A Peaceful Place

Ever wonder why it's so hard to get away from the hustle and bustle, the noise, the distractions? Are we afraid to miss something? Are we concerned about what small voices that we might hear if it's quiet? No, not the pshyco things we hear about on the news, but the little nudges we feel, some call it "concience", some instinct, but I believe it's more.

We leave the TV on as background noise, have ipods and cell phones ready to fill quiet times and deprive ourselves of peace. I've started to question why I feel so rushed and busy in my office and in my house and so peaceful outside and in the garden. It's not silent in the garden or outside at y work. It can even be loud with frogs singing and cranes squaking as they fly overhead. I've started becoming aware that I've even had profound thoughts in the shower; maybe that's because it's the only place peaceful enough to think or hear anything.

I'm now looking at the examples of Jesus. He went to beautiful peaceful places of solitude, for meditation and prayer (Matt. 28:16; Mark 6:45-46) like mountains and gardens. Meditation is not "new age", it's an ancient practice of calming the soul. Jesus was able to connect with God the Father most in a quiet place of solitude. He set this example, and I intend to follow it.

Yesterday I began to follow that example and found a peaceful place to pray and listen for that small voice.




Jesus and his followers went to a place called Gethsemane [a garden]. He said to them, "Sit here while I pray." - Mark 14:32

The Good Life

Often, I day dream about the life I hope to have, when the kids a grown (ok, they are grown), when the bills are paid off (God willing some day), when we have more time...

I'm working to live the life I love - right here and now.

These are some things that make my life one that I love; right now (my top 20 in no particular order):

• Family (Especially my Frenchman, our grandbaby, my sisters - big sis & my twin sis)

• Caffe Prego in Ogunquit, Maine

• The little toad that lives in our vegetable garden
• LL Bean Flannel PJs
• Google - makes me look smarter than I am
• My Palm Centro with bible reader, pocket tunes, and audible audio books.
• Singing silly songs and laughing out loud
• Our dogs
• Flagler Ave Coffee & News in New Smyrna Beach, FL
• Motorcycle rides with my Frenchman
• Travel to new places and places I love to see again and again
• A house full of friends
• Dark Chocolate, skittles, real licorice, chocolate covered gummy bears, and snickers.
• New - Water view from my back door
• Early mornings alone with God

• Camping at Disney, Mi-ti-jo in New Hampshire, almost anywhere
  
• Lee's fried chicken livers (I know I lost you on that one!)
  
• MAC lipstick
  
• Ikea coffee
  
• Tivo-like DVR - my new discovery and time saver

My first blog post ever

So I guess a blog is a public diary, somethig that we do to share our thoughts witht the world. That's a scary thought. I'd like to think that I concentrate on all good thoughts (Philipians 4:8), so my blog might sound a like I see life through rose colored glasses. I know from experience that if I concentrate on the negative, I get so down that I don't live a full life. I hope you'll be inspred to life a full life, too. I supose you;ll see me blogging about my interests:
God
Family (including two grown kids, thier best friends/future spouses and Baby Logan)
Simple Living
Travel
Fashion
Dogs

Peace!
Vonnie