Now Is Heaven

On my way to pictured rocks national Park site, I realized as I was recharging my phone that perhaps others could realize something from that example. How do we recharge our batteries? I believe we recharge our batteries by staying still yet awake letting nothing else come in, no TV, no music, no texts or calls, no reading, no input at all!  And, no allowing our own minds to chatter as they often do. Shut down all input! Try to get at least 5 minutes in the morning and another 5 at night. Over time, build up the duration and perhaps add some deep breathing, in through the nose and out through the mouth. It is in the stillness that our personal “batteries” get recharged! Try it for a week and let me know how it works for you, okay?

Where did this phenomenon of hurt feelings start? It is not beneficial to anyone! When anyone is unkind in words to another, the difficulty lies in the person perpetrating the unkindness. The target need not convert the perpetrators action into “hurt feelings”. If you have been trained to respond with hurt feelings by example or other means, choose to lose that response by replacing it with an assessment  of their behavior (if you must) And end it there! For example, if someone calls me fat and I am fat, I should have no reaction as the other person is stating that which I believe to be fact. If I am not fat, I can say nothing or tell this person that they are entitled to their opinion.  Let it go! Neither pass judgment on the other person’s comment nor take it in as an insult-let it go!

In Chautauqua County NY visiting with Traynor second cousins – God bless them! And, visited with Eileen Benson Martin, the step granddaughter of my Great Aunt Adeline Barnes Ball Robillard Benson. What wonderful people, these relatives of mine; I am so grateful!! Shared adventures and visiting Chautauqua Lake, Chautauqua Institution, Panama Rocks, the old Traynor/Winter Restaurant, ferry ride and sunset watching, touring ancestral gravesites, cabins on Stowe side, and shared memories of our departed loved ones. Prior to this, I visited with my first cousin Val and we visited with the Sitterlies in Spartansburg, sharing photos, memories, and fun!  Gratefully blessed to share my ancestral background with such lovely people!

 

As as kid, I liked Ike, as as an adult I respected him; so, it was a treat to be at his and Mamie’s home on so many acres in Gettysburg PA. The huge barn reminded me of my grandpa. The Angus steer are amazing! The putting green in your front yard is just outrageously cool! And, we calling the TV and media as a child, to see the heliport landing pad was fun. 

Think about it-does the energy and effort you put into those things you have return to you the joy or protection you believe they should? If not, rethink what you have- as those items may own you!

Such beauty, such delight to sense of smell and sight of eyes mixed with delight in humor of topiary and multiplies the delight by sharing with cousin Val, and Glenn! A sensational event!

1. My oldest brother turns 80 the end of July when I’ll be in Pacific Northwest, so decided to visit with him and his lovely wife before I left the area. Arrived Monday, 5/30, after Shenandoah. Strangely, the turn onto Old Village Road from Mechanicsville Rd was not possible as it was closed due to some unknown reason, so I called my brother and he guided me to their home. I came at the right time to help them with issues resulting from a recent kitchen renovation. So, we’ve been busy straightening, cleaning, and reorganizing amidst conversation and laughter. Yesterday we took time out to enjoy a good lunch at Cracker Barrel, which was fun, even playing checkers for a bit! I love them and am doing what I can to be of assistance. The beautiful grounds with flowers and birds are a constant pleasure, like this dinner plate magnolia

Rainy and continuing through Tuesday, but headed to Shenandoah, Luray Caverns, in VA then Harper’s Ferry in NE section of WV. Shenandoah is still about an hour away. Traveling through rainy weather afforded some interesting pics of beautiful mountains. Quiet day of travel today was. Harmony truck was just fun-probably a bigger message in getting along and creating harmony on this planet.

Ranger presentation at Appamatox so well I could visualize Lee & Grant meeting to discuss the terms of surrender, laying down of arms, Confederate soldiers receiving their very important parole paper and heading home. I can almost “see” into the strong yet tender heart of President Lincoln desiring the healing of our new nation-and then he was shot. 

Petersburg and Richmond, too, with all that fighting. The state of Virginia is covered with battlefields! Confederate soldiers fought for home & family, for Liberty, for slave labor which was the backbone of the Southern economy, for honor & duty. Union soldiers fought to preserve the Union and liberties granted in the constitution, for emancipation, and for honor and duty. Greater than 700,000 fought and died in the Civil War. 

Can we now live in peace on earth?I am wondering if all nations could agree to a technology-based war, if it was found necessary, rather than physical wars with loss/harm to lives and earth, and untold quantities of resources spent on physical wars. What wonderful things  might we create from those resources now devoted to offensive and defensive forces?

iTunes recognizes iPhone in Windows 10 for first time since March 17 thanks to Apple rep Tomekah, wifi from WalMart in Leland NC, the universe for guiding me-seamless miracle. While it would appear that this is NOT a big deal, I spent at least 10 hours trying to solve it over the past month. Here, finally, the solution arrived-I am so grateful! The still, small voice, which I know as an audible intuition, conspired to lead me to a WalMart, work on my laptop since I was going back to Moore’s Creek Visitor Center tomorrow because it was closed today. When I started working on my laptop, up popped WalMart asking me if I wanted to join to use their wifi, to which I logged in and was hooked up to wifi. Then I was led to search for an Apple Store, called the third number given, waited on hold for about 15 minutes. When Tomekah got on the line, she asked for permission to help me remotely. Again, yes that would be great was my response. After about 25-30 minutes, there it was-iTunes recognized my IPhone and I could back it up on my laptop.  The wifi stayed intact throughout the entire transaction! Another miracle looking like it was just any other Transaction; but, I know what it took for it to happen. Grateful, I am.