simplifying

Honey girl's blog spot hasn't seen much activity of late and I've been pondering what to do here.
In an ongoing effort to keep things simple a discernment has been made to set it aside.

After reviewing Honey girl's early intent, I see that much has been realized and resolved and there just doesn't seem to be much more to say along those lines. It seems then, that (at least for now) this medium has fullfilled it's purpose. For that I'm grateful.
I've often wondered who my audience might be. Aside from my 4 - count them! FOUR faithful followers - Jodi, Jeff, Bobbe & Jami - Anonyms logged on now and then, along with Trish, Cheri, Janet, Caroline, Jan, Sheri, Linda, and Lisa. Thank you for visiting me here.
Awhile back I promised a book give away. A quick review of the above visitors indicates that Jami would get the prize for leaving the most comments - so, it seems fair that that would qualify her as the recipient of  Dan Allendar's, Sabbath.

It's been an interesting year and a little bit here in the blogging world. I don't know if or when I'll be back. Until next time, grace and peace

simple enough during Lent

Fast from discontent,
Feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger,
Feast on patience.

Fast from worry,
Feast on faith.

Fast from complaining,
Feast on appreciation.

Fast from bitterness,
Feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-centered-ness.
Feast on compassion for others.

Fast from lethargy,
Feast on enthusiasm.

Fast from emphasis on differences,
Feast on recognizing unity.

Fast from unsettling anxiety,
Feast on inner peace.

Fast from half-hearted-ness,
Feast on commitment.

source unknown - but generally attributed to a longer
version by William Arthur Ward (1921-1994)

simply the best

What is the best thing you've ever done for yourself?
Never mind that it may seem selfish.
Never mind that it might not be what others would expect of or from you?
What is the one thing that is helping you live out of your core?
The one thing that allows you to realize more of your authentic self - the one thing that rings true - the one thing that shouts to your heart the biggest YES that you've ever heard?
The one thing that brings glory to your Creator?
The one thing that is helping integrate more of life into one big whole?
Where is the one place where you know that God is just waiting for you to show up?
Just a few questions - not simple, I understand.
But they were begging to be asked today....

simple beauty

I wake up with a song in my heart and simply have to share. Sara Grove's lyrics from her song, Add to the Beauty, offer a simple reflection expressing gratitude for God's goodness and abundant provision in my life these days.

We come with beautiful secrets
We come with purposes written on our hearts, written on our souls
We come to every new morning
With possibilities only we can hold, that only we can hold

Redemption comes in strange place, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are

And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside

It comes in small inspirations
It brings redemption to life and work
To our lives and our work

It comes in loving community
It comes in helping a soul find it's worth

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out the best of who we are

And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside

This is grace, an invitation to be beautiful
This is grace, an invitation

Redemption comes in strange places, small spaces
Calling out our best

And I want to add to the beauty
To tell a better story
I want to shine with the light
That's burning up inside


Where can you add to the beauty this day, dear friend?

simple winter reflection

Winter blues were nipping at my heels.

The words of a friend encouraged me. “I think the winter doldrums is a perfect time for us to go inside ourselves and reflect. And then, we can burst out in the spring like the beautiful spring flowers do. We are all beautiful flowers in waiting! Think spring, growth, beauty...”

I was graced to accept her words and this winter season as a time to simply go with the flow and settle in for some reflection. Today, I took some time to imagine the dormant state of bulbs under the frozen ground. What’s happening there?

I love words and went to my dictionary to find the meaning of the word, DORMANCY:
“a state of minimal metabolic activity with cessation of growth, either as a reaction to adverse conditions or as part of an organism's normal annual rhythm.”
Normal annual rhythm.

Key words: Normal. Annual. Rhythm.

Dormancy is a brief respite from the rigorous needs of the plants; a period of rest and inactivity while awaiting spring. Without this rest period, a plant’s survival is put at risk. Forcing leads to fatigue. Periods of rest are crucial to survival.
Nature offers some personal applications: Forcing induces bulbs to bloom when you want them to, rather than when they normally do – ahead of their natural schedule and out of its natural environment. If plant dormancy is prevented by too much external, unnatural stimuli, the plants survival is put at risk. Forcing leads to fatigue. Periods of rest are crucial to survival. Forcing is hard on most bulbs. It weakens the bulb. If forcing is attempted the following year, the bloom will be small and unsatisfactory.

Well, I’ve been forcing it for years…

Seems like this winter season is the perfect time to just hunker down- free to settle into a state of being dormant, as it were. Free to store up energy reserves.
It’s time to put some simple practices into play.


Where have you been forcing it, friend?
Rest. Breathe. Be at peace.