Inspire

Well, I found that trying to keep up with a blog is very challenging and time consuming. I also found that I was spending too much time on my computer and there's so much living to do beyond my office chair!
I'm not making promises about the blog anymore, not expecting myself to worry about whether or not I post. I've decided it's better to be active, social and free of self imposed stresses.
Sooooo.....I'll be here when it feels good.

Inspire is defined in Webster's as: "guide by devine influence; to arouse and create high emotion; to exalt; inhale; breathe in."

Today, I hope your inspiration comes in the form of a smile, a kind thought, or anything that touches your soul in a simple way.

Ahhhhhhh, I'm such a lucky girl!

There's just nothing like a hot tub in the evening while the sun is dipping low in the sky and the day has been full. I was blessed with phone calls from friends and my precious MIL, my little dog is healing up well, and the sun on my face while I was soaking these old bones was Heavenly.

This one is for my friends:

Oh, the comfort--the inexpressible comfort

Of feeling safe with a person,

Having neither to weigh thoughts,

Nor measure words--but pouring them

All right out--just as they are chaff and grain together--

Certain that a faithful hand will

Take and sift them--

Keep what is worth keeping--

And with the breath of kindness

Blow the rest away.

Dinah Marie Mulock Craik

Diamonds and Stones

"Some days are diamonds, some days are stone"--John Denver crooned the words and sometimes they come to mind. When times are trying, as they have been over the weekend (my little dog is sick), I try to remember the diamond days and this old saying by


Albert Einstein:

"There are only two ways to live your life,

One is as though nothing is a miracle,

The other is as though everything is a miracle."


Even the stones have a beauty about them, you just have to be willing to see it.

It's FINALLY Arrived! The First Day of Spring!

Every year on the first day of spring, if the ground isn't covered with snow and frozen, one of our rituals is to go outside and break a few holes in the blanket of leaves that protect our perrennial garden. There they were, the daffodils! Spring has officially arrived, no one is happier than we!

The changing of the seasons humbles us once again, this one in particular for all the rebirth and renewing.....looking forward to the blooming! Happy Spring!

Thankful

I am so thankful for,

first and foremost, my husband.

I am so thankful for my family.

I am so thankful for

my friends.

My blessings are HUGE!

(P. S. Stamps are: Background, Judi-Kins

Everything Else is Stampin' Up, design is my own)

The Morning After

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in my home. My name IS Coleen!

There is the traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner, and a fun tradition that was started years ago when our daughter went to Ireland. She brought back a crock of the finest Irish Whiskey, Tullamore Dew, and gifted her daddy with it.

We are not drinkers, but just a little nip on the tongue is always a

once a year indulgence we enjoy with our boiled dinner.

We wore the green, we celebrated the day, we toasted our family and friends.

Updated....

By the way, since I'm starting over again, and it's two years since the original picture was posted, I thought it would be good to throw in my "two years older smile". This was taken at Senor Frog's in Grand Cayman on 1/14/09. I'm aging and thankful to wake up with my eyes open every morning that it happens!
Anyway, hello again, naturally!