This gift of life

It's like a first breath after being dead for so long. Washing over the soul in reviving waves. The WORD Gods words oh how sustaining they can be. I don't think we realize how starved our spirits become in this taxing and trying world, we rush and worry and do everything but the important things. I often wish we could glimps the state of our spirits that lay hidden within, I fear we'd find emaciated little creature, in place of where life and fullness should be. 

Tiredness is a killer to the souls of humanity, the spirits suffer far worse though for this is something forgotten, laying inside believers like a untapped oil well. 

Riches and beauty and goodness all have been placed inside us without measure, every gift given through the Holy Spirit we let waist away. 

Putting my eyes before life for the first time in a long time, has been that reminder, oh joy that leaps from deep inside my heart as the words though familiar cause my strength to return. I hate to write it here but we've all let our daily walk fall away, lately moving stress, so many excuses can be made, yet I'm destroying my own success when I skip the one thing that will make my life limitless. This walk daily in the nourishing soil of the Word is all I need, yet becomes expendable. Why is the solution when time in thinly stretched from task to task to let go that most important ritual that's better for you than eating. 

The spirit of a man will sustain him... Prov 18:14 

Remember this and your chance of success becomes not just a chance but a hard and fast fact, as solid as the foundations of the mountains but stronger because of where the life comes. He created the mountains and this ground is unshakable our bedrock won't ever fail. This is a note to my self and to all who care to be rid of that sinking and defeating feeling that seems to wrap its arms around us in a dreamy languid sort of poison as if we had taken a sip of hemlock to quench our droughty thirst. And have been in an state of unconscious death ever since. 

For our spirits can't die, do we truly want to subject our own wellspring of life to a weighty and endless torture. Its hell for our spirits on this earth. For absence from the father and life, his glory and his love is hell, something a very special person died to keep us from.

Don't let the pressure of life keep you from his gift of life, fix your eyes upon the word even if just tiny bits. 

His words never go without effect.

 This is my challenge and my resolution, to never let my spirit go a day without feeding on life. 

Title and lyrics by hillsong united 

The heart of an Olympian

that special time that comes around every two years is come and gone. And we have been
glued to the telly for hours upon hours watching and rooting for people who we well never meet and people who will never know you existed or cheered for them when they gave there all for a prize. That two weeks I'm talking about of course in the Olympics,
I'm not quite sure if its so in to watch the above mentioned, anymore but its always been a family tradition, and something most enjoyable.
While I have a terrible case of russian fever, I am still able to wonder what it is about this event that keeps us engaged. So why do we love this two week span, when a group of countries get together and do sports battle in snow or in sun ?
Lessons, I believe we can all learn form everything, everything and anything. And we may not even notice we are watching lessons, but the message gets in.
Its inspiring to see determination, isn't it ? somewhere deep down we all feel that if one person could and usually from hard backgrounds make there dreams happen, why who would stop us ?
determination to keep going when the chips are down when the whole world is against you, we watch these moments as if our life depends on it, we laugh and cheer when that one person makes it happen that one who fought a little harder went a little farther, pushed beyond there limitations. It inspires us, the person on the couch, its more than just entertainment. We become connected to these people, in a primal instinctive way.
As humans we love the age old story of a hero, male or female doesn't matter. Who will rise from the burnt out ashes of the past,  or get up again after defeat and reach the center stage of there dreams.  Its the base for all stories really.  Its that spirit we love that heart to win, its why we will tell the stories of these moments twenty years from now to the generations who were not witness to such greatness.
What I love most apart form the excitement and rush of cheering on the home team, is the stories. the inspiring tales of hardships, and overcoming. Its in us all, that strong arm, that will to succeed.
and to watch the culmination of that decision to not give up and to not be a quitter, in every person who didn't get a free ride, and fought to live there dream is awesome.
Sure some have it easier than others, but it all makes up in the end, the story of the day is overcome.
words like against all odds. And we see that play out before is, and we are boosted a little higher, we are reminded that with hard work and a little will power anything is possible, for the athletes its a sport that makes is wonder how and why, what it it for you ?
What is it that says no,  that can be removed with a little pushing through.
We also can learn a lot about the heart condition, some give up, some fight till the end, some are sore losers. And we are either disgusted or disappointed, usually both. But we can apply this to ourselves
which one are we ? When we fight and things don't happen will we smile, be disappointed but still hold our head high ? A true man isn't revealed in ease, its through struggle and often times disappointment.
who are we when our character is tested. We have seen a lot of "failures" these two weeks, but the ones that though tears fell were hopeful, and not crushed to the point of giving up. inspired us more.
We have seen more dashed dreams than realized, only one can win. But those who thought it an accomplishment to just get there show true determination, for as the saying goes, your not a failure until you fail to try.
I could go on and on, the more I type the more I think of lessons, but I shall save those for the next two years.
So when is it your time to shine ? Every day is your battle, mine too, will you win will you lose. Sometimes both can teach us a lot, especially losses. learn to read them. see if you can take them gracefully, see if you have the heart of an olympian.

I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Phill 3: 14 
  
What do you love about the olympic season most ?

The heart of Thanksgiving

It feels as thought winter has indeed stopped to make a home here in my part of the world.
December had come, goodness me how that has happened, but I say that about all months that arrive so quickly, and lately it seems they all do.  Autumn is no more by the arrival of white, even if only a dusting serves as a reminder; every time I look out the window.
The colours of autumn have fallen long ago, another season nearly laid to rest.
At this time of year we celebrate thanksgiving, and indeed we have passed it by more than a week.

I had intended to write something, but....

With thanksgiving not so far behind. I wanted to write something that spoke of the holiday,
but more than that I wanted to write about the heart of thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is more than just a day to share with those we love, that is indeed wonderful, but thankfulness is a heart condition, not just a holiday.

Thanksgiving
 is one of the most beautiful forms of praise, that I can think of, its not just I love you because you did this for me, or oh thanks for the favour. No gratefulness in much deeper than all that surface stuff, this gratefulness is a one way overcoming (I hardly know how to put it into words its so not a thing) That wells up inside your spirit and spills over into any words that suffice, and sometimes don't suffice, praising a Father who gives everything so fully for our redemption, and enjoyment.
Its that thing that brings tears to your eyes when your heart is so fill, so wondrously jammed with beautiful blessings, that you can hardly stand to keep it in. That's why tears flow when your family's gathered in one room together and the chatter is noisy and jolly and frivolous but that moment is so perfect so joyful that your heart sees a blessing and gratefulness like a tree grows larger and larger.

Its hard to practise Thankfulness when we are restricted in our hearts by the doubts, and crushed down by terrible circumstances. We can easily become hard when we focus of the don't haves rather than the magnificent beauties we do have in our lives.

Thankfulness
is a funny thing if practised consistently, it conditions your heart for growth, and removes the above mentioned states. When your heart is conditioned your in a position to walk in the path designed for you before the foundation of the world. Set by God for your enjoyment.
I believe that Thankfulness stem's more from having something you wanted, granted to you. That is just one tiny facet of gratefulness.
True Thankfulness is an acknowledgement of someone greater than you who has endued you with an ocean of love and mercies and unmitigated grace. To make your life so marvellous, so breathtaking. And Thankfulness is the way to get there to that place;
because your focus is on His HUGE Love that surrounds you and drops pleasures into your life without warning or being asked. (have you ever thought that God just likes to see you smile ?)

Its every moment of every day recognising how magnificent this life is, laden with blessings so colossal so glorious that we haven't even imagined it. Recognising that and expecting so fully to see them in faith, that we give an offering of thanks to our loving Father in the heavenly because he satisfies the longing heart.
   For He satisfies the longing soul,
 and fills the hungry soul with goodness.
    ( Psalm 107:9)
An attitude of Gratitude holds such power, and frees your mind. I feel that it puts you in a place that is cushioned with His love. Because you made yourself aware of his love every day that you live in a place that's unrealistically peaceful.
Gratefulness gets you so caught up in His Love that you fly over the bumps on the journey because you have let Him hide you in the cleft of the Rock, you have taken up your residence in His courts and found refuge under His pavilions.
The Word tells is to forget not all His benefits, I believe this is why.
In a way its a pare of rose coloured glasses from the Creator of the universe, see through a heart full of Gratitude for the undeserving displays of His love for you in your life.
Its a beautiful mindset.
With it you'll enjoy life in so many ways unrestricted.

Perhaps if I may, in the up coming year designate a book, with blank pages for the breathings of gratatude. Make a choice to look for them and recognise the blessings and where they come from. imagine a whole year spent like that. Its a three hundred and sixtyfive day treasure hunt. Indeed I do believe that I shall add this to my new year. How about you ?

Seasons For Literature.

But being on the cusp of a new season, its very chilly today and when I begin to crave sweaters and hot cinnamon flavored coffees, I know that a change has taken place. I thought I would post something about seasons.


If your reading this post and have read this blog for any time you know how much I am Enthralled by the changing seasons. There beautiful in a variety of ways, different and inspire a person freshly.
Its september, Someone please I implore you to tell me how that happened.
At first when I think about summer being over, I get all watery eyed, and sad. But somehow or another time has moved and were on the brink of a new start, again. The weather is suddenly chilly, and I'm getting the strongest urges to ramble about wooded paths just to soak in all the beauty of what is going and what is to come. Were at the twilight of the seasons, not quite done with summer, but not quite crossed over into autumn. A beautiful time.


I was asked this question recently (in a set of tag questions) I just had to re post it along with my answers here. It seemed appropriate for heading into a new season, also I just love the general mix of seasons and literature all aspects of it from the absorbing of it to the creating of it. I really love this question.


                  Which of the seasons, spring, summer, autumn, or winter, appeals to you most in                                                              a literary sense and inspires you to write?

All of them, but in different ways. winter I want piles of delicious words from stories I didn't write, But also gives me a nostalgic air that I must write to get in order to get out. everything floods with cozy thoughts and memories. That creatively helps a lot, flooding the mind with all sorts of ideas stemmed from memories.




Spring is so inspiring nature especially. Misty mornings and budding trees, theres nothing like new life to get the creative juices flowing. I probably have more novel inspiration in spring than any other season. Everything aligns to be perfect in a fleeting way, and I feel an urgency to capture that. summer is one of those months of experience where I watch people, in silent observation. due in part to more stuff happens in summer than any other time. I look around me and notice society. Where I wonder about time and the speed at which everything seems to happen. Early mornings with the sunrise and silent reveries, and a graceful growth of nature that matures before my wondering eyes. Also, nature has a way of inspiring me with writing, when I'm pulling weeds or planting and tending the garden I usually have a head full of plots, knightly sword fights, daring damsels, and strange happenings. the best time to plot is when your knee deep in soil and fresh earth, with gentle summer flower scents excite the senses. Its all a very natural process. And autumn in its colored splendor gives me a mood that I haven't found a word for yet. A daring sort of mood that drives me to daring and majestic things with my characters and plots. Autumn is mysterious, shrouded in misty grey, wet mornings and chilly evenings. Its cider and jacketed walks which if you haven't figured it out yet, is one of my favorite ways to be inspired. I don't know, theres something about musky woods and smokey wind pared with the rush of geese calls that just ignite a warm glow of creativity within me.
Each season my mood changes and each time its different. cozy and sad and thinking about the past, new and fresh with resolve and romantic inclinations, mature and bright and natural, or deep and mysterious. I couldn't choose one season I love them all creatively speaking.

Now I put this question to you dearest reader, I would love to know your answers. even if your not a writer I would still love to know which season inspires you most, maybe all, like me ? 

Feel free to answer in a comment, or do what I have done in a post, and leave me a not to hope over to your respected corners of the internet. 

Enjoying the in-between season.


Photos via pinterest

Extraordinary Beauties

via

Having finely gotten a snippet of time out of busy life to actually type a post here, its almost strange fingering the keys, that same old opening of a vein. looking inward. I suppose that's what I have grown to love about blogging, its more for my own growth than anyone Else's, and for personal clarification.
Its funny now when I look back and remember how terrified I was to post something personal. Now I cant imagine these words not coming from the heart.

Life can be so monotonous,
get up & > prepare for day  > lunches  > coffee  >  breakfast  >
Work in one way or another, at home or out in the big bad world > evening meal often times rushed > try and relax or catch up on trivial details  > bed > Sleep or not. Repeat.
Every part of life is mostly rote. Doing the same thing you did yesterday and the same thing you will do tomorrow, that's just how it is. Sometimes I think how tragic it all is that every person on this planet does in part nearly the same. Were all on separate journeys,  following thorough the lines of destiny, but on that journey we do in part a lot of repeating. I believe that that destiny was created by Loving heavenly father who personally crafted a good life for every human alive. But that doesn't change the
every day living that mostly doesn't change. I was a bit younger when I realized this, we repeat the same 12 months and the same 7 days in a week, we eat mostly the same thing and do normally the same things. I don't know why but realising that life wasn't some amazing quest like in fantasy stories hit me hard. This is life. It looked a little bleak.
 But as I have grown physically and spiritually. I see now that God uses the little things that in the natural can be monotonous to be the most amazing things.

via

Every day I open my eyes and see, it has been that way since as long as I can remember. I'm privileged to gaze at the same sky, that same sun, admire the same trees in that same yard. hear that same bird call.
I see the same family that same face in the mirror staring back at me. And yet every time I hear a bird call it enthrals me like its new to my ears, and when the light catches the trees and bathes them in gold I forget everything but that beauty, no matter how many times I have see it done. Do you see what I mean ? I am greeted by the same faces I so long ago have memorised  and yet every day the are newly imprinted on my mind, there characters and the mutual growing and heart aches that humans share in. there the same family but every day they are new to me. Life around me, like time moves but there are things that remain and the ritual of life is one of them. no matter how we place it no matter where we are or who we are with we will do in part something of the same thing. but theres all these other spattering's of colour that if we are too absorbed in the boring we miss, life's still an adventure, a mystery perhaps theres not dragons at every page and we may not be the most amazing heros. but if you look you will see the exciting life blends in to the usual and if not looked for can be drowned by the screams of normalcy. We live our lives working toward that elusive and none existent someday. In hopes of life being better.  All the time growing a bit tarnished by the world, by dashed hopes and unrealised dreams.  If we ever find the someday, (a bit  like finding the fountain of youth or Shangri -La) We may not recognise who we have become. Its the little things that we do the same every day that can make life well, boring. As humans we more often than not feel disquieted and unhappy with life. I will be honest and say I have been there all too often. its this attitude of disquietude that makes us unable to see the mystery around every corner. the smoke screen over every heart, the questions that need answers in others eyes. The unstudied flower petal, crashing waves in your ears. The piece of art that has not yet been discovered, those words that haven reached your eyes, the voices of people you love. Adventure is everywhere. you just have to be patient and you will find it. Patience is a virtue and the hardest of the virtues to cultivate. we live in a fast world, that advocates speed over the long way around. We want to be where we think the party is not knowing all the steps it took us to get there. I have entrusted my life to my Heavenly Father. I believe he holds my destiny and has a future thats exceedingly abundantly above all I can imagine. It doesn't change the everyday rote, but it makes a restful heart knowing that everything else woven into my human existence is going to be His plan and it will be wonderful. Its little things, I keep saying it and will continue to for ever,
 its small extraordinary beauties disguised as ordinary things that colour our stories. we just have to see them. So from now on I shall endeavour to post here about what I discover. I would love to know your simple beautiful adventuresome lives. Leave a comment and tell me about what extraordinary beauties surround you that are disguised as ordinary.

Jane Austen's bicentennial of a most beloved novel

photo via pinterest

If it is the general thought that a person who has a disposition that is apt to day dreams, and long periods of musings and spends countless lifetimes over papers and keyboards, opening a vein and letting there life seep into afore mentioned paper. With the sole intention of carving out a name for him/her self into the metaphorical history books where people who do great things are put and remembered for. Then there isn't a person who has done this more than Miss Jane Austen.
Now I'm not saying every writer writes for the sole purpose of getting recognised, and of course I would not say that every time someone jots down a story and gets published they will be remembered for it. But as I said at the start of this long winded sentence that if it is the general thought, than there would be no one more remarkable to anyone achieving these high expectations than Jane Austen.
In the remarkable case of miss Austen I must say that I really have no idea how plausible it is to dream of attaining here level of success. The sad part of it is that most of her success she was never to realise. But if she could read this from her writers heaven than I would really love to show her just how much people love her work. (Picture the Doctor Who episode, Vincent and the Doctor, where the doctor takes Van Gogh to see    just how much he is loved and appreciated after all that time.)
Sniffles that episode always does it to me. There is none such compliment that can be payed to an artist than that of the appreciation compliment. And miss Austen is a top recipient.
Why all this rambling ? Well in case you hadn't heard, today is the two hundredth anniversary of one of the most timeless love stories ever written. Timeless ? Isn't that a bit dramatic, what really is there to the story called Pride and Prejudice that makes it so timeless. There are many assumptions we can make about why, especially when the story isn't very complex, I mean that respectively in every way.
The characters are not unusual, and really unremarkable. So what is it that had gotten deep into the psyche of every person who loves some incarnation of the story or another.
I will place my theory here, to you in as plain as I can place it. Jane Austen always wrote from the heart. And yes that can be done even if one knows nothing of what one is writing.
The love stories evoke the longing of the heart to be truly cherished. Even for miss Austen that much is clear. And I could write nearly twenty pages on this being from out truest human nature longing for only the purest love that only one person can give and only one person gave.
But that's not the subject of this post. What ever it is that made this story to last all this time, and still be enjoyed by audiences after two hundred years is nothing short of Devine providence.
Pride and Prejudice is a tale that pulls at ones hears strings, because its a tale of the heart and nothing else, and that's why it's still so popular. So let me take this time with you all dearest readers to celebrate the long lasting letters that were so fatefully written in a young maidens flowery scrawl.

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife" 
            ~ Pride and Prejudice
Happy birthday to the story that still makes people everywhere smile and sigh in a happy way.
I can only hope that you and I endeavouring writers will meet with as much success as that book.
And Miss Austen our hats are off to you on this momentous occasion. If it were the eighteen hundreds we would no doubt hold a ball.
And I must say I would take the time to thank you for teaching me to be a fearless, and witty and heartfelt writer with as much sentament as I bodily posess, to be poured out on the pages. Even of only for my own satisfaction.


  '' I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too      long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun" 

            ~ Pride and prejudice 

         

photo via tumblr

A Saturday Recipe

I have always loved this time of year, the subtle hints of cinnamon that waif thorough the air.
The growing warmth throughout the home that long put away decorations bring.
Colored lights, my family puts them everywhere.
Yes my family loves Christmas and winter. My mother has been decorating and decorating enthusiastically. A bit of spruce green hangs over the back door inviting goodnatured cheer,
While varied lights add to the charm of open doorways, and red cranberry beads wrapped around and through the kitchen shelves give a Christmasy pop of color here and there.
There is a twig tree that we created ourselves, from birch branches. We like doing things a bit differently, and there is no space in the living room for a traditional tree.
The winter curtains are pressed and set to hang, the whole house is becoming a cozy winter retreat.
On days like today when the sky is so grey the trees are just a hint of black silhouette here and there, and the fog seems will never dissipate. Its nice to have warm scents drifting through the house.
So I thought why not give a recently tried recipe to my dear followers ?
To add to there cozy winter evenings,
The recipe is called Velvet Spice Cake. Isn't that just the best title ever ?
This recipe will go nicely with some sort of festive tea or coffee, and will pass nicely as a breakfast cake on Sunday morn with out an icing of course.
I made this last evening for the family, and it was taken with mostly wonderful reviews.
The cupcake had soft hints of spices, and the consistency was dense yet moist as ever.
My family loves a dense cake, being Italian and all.

Velvet Spice Cake, 

Have all ingredients at room temperature, Preheat the oven to 350˚ 
Grease and flour one 9 inch tube pan. 

Sift together: 
2 1/3 C flour 
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda 
1 tsp grated of ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cinnamon 
1 1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt. 

In the bowl of a mixer beat until creamy 
1 /12 sticks unsalted butter
Gradually add and beat on high speed until light in color and creamy in texture, 2-4 minutes: 
1 1/2 C sugar 
Beat in one at a time three egg yolks. 
Add the flour mixture in three parts, alternating with 
3/4 C plus 2 Tbsp yogurt or buttermilk
Mix until incorporated batter will be a bit sticky: 

In a clean mixing bowl, with a clean whisk, 

beat three egg whites 
1/2 tsp cream of tartar 
until soft peaks form. 
Gradually add 1/4 C sugar in half tablespoon intervals. 
continue to beat until shiny and stiff peaks form, but the whites aren't dry. 
Add 1/4 of the egg whites to batter, fold in gently. then add the remaining amount folding Not beating. 
scrape the batter into the prepared pan. Bake 35-40 minutes. 

The pictures aren't so wonderful, but I was rushing. just ignore the bad quality.
I used greek yogurt, and brown sugar, and added the rind of one orange, and a 1/2 C of pecans to the batter.
This recipe was delicious.
I hope you like it.

Time and Eternity

Today is a defining moment, how you react today paves the road to your future.
Today is the catapult to your tomorrows, and what you do with it makes or breaks you.
These thoughts just came to me as I was thinking about our human thoughts of time, we think its ours we think we can control it. But in reality we are really kidding ourselves, for time is like a wild horse that refuses to be tamed, and to capture it or posses it is only a faint dream of those with breath in there lungs.
We are always fighting to get to the future, how many times have you said someday ? I have too many to count. In all actuality we hold the future in our hands at this very moment.


"The humans live in time but our Enemy (God) destines them to eternity. He therefore, I believe, wants them to attend chiefly to two things, to eternity itself, and to that point of time which they call the Present. For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity. Of the present moment, and of it only, humans have an experience analogous to the experience which our Enemy has of reality as a whole; in it alone freedom and actuality are offered them"
C S Lewis, The Screwtape Letters 

I love this quote from Mr Lewis, I think it embodies all that we should remember about time.
My special favorite is, "For the Present is the point at which time touches eternity". This is so true and should be remembered. Now I'm not saying that we should not dream about the future and even plan for it, but I do hope we realize that today is a gift. And a year ago when you said someday you meant today. Its here, so stop looking for it and start enjoying it.
Are you living now, Or are you somewhere in the future,  hoping to touch eternity, when you have missed it in your life today ?

Have a Blessed Saturday

Book Love

I bet you can guess the nature of this post by the title.
I do so love books, old and new alike classics and contemporary and probably every genre.
From the first memory I have to now I have always loved books. Picture a small brunet girl with big dreaming eyes holding a large old book with a stagecoach on the front of the cloth bound volume, she would look at each word wondering what each word meant while thinking how impossible it seemed to a small child's mind that she would ever learn this strange writing. Preferring large picture less volumes, to the pictured ones she would stare at those words dreaming of the stories and adventures within the pages.
This little girl was me, and I haven't lost that love of books, as you can tell by the title.

I adore the library for that reason, I could spend all day every day there.
Its from these books that my inspiration is drawn, and of corse from all of you whose lovely blogs inspire me daily. But there's something about a book hand held that has a special quality, I prefer to read words from a page than from a screen, just personal preference.






 



One of my favorite pastimes is spent with a book always at my side, I have a real problem when it come to reading at the most inopportune times, like when I should be helping with supper :)
But there's something about getting lost within those pages, that enthralls me. I feel like a time traveler when ever I scan those pages, what fun it is to lose all sense of reality and of who you are and become that character within those pages. When it comes to reading the possibilities are endless, the world is all your own. I spent this past week in the lovely france, battling alongside joan of arc and a vary old magician, fighting a very ancient monster who was full bent on destroying the city of paris. See what I mean ?

CONFESSION: I really have an obsession when it comes to books.
What is your preference for books and your favorite genres ? I'd love to hear from you.

One Year Blog Birthday !!!

Life can get away from us sometimes (By us I mean me) things, ideas, thoughts, all seem to run when life comes-a-calling, my ever moving mind seems to not like having things to remember, things all cramped into my head and tucked away for some day of the less busy verity. I seem to have gotten away from the blog world for a few days, and what I have missed ! I always feel I'm missing something when I don't read all your lovely posts every day you all inspire me so.

It was this month one year ago that I started this little blog, I was so nervous to start writing being a bit shy, I worried about the first words I would write, I worried if anyone would even care to read my thoughts, how wrong I was for you have graciously let me know otherwise.
 I was pleasantly surprised by all your kindness dear friends, and I have been inspired and have learned so much from all of you, I truly have enjoyed hearing your thoughts ones that often made me think in a deeper way. This blogging experience has been quite exciting and I look forward to visiting your little worlds every day its like reading sweet letters from a friend, I want you all to know that you have blessed my life in ways I cant begin to describe. I wish I could thank you all personally so I say Thank you.

I started this blog to express my thoughts and have a creative outlet, oftentimes I have been at a loss for words and yours have inspired me to dig a little deeper and let the words flow, I have found kindred hearts that seem to speak to me in ways that are inspiringly open. So I am looking forward to another year of inspiration and I have a hidden flickering dream that perhaps I too may inspire someone else because of you and so on.
So dear friends celebrate with me, I have made it through one year when I never saw past one month, and every day I am learning to speak from the heart and hope to continue to learn from you, if that is alright.
much love you you all.

Hope Mondays

Hope, its that small nudging that says don't give up, its the paintbrush that colors your dreams daily and renews your faith yet again to keep trying to reach that yet unattained goal. It says there is nothing impossible there is no dream too small, too big, too old or too ridicules that can't be breathed to life, don't give up on your dreams, your goals see yourself accomplishing that task set your hope to work for you. If you dream impossible dreams ones that seem impossible to ever come to pass then good for you, when you close your eyes at night and you see your self accomplishing that dream then you have hope for that thing, keep seeing it in every way you can, that dream is closer to taking form than you might imagine. 
 Keep hoping ! 

Time, Moments and February Dreams

Where has january gone I ask my self, it seems the hands on the clock wind down so quickly these days.
I must take this time to say adieu to January, you came and went I barely noticed you at all.
These days I seem to notice time go, like sand in my hands I cant really get a firm grasp on it it just keeps moving despite all my cries of protest, isn't it strange that as children time seemed to crawl with an excruciatingly sluggish pace, and now you turn around twice and a year has passed.
I am ever reminded to keep every day with persistence, by that I mean to keep my days as productive as they can, and I must admit I get quite frustrated when often they are not as I would like them to be.
With time flowing, and unless we invent some object to stop it, which isn't going to happen any time soon

I try to remind my self that every day every moment is a gift to be kept with respect, how I spend my time wont slow it down but it will maximize the few short hours we get each day. This has been something coming up allot in this infant year and I am determined to get it right and use every moment of spare time for something useful.

 But I have to say there are those moments that time seems to stand still, when lying in a field with the sun over head feeling life grow and breath in those moments time doesn't matter, I've been dreaming of those moments or at least grass covered hills.

So welcome February stay a while please.
How do you keep time and spend it wisely ? I would love to know.

Fireside Knitting

  Winter is a wonderful time for peaceful evenings by the hearth, I love to sit by mine and day dream, as the flames glow there Bright orange hue, by its side I muse all sorts of things personal and non, also I have  whilst enjoying its warmth been knitting. This hearth is of corse imaginary, how I wish My family had a hearth, we do have a lovely stove that throw's delicious heat on a cold winters eve. But thats not why I started writing this.  I have though been musing over lots of things and I have really been knitting, my first hat, I have formerly been a crocheter alone the only other article knitted by my hand was a scarf which was never finished due to a shortage of yarn, but that too, isn't why I started to write this post. Any way, I have found that whilst knitting there is a wonderful time to muse over all sorts of things, and day dream, these are two of my most loved pastimes, while clicking my needles rhythmically and fingers working tirelessly, this thought floated into my head, life is a lot like a work of knitting, How do i mean ? Only that as we tirelessly weave this masterpiece, We fall short we lose heart we "drop stitches", we grow weary and feel that nothing will ever come of our effort, but I feel this is because "WE" feel we must be the ones to knit our life story and we aren't the ones to. I believe if we let the Master knit and weave our life he makes our tapestry more colorful, more original, more pure to who we are as individuals than even we know, more beautiful and full of interest than we could have imagined. We don't have to work tirelessly to make our lives beautiful, it is His presence that will, let us invite Him to hold the knitting needles and knit us a story the world has never seen before, a breathtaking story surprising to even us living it. How beautiful will it be when we put our life in those hands, I promise you he will make it special.

The dry spell

I have been as of late in a dry spell creatively speaking, I have to say at the start that this is very rare for me the girl with constant stories floating around her head and being driven to utter madness due to the lack of time in a day. So lately I seem to be unlike my self, the river of creativity seems to have been dammed up somewhere, but where I ask my self, my self does not answer. I sit down to write and every word seems forced every thought I scorn as unusable every dialogue is dry even the dialogue in my head has no deeper thought, this cant be writers block because even drawing and sketching seems dull and I listlessly throw every project aside, this will go away right ? again my self does not answer. Its been so long sense I have picked up a pen and wrote something I actually liked or wrote for that matter.
I can't seem to set sail on creativity have I lost it all ? Surely not, but still did I miss the boat to a creative shore ? perhaps

  Lately in these dry spells I have been picking up my bible, what a treasure trove of ideas I have found there even for imaginative stimulation, yes my imagination is even having issues, I am so surprised by the many interesting details that I find my self asking why have I never seen this before, it must just be me because I shared the particular verse in genesis that was making me dream of eden and ancient bible days and seeing how strange the earth must have been, and my brother didn't say anything thats right I there I sat going on and on like a crazed girl and he just looked at me like I was crazy. I am always amazed by the beauty of Gods word and the power it holds against any dry spell even creative one's. I also find that reading helps, what do you my dear readers do to beat the dry      spells ? I'll just be here looking at the sky waiting for a sign of a cloud and maybe rain,

So I can be soaked with creativity.                                               

One Small Child

                         One small child in the land of a thousand
                      One small dream of a savior tonight
               One small hand reaching out to the star light
           One small savior of life.
                                                                One small child, song written by David Meece. 


That tiny life that came, willingly given by His Father to a lost and dying world.In human flesh he came that concealed his wondrous glory, A tiny child. He came into this world as any other child does, but came for a purpose no other could understand, he had a destiny no other has had, and fulfilled that destiny no matter the pain for you, and me.

The hands that would be pierced, tiny and soft held by his mother, did she know the importance of this
 life she was entrusted with ? The face she kissed, as she held her child close did she know the pain He would endure ?

His purpose ? To bring life, everlasting life to you and me, that is what we celebrate at christmas.
Its not just the birthday of a child, but the birth of grace, pure love in the flesh that looked across the echoes of time and all the world all that ever was or would ever be, and came to a humble people in a humble form to be our propitiation for all sins ever committed for all time.
 Unmitigated love, that is what we celebrate at christmas, the pure love of a Father and the pure love and willingness of a Son.
So as we celebrate christmas this year, as we get caught up in the fun this season brings, remember the true and only gift that has ever really has mattered, Jesus the love that came down at christmas and the gift he has given to you and me.

For unto us a child is born,
 unto us a son is given
and his name will be called 
Wonderful Councilor, 
Mighty God , 
Everlasting Father, 
Prince of Peace. 
ISAIAH 9:6 

Happy christmas to all my blogging friends, may this christmas be the most wondrous one for you and your families, as we remember the wonderful gift we gave been given through His coming, His death, and HIs rising to life again.

The Simple Things

As I slipped under my soft bed covers last night, and closed my eyes an overwhelming feeling of thankfulness washed over me, I am warm, safe and cozy in my bed, I drew up the soft quilts around me a happy contented feeling started deep within my heart and spread all over me. I uttered a soft prayer to thank my father for all His BLESSINGS in my life,  my mind flew to all the people out in the world cold, alone, hopeless, my prayer changed and I uttered a prayer for all those who have so much less than I have.
I was half way on my journey to the land of dreams, but my mind was still lit aflame with the torch of thankfulness I looked at my life, and I realized I'm truly rich. My life it full of beauty I'm surrounded by the most wonderful family any one could ask for, a family who teaches me many wonderful things just be being them selfs, things like inner strength, love that sees beyond the eyes, and the beauty of self sacrifice. I'm loved deeply by the Creator of the universe, He has blessed me with an imagination and a dreaming heart that keep me very busy even when I'm not dong anything at all. Its the little things in this life that we sometimes over look, things like,
                                         a warm bed, soft sheets

 a favorite nightie

 a sunny smile, blustery wind,

         happy banter between siblings and memories that capture these and make them last forever.
   How wonderful this life truly is, sometimes its not big things that make a life rich, but the small things that give our life that golden glow, when we look back on our life they are the blessings that gave us the most happiness. I am thinking about all the small things that aren't really small at all, they may be small to the eye but are really bigger on the inside.
                            Thank you Father for all the "small'' blessings happy sigh. 
   Remember its the small blessings that bring the most pleasure, look around your life and you will see your life is beautiful too. 

October Storm photographs

Well dear readers I promised pictures from the snow storm we got hit with on saturday, here is just a few of them.
     

These were taken early on in the day, the snow was just a light dusting then, later it would gather up

       to about  twelve inches or more.     

  I have to say I love snow but I also love autumn and I was so unhappy that my autumn colors were ruined by snow. But then I unhappily went out side, after my mother forced me to go. Though I was fighting every second I was soon was caught up in the magic of the moment,
 SNOW softly falling like a million  FEATHERS 
             fluttering
                 FALLING                                                  
                          swirling                                                                                                     

  STICKING to every LEAFE every patch of uncovered GROUND,
       TICKLING My cheeks DANCING around me, ah I was caught up in the beauty, no longer  
   fighting the warm  DELIGHTED feelings that arose within me.      

 SNOW during autumn, you want to know something ? I completely didn't mind having my AUTUMN colors ruined for a time by that lovely SNOW.  I realized I was doubly Blessed to have Autumn and Winter together in an exquisite display BLENDED perfectly together  by NATURE.
I would not trade that experience for anything My eyes captured everything my camera could not. How I will TREASURE everything, the white scenes, the CRISP wind, the very distinct smell of snow, ask me sometime and I'll try and describe it to you.
I hope you enjoy the pictures of those near perfect scenes.

Sending you love