Daily Fairy Reminder

Being with Life

Today, I allow myself just to be with life. Somehow, it doesn't have to prove anything to me or give me any more than I already have to be okay. The lessons I have learned through working through all that blocks my forgiveness have taught me that I can face my most difficult feelings and still come home to a place of love and acceptance. Life is always renewing itself; nothing lasts, good or bad, and that is just the way it is. It is enough today to enjoy my coffee, to take a walk, to appreciate the people in my life. I can rest in a quiet sort of understanding that this is what it's all about; all the searching turned up such an ordinary but beautiful thing.

Be enraptured with the ordinary.

...and this is why grandad's her favorite. :-/

Bakin'

I'm baking pinecones....again.
The supply seems limitless with the park down the road that boasts some very old fir trees.  The hawks especially like them.

Since I've tossed together two holiday trays for the work place and have one of my own (along with the wirebasket in the coffee nook with the chalkboard shoved in it)....it would seem a popular thing (whoda thunk)!  Leastwise popular enought that the girl and one of her friends whined about needing one for their coffee table and mantle.  Works for me--tis the season, apparently.
Only....no more pinecones.
And I refuse to buy the glittery ones, or the scented ones.
Backyard scavenging seems a better answer anyway.  I mean, what else is there to do on a solo Friday night?
Pinecone baking it is!
Then I can cut up some garland, put a wire basket on the end, shove in some lights and some pinecones and swirly pod things.....a leftover bulb or two....maybe a bow....and it's good!  And maybe some leftover beads for some  shine.

I like the simple creations that you can toss together.
Not to mention the ones that make the whole house smells of pine trees.  :-)

Daily Thought

Quiet. Relaxed. Feeling right about what you're doing. On track. In harmony. At peace. In balance. No turbulent emotions racing through you. No disorganized thoughts clamoring through your head. Your body feels aligned, and you feel connected to it. What you do and say comes from your center. It feels right and honest. It feels like you, and you feel connected to your self, your deepest self, your soul. Your heart is open. And so is your mind.
That's the place from which we're seeking to live our lives. Find a way to get to that place, then go there often. Some helps include nature, listening to music, going for a walk, repeating a prayer, or forms of deep breathing or meditation.
It's hard to find a place we've never been to. Learn what it feels like to be centered. Know your center is in you. Then go there often.

Captured Memory 30

TFTD

People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.

—Joseph Fort Newton

Communication is much more than words. Words are merely fingers pointing the direction to understanding – they are not understanding itself. To really communicate with someone, we have to allow ourselves, just for a moment, to become that other person. When we do this, we begin to be able to see beyond the masks that hide what another person is really feeling.

When we take the time to really see others, we may discover they are frightened, timid people longing for understanding. When we get beyond reacting to their outward behavior and move toward viewing their inner selves, it is much easier to extend a hand of friendship, to say we care, and truly mean it.

Things that make me happy........

….Blue and white lights that greet me in the wee hours of the morning.

 

….The sound of silence.

 

….Brown paper packages tied up with string.

 

….Glittery snowflakes with blue bling.

 

….Giving to others.

 

….My JOY mitten that hangs in the work station.

 

….The tall Hannukah bush in the corner of the living room.  LOL

TFTD

Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.

–Helen Keller

I spent most of my life dreaming and wishing for the stars, always hoping that something wonderful would happen to change my life. If only my mother were more loving; if only I had more friends; if only I had a better husband or smarter children; and, more especially, if only I were thin. I was never satisfied with what I had because someone else always seemed to be better off than me. It was like I was always being short-changed in life, and what expectations I had had as a child just didn't materialize. I never realized that what I had was exactly what I needed at the time, even though it may not have seemed to be what I wanted.

I know now that, even though I may have less than a perfect life, I have many wonderful things. I have so much more than many others, and instead seeing my cup as half-empty, I can now see it as half-full. I can see the miracle of the changing seasons, the beauty of a sunset and the changing moods of the sea. I can hear the beautiful music that feeds my soul, a baby's cry and the crash of thunder. I am surrounded by loving friends and family who care for me as I care for them. I can look at those less fortunate than me and know that I am truly blessed. More and more I am becoming aware that I have exactly what I need for today, and in that I am content.

Captured Memory 29

Daily reminder

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.

–Kathleen Casey Theisen

How awesome is our power, personally, to choose our attitudes and our responses to any situation, to every situation. We will feel only how we choose to feel, no matter the circumstance. Happiness is as free an option as sorrow.

Perceiving our challenges as opportunities for positive growth rather than stumbling blocks in our path to success is a choice readily available. What is inevitable–a matter over which we have no choice–is that difficult times, painful experiences will visit us. We can, however, greet them like welcome guests, celebrating their blessings on us and the personal growth they inspire.

Captured Memory 28

Surprise!!

She woke up at 3am, barking like a seal.
It was all downhill from there.
So I wasn't really surprised when the girl called to tell me they ended up in urgent care with her.  And I wasn't really surprised they diagnosed her with the croup....that kid doesn't do anything simple.
But I WAS surprised when the girl let me know that, 'ohbytheway', she'd be having surgery tomorrow.  Outpatient, but surgery nonetheless.
And it's 'just a five millimeter incision'....no biggie--they're not even knocking her out or giving her 'good drugs'.   And since they won't be knocking her out, she can even drive herself home.
Ain't it amazing what they can do today.   Apparently it'll all be done by some robot looking thing.
And it's all to remove a nonfunctioning ovary.

Oh....andbytheway (again...) if they find some vessel that compromises the blood flow to the kidney while they're in there, they'll put a stent in while they're in there and take care of everything at once!
But (!)...if that happens they'll probably keep her overnight.

:-/

Whatthehell!!  And she's just figuring out this might be something I'd wanna know?!
The only saving grace in the whole mess --it was her oncologist that made the call.  I trust her oncologist. NOT sure how much I trust HER at this moment, especially given we just had her over Thursday for dinner AND we saw her Saturday when we returned the barking seal.

:-/

Yup.....she IS her mother's child.
And the Bug....cut from the same cloth.

Some times that fact makes me chuckle.

Some times notsomuch.

Today's Fairy Reminder

It’s easy to give up confidence in ourselves. We can give it to people from the past who encouraged us to not believe in ourselves. We can give it to mistakes we’ve made, building a solid case against ourselves based on some lessons we went through, past errors in judgement, and learning experiences. We can forfeit our confidence to a traumatic event– like a divorce, a death, or a loss.

Don’t panic.

Breath.

Stop saying, I can’t.

Part of the language of letting go is learning to say, I can.

Give the gift of confidence to yourself.

Blushing

TFTD

We are changed through loving and being loved. Our attitudes are profoundly and positively affected by the presence of love in our lives. Each time we offer a loving response to a friend, co-worker, even a stranger, we powerfully influence the dynamics of the interaction between us.

Every response we make to someone changes us while it informs him or her. When we treat others with disdain, we invite the same. When we express only criticism of others, our self-assessment is equally negative. The beauty of a loving posture is that it calls forth love in response. The more love we give away, the more we receive.

Any task before us is lessened when we carry love in our hearts. Love is more powerful than fear. Love helps to open the channel, assuring us of the strength, the understanding, and the patience needed to complete any assignment confronting us.

Another Fairy Reminder

Replenish Yourself

Some of us don’t know how tired we are until we try to relax. Then we realize we’re exhausted.

We may have lived with exhaustion and stress so long it’s become habitual. That doesn’t mean we’re bad or wrong, or even off track. Many of us are deeply involved in activities, work, projects, and relationships we enjoy. We like our lives and the things we’re doing. But sometimes we’ve pushed too hard or too long. Sometimes we haven’t given our bodies adequate time to relax, to rest, to really let go.

It’s all right to take time out. Relax. Refresh. Regroup. It’s all right to rest even if we’re busy, rest often enough to keep ourselves replenished. Get in touch with your body, then stay in touch with yourself.

Lunch out

TFTD

Even the best of us get tricked from time to time. Someone comes along and impresses us with magic. Later we discover it wasn’t magic, just illusions.

Sometimes the issue isn’t that people were trying to trick us. We tricked ourselves. We saw what we wanted to see, regardless of what reality was. Then, when reality started to creep in, we told ourselves if we held our breath and didn’t feel our feelings and hoped long and hard enough, reality would change.

We don’t have to get mad at ourselves when we get tricked, even if we’ve fooled ourselves. We need to see and acknowledge the truth and become aware of what reality is.

Don’t let your embarrassment over finding yourself in a bad situation cloud your view of yourself. Sometimes all we need to do is acknowledge the truth, including the truth about how we feel. In a few days or a few months, the solution will become clear.

When all the illusions drop away, that’s when real magic begins. You’ll be guided along your path.

Listen worthy

Happy OnlyCuzHeLikesTurkey Day

Yup....happens every year.  At least he's consistent?

What time will the kids be here?

Well, you said 3 so I told them 2 and they'll be here noonish.  :-)

What part of that doesn't make sense to a reasonably intelligent human being.  :-/
 You always tell 'em an hour earlier -- that way you have squiggle room, and they have squiggle room.
And if they arrive promptly, you wanna rip coats off, tear off boots and mittens, shove 'em in chairs and toss napkins in their general direction without even so much as a "Happy Thanksgiving!!" cuz 3 in HIS world means outta the oven, rested, carved, stuff is on the table, drinks are poured, fork IN hand 3?!!

And the "noonish"....cuz they're coming early?

Why that has to equate to a sudden flurry of activity, I'll never know.
It's not like they changed his 3.  They'll just be here earlier.  I'm not sure he's figured that out yet.....
It's all good, though.  I like watching him race around like a crazed man, trying to get three things done at once when he's a 'one thing at a time' kinda fella.  It's good fun!  Cheap entertainment!!  LOL
So....I'm just gonna sip my coffee, enjoy my blueberry muffin......and watch.
I'll stop him before he actually shoves anything on the oven.  :-)