Remembrance - Day 40 of 40

"Peace comes from remembering Love is real." 

Yes. 

💕

And that's what my sweet little 40-day practice has been about. . .

Remembering some of the dear people 

who have touched my heart with their presence 

and Grounding, 

rooting myself in their Love. 

Smiling because along with Peace?

Grace, Mercy, Hope, and Joy 

have tagged along as well. 

It has indeed been a very good season of Remembrance. 

Warm thanks to those of you who have been following along 

and holding me in your thoughts and prayers. 

Blessed be. 

💕

.           *           .

Autumn Afternoon Invitation

After walking to the mailbox on this gorgeous day,

I decided to spend some time in my swing.

As I was formatting the above picture,

this little red leaf gently floated down, 

landing on my mail-filled sack.

An invitation to look up and pay attention? 

 😉

As I was walking in, I found this *huge* leaf!

I decided to bring it in 

along with my playful little red reminder.

Such a festive, personal invitation to be Grounded right here 

and to find Joy in this very moment. 

🍁  .  ❤️  .  🍁

.         *           .

Grounded in the Light

.          *            .

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)

.          *          .

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)

.           *           .

July's Gentle Giant . . .

. . .  and Grounded Guide

🌳

.         *             .

Follow Grace . . .

. . . with my face, 

(Just like a beautiful Sunflower does.)

🌻

.             *           .

Delightful Care Package

I'm really enjoying this care package offering 

by Liz Lamoreux. 

Along with a small silver, hand-stamped talisman 

that can be slipped into a pocket, 

each box has delightful surprises 

tucked in to support the month's practice. 

"Find your center" 

feels like another invitation 

to practice my word for this year, Grounded. 

This was such a wonderful way 

to spend some Christmas money 

and how fun that the gift keeps on giving. 

💕

.          *          .

Happy Birthday Tree Love

Lookie at the birthday love that arrived today's mail!! 

My dear artist sister-friend, 

who has been hearing me speak fondly of them for almost 9 years now, 

painted a picture of my beloved 4 Sisters for me! 

Plus! 

The Dogwood Twins are there too 

and, just like in real life, 

are standing a little ways from their big sisters, 

down on the right.

And!

It brought *such* delight 

to notice that all of their shadows 

are angel wings!

Her sweet thoughtfulness couldn't be more perfect! 

Blessed be. 

💕💕💕

#ABirthdayGiftIsNeverEverLate

.             *             .

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.)

 💗

.         *         .

April Love 2017 :: Day 4 - Noon

Today's midday meal held two treats. 

A yummy Ham & Swiss bagel sandwich 

and the arrival of a new book about 

Mercy, 

my word for 2012. 

(and the cover is Orange 😉)

Grounded

.          *            .

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

⚓️️    .     💙    .     🙏🏻

.          *            .

Grounded Peach Petal Mandala

I like this one a lot. 

❤️

When I posted this one on Facebook, a friend asked me what I liked about it.

It's actually "upside down" in my book but when I try to look at it "right side up," I know

it isn't right. The peach (light orange) petal in the top middle was the first shape I found 

among my scribbles and "she" is at the heart of this piece for me. I love how she's sheltered 

by the purple, red, and green and especially how the green seems to be gently embracing her. 

Or wait, are the purple, red and green fields 

another, single watchful presence? 

The brown that falls outside of the circle feel like roots.

So you know, she says with a soft smile, I'm seeing myself in this one, yes? And it speaks 

deeply to me of my word for this year, Grounded.

Yes.

.          *           .

Trust and Hope

Over here Orange continues to surprise and delight 

by peeking out and waving at me from the corners of my world..

..

Yesterday afternoon it was this lovely card that captured my attention. 

Mailed over 1-1/2 years ago by a Love Notes pen pal, 

it's been laying on top of my jewelry box ever since. 

Along with a sweet Orange feather and picture, 

she put two of my very favorite words on it 

- Trust and Hope -

 which is why it's stayed there ever since, 

fading into the background of my life.... 

Until now.

Blessed be. 

🍊.     . 🏮

#grounded2017

.            *            .

Grounded's Personal Invitation to Me

We were invited by Liz in our Talisman of the Month FB group 

to practice being Brave by going live... 

so I did! :)

Wanted to share my little video here as well:

Grounded's Invitation to Me

password:  grounded2017

.             *             .

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.

.          *            .

Baking is My Therapeutic Love Language

Taking a quiet moment to be fully present in this moment before beginning some lovely 

baking therapy this evening, all while basking in the Light of Love. 

#grounded2017

💕     .       🕯     .       🔶

My bananas were frozen and the recipe I use is my Grandma's. It was the very first thing 

we baked together when I was 9 years old, after putting on our aprons, of course.

Yesterday at work was *tough* and, while today was a lot better, I knew I still needed some 

self-care... and I love to bake so I thought, "hey!" 

I'm not sure I've ever thought of baking as self-care 

before but when done in the right spirit, it so is.

It's also one of my love languages.

I have such fond memories of a dear family friend's mom who, when she would come for 

a visit, would keep a lighted candle when she and her daughter were working in the kitchen. 

I was so enchanted the first time I saw it and how Gramma Underwood (we "adopted" her) 

explained to me that it helped her to remember to pray for those who were on her heart 

that day, especially when preparing for big family meals like Thanksgiving dishes (which 

is usually when she and Grampa were down for a visit).

In November 2015, wanting to feel them close by, I created the collage of the 4 women 

behind my candle. Moma is in the top left, my beloved Banana Bread Grandma in the top 

right, Moma's mom in the bottom left, and hubby's dear Grandma who considered me one 

of her own in the bottom right.

(Have I mentioned yet that hubby affectionately 

calls me "a little old lady magnet?" 

I just smile and nod because I adore grandmother (and grandfather!) 

energy and am so drawn to them)

This evening, I knew I needed to feel them close. Just the simple act of gathering items for 

a little impromptu kitchen altar felt like a gift (the other picture is "Mary, Undoer of Knots) 

and my rock says Peace), as did taking a moment to pause ...

... breathe ... 

.... and gently remind myself that I am not alone. 

While they may be on a different plane, 

we are very much together in spirit. 

I know because seeing their sweet faces 

in the glow of candlelight tells me so.

And sure enough. I am feeling much more

 Grounded and centered, 

and also loved.

Blessed be. 

.           *           .