Counting My Christmas Blessings . . .

 As I drove around yesterday, finishing up my Christmas errands in the rain, an overwhelming feeling of gratitude came over me.  I thanked the Universe for all of my many blessings.  I thanked the Universe for putting people in my path yesterday that reminded me of just how blessed I am.  I thought of the mom at the grocery store whom I overheard tell her sons she didn't know if she had enough money to buy the frozen vegetables they wanted.  They had a couple of items in their cart while mine was overflowing.  I decided to replace the anxiety I felt over all of the gifts I've yet to wrap with the thought of how blessed we are that my husband has a good job that enables us to buy all of these gifts. 

I thought of the families of the NYPD officers that tragically and senselessly lost their lives last week.  I thought of the empty chairs at their Christmas tables.  I thought of the empty chairs that we've had to face over the years and was filled with gratitude for how far we've come since then.  The tears still flow but more often then not there is a smile along with those tears as we remember our loved ones.  I also am filled with gratitude that my belief in the afterlife lets me know that they are still always with us.  : )

As I pulled into my driveway I thought about my daughter who, had it not been for one of those profound losses, would not be here today.  I thought about the day she was born and how I thanked my first husband who had passed away six years before for bringing my second husband into my life.  There is not a doubt in my mind that he sent Jim to the boys and I.  He would not have settled for anyone less to raise his three sons after he passed. 

 I also thanked the Universe for my wonderful husband and our four beautiful, happy and healthy children.  We've had our crazy moments this year for sure and I'd be lying if I said I don't have worries sometimes about what the future brings.  The kids are growing up in a very different world from the one I grew up in.  Just as our parents can say the same.  It can be overwhelming at times to have kids in all different age groups.  Technically, two of them aren't even kids anymore.  : ) 

 So I will continue to say my prayers throughout the day and trust that everything is unfolding the way that it's supposed to. I will continue to thank my childrens' Guardian Angels for working overtime when necessary.  I will continue to be grateful for the health of my family.  I will pray for the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. The courage to change the things I can. The wisdom to know the difference. 

I wish you all a very happy Christmas and I thank you for your wonderful comments and your friendship.  May we all have nothing but beautiful things to look forward to in the coming year!!!  : )


Many blessings to you all ~ Wendy  xoxo

Blooms and Blessings . . .

As we sat in our backyard last night, dining on grilled spare ribs and eggplant and fresh tomato and basil salad from our garden, hints of autumn were all around us.  The hot and humid days of the last week are behind us (for now) and the windows were wide open yesterday.  The days are noticeably shorter and the crickets are noticeably louder.  I'm anticipating the way the sky seems to change overnight from puffy clouds to lower and more blustery clouds.  Our bird houses are empty but our hydrangea trees are in full bloom and there are even hints of pink on them that come with cooler nights.  I feel so blessed to live in such a beautiful and peaceful part of the world.  I am not a church-going kind of person however I believe with all my heart that there is a Higher Power and I believe in the power of prayer.  It is my hope that if you're reading this, you will take a moment out of your day and say a prayer for those parts of this world that are in the grips of the unspeakable things that are currently going on in this world.  We truly need to count our blessings and not take them for granted.  Namaste.


Many blessings ~ Wendy

A Day of Giving Thanks . . .

Whether you're celebrating Thanksgiving today, as we are here in the states, or just celebrating another day of life, may you always keep an "attitude of gratitude!!!"  That's when the magic happens!!!  : )


Many blessings for a beautiful day of giving thanks ~ Wendy

the Beauty that Surrounds me Every Day . . .

When I have a camera in my hand, I see beauty that I might have missed otherwise.

 

When I have a camera in my hand, I feel brave . . .

and I feel playful.

When I have a camera in my hand, I pay more attention to the light . . .

and to the dark.

When I have a camera in my hand, I pay more attention to the details.

When I have a camera in my hand, I pay more attention to Mother Nature's beauty . . .

and God's blessings.

Many blessings to you for a Thursday that is filled to the brim with beauty ~ Wendy

Counting my Blessings Again & Again . . .

Yesterday I spent the day with a friend who is going thru a terrible emotional time right now. I recognized the look in her eyes as soon as I saw her. It was the same one I saw in the eyes of myself and my sisters after we found out my father was going to die. It is a look of total devastation and defeat. All I could do was hug her and listen to her as she spoke of this sudden "loss" in her life. My heart cried for her. This beautiful woman that I've come to know these last few years was suddenly transformed into a little girl who so badly wanted me to stay with her and tell her everything was going to be okay. "One Day at a Time" is what I told her. Even one hour at a time at this point. That is how I dealt with my husband's stroke and then sudden death the year before my father's death. I found myself referring back to that time in my life repeatedly yesterday when my friend asked how she can go on when it feels like her whole world has been turned upside down. When you're on the outside looking in, you recognize the beauty that still shines thru the sadness. How we are all just human beings put on this earth to help one another and to share good times and bad. The letting go of ego. The realization of just how miniscule so many of our day to day "problems" are. As my friend said, it is amazing how easily and guilt-free you can drop everything else when you feel like your world is crumbling around you.

I will see my friend again later on today. I hope to see a glimmer of hope and light in her eyes. Until then, I am counting my blessings and thanking God for how far I've come and how much my life has changed for the better since my losses occurred. One day at a time.


Many blessings for a happy and peaceful Thursday ~ Wendy

Counting my Blessings . . .

It's so hard to believe our baby girl is going to be two next month. She is filled with so much joy and love. She adores her Daddy, her brothers and her dogs and cats. She has new friends that she has made at "school." It's actually daycare but we call it school. I look forward to all of the new things she says and does every day. If I told you that having a baby in my mid-forties wasn't a huge adjustment for me, I'd be lying. I feel like I am just now coming back to myself and feeling grounded in my life. I have more blessings than I could ever describe. Megan and her three big brothers are at the top of that list. God is good. : )
















Many blessings for a beautiful Thursday ~ Wendy