Good morning lovely friends:

In advance of our Tuesday prayer day, I wish you all great peace during these challenging times.

We are in the process of selling our home. People are coming tomorrow to see it but today is quiet, so here I am.

It has been non-stop packing, organizing, cleaning, fixing, etc. All the things you do to get ready to sell and move. In addition, there are a myriad of emotions during this process. We love our quirky little house and our beloved farmland and it will be hard to leave it behind. But our daughters are 2,000 miles away and we are getting older by the day!
We have heard that houses are selling like crazy right now due to Covid. People wanting to get out of the crowded cities and suburbs to move out into the country. This is an experiment of sorts to see if we can get a better price than we would have in the spring, which was our original moving target date.
We will see. And in the meantime, I am grateful that I have the time to do what needs to be done…I am not working at all, not wanting to go back into the schools. So this keeps me busy and my mind occupied.
My sister continues to struggle with her health and with some obvious mental health issues. I feel powerless to help her and it breaks my heart to see someone I love be so self-destructive. She has not ever, and is not now, taking care of herself or attempting to heal her wounded relationships. I am grateful to my nieces for all they are doing to try to help her and I appreciate all the love, support and prayers you have given. Thank you friends….from my heart to yours. ♥♥

~With grateful love

Good morning lovely gratitude lounge friends

It is Thursday morning here and I have missed a few Tuesdays with you but each time I visit, no matter the day, I am reminded of the love of our dear Ursula. We miss you dear friend…but know that your light continues to shine for us. 🕯

My sister’s health continues to be a challenge. I just now called her to find that she was with her visiting physical therapist and I am so grateful to hear that she is getting some of the help she needs. I’m not sure if she is being consistent with her dialysis….she is unfortunately not forthcoming about many aspects of her health.
I continue to turn my worries over to God, knowing that He is as near as her next breath…I am grateful to have that certainty.

I am grateful for our plans to move to Colorado for the final chapter of our life journey. We have put our house on the market for sale! Our original plan was for Spring 2021 but we decided to move up our timeline for a variety of reasons. I am trusting that all will unfold as it should and in God’s time. We were guided to a wonderful realtor and we are hopeful about the pricing and that houses out here in farm country are selling like hotcakes! This is because of Covid…people wanting to get out of the crowded cities.
The thought of being with our daughters sooner fills me with joy, despite the uncertainties and the hard work of preparing to move. But I am not working right now and so have the time to organize and pack.. There is much work to be done and my husband has a full workload at his job and also threw out his back…so I am grateful to have this time available. As much as I loved working at the schools, I know it was the right choice not to go back right now.

I’m reminded that silver linings are present amidst the challenges and uncertainty of these times. Recently I came across a picture that I had taken with my phone….it was a “Word of The Day” from this site back on December 22nd, 2018!! I took a picture of the screen and then forwarded to my daughters. It is serendipity that I still had it on my phone and ran across it: Sharing with all of you now with my grateful love ♥

“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars” Og Mandino

Dear Dee…..we are glad that you found your way back to this sacred community. I want to extend my comfort to you by telling you that we all experience times of spiritual dryness. And even anger with the Divine. Be assured that, no matter….God’s light still surrounds you and His love still enfolds you. I pray that you will feel His Presence and know that you are Loved eternally and unconditionally. I want to encourage you to be gentle and kind to yourself, to continue to practice self-care in whatever ways speak to you, and to honor your feelings, whatever they may be.

You asked for suggestions…..I wonder if keeping a journal would help. Sometimes writing things down, without censoring yourself, just being completely honest helps to bring some measure of peace. Perhaps start this process by reminding yourself, in writing, that you are Loved just the way you are at any given moment. I have always found comfort in reading Psalm 139…a reminder of God’s Presence always and that I am “fearfully and wonderfully made”.

I am remembering you and your husband in prayer and hope that you can find the peace that is buried deep in your heart.

~Om Shanti shanti….peace, peace. ♥

Thank you Pilgrim….I feel your love and support. My sister had to be air-lifted back to hospital last night…her dialysis port was damaged and she was losing a lot of blood. She has arrived via helicopter and I spoke with her this morning. They are putting in a new port on Monday and once she is stabilized will send her back home again.

This has been an emotional roller coaster. Covid, the elections, and now this crisis with my sister has brought me to my metaphorical and literal knees.
I appreciate so much your continued prayers.
~With grateful love ♥

Cara Anna:
I am so sorry to hear about your papa…and all the trials you are experiencing these days dear friend. What a challenging time we are living through. And aren’t we blessed to have this sacred space, each other, and the practice of gratitude.

It makes me happy to know that you are feeling loved and blessed. God’s ways are mysterious indeed. I remember a scripture that says this:

“Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

You and your family are in my prayers 🙏
Sending a big hug right back to you Anna with my grateful love ♥