Sour Pickles and Coconut Cake

A track goes in circles, a path may twist, turn, and curve but it leads somewhere.

So where are you headed? 

In circles or are you forging your own path?

It pays to stop, look up and then around. 

Do you like what you see? Is your heart settled?

Life is a series of do overs when over dues feel all too common.

 It begins with a thought, leading to an attitude adjusted just a hair and a fresh perspective..... 

Because if you look at the same situation from the same vantage point, you will never see the crack that let the light in and shows you the way out. 

Life is layers of flavors, not all our favorites, but sometimes you need to swallow one to get to the desired taste. It is a valuable thing to keep in mind that nothing is a waste, because sour pickles teach you to appreciate coconut cake. 

So head up, eyes open, expectation polished.

Everyone has something to offer.

No one is without purpose.

Anyone can be ordinary.

You are somebody, so dare to be extraordinary. 

Jump the track. Find your path.

No Matter

Toadstools, Bar Stools

Log dragging Mules

Young boys cutting class, 

breaking the rules.

Country living, City dwelling

No matter who you are.....

You are a story worth telling.

Sometimes it all goes according

to plan

with every detail jelling.

Other times you think,

wonder and wish

how nice it would be for 

Something, anything

to fall into place.

Discouraged, you harbor the knowledge

that up your sleeve you hold

no ace.

No matter......

Heavenly Father, Full of Grace

I give you my Troubles

worries, concerns and burdens.

Please lift them off my shoulders 

and help me learn the lessons

only learned 
from walking the hard spots.

Thank you for protecting me as I go

from all the fired shots

and every arrow they throw.....

 for removing the ugly things far from my sight,

out of my heart and out of my life.

As I travel this new path,

I thank you for replacing it all with your best,

Showing me the way

with your abundant light.

Maybe Just One

Gathered together, under the Maple tree.

Count them, little freckled faced girls,

I see three.

Picked flowers in hand, 

they connect them one by one.

Before you know it....

the daisy chains are done. 

Upon their heads they place 

their flowery crowns and

twirl with glee, dancing...those bubbling three.

Innocent joy, giggles accompanied by playful wiggles.

Summer sun, tickling breeze.

Memories made under the trees.

 As they share the afternoon 

playing games with each other, 

they warmly tease.

This is not your memory

 or experience, but you have some...

Maybe just one.

Remember the sweet days that belong just to you.

Build on that...daring to make

a memory

born from the happenings of this day.

Today is a great day to make a new start.

Freedom.....May It Always Be Ours

For the next three days the flags will fly, the rifles will fire 
in ceremonial honor; memories of wars gone by will come 
to the forefront and flowers will be left at the graves of those 
who went to war bravely and came home to be laid to rest eternally. 

What did they do it for? The goal?

They hoped for an end result; simply that you and your children and grandchildren born and yet to come, would know freedom.

So plant your flowers, BBQ with gusto, picnic in a way that will invite ants from miles around to attend, play tag in your backyard or frisbee on the beach after a good swim. 

Hike to the top of a mountain and view this land of ours. 
Watch the sunrise announcing the beginning of a new day. 
Live with an open and grateful heart for what you have been given.

Live Free

The price was paid

Don't waste it

Relish it everyday

Look Around

     Cut Flowers....Plants rooted....Perennial or Annual

   Seeds that, over time, grow into mighty trees.

   Bulbs and Seeds planted in the earth.

All of these wonders of nature, 

teaching us lessons our whole lives through, 

nearly from the time of our birth.

 It isn't for everyone, you see, because it takes 

an interested eye, 

a thoughtful mind 

 and an open heart 

willing to be taught. 

So many of us walk through life missing some of the best parts; moving through our days totally blind. 

It isn't the result of not being able to,

 it is a matter of choosing not to see. 

Cut flowers teach us to enjoy the moment we are in,

 for it will soon be gone. 

Young plants teach us to nurture delicate things that need to establish themselves.

Perennials teach us to care for the people in our lives 

over the long haul.

 Annuals show us the importance of making

 the most of every day 

because, certain experiences last 

a season of time and are no more. 

Seeds that grow into trees,

 teach us 

that if we choose to engage in the belief

 that something great 

can come from something small, 

we will develop the art of patience 

and be rewarded mightily in the right time. 

Bulbs and seeds

 teach us

 to expect something beautiful to pop up,

 never knowing exactly the time or the day.

 When we care for a thing, 

seeing no outward progress or sign 

and still expect,

things sprout and then blossom. 

It is all around us, this beautiful classroom 

filled with life enriching lessons.

 Remove your blinders and take a peek.

 Learn that results never materialize 

if we don't nurture what we have been given. 

Believe, have patience and expect sweet scents to fill your life.

 I urge you to try this... 

whether  you are a child, a mother, a father, 

or if you are a husband or a wife. 

Second Chances

We have heard it and maybe even said it ourselves
 "Everybody deserves a second chance." 

It sounds good. It sounds generous. But when you think about it, what that means is neither good nor generous.   It means, in effect, that you can make one mistake and be forgiven and after that zero grace will be extended to you. Problem with this is, there is not a human being walking the planet that has made a singular error and then lived on in perfection. People are flawed. People don't always get it right and to sit in judgement of another person just because their weaknesses and their mistakes are different than yours is, in and of itself, a mistake.

 We don't need judgement or ridicule. We need grace extended.  Imagine beginning every day with a clean page upon which to write your story. Leaving yesterday as what it is...a point in our history. Living out today and allowing tomorrow to be a mystery to unfold in due time. I am not suggesting we live out our days brushing off any and all personal responsibility for our actions born out of our own choices. I am suggesting, in earnest, that we need to adopt an attitude of grace towards ourselves and especially one another. Ditch the grudge holding, burn the score card, silence the verbal accusations and the gossip that degrades people and wounds them deeply. Speak first with kindness in an effort to uplift and not put down. Look for the good in your loved ones; don't put a magnifying glass on their flaws and sell tickets.

We don't need second chances. We need to begin fresh every single day of our lives. Don't wear yesterday's dirty laundry today. Don fresh clothes with the attitude to match. Lead with kindness. You will discover that you will open doors to peace and close doors to strife.

It's a blend of choosing to be kind, expecting the best from one another and extending grace when the worst happens. It's a decision to praise in public always, and if you have a grievance take it up privately with only the person or persons involved. Public consumption of private matters helps nothing and hurts everyone.

How do you want to be treated? Are you offering your behavior as a reflection of what you hope will return back to you? If not, I respectfully suggest you alter your attitude, adjust your behavior, and begin again.

Not second chances, but grace everyday.

The Little Things

They say it is the little things that make life a happy experience.

The little things that connect the dots one milestone to another.

The little things that catch our eye and capture our attention.

The little things we save in a box as small mementos of big occasions.

The little things that make the greatest impact on our hearts, hopes, dreams, aspirations and build our foundations. 

The little hands that slip into ours for protection and affection.

The little words that alter our course and what we believe about ourselves.

The little gestures of kindness that help people know they are cared for and not alone.

The little things that are slipped onto our fingers as reminders that we belong to someone.

The little things are our everythings.