Practicing Peace :: Thankful Tuesday

So loving my sweet little oil lamp and her quiet reminders

to gently shine right where I am

and to Practice Peace.

With Labor Day yesterday, I am just now coming off of "Summer Hours."  That means I'm back to being off on Tuesday mornings.  I'm smiling because it really was a delightful surprise just now to remember "Oh, yeah, Thankful Tuesday!"

Today I am thankful for:

1.  Being and playing with my two sweet little girls yesterday.  It still takes them time to 

    warm up but when they do?  We all sure have a great time.

2.  Without even really thinking about it so without much effort, I made boundary setting

     in the form of changing the subject away from areas I just didn't want to go into a game.

     It was easy and I didn't get snagged and all bogged down like I have for so many years.

3.  This sweet little red oil lamp.  Gentle light, like Moonshine, speaks to me so much right 

     now, both the way I believe I am led and in the way I want to be in my world, too.

4.  Some good reconnecting time with dear hubby over the long weekend.  We had a few 

     rough patches, as an extended period of togetherness can bring in any relationship, and

     I did some things differently, like practicing breathing as we rode in the car together.  

5.  A quiet jammie morning on a cloudy day.

6.  My very favorite Fall breakfast of a cup of icy cold milk along with a steaming bowl 

     of oatmeal with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg and a sprinkling of raisins stirred in

     and topped with a drizzle of honey.   

7.  Blessed gift of time spent in "my" swing on Mark of the Potter's lovely back balcony

     overlooking the happy Soque River.  It soothes me so much.

8.  Reconnecting with a dear friend and, as in true friendships, the sense that no time has

     passed at all.

9.  My comfy old brown chair has been repaired and is now sporting a beautiful new

     mariner-blue "dress."  It's taken some time for me to adjust back to it but I think I'm 

      just about there.... home.

10. Working on a little surprise for a sweet friend who, while struggling, is making some

     very brave choices.

11. Seeing my picture of the St. Augustine lighthouse from right here in my chair with the

     added bonus of my Core Desire Feelings taped under her.

12. The deep sense of "Ahhh" I feel when I quietly whisper my core desire feelings to 

     myself:  Moonshine, Be Here, Simple Beauty, Peace, and Grace.  I am home in their

     presence circled around me.

13. Soft, long curly hair.  I will probably cut it soon but, for now, I'm enjoying it.

14. Wise book companions.  The two I've read lately are Rising Strong by Brene Brown 

     and Eyes of the Heart by Christine Valters Paintner.

15. The comfort that comes from noticing and counting my thankfuls.

.             *             .

I need . . .

I need ... downtime. 

It was so lovely this afternoon 

sitting in my very favorite porch swing 

overlooking the happy Soque River 

while hubby fed the fish. 

❤️

(It's been way too long)

I love "my" porch swing so much that, 

unless it's really crowded and I have to share, 

you can usually find me sitting in it 

for most of our visit to Mark of the Potter 

while he feeds the fish. 

Feeling it only fair, 

she says with a twinkle,

Tadd came up with the playful deal, 

just between us,

that we buy a little something as "rent." 

Works for me

and it helps them, too! 

Here's today's new pretty.

❤️

.            *           .

Upside Down

We went on a lunch run during half time

of the very first Georgia Bulldog game of the season.

It's a gorgeous, Fall afternoon

and perfect for a ride with the top down.

Playing with one more.

(Which is actually a selfie, too!)  

.            *             .

Dappled Sunshine

So love dappled sunshine

It's still hot here

but

Fall is definitely on her way.

Yay!!

It was so lovely 

to take a few moments this afternoon

before starting my errands 

to stop and bask in the beauty.

.              *             .

Morning Buttons

Buttons

on my favorite, faded, summery gown,

our alarm clock (boo!),

and my curling iron.

 

.      *      .

 

One of our tween goddaughters now has her first phone!

Grinning because she went and found another photo challenge

for us and invited her aunts (my sisters)

to join us.

 

While I won't be able to be as regular as last month,

I told her I'd play when I could.

 

(How can I resist?) 

 

.             *              .

 

 

Beautiful Late Summer Morning Haiku

 

Warm, moist heaviness

Summer's palpable presence

Caressing bare skin

 

.              *             .

 

Basking in Morning Blessing

(No filter and unplanned)

 

.             *            .