Grace and Gratitude

Is this not the most perfect sign?

I was visiting a garden show recently

and just had to snap this picture!

It got me to thinking . . .

Each and everyday do I try to live my life 

with

Grace and Gratitude?

In the busyness of our everyday lives,

we are losing touch with simple things,

forgetting what is important,
always looking to what comes next.

I went to Mr. Webster for meanings of these words ...

Grace:  a way of moving that is smooth and elegant

Gratitude:  a state of being or thankfulness

Summertime is such a perfect time of year

to slow down, enjoy life at a more gracious pace,

and live with a more grateful heart.
My senses are hightened around these words,
this way of life, this way of thinking.

I do try to live my life around grace
and I am truly grateful for each moment
in my life, whether good or bad,
for each are teaching moments for me.

Try practicing gratitude today,
see what comes up for you!
List all the things you can think of
in your journal that you are truly grateful for ...
right now in this very moment
I am so grateful for Wednesdays,
time with Annabelle ...
who is sleeping sweetly ... oh so sweetly
in her crib right now.
I always wonder where  do babies go in their sleep?
It must be a very happy place ...
for Annabelle always wakes up full of joy and smiles
ready for her grand mommy to give her some smooches!

Have a beautiful day today,
walk in grace and peace
talk with grace and love
act in grace and patience
I will too!

Practicing Gratefulness

New Doorways of Opportunity 

 Enchanting words

 Beauty in all things

Nature

 Stolen Moments to be creative

 Beautiful flowers

 Poetic Moments

 Taking the time to write

 Yumminess

 Candlelight's gift

 Cupcakes!

 Learning new things

 Making Art

Being a grand mommy for the first time

This week of Thanksgiving

take the time to think about

what you are grateful for.

There are so many gifts we are given

in our lifetime.

Sometimes our vision gets blurred

and we lose sight of what is truly important.

Let this week bring you back home.

I am grateful for YOU

my friends and readers!

Blessings to you

May your Thanksgiving be filled

with love and precious moments.

Donna Lee

A Poetic Moment

Choosing Beauty . . .

Beauty is all around us

if only you will see

Look for the tiny moments

in every part of your day

Love is all around us

if only you will reach out

Seek out moments to make a difference

in someone else's life

Gratitude is a thing of beauty

if only your heart will change

practice being grateful

for all you have been given 

Choosing Beauty can become a lifestyle

just a certain way of living

seeking out the times to notice

every little thing around you

Life is truly a gift to all of us

appreciate each moment in your day

Choose a sense of wonder

Choose to see the beauty

(poem inspired from Choosing Beauty e-course by Liv Lane)

Creating a Blessing Bowl

I recently watched a video

from the amazing and inspiring

Jamie Ridler

on "Creating a Blessing Bowl."

I loved everything she spoke about!
She demonstrated how to create a small bowl 
filled with offerings, little prayers
and requests for blessings.

I decided to create my own 

and wanted to share her

wonderful idea with YOU!

I first was on the hunt for a bowl,

not just any bowl,

but one that truly spoke to me.

Here is mine:

Is this not beautiful???
The bowl is as important
as the ingredients inside.

I began to fill my bowl with

 precious things of meaning to me

white sage, beads, charms, 
small cut out words and significant things
that mattered to me.

In Jamie's video she demonstrates

how to create blessing cards

I cut my cards 2 x 4

then found images that I loved for the

front of the card

from different magazines.
All I needed was a glue stick!

On the back I took the time to contemplate

on the blessings I wanted to list.

Several came up for me

family, my unborn granddaughter, my art, 
health, writing, thoughts, faith and so much more.

I mindfully chose all the items I wanted

to place in my blessing bowl.
These would become my
personal requests for blessings.

I slowly began to fill my bowl with

my treasures first.

I could feel it was becoming something

special already!

As the bowl filled,

I placed my blessing cards into the bowl.

What a treasure it quickly became.

Now I take the time to choose 

a blessing

and practice gratefulness.

I keep my blessing bowl in my studio,

where all my other treasures are

and I look at it at all times.

This was an awesome project

and I am grateful to Jamie

for sharing such a wonderful idea.

I am encouraging you to create one as well!