A Toast~~~2009

What a year. It was the beginning for me of writing this Blog. There will be more changes to come but isn't that what time always brings. More changes.
I am sure that 2010 will have it's changes to blow through our lives.
I pray that the winds of change will be gentle and kind to anyone who is reading this. We all need a gentle breeze to move us that much further in our lives. Hopefully, lift us up when we are down and the gusts will be at our back.
You see, there is one thing you can count on living in Roswell..the Wind!
Ha, just ask any local.
Seemed that we had alot of tough wind this past year. In fact, one of my friends calls the wind we had about a month or so ago..the Hurricane!
Everyone in town will know what you're talking about. That wind blew out electricity and some windows at the Petroleum building.

Yet, here we all stand together on the brink of a New Year.

So, a toast to 2010.
May we each have courage to face the wind that will blow through our lives and may it lift us to higher ground!

Christmas time in Roswell...

The stores seem busy with shoppers. The big snowflake decorations are on our Alien Lamp posts! The light parade has come and gone. Now, to the busyness of Christmas.
Concerts to attend. Parties and dancing..though it is dark outside the light shines within. Attempts are made at making this holiday done with good cheer no matter what the circumstances are. It is time to stop. Do a little jig, raise a pint and wish everyone in Alienville a Merry Christmas~
All the blessings of a Happy New Year to each of you from my little spot in Roswell.

Snowing in Roswell...

Happy day!
I woke up in the middle of the night and like a gentle grace the snow began to fall! There was a little moonlight trickling through the clouds which made the snow glisten even more.
This morning as I was wandering around my house I came across the book, Practicing the Presence. Reminding me, once again, to remain in the moment. I do understand how important it is to have memories and also to plan for the future. But at this time in my life it is important for me to be happy right at this moment.
To not walk by happiness without recognizing it!
Being close to family and friends.
To reach out and give a hug! That is important! Simple things. It is in those simple things that I find Peace. Letting go of trying to control life and just allowing it to be as it is. Walking on if I need to...or maybe just sitting a spell by the fire to reorganize myself.

The Good, the Bad And The Ugly!

The holidays are upon us.
We will all experience the good, bad & ugly of it all. Hopefully, more good than bad but you never know!
Expectations tend to run high.
Stress of all the preparation & expectation.
We all know it too well, yet how many times do we say this year will be different.

Well, truthfully it is different!
There will never be another Thanksgiving like this one however you celebrate it! It is one of a kind...the question is though...will it be the Good, Bad or Ugly! There's the rub!

Sometimes, no matter how hard we TRY to make it good it may not be.
Maybe the key is take a step back, do what you can to make it good and watch what happens next. There may be absolutely nothing you can do if others around you need to experience a bad or ugly holiday. Ahhh...But you ask me..Who needs that? Apparently some people do. Some just don't know how to have a good time..maybe because of their own past..or expectations or whatever is happening for them at the moment. Just because somebody else experiences a horrible holiday doesn't mean it has to spoil yours.

Find a little something to be amused by for just one moment. Step outside on that Glorious Holiday and breathe a sigh of relief.

Yep, I'm still here. Life goes on and everything really will be OK, even if it is only for this moment. If we know in that one moment that all is OK it will help us when things aren't OK!

The View from Roswell

It is a cold November day in Roswell. The leaves are a beautiful gold all over town. I can almost smell the Turkey's starting to Roast.
Today is a day to stay in, close to the fire and snuggle up with a good book.
I awoke this morning at 4 a.m. and did just that!

I am reading a book about the Dawn and it seems only appropriate to read it in the wee hours of the morning. All is still and even my little dog has a bite to eat and wanders back to bed.

I am greeting the morning with one less tree on my property. The roots were about to attack my neighbor's swimming pool so it was time for it to go! A Beautiful Cottonwood. I have taken some pics of it but have not had a chance to download them but I will soon.

When things change so does the view. Sometimes it is disorienting to see a different bit of sky as I come driving up to my house. More space! More space to dream. I recently have been clearing away things from the past.
Maybe it to has widen my perspective. Given me more space to breath.
There is a meditation to be said in the morning of Imagining that this is the last day of your life...act accordingly.
So far, I am happy with today. I am sure there will be regrets but actually, at this moment, I have none.
Seize the day!

Suffering...

My mind rambles to that saying about "suffer the little children" from the Sermon on the Mount..and "in the world ye shall have tribulation"...it is just the way that it is.
The more that I accept this fact, the easier it is for me to find peace. Suffering is the absence of Peace.
Peace, even though things didn't turn out the way that I wanted. Peace in the face of prejudice and hatred.
Peace, that this too shall pass.
Peace, that no matter what occurs in the future we all will have the strength to endure and we may suffer but knowing that there is a kind Hand that will be there when we reach out will bring comfort.

I have a hard time dreaming of the future. I am in the process of Not looking at the Past and just being here now. Do you know how hard that is?
In the matter of minutes I am drawn into the waters of the Past or swiftly moved by the current of my mind to what I expect the Future to hold. But really no one knows.

The gift truly is in the present! This moment is all I have and I can choose to Suffer or I can choose to be at Peace. Which will I cling to?
I am reminded of that old hymn...

When Peace like a river attendeth my way..when sorrows like sea billows roll ...what ever my lot Thou hast taught me to say It is well..it is well with my soul!

Monday Morning thoughts..

It has been a couple weeks since I have jotted down some notes. The most heartfelt thing that has happened in Roswell as of late is there have been now 3 deaths from the H1N1 virus. A 17 year old, 37 & now today in the news a 15 year old. I was watching 60 Minutes last night and they were talking about it being in the same vein as the 1918 flu. All I know is that it is fatal quickly on relatively healthy individuals. So, we all carry around Germ-X,(I wish I had stock in that) and hope for the best. I got a flu shot this year which is a first for me. I babysit twins and they got their shots so thought I had better too! I am hesitant though of the H1N1 shot. There is so much controversy about it. When I hear that nurses and other health care workers are not wanting to take it, THAT makes me leery. It is a mute point right now as there is no vaccine available in Roswell. The first doses we received were given to the hospital workers.


On a much lighter note, the weather has been beautiful. I winterized my air conditioner and thought about putting up the fans but it will be in the 80's this week so I might still need them. It was peaceful this weekend. Leaves falling gently to the ground and I am filled with gratitude. Gratitude for the dawn of another day in Roswell.