Gratitude Lounge Welcome to our community space to support and celebrate Grateful Living. Please consider reflecting on questions such as these: What am I grateful for? How does gratefulness enrich my life, my community, the world? What is grateful living inspiring me to do? You are welcome to include images and videos to illustrate your reflections… Click here to cancel reply.Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment. Ursula1 week agoUrsulaDear all, thanks for your prayers and thoughts, thanks for you all as an inspiring source of strength. As her husband I have the sad duty of informing you that Ursula has died at home on 27th of July in the early morning. In deepest sorrow and gratitude, Werner, Elias, Emmanuel and our dog Sunshine 4 Reply Mary1 week agoMaryDear Werner, I responded to your post before but have since had time to think and have started to accept Ursula’s passing. I ache for you and your sons as well as all who knew and loved Ursula. Once again I want to thank you so much for writing in and letting us know that Ursula had passed. This was such a kindness! Not hearing anything and not knowing what had happened would have been so very hard as we all loved and cared for Ursula so very much. I pray Werner, that you and your sons ...Dear Werner, I responded to your post before but have since had time to think and have started to accept Ursula’s passing. I ache for you and your sons as well as all who knew and loved Ursula. Once again I want to thank you so much for writing in and letting us know that Ursula had passed. This was such a kindness! Not hearing anything and not knowing what had happened would have been so very hard as we all loved and cared for Ursula so very much. I pray Werner, that you and your sons will be there for each other, and that you will all get whatever help that you might need to get you through this time of grief. May God bless you Werner, Elias, and Emmanuel and sweet little Sunny. May God be with you as you grieve and help you to find joy and peace. Love and peace to you all. Mary Read More4 Reply Serafina1 week agoSerafinaDear Werner, Elias, Emmanuel, Sunshine and the Gratitude Lounge community, please accept our most heartfelt condolences for your (our) loss. This community has been so blessed by her kindness, wisdom, support and compassion. We have lit a candle in her honor and send you all our prayers. She will be dearly missed, may she rest in peace.❤ 3 Reply Pilgrim1 week agoPilgrimDear Family, I am utterly sorry for the loss of dear Ursula. She has blessed each and every one of us here in this gathering space, with her wisdom, encouragement and trust. Our friend is in the arms of the angels now, and at the same time lives on in our hearts. Please hug her faithful companion Sunny for me. I hold you all in my prayers. 6 Reply pkr1 week agopkrBeautiful Beautiful Woman, dear Ursula. ❤️ Sending her family and loved ones much love and prayers at this sad time. Blessings to All, especially to those here, who are her friends. ❤️🙏🙏🙏❤️ 4 Reply Ose1 week agoOseMy heart is with you, dear Werner, and with yours and Ursulas sons. Such sad news. May you all find some comfort in the knowing that she found rest now. She was and is so dear to us all. My prayers will still be with her, and with you all, and Sunny, who will miss her like we all do so much. She will stay in my heart as a very dear and true friend. I will lit a candle for her tonight and for you as her dear family. May peace be with you. My deepest condolences. 5 Reply Mary1 week agoMaryOverwhelming news... I thank you for your great kindness of letting us know. I wish love to you, Ursula’s husband, Ursula’s sons, sweet Sunshine and everyone else Ursula loved and to all those who loved Ursula. I pray that you her family will draw close together, as this, as well as your happiness, would be Ursula’s fondest wish. Thank you for posting this gorgeous picture of our dear Ursula. She was an inspiration to me. Our loss is heaven’s gain. May we all be changed for the be...Overwhelming news… I thank you for your great kindness of letting us know. I wish love to you, Ursula’s husband, Ursula’s sons, sweet Sunshine and everyone else Ursula loved and to all those who loved Ursula. I pray that you her family will draw close together, as this, as well as your happiness, would be Ursula’s fondest wish. Thank you for posting this gorgeous picture of our dear Ursula. She was an inspiration to me. Our loss is heaven’s gain. May we all be changed for the better for having known Ursula and may that positive change continuously ripple out to others in our world. Dearest Ursula, I feel your presence with me now. Thank you for your love, your kindness, and your light. I am kinder and stronger for having known you. In your name I will focus and renew my energy toward kindness, light, and love. And whenever I think of you, I will guide my energy toward ever increasing love. Dear God knows I will miss you… I cherish having known you and I will love you forever. May we all be better for having known you, dearest Ursula, our beautiful, beautiful friend. Mary Read More6 Reply Michele1 week agoMicheleMy deepest condolences to you all. Farewell you beautiful soul. My love goes with you as my heart is breaking. You showed me the meaning of true courage I will miss your beautiful presence here in our space. Peace. 😢 6 Reply Mica1 week agoMicaThank you, Werner – her pain is over now. Peace be with you! 5 Reply Diane1 week agoDianeDear Werner, Elias and Emmanuel......we are all with you in your sorrow and the loss of your wife and mother. Ursula was, and always will be a shining light in all our lives. How very kind of you to share her passing with us.....as well as this beautiful picture of a truly beautiful spirit. Holding you close in prayer, I light a candle in her honor and pray that you will find comfort in knowing how much she was loved here in this community. May you rest in peace sweet Ursula.....we will...Dear Werner, Elias and Emmanuel……we are all with you in your sorrow and the loss of your wife and mother. Ursula was, and always will be a shining light in all our lives. How very kind of you to share her passing with us…..as well as this beautiful picture of a truly beautiful spirit. Holding you close in prayer, I light a candle in her honor and pray that you will find comfort in knowing how much she was loved here in this community. May you rest in peace sweet Ursula…..we will miss you dear friend. 🕯 Read More7 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaDear Werner, Elias and Emmanuel, I send you deepest condolences from my heart. I am in sorrow with you, as Ursula was a true friend and inspiration to me here in this space, and I will never forget her bright, generous spirit. I will keep you in my prayers. 7 Reply Anna1 week agoAnnaDear family you are in my prayers, and Ursula will live in my heart like a true friend. Me too as Palm, I bow in front of you, while tears are in my eyes. 6 Reply Palm1 week agoPalmDear family, I bow to you, like this flower to the candle, and hold you all in prayer. I am in sorrow with you. Thank you for this beautiful picture. Dear Ursula, you will always be with us, you have touched our heart forever, my friend. May you rest in Light. Sending love as always, from Palm ❤️ 6 Reply Palm1 week agoPalm🙏🏻 6 Reply Mary1 week agoMaryDear Palm, Your words and this picture touched me deeply. I have to believe that Ursula felt your words and was also deeply touched by this highly expressive and beautiful picture. Mary 3 Reply Palm1 week agoPalmDear Mary, as you said so beautifully in your post, I also feel the presence of dear Ursula and have to believe that she is receiving our messages and love. I am with you in feeling more acceptance of her passing, what beautiful words you’ve written, I also feel I have changed for the better because of having known her. Only our dear friends here can understand, and for that bonding, I am grateful. Blessings dear Mary 2 Reply Anna1 week agoAnnaPalm, Grateful Sea, Diane, I am with you: Ursula now is a special angel over us. Tuesday will be our common prayer day, when we will always remember her dear soul. Even if we will not write, but I know she will look for us, from her new home. Ciao cara Ursula, carissima amica. Mi dispiace tanto 4 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaYes, dear Anna, sending light and love from grateful sea. 0 Reply Mary1 week agoMary❤️ 1 Reply Palm1 week agoPalm❤️ 2 Reply Diane1 week agoDianeDear Palm and grateful sea: I too have lighted a candle in our dear sweet Ursula’s memory….with tears of both sorrow and gratitude for her presence in all of our lives. I feel so honored to have been a part of her journey and will miss her dearly. My heart is heavy. ~We have a very special angel looking over us now. 5 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaThank you, dear Diane. Sending light and love from grateful sea. 0 Reply Palm1 week agoPalm❤️ 1 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaDear Palm, my candle is lit and I bow with you. 4 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaYes, dear Palm. Our dear Ursula — so full of light — when she asked us to pray for her and with her — it was a special gift she gave us, bonding us all together. 6 Reply Palm1 week agoPalmDear grateful sea, thank you, it comforts me to read this from you, I see it as another way Ursula has bonded us all together 5 Reply Christine1 week agoChristineToday I am grateful for the rest and the beauty of the day. Last night produced cool summer temperatures resulting in perfect “sleeping” weather. I turned off the AC and opened up the doors and windows and enjoyed the fresh air in the house. I was a bit sleepy after the workday and laid down to nap around 6:30 p.m. I woke at 5:30 a.m. today! It was glorious! My dogs didn’t even wake me! I find it luxurious to have the space and time to rest when my body tells me to. 5 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaHello Christine, welcome. I also love cool summer nights when I can turn off the fans, better to hear the night sounds — crickets and katydids, the little screech owl calling. Waking to the dawn songs of birds. I am wishing you a beautiful Sunday. 1 Reply Diane1 week agoDianeChristine….thank you for sharing. It is a gift to be able to open the windows and let the warm summer breezes in.🌞 And how wonderful to have such a luxurious sleep! ~Blessings ♥ 2 Reply Diane1 week agoDianeGood morning friends. I join with Pilgrim in holding our dear Ursula in prayer and in healing light. I am grateful this morning for the cleansing tears I have been shedding lately. They are right on the surface and seem to want to be released often these days. I have so many emotions…and unhealthy, obsessive thoughts roiling around in my brain. And it has been made clear to me that above all else I need a Letting Go. Letting go of control and the way I think things aught to be done and rep...Good morning friends. I join with Pilgrim in holding our dear Ursula in prayer and in healing light. I am grateful this morning for the cleansing tears I have been shedding lately. They are right on the surface and seem to want to be released often these days. I have so many emotions…and unhealthy, obsessive thoughts roiling around in my brain. And it has been made clear to me that above all else I need a Letting Go. Letting go of control and the way I think things aught to be done and replacing that with compassion for my husband who is just paralyzed by inaction. Letting go of my fears and anxieties about the future and prayerfully replacing them with a deep sense of presence and an awareness of the blessings that each moment brings. Letting go of railing against my body and the things that I can’t do and rejoicing in the things that I still can….because they are abundant. Bravely letting go of my daughter so that she can fly confidently into her new life…..remembering that God has always guided and protected her and will continue to do so. Because God and the Universe are generous, all of my spiritual readings and meditations this morning were an encouragement to Let Go. Or perhaps I am just interpreting them that way since my heart was open and accepting and surrendered, in my exhaustion, to….finally…..letting go. With grateful love I would like to share with you some snippets of what I read this morning. Be well dear friends ♥ ~How much easier I will find life’s experiences if I will let go of my willful ways. The right outcome in all cases will more quickly surface (From “Each Day A New Beginning: Daily Meditations For Women”) ~And what I would like to say to you is don’t be afraid of your pain, but dare to embrace it. If you are wounded, and I know that you and I are, put your brokenness under the blessing. (Henri Nouwen) ~And last….a poem by Safire Rose for meditation that I listened to on my Insight Timer app. It was read by John Siddique and is simply entitled “She Let Go”. Here is the beginning and the end of this beautiful poetry….I encourage you all to read it in it’s entirety when so moved. “She let go. She let go. Without a thought or a word, she let go. She let go of the fear. She let go of the judgments. She let go of the confluence of opinions swarming around her head. She let go of the committee of indecision within her. She let go of all the ‘right’ reasons. Wholly and completely, without hesitation or worry, she just let go.Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go. There was no effort. There was no struggle. It wasn’t good and it wasn’t bad. It was what it was, and it is just that. In the space of letting go, she let it all be. A small smile came over her face. A light breeze blew through her. And the sun and the moon shone forevermore” Read More5 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful sea“Like a leaf falling from a tree, she just let go.” Thank you, Diane, for sharing this beautiful poem, which speaks so to my heart as well. What you have shared about your journey, I hold in my heart and wish for you that it may be so, this letting go, again and again, may it be so. 2 Reply Diane1 week agoDianedear grateful sea…..it gives me joy to know that my sharing has spoken to your heart. I am more grateful than ever for this miraculous community of souls since we have lost our dear sweet Ursula. ~Om shanti friend ♥ 3 Reply Mary1 week agoMaryThis last poem is so beautiful, Diane. It is what I need to hear. Spot on. With deepest thanks, dear Diane, Mary 1 Reply Diane1 week agoDianeI'm so happy to know that Mary. Thank you for sharing this "letting go" journey with me....it is still a work in progress for me and I suspect it will always be a challenge on some level. But I am grateful for the divine messages I have been receiving....I know that they are always for my highest good. Thinking of you as the summer is winding down and another school year begins. Sending you courage...and my sincere admiration for all that you do for your students. ~Blessings friend ...I’m so happy to know that Mary. Thank you for sharing this “letting go” journey with me….it is still a work in progress for me and I suspect it will always be a challenge on some level. But I am grateful for the divine messages I have been receiving….I know that they are always for my highest good. Thinking of you as the summer is winding down and another school year begins. Sending you courage…and my sincere admiration for all that you do for your students. ~Blessings friend ♥ Read More1 Reply Pilgrim1 week agoPilgrimDear Diane, You have much on your heart, my friend. I can relate to some of this. I am glad to know that you have been able to find the place of kindness toward yourself and your husband, Thank you for sharing these wonderful snippets from your reading. I smiled when I read “the committee of indecision within her.” Yes, indeed. I am familiar with the committee! May clarity find its way to your heart and your husband’s, when the time is right. Blessings to you and your family. 3 Reply Diane1 week agoDianeThank you Pilgrim….I am so grateful for the grace of these divine messages. And especially grateful to be able to share this “letting go” journey with you my friend. This is something that I suspect I will always be working on….I guess that’s why we call it a “journey”. Thank you for being a dear traveling companion. ♥ ~Blessings 1 Reply Anna1 week agoAnnaDear friends I am enjoying my holidays. I am traveling around Sicily with a joyful group of friends. We are 17 fellows and we are reminding our last travel here, 26 years ago. So, I have a little time to write, but I’m always here with you, especially holding Ursula in my thoughts and prayers. A warm embrace to everyone. Warm like the sun in this fantastic place. I would send you the light of this isle with my post, if I were able to catch it. 2 Reply Mary1 week agoMaryThank you, dear Anna, for being the beautiful soul that you are. 💕💕 Mary 1 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaI feel the special light in your words, dear Anna, thank you. Sending love from grateful sea. 1 Reply Pilgrim1 week agoPilgrimDear Anna, I am very happy to hear of your wonderful adventure with friends! Such a treat, to be among so many longtime friends. Soak it all in, my friend!! 3 Reply Diane1 week agoDianeCara Anna…you have made me smile knowing you are on such a joyful holiday with special friends and warm sunshine. 🌞 ~Grateful love mi amica ♥ 2 Reply Dawn Elaine1 week agoDawn ElaineFor years, I've struggled with anger and resentment at unjustified wrongs done to me. "Just pray for them," they say. But pray what? The answer was unclear until I made a decision to practice prayers of thanksgiving for the people and situations about which I was resentful. It occurred to me that gratitude for the very things that bring pain, even if only that I would not be the person I am today without those experiences, is the bridge between the act of victimization and forgiveness. All ...For years, I’ve struggled with anger and resentment at unjustified wrongs done to me. “Just pray for them,” they say. But pray what? The answer was unclear until I made a decision to practice prayers of thanksgiving for the people and situations about which I was resentful. It occurred to me that gratitude for the very things that bring pain, even if only that I would not be the person I am today without those experiences, is the bridge between the act of victimization and forgiveness. All I need to do is ask for the grace to keep my feet on the bridge. Read More4 Reply Diane1 week agoDianeDear Dawn….thank you for sharing. I love the picture you painted and I am inspired to “ask for the grace to keep my feet on the bridge”. between having a victim mindset to one of forgiveness. What a beautiful and healing intention. ~Blessings 2 Reply Pilgrim1 week agoPilgrimThinking of you, Ursula, and holding you in prayer and light. 5 Reply Michele1 week agoMicheleMy grandchildren and the book. 8 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaI want to give this one hundred and eleven ‘hearts’ …so beautiful your grandchildren(!) with Rosa’s book. Thank you, again, my friend. That they could take part in this act of kindness makes it to me all the more meaningful. 2 Reply Michele1 week agoMicheleIt did for me as well. 3 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaDear Michele, just sending love and light. Now when I think of you and Yoda and little Finnegan, I also see your beautiful grandchildren in my heart’s eye. Blessings to all. 0 Reply Michele1 week agoMicheleIt will not upload photo. I’ll try again one at a time. 4 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaYes, cherish. Cherish. 1 Reply Michele1 week agoMichelegrateful sea. Forgive the long time is has taken to honor Rosa and you as I promised. I have not visited Ann Arbor for a long while and we have no little free libraries where I live. My son recently visited with my grandchildren and I asked them to place the special book for Rosa in the library where you saw the photo of Yoda and I. I do so with great love for you and Rosa and as this is one year since I lost my Yoda, how fitting to receive these photos today. I hope you find some peace with...grateful sea. Forgive the long time is has taken to honor Rosa and you as I promised. I have not visited Ann Arbor for a long while and we have no little free libraries where I live. My son recently visited with my grandchildren and I asked them to place the special book for Rosa in the library where you saw the photo of Yoda and I. I do so with great love for you and Rosa and as this is one year since I lost my Yoda, how fitting to receive these photos today. I hope you find some peace with knowing how much you both are loved. As always. Michele Read More5 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaDear Michele, this morning I am still feeling the light and warmth of your kindness, my friend. Thank you. Sending love from grateful sea. 2 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaMy dear Michele, there is nothing to forgive, I knew the right time would come! I am so very touched by your gesture of kindness — as touched today as when you first wrote to me after I lost Rosa. Thank you. I think of my little Rosa every day still and cry often (as I do now so that I can hardly write). Knowing that you understand so well, I do not feel alone. To think of others sitting quietly reading, enjoying Rosa’s book — maybe wondering for just a moment who she was and somehow...My dear Michele, there is nothing to forgive, I knew the right time would come! I am so very touched by your gesture of kindness — as touched today as when you first wrote to me after I lost Rosa. Thank you. I think of my little Rosa every day still and cry often (as I do now so that I can hardly write). Knowing that you understand so well, I do not feel alone. To think of others sitting quietly reading, enjoying Rosa’s book — maybe wondering for just a moment who she was and somehow connecting with the spirit of gentleness she brought to my life, to my father’s life — or maybe just cherishing a little bit more the unique animal companion(s) in their own life, or perhaps even opening to one that is coming(!) — this a great comfort to me. As are you, my friend. We have this bond I do not forget. I know too that this anniversary for you is full of emotion, as your bond with Yoda was so incredibly strong. Though in time we can open our hearts to a new companion, we do not replace the one that came before. Thank you, again, dear Michele. Your heart is full of love and I cherish you, as always, grateful sea. Read More1 Reply Michele1 week agoMichelegrateful sea it was my honor and privilege to return the love you shared with me and Yoda all this year. Many will read her book about a marvelous kitty and each will carry some good back out into the world in Rosas name. It gave me great joy to see my little ones participate in this task as I fully explained to them the importance of their mission. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends here. I think if each of you daily sending love and good wishes. I have been remiss at visiting t...grateful sea it was my honor and privilege to return the love you shared with me and Yoda all this year. Many will read her book about a marvelous kitty and each will carry some good back out into the world in Rosas name. It gave me great joy to see my little ones participate in this task as I fully explained to them the importance of their mission. I am so blessed to have such wonderful friends here. I think if each of you daily sending love and good wishes. I have been remiss at visiting the Lounge as I have been very much isolating these days. I am heartbroken to read Ursula is no longer with us. I prayed for her daily. She is at rest but selfishly I will miss her loving thoughts and words. I cry and cry and find little relief for my sorrow in losing her. We never met, I never knew her full name but she was my family. She was so courageous and I will honor her always. I hope this finds you well. It’s a beautiful sunny day here in Pennsylvania and I will go outside to read and be reminded of nature’s gifts! Peace to all. Read More3 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaGood morning, Michele. You brighten my day once again as I marvel at the photo of your beautiful grandchildren putting Rosa’s book out into the world. I truly do marvel at the wonderful mystery of our connections here and the way they ripple outward. This touches upon what I didn’t have the energy to put words around yesterday. My friend, you wrote that you have been very much isolating these days. And I very much can empathize with you because I also struggle with self-isolation. So h...Good morning, Michele. You brighten my day once again as I marvel at the photo of your beautiful grandchildren putting Rosa’s book out into the world. I truly do marvel at the wonderful mystery of our connections here and the way they ripple outward. This touches upon what I didn’t have the energy to put words around yesterday. My friend, you wrote that you have been very much isolating these days. And I very much can empathize with you because I also struggle with self-isolation. So how could I encourage you not to — if I do not intend to do the same? But I know how hard it is! Yet I care so much about you and want you to feel connected here and in your “walking-around life” too, however it feels right to you! So I do encourage you to take small steps and I pledge that I will do the same. Does this make sense? My thoughts and words usually feel very clumsy and incomplete so I often worry that they may not come across in the spirit I intend. And I really hope I am not bugging you. I mean only love. It’s okay not to answer this, I just want you to know I am sitting on the back porch this cool, sunny morning with my candle lit, for our sweet Ursula, for everyone she loved and who loved her, for YOU dear Michele, and for me, for all of us. Peace be with you. Read More1 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaDear Michele, we are together in our sorrow and in our gratefulness — for as Diane wrote above — Ursula was, and always will be, a shining light to us all. I believe our tears honor her beautiful spirit. And you honor her as chosen family. There is no selfishness in missing her. Please be ever so gentle with yourself, my friend. I have more I want to say but have exhausted myself for nowSending love as always, grateful sea. 1 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaWe are candles burning sometimes sputtering, sometimes steady, with the same task as the stars in their majesty making light. (Elias Amidon) A recent Word of the Day. With thanks to the Gratefulness Team for all they do to create and hold this space. With thanks to all who visit here, seen and unseen, bringing their energy. Peace to all. 9 Reply Diane1 week agoDianeGood morning grateful sea. Thank you for sharing this lovely poem. It really resonated with me. Lately I've been feeling like the candle that is sputtering....I'm heartened to be made aware that whether steady or sputtering, my light is still shining. This revelation has brought me much comfort this morning. Sometimes, unbeknownst to us, our sharing can be healing....and impart needed courage when not feeling particularly brave. I'm grateful for you and for all in this sacred space who ...Good morning grateful sea. Thank you for sharing this lovely poem. It really resonated with me. Lately I’ve been feeling like the candle that is sputtering….I’m heartened to be made aware that whether steady or sputtering, my light is still shining. This revelation has brought me much comfort this morning. Sometimes, unbeknownst to us, our sharing can be healing….and impart needed courage when not feeling particularly brave. I’m grateful for you and for all in this sacred space who are my wounded healers. ~Blessings friend ♥ Read More3 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaWe are candles burning. And I am blessed by your light, dear Diane. Om shanti. 1 Reply Pilgrim1 week agoPilgrimThank you, grateful see. I am so glad to hear from you. 3 Reply grateful sea1 week agograteful seaThank you, dear Pilgrim, for being here with us, for walking with me. 1 Reply Diane2 weeks agoDianeI am grateful that I had a good retina eye exam in my right eye today. My vision is back to 20/20. It was 20/40 and I needed a series of shots in my eye over a few months to correct the problem. No shot today! 7 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaWelcome, Diane. I also thank you for sharing your good news. 2 Reply Mary2 weeks agoMaryHello Diane. Welcome! 1 Reply Diane2 weeks agoDianeHello fellow-Diane 🙂 Thank you for sharing your good news. It’s always something to be thankful for when no shots are required! ~Blessings 1 Reply Diane2 weeks agoDianeThank you fellow Diane. Nice to meet you! 1 Reply Diane2 weeks agoDianeGood morning faithful friends I am grateful for an emotion-packed weekend and a Monday with nothing to do but recover. :) My husband and I celebrated our 4th anniversary living here in our little farmhouse. We decided to make it a "walk down memory lane" this year and we re-visited all the places that we held sentimentally in our hearts when we look back on that time in our lives. Our first stop Friday evening was to the lovely river-town restaurant where we stopped for dinner after ...Good morning faithful friends I am grateful for an emotion-packed weekend and a Monday with nothing to do but recover. 🙂 My husband and I celebrated our 4th anniversary living here in our little farmhouse. We decided to make it a “walk down memory lane” this year and we re-visited all the places that we held sentimentally in our hearts when we look back on that time in our lives. Our first stop Friday evening was to the lovely river-town restaurant where we stopped for dinner after seeing our house for the first time and putting in our offer. I remember so vividly that visit….I was so excited and crying tears of joy and hope that our offer would be accepted. I showed our waiter the realtor’s brochure and asked him how he liked living out here. I remember him being so happy for us and wishing us well. When the day of our closing came…we sat in a cute little cafe nearby called “Mom’s” waiting for the phone call from our lawyer saying that it was done and we could officially move in! More tears ensued and here, once again, the wait staff celebrated with us and welcomed us to the neighborhood. So of course, we had breakfast there Sunday morning, followed by a bike ride along the river that we love so much. And then an evening visit to the winery down the road, where we had gotten the bottle of wine that we enjoyed our first night in our new home….thanking God with more tears of joy that our dream had come true. Our youngest daughter is leaving us soon….making her way out to west to start her new life. Perhaps this is also contributing to my sentimentality these days….I find myself spending a lot of time reminiscing about the past. I have to remember to be intentional and aware….to be mindful and fully present in the here and now. I suppose we all have times like these. I am grateful to have this sacred space with all of you where I can feel safe sharing my musings. Thank you for that gift. ~Much love and blessings to you all this day. 🙏💜 Read More13 Reply Mary2 weeks agoMaryI am grateful for the time I have had this summer to relax. I have decided to do a job share with another teacher this year which means I will be working 2 days one week, and then 3 days the next week and so on- equally sharing the job. It is not a done deal yet so I am hanging in there. If it falls through I’m not sure what I will do. If it works out it could be a very positive thing for me. Blessings to all, Mary 8 Reply Michele1 week agoMicheleMary. I am so happy for you. I hope you find it as the best of two worlds. A good way to ease into retirement! Blessings my friend. 2 Reply Diane2 weeks agoDianeMary….. I’m so happy to hear about this job share! It sounds like the perfect solution for you. I hope it works out….I will offer up a special prayer 🙏 I admire you so much…..only a fellow teacher can understand the stress and struggles, as well as the joys, of being in a classroom. It can be exhausting and I wish you all the strength and courage you need in this new school year. ~Be blessed my friend ♥ 2 Reply Mary2 weeks agoMaryThank you dear Diane understanding so well and for caring. It looks like I’ll be starting out full time, but hopefully I will have a partner to share the job within a few weeks.Wishing you peace and joy. Mary 1 Reply Anna2 weeks agoAnnaDear Mary, special blessings to you, for your work. Happy to see you! 1 Reply Mary2 weeks agoMaryHi dear Anna. Thank you for the blessings. I wish you many blessings too. I send you my love Anna. Mary 1 Reply grateful sea2 weeks agograteful seaIt is so good to see you, Mary. And to hear that you see this possibility for your work. Keep hanging in there. And like Pilgrim, I too will hold this opportunity in prayer with you. 1 Reply Mary2 weeks agoMaryHello dear grateful sea. It is always good to see you here as well. Thank you so much for your prayers. Lovingly, Mary 2 Reply Pilgrim2 weeks agoPilgrimI will hold this opportunity in prayer with you, dear Mary. Blessings, my friend. 1 Reply Mary2 weeks agoMaryThank you so much Pilgrim. And I will pray for your continued healing after your hand surgery. Sending you 💕 Mary 1 Reply Pilgrim2 weeks agoPilgrimThank you! 1 Reply Ose3 weeks agoOseJoining you, dear Pilgrim, Anna and grateful sea on our common prayer day, sending blessings to all who share and visit here, and to all out there who may be suffering.. May the flowers which I came to pass by and where their overwhelming beauty touched me deeply be a sign and an inspiration for joy and abundance in every soul. It is a view into the garden of my parents and these amazing hortensias have been cultivated by my mother. Wishing you all a week full of creativity and encounters in lov...Joining you, dear Pilgrim, Anna and grateful sea on our common prayer day, sending blessings to all who share and visit here, and to all out there who may be suffering.. May the flowers which I came to pass by and where their overwhelming beauty touched me deeply be a sign and an inspiration for joy and abundance in every soul. It is a view into the garden of my parents and these amazing hortensias have been cultivated by my mother. Wishing you all a week full of creativity and encounters in loving kindness. With greetings from my heart to all of you. Read More 4 Reply Michele1 week agoMicheleBeautiful Ose Thank you for sharing. 2 Reply Mary2 weeks agoMaryWow, Ose, really gorgeous flowers! What a beautiful. life giving view. I love your kindness and concern for those who are suffering. May we all live with kindness peace, and joy! Mary 2 Reply Anna3 weeks agoAnnaYou are always welcome, dear Ose, these hydrangeas are wonderful and their colors are so intense, both a gift from nature and the contribution of your mother’s care! 2 Reply grateful sea3 weeks agograteful seaThank you, dear Ose, for being here with us, for sharing the inspiration of your mother’s beautiful flowers, for your heart-felt blessings to all. May you also be abundantly blessed. 2 Reply Pilgrim3 weeks agoPilgrimThank you, dear Ose, for sharing these stunning flowers! And for your wonderful wishes for creativity and encounters in loving kindness. Blessings to you, my friend. 2 Reply Pilgrim3 weeks agoPilgrimOn this our common prayer day I hold each of you in blessing, Light and Friendship. I am grateful for each of you. 5 Reply Anna3 weeks agoAnnaMe too dear Pilgrim, I am grateful for each of you. And I join you in holding everyone in light and love 1 Reply grateful sea3 weeks agograteful seaThank you, Pilgrim. I join this circle of caring with my heart light. 3 Reply Diane3 weeks agoDianeGood morning lovely friends I join with Anna in thinking of you dear Ursula. Sending love and prayers across the ocean to you. ♥ This has been a weepy morning for me and I find myself so grateful that I have this safe and sacred place to come to.....with both my joys and with my anxieties. During my meditations this morning, through my tears, I listened to a beautiful guided meditation on JOY. This meditation led me through cleansing breaths with a calming affirmations that helped me ...Good morning lovely friends I join with Anna in thinking of you dear Ursula. Sending love and prayers across the ocean to you. ♥ This has been a weepy morning for me and I find myself so grateful that I have this safe and sacred place to come to…..with both my joys and with my anxieties. During my meditations this morning, through my tears, I listened to a beautiful guided meditation on JOY. This meditation led me through cleansing breaths with a calming affirmations that helped me to release some of the tension and anxiety my body was holding onto. The meditation guided me..on my out-breath to smile. And then offered some thoughts on carrying my smile with me through the day and offering it up to those who cross my path. It ended with one of my favorite mantra/chants……om shanti shanti……which is an invocation of peace in the Buddhist and Hindu traditions. I am grateful to have been led to this meditation. My heart woke up heavy but feels lighter now. Wishing you joy this day my friends. And may you have peace in your hearts and a smile or two to offer to the world around you. ~Blessings ♥ Read More6 Reply grateful sea3 weeks agograteful seaOm shanti. 2 Reply Anna3 weeks agoAnnaDear Ursula, today is Saint Martha’s day and I am thinking of all the friends here, but above all of you, I hope you are better. I am praying to the Saint, right now, before going to work. 3 Reply grateful sea3 weeks agograteful seaI join with you and Diane in thinking of our dear Ursula, holding her in the light. 4 Reply Dave3 weeks agoDaveMy wife sent me this photo of our daughter wearing our national costume for women for a school event. I pray with my heart everyday for the love she has in her for me. 6 Reply Diane3 weeks agoDianeThank you for sharing Dave….she is so blessed to have a father who obviously treasures her. Her smile radiates such joy from within ♥ ~God bless you and your loving family 0 Reply grateful sea3 weeks agograteful seaShe shines, Dave. What a gift she is. 0 Reply Pilgrim3 weeks agoPilgrimShe is lovely, Dave, with beautiful eyes and her sweet smile. Thank you for sharing. 1 Reply Dave3 weeks agoDaveThanking God for today’s Rambutan harvest from our yard. Ever tried having one? 🙂 6 Reply Michele3 weeks agoMicheleNever have I heard of these! I’m looking them up! 3 Reply Dave3 weeks agoDaveFunny when I tried searching what the fruit is called in English. Hehe 2 Reply Anna3 weeks agoAnnaInteresting fruits, Dave! I’ve never heard of it, I’ll try to find some descriptions on the web! They seem to have healing properties. enjoy them! 2 Reply
