oh Julian

really? was that absolutely necessary?

I am a puddle after last night's Downton. good thing I have hit the floor running this morning and don't see it slowing down until we return from LA.

travel will force us to tivo (or whatever the proper term to record is these days) those PBSers and wait (oh, the agony). avoid the spoiler alerts. and buy more kleenx.

'a woman wears her tears like jewelry.'

as long as you love me

feeling the need for hearts today. thus the header change.

that's all.

'blessed are the hearts that can bend; they shall never be broken.'

hello Wednesday

me oh my. it's been quite a week. good busy. productive. very happy times spent.

but then a much anticipated trip was cancelled. heartbreaking. deflated. and deep down in my heart and embarassed to admit it angry. and very very very disappointed. and all that makes me complain. (complaining: a deep vicious ugly circle which drowns me).

but today my friend, E, posted on her blog a lovely poem that helped every so much. she has that effect on me.

'the time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other's welcome.'

she asks

what does your life hold right now?

promise. opportunity. faith. love.

within my little world. in my head. my heart. there is so much going on. so much I want to do. I run from idea to idea. concept to concept. task to task.

I am easily distracted.

I wish I knew how to focus. never been a strong point for me. the focus thing.

my eyes are bigger than my _____ (fill in the blank [schedule. budget. energy.])

there is so much to be inspired by. so much that stirs my creative side. I am full of want. desire. need. to accomplish a huge laundry list of projects. wishes. dreams.

how do you keep from filling your plate? and then looking at the dessert menu?

there is moderation in all things. I am impatient. eager. spirited.

sorting through the jumble. such beautiful clutter.

'better to be furious at one thing, become radiant with purpose. better to love links and rhythms than all-embracing answers.'

what where who

What does your life hold right now?

What is the shape of your life?

What makes up the silhouette?

What is flowing from your heart?

Where do your feet now stand?

Who is holding your hand?

I have been taken in by some questions posed at Chatting at the Sky, who was inspired to ask after reading Gift From the Sea by Anne Morrow Lindbergh.

my head is full of answers. that lead to more questions. and more answers. suggestions. options. a delightful circle.

'the mind must have wild places, a tangled orchard where dark damsons drop in the heavy grass, an overgrown little wood, the chance of a snake or two, a pool that nobody's fathomed the depth of, and paths threaded with flowers.'

back to back

the house is back to normal. de-twinkled ... well with the exception of the dining room which still wears its New Years Eve party dress. there is just something about those tiny lights that make me happy.

the new year is off to a busy start. back to work. back to a normal schedule (hooray). back to driving (double hooray). back to my Rosetta Stone (so far so good) french lessons. back to Downton Abbey. back to visits to LA and the kiddos. back to projects. and planning. and dreaming. and trying ever so hard to keep procrastination off the agenda.

'be glad of life because it gives you the chance to love and to work and to play and to look up at the stars.'

happy new year

some of my fellow favorite blogger-friends (ffbf's) choose a word at the beginning of the new year. giving focus. hope. clarity. a gentle reminder to carry on this next turn around the sun.

I've always had trouble determining just one word to hone in on. there are so many that inspire me.

but I am feeling especially motivated at the start of 2013 to accomplish more. I have a long list. a very long-procrastinated list. and as much as it is cliche, this is my year to _____ (fill in the blank).

two ideas. words. principles. quotes. projects. have brought me to this moment. eye-opening. heart-felt. deep-down. faith-full.

ONE

ann curry's 26actsofkindness. she says (and it's so very true) 'I know the truth: if you do good, you feel good. It’s the most selfish thing you can do. Right now, this country wants to heal. I think the only thing comforting in the face of a tragedy like this is to do something good with it if you can. Be a part of that wave.' it's more than being selfish. or healing the country. it's about simply being nice. and kind. and caring. and ever so grateful. grace-full. it's simple. pass it on.

TWO

a quote I read on Pinterest. 'you create BEAUTY with your attitude. your behavior. your actions. it's all up to you.' this morning I read a line in my book-of-the-moment that reinforces this I am the sole author of the dictionary that defines me. life is short. love is large. I fall back to my mantra 'choose. it's fear of love, baby. I choose love.' broken record? maybe. but I mean to play it over and over.

I am feeling over-the-moon good this morning. happy. joyful. shouting-from-the-rooftops in love.

'I am fairly certain that given a cape and a nice tiara I could save the world.'