Sitting on our porches is something I like to do. For a period of time, we couldn’t use our sunporch. Recently, our sun porch had to be remodeled due to some structural issues. I was not pleased that our quiet place was unable to be used for seven months due to construction and weather delays. It was throughout that time, I decided we are going to start using the front porch. We live in the woods and it is peaceful with the trees towering and nature surrounding our home. I became used to a habit of sitting in one place and forgetting the beauty in the surrounding areas.

While retreating to my new quiet space in the front, I sat listening to the birds. Deer would creep out from the brush and walk serenely past the tall trees. Our rocking chairs would creak as I sat peering across the way sitting still and just being present. There were times I would bring the embroidery project I was working on and stitch in the sunshine. My perspective changed while (impatiently at times) waiting for my go to retreat sunporch was being redone. I thought as I sat on the front porch of the beauty in a different area, while appreciating the simple things…the birds singing and the flowers blooming.

Usually, I am on the go…with my job, kids and day to day life responsibilities. I try to carve out time to sit and be present, which is difficult to do when I am used to a fast pace. Sometimes I (and I think we all think) we need to do more and be more, when we are enough as we are in the present. Being present helps myself reflect on the joys, disappointments, the journey and the simple things.

When the pandemic occurred, our sun porch became the stopping point for what I called porch parties. My friends would stop by for talking time, while having tea and coffee. It made myself reflect on thinking how porches have been gathering places for years. I have seen photos of grandmas with their grandkids from years ago sorting vegetables from the garden. One photo I recall had people with lemonade and conversing. Sometimes I see people on their porches having quiet conversations.

I have a sign that says “Life is better on the porch.” Sometimes sitting and being present whether it is a porch, comfy chair or in a nook lets us refocus and just be present. I didn’t fully understand the meaning of that porch phrase until I realized: my thoughts become clearer, laughter abounds with friends, conversations bring comfort and encouragement…on the porch.

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Gratitude has been a part of my life, but has become more prevalent. Life experiences and life on the journey, provides greater appreciation for the people and experiences in our lives.  Day to day responsibilities and the times when things don’t go exactly as we planned, can deter us from gratefulness.

Recently, I have been focusing on the word gratitude.  Gratitude is usually thought of at Thanksgiving, as we gather and ponder our blessings.  As I get older, gratitude seems to be a daily occurrence of reflection for myself.  When I drive to work in the morning, I cross the Missouri River. As I look at the sunrise over the bridge, there is gratitude. Gratitude for the beauty of the colors of the rays. Appreciation for a job that I love. Gratitude for a new day.

Other things I am grateful for: my boys, my husband, friends, family, bacon, pie, creating, sunsets, rainbows, laughter, music, traveling, writing, comfy clothes, binge watching tv shows, coffee shops and books.

Not long ago, I was sharing with Matt how grateful I am for my circle of friends.  Each friend serves a purpose and each friendship is unique.  Gratitude for the connections and authenticity on this day to journey. My circle of friends bring much gratefulness.  In this season of life, the friends I have encourage, laugh with and sit alongside.  These friendships are the strongest I have over the years.  Some friends have been for many years, while others are more recent.  It’s interesting how paths cross.  Some friends I have met on my career path. Other friends came about through friends of friends. Friends that came through life circumstances.  Some friends are nearby, while others live some distance away.

One of my favorite quotes says, “A group of close friends who: go to each other the second they have good or bad news, have a group chat on social media, send each other everything, roast each other but also pray for each other and hype each other up.  That’s what I want.” (Alli Worthington)

In my contacts on my phone, I code each contact with a code name that speaks to that person’s personality or characteristic.  For example, I have my friend listed as Kim Troy (because she lives in the city Troy). My friend Kim Washington is listed as that (because she lives in Washington.)  Sometimes I laugh when I send an email to my friend Kim Washington, because it always comes returned. (Since that is not her real email name and I am used to using her code name!)

We are all living in the day to day of responsibilities, goals and dreams..  My friend Gale’s map hangs in my creative space and I ponder the saying often. The map says, “You don’t have to have it figured out to move forward.”

Gratitude causes us to reflect and appreciate what we have. It keeps us focused on the present.  Aesop says, ”Gratitude turns what we have into enough.”

Most importantly, may we appreciate our daily blessings.  Appreciate those who are in our circles and show gratitude for them.  Receive and give the gift of friendship. Above all, may we see the gift of gratitude in each day

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Recently, I had coffee with a friend. It was an impromptu stop-by on the way home finishing errands. We were able to visit, chat and laugh during our impromptu gathering. My friend asked if I wanted coffee when I arrived. If there is caffeine, chips and dip (just to name a couple of my favorite things)…I usually say, “Yes!” As she prepared her coffee maker, she frothed the milk and it looked beautiful. The milk foam looked like a fluffy cloud. However, I commented on how my frother didn’t create beautiful smooth-like foam in my new Keurig that I received for Christmas. (Of course, I had the frother assembled wrong! I found that after trying different coffee creations, that I had assembled the frother magnet incorrectly.)

While visiting, my friend offered her flavored syrups. I put a couple of drops of sugary syrup into my coffee as we chatted. Then, I noticed that the syrup was forming randomly into a heart shape. I said, “Oh my gosh! Look at this!” My friend replied, “I need to take a picture. I’m using that for my screensaver.” True friendship…coffee, conversation and getting exited about the little things!

It is easy to get coffee at a drive through or at a coffee house where it looks effortless. My top coffee choices are: a Jack Frost with Java Chip syrup, a Baklava Latte and a Turtle Mocha. I was not much of a coffee connoisseur until a few years ago. One day, while at a store the owner asked if I wanted coffee. She had some of her specialty coffee blend and I then started my journey of coffee-loving drinks. I still get confused with the terms frappes, lattes and espresso. I usually just pick what sounds good for the day!

The definition for blend is to create a harmonius effect. In other words, to blend is to have things come together that are in agreement or work well together. Coffee and friendship are a perfect blend. The time spent to converse, share and partake is a blend of time and care. Regardless of coffee, the perfect blend of friendship is built upon trust, care, laughter and authenticity.

I am grateful for the perfect-blend heart moments that bring joy. The gift of time, kind words, friendship, snow days, a familiar tv show or movie, laughter, listening to music, vintage finds and a thoughtful note are some of my heart moments. Above all, heart moments are in each day. Sometimes we have to purposely look for the heart moments. Disappointment, sadness, and the day-to day routine can sway us from the heart moments in our lives.

At school, I hold up a heart symbol for the kids with hands as a greeting. When I am walking down the hall, I or the students hold up our hearts as a way to greet each other. We incorporated our heart symbol into our school pledge for caring. It is a sign of connection through a simple gesture.

As I sip my coffee from now on, I am choosing to have perfect-blend heart moments as I ponder and reflect. “Wherever you go in life, go with love in your heart, hope in your soul, and joy in your mind…for love, hope and joy will take you far. ” (C.C.C. Miller)

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Each week, I shared a post on Sundays via Facebook and on my website. Social media can be a great tool when used for good. For instance, I enjoy learning new ideas on YouTube, reading for personal growth on-line and participating in on-line learning groups. When writing, the goal was not to get a number of followers or likes. Striving for numbers and likes is temporal. The connections I made through writing, the kind compliments of something that spoke to a reader and the encouragement to continue to write, were worth more than a thumbs up like or a huge number of followers.

As we approach the new year, I decided I am going to continue to write posts more frequently. It is an outlet that allows myself to grow and reflect. I hope the posts will be an encouragement small ways. As a result, the time off from writing allowed myself to refocus and realize how much I enjoy writing. Thank you for your support and for the kind words shared. Kindness matters each day and in every way.

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The blooms of the daffodils blossom quickly.  They stay open for a short time.  Then, they are dormant for another season until their stems peek through the leaves the next spring.

The season of spring brings a light. The sun shines through and flowers begin to grow.  Our garden becomes tilled and seeds begin to sprout.  Every year, our garden grows more vegetables, herbs and fruit.  I always seem to plant more from year to year. 

Each year I pick a word to ponder.  The most recent word I chose was peace.  This year the word I chose is “enough.”  Enough can signify being content .  

The hues of blues in the sky range from light to medium to deep. Blue ushers calm. Blue is the color of the sky.  The clouds drift by as I look up into the sky.  It is the color of water…the ocean waves, the glittering sparkles on the lake’s surface.  Blue…the color of calm and peace…my favorite color.  The blue jays that perch on my tree overlooking the creek.  Blue…the feelings of music….jazzy and sometimes melancholy.  The color that has many shades…periwinkle, navy, turquiose, royal.  The robin’s eggs nestled together with speckled dots.  The color that has many shades…deep and light.  The hues encompass variety.  Blue ushers enough and is enough.

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In January, I seem to take that month off to retreat and ponder new ideas to write about for future posts. There is something about a new year to bring a sense of starting over, clarity or new beginnings. For myself, I try to use the new year to retreat into my thoughts, clarify my goals and just be. There is much to do in the day to day. It is necessary to take a break from time to time to just be. I enjoy quiet space. Quietness away from social media, my thoughts and the busyness of life is much needed. We all have the need to be on the go, but there is something valuable in taking the time pause.

When writing, sometimes an idea or topic comes to mind. At other times, I look at one of the many lists I have written and choose a topic. Sometimes I have writer’s block and need space to figure out the idea to write.

Reflections occur when the light shines or bounces. Sometimes I see my reflection in a mirror or in a shadow. The reflection mirrors or shines back a picture, an outline or an image. Reflections are associated with the current reality looking at the image from the current standing point. Over time, I have regarded reflections as a time to look inward and ponder things that have occurred. Seeing the bigger picture, while sensing a sense of gratitude while thinking ahead of future things is also a piece of pondering. Sometimes when reflecting, we don’t see the whole image. We see part of it or choose to see part of it.

Reflections brings a sense of gratitude and clarity. I thrive for the quiet moments. Sensing that peace and pondering of thoughts brings a sense of direction or purpose.

Seek opportunities to ponder. Focus on the overall reflection and not just the puzzle pieces scattered. Finding clarity with retreating, provides a sense gratitude and peace.

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This year, a goal was to make decorated sugar cookies. I have admired the art of cookie decorating for some time. Rolling the dough, chilling the dough and icing cookies have been a challenge in previous baking attempts. Sugar cookies have to be soft and have just the right amount of sugar for our liking. We sometimes make cookies by cutting the pre-rolled dough slices from the grocery store.

One day, the boys and I decided to try to make “real” sugar cookies. At first, I thought, “This will be tedious and a process.” I found a dough recipe on Pinterest and it was the best recipe for cookies I found. For icing, I incorporated my friend’s icing tips along with a Pinterest recipe. Through reading and trying the steps, we made simple yet delicious cookies. The boys enjoyed mixing the colors, putting the ingredients in the bowl and cutting out the designs for the cookies. The kitchen was messy with bowls, spatulas and ingredients everywhere. We were amazed when we put the icing on the cookies and it just gelled. The cookies were not perfect, but we learned that we knew how to make a creation that was sweet to us.

This week, we bring home our new puppy and she is sweet. When we went to choose our puppy a few weeks ago, she nuzzled up and just was delightful. There were little puppies roaming around us and our son Drew said, “Mom, this is the most adorable thing I have ever seen.” The puppies then started to pile up in to a huddle and were content. The quietness of little puppies being in that resting phase was sweet.

We all have experienced sweet moments or have things in our lives that bring sweetness. May we appreciate the delightful things that bring enjoyment.

May we seek peace like the puppies that usher in a sweet calm. May we be grateful for the sweet things in our lives that bring joy.

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There’s a sense of wonder at Christmas.  For our boys, there is excitement as December approaches.  They look forward to presents and possibly snow falling.  Even if there is a dusting of snow on the grass, they are outside sledding.  They look at the season with anticipation.

This morning, I had a cup of tea in my joy mug.  My friend gave the joy mug as a gift.  Joy is something we need each day.  When I drink from my  joy mug, it reminds me to look for joy each day.  The sun rising, the kids laughing or a friend’s text bring joy to the day.  Joy is a simple word, but brings forth a sense of cheer.

The holidays bring a time of reflection.  It offers a time to ponder on what is important.  Seeing the lights and hearing the stillness in the air provides time to think about what matters. We seem to go at a fast pace day to day.  We all have responsibilities to do each day.  There seems to be more things added to our lists of errands and to do’s.  In this season, more stress can occur due to the busyness of the season.  

Peace has been the word I have focused on this year.  Each year I pick a word to focus on and peace was the word for this past year.  This year has been a long year, with the current times and reality of these days.  Looking back, I did not know the word peace would be a word I would need throughout this year.

This holiday season may we have a spirit of anticipation.  The current times are difficult, but may we seek to find the bright spots through the lights shining and decorations hung. May we ponder what is important.  May we reflect on the things that bring joy and focus on the good.  May there be peace in the day to day, focusing on what matters.

“Less clutter. More twinkle lights.

Less judging. More accepting.

Less wanting. More giving.

Less stress. More magic.

Less guilt. More peace.

Less hustle bustle.

More silent nights.” (From www.bemorewithless.com)

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The tip, tap of raindrops form patterns when rain falls. Sometimes the pattern is at a slow and on-going pace. At other times, the rain seems rapid without pausing. There is something about the rain that falls when the sun is shining. Two weather events happening at the same time creates confusion and at time beauty with the hues of colors shining through. 

Yesterday, the rain fell early in the morning.  It was a cold rain, that brought the fall season into more of a winter feel.  We need rain for flowers and crops to grow.  In the spring, I am hoping for rain to come at certain times for our garden.  It’s a bit of a walk to our garden through the woods and to drag the hose takes time and effort.

The periwinkle blue sky ushers a sign that rain may be coming.  There is something about the shade of blue to give warning that rain or a storm is approaching.   I think of the song “Blame it on the Rain” by Milli Vanilli.  (Yes, I am going back to the 90’s recalling this song!) There was something about that beat of the song.  There is something to be said about blaming it on the rain.  I think rain causes us to slow down and just be.  For myself, I like to be inside and not have to go anywhere when it s raining…the in and out of the car, making sure things do not get wet and just being in the comfort of home.  

Another song I think of is “Don’t Rain on my Parade” from Funny Girl.  We have those days and moments when things will come up and it “rains on our parade or day”.    Yesterday, the sun started to shine through mid-morning.  There was light in the midst of dreariness.  Just like in the day to day, light and dreariness can exist together. 

When it’s one of the those dreary days my go to is make a cup of tea, read or find something on tv to slow down.  We need those moments of calm to ponder and just be.

May we see the sunshine through the clouds. May we seek to hear the rhythm of the rain.  Just like in the day to day, we have those steady moments, slow moments and rapid moments.  May we appreciate the calm that slowing down brings.  

“A flower needs the rain to grow just as much as it needs the sunshine.” (Teresa Mummert)

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