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Friday, September 24, 2010

Autumn Leaves and Berries


Every leaf speaks bliss to me,
Fluttering from the autumn tree.
~ Emily Bronte


A perfect autumn day.
Warm with a wispy touch of cool,
sparrows chattering in the treetops,
Kitty's snoozing in a sunbeam
and I'm off to my writers' conference.

Wishing you a WONDERFUL weekend!
Brenda
xox


 © Photo: Brenda Leyland


 


Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Writers Conference




The writers conference looms straight ahead and I'm finalizing my speaking notes for Saturday. I had gathered so much information,  I had the job of paring down to essentials. It's been a good exercise as now everything is fresh in my mind again. Getting excited now!

I just enjoyed reading a posting by Kim de Young at the Get It Done Girl. She shares about how women tend not to truly value the gifts they have because they come so easily to them. I know I've done that in the past, so it was good to be reminded to value the gifts that have been given to us to share. Kim says,
"What I’ve noticed for myself and what I want to share with you is the importance of noticing that which comes easily to you, and placing value on it. What’s easy for you probably isn’t what comes easily to others. And, if you’re like most women, you’re probably taking your gift for granted. We do that to ourselves very often. We don’t often value that which comes easily.  For me, stepping into my gift, opened up so many opportunities that I could never have imagined a year ago."  Click here for the complete post.

For instance, some people ask if I'm nervous about speaking this weekend, but I'm not. Because I know from past experience that when I get in front of a classroom of people, my teaching gift slips on as easily as comfy slippers and I feel quite at home.

Have you ever experienced that? Where you just know this is where you're supposed to be and what you're supposed to be doing?


With that I'm off now...
Brenda




   

Sunday, September 05, 2010

Carol Burnett Book: This Time Together




I am reading Carol Burnett's latest book This Time Together. I so enjoyed all the funny bits and I laughed heartily through most of it. There are also places that are more poignant.

Something that really touched me in the midst of all the humour were the beautiful quotes Carol shares from her daughter, Carrie Hamilton.  Carrie died of cancer in 2002. One saying Carol shared: "One day one of the nurses asked how come Carrie smiled so much. (Carrie) replied, 'Every day I wake up and decide: today I'm going to love my life.' "
 "Our legacy is really the lives we touch, the inspiration we give, altering someone's plan -- if even for a moment -- and getting them to think, cry, laugh, argue.  More than anything, we are remembered for our smiles; the ones we share with our closest and dearest, and the ones we bestow on a total stranger, who needed it RIGHT THEN, and God put you there to deliver." ~ Carrie Hamilton, December 2001 

Today, may you be in the right place at the right time -- whether it's to deliver that smile or receive it!

Hugs to you all...
Brenda
xox