New Year 2019

We've spent a quiet holiday season close to home.
Our second anniversary of living here in North Carolina
reminded us of how many blessings we have.
Steady employment.
A cozy home.
Room to garden.
Friends with which to share and grow.
Seasonal living.
It's been a great change for us.

We still have many things to work toward,
and in fact, looking forward keeps me motivated.
While enjoying a book recently,
a unique phrase struck a chord.

"Good things are constantly happening to me."

I'm thinking that's a pretty good mantra
to remember into the new year.
Knowing it is the first step toward 
          making 
            it 
               a 
                             reality.
What a blessing this life is.

May you be gifted
with dreams coming true.
God bless us, everyone.
~daisy

Be Blissed!

This phrase came to me recently.
I not only want to remember it for myself,
to keep in mind that we are meant to be blissful,
but also to share this intention with others,
so that they may experience their own bliss.

Often folks around here will say,
"Have a blessed day",
which may appeal to some people,
but not so much to others.
I admit, I used to feel defensive when someone would say it to me,
as if they were trying to push their religion on me.
Now, I've come to realize that any blessings sent my way
are more than welcome.
Whatever the foundation,
it's a positive force of energy being aimed at me,
and I'll take all the blessings I can get.

Saying, "Be Blissed!" is akin to sending a blessing
in that I am intending for that person to reach their state of bliss
in their current circumstances.
Someone may misunderstand me and think I am saying
"Be Blessed!",
and that's okay too.
As long as the loving energy is getting out there,
that's all that matters.

Along with wishing others well,
this phrase reminds me to focus on living in the moment,
appreciating each experience as a vehicle to reach my personal goals.
I am hoping to add a lot more fun and smiles
to my life this year.

This mantra will keep my spiritual intentions in check,
so that the world can see the best of me.
So that I can give the best of me.
Because that's what it's all about.
Be Blissed! 

Saturday Blog Link Party

Unwavering Inspiration

There is strength in putting your dreams down on paper. 
Any real dream only becomes reality when a plan is followed through. 
It starts with recognition, then verbalizing,
and taking it step-by-step. I was so enthralled
the first time I found out about this amazing organization.

http://www.greenchimneys.org/

But it was more than that. 
Everything just seemed to come together. 
My love for kids, teaching, learning, animals, farms 
and a deep-seated need to help others. 
Green Chimneys was the dream awakened in me almost a year ago. 
It's why I started this blog. 
Maple Hill will someday be my reality. 
This morning I visited the website again
to prompt the yearning to show its head. 
It's still there, stronger than ever.

Maybe it's the frigid weather outside 
and not being able to tend the garden, 
maybe it's the holidays approaching faster than I'd like. 
Whatever it is, the need to refresh my longings 
was how I started this day. 
I'm still discovering others 
who share the same type of simple living philosophy 
that seems inborn to me. 
For their company, I am more than grateful. 

The ingenuity and self-determination that some folks share 
is a source of never-ending wonder for me. 
To use our God-given gifts and abilities to better our world 
and connect with even just one other person 
in a way they have never been reached before, 
this is what it means to have a meaningful life. 
Money, material things and overabundance 
do not feed one's soul.

It is family, time, health and a sense of purpose that really matter. 
I pray that anyone coming across this blog 
will find what their life's purpose is. 
And then go for it...