Settling On My Word Here

It's the first Monday of the new year. Routine has showed up and mornings made sweet and special by lack there of, have been replaced by it's stout greeting. I welcome it back as I sip my coffee and revel in some solitude.

The temperatures are frigid here, and I began the year a little under the weather too, with a terrible cold....

It was a good weekend to read alot, so I did...
I read this book. I was immediately intrigued  by the forth rightness of her writing. I borrowed the book, but if I hadn't it would of been filled with highlighting...

                                     

                             

I've been thinking about my word for this year...

and I've decided it will be renew.

Renew a right spirit within me..(Psalm 51:10)
and to renew my mind daily in the Word.

I also discovered Mary Oliver please tell me where I've been! Such lovely writing.
Bring on 2016, come what may I say. My prayer is to live renewed and alive!

                                                                                


                   Have you chosen a word this year?

                                               

Spelling J.O.Y.

                                                           

                             

                            J.O.Y...
                          J- Jesus first.
                          O-others second
                                  Y- yourself last

                        it 's such a small word.
                       but there are times I forget how to spell it.
                Sure I know how to spell it.....I get it wrong though...
                        I put myself first and Jesus last.
                  Then I wonder why I feel so misconstrued!

                         It's not that I don't matter. 
                  I just don't matter more than these other two.....
                                     

When I focus on the love that Jesus has for me it affects my life in intrinsic but profound ways.
I see others through His lens of grace and compassion.                             

            Filling my heart with an effervescent emotion.
        bursting open .....bubbling and gurgling, 
                bringing me joy because I wasn't budding in line....

isn't this cool? 

the store is called Epiphany too...

The photos were taken today, in my lovely hometown of Elora, where we enjoyed a glorious Sunday stroll.

The weather was near perfect for November and I felt myself savoring each and every drop of sunshine.

Daylight faded quickly tonight...because we turned the clocks back last night. 

Spring Things and Stuff...

Spring is beginning to peak around the corner here....
so I thought it'd be fun to share a few glimpses...

     
      my youngest was home a few days feeling a bit under the weather,so the second day we made these  tulips out of egg cartons...a little crafty spring bouquet....

my bargain new spring purse...not always easy to find a purse that's just right, but I think this one is close; I like the two side pockets for phone and sunglasses...

soon we shall see the spring birds hopping about...

I love the fabric on this vintage looking shirt my daughter and I found last week....

I cleaned my refrigerator today before I did the grocery run....

aren't we abundantly blessed to be able to go to a store and purchase such a variety of food?

with the floor reno complete I can now continue shuffling other sundry items such as my husbands antique bottles....

the other week at our local library I scored big off the 'discard' table.......
as I was happily adding them to my library my son said to me,"now you should get rid of five books, Mom."(I've talked to them about the in/out policy to combat clutter) "that is true for everything but books." was my response.




I had the privilege of watching this musical last evening with a friend who had a spare ticket...now I'd love to plan a mother/daughter event to watch it again...


How about you, are you anxiously awaiting spring with all it's newness or are you like my husband who recently stated "he still wants to hibernate a bit?"


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Snippets Of Pretty

The remaining rays of the late, afternoon sun through a window.

Frozen stems of hollyhock are silhouetted to paint a striking view.

                                 I try to soak it in...

  while I ponder the power of words....too often I've spoken in haste,which is why I know this VERSE so well....

Some 

things 

are better

held back....

     

    pretty; holding flowers and photos I treasure..

 pretty can be cracked and broken, more useful that way.....

         and pretty can reflect....so smile!

         pretty exudes warmth.....which is always in style.

                   pretty is,as pretty does ....( Marilla Cuthbert in Anne of Green Gables)

    the array of pots rather amazed her at first,but John was so   fond of jelly, and the little jars would look so pretty
                     on the top shelf. Louisa May Alcott


       Since we cannot change reality,let us change the eyes 
                    which see reality.- Nikos Kazantzakis 

 
               
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