Daily Affirmations: Love Is Acceptance

By: Pamela Leavey On: March 16, 2012 at 9:38 am

“Love is acceptance. Love is compassion. Love is honesty. Love is the perfect Rose, that blooms in the sun’s warm glow. Love is the laughter and the smile of a child. Love is the knowledge that, all things are as God created them. When I accept that, I open my heart and soul, to ceaseless possibilities.” – Pamela J. Leavey

(Photo: Red Poppies ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2011)

Reflections: Nothing In Life Is Ever Permanent

By: Pamela Leavey On: March 1, 2012 at 4:10 pm

It’s a grey day here on the river today, with snow falling for the past 24 hours now. I have been reflecting today on losing something you think you found but really didn’t. In the blink of an eye, the sun shone through the clouds and lifted my heart up into the heavens, and I basked it’s warm and comfortable embrace…

And then it slipped away, back through the clouds and left me bereft of understanding as to where it went. But, alas, I do know that nothing in life is ever permanent. We struggle with loss and grief, and naturally we should. We learn from loss and grief, and naturally we should. And then, we move on.

Life is the grand hall of learning. It shapes who we are, and leaves us all with indelible impressions, called memories, that give us pause to reflect. We can reflect on the sadness, but we must always remember the joy.

(Photo: Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Afternoon ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2011)

Daily Affirmations: Grateful For The Little Things

By: Pamela Leavey On: February 29, 2012 at 7:35 am

Today, I will take time to be grateful for the little things that make each day special. Crocus blooming early in the garden, the river glistening in the sun, the birds singing in the trees, the ever chaging cycles of Mother Nature which inspire and awe me each day. ~~ Pamela J. Leavey

(Photo: On The River ~~ c. Pamela J. Leavey)

Food For Thought: Find Joy

By: Pamela Leavey On: February 28, 2012 at 4:10 pm

A short time after publishing my earlier post today, Live With Sorrow, I looked out of my desk window to check on my little yellow crocus that have been blooming sporadically for over a week now and found they had some companions… Some lovely white crocus had also bloomed.

As I hobbled down my driveway, camera in hand, I was filled with joy knowing that more of the crocus I had planted last fall were poking their pretty little petals out in the sun.

It’s true that the smallest and simplest things can fill our hearts with joy. For me flowers have always been a great source of joy. I spent 20 years working as a floral designer and although the long hours during the holiday seasons were rough, the work itself was always filled with joy. It never ceased to amaze me during those 20 years, that I could look at a bunch of white daises, or red roses, or pink carnations and find that one perfect flower that made me say, “wow.”

Joy is all around us… Even in times of deep sorrow, we must open our eyes to see, open our ears to hear and let it the joy flow into us every day.

(Photo: Crocus On The River ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

Reflections

By: Pamela Leavey On: February 11, 2012 at 10:59 am

In times of our own deepest reflection on life, we sometimes listen in the stillness for an answer… but it does not come. We mustn’t give up hope, we mustn’t lose faith. Some lessons are harder to learn than others. Some answers take longer to formulate than others. Give yourself to the deep reflection of your heart and soul… In the stillness, perhaps when you least expect it, you will understand the meaning of the trials you are suffering through.

(Photo: Cat Tails Sparkling in the Sun ~~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)

On The Parker River Path

By: Pamela Leavey On: February 9, 2012 at 5:28 pm

In the midst of my imposed immobility, I occasionally get sprung from the sanctuary that I call home, and I am whisked away for drive through the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge.

The winter days have been so unseasonably warm over the past few weeks and my soul craves the sun and fresh air, not to mention some good bird sightings as well.

On my most recent excursion to the Refuge, which truly is the most marvelous stronghold for my soul, we were lucky to find a lovely White Egret sunning near two Mute Swans. Suddenly the White Egret took to flight and it was spectacular to witness it’s ascent into the skies.

I wish my camera did better justice to the majesty of watching this lovely bird in flight… I’m was filled with gratitude with the blessing of just quietly witnessing it’s presence.

(Photo: White Egret in Flight ~ c. Pamela J. Leavey 2012)