Thanks to Those Who Bring Joy

Thank you Patti, for the color you add in my life! Some people just bring color and joy with them, with their, energy, don't you think? Like kate i, writing yesterday on her blog about gratitude and reminding me of what I need to see in every thing that happens--gratitude. And thank you for sending joy my way, Kate and Dawn and Cinner...you all bring joy to the happyluau.

I also appreciated seeing the comments from gemma--it looks like you lived in Phoenix, where I lived for over ten years, and still love to visit. It got way too hot there for me and I ended up here in the Land of Perpetual Rain and Missing Summers. And from Mary...who does things the simpler and easier way by picking fruit from local farmers instead of having fruit trees to care for. I just bought a fruit picker. And I have someone to help me pick as well (although maybe I should just ask deb :), since they are very high up. Sometimes simpler is better. 

I love that Rebecca has described my castle as "joy-colored". Oh, yes! Joy is every color and all colors and any color, isn't it? And Meri wrote about cultivating and harvesting joy...this is a wonderful way to look at it, I think.

I receive the love you sent, Noelle, with gratitude and happiness. And the insights about Joy having its opposite waiting in the shadows...I have indeed had a rebirth. I'm going through an intense time, fortunately with lots of wonderful support here and in therapy and in two therapeutic groups I am in. And someone I love and am close to is going through a very painful and hopefully healing time. Every day is filled with uncertainty, and at the same time serenity, and I learn from each and every one of you and find courage to face each day. I really and truly see how much we all need each other.

In the past I've been much of a hermit. I really thought this was good for me. Although I'll always be introverted, I now see this as also a type of isolating and withdrawal to deal with pain---pain that I didn't deal with though, or maybe couldn't deal with at the time. It was my best attempt though. Now I am turning that around and very painfully coming out of my shell, being reborn. It is a precious time and I thank you for sharing it with me.

Kristine, art is therapeutic, and I know it, but I haven't yet experienced it like that yet. God knows I want to! I think that I am [still] holding back, but that as long as I persist and don't run away from or avoid my feelings and make time for art that I will have a breakthrough.

I hope to have more art to share with you soon :) xoO

The above photo is the very rare "Indian Pipe" or "Ghost Plant", which is not actually a plant nor a fungus, but considered an "oddity" and is growing right along our driveway.

~Photos by me

A Catch-Up Post for a Terrific Tuesday

LoveHubbie's oldest son got married just over three weeks ago and the pictures are here. They are great. Don't look for me in any of them (I'm actually in two in the background) but who cares about that, as the lovely couple is what everyone is interested in. The photographer was outstanding, I thought, and captured many candid as well as posed moments. She certainly has a wonderful eye! Most of all, she captured the "feel" of the wedding, which I think is the hardest part. Check them out! 

I wanted to address several things that came up in the comments. One is that the font I am using is a new Blogger font, and there are quite a few of them...this one is called "Coming Soon" and the blog post title is called "Fontdiner Swanky".

Rebecca wrote "everyone loves comments...it is affirming to be seen, to be heard." This is so true. When you leave a comment on my blog, although I'm experimenting with not answering directly in the comments, I will go to your blog and leave a comment there too. I think that is one way to let you know that you are seen and heard (as well as writing about it here) and that this builds community, a reciprocity. There are a few people (very, very few) whose blogs I follow and comment on who do not follow mine...but mostly I enjoy the exchanges that take place between community and the relationships that result. This is the strength of blogging, I think--finding authentic community and sharing and expressing with each other. Rebecca said that it "keeps the love circling" and that is so true!

I just finished a big project that has to do with a loved one's therapy. I have my own therapy and therapeutic activities that I've been participating in all week, as well as doing many things to help LoveHubbie's business this week.

Here is a picture from my art journal in the style of the Queen of Arts, Kim Mailhot, and inspired by a post she did a while ago. Kim shares Big Love with so many, including me. It says "Big Love is Good Love" and "guard your heart". It's the photo I've been editing for past posts:

Oh, and have a TERRIFIC TUESDAY!