Day 16,638 Gratitude

Somebody got a iPhone as an early Mothers' Day present ... and you guessed correctly that that somebody is ME!

As a recovering Crackberry-addict, it is going to take me awhile to get the hang of it. I feel like my brain is being rewired. In a good way. But I must confess that change and I have a complex relationship. It's good for me, I know, but that doesn't mean that I go around looking for it. No ma'am. I am a creature of comfortable habit. At least I used to be. The older I get, the better I get at giving the status quo a good shake now and then. I don't want to miss out on the fun!

I am incredibly late to the party with regard to the cool camera apps, like Instagram. But what's important is that I'm here at last. I've also got Camera+ for good measure. So much to learn. So many interesting discoveries to make (wherein discoveries equal mistakes from which I then know better). For that I am so grateful!

If you want to tag along, you can follow my photo trail on Flickr.

Mandala Monday - 4/25/11

Ready to download here. Happy coloring!

Day 16,632 Gratitude

It's been so refreshing to get back to my workbench. Good juju in abundance there with all of the rocks, gemstones and crystals waiting their turn to be wrapped. I used to spend my lonely lunch hour with Food Network or the Travel Channel, but hooking up here with my mineral friends has been far more gratifying. I'd like to keep it up. Today I'm grateful for the willingness to make changes in my routine for the better.

We've had so many severe storms here over the last couple of days that I've grown warning-weary. I've lived here on the cusp of Ohio and Kentucky my whole life and realize that it's time to make peace with the fact that the wail of civil defense sirens may always make my skin crawl. Thankfully, I don't fear the sound as intensely as I did as a child, when tornadoes were the stuff of my frequent nightmares. I've grown to understand that these sirens play an important role in keeping us safe. Goodness knows that I'm pretty fond of forewarning. Today I'm grateful for all that serves to wake me up and remind me to take care.

Karen posted her Travel Survival Kit. I love, love, love when people share what and how they pack. Photos of such send me over the moon. With just 29 days left until I head to Taos, I may have to do a packing p*rn post myself. (I'll show you my suitcase if you show me yours.) Today I'm so grateful to love what I love and be able to laugh at it, too.

So how's your day been?

Day 16,631 Gratitude

We had a long night of thunderstorms last night and well into this morning. The grass couldn't be greener and I have never seen the trees look happier. Today I am so grateful ...

For another lunch date with crystals and wire at my workbench today. I have had this Moonstone in my stash for almost five years. FIVE YEARS! Way too long to make it wait to be wrapped. On the other hand, maybe whomever it's going to wasn't ready for it then. It's here now, just waiting to be found. The photos were taken at the workbench, right after it was born.

For Beth's post about the all-important elevator speech. When it comes to explaining what it is that I do, I'm relieved to have my day-job to disclose and describe. Easy, peasy. But the problem with leaving Jakk's Magic Beans Workshop out of the conversation is that most people don't know about this work that means so much to me. It's hard to be of service to people if they have no idea that I'm actually at their service. I appreciate the inspiration to find the best way to reveal ALL that I do with confidence.

For a successful batch of green smoothies with beet greens (a first!) and a handful of rain-soaked, full-moon-kissed dandelion greens that I harvested immediately before blending. My liver is grinning right now.

For a spicy afternoon, thanks to Numi Ruby Chai tea and Dagoba Xocolatl chocolate.

For only 30 more days until Taos!

Day 16,630 Gratitude

Today I am so grateful ...

To have gotten out of bed this morning and hit the ground running. Okay, maybe just walking really fast. But first I meditated because, for me, a good day begins with it. Over the past couple of months, I got into the habit of turning on the morning news as soon as I got up. (What's up with that?) Not the best way to start the day. Not at all. But today I made a point to just sit, breath, and center myself for about 20 minutes and then sip my tea and make my list for the day. It set the tone for making good choices as the day went along. After the tea, I made smoothies for the day ... and then I took that walk ... and ...

To "wrap up" my lunch hour in the workshop, embellishing the beauty above. Now THAT is a power lunch, I tell you! You can get the details on this new I-AMulet here and adopt it, if it calls to you. I'd never seen this crystal before and could only afford just one, so this was a special treat to wrap and will be even more special to send on its way.

To post a new mandala for you to download here and color to your heart's content.

To receive my new Crazy Creek chair today, which will travel with me to Taos. I love when I see that big, brown truck stop in front of my house. They're alway bringing me something good!

To discover that beautiful Liz posted a photo of herself with her "plum-y" new Reiki prayer shawl. It melts my heart to see smiling people with their creations, especially the custom pieces, because this work is so deeply personal to me. I feel so very blessed!

And for what (or whom) are you feeling grateful today?

Day 16,628 Gratitude

Posting early on this cool, moist and breezy Saturday morning. Despite the chill, I have the living room windows cracked open to let in the spring breeze. After last night's storms, everything suddenly seems wildly green and lush. April showers bring May flowers and for that I am so grateful.

I have been slowly easing into a Taos state of mind. A mere five weeks from today, we'll be there. Amy and I went shopping for art supplies last week. The weather that afternoon was so perfect that we were able to sit outside and do some sketching in the sunshine. Art journaling is starting to come naturally to me now that I'm learning to relax about and into it. Slowly but surely, I am discovering how to capture the essence of what I see as I see it. This process slows me down and puts me "right here, right now" and for that I am so grateful.

Over the last several weeks, I have lost sight of the highlighted route with so much more than just this blog. I believe the primary culprit was falling out of the habit of daily "I will" lists. I'm not sure why that happened, exactly, as things were going so well. I was rising to occasions with relative consistency and accomplishing more than ever before. It was probably something as simple as not doing it one day, nor the next, and then the snowball rolled downhill from there. Good habits are reinforced by the day and can unravel as quickly in the very same way. My momentum can reverse within the span of just three days. Recognizing this about myself is good news. I am thankful for having stumbled because it's helped me to realize how important it is to have a flight plan each day. I know that I won't always cross everything off the list, but at least they will be on the list in the first place. This gives me the opportunity to make conscious decisions, rather than sleepwalking through my day and for that I am so grateful.

So tell me what's ringing your grateful bells these days?

Mandala Monday ... on Tuesday

Yesterday I created this cool mandala. At least I thought I did. When I went to look for it where I thought I'd saved it, no luck. I did a search of all my documents, thinking I saved it somewhere other than where I thought I did. I was starting to believe that I'd imagined the whole thing.

I finally found it this morning! Turns out I thought yesterday was 2010. The mandala was named accordingly. Mercury can turn direct anytime.

You can download the mandala here. Send me a scan or photo after you've colored it, if you're so inclined. I love to see how these mandalas turn out! I also love your testimonials of how these mandalas are helpful to you. Share the love!

Day 16,623 Catching Up

This photo was taken with my Blackberry last week as the setting sun was beaming through the glass of our front door. A moment of magic, captured. The very reason why I take pictures.

I am trying hard to catch up. Here. There. Everywhere. But day-to-day life has taken precendence ... as it does ... as it should. Daughter has gotten her driver's license, taken her ACT test and purchased a dress for her first prom all in the same week. On the heels of the recent college visit, I feel like a new mama whose babe is burning through milestones faster than I can keep up. I'm so excited for her. But I confess that there are moments in the midst of these changes when I fall under waves of fatigue and overwhelment.

So please pardon me if it takes me a little time to get back into the Magic Beans swing of things. I am aching for my workbench and the healing therapy that the stones and space provide for me in birthing creations for you. And goodness knows that I am longing to put to words right here all that I have been feeling and experiencing, creatively and personally, as little ol' me on this great, big journey. Trust me, gratitude abounds. And soon enough, I'll relocate and sink back into my groove so that I can get back to sharing it and other news with you.

In the meantime, tell me YOUR good news!

Day 16,619: Chapters

Last weekend, my husband and I took our daughter for our first family college visit. As we drove further eastward on the interstate, each passing mile and hour was bittersweet evidence of how much further away she may soon fly from our nest. Of course, she really loved it there and, frankly, so did we. It's a perfect fit.

Our precious one and only, I will miss her to pieces when she goes. But I cherish the fact that we still have the rest of this school year, all of next, and two precious summers before we send her on her way. For the record, I never liked the term "empty nest." As long as people who love live there, it's not empty. When someone leaves home to make their way in the world, the hearts of those who stay behind expand exponentially to hold the space for this traveler's return and refueling. Especially if those hearts are of the parental persuasion.

It's an exciting new chapter that's set to begin, but I'm in no hurry for this one to end. Taking my sweet time and savoring the in-between.

Day 16,613 Gratitude

Today I am so grateful ...
For this beauty rockin' some Magic Beans earrings.
For the Holstee Manifesto.
To embrace foolishness in all it's gloriously messy forms.