After just chatting with one of my design clients this struck me…quiet can feel as chaotic to one’s soul as much as noise and disarray. Her son is going back to college this weekend and things are piled around. Remembering days in the past when I had 3 children still at home and the chaos that could ensue I felt her overwhelmed feelings.

Often in my work I hold a lot of hands and remind clients to breathe. Clearing out, painting prep and then painters in the house, rugs and furniture being delivered, built ins and draperies going in and clearing out everything for all this to happen. Remodeling entire rooms for new kitchens or bathrooms to go in. It’s a lot and they usually don’t realize the disruptions that all this brings sometimes for months and more. That’s why it’s important to “trust those doing the work” to know the outcome will bring joy as they see what was envisioned come to life. It’s the part of my work I enjoy most..seeing the demo of what was and knowing what it will be when complete.

Yes, I’ve held a lot of clients hands through the overwhelm of it all just as I held my children’s hands when they thought they just couldn’t do something that I knew they could. Sometimes we just need to hold a hand to reassure someone that it’s going to be ok and good…that they’ve got this…and remember in those moments that God’s got our backs as well.

There are also hands I have held through the loss of their child that I can deeply and profoundly understand on the deepest level. There is chaos in so much of this journey of life. We simply have to trust God, the one who is coordinating all the pieces, because He knows that the final outcome will be beautiful and bring joy. He doesn’t need to visualize the project, as I do in my work, He is creating it…even when we do not understand.

God knows the demo that needs to take place for the final outcome. He knows the quiet chaos those of us feel when the children have gone and life is quiet and things stay too neat and tidy. He holds our hands and hearts through it all because He loves us and knows the joy that awaits.

Go out and hold some hands today, you never know who needs that, and know that you are held as well. Love you sweet friends ❤️

Few things frustrate me more than things that are not working properly or at all! After a physically and mentally challenging 24 hours I simply wanted a latte this morning. My Keurig coffee machine has a frother on the side for either a cappuccino or a latte. Turned it on got the espresso shot but no light, nothing, nada with the frother. As I told my friend, nothing says I need a break more than when you find yourself standing and yelling at your coffee machine. That solves so much….I unplugged it..after a 2 hour nap… I plugged it back in and voila..magical reset.. enjoying my view and my reset latte.

Watching the beautiful clouds and truly enjoying the drink with the mound of foam it struck me. With the slider open getting some fresh air in here..really too chilly..was needed. Reset. Yes, reset. After my much needed nap I viewed my spring to fall chaos of things stacked around from the arts/crafts show season. The overwhelm of the clutter had driven me to retry the coffee and stop a minute.

Mind reset…on all levels! We all feel overwhelmed on some days but if we can just stop a minute and unplug…get a bit of rest (or maybe a lot)…eat something that nourishes us..refocus ..look at the positives even in the chaos of our journey…maybe have a latte?

Be sure that when replugging it is into what matters. Our source of life and peace has only one such source… be sure you know Him. When your frother doesn’t work…unplug and reset.

Maybe one more latte before I tackle the chaos in at least one room…maybe…

Love and light to you ❤️

It’s a process…I need to be writing..I need to be emailing past design clients..I need to be exercising…I need to be eating properly (yet I want a Dr Pepper)…I need to finish that cabinet that’s been sitting in the middle of the floor for a YEAR…I need to do the paperwork on my desk….I need to be cleaning,..need…need..need…Argh! Just STOP!!!!

Do you ever feel this way? The monkey is off and swinging tree to tree… nowhere fast! All these things and yet here I sit staring blankly into space…stuck! I’m tired, no I’m exhausted..full mind blowing exhaustion. Not the physical kind the mind soul numbing kind. The monkey fell from a tree and landed in a gooey quagmire kind! The creative piscean monkey brain…that messy place where my head lives.

If I could nicely just step outside of my head for only a day I could likely sort things out. Oh that it was a possibility.

One of my coaches once shared, when I was spiraling, to step back and see where I was coming from and look at the challenge from more perspectives. Sometimes experiencing the same thought pattern from a different angle is eye opening. For instance, instead of my warp speed brain feeling like a failure of mine to look at it as a form of high creative intelligence. In that instance the quagmire feels more exciting than debilitating.

Perhaps today I can focus a minute on each of those “needs” and instead view them as “opportunities “. What might you do or see differently if you stepped back from what you perceive as a negative and turned it to a chance to grow stronger? Instead of “waiting for the other shoe to drop “ you just find another pair of shoes.

In my particular life journey…my creative process…my pouting about the injustice of my life (from my own questionable choices), followed by pacing about channeling through options available… leads to the canvas. Sometimes it’s the actual canvas to pick up my brush and apply the colors from the tubes and sometimes it’s the canvas of my life. That canvas I seem to continue to paint over and start on again…but therein is the beauty…I can choose another color, another design. In my case probably an abstract rather than a still life(not a lot of monkeys in anything still).

You know, God is still painting my story. It’s His creative hand holding the brushes I keep trying to take back…it is time to relinquish my grip on the brush and give it back to the master creator. He neither paces or pouts… just beautiful majestic paintings. Our lives in all their majestic messy glory!

Think I’ll head to the studio now 🙌🏻🐒🎨🫟

Within the last week I have lost 2 friends. One since childhood and one from the last 20 or so years. My mind is a muddle as both were sudden. Both incredibly beautiful souls. How vastly different they were.

My childhood friend has been in my life since grade-school and served our home state of Arkansas proudly as a state trooper for decades. Our conversations of the last years were mainly about guns as he critiqued my range targets and gave me advice on correcting my grip and finger placement. What a solid and admirable man he became from the funny but always supportive friend he was when we were kids. His legacy will inspire many as he was so respected by friends and his peers.

My sweet newer friend I met through my son’s group of friends. She brought such life and beauty to our world. Her art and creative presence gave joy to so many. Such a kind heart. I will miss her advice on jewelry and craft fairs. Her insights into the best way to paint glass and its many steps. This exquisite woman, mother, friend and artist will leave a gaping hole for so many. Her story was cut way too young.

As I am sitting here watching the breathtaking beauty of the radiant sun’s reflection on the water…my heart feels both the surreal happiness and sadness I am experiencing. It is in the reflections of days like these that my own soul searching takes a beat to remember, once again, how very short and precious our days are here. What will be said when we leave this brief sojourn? Did we make a difference in anyone’s life or impact anyone to a degree that it changed their life for the better?

The last few days thankfully have been sunny as I have sat and stared out at God’s majestic beauty quite lost in thought and grief for more loss. One thing I do know, especially when I feel this lost, is God has a plan for each of us. He numbers our days and knows when our purpose here has been fulfilled. I am grateful that I can rest in that fact that He is in the ultimate control of each of our destinies. Whether it’s one more minute or another year or decades to come God loves us, has our best interests at heart and wants to bless us both here and in our eternity.

When someone crosses your mind reach out to them. As I have said so many times in the last years you just don’t know when they will no longer be there. This journey of life is so very brief. Squeeze out every single second of it.

Watching the birds soar over the water I know two beautiful souls took flight this week. We will remember them always and how THEY impacted OUR lives for the better. Mack and Juls forever in our hearts you will be missed. ❤️

The storms of the last 24 hours have been a little unnerving. Hearing the torrential rain and high winds and how they rattled the house left me more than bit anxious. When the power started blinking off and on I began to gather a few candles and when it stayed off longer they provided soothing light.

It’s amazing how just a single candle can dispel the darkness. I will confess I am not a fan of the dark. Sitting and watching the soft glow of that flame calmed my nerves and made me stop and take a deep breath. Calm is used here theoretically because it calmed my breathing but not complete calmness of my fear of storms.

That light in the darkness reminded me this morning (in bright sunshine …still harsh cold winds ..but sunny) of the light of our souls. Recalling a song from my childhood, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine “. Just one small light how it dispelled the darkness.

There is so much darkness in our world making us fearful. Never doubt God’s light is still here. He is still in control even though we can’t see or feel it. He IS in control. We know the end of the story. He wins! Because of Easter…He wins..therefore we win!!!

Remember today that little song and let your light shine for someone who needs some light in their life. Let it shine …let it shine …let it shine .❤️❤️

Happy St. Patrick’s Day …and top o the mornin🍀🍀

“As the thunder rolls I barely hear you whisper through the rain, I’m with you “. Casting Crowns.

At my son’s funeral I had this song played. It spoke volumes as to where my heart was and truthfully still remains. It feels like I was just writing about the 10 years and now it’s 11 in the next 2 weeks. Time can quiet the noise but never fully heal. Time heals all wounds most definitely is not the case for the loss of your child as any of us here in this ache will tell you. I dare not speak for those who have lost other loves…but your child is beyond brutal.

Attending a beautiful women’s retreat today was emotionally trying. Such a lovely speaker who shared so many truths of God’s love for us. Some hard triggers were hit and I felt the words of this song run through me. I can barely hear you whisper through MY rain, I’m with you. He is though whether I can hear or feel Him…He’s there always!

I learned the word, Ezer, today. One who runs quickly to help or aid another. A huge thank you, with all the gratitude in my soul, for all of you who have been an Ezer for me the last years. Whether here physically or with your heartfelt kind words of support and the prayers offered up…there are just not adequate words to express how much you have meant.

We talk about being kind to others and truly seeing them because our words or smile might be the only good they see today…but just the smallest of gestures may be so huge to that soul. Such sweet stories were shared around my table of women of how someone helped them and what an impact it made on them. Some stating the one helping truly had no idea the magnitude of how much it meant.

Send the text, make a call, hug someone, offer to open a door or pick up what was dropped, make eye contact, or just a smile from the heart. Gestures, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, can impact in ways that are far beyond what you are doing or can possibly comprehend.

I’ve read stories from people who were on their way to end their lives and a gesture of kindness stopped the dark spiral. You simply have no idea what impact you can have in this hurting world.

Life’s journey is not just ours but all those we encounter on our way. Be someone’s saving light today…you never know!!🥰

Love and light your way as always ❤️🪷

It’s a rainy, gray Saturday and I am enjoying every moment of it. A warm cozy fire and a cup of hot tea from leaves a dear one provided.

As I stood by the glass doors overlooking the river I noticed the mallards out there on the water. Two docks have ducks lined up, either huddled together or nestled down in their feathers by themselves. A few of the ducks are swimming around in the water between the docks. There is one little guy floating alone yet another dock over. Perhaps he is pondering the day out there away from the others. Do waterfowls think or just follow instincts? There’s community out there on this rainy day. Even the one off to himself is not too far away from all the others.

There is peace, calm and serenity bubbling up quietly today. Community. We all need community even when we feel the need, whether by choice or by life changes, to be one dock over from all others. Sometimes to ponder our life.. our choices..our purpose.. but sometimes just a day like today to…just be.

Rain is coming down a bit harder and clouds are getting darker. At times the darkening clouds feel foreboding but today they just feel like a warm blanket to settle under. A song from church and my childhood just surfaced. When peace like a river attendeth my soul…when sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say..it is well with my soul.

This rainy day and observing the ducks has reminded me…it is well with my soul❤️. Our journey of life brings those days when the sea billows are rolling so sit and breathe in these days when the gentle rains are falling and our river of life is gently flowing… make that cup of tea and if even for a few moments…just breathe and be. Above all make sure it is well with your soul 🪷🪷🪷 namaste 😊

This morning I was greeted with a beautiful mist over the river. Monet came to mind with one of his misty water paintings. Serene moment to just breathe in the calmness out there and in my heart. Ebb and flow surfaced as I observed the muted colors and heard the mallards flapping and swimming around. Calmness. Peaceful. In and out those emotions flow.

Our social media notifications that pop up can steal those emotions very quickly causing us stress and overwhelm with our world’s chaos. In my quiet time I was reminded of the verses that tell us to think on whatever is pure, just, truth, peaceful…Think on these things. Do the things we share bring life, hope and uplift one another or despair and fear. Today I will concentrate on being light and life, not tearing down or fear. Our thoughts are who we are. Guarding my heart is not always easy but something I choose to work on.

Our journey here definitely has ebb and flow. Choose to let your words bring life not despair. Remember the peaceful and serene moments that you have encountered when fear tries to creep in. Protect your precious heart when others, as well as yourself, try to bring you down with the gloom of the world. It’s so easy to slip down that black hole. You cannot stop a thought from surfacing but you can choose how you will react.

For those of you who are Bible readers I leave you with this verse:

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8.

As a man thinks..so is he❤️. To be intentional with our thoughts as they ebb and flow is a goal worth pursuing. 🪷🪷🪷

Officially, there are 3 days of summer left. This warm September morning the sun is so brilliant in a clear cloudless blue sky. Calm water with barely a ripple out on my river. My tiny hummingbirds are happily enjoying their sugar water. Someone down river has country music drifting up to me. A dog is barking up river with an occasional ship’s horn in the distance. Other than these remote sounds it is quiet this morning.

Yes, Autumn is fast approaching bringing chilly temperatures, crisp air and glorious colors in the trees. A time for pumpkins, spiced coffees and teas, campfires and s’mores, smiling kids in funny costumes awaiting treats, gratefulness in thanksgiving as we pause to give thanks for our multitudes of blessings. There is always a sadness in my summer heart as this season ends and the next begins. Heat is my biggest friend 🌞

My dear friend lost his brother in law last week. In a matter of 10 days cancer was discovered and he passed on. Just that quickly lives changed. A father, husband and relative was gone. Just as the seasons keep changing so too our lives. The older I get the faster the changes seem to be coming.

This journey of life passes so very quickly. Do take time to savor each and every day and season. Each season has its beauty. Change is guaranteed. As for me, today, I will enjoy this beautiful summer day.

Love and light to each of you ❤️🪷🪷🪷 Take a minute and breathe in joy today wherever you are in your personal season🌺🌻

I read in a card once, “Time and tide wait for no man”. Make the most of this season and don’t wait for things or others…live today🌞

A few years ago my daughter gave me an exquisitely beautiful, blown glass, hummingbird feeder. About to give up on seeing any of the precious little creatures this year, one tiny being has finally shown up. Oddly, just one. In previous years a handful would jockey for position and a chase would ensue. This little guy has my feeder all to himself .

Sitting as still as I possibly can I watch as he flutters around then alights to drink the sugar water. If I move much he wisks away. Yesterday morning as I sat with my coffee, feeling the warm sun on my face and basking in the glow of glittering sunshine across the water, he appeared.

Somehow in watching this beautiful little bird I was reminded of how we must appear to God. He lovingly provides for us and watches in pure love as we enjoy His gifts. Most of the time we are not even aware of all that we are gifted and that it is from our Creator. We flutter away in fear if we feel Him too close. It would never cross my mind to harm this vibrant little being. The God of all creation rejoices over us and would never harm us yet we are mistrusting. His gentle hand is always there…feeding us…singing over us in joy..and our water never runs dry. My glass container becomes empty at times like my bird feeder, fragile and needing to be refilled… in my quiet times He refills me with His unfailing love and mercy that is new every morning.

Take time today to alight and drink from the well that will never run dry! On this journey of life He is always with us❤️. Much love and light to you🌺🌞