IT IS THANKFUL THURSDAY

Welcome to Thankful Thursday and it has been a roller coaster ride of high and low emotions this past week, but here I am on Thankful Thursday with a Thankful Heart.

I really do have so much to be thankful for ~ all the material things in my life and all the little cute, glittery and sparkly things that are simple but make days brighter.  For letters and cards that arrive in the mail ~ those lovely hand written letters straight from hand to hand and the parcels that keep me guessing while I wait for their arrival.  So many special things and so many forms of communication and I am thankful for the technology that brings these things to me.  Four days for a letter from Adelaide to America - better than we can manage across suburbs here in Adelaide.

The simple things ~ stickers of butterflies and fairies on the envelopes that make the joy of receiving these extra special.   The delight at sitting down and reading the letters and imagining where they were written  ~ one came from a bench along side a sand dune on a winter afternoon, while the cold winds blew and the sea birds were calling.

I am thankful too for moments of silliness and feeling comfortable and safe enough to be silly  ~ this provides such exquisite laughter and pure joy.  

There are so many things to be thankful for ~ my health, the success of my transplant and that of my friend, for the lives of two friends who lost the battle recently ~ they blessed and graced my life with joy and leave beautiful memories.

There is so much in my heart and my life ~ for my friends and their kindnesses to me ~ the love and laughter we share and the anticipation of my daughter and son-in-law as they leave to travel overseas on Saturday.

The joys of family gatherings to celebrate birthdays and High Days and Holidays ~ I am thankful for life itself and for those who join my on my journey ~ the joy is in the journey and life is a journey not a destination. 

Thank you for visiting the Musings from My Heart and you are cause for gratitude too ~ you who call by to read and visit this page ~ a full and thankful heart today.

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

BUBBLES AND BALLOONS ON WEDNESDAY

Good Afternoon and welcome to my Wednesday which has thus far been a busy one ~ I rose early to celebrate the life of a dear friend at the same time her service was held on the other side of the world and shared bubbles in her memory ~ it was a damp and cool morning with not a breath of wind so the bubbles just settled in a mass on my lawn and looked very beautiful.

I have had a day of balloons and bubbles:

Then I was on the run with appointments and post office collections and the rest of my day has been quiet, which is just as well as I am very tired.

I have shared much of myself and my world with you and the latest is that I may well be doing some more beading classes during the autumn/winter and that will be very pleasant.  There is talk of another River Boat cruise later in the year so that is a nice thought on the horizon.

The day is beautiful as you can see from the blue sky in the photograph above ~ no wind and a gentle warmth  and certainly no clouds ~ a lovely autumn day and the birthday of my youngest daughter.  I wonder when I look at her and hear her at her work just how quickly the years have flown.

If you have young children in your life make sure you spend all the time you can with them and store up the memories because suddenly they are adults and trying to organize their parents.

A much quieter weekend coming up for me and I shall look forward to catching up with friends and maybe there may be a movie on the agenda.  Apart from all of this life is ordinary and I welcome with open arms those ordinary days ~ how I ached for them, cried for them, pleaded for them and  relish them now that they are mine again.

It was good to visit my local General Practitioner and to realize that it had been a year since I had seen her ~ my winter flu shot is now taken care of and that too is a good thing.

Friends and family coming for dinner so I best get moving but wherever you are in this beautiful world I hope there is peace in your heart and a smile on your lips.

Kahlil Gibran was right when he wrote that "Life without love is like a tree without blossom and fruit" and I share those words with you and hope that there is love in your heart and life and that you can feel the love and care.

I am thankful for the joys of friendship and remember Kristy and Vicki with much affection.

Thank you for coming by to visit the Musings from My Heart ~ today a heart filled with gratitude.

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

FAREWELL VICKI

A very special lady who I was proud to call friend left us this afternoon and has gone home and is now free from her pain.

Vicki gave it a wonderful fight and her active encouragement of other women to have their mammogram and to seek second opinions is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.

I shall think of you often My Warrior Princess ~ you fought like a girl and I shall hang a special bauble on my Christmas tree for you my friend ~ you also had "Tinselitis" and loved Christmas trees.

Goodnight Xena my Warrior Princess,

Love and hugs,

GOOD MORNING AND TAKE ONE STEP AT A TIME

Good Morning and welcome to my Monday - early morning and crisp and cool.  The days are getting shorter and next Sunday will see the end of our summer time and we put our clocks back an hour at 02.00 on Sunday morning 1st. April.   I am always sorry to see the end of daylight saving as I love the longer evenings.

How true it is that we can only take one step at a time ~ it applies to all areas of our lives.  Watching little ones beginning to walk we are delighted with just one step at first.  Those first few times of being out of bed after a protracted period we are content with just a few steps and then to increase by several each day.


After major surgery we hope our energy levels will be back to "normal" but that sometimes doesn't happen ~ it all takes time and we need to find our patience and take "one step at a time."   I have to learn to be content to be a little slower, and surrender to the fatigue that hits if I try to do too much.    This lovely little puffin was a lovely reminder to me for me to live within the constraints I have.


Today has been a lovely day ~ a day filled with sunshine, lovely conversation, the sharing of emotion, some laughter and the wonderful acceptance that special friendships bring.


Mail is in from my Post Office box and from my home letter box and held lots of lovely surprises.  My magazine subscription, a lovely calender for my desk, some stickers and a couple of parcels.
One delivered to my door by a Courier company and which held a special gift and another to the Post Office which held some earrings and a necklace I had ordered.   So all in all it has been a lovely busy mail day.    Ordinary envelopes can be dressed up with stickers and there are also beautiful envelopes which bring joy ~ such as the beautiful petal covered one I received today (pink of course.)


I have had visitors today too and done a couple of cryptic crossword puzzles to keep my brain sharp ~ it is very slow today because I am tired ~ but I am learning to take it "one step at a time" ~ to crawl before I can walk.


There are birthdays all around me and if you are one of the March babies whose birthday falls this week ~ Happy Birthday to you and I wish you sunlight and flowers for your year ahead.


To those who traveled this past weekend I hope there was joy and beauty in your journey and that you have come home refreshed and ready to get into the working week.   I wish you a calm and clear mind and not too many interruptions and the joy and friendship of work colleagues.  Enjoy the Water Cooler moments and the shared laughter.


To those who are ill and dealing with pain ~ I hope your medical team can get some relief for you and that you can try to be gentle with those who are your caregivers ~ they are important people and even though frustration and fear clouds your mind that is no excuse for bad behaviour.


I wish you green traffic lights, good coffee, a friendly smile, a surprise in the mail, some cheery words of support and not too much stress to pull you down ~ remember you can only do it "one step at a time.


Thank you for visiting the Musings from my Heart ~ a heart that is glad and very grateful for all I have in my life today.


Love and hugs,
Linda. 

WELCOME TO SUNDAY AFTER A VERY BUSY WEEK

Welcome to Sunday in my little corner of the world ~ where it is cool and quiet and just the remedy I need to cure my fatigue from a very busy week.    It fascinates me how some weeks there is nothing planned and then other weeks many events and appointments fall on the same days.

I have had some good days and one not so very good day at all.   Most of the days have been good and I can learn from the awful day and move forward.  Nothing drastic just absolute frustration at incompetence and right hand not knowing what left hand is doing.    All over and sorted now ~ so on to concentrate on the good days.


Thursday I was able to attend an evening meeting for Transplant Australia and to contribute to plans and schemes afoot ~ I loved it and was pleased to be able to drive myself and not be dependent ~ it was great.  Such high hopes for this group.


Friday was my River Boat trip and an early start was the order of the day and we set off during rain, which mostly cleared and left a sunny but cool days with cold wind.  Everyone in our group enjoyed themselves, there was much laughter, a lovely lunch and beautiful scenery ~ I am sure that everyone came home very tired indeed but contentedly so.

Ilona and Linda - Titanic Moment

Linda, Dianne, and Ilona

Dianne and Linda

Ray, Dianne, Linda, John

Ilona and Narelle

Dianne and her Mum Janet and Narelle and her Mum Mary.

Blue eyed Corellas by the hundreds

Birds in the trees

There are many more photographs but these should give you a good idea of the day we had ~ coffee at Hahndorf on the way home at The German Arms Hotel and it was lovely.


Yesterday we celebrated Naomi's birthday a few days early and that was delightful too but all this high days and meetings has left me a little tired and I am finding it hard to keep going today ~ in fact I have taken time out and watched a movie this afternoon.   I can't believe that I had missed this lovely romantic film "Sabrina" with Humphrey Bogart and William Holden and the very beautiful Audrey Hepburn ~ it arrived in the mail ~ a very lovely unexpected but much appreciated gift.  I really enjoyed the entire film - the score was great and I was a little sorry when the end came.


I have a few things to do yet but it will be an early night for me.   I can't begin to explain how very nice it is for me to be out at Meetings and day trips out and celebrations with family and friends.


I became aware of how much I have missed over the illness years and how very determined I am to try to fit as much as I can in to my days and to enjoy the life I am blessed with  ~ going to have to learn and understand the meaning of the words  "pacing myself" but I am willing to learn.


Thank you for visiting the Musings from My Heart - a contented but tired heart today.


Love and hugs,
Linda. 

WELCOME TO WEDNESDAY ~ SWING HIGH, SWING LOW.

Welcome to Wednesday in my little corner of the world where the sun is shining and the earth looking very refreshed after overnight rain.   My lawns were cut on Monday and I swear they have grown some by this morning.

My friend Kristy is free of pain and home safe ~ she took the wings of the morning on a rainy night in Texas and left us ~ she loved rainy nights so it was appropriate that the heaven's wept at her passing.

Kristy

Please hold her family close in your thoughts and prayers - particularly her daughters Addison and Sydney ~ I shall miss this beautiful soul but I rejoice that her pain is over and feel blessed that she touched my life.  Fly Free my friend you were very loved. 

The empty swing represents the empty space in my life ~ but what a beautiful image that is ~ I can imagine swinging over there and dragging my feet in the water and feeling the gentle breezes blow.

I have had a couple of frustrating days with Delivery companies and Government Departments and it has made me tired, but only because I gave in and allowed it to frustrate and upset me.  I certainly became Miss Cranky Pants for a while there but that was yesterday and yesterday's gone.

Some of you are feeling unwell and a little worried while you wait for test results and I understand that very well ~ try to relax and know that it will happen in good time,  Plans may have to be changed to accommodate surgery for some of you and I hope you can "Keep calm and Carry On" until you know the results of your tests.   My love and care and understanding is with you.    Please keep me in the loop so I know what is happening for you.

Our days are shorter and night time comes earlier for us and for my northern Hemisphere friends it is Officially Spring (although Mother Nature has been dancing in your gardens for some weeks now) ~ now it's official no more dance rehearsals IT IS SPRING. 

I hope your hearts can dance with the daffodils and enjoy the glorious awakening of plants and flowers, and I hope you are able to be out in the fresh air and sunshine and do some gardening (or watch the family as they do it.)

I have had lots of lovely mail and cards and my heart rejoices at the pure delight of a letter written by hand and filled with news and beautiful thoughts.  Today's card was full of images of sea shells and  words about the ocean and the shoreline.  A treat indeed.

I have touched base with someone I have missed for a while and today received an Easter card from New Zealand with a picture of the ship that brought my friend and my family and me to Australia and New Zealand.  Memories are wonderful.   Brian and I have been friends for 51 years ~he was 23 and I was 13 when we met on the deck of the "Strathaird" as she pulled out from London's Tilbury Dock on a very windy day in March.

I hope that you have had letters and phone calls and that life is sweet for you ~ it is for me and I hope that wherever you are there is joy in your journey in spite of pain and illness.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of My Heart ~ today a heart filled with letters and memories.

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

No music today - seems to be a problem with the music site.

MONDAY, MONDAY ~ SUNSHINE AND LOVE.

Welcome to Monday and a day filled with sunshine and warm breezes  ~  I think Mother nature is having a final fling at summer warmth and we are feeling the heat  (she may be having hot flushes I am not certain about that),  


Best to enjoy the warmth because by Wednesday it is supposed to the cool, cloudy and raining again ~ and just in time for the trip on the river  ~ it will be a bit like a cross between Showboat and Singing in the Rain  ~  hope that made you smile.

EMBRACE DIVERSITY~ not only embrace but welcome it and do so with an open heart and open arms for we have much to teach each other and much to share.  I love people generally and it matters not to me their colour, race, religion, sexual preference I try to see the beauty that lives inside them and accept them for the lovely people they are.   My life is richer and much sweeter because of this ~ I have learned so much on my journey and embracing diversity certainly brings joy to the journey.


I have had my lawns neatly trimmed today and the rain and warmth will mean they will grow quickly again how well Mother Nature organizes things.   Friends have been gardening and establishing a lovely coastal garden and i can't wait for pictures of the development and growth there.


Writing brings such joy to me in all aspects of my life and I love it when others can join in and write from the heart ~ and share their joys and their journey and paint word pictures.    This they do and this they do well and I am at times transported to other places and seasons of the year.


Monday, Monday means another working week for some and another ordinary week for others ~ there will be high spots to celebrate and moments when things are a little gloomy too.   There will be medical appointments and scans and tests for some ~ accept those graciously knowing that it is imperative to maintain your health and get things fixed as soon as you can.


I have my eye specialist appointment tomorrow to kick off the series of tests for me and that will be fine and the prospect of new glasses is a nice feeling.


I hope wherever you are that you are warm and safe and that there is music in your heart and that life is indeed a joy.   Find the joy in your journey, enjoy the journey with friends and family and live the life you have imagined.


Thank you for visiting the Musings of My Heart ~ a busy heart but one filled with love.


Love and hugs.
Linda. 

SUNDAY IN AUSTRALIA AND SATURDAY SOMEWHERE ELSE.

What absolute confusion the time zones around the world cause and it sure takes some time to get used to working out what time of the day or night it is on the other side of the world.

I just got used to taking off 15 and a half hours for New York time and daylight saving now means  it is only 14 and a half hours difference.   Don't get used to it though because in a few weeks we shall be moving our clocks back to standard time and that will alter things and I haven't sorted that out yet.   I keep a clock on my desk with has the New York time on it or I would be completely lost - I am not sure if we will then be 15 and a half hours or in fact if it will be 13 and a half.   I'll tell you when I work it out.

It makes for some interesting conversations at interesting times and I have been asked for the lottery results and the weather forecast seeing as I am ahead in time.   Now wouldn't that be interesting  to know which horse will will the race etc.

I have had a quiet day here today and done lots of reviewing and made lots of phone calls and today has been a perfect day weather wise, gentle breezes and sunshine, warmer tomorrow and then warmer again on Tuesday with rain forecast for Wednesday.    The forecast is indicating that Friday will be a cool day for our Murray River Cruise and when I spoke to everyone they all say they are looking forward to it.    I will capture lots of images and post them for you next week.

I shall be going off to bed early tonight and hope to have a night free of leg cramps which had me up walking for a few hours during last night.

I have shared love and laughter and a good dose of silliness today and it has been lovely -  may the sun shine in your heart as it is in mine and may it be an Evening Star shines down on you,

Lots of birthdays around at the moment and if today is your Day - celebrate in style and enjoy having some ME time.  If it is the anniversary of a transplant well then Happy Happy day to you and congratulations.

For me it is the end of the weekend and I was talking with my neighbour earlier and she too agrees that they must have cut a few days off the week because the weekends come round so fast.

Monday coming means the start of a working week/a school week or a week when little ones are excited about Kindergarten.   Whatever Monday means for you I hope it is the start of a wonderful group of days where you are left with the satisfaction of a job well done, the joy of completing a longstanding task or for those lucky ones away on holiday safe travelling to you and have a wonderful rest.

I wish you all

A sunbeam to warm you

A moonbeam to charm you 

A sheltering angel so nothing can harm you,

Thank you for visiting the Musings of my heart today a heart filled with busy thoughts on love and life.

Love and hugs,

Linda 

SATURDAY SUNSHINE ON SAINT PATRICK'S DAY

Welcome to Saturday and it is the day for the wearing of the green ~ Saint Patrick's day and I wish all who are Irish, or who claim some Irish heritage  (and those who just think it's a great excuse to party and celebrate) a very happy day of celebration.   If it is green beer you are drinking or you are eating Colcannon sure By gosh and Begorrah have a wonderful Saturday.

So much is going on in my life ~ and the lives of those I hold dear to me that the days are just going by in a blur.   Happy, healthy days filled with love and care and generosity of spirit.  

The weather has cleared up and we have sunshine again and open clear velvet nights with diamonds gleaming for all the world to see.   I have been "sky watching " a bit lately and viewing the moon and the stars and realizing that my northern hemisphere friends view the same sky as I do and that does temper the distance somewhat.

I have had lovely mail in my Post Office box this week ~ sent with love and care and very much thought and it has brought me to tears of joy to read the lovely handwriting and words penned with love.  I am very blessed indeed.

Once again it is time for me to get back on the Merry Go Round of appointments and I have been busy scheduling appointments with Eye Specialist, Podiatrist, Dentist, Doctor, Dietitian and Dermatologist.  It is interesting to note how quickly the year has gone but it must have done as reminders are coming through for all of these things.    I am blessed to live within close proximity to most and to be well enough to cope with any distance involved.  This is all part of life post transplant for me ~these are annual events which is a very good reminder that I am into my third year of "life with Oliver" ~ having written that and come back to re-read I am amazed that I am talking in terms of "years"  ~ my scar is fading and most importantly I am alive and well and thankful.

I have been shopping today and spent a fortune at the Pharmacy and enjoyed a lovely sojourn with a beautiful young woman and we shared so much of how life has been for both of us  ~ one of those friends that you meet for just a few moments of your day.   One of those times I shall remember clearly ~ we talked for a little while about health, life and attitude to life and although her path has been rough she was able to be positive enough to want to live, to laugh and to love.  We parted with her saying for me to be safe and I left her with the worlds I hope for you there is joy in your journey.   She smiled and waved and drove off ~ I hope that there is joy for her.

At times I feel as though I am on a mission to bring some calm, peace and joy to lives that are hurting ~ and I know that today some one's step was a little lighter because our paths crossed.  Today my words helped her and I am sure that now her candle is lit she will be lighting other candles.

Celebration time for the Golden Girls with a March birthday for Karen ~ so dinner out and lots of giggles for us tonight and it will be lovely.   Karen is our Golfer, so it won't be a late night because she is probably teeing off at seven in the morning.   I am to be chauffeur driven ~ "Thanks Di." ~ it will be great.

Sickness and pain is troubling many friends all over the world and I am holding them close and encouraging them as I can ~ there is much sadness, but it gets to a stage where some one's time has come and we need to let them go and get on with the next stage of their journey.  So much of our grief is for ourselves.

"Courage friends ~

You do not walk alone

We shall walk with you

And sing your spirit home"

Off now to get on with the next part of my day which will be putting the shopping away ~ I have been all over the place and doing lots of little things and not achieving very much , but once this blog is posted I shall be feeling very much happier.

Our River Boat cruise is next Friday and the weather forecast is for a cool day with the chance of showers ~ perfect when compared with how hot is could have been.

Thank you for calling by and visiting the Musings of My Heart ~ a heart filled with compassion and care and yet one that sings for the joy of many things. 

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

WEDNESDAY AND DANCING IN THE RAIN.

Welcome to Wednesday and we have had an afternoon of beautiful storms and rain,  and Mother Nature turned on quite a show with lots of rain and I am a staunch advocate of splashing in puddles and dancing in the rain, so when my back garden was flooded ~ how could I resist doing this and how could my family resist the camera option?

I have had a lovely couple of days with gifts and letters in the mail (snail mail) ~ lovely handwritten letters  from my friend's hand to mine and with messages heart to heart. and beautiful music on CD to listen to ~ truly lovely music from Bette Midler ~ how can my heart not rejoice and sing?

I am very aware of how blessed I am in so many ways and I wake each morning with a spring in my step and a song in my heart for all that I am and all that I have.


The fact that I am so blessed makes me acutely aware of the distress of others and I am carefully and prayerfully supporting those I know whose needs are very great ~ no matter where they are in our wonderful world  and no matter what their needs are.


There is much sickness, sadness and distress  and there are times like these when I wish I had a magic wand and was able to heal, comfort and bring ease to those in pain and also to their families.
I remember very well my illness and my transplant and my sojourn with Stevens Johnson Syndrome, but I can thankfully say those things are in my past and while I hold them with very great respect, I don't live in my past any more.   They are what happened to me ~ they do not define who I am and the journey I take in joy from now on.


I am blessed and am determined to learn to dance in the rain (very literally) ~ I got very wet, but loved every moment of the cool breeze and the splashing in puddles.   My cat thought I had gone crazy ~ well maybe I have, but it is a happy crazy ~ a nice kind of crazy and I like very much.


Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional and I am not opting to grow up  ~ I am at peace with myself and and happy with my life. 


The storms seem to have gone for a while and hopefully it will be a good night for sleeping and on that happy note I am going to cast off the mooring rope and drift off on the dream tide.


Thank you for visiting the Musings of My heart  ~ a splashing in puddles  heart today.


Love and hugs,


Linda. 

WELCOME TO MY WORLD WHERE IT'S MONDAY

Welcome to Monday in Adelaide, South Australia where the sun is shining and the birds are singing and it is a public Holiday so I am guessing lots of people are sleeping late, out enjoying the day or travelling.   However you spend your day I hope that you are able to enjoy the little things in life.

I don't have plans for my "holiday Monday" but I am dressed and ready for the day.  I decided to spend the day here and share what joy I find and to tidy up my computer.  I am treating it like a day when I used to go into the Office.   I have dressed in clothes ready for business and make up and hair done ~ I am ready to face the day.

So much for planning to have it like a working day ~ both of my daughters have called this morning and I have spent a long time on the phone with each of them and it has been wonderful to catch up with their comings and goings ~ they sure lead busy lives.

I took the weekend off from blogging and spent time on Saturday with friends here for lunch and a catch up time which was lovely and I enjoyed that.   Sunday I just took the day slowly and watched a movie and also an interview with three of my favourite authors ~  Di Morrisey, Lee Child and Bryce Courtney ~ it was great.   Then an evening crossword puzzle or two with Ray and there you have it a whole weekend gone.

For us the days are getting shorter and evening comes earlier but to our Northern Hemisphere friends who have just moved their clocks forward an hour they are able to enjoy a longer lighter day.

It is a pure joy to hear that spring is in the air in USA and that my beloved daffodils are blooming.

This picture was in my messages this morning:

it came with a message filled with joy at the delights of spring ~ a very beautiful start to my Monday.

A very dear friend took the weekend off and travelled to the Beach and enjoyed finding spring was there too ~ how important it is to take time out every now and then and to refresh, renew and restore our souls as well as our bodies.

The Movie I watched yesterday was "The Help" and I thought it great ~ although very sad at times.  Lessons to be learned there I believe.

"You is Kind, You is Smart, You is Important" ~ those of you who have seen the film will recognize that phrase and I hope it evokes good memories for you.

The moon has been absolutely stunning for the last few days and I decided to take some photographs last night but our sky was filled with smoke from burn off fires in Victoria so I shall have to wait until it all comes around again.

I love these ordinary days with all the beauty around me - they actually become EXTRA ORDINARY days and I hope that wherever you are ~ be it in Australia and in sunshine, or in the crisp early spring days of the northern hemisphere,  that you are able to enjoy everything ~ music, laughter, good food and close times with those you love.

It is hard to believe that a year has come and gone since the dreadful earthquakes and tsunami that hit Japan and I continue to hold Japan close as it struggles to get back to some sort of normality.

So many of you are struggling with health and emotional issues ~ some trying to find themselves in the turmoil that has become their life and to you all I send love and care at the beginning of this week.  May the sun shine brightly for you, may your heart find peace and may your journey be one of discovery and charm.

"The joy is in the journey" and it is not a journey you take alone ~ reach out to someone for support and welcome to my world. 

My love and care is with you and thank you for visiting the Musings of my Heart ~ a thoughtful, happy heart today.

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

WELCOME TO FRIDAY

It's Friday morning in my little corner of the world and life is just fine and dandy  ~ not without some complications, but all is well.   Weather is glorious ~ beautiful sunny autumn days and cool nights.

I did some early morning shopping and a full moon was still visible in my morning sky although the day had long dawned,   The moon has been amazing of the past few nights ~ go out and look when night time comes for you and when I do that I become aware of the size of the universe and yet the fact that as the moon sets for me it rises in the northern hemisphere, so for a few brief hours the moon is visible on the sky to both halves of the world.   Truly beautiful image this morning.

The days and weeks are flying so fast ~ it will be Easter soon and then we will be on the way forward to Christmas once again ~ only 290 days to go,

To those for whom Friday has dawned make it a good day and enjoy all that is has to offer ~ if the road is tough and steep ~ I hope you have a friend to walk beside you and share the load.   Someone to cheer you as you make your way forward.    Be proud of your achievements and anticipate a weekend filled with happy hours.

To those of you who linger in the mist of Thursday ~ spend a quiet evening, discuss your day, how you feel and what has happened to you and then be sure to get a good night's rest so that you too can enjoy all the lovely things that Friday has to offer.

I have started reading again after a short break ~ don't know what happened there, but I am back into books and articles and loving it.  We have taken out a subscription to Time Magazine again and I will enjoy that ~ that was cancelled during the time of my illness as I couldn't read it and no-one else had the time or inclination to do so.    So now we have the weekly mailing of the magazine and will find some interesting articles in there.

I have several DVDs to watch - and am delighted with the arrival on The Tree of Life and The Help in my mailbox this week - now to find the time to watch them, plus the others I have but haven't watched yet.   I was going to view several over summer ~ but it just didn't happen.  

I have been cooking this morning ~ a big pot of sauce in the slow cooker and the kitchen smelling of oregano, garlic, tomato and all sorts of spices ~ very nice.  I really enjoy my slow cooker and use it all year round.

I did some shopping very early this morning and it was bliss ~ no crowds, no crying children and no frazzled mothers and a staff who were fresh and not tired from the day  ~  a very pleasant experience (or at least as pleasant as grocery shopping can be.)

And apart from all of this there is little to write ~ maybe a movie on Sunday with The Golden Girls (who, by the way are doing a Cooking Class on Saturday ~ I opted out of that one.) but I shall spend Saturday with Mary (Narelle's Mum on holiday here, so she won't be alone.)

Several of my friends are struggling health wise right now and I send love and care to comfort you and ease your journey.  It's never easy coping with work situations when you are feeling a little under par, but hold tight to the friendship and care I have for you and I hope in some small way it makes the path a little smoother.

Please hold my friend Kristy in your hearts and prayers ~ she is really having a tough time right now and could use all the love and support we can muster.  It's her birthday time too - Happy Birthday Darling Girl.

No matter how dark the path or how difficult there is always something to be thankful for and I hope that wherever you are that there is some little piece of happiness that finds its way to you and brightens your heart.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of My Heart ~ a thankful and pensive heart today.

Love and hugs,

Linda.

WEDNESDAY THOUGHTS AND MUSINGS

mus·ing 

adj.

Deep in thought; contemplative.

n.

1. Contemplation; meditation.

2. A product of contemplation; a thought.

Welcome to Wednesday afternoon and today has been picture perfect - blue sky, wispy white clouds, a gentle breeze, thoughts and an imagination that has run wild with me for most of the day.

I have travelled many miles on my journey today and seen many things and done lots of exciting things ~ I have painted word pictures for most of my day.  I have just found my morning coffee on my desk ~ ~ stone cold and not even missed, that's how preoccupied I have been.

I love those days when words just flow and they sure beat the days when I sit and look at a blank screen and can't put words together.  It is rather like an artist with palate in hand and canvas on the easel and a world waiting.   

I know there are many of you suffering with illness, pain of grief or just struggling to get your life back together after some major event.  You are in my thoughts and prayers.  Life changes and I was very much aware of that yesterday.   Sometimes the sheer pain of missing someone so much makes you just want to reach out and grab them and hold on and never let go.   Sadly, those things cannot happen and that's why we have and use memory.   We can recall at the fun and fabulous times, the laughter, the tears, the sound of voices and we can almost feel the touch of a hand.

It is important that we do move on and make new memories and there is so much we can do and so much that can be part of our new memories.   We can embrace old and new friends and share our thoughts with them.    I think that's why I like to write because it tells people where this complicated and complex mind of mine has been.

I wrote this today after I had looked at a lovely blue sky and thought of someone very special

TODAY

Today is picture perfect

The sky is a gentle blue

Just the special type of day

To spend some hours with you.

Let's sit beside the river

And watch the ripples as they flow

Onward and forward they travel

To where we cannot know.

Let's find some shade from the sun

And feel the gentle breeze,

Treasured memories are gathered

On Autumn days like these.

Let's whisper deepest secret thoughts

Discussion without fears,

Let's laugh and talk and ponder

Let's wipe away the tears.

Autumn leaves we can gather

And release them on the flow

Just like our innermost thoughts

Who knows where they will go.

Will they bounce up the crest

Or be taken down below

Will our shared thoughts be deep ~

Only we can ever know.

Let's drag sticks through the water

And find some leafy glade,

A special time of friendship

We'll be glad that we have stayed.

We will remember the sunshine

The shade and the trees,

We will remember today

And the making of memories.

So when the shadows lengthen

And there is a coolness in the air,

The pain of ending this rendezvous

Will be much too much to bear.

But as days go hastening on

And the seasons change once more,

We can always revisit this day

By stepping through memory's door.

©  Linda J. Vaughan

March 7th. 2012

My illness and hospitalization took away my writing for many many weeks and oh the joy and rapture of being able to sit and click click click away on a new creation ~ it is so very special.

I absolutely love the changing of the seasons and the first time of being aware of the change, when the shadows lengthen, the morning comes later and cool and gentle breezes blow.

Wherever you are in our beautiful world I hope that for you there is an awareness of just how lovely it is and how special to take time to go outside, sit in the garden, walk by the river and just admire an azure sky.

Today it is dinner out with friends and that will be lovely ~ just a simple Pub meal and good conversation on all sorts of levels and then maybe an evening of crossword puzzles and laughter.

My life is blessed and I live confidently in the knowledge that I have so much to learn yet and that I have those who will share their knowledge, their understanding and their affection.   I am blessed indeed.

Take care as you travel this mid week day at work, at home, on the road, or like me at a desk ~ find joy in the little things and feel the love there is all around you.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of my Heart ~ today a happy and thankful heart.

Love and hugs,

Linda. 

WELCOME TO RUBY TUESDAY ONCE AGAIN ~ SPARKLE AND SHINE

Good early afternoon from a City filled with sunshine and blue sky.   There are lots of white fluffy clouds in my sky and all is well with me.

I have been to the hairdresser, chatted with the girls, done some talking about organ donation there ~ they are hungry to learn and know.  Home again, had lunch and now to spend some time blogging.

I write today with a thankful heart ~ a friend named Patrick has just received a call and is now waiting for his heart transplant and I rejoice with him and his family at this anxious time.   I also acknowledge the donor family at their time of grief and loss.  When one door closes another opens.

Shrouded in wonder and awe of the miracle that is organ transplantation ~ I began another day with gratitude and thanksgiving.   The journey I am taking is filled with wonder and awe at so many things, and I am blessed to have special ones to share it with me.   

I have over the last few days, done some deep thinking and learned so much about myself, my journey, my actions and my reactions.  It is a wonderful journey and I am in total awe of it all.

I am very blessed to have someone who also thinks deeply to share the journey with and to share the thoughts and emotions that emerge at a time like this.   It is WONDERful; full of wonder.

Like the rest of you I get frustrated when plans I have made don't work out the way I would have liked them too ~ I know this happens to many people.    We have to be careful not to get caught up in the happenings around us at the neglect and expense of the nurture of of our body and emotions.

A very dear friend told me that there comes a time when we need to be a little selfish in this life and reclaim the time and space for ourselves.   We need to nourish and nurture ourselves so that we can become the best person we can be and then go back out into the world and sparkle and shine.

There is so much I would like to share with you, but I think the image below says it all:

What have you seen today that has brightened your world ?  For me there are several things that I have seen and felt already today:

• A new diamond ring on a finger and very sparkly eyes
• A toddler walking with faltering steps and holding the hand of someone much older.
• The changing of the seasons and the shortening of the days as Autumn settles here.
• I heard the crunch of a dry leaf as I opened the gate to get the car out.
• I REALLY heard the lyrics of a song playing on a DVD in the car.
• An email from a friend from long ago (she was a child I cared for and now an adult friend.)
• Lovely message from a friend who was admitting fatigue and taking care.
• My laundry drying in the warm breeze.

and there are so many other things and my day is only half way through.

I hope you can find joy in the little things of life and courage for the bigger things, which will and do come along.  The joy truly is in the journey and that's what life is ~ a journey and not a destination.

Weather conditions all over the world are causing such distress for many many people and my thoughts and prayers are with my American friends as they struggle to recover from the tornado filled days of late.

New South Wales and Victoria are still in the grip of flooding with rain continuing to fall, Queensland too is very wet ~ why are we so surprised ?   We prayed for rain long and hard and now we have it.

These are similar flood patterns from long ago but as always we seem to go full circle.   My heart and thoughts are with you all as you struggle to stay dry and maintain your homes.

There is much sickness and pain about and to those of you who are ill I am remembering you and those of you who are caregivers I acknowledge all you do and are and encourage you to take care of yourselves.

My family are all well ~ Naomi and Alexis survived their flooded road trip to Broken Hill and the huge detour they had to take and Rebecca and Nick are very busy with deadlines at work and with Writer's Week.  Our dear family friend Mary, on holiday from NSW took a tumble on Sunday and is a little bruised and shaken but otherwise okay.

It is really so important to be there for each other ~ to share, to care, to love and cherish. 

In your busy days and life ~ take the time to care for yourself so that you stay well and happy.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of My Heart ~ today a thoughtful heart filled with care for others.

Love and hugs,

Linda.