Thursday, December 31, 2009

Welcome to 2010


It's THAT time of year when we think about the New Year and all the changes we want to see in our lives before the beginning of yet another New Year. Yep, that's right; I'm talking about resolutions. Some people make them, and others don't, but regardless, we all see the New Year as the beginning of a new page in our lives.

Usually I'm one of those people that don't make resolutions. Mainly because my experience is that I make a resolution and about a week later I kick myself because I broke it. I'm sure many of you are familiar with that scenario.



Last year, however Mark and I both wrote one word on a piece of paper that we wanted to accomplish during the year.  My word was 'unconditional love' (okay, two words).  Throughout the year, many scenarios cropped up to help me see that to love unconditionally is my choice.  I can choose to remain in the small minded and weak belief system I was raised in this lifetime to accept as 'normal' or move into the gentle flow of unconditional love and allow those belief systems to change.  All year long, I made choices and now, even though I know it is an on going process, I can see how much freer and lighter I feel having walked that gauntlet of choices.  I am very grateful!  


This year I have a phrase I will be working on.  'Lighten up; have fun; laugh a lot.'  I'm very excited to see how I can change some of the heaviness in my life to light and laughter.  It's going to be a fantastic year!  


What is your word or phrase for the year?  

Sunday, December 13, 2009

A New Idea


This past October was a really difficult month for me. You see, the month of October is 'Breast Cancer Awareness Month', so every time I went to the grocery store, I was bombarded with breast cancer awareness advertisements, PA announcements, and cashiers asking for donations at check-out. It was virtually impossible to escape this reality. Even the TV and Radio were relentless on making us all breast cancer aware. For someone like me, who is trying to keep very positive about this challenge in my life, it was very difficult.

The 'Law of Attraction' says, whatever you put your attention on and allow yourself to feel intensely
, you attract to you. It could be a positive or negative thought. Since I was being forced to put my attention on breast cancer every single day of the month, I was really concerned about the tumors in my body growing. Finally Mark and I came up with a solution.

We decided, instead of 'Breast CANCER Awareness' which makes one think of horrible disease and sickness, we would celebrate 'Breast Awareness', which makes one think of wonderful, bouncy, healthy, breasts. I know there are those who think it's terrible to focus our attention on a woman's breasts, but how much worse is it to focus negative attention on women's breasts and therefore attract more negative results?

Who wants to stand with me in this new movement I'm starting, called 'Breast Awareness'? I think if we all start putting positive happy thought into the universe about healthy breasts, perhaps, just perhaps we can move toward a cure. What do you think?

Recipe of the Day

Butternut Squash Soup

2 Onions, diced
6 Clove Garlic, peeled
3 Lbs Butternut Squash, peeled, de-seeded, and cut into 1" cubes
1 Tbsp Fresh Ginger, minced
1 Bay Leaf
7 C Vegetable Stock or Water
1/2 C Orange Juice
1 Tbsp Orange Zest
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tbsp Soy Sauce
1/2 Tsp Nutmeg

1. In a large pot, combine onions, garlic, squash, ginger, bay leaf and stock.

2. Bring to a boil and then simmer gently for about 30 minutes.

3. When squash is tender, add orange juice, orange zest, cinnamon, soy sauce, and nutmeg. Simmer another 5 minutes.

4. Puree in blender until smooth. Transfer back to pot, season to taste, and re-heat

(I have to tell you, I had my doubts about this soup being good, but it is truly delicious! I was very pleasantly surprised! It is now one of our favorite recipes. One tip, if you can buy already cut up butternut squash, it sure saves time!)


Sunday, December 6, 2009

Water Off A Duck's Back


My husband is a gem! He is my rock and the one person in my world that knows me better than I even know myself. He always knows exactly what I need to hear and has broad shoulders to help me carry all the burdens I put on myself. I never knew love until I met Mark. He shows me each and every day what 'unconditional love' is really all about.

Mark doesn't cook, or clean the house. D
on't get me wrong, he will gladly help with those chores if I need him to, but I consider those the smallest of things I can do for him for everything he does for me. An example of how astounding he is to me is the fact that no matter what kind of situation I get myself into, he knows just what to say.

The past few days have been a real challenge. The email debacle a few days ago kinda knocked me off my game. Not the fact it got sent to me; in fact I wrote an email back to the person who sent it and told her there was no reason for me to forgive her, because she was just being herself and I accepted her for who she is. I told her I had no right to tell her who she could talk or write to and who she could not. I really felt at peace about what I wrote. And I allowed Mark to read it to before sending it to make sure it came across with the love I intended. He had no problem with it. (And believe me, he would certainly have told me if he did!)

The next day, I received a scathing email back from her. She totally misunderstood my intention and twisted around my words. Needless to say, I was hurt. I re-read my letter to her and still I didn't see how she could have miss-interpreted my intention. Last night, I went to bed confused and upset, not knowing what I needed to do next.

This morning I woke up with one thought on my mind. Something my very sweet, wise husband told me. "Be a duck, and let it all roll off your back". So today, each time I started to think about it and get upset again, I reminded myself to be a duck. (quack, quack).

It occurs to me that some people just cannot accept who they are. When they come across a trait that does not fit into their belief system or which they have a tough time with, instead of dealing with it, they ignore it or try to dis-associate with it, even to the extent of pushing it off as someone else's problem. I can look at it from a clear point of view now, and I see that is how most people handle what they perceive as a weakness in their own lives. I totally understand this because it wasn't that far in the past where I did the same exact thing!

Now, I think I'll follow my genius husband's advise and just quack a lot!

TODAY'S RECIPE:

Eggplant Sorrento

1/4 Lb.Baked Tofu (or I just use any veggies I have handy and leave out the tofu completely!)
1 Onion, chopped
1 Green Pepper, chopped
8 Ozs Tomato Sauce
1 C Water
1 1/2 Tsps Oregano, crushed
1/2 Tsp Basil, crushed
1/4 Tsp Garlic Powder
1/4 Tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
1/4 Tsp Cumin Powder
1 Eggplant, cut into 1" pieces
8 Ozs Spaghetti

1. Brown tofu in a stockpot over high heat. (or if using veggies, skip to step 2 and include them all in the sauteing process)

2. Add onion and green bell pepper. Saute over high heat until onions are soft and just turning brown. (use a little red or white wine to saute, or vegetable broth)

3. Add tomato sauce, water, oregano, basil, garlic powder, red pepper flakes and cumin.

4. Cook over medium-low heat.

5. Add eggplant to stockpot; cover and cook over low heat 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

6. Meanwhile, prepare spaghetti according to the package directions; drain and stir into kettle just before serving. (I use whole wheat, brown rice, or corn spaghetti)

Serves 4

Add more seasonings to taste. I added more red pepper flakes for a snappier flavor. ENJOY!







Friday, December 4, 2009

The Ugliness of Gossip


Whoever gossips to you will gossip about you.
A Spanish Proverb
Today, I received an email. It was intended for a family member, but my email address was put on it instead. The person who sent it to me sends me emails all the time, so I thought nothing of opening it. The email was filled with gossip about Mark and I; our business and our beliefs which just happen to be different than the author of the email. In the letter, our family member was told how the author had talked to other family members about us and how disappointed and sad they all are that we have the life and beliefs we have. She went on to warn this individual to not read my blog, because of our 'new age' ideas. The impression she left with this family member and others is that we are demons that smile a lot.

After she sent that email, she sent me another email telling me how sorry she was! She told me she was soooo sorry for sending me the letter and asked me to forgive her.

As you can imagine, I was pretty hurt, since to my face, this person seems like a very nice lady. So, once I got past the shock, I began trying to understand and find better feeling thoughts than the hurt ones. Here's what I came up with. . .

The author of the email is a staunch Christian lady who views anyone who does not believe the way she does as wrong. It's what she knows. It's ALL she knows and her perception of what we represent really scares her. We have purposely not told her too much about our beliefs out of respect for her and her beliefs. But we have answered any questions she asked. We try to keep the answers short and to the point due to our respect for her beliefs. The author is also older and very set in her ways. She loves to talk to people and naturally wants to have interesting stuff to talk about. And because she is such a devoted Christian, she feels she must explain our business to others in order to request prayer for our souls. By the time I was finished trying to put myself in her shoes, I could laugh about the whole situation.

It occurs to me that if she had not accidentally sent the email to me, she would have sent it to the family member and thought nothing more of the hurtful gossip it was filled with.

I'm glad we had this experience, for it shows just how dreadful gossip can be. Even well meaning requests for prayer can turn into vicious, hurtful gossip. I've made it a rule of mine never to say anything behind someones back that I would not tell them directly to their face. Or better yet, never say anything about someone that would bring hurt or shame to them. The best rule is probably not to ever repeat anyone else's business to anyone else. After all, it's not my place to pass around information about someone. If they want people to know about their life, they will tell them themselves.

Of course I forgive this woman for what she did. I know who she is and accept her as the frightened person she is. My hope is that she can learn a valuable lesson from this experience too. Perhaps next time she is tempted to gossip, she will remember how it felt to be caught.

On a happier note: By popular demand, I will start sharing some of the recipes we try and and like. Yesterday's recipe is below.

SPLIT PEA SOUP

2 Onions, diced
2 Celery, diced
1 Clove Garlic, minced
1/4 C Fresh Parsley, chopped
5 C Water
1 1/2 C Split Peas
4 Carrots, diced
1/2 Tsp Marjoram
1/2 Tsp Basil
2 Bay Leaves

1. Saute onions, celery, garlic, and parsley in a very small amount of vegetable broth

2. Add water, peas, carrots, marjoram, basil, and bay leaves

3. Simmer 1 1/2 hours. Add more water as needed.

4. Remove bay leaves and blend in a blender until smooth.

Serve with a nice crusty whole wheat bread. Enjoy! Let me know what you think.



Thursday, December 3, 2009

Impossible, Possible Challenges


Because of the challenge I'm experiencing, I've totally changed how I look at life. I appreciate everything in a much deeper way than before. My husband; the wonderful crisp fall air; and even the noise of the street. There just is no room in my life for drama.

It seems sad that we have to be faced with something traumatic before we finally get to the point of enjoying life and appreciating what we have. Our spouses, our children, all are taken for granted. How about the warmth of the sun or the life giving rain? Or the jobs we have? Okay, it's sometimes easy to point those things out as things we should be grateful for, but what about everyday life and the curve balls that seem to get thrown our way? The driver that cuts us off in traffic, or the payment the bank lost for your mortgage payment? Or what about developing a dis-ease? How can we face those things and still not have drama in our lives?

This is what I do. . .

I look at everything as an opportunity; a contrast to what I want in my life. Each 'curve ball' represents a challenge to be the person I came to this planet to be; the most joyful and happiest person I know. Someone cuts me off in traffic and I try to understand they must really be in a hurry to get someplace. Or perhaps my angels are just trying to deter me from an accident happening several miles up the road.

Recently I lost the cash we had put aside to pay our Mortgage payment. Almost 350.00 gone! But instead of beating myself up like I used to do, I now realize, it's just money. Sure it means tightening up our already tight belt for a couple weeks, but in the long run, who knows what lies behind the curtain for us.

And how about the dis-ease I face now? Three years ago, when I first developed the cancer, I did a whole bunch of spiritual work learning to forgive those around me and myself for perceived wrongs I suffered in my childhood and adult life. If it was not for this challenge, (much to my dismay), I may not have delved into the deepest recesses of my fears and emotions. I made peace with all my past devils and moved on. (By the way, that's when the sunshine and the rain started looking much better to me.) Now, I'm on the physical journey. I'm excited to actually see my body heal itself as I give it the nourishment and love it needs to perform the task. I'm very grateful for being in this place at this time in my life. I know all is well, and am very excited to share this venture with everyone.

What are the 'impossible' challenges in your life? Are they really worth giving up your joy?

Tonight's dinner: Homemade Split Pea Soup and Crusty Wheat Bread.
(And on top of all other wonderful lessons I'm learning, like how to release all fear, I'm learning how to cook healthier than ever before.) Do you want the recipes I'm learning to make? Let me know and perhaps I'll start posting them on the blog as well.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Perfect Start to Christmas


Sunday, Mark took me out on a date; a very special, magical date!

First we went to dinner at Rock Bottom Brewery in San Jose, CA.
Now you may think: "How can she eat at a restaurant when she's on such a restrictive diet?" Well, it takes a little creativity, but I ended up with a lovely dinner. Instead of a nice glass of wine, I enjoyed a wonderful hot cup of Gingerbread tea. (I've learned to carry tea bags in my purse all the time, along with a very nice Balsamic Vinegar.) For the main course, I indulged in an order of homemade guacamole, made with fresh, ripe avocados, Roma tomatoes, jalapenos, onions and spices and asked for some carrot and celery sticks to replace the chips. Then I ordered a side salad with extra tomatoes and no dressing. The waitress cooperated with a smile and graciously made it all happen. In fact she commented how 'healthy' my dinner was! I loaded my salad up with the guacamole and extra tomatoes, and feasted! It was divine! When I finished, I sat back and enjoyed another cup of Gingerbread tea while Mark devoured his Veggie Burger and Coleslaw. Not once did I feel deprived. I was totally satisfied and happy with my dinner.

The next stop was the HP Pavilion, in San Jose. A couple months ago, Mark bought tickets for us to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

We parked about half a mile away, which allowed us to get some good exercise. Our seats were ideally situated so we could clearly see the stage as well as all the wonderful special effects going on during the show. Then it began! Tears welled up and trickled down my face at the first strains of the magical music. To be part of this delightful evening seemed overwhelming! And magical it was! From beginning to end; the music was breathtaking. We decided then and there to make the Trans-Siberian Orchestra our traditional beginning of the Christmas season.

The whole evening was such a delight; I feel totally blessed to have a husband that went out of his way to plan a special date for the two of us to share.


Saturday, November 28, 2009

Escape From Reality


Oh my goodness...it's been a long time since I've written! Much has happened in this interim; of which will take me a few days to explain, but here's the start.

I have thought long and hard about what I'm about to write, and have argued all the pros and cons and decided to go ahead. I've always tried to be honest with my blog and share those things that I'm going through, or am learning and this is going to be more of the same.
For me, "coming out of the closet" like this, is one of the most difficult things I've ever done, but I believe much good can come out of allowing my vulnerability to be visible. So here goes. . .

I am experiencing a challenge called 'breast cancer'. I have had this for about three years, but until just this past summer, I've dealt with it on a very spiritual level. I don't believe "God allowed this to happen" to me or that I am a "victim" of cancer; I know I brought it upon myself! I came to that awareness three years ago, when it first appeared, so that is what drove me to seek what I could do to reverse the damage I had done to myself physically and spiritually.


In Louise Hay's book, "Heal Your Body", Louise points out that cancer is caused by, "deep hurt. Longstanding resentment. Deep secret or grief eating away at the self. Carrying hatreds." And interestingly, breast tumors have to do with, "a refusal to nourish the self. Putting everyone else first. Over mothering. Overprotection. Overbearing attitudes!" (Ouch, that one stings!)


For many years, I struggled with longstanding resentment and carried hatred in my heart. I could not find a way to get past the deep hurt in my soul and forgive those I perceived as having hurt me. Last New Years Day, I asked that this year be the year I learned how to unconditionally love. And since that time, it's been a fast-track roller-coaster ride of emotion. I did, however, learn to forgive and love those who hurt me; choosing instead to see them through the eyes of spirit and acknowledge they are living their life, just as I am living my life. With that understood, I once and for all, let go of the resentment that held me in it's tight grasp all these years. That was the beginning of healing. I had to forgive myself for holding all that ugliness inside me for so long as well. That proved to be really tough, especially since my body showed me the results of that hatred I had harbored every single day in the form of a tumor.


When I got on the other side of all that resentment, I felt as if my spirit had been set free again but the tumor began to grow. I was puzzled and upset because I thought I had done all the work I needed to do to release the very thing that caused it in the first place, but it still grew. That's when the fear kicked in.


I've never, in my whole life been in the hospital as a patient! I was born at home and had my children at home. When I was a little girl, I even had my tonsils taken out in the doctors office! I believe almost all our dis-eases and sicknesses are emotion based and I believe we have the power within to heal our bodies. Mark and I discussed it in great depth and I decided I did not want to go the medical route of a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. I believed I could heal my body naturally, so that is exactly what we set out to do.


I didn't want to tell anyone about it because of my own fears of what people might say and think. I wanted it to be a secret just between my husband and I. The tumor continued to grow.
I made the choice to continue to change all negative thoughts to powerful new positive thoughts and put my attention on complete healing in all areas of my life. But as the tumor grew and began to get painful, I became more and more fearful. Fear of dying; fear of pain; just plain terror! And the more fear I felt, the more painful the tumor became. I didn't know what to do or which way to turn. I asked my guides and angels to help me figure out what to do next and they answered me very quickly!

Mark found a website that had a DVD about how to heal yourself from cancer. We watched it and it gave me hope. In fact, it turned my "believing" my body could heal itself into "knowing" my body would heal itself! It was based on drastically changing my diet and lifestyle! Mark and I decided to try it together.

We stopped eating all refined foods; animal products; and vegetable oils. My shopping trips were more like day excursions because I spent hours reading the labels on products to make sure I adhered strictly to the diet plan. We also started doing Reiki on the tumors on a regular basis and stopped taking many of the supplements we were taking because we learned that some of them actually could contribute to cancer growth. I've been on this diet plan for a little over 1 month now and have lost weight (I learned weight is a big contributor to cancer), and the tumor has even begun to shrink.

I still go through days when it is very painful, but usually it's because I'm upset about something. So when it's painful, I ask myself what I'm all worked up about and is it worth the pain to continue to be upset. That makes it much easier for me to simply release it. Also, I think it gets painful when it's shrinking, but that's a good thing.

So now I'm "out of the closet" and am once again living my life transparent before you all! And I will continue to let you know how it's going. I decided since one of the causes of tumors is holding in secrets that this was the best way to face my fears of what people may think or say and release them. Reality says, "my god this is cancer! You better seek medical help or die". But I choose to escape from the deceptive reality of the world and keep my eyes focused on the true reality of who I am.

Please feel free to ask me questions. I'm feeling better than I've felt in a long time and now really am free because I no longer fear death. I know I am an eternal being and this is just one stop of many along the road of my existence. What is there to fear? I will continue to share with you all my journey so that when the tumors are completely gone, we can all celebrate together.


Tuesday, September 29, 2009

The Kick That Changed My Thought


Have you ever gotten to a wonderful new spiritual level where all is rosy and suddenly some idea, thought or belief appears and you realize maybe you're not as far along as you thought?

That is exactly what happened to me this week.

My mother is turning 80 years old in February. Many of you know my relationship with her has not been very good through the years. I actually hated her at one time. I had to reach that retched depth to finally understand and then find my way into the lap of unconditional love; love for her and myself. Now whenever I speak with her my heart is softer and instead of all the bitterness I once harbored, I am full of empathy and I understand her. I can now look at her through the eyes of unconditional love.

Anyway, her birthday is in February and I had a wonderful idea to give her an 80th birthday party. She has no friends, so it would just be her children and grandchildren in attendance, but I know it would mean the world to her. As I thought about the party arrangements I considered calling my sister (who lives about 8 miles from her) and include her in the plans. My initial thought was that this could be a healing time for all the siblings and grandchildren as well as my mother. Out of the four of us, Cindy has been hurt the most, so I thought if she helped with the party, it may help her to put aside some of her anger as well.

And then this ugly thought peered over the horizon!
"What if she does what she always did in the past. What if she takes over and pretends it was all her idea. She would be praised and everyone would think what a wonderful thing she did for our mom."

I have to say, the thought gave me a kick right in my stomach! But here's what I did.

I stepped back from the thought and examined it for what it was and where it came from. My "emotional guidance system", already told me I was headed down the wrong path because of this feeling of being kicked in the stomach, so I needed to find out how to get back on track. This time around it was pretty easy. I simply thought, "Who cares who gets the credit! The main thing is that mom has an 80th birthday party and healing in the family is able to take place. I do not need the attention of throwing it together, but possibly Cindy does. Perhaps that would lead to her healing. And after all, that is what the whole point for the party is."

I feel so much better. The angry little girl that thought she needed attention vanished into the wisp of a thought she was; replaced with the warmth of unconditional love once again.

I am so grateful for our guidance systems, and for our Wisdom that helps us choose a wiser road each day.

Have you ever had a negative thought "kick you in the stomach" and how did you choose to convert it into unconditional love?

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Burst With Light


Today, my whole being is filled with gratitude and thankfulness.

We have a roof over our heads; I have a wonderful, loving husband; we possess perfect health; and have need of nothing. We are truly abundant!

What has brought about this exuberance and excitement? I guess it's the fact that I am leaving the past behind. I'm leaving all the opinions of others behind and I'm embracing the concept of unconditional love. When my mind is consumed with love, there is no room for anything else.

I feel as though my life is just beginning! I look around and the colors in this beautiful world are brighter and the air is crisper. The sounds are more enjoyable and the fragrances more sweet.

Perhaps it's because I'm stepping into the next adventure life has to offer me. I feel as though I'm going to explode with joy and peace.

What are you happy about today? What makes you so excited you just may burst? I say, let's just do it! Burst! Burst with all the happiness and joy that is us!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Opening The Door


What stops us from doing what's in our hearts?

My reason for not branching out has everything to do with acceptance. "What will people think?" They may think I'm a kook or crazy. They may think I've finally slipped into the void of insanity. Or they may understand that I've finally come to a place of peace in my heart. A place of acceptance of who I really am. And that is exactly what has happened. I AM AT PEACE.

What others think of me is not important. Everyone has their own belief systems and their own list of "rights and wrongs". Everyone has their opinions and believe their path is the only right path. In many ways, that's what makes life interesting. If we were all the same, it would be pretty boring! The contrast of thought is what keeps things lively.

So, I'm branching out. Opening new doors in my life. Stepping out and spreading my wings. I will not allow fear to stand in my way.

Want to join me? What is keeping you from being the free spirit you really are?

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Quest


It's hard to believe, but it's already been a full year since Mark and I left Portland and moved to the San Francisco Bay area. I remember the grand expectations we had; all the plans we laid out and the people we were going to serve. We would help Mark's mom; my business would thrive in the Bay area; and saving money would be a breeze. Even though we felt like we stepped off a cliff, we knew without a doubt that the Universe was there to catch us and lead us along our way.

Mark's job as Assistant Manager at Office Depot turned out to be perfect. He got a raise and because of the California Laws regarding work hours, he only has to work a forty hour week. Also, because of the economic decline many Office Depot stores reduced the amount of Assistant Managers to one. If we had stayed in Oregon he may have lost his job. Here, Mark was chosen to stay on. Even though we still want to be able to get him free from "working for the man" one day, right now, he likes his job and has brought a struggling store to the top of the district. His job is only a mile and a half away, which saves on gas, and since it is sunny most of the time here, he can even walk to work!

My business abruptly came to a halt. As it turns out, however, I see the Wisdom in that end. Since I've been here, I've been forced to take a long look at who I really am. And you know what? Who I really am is not the lady that left Oregon with her business and ideas of how she was going to help all the people she came in contact with. Many old belief systems I thought I had released showed back up. And the age old self-loathing showed it's ugly head once again. Being here in the Bay area, besides Mark, I do not have any friends to run to and am forced to look to the only true source of love and support; my Higher Self.

I've learned to appreciate life in a more intimate way than ever before. I've learned I really can choose a different thought, and as I make that more joyful thought my dominate thought, I can once again look toward the heavens with confidence and bask in the knowing that I am loved.

I am still in the process of learning what it means to unconditionally love. Now I more deeply understand that what it is. It is truly allowing a person (or myself) to be who they are; no strings attached. In doing so, all the power of the Universe is at my fingertips; for the only true power is the power of love.

My dear friends in Oregon and Washington will always be in my heart no matter where I am. I cherish time spent with them all, but this has been a quest I had to take alone. A quest to seek out and experience who I really am. Only alone could I see myself as I am and release judgment and unforgiveness. And that is why I am grateful now for the wisdom to leave Oregon and all the comfort it represents to me, and move to this place of total aloneness, where I have found my true comfort and peace amid all the chaos around.

What "quest" have you been on that has brought you to your Higher Self?

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Thank you for your Support


Oh my goodness! I got soooo many comments on my last post! Thank you all so much! I really appreciate everyone who reads these posts whether they comment or not. I received great encouragement, and a great suggestion on what to do. I am soooo grateful!

Based on some of the suggestions, I may be changing things around just a bit. You'll have to wait and see what I decide to do. In the meantime, thank you all once again for your love and support!

Friday, September 11, 2009

Questions

Do you know how it feels to open your life completely up; put it up for public scrutiny and have absolutely NO ONE respond one way or the other?

I do! Each time I post a new blog; each time I write a thought on Facebook; suddenly you can hear crickets! Is it because no one has another thought? Is it because everyone is afraid of what people will think if they respond? Or is it simply because you don't read the information to begin with?

I've been struggling with this absence of communication for some time now and it's been an eye opening experience for me. You see, I'm looking to stir things up a bit! Get people thinking on their own. Perhaps even examine their lives to see if there is anything they could be looking to expand. I ask for comments to try and nudge people out of their comfort zones and become a participant in life.

I've noticed the people who get responses on Facebook are the ones who share surface stuff. And they get surface responses. I know there are deep thinkers out there. There are those with totally different opinions and thoughts, so why are we so afraid to voice what we think?

For me, in a very subtle way, I'm looking for approval from those around me and those I deem more spiritual then I. Perhaps the reason for the lack of response has to do with the same thing. People are afraid of what I will think or what their friends may think of them. We want to be liked. We want kudos instead of critisism, for that is what we base our feelings of acceptance on.

I am tired of being controlled by the responses (or in my case non-responses) of others. I welcome others thoughts and opinions. Without the contrast of thought, how can we really know what we ourselves believe?

Please understand, I love you all! I don't care if you agree with me or not! I don't care what religion you are, or what belief system you hold close to your heart. I don't care what political party you are connected with or even if you have purple hair. You are accepted totally by me.

What's stopping you from commenting?

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Convert And Become As Little Children

". . . 'Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matthew 18:3, KJV).

Over the Labor Day weekend, Mark and I had the opportunity to go to Medford, OR to visit family and favorite places. It was a wonderful time filled with adventure around every turn. When we go any place, now-a-days, we like to "fly by the seat of our pants". This makes the adventure even more delicious to us because we try and step out of our own way and allow events to unfold naturally. To this end, we travel with our sleeping bag in the car so we can just pull over and sleep whenever we want.

We left at 11pm Friday night and drove to Redding where we finally pulled into a truck stop to rest for a few hours. In the morning, we took off for Oregon and arrived in Medford just in time to have lunch our our favorite Chinese restaurant. It was divine sitting there
enjoying the food in warm, familiar surroundings, anticipating our visit with the grandkids.

In Southern Oregon, we are the proud grandparents of three. Levi, 11 years old, and the twins, Grace and Kara, 8 years old. We are known as the "fun grandparents", because we are not around all the time, so when we are, we take full advantage and let out all the stops in having a good time with the kids. This visit was no exception. The girls and I decided to make a fairy house in the woods behind their house and Levi and "Papa Mark" played "Rock Band" with Mark's three daughters. Dave, our son-in-law cooked a fabulous dinner of fish and pork tacos, and allowed me to assist him in his beautiful big kitchen. It truly was a great visit. We were exhausted, but happy we were able to spend the day having so much fun. The next day, we planned on driving to our favorite place along the Yuba river before heading back to the Bay area, but as we drove down the hill from the house, and reminisced about the day, we decided we needed more time with the grandkids. So we called back up to the house and arranged to pick them up and take them to town the next day.

I am soooo glad we had that extra bit of time! We took the kids to Barnes and Noble, had ice cream at Dairy Queen and ended up at our favorite store, Fred Meyers where we explored just about every aisle twirling in the shopping carts and hiding from each other, playing with the toys and deciding on what other little goodies needed to find their way home with the kids. They settled on whoppy cushions and noise makers, and a few little things for the fairy house. We played games in the car, and impressed the kids with our "magic tricks", picked up a pizza and finally went back home, once again exhausted but happy to have had another day with our precious grandkids.

I noticed something very cool about our time with them that brought the scripture above to my mind. What does it mean to be converted and become as little children? As I watched our grandkids, I noticed how they were so innocent and thrilled with every little thing that happened. They were able to move from one thing to the next without having to go through the pain of "letting go". Each experience they were having was like the best experience they have ever had. They lived each moment in the moment and did not have a care about the future or the past. When we were showing off our "magic tricks", they were so enthralled with what was happening and their minds were completely open to what powerful creators they were. We did not have to convince them of their abilities, or help them move beyond past traumas; we simply introduced an idea and they totally knew they could accomplish it. There was no doubt! No self-confidence issues, or self-esteem garbage; just innocent acceptance and a remembrance of what their natural state of being truly is.

The kingdom of heaven truly is within each child, because they have not allowed others to dictate what they should think or feel yet. Each moment in a child's life is magical, and they understand how to create happiness in their own lives. What is the kingdom of heaven if not that wonderful place of divine happiness and joy?

I am ready to convert and be as a child again. I'm ready to remember the joyful, magical being I truly am. I'm ready to shake the dust of other's opinions of how I should live my life off my shoulders and rise once again to the realm of complete happiness. Who wants to join me? Are you ready to convert and become as a child?

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

The Light That Is Me


Why is it so hard to stay positive sometimes? I've been thinking a lot about this lately. Some days it's easy to focus on the beauty all around me and other days it really takes effort. Why is that?

I think I've come up with the answer. At least in my experience.

Besides the usual programming dilemma, it's a matter of once again focusing on other people's acceptance of me.

Let's face it. When we step into the presence of a positive person, we either love them or really dislike them. Usually there is no middle ground. They either grate on our last nerve, or inspire us to greater heights. So who wants to be disliked? Who wants to be talked about behind their back? It's much easier to stay in our doldrums than to seek a better feeling thought. And (an extra bonus) it gets us more attention. Positive people don't need attention from anyone because they are happy and secure in themselves. They seem to have an internal light that shines no matter what circumstances they find themselves in.

I've been laughed at; teased; talked about in a condescending matter and just plain shunned because of my joy, but I've come to this conclusion; I DON'T CARE!

You see, I want to grab every bit of life I can while I'm in this world. I want to explore every avenue; see all the beauty and experience all the magic this life has to offer. There is no time for "doldrums". If someone wishes to laugh at me and tease me because I'm filled with joy, then I guess in a way I'm bringing a certain amount of happiness into their lives. If they shun me; so be it!

I choose to set my sights on the heavens! I choose to allow the light that is me to shine bright. Perhaps it will light the way for someone who is struggling.

Will you allow what others think of you to deter your positivity? Or will you join me in being the light that YOU ARE!


Monday, August 31, 2009

The Sermon From The Window


Mark and I, at this time, chose to live in our RV. It's 31 feet long, has a very nice back bedroom and is just right for the two of us. Plus, it gives us the flexibilty to move any place we want. Last year, at this time, we decided to move to the San Francisco Bay area to be closer to Mark's mom who is 80 years old. She is a tiny little fraile lady of about 96 pounds and can be blown away if a strong wind were to arise. She has had many hip and knee operations and now has one leg which is about two inches shorter than the other, which causes her to walk with special shoes and a cane. Nevertheless, she is still very active; driving; visiting friends in the hospital and going to church every Sunday. She told us during a visit several years ago that she wanted to remain as independant as possible for as long as possible. We wanted to make sure that happened for her, thus our trip down here.

Our little "house" sits probably three feet from her bedroom window. The weather is usually very nice, but this past weekend, it got HOT! To make sure she didn't cook in her house, we opened up her bedroom windows to get some air flowing through. And along with our windows being open, well let's say, we know what she watches on TV at night!

Sunday morning, as usual, the little dog next door woke me up as he barked at the squirrels that were running up and down the fence teasing him. And then IT happened. The air inside and out of our little home was filled with voices singing at the top of their lungs. . . "how great thou art......" I've been away from fundamentalist Christianity for many years now, and many hymns hold bad memories for me, so I was NOT pleased! As I began to prepare breakfast for Mark, the choir continued and I began to search for more positive thoughts to change my attitude. Finally I came up with, "she gets enjoyment out of this music, so who I am to begrudge her of that?" And with that, I was able to enjoy the music with her.

Then came the sermon! Yelling, Bible pounding, sermon! It reminded me of the sermons I heard at a Church I was involved with in Florida many years ago. Now I had to choose once again to feel the pain and hurt of that past experience or continue in the joy I've since been able to find. Once again I remembered the joy it gave Ruth, and it's not my right to rob her of that joy, even in my own mind. I have no idea what was being preached, but by the end of that sermon, I had gone from a place in my heart of anger and horrible memories to understanding, compassion and joy. Joy, that Ruth could listen to what brought her happiness. I could almost feel how uplifted she felt at the end of the sermon. The closing prayer and music that followed just blended into the background for me, then all was quiet;
in the air and and in my heart and mind!

How do you deal with past memories? Do you allow them to control your present life, and dictate your future? Or have you come up with a way to finally put them to bed and move into your future of happiness and joy? It IS a choice. So why spend another second allowing the past to play re-runs in your mind? You've come a long way, baby!


Friday, August 28, 2009

Giving, Giving, Giving

Giving. Everyone knows it's a good thing. All around us there are people trying to convince us to give to their causes. And there really is no short supply of Speakers and Teachers that will tell us not only is giving a good thing, but it's our responsibility to give and give A LOT. This is not only prevalent on the infomercials on TV, but also with Christian Preachers and Metaphysical Teachers as well. Even though I do agree giving is a good thing; I will not be manipulated by others using emotion or playing on my sympathies to get a hand out.

This is how I feel: Sometimes there are times when giving can hinder a person's path. What would happen if you gave to someone and by doing so, they abandoned thei
r path of faith to sit around and wait for more handouts? That is why I feel it is so very important to listen to our Higher Selves (Wisdom) to determine what to give; where; and how much. I do not listen to others trying to guilt me into doing something. I listen to my Wisdom.

This morning I received a Tweet on Twitter from a lady who is on the brink of losing everything. I mean everything. Her house; her car; even perhaps her husband. As I read her story, I felt that familiar stirring in my heart signaling a message from Wisdom. I've been in terrible predicaments before myself, not knowing what to do or where to turn. This lady, however, instead of whining and crying about her difficulties has come up with a creative way of bringing in some immediate, much needed cash. She's not sitting around waiting for the government to come bail her out. She and her whole family are being pro-active in getting out of their situation. Because of this, my heart goes out to her and her family and I am backing her with as much support as I can possibly give.

Now, I'm not telling any of you to give to this family. I simply wanted to share my heart regarding them with you, but if you are so inclined, this is her blog site where you can read her story and judge for yourself. Katalyst Coaching

I'm very touched and encouraged by this dear lady's tenacity and courage. Knowing she could be jeered at and judged, she stepped out in faith with this project. And the best part? She still has a positive attitude that all is well. This is just temporary, and will pass. What a testament to walking your talk!

Thursday, August 27, 2009

24 Hours


I know this is an old theme, but because I've been surrounded by death lately, this has really been on my mind.

What would you do if you found out you had 24 hours to live? That's it! 24 hours and then you would re-unite with Source Energy outside of this realm. Would you spend your last hours crying and bemoaning the fact that you were going to die? Or would you spend time with your family and friends? Travel?

This week as I've talked to friends that have recently lost friends, the one common thread in all the conversations is: "Ya never know when it's gonna happen. Makes me want to spend more time with my family and friends and tell them how much I love and appreciate them." Then suddenly, there is a swirl of emails and letters that leave our homes telling everyone how much we love them. Now we feel better; and go back to the way we lived our life.

But what would happen if we found out we only had 24 hours to live? This is what I think I would do. Suddenly, the family feud that has been going on for years would not seem as important. I would cherish each breath I took and take in as many sights in this life that I could possibly fit in. I would eat all the things I've been denying myself due to one diet or another, and of course I would let all my family and friends know how much I love and appreciate them.

So why not do all of that now? (Except for the eating part, I guess.) Why not do that each and every day? Why wait? As was mentioned above, "ya never know when it's gonna happen", so let's start the ball rolling. Appreciate and love our friends and family. Is that feud really worth all the excess energy I've been putting into it? What about those harsh words I had with my spouse? Is it really important that I am "right"? Why not start asking ourselves these questions each and every day, and take action; not just sit and think about it.

I'll start . . .

Thank you all for being such wonderful loving friends. I deeply appreciate each and every one of you! You touch my heart in many special ways and I cherish the times we have spent together, either in person; through email; or on Facebook or Twitter. Blessings to you, my dear ones. I love you all.



Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Fall Pruning



Fall is the perfect time to prune trees and shrubs, roses and other lovely additions to our yards. Pruning allows new growth to get the nutrients it needs to expand and grow into a more beautiful plant in the spring.

Autumn is also a great time to examine our lives and see where we may need to prune beliefs; lifestyles; or even friends. Sometimes the process is easy, simply by choosing a different way of thinking and sometimes it can be more difficult when it comes to allowing relationships to drop away. However, the end result is a wonderful new spurt of growth, the likes of which we could not imagine before.

I love Autumn! And lately, I've been feeling that familiar chill in the air that signals it's coming.
For me, that also means to consider what needs to be pruned in my life. There are always belief systems that come under scrutiny, but this year, I'm finding a new avenue to look at... friends. This year, I'm having to think about relationships that I've been holding tight to, that need to fall away. But it's not a bad thing! I'm beginning to see that when we allow even relationships that do not serve us any longer to drop away, new ones that are deeper and more in line with what our spirit is calling for come into focus.

There's a poem floating around on the internet about this very thing. It talks of friends coming into and going out of our lives. Some are there for just a short time, others are there forever. That's just the cycle of life. It's all part of the natural order of things, just as weeding a garden is the natural course of action to insure the healthy growth of the garden, or pruning the plants in the fall insure greater, more beautiful foliage and blossoms in the Spring.

What do you have to prune out of your life this fall? Will you allow it to fall away or will you dogmatically fight to keep it there by your side? Your feelings will tell you the answer. Will you follow what feels right to you or hold onto beliefs because that's "how I was raised?" Close your eyes and imagine what your future looks like with each challenge you struggle with. As you do, it will all become very clear.

My Spring is going to be glorious! What about yours?

Sunday, August 23, 2009

To Pray or Not to Pray


Ever since I've gotten away from Fundamentalist Christian beliefs, I've been puzzled by the concept of prayer. When someone asks me to pray for them, what is it I'm suppose to do? Are they asking me to plead with a Supreme Being to make them well or guide them into whatever they need guidance for? Are they asking me to ask because for some reason, this Supreme Being can't hear or won't listen to them? Why would He/She answer me for them? Why wouldn't He/She answer them directly? Perhaps they are asking me to ask their guides and angels to help them out. Again, why do I have more power asking their guides and angels than they do? Maybe they think if we gang up on the Supreme Being or their guides and angels, then they will be more likely to answer them. You know, power in numbers. "I wasn't gonna answer just you, but since you've brought so many others that are pleading your case too, then, well, okay, I'll answer you."

Or perhap
s, the reason I'm asked to pray for someone is because they need to know they are not alone. Perhaps that's the acceptable code word for, "I really need a shoulder to cry on, or an ear to listen to me right now, can you take the time?" It is their way of reaching out for love from a solid source. Someone who can empathize with them or give them a hug. No judgment, just a touch, or support.

We are the magnificent vibrational beings that create our own reality. We have glorious guides and angels helping us on our path who know each of us intimately. So if we ask for their guidance, they are always more than happy to be of service.

I think, maybe we still do not realize what powerful individuals we are! All the power of the Universe is at our fingertips. All we have to do is allow it to flow through us. Let go of old beliefs and religious dogma, and remember who we are. This is what we have come here to be; Joyous Creators. In allowing our own light to shine, we help others find their light.
That is why it is so powerful to join together. If I'm asking my guides and angels to aid me in being the most joyful person I know and everyone else is doing the same with their guides and angels, HOW POWERFUL IS THAT! All prejudice, anger, fear, and hatred melts away. I don't have to be told to pray for the earth or for any individual. If I am seeking my heart's desire right here and now, and you are seeking your heart's desire, all is well.

So if you want to call talking to your guides and angels prayer, then so be it. But if you wish to ask others to "pray for you", what is it you are really asking? Do you really want their energy in what you are trying to manifest? You are the only one who has the pure energy that is required to bring about your desired outcome. Why smudge it up with someone else's opinions?

What do you think prayer is? And how do you use it?


Friday, August 21, 2009

Little White Flowers


The little white flowers to the right are found in our yard. I don't know what kind they are, or they could even be weeds, for all I know, but they have a lesson for me, just the same.

These beautiful little flowers blossom each morning and "go to sleep" each night. I love looking out my window and seeing them. Mark has pulled them up a few times since we've been here, but they just keep coming back.

The thing that really impresses me about these little gems is that they are growing up in the artificial grass that covers the yard! That is the reason Mark has yanked them out before. He goes around pulling up all the weeds that grow through the grass. But these flowers will not be deterred from their life's purpose. They reach up through the tangle of fabric so they can worship and adore the sunshine! There they gather all their strength and burst into full glory and majesty, fulfilling their life's purpose. They are not concerned about dying, or being ripped out of the ground. Their purpose in life is their only thought, and they live to fulfill it.

It strikes me that if these little flowers can do such a beautiful job fulfilling their purpose, even though they have many obstacles in their way, how much better can we fulfill our purpose, being the grand creators that we are? We allow any obstacle to deter us; any threat to scare us; yet we have the power within to charge through all obstacles that attempt to smother us! We allow threats to scare us into submission; and then, we decide it's too hard to reach for our dreams, so we let them die.

I'm going to choose to reach for the sky! Create my reality, no matter what is going on around me; just like those little white flowers. What will you choose?

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Too Sensitive!


Have you ever been accused of being too sensitive? Perhaps the person who proclaimed that was teasing, or maybe they meant it as a compliment or "put down". What do those words mean to you?

For me, they mean several different things. My loving husband told me one day on vacation that I was being "too sensitive". He did not mean that in a negative matter, but as is usual when my Wisdom speaks to me, I felt a dagger in my heart.

So, I asked Wisdom, what does being "too sensitive" mean? I've been thinking about that question since I got home and have come up with a couple things it means to me. When I'm being "too sensitive" I can usually boil it down to two reasons.

1. I'm too focused on what others may think of me or
2. I'm seeking attention

Usually the first one comes about when I'm with Mark or a friend and we are out sightseeing or shopping. Instead of being honest about what I'd like to do, I bow to whatever they want. But here's the kicker. . . it's because somewhere deep down inside, I still think I will not be accepted if I don't do what they want. "What if we do what I want and it turns out to be horrible or they really don't want to do it? Will Mark, or my friend still like me, or will they secretly within themselves say how much they do not ever want to spend time with me again?"

Now anyone who knows Mark knows that's absurd! And really, if I stop and think about it, I'm not giving my friends too much credit either, am I? In my little world, I would never dump a friend because we did something that turned out terrible, so why would I think they would do that to me? See how silly that is?

Then there's number 2: Attention. I had a really great example of that while on vacation. We were at our swimming place on the Yuba River and a group of young adults came by. Everyone was having a great time splashing and going down the rapids, except one girl. She complained about everything! The depth and temperature of the water; the current in the river; everything. The rest of her party continued to frolic and play moving upstream, but she whined and cried every step of the way. Even to the point of standing knee high in the water proclaiming her fear, until she was able to distract everyone else from their fun to talk her into proceeding upstream with them. It was really sad to watch. But, how many times have I done something similar? How many times have I allowed my sensitivity to get in the way of other people's fun as well as my own? Once again, how silly is that!

So now, I will take notice when someone tells me I'm being too sensitive and ask my Wisdom what it is I'm really doing. The fun result of seeing the real reason for being "too sensitive" is that I have the power within me to change it immediately. As soon as I notice it, I can choose a different thought. I can choose a higher vibration. I can choose to put aside that crap and have fun!

How have you been "too sensitive" in your life? Is it really a positive thing? Or is it an old familiar, perhaps even a game you play with yourself and others that you are not totally conscious of. Kinda makes ya think, huh?

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

"Set In My Ways"



I find it funny when someone does not agree with me, they may think I'm "closed minded", or "set in my ways", or "not willing to change", or the one that hurts me the most, "not open to Spirit"? All because I have my own thoughts and spiritual guidance that is not the same as theirs.

It's easy to "pigeon hole" a person according to their thoughts or beliefs and even perhaps think less of them because they are not on the same "spiritual plane" as we are, but how does that pious way of viewing others reflect the true light we all are?

Just because I think I have "the answer" does not mean it's the answer for anyone else. It's MY answer for MY life, at this time. If I choose to share it with you it's not because I think you should follow my answer, but use your feelings to detect what fits for you. Perhaps the "answer" I've found for me helps you define your answer better. Perhaps you don't happen to agree with me. It's all good! I've simply shared what worked for me. You may see my thought process will not work for you, but because of the contrast, you've been able to identify what will work. Wonderful! Now you have found YOUR answer! I will celebrate your choices and adventures in this lifetime along with mine; and we don't even have to agree!

Maybe if we all start to practice allowing others to find their own way instead of insisting they believe the way we do, our lives would be more peaceful. What do you think?

Monday, August 17, 2009

We're Back!


We're back! Back from our wonderful week's Anniversary vacation! It was magical, exciting, fun and educational. I feel as if I've lived a whole year in this one week. For me, being out in nature and away from many daily distractions allows my Wisdom to get and keep my attention for lots of glorious lessons.

Even though I've been shown how much work I have to do in some areas of my life, I do not feel defeated, but empowered! That's how I know my Guides and Angels are directing my steps. I never feel anything but unconditional love, even in the face of what we humans term as failures.

So, in the days to come, I'm hoping to share some of the glorious lessons I'm learning. I hope they will encourage you as much as they have me.

Stay tuned!


Thursday, August 13, 2009

Disagreements


Mark and I had a disagreement today! Yep, it's true! Even WE have disagreements. As much as we adore each other, sometimes we get in our own way and disagreements happen. We have not had a challenge with each other in a very long time, so this one really felt foreign. But we were able to get it all cleared up in a really short time.

We both accepted our responsibility for the challenge, and admit our shortcomings to each other. Then it was over!

Before, we took days to get past a disagreement, but today it was all said and done within an hour.

My problem boiled down to misunderstanding what Mark was going through and when he did not respond in the matter in which I thought he should, I made it all very personal and blew up! Poor Mark did not mean anything personal toward me! But that's what I CHOSE to believe. Because of all the work we are doing in our efforts to get into and stay in the vortex of joy, it didn't take very long for me to see my choice and change it to reflect joy once again. I am so grateful I have such an understanding and patient husband. Someone else may have let their ego get ahead of them and really blow things even more out of proportion, but Mark was able to get to the heart of the problem and help me overcome it. Thanks, honey!

Think about the disagreements you have with your spouse or significant other. Are you taking something more personal than it was meant to be? What is your responsibility in the challenge? And what can you do to get yourself back into the Vortex of joy?

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Anniversary Bliss


Today is our Anniversary! We've been married 14 blissful years and are looking forward to another 50 or 60 years together! I'm such a fortunate lady to have found such a loving, kind and gentle man. He is everything every woman dreams of. He's my best friend; wise teacher; and fantastic lover all in one very sexy package! I truly am blessed!

In honor of our Anniversary, I served my most excellent husband breakfast in bed! Chorizo sausage and egg burrito; hashbrowns and orange juice. He was really surprised!

A couple months ago, we visited Grass Valley and fell in love with it! It just feels like home to us. At that time, when we were on our way back to the Bay area, we just happened to go down a very interesting street in search of a park to eat our lunch. We came across our dream house! And it was for sale! This house has everything we want. Including a creek that runs behind the back yard! Since then, we have been visiting the house on the Internet and each day picture ourselves enjoying our lives there. Everything connected to this house rings the chord of excitement in our beings. We have a picture of what we thought was our dream house positioned in our RV so it is the first and last thing we see in the day. This house looks exactly like it! We wanted a creek
or stream....has it! The name of the street it's on is Freeman Lane; it is close to our favorite grocery store. In fact, we wanted a house that was close enough to town for people to come see us, but in the woods so we could relax and enjoy nature. Here's a link to it. Take a look: CREEKSIDE SERENITY

Anyway, we drove by the house again today, and it's not only still for sale, but the price has been reduced and we found out the little creek in the backyard is named, Wolf Creek! Wolf just happens to be one of my power animals!

Now comes the interesting part! Knowing! Knowing the Universe's job is to make this happen! We are so excited to see how it will come about, because we know that if this particular house is not the exact one for us, the Universe knows what we are wishing to manifest and WILL deliver it. It's not a matter of "where is the money coming from"; it's not up to us to figure any of it out; just basque in the deliciousness of how it feels to have it!

What do you want to manifest in your life? Are you worried about how it will come about? Why not let the Universe take care of that! Whatever actions easily flow into your mind to do, DO them. But the moment you feel that gnawing in your stomach, understand you have gotten away from the vibration of that which you want. It's okay! You can get back in! Let's become the grand creators we came here to be!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Vacation Continues


Good Morning!
Okay, since there are so many exciting things happening today, I decided to post in sections. Right now it's almost 9am. It's a be
autiful day outside! Woke up to the sound of running water; had a wonderful breakfast! Mark had French toast, sausage and OJ and I had yogurt, breakfast burrito and coffee. Now it's time to rinse off under the waterfall. But no worries; the water is nice and warm!

Skinny Dipping Anyone?
The place we like to go at the Yub
a River is known to be a popular skinny dipping place. We knew that ahead of time, and I thought I was prepared, but actually seeing strangers in the nude brought up a couple interesting questions. First, how the hell did they get down to the river? The path is rocky and steep at places and the river is WAY down there!


I don't have a problem with people skinny dipping, but I have to admit it captivated my attention. I'm not used to seeing strangers prancing around in their birthday suits. I mean, what's the etiquette for this sort of situation? Do you look? Do you not look? Do you pretend they have clothes on when they talk to you? Do you look away when they walk by? And what about the lady that is laying spread eagle out on the beach? You can imagine all the old beliefs that ran through my mind! "Well, I never...."
And then Wisdom spoke!

Suddenly I saw all the people that were enjoying the sun in their "all in all" are much freer than I am. They are not ashamed of their bodies, and they don't care what anyone else thinks about them. They can be who they are, regardless of what others judgments may be. I was fascinated and a little jealous. Here I stood in shorts and a top and a top to cover my top and a hat, and there was really no sense of freedom in any of it. Wisdom said, "what's your problem? Why are you not that free? Why do you allow what oth
ers think of you to run your life and dictate what freedoms you enjoy?"

Wow, that really put me in my place, and gave me a new appreciation for the folks that were soaking up nature in such a wondrous fashion.
So, did I break down and go skinny dipping? Only the Yuba River knows for sure.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Our Vacation

Today is the first official day of our vacation! I'm soooo excited! Got up at 8am to do the final preparations for our trip. Since we will be gone for a week, we put up the awning on the RV, and unhooked everything in addition to packing the usual necessary items for our camping excursion.

Finally at about noon, we were ready to pull out of the driveway. Said our good-byes to Mark's mom, and off we went. We got two minutes away from the house and had to go back. Mark forgot his wallet, and I forgot my water, and we both forgot the Anniversary cards we were trying to hide from each other. I was trying to sneak his out of the house when he came out to the car, he had a big grin and said, "thanks for reminding me, I forgot your's too".

So, off we went again! As is the usual case when you go on any trip, as
soon as you get out of town, you get the hungries. We got as far as Tracy, about 45 minutes away and stopped at one of Mark's favorite buffets for lunch. If you've ever had dinner with us, you know that Mark is a slow eater. Two hours later, we hit the road again. Now, we were movin! Listening to Abraham-Hicks and talking back and forth; air conditioning on, moving at around 75 mph. Oh how wonderful that air conditioning felt since it was 95 degrees outside. Suddenly, about an hour into our trip, Mark pulled off the road into a parking lot. I was stunned and asked what happened. The car was overheating. Mark raised the hood to help the car cool down and check the oil. Then he noticed it. The bolt that holds the alternator in place came loose! If we had continued on our way without noticing that little gem, the alternator could have fallen out and we would be stuck in a tiny little town called Newcastle. Thank you Angels and Guides! He put some oil in the car, tightened the bolt, and let the car cool down and once again, about 45 minutes later we were on the road. Our destination was only about 45 minutes away and both of us were very excited to get there.

In the past I
might have been upset at the thought that the car was overheating and now it was gonna take even longer to get to our destination; but this time, I was fine about it. I knew there had to be a reason we got off the road, so I was grateful our Guides and Angels were watching out for us.

Finally, at 5pm, we arrived and checked into our camping spot.

We were delighted to find our sight had running water, and is very comfortable. In fact it is a nice cool 70 degrees even though the temperature outside is 90. We are very pleased.

Time to find our favorite grocery store and get provisions. So we went to Raley's. It's the closest thing we can find to a Fred Meyer store here in California. At least the grocery section of Freddies!

Loaded with our supplies for a few days, we are now back at our campsite, ready to hunker down for the night. W
e're both exhausted, but there's still time for a nice fireside chat around the ..... um......computers!




I love camping! It's so relaxing! Stay tuned for more adventures tomorrow! It's gonna be
a busy week!