In the Quiet

Life changes as the years tick by.

People we think are going to be part of our lives forever are not.

Situations that we used to tolerate, we no longer do.

We lose spouses and see our children grow up and have kids of their own.

While we love them all dearly, they all have their own lives to live. 

So we adjust to change.

Some evenings are now quieter but quite beautiful.

There are rituals to follow in newly found freedom. 

Everyone's ritual is different and there are no right or wrong ways to do things.

A large plant that now stands in an Indonesian basket has been strung with white lights.

It brings peace each evening as the sun goes down.

Candles, too, flicker on table tops as well as on a buffet.

A large Mother's Day floral bouquet has now been moved to smaller vases and the flowers submerged are the ones that still live.

There's a soft heart-shaped pillow that makes sitting in a lounge chair very comfy.

On chilly evenings, which seem to be stretching throughout May, a heated lap blanket is immensely welcome.

When we let go of expectations, and feel deep gratitude for every good thing we have including people we love, then life is, indeed, very good, even if it has changed.

Here's wishing you a really blessed and peaceful weekend. 

DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS YOU FOLLOW FREQUENTLY THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

What Makes One Happy?

 

Throughout many years of thrift store shopping, one finds all kinds of signs about everything from living and loving life, where home is, the meaning of friendship and love, and on and on.

The sign shown in this post, however, is one of my absolute favorites.

The concept of doing more of what makes one happy is brilliant.  

When one does that, life is better. 

It's more meaningful and fulfilling.

For starters, I love baking,  blogging, collecting cranberry glass and dollhouse miniatures, dolls, flowers, interacting with precious grandchildren, playing my guitar and banjo, music,  reading, thrift store shopping, photography, taking excursions with friends,  writing, and interior decorating.

All of those make me happy.

So when I see the sign, it reminds me to do more of all the above. 

What a concept that is!  It makes life even more worth living, one treasured moment at a time.

PLEASE, COULD YOU SHARE ONE OR TWO THINGS THAT MAKE YOU HAPPY?

Celebrate!

It's important to celebrate the joy of spring, not just on special holidays, but every single day!

Here are a few things I love about spring:

*  Sunshine

*  Gentle rain

*  Flowers of every fragrance, size, and color

*  Birdies and their beautiful songs

*  Screens on windows to let the fresh air in

*  Trips to a farm store where they make ice cream from

     nearby Jersey cows

*   Barbecues with hamburgers and hotdogs sizzing on the grill,

     potato salad, fresh tomato slices, and corn-on-the-cob

*   White tablecloths and white bedspread on the couch to lighten

      up the living room

*   Farmers' markets

*   Fresh fruits, especially peaches, and vegetables

*   Taking excursions out of town to see new places, especially thrift

     stores

*   Sitting outside at my daughters, surrounded by gorgeous flowers

     hanging from hooks and dazzling the atmosphere from planters

Okay, there are a dozen of things I love about spring!

CAN YOU ADD A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT YOU LOVE ABOUT SPRING?

Flowers for Mother's Day? Of Course!

Flowers bring beauty and feelings of love, no matter what day it is.

Mother's Day was on Sunday of the past weekend so flowers were for sale everywhere!

My very first bouquet came in a beautiful card from my daughter and her family!

What a lovely card it is.

Then came a knock at the door with a delivery of a very unique bouquet of  flowers from my son and daughter-in-law. 

They live far away but found an elegant floral shop within driving distance to my apartment and the flowers were delivered!

The almost three foot bouquet has many touches of pink and purple, two of my favorite colors.

The day also included a delicious breakfast made by my talented son-in-law and three grandchild helpers.

Here is my fruit plate but the eggs, sausage, pancakes, bacon, and so on were not photographed because they got eaten too quickly! ha!

The special Mother's Day celebration and gifts really touched my heart which is now bursting with gratitude.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO MOTHERS EVERYWHERE

Today, Mother's Day, is a very special holiday.

We take this day to honor the women who gave us life.

My maternal Polish grandmother always used to say, "It is hard to be born and it is hard to die."

That bit of wisdom has remained with me all of my life.

It really is not easy to bring a baby into this world. 

It's pain that only women can sustain.

But, as it says in the Bible, "Joy cometh in the morning."

The agony of giving birth pales when it comes to holding a precious new life in one's arms.

On this day, I also think of the Blessed Mother who gave birth to the King of Peace, Jesus Christ.

Her heart must have been broken when He was crucified.  She suffered along with Him.  

But she also got to rejoice when He rose from the dead three days later.

My own mother has been gone for 20 years yet there are few days that go by when she is not in my thoughts, my heart, and my very being.

She had a hard life but she did her best for her five daughters and that counts a lot. 

Her greatest gift to me was giving me faith in God. 

It has sustained me during life's most difficult, heart-wrenching moments.

Becoming a mother myself made me realize how miraculous it is to bring other human beings into the world.

My two adult children, a son and a daughter, mean everything to me.

It brings me utter joy to see them with wonderful spouses, good careers, and raising beautiful children of their own.

So kudos to mothers, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, sisters, and all who have been like mothers in the lives of others.

You all deserve this day, and every day, to celebrate the incredible importance of all you have done to carry out the difficult  but blessed job of being mothers. 

HOW WILL YOU CELEBRATE THIS SPECIAL DAY?