The Ocean…

The ocean stirs the heart,

inspires the imagination

& brings eternal joy to the soul.

~ Wyland

I have always been a beach girl.  Growing up, we went to the beach daily and honestly, I love the beach no matter the season nor the weather.  There is something magical about the power of the sea which calms my tender soul and I am ever grateful for her.

Perhaps being a Pisces, it’s innate in me, that love of the sea.  Two fish swimming is the sign for Pisces which is the last of the astrological signs in the zodiac.  Creativity and passion for writing have always been dear to me, for as you know, I love to connect through writing (hence the blog!).

Summer is upon us, with the start of Memorial Day weekend here in the States.  My beloved beach will be overcrowded now with tourists and beach goers and gone will be the gentle solitude which has soothed my soul frequently.

I am reminded of the quieter times that I enjoyed my solitude at the beach.  Sky and sea met on the horizon seamlessly, blue on blue.  The warm sand beneath my toes beckoning me as the sun warmed my soul.  Scattered shells and bits of sea glass treasures polka dot the sand.  The gentle sound of waves lapping the shoreline like a lullaby just for me.  When I was immersed in the sea, she rocked me, enveloped me, like a mother with a toddler at bedtime.  Gulls flew overhead, calling to friends.  Pipers scampered at the edge where the sand and the water met, tiptoeing quickly in the surf.  At night, the moon reflected on the dark, mysterious  water full of unseen animals who swam quietly by.  Still the waves’ melodious song called to me and I answered, my heart full of peace.

There is so much peace and love at the beach when we commune with her.  Do you feel the same way?  Does the sea beckon to you too?

Shine On!

xo

Sweet Summer

It’s Friday!  The weekend begins ~ just a quick note to send joy your way!  Take some time today to be kind to yourself and to enjoy the wonder of Mother Nature’s gifts.  Eat strawberries, jump in a lake or swim in the ocean, listen to the cicadas in the coolness of the evening, walk barefoot in the grass, on the beach, wherever you are!  Face the sun and let the shadows of worry fall behind you.

Be safe.  Be kind.  Be for just a little while.  Stillness renews our souls and helps us to reconnect soul and body.  Happy Summer to YOU!

Shine On!

xo

July

I have lived pain, and my life can tell: I only deepen the wound of the world when I neglect to give thanks the heavy perfume of wild roses in early July and the song of crickets on summer humid nights and the rivers that run and the stars that rise and the rain that falls and all the good things that a good God gives. ~ Ann Voskamp

I know it’s the coming towards the end of July, but I found this quote last night and wanted to share it with all of you.  Ann Voskamp is the author of One Thousand Gifts:  A Dare To Live Fully Right Where You Are which spent 60 weeks on the NY Times Best Seller’s List.  Although I had never heard of her before, nor have I read her books, I may be reading them soon!

Don’t neglect the perfume of wild roses, the song of crickets, the stars and rain and all that July brings.

Shine On!

xo

Sunday Shines On!

Pick up the pieces

walk this way

calm remains

on a summer’s day.

Grasses bend by the wind’s heavy hand

thoughts are a’blowing from my outstretched hand.

Bees are buzzing

words keep coming

I shall not stop the flow.

Birds are chirping

brook is gurgling

and now I feel now feel at home.

Shine On!

xo

 

 

St Patrick’s Day Magic

   St. Patrick’s Day

A day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.

-Adrienne Cook

May we all enjoy a bit of magic today and always!

Shine On!

xo

Daily Prompt ~ Summer’s Day

Sunbeams dance sprightly on the water,

leaving sparkly footprints for all to enjoy.

Blue skies grow cloud mountains,

the air is fresh and clean.

Peace fills my soul with every breath,

as troubles gently float away.

Teardrops cease their journey,

exchanged for a smile,

by a calm summer’s day.

~ The Presents of Presence.

Today’s post is dedicated to the 6 Month Anniversary of Hurricane Sandy and all who were affected.

Daily Prompt: Unleash Your Inner Dickinson by michelle w.

National Poetry Writing Month is nearly at at end. To celebrate it, try your hand at some verse.

http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/04/29/daily-prompt-dickinson/

Seasons Change, Life Changes, You Change…

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.

Nature’s peace will flow into you just as sunshine flows into trees.

The winds will blow their own freshness into you… while cares will drop off like leaves.

Well my friends, it’s almost the end of summer and I am hanging on to its vestiges with every fiber of my being.  I know most of us are already thinking in terms of fall since school has started but alas, the Fall Equinox officially begins on in the Northern Hemisphere on September 22, 10:49 A.M. EDT.   The word equinox comes from the Latin words for “equal night.” The fall and spring equinoxes are the only days of the year in which the Sun crosses the celestial equator.   From here on out, the temperatures begin to drop and the days start to get shorter than the nights.

My Dad passed away on June 21st which was the first day of summer which was his favorite season so I guess moving into fall would be just another first to add to our collection.  We’ve endured my parents’ first wedding anniversary without my Dad, my nephew’s & brother-in-law’s birthdays, my husband’s and my wedding anniversary, the first day back to school went by without his traditional call to ask how the day went and various holidays ~ July 4th, Labor Day have already been celebrated without his earthly presence.

I guess that’s where this all ties in together for seasons change…life changes…we are born, we live, we die…and then…?  I won’t go into what happens next, because I am concentrating on the NOW…the PRESENT that we’ve been given.

My suggestion to you is to video tape your loved ones talking about something special…get their voices on tape…take pictures now while life is good because we only have today…we only have my Dad’s voice on the answering machines since he was always calling us.  I am grateful that I kept his last few messages.  My sister took a video of him when he was first put in the hospital, before he started to really go further downhill and it is one that I am ever grateful for because he sent me a message ~ one that I’ll forever cherish.

Which brings me to my passion ~ sending out love.  What’s the legacy you’re leaving behind?  If today was your last day, would your loved ones know how you feel?  Would there be kind words left unsaid?  I used to keep cards from my family that said something very special ~ you know, that note that said how proud of you they were and how much you are loved…those kinds…now I keep the last card sent from others because I’ve now found first hand how much it means to see a loved ones handwriting especially when it says something good.  You see, we all need to feel loved and to feel special.  An unexpected card in the mail, amidst the junk and bills, is a smile giver ~ telling someone now how you feel is a sure-fire way to not feel that there are words left unsaid.  Sending a card with your heartfelt words gives a concrete, hand-held reminder of how you feel ~ one that will be cherished.  And with SendOutCards you can even write it in your own handwriting, but from the comfort of your computer, in your pjs without leaving home!

Do you have 10 minutes and $1?  Of course you do…now use it…be the change you want to see in your life, in your relationships…you can’t change others, but you most certainly can change yourself!

Don’t FALL back into the routine which you’ve know for years…

branch out, let your cares fall like the leaves

and blow the freshness of a new season into your life and into the lives of others!

I’ll help by getting you started…

www.sendoutcards.com/126830

xo

Anything is Possible…Think Snow!

So, it’s back to work, back to school and back to reality with summer a happy memory behind us and fall on it’s way.  But before we let the warm weather disappear, I have a true story for you!  Read on my friends…

Last summer we were out on our boat with my sister and her family.  The subject of positive thinking came up and my hubby stated that Anything is Possible.  My sister enjoys egging him on, so she began a discussion with him that went something like this:

“Anything is possible,” said my hubby.

“No it’s not.” countered my sister.

“Name one thing that’s not possible.”

“Snow.”

“It’s possible.”

“Right now?  In the middle of the summer heat with not a cloud in the sky?”

“Yes, why not?”

With a triumphant smile on her face, she laughed at him, until she turned around and saw…

Think Snow

This boat had just come into our view at just that exact moment!  Can you imagine all of our surprise?  We’ve never seen the boat before nor ever again.  She quickly snapped a picture of it so that we could always remember the story of “Think Snow” and it’s been a family favorite ever since…

So, the next time you aren’t sure if positive thinking works,

“Think Snow” even when it’s summertime!

Anything Is Possible!

xo