My cute little niece Emme

My lack of blogging is just horrible I know. Well, life gets in the way sometimes---however, one of the recent stars in my life is my cute little niece Emme. She's happy (almost all the time)...healthy and full of smiles. She's a wonderful little soul---and I can't wait for her to be more of highlight on my blog.

the growth of understanding follows an ascending spiral rather than a straight line

. the growth of understanding follows an ascending spiral rather than a straight line ., originally uploaded by beesquare.

I really like this quote...and this picture.

I have been drawn to spirals for a while now---and I think it's because of the subconscious connection with growth. How growth isn't a straight line but a spiral.

I am appreciating my growth and the ascensions and setbacks that comes with it.

And I thank the universe for the little messages that help me continue on the upward path.

5-year-old Di Di

Yesterday I was reminded of something very important. Become friends with who YOU were when you were 5-years-old....invite that bundle of love and energy back into your life. She/he will help remind you to speak from your heart. To always speak truth--and to just love.

Yes, this cute little girl on my blog is me :)

I am becoming her friend--she has a lot to teach me.

Thank you Caroline for reminding me of her. And..thank you Melis for your guidance as well!

I am Energy and Prosperity!

highlights of summer trips

This summer has been really fun! I have been lucky enough to take a few short summer trips to visit a wonderful new friend. Here are some highlights from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

My friend Vivek took Mike and I to see Frank Lloyd Wright's famous house, Falling Water. It was truly beautiful!

These pictures were taken at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
Artist Isaiah Zagar--a former Peace Corps volunteer--created this beautiful mosaic garden in S. Philly--creating a community of art. It was by far my favorite part of Philly.

Garden Walk 2009~

I so enjoyed today's gathering of friends and their extended families over lots of yummie food. It was such a joy to bring together these unique people....
I feel so very lucky to have such wonderful friends with such diverse backgrounds.
It's as beautiful as the flowers we saw today!

I really love these Lillies...they smell so good!

I am always grateful to spend time with Kris.....I am so glad we still have time to enjoy these little joys together :)

Happy Auntie...again :)

Last Sunday...Joe's girlfriend Annette had her baby. Sage Isadora Hardy is my new little niece. She's was just so precious when we met her the first time. She was just born yet her eyes were wide open! She was ready for the world and all it has to offer her.

We are all so happy for Joe and Annette. I know she will grow up around love, light and happiness. AND YOGA!

Plus...she has tons of other aunties to help her along the way as well...

Welcome Sage. We love you already!

Patience...

So, for those of you that know me...know I can be on the go all the time. I have a tendency to do so many things per day...it makes most people head spin. And I think mine as well :) Because...I miss some important moments. Maybe I don't miss them, but I am lost in my head--either living in the past or the future.

So...wonderful souls in my life keep reminding me to live in The Present Moment.

Thank you!!! I am grateful for that message---

One person is my Reiki Teacher---who sent out this story in her newsletter. Her name is Caroline and she is really a bright light for us all...

Here is her lesson to remind us all of staying present...

“A Lesson in Patience”

About 20 years ago I experienced one of the biggest patience lessons of my life. I had stopped at the supermarket on my lunch hour, and was happy to find a checkout line with only one other person ahead of me. “I can be out of here in minutes!” I thought… but that is not the way it happened.

I guessed that the woman in front of me was about my age (as close as I could tell from behind) and shewas the slowest moving person ever! One at a time she moved items from her cart to the conveyor belt. She dropped a can, was confused by a question from the cashier, could not seem to find the correct change, etc. All the while my impatience was building as I shifted my weight from one foot to the other. “Why do I ALWAYS pick the wrong line?” I thought, as I looked at my watch again and again. I was going to be late getting back to the office, and it was HER fault! I was really building up steam, looking around at the person behind me with a large sigh and a look on my face that said, “Do you BELIEVE this?”

And then the woman in front of me turned to look at me. One look at her face and I knew that she was very, very ill. “I’m sorry I’m so slow,” she said, “but I just came from my chemo appointment and my brain is a little foggy.” “Oh, that’s O.K.,” I replied, “I’m not in a hurry.”

It is difficult to find the words to explain how I felt at that moment. Twenty years later as I think of that day I can still feel that feeling in the pit of my stomach… shame…embarrassment…self-loathing. Did it really matter that I was going to be a few minutes late compared to what she was going through?

I remember checking out and walking to my car in a kind of daze. I got in and sat behind the steering wheel for a moment, and the tears began to slowly slide down my cheeks. I sent off a prayer and an apology to the woman, and realized that the tears were for me. My eyes had sent daggers of angry impatience into her back, and for what? For a few moments of my time? How sad…

I have thought of that woman so many times through the years when I see other people huffing and impatient about “waiting”, sometimes very vocal about their displeasure. I think of her when I am waiting in other lines, or standing at a red light, or driving behind the slow driver, or any time my patience begins to run thin. And I think to myself, “If this is the worst thing that happens to me this day, life is really, really good.” And I smile in gratitude for the lesson in patience I learned so long ago that helps me today to live calmly in the moment, appreciating, accepting.

The next time you are feeling impatient, take a couple of really deep breaths and relax. It may be a lesson in patience for you, and a reminder to BE in this moment. It really is all we have.

http://www.reikicare.com/newsletter.july09.htm