Adelia

Story inspired by writing prompt at Stampington.com

Appologies ahead as I do not know how to link up to the exact web page as I am working on my iPad (my computer is in the shop).

Photography by Andrea C. Jenkins featured in Life Images 2008

"Well good morning Sunshine!"

"Hi Mommy"

"Where are you off to so bright and early?"

"I'm going to the bay. There's a ship waiting for me. It's going to take me to a far away land where the magic lives."

"Oh my! A magical land. Sounds perfect. I see you wore your favorite sweater."

"Sometimes it gets cold in Adelia."

"Adelia, huh? Did you remember your toothbrush?"

"You don't need toothbrushes in Adelia, Mommy! The toothfairy lives there and she has all her helpers clean the kids' teeth."

"Well isn't that convenient! So, if you're wearing your favorite sweater, and you don't need to pack your toothbrush, what's in the bag?"

"Books."

"Books?"

"Yup. Books. And my paint. And paper. And a paintbrush. That's all you need in Adelia. Books and paints."

"Hmmm... that doesn't sound like much. What will you eat? Where will you sleep? What will you wear if your sweater gets too hot?"

"That's easy. It's all in the books. Books are magical in Adelia. They come to life. You just read them and they come true."

"So if you get hungry, you can just read 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs'?"

"Yup"

"And if you get hot, you can read a book on winter to bring back the cold?"

"Or a book on princess clothes so I can wear a fancy gown!"

"Oh listen to you giggle! I think you're on to something good!"

"Yeah, Adelia is good. It's all good. I only brought good books too."

"So why the paints?"

"Just in case."

"In case of what?"

"In case I don't have the book I need... or if I miss you while I'm there."

"What happens if you don't have the right book, or if you miss me?

"If I get scared, I can paint a blanket to keep me safe. And if I miss you, I will paint you and then you will be there with me."

"So everything you read and everything you paint becomes real in Adelia?"

"Yup."

"Wow. That does sound like a magical place. I sure would like to visit a place like that some day."

"You wanna go with me?"

"I would love to go with you Honey, but Mommy has work to do around here."

"Silly Mommy! Time stands still in Adelia. You can come with me and when we get back, all your work will still be right here waiting for you!"

"In that case, I would love to go with you."

Taking her mother's hand, "Mommy? Why are you wiping your eyes?"

"Because my love for you is overflowing, my wise little princess. You opened my eyes so wide, the love leaked right out."

"I love you Mommy."

"I love you too Sweet Girl."

Play Day

A magical play day.

Visions of dreams.

Good eats, loads of laughs, art abound, all around.

hey

play

day

Imagination awakened.

Heart light.

Happiness flitting about like leaves in the wind.

hey

play

day

Weekend gone.

Play day done.

Back to the daily grind.

hey

play

day

Look back now

on shadow self

wondering where she went.

hey

play

day

Life lacks lustor

during everyday tasks.

Back to the daily grind.

hey

play

day

Make new mission.

New life position.

Make every day a play day.

hey

play

day

play day with a friend

Nourishment

I went to a little Amish style country store yesterday.

I was out of almond meal.

Waking kids in shifts so early in the morning makes for weary eaters.

Making breakfast cakes with almond and blueberry tempts their palette

and nourishes their bodies.

I also made homemade soup from a smoked turkey leg.

It turned out better than imagined.

Soup nourishes body and heart.

(the following definitions from my trusty Merriam Webster Dictionary© 1994)

nourish (vb): to promote the growth or development of

nourishing (adj.): giving nourishment

nourishment (n):the action or process of nourishing

The words themselves sound satisfying and fulfilling.

Some associated words might be love, care, wholesome, nurture.

All positive.

When we think of nourishment we most often think of food.

But what about other forms of nourishment?

What do you feed your heart?

Your soul?

In order to thrive we need proper nourishment.

The same goes for all parts of our "selves"

Do you nourish your creativity? your dreams?

Do you nourish your relationships?

What area in your life is suffering?

Perhaps you simply need to tend to it with proper nourishment.

Feed your hopes, dreams and desires.

Promote their growth.

Nourish them.

With love,

Lynn

Dreams

I'm reading the book

"The Practical Dreamer's Handbook"

(finding the time, money, and energy to live the life you want to live)

by

Paul & Sarah Edwards

It was published in 2000

and can now be purchased (hardcover)

for a mere $4.74.

It is a good book full of good advice

both practical and inspirational.

I own the book.

I have probably owned it since the publish date.
The pages have been leafed through here and there

but this is the first time I have picked it up with the intention of reading it cover to cover.
I am taking it as a sign that I was not ready for the messages before and now I am.

Last night I read a line that felt rather important to share.

"Without the yearning of desire, a dream is only a diversion."

It goes on...

"Yearning brings dreams to life, wakes them up and plants their seeds in our hearts."

I thought hard about those lines.

I thought, "I dream ALL the time. Perhaps it is the yearning that is missing."

The reality sits in the fact that I have had yearnings but have failed to ACT.

Action (to me) seems to be key.

Quiet your mind for a moment.

Now ask yourself, what have I been dreaming of lately?

Is it just a dream? Or is there yearning and desire involved?

Have you taken that desire and used it as fuel to act upon your dream?

If not, why?

There is no better day than today to start acting on and living out your dreams.

Wishing you a beautiful, dreamy, action filled day!

Dreams

Nightmares

(I suffer from PTSD due to several events in my life. I have come a long way working through heavy issues. I am still affected. My biggest symptom now is recurrent nightmares. Wish there was something I could do. I try to keep a spiral by my bed. Strange what it captures. I woke from dreams the other night and wrote down the thoughts filling my head. I had forgotten what I had written. Today I picked up the spiral. It's always surreal to me. I don't necessarily remember the dreams days later as I have trained myself to forget and get over it. Obviously the feelings are deep. This is what I wrote.)

I have been diving deeper and deeper into myself.

Searching the depths of my soul.

Seeking truth, seeking self.

I find love.

Lots and lots of love.

It is promising.

Past this love,

deep down at the core of my being

I find fear and sadness.

They mingle and stir

and bubble to the surface.

Blip

Blip

Blip

Bubbles pop releasing their poison into my life.

Why?

 Why must I be afflicted by the thorns of childhood?

Thorns of past.

How do I heal?

How do I live?

(It's rather interesting. I don't remember the dream. I had forgotten what I had written. Yet for several days after I was in a depressive stupor. A feeling of anguish, darkness, failure, misery was riding through my days with me. This is what my dreams do to me even when I push them aside and excuse them. Now I am facing the feelings that lingered. I will excuse them as well. Today is a new day. A beautiful day. A bright and promising day. I will access the fire in my belly and move on with energy, expression, fascination at life. Today will be a day of happiness and love.)

fire courtesy of our backyard pit :)