Nature

Outside my office window, the squirrels are in a race against winter to bury their acorns in a safe, accessible place. Their commotion amuses me. An entire herd of deer can go through our back yard and not make a sound, but one squirrel sounds like an invasion. The two creatures are different in another way as well. Deer do not prepare for winter. When the snow comes they eat whatever they can find along the way (including ornamental shrubs in our yard). But squirrels would starve if they followed that example. They would be unable to find suitable food.

The autumn is the most beautiful time of the year | Nature | News |  Express.co.uk

Thank You, Lord, for the promise that You will meet our needs. Help us not to fear or doubt. We’re grateful that You’re watching over us and that our cries for help reach Your ear.

Posted in Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Way of Escape

Lord, let me see the way of escape You offer when I am tempted. Give me the strength to accept Your help so I can stay faithful to You. I know this is Your desire for me, and I thank You that You are at work in me.
 

Great blessings are often followed by great temptations.

The Nature Cure - Scientific American

INSIGHT: Paul tells us that the temptation to do evil is common. But God in His goodness has provided a way to escape sin. More often than not it’s best to plan an escape route before we encounter temptation. It is wise to avoid those circumstances where we are most vulnerable to sin. – Dennis Fisher

Posted in Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

RAVE -Little Acts of Thoughtfulness

Celebrate Mother's Day (& Every Sunday) at the LFP Farmers Market! | Third  Place Commons

RAVE to the lady from Redmond who gave me the extra money to buy two prints at a garage sale! She hugged me and said, “Don’t you think we need more people like  this in the world?!”

RAVE to 5-year-old Nicole at our local playground (a stranger to us) who asked my granddaughter, who has autism, to play with her and be her friend. It made my granddaughter so happy.

RAVE to the former owner of my son’s new home who chose his family’s purchase offer over other offers that would have gained her more money. She was moved by the letter my son and his partner wrote her with their offer, in which they explained how their two young girls would use the amenities that came with the house. The owner not only chose them, but she also refused the money they offered above the asking price. Generosity to strangers shines clearly once again.

RAVE to our local water. We don’t need to buy water in millions of plastic bottles. Rave to our faucets! Turn it on, clean drinkable water comes out, no plastic bottle to throw in the ocean! You can even put it in a container and take it with you, for those times when you are more than 20 feet away from a faucet! 

RAVE to the person putting teddy bears on the fence near a busy four-way intersection. Each day there’s another bear. I visit my child in the hospital daily, and this had been a welcome respite to watch it grow. 

RAVE to kindness. Walking through the Burien Farmers Market, I came face to face with a younger man holding a lovely bunch of flowers. I kiddingly said, “You shouldn’t have,” but he gave me the flowers and said he would get another bunch for his wife. What a pleasant surprise!

RAVE to the bus drivers who took us to work, brought us home, dropped us off at events and helped us make many friends over the years. 

RAVE to all trash collectors. Those who go door to door each week, those who collect illegal dumping and those who pick up trash at homeless encampments in the city. Thank you for your efforts to keep our city clean. You are true heroes.

RAVE to the young highway patrolman whose kind guidance the other evening got me through my first-ever “chain-up” on Snoqualmie Pass. I was able to get to my family in Walla Walla safely.

RAVE to the very generous man who bought our entire Girl Scout cookie booth inventory and challenged us to give it all away for free. The smiles that you brought to the Maple Valley community were very heartwarming. The challenge was gladly accepted and accomplished! 

RAVE to being able to visibly smile at other people again and have them smile back.

Posted in Reflections | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

At Home

When you organize your home, everything finds its place in the way you live. Which will makes the place you live the place you love.

30 Best Mudroom Ideas | HGTV
Posted in DIY💭 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Thoughts of a Blogger: A Blogger’s Journal

I like the idea of my blog, and the content.  My message is clear “Life is simply far too short to ONLY think of your professional life.” Yes, I have obtained my Master in Social Work (MSW), and gone on to obtain my clinical license (LICSW); but degrees, licensure, and my profession do not define me. I am unsure of how to build the readerships/following. I’m not opposed to the organic way it’s been going, but I wonder if I should actively find ways to grow the readership. I do largely believe every message you’re supposed to receive comes in your time… I am enjoying blogging and feel like I am getting my voice out there, and I have made some connections and have some favorite blogs I like to read as well. I also feel like I am presenting a social worker in 360 view. It’s not just about the daily battles, but the self-care and the life you live.

Posted in Career Journal | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments