Garden Party

The welcoming Dancing ♫ Monarch.....
The Sunflower beckons........
and the Lady bug just is ♥
The Garden P`A`R`T`Y

On Joy And Sorrow by Kahil Gibran

Then a woman said, "Speak to us of Joy and Sorrow."

And he answered:

Your joy is your sorrow unmasked.

And the selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears.

And how else can it be?

The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.

Is not the cup that hold your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven?

And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives?

When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy.

When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.

Some of you say, "Joy is greater than sorrow," and others say, "Nay, sorrow is the greater."

But I say unto you, they are inseparable.

Together they come, and when one sits alone with you at your board, remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.

Verily you are suspended like scales between your sorrow and your joy.

Only when you are empty are you at standstill and balanced.

When the treasure-keeper lifts you to weigh his gold and his silver, needs must your joy or your sorrow rise or fall.

Thank You Heavenly Father for my Blessings

I should try to practice the presence of God. I can feel that He is with me and near me, protecting and strengthening me always. In spite of every difficulty, every trial, every failure, the presence of God suffices. Just to believe that He is near me brings strength and peace. I should try to live as though God were beside me. I cannot see Him because I was not made with the ability to see Him else there were no room for faith. But I can feel His spirit with me. ~ Twenty four Hours a day

This incredibly beautiful and powerful manifestation of God was with me on my walk home the other night following a beautiful downpour of rain....I was in awe, and as I kept following it and taking pictures, a car turned in front of me and I heard in a voice full of the appreciation of the same feeling as I had " isn't it beautiful!!!!!!!? As I turned away from the sky to see who the person sharing my world at this moment looked like.... his eyes were lit up in wonder, gratitude and amazement.....He reminded me of my nephew Hash....the connection of our spirits...in that fleeting moment.....brought together on a spiritual plane not connected to anything or anyone but the rainbow with all its magnificent power!!!! colors!!!! and glory!!! Then as I proceed on.. the last of the sun is outlining a huge mountainous cloud, and the last of the colors of the day were fading but soft and wondrous....now the moon is coming out, and it is still light enough to see a huge bird soaking wet in the top of the tree I am trying to capture..... I was so invigorated in spirit after this truly blessed walk......the same walk I do every night....but alas the many surprises this night :D

Todays Gift

Thought for the Day

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

You are reading from the book Today's Gift

I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
—William Butler Yeats

When we hold a piece of crystal to the light, it paints rainbows on the wall. When we tap it lightly with a spoon, it sings like a bell. But when we drop it, it shatters in colorless, silent pieces on the floor.

Human beings, sometimes to our amazement, can be as fragile as glass. It's especially easy to forget what makes people we live with or have known for a long time shine or sing. We take for granted the very qualities that made us love them in the first place.

When we forget how to see and hear the people we love, how to appreciate them, we grow careless. Too often, from sheer neglect, the relationship between us grows dull and silent, then slips, falls, and shatters. Paying attention to other people's needs and feelings can prevent this.

Whose presence can I appreciate today?

Launguage of Letting Go daily meditation

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go Detaching in Love Detachment is a key to recovery from codependency. It strengthens our healthy relationships - the ones that we want to grow and flourish. It benefits our difficult relationships - the ones that are teaching us to cope. It helps us! Detachment is not something we do once. It's a daily behavior in recovery. We learn it when were beginning our recovery from codependency and adult children issues. And we continue to practice it along the way as we grow and change, and as our relationships grow and change. We learn to let go of people we love, people we like, and those we don't particularly care for. We separate ourselves, and our process, from others and their process. We relinquish our tight hold and our need to control in our relationships. We take responsibility for ourselves; we allow others to do the same. We detach with the understanding that life is unfolding exactly as it needs to, for others and ourselves. The way life unfolds is good, even when it hurts. And ultimately, we can benefit from even the most difficult situations. We do this with the understanding that a Power greater than ourselves is in charge, and all is well. Today, I will apply the concept of detachment, to the best of my ability, in my relationships. If I cant let go completely, Ill try to hang on loose.

i. For His Atonement to be infinite and eternal, He had to feel what it was like to die not only physically but spiritually, to sense what it was like to have the divine Spirit withdraw, leaving one feeling totally, abjectly, hopelessly alone. But Jesus held on. He pressed on. The goodness in Him allowed faith to triumph even in a state of complete anguish. The trust He lived by told Him in spite of His feelings that divine compassion is never absent, that God is always faithful, that He never flees nor fails us. When the uttermost farthing had then been paid, when Christ’s determination to be faithful was as obvious as it was utterly invincible, finally and mercifully, it was “finished.”18 Against all odds and with none to help or uphold Him, Jesus of Nazareth, the living Son of the living God, restored physical life where death had held sway and brought joyful, spiritual redemption out of sin, hellish darkness, and despair. With faith in the God He knew was there, He could say in triumph, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit

Removing the stumbling blocks

Facing Our Darker Side

Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
—Step Four of Al-Anon

By the time we get to the Fourth of the Twelve Steps, we are ready to face our darker side, the side that prevents us from loving others, from letting others love us, and from enjoying life and ourselves. The purpose of Step Four is not to make ourselves feel worse; our purpose is to begin to remove our blocks to joy and love.

We look for fears, anger, hurt, and shame from past events - buried feelings that may be affecting our life today. We search for subconscious beliefs about others and ourselves that may be interfering with the quality of our relationships. These beliefs say: I'm not lovable . . . I'm a burden to those around me . . . People can't be trusted . . . I can't be trusted . . . I don't deserve to be happy and successful . . . Life isn't worth living. We look at our behaviors and patterns with an eye toward discerning the self-defeating ones. With love and compassion for ourselves, we try to unearth all our guilt - earned and unearned - and expose it to the light.

We perform this examination without fear of what we shall find, because this soul searching can cleanse us and help us feel better about ourselves than we ever dreamt possible.

God, help me search out the blocks and barriers within myself. Bring what I need to know into my conscious mind, so I can be free of it. Show me what I need to know about myself.

No Worries

Thursday, March 25, 2010

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go

Letting Go of Worry

What if we knew for certain that everything we're worried about today will work out fine?

What if . . . we had a guarantee that the problem bothering us would be worked out in the most perfect way, and at the best possible time? Furthermore, what if we knew that three years from now we'd be grateful for that problem, and its solution?

What if . . . we knew that even our worst fear would work out for the best?

What if . . . we had a guarantee that everything that's happening, and has happened, in our life was meant to be, planned just for us, and in our best interest?

What if . . . we had a guarantee that the people we love are experiencing exactly what they need in order to become who they're intended to become? Further, what if we had a guarantee that others can be responsible for themselves, and we don't have to control or take responsibility for them?

What if . . . we knew the future was going to be good, and we would have an abundance of resources and guidance to handle whatever comes our way?

What if . . . we knew everything was okay, and we didn't have to worry about a thing? What would we do then?

We'd be free to let go and enjoy life.

Today, I will know that I don't have to worry about anything. If I do worry, I will do it with the understanding that I am choosing to worry, and it is not necessary.

Simple Work

On days when life feels out of control, we feel good when we do one simple job: clean the messy desk, wash dirty dishes, shovel the snowy walk. In this way we regain control of our feelings as well as a perspective on those things within our control. What simple work do I need to do to feel better today?

Libby you are kind, you are wise, you are sweet and loving to everyone your heart is so big!!!! please dear Lord bless Libby this day that all she has done for sso many through out the year may somehow find its way back to her today!!!!!You are everything to me my beloved sister Libbyxoxoxox I love you forever ♥
I hope this is your happiest birthday ever

Be Still....

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

You are reading from the book Twenty Four Hours a Day

A.A. Thought for the Day

We also strengthen our faith by working with other alcoholics and finding that we can do nothing ourselves to help them, except to tell them our own story of how we found the way out. If the other person is helped, it's by the grace of God and not by what we do or say. Our own faith is strengthened when we see another alcoholic find sobriety by turning to God. And finally we strengthen our faith by having quiet times every morning. Do I ask God in this quiet time for the strength to stay sober this day?

Meditation for the Day

My five senses are my means of communication with the material world. They are the links between my physical life and the material manifestations around me. But I must sever all connections with the material world when I wish to hold communion with the Great Spirit of the universe. I have to hush my mind and bid all my senses be still, before I can become attuned to receive the music of the heavenly spheres.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may get my spirit in tune with the Spirit of the universe. I pray that through faith and communion with Him I may receive the strength I need.

a study of inadequacy

Grace~ Unmerited help given to people by God (as in overcoming temptation)
Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their ^aweakness. I ^bgive unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my ^cgrace is sufficient for all men that ^dhumble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make ^eweak things become strong unto them.

STEP 1~ ADMITTED WE WERE POWERLESS

27a

Jacob 4: 7.

7 Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our ^aweakness that we may know that it is by his ^bgrace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.

Exodus 4:11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man’s mouth? or who ^amaketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?

STEP 2~ CAME TO BELIEVE IN A POWER GREATER THAN OURSELVES

1Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the ^afoolish things of the world to ^bconfound the wise; and God hath chosen the ^cweak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

2 Cor. 12: 9 9 And he said unto me, My ^agrace is sufficient for thee: for my ^bstrength is made perfect in ^cweakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may ^drest upon me

STEP 3~ MADE A DECISION TO TURN OUR WILL AND OUR LIVES OVER TO THE CARE OF GOD AS WE UNDERSTOOD GOD

If I have freedom in my life,
And in my soul am free,
Angels alone that soar above
Enjoy such liberty.
--Richard Lovelace When a cow decides to stop nursing her calf, she isn't rejecting it. She knows it's time for the calf to be on its own. Although the calf might feel rejected and puzzled at first, it soon adapts to its new independence and freedom. When we feel rejected, it's useful to remember that whatever has caused us to feel this way might have nothing to do with us. It might be a reflection of what's happening with someone else, or just the end of a natural stage in life, as with the calf.
When we understand that others' actions toward us come from their own feelings, and that we don't cause their feelings any more than they control ours, we can free ourselves from a little bit of fear and self-hate. We can see what seems to be rejection as an open door, with our freedom on the other side. ~ Today's Gift

My Creativity Is In The Kitchen Today

Today I made Thai Tofu and Granola

Kim's Thai Tofu today
I browned the tofu in a light tasting olive oil
when I put it into the pan, I sprinkled sesame seeds over the top
then I made a sauce of Asian ginger and raspberry vinagrettes
red curry paste, hot sauce and cayenne, soy sauce and duck sauce,
you know the little packets that come with the Chinese take out :D
then I sauteed fresh garlic, added sliced fresh ginger, and added to the sauce mixture
now pour over the tofu, reduce heat and let the tofu take on the flavors
I do this different every time, the way I cook everything.......
depending on what is around :D

Kim's Granola today
I start with everything wet, peanut butter, apple sauce, vanilla
then I put in sunflower seeds, and this is today's granola...cranberries and raw nuts
but again depending on what is around...... that is what went in today...
raisins, cinnamon, nutmeg, chia seed and ground flax seed, watch these last two, they will make the mixture too thick if you over do......stir this all together, and last add in the oats
stir till everything is moistened and spread on a sheet pan.....bake at 400
it seems maybe 10 min, but you are waiting for the first side to brown, turn and leave another 5? just brown slightly the other side....cool and store in a plastic container :)
Great nutrition here, and the good thing,there is no oil, most of the granola I have had has oil, yes the peanut butter does have oil, but naturally from the peanuts ........Peace

Yes I know Heavenly Father loves me

Whenever I hear, the song of a bird, or look at the blue, blue sky...

Whenever I feel, the rain on my face, or the wind as it rushes by.....

Whenever I touch a velvet rose, or walk by our lilac tree, I'm glad that I live in this beautiful world, Heavenly Father created for me.

He gave me my eyes, that I might see, the color of butterfly wings...

He gave me my ears, that I might hear, the magical sound of things.

He gave me my life, my mind, my heart, I thank him reverently,

For all his creations, from which I'm a part, Yes I know Heavenly Father Loves me.

Happy Birthday Isabelle

Happy Birthday Isabelle........you are precious to me.
Gerbera Daisey watercolor

Anger

Anger exists when particular conditions in our lives are not met as we had hoped.
We can get free of anger, if we choose to take action appropriate to it. Anger can be
a healthy prompter of action. When no action is taken, anger turns inward, negatively influencing our perceptions of all experiences of human interaction.

Comes The Dawn........

COMES THE DAWN
After awhile you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul. And you learn that love doesn't mean security, And you begin to learn that kisses aren't contracts And presents aren't promises. And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes open. With the grace of maturity, not the grief of a child. And you learn to build all your roads on Today because tommorow's ground is too uncertain for plans, And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight. After awhile you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much. So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul, Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers. And you learn that you really can endure... That you really are strong And that you really do have worth. And you learn and learn and learn .... With every goodbye you learn. -Veronica A. Shoftstall

My Mother first gave me this poem, after a breakup, my husband, who I am separated from now, gave it to me on a wooden plaque, and today after doing some relationship work exercises, writing out my relationships,I started with how my first marriage began, how it progressed, and how it ended......this poem came to mind, Ironically I have it saved to my computer as well. A lot of healing has taken place with this exercise, (which I felt strongly to do, after a prayer. After writing my morning pages, I began) the exercise was at the end of the chapter I was reading in Beyond Codependency, by Melody Beattie. the chapter on improving relationships, which I was very reluctant to read, dealing with the pain of my current separated marriage, but as I have trust in my God and where I am in my life, and trust him to lead, guide and direct me, I decided to read this chapter. This book as I read it, is always exactly where I am working in my day to day program of healing.I will begin next, same exercise and go on to the next relationship that followed. The Healing continues and I am so grateful!

THE ILLUSION OF CONTROL

One of the most lethal behaviors in which we Women Who Do Too Much regularly participate is trying to control ourselves and others (and situations and things!).

What we do is feed our “Illusion of Control.”

This year, let’s take a good look at this illusion and the damage it can cause—to ourselves, to others, to our relationships, to our work, and to our lives.

Happy birthday to my daughter

Happy Birthday Holly Jean And on the day December 10, 1982
God blessed me with you, Holly
and my life has never been the same.
your entrance into the world was not an easy one for you
or for me, born with pneumonia from swallowing
the fluid, and ingesting it into your lungs,
I was not able to hold you, but to my joy,
and comfort to us both, I was allowed to hold
your tiny hand, through a hole in the incubator,
you were determined and so strong, and the day
the nurse told me I could hold you in my arms
was a truly happy day for me!!!! What a miracle you are
right from the start!!!
I am so grateful for the beautiful daughter you are
for your kind heart, for your laughter, and your voice
the way you look at life, and the way you look at love
and now, the way you look at your daughter, as I looked at
you in your infancy, with wonder and amazement.
What a loving mother you are, and a wonderful wife to your
husband. I am so tenderly touched, by everything I know of
you. I am so grateful for everything you share with me,
about your life. And the words you wrote to me, as a young
child, I write back to you on your birthday, and they are forever written on my heart.........
I love you so much, I never let you off my mind