A Season of Gratitude

(Created by my daughter n law Lauren)

I've just returned from a wonderful stay in the

Outer Banks of North Carolina

with my family

for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

How fun it is to all be under the same roof,

loving each other, playing, laughing,

sharing and exploring together.

Many of you know, I have four precious grandchildren,

Annabelle 4

Grayson 3

Dylan 2

Zoey 6 months

So needless to say, our lives are filled right now!

Getting away from our normal routines

allows us to re-focus on what is important.

Letting go of junk in our minds and hearts,

can be a freeing experience.

I had gotten to a burn out stage

before I arrived at our cottage

and needed renewal for sure!

Every time I walk by the sea,

listen to the waves 

and breathe in deep breaths of sea air,

I am renewed beyond any measure.

So today the thoughts pour out,

of all the things I am thankful for . . .

My family and their health

Our love and precious times together

For moments I will continue to treasure

For the time to slow my body down

For naps in the hammock

Delicious shrimp tacos at my favorite Bad Bean

Bookstores and watching our kids pick out books to take home

Walks on the beach with our whole crew,

Time to create my own art

Reconnection with an artistic friend,

Hallmark Christmas movies in the cottage

Time to hold my Jimmy's hand along the beach

For hugs from my mother n law

and watching her play with her

great grand babies

The smell of a 20 pound turkey roasting in the cottage

Our Thanksgiving meal together

For words spoken of admiration towards each other

Two nights alone in the quiet,

The gift of every day

Here are just a few of my favorite pictures,

I can't share all the ones I took,

it would make the this post way too long!

You can always click on my Instagram and see more

 (We tried for that last family portrait)

 Jimmy and his Josie

 Josie and Nollie

 Sweet Cousin Love

My Wynn Girls

 Every night we enjoyed a sunset view

 Heather always searching for that perfect shot

I will never grow tired of this view

 Dad and his boys

 Tried for that Mommy and Sons selfie

So glad Mom came to be with us

 Time out for some Zentangle® at the Whalehead Club

 Another try at our family pic

 Love this one! Sunset at the beach

 After baths and pj's ... story time with Grand mommy

 A little art time while parents were packing up

 Saying goodbye to the kids was the hardest

Last morning of quiet and meditation before leaving

Always be happy and grateful for the moments in your life,

treasure every day and the times spent with

family and friends.

Know who you are and what you stand for,

don't let the busy season swallow you whole,

take time to breathe and enjoy it all.

Donna Lee

Summer Slow Down

Zentangle on the Beach

It was a beautiful weekend,

full of yummy goodness!

My husband Jimmy turned 60 years old!

We celebrated with a family Tides baseball game (his request)

and Gelato from Strawberry Fields afterward.

It was a wonderful celebration,

how we love our family!

Gotta have a selfie at the ball game!

Photo compliments of Heather Wynn Photography!

Greeting Jimmy when we arrived to Strawberry Fields

(It certainly helps that your kids own the shop!)

Saturday was absolutely perfect weather,

I started my early morning

weaving on my deck.

I so wanted to finish my Mirrix Loom Weave-A-Long

and I had just 2 1/2" to go ... easy right?

Wow it took me a very long time but it was worth it,

I finished!

With a cup of coffee nearby, the birds singing 

and a gentle breeze it wasn't that hard.

I don't want to even think of how many hours I have put into

this Tapestry Project.

As I have written before, it taught me many things.

I totally loved the challenge!

Found a new place to weave ... outside!

Well my 2 1/2" turned into almost three hours,

sure I was up and down;

but I steadily wove during that time.

Now I needed to cut it off the loom,

and assemble it!

Cut off the loom and finishing it up

My complete work ... hand sewn and beautiful!

A true treasure for me!

Saturday I was quiet at home,

taking care of this project,

my puppy and cleaning.

Much needed for sure!

We have been running so much I was

reminded how good it is to just slow down,

care for my home, my family and myself.

Summer does that for us.

It gives us permission to slow way down.

In a world of hustle bustle most of the time,

here we have been given a season of taking it easier.

Sunshine, beaches, reading books, laying in the sun,

tending to our gardens,

delicious salads and yummy light foods,

quietness in our own backyards,

time with family,

time to nap,

create art, write poetry.

Time to just soak in all the goodness of life.

There is something magical about a sand dune!
I never grow tired of seeing them.

My Sunday was the ending of a perfect weekend.

Worship at my beloved Trinity Church

with family and friends,

started packing for my Outer Banks Week

and then a quick trip to the ocean,

Sandbridge Beach,

just twenty minutes away.

Dinner out for some seafood,

Zentangle® on the Beach,

and a quick swim.

The perfect ending to a perfect weekend!

May your summer be filled with

all good things.

Take the time to slow down,

be good to your own self,

re-prioritize what's important.

Thanks for taking the time to visit with me,

I cherish you and writing!

Donna Lee

Lessons from the Ocean . . .

My Ocean Mandala

I have just returned from a week in the Outer Banks

what a beautiful experience it was to be

with my family, to rest and restore, create art

and unplug from life's demands.

The Ocean's rhythm is so soothing and calming,

it naturally draws us in.

Just standing in the presence of the mighty sea

calms the spirit.

Walks along the ocean shore allowed me

the time I needed to pray, to think things through,

to collect beautiful shells (a gift from the sea),

and to sort out all the thoughts running around in my head.

I always learn something new when coming to the beach,

I think the lesson that so strongly came through this visit

was that my life needed to change a bit.

I need a quieter pace and carry less worry about the little things.

I always wonder why it is that at home,

I can't think as clearly as I can when I return to the sea.

I know there are life disruptions that get in the way at home ...

 yet I still can't find the stillness and quiet I so need.

So I thank the Ocean for teaching me

a quieter pace, a much needed slower walk in life,

to breathe in the salt and the sea and the sun,

and recognize the gift it is giving to me. . .
CLARITY

What a beautiful vacation I had ...

so many wonderful memories I will keep close to me.

Seeing Annabelle put her toes in the ocean for 

her very first time,

seeing my daughter n law Lauren

so cute and pregnant and growing each day

with our soon to be grand son,

watching my kids laugh and play and get along,

watching my husband and his sons

surf together in the ocean,

finding time to paint and create,
re-reading Jonathan Livingston Seagull
after all these years

and so much more!!

The Ocean is mighty

and certainly strong.

The Ocean waves are a gift,

drifting into shore and out to sea,

the natural rhythm it carries

teaches us to listen deep within,

if only we will.
Bringing into shore new beginnings and freshness
and certainly taking old habits,
ugly thoughts and sorrows
back out to the sea.

I hope to keep the lessons I carried home with me close,
never forgetting that my life is a gift,
and there is still so very much for me to learn,
to experience and to share.
I hope your summer gets you to an ocean shore,
somewhere, somehow.

Wishing you peace and love on this Wednesday,
as those of us on the East Coast
prepare for our first Tropical storm of the season;
yet another reminder of the
mightiness of the sea!