Sparkling Twins

Feels only right to continue journeying 

with Grace and Mercy Dogwood. 

This morning they seemed to sparkle in the spring sunshine. 

Is this what it means to bloom where you're planted?

Yes. I think so, too. 

💞

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Cultivating Enough :: Day 28 :: Time

Lookie who I found peeking out this afternoon! 

Every day for the last little while, 

I've been watching this special spot 

in our monkey grass 

right next to the mother oak 

that holds up the left side of my porch swing, 

waiting 

for our delicate, purple crocuses 

to say hello.

Smiling because I couldn't see them from our breezeway yesterday.

I guess this one decided 

today 

was the perfect day to yawn and stretch, 

push thru the dried oak leaves 

and bloom where she's planted... 

just as she does every spring.

Mother Nature is a such a gentle teacher 

on how there really is 

a time 

for every season 

and no need to rush, 

isn't she? 

#cultivatingenough

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Cultivating Enough :: Day 11 :: Flourish

Sparkling morning sunshine and cheerful birdie greetings 

blesses me so, gently encouraging me to flourish. 

.

I am fondly reminded of the lovely quote from the Talmud: 

"Every blade of grass has an angel 

that bends over it and whispers, 'Grow!  Grow!"  

.

Yes.  

❤️

#cultivatingenough 

#yestothismoment 

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Week 7 :: She's Peaked!

Lookie what Miss Pretty has been up to

while we were on vacation!

(Smiling softly because I had visions

of coming back to her with half of her leaves gone)

I'm feeling so grateful I decided to follow "my" sweet tree companion 7 weeks ago.  It's been lovely to watch her patient progress and also such a powerful, quietly gentle reminder for me that sometimes transformation takes time and when it does? Even when it doesn't feel like it, change is still happening. In the last few days, our journey together has reminded me of why I love Advent so very much.

While I'm not sure that I'll still be sharing weekly pictures of her now that she's peaked, I'm thinking I will continue to watch and witness her way of being in her world.  My thought being that offering my presence by quietly witnessing the process of losing her leaves, too, it might just be quite a touching blessing for me as well.  Continuing to watch her, with my eyes wide open, feels like a gentle invitation to also witness and be with my own discomfort with the barren times in my life, both past and present. 

May it be so.

.            *           .

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)

.             *             .

Favorite Flower - April Love 2015

I actually have a lot of faves. 

There's just something about 

this particular sweet little daisy 

quietly standing in her light 

that speaks to me.  

Smiling because I met her 

on our lovely trip away 

to celebrate my turning 50.

.           *            .

Standing in the Light of Mama Grace

Smiling because I *really* love taking selfies with the sunlight shining on me.  For me, it 

feels like Grace (my fond name for my higher power) is shining Her love on me.  So, 

when I remember, I like to take a moment and just bask in her Mama's blessing . . . 

Smilng softly now because I see my beautiful Moma in my face in this photo.  Tears well 

as I think of her shining her love down on me, too.  

True story :: she and I had an awfully hard go while we were both on this side.  (She died
18 years ago)  Gratefully, we did find peace before she died, something I will always,
*always* be thankful for.

♥

Blessed be.

.             *             .

A Moment of Joy

A moment of Joy :: pure delight in finding 

tender crocuses welcoming me home.

Quietly wise teachers 

in patient resilience.

.        *         .

Even when inside these days, 

I just breathe easier knowing these sweeties

are blooming right outside our door.

Spring *didn't* forget (to come)!!

Blessed be.

.             *               .

Awakening - Lit From Within

Love the way this mandala turned out!

Feels like Spring,

a blossoming flower.

(And me)

Hope.

Blessed be.

.            *            .

Water Seeds Pull Weeds

I bought a 2015 calendar for work with angels on it that I really love.

So much so that I started wondering if

I could find a new mug for work by the same artist, 

Debra Jordan Bryan. 

Sure enough, I did!

I love that she's such a happy angel.

Plus the message is one meant to gently remind me 

to choose peace (my word for this year) over weeds.

She arrived on Wednesday evening and

I thought it might be nice to spend some time with her

here at home first. 

Kind of as a way to bless her

(and me).

This morning she and I did just that,

enjoying some quiet time here

before I went into work.

Smiling because she's still here with me so 

we'll probably do it again at least once

before I take her with me to work on Monday.  

Water Seeds Pull Weeds

.           *          .

Blessing the Morning

 

"Sometimes one only needs to stand where she is to be blessed."

 

~ Mary Oliver

 

.             *              .

 

Flourish

Wanted to take an intentional moment 

to celebrate and remember. 

My annual physical was today 

and it is such a blessing 

that these days? 

It's just routine. 

(Hasn't always been that way)

.                 *                 .