even angels have a lighter side

got it covered

life is a race...will you win?

strength from the Lord

find enlightenment

 

Life is what you choose.

Life is what you make.

Life is what you live.

Life is what you believe.

Life is what you do.

Life is what you want.

Life is what you share.

Life is what you give.

Life is what you …

new idea-sharing my short stories as well as reflection pieces

Short story 88
a  prayerful life of creative inspiration

Margo rounded the corner of her ordinary life filled with ups and downs and she saw the cross high on the steeple of her church. Hope surrounded that cross. Love emanated from that cross. Peace filled her heart. Her ordinary life was not ordinary but extraordinary.  From this day forward she would let Christ fill her days, the Holy Spirit fill her spirit, and God the Father fill her soul. She would understand the need for God in every breath. She would seek the Spirit’s guidance. She would allow Christ to be her voice.

 

Response to life’s problems would be through prayer. Margo would not let Satan’s ills pull her away from her faith. She would not let the world dampen her spirit. She would not let grace escape her soul. Her beliefs would keep her strong and resilient.

 

When a believer puts their entire world in the hands of her God, she should expect to be tested, often immediately. That is what happened to Margo. Just as she was moving into her final phase of life lived happily with her renewed convictions, Illness troubled her. She had fought the fear of illness her entire life, for herself and loved ones. Her father had died after a struggle of a few years. Her mother succumbed to her dementia and died not even recognizing her one and only daughter.

 

With age came the fear of losing other family, her husband most of all. Margo found her strength in him as well as her Lord. The two of them had pulled and pushed her forward this last decade. When she had wanted to stay in bed with the covers over her head, they encouraged her to get up and face the day. When she had wanted to give up and die, they committed to staying with her no matter what. When she failed at life or fell off her dreams, they tugged her back on track.

 

Now in this last act of her play in life, Margo knew she must trust God more than she ever had even thought possible. She knew that her husband needed her as much as she needed him and despite their son’s new life married and making a home, he still needed her too; as well as her lovely daughter-in-law.

 

With each passing day, in crisis or bliss, Margo prayer to her God, “Father in heaven, never leave me and I will never leave you. You are a heavenly sovereign of glorious peace. Be with everyone I love. Protect them. Allow me to share my blessings with as many as possible. Use my talents for your purposes not my own. Forgive my forgetfulness. Forgive my idleness. In your sweet son’s name, Christ, Amen.”

 

Margo lived out her days with this prayer. She continued to care for her family. She created art and shared it freely giving message and joy to any and all who would accept it. She taught her world to see God as head of their hearts.

 

Long after Margo was no longer in this world, her legacy of god-fearing, creative inspiration lived on. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren walked her roads of faith even when Satan’s ills tested them. They grew into creative lives of their own, sharing their talents and blessings with everyone they met.

Hope your Christmas was as special as mine

front row: me, my wonderful daughter-in-law, Molly, her sweet mother, Lisa
back row: Stacey, her dear father, my darling husband, Terry, our loving son, Matthew, and his fun brother-in-law, Ben.

 

my dear sweet Mother, Vember

it's choice

 

despite your circumstances

evaluating the year's focus word - clarity

 

Trying to evaluate what this year’s word taught me.

Clarity.

What does it sound like?

Laughter. Silent gratitude. Happy rejoicing.  Contented sighs.

Children getting new toys, parents of a new baby thought impossible, and newlyweds.

What does it look like?

Smiles. Hugs. Peaceful gazes.

Happy children, visiting loved ones, tired parents.

What does it taste like?

Mom’s biscuits. Grandma’s Koolaid cupcakes. Loving kisses.

Only she could make, taken to school to share, new and old couples

What does it smell like?

A clean house. Hot coffee.  Baby powder.

Even if for only one hour, shared with friends and family, a new baby

What does it feel like?

The first day of vacation. The last day of school. The middle of a holiday.

Kiawah of course, no more lesson plans, and time left to sleep in or stay up and watch that favorite movie

 

I learned that clarity takes focus. Clarity takes effort. It’s always there but we have to look for it, recognize it, embrace it and accept it. Clarity may not point to what we want but it always points to what really is. Clarity finds truth and fact.

Clarity is genuine. Clarity is a happier way to be. We often try to live a fantasy but that’s not good. Life is about being truly authentic and genuinely honest.

 

Clarity begins with me. I have to want it and accept the lessons it teaches. Limitations exist but I can choose to be clear in my dreams and goals. Clarity is not totally bound by your age, race, sex, or anything else really. I recently had this “clarity” ah ha moment. Hilary Clinton is 70 and going to run for president of the US. She could be 78 when she finishes two terms. If she can do that why can’t I have the dreams and desires of my heart?

 

SO keep making goals, lists, and dreams and fighting for them.

 

clarity of heart

brings complete trust

clarity of mind

brings total peace

clarity of soul

brings full grace

clarity of spirit

brings entire joy

 

 

Clarity must involve God. Clarity must live in the spirit realm of living. Clarity is a choice to believe in what is true, real, good, and God’s will. Clarity is a way to live every day. Clarity is a gift from God. Clarity is part skill and part effort. It is part ability and part work. It is part of every breath.

the best Christmas gift

working piece for commission

God provides such amazing gifts...

geraniums still blooming in December

10 days before Christmas



My Mom

She has Alzheimer. She can seldom make a cohesive sentence but today waiting in the ER after a fall with a neck brace around her neck, she was muttering unintelligibly and came out with this:

SPEAK THE TRUTH AND LET IT LOOSE

How does she do that?

It's time!

 

 

to pick a focus word for 2016!

it's been some of these but this year's is not decided yet.

maybe it's none of the above.

 

when you care....

 

 

certain acts are automatic

 

 

seek comfort

declutter your mind and your space for a

HAPPIER NEW YEAR AND YOU!

keep it simple

let your CREATIVITY be seen!

attitude is the way to life

create the world you want to live in

everyone needs an escape occasionally

brighten assisted living areas for the holidays

 

Mom and her sister, Opal, by Mom's door at Carillon!

Do all you can to brighten and be cheering for those in assisted living.

Mom is in dementia care. please pray for her.