A Timely Post

 I found this on the following blog: mollysabourin.typepad.com/molly-sabourin/
and it  spoke volumes to me, so I offer it to any of you souls suffering in such a way:

 A
Blessing for One who is Exhausted

John O'Donohue


When the rhythm of the heart becomes hectic,
Time takes on the
strain until it breaks;
Then all the unattended stress falls in
On
the mind like an endless, increasing weight,

The light in the
mind becomes dim.
Things you could take in your stride before
Now
become laborsome events of will.

Weariness invades your spirit.
Gravity
begins falling inside you,
Dragging down every bone.

The ride
you never valued has gone out.
And you are marooned on unsure
ground.
Something within you has closed down;
And you cannot push
yourself back to life.

You have been forced to enter empty time.
The
desire that drove you has relinquished.
There is nothing else to do
now but rest
And patiently learn to receive the self
You have
forsaken for the race of days.

At first your thinking will darken
And
sadness take over like listless weather.
The flow of unwept tears
will frighten you.

You have traveled too fast over false ground;
Now
your soul has come to take you back.

Take refuge in your senses,
open up
To all the small miracles you rushed through.

Become
inclined to watch the way of rain
When it falls slow and free.

Imitate
the habit of twilight,
Taking time to open the well of color
That
fostered the brightness of day.

Draw alongside the silence of
stone
Until its calmness can claim you.
Be excessively gentle with
yourself.

Stay clear of those vexed in spirit.
Learn to
linger around someone of ease
Who feels they have all the time in the
world.

Gradually, you will return to yourself,
Having learned
a new respect for your heart
And the joy that dwells far within slow
time.

Remembering...

... there is no event so commonplace but that God is present within it.
The beauty of listening for God in ordinary every day life is that each day can become a vibrant creation, when we trust that God is always present.   When we look for God in every aspect of our lives, especially in the commonplace and ordinary, we see God as we listen to our life and recognise that each of us is precious to God.  Life itself is a gift and holds endless promise when we open ourselves to living with The Holy One our creator.


Jane Tomain - St Benedict's Toolbox.


Slow me down Lord,
ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Teach me the art of slowing down,
to look at a flower, to chat to a friend, to read a few lines from a good book.
Remind me each day of the fable of the hare and the tortoise,
that I may know that the race is not always swift,
that there is more to life than increasing its speed.
Let me look upward into the branches of the towering oak
and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well.
Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life's enduring values, that I may grow towards the stars of my greater destiny.
ANON

Making The Most Of It...

... the weather that is!!  Since the start of the school holidays, I've lost count how many days it has rained.  In fact if you decide to venture forth for the day you have to be prepared for all eventualities and seasons, wet, cold and sunny!  As a result we have sallied forth and dodged the heavy downpours as best we can.  These past few weeks we have visited new friends, paddled at the beach, collected stones for an amazing craft activity, played in the park, planted new growth in the garden and in Pip's case had her first proper (much needed) haircut!!

Pip's first paddle albeit in rather mucky looking water!

Sharing a yummy Lakeland ice cream in the car, it was too cold to eat outside, sigh!

A walk on the beach wrapped up warm.

Rock Climbing!

Two's company.


Little Miss Philippa looking very grown up, sob!

" I'll sort it mama I'm a big girl now!"
In amongst the daily living this mama has managed to make a start on making the Christmas presents as well as knitting two cardigans for Pip.  All will be revealed in my new blog space very soon!!