Day 14. Circles of Friendship

2008, by Brenda Colleen Leyland

"I'm convinced that one mustn't wait for people to reach out--we must reach in." Jan Karon, author of the popular Mitford series

Sometimes we wait for someone else to invite us out for coffee, to notice we're having a down day, or to remember it's our birthday (see my note below). At a dinner party or Mary Kay Conference, we stand around hoping someone will come over and say hi.

Often that has a lot to do with our fear of rejection. I'm so afraid of being snubbed that I'd sooner stand there alone and miserable than risk going over and introducing myself.

That's how I used to be. Until I started paying attention to the wise words that perfect love casts out fear. We overcome our fear when we choose to forget about ourselves, and start loving the other person. Love being patient, kind, not rude.

When I focus on the other person's needs, my compassion for her makes me bold. Because love is kind, and I know what it feels like, I don't want her to feel that way. So I reach out to her.

I like what Jan Karon said -- we shouldn't wait for someone else to reach out to us. If you want to be a part of the group, then look for someone who is hanging back. Focus on making her feel more comfortable, and you'll forget about your own discomfort. Maybe you've been admiring something about her outfit...tell her and watch it change the atmosphere. The fear leaves, the rejection leaves, you smile, and you're left with a soft, beautiful sense of well-being for both of you.

We'll never be on the outside looking in when we are the ones opening the circle to welcome someone new into our lives. A circle that does not exclude, but is ever widening to enfold a new consultant, neighbour, co-worker, or fellow conference attender.When I started taking the initiative to reach out, I was amazed at how many new friends I was gathering around me. I love it. Talk about it changing my life for the better....and the more beautiful.

So...here's to ever widening circles of friends. And to all the wonderful people I'm honored to call friend now!

Gracefully yours,Brenda

MY TIP ABOUT BIRTHDAYS!


My birthday is important to me. So, if I want people to remember it, I tell them. Simple as that.


People are busy...they forget...unless they have a great memory like my friend Terrill! You know how bad you feel when you've forgotten someone's special day. So be kind, remind them if you want them to remember it.


And if I want a party or have a hankering to attend a special concert, then I plan for that too and invite others to share it with me. Put a twist on the day.... make other people feel great on your day.... like your mom and dad, for instance (since they started the whole thing). Treat them for giving you life.


Some of my best birthdays have been the ones where I reached out and connected with others, including them in my day, in my circle of friendship.

Day 13. Happy Saturday

2008, by Brenda Colleen Leyland

Oh, the bliss of a lazy Saturday morning, especially when it's the Saturday of a long weekend!Although the air is hinting at autumn (it can come early in northerly Alberta), it's a beautiful morning with blue skies, cheeky chickadees in the neighbourhood, and a crispness in the air that makes you want to wrap your fingers around your coffee cup. (although, this particular morning, it's hot cocoa!)

Even after nearly five years of not working in an office, and being at home full-time, I still get a little thrill when I realize the weekend has arrived. Perhaps because weekends tend to have a rhythm that is more leisurely and rambly. I love spontaneous moments and, for us, Saturday seems to promise more of that than any other day.

And so I'm off. Have a beautiful weekend. Enjoy the outdoors. Enjoy your family. Enjoy being alive. And of course enjoy your dinner!

Leisurely yours,
Brenda

Day 12. Victoria Is My Favorite!

2008, by Brenda Colleen Leyland

FOR YARS, my absolute favorite magazine in all the world has been Victoria. I can remember the exact moment when, as I stood in front of a magazine stand looking for something wonderful to read, I saw that first issue in 1987.

From the first sighting, I knew this was going to be a love affair of a lasting kind. From the front cover to the last page, it was exactly what my womanly heart had been looking for. A magazine that spoke to the feminine, gentler side of life, a magazine that celebrated the creativity and originality of women who follow their dreams.

I have every issue, and whenever I need a pick me up or some creative inspiration, I'll often reach for my Victoria. You know, "just take two issues with tea and call me in the morning."

What amazes me is that other readers seem to be just as smitten as I am. I realize just how populated the world is with kindred spirits. Women, like me, like you, who also share a love of beauty, nature, art, books, and craftsmanship. It's a beautiful circle. 
I just read an interview with Ms. Hoffman about the magazine. If you are interested, click here Celebrate! The Return of Victoria, then click on the box "Women Who Inspire" and look for the article on the sidebar. And while you're there, you will find all manner of other wonderful articles and pages to enjoy.
 
Rick was teasing me one day, because he'd heard that a complete set of Victoria magazines was selling for very interesting sums of money over e-bay. He thought he could get a good price for my set. Of course I retaliated by saying his treasured woodworking tools would probably sell up pretty fast, if Miss Kitty and I had a mind to list them on-line.

We agreed...we could each keep our treasures.
 
Victoria recently put out a call to its readers to submit essays about their holiday memories and traditions. So I decided to write something and send it in. It's off now, with fingers crossed. I'd be over the moon if a call came to say, yes, we'd love to use your piece.

If it happens, I'll let you know! If it doesn't, look for the holiday edition in November anyway. It promises to be a wonderful celebration of this beautiful time of year. (If you are interested in submitting your own holiday memories, check it out on the Victoria site.)

The September/October issue arrived on the stands this week. And yes, I have my copy...and got an extra to share with Jean, another kindred spirit and one of my dearest girlfriends!

Till next time then!

Victoria-ly yours,
Brenda 
PS. Over the years, with so many disasters happening around us, I have pondered what I would take from my home if I had to make an emergency exit.

I don't know if I should admit it out loud...but I'd take my Victoria's if I could. My Bible, journal, toothbrush, Miss Kitty...and my Victoria's. I figure if I'd have to live in a school gym for a while, I could do it with more grace if I had a little beauty in my hands.

Day 11. Sometimes More Is Too Much

2008, by Brenda Colleen Leyland

I'll never forget the story I heard years ago of a fellow who loved to bake bread. He was an artisan in his craft. Because he wanted to work the dough himself, he could only produce a few dozen loaves in a day, and because he had time to be creative in his bread-making, his bread became more and more popular.

Pretty soon people were clamoring for him to expand his business. He kept saying no as that would mean taking his work into a whole different dimension. I felt bad for him, because here was a man doing what he loved, and doing only enough so that he could still enjoy what he did each day. To take it to an assembly line would have taken the artistry out of his baking. 

And the joy of actually working with his hands in the dough would have been traded for turning machinery buttons on and off. (Some may call that progress, but is it?)
 
I like what Oscar Wilde says, "Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter."

The artist here is the baker, and the portrait his loaves of bread. Maybe I'm being romantic, but perhaps that's why the customers were begging for more. He poured his love of baking bread into each slice. Every loaf was unique...not exactly the same shape or even with the exact same ingredients, because he could change his mind and add raisins without ruining a truckload of flour. You can't get that in mass production! 
Too often we live by other people's standards of what we need to do to feel productive. "Show me your piles of files in your outbox, and I'll tell you if you've been productive or not. Let me see how much work you've accomplished and I'll judge how much to reward you."

Mass production and creativity don't usually live on the same street. We may be tempted, even pushed into, doing more and making it bigger. But more is not always better. Not if the trade-off means loss of time for relationships, nurturing our own inner world, and sacrificing rest for bodies that are not machines. Not if we trade in our God-given creativity, and the ability to be original and truly enjoy our work.

There's an old wise saying, "When you eat the fruit of the labor of your hands, you shall be happy, and it shall be well with you."
 
I look around me...sometimes I don't always get a whole lot accomplished in a day. I don't have neat stacks of finished files to show for my labor anymore. 

But for my efforts I may have a beautifully articulated article that will encourage my readers. I may have a friend who feels hopeful again because I spent an afternoon with her.

I may have traded in 'production' (and the money that went with it), but I am enjoying the fruit of the labor of my hands, I'm happy, and it is well with me.

I wonder about that artisan-baker. I hope he never traded in his delight of working with his hands for an increase in production of his bread. I think everyone would have been disappointed in the end.

Sometimes more is too much. So I'm learning to ask for Wisdom to know when to stop. On that note, I stop. May the fruit of your hands bring you happiness and wellness today.

Fruitfully yours, 
Brenda

Day 10. Celebrate the Mini-Successes Too!

2008, by Brenda Colleen Leyland
 
It's Day 10 and today I'm celebrating! You may recall that I set myself a goal to do 100 postings in 100 days. In other words, a challenge to be diligent and committed to writing every day--not just in my personal journal--but so someone else can read and enjoy it too. 
Well, I am happy...I've already accomplished one tenth of my goal and I'm having a blast doing it too!


I am beginning to see the value of celebrating our mini-successes. It helps us to stay motivated during the long haul. When we work on a goal that has a longer time frame and requires more effort and skill, the small movements forward can help stay off discouragement, especially if we've begun to doubt our ability to achieve it.

If we focus on what is not happening (I'm not losing 25 pounds right now), it's so easy to neglect what is happening (I'm adjusting one small eating habit that will eventually make a difference over time).

Focusing on what is happening can help create a built-in circle of motivation. You reach one small success, you get excited, you get motivated to do more, you take the next step, you achieve that, you get more excited, you do the next step....

Celebrating the every day successes is a good thing, which is why Rick and I plan to toast my mini-achievement at our favorite coffee spot Cafe Haven this afternoon.

And while I'm marking this occasion, I want to THANK all you beautiful readers who have been so kind and positive in your feedback by leaving a comment, or contacting me via e-mail and personally. I appreciate it a whole bunch! I love writing, and knowing that what I share from my heart is touching yours in some way means a lot to me.

So why not do something to celebrate some small success today! And together we'll watch our motivation rise to a new level.

Successfully yours,
Brenda

 

Day 9. Be Easily Delighted

2008, by Brenda Colleen Leyland

"I've never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful." -- Unknown

Have you ever been around someone who can never be pleased? No matter what you say or do, it just isn't good enough....it's too hot or too cold, too bright or too dark, too red, too purple, too loud, too soft.

Then there are those individuals who can be happy with whatever you do for them, no matter how small. They are just as easily delighted by a spring rain as a diamond ring, with a stubby bouquet of dandelions as the finest long stemmed roses (mmmm...hope my husband doesn't see this bit).

We can easily fall into the habit of complaining and hardly realize we're doing it. Sometimes we think it's just the loud and obnoxious characters that have this bad habit, but even quiet folk do it...their complaining may be gentler, but it's still complaining.

If you've been on the receiving end of someone's never ending complaints, you know how wearying it is. I've also noticed that it fatigues our own souls. Complaining pulls us down and weights us like heavy chains. Our souls are meant to laugh and sing and be grateful. It makes living so much more pleasant when we know how to enjoy simple pleasures and be content with small blessings.
Be the customer that doesn't make restaurant servers and shop cashiers cringe when they see you coming. Maybe the service is a little slow, but you don't know what's happening behind the scenes (maybe somebody's child just had an accident). Is 10 minutes here or there going to really matter?

Be the face people are glad to see coming up their driveway. Be grateful for even the smallest blessings that come your way. Be easily delighted today...it's another way of living a beautiful life.

Delightfully yours, Brenda 

 

Day 8. Do You Sing?

2008, by Brenda Colleen Leyland

"You should work on projects that make your heart sing."
 ~ Lady Bird Johnson

Many of us probably remember the little tune the seven dwarfs whistled in the old Disney movie, Snow White. It seems even these short fellows recognized that whistling while they worked helped get the work done with more fun and less stress.

Whoever said that our life's work should be tedious or nose-to-the-grind-stone drudgery, I would like a word with those folks! Of course we don't always find ourselves in situations where we feel like whistling or singing. But maybe that's when we need to think about what we do every day and look more closely at the path we are on. Especially if the song has died in our hearts.

It took me years to step out of my fear zone and leave a workplace that I had outgrown mentally, emotionally and spiritually. My song had died. I may have never had the courage to leave if I hadn't had a physical breakdown first. My body just quit -- it said, 'that's it, girl, the end of the road is here'. A culmination of work stress, and having both my dear Dad and beloved nephew diagnosed with cancer at the same time all took its toll.

That was five years ago, and these past five years have been a time of getting my strength back physically, getting healed emotionally, as well as taking stock of my heart's desires and finding out what is my God-given destiny.

My song is back. I'm so happy that sometimes I feel like I'm going to lift off like Winnie the Pooh's helium balloon when he's out looking for honey bees.

I'm at home, I'm married, and I'm writing...three dreams come true. Maybe that's why I have a growing passion to see other women fulfill their own heart's desires. I love to write, and through my writings, I want to encourage women to create their own Eden, that place where they will find fulfillment and joy in the lives they live.

'Cause it's true, if momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. As women we hold the key to happy lives and happy homes for our families. That's why I want you to rethink your own life. If your song has died, what will make the music begin again?

It's never too late to find that work for your hands and work for your heart that will bring the joy back. If you don't know where to begin, I'd ask God, since He's the one who really wants you to succeed and be happy. And then I'd wait and listen.

Whether you hear something right away or whether it dawns slowly like an Alberta sunrise, if you listen, you will begin to hear...a melody softly forming. It's in your heart. It wants to come out. It wants you to sing again!

Gracefully yours,
Brenda

 

Day 7. Out of the Blue

HAVE YOU EVER received a call 'out of the blue' and it is an old friend phoning with the hope that you're free for lunch? Or found a little note, a small wrapped package on your desk, and it wasn't even your birthday? Suddenly an ordinary day blossoms into something special.

What makes it so delightful? I think it's the spontaneity, the unexpectedness of the gift. We expect birthday and Christmas presents in our culture. But when someone does something out of the blue -- just because -- we feel special, noticed, appreciated.

'Out of the blue' gestures can be simple and they don't have to cost much more than a card and postage stamp. A spur-of-the-moment tea party with your five-year-old, a single fragrant blossom left on a desk, or a branch of autumn leaves in a jar left on a neighbour's front step. A notebook tied with colourful ribbon. It's the surprise -- the sense of whimsy -- that gives the gesture its particular flavor.

You may recall the wise words "give and it shall be given to you" Why not do something spontaneous for someone today, and then watch it come back into your own life....right out of the blue!

Spontaneously yours, 
Brenda

 

Day 6. 30-Second Joy Bubbles

I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER the Spring day a few years ago, when I found myself in the midst of an apple blossom blizzard.

Now living in Alberta, we're well used to freak spring snow blizzards, so for half a second I thought it was snowing. But no....it was apple blossom petals falling everywhere, drifting even inside my car. What fun! Kind of like confetti at a wedding. Talk about a 30-second joy bubble turning an ordinary morning into the poetic.

We all know how elusive soap bubbles are...light, frothy, and then poof! they're gone. It seems joy bubbles are like that, they float by and if you don't enjoy them right then, they're gone too.

Spring is past, summer's almost over, and the blooms, in which we meant to bury our noses at least once, are now spent and dried. We say we didn't have time. But what is life about in the end if we can't pause, even for 30 seconds, to smell the roses. Why would God put fragrance in flowers if we weren't meant to enjoy their delightful aromas?

Today, as you rush out of the house, take 30 seconds to smell the morning air, to listen for the chickadees calling chicka-dee-dee-dee. You might even find a late blooming rose. If you did miss the lilac season, I want to assure you that the trees are already planning for their autumn extravaganza this fall. Don't disappoint them...they're putting on the show just for you.

Have you got 30 seconds? Take time for a joy bubble. I promise, it's a great way to make your life more beautiful!

Joyfully yours,
Brenda

Day 5. Make Up Your Mind

2008, by Brenda Colleen Leyland

Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. -~ Abraham Lincoln

FROM WHERE I SIT, I have to agree with Mr. Lincoln. Whether it's sitting in a restaurant or hanging around where employees are out for their lunch hour stroll, so often the snippets of conversation wafting past my ears are such that you think, is there no one happy with anything? The boss is no good, the co-workers are rats, the spouse is up to something and the kids are driving them crazy.

Years ago, I heard a former Miss America share her belief that we can choose to be happy; it's always within our reach. When I heard that, I sat up and took notice. Always in my reach? Can it be true? Until then, when the grumpies would show up, I thought I just had to ride it out until my mood changed, (oh yes, and slam a few cupboard doors, too). But listening to Cheryl Prewitt-Salem, I realized the ball of happiness really was in my court. I have a choice -- a three-second choice. Every single time. Even on PMS days.

I don't need to wait for the mood to pass like a quirky summer storm. As soon as I decide, as soon as I lift my shoulders and smile, I am amazed at how quickly my whole demeanor follows suit. Suddenly I feel less tired, my mood swings upward, and I seem lighter.

Which reminds me of something that is attributed to Charlie Brown himself...

This is my "depressed stance." When you're depressed, it makes a lot of difference how you stand. The worst thing you can do is straighten up and hold your head high because then you'll start to feel better. If you're going to get any joy out of being depressed, you've got to stand like this."

Even though we can't see Charlie Brown here, I have to be honest, I can well imagine his stance, for I used to be good at being cranky. I used to choose it. I had it down to an art, because I thought I had no choice. After all, I'm having a hard day, right?

To quell that habit, I began to tell myself every night as I was getting ready to sleep, "Tomorrow I will wake up with vitality and good humour." When I woke up, just on the edge of consciousness, if I started to think "ugg, I have to get up", I'd also immediately remember ah, but I choose to wake up with vitality and good humour. And now I do. Ask my husband.

So Miss Prewitt-Salem was right. You want to know what else? Me choosing to be cheerful (no matter what's going on) has begun to permeate the atmosphere wherever I go. So often as I'm going about my business, I'll have people actually make eye contact and smile, and I'll wonder why. I think it's because I'm happy and it shows on my face.

I love it. If creating a little heaven on earth is part of my purpose, then it's working. As a result of making choices to be happy as often as possible, my life has taken a definite turn for the beautiful.

Happily yours,
Brenda

Day 4. Just Take It Bird By Bird

 
AUTHOR ANN LAMOTT in her book Bird by Bird shares a story about her brother when he was 10 years old. On the eve of having to hand in a major school assignment about birds, he found himself in big trouble because he'd left it until the last minute. With paper, pencils and bird books surrounding him, in his frantic effort to get a three month project done in a few hours, he became, as Anne puts it, "immobilized by the hugeness of the task ahead."

Ever been there? I can just imagine the boy's panic and frustration, not to mention his anger at the monstrous shadow that threatened his doom. But the part I love about this story is when a helpful dad put his arm around the boy's shoulders and said, "Bird by bird, buddy. Just take it bird by bird."

Part of living a beautiful life is finding ways to deal with what looms on our horizon like an unfinished school project without panic and undue stress. Whether it's a messy house, an overgrown garden, an inventory gone awry, or an unexpected errand that has urgent written all over it--whatever makes you feel overwhelmed and slightly panicked--I give you the same words that calmed a young boy. Just take it bird by bird.

Don't be tempted to keep looking at the mammoth size of your project because you'll only see how much is still left to do. So...take a deep breath.

• Organize --  figure what exactly needs to be done.
• Prioritize -- decide what you really need and what you can leave out.
• Divide --  your task into small, bird-size pieces; do them one at a time.

Now savour that sense of being in control. It's a beautiful feeling.
 

Gracefully yours,
Brenda

Photo source:  Graphics Fairy 

It's All in the Layering

"I want my life to be like a 7-layer birthday cake."

Have you ever eaten a delicious 7-layer birthday cake? One of those delectable mile-high desserts where between every chocolate-y layer a new flavor bursts on your taste buds. It's heavenly, isn't it? Now there is nothing wrong with a one-layer cake, but, oh my! it so much more exciting to savor a variety of flavors in that one mouthful. Just imagine it. Tart raspberry mousse, vanilla cream, hazelnuts and caramel coconut.


I think I'd like my life to be just like a 7-layer chocolate cake. Interesting and slightly unpredictable, with promises of rich creamy texture, sweetness, and crunch in every bite.


Like the baker of such a dessert, we can choose what we'll put between the layers of our daily existence. Sure, we can have a simple one-layer sponge cake, doing laundry or some other task all day long, but wouldn't it be more fun to anticipate a day layered with different tastes, textures, and experiences. 

Layers of reading, scrapbooking or birdwatching. Doing the crossword or posting a new blog for your business. Walking, swimming, meditating. Visiting at large family gatherings and quiet solitude in the garden. Layering the fun stuff between the more tedious tasks. Lazy moments alongside crazy busy ones.


It may be an old cliche, but it's true, variety is the spice of life.  When I layer my days with an assortment of activities, people and experiences, and life will suddenly burst forth with more flavor. Mmmmmm! Have a slice.


Deliciously yours,
Brenda

Day 3. What's For Dinner?

HOW CAN COOKING and meal preparation become a more beautiful part of our lives? Even for the most ardent of chefs, meal prep can get wearisome sometimes. Day after day, we ask the same question, what will we make for dinner tonight?

I have found that cultivating a good attitude, planning ahead, and making sure there is a variety of choices at hand increases the enjoyment of my cooking experience. Any day that I'm flying out the door without any idea of what's for supper makes me feel not quite in control (and a little irritated too).

So I've begun to look for ways to make this necessary part of my life more creative and motivating. Here's what's helped me:

1. First, cancel ALL negative confessions! Don't mutter how you hate cooking or that you wish someone else in this family would help out more. It only make you feel worse. I look at it as a tangible, very hands-on way to express love to my family. I have two males in my household...they both like their food. Making a nice meal is a perfect way to show I care about them.

2. Plan your menus and then work your plan. Do some prep work first thing in the morning. Take out the frozen chicken breasts and whip up the marinade for later use.

3. There are hundreds of recipes in books, magazines and on-line to help you prepare easy and nutritious meals in 30 minutes or less. Make it easy on yourself. A current favourite food blogs is Dinner with Julie. She shares some interesting recipes and gives you a glimpse into her life in her Calgary kitchen.

3. Recognize that cooking and grocery shopping ARE a daily part of your life's work; it's not an intrusion, it's part of it. So embrace and plan for it, and don't try to tack it on hoping you can fit it in somewhere when you're bushed at the end of the day.

4. If possible, be kind to yourself and leave enough room in your day so you can prepare your evening meal with more finesse and joy.

5. Let the pictures and write-ups of a fun new cookbook inspire you. One like Jan Karon's 'Mitford Cookbook & Kitchen Reader'. Or Maya Angelou's 'Hallelujah the Welcome Table, A Lifetime of Memories and Recipes'. They both have wonderful recipes and stories that connect you to other women also involved in the daily task of food preparation.

Cookin' will always be with us, so why not look for ways to make it easier, more fun, and as enjoyable as we can. It's all part of living a beautiful life.

Gracefully yours,
Brenda 

Day 2. The Art of Ordinary Things

 
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME you really looked at that beautiful vase you just couldn't live without only a few months ago?

Or the collection of pretty seashells you spent so much time searching for during your ocean holiday? What about the picture hanging over your computer? How quickly we get accustomed to those things we see all the time. Our eyes glaze over and we don't even notice what we once considered a treasure. (Maybe that's why we love to bring out our holiday decorations; it gives us a chance to enjoy something different for awhile.)

We don't always need brand new things to make our homes sparkle again. We can get a new look without breaking the bank. How? By simply giving our things a new home.

No, I don't mean sending them down the street to the neighbours. I mean, taking your pictures, ornaments, small tables, lamps and cushions, and placing them in unsuspecting corners in your house, in totally different rooms. Give your long-stemmed glass candle holder the new job of holding short-stemmed pansies. Let the tranquil landscape painting in your rarely used dining room add peaceful bliss to your bedroom.

It's taking your old things, the stuff you have right now, and finding new ways to display them. The art of turning ordinary back into special--a little like spinning straw into gold--can add simple beauty to our every day lives.

Look for new ways you can make your home beautiful today. 

Artfully yours,
Brenda

Day 1. Just Jump In!

2008, by Brenda Colleen Leyland

EVERYONE SEEMS to be blogging these days. Everyone except me. That is, until today! Although I've been okay at navigating through the world of computers and cyberspace, I'm from the generation that sometimes considers 'Computers as a Second Language'. I remember back when the Selectric typewriter was state-of-the-art in office and business equipment.


So today is a red letter day for me as I just jump in and create a blog all by myself. I've been reading an interesting book by Biz Stone called, Who Let the Blogs Out? Well, here's another one let loose on the world! I hope it adds texture and beauty to the mixture.


I've set myself a challenge to do 100 postings in 100 days. As I get more experienced at navigating in this new world, this blog will evolve, hopefully to make it an easier and more inviting place to visit. Till next time then!


Bravely yours,
Brenda

Dear Beautiful Reader

MY NAME IS BRENDA LEYLAND and I've created this blog to explore and share inspirational and encouraging thoughts about making our lives more beautiful.

We encounter ugly things every day and some people say, well that's the reality. But I always remember someone once saying that roses are as real as pigpens. I believe beauty can be just as real in our lives as any ugly or sad thing. Besides, why should ugly have the upper hand?

Years ago, I read Alexandra Stoddard's book Living a Beautiful Life. As I read it, I realized what I wanted -- to live so as to create a little heaven on earth in my own corner of the world, and to inspire others to find the beauty and joy that's hidden in every crevice of life (yes, even inside our refrigerator as Alexandra pointed out).

Alexandra calls her many creative ideas 'grace notes'. The dictionary describes a grace note as a note in music that embellishes the harmony or melody.

Come, together let's embellish the harmony and melody of our own lives, as well as the lives of those we love and encounter in our neighbourhoods, workplaces and homes. Together, we'll push back the darkness and leave a fragrance of beauty and love in its wake.

If your heart dreams a similar dream (or even if it doesn't) I'd love to hear from you!

Gracefully Yours,
Brenda

My Vision for This Blog

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LIFE
Catching glimpses of heaven in unexpected places
2008, by Brenda Colleen Leyland

My Mission: (what I do) - I write to teach. I teach to equip, encourage and expose truth in the area of living a beautiful life (body, soul and spirit).


My Vision: (what I see for the future) - I see beautiful, happy women learning how to walk in beauty in every area of life, and leaving that fragrance everywhere they go.


My Purpose: (why I do what I do) - To show that women have the ingenuity and ability to create a little 'heaven on earth' in their world, in spite of all that's going on around them.


My Values: (how I conduct my blog) - I honour God in all I do; I walk in love and compassion through my words; I believe God has uniquely equipped me to positively impact the lives of women who read my writings.


My Foundation: For those interested in my foundation for this, please refer to one of my favorite books, the Bible.

Proverbs 25:11
"A word fitly spoken and in due season
is like apples of gold in settings of silver.


Isaiah 61:3
...to give an ornament of beauty instead of ashes...


Genesis 1:31
And God saw everything that He had made,
and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant)
and He approved it completely.


Genesis 2:9
...the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant
to the sight...



In my view, that means God must like beauty and beautiful things,
so it's okay that we do too!



"Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified(R) Bible
Copyright (C) 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987
by The Lockman Foundation

Used by permission."

How To Leave A Comment

Dear Beautiful Reader,

Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog. You are welcome to leave a comment on any of my postings.

If you are new to blogs and postings, and you're not sure what to do, you will notice underneath each day's posting, the word "comment". Just click on it and it will open a screen with a comment box.

1. Type your comment in the box.
2. In the listing of choices, select the button with Name/URL. Now type in your name here (how you want it to appear on-line).
3. When your computer asks you to type in some funny looking letters (called captchca) it's okay to do.... it's proving to the system that you are a human and not a bot (don't ask, something computer-eze).
4. Then press the orange 'Publish Your Comment' button. This should work, but if you are having problems, you may e-mail me at brendaleyland@shaw.ca

Have a wonderful day!
Brenda