So thank-FULL to be a MOM! Yup Overflow

 This represents a new blossom in your life... You are just about to bloom!


This represents a new blossom in your life… You are just about to bloom!

It’s been rough these last few years, my beloveds, are dying. Buried dad two years ago and well, dad and I understood each other. Didn’t have to speak one word, just looked into his eyes and he knew, even when we played poker or Gin Rummy! He loved winning. I miss him. He would laugh so hard he would wheeze and that twinkle in his eye…

It was always my mom who was grounded in faith though. Remember studying numerology, astrology and different religions. It was mom who would listen to my thoughts about the heart of the earth and neophytical awareness; the reason for being.

Remember when mom met Father John and all my books disappeared. New birth came to the Warner family, to Ledgewood Rd! Fr John would visit every week, speak on mystical theology, studying Padre Pio and stories of the saints of old. A new respect for my religion took hold, holy reverence and understanding about the blood of Jesus and the City of God. Years later it was revealed our very own teacher was a pedophile.

“Eucharistic Living”

Ah yes, generational love, forgiveness and the quest for heaven on earth. The shock of his weakness faltered my faith for a moment in time, nevertheless loved on. Deep within me was seeded the truth about remnant. Wisdom sliced to the core of understanding. Purity, the divine innocence and promise of the Resurrection. This would never be stolen from me, the Grace of a fertile womb and the lineage of David! And yet struggles continue. Age old teachings cease not, “all is happening for your higher good” So when does our higher good merge with our lower self?  As I ask myself this question I hear the answer

Divine union is present in synchronicity when your very own shadow heals

“Reflections of Grace”

Filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.  Philippians 4:8

My children surprised me for Mother’s Day, demonstrating the above verse. Each one reached out from where they were and reflected love.

My son, accompanied me to help a friend. He is a musician, a noted guru within computer science, my first born mystic. “What do you need mom?”  Immediately replied, “Would love the bright lights to leave my panel on my car”.  Our brake lights won’t work and Toyota repair man said for $120.00 he could hook it up for a diagnosis to see whats wrong and take it from there, yup, right from our bank account.

So my son studied online for two hours and emerged from his room with understanding. In 2 min my car was healed. Spare fuses snapped into place and Voila, I think it even surprised him. So seeing it wasn’t such a hard task after all I pushed the envelope further; “Accompany me to Debi’s house”? ( for a pow wow) I was surprised he said yes because flute playing and drumming is not his idea of fun but there would be food and a computer needing fixing, so off we went. At the end of the night he said “Happy Mother’s day Mom” with a great big smile, it was while we were sitting around the table with some of my most precious friends. That moment will be remembered for a life time, his smile, his knowing reflected from his eyes. As we were driving home through the rain he made a comment, he said:“Mom your friend Debi is the epitome of what a grandmother stands for. She quilts, her cooking, her home, even the granny glasses”

WOW he could see as I saw, I felt so complete in that very moment. In the morning I awoke in a similar fashion. Meditation time, a cup of java and then of course Face Book time. It’s how we all keep in contact, family friends and other acquaintances.  And there it was, a story from my first born daughter, this;

THIS FLOWER REPRESENTS YOU

I almost spewed my coffee out, “alrighty then I am a common weed in her mind!” and then I read on and wept, missed it totally, her vision, her flower, even though it was right in front of me.  She zoomed in and got the macro shot; and wrote

“Beautiful and unique”

then this

" has given life "

” has given life “

“Takes flight regardless of any obstacle”

peace

peace

Her expression of what I meant to her, reaching out in visual form, in ways I certainly could understand made hot tears flow down my cheeks. WOW her knowing was profound.

A few hours later another visual form appeared with music. This one was not uploaded to Youtube but only FB here. Not sure if you can view it, this one made my vision cloud. She added music and the lyrics got me good

You with the sad eyes
Don’t be discouraged
Oh I realize
It’s hard to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And the darkness, inside you
Can make you feel so small

But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that’s why I love you
So don’t be afraid to let them show
Your true colors
True colors are beautiful,
Like a rainbow

She collaborated all these shots from our past and recent ones like the rainbow my husband (not her birth dad) and I captured at the dog beach together. Even now Bill is spending time with them up in Canada. They have embraced him as family.

To say it’s an honor to witness my children’s love, is an understatement. Yes, even shadows of knowing, heals! :)

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Celebration!!! Joy does come in the Morning! Just have to know what to drink in

Champagne SunriseIt was an interesting yesterday and last night for that matter! A brimful day, started with a Meetup with souls who love nature as much as I do. One woman actually traveled one hour to start the day with us! Always admired people of determination, venturing into obscure climates and zones of unfamiliarity. This lone thought makes me break out the champagne! Why? It’s a sign of breakthrough, where one dislodges fear and steps into who they were created to be.

HOME 5-4 015Every participant this day reflected their light, their knowing, the reason why they were “present”, each one of them so precious and candid. Sharing their frustrations of a work week, how they knew one another or led to the group, passions for capturing beauty, each one on a sanctified journey.

HOME 5-4 001It got me thinking about the honey bee,  honeybee’s and the secret of colonization. Gosh doesn’t that sound like a great title for a book? Actually my private quest was to capture one in nature today. Even rented a very expensive lens which wasn’t in my budget to purchase.  Was told about a great company to rent from if you find yourself in the same predicament.  Lend you a tool to help your dreams come true! (Exactly like what Heart of Mother Earth meetup is all about) LensProtoGo  check them out! The photo below was captured with a specialty macro lens by Canon.

HOME 5-4 101As I was reflecting on these droplets of promise, thoughts of living authentically in the moment, despite oneself,  had me cracking up inside. It was painfully obvious all I really wanted was to be alone in nature and not just in nature, but in the most general sense of the word, solitary… end of story. Don’t get me wrong, love people, however,  just look at this owl’s face

Barred Owl

EXACTLY how I felt~!~  This Barred Owl’s story was shared with one of the Park Rangers; hit by a car and tragically unable to fly. Someone brought her in where she is being nurtured back to health and eventually to be returned home. Got me thinking how we all need to return to our real nature, despite the casualties personally encountered.

It was before the beginning of our meditation, Mary our group leader shared about Native American teachings and interpretation of animal medicine and the lessons they can impart.  “Gaining understanding from these brother and sisters in the animal kingdom is a healing process and must be approached with humility and intuitiveness”   Ironically the card I chose from her Medicine Card Deck was a tortoise! And look who we discovered on our trek!HOME 5-4 018 It was amazing to me how his shell matched perfectly the surroundings of stone. He let me get up close and then turned around to retreat back into his hole.  The message for me was this; move through pressures, don’t retreat, things will happen in the time and manner best for you. Focus on essentials and trust you have everything you need

angel visitation

Yup, we need to come out of our shell of the world we created and like the Least Bittern, stick our necks out a bit!

Test the waters!

Black-necked Stilt Chick

You just may find out, living is quite irresistible! Especially when you patiently wait in silence for Nature to reveal herself. However,  it usually isn’t until the next day after you “upload” do you necessarily process what has been exchanged.

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Nature Has a Language…Simplistic Beauty, a Stabilized Community Captured in 5 easy steps

Eurasian Collared-Dove

Eurasian Collared-Dove

It was a morning unlike most. Today the word was out and the neighborhood birds knew where breakfast was being served…it finally happened, the bird feeders were being used!!

Female Wren

Female Wren

Somehow they communicated and though we live in the city, one block from railroad tracks, it sounds as if we are in the heart of a jungle!

backyard 056backyard 021They are getting use to me now and don’t fly away as soon as I step out the door. Even our American Bulldog is tolerating them :)

Our  “FRECKLES”

We have seen a different variety and everyone of them appears to respect each others presence, except for the occasional visit from Raptors. Yesterday, a swallow-tailed kite started circling like a vulture. Out of no where a cat bird and a blue jay started darting at it’s tail and ran him off!

Swallow-tailed Kite

Later both species came back for a quick drink, here I was able to capture the blue jay.

backyard 054It seems as if they have claimed this as their territory and they aren’t about to tolerate having anyone, who sees them as dinner, circling around!

Northern Mockingbird

Northern Mockingbird

At this very moment I hear the cooing of the Doves, the “birdy birdy birdy” Cardinal’s voice (yes you get to know them) chirping of the lil Chickadees and then the king of them all; Mocking bird just letting you know who is in the neighborhood. His rendition is quiet amazing, however not to my husband and son who would like to sleep in!

Simplistic beauty, a stabilized economy, all this, found right in our own back yard! All I had to do was

  1. Fill up bird feeder’s with wild bird seed
  2. Hang them on branches in the trees
  3. Fill empty bird bath with water :)
  4. WAIT
  5. Capture the moment

backyard 034_filtered

It’s kinda like writing. We all know the basics, nevertheless have to start somewhere. Nature is the best teacher. This is my motto KISS!!! Keep it simple silly, yup it all starts with a KISS.  

The Greatest mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or in defeat. Let nature take its course and your tools will strike at the right moment…  Bruce Lee

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 “Nature is a language and every new fact one learns is a new word, the language put together into a most significant and universal sense. I wish to learn this language–not that I may know a new grammar, but that I may read the great book which is written in that tongue.”  ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

                       To cherish … never forget … yes … recapture innocence~

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Why am I smiling? I’m unplugged…no more reruns! JUST MIRACLES!

freeTook a long time to FEEL FREE, truth is I don’t think I ever realized I was FREE TO BE ME and it was even a must to Sparkle time and again! Sounds a lil corny, yet when you are raised to see only the good in everyone, forgive the sinner and love on, sometimes your soul gets lost in the processing. Especially if the one you love or admire is the one abusing you; snuffing out your essence. Heck they didn’t camp out thinking this is what they would do, triggered memories of their own abuse, their own abandonment and forgiving does indeed release them IF you forgive yourself first. Yup, you signed up for this, not the open door to abuse, rather agreeing with your Creator not for the approval of others rather, seek HIS Guidance and obey…big difference!

So no matter what happens; this is for my higher good; on earth as it is in heaven…  here in this state is the imperfect and perfection is yet to come. Reading this version of a Great Book, you might know the one :) and well there is a “new” version out called THE MESSAGE and it speaks so clearly for me! Here is an example;

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

“Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become” Apostle Paul 2Cor 12

For me, the word weak meant submit, giving up MY control, my knowing. Little did I know the very things I wanted to be in control of limited me, yes limited me from witnessing a miracle. There is something to be said for those portals of divine heaven reaching earth and THEY DO!  See grace is invisible and as crazy as this sounds, there is no drug on earth like it. Grace fuels you to be the conduit of hope, healing…love! Oh and it’s really easy to figure out when you are plugged into the “old way” of living..doing. You will feel “panic”, “fear” as soon as you dream or imagine something detrimental guess what, you plugged into your lower nature, where your skin traps you.  As soon as you stop caring for the other… DING DING DING alarm alarm, self pity plugged you back in.

In the beginning it’s tough, our ego can get pretty darn loud. Nevertheless, once it’s unplugged, no OTHER entity can trigger you! Just imagine living a life like this! WOW right?!! It takes some practice, like any preparation, application is key and the marathon of living becomes divine. NOTHING can stop you, because the journey is an invitation to the great I AM. Wherever He brings you, is so FULL of love messages, ok some bumps yet as soon as you “get it” come to the truth, you get to be part of a great big MIRACLE..AGAIN!

Can you imagine living each day like this? Every day an invitation to harm no one, to smile and BE the blessing! It won’t matter what “the others” think and even when you have to say “No”, it’s ok, why? You’ve realized your Yes was from a wrong motive and you don’t even have to CUSS! Isn’t that amazing and maybe the first witnessed miracle!

Red Winged Blackbird

Yes the miracles will start with you, how else can your light shine?! The best thing about all of this, you may not even realize it, until the moths show up.

Shine on my friend…shine on

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“A Suddenly” You could hear this human gasp! Yup the big “O” mg !

Awoke early this morn, sounds of birds were calling. One sound in particular made me smile “Birdy Birdy Birdy” and guess who flew from the tree right at me?!

Male Cardinal

Male Cardinal

It was a sign, nature was definitely calling. It was 7am, plenty of time before my hair appointment @11:30 so I was off to the Wetlands!

First stop would be Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

It was beautiful watching the morning sunlight dance on dangling leaves and smelling the damp dirt. Must be the first on this boardwalk as 5 min of walking and counted eight moments when spiderwebs pulled tight against my face and arms.

Delicate strings, fabric of nature allowing me to penetrate its path

morning sunThe morning sun dancing off reflected moisture everywhere. The oneness of refractive boundaries were evident as angles of innocence crystallized intelligence.  A portal had opened and I was present to capture the moment, an honor indeed!

While making my way back to the car thought it odd I hadn’t seen one bird. It’s then, almost instinctively felt eyes on me. Look who was in the telephone pole beneath my parked car

and this black headed parrot gathering berries above!

4 16 022 4 16 024Nature was waking up and so was I.  It was quite humid this morning, sweat was pouring from my face already and again all was quiet along the path.  “Maybe I wouldn’t see any more today?”  During that moment of thought my sandal slid on a patch of wet leaves.  “Geesh” Almost landed, oddly this is when one realizes how vulnerable they are in nature.

My steps become deliberate, almost reverent from this point on. Round the bend and there is a fluff of white in the corner of my eye. This lil guy looked right at me, again so thankful I wasn’t considered a threat.

Least Bittern

Least Bittern

Again no sound but a flutter of wings and then these three landed right in front of me!

Black Bellied Plover’s

And then another joins along investigating the muck, this one had long yellow legs and I think it was Sandpiper, large back eyes and so cute. It’s around this time of admiration when the most amazing moment happened, a flock of pink landed right before my eyes!

A suddenly” you could hear this human gasp!  Yup the Big “O” MG!

Finally Roseate Spoonbills!

The first few shots were a blurr of pink as it took me awhile to focus and shoot. As I held my breath thoughts of; even if not one shot manifested the moment would stay with me a lifetime!   Have been wanting to see one of these up close ever since I lived in Florida.

Roseate Spoonbill

Never saw their eyes up close before, just amazing creatures.  Stood on a bench to get a better perspective, a few looked right at me.  So odd looking, they probably thought the same thing of me! It’s an honor to be able to share with you all

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Well to say nature blessed me is an understatement. Just when I thought it couldn’t get much better, then this little bird stood up revealing pink legs and four little eggs!

Black Necked Stilt

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She spun all four eggs and then sat down to warm them again. Amazing nature. Doesn’t she have the most beautiful eyes ever?!

And I suppose a Trek in Florida’s wildlife wouldn’t be complete without spying a Gator or two and this is exactly what I saw…youngsters,  enjoying the morning sun, one wet and one dry! Had that same smile as “Mr George”, yup bet we know who Papa is!

4 16 373a

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Needless to say I missed my hair appointment

I only went out for a walk and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found, was really going in. ~John Muir, 1913

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Longing to live Wildly

Male Anhinga

Recently saw this magnificent bird; Anihinga drying his body in the heights of green shrubbery.  Initially only saw a black spot and then zoomed in. This lil guy has his blue eye on; only present during mating season, ah yes that’s right it’s spring!  Sometimes forget this as we live in lush Florida, delineated season’s are not part of my habitat and spring can be an oversight, however, not today. Regrowth is everywhere.

Anhinga’s in breeding plumage have a blue ring around their eyes

Inspection of this photo reveals the sun in his eyes. It was early morning and only now I see the beauty that was captured. What an amazing species. So thankful they wern’t fearful and didn’t fly off.

Female Anhinga

It’s a bit chilly today, the birds are a bit puffy looking and even the Tri Color Heron has dipped low in the water but this didn’t prevent him from catching a meal!

Tri Color Heron

One strike and this little minnow was fueling another cycle in life

Tri Color Heron with fresh catch

This is why I love to spend time in nature, a portal opens and for a moment we are allowed to spy heaven on earth. Reflective of a realistic balance.

Mottled Mallard Duck

Female Red Winged Blackbird

Great-tailed Grackle

Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barns; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are then birds!Luke 12:22-24

American Coot

American Coot even closer

Oliver Burkeman said it well; “there’s something fundamental, something transformative, about spending time in wild nature”. Everywhere on the trail nature was demonstrating the art of pedagogy, the process of living wildly while reflecting balance. Eat, drink and LIVE!

Woodpecker Nest

Snail Kite

They find a place to live, procreate and raise their young and instinctively keep them from harm as best they can. Again was so thankful I wasn’t considered a threat and was able to view this vulnerable family; Moorhen with her young.

Common Gallinule (formerly Moorhen) and her chicks

HOMER 088Below a slideshow of more families scampering and clacking : )  some yet to be!

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Another day spent in nature where it’s demonstrated once again, needs are definitely met as the cycle of life continues! All you have to do now is recognize your value and the magic of living and loving….wildly.

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“Drums”; yup the Woodpecker’s Caller ID!

male red bellied woodpecker

male red bellied woodpecker

Recently while trekking through the woods I came through an opening and heard that old familiar “rat tat tat”. Looking up there was the most wonderful site; vibrant red head and now he wasn’t drumming but hopping up and down while picking berries off a tree. He was naturally trampolining from branch to tree and effortlessly, like an Olympic gymnast!

Started researching bird feet and found out the most amazing truth; most birds have four toes on each foot, and all birds have a claw at the tip of each toe. However, the arrangement and size of the toes and the size and shape of the claws vary according to the birds’ ways of life.

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Did you know the tongue of a woodpecker wraps around its brain to cushion while “rap tap tapping”? Often wondered why woodpeckers didn’t have brain damage from the forceful drumming and now we know why.

woodpecker tongue The force of impact against a tree is so great that if he didn’t not close his eyes, he would pop his eyeballs out! And then to find out their tongue, starts at the back of the throat, out the neck, over the top of his head, then out of a hole between his eyes, into one of his nostrils and THEN comes out of his beak! So before each “rap tap tap” his tongue recoils to cushion his brain………AMAZING! I don’t know of any animal that has this ability do you?

Nature and her Creator leaves me smiling.

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