The Art of Forgivness

 During these precarious times, forgiveness seems to be a lost art.  If one turns on the TV, social media or the radio, angst and pure hate surround us.  I don't see much in the way of love, kindness or yes, forgiveness.  Forgiveness is actually an art, it needs to be given with a pure heart, pure emotion and pure intention.  This week, let's explore forgiveness as it's ringing very personally with me. I touched on forgiveness in my blog, " 2020 The Year That Was."  This one paragraph needs to be expanded on, researched and discussed and taken to heart.   

Jesus says,  “ Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”  If we can truly forgive with pure hearts, our society will heal.  Following are a few ways and situations where forgivenss is needed.

1/  We as humans are flawed creatures.  We are ALL sinners, we ALL make mistakes and we ALL need forgiveness.  The first and most import way to forgiveness is to humble ourselves to God.  Not one person other than Jesus, has been without sin.  Once one understands that concept and begins to realize their mistakes, drop to your knees in prayer and humble yourself before God.  He will forgive you.  I do this on a daily basis as I am a flawed human.

2/  Forgive yourself, this is a huge concept as we can ask God to forgive us but we must be willing to forgive ourselves.  As for me, I have forgiven myself for my past transgressions, hurts I've caused others and for situations I've found myself in.  Knowing I'm not a perfect being and understanding myself, is the first step to self forgiveness.

3/  Forgive our forefathers for their mistakes.  I believe that much of the turmoil in the world today is due to the sins of our "fathers."  It's time that we as a society begin to heal, understand that those on earth today are not to blame for the mistakes of yesterday.  We need to forgive and move forward as a collective.  Blaming each other for the sins of the past is both unnecessary and unhealthy.  Move on, forgive, forget and make the world a better place.  This is our mission as citizens of planet earth!

4/  Forgive those who have hurt you.  This is very personal to me as I have several people I need to forgive.  One in particular, who I hope is reading this blog, I want you to know I forgive you.  Because this is the only venue I can "speak" these words, I want you to know you are truly forgiven.  I forgive you for hurting me, breaking my heart and for some other transgressions too personal to publically mention.  I forgive you with love and compassion.  My soul is now lighter, my heart ache is lessened and now I can move forward.

It's time now to move forward as a society.  Do so with an open, loving heart.  Do so knowing that you will be hurt again, will hurt others but knowing forgiveness is at the tip of our fingers and only a request away.  Do so with love, just as Jesus commanded.  

On Thursday, March 13, 1980, The Daily Word published these words about forgiveness:

"Today is a day of forgiveness.

Make today a day of forgiveness.  Forgive yourself: forgive others.

For peace of mind today -

For peace of body today -

For happiness of heart today - 

Forgive!

Forgive what happened an hour ago, a day ago, years ago.

Remembered slights - forgive them;

Remembered hurts - forgive them;

Remembered wrongs - forgive them;

Remembered thoughtless acts - forgive them;

Remembered cruel words - forgive them;

Remembered unhappy happenings - forgive them;

Through Christ in you, you have power to accept forgiveness for yourself, to extend forgiveness to others.  The forgiving love of Jesus Christ penetrates to the depths of your being.  You are forgiven.  You are able to forgive."

You will forget your misery - Job 11:16

The Keys to Freedom

 Americans, whether born here or naturalized citizens, all enjoy the freedoms our country has to offer.  The Declaration of Independence states:   "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."   This is freedom folks and in this week's blog, I'd like to explore the basic tenets of freedom.  

The first time I traveled overseas was in 1981.  My dad and I visited the UK for a week, staying in London.  We took a couple of tours, one was a tour of Parliament.  We stood in a long line and were required to walk through metal detectors.  I kept setting the darn thing off, as the snaps on my down jacket were metal.  I'd never seen a metal detector before.  In 1981, airports in the United States were not requiring metal checks.  In those days, the IRA was still a terror threat in the UK and never before had I felt unsafe and unsure of my surroundings.  Dad and I did a lot of traveling on the underground and I remember feeling rather uncomfortable, as who knew who was lurking in the shadows.  The familiar feeling of freedom was not felt until we touched down at LAX and we saw the American flag.  

The feeling of freedom to move about in our country and the world was halted this year, "2020 The Year That Was."  I had a trip planned (as mentioned in previous blogs) to Europe.  Russia was on the agenda.  The Russians made us jump through hoops in order to travel to and within the country.  We had to apply for a visa and a "invitation" to visit Russia.  Exact travel dates were required and every hotel and airline wanted the travel visa number.  The Russian government was tracking us and this gave me another very odd feeling, the loss of freedom.  The trip of course never happened, nor did the Russians bother to reimburse me for the airline fees but I still have a feeling they still may be watching and tracking me.  No Russian hoax here folks but it's just a feeling, that's all.

Today, in the United States of America, we are starting to see and feel the loss of our basic freedoms and liberty.  This feeling is starting to creep in to our daily lives.  Ideas such as mandatory Covid testing, mandatory vaccines, mandatory wearing of masks, are all drifting us toward a loss of freedom and liberty.  We are losing our the freedom of speech, the right to bear arms, right to assemble (unless you are burning down a city) or even the right go to church.  This is reminiscent of Nazi Germany.  Disarm a society, put fear in everyday activities and it's made weak, made ripe for a takeover. 

So, what can we Americans do to stop this takeover and keep the freedoms that we so enjoy?  Of course I have a few ideas and I hope my readers will feel free to make comments with more. 

1.  Stop being complacent and fight back.  I don't mean with violence; fight back with letters, emails and on social media if you're so inclined.  Remember, be respectful but make yourself heard.  When we lose the power to voice our opinions, the right to be heard will no longer exist.

2.  Stop being a "Sheeple."  A Sheeple is a person who acts like sheep, following blindly and doing whatever told to do.  The German people did that in 1932 and remember what  happened?  The Venezuelans did the same and that country is in shambles. 

3. As stated in previous blogs, open up the country and put people back to work!  We want to work, earn money, support our families and live our lives as we see fit. The capitalist system works, enjoy it.

4. Allow travel to commence without restriction.  I get wearing masks on airplanes.  Frankly I've been squeezed into a seat next to a completely unsuitable character, who's breath smelled like a cat box.  I would have given anything to have had that person wear a mask.  I've returned home from trips and a couple days later have come down with a cold or the flu. The stale air in planes breeds disease.  Just wear the mask as the flight attendant will be forced to report you to authorities and you will not be able to fly on that airline again (just ask my daughter).

5.  Now that I've touched on the subject of masks, let's explore a little further.  If a private business requires one to wear a mask and you want to shop there, wear the blasted thing or go elsewhere.  This is their right.  Wearing a mask should also be an individual right.  I hate wearing the @#$% thing but if I want to shop at Fred Meyer or sit in an airplane, I'll wear it.  If I'm driving in my car, sitting on my patio or taking a walk, the mask will not be on my face, I promise.  I don't wear it at the gym either or at the golf course.  It's not required and frankly, no one is catching the damn virus out in the sunshine.

6.  Social distancing is not that bad but it's getting out of hand.  People need people, children need to play with other children.  Walking in one way aisles in the store is stupid and no one following the arrows anyway.   I don't like "Close Talkers" either.  Stay your distance and we can chat just fine, especially if we're not wearing a mask.  

7. It's time to open our houses of worship. Open them, enjoy the freedom to worship God the way you chose and quit worrying.  The freedom to worship is a basic human right, enjoy it, fight for it and be thankful for it.

8. For goodness sake stop watching idiot talking heads on TV who are spewing someone else's propaganda.  I've never heard such insane dival in all my life as I have in the last 8 months.  I've mentioned this before and will mention it again, turn off the news, study correct sources and stop being a Sheeple.

Finally, freedom is a basic right in this country.  People are clamoring to enter the United States and enjoy what this country has to offer.  Enjoy it, don't abuse it; treasure it, don't take it for granted and be thankful.

May God continue to bless America. 

 

The Lazy Hazy Days of Summer

Nat King Cole, one of my favorite singers, had a great song with the same title as this blog.  I remember hearing it as a kid and always like the tune and of course Nat's beautiful voice.  Summer is my favorite season, especially since I've lived in the Pacific Northwest.  The summers in Seattle were cool and sometimes damp but here in Idaho, it's sunny, hot and I just love it.  My plants have taken off and are growing like the weeds I keep pulling out of my lawn.  My finger nails tell that story but I love weeding just the same.  I no longer take summer for granted, nor life as a whole for that matter.

This year summer is different.  A sadness seems to have enveloped our country and the world.  The carefree feeling we once had seems to have escaped us.  Those long hot afternoons watching my beloved Dodgers or Yankees hasn't resonated this year.  The familiar crack of the bat is not as exciting without the roar of the crowd.  All of the sudden my favorite sport of baseball has become a bit boring, no longer exciting and the smell of hot dogs on the grill not as sweet.  

It seems that this summer has become tired and rather sad.  Even though my life has had personal changes, it's still not the same.  I remember how summer used to feel, days on the beach in Balboa, barbecues, church picnics, times with friends socializing and watching sports.  What has happened to our society and the world in general?  

As I ponder this question, that fog of evil that has exploded world wide has taken hold and grabbed us by the necks.  What kind of world will our children and grandchildren grow up in now?  The ability to travel has been stifled, our right to go and worship the God we chose has been halted, our children are not allowed back in school and we are now under the threat of forced vaccines and rules no one thought would ever come to be in the United States of America.

When I watch the nightly news, it's unbelievable to see our beautiful cities over taken by thugs,  and basically Marxist anarchists.  How can we as a collective, change this course and go back to normal?  This new normal is not acceptable to most people I know.  So, here's my solution to these issues and I expect to lose friends over my thoughts but so be it.

1.  Mayors of the large, lost cities need to be recalled immediately.  Governors of states allowing lawlessness and mayhem recalled and both replaced with basic law and order officials.  This is a no brainer really.  Citizens of these cities and states do not deserve to be over run by looters, thugs and criminals.  These same governors and mayors need to be prosecuted for dereliction of duty, sued by the citizens and jailed.  We no longer need to tolerate this garbage.

2.  The police need proper training and allowed to police our streets.  The laws currently on the books need to be enforced and criminals prosecuted.  Again, another no brainer.  Our cities will be clean, jobs and business will return and the economy will thrive.  

3.  Prisoners need to stay in jail and serve their time, another no brainer!  Decent, hardworking Americans do not need to live in fear.  "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime."   

4.  Open up our economy and put Americans back to work!  America is not a social welfare society.  Americans need to work for their own self respect, and pride.  If you feel under the weather, stay the hell home!  Wear a mask if you feel like you must and wash your hands.  

5.  The basic family structure has changed over the years but the basic tenets have survived. Whether it is a 2 parent family with a husband and wife,  two wives, two husbands or single family home; raising children with the love and respect has not changed.  Feed them, cloth them and keeping them safe from predators and on line traffickers is imperative.   With the news of trafficking of humans as young as infants, it's especially important to guard our children with our lives.  If a family needs assistance, there are many good social service agencies, churches and endowments that will help.  Reach out and help will be given.  

6.  Be proud to be an American.  We live in the greatest country on God's green earth!  America was the greatest experiment ever tried and it succeeded.  Yes we've made mistakes but we as a society have learned from those mistakes.  Let's move on, cherish our American traditions and regain our sense of pride.  My suggestion if you don't like living here, leave.  No one will miss you and don't let the door hit you in the butt.  There are plenty of people worldwide, who would love to take your place here in the United States of America.

7  The Constitution is the law of the land, respect it and abide by it's words.  The ability to speak freely, worship where you choose, the right to bear arms, vote and to freely assemble in a peaceful respectful way, are all part of the constitution.  Become a citizen if you're currently not and enjoy the rights given by our founders.  This is America damn it, be proud of it!

8.  Finally, respect your fellow human.  We are living in a society where respect is lacking.  Basic respect, manners and kindness seem to have disappeared.  Let's get back to where we can agree to disagree.  

Finally, in the words of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, from the book of St. Mark, 12:30-31; "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  And the second like it is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself"  

May God continue to bless America.

Self Help or Helping One's Self

Self help books can be good, bad or hilarious.  It just depends who the author is, the subject matter and the genre for whom the book is intended.  But books can only go so far but without a mentor or a unbiased party to pour one's heart out to, books are just what they are one sided and mute.

We all must recognize we need help for one thing or another in our lives.  Sex, drugs and rock and roll only will go so far, but that trusted unbiased party who will listen without judgment, giving sound advise and plenty of kleenex for the tears, can be a wonderful sounding board.  I am so lucky, between my Bible and the dearest person ever created, Chris, I have lived to tell another story.

When John first got sick, we were advised to seek grief therapy.  I was dragged kicking and screaming as I was so sure I didn't need help.  For goodness sake, I was perfect, could handle my emotions myself and no one needed to hear me blather.  I'm here to tell the story now, in this blog, I was the exact opposite.  For the past seven years, I've been pouring my heart out to an saint, literally a true saint.  She saved me from self destruction, consuming grief from losing a spouse and recently from a lost love.  So moving forward, I'd like to impart some of her wisdom, advise and what I've learned through true self help.

First; We are all okay.  We all have experiences that make us who we are today, in this moment.  These experiences shape us, make us able to cope and give us lessons to learn from.  In order to move forward in our lives, learning from our experiences is key to success.  Just don't make the same mistake twice, as I have often done.  If  you do make that same mistake twice, simply dust yourself off and be mindful for the third time.  Three's a charm but in this case a curse. 

Second; We are all Whole, Perfect and Complete human beings.  I learned this concept thirty years ago when I started studying spirituality.  As time has moved on and I became a Christian, the truth became clear that we are all created in the image of God, a complete likeness of Him.  All we ever need in life can be found within our own selves through prayer and meditation.  When I sit in the stillness of the early mornings, God speaks to me in ways I would never have known.  So much peace and comfort can be found just by knowing that Divine Love is found within me.  We can all experience this truth, just go within and try it.

Third:  Keep a journal and record your thoughts daily.  Chris gave me a journal three years ago to record my thoughts, desires, heartaches and experiences.  I was not in tune one hundred percent until a year ago.  I began to record my thoughts daily in my journal, my deepest secrets, desires and longings.  Before I moved, I threw them away as there was too much TMI in them and no one should have ever got their hands on them.  Since then, my new morning journals are full of self healing, planned trips, new starts and scattered in the pages,  my tears.  Recently, I started writing these blogs in a large brown journal and I use that journal for blog writing only.   I'll keep all of these tomes, and some day my potential grandchildren can look at them and have a good laugh about their Granny.

Fourth; Exercise daily.  It's important to get  daily exercise not just for our personal health but for our mental health as well.  Take a daily walk or go to the gym and walk the treadmill, the eliptical or lift some weights.  As mentioned last week, I have a great trainer who puts me through the paces twice a week.  I feel so much better when I crawl out of the gym and breath that sigh of relief.  I've been training for five years and all of the trainers I've had, have treated me like the 30 year old who lives in my mind.  I'll never be able to thank them enough as they changed my life.

Fifth: Socialize with quality people.  Befriend people who share the same core values, lifestyles, spiritual beliefs and politics (yes politics) as you do.  Over the last year, I've met some quality people who I hope will stay friends with me forever.  My church friends have been invaluable and I still have wonderful friends from high school days who love me, support me through the good and bad times.  Friends are valuable and in some cases can become family, when family isn't close by.  I can only hope I have been as much as an encouragement to them as they have been to me.  So this is a great, big THANK YOU!

Finally, never lose faith.  Self Help is just what it sounds like, Self Help.  We can try to take the journey of life on our own but people need people and more importantly we need God.  In the words of Proverbs 3:5-6; Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.  ~Amen

 

Sunrise/Sunset

I'm loving my new home in Idaho, watching the sun rise above the roof tops from my bedroom window and sitting on my patio watching the sun set behind me at night.  Sitting outside, meditating and pondering my life, has given me pause to think of how the sun has risen and set for millions of years.  Billions of people have watched it rise and set, much the same way as I do.  My ancestors must have looked up from the fields or ships and marveled at the sky.  It's interesting to me to think of what each new day will bring as the sun peeks out and says good morning.  Each day can be different, each day the same.  

My days have been busy these last few weeks.  The house is unpacked, pictures hung and my garden is taking off.  I found a great gym with a new trainer (Sarah is kicking my butt and making me work, my previous trainers will be pleased).  Kristina and I have found new stores, hairdressers and nurseries.  Each day brings something new but I think about other new days, new times in life, new adventures.  There has always been trips to plan, friends to visit and family to call, nothing much has changed that way.  We adapt to our lives in new surroundings, new phases and new situations.

But then I think back to the very beginning, in Genesis 2, what did Adam experience each day?  Imagine, waking up in the Garden of Eden, with God and nature.  Was Adam hungry, wanting his breakfast? Was Adam lonely, seeking companionship?    Imagine, sitting alone in the garden and God speaking to him, telling him he'd create the perfect companion from his rib!  Imagine, when Adam watched the sunset that same night, Eve was with him, enjoying life.  What a glorious thought, especially for one who is still faithfully searching for that love and companion.

Ponder even further into history; Saint Paul waking up one morning, watching the sun come up and planning a new day of persecution of those following The Word.  Imagine, how that same day Paul began his journey on the road to Damascus, Jesus appeared to him and rendered Paul blind with scales on his eyes.  Three days later, Saint Paul was filled with the Holy Spirit and could see again but as a new and changed man, a humbled man.  How many of us have had our lives completely changed in a matter of 24 hours?  Imagine how if we just opened our eyes to love, how our lives would be so different.  

I also imagine people in history, waking up to trials and difficulties.  I am a student of history, especially World War II.  I think of Anne Frank, in her hideaway, watching the sun rise through a tiny window, with such trust and dedication.  I imagine Anne falling asleep each night, with thoughts of her family and her friends.  I wonder if she worried about being picked up and sent away, which is what happened.  At the end, Anne woke up and fell asleep looking at the sun from a concentration camp window but she was still faithful to God.  What courage, what dedication, what faith!

I think of the various saints, servants and those who pray with open hearts in the morning as the sun rises. What are the prayers that God heard?  God answers prayer but not always the way we want.  God always hears what we are asking but sometimes, he just knows better.  I keep telling myself that, especially after recent disappointments in my life but I know who to trust.  

How many sunrises and sunsets have we all witnessed within our lifetimes?   How has life taken a dramatic turn in a span of 24 hours?  How many of us have been humbled to the core like Saint Paul, filled with wonder like Anne Frank or been blessed with a companion like Adam?  How many of us count our blessings daily, thanking God?  I try to, I always do actually, for the good and the bad. 

In conclusion, who should we put our faith, hope and trust in?  Human beings are just what they are, human and to put our faith in humans is foolishness.  I have put my trust in God, who knows me best.  I can only try to be as faithful as Adam, Paul or Anne.  Tonight, as I sit on my porch, watching the sun set in the west, how was my day?  What lesson did I learn today, what new surprise did I encounter? What will tomorrow bring?  I can't wait to find out but with faith and an open heart.  

The Collector's Corner

We all collect something in our lifetimes.  Some of us collect teacups, teapots and others collect friends.  Although I have a small collection of teacups, pots and some lovely loyal friends, I however collect Scottie dogs.  Actually to be exact, I collect antique Scottie dogs.  I am a Antique Scottie Rescue service!

I love antique stores, old things of value and roaming the aisles of the various stores, seeking Scotties who need a new home.   My friend Jane can attest to my obsession.  She was with me and actually found, the pen and ink drawing of a Scottie that currently hangs in my bedroom.  He's gorgeous and a friend once suggested it was a drawing of my Bonnie.  The table in the family room houses several Scotties as does a bookcase in my bedroom that is home to the Berwick and Buckingham Palace Scotties.  Sprinkled around the house, one can find a Scottie, sitting on a shelf, in the yard or sitting on the rug in front of the fireplace.

How did this obsession start one may ask?  As a child,  stories were told of the darling Scottie dog that "owned" my mother's family.  Legend has it, he came home in the sweater pocket of my Aunt Barbara's boyfriend.  The tiny little guy he was, morphed into a legend of his own making.  My mother and Aunt Helen named him Sammy and he lived with the family for many years.  Sammy roamed the streets, slept under the stove in the kitchen and was trained to do various tricks.  One trick of notability was the ladder trick.  Sammy could climb to the top of a ladder, seeking a treat but sadly couldn't climb back down.  Typical... I  have found a ton of pictures of the little guy in the old photo albums I inherited and I treasure every one.

Living with Scotties of the past was not good enough for me.  Before John died, he wanted another dog.  We had our sweet Westie Nicholas but John wanted another dog as he was never a "dog person" before Nicholas.  Since Scotties were so near and dear to my heart and knowing that dog would be my dog as John's time was so limited, we got our Bonnie Jean.  

Bonnie has turned out to be everything a Scottie dog could be.  Being owned by a Scottie is a special experience.  They are overly smart, highly opinionated little beings with a bark the size of a Bull Mastiff.  A more loyal dog could never, ever be found  As soon as Bonnie came home, she settled in as the Queen Bee, my shadow, my best friend.

Bonnie has been a great source of comfort to me over the years.  After we lost our Nicholas, she moved into first place in my heart and soul.  She sleeps next to me every night, unless she wants me to put her on HER chair (jumping is a lot of work and it's better to make mom get up and gently lift her).  After John and Mom died, she became my unregistered "therapy dog."  Over the last several months, she's let me cry buckets of tears on her back and sat with me as I've continually asked the proverbial questions.    She can't come up with an answer either but has sure tried.

Bonnie made the move to Boise and has settled in well.  She sat in the back seat of the car, all the way to the new house, just like the Queen she is.  Never once did she complain or whine.  She did bark but she is only a barker if stimulated.  We haven't started our morning walks yet as we don't want to wake the neighborhood if we encounter another dog.  We both miss those morning meditation walks, Bonnie leading the way on her leash while I try to keep pace.  She's been content with her new yard, running the width of it with a ball in her mouth for me to pick up.  You see, playing ball with Bonnie is me throwing the ball and Bonnie running to another side of the yard and dropping it.  I then run to pick it up, throwing it and the game resumes.  It's more a game of playing catch with the human.

Therefore, what is my fascination with Scottie dogs?  A greater and more true friend can not be found in human form.  A more devoted and loving companion, as close to God as one can find, is what one will find with a Scottie dog.  So keep following my occasional Facebook and Instagram posts as Bonnie will pop up when least expected.  I love my Bonnie girl and she definitely loves me.  She's my gift from God.

Flowers - The Pathway to God

Some say that our eyes are the windows to the soul.  I believe that but I can one better that phrase, I say flowers are the pathway to God.  After all, God gave us our gardens to plant flowers, trees and shrubs.  He gave us our gardens to mediate with the bees, butterflies and dragonflies that all seem to propagate in our yards.   But God  also gave us these lovelies to appreciate Him.

These thoughts came to me this morning as I re-potted some flowers for my new yard.  It was a bit windy this morning but we endured and the first attempt at my garden came together nicely.  My new pot bench is now full, pots now arranged on the patio and lavender ready to for holes to be dug.  The house is done other than to hang the pictures.  The pictures can wait but my garden however, could not.

Those who know me well, know how much I love to be outside in my yard.  Two houses ago, I replanted the small yard after we moved in.  That house was a new house, the yard was a blank slate but for some "builders plants."  All but my hydrangea was pulled out and I went to work planting roses, camellias, daffodils and other various potted plants that hung from the eves of the back deck.  

The last summer I lived in that house, alone for the most part, I loved sitting out enjoying the sweet smell of my roses and Sweet Peas that climbed the Evergreen trees at the back fence.  That last summer, Mom and I sat out in the yard with the dogs, smelling the roses and watching the birds feed from the feeders I had strategically placed.   We sat and laughed about the past, silly things that we remembered and enjoyed our last amount of time together.  The hydrangea had grown so large over those 12 years, it peeked in my dining room window, smiling in like a good friend who had come to visit.  Sadly Mom died that November and the next February, I moved into my last Washington home.

That home had a huge yard, with a pickle ball court and beautifully landscaped yard.  I planted tons of potted plants that hung in and around the deck.  Strawberries grew wild and roses were planted.  One problem however, it really wasn't my yard, my garden, my creation.  As hard as I tried to love it, nurture my flowers, lavender plants and roses, it still wasn't really my garden, my creation.

This new garden is another blank slate, just like the remainder of my life.  This new garden has a route to be plotted along the fence line, just like my new adventure being plotted to the UK.  This new garden is mine, my creative venture, my new life.  This morning after my pots were finished, I started charting the course for my next trip the the UK.  It's amazing how much energy I had after getting my fingernails dirty.  It's amazing how my maps started making sense and my trip started to take form.  It's all due to the peace I found with my flowers and pots.  

This new garden will take shape, just like my life.  It will grow and flourish just like my dreams.  And, it will be mine this time with the help of God the creator all all things.  So my dears, our eyes may be the window to our souls but our flowers are the pathway to God.