Today I asked for Grace

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• A sweet, mild morning. On a day that promises grey skies, I loved a deep intake of the fresh and lovely air that filled my body with hope and new beginnings.
• Clarity. When insight slams through fuzzy thoughts, it's like a bolt of lightening. I love it!
• Nice people who have to do a difficult job. Getting "bad" information from someone who is kind makes a big difference. 

Today I asked for Grace 

So much to do, so many things coming at me today! I actually love an extra measure of external stimuli. Yet, I've observed that with this flurry often comes the not-so-awesome things like strange encounters, not so welcomed phone calls, over due bills, and such. I can be irritated or I move from a place of peace...

Today I asked for Grace

I want feel like I'm in an Italian movie

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• The treasure of being loved. I have wealth beyond measure when I examine the richness of my friendships. Truly, there's nothing more precious than being cared for by the people in my life.
• Generous gestures. Today I was treated to a wonderful woman's networking luncheon, then to a great cup of coffee in a really cool place. Nice!
• Prep time to do His plan. God doesn't just push us out into a situation without giving us time to get ready. I appreciate the training and preparation process.

On Grey Days Like Today...

This foggy, chilly time of year makes me want to snuggle in with a cozy blanket, a rich cup of robust coffee, and a few biscotti. Escaping to Italy is on the agenda by way of a great chick flick set in bright, sunny Tuscany, Liguria, Campania, or Veneto. Here are a few I fall into every year at this time.

I want to feel like I'm in an Italian movie

or, Per il vostro divertimento!

Bread and Tulips or Pane e tulipani 

This award-winning romance comedy film was directed by Silvio Soldini, and stars Licia Maglietta and Bruno Ganz. The story is about an Italian housewife who finds herself stranded during a family vacation. Instead of waiting for her controlling businessman husband, she hitchhikes her way home, only to impulsively detour to Venice. There she finds accommodations with a restaurant maitre d' and soon finds herself enjoying her a life.

I love this movie because it's quirky and so different. Yet, the yearning to live one's own life, fulfilling secret dreams transcends cultures. Most any woman who has a husband and children to tend can escape in this story, even if it's just for an hour or so.

Enchanted April

This film is an adaptation of Elizabeth von Arnim's 1922 novel, The Enchanted April. It was directed by Mike Newell, and stars Alfred Molina, Joan Plowright and Miranda Richardson. In the story four dissimilar women in 1920s England leave their damp and rainy environs to go on a holiday to a secluded coastal castle in Italy. The women come together at a castle and find rejuvenation in the tranquil beauty of their surroundings, rediscovering hope and love. The film was shot on location at Castello Brown in Portofino, Italy. This same castle was where the author of the book stayed in the 1920s.

Oh, to spend a month or two in an Italian castle! The wisteria and sunshine speak to my heart, as do the friendships that form between these women and the men they love. I never tire of this little gem.

Italian for Beginners or Italiensk for begyndere 

This film is a 2000 Danish romantic comedy film written and directed by Lone Scherfig. The film stars Anders W. Berthelsen, Lars Kaalund and Peter Gantzler. Here we see Italy through the eyes of three Danish women as they meet for Italian lessons at the local community center. The class serves as a way of bringing various residents of the town together, each of whom is dealing with loss or pain, out of their loneliness and into interactions with other people. It's a film about fulfilling dreams.

Want to change everything you know about love? This movie is funny, spontaneous, heart-warming, and touching. It makes me laugh and feel good!

Under the Tuscan Sun

Under the Tuscan Sun is a romantic comedy drama film written, produced, and directed by Audrey Wells and starring Diane Lane. The film, set in Cortona between Tuscany and Umbria, is about a recently-divorced writer who buys a villa in Tuscany on a whim, hoping it will lead to a change in her life.

This one is my very most favorite. I have seen it at least ten times, maybe more. Can you say sunflowers, wine, love, and transformation?

Letters to Juliet

This is an American romantic drama film starring Amanda Seyfried, Chris Egan, and Vanessa Redgrave. The story is about a young American woman who travels to the city of Verona, home of the star-crossed lover Juliet Capulet. She joins the "Secretaries of Juliet" who respond to letters to Juliet seeking advice about love. After answering one letter dated from 1957, she inspires its author to travel to Italy in search of her long-lost love.

Long lost love served up with wine, rolling hills, and letters. More, please!

The English Patient 

This movie is a romantic drama film written for the screen and directed by Anthony Minghella. It won nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Staring Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche and Kristin Scott Thomas, the story is about a doomed and tragic romance set against the backdrop of World War II. In a field hospital in Italy, a nurse from Canada, is caring for a pilot who was horribly burned in a plane wreck; he has no identification and cannot remember his name, so he's known simply as "the English Patient," thanks to his accent.

Get comfortable and settle in, this one is long and winding. The lush and complex plot is worth every minute.

Yes, this grey time of year, when I'm missing sunshine and warm breezes, I pull out the movies and say, 

I just wanna feel like I'm in an Italian movie! 

After the company's gone

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• Hot showers. This morning I luxuriated in the steamy streams, cleansing my head of troubles. I emerged warm, smelling good, and peaceful.
• Routine. I know, most of you can't believe this! However, there are things I count on to keep me sane. These routines are the foundation of the awesomeness that happens during the day.
• Quiet days like today. 

My Friends Were Here

The morning after is good. I'm reminded of this when I stumble into the kitchen to make my blessed pot of coffee and see dishes from an evening of fun. 

No matter that the stove is grimy...

That remnants of enjoyment are still out....

Or that bits of garbage need clearing....

Who cares that soaking pots and pans now need attention...

And, that random dishes need to be cleared.

As I happily return my kitchen to it's neat and tidy standard, I think about my friends and how they color my life. Laughter. Creative food. Great wine. Stimulating conversation. All let me know I am blessed and loved. This is the joy that remains....

After the company's gone. 

I just want to be queen

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• Little things, like the pretty orange color of the candle on my coffee table, the sound of wind chimes on the deck, the three deer that ran across the road this morning, the hum of my refrigerator. All are little gifts.
• I got a check for doing something I really enjoyed. Doing good work and being paid for it is nice!
• Problem solving. God gave me a good, sound mind. He intended that I used it to figure stuff out. When He needs a problem solved, He gives it an extra boost, aka Divine Inspiration.  

Queen Bee Shelley
First grade many years ago....

The Making of a Little Queen

When I was in first grade the class put on a play for our parents. It was a story about a bee hive and the things that happen there. The details are pretty fuzzy, except that I clearly remember I was cast as the queen bee. Was I ever proud! In my memory, I was draped in a royal cape and wore an elegant crown. I even had a golden scepter and sat on a throne. I believed that I looked a lot like this...

No actor has ever played their part more earnestly. I took my role seriously, being the very best queen I could. Miss Bagwell, my teacher, praised me for my excellent work and I'm pretty sure that all the other kids said I did a great job. At least, that's what I remember...

It made an impression.

That's when I decided I liked the queen gig. Once the queen bug bit, I started learning about other queens. Ester of the Bible, Cleopatra, and Good Queen Bess (aka Elizabeth) were important to me because they were strong and intelligent women. They were worthy role models.

As a young girl I realized that being a queen is no easy task. It entails much more than wearing regal clothes and jewels, going to important ceremonies, and having people wait on you hand and foot. There's a queendom to manage, don't you know. And, with that are many responsibilities such as running a country, leading armies, being the model of decorum for all of your subjects, and granting royal favors on worthy folk.

This idea of being a queen didn't come out of self-importance or arrogance. I just related to the role. As an adult I believe every woman can be a queen. Now, don't you be nay-saying me here. Every woman can and should be the ruler of her own life. If things go beyond that, great. However, first and foremost is the call to reign with dignity and authority in the place where were are planted - in our homes, the places we work, and in our social context.

Sometime soon, I plan to spend time here exploring the attributes of the queens that have influenced me. You'll see why I think its an amazing thing to live into our regal potential. Until then, take a moment to check out this great website: Queen of Your Own Life. These ladies assert that being a queen is an attitude, a way of life and a call to action for grown up women everywhere. They extend an invitation to join them in celebrating life. You have absolutely nothing to lose and only great friendship, thrilling adventure, true love and deep satisfaction to gain when you declare yourself Queen of Your Own Life.

I hope you join me, as well as the ladies of Queen of Your Own Life, when I say:

I just want to be queen!

Today it's a coffee day

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• My coffee maker. What would I do with out this beautiful little machine! I'm especially thankful on a morning like this.
• God's master plan. Even on days like today, when the future is foggy from my perspective. In the plan-within-a-plan that God has, I know crazy, amazing things are up ahead.
• The choices my children are making. Both are at university, working hard at preparing for professions. I hope they're making time to enjoy being 20-somethings.

Today it's a coffee day...all day

Being the energetic and action-oriented person I am, days like today surprise me. I guess I am grateful that I rarely wake up groggy and fuzzy. I'm told there are a few million people who start their day this way. Yikes!

This morning caffeine is my best friend (sorry Debbie, you are being temporarily moved to second place). Together we have a lot to get done: job applications and cover letters to compose, pine needles to rake and bag, meet a new friend for more coffee, and gather inspiration for Mermaids. 

MUST...BE...SHINY...TODAY....

Coffee, it's a girl's best friend. At least, this girl's! 

Winds in the forecast

Daily Gratitude

I'm shining today because I'm grateful for:

• Sally Cat snuggled on my lap, head resting on my forearm as I work. Sweet kitty, her demands for affection are easily granted.
• Powers to be creative, God's amazing gift to us. I love that about Him - sharing the inspiration, frustration, and satisfaction of the process.
• Promises yet to be fulfilled. It's a challenge to be peaceful in the waiting. But, I'm so excited about them, that I'm deciding to be thankful, rather than impatient. 

The wind in the trees making beautiful music

Wind Gusts Up to 40 Miles Per Hour Anticipated

The weather forecast wasn't much of a surprise. The wind has been blowing all night. Pine needles blanket the forest floor and roadways. I used to hate wind. It messed with my hair and blew stuff around that would need to be returned to order. Things got dusty and it was just uncomfortable. 

Today I realized that I've changed my mind about wind.

As is our routine first thing in the morning, my dog Eddie and I took a potty walk down the road. (Know that this potty walk is prior to being caffeinated, so often I'm anxious to get it done quickly) Eddie was particularly rascally, chasing leaves and being overall rambunctious. Geez, Ed! 

Then, it struck me that the air was full of excitement.

Music was in the trees. The giant pines that surround the lake commanded attention. The symphonic waves of sound coming from their massive branches rose and fell. Large maples and oaks joined in with feeling. In the lulls, clusters of poplar and aspen whispered high, light notes. Here and there, accents of wind chimes from decks tinkled brightly. And, if I listened closely, I could hear the underlying rhythm of the lake pounding the shore. It was magical.

Wind has always been symbolic of change. I can say without exaggeration that there's certainly been windy times in my life, times when I've viewed the forces as destructive and chaotic. Wave upon wave of distress, discord, and disappointment. Times when I've been knocked around and knocked about. It was messy, it was confusing. Of course I hated it. 

Yet, when I look back, I find that these times, these winds, changed me in ways that made for something better. Blown away are relationships, situations, that no longer serve me. In rushed the fresh currents of the hopeful and helpful. I think if I'd tapped into the magical, transformative powers of change I may have heard the wind-music. 

So, I say, bring it on. I've changed my mind about wind.