Fair Trade?

                                                  

                                                            

                                                                                        

                                                                        
                             The encumbering winter boots will soon be flip flops...

                              The comfort of my sweater will be traded for the sun.

                             I'll leave this sheath of snow, for an endless scope of sand

                             I'll walk the waters edge with my sweetheart hand in hand...

                              The suns rays will immerse me, the sand will soothe me

                              I'll  leave my daily cares in search of pure respite.

                             And when of this calm oasis I've had enough

                                  I will return back  home to the life  I love....

hubby and I are leaving on a wee vacation....(along with some of his family...)

                     our children will have the opportunity to exercise their independence and responsibility, as they are staying home ...
                                   I have my apprehensions   suitcase packed and I am getting excited:)

                 God speed... I will see you soon~ Lucy.

Saturated In Serendipity

Continuing on here with a little more serendipity..... because it's a fun word to say and play with.....

it seems this thing serendipity is not as elusive as I first thought.....

 it's there in that rare blue pitcher found at the thrift store,
                                                                      that matches my bathroom perfectly....

    it's in appreciating the green of the ivy against the abstract world outside....
                 

               

   or in that sprig of lavender you found in a cupboard and you tucked it there for now.....  

          

how about those antique salt and pepper holders which called your name while browsing one day........the comment made by a child that made you laugh because kids are just funny sometimes...

..(my youngest remarked when she saw these" oh you're being like grandma now....collecting all these salt and peppers:) My mom has an expansive salt and pepper collection...but I never thought of that when I purchased these!!


It's in that basket from a friend in Africa now, which still holds Christmas cards..... 

read this great idea somewhere....keep your cards out and randomly choose a card and pray for the sender....a good way to engage kids to pray and remember their family and friends.



It's in the echoes of summer that line the fruit cellar.....

and in the ready row of rubber boots in the mudroom closet...

Please accept my apologies serendipity.
 I didn't know it was you right here; disguised as my life.

A Word For Your Weekend

       I love the word serendipity and I almost wish I had chosen it to be my word of the year.
It may have to be runner up to embrace. Better yet I will embrace serendipity,one of the treasures that disappear if I try too hard to find it...
I hope you follow me through the trees as I ski around our property.......



                                                    

                       I came across this by accident the other day......
                                 rather serendipitously you might say...
                                       
                                                 

 
                         then I remembered oh how I liked this word.....
                           even though the meaning is rather absurd.
                
                                                           

                                                           

                                 Because it can almost make my head spin
                                          as I try to convince myself within.
                                                               

                               this thing serendipity; is something I crave,
                                but if I look too hard it will slip away.

                                                                

                             So with a  dose of dreamers hope in sight
                           my heart knows everything will be all right.

                                                                 

                    Wishing you a serendipity filled weekend......

                               all photos taken here except top one was taken in TO.           

Keeping To the Page ( revised)

  Good-morning...                                                       

                 

                                 

Sometimes  when I am reading a really good book I have succumbed to the temptation to skip to the end and find out what happens.

Not only does this lessen the desire to actually finish the book,it seems to somehow taint what I have already read thus far.

I was thinking about this recently as I contemplated the year before me, and the ones beyond- which loom almost threateningly over my head at times.
After all my youngest is eleven years old, which means there is a good probability that in less than ten years the proverbial nest will be empty. 

At times...the thought of this weighs my heart heavy with dread and uncertainty.A really, great way to ruin the story before me!

Then I remember what reading the ending before I've finished the                            book, has taught me......

After all I have very little control over HOW the AUTHOR has decided to end the story. My role is to keep to the page that I'm on ...read all that is there for me. Then when I've reached the last chapter and the mystery is no longer obscured....
 then I will revel in the story on the pages I have read.

                                                                       

                                                         

      I have been knitting... a headband, plan to do another one today.

   
reading this....   finding much I can relate to. I am thankful for people who have the gift to write stories about everyday things in a unique style...  
    

looking at this....

What is on your page today?

My Word of the Year

           courage                  consider                           strong

                                               stretch                      wonder  

                                                    believe           listen                            

                                                               

                  ~~  Embrace ~~

 to hold someone in your arms as a way of expressing love or friendship

to accept (something or someone) readily or gladly

 to use (an opportunity) eagerly

so many words. so very hard to choose, but I have  decided it will be embrace.

when I chose this word I was simply thinking about the most common definition of this word;
to hold close in a hug......something I am making a more resolute decision  to do, especially with my oldest two girls.
At times I feel like there is so little I can do for them, as they navigate their dreams and I wonder if they have surpassed my sphere of influence...(I know this isn't all bad.) 
it's strange  to feel like a spectator at times and wonder what is all going on inside that isn't being verbalised. 

I will hug them more, hold them close and listen to what is and isn't being said.  My care will be there in an embrace, that holds tenderly and then lets go.

Then I study the word more closely and see how it means to include and accept....
that was the moment I knew this was 'my word'....

here are a few things I hope to include a little more of in 2014...

God's word......while this is a part of my life almost daily...I would like to get MORE out of it...I have been especially convicted lately how easily I can sit down at the computer and how difficult it seems to get into the Word.

my bed...earlier! (Hubby and I both tend to be night owls but this is not a great presidence to set to our kids or ourselves!)


Gratitude again daily....thankfulness doesn't just happen, it is cultivated.

Laughter.....it is good for the soul.


So my word is chosen and the rest is left to experience. Come with me? 
I sure would love your company.....

                   Don't fear change, rather embrace it.

                           

Escape To The Castle

                                             So we visited this castle yesterday. 
                                                                                   

After watching almost all three seasons of Downton Abbey in two weeks it seemed  rather synonymous. I know, I am a little "behind the times" but finally after hearing a lot of people raving over this series I bought them for Christmas and have been smitten.

  
   The writing, acting, humour, wit and setting are beyond anything I have watched.
 Yes, did you notice I am smitten. :)    ( I am not excusing the obvious spoilers which seem mandatory in films, they do however leave lessons behind that we can learn from...)                     

 The castle was the big finish to our Christmas holidays.
( well actually today was a snow day but we didn't know that yesterday)

                                                     
                                                                          the conservatory...
                                            

                                                                                This castle named Casaloma is in the heart of Toronto, where my second girl is living for a year. 
                                        

                                         up in the tower looking at the city.....
                                                     

                                                 

                                          elegance exudes...

                                             .I kept looking for lady Mary...

                                          
                                                     not your average bath...

                                               

This castle which includes a secret passage way and underground tunnel to stables is the epitome of any dreamers imagination. 

                                                            

It was quite interesting to visit this grandeur and ponder how different lives were and how very much the same they were.

                                                           

  

We visited this castle yesterday. We pretended we were there......
Then we drove back through a snowy winter wonderland to our little home here in reality.

                                                   almost home....

                          Have you visited a castle lately?

Keep The Wonder Alive

            It is now 2014. I leave behind what was, could have been, and should have been.
There is way too much to look forward to to waste energy looking back.
                                     Life is for living, dreams are for dreaming....

                                                          

                                         
What is life without a dream? Some of my own may wait while I assist others  with theirs.
My daughter is dreaming of her wedding in a few short months.
I thought I became a mother yesterday...
                                            

Somehow dreams meld into years. Years of blessing and sacrifice and work. 
Work that pays off in ways that can not be measured. Work that is never done, but changes it's facade.
It waits, prays and hopes a lot. 
The dream is out of focus at times but it is always there. 
Shifting the perspective from regret to gratitude makes the difference.
Remembering it is in what we give that brings reward.

                                                                 

I have not decided on my word of the year yet....It will come. Good things take time.
I know this year will move me and bring change like no other has yet. 
Like every year I will mourn it's departure when it slips away.


                                                                             

But I am determined to notice it. I will feel it. All of it's wonder will seep into me, and I will be amazed! There will be no old experiences. Wonder will be reborn, whether it is in a flower or a sunset. In laundry or lunches, smiles and waves, aches and tears, beauty abounds....

              I hope you see it too, wherever you turn.....

                       Accept the inevitable, believe the impossible,
                          wonder at the ordinary. love, Lucy~