Every Day Gratitude

In 2014, I had a daily gratitude practice here on the blog.   It was a New Year's resolution, and my intent was to get into a regular habit of expressing gratitude for the many, many blessings that I have in my life.   It turned out to be a not-quite-daily practice.  Out of 365 days, I only posted 245 times.  There were stretches of a few days or even a few weeks where I didn't get anything onto the blog, for a variety of reasons.  Over the course of the year, though, I created a habit.

Building My Dream Team

A Small Spark
It began with a small spark of inspiration one random afternoon. I don't know how the idea came about... We'd been discussing moving back to Maryland later this year, the timing of it, the logistics, the practicalities. The finances... how much could we afford? The lifestyle... how much house and yard do we want? The commute... What town do we want to live in? It was all very matter of fact, but then one moment later, the smallest germ of an idea began to form in my mind.

The Work of Christmas Lies Before Us

Advent 2014 - Christmas Day - Celebration

"As we find ourselves wrapped in the season of wonder and light, the astonishment that is life ignites our spirits, and we feel, if merely for a moment, that we are as we were meant to be.

"May we hold fast to this sliver of mystery, this truth upon which we set the whole of who we are. May we call ourselves back to it time and again, until we are filled with the wonder that is our life– its hope, its peace, its joy, its love. Infused, then, with all that we are, may our energies be given to the transformation of this world–from despair into hope; from darkness into light; from fear into love. May we be bold. May we be daring. May we be love."

by Greta Vosper

Advent 2014 - Week 4 - Love

"As this season of sparkle and bright unfolds around us the welcome beauty of love is found, woven into the simplicity of every moment. 

"May love flow from our hearts with abundance filling every moment with the season’s gifts of hope and peace and joy. May it be shared truly and deeply that all who encounter it?be charged with its message and become, themselves, the agents of love. And may our children, who love without reckoning, teach us the truth of this most precious gift–we are nothing without each other. Let us live, then, in the blessing of love."

by Greta Vosper

Advent 2014 - Week 3 - Joy

"As this season of “sparkle and bright” unfolds around us the transforming wonders of joy await discovery like shimmering sugar crystals on a favourite treat. 

"May we create joy in all our surroundings as we share gifts, meals, and simple pleasures with family and friends. May the easy gift of a smile bring the power of joy’s touch to those we meet through these busy days. And may we experience the joy of this season as though with the eyes and hearts of children that we might be transfixed by power of what could be."

by Greta Vosper

Advent 2014 - Week 2 - Peace

"As this season of “sparkle and bright” unfolds around us, the silent prayers of peace lie like stars hidden in a clouded night. 

"May we inspire the world with peace. May we touch it to our lives that in every place of stress, frustration, or fear, we might feel the presence of peace easing our hearts and transforming our lives. And may we share the its healing power with our children, that they might become the inspiration through which peace makes its way to a new yet-dreamt-of world."

by Greta Vosper

Advent 2014 - Week 1 - Hope

"As this season of “sparkle and bright” unfolds before us, the glimmering promises of hope lie like boxed jewels awaiting an adoring light. 

"May we hold fast to hope’s patient possibilities. May we lift them high that they might catch the light of our dreams and shine bright in our broken world.And may we instil hope’s challenge in the hearts of our children that they, too, will live it into meaning–pouring their lives, as we do ours, into making it real–for themselves, for each other, for the world.

by Gretta Vosper

Next Week is a Big Deal

We're coming up on the most important week of the Sweet Adeline's year:  the annual International contest and convention.     Once each year, the top choruses and quartets from around the world gather together for education and for a week's worth of contests.  

Lessons From My Garden

Emily at Chatting at the Sky has invited us to share What We've Learned in May.  Most of my lessons  this month have been learned in the garden.  Mother Nature is a kind and patient teacher, if we listen to her.     

Grief Hits In the Strangest of Ways

When my dad died last month, it was awful.  It was really hard.  It was unexpected and crazy and maddening and horrible.   No one expected it, and after the first stroke, there were weeks of hope and worry and struggle and mountains of joy and depths of despair.  We thought and hoped that he would be able to make a recovery from the first, huge stroke.   But it was not to be... he had two additional strokes two weeks later, and then two days after that, he passed away.

We all handle our grief in our own way... just as we are all individuals, so are the ways in which we grieve.  

More On Beauty

A while back I wrote a post about redefining beauty, and the topic still captivates me. With all the glitz and glamour surrounding the Oscars last night, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement and eye-candy of the fashion show, the hair and make-up magic.

On Creativity and Self-Identity

I bumped into a wall of self-identity the other day.   I didn't see it there, and it surprised me, and has had me thinking about it for a few days now.

Some Little Changes Around Here

It's been a couple months since I last reflected about what this blog is going to become.   In the time since then, I've kept my plans and intentions that I laid out for myself.

Bloom Where You Are Planted

Last night I had one of those very realistic dreams, the kind where you wake up and wonder if it was real or imagined.

Redefining Beauty

I ran across this video on Facebook this evening, and I encourage you to give it a look.

Happy Tuesday 4/2014 - The Joys of Coaching

Welcome to the 4th Happy Tuesday of 2014!   I hope you'll join the link party today, and share something that makes you happy!  Check out the info at the bottom of the post and join the fun!

This past weekend I've had the great privilege of coaching others in their quest to become better a cappella singers.  I've talked before about my love of singing, my involvement in Sweet Adelines International, and my quartet,  but I haven't talked much about the other side of this hobby for me - coaching others!