It Was A Dark (and not stormy) Night...

Have you ever been woken by a noise you could not identify? Four thirty this morning I was awakened by a beep, beep, beep. I lay there wondering what could it be? The oven timer? The alarm clock? I got up and discovered it was our Carbon Monoxide Detector. Having just had a gas stove installed two day before I was concerned.

I alerted Bob to this, he got up, looked at the detector while I went downstairs to Google CO Detectors. When I came back upstairs Bob was in bed! I'm like, "You can't go back to bed!" He responds, "It's 4:30 in the morning!" I respond, "If the house was on fire would you go back to bed because it's 4:30 in the morning?" He got up.

Carbon Monoxide is colorless, odorless and regarded as a silent killer. We called 911 and the fire department came out with their CO meter. It recorded zeroes everywhere while we stood outside on the porch. It was concluded that our detector needed replacing. Apparently they are only good for five years. The things you learn, standing outside in the cold, with four firemen.

So the lesson for today is to LISTEN. Not only to the outer noises that alert us to something not right but to the inner voice that tells us to check it out, whatever that "it" might be. In this instance, in hindsight, it looked like we had nothing to worry about but there is always a blessing in every circumstance. Maybe it was just to buy a new detector today. And maybe it is to respect the monitors we have in our home.

Intuition

I was watching a video by Mary Morrissey where she is talking about intuition. I loved what she said when asked, "How do you know the voice?" She said the more you listen to it the more familiar it becomes. Like the voice of your friend or sibling when they call, you know their voice.

Each voice is unique, which is amazing in itself. So the voice of your intuition is one you can come to know when you spend time listening. You also know it is your intuition when you realize it's message is ALWAYS for your greater good. It does not encourage you to hold a grudge, to get revenge, to overeat or take that drink... .well unless you are stranded in the desert and need water. And let's face it, how often does that happen?

So just for today, listen. Get to know the voice of your inner guidance. Then like an old friend you'll recognize it as soon as you hear it!

Pic.. Would it be easier to be a chipmunk?

Breathe

I was recently reminded when the going gets tough, breathe and go to your core. Your core is that place aproximately a couple of fingers below your belly button. You focus your attention there, you breathe into that space and calm yourself.

I also remember reading that we should deep breathe every day. I know when I do that I feel calmer as well. Remembering to breathe consciously brings us to a peaceful place. Stress is a part of all of our lives. We read Jesus handled stress by "going apart". He would step away from the crowds and his disciples and be alone. He focused on reconnecting consciously with God within, with "The Father", Abba.

Really,this is so important for self care. So, just for today, if you feel overwhelmed, stressed, annoyed etc. find room alone, close the door and breathe. One of my favorite affirmations at that moment is.. God is, I Am.

Pic.. I love this picture. It reminds me to let go and let God. To surrender to the power of God within me. "Less of me, more than thee".

Tired?

If you are tired, lay down and have a nap; decongest your calendar; lower your expectations and create space in your day to slow down and take care of you.

It seems to me there are a lot of tired, busy people walking around wishing they could slow down. So here is the thing. We are the ones who fill our calendars; say yes when we really want to say no and stand when we want to sit down.

We are the creators of our experiences. We have choices.

Pic.. from six years ago when I had a gratitude gathering with a few friends. Laugh...when you are tired or anytime at all. It seems to do the trick.

Christmas Preparation

Tis the season... dare I say it is less than a month away? It seems so much farther away than that somehow. Yesterday we put up our tree and added the lights to it. Today the decorations. We are having the Hisson family Chrismas this Saturday.

Our family has come to a place where we no longer exchange gifts. That works fine with everyone because whatever we need we purchase for ourselves. The gathering now is about family, good food and sharing. One thing that has bothered me about past gatherings is that we never really hear how people are doing. It is often surface stuff.. I went here, did that.. but not about personal journeys.

So I am proposing this year that each person "check in" and share what the past year has been like for them. The highlights and low lights etc. I am not sure how that will be accepted. But I think it is worth a try. Would this be accepted in your family?

Pic.. Bob opening up a gift from his brother. Now this one was useful.. a flashlight you keep plugged in, always ready to go and you always know where to find it!

Bondage or Liberty?

When God called the people out of Egypt, they were being called out of darkness and ignorance. God heard their cry by "reason of their taskmasters". What were their taskmasters? Sickness, poverty, divorce, any negative thoughts that were holding them in bondage. Then they were told they would be brought to a land of milk and honey. To a land of right consciousness, a place of liberty.

Today's message is about our power. We do not have to live in bondage and we are the ones who can free ourselves. No one else can think your thoughts, shift your thoughts or bring you out of Egypt. That is your work to do.

I am thinking about when I left my mom yesterday after visiting her at the hospital. I started to cry (again). As I walked to my car in bondage to the pain of my story about her life and how that affects mine I realized I can shift those thoughts. I could think about the movie I was going to and the anniversary celebration with my husband. It is not easy, for me at least, to make THE SHIFT. But I have the power to do so. That is the point. I have the power, you have the power to move from bondage to liberty.

Pic.. A few years ago I stood on the glass floor of a tower in Calgary. One of those that extends over the building and when you look down there is nothing but the earth  a zillion floors below. Standing there it is my choice to be in pain or pleasure... bondage or liberty.

39 Years Ago

Thirty nine years ago this day I woke up excited and happy. It was my wedding day. Like most girls I had dreamed of my wedding, the white dress, the handsome groom, the walk down the aisle with my dad and a fun party afterwards.

I remember my sweet dad being in no hurry to get to the church. Oh, he liked Bob, so it wasn't that. He wasn't feeling too strong. He was recovering from an emotional time when he wasn't so interested in the world. I was lucky he was there with me that day. He told me that they couldn't start without us, so no hurry. Ugg... I wanted to get to the church on time. And we did mostly.

I had four bridesmaids, though one of my best friends wasn't in the wedding party. The ceremony was in the Catholic church with both a priest and a United minister presiding. That was a stretch in those days. The dinner and party followed and then a honeymoon in the Bahamas.

So what have I learned from 39 years of marriage? What is "the secret"? It's really not so secret, but just as simple as love one another in the good times and the bad. Know you will go through times when you question your love and other times when it all makes so much sense. Give, give, give and then give some more. Compromise and save your "grand standing" for the really important issues, let the small things slide.

Pic.. I couldn't have imagined then what our life would be like. All the pleasures and the pain, but it's been worth it. I love you honey.