The Next Right Thing

I really liked this Zen Story.

~ via

So often I resist doing the simplest next right thing because I am looking for something more important to do. I often find it hard to do the simplest thing in front of me. Sometimes I put my feet flat on the floor just to remind myself to be in the here and now instead of the past or future.

Stress Relief

Need a chuckle?

Foot In Mouth Disease Anyone?

Rest In Peace Michael

Michael Spencer, 1956-2010.

Michael encouraged me to keep blogging when I first started writing online over 5 years ago. It was also through his website, The Boars Head Tavern that I found a link to Bobbie and her recovery from sexual addiction. All these interactions have been pivotal in my own recovery and growth. I will be forever grateful.

Michael wrote with such gut honesty and challenged me to think outside the box when it came to my faith. He wrote openly about wrestling with his faith and what it meant to live the Gospel. He helped me see that it was more important to live it than talk about it.

Michael tackled the struggles of daily life and generously let us in as he did so. He did not try to 'pretty up" his image, he was who he was. Between his and Brennan Manning's influence, I have a much bigger God and a better grasp on grace.

Michael did not have a lot of time from when he was diagnosed with cancer until his passing. I will be keeping his family in my prayers.

What? No Update?

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday. I've been giving a lot of thought to Lent. Had I been raised with Lent or even known about it in some periods of my life Lent would have meant a chance to reform my whole life in one fell swoop...chasing after that elusive perfection in order to feel acceptable in my own skin. I am grateful for the sanity these days that helps me accept who I am in all my imperfections. I don't have to change anything for God to feel any different about me. He loves me as is, always has, always will. I haven't always believed that but today I am graced with believing it in my heart.

There are many little routines in my day that I'm going to miss these next 40 days. Giving them up will more than anything help me have more awareness about how I spend my time and where my focus has been. One of the changes I'm trying is to be online only as long as it takes me to sit in front of my SAD Lightbook in the mornings. I think I will be an even better speed reader as I try to read blogs, check FB and check email all in 15 minutes. Oh, and try to actually post something once in a while.

When I am really pressed for time these four recovery blogs get read first. Before the internet I had no way of knowing what working the steps of AA looked like elsewhere. I live pretty remote, having a choice of one meeting most days and on some days, two that I can attend in the closest city which is 50 miles from home. I appreciate all the experience, strength and hope I get to absorb from reading these blogs and others.

Today I feel grateful for what a great life I get to live.

Lap Time

This morning I unpacked my laptop and plugged it in to update the Internet security setting. I normally only use the laptop when I am travelling. I've never got the hang of sitting on the couch and using it, it just seems odd to do that. Funny how habitual we creatures can be. Who knows, I managed to go from only using a computer in the office to now happily typing away at the dining room table. Perhaps one day I'll be an old lady with a computer on her lap. At any rate I forgot that I have a different set of favourites on my laptop's sidebar and thought I'd share a few with you:

The Idea Of Home. I love her latest post.

Amy. That post made me cry.

Following this woman's program has been life changing for me. If you are sober and find yourself scarfing down sugary things or devouring white bread with the same intensity as alcohol you might identify with what she has to offer. Kathleen now has a blog and I particularly liked this post.

Simple Things Challenge

Chris over at Enchanted Oak is hosting a Simple Things Challenge where she asks that you post a piece about the joy of the simple things in life. Her family will donate $2 to Heartline Ministries in Haiti for every post about the joy of the simple things in life. If you don't have a blog just leave a comment over at her blog and that counts, too.

A few of the simple things in life that bring me joy:

Every time I lay on the couch and watch TV I tell dearest one I feel like I am living a luxurious life. I feel totally spoiled when I do that simple thing. It's a bonus if I keep my eyes open. With the Olympics coming up I'm hoping to indulge in laying on the couch a lot.

Biting into a fresh peach. For all the times in my life where buying fresh fruit was not an option, I feel incredibly grateful when I get to eat a peach.

A drink of cool water out of a stainless steel measuring cup. Whatever that 'bite' is to the taste of that brings me back to my childhood. We had a spring on our land and we would crouch down and pick up that "spring cup" and drink.

The feel of the sunshine on my cheek. Sometimes I just stand there and soak it in, pretending I'm being kissed by God.

When dearest one looks at me with that sparkle in his eyes. He has the most beautiful smile that makes rainbow shaped wrinkles appear above his eyes and sun burst ones around the sides. I know he will grow old with those wrinkles setting in so that they are permanent. Whenever I see an elderly person with wrinkles like that I know they spent more time laughing than frowning.

Here You Go

Here are some links to read today cause I've got nothing.

Brave Little Girl. The sweetness of this little girl made me teary.

And Then We Laughed. I love the way Elizabeth mothers those daughters and the way she writes about it.

Prayers and more Prayers. Michael was a great encourager to me in my early days of blogging. It was also through his other site that I found this blog and eventually found my way into recovery from sexual addiction.

I like a good laugh and I like to think. It's great when one blog does both.

Blue Grace

This picture is for Pam. She usually posts a picture of something blue daily but spent last night caring for her mom so wasn't going to be able to post this morning. That link in the previous sentence really is a must read.

Yesterday Pam ended her post by saying look for God's grace...IT'S EVERYWHERE!! and I took that thought and held it close all day. I prayed that God would give me the eyes to see His grace everywhere.

And God did. Especially in the noon hour AA meeting I attended. Miracles abound if we just open our eyes. Or rather, have our eyes opened.

Late in the day I was able to address a situation at work that had irritated the hell out of me, with grace and humour. Got my point across without having to be a bitch about it. Who would have thunk that was possible? Yesterday the topic at the AA meeting was change. I heard incredible stories of change that are only possible by the grace of God. So often I feel like I am standing on Holy Ground at an AA meeting.

And speaking of change, they say up here to wait five minutes and the weather will change. Ha. Yesterday's snow melted and fresh snow covers the ground this morning. I think I'll have to wait longer than 5 minutes for the weather to change, don't you?

Have a grace filled day my friends.

Of Wood Chips & Stone Statues

A friend of mine who I've been hounding to start a blog has done just that. I can still be a first class nag. Check out her marvelous artwork at Wood Chips & Stone Statues. As someone who can't even draw a decent stick figure I am always in awe of those who can do so much more with paint, charcoal, pen and paper.

Linky Linky

Oh, that title is all wrong.
It makes me start rhyming nonsense in my head.
I think I've been playing too much Scramble on Facebook.
But I did want to point out that I have added new-to-me blogs and ones I've been following for a while
on my sidebar.
Check them out.

It's All Just Temporary

Last night brought some welcome relief from the heat wave we've been experiencing this week. Temperatures in the plus 30C range are quite a bit warmer than normal for this time of year in my neck of the woods. I am not a heat fan. Our little air conditioner was working overtime just to maintain a livable room temperature yesterday. When the rain fell last night and the air cooled rapidly it was a welcome reprieve. Today is supposed to be back up to 30C. C'est la vie.

My funky signature at the bottom of my posts lately is courtesy of a heads up from MPJ.It was fun to create. Yesterday as I was cleaning up around the house I must have come across close to 10 different objects with the word hope on them. I love me some hope.

Last night we enjoyed new potatoes and green beans from the garden. Raspberries from the same flavoured my breakfast yesterday, too. What a privilege to walk out the front door and spend 5 minutes picking enough goodness to help nourish this body for the day. It's been several years since I was healthy enough to do the work to maintain a garden. It's a gift to harvest her bounty.

Now that the Olympics are on I will be hoarding the TV remote more than my fair share. There's some irony in becoming a temporary couch potato in order to watch Olympic athletes show their muscles, discipline and skill. Go Canada Go!

Sharing The Treasure

Here are 3 good reads and 3 new to me blogs:

Creative Defiance

A Moving Letter ht to Owen

Interview with Heather King

A Room Of Mama's Own

Rae's Confessions

Trudging The Gentle Path of Happy Destiny

Intense Shades Of Blue

There is a beautiful winter blue sky out there this morning. I guess that's the price of cold weather - because that intense shade of blue only comes with the cold! It was -17 C this morning and some of our windows were frosted over. I plan on enjoying a walk outside today. Yesterday was almost a write off - I had to go back to bed and sleep for 4 hours before I could function. I was tempted to panic because that kind of exhaustion was par for the course before I went to treatment in August. But I didn't. I simply listened to my body and chalked it up to the emotional toll of two separate counseling sessions the day before. This too shall pass.

Here are a few posts I've read lately that are worthy of a second look:

This one made me realize I would use an MP3 player if I had one: Of Richard Rohr and Parker Palmer. And with only dial up and no MP3 player I'm envious of those of you who can go ahead and listen to the links!

This post made me laugh out loud. I do love a good chuckle: A Silly Poor Gospel. Her whole blog is worth the read.

This is another post from A Silly Poor Gospel which I've gone back and reread several times: Covered Dish.

And in a different direction here is a post that might be offensive to some so consider yourself warned. I like the woman's honesty and humour.Beyond Blue. A totally different kind of blue than a winter sky.