Change

"Change means movement. Movement means friction."
--Saul Alinsky

Five

When I was 5, my biggest stress was having to participate in "bath night." Boys were still "icky," friends were plentiful & days were spent playing Wonder Woman in my Underoos.

The point at which my carefree life switched over to "adulthood," filled with worries & outside demands cannot be pinpointed, yet there is a definite difference between me at 28 and my 5-year-old self. Oh what I would give to be back in that little body...playing with dolls & just knowing that daddy could fix anything...

That little girl is still inside somewhere, and I'm inviting her back for a visit. When she comes, she will take away the pressures of this adult life and bless me with child-like peace...Then I'll call my daddy...He'll "kiss it better," and all my worries will be washed away.

Quote of the Day

I received this quote from a friend today...

I have found that if you love life, life will love you back. A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs --jolted by every pebble in the road.
-Henry Ward Beecher

Clearing...

It was a beautifully sunny winter day in Seattle...I needed to clear my head, so I threw on my jacket, grabbed some hot cocoa and headed to the park. Seemingly the rest of the neighborhood had the same idea, as the park was packed with cuddled couples and picture takers.

I found a bench and settled in...alone in a sea of people. Yet, I was content to just sit there and "be" as the sun dipped behind the horizon and painted the sky the most glorious shade of pale pink.

As I sat there, sipping my cocoa and losing myself in the beauty of the sunset, my worries could almost be forgotten. For that moment...there was a clearing...and through the sadness, my smile returned.

Don't Waste a Single Day!

"The most wasted of all days is the one without laughter in it." ~Les & Leslie Parrott

Love at First Sight...

It was 6:30 on a Sunday night. I sat across from my friend, chatting & sipping my americano. I was trying desperately to retain eye contact and hide my distraction, but you were all I could see...Sitting there, watching me, waiting for me...and it was all I could do not to lick my lips.

And then I caved to my desire...eye contact was broken, and my hand slid slowly to you...and as I brought you to my mouth, I had but one thought...I love you...cupcake (and your pink frosting too!)

Strangers are Angels in Disguise

"Smile," the stranger urged, blessing me with his own wide grin. I couldn't help but to comply. His "thank you" was proof that his mission had been accomplished...What a beautiful goal..to make me smile!

Laughter

Make a point to laugh...really laugh...every day. It's good for your soul.
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Life

I see a sign on my way to work each morning, and it makes me smile...

"Life is short...Make fun of it!"

Hope

This morning I awoke a bit anxious...But the Lord whispered in my ear, "Do not be afraid." Hope is such a beautiful thing for the heart.

Jill-isms

I love quotes...So much so that I tend to create my own! Here are but a few of my Jill-isms:

* Life is a canvas...Paint with BRILLIANT colors!

* A smile...a hand held...a "hello"...Simple gestures are life changing.

* Life is too short too read the last page first...Live a story worth finishing.

* Never underestimate the power of your smile.

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Autumn Morning Light

The early morning light filtered through the clouds and reflected upon the steam that rose from the water…The peace of the moment was not lost on me.

It is simple moments such as this that convince me that God is truly present. His brush strokes on the canvas of this world are so plentiful if we only open our eyes to see them…

Tea-lightful!

It is the little things in life that make the journey so extraordinary.

My morning routine consists of carving out a little “me” time. Today I am sipping a bit of tea while flipping through my emails. I chose a brightly colored mug (red), filled it to the brim with hot water, and let my blueberry tea steep for exactly 5 minutes (brings out the flavor just right). With my tea cupped in my hand my soul is warmed (and so am I!) That little detail in my day is so…calming, and it brings a smile to my face. What a glorious way to start the workday!

Smile at Me!

Does it amaze you, as it does me, the difference that a smile can make in the day of another?

The other morning as I walked the Avenue to my favorite coffee spot, I noticed a man…there was nothing extraordinary about him, but maybe that was extraordinary in itself. As he took purchased his drink, I saw him smile…in turn the cashier smiled…this lead me to smile, and immediately my ho-hum mood became happy.

Oh what a difference one smile can make…why don’t you try it? It’s catchy!

Top of the World

This morning, quite by accident, I discovered a secret door that leads to the rooftop of my apartment building. My responsible side told me I was forbidden...My slightly rebellious side told me otherwise...I chose to listen to the latter (as is usually the case), and continued to step through the door.

I walked across the slightly uneven walkway (undeterred by visions of toppling head first over the side), and came to rest near the edge...Standing there looking over the surrounding buildings to the water, I felt as if I were on top of the world!...It was then that I realized I was standing on a city rooftop in my pajamas...I let out a hoot of laughter, spread my arms wide (airplane style), and "flew" back through the door. What a glorious morning...

The Dawn of Fall

I celebrated the first day of fall by donning my first scarf of the season. On my way to work the weather outside my car window was misty, and I snuggled into my jacket for protection. The tree-lined streets were a procession of changing colors, and I smiled…autumn is a glorious time of year!

Seattle Rain

Today I woke to the sound of the rain. Contrary to popular belief, it does not always rain in Seattle. Sure, we have a lot of "gray" days, and it mists quite a bit, but truly rainy days are more rare than you might imagine.

That is why a smile spread across my face this morning when the sound of raindrops filtered through my window. People who know me are probably questioning my sanity, because, as mentioned in an earlier post, I am a sunshine girl at heart. But this year I am embracing the rain and appreciating it for what it is...a sign of Autumn's arrival.

Despite the wet weather, or maybe because of it, I went for a morning walk. The minute I stepped out the door I was greeted with the smell of wet pavement. This may not seem like a good thing, but there is nothing sweeter to the senses than the scent of rain-soaked pavement after a dry spell (I'm not kidding!)

Umbrellas were the fashion as I ambled down the Avenue. Spirits were high, and I received several cheery morning greetings from my neighbors. And as I turned from the coffee stand and sipped my latte, I realized how blessed I am to live in this beautiful city. For when others scramble indoors and shrivel at the first sight of a dark cloud, Seattle-its bloom in the rain and splash in its puddles. In fact...that's what I did!

Green Grass

I stepped out the door and the scent of freshly-mowed lawn provoked me to frisk through the piles of grass clippings...

Peach Beach

Here I am in a little patch of the world that is found on the Washington border. It has become a tradition to drop by this half-way point to rest and nibble on peaches before continuing into Oregon for our annual camping trip. Only this year did we find that it is actually called Peach Beach! How perfect is that!?

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Sunday Mornings

Proof of God's existence is found on Sunday mornings...and I don't mean in church, though that is a fabulous place to meet with Him as well. I'm referring to the peace that Sunday mornings bring into my life.

No matter how late I like to sleep on Saturdays, I'm always nudged awake early each Sunday by an internal alarm. I lie there, curled up in my blankets and breathing deeply of the fresh air that wisps through my open window, and I am ready to face the day. Crawling out of bed is not a chore on Sundays, but something I look forward to with anticipation! After throwing on my tennis shoes, I'm quickly out the door before any needed tasks can claim me.

As daylight is only beginning to brighten the sky, I stroll through the neighborhood and watch it come alive. This time of day, when most of the world is still sleeping, is my refuge. I revel in the quiet...I live for the silence of the city.

When breakfast time nears, I head to the local market for oatmeal cookies and fruit. This is my reward for making it through one more stress-filled week. On my way out I pause and smell the array of bouquets at the flower stand, breathing their scent deeply in...one more stop at the coffee shoppe, and I am headed home.

The remainder of my morning is spent cuddled under a blanket in my favorite chair...I sip my coffee, nibble my cookies and alternate between reading and staring out at the water. A sigh usually escapes...this is heaven.

Falling into Autumn

I'm a summer girl by nature...I love the sunshine and everything that goes with it...flip flops...ice cream cones...palm trees!

But this year I've had an inexplicable yearning for something deeper...something cozier...Autumn.

I'm looking forward to the changing of the leaves and falling rain. Weather that gives me an excuse to wrap my neck in a brightly colored handmade scarf (I just learned to knit!), splash through puddles & kick my way through fallen leaf piles...I'm dreaming of sitting in my overstuffed chair that looks over the water and the passing ferry boats, while sipping cocoa and listening to soft music. To me this is the essence of the fall season, and I am anxiously awaiting its arrival...

It's almost here!