The Beauty of Letting Go: Lessons from Autumn and Hospice 🍁

 

Hello my dear lovely Friends ~

Happy Friday and yay for the weekend ahead! It's supposed to be an unseasonably warm and lovely one - so we may try to get in a last pontoon ride here on our bay. Do you have fun plans this weekend?

I know you have heard me often exclaim my love for Fall. The beauty of the colorful leaves. The smell of woodsmoke in the air on long walks in crisp air. The crunch of leaves under my feet (I just love that sound so much!). The way the geese fly over the bay so low I can hear their wings flapping. The wearing of warm soft sweaters and sipping hot tea to warm up after being out in the weather. 

And I think Autumn is also such a time of slowing down. Here in the northwoods it's the beginning of hibernation season that we know is right around the corner.  This time of year makes me slow down. And because of that, I take in the beauty more with each year that passes. 

I also think volunteering in hospice has helped me see this season through a different lens. I remember reading the saying: Fall has a way of showing us there is a beauty in letting go. 

I think we often put a big focus on beginnings. Much like the Spring - the first warmth of real sunshine, first blooming of flowers and things growing in the garden. 🌻

But Autumn helps to remind us that endings are also part of a beautiful life story. Being in hospice I feel the privilege of walking alongside patients and families during that part of their journey. And I often say that the hospice house is like sacred ground to me. It brings me closer to my faith with every bit of time I spend there. I see it all as such a gift. Just like the gorgeous leaves outside.

I think of the trees and how they don't lose their beauty when they begin to change. Instead, often their most breathtaking display comes just before the leaves gently fall. What a lovely reminder for us all - don't you think?

My faith reminds me that God is present in every season. In the joyful beginnings, in the uncertain transitions, and even in the sacred moments of goodbye. 

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven."  ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

I find such comfort in those words, don't you?

So this Autumn I will watch the leaves gracefully fall in colorful showers outside my window, but I will be reminded of what a changing season can represent and I will hold my loved ones a little closer. I will work to connect with them even more and treasure the gifts they are in my life. 

❤️🍁🧡

Thank you for letting me share from my heart Friends. I thought I would share a few Autumn pics I took recently. The first few are from the windows of the hospice house where I work (& the long driveway leading to it). And I captured the misty bay and a bunny munching leaves from our deck this morning. Lastly, a few pinterest photos that just say cozy Fall to me. 

I treasure this time with you always Friends. 

Blessings

xoxo

Wednesday Wonder: How Living by the Water Deepens My Faith

 

Hello Friends and Happy Wednesday to you 💙

It's a stormy one here today and I'm not mad about it. There's something so cozy about a rainy day. I'm actually sipping my warm mint tea - I was in the mood for it. Makes me want to curl up and read too. Do you love the rain & storms? Or prefer the bright sunny days? I think I love them equally. 

Speaking of rainy days - this leads to my thoughts about water and its sacredness. I thought today I would share some reflections about living on a bay and sharing a lake kind of life. Especially the ways it speaks to my soul in a very spiritual sense. I love the water so much! 

I grew up living very close to Lake Superior. And I have been living on a bay that feeds directly into Lake Superior for 18 years now.  We often pontoon on this large Great Lake. 

A little trivia time out: Did you know Lake Superior is the largest fresh water lake in the world by surface area? (and the 3rd largest by volume) She is a big lake! Also deep and cold with a max depth of over 1,300 feet, and an average temperature throughout the year of 43 degrees. Brrrr

And I also grew up visiting Lake George in Rhinelander, WI most of my life. It's where my Dad grew up and we would visit my Grandma (my Grandpa died when I was young) and my many aunts, uncles and cousins. I learned to swim, ice skate, and fish on that lake. :) 

The last lake I love is Ten Mile Lake... which is where Matt's lake property is located. That lake is over 5,000 acres in size and has a max depth of over 200 feet. 

So I have been around and loved water my whole life. I was doing some prayer and devotional time the other day and thinking about the ways the Lord uses water in scripture. And I was thinking of the ways I have always felt a sacredness related to water. In obvious ways: like baptism. But in many other ways too.

Here are some pictures of my Grandma's former home in Rhinelander, WI. After around 60 years of being in our family's life it had to be sold and now belongs to someone else. It was difficult to let it go, but times and lives change. I'm so grateful I had the gift of that amazing place growing up... and that my own kids got to enjoy the property and the lake and how special it was there. 

My brother was married on that property. My Aunt had her wedding reception there. And another Aunt's ashes were scattered in that lake. It will forever be sacred ground in my heart and in my memories. 

I also love the wild life, flowers, and birds that share the water on our properties. What I see and feel in those moments is how amazing God is! Such an artist in all He has created. 

Healing of the Water

19 The people of the city said to Elisha, “Look, our lord, this town is well situated, as you can see, but the water is bad and the land is unproductive.”

20 “Bring me a new bowl,” he said, “and put salt in it.” So they brought it to him.

21 Then he went out to the spring and threw the salt into it, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I have healed this water. Never again will it cause death or make the land unproductive.’” 22 And the water has remained pure to this day, according to the word Elisha had spoken.

Matt and I both often say how blessed we are to have both grown up on the water and have a mutual love for it. In every season: 

I often like to do my journaling and devotional time outside by the water, because I find such peace and connection when I look out at it. I always feel such a closeness with our Creator...much the same as I do at church. 

And I think that's also why Matt & I chose to be married next to the water. 😉❤️

Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Monday Blogging Besties 😊💕

Are you excited about the eclipse today? Here, we're not going to have any exciting moments as it's cloudy and raining...and it's supposed to stay this way all day. But I hope those of you in a zone to see it will enjoy! 

It was such a fun and lovely weekend here. Friday Matt & Annie & I went out for dinner and then went to our local Home and Builders Show. It was fun to see exhibits and products for Spring. 

Then Saturday Matt & I headed to visit my Aunt. She lived around my area for many years. But she retired and moved away more recently to a really fun town a few hours away from us. It's a big college area and it's so charming. She lives in a 55+ retirement community area that is on a college campus. So it's so dynamic and filled with fun energy. She does volunteer work at the chapel at the college. The whole area is charming and it's so nice because she can walk to just about anything she needs. So we did lots of walking around seeing the area. We walked around the campus. And she took us to her favorite coffee/sandwich shop. We also looked at shops and she showed us her favorite nature trails. She made us dinner Saturday night and then we walked to an ice cream shop. We went back to her place and played cards until late. Then Sunday she took us to a different university campus that has a monastery and an abbey.

 We went to mass at the abbey and it had amazing architecture and stained glass. The monks did a lot of the mass and so there was lovely music and singing (almost chanting at times). We ate on the campus for lunch after. It was so fun to kind of remember college days. And to feel the fun younger energy everywhere. Her little area is truly like out of a Hallmark movie or something. Best of all, though, was catching up with her of course! (she's always been an extra special Auntie to me) We already look forward to the next visit with her. 💗💗💗

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS:

ON THE BREAKFAST PLATE THIS MORNING:

Sugar free iced coffee. 

I now fast 16 hours each day and only do an 8 hour eating window. I love how I feel now that I'm getting used to fasting. I can tell it's shrinking my belly too, so I don't have as much appetite. So I'm losing weight faster. When I do eat, I choose healthier options and lesser portions. I'm determined to have less weight on my joints to help with pain issues with my arthritis etc. Just working on healthy and a lifestyle that can work for me long term....the weight loss is just a nice side effect. :) 

I also do regular exercise throughout the week. Motion is lotion as they say in the arthritis world. 😉

ON MY TO DO LIST THIS WEEK:

make Ruby's vet appointment, help Annie with prom errands, run errands for senior soiree, Annie & I both have dental appts, pick up just a few groceries, more spring cleaning projects, hospice work

THINKING ABOUT:  

the solar eclipse for obvious reasons - even though I won't be seeing it here...it's a pretty cool event to me (I've always loved astronomy and sciences)

AS I LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE

It's gray and rainy. But almost all the snow is gone and the bay is open! I just saw a group of wild turkeys go through my yard and I just took a pic (I'll share it below) 

CURRENTLY READING

I have started the book The Collected Regret of Clover by Mikki Brammer. I received it as a gift from a friend and started it before and then got sidetracked. Now reading for real and it's so good so far! She knew it would be up my alley as it's about an end of life doula in N.Y. (although it's a fictitious novel and the main character is adorably unique)

ON THE TV TODAY:

Jeopardy, Call the Midwife, LPBW, The Good Wife, Grey's Anatomy,  Survivor, The Rookie, Ghosts, Shark Tank, The Good Doctor,  When Calls the Heart 

ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:

    MONDAY -  cardamom bread french toast, bacon, fruit, eggs

TUESDAY - spicy coconut curry pork noodle soup (HF meal)

WEDNESDAY -  tomato shakshuka w/ feta & pickled onion, pita bread, side salad (HF meal)

THURSDAY - creamy one pot pasta toscana w/ spinach & parm (HF meal)

FRIDAY -  out for dinner

  

TO RELAX THIS WEEK I WILL:

read, craft, home projects

TIPS OR SOMETHING TO SHARE:

Did you know that your biggest organ is your skin? And I had read up long ago about all the chemicals in detergents and how your skin soaks up some of that from your clothing. So the past few years I've liked using all natural projects in the laundry. My favorite has been molly's suds detergent powder (they have liquid too) and their natural dryer sheets along with wool dry balls. This isn't an add or anything - I'm just sharing what I have found works for me to feel good about our healthier laundry situation. My favorite fragrance of detergent is molly's lavender (from essential oils). I have a subscription set up on amazon to make it even easier for myself. For towels and things I often add a little vinegar in the fabric softener compartment of the washer to naturally soften them.  No, the clothes don't have that super smell other detergent's give or those weird scent booster ball things? But if I smell that on clothing I just think I'm smelling chemicals now and that doesn't smell fresh in my mind. My clothes just smell clean. Good enough for me. Lol 

Anyway, just thought I'd share. 

FROM THE CAMERA:

The recent visit to see my Aunt. The wall of stained glass was the whole back of the church up to the ceiling. Just such unique architecture. That's Matt admiring it in the first pic. And the other pics are of my Aunt's cute place (in one pic you can see her off to the right and her dog Luna). We had a lovely weather Saturday there and walked everywhere. Sunday was a rainy drive home but cozy and we did lots of chatting and singing. 💗

Some Spring moments: These neat pages in my planner for the April part. A recent Spring pedi because Annie and I go to AZ for her Spring break. And the wild turkeys in our backyard this morning. 

PRAYER LIST:

 For an end to the conflicts all over the world and anyone living in war & fear. For peace and unity in this country, especially from hate and shootings or violence.  For anyone sick, suffering, in pain, fear, loneliness etc ... that God bring them comfort and peace. For His Light and Love to cast out the darkness everywhere. For both Matt & my sets of aging parents and their health issues. For safe Spring break travels for Annie & I in the future and any other Spring break, or solar eclipse, travelers. 🙏🏻

PRAYER, INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE OR DEVOTIONAL:

Happy eclipse day Friends and have a blessed week ahead. I'm sharing this with Sandra of Diary of a SAHM for Happy Homemaker Monday.