It's easy to love
through a cold spring
when the poles
of the willows
turn green
pollen falls like
a yellow curtain
and the scent of
Paper Whites
clots
the air
but to love for a lifetime
takes talent
you have to mix yourself
with the strange
beauty of someone
else
wake each morning
for 72,000
mornings in
a row so
breathed and
bound and
tangled
that you can hardly
sort out
your arms
and
legs
you have to
find forgiveness
in everything
even ink stains
and broken
cups
you have to be willing to move through
life
together
the way the long
grasses move
in a field
when you careen
blindly toward
the other
side
there's never going to be anything
straight or predictable
about your path
except the
flattening
and the springing
back
you just go on walking for years
hand in hand
waist deep in the weeds
bent slightly forward
like two question
marks
and all the while it
burns
my dear
it burns beautifully above
you
and goes on
burning
like a relentless
sun
Wondertime
Monday, June 24, 2013
Love
I found this poem over the weekend by Mary Mackey and it really spoke to me. Love isn't easy. To love for a lifetime takes talent. Talent that I'm dedicated to developing.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Audio Adrenaline - Kings & Queens
I love this song!!
"Then they will be brave and free. Shout your name in Victory! When we love the least of these."
Monday, November 12, 2012
Friday, April 1, 2011
Florida/Spring Break Excursion
We had a great vacation in Melbourne,Florida! 7 days of sunny weather, a block away from the ocean and 80 degree weather did my soul well. We did have one rainy day so Kim and I left the kids at home with the guys and went shopping and enjoyed a kids free lunch.
We spent most of our days at the ocean, which was bliss! Nathan and Tim surfed and Lucas and his cousins had fun in the water. We ate very well on the trip with fresh caught fish and amazing meals made by Kim and Tim. We also got to eat at one of Nathan's favorite burritos places, "Da Kine Diego's".
I was able to get in some great runs. It was awesome to be able to run outside wearing a tank and shorts. It sure beat running on the treadmill in the garage bundled up.
Below are some of my favorite pictures of the trip. Enjoy!
We spent most of our days at the ocean, which was bliss! Nathan and Tim surfed and Lucas and his cousins had fun in the water. We ate very well on the trip with fresh caught fish and amazing meals made by Kim and Tim. We also got to eat at one of Nathan's favorite burritos places, "Da Kine Diego's".
I was able to get in some great runs. It was awesome to be able to run outside wearing a tank and shorts. It sure beat running on the treadmill in the garage bundled up.
Below are some of my favorite pictures of the trip. Enjoy!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Vacation
I'm heading to Florida with the family and I'm anticipating a relaxing trip. The ocean, 80 degree weather and the sun are calling my name.
I'll be sharing our adventures with you when I get back!
Peace, Jean
I'll be sharing our adventures with you when I get back!
Peace, Jean
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The Kind Diet
I've made a bunch of recipes from the Kind Diet Cookbook and they have all turned out yummy. The cookbook is jammed packed with all kinds of information. It has opened my eyes up to trying out different foods and offers substitutions for the not so healthy types of food. We eat a lot of couscous in my home so this dish was a great way to switch things up a bit and make it more of a hearty meal. We had it as the main coarse with salad and crusty bread. Hope you enjoy!
Moroccan Couscous with Saffron
Prep time: 20 minutes |Cook time: 1 hour|Total time: 1 hour 20 minutes |Servings: 6
2 cup(s) of peeled butternut squash, cut into 1/4” to 1/2” cubes
2 cup(s) of yellow onion, large dice
1 1/2 cup(s) of carrots, cut into 1/4” to 1/2” cubes
1 1/2 cup(s) of zucchini, cut into 3/4” cubes
2 tbsp. of extra-virgin olive oil
1 Pinch of fine sea salf
1 1/2 tsp. of freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cup(s) of vegetable broth
2 tbsp. of Earth Balance butter
1/4 tsp. of ground cumin
1/2 tsp. of saffron threads
1 1/2 cup(s) of whole wheat couscous
2 scallions, white and green parts, chopped
Steps
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Place the squash, onion, carrots and zucchini on a baking sheet and toss with olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper.
Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, turning once with a spatula about midway through.
While the vegetables roast, bring the vegetable broth to a boil in a saucepan.
Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the butter, remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper, cumin, saffron and salt to taste.
Cover the pan and steep for 15 minutes.
Scrape the roasted vegetables and their juices into a large bowl, and add the couscous.
Bring the vegetable broth back to a boil, and pour over the couscous mixture all at once.
Cover tightly with a plate and allow to stand for 15 minutes.
Add the scallions, toss the couscous and vegetables with a fork, and serve.
P.S This is a vegan meal and the picture above is of the dish I made.
Peace, Jean
Monday, March 21, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Friday I'm In Love
It's Friday! Hooray! I'm looking forward to a relaxing weekend and getting some Spring/Easter decorations up.
I think a trip to the Morton Arboretum is on the agenda too! Hope you all have a lovely weekend.
True dat. |
Love it. |
Awesome. |
Be silent. |
Yummy snack. |
A perfect treehouse. |
Cute Owl peephole. |
Peace, Jean
Monday, March 14, 2011
A Poem
The Journey
By Mary Oliver
By Mary Oliver
One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.
Peace, Jean
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Prayer for Peace
Are you giving up anything for Lent? Or is there something you are choosing to focus on during this season?
I spent most of yesterday pondering what I wanted to focus on or abstain from till Easter Sunday. In the past I've given up certain types of food and cut out t.v. While that is ok, I felt I needed something more. I wanted to center my thoughts and actions and take time everyday to pray for something specific.
I came across an old prayer journal of my Mom's. She started the prayer journal in August of 1956. Wow! As I was reading through some of the prayers a small simple prayer card fell out from in between the pages. At the top of the prayer card it urged you to say this prayer of the gentle St. Francis of Assisi earnestly, to ponder it quietly, and to LIVE it. Then to spread it among others.
Perfect.
So this Lent I'm going to take time to Pray for Peace every day. I'm hoping that by taking time daily and putting aside my own needs and wants God can grow my heart for others.
Perfect.
So this Lent I'm going to take time to Pray for Peace every day. I'm hoping that by taking time daily and putting aside my own needs and wants God can grow my heart for others.
Prayer For Peace
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning, that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
~St. Francis of Assisi.
Peace, Jean
Monday, March 7, 2011
Body Cleanse
For the next two weeks I'm going to be doing a cleanse. Toxins can come from many sources; highly processed foods, artificial ingredients, pollution in our air and water, pesticides, fertilizers, agrochemicals, and hormones used in the foods we eat.
The body cleanse that I'm doing will help cleanse the digestive, liver, lymph and circulation systems.
I'm going to cut out dairy, white flour, sugar and red meat. The best diet to detoxify your body is fruits and veggies, whole grains and sources of unsaturated fats protein. I'll check back in a week and share how things are going!
Peace, Jean
Friday, March 4, 2011
Friday I'm In Love
Wow, it's coming down like Cat's and Dog's outside. I love the rain, but not the gloominess. I hope these lovely pictures brighten your day! Enjoy your weekend!
Yummy. |
Beatles Love. |
Believe it! |
So pretty. |
So true. |
I love these cookie jar's. I have the orange one and I'm hoping down the road to get the white one! |
Peace, Jean
Thursday, March 3, 2011
The New Dew
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Books
Next on the bookshelf! Peace, Jean |
Friday, February 25, 2011
Friday I'm In Love
It's been a very busy week and I'm looking forward to spending time with Nathan and Lucas. We will be snuggled on the couch with some yummy take-out and a movie. Hope you have something fun planned with your loved ones.
Just a few Friday Loves
So Sophisticated |
Get your groove on! |
Very true |
Perfect Print |
It's about time! |
Amen |
Bird Bike Peace, Jean |
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