Real

My reading in Simple Abundance today, reminds us of the story of The Velveteen Rabbit. Here's one of my favorite lines in the whole story: "The Skin Horse patiently explained to the bunny that 'Real isn't how you are made. It's a thing that happens to you. When a child lives you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.

"Becoming Real doesn't happen overnight to toys or people. 'Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real, you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand.'"
--Simple Abundance
Sometimes being Real comes with a lot of unpleasantness - I got my reminder letter in the mail yesterday to make my appointment for the 6 month mammogram to check on my breast lump... Which reminded me to make my six month appointment for my cancer check... There can be a lot of anxiety in being Real - but all of that can remind you how much you are loved, and how good life is, as well.

Sometimes we think life would be better and more fun if there wasn't unpleasantness... But I think it makes it all the richer and more beautiful!

Here's to being Real!

Soul

"We were created for no other reason than to love, nurture, nourish, sustain, protect, uplift, inspire, delight, charm and comfort the beloved presence within each of us... Psychotherapist and writer Thomas Moore calls this profound attention to the authentic needs that stir deep within 'caring for our souls.'"

"It is through 'the small details of everyday life' that we make our souls feel welcome."

"Today, be willing to ask your Soul what she requires to make her stay more pleasurable. Ask often:
What do you need at this moment?
What would bring you peace, contentment, joy?
It may be to slow down, take a walk, hug a child, caress a cat.
Flip through a magazine.
Call your sister.
Send a funny card to a friend.
Take a nap.
Order Chinese carryout.
Watch a favorite movie.
Have a good cry.
Find a drugstore with an old-fashioned soda fountain that serves cherry phosphates.
Solve an English mystery.
Turn in early.
Dream.
Fantasize.
Pray.
Whatever it may be, she will tell you.
Ask."
--Simple Abundance

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Getting to read interesting books for my job!

2. People from church sending me all kinds of interesting ideas!

3. My new boots. Love them.

4. Feeling rested.

5. Pictures of my god-daughter as a little lamb for Halloween. So cute.

6. More new recipes. Winter squash soup and cheese straws. Yum.

7. The show, "Castle." It makes me chuckle.

8. A beautiful full moon!

9. The smell of fallen leaves... Fall is here!

10. The sound of my dog's toenails clicking across the wood floors. So fun.

Anniversary! 6 Years!

"There is no more lovely, friendly, and charming relationship, communion, or company than a good marriage."
--Martin Luther

"Life has taught us that love dos not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction."
--Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Wow... Six years! Here are some things I am thankful for about my marriage:

1. He's my best friend.

2. We laugh - a lot.

3. We can talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly.

4. We love to go for walks - and hold hands.

5. We have different interests - but love to share them with each other.

6. We teach each other new things all the time.

7. We love to cook together!

8. Surprises.

9. We always encourage each other.

10. He gives me the window seat on airplanes.

11. We love to daydream about our future.

12. We love to travel and explore together.

13. We greet each other with hugs and kisses!

14. We know how to make each other smile after a bad day.

15. I can sing along to the radio with him in the car - and he doesn't laugh or cringe.

16. He cleans my car.

17. He kisses me good-bye every morning.

18. He's strong when I feel weak - and vice versa.

19. He puts up with my many many quirks!

20. He believes in me. Always.

Happy Anniversary, Babe!

All Hallow's Eve Magic

"O daughter of She, much power has been gifted to you. It is the power of Love. Tonight, by candlelight or by the light of the full moon in your backyard, commit to use your power wisely for the Highest Good of all. You have no idea of the countless lives you touch in the course of your lifetime. Souls searching for Wholeness that could be healed with the magic at your command. Go directly to the Source. Acknowledge your lineage and your authentic gifts with a grateful heart. "I am sure there is Magic in everything," Frances Hodgson Burnett observed. "only we have not sense enough to get hold of it and make it do things for us."

"Now we do."

--Simple Abundance

Halloween! What a fun day! We spent the first part of the day at a UNICEF Carnival at my church - all kinds of fun! We were surrounded by witches, storm troppers, bumblebees, princesses, cowboys, firemen, the Gilligan's Island crew, clowns, and a Travelocity Travel Gnome! (The hubby and I just threw on our backpacking gear this year... Nothing too creative, until the hubby reminded me that this was our own version of "Heaven and Hell." I'll let you figure out who was who! Ha ha ha.)

Then we came home and took some naps... We were out late last night for the concert, and any big church event sucks the energy right out of me! But after our naps, we planned some fabulous meals for the rest of the weekend and went grocery shopping - we got home just in time for Trick-or-Treators! Yeah - a whole 8 kids in three hours. We have a lot of left over Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!

It was a slow night, but we've started our own traditions on Halloween - a yummy, homemade dinner, candlelight, good music, and Trivial Pursuit in front of the fireplace. (We made the Barefoot Contessa's "Croque Monsieur" tonight - ooey, gooey, baked ham and cheese sandwich. Delish!)

I hope you had a nice Halloween!

Things I am thankful for today:

1. The hubby kept the dog busy so I could sleep in. Then they both woke me up - so cute!

2. A great turnout at the UNICEF carnival! Double what we've had in past years!

3. Lots of laughter and smiles.

4. Fun playing with the little kids.

5. Football - always lures me into a nap.

6. Penny lending me her Barefoot Contessa in Paris Cookbook. Yum-o.

7. Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.

8. Croque Monsieur - who knew?!

9. Our dog being so excited for the kids who came to our door. So funny.

10. A warm cozy night at home.

Friday Fave Five - October 30th

It's Friday!!! Yippeee! Here are my Friday Fave Five things of the week - if you'd like to take part, link up at Suzanne's Living To Tell the Story!

1. Ohmygosh! There's blue sky outside my window right now! We haven't seen much of that this week... Sunshine and blue sky is easily one of my favorite things of the week!

2. Feeling inspired and excited about work. We're planning some fun things to really connect people to different ways of living out their faith over the course of the next year - I'm having a lot of fun with the planning process!

3. Sunday, I got to introduce our new music director's daughter (a 3rd grader) to our church. I sat with her in worship and introduced her to a lot of people - she was so cute and fun. The best was when she looked up at me and said, "I think I'm going to really like this church!" Made my heart melt...

4. Book Group this week was so fun! We talked about the book, we laughed, we laughed, we talked about stuff going on in our lives, we laughed some more. I needed it. They're great ladies!

5. Tonight we're going out to dinner and to a David Gray concert. I know it hasn't happened yet - but it will be great! We could both use a fun night out!

Have a good Friday!

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Blue skies.

2. A day off.

3. The hubby only worked a half day!

4. Easy, cheap, parking downtown!

5. Finding a seat at the bar at the Rock Bottom Brewery - the place was PACKED!

6. An awesome bartender - he was attentive, funny, busy, professional, and so nice! I would go back just to see him again. (He got a great tip!)

7. A yummy dinner, too! BBQ pork sandwich and mac and cheese!

8. A wonderful concert! So much MORE than I expected!

(This is one of my favorite parts of the Orpheum Theatre - isn't that ceiling beautiful? It looks like velvet... I always want to reach out and touch it!)

9. I love disco balls and the special effects that come from them... During one song, it looked like it was snowing in the theatre. Beautiful!

10. The song, "This Year's Love."

Happiness

"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony."
--Mahatma Gandhi

Friday will be here in 25 minutes. It's my day off. And we're going to see David Gray in concert. I think it's going to be a good day. I will say it's a good day. I'm pretty darn sure they will be in harmony. I'm happy.

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Getting up on time.
2. Sting's new album - I love the song, "Soul Cakes."
3. Adele's version of "To Make You Feel My Love." Great song.
4. I got my new boots today! My feet are happy!
5. Dinner with the hubby at a favorite cafe.
6. Emailing with my brother-in-law. He's a good guy.
7. The dog being oh-so-playful tonight!
8. Finally being home to watch "Grey's Anatomy" with the hubby.
9. Looking forward to tomorrow.
10. Oh! My little sis was accepted to both the colleges she's deciding between! Congrats, Kay!

Ladies of Grace - October 28th

I believe the blog carnival "Ladies of Grace" has been discontinued... But I'm stubborn. I like the idea of looking back over my last week and noticing when grace entered - or didn't enter - into my life in some way. If you have a story to share - when your heart was warmed or softened, or cold and hardened, by a situation - please leave a note in my comments! I really think we learn from each other when we share these parts of our lives!

This week, I will suck it up and share a common situation when my heart is not so graceful... Ready? Not only am I stubborn, I'm also impatient. There, I said it.

I've been in a lot of meetings last week and this week where people are supposed to ask questions and share ideas... and I get so frustrated with people that seem to be off in their own worlds or ask the same questions over and over... or simply cannot understand the goal or project at hand. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person who gets annoyed by this, right?

It's selfish and stupid of me - and it just proves that I'm not the entirely open-minded, patient person that I like to think I am.

So that's my prayer this week - that God will open my mind and heart, strengthen my patience, and help me to see where others are coming from, and be more kind in guiding them back to the focus of the discussion.

We all have faults. This is one of mine. Care to share yours?

Things I am thankful for today:

1. Oversleeping. Not good, but much needed.
2. A fun visit with Michele today!
3. The whole church smelled like turkey and pie all day long.
4. Getting lots of work done amidst the chaos.
5. It's been a good week to work with my pastor. Lots of fun.
6. Greeting people tonight at the Turkey Dinner.
7. My first turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and pumpkin pie dinner of the season!
8. Meeting Lance tonight - a man that goes to different church dinners all over the metro area just for the good food and meeting new people! So interesting!
9. A hot shower...
10. My hubby. I like him a lot.