Happy Sunday Happy New Year

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Good morning! Happy Sunday and Happy New Year! I can’t believe we’re in the year 2023! Does it seem as startling to you this morning as it does to me? Perhaps it’s just that I haven’t had enough coffee yet! 🙂 But time truly flies when you sit quietly and reflect as I’ve been doing this morning. Reflecting and being present and also taking care to think about the future. Because isn’t that what we do on New Year’s Day?!

It’s a fresh start beginning with January 1st. While I’m not one for declaring my resolutions for the coming year, I know many people who do. Instead, I’d rather take stock of what I have, count my blessings with gratitude, and plan for the future with lots of hope mixed in.

Faith. Hope. and Love.

I’ve been through a lot over the years while I’ve been writing to you. I’ve battled breast cancer (yesterday marked 21 years since my diagnosis). I’ve lost both of my parents. I’ve cleaned out and sold 4 houses for family due to deaths. The marriage and relationship with his family ceased to exist. I’ve endured open heart surgery and Covid. Those are just the biggies. I’m sure there’s more, I just can’t think of them right now…But what I’m getting at is this: what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger…and I’ve learned how strong I innately am!

As I held my sons last night after we watched the ball drop together in Times Square, I began to get teary. The three of us stood together in a unified hug, as it should be. We are family. We have endured so much together. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been so worth it.

I got teary because I am so grateful. I know how precious life is. I understand that life can change in a moment’s notice. When I look back over the last ten years, so much in my life has changed. So much in my sons’ lives have changed and while we don’t know where this new year will take us, what I do know in my heart is this: we will do it together and there’s no place I’d rather be right now than with them.

So as I sit here with a kitty on my lap, the boys and pup asleep upstairs in the early hours of the first day of the new year, I send you love, gratitude and a gentle reminder to always remember to enjoy – the presents of presence – in your life!

Shine On!

xo

Reason, Season and a Lifetime

A teacher is a candle who spends their whole life giving light to all of their students.

I never knew there was a World Teacher Day until I saw it on my calendar, so here I am. Because as a retired Spanish teacher, and a blogger who uses – SHINE ON – to end her posts, well, it was only fitting for me to write today.

Perhaps though I’ll go in a bit of a different direction. Because I think that the world is our classroom and all of her inhabitants are our teachers. Each relationship we have teaches us something else. We learn much from the people in our lives. That poem about reason, season or lifetime seems fitting at this juncture. We are blessed to learn something from each relationship we are in. I found this poem by Brian A. Chalker which I think explains it very well. Read on…

Reason, Season and a Lifetime

People always come into your life for a reason, a season and a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, or to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually. They may seem like a godsend to you, and they are. They are there for a reason, you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die, Sometimes they just walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season. And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall, the season eventually ends.

LIFETIME, relationships teach you a lifetime of lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway), and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being part of my life…..

My heartfelt gratitude to all of you with whom I have been in contact, had a relationship, and learned from as my teachers. You have shaped my life in amazing ways and I am truly grateful for all of you.

Shine On!

xo

Walking On Snow

There’s just something beautiful about walking on snow that nobody else has walked on. It makes you believe you’re special.

Carol Rifka Brunt

We had a little snowstorm here and it was delightful! I adore when it snows! I could watch the flakes falling for hours as it feels so peaceful to me. The sounds of snow falling is magical and Buster (our new Golden Retriever Christmas puppy) and I were out in the middle of the night while it was snowing a few times and it was chilly, but well worth it. Because nature’s soothing sounds of snow falling, while the world is asleep, I find amazing. To see him trying to capture the falling flakes was adorable and to witness his first few steps on snow (which he had never experienced before) made me giggle, even though I was trembling in the cold. He, who has a double fur coat, was non-plussed as he rolled around in the snow! Ah, the joys of having a new puppy!

I love this quote as it felt so true, especially when we were out a few times in the snow and as it kept falling, our footprints were erased for the next time he had to go outside. Each time, it felt special! There’s nothing like walking on newly fallen snow! It’s as if you’re blazing your own trail!

I think that’s what our lives are for – blazing our own trails (with or without snow). Taking the time to enjoy those precious quiet moments with those we love, cozy and happily being with loved ones, spending time just being in the present. Noticing all the glorious presence in nature and our world.

May you all have a lovely weekend. Keep your heart lights lit and gather your loved ones together with gratitude in your heart for all of the blessings we have.

Shine On!

xo

Thunderbolts and Lightning

Thunderbolts and Lightning! When I hear those words together, they make me think of that song by Queen called Bohemian Rhapsody. Do you know it as well? Did those words together make you think of it too?

Well, last night we had a wicked storm here and as I watched the storm roll in, the lightning flash and heard the thunder roar, I thought of how good storms can be to clear out what isn’t working and to electrify the atmosphere so that change can take place.

I used to be afraid of storms, but I’ve changed the way I look at them. While I am careful with lightning and such, I find storms more fascinating now that my mindset has developed and changed.

Because storms change life up. Sometimes it isn’t in a good way, but in the end, we learn and grow from storms. For if we didn’t have storms, we wouldn’t learn from life’s lessons. We wouldn’t increase our understanding of human behavior. We wouldn’t develop our innate talents. We wouldn’t find our community that supports us. Without storms shaking us up, we would stay stagnant

So let’s cheer to the storms – To the lightning that shines in the darkness where we may fear to tread. To the thunder that rolls in with strength. To the rains that blanket the earth with much needed water to help growth.

Did you have storms where you are? Are you a storm watcher as I am?

Shine On!

xo

Mr. Groundhog Returns!

I am very excited to share that I finally had a sighting of Mr. Groundhog (aka Fatty)! I haven’t seen him in months and was worried that the other more active wildlife here had perhaps taken off with him. But much to my surprise, he popped up into my yard and I was able to greet him with a happy smile.

Now I know many people may not be as enthusiastic as I am when a groundhog who has a large labyrinth underground has made it through hibernation only to pop back up, but I am! A few days ago after the farmer across the street had tilled the field, I watched a few groundhogs scampering across the street in the recently turned soil and hoped that perhaps one of them was mine.

Fatty is looking pretty lean so I hope that his munching on the dandelions (of which I have a ton in the yard right now) will fatten him up again happily after his long winter’s nap. Now I just have to wait and see if Mrs. Fatty returns as well!

Of course, you know I am anxiously awaiting a sighting of my darling bunnies. So far, I haven’t seen them, but I am keeping a watchful eye out!

Which by the way, reminds me – Today is…

May First which is….Rabbit Rabbit, White Rabbit, White Rabbit Day!

Shine On!

xo

Happy Blessed Easter

I wish you all a very Happy Blessed Easter. May an abundance of Easter blessings be yours. Above is the stained glass window from my childhood church which brings me back to the decades of Sundays I spent looking at this amazing window.

When I saw this photo, it touched my heart in ways that I hadn’t predicted. Something so very familiar and yet from so long ago brought a tear to my eye in a nostalgic way. Have you ever had this feeling? It’s the tenderness in the moment wrapped in the gratitude for their love.

May you all stay well. May you keep gratitude and joy in your hearts. Please continue to shine your heartlights for all to see for we need more light in this world. God Bless.

Shine On!

xo

Jersey Roots

As you may remember, I’m a Jersey Girl. Born and raised in New Jersey. Bruce (Bruce Springsteen) is pretty famous here. He lived in my town for awhile. I’ve met him a few times. We’ve actually got a few friends in common. Whenever we’ve met he’s been nice and not pretentious at all. A normal man who doesn’t act like he’s a celebrity or deserves special treatment. Just a kind person…and that counts for a lot in my book.

It’s been a few years since I’ve watched the Superbowl, but I’ve always loved the commercials. This one was no exception and in tribute to my Jersey roots (and to Bruce’s), I wanted to share it with you. Because there’s a feeling of hope, calm, caring and even love in this commercial. What do you think of it?

“There’s a chapel in Kansas standing on the exact center of the lower 48. It never closes. All are more than welcome to come meet here in the middle,” Bruce says. “It’s no secret, the middle has been a hard place to get to lately, between red and blue, between servant and citizen, between our freedom and our fear.”

“Now fear has never been the best of who we are. And as for freedom, it’s not the property of just the fortunate few. It belongs to us all, whoever you are, wherever you’re from. It’s what connects us, and we need that connection,” he continues. “We need the middle. We just have to remember the very soil we stand on is common ground. So we can get there. We can make it to the mountain top, through the desert, and we will cross this divide. Our light has always found its way through the darkness. And there’s hope on the rode up ahead.”

Our light has always found its way through the darkness.

Shine On!

xo

Greetings 2021

Happy First Monday of 2021 to all! I hope you had a lovely New Year’s and that you are quickly settling into writing 2021 as opposed to 2020! It always takes me a few days to get used to writing a new year in the beginning. Do you have the same experience?

I awoke this morning and realized that this is a new decade for me and my loved ones. A lot happened in our lives during the last decade 2010-2020 which brought about so many tears, changes and much upheaval. But I am looking forward to this new decade which comes in altogether differently with a breath of fresh optimism, love, light and healing. I am so grateful for the past decade which taught me so much even when it was so difficult. I remain blessed that what I endured during these last ten years has made me stronger, more resilient and has taught me more about life and people than I ever really intended. I’ve learned so much which allows me to help others who are in similar situations. For walking these paths is not easy and sometimes we simply need a hand to hold onto as we continue on. As always, I offer you my hand in friendship.

What I love is that I can honestly tell you that I am happy, and that I have healed from the past decade’s experiences. Overcoming so many life’s challenges without losing myself, nor my positive attitude, has been miraculous. I have had much help over the years and I am truly grateful for those who stayed and supported me, took the time to listen, to help me to heal and to inspire me to believe in love and life again. These gifts are so precious to me as are those people who reached out with kindness and caring.

I am raising my glass to you and to 2021 in greetings! May we continue to see the glass as. half full and be grateful for the glass itself which is refillable. May we hold precious those who care and love innately. May we be filled with hope, inspiration and the light of goodness as we fill our days shining our heartlights. May we never forget The Presents of Presence no matter how hectic our lives become – for this lifetime is short and is never guaranteed for a certain period of time.

So live a life that you are proud of,

a legacy of love,

that helps all with whom you connect

to feel the blessings

that your presence is to our world.

Shine On!

xo

Rabbit Rabbit

Well friends, it’s that time of the month again! You know, the one when we say rabbit-rabbit-white-rabbit-white-rabbit/! Have you said it yet? I put two rabbits in the photo today. I just felt like we all needed a little extra this month considering we’re in the home stretch of 2020! For some I know this has been a really difficult year. I think we have all felt the stresses this year, but I pray that we will find this last month of the year one where we feel a healing. Certainly with the holidays approaching we can find peace within and some holiday spirit to lift us up.

I hope that you are taking good care of yourselves for I think of you often. I am not on my blog as much as I have been in past years, but I hope that 2021 allows me more time to spread positivity and to connect with all of you!

Keep shining your heartlights! We all need to shine in this darkness and spread love and light.

Shine On!

xo

Have You Checked Your Spam Comment Folder Lately?

To all my dear blogging friends, have you checked your spam comment folder lately? Much to my surprise I had over 200 comments waiting for me in the Spam Folder. I hadn’t checked it in awhile so I was surprised to see so many of them there.

Further investigation showed the exact same phrase over and over on three different posts. The phrase was:

“Muchas gracias. ?Como puedo iniciar sesion?”

Which in Spanish means, “Thank you. How can I begin the session?”

At first glance, I had to see what post this comment referred to, but none of the posts that this Spam comment was in had anything to do with a session of any sort. Then I began looking at the users who commented this way and after wasting time blocking them and permanently deleting them, I realized that the same users were spamming my posts with the same comment as above. However, they were also using different people’s emails.

Has this happened to you?

It seems this all happened within the last week. Do people have nothing better to do than to be obnoxious? I don’t quite understand the reasoning behind writing the same comment and infiltrating other people’s emails to deliver said comment repeatedly!

Do you have any more information on this type of annoyance? I am wondering if I am the only one or if it’s happening across WP? By the way, thank you to WordPress for catching the Spam in a folder for me! It would have been infinitely more difficult to deal with it had they not corralled the mischief in my Spam folder.

In either case, they are deleted and hopefully will not return. I hope all of you are healthy and doing well. Keep shining your heartlights and please let me know if you’ve encountered anything similar!

Shine On!

xo