sights & sounds of summer

sun shines through our windows
casting shadows on the floor.

miss olive the cat, sunbathes

mourning doves coo
birds chirp
wind chimes tinkle

our farm is alive with the sounds
of morning chores being done;
tractors working and calves bellow

flowers bloom
weeds grow
butterflies flit
birds sing
and hummingbirds check out the feeders

the sights and sounds of summer
here on our farm
make me smile
i am thankful for
it all.

life is beautiful.
sit, listen and really look

even the littlest of things...
i never want to take granted!

yes, life is indeed
beautiful.

step out of that mud puddle and look up!

today as i went on a mid-morning walk
i began by looking down as i walked.
so caught up in things that are burdening me;

my dear friend whose family received an ugly diagnosis
and who are treasuring each and every day they have together.
my knee which is causing me pain when i walk/run
making it harder for me to get out and exercise like i want to.
yesterday was our first easter without my mom in law...
and the general ugliness of the world and the news.

yes, i was thinking on these things when a took off for my walk.

and then, and then...i looked up!

the sun was shining on me!
i had a silly shadow that mimicked my every move. :)

the sky? Oh my goodness!
the sky was this brilliant blue,
the color was so intense it looked
like it had been hand-painted!
the clouds so fluffy
it was as if God had placed cotton balls
in the sky. it was so lovely!
Genesis 1:1

while i was looking UP,
i noticed an eagle soaring above me.
floating on the air & circling overhead.
when out of what seemed no where..

appeared a hawk.

he flew a few hundred yards away from the eagle...
and as i watched these two,
they began to circle in unison!
it was as if they were doing a synchronized dance
just for me!
how amazing!
Isaiah 40:31

i thought to myself...
look what i would've missed
if i would have continued to walk with my head down!?
i would have missed this wonderful dance
and this beautiful sky above me!

it is so, so easy to look down.

to crawl into that hole,
to sit in that mud puddle.
to let all the ugliness just cover you
& to wallow in it all.

but, if you will only pull yourself out.
i mean, drag yourself if you have to!
but, just get out of that mud puddle
and look UP!

see the beauty around you!

maybe it is just something little
like seeing the blue sky above you,
or feeling the sunshine on your back.

beauty is there, if you take the time
to notice.

but, if you are looking down,
you might miss that stranger
who just smiled at you.
the gorgeous snow covered mountain in the distance.
blue skies, puffy clouds and eagles floating above.
or wild flowers growing along side the road

beauty is there.

it's in the everyday and the mundane.

it is, if we will only look.

my wish for you and i both...
is that we see the good in something today!

look in that mirror and smile at yourself!
you are an amazing, beautiful person.

and above all. you are loved!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

have a shiny day my friends.
be blessed!

sunshine

be the sunshine

in someone's life

today!

happiness & joy

i have been thinking a lot lately
about attitude

in how we see life.

i have been intentionally or
maybe unintentionally called
a 'pollyanna'.
(happy or maybe i am oblivious?)

it really doesn't offend me at all.
in fact, if i have a choice
of having others think of me
as being a pessimist or an optimist

i of course choose optimist!

it is not as though i do not know
what hardships are;

i have known loss. death of my dad at a young age.
sadness. sorrow. pain. worry. insecurity. feeling alone.
i have suffered anxiety & sickness.
sickness of my closest & dearest loved ones

i have heard the words:
you have cancer. twice in my life.
i have lost all my hair on my whole body.
have had two mastectomies
& been very sick while going through chemotherapy.

i have experienced anxiety attacks from the surgery
& all the chemo.

so when i say that i
choose joy.

i mean just that!

i embrace joy.

i choose to be happy
to look at the good.
i truly believe that there has to be
something good in it all.

i do realize that there are
people who are sick and are clinically depressed
and i am not belittling this at all!
i know it is real.

what i am saying is this:
in MY life what works for ME;
is when i choose to look UP
and see the good!

to surround myself in
the beauty & wonder of life.
to take time to look for the
loveliness in even the smallest things.

to sit and be still.

to be comforted by my faith
be reassured that i am loved beyond measure.
and allow love and wonder to envelop me.

happiness & joy.

i choose it.

when others hint to me
that i am not being 'real'
and that i don't understand what they are going through
that i am only looking at the good and that life isn't always
the happiest place on earth for everyone...
to this i say:

no matter how ugly it looks
i believe that
there is hope in this day!

i choose to look at the good!

to find the joy and to
claim the hope!

i want to wallow in happiness!

when i was diagnosed with cancer
i was scared out of my mind!
there was a huge pit in my stomach
full of fear and sadness.

i had three daughters ages 15, 13 and 8.
i chose life.

i chose to get out of bed and fight cancer,
& not to let cancer win.
but, to kick it to the curb!

i refused to curl up in a ball and cry
and say, "i have cancer and might die"
i got up and put a smile on my face
and fought like a mother who wanted
to see her daughters grow into women!

i chose happiness.

it might not be what works for you.

but, do not ever say i do not know what
it feels like to be unhappy, scared or sad.

i do.

i just choose joy.

i see beauty!

all word photos today 

were found on pintrest

by the way,
this past sunday i walked
the 5k with my oldest daughter
in seattle as a two time survivor of breast cancer!

the sun was shining it was a beautiful day.

there was a sea of pink t-shirt wearing survivors

as we walked along the way,
i chose to look up!
to see the beauty in the blue sky. the space needle. the sunshine.
& the smiling faces of fellow survivors and the people
who love them.

life is lovely and i am thankful
for each and every day!

songs and memories

funny how a song
can conjure up memories.

i can be driving down the road,
a song will come on the radio
and memories will come flooding
over me.

good & bad the memories
are usually pretty strong.

music
has that ability.

to take me away.

this is why at church
when i am worshipping
the music is what brings my
heart in to complete surrender.
i am open and ready to hear His word.

music
has that ability.

there are a few songs
that are just so lovely
that when i hear them
i have to stop what i am doing
and just
sigh & smile
at the beauty
and the warm feeling
that comes over me.

two of the songs
right off the top of my head?

via: pintrest

i started singing this
little song to my
grandson when he was quite small.
when i think of a song to sing to him,
this is what i always think of!

he brings me sunshine!

the other day my daughter
posted on facebook a video
my 4 year old grandson singing this song!

it made me smile!
such joy.
what a memory to hold on to!

photo by: melody-mae

i went shopping the other day
this sign was in a gift shop.
i hurried and snapped a photo
before the lady could tell me not to! :)

this song;
what can i say?
when i hear this song
a warm feeling washes over me.

it is such a perfect song.

the song evokes
the kind of attitude

that. i. strive. for. every. day!

yes, the song sums it up for me:

and i think to myself what a wonderful world!!!


have a lovely friday my friends~
& be blessed.

fun friday

days seem to fly by;

it really is crazy 

how fast it goes!

our weather here in the PNW

has been exceptionally gorgeous

the sun shining every day

which translates into;

lots of walks!

(this was taken down our lane/field,

which is where i usually walk.)

i received a text 

from my eldest daughter who wanted to know if i wanted to get a pedicure

with her today.

i jumped at the chance. :)

 with all this sunshine

i need to break out the flip flops! ;)

and lastly, 

last summer before our grandson moved to vienna

we bought two bunnies.

well guess what? 

those two bunnies turned out to be

a boy & a girl:)

so look what we have now:

we have babies!

i didn't want to touch the nest so it was hard to take the photo

i believe there are at least three little ones in there. :)

may you have a blessed weekend!

smile and shine your light;

your smile might be the only sunshine 

someone see this weekend!:)

spring in my step

spring in my step

mr. sunshine has officially 

decided to show his lovely face,

this week in our little part of the world!

it is amazing how the sun 

can just wake up the world.

since we live in the pnw

we get a LOT of rain & gloom,

so when the sun comes out...

oh dear,

it is just happy days!

birds are singing

lawns are being mowed

gardens are being tended

people have smiles on their faces

and a bit of a bounce

in their step.

i also know when the 

sun comes out

i see the dust bunnies a bit

more clearly

and my windows that

need a good cleaning! eek!

regardless of the dust and the dirty windows

i think a walk in the glorious sun 

it what this girl needs!

yes. indeed. 

i plan to get outside 

and enjoy it all!

it is a happy day!

it seems a waste of a great day

if i don't go out

and walk and enjoy this 

some of this loveliness...

and you?

what do you do when 

the sun finally comes out?

Sunshine & Coffee

it is gorgeous out today;
i can hear birds tweeting up a storm
and the sun is shining through my
windows (that need cleaning!)

i am off to have coffee with a friend
and a possible walk in the sunshine!

it is well with my soul.

happy friday peeps!!

let's show someone a smile
and shine our lights!

wear

a simple what i wear/wore post
for this beautiful friday!

the army jacket was thrifted

the dress, tights and booties are all from target!

i call these booties my peter pan shoes! hehe

the sun is out 

although it is very cold. brrr.-

 it is still lovely here

in the pacific northwest!

may you have a wonderful weekend

and enjoy it to the fullest!

sunshine & coffee

sunshine. coffee.

window shopping. antiques.

 thrift & used book stores.

time with my

daughter.

memories made.

what a great way to spend

a friday!

look at this throw i found

while thrifting.

it was a whole $2 :)

i washed it up 

and love

the fall colors!

and then

oh my goodness,

i called my daughter over

because i couldn't 

believe what i had

just found...

a vintage chalkboard

on sale for $3.25

i almost screamed

but, instead 

hastily picked

the prize up and 

held it close to my

chest until i 

payed the cashier! :)

it will look adorable 

in our playroom

for the grandkids!

we are planning

to finish yard work

and do a bit

of decorating

for tomorrow's event.

what do you have

planned for today

or for the weekend?

whatever it is

i wish you;

joy and happiness!

let's shine.

just a smile

i posted about these statistics
a year ago on this blog
about the affects
of a smile:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
according to my recent prevention magazine;
seeing a loved one smile produces the same
brain waves as finding out you won $40,000
the article also said,
that those who smiled the most
lived an extra 7 years, on average!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

now, any of my consistent
blog readers will know
that i blog a lot
on smiling,
shining our light
being 'shiny'
sharing your light and smile
with others.

we have chances every day
to share with others.
each of us can reach out.
it is pretty simple, really.

when we are standing
in line at the grocery store
and the young mom in line
has a crying baby/toddler
and seems to be at wits end,
maybe your smile will let her
know that she is not alone.
that you understand.

the checker or barista
who has had a trying day
could use a customer
with a smile.

you never really
know what is going on
in someone's life.
maybe the person who
just pulled out in front of you
in traffic just got bad news
from the doctor.

our sermon yesterday
was a reminder
of just how a smile can
make a difference;
pastor Steve
told a story about
a woman who had left
a suicide note-
(paraphrased)
she said,
that if someone smiled at
her today no one would
ever find this note.

wow.
powerful.
we do not know do we,
how much someone might
need a smile,
that show of kindness,
like a little bit of sunshine
to let them know that
they are not alone
and that their life
does matter.

it  really doesn't take much
of an effort to smile.
only a few facial muscles
and it could be the
only light in someone's
darkness.

will you join me
this week in smiling?
making a point of
smiling at others
that you see this week.

i challenge you to
share just ONE of your
many smiles
with someone
this week!

will you?

let's shine our lights

be shiny my friends
shine.

Smile at strangers and you just might change a life.” 

― Steve Maraboli 

oh, sunshine

sunshine

has finally arrived! 

mr. sun

has shown his face this

week in the pacific northwest 

and it is- lovely!

birds are chirping,
doves are cooing

as i sit in the backyard

on our porch swing

they sing to each other

in harmony

and it is peaceful

to sit and just listen.

a gentle breeze

washes over my face

and life is good-

i can hear the 

cows and calves

bellow,
tractors starting up,

and the milker as he gets ready

to do the afternoon milking/chores...

such is

a day on the farm-

the rooster 

next door has walked over

to sit under our tree

he stirs up the ground

a bit and then

stretches and crows,

he doesn't just crow

in the morning

but, all day long!

on my way to church

i noticed a hawk

sitting on the wires above me.

he was gorgeous

and instantly i am 

flooded with memories

of my dad...

he knew all the names of 

birds along with their 'calls'

and before he died taught

a lot of them to our eldest daughter.

he always noticed the animals and birds

when we were driving...

and now

 every time i see a hawk floating

or sitting on a wire 

there is that sweet memory

 of him.

days like today

where it is still and quiet around here

help to remind me

to

be thankful

for it 

all!

may i never forget

to sit. and. be. still-

to always, always be

thankful.

life is good

it is a gift-

may i never

take it

or my loved ones

 for granted.

sunshine!

today as i woke to the sunshine
streaming through the bedroom window

i had these thoughts; :)

heavenly sunshine, heavenly sunshine...

it's a beautiful day in this neighborhood...

and

OPEN UP YOUR HEART (AND LET THE SUNSHINE IN) (Stuart Hamblen) Gail & Rosemary Clooney - 1954 Mommy told me something a little girl should know It's all about the Devil and I've learned to hate him so She says he causes trouble when you let him in the room He will never ever leave you if your heart is filled with gloom So, let the sun shine in, face it with a grin Smilers never lose and frowners never win So, let the sun shine in, face it with a grin Open up your heart and let the sun shine in When you are unhappy, the Devil wears a grin But oh, he starts a-running when the light comes pouring in I know he'll be unhappy 'cause I'll never wear a frown Maybe if we keep on smiling he'll get tired of hangin' around So, let the sun shine in, face it with a grin Smilers never lose and frowners never win So, let the sun shine in, face it with a grin Open up your heart and let the sun shine in If I forget to say my prayers the Devil jumps with glee But he feels so awful, awful, when he sees me on my knees So if you're full of trouble and you never seem to win Just open up your heart and let the sun shine in So, let the sun shine in, face it with a grin Smilers never lose and frowners never win So, let the sun shine in, face it with a grin Open up your heart and let the sun shine in

my wish for you today

is to open your heart

let the sunshine in...

then will you turn around

and shine it to others!?!

my view this morning

of our front yard and 

our field across the street

being worked up

and ready for

corn planting

hope

yesterday
as i celebrated easter,

i was reminded of;
hope

my challenge letter today
is the 'letter h'

the first two words that
popped into my head when
i thought of the 'letter h' were:
happiness & hope!

if you have been around
my blog for any amount of
time at all, you know about
how important these two words
are to me...

i truly believe in hope.
i try to look for happiness
each and every day.

i believe that no matter what
the circumstance you find yourself in,
there is hope.

it is hard to understand this
when we are smack dab in the middle
of what a friend calls 'a mud puddle'
but, i hold on to the hope of a better day!

sometimes we do not know why
we are put in the circumstances
that life seems to throw at us.
it is daunting sometimes
to put on that smile...

but, i also know that there is a light
at the end of that tunnel.
i choose to dwell in that light
and in the happiness that it brings

there is hope-
today is a new day
it is a new beginning

we can choose to see
the happiness in life-

do you see the beauty that is in today?
it is there... even in the small things
if you will take the time to look.

the chirping of a bird outside the window
warm sunshine
shadows dancing on the grass
gentle wind blowing
smiles from friends, loved ones
and yes, even strangers-
flowers sitting happily in a vase on
the table.
giggles from two little boys who love
to laugh...

there is beauty in this day.
there is hope
and there is happiness
if we only be still and look for it...

will you join me
in looking for some happiness &
beauty today?

happy monday~

it is another

monday-

a beautiful

 quiet, slow

monday-

how lovely.

the sky

is bright blue-

puffy clouds of

white cotton float

around

up high-

how lovely.

i hope this monday

brings you

something 

beautiful.

something

lovely.

have you seen

beauty today?

will you

join me

in seeing

beauty and lovely

today?!

let's shine

today!

saturday sun

on day nineteen

i am thankful for

the sun!

today the temperature

dropped to 28 degrees

it is crisp and cold-

the snow is gone 

for now.

i sit here in front 

of the fireplace

warm & toasty,

with the sun shining

through the windows-

it is beautiful outside

especially if you can 

adore it from inside! ;)

i love saturdays 

like today...

where we sit 

deciding what we 

might do later

with no rush or

pressure to 

get it done!

i should be

cleaning and doing 

laundry...

but, the heat from

the fireplace

creeps in and

warms me up

relaxing all the tension

and making me procrastinate

once again.

tomorrow

i will be having

our kids over for 

a 'mini' thanksgiving dinner.

two of the three girls will

not be here for the actual day

because they will spend it 

with in-laws...

i decided to make a meal

for them tomorrow

which means at some point today

grocery shopping will be

on my agenda!

what do you have planned

for this beautiful saturday?!

i hope it is filled to the 

brim with happiness

and sunshine today!

be blessed~

on day five~

5. i am thankful for autumn colors

the sun is out this saturday

so even though it is chilly outside

the  living room blinds are opened 

so the sunshine can pour inside~

have a lovely weekend!