Slow Us Down

I like to keep Sundays as a quieter and simpler day. Although it doesn't always work out that way, an ideal week for me includes a day where I can shrug off the cares of the business at hand to take time to pause, reflect.... to look inward and upward.

For a long time, I used to think the harried hurriedness of our society was just a malady of our fast-paced era, but after reading various accounts of people living in other times and centuries, it seems each generation faced, in its own way, the temptation to 'live too fast'.

I'm reminded of what author Gordon MacDonald, said in his book Ordering Your Private World: "If my private world is in order, it will be because I have chosen to press Sabbath peace into the rush and routine of my daily life in order to find the rest God prescribed for Himself and for all of humanity."

Peter Marshall, a Scottish-born minister who once served as Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, shared a similar thought fashioned in a prayer:

"In the name of Jesus Christ, who was never in a hurry, we pray, O God, that You will slow us down, for we know that we live too fast. With all of eternity before us, make us take time to live---time to get acquainted with You, time to enjoy Your blessings, and time to know each other."

Today I wish you a gentle rhythm of peace... and time to relish the many blessings that have come your way!

 

 

Best blessings,

Brenda

xox

Oh What A Beautiful Morning...

Blue skies, gulls soaring on light breezes, birds whistling and busy with breakfast... although there are no corn stalks around here as high as an elephant's eye, the gorgeous day so far reminds me of that lovely old piece by Rogers and Hammerstein.

I always loved humming along with that song -- it was catchy and it gave me a sense of rightness and beauty in the world. If you need  a little something to hum, click below.

Enjoy your day!
Brenda

It's Summer!

After many days of much-needed rain,

the skies were bright with sunshine and blue skies this morning.

What a great way to begin summer!

No time to hang out here today...

So just popping by to say hi
and to leave you with summer ponderables
from other writers!

"What is one to say about June,

the time of perfect young summer,

the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months,

and with as yet no sign to remind one that

its fresh young beauty will ever fade.

~ Gertrude Jekyll

In June,

as many as a dozen species

may burst their buds on a single day.

No man can heed all of these anniversaries;

no man can ignore all of them.

~ Aldo Leopold

  

There shall be eternal summer

in the grateful heart.

~ Celia Thaxter

Enjoy your day!

Brenda 

(c) Photos: Brenda C Leyland

The Odd Couple

We were all dressed up to go out for the morning; I left the house with earrings bobbling from my earlobes as per usual, not realizing something was not as per usual.

During the morning, I met and talked to various people. I came home to meet with our garden designer (we're finally doing something to our benignly neglected front yard). We trotted together around the yard, chatted at the dining room table over plans and tea.....

All the while

Yours truly was wearing two different earrings!

The funny thing... NO ONE seemed to notice.  I talked to friends and strangers face to face -- and got no odd stares. And funnier yet, I glanced my own face in the powder room mirror a time or two over the day... and NOPE, I didn't notice either!

Mmm... what does that say about our observation skills? Do we just see what we think should be there? Perhaps people thought I was just being creative. Yes, that must be it.

Oh, for the beauty of laughter,

Brenda

xox

 

Simple Pleasures

"Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning

 can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day...

like writing a poem or saying a prayer."
~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh


Wishing you a beautiful day,
Brenda

(c) Photos: Brenda C Leyland