Summer Evening in June

I love summer evenings. 

Tonight I am sitting on my bed with my laptop, catching up on my favorite blogs. Artful Blogging magazine is by my side. I am checking out a new blog "the Rosy Life." 

The book that I am currently reading is also on my pile. "The Perfume Collector" is a novel recommended by a friend who said I just had to read it. I am on page 276 and not completely sold. Normally by page 100, if I don't love it I quit, but since this friend was so adamant and I waited for it at the library, I am pressing through.

June has been a busy month for me so far, yet I am keeping up with the inCourage Book club and Liz Lamoreaux's Hand to Heart this month. Plus I am over on Instagram posting a photo a day for #100 Happy Days and #100 Days of Summer. 

I love taking photos again. For the first time in ages, I took my camera with me today and snapped a photo outside at Mom's of the beautiful blossoms. The tree was filled with bees enjoying the pink sweetness too!

Tonight I spent an hour playing with the Hipstamatic App on my iPhone.  My daughter loves it so I am determined to experiment with it.

My eyes are growing tired and I should have been asleep an hour ago because another early morning awaits me. But I love an evening like this one, nothing pressing in on me, quiet, and just plain fun. :)

Less than 3,000 days!

                                      

My birthday is next month. I will turn 62.  There are 2,945 days between this very day and my 70th birthday. Less than 3000 days! 

Does that seem like a lot to you? Im willing to bet that you are either half my age or living life intentionally.

My oldest granddaughter graduated this past weekend. Talk about surreal. I can remember when she was a toddler bouncing around with little curls and determination. Now she enters a new phase of her life.  

As do I.

I am reading "Pursue the Intentional Life" by Jean Fleming along with the (in)courage Bloom Book Club. Jean gave me the idea to count my days. She quotes Henry Melville on Psalm 90:12.

"They will not apply their hearts to wisdom until they are brought to the numbering of their days."

I've been brought to the numbering of my days this past year or two. I ask the question posed by Jean in her book, "How will I live the rest of my life?"

With hope and joy, I pray.

On graduation weekend, as hubby and I drove back to our camper, a double rainbow appeared in the clouds before us for at least 10 minutes, one of which was completely full. Rainbows have always symbolized hope and new beginnings for me. I am taking this as a sign for my life and my daughter and granddaughter.

"Draw me to attentiveness", Lord. My days are made up of moments. Let me live and breathe deeply of each one. As Jean so aptly put it, You are the God of my endings and beginnings. As you add and subtract from my life in preparation for the season I am entering, "grace me" with the ability to let go and receive accordingly. (quotations from Jean Fleming)

P.S. I do plan to live beyond seventy, just to clarify, and Lord willing :)

Lesson in the Wet Blankets

The morning began so well, my sacred-alone time filled with peace. Knowing I had several errands to run before noon, my plan was to leave the house by 10:00. Then my washer stuck on one cycle. We  closed my little apartment on the weekend and two quilts from there were being soaked again and again, but never spinning. Hubby came through the door about that time with a non-helpful comment ( not that any comment would have been helpful right at that point). My knee jerk reaction, as I was pressed for time, was to cancel my monthly massage appointment at noon.

"Why do I always have to give up my stuff?" I whined.

That was my story. 

But I didn't  believe it this time, not fully.

It was too late for errands, but I could still pick up graduation cards and head to Leslie's for my massage.

Let it go. 

June's mantra and one of this week's intention words.

I grabbed my car keys, marched past the basket of soggy quilts and drove to town.

My massage was the best I'd had in months. Tension began to leave my back and shoulders.

When I returned home, the wet blankets were right where I'd left them.  I drained the little hose on my washer and said a prayer. Don't laugh! 

I threw in a pair of hubby's work clothes for a test run. 

The washer worked perfectly.

The story I was telling myself was pure fiction. I didn't even realize that it was a story until putting pen to paper.

Let it Go is the theme for Liz Lamoreux's "Hand to Heart" this month. You might like to check it out.

Here on My Orange Stool

                               

Here

I sit on my orange stool

Johann Strauss filling the air around me

Letting go of bitterness 

revealed in last night's dream,

formed in past hurts

I won't write of this

for it has 

       taken

            wing

         lifted by angels on the wind.

Here 

I sit on my orange stool

loving the feel of possibility

wrapped in hope

Friends in trouble, 

burdens 

 dance 

swirling around me.

I close my eyes.

I watch Pam as she dances 

 He sets her feet on a rock, high.

I watch Melissa broken

 He dries her tears gently 

extending His hand

 an invitation.

I watch with joy

He approaches me

I place my hand in His

rise from orange stool

float around the room

moving beautiful

wings open

music, joy, hope

 we are one.

Here

on my orange stool.

#100 Happy Days with Intention

I've missed you dear Blog :), but I haven't given up. 

Today I am beginning 100 Happy Days. According to their website, 71% have started and dropped out. I will post daily on Instagram and occasionally comment over here.

My words of intention this week:

Listen

WholeHearted

Intentional

I am listening to myself talk and its not pretty. Oh, I'm not swearing or putting anyone down.  How easy it is to focus on problems rather than potential and promises! 

I am gathering resources. My scripture memory cards, Joyce Meyer's Cds Me and My Big Mouth," Joel Osteen's new book I Declare and the Jabez Prayer.

What started all this? 

A seed was planted when I watched Oprah's LifeClass with Joel Osteen. Something stirred within me so I bought the book when I went to Bangor last week.

During the three hour drive to Bangor, I listened to a set of CDs  by Kenneth Copeland on choosing your words. All of the sudden, I started listening to what I was saying about every day life.

I was stunned!

When did I get so slack about my words? I need to be intentional in what I say. 

This is going to take some work but I am beginning and what better pairing than to begin with 100 Happy Days at the same time.

Want to work on your words or intentions or happy days photos? Join me. Let's keep each other accountable. Drop a comment and let me know or connect with me over on Instagram - Artsyfaithchic.

Spring's Arrival, Moving Forward, and Mother's Day Blessings

Tiny purple blossoms made their way up through the cold ground, barely free of snow.  Its true! Spring has finally come to northern Maine. The sun shone as I took my first walk outdoors, but my ears were stinging from the bite of the wind. This past week, I raked a small patch of ground, dug out a few camper blankets,  and bought a clothesline rope. Yay!

Hubby and I helped our daughter and her family move into a new home last weekend. I am grateful beyond words for new beginnings. How is Lily doing with the move? I took the photo above on the first night in their new home.

Today I got a Mother's Day package in the mail from my daughter. The gift brought tears to my eyes. There was Liz Lamoreaux's poetry collection book and a sea bracelet that reminds me of Ann Morrow Lindberg's book "Gifts from the Sea", which my daughter gave to me years ago.

Happy Mother's Day from one blessed woman.

Standing on the Edge of Joy

My Words of Intention for the week:

Joy

Wholehearted

Open

For a few weeks now, my mind has been hovering over a single thought - that I am standing on the edge of joy. 

Fragile and vulnerable, like the birds on my feeder in this tentative spring, ready to take flight at the first sudden movement or noise unfamiliar.

Then last night I found myself standing on the sidelines of joy, so close I could reach out and touch it.  The occasion was a small, simple wedding. I had been unusually tired in the afternoon and struggled to find something to wear. Nothing fit and although the end of April, it was cold outside. I imagined myself in a reception hall, shivering and longing for home.

From the moment we stepped inside, although chilly, the warmth of twinkling lights and genuine smiles wrapped its arms about me and drew me in.

The ceremony itself was brief and then an interlude for photos ensued. The bride and groom took center stage for their dance before the food was served. I stepped closer to joy. This was no ordinary dance. The music swirled about them as they began their intentional ballroom waltz, faltering steps at first, then moving into the magic of their moment. All stiffness fell away as they gazed with unfiltered joy into each other's faces. Closing with a swirl and a twirl, the groom then pulled his bride close to him, enfolded in his arms as they both faced the crowd for the finish. It was priceless.

When Hubby got a phone call an hour later to come in and fix a trailer tire, I reluctantly dragged myself from watching the ripples of joy continue to spread from guest to guest on the dance floor.

What made this wedding so special?

Was it the groom who waited for the perfect girl, the sweetness in her every step, the simplicity with which it had all been planned? Or that he day before, this very family gathered for the funeral of a beloved grandfather, most unexpected.
And now they celebrated unashamedly.

Beth Moore says that Joy and Anguish are tied together, moving through our lives hand in hand. I watched this played out in this family before me. Joy was winning.

So I begin my Word List for the week with Joy. Daily circumstances, reports, emotions, worries, sufferings within and without battle to pull me away. There is always a war.

I sat at my table thinking of 2014 being the year of divine reversals. Could it happen this quickly? Back to back. Can God step in and turn anguish into joy overnight?

I don't have the answers but this I know for sure:

I want joy to win.