“I am in love with the ordinary things in life. Fresh air. Acts of kindness. Deep soul conversations. Watching things grow. Listening to the rain as it empties its heart towards the earth. Remembering the times I ran through it unafraid, spontaneous, freedom-filled. I find pure joy in the joy of others. I am drunk…
Category: blessings
Both. Equally.
“There are two types of tired: one that requires rest, and one that requires peace.” — unknown A succession of inordinately hectic and high pressure workweeks has come to a close. I snapped my laptop shut a little early this afternoon and took Finn for a damp and overdue walk. I spent some extra time…
Impact
“If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of; there is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” – Fred Rogers Yesterday a wonderful friend and former colleague stopped…
It’s that time…
The Christmas tree is up, stockings are hung above the fireplace (the first time in my adult life I can say that), and, most important of all, my grampa’s little handmade chapel is on display. It isn’t Christmas without it. Even when I haven’t decorated any other way, it’s a non-negotiable. I even did a…
It is well with my soul
“When peace like a river, attends my way,When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot, You have taught me to knowIt is well, it is well, with my soul.” — hymn by Horatio Spafforc I was just pausing to reflect on gratitude for beauty, blessings, and answered prayer. As far as beauty, this was my…
Plot twist
“I hope you get a plot twist — and I hope it’s really beautiful. Like a new beginning. Or a second chance. Or the miracle you hoped for but never really expected. I hope everything changes and the light seeps in somehow. I hope you see things start to unfold. I hope your soul undergoes…
What a thing
“If every single person who has liked you in your lifetime were to light up on a map, it would create the most glitteringly beautiful network you could imagine. Throw in the strangers you have been kind to, the people you’ve made laugh, or inspired along the way, and that star-bright web of you would…
Wishes for the week ahead
I wish for… Opportunities for rest during the rain. Bits of the extraordinary in the most common situations. (No, seriously. Look at the size of this blueberry. It’s like three normal blueberries combined.) Signs of love, even in the mess. My kitchen was in a state of chaos this weekend, but this little sticky heart…
Fingerprints
“Never apologize for your eccentricities. They’re your fingerprint.” – Diane Keaton A lone tomato ripening on a vine draped over the wrong side of a privacy fence — with a heart-shaped leaf, I might add. A blue rubber duck randomly perched on a curb. An expressive garbage can. A leaf showing off in the sun….
41 days
“In the Bible, it rained for 40 days and nights. Day 41 came and the rain stopped. Moses went up on the mountain for 40 days. On day 41, he received the Ten Commandments. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. Year 41, they walked into the Promised Land. Goliath taunted Israel for…
Rhythms and Reminders
“May you honor the ways you find light and hope in these days. May you find comfort, strength, and rest in the unexpected moments. May you be open to receive everything that God has for you, even if it looks so much simpler and quieter than you expected. “May you cultivate hope on purpose. May…
Be proud of this
“You’re so hard on yourself. Take a moment. Sit back. Marvel at your life: at the grief that softened you, at the heartache that wisened you, at the suffering that strengthened you. Despite everything, you still grow. Be proud of this.“ – unknown And despite being chucked in our neighborhood yard waste bin, these sunflowers…
Everyday joy
“Keep a list of small, ordinary things that make you happy. A new flower from your plant-baby. That book you can’t wait to finish. When you hear something wonderful that happened to someone you love. Cultivate the habit of everyday joy. After a while, you won’t even happen to try.” —- Nanea Hoffman Nanea Hoffman…
As it is
“Most of your life will not be extraordinary. Most of your life will be simple things, done regularly. If you’re only going to be happy when you’re on vacation, after a lush payday, after a big career win, you’re going to spend most of your life really dissatisfied. You either learn to love the day…
Thank you
“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel his pleasure.” – Eric Liddell, Chariots of Fire A homily I listened to this weekend referenced the above quote from Chariots of Fire and I’ve been reflecting on it ever since. I understand that God’s…
Just how I am
“We don’t see things as they are, we see them as we are.” – Anaïs Nin I spotted this little heart in a parking lot this evening and I was so tickled by it. Of course upon closer inspection of the photo later, I was bummed to see it was a bit of litter that…
Look again
“Look at your body. Look at those arms that have held people they love. Look at those eyes that have seen oceans and mountains and big green trees. Look at those legs that have carried you through your longest journeys. Look at your feet that have held you up on your hardest days. Look at…
Sorry, not sorry
“You know what breaks me? When someone is visibly excited about a a feeling or an idea or a hope or a risk taken, and they tell you about it but preface it with: “Sorry, this is dumb but…” Don’t do that. I don’t know who came here before me, or who conditioned you to…
Phoebe wisdom for a Tuesday
Today seemed to be a good day to tap into some Phoebe wisdom. It’s only Tuesday yet there seems to be a disproportionate amount of stupidity and clumsiness at every turn. I seem to be continually spilling, breaking, dropping, or misplacing everything in which I come into contact. It’s like the Midas Touch in reverse….
Magic in the desert
Somehow we’re approaching the tail end of April and I haven’t yet posted anything about two back-to-back trips I’ve taken this year. I count on this blog to maintain a record of important moments in my life, so I don’t want to miss this. In late February, I took a mother-son trip to Vegas to…
Hopes for the week ahead
Here’s hoping for smiles along our paths… and assurances of love, however faint… …or more obvious. Here’s hoping for warm blankets when hunkering down against the cold, cooperative traffic during our commutes, uninterrupted moments for rest, steaming hot cocoa to accompany a good book, and unwavering patience and peace. Here’s hoping for kind exchanges of…
The gift
“Their joy – that’s the gift to you.” Not long ago, I saw a Steve Hartman segment featuring some school kids who were inspired by a Secret Santa to raise and give away literally thousands of dollars to strangers in need. (Please watch the segment here if you haven’t seen it, which includes the above…
Gentle Goals
Gentle Goals for a New Year “Wander more. Notice at least one beautiful thing a day. Take the class you’ve been thinking about. Leave your comfort zone more often so you have stories to tell when you get back. Make a new friend. Read a book that changes you. Stay loyal to yourself. Act with…
Priceless
Write about someplace you’ve been that you’re grateful for. The fifth of 15 gratitude journal prompts is taking me to….my Grampa’s house during Christmas when I was a child. The little chapel pictured above is well over 100 years old, made by my Grampa as a tribute to the first little church he attended with…
hey there, friends 