Beauty in the weeds

There will always be hard times to go through, confusion, chaos, war, breakups, death. That is part of life. No big discovery on my part here, just thinking how important it is to keep your eye on the Prize. Make Heaven a significant part of your thinking when facing a problem, it helps keep things in balance.

I've been in the pits of despair, feeling so sad no one could reason with me. Only what I had experienced as love, held me through it.

See this sunflower? It was planted by a bird in the midst of zillions of mosquitoes that prevented me from weeding the flower bed. Everytime I look at it I think about the strength of faith, arising from despair and weeds, planted by a common bird, becomes a creation of God.

That is what we are, children of God. If I ponder on this fact, I feel connected with Him and the rest of His children here and in Heaven, filling me with a humble strength that quiets my mind, slows down my steps and I can once again breathe.

Yes, I am a child of God as well as a common sinner walking this earth, making mistakes and praying for mercy. I'm not a religious zealot or feel holier than thou.

I just miss my loved ones who've died, I tell God that I don't understand things at all, but quietly wait, trusting Him. I get up each day and do my best for my family and for myself. I laugh a lot, too....joke around, chop wood and carry water.

We are all so much alike, it's only fear that keeps us apart.

Hay!

Morning chores: Feed dog, feed horse, feed sheep, feed birds, feed husband and finally sit down and drink a hot cup of coffee. This goes on rain or shine, snow or sleet. Going out to the barn every morning and evening can be a drag, especially if I'm not feeling chipper.

(To the right, is Betty waiting for me to feed.)

But most of the time, even during snowstorms it's an adventure of sorts. Being a part of this world has taught me much. Nancy, the horse, is a two-eyed jack registered quarter horse who is now 26 years old.

"All I pay my psychiatrist is the cost of feed and hay, and she'll listen to me any day."

_Author Unknown

She wouldn't be worth ten cents to most people, she has arthritis and some other feet troubles but to us she is worth her weight in gold. And we spoil her rotten!

Do I ride her, heck no! As Roy Rogers put it, "When you are young you fall off a horse and you may break something, when you are my age, you splatter."

I don't think I would splatter necessarily, but for sure it wouldn't be good.

So, when your daughter is 14 and talks you into getting a horse, then leaves home ten years later and you are the one left holding the hay hook, ......it makes ya think. Pets are a big commitment but a way bigger blessing!

You cannot escape God's Love

Back in 1981 a miracle began and is still happening. Many scoff or simply don't want to believe because of mindset, but I do, from personal experience, believe that Our Lady has given these messages to help us. This happens on the 25th of each month via the children of Medjugore.

That's the background in a nutshell but there is tons more to research if you would like.

Many people including many Catholics are not aware of this gift from God.

I was reading some of the messages and came across this one which I thought might be of help to anyone who happens upon this site:

"Dear Children, I invite you to decide to love God above all else. In this time when due to the spirit of consumerism one forgets what it means to love and cherish true values, I invite you again, little children, to put God first place in your life. Do not let Satan attract you through material things, little children, but decide for God who is freedom and love. Choose life and not death of soul...................."

She said she came so that not one of her children would be lost. For 27 years now, she pleads for us and to us. It's a serious matter. Probably more serious than any of us can comprehend. But, ask questions! Ask God about this and wait for His answer, if you like.

Or you can chalk it all up to crazy people.

Either way, no matter what religion, etc., you cannot escape God's love♥

That's a relief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Eleven, eleven, eleven

The other evening, after a long day of being moody and sad, full of fear and dread, ( ya know, the usual for a scorpian), I needed a positive message or sign, so I got out my dad's bible. I opened it up and saw his handwriting and just could not help but cry.

11/11/11 his birthday. He was so proud of that date and being English.

As I was reading through the bible almost every verse my eyes rested on was about taking courage, keeping the faith, and knowing God is with me.

I remember reading some of these very verses with dad. They say the Holy Spirit helps you to remember, even people like me, menopausal.

Ha, ha, very funny.

Anyway, it amazes the heck out of me how when you love someone, that love continues even after death, which is just a change, not an end. Love never ends. NEVER. Thank goodness!

He is in Heaven and still tries to soothe my nerves with reassurance. Many daughters see their fathers as heroes, as the strongest man ever.

I'm like that.

But don't call me a daddy's girl. It's a respect, gratitude and adoration thing. He shared his weaknesses and failures with me, which helped to make me strong.

In the Bible where Jesus said "where you are weak, I am strong" or maybe it was "when" either way, I love that verse. It's full of hope.

Lately I've been feeling the ever present fact I have no control over anything, not really. That feeling is debilitating and leaves me feeling weak, so perhaps that is when the Lord is strong?

Also I noticed my father marked his entire bible with tons of symbols and dates, but I have no clue what in the world they mean????!!!!

(His nickname was Pete) The verses below from the book of Psalms was marked near the end of his life. He claimed them for his own.

And, they came true.

Is it Geese or Goose?

In Northeast Ohio there are tons of Canadian Goose. We have two families sharing our pond this year with us. I love watching them. I was going to photograph them but decided there are so many, and everyone sees them all the time so who wants to see another photo of a Canadian Geese?

I remember when they were a rare sight. All the artists were painting them. Now? Everybody just complains about their mess.

Okay, for sure they do poop a lot. What doesn't? For all we know, goose pooh could be a cure for a dreadful disease, or something to rid ourselves of wrinkles. It just made me think how we find something that is rare more beautiful than something that is plentiful, besides money. I was thrilled to find a goose feather earlier this spring, now there are scads. I stopped saving them. But they still make me smile when I see them along the banks of the pond signalling that nature is alive and well, busy as a bee.

Therefore, along with some pics of my garden and the new spot for my beloved Blessed Mother statue, here is a poem entitled "Wild Geese", by Mary Oliver:

You do not have to be good

You do not have to walk on your knees

for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body

love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain

are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees,

the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,

are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,

the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--

over and over announcing your place

in the family of things.

Here's what to do

I was thinking now is the time to start using more warm colors in my art work. Ya know, a pumpkin here, a pumpkin there. That's good. I even went so far as Christmas.

Last week it was hot outside and muggy.

Today I am back into my winter slippers and sweater. My hands are freezing as I type this but I'm determined not to turn on my furnace.

So, the positive side to this? my coffee tastes extra good today and I'm not paying anything to keep warm or cool.

I read an interesting quote the other day,

"we have been taught that negative equals realistic and positive equals unrealistic."

by Susan Jeffers, author of Feel the Fear and do it Anyway.

Everybody says this country is going down the tubes, blah, blah, blah. Folks are getting weary for lots of reasons.

And we believe that is realistic. We believe fear is truth.

I have no idea if one or the other candidate can bring our country together, and you know what? I'm not so sure it's apart. I mean all we know is what the media tells us.

I try not to be just one more person complaining about the gas, about the government and crime, high prices and pretend shortages.

If we have to make a choice, let's make a choice on the inside first, choose goodness.

Then, mind your own beeswax and make stuff!

Love to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and to all a good night♥

Sacred Strangers

The other day I worked at the gallery and met a gentleman who came in searching for something to make windchimes with. He said it was for his mother, so it had to be really good, he wanted it to look really nice. We don't sell parts and pieces for windchimes, so I couldn't help him there, but I answered questions about our art which prompted other conversations, which sort of turned to the price of gas. He was quite rattled and angry about gas prices. I commented many years ago gas was only 75 cents a gallon, but I didn't have money to buy both gas and food at that time, and now, gas is $4 and I can buy both gas and food.

We both agreed it was important to count our blessings and focus on the gifts we have now. I mentioned that one of his gifts obviously was his love for his mother and that I admired him for wanting to make her something she would treasure.

I enjoy sharing deep and sacred feelings with a stranger, even though it goes against what society has taught me. Most times, I hold back out of fear or mistrust. Maybe that is why so many people are isolated, they are fearful of sharing about their lives, especially about loss, or mistakes made.

It's not unusual to hear someone brag, but I'd so rather listen to a story about how they learned humility, or speak to me softly about a blessing they received.

It's like Anthony DeMello said, "We differ from others only in what we do and don't do, not in what we are."