Appreciation

"Appreciation can make a day...

Even change a life...

Your willingness to put it into words

is all that is necessary."

Margaret Cousins

If someone has done something for you,

make them feel appreciated.

It matters...

It makes a difference...

A smile...

Kindness...

A simple thank you...

A hug...

Flowers...

An 'I Love You'...

A card...

Let them know...

It could lift someone up,

and make all the difference in the world...

Thank you, God,

for the rain,

and every single blessing you have given me.

Blessings

Yaya

Stay in Peace

Don't be upset

and caught up with things or people

you

cannot change.

Instead,

let go

and 

concentrate on what you CAN change.

Things that enhance your life.

You deserve to be happy.

As you journey along your own path,

remember to lend a helping hand

to those who cannot help themselves...

Old folks...

Little children...

Make a difference along the way

if you can.

Stand strong, and beautiful

in faith and grace.

Stay in peace.

Blessings

Yaya

Surround Yourself in Peacefulness.

Today,

be sure to surround yourself

with peaceful people

and only allow into your space

those that respect your time...

Bless all,

and keep making life beautiful,

one little space at a time.

Seek inspiration,

and wisdom,

and people who lift you up.

Share your peace,

and your beauty,

and your inspiration.

Even if you inspire just one,

you have done a good deed.

Blessings...

Yaya

Angels Among Us

Do you talk to your angels?

Do you believe?

And so it is that I believe

our angels walk with us

as we experience the great unity of 

ALL THAT IS.

Blessings

Yaya

That Peaceful Little Place

A few roses,

a fairy or two,

angels among us,

fountains splashing,

birdsong,

my morning coffee in quiet solitude...

Carry on and face the day.

Isn't grace a beautiful thing?...

Walking in grace,

and strength,

with God,

along my life path that God has directed.

It's a beautiful thing.

I need my peaceful little place...

That place where I can go,

soak in the tranquility,

and come away feeling blessed and strong.

Blessings

Yaya

Life Is Beautiful, No Matter What...

Life is beautiful,

no matter what...

If not,

then make it so.

I refuse to submit to the stresses of life.

Instead,

I strive to make life beautiful,

no matter what.

Yoga, peaceful music,

little water fountains everywhere,

roses, flowers,

books, good coffee,

a glass of wine on the porch at sunset,

the smell of supper cooking,

grandangels, family,

visits with friends,

garden parties,

picnics,

a walk in the woods...

The list is long,

but if we seek,

life gives us so much.

I choose beauty over stress.

Blessings...

Yaya

Ponderings

Nothing ever goes away

until it teaches us what we need to know...

Smile,

Breathe

And go slowly...

YOU

are the child of an almighty king - 

A child of God!

Yes, 

YOU!

Blessings...

Yaya

Blessings On This Mother's Day From the Country House

Mothers and Grandmothers are forever.

'Mother' is just another name for love.

Mothers are the bearers of tradition.

"I thank God for my mother and my grandmothers

who stood on the word of God

and lived with the spirit

of courage and grace."

Maya Angelou

A mother's love

is like no other love in the world.

It takes but one woman to make a home.

Mother.

Mom.

Mama.

Remembering childhood visions...

My mother's smile.

My grandmother's porch.

Their love.

Their laughter.

As a mother,

teach your child to dream.

"Life is what we make it.

Always has been;

Always will be."

Grandma Moses

May your Mother's Day be filled with blessings.

Yaya

Country House in Bloom

We have been so blessed to travel the world,

always work related,

and we are grateful and love the adventures,

but returning home to the country house

is truly one of the greatest blessings of all.

I love this old house in the countryside,

and miss it terribly when I'm away.

I love walking barefoot over the old wood floors,

ceiling fans slowly turning,

the smell of morning coffee,

and the singing birds.

Everything is so green from so much rain,

and the blooms are bursting with color.

Oh so pretty...

I love my south in the springtime.

Roses and English Dogwood

The smell is divine.

They make the most lovely arrangements...

A few roses and a crystal vase...

Oh so beautiful.

Simple and ever so elegant.

Today's thoughts from the country house...

"At the end of the day, 

the only questions I will ask myself are...

Did I love enough?

Did I laugh enough?

Did I make a difference?"

"Choose your words carefully,

wrap them in love,

and create a masterpiece 

in the hearts of people in your life."

And on a last note...

"One thing that doesn't go out of style...

Being fabulous!"

Isn't that great inspiration?!!

I love collecting wonderful and inspiring thoughts,

and words of wisdom...

And passing it onward 

out into the big great universe.

Blessings...

Yaya

Red Bird, Oh Beautiful Little Red Bird

How pretty you are,

sitting up in the tree

singing for me.

You take my breath away,

you really do.

And your song...

Oh how I love your beautiful song.

Oh beautiful red bird,

please come into my courtyard

and stay a while with me.

 You will find water for bathing,

and all the food you can eat...

There is no better way to celebrate spring,

than with my fine-feathered friends.

Every bird feeder has been cleaned and filled.

The bird bath gets fresh water everyday.

My south is full of blooms and song birds.

Have a blessed and beautiful day.

Yaya

Happiness Is...

Happiness is...

Walking in faith everyday,

knowing that God has given us this day,

just the way it is,

for a reason.

Happiness is...

Kissed by spring

and angel glow,

yellow blooms

and butterfly wings...

A rainbow flower garden

filled with the magic that only a fairy can bring...

Happiness is...

The trickle of a bamboo water fountain

and distant zen music floating in the air...

A wood flute...

Wind chimes...

Birdsong and grandangels...

And so it is

that

happiness is

all the things above

and so much more.

Blessings

Yaya

Sick Little Grandangels, Dress Up, and Strawberry Cake

Spring is almost here,

and we dream of planting a rainbow flower garden...

We dream from the fluffy, down bedding...

We dream by the warmth of the fireplace.

It's chilly outside,

and baby girl is sick.

Baby brother, too.

We play dress up...

We read...

We take pictures...

We have tea parties...

We nap...

And we bake...

Strawberry Cream Cake.

It's so pink...

It's so fresh...

It's so perfect.

Thought for the day...

"There is no spot of ground,

however arid,

bare or ugly,

that cannot be tamed into such 

a state as may give an impression of beauty

and delight."

Gertrude Jekyll

Blessings

Yaya