Confetti Effect
Palms in the Psalms
Palm trees physically reach upward and psalms do too — not physically but spiritually — expressing longing, gratitude and hope. So I’m thinking of it this way: palm trees are like nature’s psalms — silent, swaying expressions of reaching upward, weathering life’s storms, and standing as reminders of something steady, firm and enduring. ✨
God’s Will in the Winter Chill
This winter, you felt it — the freeze that came and left its mark on all our shrubs! Our usually lush, tropical paradise in our backyard (in Orlando) looks so sad. Vibrant pinwheel jasmine bushes looked torched and turned to shades of brown, our delicate palms drooped in surrender, and our beautiful butterfly garden no longer exists. It was shocking because once-thriving foliage appeared lifeless almost overnight. It was discouraging to look out my window to see something so full of life change so quickly.
….because of the wonderful things He does!
After watching the Wizard of Oz on tv countless times as a kid, attending the Broadway show Wicked, and recently watching the movie Wicked (Part 1) twice in theaters, something has moved me in a different way.
Suffering Restores Our Faith
Most of us would rather not experience the physical and mental pain that inevitably comes with suffering. But the fact we live in an imperfect world pretty much makes hard times a guarantee.
Did you ever realize that God spelled backwards is Dog?
So what do dogs have to do with God?
Our beloved dogs teach us to understand God’s unconditional love. They are more than just our pets. They are our family. They are our friends. Their presence positively impacts our bodies, our minds, and our spirits. There are heartwarming correlations between God and dogs. They provide us with unconditional and endless love just like God. God is willing to forgive our flaws. God is attentive and He only asks for love in return. He couldn't be physically with us, so He created dogs
Give. Thanks.
A poem by Kirsten Telan
One thing I’ve learned is that a joyful heart,
leads to a thankful mindset and sets us apart.
God’s guidance will land you in the right place,
so trust in His tender mercies and bountiful grace.
A God Wink Is Good For The Soul
WordSense defines a God wink as the following: An event or personal experience, often identified as coincidence, so astonishing that it is seen as a sign of divine intervention, especially when perceived as the answer to a prayer.
The Good Fight
A battle rages on a field of matter,
White and grey will split and scatter,
Channels blocked a science find,
Who wins this battle within the mind.
Lives are lost as fear takes hold,
Silence a thief that can steal one’s soul,
The Choice is Yours
The most grateful people I’ve ever known, are the ones that have suffered silently and all alone.
We don’t have to like our circumstances so we choose to look for the unexpected gifts we don’t want to lose.
The hardest times bring the most profound growth, so we must learn to get out of our own head and take this oath.
The day we were asked to stay home
A Pandemic Poem by Kirsten Telan
Home sweet home
We have been thrust into your space
Even though we feel safe amongst your steadfast walls
We weren’t ready to be told we can’t leave this place.
Social distancing and quarantine
Two terms that were quickly added to our everyday vocab
This is a whole new Covid territory we are exploring
And finding out it began in a Chinese city called Wuhan in a biolab.
Silver Lining
Time…more time…making time…time is ticking away…tick tock…time with family, time with nature, time outdoors, time at home, time with pets, time to reflect, time to be present, time to be in the moment, time to exercise, time to find faith, time to read, time to write, time to focus, time to pause, and…time to hit the reset button.
The Cardinal on my Fencepost
The cardinal is symbolic of life, hope, and restoration. They are representative of a loved one who has passed away. When I see one, I truly believe it means they are visiting. I have found that they show up when I need them most or miss them.
I have researched the symbolism of red cardinals. As a result, I was blown away by the accuracy of how these gorgeous red birds appear in my life time and time again during periods of sorrow and celebration.
NOW is the time, NOW is the best time of your life
BE-ing in the present…how can it BE?
Ihave spent the past year learning how to become mindful about living in the here and now. Trying to become more conscious, more alive, more PRESENT and to have a deeper sense of well-being, calmness and stillness.🙌🏻 I’ve read numerous books and listened to some incredible podcasts on this fascinating topic. I want to share with you my biggest takeaway. You will only be able to find the JOY OF BEING when you realize how to let go of your EGO.✨ This is important for two reasons: unless you know how the ego works, it is hard to recognize and it will trick you, taking you over like an imposter PRETENDING to be you. The second reason is that if you want to fight against the ego and try to shut it down, it is vital to recognize and become aware of the state of consciousness within you.
Dog Gone It
When people who have never had a dog see their dog-owning friends mourn the loss of a dog, they probably think it’s all a bit of an overreaction, after all, “it’s just a dog.” I know this to be true because I used to think this way. However, after my beloved pug, Buddy passed away in January I knew the truth. Your pet is never “just a dog.”
Losing my dog was its own kind of sorrow, different from any I have felt before.
Oh, David how did you know,
that we needed a shepherd to lead us and help us to grow.
Green pastures and still waters are good for our souls,
with your personal experience and testimony you knew we’d hit pot holes.
You began by describing the simple beauty of nature in life,
and then warned us about the dark shadows in the valley that would bring us strife.