THE BOHO SUMMER WEDDING

We are so excited to announce the marriage of our beautiful daughter Kennedy and her fiance Timothy, whom we love very much!

Happiness is mine, she has chosen a Boho Wedding which is just what I have always wanted for her. The simple and the chic, with burlap and lace, beautiful white Hydrangeas and Baby's Breath and flower head wreaths.

 My heart and soul are full of blessings and love.

Our little grandchildren and a little cousin will be part of the event, to witness the marriage of these two wonderful people and parents. Pinch me, I am in heaven!

The biggest challenge for me, as a person who wears emotions on my sleeve, will be to not weep through the whole day, I just want to embrace the joy and see the love through the eyes of my grandchildren and these two beautiful people who will vow to make a lifetime commitment to each other.

It is a bonus and a blessing that we love Timothy like a son.

The possibilities for the adorable are endless.

Flower Girl Cousin Ella

Baby Evelyn

Gabriel The Ring Bearer

There is still so much to do, as the plans emerge and the DIY team meetings begin, we will find fun and laughter as we construct Kennedy's and Timothy's dream for their perfect wedding day.

To see the inspirations and ideas for this Boho Wedding Day, we have a Pinterest group board.

Sharing the love with you!

Kennedy And Timothy Wedding

Love is in the air!

And, there will be a S'MORE bar!

Live a life of joy!

SHINING A LIGHT ON 2015 ~ DARE TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

"First, I do not sit down at my desk to put into verse something that is already clear in my mind. If it were clear in my mind, I should have no incentive or need to write about it. We do not write in order to be understood; we write in order to understand." 
 - ROBERT CECIL DAY LEWIS

I realize that it is already the 20th of January and I am just now writing my New Year's blog post.... the quote above inspired me, who knows why certain quotes will give us that little push but, it did... although I don't even know where to begin....so much has transpired during that last year, so much to look forward to in the next. So, in doing some soul searching, deciding to live how I have always believed best, at least for me.

With every day a new day, a new dawn, to begin again, to bring new experiences as each new day unfolds into the night once again and we begin our fireside chats and talk about our hopes and dreams, waiting for life's journey to unfold. THOUGH THE PATH THAT LED TO ACHIEVEMENTS WERE LIKELY PEPPEERED WITH MANY DIFFICULTIES, THE KNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF BESTING SUCH ODDS WILL ENCOURAGE US AND PREPARE US FOR THE MANY CHALLENGES THAT LIE AHEAD.

INSPIRED BY THE SATISFACTION OF SUCCESS, I WILL REASSESS MY FUTURE PLANS TO INCLUDE DREAMS NOT YET REALIZED, THAT ARE VASTLY MORE AMBITIOUS THAN THOSE I HAVE EMBRACED IN THE PAST.

With gratitude, I am here and still active and strong, my family is happy and healthy and life is good.
I have no New Year's resolutions to make, I do however resolve to shine My light on the world each day, continue to work for peace and understanding, so that all people may learn to live as one. 

years ago I bought my husband, as one of his Valentine's Day gifts, a cd, the concert for Bangladesh with george harrison and several other famous musicians, including this guy.... Billy Preston, he lit it up! truly he did!
And, so there you have it, to let go of 2014 and moving forward to a wonderful year to come in 2015 ~ Blessed Be



Be The Love ~

GRATEFUL HEARTS AND CHRISTMAS WISHES

With grateful hearts for all of you this past year, we send you our most sincere season’s greetings and this special message of cheer ~ Holly

A message of cheer from Children's International ~

The city had withdrawn into itself
And left at last the country to the country;
When between whirls of snow not come to lie
And whirls of foliage not yet laid, there drove
A stranger to our yard, who looked the city,
Yet did in country fashion in that there
He sat and waited till he drew us out
A-buttoning coats to ask him who he was.
He proved to be the city come again
To look for something it had left behind
And could not do without and keep its Christmas.
He asked if I would sell my Christmas trees;
My woods—the young fir balsams like a place
Where houses all are churches and have spires.
I hadn’t thought of them as Christmas Trees.
I doubt if I was tempted for a moment
To sell them off their feet to go in cars
And leave the slope behind the house all bare,
Where the sun shines now no warmer than the moon.
I’d hate to have them know it if I was.
Yet more I’d hate to hold my trees except
As others hold theirs or refuse for them,
Beyond the time of profitable growth,
The trial by market everything must come to.
I dallied so much with the thought of selling.
Then whether from mistaken courtesy
And fear of seeming short of speech, or whether
From hope of hearing good of what was mine,
I said, “There aren’t enough to be worth while.”
“I could soon tell how many they would cut,
You let me look them over.”

“You could look.
But don’t expect I’m going to let you have them.”
Pasture they spring in, some in clumps too close
That lop each other of boughs, but not a few
Quite solitary and having equal boughs
All round and round. The latter he nodded “Yes” to,
Or paused to say beneath some lovelier one,
With a buyer’s moderation, “That would do.”
I thought so too, but wasn’t there to say so.
We climbed the pasture on the south, crossed over,
And came down on the north.
He said, “A thousand.”

“A thousand Christmas trees!—at what apiece?”

He felt some need of softening that to me:
“A thousand trees would come to thirty dollars.”

Then I was certain I had never meant
To let him have them. Never show surprise!
But thirty dollars seemed so small beside
The extent of pasture I should strip, three cents
(For that was all they figured out apiece),
Three cents so small beside the dollar friends
I should be writing to within the hour
Would pay in cities for good trees like those,
Regular vestry-trees whole Sunday Schools
Could hang enough on to pick off enough.
A thousand Christmas trees I didn’t know I had!
Worth three cents more to give away than sell,
As may be shown by a simple calculation.
Too bad I couldn’t lay one in a letter.
I can’t help wishing I could send you one,
In wishing you herewith a Merry Christmas.

Robert Frost

Have a wonderful, joyous Christmas ~
Have a blessed holiday!

THE EBB AND FLOW OF CREATIVITY

Not feeling it? Lost your creative flow? Well yes, I have!

Are you are wondering what steps I will take to remedy this obstacle in my creativity?

Walking through my mind, my thoughts go to the reasons why I am here on this earthly plain. 

The Winter months bring gusting winds, icy cold, and rain, forcing me indoors more, I miss my connection with nature, earthing and the warmth of the sun. Well, what do you know? it appears I am onto something here! So, my the first step, go out anyway, brave the wet cold and feel the wind and rain on my face, enjoy the festive lights around the city.... leading the way to my second step; to smile at everyone I see, engage with people, shine a light on the world around me. Smiling alone lifts the spirits and raises you up.
I am feeling better already, it must be because I am smiling thinking about this.

Tonight as I venture out into the Winter evening to do my grocery shopping, I will appreciate the sights and sounds, the brisk walk will remind me that I am alive and will be warm and safe in my home again soon. The simple fact that I am able to buy food and that I can walk to grocery stores in my neighborhood, now there is a blessing, bringing that food home to prepare and savor, to share with others is yet one more beautiful blessing.

I have peaceful days and restful nights, a job I love, a beautiful family, friends who love me, I live in the most beautiful, green city where nature is abundant and wild,  these are my sources of inspiration.

Still missing the bees and the butterflies, the birds at my feeder, blooming plants and warm soil. What I need is snow! Glorious white snowfall blanketing everything and plunging us into silence. Ah! something to look forward to. And, there we have the third step, looking forward. 
The joy in the eyes of the children on Christmas, mistletoe, and laughter, wonderful aromas of the holiday meal, fill our senses with hints of cinnamon and roasting turkey. Pumpkin pie, there is a tradition worth being happy about. 

With these three steps, I will soon be back, with creative juices flowing, for the love of nature, smiles, looking forward and remembering why I am here with love for life and gratitude.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM PORTLAND OREGON

Get out, feel the love, be inspired and smile ~ Holly
Be the peace ~