A Focus on the Eternal

Nestle all of your tomorrows

in God's strong arms

help us to live free for today

~

As we focus on the Eternal,
may we grow to possess the holy habit of internal contentment

{Enjoying the sweet birdies in my back yard and the book Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow}

...and Sky Watch Friday...

helping me to always look UP!

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Momma birdie necklaces

 This weekend, Ann Voskamp posted about how

Joy nests in the encircling Grace of God.

What a beautiful way to think of joy and God's sweet gift of Grace.
...such inspiring words...

Ann also added a link to a tutorial for making these sweet nest necklaces:

Thank you, Sarah Ortega!

I have always wanted one of these nest necklaces.
Inspired by Ann and by Sarah's easy directions... I had to make one myself!

I bought two kinds of silver wire and two kinds of beads

and got to work.

I really enjoyed myself making these necklaces.
It was so much more fun than cleaning the house!

If you have read Ann Voskamp's book "One Thousand Gifts,"

do head over to read her recent post on what she was able to give as a result of her profits.

The story of Pastor Saul will fill your heart.

♥
I hope you have been having a wonderful week..
Here in the northeast, we've been spoiled with our weather...
I think that will change as we enter into the weekend,

but ohhhh

I am so grateful for this easing into winter!

What is Forgiveness? {lessons from those so young}

"light, love, and soup."

This is my second year reading The Tale of Despereaux with my sixth graders.

The theme of this book is forgiveness.
{Kate DiCamillo is brilliant.}

I asked them to write a few words on what they learned about forgiveness.

They always seem to teach me a few lessons too.

~

"Forgiveness helps get the hurt out.  If you forgive your heart will be pure."

~

"Forgiveness is a strong word that some people say with no meaning.  

When Despereaux’s father said, “Will you forgive me?” he said it with meaning.  

I think that is half the reason why Despereaux forgave his father."

~

"Forgiveness can be the only way to save your heart from breaking. 
Despereaux had to forgive his father to keep his own heart from breaking."

~

"If you did something bad to someone and you forgive them,
it’s like taking medicine for a cold; you feel a whole lot better.
Forgiveness can relieve stress."

~

"Forgiveness is a magical word, a word that can lift spirits.
Forgiveness can be little, however, it can also be big. 
It can change a life.  Even a little forgiveness can make a big difference."

~

"Forgiveness is power.
Forgiveness is being able to let go of what someone said or did to you;
being able to forgive is being able to move on.

Forgiveness is leaving the past, and moving on to the future...the next present."


~

"Forgiveness.
It’s like a cup of hot chocolate on a chilly day.
Forgiveness.
It’s like a light in the darkness of hate.
Forgiveness.
It’s a kindness that can change the soul, mind, and heart of a mean person {or thing}...
Who can forgive?
Anyone."

~

"Forgiveness is a light which lies within all of our hearts no matter how evil or how bad they may seem, forgiveness can cleanse their heart and fill it with a bright shining light."

~

"Forgiveness is like having a weight lifted off of your shoulders.
When you are forgiven, everything goes good again.
When you forgive someone, you feel better, there’s no more heavy weight on you.
That is what I think forgiveness is, having a weight lift off your shoulders."

 ~

If my students hadn't written these in front of me,
I would have hardly believed that they were written by those so young.
~

Light, Love and Soup
f o r g i v e n e s s

needed by all

understood

by every

soul

~

Maria and the Moon

Last night I was thinking of

"Owl and the Moon" 

and so, in honor of Arnold Lobel, {the author}

I sat up and snapped  this photo!

Did you ever read Arnold Lobel's book,

OWL at HOME?

©  1975

"The Guest"

"Strange Bumps"

"Tear-Water Tea"

"Upstairs and Downstairs"

and

"Owl and the Moon"

Arnold Lobel wrote and illustrated all five stories.

Each one is a favorite in its own way.

When my children were little, this collection was always requested.

{It was probably because I enjoyed reading it aloud, and they could tell!}

I can still recite most of them by heart.

Last night,

The bright shining moon woke me up in the middle of the night.

My first thought was from this story.

My second thought was,

"Where's my cellphone, 
I'm going to take a picture of you Moon!"

from 

"Owl and the Moon"

". . . All at once,

Owl's bedroom

was filled with silver light.

Owl looked out of the window.

The moon was coming

from behind the clouds.

'Moon, you have followed me

all the way home.

What a good, round friend 

you are!' said Owl.

Then Owl put his head

on the pillow

and closed his eyes.

The moon was shining

down through the window.

Owl did not

feel sad at all."
 

*

I can't look at the full round moon without

thinking of Owl's words, 
"What a good round friend you are!"

If you have lil' ones...
Owl at Home 
is a wonderful first reader.

I guess Owl is a sky watcher too!

Thank you to our Sky Watch Friday hosts: 

Klaus Sandy Sylvia Wren Louise Fishing Guy

Enjoy

the sky

the sun

and the

moon!

~ You are the joy of His heart ~

What to learn from a little mouse named Despereaux

Kate DiCamillo is one of my favorite author's.

"The Tale of Despereaux" won her a Newbery Medal.

*

What did 11 year old children

and a 54 year old teacher

learn from a little mouse

named

Despereaux?

~ COURAGE ~ 
is not measured by physical size,

but by the certainty of hope - honor - and a quest. 

~ LOVE ~ 
doesn't give up nor does it abandon,

it can move a mouse to do the impossible.

~ FORGIVENESS ~
is not just to excuse the perfidy of another, 

it's about saving your own heart. 

~ PERSUASION ~ 
can be a devious rat's expertise,

but, from a princess or an honorable mouse, it can encourage good in others.

~ LIGHT ~
is what we seek,

it brings hope, kindness and deep joy.

The Tale of Despereaux

is such a worthwhile read, not just for a child,

but for you and me!

~Courage, love, forgiveness, persuasion and light~

essential themes that swirl into a tale that is soul stirring.

Illustrations by Timothy Basil Ering

Dear Readers,

Enjoy your week 

"with the whole of your heart."

ps:  The book is better than the movie!

From her FAQ's

Q:	What was it like to win the Newbery award for The Tale of Despereaux?
	A:	It was the most amazing, unbelievable, wonderful, fantastic, extraordinary thing. Truthfully, I still can't believe it. I cried for days. And when I think about it now, it still makes me feel weepy.
Q:	Does that mean there's going to be another book about Despereaux?
	A:	I'm not planning on writing another Despereaux book, but who knows? Anything is possible. And if the mouse comes and sits on my shoulder and whispers another story in my ear, I will certainly write it down.

What's in My Bible?

~A treasured Christmas gift of 33 years~

~I made the outside cover decades ago when I realized that my Bible was allowed out of the house~
~Filled with coffee stains, notes and prayers to read... this one is a parent's prayer~
~Special cards & letters of the special people in my life~
~Old songs from a church that closed, but I still "sing" them~~My husband's new and organized Bible~

~I think he secretly loves using mine, there's so much history inside~

The Power of Now

Hi Everyone! I'm almost done reading A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle, so I'll be starting the Power of Now in a few days. I'm so excited to start sharing with everyone =)
love Rach

The Power of Now

We've been watching the TV show "Dog Whisperer" for weeks now!
I just love that show...
Cesar Milan is teaching me more about myself than anyone has in a long time! What is the energy that people and other living things (my two dogs for ex.) feel around me?

As a teacher, I am finding the lessons learned on "Dog Whisperer" to be superior to any of the methods and psychology classes I have ever taken. With what energy am I approaching each class, each student? With what energy am I enter into meetings with colleagues or parents?

Cesar Milan's mantra is that dogs "live in the now." They are generally easier to teach and to rehabilitate than humans. Why do we hold onto our weaknesses, bad habits, our sorrows and worries for so long?

All of this has inspired me to read another book by Eckhart Tolle, The Power of Now. I read "A New Earth" and participated in his online class on Oprah.com. "A New Earth" gave me fantastic insights into my own faith and interesting perspectives into scripture.
I am reading The Power of Now with other family members. Hope to see them here at Calm Energy!
~ Have a Blessed night ~ Maria