I am not sure there ever is such thing as a “small” change because any change tends to gather momentum and carry more changes in its wake.

For me right now, I would say it is summed up in the word Practice.

All the positive changes I have made, the “little” things along the way, are all part of Practices — Gratefulness, Prayer, Meditation, Qi Gong, Mindfulness, Kindness, Health…all of these are Practices made up of moment by moment little changes along the way that add up to habits and eventually a healthier more fulfilling life. None of that happens if I cease to practice.

This is a picture of my new tradtion.

Last year, I decided to do an Intention Table and set out emblems for what I am hoping to welcome into my/our life in the coming year. (I do not do resolutions as they are embryonic guilt to me!)

When I looked back at the end of 2017, I was amazed at how much of my intention for 2017 had indeed come into my life.

On it are certain books on topics I am wanting to absorb, gold, green, and red for prosperity and abundance, candy for sweetness, luminarias for enlightenment, keys for more freedom, and other emblems for health, protection, guidance, and love.

To me, this sets out my prayerful hopes and intentions for 2018, as a sort of offering, then a release. I cannot force such things to come, but I can welcome them when they do.

May your 2018 also be filled with exactly that which your hearts most need so that at year’s end when you look back you can stand in amazement and gratitude at the gifts of this year. ❤️❤️❤️

Such seemingly small things are not so small when we step back as you did and see through other’s eyes. ❤️

Have you ever made congee or jook? It is a Chinese type of porridge made of rice, broth or water, maybe a piece or two of chicken or some vegetables, herbs, all cooked for about 1 1/2 hours or more. Wonderful for winter. It is a ratio of about one part rice to five or six parts water, and you can thin it out as it cooks if it gets too thick. I had it once at a friend’s house, and it was yummy. It is a nice way to stretch the meat, too!

Amen, Manda!

I listened to a wonderful TEDtalk by Dr. Amit Sood some time ago that also had to do with approach and choice, though he spoke of how our brains are hardwired for the negative, which existed to assess situations looking for threat as a way of survival. He spoke of how to use gratitude to bypass the negative bent and thus help ourselves feel happier. I love how each person came to a similar conclusion from the polar opposite starting points theory wise! How fun. ????

I am grateful for TEDtalk. Such a vast array of learning available with the click of a mouse!

The lovable moose in front clocked in at 103lbs when we had him to the vet last month. The cat is not even a tenth of his weight. And I realized the other day that the two Labby mix sisters on my lap were about the same weight combined as the one moose! He is a hardy breed, and he keeps bugging us to let him out into the freezing cold to check his domain and be sure all is in order. We do not let him stay out so long as he wants, which means more in and out for us. Thank God for a fenced yard as I would not want to be out in this with him!

Today we run to get a special kitty friendly antibiotic to start him on Monday as preparation for his dental surgery on the 11th. I have never had a cat have tooth problems, but this one does. He has lost some teeth on his own, apparently, as well as two with vet help. Now he will have some more extracted. Poor sweetie. He has high quality food, so it is genetics rather than nutrition. Either that or he has a secret stash of Snickers bars in the basement or something!

Thank you for asking how I am. The pain came in two large waves but seems to be back to more normal levels now. It prompted some major clearings, which was good, but challenging to go through.

My goal is to get the relaxed pain free condition to be the norm! The times I have felt like that were so nice. Apparently, my pain sensors are so traumatized that they misfire a lot sensing pain when there is no good reason to do so. This is partly from Lyme damage, most likely, but most probably more from continued pain begetting more pain signals and thus retraumatizing the same bits. That is what I am actively working on healing with the hypnotherapy, meditation, etc.

A HUG to you, too. May this coming year be filled with magic, miracles, and healing!

“I will never leave you or forsake you” is an amazing promise. “When you walk through the waters, I will be with you…” “If my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up [under his special care].”

I think this is a wondrous thing, that the Divine walks with us as a friend would do, not fixing all our problems or running our lives for us, but as a dear friend does, walking with us through every circumstance and offering love rather than solutions.

It is not small to that animal. ????????❤️????

I have been around rescued animals almost all of my life. Our pack now consists of three dogs and a cat who thinks he is a dog with perks. Everyone is a rescue.

There are so many wonderful animals just waiting for homes that there is no need ever to buy an animal, unless you count the rescue redemption fees. ???? And those don’t even cover what a rescue often puts into an animal with vet care, food, fostering, transport, etc. It truly is an act of love!

How beautiful. It reminds me of the acupuncture view that says winter is dominated by the Kidney andcis a timecto draw in, rest, rejuvenate, and wait as we prepare for the coming of spring growth and busyness.

Oh, so your daughter is off to her adventure already? Wow! What a wonderful blessing that her sister’s friends are her roommates! That will likely provide a continuity of spirit that must be a benefit.

I have been thinking of you hygge wise. We have a standing lamp made out of an old pot bellied stove, and it looks cozy lit. I think of you and your hygge resolve when I push the button. ????