats. One day, which may be here sooner than I imagine, it will be 

my turn.

Until then, it is such a joy for me to join them on a beautiful summer morning.

(It would be disrespectful to take a photo during mass so this was afterwards.)

.      *      .

I posted this a year ago on Facebook 

and was surprised to see that I hadn't shared it here.

Remedying that right now.  

.            *              .

Gentle Guardians

Holding space

Whispering prayers

Sending love

.            *            .

Our Lady, Undoer of Knots

A very dear friend found this lovely image and shared her with me. I'd never heard of 

Mary referred to as "Our Lady, Undoer of Knots" before and I can't tell you how much 

I *love* both the picture and this name for her! A true gift indeed.

When I look at her tranquil face I feel safe, reassured, and peaceful, deeply grateful for 

the quiet reminder that I don't have to untangle all of the knots in my life all by myself. 

There is always, *always* help.

This morning I am reminded of when I was 9 years old and working on my very first 

sewing project. The moms in our 4-H club had decided that it might be best if they 

taught one another's daughters how to sew. Grinning a bit playfully here as that worked 

out quite well for all of us.

On this particular warm summer morning I was at my "other mother's" home and, 

sewing along at her kitchen table, had made a real mess of it. Sensing my frustration 

and that I was getting close to the point of Never Wanting To Sew Again, my gentle 

guide calmly invited me to move to a clear spot at her kitchen table and gave me a cool 

drink. Then, rather than risk my getting discouraged by making me rip it all out myself, 

she went about patiently removing my stitches. 

I still remember how the sunlight streamed in on her kitchen floor as I waited but even 

more than that, I remember feeling so struck that she would actually do this for me. 

Alls I had to do in that moment was sit, enjoy my glass of sweet iced tea, and watch 

her as we chatted. When finished undoing my knotted mess, she helped me pin the pieces 

of pale yellow cotton fabric with small blue and pink flowers back together and encouraged 

me to try it again. 

To this day, forty-five years later, whenever I have to rip something out, it never feels 

like punishment (well, mostly it doesn't).

Instead, taking my yellow handled seam ripper in hand, I often think of her kindness 

and smile yet another warm thank-you her way.

.            *            .

Everyday Beauty :: Water

Being raised a farmer's daughter on the hot, dry and dusty plains of Texas, I came to know 

very early on that water was our lifeblood. Our family prayed for rain every single day and 

twice on Sunday as it was a regular petition at Mass.

We received so little that, rather than quarters or eighths, we counted rain in sixteenths and, 

during really dry times, we even counted it in hundredths. Every single, precious drop was 

celebrated and how much "moisture" we'd received was included as a regular highlight in 

letters to loved ones who lived states away. 

In a conversation with Daddy this past Sunday evening, he told me "they "claim" Amarillo's 

annual rainfall is 19-20". He then told me about a time when all that fell for an entire year 

was 6 inches!  I asked was he farming then and he said, "Yes. Nothin' grew that year." 

Don't let anyone tell ya that farmers', especially those in the Texas panhandle, aren't 

tenacious!

Here in Georgia we get about 50" a year and, even after moving away almost 29 years ago, 

raindrops on my windshield still feel very much like holy water sent straight from Heaven.

#everydaybeauty 

#handtohearteverydaybeauty

.               *                .

April Love :: Day 16 :: Dear Legs

Dear Legs,

There've been a few times in my almost 54 years when there was talk of letting the left one 

of you go. 

The first time was when cancer was discovered in my 15-year old body and my "NO" was 

adamant. Smiling softly as my actual words to the orthopedist were "If I'm dying in 6 months, 

I'm taking my leg with me!" 

My new-to-me oncologist had said "the bone cancer you have is one that grows very fast and 

if we don't start you on chemo right away, you won't make it 6 months." While I know he 

never would have gone against my wishes, something I still deeply appreciate about him to 

this day, in hindsight, I don't believe he would've agreed to my NO "as easily" if he didn't 

think it wise.  Instead, I believe he knew that my fierce tenacity would be an important key 

in helping me to survive. ❤️

And the last time, 28 years ago, the raging infection was *so* bad, that third round of infection

since my cancer as a teen. I was 26, had been in the hospital for 3 months starting just 3 weeks 

after we got married, all a short 8 months after I had moved 21 hours away from my entire 

family and the only life I had known.  I was feeling so discouraged and depressed that I 

seriously considered letting go for a very short while. 

Hands down, the hardest time in my life. 

Thank God for the loving angels gathered around me, in particular my sweet husband and a few 

dear ministers. Their kind & willing presence, patient empathy, & wise words helped me know 

that, while things were certainly dire, they weren't life threatening and, at that point, it would 

have been a sacrifice I would deeply regret. . . forever. 

And sure enough, being home with my darlin' hubby and taking lots of soul soothing baths 

(I am a water baby for sure), in time the big, bad infection subsided. 

The only remnants are my left leg is about 8" shorter than my right and I have some pretty big 

battle scars on the outside of my left thigh. But then it was a pretty big battle. 

And between you and a little help from my crutch friends, Bert and Ernie? I get along just fine. 

I am so grateful to still have both of you, dear legs. 

So, *so* deeply grateful. 

Blessed be. 

❤️

#aprillove2016

Edited on 4/25/16 to add:

As I read back over my words this evening I wanted to clarify something that feels really important.

I was still on antibiotics when I went home and closely monitored because my infection was very, very serious. To give you an idea, my doctor at Emory (a big, well-known teaching hospital here in Atlanta), who traveled the world teaching doctors how to treat big time infections, said that mine was the second worst he'd ever seen.

So when they sent me home, I knew the deal was that if things took a turn for the worst, I would need to come right back into the hospital. I was just so deeply grateful and profoundly relieved for the doctors willingness to let me try to just be at *home* for a while.

Still, she says with a soft smile. . . there's not a doubt in my mind that the love of my dear hubby, being home, and the baths in my own tub helped to soothe and heal my broken spirit for sure. I believe *in my bones* that this is what helped me (finally) to turn the corner.

❤️

.             *            .

Abide and Trust in Love

The beautiful foursome of charming angels was my favorite Christmas gift from hubby this 

year and they are circled around, ever-so-gently leaning over, my sweet little red oil lamp, 

bought at a lovely Grist Mill turned pottery shop about an hour's drive away from here.  (If 

you follow me here, you'll know that it was "rent" for time spent in my favorite porch swing 

away from home.  You may already know this story, too.)

This beautiful tableau has been gathered since Christmas day. Smiling because it didn't take 

long for me to realize, 

Oh!!! 

So *this* is what 

Abide, 

my word for this year, 

looks like for me..... 

intentionally placing myself 

in the midst of cherished beloveds 

and allowing them to tend and love me, 

while practicing trusting that they want to. 

All that is required of me in that (this) moment 

is to rest in their caring presence.

For this?  

I am deeply grateful.

.             *              .

Luminous March :: Heart

Entrusting Grandmother Oak 

with my weary heart 

after a tough day at work.  

Being held

and healed.

Blessed be. 

#embodiedterrain

.              *              .

Cultivating Enough :: Day 9 :: Nourishment

Sitting next to a gently flickering flame 

(or two!) (or three!) 

fills me with the vitamin of Peace.

Allowing myself to rest when weary 

provides the mineral of Hope.

Journaling helps satisfy 

my hunger for connection.

And being in the company of angels 

reminds me that, even when it might feel like it 

(and, boy-oh-boy, sometimes it so feels like it!), 

I am not ever eating alone.

And when all of these are lovingly,  

care-filled-ly stirred together?

A tried and true recipe 

for this heart and soul's deep needs 

for nourishment indeed. 

#cultivatingenough

.             *            .

Hope . . .

. . . on a Fall Sunday Evening

.              *              .

Cloud of Witnesses

.            *              .

Blessing Basking :: Day 2

Today, on All Souls Day, I am grateful for the many kind folks who have loved me well and 

shared so freely from their wisdom. 

This collage holds Moma and 3 Grandmas (the last one is Tadd's and she, too, loved me as

her own).

May they all rest in peace.

❤️

.              *              .