"Help the age of Peace to come"

"Let Christmas not become a thing

merely of merchant's trafficking,

of tinsel, bell and holly wreath and surface pleasure,

but beneath the childish glamour,

let us find nourishment for heart and mind.

Let us follow kinder ways

through our teeming human maze,

and help the age of peace to come."

Madeline Morse
http://www.quotelady.com/subjects/christmas.html

Photo: Christmas lights on lanai @ Mokihana - 2008 Kauai

Positive Friends & Professionals

"I surround myself with positive friends and professionals.
I achieve a sense of peace and well-being."

Daily Word - 10/22/09

Peace and well-being encouraged by positive friends and positive professionals - that is the outlook for this week in San Francisco. Being with Jeffrey Gitomer, as he teaches his form of "Yes! Attitude" to hundreds of people in his seminars over the next few days, is a special form of inspiration. I am thankful to be with Jessica and Jeffrey. I truly enjoy attending Jeffrey's seminars. His enthusiasm is contagious! The main focus of his seminars is business sales - yet, every time I attend one of his seminars, or read his books, columns or newsletters, I am again encouraged to seek a positive mental attitude. For me, each positive thought brings peace. Thanks Jeffrey.

Photo By Yanick: Jeffrey Gitomer - National Speakers Convention Hall of Fame Award Ceremony 8/4/08

Writing brings peace

"The magical power words had of connecting strangers wasn't lost on my kindergarten mind. Within days I was folding paper into halves and scribbling my own books. I eagerly handed them to Mom and watched as my story unfolded in her voice. And though it was the idea of sharing my voice that led me to the path of writing, I soon discovered what's kept me here: writing calms me, it helps me think. It brings me peace. In many ways, it's like prayer."

Sabra Ciancanelli
http://www.ourprayer.org/why-blog


"....my story unfolded in her voice," what a beautiful analogy. So meaningful for a child to have their parents read the beginnings of a young writer. I can just imagine the happiness of my grandchildren, and grand nephews, if their parents take the time to practice this style of learning. I remember hours and hours of reading and homework with our children. And...I still have projects/treasures stored in boxes to be sorted and saved in some meaningful scrapbook way. Maybe I'll get to that project next year....

Photo: Grandchildren and grand nephews at our family vacation on Lightouse Beach - 8/2/09 - Shore Acres Gardens - Coos Bay, Oregon

International Prayer for Peace

Join people of all faiths around the world
who are praying this prayer at noon each day:

"Lead me from death to life,
from falsehood to truth.
Lead me from despair to hope,
from fear to trust.
Lead me from hate to love,
from war to peace.
Let peace fill our heart, our world, our universe.
Peace, peace, peace."

(Adapted from the Upanishads by Satish Kumar.)

Prayers for Justice and Peace


In memory of September 11, 2001, please pray for Peace for all people of the world. Today I am focusing my Peace Prayers on the people who perished in the terrorists attacks of 9/11/01, their families, and especially the children who lost their parents that day.

I pray that one day our world can live in peace and freedom for all people. Amen

Photo: The peace of a sunset at Lighthouse Beach - 7/28/09

"Peace produces more peace"

"Being still has a soothing effect on us.
Peace produces more peace.
If we find peaceful places and
remain in them for a while,
we will begin to feel calmness engulf our souls.
we cannot live noisy lives continually
and expect to feel peaceful.

Joyce Meyer
"21 Ways to Finding Peace and Happiness" pg.164


The photo above is from one of our beach gardens where we have a St. Francis statue and a bird feeder among the dune grass and other native plants. St. Francis is hidden by one of the pigeon's perching on his arm. The garden is a peaceful place that encourages the birds to consume large quantities of bird seed. We have all variety of birds enjoying the seed and the calmness of the garden. St. Francis is one of my favorite saints, whose prayers inspire me. I'm lobbying for a rustic bench to be able to sit and feel the calmness engulf my soul.

Photo: Saint Francis Garden - Lighthouse Beach - 5/26/09

"Sunrise follows sunset"

"If at any time today the order and harmony
of some aspects of my life seem uncertain,
I clear my mind of all concern.
There is no need to worry.
Just as season follows season,
wave follows wave,
and sunrise follows sunset,
all is well."

Daily Word - 7/6/09


Spending time at our beach place on the Oregon coast intensifies the beauty of the waves following waves and sunrises following sunsets. We see the ocean waves and the sunsets often - when there isn't fog as there is on this summer day. When it is hot inland, the fog hangs on the coastline. We can't even see the ocean this morning, let alone the Lighthouse.

The fog can be a metaphor for the times when our lives seem uncertain, out of order, not in harmony. Even though we can not see the Lighthouse, the ocean, the sunrise or sunset, we know it is still there. In our personal lives, we may feel like we are "in a fog," confused, with no clear vision. I am thankful for my faith, that I believe God is with me and with my family. Guiding me through the fog, through the confusing stages of life, guiding me to a path, though I may not be able to see clear visual markers, is one of the blessings of faith. One step at a time, one day at a time, the fog will lift and the beauty of life will be visible again.


Photo: Lighthouse Beach Sunset 4/18/09

Peace Prayer

"Lord, we long for peace. Give us the courage and the spirit to build peace around us and never to give up on our hopes for understanding and harmony between people and nations."
God's Word Today - August 7, 2009



The story of the Seagulls at neighbor Irene's
We have many photos of a single Seagull sitting in the birdbath at our 94 year old neighbor Irene's. Observing the Seagulls, as they watch and wait for a boiled egg that Irene feeds her Seagull friends, has been very entertaining.

Lately there have been two Seagulls enjoying the birdbath at Irene's. Usually there is one Seagull that fights off any competition for the eggs: squawking, dive bombing, pursuing on the ground, anything to chase off a rival for the eggs.

It has been refreshing to watch "understanding and harmony" between two Seagulls....of course it does make a difference that it's a male and a female in the beginning stages of mating.

I do pray for "the courage and the spirit to build peace" around myself, and never give up hope that there can be "harmony and understanding" in our relationships and our world.

Photo: Seagulls sharing the birthbath at neighbor Irene's 5/20/09