Favorite Reads So Far 2016

I apologize for background noise and my weary countenance. A well-meaning girl at Dunkin Donuts gave me iced coffee with caffeine last night instead of decaf!

Scroll down and be sure to catch the very short video of the storm which hit right afterwards.

Enjoy!

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert

Simply Tuesday by Emily Freeman

Land of Silence by Tessa Afshar

Harry Potter - Book 1 by J.K. Rowling

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Angels of Humility by Jackie Macgirvin

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

Glory Over Everything by Kathleen Grissom

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Also mentioned the podcast- What Should I Read Next with Ann Bogel - You can subscribe to the podcast here- 

 http://modernmrsdarcy.com/what-should-i-read-next/

The sound is hail hitting my windows!

A Perfect Summer Day

Today is the perfect July day in northern Maine. I took my tea outside where I enjoyed my flowers and wind chimes and morning breezes. After a phone chat with a friend, I hung a load of sheets on the line. Oh how I love the smell of fresh sheets blowing in the breeze!

My brother needed a few errands done in town, so a couple hours were spent taking him to Walmart etc. I got home just in time for a quick lunch before online Journal Club began. Inspiration kicking in,  my collage journal begged for a few minutes of my time.

It's nearly 3:00 and I've put off my office work all week. Yikes! Time to get down to business. I still have last week's work to catch up on after vacation.

Maybe I will eek out a few more minutes to step into the sunshine, take my sheets from the line, perhaps read a chapter in my book. Work will wait a tad bit longer.

I know around the world such horrible things are happening, adding layer upon layer of grief to the load we already carry. I haven't forgotten, but today I will honor those who suffer and those who slipped into eternity by living  in the moment, breathing a prayer into the air of a perfect summer day.

What I Learned in June

Life is more like a rhythm to move with.

June was an incredibly full month with many responsibilities, a few surprises and renewed joy. Hubby and I were treated to the Waterfront concert in Bangor by our daughter. The performer was Dolly Parton and she was absolutely delightful! As you can see in the pic, it was a cold windy evening but a lot of fun.

I find myself enjoying the altar of my desk each morning more and more. Some days I fit in fifteen minutes to begin my day with prayer. The mornings I can leisurely sit here for two hours are my favorites.

I am leading a small Bible Study on Priscilla Shirer's "Armor of God." This is a good companion to her book Fervent. Given a choice I recommend the book.

We had our foundation worked on this month too so I have been in a mess! No washer for 10 days, dirt tracked in regularly, and various musty smells from wind blowing up through open cellar.  Not great for a woman sensitive to allergies! All in all, I managed to learn a few lessons, maintain a rhythm and practice gratitude.

Here are a few things I learned in June:

• My Year of Yes is an effective tool! 

In May I made a decision to say yes to what matters to me. To what I love, to adventure, to things that normally make me afraid. For a year. 

I have become more confident in my choices. I find I am not waiting to matter to someone else and being disappointed because I matter to me. 

• Forget the Pools!

I signed up for Emily Freeman's audio scripture meditations. In one of them, she made a piercing statement: forget the pools. Emily was describing the man by the pool of Bethesda waiting to be healed if only someone would put him in the pool. Then he met Jesus. I realized there were pools in my life that I turn to for various needs, only to discover they fall far short. I love the mantra- Forget the Pools!

• The Holy Spirit does the impossible, AKA- I can give up chocolate.

After struggling with acid reflux for months, I made a few drastic changes in my diet. Chocolate has always been my love and my nemesis. Finally after a horrible attack, I asked God to take over and remove this addiction. As simple as the prayer I prayed, He did!

• Setting intentions still works for me.

Every week I write out my intentions and check in now and then. It works!

• I am learning to protect my heart.

When I am feeling hurt, rejected or overlooked, I bring those feelings to the Lord and remember I matter to me and that's enough. Somehow this knowledge helps me to know I matter to God.

• God works while I pray, wait, and trust. He loves to surprise me!

I have been praying for a family member for months with a directive from God to wait. June was the month of turnaround.

I also prayed for Mom for a heart procedure she was having done. We drove the three hours to Bangor, staying in a motel for the night, expecting perhaps another night on top of that. A brilliant cardiologist decided to run a few more tests and sent us home without the heart cath and a clean slate. (well other than new BP medication and instructions). What a blessing!

• Journal, journal journal!

Journaling is a valuable practice in my life and I wouldn't be without it. I joined Jamie Ridler's Journal Club this month. even though I keep missing the live feed because of traveling, its a lot of fun!

I cannot believe I am saying goodbye to June already but what a  jam-packed month of joy even in the midst of chaos and challenges!

Showing Up To Celebrate!

Lupines fill the fields, grass and trees are already the rich green color of summer, and the wind blows incessantly. Winter blankets still grace my bed, to be thrown off after an 80 degree day and pulled back over us in the middle of the night. June has been wet and cold, yet dusty fields cry for rain due to the hefty breezes.

The past couple of weeks my days have been filled to the brim with office work, trips to doctor appointments with mom, and journeying downstate every weekend for one thing and another ( i will highlight these soon).

I haven't even had time to get all my flowers in. The Amish are working on our foundation so we are in a mess. What garden I  did plant is struggling.

Yet I am celebrating today. I stopped the car and got out to snap a few photos of the lupines. They are so beautiful right now. This afternoon I returned to my long neglected book and wrote four whole pages. Hey, every little bit helps!

I have so many things I want to write and share with you here, but never seem to get to it. Supper preparation beckons me now, but I have decided to use the little snippets of time I have, to do the things I enjoy. This post may not be polished but nevertheless, I am showing up. :)

Take those fifteen minute breaks you have and do something you love this week. Show up in the moment.

Hopefully I will be back soon.

Discovering Podcasts

A world of information, community and joy has opened to me recently in the form of podcasts. 

I always had a few go-to podcasts on my phone like iBethel and EMIC plus Creative Living with Jamie. but wasn't aware that anything else existed. Then I stumbled across "What Should I Read Next?" with Anne Bogel. This led me to a few more discoveries. Here they are.

What Should I Read Next?

I absolutely love this podcast! I devoured episode after episode until I was completely caught up to date. In this podcast Anne interviews guests with a few simple questions. 

What are 3 books you love, a book you hate and what are you reading now. Anne then recommends three reads to her guest to try. 

My love for reading stepped up to another level. I quickly ordered "The Kitchen House," a novel about slavery on a plantation and the complex relationships crossing racial borders. Also "All The Light You Cannot See"  a World War II novel that I couldn't put down. I will tell you more in the future about these books.

I dug out a classic "To Kill a Mockingbird" and a long must-read copy of Harry Potter. These are on my summer reading to do list.

I love this podcast! Did I mention that? :) 

I ordered my books very cheap on Thriftbooks.com.

~ The Healthy Mom's Podcast

Although my family is grown, I find the Healthy info interesting and informative.

~ Sorta Awesome

I've only listened to a few so far, but I'm enjoying them. While working in the office today, I listened to the episode on " Ten Friends Every Woman Needs."

~ HopeWriters

I love Emily Freeman's books! This podcast is done by Emily, her dad and her sister- possibly more. I've just discovered it. A great podcast for writers of all kinds.

~ On Being &

The Simple Show

The jury is out on these two podcasts so far as I am still new to them.

~ The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey

So far I like what I'm hearing! Love episode #90 with Lauren Chandler.

Check them out at iTunes or in your app store for more information. And please, if you have a favorite share with me in the comments section.

Happy Podcasting!

Yes to May!

~ Miracles still happen

Almost four years ago Lily didn't speak, make eye contact, interact with others, function in crowds etc. In May she played "Mary had a Little Lamb" on the piano, sang with her class and enjoyed it- all in a crowded auditorium. 

Ending with an adorable curtsy!

                                                     

~ I don't always understand what God is doing.

                              

Several years ago when my daughter entered the military and moved across country, I was confused and discouraged. The years ensuing proved difficult for her. Now in the Reserves, she makes monthly treks (6 hour drive one way) to do weekend stints. Somehow Saturday night, it all seemed worth the sacrifices she and her family make, as she counseled for the Vet Center at the traveling Viet Nam Wall. My heart overflowed with emotion and pride.



~ Say yes to me. I matter.

I've been doing a lot of inner work over the winter - identifying thought patterns, shedding old reactions and choosing to listen to the rhythms of my body and soul. I spent decades hoping others would care about what matters to me. The practice of putting others first and me last almost always is catching up with me and its not feeling good physically or mentally. I honestly thought God expected this of me. Now I realize the balance is that He places value on me, as well. I need to do the same in my choices not mere words.

In May I read Shonda Rhimes book "Year of Yes." Even though I don't agree with some of her values,  this book was perfectly timed for  my life in this season. I am saying yes to me in a lot of little things and shedding old resentment and habits along the way.

~ Living in tension between faith and mystery continues.

I still struggle with physical issues and food. The old what-to-eat-what-not-to continues to plague me. 

My latest plan is to eat more alkaline foods. Lunch consisted of roast turkey on romaine, carrots and garlic hummus, and beets. I snuck in a GF cookie at the end. Now I feel bloated and yuck. 

Bill Johnson is one of my favorite authors and preachers. He has a ministry where countless healing have been experienced yet two weeks ago he underwent a serious surgery. 

There are no formulas when it comes to my walk with God. I continue to live in the tension between faith and mystery, trusting God along the way.

~

I'm happy to report Spring has finally arrived here in northern Maine with all its green, lush beauty and swarming black flies. 

Goodbye May. 

Hello June.

Going with the Flow

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3

Boxes and bags sit in the middle of my kitchen. Hubby and I were headed south today to open the camper. At 6:00a.m. I heard him say," Dont look out the window." 

Of course I looked! 

10:00 a.m. It's been snowing ever since, with no sign of stopping anytime soon. 

Welcome to  Spring in northern Maine. :)