What did I learn?

After volunteering at the Crisis nursery for the first time?

-how can I leave them

-play dough is fun to play with

-if they are sad, you have to hold them

-cream cheese is better than crackers to 2 year olds

-please, sit by me until I go to sleep

-when you paint from your heart, you paint your dreams

-it’s important to have your own pillow and blankie

-if you are a silly monkey and tease the alligator, watch out

-read me a bed-time story

-where’s my mom

-if you help pick up the toys, you get a sticker

-we all have to go to the bathroom, again

-is it Friday yet

I am thankful for the family I am blessed to be a part of.

Published in: on July 11, 2009 at 8:18 pm  Comments (2)  
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July 11, Evening Thought

Blowing out the other person’s candle

won’t make yours shine any brighter.

Published in: Uncategorized on July 11, 2009 at 6:48 pm  Comments (1)  
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Margaret’s 10 Good Things about Staying Home

Margaret

1. Sleeping in.
2. Time to read.
3. Playing with the kids.
4. Blogging.
5. Getting all the laundry done.
6. Not having to eat in the van.
7. Actually having time to do the cleaning that gets put off – like dusting.
8. Long, hot showers.
9. Having time to go through boxes/closets/the pantry and cleaning them out.
10. Having time to breathe.

peace…

Published in: Uncategorized on July 11, 2009 at 3:14 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Another Journey

This is an exercise in writing. Writing is something I’ve always wanted to do, but always been hesitant, my great fears raise their hoary heads, what will she look like, what will people think, it’s not good enough, others can but not me.
Well, I just took a deep breath, let it all out , holding my nose I’m jumping in……

This exercise tells me to take a quote and just start writing, I don’t know where I’ll end up but surely the journey will be interesting, (the “U” is in journey because this time you are invited.

Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives,
as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend … when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present-love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature, and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure – the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience heaven on earth.
Sarah Ban Breathnach

What do I have abundance of—in material things—cloth, yarn, books, audio stories. What is abundance; where do I draw the line? If I have more than two towels, one to use and one to wash is that abundance – it isn’t lack for I have some…I guess I’ll have to look up abundance.

I have abundant grace; there is always enough grace, especially if I reach out for it. I am loved abundantly, regardless of me, by my heavenly Father and my husband.

I try to see where is the lack – yes there are things I don’t have, but put on a scale-side by side-I am so blessed. I have more than two of everything, except a husband and one is enough.

Am I tending the secret garden of abundance? Am I nurturing, pruning, fertilizing, weeding or do I take my abundance for granted?

I have a choice, Isn’t that powerful? I can choose to focus on abundance not on what I imagine as missing. Are those things really missing or are they just hidden in a corner of the secret garden where it is sheltered and the most tender of plants grow?

“the abundance that’s present” I have today. What a present!

“The wasteland of illusion” how often I get bogged down in the desert land-the barren land of the “Isn’t”. Lift up your eyes! Don’t choose to try to bring to life a wasteland when a secret garden is right at my doorstep of the present.

Abundance n. – great plenty; more than sufficient quantity (see abound)
Abundant adj. – very plentiful; more than sufficient; ample; rich in something
Lack n. – the fact or condition of not having enough; shortage; deficiency

Whew! What a ride! Are you still there in the backseat? Are you carsick yet?
NO, we are not there yet!

Published in: Uncategorized on July 11, 2009 at 9:47 am  Leave a Comment  
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Welcome

I glad you’ve joined us, hattie. Your insights are very welcome.

Published in: Uncategorized on July 11, 2009 at 1:38 am  Leave a Comment  
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Yes?

Yes to the wind as it plays the chimes
Yes to the words which roll in rhymes
Yes to the song within my heart
Yes to whatever is longing to start
Yes to follow, a whim – in grace
Yes to each runner completing the race
Yes to each heart, each spirit, each soul
Yes to the readiness to plant a goal
Yes to the richness within each one
Yes to the treasures sparkling in the sun
Yes to continuing, to starting, to move
Yes to the flowing into the groove
Yes to the blossoming, growing light
Yes to the opening of each sight
Yes to nature, to everything coming to be
Yes, most especially, to me loving me

Julie Jordan Scott 2005

Am I ready to say “Yes”?

Published in: Uncategorized on July 11, 2009 at 1:33 am  Leave a Comment  
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10 Good Things About Staying Home

After a busy spring of volunteering, meetings, appointments, I’ve mostly stayed home the past two weeks, so 10 good things about staying home.
1. I don’t have to put on my shoes.
2. It doesn’t matter if it’s a bad hair day.
3. I can eat lunch on the deck.
4. I can hear the traffic go by, not be a part of it.
5. I have time for my home to give me a hug.
6. I get projects done, instead of carrying them around my neck.
7. I get to re-acquaint myself with my stuff.
8. I have time to sigh.
9. Moving slowly room to room
10 At my house, Blessed Quietness.

I hope you can have an at-home day.

Published in: Uncategorized on July 9, 2009 at 2:16 pm  Comments (2)  
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Improve your Gratitude

Family, Friends, and Visitors , please, click on the “Gratitude” tab on the top of the page. Join us as we develop a thankful heart, discontent and gratitude cannot live in the same heart.

Published in: Uncategorized on July 6, 2009 at 10:40 am  Leave a Comment  
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Being a Contented Isn’t

That is what I have found also. There was a time that I was focused on just one thing, having another child. I had two and my life was full, but I wanted another. I kept telling myself when  ____ happens, I will…
Well, for months, ______ never happened.
One day, the Lord said, “What if  _______ never happens.? Are you going to put your life and the lives of your family on hold for your own way, dream?”
So I began to do things that were on the someday list, being thankful for what I had, doing my best to leave discontent behind.
A few months later, during our 10th anniversary get-a-way God fulfilled my dream. In the fullness of time, Margaret was born.
Not always, have my desires been fulfilled, but always my life is more content when I accept today as today, doing my best to please God today, because today is really all I have,  leaving the tomorrow (the Isn’t) in His hands.

Published in: Uncategorized on July 6, 2009 at 10:30 am  Leave a Comment  
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Discovery…Continued

Mom asked me to expound on what I meant, so here goes, hopefully I can say it like I think it…

When we wait around for the Isn’t in our life to become an Is, we miss out on a lot of things. I will use my self for an example, there are a lot of things in my life that I would like to be different, but it isn’t my time for that to happen. So instead of wallowing in the fact that there are Isn’ts, I am going on with my life and making discoveries that I would never come across if they were Is-es.

Does that make sense?

I received a card for my graduation with this quote that I think says what I am trying to say in another fashion.

“for a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life but there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. at last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life. this perspective has helped me to see there is no way to happiness. happiness is the way. so treasure every moment you have and remember that times waste for no one. happiness is a journey, not a destination.” [souza]

Published in: Uncategorized on July 5, 2009 at 11:30 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Discovery

I have learned that making discoveries in the Isn’t makes waiting to be found bearable. May I ever be content to patiently wait to be found while basking in the discoveries of the Isn’t

Published in: Uncategorized on July 3, 2009 at 12:08 am  Leave a Comment  
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the Isn’t

(Best read aloud, with breaths between each line – while gazing loosely at the photo )

Sometimes it is in

the Isn’t

we make discoveries

waiting

patiently to be

found

Julie Jordan Scott, 2009
The Isn't - Inverted

Published in: Uncategorized on July 2, 2009 at 10:11 am  Leave a Comment  
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“not-written-down” to-do lists

For fun, starting today, make a list of what I did today:
I worked on green washcloth
I worked on Quilter’s Journey 2 quilt, replacing name pieces
I quilted 1 hour on baseball quilt
I cleaned out under the sink in the kitchen-yuck!
It’s noticing little moments of time to see the month.
At the end of the month let’s go to _______ and compare notes.

Published in: Uncategorized on July 1, 2009 at 1:49 pm  Comments (2)  
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What did I do?

As I was reading mom’s list, I was thinking to my self, what have I done this month. It just seams like a big whirl wind. I made a dress, went through finals and graduated college, did a bag of alterations, went to Mexico to help the saints for a week and finished a few dish cloths…I think that is it, deffiniately not everything that was on the ‘not-written-down-to-do’ list…Maybe next month will be better.

Published in: Uncategorized on July 1, 2009 at 12:03 am  Leave a Comment  
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