Lady Traveler's Lazy Days of Summer

Every day is an opportunity to make a new happy ending.

May you live all the days of your life happily.

Days of Summer
in my own backyard

Summer is here.

The days seem to fly by.

That is why we have to purpose to slow them down.

How?  By doing those special things that we love.

Reading.  Walking.  Writing. 

Having coffee with a neighbor.

Sharing a glass of wine with a friend.

Days of Summer
Traveling...
...this time to Paris 2014

Taking that long-awaited holiday, whether near or far.
Watching a favorite summer movie.
Inviting family over for a BBQ
(it's called grillin' here in the south)

Days of Summer
Playing...
...Surfside SC 2015

Wearing your favorite flip-flops
(mine come from Walmart).
Cotton tops.  White shorts.  Swimsuits
(come on, gals, forget about looking perfect, and
put that swimsuit on and enjoy every warm minute!)

Days of Summer
Flowers...
at our first home in South Carolina

Working in your garden.

Stopping to smell the roses.

Watch out for those bees.

We even have wasps, not to mention the mosquitos!

Days of Summer
Swimming...
...Tuscon, AZ 2016

Swimsuit. Check.

Sunscreen.  Check.

Sunglasses.  Check.

Beach towel.  Check!

Hello Beach!  

Hello swimming pool!

(in-ground or plastic)

Days of Summer
Biking...
Huntington Beach CA  2016


Summertime, and the livin' is easy...
Don't let it pass you by.

Well, Robinski and I hit the road next week,
so I'll be writing from Oklahoma, Missouri, Kentucky, and North Carolina.

Until then ...

I wish you oceans of happy summer blessings!

You will show me the path of life;
in Your presence is fullness of joy;
at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11

www.sharonleaf.com

Life is a Journey

One large bouquet (YOU!) can go a long way.
When you mentor, you multiply

Life is not a journey to the grave

with the intention of arriving safely

in one pretty and well preserved piece,

but to skid across the line broadside,

thoroughly used up, worn out,

leaking oil, shouting

GERONIMO!

There are moments when we feel worn out, 

used up, ready to throw in the towel. 

 Our emotions can do a number on us physically,

telling us to go to bed and pull the covers over our heads.  

I've done that, but through the years I have learned a better way. When these feeling try to overcome me, 

I make a bee-line to my back door.  

Don't judge me...I'm not running away.  

I know that once I'm outside, breathing in fresh air, 

listening to birds chirping, admiring God's creation,

I will gather a better perspective of my challenge-at-hand. 

I'm not a psychologist, but I have a little tip:  

Next time you are met with a challenge or disappointment, 

go to that place of quietness where you can take some deep breaths, settle your spirit, quiet your emotions, and talk to your Creator.  Jesus is waiting for you, to lead you and guide you 

through the valley of the shadow of death.  

You will come out stronger, ready to get back in the race and shout, GERONIMO!

After running my first 1/2 marathon.
VICTORY!

A word for someone out there in Blog Land: 

Keep running your race--at your own pace.  

God is not finished with you.  

Look around.  

Someone is watching you, whether you know it or not.  

Point them towards heaven with the life you live.  

You lead, not with only the words you speak, but by example. Through your writing, your art, your gift of hospitality, your smile.

Holding forth the word of life;

that I may rejoice in the day of Christ,

that I have not run in vain,

neither laboured in vain.

Philippians 2:16

I wish you smooth running and oceans of blessings!

www.sharonleaf.com 

Traveling back in time with my Memories

Mother's Day flowers from son, Shawn, 2010

I wish all mothers out there in 'blog land' a love-filled Mother's Day.  

Whether a biological mom (not to be confused with bionic), a step-mom, a mother-in-law, you love your children, no matter what their age.  And I pray that every child will take a few moments out of their busy schedule to drop by or make a phone call.  A card is also nice; flowers are lovely too.  Doesn't really matter as long as the gesture comes from the heart.  And if circumstances beyond your control prevents all of the above, you can do what all mothers are called to do: pray.  

My four grown children are out-of-state this Mother's Day, and Rob is working, so I plan to take a trip to the Riverbank Zoo and the bionic gardens.  I'll take a journal and write down my blessings as a mom, step-mom, and a mother-in-law.  Yes, I'm all three, and loving it.  I'll also spend time traveling down memory lane, reminiscing about my Mother's legacy of faith, love, and laughter.  What a sweet southern belle she was.  We had sixty-six years together, and I plan on spending eternity with her sometime in the future.  So until next time,

I wish you a smooth sailing Mother's Day and oceans of blessings!

I miss you, Mom,
but we'll be together some day
 in the sweet by-and-by.

Rose, Reality, and Roads less traveled

Rose is the main character in Lady and the Sea

Life is what we are alive to.  It is not length but breadth ... be alive to ... goodness, kindness, purity, love, history, poetry, music, flowers, stars, the written word, God, and eternal hope.

I learned a lot about myself while writing about Lady and the Sea's main character, Rose (Rosie) Atkisson.  Go ahead, write a short story, choose a main character, and write away.  You'll soon discover many emotions, fears, dreams, and hopes that you have hidden deep inside of you.  I imagine the more you write, the harder it will be to put down your pen, or push yourself away from your laptop.  You'll be anxious to return the next day to find out where your character is going to take you.  Next door?  Down the street?  To the local cafe?  To another country?

With so much going on around us, here at home and around the world, life is not as dependable as it was in days of old.  I find myself longing for having just a day in the little two-bedroom house on Ibbetson Street with my mother, father, and brother ... had to share bedrooms, wait in line for the bathroom, stand over a floor heater in the mornings before heading out to school.  Okay, enough.  I admit that I have been a bit nostalgic lately.

I must keep this short, as I am finishing an essay that will be published on my author friend's Expat Chat blog.  Title?  "I Sailed the Seven Seas on a WWII ship and Lived to Tell About It"  Very true.  Read my novel, Lady and the Sea (based on my true story).

No matter where you are, what you are doing, take a moment to be thankful for the little things.  Call a family member who you haven't talked to in awhile (email and Facebook doesn't count!).  Hug a tree.  Kidding.  Hug a neighbor.

I wish you smooth sailing and oceans of blessings for the week ahead.

May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.  2 Thessalonians 2:16-27NIV