Open Yourself to LOVE

~ some of my aged flock, l to r - 

Polly Merino, Buffy Suffolk, Easter and Samuel Romey ~

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. (yes, it does hurt.) Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. (don't you mean, probably?) If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. 

~ Sadie, Sam, Abigail ~

Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. (but my dear, how utterly boring!) But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable." 
(o dear God, not that...no!)

~ Sadie, face to the wind and the sun ~

~ C. S. Lewis ~ 
(surely a man after God's own heart)

~ love, the story of Christmas ~

Since Dave has died, there have been lovely people who have gone out of their way to perform a kindness toward me. Jill, at Untie the Ribbons don't you LOVE that name? sent me a card every week! True, there are many, many weeks I don't remember but I still have each and every card. She also sent me two beautiful hand crafted textiles...a felted envelope and a felted box with the Prov 31 "woman" verse. Jill, every time God brings you to mind, you're tucked into prayer; thank you for your blessing of kindness and care!

Timi, in Hungary, sent me encouraging e-notes. Farm Girl Cindy prayed...oh how she prayed! Especially during that first March when I was close to ending it all. God bless you both; you are truly Women after God's own heart!

~ some of my American Curly horses ~

Debbie, at Just Breath, is one of those and her ministry, For Your Tears, blesses folks all over the world. If you've never gone through the grieving process, perhaps you won't understand when I say, there are huge swaths of time that are, quite simply, gone forever to me. I haven't a clue what I did but was, most likely, here on the farm. I just cannot remember huge chunks of time; meaning, sometimes, entire months. That's how it was with Debbie's handkerchief. It arrived in the mail, beautiful!, and I placed it on the table until I moved it somewhere safe. Ahem. Does that sound familiar...somewhere safe? Every now and again, I run across it, pick the box up and cherish the kindness all over again. Earlier this week, Debbie commented on Saint Patrick's Day post and I popped over to visit her and BAM! On her profile page, there it was: For Your Tears. 

Debbie, I haven't a clue if I sent you a thank you note, sent you a piece of money (as my mother-in-law used to say) or...did nothing...? Bless you, Debbie, God bless you for your kindness in sending me such a beautiful handkerchief. Did you know? Did someone tell you Dave died? I am curious but, beyond curious, I am grateful. God bless you, yours and the work of your hands and heart; thank you so very much!

P. S. Breath was "my" word for 2012; it was so difficult to remember to breath and, too often, I'd find myself gulping air like I was starving for it. Just Breath...yes!

So many kindnesses from so many people and at a time when I felt totally alone; cut off, adrift, lost. Each act of kindness is noted by God, even though my feeble memory might remember sporadically; He knows. Your act of kindness will return to you, magnified and I bless you all. Thank you; you helped keep me alive.

There are only two ways to live. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." ~ Albert Einstein ~

Today's Miracles ~ love ~ LoVe ~ LOVE ~ lOvE ~ Christmas ~ Easter ~ women after God's own heart ~ God is love ~