Oh Blue, you touch my inner core when I see your brilliance in the sky & sea. I’m speechless when the stars twinkle in the deep dark hue that you offer at night. I dream of dancing in a dress the color of periwinkle with a man who adores me. And, when it’s time to leave this earth, Edie will love me with her blue eyes. Oh, Blue……

Those who suffer inspire me everyday. They amaze me with their ability to continue living in a world where they are often unseen and with a resilience that inspires me greatly. There are lessons everywhere. Thanks be to God.

Advocacy for the vulnerable is near & dear to my heart. There are teachable moments everywhere I look and it’s critical for me to take my time, be loving in my approach and help others to see the global view, not simply the picture inside their head.

My heart stretches & love expands when I think outside of my head and allow my heart & soul to steer. It takes me to places where people are deeply in need of feeling loved. I’m able to offer that when I open myself to seeing the world in all its beauty & all its sorrow.

I have a dream that the ego in each of us will shrink substantially & we will see one another in new ways. We will grow our spiritual being & connect through love, leaving vanity in the dust. That’s some kind of glorious dream!

I have the ability & desire to connect through listening, through sharing a smile and by nurturing the gifts of others. We all need to feel connected & to feel seen by others. It’s an enormous gift and I can make the decision to give it more freely.

God certainly continues to encourage me to live my authentic life. I also have a friend who loves me unconditionally (at least it feels that way.) She knows my passions & although she’s an atheist, she has offered me so much spiritual wisdom & is a part of my diaconal growth. This week she sent me a ying yang icon that says: Love everybody Take no s**t. This is the perfect mantra for me. I love & adore her and am ever thankful for her friendship.

It’s enough to be on this planet surrounded by beauty & love. The extraneous “things” are great in some ways but as we are faced with distancing ourselves from one another we find that’s it’s enough to simply Be with God.

During this time of unrest & turmoil I’m so grateful for dear friends who are reaching out via text/email & phone calls to share their love for me. My children are staying connected & last night shared several numerous stories. Life seems extra heavy right now. I greatly appreciate the levity. My fella, of course, always shares the voice of love & comfort & a sense of safety & stability.

God’s love is always around me. I may sometimes forget that or take it for granted and what a shame when that happens. Staying connected to the strength of this relationship brings treasures to my life.

When I remember all the work that went into planting my food & the preparation it helps me to slow down & savor it: the veggie burger with tomatoes & spinach & pickle. The fresh cut fries & the gorgeous grapefruit. Fresh, healthy, life-giving.

I intend to extend patience to my academy classmates today. We are having class through Zoom all weekend due to the C-virus. We bumbled our way through it last night and we are gearing up for a long day today. We love one another so patience will be easy to offer. 💜💜

I’m forever thankful for the relationship I have with my sweetheart. His thoughtfulness, incredible brain & heart enhance my life greatly. My children & granddaughter bring so much joy to my life & my relationship with God deepens my faith in the goodness that exists in this world.

So many fears: “there’s no way I can get it all done”, “what if I forget all the steps and freeze”, “what if something happens to my children, granddaughter, sweetheart, parents, siblings, friends 🙄”, how is the C-virus going to impact the world globally & individually -my upcoming wedding.” I need to breathe…….

Recognizing the innate beauty in every person & creature will allow me to grow deeper into gratefulness. Some days I’m pretty good at this skill & then I get caught up in the negative ridiculousness of the world. Paying attention & training my brain are key.

Love completely changes the world. It connects us, reminding us that we are not alone. Love generates hope & brings lightness into the darkest spaces. Love lives within us & is right outside our door. How will you spread love today?

My first inclination is to say my family matters the most to me, but in the last two years I’ve made a spiritual decision to focus on my relationship with God. My faith is leading me to places I’ve ignored all of my life. It’s been challenging & scary & exhausting at times. It’s been incredible…..My deepening relationship with God is impacting every area of my life to include my relationship w/ my family. So many riches are all around me. Thanks be to God☀️

This has been very difficult for me too, Kevin. I can send prayers to/for our leaders but to deeply love them as beloved children of God leaves me wanting.

This is a dream of mine too❤️

Zoe, what a gift you’re giving to your daughter & granddaughter. It’s priceless!!