“There’s what happened to you in your life and then
there’s what you decided it meant." ~ Mandy Evans

"Every second of our lives- and every mental, emotional, creative, physical, and even resting activity with which we fill those seconds- is somehow known and recorded. Every judgement we make is noted. Every attitude we hold is a source of positive or negative power for which we are accountable.....Every second of life is lovingly held to be of great value." ~Caroline Myss

Goin'

Every day we get up and we do our thing. And we keep goin'. And goin'. And things are changin', so we keep goin'. Things settle down, but we keep goin'. We keep goin' even when the goin' gets tough. We keep goin' even during the good stuff. Truckin' along, there we go...we're goin'. Big dreams entice us so its there that we're goin'. We're goin' so hard that sometimes we forget where we've gone. Sometimes we're lookin' back at where we've been that we forget where we're goin'. Even when we slow down, we look for a way to keep goin'. The good news is, is that whereever we're goin, we're gettin' somewhere. We amaze ourselves at how far we've gone and get overwhelmed at how much further we have to keep goin'. We keep goin' though.
Sometimes as we're goin' we realize our goin' is gettin' hard...like we've lost that something that kept us goin'. Are we goin' to go get it or are we goin' to forget it? Somehow we have to keep goin'. Lost or not.

"We are physical beings and energy beings, but since the physical world cannot be controlled, the task before us is to master our inner responses to the external world, our thoughts and emotions." ~ Caroline Myss ...


"Are you filled with fear, or are you filled with faith?"

Why Not?

Portland was a TRIP! Thanks to Heidi, we got to see the city in one day. I wouldnt necessarily recommend this method of sight-seeing to everyone. You must be incredibly patient as your stop & go with lights, dealing with bazillions of cars, and getting stuck at trains with semi's next to you with engines buzzing in your ear. I give Heidi props- her hospitality surpassed that of a five-star hotel. Our trip was nothing without her. She even had time to tend to a 911 call while carting us around.

We had some lovely girl time...chatting over coffee about the amusing ways of life...

She even had time to take us on an amazing hike...

And I cant leave without giving a shout-out to Henry- her little sidekick who cant get in and out of the car himself.....

....Or get on and off the bed by himself...but he sure is cute.

Thanks Heids!!!!!! We are FOREVER GRATEFUL!

So the question is......are we packing our bags and headed off to the Northwest?

Road Trip??....with a one-way ticket??

Well lets see....

I think that can be arranged...

Pacific Northwest Adventure

I dont know what it is but when I see leaves and clumps of dirt in my cats' fur from being outside- I feel so happy that they are loving their experience. I want leaves in my hair.

The energy of a coastal town is magical to me. I grew up around mountains- landlocked- inland. The vastness of the ocean, the inlets of the bays, the birds, the sailboats, the ships, the sounds, the gray colors, the feeling of an old fisherman's wharf, the old docks. I love this scene. My energies resonate here peacefully. I feel it every time. I love the mountains. But my soul calls the ocean home.

Sailboats hold inspiration...what is it about them that are so appealing to me? Someone special said "yes! they harness mother earth." I couldnt have said it better.

The most majestic mountain I have ever seen...and this is coming from someone who lived next to the Rocky Mountains her whole life....but Mt. Hood is a sight to behold. Breathtaking.

Real Pals

BFF/ C.O.

"If you really want to find the perfect human relationship, look for someone who is cat-like. Likes to be alone and happy to be with you. Happy when you are there and happy when you're not there. Licks your face occasionally. Will take all the scratching and petting you are willing to offer. Feels secure. Sleeps when it feels like it. Hunts when he feels like it. Basks often. Meditates regularly. Never feels guilty, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER! Does emphatically what he wants to do. Is always glad to see you. ... Seems like the perfect partner." - Abraham-Hicks -

The Tornado Effect

I have only had 2 dreams in my life that I can recount had tornadoes in them. Not just one tornado- several. Impending threat to upheave everything and set it all down again somewhere else, in some other way, ready to be rebuilt anew. Shortly after the first tornado dream, my life changed significantly. Not in just one way- but in all ways. This recent tornado dream is proving to be of a similar forewarning- on a slightly lesser scale- but still change nonetheless. After I awoke from this dream a few days ago, I just knew things were not going to be the same for me. Laying all the cards out on the table, I knew I had to pick those opportunities that would step everything up a notch. Now is not the time to be scared for what its going to take to prevail in a new order. Chaos is reigning and for a while it felt like it was winning. It still feels that way. But I know the pieces will settle into their new place, the winds will die down and I will get to gaze at a new scenery. It will take some work to make it my own again, and embrace it for what it is and let go of what its not. Universal "tornadoes" are not random. Tailored to each of us- they reshape our lives and bring in those dreams that seemed so far away. Tearing down a current reality to create the one you want can be an arduous process- sometimes we need the tornado to come through and do it in one fail swoop. I may take cover in the cellar for a while till the storm eases up, but I will be eager to see where everything has landed.

Your Choice is To Feel Good

"You're here to amplify in each other an opportunity to eternally find your connection. So then we come around again: Which feels better, to see him as self-sufficient and thriving? Or to see him as diminished in his ability and struggling? Which feels better, to see him as an effective, safe driver, or to see him as a reckless, careless driver? Which feels better, to see him connected to Non-physical Energy...?"
-Abraham-Hicks -

Its true. We have a choice in which thought we focus on. We can choose which perspective to take. Why not choose that view that feels the best? If we want to feel better in our lives, then we cant be lazy with our thoughts. Its up to us every day to have the life we want.

Settle the Storm

Its hard to watch yourself settle. But its so EASY to take that $10 an hour job that long long ago you thought was the best wage ever. Not only WAS it the best thing ever, but NOW its like a warm blanket that will keep you from going out there and demanding something more for yourself. Its hard to watch yourself settle. It seems even harder, though, to throw that security blanket off and trek out into the storm of the unknown in search of something better....something you have earned....something you've been dreaming of. Its like your old baby blanket your mom kept for you. Its old, it smells, its tattered...you cant even call it a real blanket can you? So do you continue to use this blanket because its the only one thats familiar? No! Of course not! So why do we keep trying to use the same tattered "blanket" and then complain that we arent staying warm enough? You know, the same kind of unfulfilling jobs, unhealthy relationships, financial troubles, dreams put on the backburner. We keep going back to one or more of these things because we are too afraid to face the storm. You look out your window and you see a white out.

Where do I go? How will I stay warm? Will i even get there? How do I know?

How do YOU know unless you throw your blanket to the wind, find your courage, and get out there in the world demanding a better reality?

You could get lost out there. You could learn something new out there. You could gain valuable resources out there. You could feel uncertain out there. You could want to turn back. But I know you will continue forward to better possibilities.

Is this life about hiding under old blankets or is it about stepping out into a world of better possibilities?

No one can make us do it. No one can force us to let go of those things stifling our growth. No one can make us create our dreams. Its up to you to take the first step into your fears...go into the storm.....determine that you will succeed. You will succeed out there. The universe wants nothing more than to support your success......see for yourself....

"Vision without action is a daydream.

Action without vision is a nightmare."

The Eleventh Hour

Sometimes I wonder if the universe gets its kicks from watching us sweat. How many times has it pulled through for us in the eleventh hour? Just when you thought doom was upon you and you had finally reached your wits end, and then VOILA! a miracle occurs. But then, sometimes I wonder if its really US conjuring up the miracle at the last second. Of course miracles always appear as being outside of ourselves- something that miraculously happens to us- as if we are miracle victims. And perhaps its true that there was a bigger hand "out there" helping us out.

But what if we are the creators of our reality? Nothing exempt from our imaginations. Everything is up for grabs. No excuses. Full responsibility. Outsiders and external details are only matching what we are asking for.....

I know what you MIGHT be thinking. "If I create my reality then WHY would I create these troublesome times for myself? WHY wouldnt I have the miracle occur BEFORE the eleventh hour in order to save some sanity for myself??"

Maybe we are just pushing ourselves.

Testing. Testing. Testing.

How much patience do I really have?

I THINK i am strong enough to handle this or that, but am I really?

Perhaps its only in the eleventh hour that we implement our greatest strengths, most incredible solutions, or massive quatum leaps.

Perhaps its the eleventh hour that we are most ourselves- the truest hour.

And maybe it really takes us the previous "eleven" hours to sift through and let go of those things holding us back: limiting beliefs, beliefs that arent even ours but decided to call our own anyway, old fears, habitual conditioning, living inside a box created for us and not by us.

So it just may be that WE take ourselves to the edge and we peer over, we pace and we pace, look over again, kick some dirt, throw some rocks, sit down and cry, get mad, scream, walk away.....and then....

in an instant.....

the perfect conditions align themselves and we know we can jump into the next day of our new lives....miraculously.

A Strategy That Leads To Victory

I find it interesting to peer into others' strategies on achieving life goals. It helps me to know and understand more of who they are. In watching others, I see myself- sometimes I see familiarities and other times I see contrasts. All I know is how I FEEL when I go after something.....

First, I always find myself stressing out and overthinking everything. I purposely, unconsciously at the time, look for all limitations that are keeping me from the goal at hand. Sometimes the (seeming) limitations are logical in nature, like money (usually lack thereof), details which seem to need resources that I, personally, dont have at the moment, or time (too much or usually too little).

Then, I dig deeper through my stress and find that the "real" (still seeming) limitations are internal in nature, like fear, not knowing what I REALLY want, uncomfortability with stepping outside my comfort zone, limiting beliefs (mine or others), or just overwhelm in not knowing where to begin the process. This is always the time that I sleep more, my energy is low, and my reality is colored in a dull stagnate way.

As my process evolves from external to internal, I realize that after doing the full round of covering all limiting possibilities, then I always remember that THIS IS LIFE! I smile as I remember that, "Oh yeah! My life is magical!! I always seem to find a way through the distractions and into my dreams- one goal at a time. So, why should this time be any different?"

At the onset of this revelation, the burden of (seeming) limitations begins to lift and I find myself navigating with vigor through one "obstacle" after another.

I must add that an essential step between overcoming (seeming) limitations and navigating with vigor is that somewhere along the way i decided to declare what i WANT. In an instant, I let go of what I dont have and I refuse to look at all the unknown "how's" that, in the end, I would rather have the universe figure out (because it is really good at that), and I embrace the amazing feeling of just knowing what i want! Instead of looking at obstacles as dead ends that keep me from getting somewhere, I begin to look at them as closed doors that turn me around into the direction of where I really want to be. In all of this inspiration, I can feel my core energizing and I always begin to wake up earlier in the mornings with my mind racing over all the possibilities! Its an exciting process really. And its a strategy that really works for me as I can feel even my body respond through the entire process. Its these signals that let me know when I am on-track.

In fact, no matter what YOUR strategy is when reaching your goals, I would bet that your body responds as well- every time. You have your own signals that let you know what YES! feels like and what NO! feels like. I implore you to begin to listen to your own signals- after all, they are yours! You have your own map and your own ways to navigate......in knowing your own ways of processing, perhaps it will successfully assist you (and possibily others) in achieving your goals and knowing more of who you are. So.......who are you?

"You cant cross the sea by merely staring into the water." ~ Rabindranath Tagore

To Buy or Not To Buy

Why does it seem like a quantum leap to go from being a home renter to being a home buyer? Am I the only one who feels this way? At what point do you have enough faith that you take the plunge and hope that you make it to the other side unharmed and better off? How did all of you first-time home buyers do it? I find I can make some leap-of-faith decisions with no problem. I dont even look back half of the time and every time has proven to bring me further in my own self-evolution. But this house thing.....
Lets do the math. A "simple" equation- all variables considered.

Rent= 1200/month
Mortgage= $1200/month.

Hmmm....I can see the writing on the wall.....or can I?

This house buying thing isnt as black and white as I thought. Or is it? Does it become black and white AFTER I take the plunge? When does the fog clear?

So what is the fear behind this whole mortgage thing anyway? Lets see that equation again.
Rent= $1200/month
Mtg= $1200/month

So I am paying roughly the same amount.....but.....for some reason the mortgage amount scares me more. Is it the "Commitment" factor? or the "Responsibility" factor? or perhaps the "You know if your refrigerator breaks then YOU have to pay for it yourself" factor? is it the scary "Financing" factor? is it the "Now Your An Adult" factor?? or how about the "Economic Market-Present And Future" factor? Is it "D. ALL OF THE ABOVE" factor?

Why does renting seem to be so easy? Or is it??....

Whats so easy about having to deal with a landlord? How about paying extra for pets? And what about lease agreements? What if you have to move and you have to break a lease? Hey where did my deposit go? How about packing and moving every 12 months?

I think there is a point where all the rental hassles and details actually push you over the edge and its not that you jumped when you were ready but that you were actually pushed and you just figured it out as you plunged into your thoughts of "What if I dont qualify? How can I afford a down payment? Closing costs??? And what's a Mortgage Broker?

....So.... Do I take the plunge? Have I already been pushed and I am scrambling to grab hold of something on the familiar ledge? Perhaps its time to let go and see what kind of wings i come up with...