My online journal where I share my interests in photography, nature, journaling, fountain pens, bicycling, coffee life, spirituality and asking deep questions.
morning sun enters through my window warms my soul with its abounding grace grateful and blessed for this life I live filled with love of family and friends
solitude and silence the foundations of my life it’s the staff I need to walk through life raises me up when I fall, again and again where I discern my chatter from your words
prayer and meditation my daily practice a lifeline to grasp when I begin to wander lifting the spirit when life weighs heavy opens a door to knowing beyond thinking
it’s been said that if the only prayer we say is thank you, that would suffice so I’m thankful for this wonderful life happy thanksgiving to you!
I met up with Tom and Kathy Dills, who are visiting from North Carolina, yesterday morning for coffee at the Old Town Mugs. We solved a few of the world problems in the morning over coffee then yesterday afternoon we drove north of Fort Collins to chase the sun and look for a few trees. We found both.
This was taken in 2005 at a local pond with my friends while having a picnic, plenty of food and games. It is scenes like this that I wish I could know what people were thinking about. I wonder if my friend was having an awareness of her part in the universe, or was she remembering a choice made in the past she would like to change or was she dreaming of a future moment yet to come.
“I could have. What does this phrase mean? At any given moment in our lives, there are certain things that could have happened but, didn’t. The magic moments go unrecognized, and then suddenly, the hand of destiny changes everything.” Paulo Coelho.
Last Friday my beautiful friend, Joan, and I made a day trip to Rocky Mountain Park and over Trail Ridge Road. We left early to beat the crowds and enjoyed a beautiful day. The skies were clear and a bright warm sun shared its rays with us until midday. Life is good!
“Friendship marks a life even more deeply than love. Love risks degenerating into obsession, friendship is never anything but sharing.” ― Elie Wiesel
My friend Kay and I drove up to Estes Park the other day to have brunch with her friend, Nellie. As you can tell they enjoyed catching up on family, sharing a hug, catching up on the latest with each other, exchanging gifts with each other and sharing a few tears. I found it refreshing to see them connecting as friends.
While making my latte this morning I grabbed one of my favorite cups and thought of my friend Beth. I smiled. Since then she has come to mind throughout the day. I remember our talks, the trip to NYC when her daughter sang at Carnegie Hall, the carriage ride through Central Park, seeing the Phantom of the Opera, sharing a bottle of wine and the time we watched the fireworks from the top of her moms house. What a gift those experiences are to me. But what really has touched me today is her simple gift of the four coffee mugs. I’ve had them for 5-6 years now. I like them and use them almost everyday. When I’m in a mindful place while making my latte, I think of her and lift up prayers or positive thoughts for her. And, of course I smile!
I am aware of how family and friends are gifts. They have been there for me and helped me when I needed them. They let me cry with them. They helped me get back on my feet when I was down. They encouraged and supported me. What a gift that is! Yet, today I am thankful for the material gifts they have given me? Those gifts make me smile.
We are moving into the season of giving and receiving gifts. I know a giving a simple gift to family and friends, such as a card, a letter, a phone call or a mug, will help them in times when we are not able to be there with them. Family and friends can touch our lives even while we are separated by 100’s of miles. What simple gifts will we receive this Christmas season? And, what gifts will we give? It can make someone smile!
Thanks, Beth, for the mugs and thanks for all the gifts you have given me!
