Tag Archive | clouds

I See The Moon

I see the moon and the moon sees me. God bless the moon and God bless me.

My Mom

This morning we awoke to cooler temperatures which were perfect for me. No humidity in the air and just the sensation that all was right in the world. How lovely! So, I took a break from cleaning my house to sit outside on my rocking chair to just relax and watch the world go by. Of course, you know me, I had to look up to the sky because I always find skywatching to be a peacefilled endeavor.

10:54 am Can you see the 1/2 moon? The airplane?

10:56am Look at how the clouds have changed.

What do you see in the clouds? I see angels with trumpets! How about you?

Do you ever take a moment to look up at the sky? Who would have thought that at almost 11am the moon would still be visible in the sky? Isn’t it a lovely sight? I hope you are all having a lovely Saturday start to your weekend! Keep shining your heartlights and remember to look up!

Shine On!

xo

Eclipse of the Soul

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Oh my, where do I begin?  It’s like the rush of energy captivated me throughout the eve of the eclipse and the day itself.  It’s hard to explain, but maybe my experience will be similar to yours and we can share and connect.  At least, that’s my plan, dear friends.

First I noticed the energy change around me.  The cats were unsettled during the daylight before the eclipse.  Both kitties went from one extreme to another – sitting quietly and watching with fascination something I couldn’t see.  Of course, at times, I thought it was that the veil might be thin at this time and we had visitors, but since the kitties don’t talk about it, I am only left to wonder and watch their reactions.  At others, meowing plaintively or hovering close to me, even grooming me as if we needed to bond.  I petted them each in turn, relaxing them by giving and receiving love.

My own body whirred, not exactly trembling physically, but I felt the whirring vibration within me ebb and flow before the eclipse.  It was a silent subtle vibration which pulled  me to go outside for a bit just to sit in the sunshine.  The sun felt warmer on my skin when I was outside as well.  Imagination perhaps, but real to me all the same.  The sun wasn’t making me sweat, it was glowing within me, warming my body, mind and soul in such a pleasant way, even though the temps read 84 degrees.  The gentle breeze caressed my skin in the most delightful of ways.

Skies pale blue with intermittent clouds which streaked across the sky.  Not the bright bulbous clouds, but as if someone had blown a dandelion full of wishes across the sky.  The spiritual reset of the eclipse stayed in my mind as I raised my vibrations and laid out my wishes, as the clouds crossed the sky above me.  By the way, there were no geese to be seen today before the eclipse.  No honking – all was quiet and peaceful.  Did the geese know what was in store today?

dandelionclouds

I used the quiet time before the eclipse to pray and to thank God and the Universe for all the blessings I have received.  I counted my blessings, one by one, which took a long time.  I quietly prayed, my heart receptive to any messages received.  I filled the skies with a release of my worries.  Blowing them away from my mind as I wished on a dandelion.

 

What did I wish for?

Love and peace to surround me. 

Faith and kindness to increase. 

Gentle rearrangement of souls connection,

higher vibrations and attunement to our higher purpose.

weepingwillow.jpg

A deeper awakening seemed to rise up within me.  As I stood in the grass in my yard facing the beckoning willow tree, I felt an emotional surge from the soles of my feet, warming my body upwards until the crown of my head seemed to open and white light emerged to bond with the sun above me.  It was a remarkable feeling.  Tickling, tingling and rare as I felt enveloped in a peaceful, comforting hug from the Universe and all who dwell within.  A power of oneness, of connection and of sanctity.  I remained quietly standing for awhile.  I am not sure how long, but as I began to hear again – I realized that for a time, I only heard the whir of my heartbeat and the blood in my body and the air within my lungs.  My ears had that white noise sound that we sometimes get which usually bugs me when it happens, but this time, it was received as a loving gift of spirit.

I opened my eyes to see the world around me.  I hadn’t realized I had closed my eyes as I was so enraptured by the experience.  I must have looked silly to anyone passing by but I was never even aware of them.  I was only singularly aware of the melding of the earth, the stars, the sky, the sun, the moon, mother nature, spirit, God, the Universe and me.  And that’s a big melding to experience at once.

My breathing quickened as I felt woken from the trance-like state where I had been standing, arms open wide, palms up, melding with the Universe.  Birds chirped nearby and Clover the baby bunny hopped in the nearby grass, chewing her favorite bits of clover contentedly.  I felt the gentle breeze increase, tickling my body with a warm caress again.

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I felt tired, but sated.  As if the experience had ignited in me a light and a flame of love that was deeper than I had ever experienced in my lifetime.  I felt one with everything and everyone.  One – as in truly connected – one – as in all of our experiences are shared – one – as if I completely understand your pains, your happiness and you, as well as me.

dandelionwishes

And this was all before the famed eclipse.  I wonder what will happen afterwards?  I’m going to rest right now.  Sleep beckons and I want to wake up to experience the eclipse, so I will close for now.  Sweet peace, dear ones.

Shine On!

xo

 

 

 

Infinite Sky Poem

infinitesky

To see the world from above

is to touch a piece of Heaven,

Peace, unity, love.

United in sunlit clouds

and moonbeamed sky.

Wonderment reigns

with a quiet smile

of knowing

that in this present moment

all is well in our world.

Shine On!

xo

 *Photo and poem by The Presents of Presence

August 1st

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August 1st ~ Rabbit Rabbit

“May the Sun always shine through your clouds.” ~ The Presents of Presence

Happy First of August ~ wowza!  The month of July has simply flown by for me!  Has it done the same for you?  With one month of summer left here, I just thought I’d give a reminder to say, Rabbit-Rabbit today for luck the whole month through ~ and to remind you to look for the sunshine even when life is cloudy.

Have a lovely day!

Shine On!

xo

Raindrops on Roses

73005796_Don’t let one “raindrop’ spoil your sunshine ~ let it feed your growth! ~ ♥ The Presents of Presence

I have a blogger friend who recently received a comment that made her sad.  Being that her blog feeds my soul on a daily basis, I was baffled how someone would take the time to criticize if it didn’t fit where they are now in their lives.  For to me, it’s a blessing to enjoy reading the banquet of blogs in my Reader ~ to get many different perspectives on the world ~ to connect with others whom I may not have been able to meet otherwise.  To me, blogging is such a special way to just ‘be’ and enjoy allowing myself the freedom to speak my truths.

It’s not that I hide myself ~ what you read is who I am.  But there are people with whom I don’t share as much as I do here on my blog for various reasons.  Usually it’s because they may think I’m too ‘woo woo’ as I put it ~ too spiritual perhaps ~ not grounded in their eyes.

But the more that I’m reaching out of my comfort zone to allow opportunities in ~ and to show my vulnerabilities ~ and to be ok with others who may find my unique self a bit out of the ordinary for them ~ the easier it’s becoming to just allow myself to blossom where I stand and allow disapproval to slide off of my back like water from a duck’s back.  It’s a constant practice for me to ground myself in order to not allow others criticisms (real or imagined) to affect what I feel/know in my heart is right for me.

I’ve been a people pleaser my entire life.  It was a role I was given and I nurtured on my own.  Peacekeeper, good girl, I never rocked the boat unless I knew for certain it was safe.  But something’s changed in the last 2 months and I can’t go back to not knowing what I know now which is ~ I need to be me, I need to let my light shine and I need to feel strong in the knowing that it’s ok if the perceived changes are met with disapproval from others.

Because it’s MY LIFE that I’m living now.

I don’t mean this to sound dramatic because it’s truly not ~ it’s just been a series of baby steps which I’ve been taking that have finally landed me into a place where I am choosing to be comfortable with being uncomfortable sometimes ~ it’s a daily, sometimes even hourly practice ~ but well-worth it!

So when I ask you to join me in Inner Hotshot University ~ to stretch out of your comfort zones just a little bit ~ it’s because to me, we need to bond together like a rainbow ~ each shining our different hues!

Your uniqueness lies in you being you ~ you are so amazing.  Don’t let one ‘raindrop’ spoil your sunshine ~ let it feed your growth!  Write what your heart tells you ~ you are touching the lives that need your love!  Be true to you!  We are all still here listening with open hearts ♥♥♥

Shine On!

xo

Rest In the Clouds

Zach-Sobiech-600

Meet Zach Sobiech

We are all shining stars in this world.  Sometimes we don’t realize the impact we can make if we just let go and embrace who we are!  Being a conduit of love, happiness and peace ~ sharing of ourselves ~ multiplies this gift to infinity and beyond.  Last night I read about the passing of Zach and found the video below about him.  If you have a few minutes, be inspired by his life and the way he spent his last days.  Zach turned to music to remind his family of  how much he loved them!  Doesn’t it make you think about the legacy you leave behind?

Rest in Peace May 20, 2013

Age 18, from  Osteosarcoma

Singer, Songwriter, Inspirational Soul

Get out of your comfort zone and…

Shine On!

xo

I just read the Daily Prompt and the songs sung by the extraordinary young man above certainly are a bittersweet gift to all of the hearts that he touched during his lifetime, especially his family, friends and loved ones.  I am sure that hearing his voice and seeing his videos makes them nostalgic.  I know that for me, I have 2 voicemail messages on my answering machine from my Dad last year.  One is when he missed my son’s birthday.  He told him that he loved him.  The second message was for me because when Dad was in the hospital and I was helping him with his business at the time.  He told me that he appreciated what I was doing for him, he was proud of me and he loved me.  What a true treasure to keep!  It’s all I have…a bittersweet gift.  Big hugs to all of you today and everyday!  Keep shining! xo

Daily Post: Bittersweet Memories

You receive a gift that is bittersweet and makes you nostalgic. What is it?

Photographers, show us GIFT.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/daily-prompt-bittersweet/

Every precious morning

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I’m a wake up happy type of gal.  I like mornings ~ the newness of the day, accompanied by a fresh cup of coffee.  I like tranquility, when the house is peaceful, all are safe and dreaming in their beds and just Tiffy Cat and I are stirring.  It used to be the girls and I were awake at this time (Chessie & Tiffy) but since Chessie Cat passed a month ago yesterday, pawprints-in-my-heart  it’s just been the 2 of us.  We relax in the morning, look out the windows at the backyard to admire the squirrels and bunnies and just take a moment to breathe before the hubbub of the day begins.

Because in a flash, the boys will be downstairs and the rush of school, work etc will begin.

But in those precious moments, I fill myself up, storing peace and tranquility for the day ahead.  I begin the day with gratitude that I am blessed because I am here to see another day.  I send up a prayer that my day will be good, that I can do good wherever I’m needed.  I take a few moments of fur therapy, petting Tiffy as we both enjoy the morning.  It’s our time and I think she understands.

Do you take a few moments for yourself during your busy day?  I highly recommend it as it centers my soul in the most unusual way.

I’m not a nature type of gal ~ you wouldn’t find me voluntarily camping ever, but I love watching nature from my window.  I love walking with my elder son to the corner for the school bus pickup every morning.  I enjoy the quiet of the morning outside before the world stirs.  We walk together arm in arm many days to keep warm ~ but sometimes, just in that mom/son comforting way.  We chat about the day ahead, planning sports schedules, tests for the week and what’s for dinner that night.  Other times, we just enjoy the quiet of the morning.

Our neighborhood boasts deer, wildlife and trees.  So in the mornings, there’s a peacefulness in the air, it’s like that last intake of breath just before busy begins.  Since Spring has sprung, we’ve been noticing the buds on the trees, flowers sprouting and the colors of the sky.  The picture above is from his phone last week.  I’m a big sky watcher, but it was he who noticed the cloud formation and pointed it out to me.  He snapped the shot from his phone and texted it to me (isn’t technology grand?) while I marveled by his side how blessed I am to have such an amazing son.

We started this routine when he began high school since he leaves so early in the mornings.  I think he likes the company while he waits for the bus and me, I’m just grateful that we get a few moments together that are ours.  As I walk back to the house, smiling to myself, I turn my attention to my younger son as he gets ready for school.  Time flies by so quickly.  These are the precious moments that I won’t forget ~ because it’s the little things that mean so much.

May your day be blessed.

Shine On!

xo

A Thanksgiving Feast of Super Sweet Bloggers!

I figured with the upcoming holiday season fast approaching, a bit of gratitude during Thanksgiving week would be appropriate ~ and give you a chance to expand your blogging reader instead of your waistlines!  🙂  So…first of all, my sincere and sweet thanks to Holly Michael at award-party(her blog is called Holly Michael’s Writing Straight ~ Connecting and Inspiring Along Life’s Crooked Lines by Author & Freelance Writer Holly Michael).  Holly’s inspirational blog along with her amazing photos of faraway places that she’s visited in her blessed lifetime will keep you coming back post after post!  Thank you again Holly for all!  I feel so grateful! xo

Now for the super sweet and gooey:

Rules for this award include:  Thank the super sweet blogger who made the nomination, Nominate a baker’s dozen of other bloggers (below) and answer five questions:

  1. Cookie or cake?  Cookie – good, soft, chewy chocolate chip cookies (no nuts, raisins ok)
  2. Chocolate or Vanilla? Both
  3. What is your favorite sweet treat? Too many to name! 🙂
  4. When do you crave sweet things the most? Equally all the time, except when I’m sleeping. LOL
  5. If you had a sweet nickname, what would it be? Bon Bon

And for the sweetness award, I nominate these super-sweet blogs:

1.  serenityspell.com

Christina’s got the amazing wildlife in Florida front and center!  She makes this big ol’ world seem manageable with her photogenic views of Florida and its inhabitants.  Sprinkle in a big of inspiration and you’ve got FeyGirl’s number.  Not to be missed!

2.  waitingforthekarmatruck.com

Mimi’s got it going on at the Karma Truck!  Stop by and see her…share a cup of coffee on her porch as she’s always got something fun over there on her blog!

3.  antodesimone.wordpress.com

Antonio’s poems in English and Italian will delight you as well as his photographs!  Perhaps you’ll be inspired to learn Italian?!

4.  brainsnorts.wordpress.com

Rich’s blog is full of fun ~ stories to be read, cartoons to write captions for, news to understand…there’s so much to enjoy!  Make sure you stop by to check him out!  You won’t be disappointed!

5.  paperkeeper.wordpress.com

Bonnie’s blog always has something special for you as does her Etsy business.  She’s a lovely lady who may keep her heart in her pocket, but captures all of ours.

6. jumpingonclouds.com

Jump on clouds and ride along the journey of a woman who speaks so openly and lovingly about her recovery from PTSD and her Mom’s recent brain cancer diagnosis.

7.  livingsuccess3d.wordpress.com

Judit is an amazing  coach who will give you tools, strategies and tactics to help you with successfully transforming not only your own personal and professional world, but the world around us ~ you can count on inspirational stories, straight talk and no mumbo jumbo…what a special find!

8.  letlifeinpractices.com

Kristin’s blog is a plethora of information, inspiration and tips for your life!  Get ready to find how to Let Life…and soar!

9.  hopethehappyhugger.wordpress.com

Esperanza will hug you in her special way…enjoy her special brand of Hope & Hugs!  You know you’ll get hope because that’s what Esperanza means!

10.  thoughtsfromanamericanwoman.wordpress.com

Patty helps those in the military connect ~ in addition, she shares heartwarming stories that will always bring a smile to your face!

Please check out these super sweet bloggers…you will be happy that you did!  They are awesome!

Happy Thanksgiving week!   I”m grateful to ALL of You for your amazing posts!

Keep on Blogging!

xo

Storm’s a brewin’

Lightning, Thunder, Stormy Seas…

The last few days I’ve been suffering from a migraine which usually means the barometer is changing and it has been.  We’ve been having some thunderstorms, rain, sun and unusual weather.  As I sit here writing this post, it’s intermittently been raining cats and dogs one minute, with thunderous clouds and loud, rolling thunder and then suddenly the sky switches to bright sunshine with the quiet roll of thunder in the background.  In fact, I feel like it’s like me these days…sunshine with a touch of raincloud followed by a bit of thunder.

But I digress because I wanted to post about change and how difficult it can be on the body, the mind and others around us.  I think this is where my inner and outer thunderclouds have originated.  I’m on a changing cycle I think and it’s a bit stormy here for me as I go through the changes.  I’m a bit daunted to be honest by the unknown ahead, but having delved into the unknown before, I am shoring up my courage to keep taking baby steps.

The outer thunder is just the careless roar of others which I can deal with although I’d prefer calm, sun-filled moments.  But that’s ok for me.  I’ve been through far worse.  The inner thunder is more treacherous to me and having experienced it before, it leaves me a little shaky these days.  Nothing like a touch of the unknown to scare me a bit.

I remember when I was first diagnosed, I was afraid to cry.  Imagine being afraid to cry!?  But I was afraid that if I started to cry, I’d never stop.  Now I know that sounds silly, but to me, it was perfectly logical.  I was unable to mourn the loss of my breasts because I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to stop crying about it.  So I held the pain inside until I almost burst.  Then a very dear friend told me not to be afraid to cry because eventually I’d stop…and those simple words, ‘eventually you’ll stop’ made all the difference in the world to me.  And the shift happened.

I cried for the loss of my breasts, for the time I spent in chemo, radiation, in hospitals, alone…I cried for the time I worried that I wouldn’t see my boys become teenagers.  I cried through sad movies, silly commercials and any true life story article or movie or book I could put my hands on.  It was like I needed that reason to cry and not the reason that I had in my own life and heart.  But through allowing those tears to escape me, I felt the weight of the sadness lifting from my soul and my heart.  It was when I allowed myself to cry, I was able to heal my heart and begin to take baby steps again.

It’s been a busy 8 weeks since my Dad passed and I’ve not had a lot of time to mourn the loss.  I know all about the grieving process having endured it when I had breast cancer 10 years ago.  I’ve been moving along through the 7 steps, only to stagger now.  But in the thundercloud where I am presently, it’s only fitting that a storm’s a brewin’ because I think many changes have occurred in the last 8 weeks of my life…and I just have to keep my thoughts on the prize of a sparkling rainbow!

Cheers to fears, tears and thunderclouds…

for they make the Rainbows that much sweeter!

xo

Thankful Thursday ~ Don’t Quit!

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a fellow turns about
When he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow –
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than
It seems to a faint and faltering man;
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor’s cup;
And he learned too late when the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out –
The silver tint in the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It might be near when it seems afar;
So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit –
It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

 ~ Unknown

Happy Thankful Thursday to YOU!

Thank you all for reading my blogs and for commenting on them as well!

I thought I’d make a card for you with one of my favorite poems.  There’s something about the easy, sing-song rhyme of the above that I enjoy.   I carry a little card with this poem on it…let me know if you want one.  If you need a helping hand, I’m here for you!

Stand still when you have to,

take baby steps forward when you need to…

but please,

Don’t Quit!

xo