Paint Party Friday Small moments

The original acrylic

Sometimes things go wrong, very wrong.  Often there is nothing we can do but hold our breath and wait for it all to play out. During which time there may be pain, loads of pain, either physically, fiscally, or emotionally. Somehow, with friends and family support,   a small switch in perspective I`ve been able to change things up to make life a little more comfortable. For me finding gratitude in the smallest things helps take my mind off the larger issues at hand.

Digital color edit

Just the other day I was reminded of how I felt twenty years ago while my mom was dying.  During that time I  had  complained to a friend how things were falling by the wayside with me spending so much time at the hospital. Weeds were overtaking my beautiful gardens. 

A few days later two of my friends showed up at the door.  Garden gloves and cinnamon buns in hand prepared to weed!  Instead I threw on the coffee  and refused to let them weed. I needed  my friends for comfort, a few laughs,   to feel normalcy in a world out of control. As I write this, tears stream my face at the importance of that pivotal day which will be embedded with gratitude in my heart forever! 

In those hours of darkness my dear  friends picked up my shattered heart off the ground, pieced it together, kissing it with their friendship. My complaints were never about the weeds. In fact a few days before they arrived I opened the door to see a vibrant yellow  dandelion bloom. Despite the  nemesis  to my garden, it was beautiful, alive and growing.  Unlike my poor mother, who was way too young,  suffering cancer on her death bed.

Digital collage of my original

Life is like that sometimes. Finding those simple pleasing moments to thoroughly bask in,  got me through the difficult stuff  to find peace, joy and the true magic of life.  It was no different with my hard  divorce, an illness, and terrible fiscal blurps!

Digital collage with re-sized trees all
 done in microsoft paint program

A few adjustments in perspective, a heart full of gratitude and I could find happiness in a giggle with friends, a burst of color in a store front, a good memory, a card game with my daughter,  the smell of coffeebrewing, and a delicious meal! Because no matter where I looked, no matter how bad I felt I always knew it could be worse so I should appreciate what is!

Color edits done at photobucket

 I never forgot and hold dear to this day what my moms best friend said to me just after she died, " I promise you, it will get better!"  And it did...... over the years I hear myself repeat that to others because it truly helped me so much! Christmas is a time of celebration, although I am fortunate to feel the spirit  this year not everyone can.  Some people are into the season carrying a very heavy heart, I am wishing them love and a few simple moments of peace and joy.

It's not every year I feel the spirit of the season! How about you do you have the spirit this year?

I missed the party this week,  please forgive me and  visit my sweet artist friends at Paint Party friday you won't be disappointed!!

So grateful while living in Chaos

 
I had my paints out to finish a few  canvases, Bryan bought wood for a window seat he's been itching to build when  we get the call the guys coming in three days to lay hardwood in the family room, kitchen eating area. 

Oh man, with Bryan working full time  it was a huge struggle  to move furniture putting felt on each piece not to scratch our  living room floor,  pull the carpets, the moldings and part of the lino in three days. But the man, marvel that he is, did it!  With   ibprophen as his best friend, taking the edge off joint pain. 

Every  morning   I forget we have no family room or T.V. hooked up downstairs.  I miss my cozy space where I plop myself down to eat my bowl of multigrain cheerios with that first scrumptious cup of roasted ground beans! 

On a good note,    I am incredibly grateful for  the   wonderful sectional brownie pan I received from my dear blog friend, scrabble partner Queensize funny bone....what a doll, I had no idea it was coming and cried with delight when I opened it. Unfortunately with all the dust blowing around in the kitchen we haven't been able to bake any yet! I have a feeling it will be very soon though! I'll post a photo a soon as Pepper does, she wants to Christen it!

I also received a parcel from my blog friend Keith  in England. He sent me copy of the antics he wrote about his friend Rosy, along with my new favorite mug sporting  the illustration I created of her.  It's a pretty quick read although I've only had time for half of it, I couldn't stop smiling   with every chapter. Rosey is such a hilarious fun character, I have to choose my words carefully  because she reads my blog. But this young woman see's the world through some what naive eyes which makes her so  endearing!  She reminds me of a character from my favorite  English Carry On gang in the seventies!  It's been a glorious week of unexpected welcome surprises, yet my house is a haberdashery of chaos! Now there's a word for ya!

Hope reborn

Hope Reborn

Two angels arrive
Encouraging relief
Comforting parents
Occupied by grief

Coos of innocence
Fills winters air
Double blessings
Offer hope repair

Tiny jewels
Ten fingers and toes
blossoms of joy
Long awaited repose

Welcome treasures
Restructuring life
Compensation
For a labor of strife

Memories loom
Of children passed
A shrine exhibit
Mother amassed

Resilient hearts
Beat on command
As birth and grief
Walk hand in hand

My friends who lost their severely disabled son Ethan at age five last winter, after losing their disabled ten month old Jayna less than two years earlier, have just had a healthy set of twins on Nov 7th. They were optimistically reserved during the pregnancy since they were never assigned a proper name for their children"s rare genetic disorder. Which is still being considered by genetic specialist at this juncture.
They took an alternative root and these precious angels arrived to bless an amazing couple. Twins should be a cinch for these two who carted a tall five year old around medicating him every few hours providing 24/7 demanding care. They feel their children taught them so much in the short time they were here, including true courage and patience.
These lucky little princesses... WILL be loved! They'll be spoiled with humorous, fun loving adventurous, immediate and extended family, a warm, kind, loving mommy, aunt, uncle and grandmother, a highly intelligent wise daddy, and people who listens to their needs. This is hope reborn for my dear friends and their new angels.We are ecstatic for these good people!

Happy Thanksgiving to All my American Friends

It's the American Thanks Giving, this was in my email. I wanted to share it because my heart truly believes this is how we manifest our dreams. When I look back at the most successful part of my life I was always grateful and daydreaming.I'd imagine it and then it would come to be. I'm even embarrassed at some of the things I wished for, and how they appeared. Even when I haven't been grateful there has been a lesson in it...changing my attitude changes my life. It really has and still does!

A Secret Scrolls message from Rhonda Byrne
Creator of The Secret

The greatest thief of human happiness and abundance is ungratefulness. Any lack in our lives - whether in money, health, or relationships - is simply the evidence of a lack of gratitude. If you focus on lack you are not being grateful, and that will bring more lack into your life. Yet the simple state of radiating gratitude summons everything to you.

No matter who you are or where you are, you can change your life with gratitude, but you must feel it with your whole heart and radiate it from every cell. Gratitude is not a mental exercise, and in fact, if you simply use your mind for gratitude it will have little or no power. True gratitude comes from your heart! You must think gratitude through your heart, speak gratitude through your heart, and feel it intensely in your heart.

Then practice gratitude relentlessly. As you practice gratitude you will attract more thoughts and feelings of gratitude. In a short time your entire being will be saturated with it, and you will experience a happiness that is beyond what you can imagine. This is what is ahead for you when you choose gratitude as your way of life. And if you can really live in this highest state of gratitude, you will never have to ask for anything. Everything you want will be given to you before you even ask, because gratitude is the magnetic substance that opens every single door in the Universe.

This Thursday is Thanksgiving in the United States. To celebrate Thanksgiving, I want to share an excerpt with you from The Secret Daily Teachings, which is being released in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia on December 9th. This excerpt presents an easy way to start using gratitude and integrate it into your life by making every Thursday "Thank You Thursday." As you "Thank your way through every Thursday" you will open the most powerful receiving channel within you.

From The Secret Daily Teachings - Thank You Thursday

"Today is Thank You Thursday. Today and every Thursday is your day to say and feel "Thank you" in as many ways as you can.

Write a list of all the people and events you want to give thanks for.

Return thanks today to those who have done things for you.

As you walk say "Thank you" in your mind with each step you take.

As you drive, make each time you stop your cue to say "Thank you."

At various times in the day, think and feel "Thank you" inside you seven times in a row.

Look for every opportunity to say "Thank you" to other people, and say it with so much meaning that the person looks right at you.

Thank your way through every Thursday, and make "Thank you" your predominant thought, feeling, and words of the day.

"Thank you" - two words, inconceivable potential power, and all they need is you to put the power into them by expressing them.

Thank you!"


Excerpt from The Secret Daily Teachings

. . .

May the joy of gratitude be in your heart,

Rhonda Byrne
The Secret... bringing joy to billions

Today I am very thankful for my wonderful

American friends!