To Everything A Season By Joyce Hifler

I think that this book, To Everything A Season by Joyce Hifler, is one of those must reads in life. The book is inspirational and I have always found it a great resource to return to in trying times. I want to share this excerpt today in the hopes that it will bring you some of the same gifts that it has brought to my life, peace, strength and renewed perspective. Here is a favorite excerpt of mine from the book.

Life has its seasons . . . fresh, young, unpredictable . . . fretful at times . . . and yes, golden and strong in labor . . . rapid in growth . . . brave and pensive and fruitful . . . blending gradually until . . . one season is well on its way . . . before another has quite finished its work . . .
Through all seasons . . . through all the swift changes . . . of cold and heat . . . emotional outbursts . . . strengths and weaknesses . . . the pendulum of preservation swings wide with faith . . . because man can still control . . . the changes in his life . . . so that a springlike atmosphere . . . prevails right through autumn and winter . . . however hard the conditions seem . . . outside himself . . . if he has . . . an inner strength . . . he has nothing to fear . . . for then he knows . . . He knows the changes are beautiful . . . beautiful in their very nature . . . created to be so . . . And man need not resist . . . nor cry, nor find war a necessity . . . for there is a time in every life . . . a time to be born . . . a time to laugh . . . a time to weep . . . a time to seek . . . a time to love . . . a time to keep silence . . . a time for every purpose . . . a purpose for every thing under heaven!

Footprints-Terence Blanchard

Terence Blanchard is immensely talented and this song is the kind of tune that could accompany most any moment in time harmoniously. Sit back and enjoy.

Jeremy Kittel (fiddle) & Nic Gareiss (percussive stepdancing) - Live in ...

I had the pleasure of seeing Jeremy perform live on a few occasions. He began playing fiddle at a very young age and is quite accomplished. You can find out more about Jeremy Kittel and his musical career here. I had not seen him perform with this percussive step dancing technique before and I find it quite fascinating. I hope you will enjoy it too.

Leather cases and covers for the Kindle, iPad, Nook, iPhone and our famous leather journals

Leather cases and covers for the Kindle, iPad, Nook, iPhone and our famous leather journals
I received an Oberon Leather journal as a gift once and they are very unique and beautiful. Oberon Design offers a wide variety of items that make wonderful, memorable gifts. The Moleskine notebooks are great for writing, journaling, etc. Treat yourself and pick out something special.

Rodrigo y Gabriela on Later with Jools Holland

The music of Rodrigo y Gabriela is saucy and delicious. Amazing harmony and dancing, electric chords full of vibrance. Listen and let your heart dance.

Amazing Planet - StumbleUpon

Amazing Planet - StumbleUpon

The natural beauty of the Earth offers limitless energy for the spirit. Soak up the wonder that is Mother Earth and absorb it with your whole self, it will offer a bounty of rewards for the soul.

Navajo Parks & Recreation - Antelope Canyon

Navajo Parks & Recreation - Antelope Canyon
Antelope Canyon is certainly most intriguing to me. Visually stunning, abundantly photographed and each image captured has it's own unique and spectacular quality. I hope to be able to visit it in person one day. Just take a look at the of the amazing images of Antelope Canyon.
Learn more about Antelope Canyon at Wikipedia.org

Chester the cat, filled my life with wonder!

As this day began to unfold, my kitty cat took her last breath. Chester the cat came into my life two decades ago on a cool evening in March as I was leaving a home on Chesterfield Street in Ferndale, where I had been visiting a friend. She was just a tiny kitten then and she wrapped herself around my ankle and sat on my foot. She had been wandering around for about a week on her own according to my friend who lived there. So, I always say that she chose me and I was so glad that she did.

She spent many years living with my Father as well and provided him much happiness and companionship through his final days. Chester (the name stuck, even after I found out she was a she, not a he) was always faithful, affectionate and a true companion. As a small kitten, she would sleep on my pillow, wrapped around the top of my head. In later years, she loved to sleep right on my chest and that is where she was when she took her last breath. In her life, she followed me around and sat nearby as I was doing day to day things. There were a lot of sweet little affectionate things that she did, like putting her paw right on my lips as I pet her, purring really loud and she would stand on her back legs doing her "pretty dance" as she waited for her food dish to be put down in front of her. In her final days, she really fought hard and even though she was terribly weak, she used what little energy she had to put her paw on my lip and a few times even pushed the top of her head into my chin and on her last night with me, she actually licked my face as if to kiss me goodbye.

On that night, back in 1991, I could not have imagined her living until I was almost 40 years old. I feel like Chester and I really grew up together. Of course, in human years, Chester would have been 97 years old. So, she surpassed me in her wisdom. I have heard some people say that animals do not have souls, I disagree. Chester has a beautiful soul. For the last four days, she laid on my chest just staring into my eyes and I could feel her spirit, her love for life. Chester provided years of wonder, warmth and companionship to me, my Father, my daughter and she will be missed. Her love and her soul will live on in my heart forever.