Alexandra Stoddard

Have you heard of Alexandra Stoddard? Years ago, when my children were very little, I listened to a speaker who gave a talk called "Mother's Matter." It was excellent! At the end of the lecture the speaker gave us a list of books that she recommended. I read all of them. There was one author who was on the list multiple times - Alexandra Stoddard. Alexandra writes beautifully illustrated books about decorating and living beautiful lives. I love her books! One of her books is a Book of Days. This is a book that one can use as an appointment book or as a record/diary. I use this book as a record/diary. It is filled with inspirational quotes written by Alexandra and others. 

This mornings quote was:

 "Whatever you do, be in a loving frame of consciousness. Everything will then become sacred. Love is all we need."

I love that quote. I want to live like that. Think about how joyful and peaceful our lives would be if we did everything in a "loving frame of consciousness." Wake up, shower, eat, do laundry, drive, work, spend time with family and friends, exercise, read, etc. - all in a "loving frame of consciousness." I am going to choose to do so. I am beginning now.

Today I am grateful for the speaker who led me to Alexandra Stoddard and for Alexandra Stoddard who chooses to do everything in a "loving frame of consciousness." 

Time

I am more grateful than I can express to be a teacher and have the summers at home. This is a precious gift of time that I am so thankful to receive. I love being home! I am living the life I dream about in the summer! I get up early and have my coffee with God. Then I go for a walk/run around a gorgeous lake with my daughter and/or friends. I come home with lots of time to bless and serve my family and others. I have time to take care of my home, take care of my family, and volunteer my time taking care of others. I have time to do the things I love to do, knitting, needle felting, blogging. I have time to curl up with a cup of coffee and a book in the afternoon. I realize that July and August are precious gifts from God. I am so grateful for them. Thank You, God.

Where Women ...

Editor, Jo Packham, has created three fantastic magazines: Where Women Create, Where Woman Cook and Where Women Create Business. I love these magazines! They are gorgeous! They are coffee table worthy! These three magazines are filled with beautiful award winning worthy photos.

The articles are written by the women, who are chosen by Jo, to have their work, their passion, presented in these publications. I dream of receiving an email from Jo asking me to be included in one of these amazing publications. Where Women Create, Where Women Cook and Where Women Create Business are more like books than magazines. Today, I am grateful to be able to enjoy these magazines, for the women in them, and for Jo Packham who never does less than the best. Women who give their all to the work they love are gifts to all of us. 

You can find more information about these wonderful magazines here: http://wherewomencreate.com/

Our Pool

We have an above-the-ground pool. I love it! It is perfect for cooling off on hot summer days. What I really love to do is get my book, an icy cold cocktail, and a raft. Then I float around the pool on the raft reading, drinking and dozing. Ahh, summertime! Today I am grateful for our pool.

Summer Vacation

Did I mention how grateful I am for summer vacation? Today I am abundantly grateful for summer vacation! Thank You, God!!!

Summer Vacation

I am blessed with the career of being a teacher, therefore I am blessed with summer vacation. I love summer vacation! Some years I have worked, some years I was raising children and spent my days entertaining them, some years I have had company for several weeks in the summer. This summer there is nothing on my agenda. This summer I plan to take care of me. My plans are to take long walks, care for my home and garden, read and knit, knit, knit. God, I hope my plans and Your plans for me are the same. Thank You, God, for summer vacation.

Sitting on the Front Porch

We have a beautiful wrap-around porch on our home. We live out there all summer long. My husband loves to sit out there and drink his coffee in the morning. I like when Gary and I sit out there in the evenings with our drinks of choice, and as the kids come home from work they join us and we all talk. I also love when I am in bed and some of my family are still on the porch and I can hear them talking and laughing. I sleep wonderfully when I go to bed listening to the laughter of my family. I am abundantly grateful that my home is filled with love and laughter. In the summer, I am grateful that joy tumbles out onto our front porch. Thank You, God.

Hot Coffee on a Cool Summer Morning

This morning there is a cool breeze coming in the window. I am holding a hot cup of coffee, and this morning it tastes so good. Today I am grateful for my morning coffee. Thank You, God!

Time

When I was a young girl I went to visit a friend. Her mother had a large bulletin board next to the telephone. On the bulletin board was a perfectly square piece of cardboard, about five inches square, on it were the words, "Say No." When I asked my friend about it she said it was for her mom because her mom always said yes when people called and asked her to do something. There were five children in the family and they wanted their mom to say "no" and be home more .

I treasure the gift of time. I love living a more easy going pace. I don't like to be overbooked. I like when I can take life at a relaxed pace, getting my work done and still have time to do what I want to do. I am discovering that I have more control over my time than I used to believe. I just need to say, "No." I need to watch over my time and guard it. I love being home. My husband loves being home. That's perfect! Today I am grateful for the courage to say, "No." 

Flower Boxes

My father-in-law made us two beautiful huge flower boxes. One is outside our living room windows, and one is outside my bedroom windows. I love lying in bed and seeing the flowers right outside the window. I remember the first time we filled them. I woke up with such joy to see these beautiful red geraniums almost in my bedroom. This year I have petunias in the bedroom box and begonias in the living room box. They all look so pretty. Today I am grateful for my flowers boxes, the flowers that are in them, and most of all the wonderful man who made them.

Family and Friends

Yesterday we celebrated Mom Lummer's 80th birthday with family and friends. The weather was glorious. She was surprised. Everyone had a great time. I am abundantly grateful for the family and friends who joined the celebration. I am abundantly grateful for the amount of help we were blessed with. I am abundantly grateful that our home and yard were filled with love and laughter.

     Look at the smile on her face! 

Glorious Weather

Today we are having 50 people to our home for an 80th birthday party for my mother-in-law. It has been a very rainy week, but today it is absolutely gorgeous out! I am abundantly thankful for such a beautiful day! Thank You, God!

 

Deer

I live on six and a half acres of land. We have lots of wildlife; bear, turkeys, rabbits, squirrels, ground hogs, possum, chipmunks, snakes, birds, and deer - lots and lots of deer. Since we have so many deer we don't have beautiful gardens. The deer eat just about everything. I have flower boxes up high that they cannot get to, and pots of flowers on high tree stumps that are usually fairly safe. However, not this morning! Last night it was rainy and windy and my potted geraniums were lying on the ground. A doe came into the yard and spotted breakfast. First, I rapped on the window to chase her away. She just looked up and bit off a beautiful red flower. Then I went outside to chase her away. I also got to watch her eat the red flower. She slowly walked away as I picked up the pot and placed it back on the stump. She only moved a few yards away. I bet she was thinking, "You can't stay out here all morning. As soon as you go inside I will have some more of your flowers for breakfast." So, what is it I am thankful for, you wonder. I am thankful for that doe because Gary and I had a good laugh about it, and what a wonderful way to begin a day - laughing. Thank You, God!

Pennies From Heaven

I love finding pennies! I absolutely do think of them as "Pennies From Heaven" - a gift from God. A friend of mine says that when she finds a penny she thinks of it as a little message from her mom that she is with her.

 I recently went through a frightening time. I was in Sports Authority, and I was feeling somewhat distraught. I walked out of the store and there, on the ground, were two pennies heads up. I immediately felt better, because I believed that those pennies were a gift from God, a sign, from my mom and dad, that they were with me. I am thankful for "Pennies From Heaven."

P.S. I only pick up the pennies that are heads up. If they are tails up, I flip them over and leave them to bless someone else.

Summer Breeze

It is not exactly summer yet, but in my mind it is. The photo is the view out my bedroom window. I sit here, in bed, under the covers, with a hot cup of coffee and my morning books. I read a devotional or two. I write in my gratitude journal. I pray. Outside there is a beautiful breeze, the kind you can see and hear and feel. The birds are singing, and all is well.

"This is the day that The Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it." -the book of Psalms

My Mother-in-Law

Today is my mother-in-law's birthday. She is 80 year's old. We had our challenges, but we both worked at having a good relationship, and we do. We love and respect one another. I am thankful for my mother-in-law because she always puts her family first. Her heart is filled with love for all of us.

A Time For Everything

"Life never gives us all pain or all pleasure. We all experience our share of challenges and disappointments as well as celebrations." -Alexandra Stoddard

I have just come through a challenging time. The worst is over. Saturday, June 8 was my birthday. It was also the wedding of Meredith's best friend Megan and the son of Gary's high school friend Kurt. It was a time to celebrate.

Thank you, God, for the times of challenge for they provide an opportunity for us to grow spiritually. Thank You, God, for the joyful celebrations for they are gifts.

The Carnival Is In Town!

Every year the carnival comes to our town. This year we are having perfect weather for the carnival - nice warm evenings - perfect carnival weather. We live one block over from the carnival, so we can hear all the carnival sounds. I love it! Last night we sat on our front porch, and listened to the screams of the kids on the rides. We watched the fireworks, and heard the applause of the crowd. It all shouted loud and clear, "Summer is here!" I am grateful that I live in a town where the carnival visits, fireworks are displayed and there is abundant joy and laughter. Thank You, God, for placing me right here.