hoping and wishing...backed with praying

my wish for the new year is to continue...in health... to explore, to examine, to dig deeper, to discover and to share. i have found so much inspiration here on this blog and others that it blows my mind. thanks for sharing your thought, photos and your lives...it has been a well of inspiration that never seems to run dry. i pray in 2010 we can peel back a few more layers and get closer to the core of who we really are and then find a way to share the best of that with others. Happy New Year.

My Wish

My wish is that may we all find laughter in our lives,

My wish is that we can be worry free,

My wish is that we can see the goodness in others,

My wish is that we can be compassionate to others,

And that in a world with so many unanswered questions,

that we can find some understanding,

My wish is to really remember what matters most!

My wish is to feel like my newphew,

In his world there is no pain, no war, no death, no sickness, no financial problems,

There is just life with no concerns.

And that makes me smile.

Wishes

Christmas tree lights

New Years Eve fireworks for me always make me smile.  Like one of the children I oohh and aahh and call out the colours I want to burst forth next.  It's some kind of magic for me.  So wishing or praying or just hoping really hard, seems to be the thing to do when those brilliant colours blast across the sky.  For 2010 I wish to be able to do all those things I have been putting off, to attempt even if I fail, the things that I think about, talk about, even dream about, but are too afraid to actually do.  I wish for there to be a new baby to hold, a grandbaby to spoil.  I wish for safety and good health and much love for my family and all my friends.  Happy New Year wishes to you all.

Peace Like a River….

The Mississippi River ~Venice, Louisiana

Peace is not just the absence of war…Peace is an attitude in our mind. It’s a constant inner tranquility and serenity within our very souls. Peace of mind is a healthy choice for real joy. We can affirm divine calmness and peace by sending out only thoughts of love and goodwill toward each other.

May we find peace within our hearts and let it out…let it out by smiling…a sign of peacefulness that’s so contagious and infectious. May we plant love and compassion and cultivate peace. Then we can harvest this peace and give it away….share it with others. Where there is peace we will find love….and there we will find God, then nothing else really matters. My wish for 2010 is that we all find peace, through God, within ourselves, with others all around the world; brothers and sisters alike.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

~from the song “It Is Well With My Soul”

Peace be with you all and a Happy New Year full of good wishes.

…seek peace, and pursue it.~Psalms 34:14

@Heartfelt and Homemade

My Wish

is for TIME
time for all my loves,
time for myself,
and especially,
time to savour every moment
with my precious ones.

blue

wishes come true...they do, i promise, i swear
even new baby wishes...if you squeeze your eyes tight
and think of happy, sweet and tender things.

weave the slender branches through your hair,
take a deep breath, let dreams take full flight...
and enjoy the wonder the blue moon brings.

***
my wish for you in the new year: happiness, joy and comfort to you and your beloved.

wishes by candlelight

i sit
i wish
i seek
i plan
i gaze
i smile
i worry
i create
i dream
i blink
i weep
i live
i sigh
i hope
i see
i am

a wish for all things to be looking up for our country in the coming year

I know we did the theme "looking up" a while back
but it seems so perfect for
a new years wish.
we hear every day that our country
is making a comeback financially.
I don't see this yet!
there are so many people out of work
and barely making it.
the excesses of the last few years
having caught up with us all.
a reset button
needed to be pushed
and it was.
There is a struggle out here
among us
to keep our heads above water,
everyday expenses we all took for granted
a few years ago
are thought about quite
seriously nowadays.
I know I think about every cent I spend
as I know I might not have that few cents in
the coming months.
So my wish
is for everybody
financially
and emotionally
as well as our country
we all love so much
to have a bright healthy
future.
Growth we can sustain for years ahead.
A future we can all look up too.
Happy New Years

New Year's Resolution

My camera is out of commission, so this is a camera photo. I am excited about this new year and my wish is that I will be closer to the people I love, the things I love to do and the goals I have. That's why this year I chose the word together, which will hopefully guide me even through the unexpected day-to-day that life always brings. If you have a one-word resolution, please join me on my blog.

Here's to a great 2010!

wishes

Wishes - May they turn into goals.

Today was my brother's birthday and as most of us do, he made a wish as he blew out his candles. We do that as children, and even as adults, secretly believing they will come true if we blow all of the candles out.
As the New Year approaches we have dreams, wishes and hopes for the coming year. But can we simply wish for something and expect it will come true if we don't turn those wishes into goals and take action? This New Year I hope that your wishes turn into goals and those goals will come to fruition in the coming year.
For many years, one of my wishes has been to travel to Provence, France with my daughter. This year I hope to make it a goal.
What is one wish you hope for in the coming year?

Waiting...

...for the warm.

V is for the light of my life...

My beautiful daughter, Victoria

U is For Unaware!

 

U is for Unaware that I am taking pictures!

U is for unlikely that I will catch them this peaceful again!

t for trees

between me and the sun setting

Still. Calm.

(c)accidentalbeauty

Nothing seems more still
Than the calm of flowers in winter.

R-red poinsettias

R is for red poinsettias.

also for rosy cheeks, Rudolph, remember, righteousness, right,

roses, reckless, regal and rather.

and more of course.

Q is for Quiet

P is for Peanut Brittle

You will be sceptical when you read the recipe, but this peanut brittle is delicious.  And perfect.  I have eaten SO. MUCH. OF. THIS. STUFF.

Recipe:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/8 tsp. salt
1 and 1/2 cups salted roasted peanuts
1 Tbsp. Butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. baking soda

Butter a cookie sheet and set aside.  Combine the sugar, corn syrup and salt in a large microwave safe bowl and microwave on high for 5 minutes.  Stir in the peanuts (I use a wooden spoon because of the heat).  Microwave for 2 more minutes on high.  Stir.  Microwave for 1 minute on high.  Stir.  Quickly stir in the butter, vanilla and baking soda.  When mixed, quickly spread onto the buttered cookie sheet.  Let cool for just a minute, and then using two forks, separate and expand the mixture until as thin as you desire.  I think the thinner it is, the more melt in your mouth it is.  It cools very quickly.  When completely cool - break off and enjoy!

It really is good.

O is for Oh My....

making gingerbread men can be so messy! But...so much fun!


Hope all you all have a wonderfully happy holiday week!

N is for Nutcracker

German Nutcrackers, along with German Steinbach smokers and ornaments are well loved in my family. My older brother lived in Germany for 4 years in the late 80s and when I visited him there I bought my first Nutcracker. Traditionally Nutcrackers depicted kings and soldiers, but now you can get one in many fictional and historical characters. I had always wanted a Santa Claus one. I received this one last year from my mom.
I have never used one to actually crack a nut. I wonder if anyone does.

M is for Magical...

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

L is for light

The lights of Christmas are my favorite part... I think.

Actually, I have lots of favorite parts... :)

K is for Kid in the Snow

Kids and snow are the perfect combination.

J is for Joy

Joyful moments.

Joy of friends and family.

Joyous squeals of delight when opening presents.

Joys of the season.

Wishing you all much JOY and happiness.

xoxo

I is for ICE

H is for...

H is for hand.
The hand of my little Hero
holding a whole nutmeg.

G = Great BIG Smile

A great big smile

on a rainy day

on the last Monday

before Christmas day

F is for the Fantastic Food we share with Friends and Family

F is for so many things
at this time of year
most important being...
Friends and Family
and the Food that brings
us all together.
This salad was just
one of the many
wonderful dishes
we had last night
while gathered with
Friends and Family
for a early
Christmas celebration.

D is for Dip..ok how about E is for Exquisite Dip

twist open the top pour in a bowl
add tortilla chips for dipping
homemade cranberry salsa
sweet yet spicy
happy holidays
friends
elk

d-is for doors....

may the doors you open this season

bring you more love than you ever imagined

~~

maybe it's the door to your parents house

or

your neighbor's house

or

the home of the lady down the street you don't really know very well

but

who invited you in

when you were dropping off cookies

~~

it doesn't matter who's behind those doors

they probably need a warm hug

*

D is for Donation

February 7th 2009 the hottest day in history where the mercury hit 47C / 116.6 F, was also one of the worst days in Australian History. Now known, as Black Saturday. The devastating bush fire swept through Towns to Melbourne’s north, killing 173 people. This was a fierce fire that spread so quickly due to wind conditions, some people just never stood a chance.

This Christmas please remember where possible give to any needing Charity. I take this time of year to bag up clothes that no longer fit, some the kids have only worn once or twice, I also go through toys the children no longer play with or grown out of that are still in good condition and then take them to the Salvos.

c~ is for cinnamon and christmas

Cinnamon sticks nuzzled in warm drinks, and Christmas wishes... I send you from my kitchen.
Happy Holidays, my dear friends.
One love~

B~ is for Baking

Baking these delicious iced sugar cookies! YUMMY!

********

Rosy cheeks and crispy air~

Cheery hearts are everywhere.

In calmness lay the earth so still,

Adorned in winter's finest frill.

The magic of the season rings,

When children raise their voice to sing,

In praise of all that Christmas brings.

~T.J. Mills

Merry Christmas Blessings to you all!

@ Heartfelt and Homemade

abc's

our cute button maker (dani) is out this week spending family time over the holidays. as such, we do not have a posted theme this week. so, this is what i propose....potpourri abc's.

i'll start with a...and then everyone that follows has start with the next letter of the person that posted before them. if we get to z(zed) then start over again. sound like fun?

calm...

the calm after the storm
blizzard of '09

All is Calm

In the dark night hours, I like to lie on my red couch in my library, no sound what-so-ever, pitch black except for this warm glowing star, and "chill" just for a moment - instant calm.

feeling the calm...

the shopping is done

and

now we wait

to see

reindeer tracks in the snow

and

hear

noises on the roof

*

Remain Calm

It’s only paint

It will wash off ……

Please, just DON’T touch the walls.

Blood pressure rising. Breathe in breathe out, remind myself it’s only paint. It’s only paint. It’s only paint. What's the worst that can happen.

Calm is a state of mind. Sometimes it better to think what's the worst that can happen and then let go of your fear. However, I never said doing this was easy and I myself struggle with the concept from time to time.

Comparatively Calm

The usually bustling wheelhouse vacant today as we sit at the dock.
The constant chatter of multiple VHF radios, silent.
The radars that always sweep, motionless.
The Captains chairs unoccupied.
Our Christmas tree in the background.
Relatively calm today.

Calm of fresh snow

Fresh Snow by Lucky Candice Photography

"Sunshine cannot bleach the snow, nor time unmake what poets know."

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

where i find calm

comfy yoga pants
an old, worn sweater
new socks
a favorite book
a notebook
a pen
a few minutes of quiet
a cup of coffee
my thoughts beginning to flow
an instant calm

Calm!

 

The House is silent, my husband is sleeping, the dogs are content, everything in darkness except for the glow of my computer screen. As always just over my shoulder my cat Stinky keeping an eye on the cursor on the screen. She sits purring away as calm as calm can be. I love the calming effect of her purring.

I feel any tension relax from my shoulders and soon I will be off to bed.

But for now I listen!

.......

This was a very hard shot for me as I have very short arms!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

33k ft. CALM

A few days in Vegas = not calm

Flying above the cloudy winter weather on the way home = very calm

Calm

At the end of a day near the end of the week
A chance to sit, to listen and to love.
And to dream of a white Christmas...

Calm

I love it when my husband drives.

Bringing it all to this...

The Calm

Before setting out to deliver the many gifts,

we sit and thank the One for which this day we celebrate.

Calm of the River

a river runs through my backyard,
for 21 years I have lived on the river,
I wouldn't know what to do without
the calm and gentle
music the river makes.
the music is a little loud in the spring
but now it's calm.

serenity

the fog wraps us in quiet,
peaceful serenity where
coming
and
going
doesn't
seem as important as just





. . . breathing.

Calm...ommmmmm...

 ~Calm~

Remembering to breathe.

Reminding us of the infinite.

Sensing the spaciouness.

Stopping everyting.

Just for a moment.

Be.

calm

It is only when I am calm that I hear the quiet urgings of my soul to stay the path of authenticity.

I hope each of you find a time for quiet calm during this hectic time of year!

Amelia