“There are as many nights as days,
and the one is just as long as the other
in the year’s course.
Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness,
and the word happy would lose it’s meaning
if it were not balanced by sadness.”
➺Carl Gustav Jung

I needed this reminder as I struggle through these
dark short days of winter. Suffering through the flu,
a bad cold, and sore joints makes me appreciate
the jubilant feeling of the sunshine on my face
and the warm temperatures filling my body
with healthy endorphins.
But I can’t get to the summer without first
surviving the winter just like I need to get through
the tough times to celebrate the good ones.
Life really is a balance.
We all may lead different lives but not one of us
gets through without our own ups and downs.
So don’t let yourself get too down on life
because something wonderful is just around the corner. ♡

~2017
Let us learn from the years already gone by.
Don’t waste one day on regrets.
Don’t waste time complaining.
Don’t say negative things about yourself or others.
Don’t abuse your body.
Don’t forget to keep God in your life.

Please ~
Do take care of yourself.
Do speak kindly about yourself and others.
Do charity work.
Do learn something new,
Do go somewhere you have never been.
Do something you have never done.
Do meditate for peace and balance.
Do walk every day for your heart and your mind.
Do pray for your soul.
Do keep God in your life. ✞

*Wishing you all a blessed and joyful 2017!!♡

The Christmas Season has arrived
and with it craziness abounds with endless lists
and immeasurable pressure on all of us.
Makes me feel like a scrooge every year
and I’m afraid I have impressed this
disgruntled attitude upon my children.
“Sorry!”

However. . . . today I woke
with an overwhelming feeling of calm.
“What the heck is this?” Was my first thought.
I closed my eyes, took in a few deep breaths
and pretended to wake again just in case
I was still dreaming.
But I was neither dead nor dreaming
so before I lost that loving feeling,
I decided to ‘embrace’ it!!

As I sipped my first cup of coffee,
mmmm. . . . I slowly gazed upon the
multitude of lists I have taped to my cabinets.
Go here, buy this, wrap that, bake these,
send this, clean that. . . and instead
of feeling my heart rate climb to a
dangerous level, I simply continued to
enjoy my morning coffee.
I told myself ~ RELAX Claudia !!!
And I am. . . . and I’m sending this
message to you to try your best
to do the same.

I know it isn’t easy. . . Really I do!!
But at least try, even if it
only lasts for this one day!
This cup of coffee will probably morph
into a sparkly glass of Prosecco later. ♡

NOVEMBER’S FULL MOON ❍

If you do nothing else this evening, step outside
and look up to the heavens.
I was putting my home in order and getting ready
for a busy week when I noticed an extraordinary glow
pouring in through the windows.
Curiosity brought me towards my front door.
I stepped out and immediately became mesmerized
in awe at the beauty before me.
The most magnificent full moon in all its brilliance
was lighting up the dark sky. It took my breath away.
I could barely turn my eyes away.
God is good.
11-13-16

World Kindness Day – November 13 ❀

A sweet little day, tucked away
in the second week of November
to observe the power of ‘kindness’.
It was created in 1998 to encourage us
to overlook our differences
in religion, race, and politics
and simply be kind to each other.
I think it is a splendid idea and
the timing this year is impeccable.

Just this morning, I dropped something in the
grocery store. A perfect stranger walked up
behind me and handed it to me.
I felt full of appreciation and found
myself in the same situation later in the
parking lot. The gentleman seemed very
surprised – he smiled and thanked me. ☺

Random acts of kindness are contagious.
Offering a warm gesture to someone, instills in them
the desire to reach out to another. ♡
11/13/16

Do You Pray? ✞

Tomorrow is a very important day for those of us
who live in the United States of America.
We will be electing a new President.
Putting aside all our differences,
I think we can all agree that
the dangers we face are unprecedented.

~ I believe it is time to PRAY. ✞
It is time to get down on our knees,
close our eyes,
fold our hands,
bow our heads
and pray to God for his divine protection.
These times we live in require intense spirituality.
This type of prayer is not for the faint of heart.
We need spiritual soldiers.
Those of us who aren’t afraid to open our hearts
and minds to the real possibility that God can help us.
There is no doubt that the devil is here;
we need to show him that we are not afraid.

Will you please join me and pray for our country
and whoever is elected tomorrow?
You and I will have little power over
what they do behind closed doors,
but we can pray that God’s grace protects us.
Despite our struggles through personal hardships,
we need to join together in our faith.
I believe in prayer.
I have personally seen it do the impossible.
I hope you will join me and pray for our country,
our world, and for each other.
Amen ✞
♡

❀ May your days on earth be many,
may your life be free from strife,
and may God walk beside you,
everyday of your life.♡

Dear Jesus,
I want my life to be a gift to all I know and love.
I need You to help me overcome my insecurities
and allow You to unwrap the person You created me to be.
Show me how to serve others.
Show me what gifts You have placed in me to serve others.
I want to be a blessing to You and to everyone
You put in my path.♡

~ From the book – “Prayers to My King”

(Post by: Christina Lunden)

Dear Jesus,
I want my life to be a gift to all I know and love.
I need You to help me overcome my insecurities and allow
You to unwrap the person You created me to be.
Show me how to serve others.
Show me what gifts You have placed in me to serve others.
I want to be a blessing to You and to everyone
You put in my path.♡
~ From the book – “Prayers to My King”

(Post by: Christina Lunden)