Summering

 “Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” 

― Henry James

 "Where are you going?" I asked.

She looked up at me, pad of paper under her left arm, a pack on her back, hauling a chair behind her

"out to draw lettuce" she smiled. 

Of course. 

Only in the summer can one sit in the sunshine, 

enjoying the air and the bugs and the pine...

and attempt to capture the beauty of  lettuce. 

The days have been full of hosting family and friends,

 late dinners, warm air, and lately...a bit of crafting.

Trinity and I have started painting peg people, starting with a family of fairies. 

Zac and I are building a little fairy house ... it's been quite a process. Not hard really...just a bit of waiting for wood glue to dry. I can't wait to show it to you.

I've been baking again too ... warm herb breadsticks and vegan enchiladas...this past week blueberry pancakes. I'm not ready for summer to be over, but I'm excited for cinnamon and spice and everything nice about fall. I've been gathering ideas...

The garden seems to be growing "okay." My cucumbers are flowering but the leaves have been turning a bit brown  - I've been researching about Ph this and Ph that and calcium and magnesium and all of the things that our soil needs. Words like "compost tea" and "nitrogen" have become part of my everyday vocabulary. My thumb isn't quite green yet...but it's slowly changing color. I had no idea there was so much science involved in gardening.

There is hope for me yet. 

One other amazingly good thing that has come my way in the last couple of weeks...

I've found a friend.

A sweet, kindred spirit friend that crafts and loves things like acorns and burlap and thrifting.

She made me this lovely "C" for my front door.

I felt like she handed me the moon.

I do love a handmade gift.  

As for me...I've been making a bit of Christmas in July - my love

of "all things felt" has return and I'm on a hoop making mission.

I also discovered Joanne Fabrics.

For some reason, all these years, I thought Joannes only sold material.

 Imagine my surprise when the glass doors parted and my eyes were met with 

colorful yarns and paints and birch rounds.

Twas love at first sight.

I found some lovely navy linen that I have plans for.

It's nice having plans.

There is a cool breeze calling me and a piece of avacado toast just waiting to be enjoyed, 

I leave you now friends.

I hope that your weekend will be full of joy and blessings,

that you will find ways to love others and feel loved by them in return

Happy July weekend.

May the Light find you right where you are.

7 Steps To a More Beautiful Life

1.

Love all life. 

Cherish every single life, no exceptions.

Love people without judgment. Love the poor, love the rich, love the unkind and the kind. Love.

Love the trees...love the flowers...see the worth in animals. 

Watch the bumble bees and be grateful for their hard work...if it wasn't for them we wouldn't have apple blossoms or sticky sweet honey. Spring would be empty and lifeless if it wasn't for their diligence.  Listen to the bird's sweet, haunting calls to each other. Remember that God sees the sparrow and takes notice of them and cares for them - live this way. Life is a gift. 

Love all life.

2.

See Art Intentionally.

When you look at the sky don't just see blue. See an ocean. See depth. Notice the shadows of the clouds. See color. Look at a tree and pretend you are taking a mental picture of it ... frame the branches. Seeing art nurtures gratitude and makes us more aware of perception. Seeing art can help you grow. Seeing art can make one flexible.

3.

Do it Today.

There are a lot of things in my life I want to try. Yes...not everything can be done today. If I wanted to skydive...I couldn't just call a taxi and have them tote me off to some field where an airplane and instructor would be waiting. Maybe I can't actually jump today, but I can plan the jump. I can prepare for the jump. Maybe I can't take a painting class today but I can still paint. Will it be perfect and will I know what I'm doing? Probably not. But I can try. I can't play a piano today because I don't own one, but I can start teaching myself to read music...I can watch tutorials online. I can listen to beautiful pieces on the radio. Maybe you can't leave the kids and go for a long jog ... can you dance in the living room with them and get your heart rate up? Do it today. Don't wait. 

4.

Say Thank You.

When something good comes your way, have gratitude. If you happen to be driving down the road and you see an accident in the other lane, thank God that you are okay (maybe say a prayer for the ones involved.) If your electricity bill is lower this month...say thank you. Any good thing that comes in life...whether it be a warm meal or a great deal on something you've been wanting ... say thank you. This simple act will instill gratitude and will change your thinking ... things that you use to take for granted will become gifts. 

Everyone likes presents ... why not give them to yourself everyday?

5.

Start rituals.

Light candles...have a favorite scent. I love to put lavender in my diffuser at night. Zen Radio is my favorite station on Pandora - as soon as I push play I start to feel calm. Wash your face in the evenings ... take care of your skin. Take time to really care for your teeth ...actually floss. Establishing rituals helps you to take better care of yourself and yours...it signals the brain that you belong. Rituals bring structure. In a busy world, structure in our homes is essential.

6.

Appreciate Simple

Rice and beans, cucumbers with a little dill, slices of tomato sprinkled with salt. Simple. Your body understands simple ... it loves to know what it's dealing with. When you eat an apple your cells clap and cheer because they know exactly where to send those nutrients. When you squeeze some fresh lemon into water or grate some ginger into a tea you reap the benefits not only from the complex SIMPLE nutrients but also from the natural oils. Using ingredients that take no prep except maybe to peel or to slice frees you up to do other things, it costs less money generally speaking, and it instills in you gratitude for the things that were made perfectly by the Creator. 

7.

Love You.

Maybe those two words bother you...maybe you find them selfish. I know, I know "but we are suppose to focus on others, not ourselves. We are to live selflessly." Yes and yes again. However, you will never be able to love others if you can't love yourself. If you are critical of you, you will naturally be critical of others. If you see your flaws, you will see all of theirs. 

For me, looking in the mirror and loving what I see is a challenge. Looking inside and loving what is represented in my soul can be a challenge. But when I really stop and dissect who I am as a person...I'm kind, I'm nurturing ... I can be funny. I have strong legs and freckles on my shoulders. Today I found a freckle in my eye...right below my iris and I felt special, different. There are things about me that are lovable, that are valuable. 

 There are always things you can love about yourself. If it's a foreign concept for you ... start by saying things like "thank you for my eyes that can see " and "I have strong arms that can carry my sweet baby" or "my hair shines in the sun." Start noticing simple things about yourself...then be thankful for them and start loving them. Love yourself as the One that made you does. 

“whatever you do
be gentle with yourself.
you don’t just live
in this world
or your home
or your skin.
you also live
in someone’s eyes.” 
― Sanober Khan

Signs of Joy

I've been searching through my lens

finding signs of joy

reaching out and taking the blessings given to me

not one bit greedy, just accepting my gifts

in whatever form they come

let me share them with you....

I'm blessed enough to have a flower shop right in my back yard - you can buy various sizes of dandelions and blades of grass, or if you prefer, white "puffs" that after blown...all of your wishes come true. The best part of all...

They only cost 2 cents. 

The shop owners are friendly and enjoy their customers immensely - often they will give you a flower free of charge. They treat you like you're their number one priority, and when you take off with your lovely goods they call out "have a nice day...and thank you!" 

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

~Proverbs 16:24

Another one of my gifts is watching my littles be part of a team every Saturday. I have the incredible joy of watching a knobby knee little peanut squinting into the sun, bravely sticking her hands out to block soccer balls that are being hurled toward her body. Inspiration at it's best. 

I love the way there are 4 sets of little hands all around me each day. I love their need for me. I love their shapes and plumpness, their long growing fingers and their short stubby ones. I love their softness and their dirty nails and their purple nails and their soft pink nails. I love their little hands. 

I'm blessed with a son that after a bit of grooming - can look quite dapper. I love his effort in trying to get a good picture even though it's uncomfortable for him. I love that Finn needs to show the camera his toys that are in his hand - I love the two munchkins on the right and their need to be close and to hug and show love all of the time - in photos, at rest time, at the dinner table. Peas in a pod. 

Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
 If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.

~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Preparing meals can be taxing. The planning, the cost, the time, the clean up. I'm thankful for the texture of food. I'm thankful that we are blessed enough to be able to nourish our littles with good quality nuts and beans and veggies and fruit. I'm thankful for the view of a birch tree from my kitchen window - watching the leaves blow makes washing dishes "not so bad." I'm thankful that my oldest son eats with "gusto." I'm thankful for the colors of food and it's complexity. Yah - I'm thankful for food and the simple joy it can bring...if it's loved and not despised. I'm thankful for meal times and having the privilege of teaching my kids good manners, of hearing about their day, listening to their giggles. Whoever said that children must be seen and not heard must have missed out on a heap load of joy. I'll take his portion if it's up for grabs! 

I'm blessed with a yard big enough to not only hold ONE Easter egg hunt - but three. Our kids had such fun searching for their little plastic eggs that we re-hid them several times. I'm blessed with simple pleasures, games and laughter, running bare feet and wicker baskets. I was blessed at Easter and it has now become my favorite holiday. The newness of spring, the fresh tastes of berries and lemons and cilantro, the Sunday service and the joy in the church and the joy felt out of the church. Waking up and knowing that I'm free to be exactly who I was created to be - me...because of His great Love. That he has beautiful thoughts about me...that He doesn't criticize and command and take advantage, that He doesn't scowl and condemn - that He smiles and Loves and stands with Open Arms for ME. That He knew me before I was created - and He loved what He saw and wanted it.  I was baptized this Easter and being up their in the warm water, being submerged and coming back up knowing that I am washed, that I can fly because of Him, that I am His forever was the biggest gift I have ever been given. I know exactly who I am now - and that is a joy in itself. To be able to smile and wipe the water away from my face and feel washed and new. It was an amazing experience - it was joy in it's fullest form.  

Bunny cake - that's a blessing in itself. 

Gluten free vanilla cake with a layer of lemon curd, then iced with thick cream cheese frosting. Don't mind if I do - like I said..."Love, don't despise." Gooey vanilla, lemony , creamy joy.

I'm blessed with vision, with creativity. See those two lone trees in our yard? I wanted something special to go right there... so I asked my BIGGEST joy if he might build it. He smiled and said yes. Oh yah, let's not forget the absolute ecstasy of looking into a handsome man's eyes and knowing that he adores you. Finding simple ways to please him because of love - joy that can be taken on a daily basis if you will. Finding ways to encourage him ... a daily joy if you will take the chance and love him first above all. Finding ways to step back so he can step forward, like a dance...given freely because of joy. Him taking care of you, saying "yes" when you say "please" because of YOUR respect for him as a person and as a protector, his hard work and his care for you. Your smile that you still keep just for him - a daily beautiful gift...marriage. 

You don't need acres and acres to have something special in your yard. The building process is taking a bit but my kids are learning how to build a bit, my man is making himself even awesomer then before, and in the end...

I'm going to have a great place to find more joy. I'm going to go up to this little tree house in the mornings with my cup of coffee and meditate, listen to God, journal, read my novels, watch the birds, study the clouds...soak in my babies and experience them floating in a pirate ship, living in a castle and making a fairy fortress, and i'm going to find more and more to be thankful for. 

Is there joy all around you? Can you see it?