September 26, 2013 by Becky

Thankful Thursday: 3 Gifts Flourishing

3 Gifts Flourishing…

When I think of something that is “flourishing“, the first thing that comes to mind is relationships, life and love.

Each one flourishes in its own unique way, and yet they often interconnect. It might even be safe to say that one often has influence on another. It certainly makes for a happier life, when it’s filled with healthy, loving, relationships. 🙂

So I took a look at those three things again today, from another level, and I came up with this.

I’m pretty sure it’s nothing new or profound, it’s just my take on things that are flourishing, and how very thankful I am for all of them!

1. I am so thankful for the growing relationship of books, flourishing in the life of this little guy!

2. My beautiful rose plant that just keeps giving life and flourishing year after year, in spite of my lack of knowledge of rose care!

3. And last, but certainly not the least of all, the most important thing that is flourishing in my life is my love for my amazing man! Can I just shout it out from the mountain top?

I am so VERY thankful for him, and I love him so much! 🙂

These are just a few of the many things that I am thankful for.

What are your “heavenly blessings“?

Will you join me in looking for these gifts and sharing them with others?

“The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.”
― Henry Ward Beecher

Image September 25, 2013 by Becky

Wordless Wednesday: Simple

September 23, 2013 by Becky

Last game for me

Well, this is it. The last baseball game that I will be attending this season. The 2013 season for the San Diego Padres will officially be over on Sept. 29th.

It was an interesting season.

It didn’t turn out quite as I had hoped, you know, like winning the division and going on to the World Series.

But there were some good things about the season, it wasn’t all bad. In fact, for a few weeks, it seemed as though my team was going to make a run for it, and climb all the way up out of the basement, and in to first place. (As it stands right now, we are officially out of the basement, hovering at 3rd place.)

Nope. It wasn’t meant to be. Not this year. I guess this just means that they’ve left room for improvement for next year, right?!

That’s ok, I’m still a fan.

I’ll be back next year, and once again it will be with high hopes, just like I had this year.

Go Padres!

September 23, 2013 by Becky

Weekly Photo Challenge: From Lines to Patterns

Except for the first photo, these were all taken in San Diego.

The first one was taken from the top floor, inside the lobby of the Embassy Suites Hotel in Atlanta GA. It’s a spectacular place!

If you ever get the chance, you should go there, take a peek inside, and ride the elevator to the top floor! It’s amazing!

The lines come together to form a work of art!

One line on top of another creates a massive building

lines and patterns together

Intricate pattern of the palm trees

the wild and colorful patterns in our lives

A worn out pattern from days of hard work

Lines that build a ship…

create form and function

The lines that make up the pattern of our flag

If you want to take a look at some more cool images of lines and patterns, click on this link!

Image September 20, 2013 by Becky

Time to stop

September 19, 2013 by Becky

Thankful Thursday: 3 gifts in conversation

Our words.

What we say. How we say it. When we say it.

All of the things that make up an important part of our lives…conversation. Some of us have more than others, but needless to say, it is vital to our overall well-being as a human being.

Without good conversation, I think my world would be a very lonely place, and probably not a very healthy one either.

Because of this, I am so thankful for the conversation that I can enjoy…

1. By way of the telephone…thank-you Mr. Bell!

2. In writing, by way of the internet and the mail (although that doesn’t get used too much anymore)

3. But the best, and quite possibly my favorite way, is in person. Face-to-face with my best friend, and preferably, with a good cup of coffee!

These are just a few of the many things that I am thankful for.

What are you thankful for?

Will you join me in looking for these gifts and sharing them with others?

“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Image September 18, 2013 by Becky

Wordless Wednesday: Fascinating

September 17, 2013 by Becky

Football vs. Baseball: or The Agony and The Ecstasy

I enjoy watching professional football games on TV with my husband. I really do. But I tell you what….I think this game is going to be the death of me! (Well, probably not, but you know what I mean!)

OH MY GOODNESS!

It is so intense!

Every year I tell him how much I hate it, and every year, I come back for more.

Now, baseball on the other hand…I have never said that I hate it.

Frustrated, yes. Annoyed, some times.

I might even get disappointed from time-to-time, but it’s just so much easier to watch and enjoy baseball!

There have been many days when I have looked forward to sitting down in the evening, with a good cup of coffee, just to relax and watch the baseball game.

Have I ever had that thought cross my mind when it comes to watching a football game? Have I ever thought, hey, I’m just going to sit down and “relax” and watch the football game this afternoon?

Never!

After many years of watching them both…I have concluded, watching pro football is like watching “bases loaded, 2 outs, 3 balls, 2 strikes, last batter up, baseball”… Every. Single. Second of the football game!

Every single play! Every single drive!

It’s insane!!

There’s no lulling you into the fact that the bases are loaded. There is no calm announcer telling you that there is the possibility that with just one swing of the bat you could have a grand slam on your hands, and that the game is over, and your team lost.

Nope!

There’s no calm anything in football! It smacks you upside the head (literally) from the very first second of the game!

When they start running after the kick-off, my heart starts racing, and stays that way pretty much throughout the whole, entire game! Oh, sure. We have half-time to re-group, but in some cases, all that does is prolong the inevitable, and make it even more stressful!

I’ve tried hiding my face with a pillow so that I don’t have to see what happens next.

I’ve tried watching through my fingers, as they were spread across my eyes.

I’ve tried every way I can to watch and not watch at the same time, but I just keep coming back for more, and at times, it is just pure agony.

Why, oh why, do I do this to myself?

I asked him just that.

He said; “Because that’s what makes this game so great! It’s intense, and exciting. It’s like watching bases loaded, 2 outs, 3 balls, 2 strikes, last batter up, baseball, every single second of the game! It’s fun!”

I don’t know if it’s fun or not. The jury’s still out on that one. It’s certainly not fun when your team doesn’t win.

But when they do….it’s like watching, “bases loaded, 2 outs, 3 balls, 2 strikes, last batter up, baseball,” … only this time your guy hit the ball for the grand slam! 🙂

I guess that’s what keeps me coming back…to both games.

Fun? Maybe.

Exciting? Definitely!