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A place to relax

by | Mar 4, 2012 | Uncategorized

Oh a place to relax and just wait  for the the ending of the day.

We rejoiced in the beauty.
We appreciated the quiet.
We were ready to rest in the love and protection of God as we left to go home.
The beach is where we can find peace no matter what kind of day or week it has been.
It is always a place to relax.

Another ‘picture’ by Larry O of the Oregon coast.

Linking up with Deidra at Jumping Tandem
http://www.jumptandem.net/

Quiet days

by | Mar 1, 2012 | Uncategorized

Quiet days are ahead of us.
That is why I have not posted much this week.
My heart is heavy… perhaps even hurting.
My dad is slowing down and has been pretty sick this last week and we are not sure what this means for the long term.
He is 85.
He is also a restless cowboy living in an assisted living home
which was his choice but not really what he wanted.
When one is ill the choices of control become fewer and present needs begins to dictate the course.
Our mother is needing care and assistance so dad chose to move for her.
Now he is the one more needy.
Isn’t that the way it works sometimes… life often
does strange turn of events.
My heart is quiet and reflective.
I am not anxious or deep into worry.
Just reflecting on many levels of concern.
Reflecting on many years of not knowing this man I call dad.
The quiet is necessary for a heart to search out emotions and feelings and what needs to be said when a life is perhaps drawing to an end.
We never know when our final days come for any of us.
If we get the gift of spoken words, softly shared in
‘intimate moments’
we are very blessed.
Even unspoken words serve a purpose when words are not available.
My heart is quiet.
My sleep restless and at the same time deep and prayerful.
Quiet days are ahead for each of us and each day will bring more change.
Strength is needed for us all to push through to this next stage of ‘waiting’.
My heart remains heavy and full of thoughts reminding myself that we can learn many things from our silence.
The prayer now is that the silence not only teaches us
but also does a deep healing within us.

 

Announcement

by | Feb 29, 2012 | Uncategorized

As of March 1st Google connect might be having problems with certain blogs.
So in effort to keep the readers that have signed up through Google reader I am letting them know that there is a subscription box available to sign up so the blog goes directly in their email box if they want to continue to be a reader on this blog.
As a common courtesy I just want to let readers know of the potential issues at hand.
I appreciate all your feedback and encouragement always.

Silence

by | Feb 28, 2012 | Uncategorized

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness.
God is the friend of silence.
See how nature, trees, flowers, grass 
grows in silence.
See the stars, the moon, and the sun 
how they move in silence.
We need silence to be able to touch souls. 
quote by mother Theresa

                                            
(photo from heart and soul photography used by permission)

Have you ever just sat in silence and listened to sounds around you.
Have you allowed yourself time to hear the birds in the air or
the wind rustling or the surf crashing waves off of jagged rocks.
Sending out ‘beautiful ‘sounds’ of nature and powerful lessons if we choose to listen.
I love to sit in the quiet of the day.
And just listen
to whatever is around me at the time.
I do believe God is found in silence.
We hear him when our chatter is silenced.
We hear him when our hearts are quiet.
We hear him when we feel restful in spirit.
Perhaps that is why He said, “Be still and Know that I am God.”
Being Still is the hardest part.
How is it for you?
Can you be still and know the quiet is good and nurturing to our souls?
Be still and know that he is God (then listen to the silence).

A question

by | Feb 26, 2012 | Uncategorized

The sky so blue with the flurry of clouds in the air… can you see it?
Can you see and use your imagination?
Perhaps angel wings?
I love to sit and look at the clouds and imagine images so big and unusual.
When I was a little girl this entertained me for long periods of time.
Have you ever allowed yourself to imagine?
For a moment… for a portion of time…
I see angel wings.. what do you see?
Linking up with Deidra at jumping tandem on Sunday
(picture by Larry O from Oregon)

Become what you already are

by | Feb 23, 2012 | Uncategorized

sanc·tu·ar·y     

1. a place of refuge or safety

nour·ish 

1. to supply with what is necessary for life, health, and growth
2. to cherish, foster, keep alive, etc.
3. to strengthen, build up, or promote
en·cour·age   

1. to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence: 
2. to stimulate by assistance, approval, etc: 
One of the chief duties of a teacher is to encourage students.
3. to promote, advance, or foster
Sometimes it is easy to want to become something other than your self.
In your life I challenge you to think about these three areas and answer the question:
Who are the people in your life you provide a 
sanctuary to or with
you provide
a nourishing relationship with
you provide a place
of encouragement.
Instead of looking for new relationships or friendships or places where you can make a difference 
perhaps you just need to stop and realize 
YOU ALREADY ARE.
If you stopped being a place of safe refuge for someone
If you stopped giving nourishing behaviors or attitudes
If you stopped inspiring or encouraging
would anyone notice?
I believe the answer would be YES.
May we learn to become what we already are and 
learn to accept it 
with an attitude of gratitude.  

One step at a time

by | Feb 22, 2012 | Uncategorized

When I see this picture it reminds me of the journey we all walk at some point in our lives where not knowing what will meet us at the top of the stairs becomes our question.
Some people would see it as a new adventure exciting and full of wonder and new experiences.
Others of us hold onto the railings with a bit of trembling and perhaps a bit of anxiety
as we take one step at a time while feeling the wind upon our face and perhaps the warmth of the sun on our back gathering courage as we step into an unknown.

Sometimes one step at a time is all we can do as we enter:

into a new challenge
into a new adventure
into a new heartbreak or a new healing.
Life is often a risk.
We don’t always know what waits for us as we journey into a different place.
We just have to be aware of the courage and strength we have within us to face the new ‘situation with a strong heart and brave spirit.’
Always taking one step at a time.
[photograph taken by Larry O – 2008 in  Southern Oregon]

A frustrating moment or two

by | Feb 22, 2012 | Uncategorized

Today I was very frustrated.
As I tried to get blogger and google to work together it was increasingly getting me agitated. This blog is important to me and it felt like I was being defeated on all sides and angles. Finally after booting and rebooting and downloading I think it is fixed.
Thank you for your patience if you have received emails from me with my blog name and little content.
In the future it won’t be that frequent. Sorry.

Sunset

by | Feb 19, 2012 | Uncategorized

From the rising of the sun to its setting
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
Psalm 113:3
A beautiful sunset on the Oregon coast.
It was a warm day and beautiful colors filled the sky
as we finished our trip before heading home.
We stood at the base of the cliff and watched the sun go down.
My husband took a series of pictures and we were in awe of the beauty.
the majesty and glory… that only God could paint.

Joining Deidra at Jumping Tandem on Sunday.