Real Enemies

" The real enemies of our life are the "ought's" and the "if's" They pull us backward into the unalterable past and forward into the unpredictable future"

                                                                                                                                    Henri J.M. Nouwen

A Bette, Buddy, Bella

Below are some other members of our family the bird is Bette she is a rare Australian Rose breasted cockatoo and since females are called Bette's in Australia we thought it a prefect name for her she is a very smart bird, she greets us every morning with a "hi there" she talks up a storm with those she feels comfortable around she gives kisses as well when she feels like it. Bette is a year old and these brids can live up to 65 years. sometimes she scares me and my daughter but all in all she is sweet,

 The little guy in the middle is Buddy(I know he has the face that reminds us of a gremlin maybe we should have named him Gizmo! Buddy is a very active dog he loves being the center of attention he is very affectionate and is a light sleeper he is a good protector and he loves cuddling by anyone of us. Buddy is just a little over a year old my husband took care of his strayed parents while buddy's mother was pregnant and then when Buddy and his brother were born my husband was able to find homes for the parents and his sibling Jeff and the kids fell in love over buddy so he ended up with us. the lady below is Bella she came to us about 3 months after buddy did she was abandoned a friend of my husbands found her in his barn and could not keep her she Bella fell in love with my husband so he brought her home.. she is his little shadow when he takes a nap or is ready for bed she is right there by his side! she is a very affectionate dog as well! she is also our little piggy in the house if she hears anyone in the kitchen she is there hoping your going to share something with her!

we do have another addition in our family she is Kodie she is my daughter's dog I don't have a photo of her yet but will do another post all about her!

Live in the present

"Live in the present and launch yourself on every wave find eternity in each moment"

Few

" Few of us ever live in the present we are forever anticipating what is to come or remembering what has gone" Louis L'Amour

The above quote has been resonating me with the past few days, it is no secret that for the past three years my life has been on an emotional stressful roller coaster ride that I hope is in the start of coming to end. this past January I came to the realization that the stress of the situations of the past few years have made me lose sight of me! I can not control what life throws at me but I am learning that I have the control to handle MY actions/reactions of it and I am learning not to let the stress get to me because stress leads to all sorts of mental and physical aliments that I have no intention of letting myself fall victim to stress. I am learning to take a deep breath and take it one step at a time. I am learning that baby steps will lead to bigger steps and before I know it, it becomes a routine and I am so glad that I am finding my routine which is a daily meditation and yoga/ pilates and walking or jogging. . I cannot anticipate what is to come in the future because like the old Heinz ketchup commercial anticipation is keeping me waiting!  but I know with this new insight I know I can and will be able to tolerate the ride  ( i am not a fan of roller coasters to begin with !) , at least this way it seems to make the roller coaster ride  doesn't seem to make me so nauseated !

peace

" Peace does not dwell in outward things but within the soul, we may preserve it in the midst of the bitterest pain if our will remains firm and submissive Peace in this life springs from acquiescence, not in an exemption from suffering " (Francis Fenelon)

Random Quotes

here are a few random quotes that have been resonating with me thought I would share

"Heaven and heart remain peacefully unmoved,yet their life breath is unceasing and is seldom known to rest"- Hung Ying Ming

" Feelings come and go like clouds in a windy sky,conscious breathing is my anchor"-Thich Nhat Hanh

" Peace does not dwell in outward things but within the soul we may preserve it in the midst of the bitterest pain if our will remains firm and submissive. Peace in this life springs from acquiescence not in an exemption from suffering"- Francis Fenelon

"It is for us to make the effort the result is always in God's hands" Gandhi

"The mature person pays attention to what is happening in the innermost self" - Tzi Ssu

"We cannot put off living until we are ready. the most salient characteristic of life is it's urgency here and now without any possible postponement life is fired at us point-blank" -  Jose Ortega y Gasset

Enlightment

"Enlightenment is understanding that there is nowhere to go, nothing to do, and nobody you have to be except exactly who you're being right now"  (Neale Donald Walsch)

soaking up the sun

Ok so it has been a while since I really sat in my back yard and this weekend I am going to just
be lazy read a good book, look through all types of magazines, have my hubby do the cooking all weekend( ok BBQ) I will take care of the kitchen stuff and we are just going to soak up the sun ( of course I will have lathered up in the sunblock) but it just seems a great way to start my time off. and since funds are a bit limited to take a travel vacation just going to make a worth while vacation at home!


have a good weekend 

We Too

"We too should make ourselves empty that the great soul of the universe may fill us with its breath" Lawrence Binyon