Spring is in the Air

I went to the grocery store this morning and I was in my own little world gazing at the frozen peas when I looked up and a georgeous man flashed and equally georgeous smile at me and said "Good Morning!"....I gave him my sweet southern smile back and said "well....good morning!" as I casually moved over to the frozen green beans. he said " its a beautiful day out today isnt it?" I said " yes ...it really is." he said "it's suppose to get up to 80 degrees today." I said well thats a bit much for a fat girl." he said " ohhhhh nooooo youre not fat your just right!!!" I paused in sheer delight and said " well thank you Dahlin" and sacheted away from the frozen food isle...ahhh yes...spring is in the air !

Life can't come and rest easy on your shoulders unless you are still enough to give it a place to land.

The Monastery of The Holy Spirit

The Monastery of The Holy Spirit is in Conyers GA. is about 35 minutes from where I live. It is one of my favorite places. I started going here about 2 years ago and return often to take in the tranquility and peace and comfort that I receive every time I visit.

This beautiful church was built by the Monks that lived here. The monastery was founded in 1944. The massive walls, columns and structure were created one wheel barrow of concrete at the time.

There is a lot that can be said about the abundance of nature that surrounds the Monastery, the tranquil moments I have spent by the lake watching the wild life and letting my spirit mingle with the green foliage that displays itself so proudly. But the treasure lies within each encounter I have had with  the Monks who live here. The Trappist Monks have a heart and a love that drifts from within them  right into your being and you take it with you when you go.

They have a wonderful book and gift store where you can purchase items made by the Monks such as fudge, fruit preserves, honey, coffee, fresh breads and southern fruit cake to name only a few. Carl is a Lay Cistersian who works at the store, his spirit displays a love for others that I could only hope to achieve in my own life. Carl also is an author of 12 books and  teaches and speaks at retreats, churches, monasteries and seminars and has a wonderful Blog.  http://www.carlmccolman.com/
The book and gift stores are a wonderful place to make gift purchases and at the same time support this beautiful Monastery. I buy most of my books here, there are many that will inspire you and feed your soul.
Take some time to view the Bonsai trees that are lovingly cared for by the Monks and to tour the heritage center that tells the history of the Monastery and the Monks who live there.

Most important of all, take a moment to sit in the quiet Holiness of this church. Lift up your heart to God, let all your cares drift away and let go of the things of this world and and just be in His presence.

They also have retreats where you can take some time away to reflect, meditate, heal, pray, and breath deeply.

My prayers go up daily for this beautiful place and the people who live and work  here.

To all my friends in Georgia I hope you will visit and it will become one of your favorite places as well.

http://www.trappist.net/

Peace and Grace,
COHolley

Holding on to You

I loved you long before I met you.
I held you in my  dreams.
I walked down long alleys,
  dark places,
    cold walls,
      waded through steep streams.

Then you appeared before me
  and I began to see
    far beyond the dreams I had.
I held on to you and me.

I have you in my memory
  years after you are gone.
I close my eyes and I see you.
  Every part of you
    I've ever known.

I want to send a note to you
  on the string of a balloon
    or the beak of a bird
      or and envelope with perfume.
A note that says ~ I still love you. ~
  My heart longs to let you know.
    To tell you, though you walked away,
     I never let you go.

I loved you before I knew you.
I love you long after you are gone.
I will love you until I float to the sky.
I will kiss you goodbye on my way home.

by COHolley

Catchers Mitts

It is true that some people run through this world with a catchers mitt on both hands. I don't believe we were called to live our lives grabbing more than we need and sometimes even more than we want. Perhaps we should consider the possibility that we are not here for ourselves but for others.

How Do You Want Your DayTo Be

When you start your day take a moment to think about how you want that day to be. See yourself going through the day , just as you would want it to flow. Then try to stay on that path, in that place, and not be moved. Fill your heart with joy, thankfulness, and all good things and do not let the thief of adversity come and steal from you what is rightfully yours.

Lavender dresses

I saw something particularly endearing yesterday at Wal-Mart. I fell into line at the cash register and before me was a little old lady. A real little old lady. I was glad she was slow about removing her things from her cart ,it gave me time to watch her and take in every detail of her appearance. She looked like a grandmother from a story book.
She had on a lavender floral dress, white ankle socks and black comfy shoes. Her white hair was pulled up in a bun with two filigree hair combs securing the sides, a hair style that her fingers had performed for many years without thought, just twist turn and tuck, if you looked close you could see a hair net over it all, keeping every hair nice and neat. She wore old wire framed glasses and no jewelry. She was a sight to behold.
My heart was truly smiling as I watched this sweet lady. I say sweet because I watched her face and she had a kind face, relaxed and peaceful. Then..... I received my gift............ she lifted her eyes from her things, turned and looked in my eyes and I smiled...and she gave me a beautiful smile back.
What a moment of pleasure this dear woman was to me, her sweetness, the freedom she had being just who she was, no airs about society fancy clothes fine jewelry. She was all about the spirit and little to do with the things of this world. I wanted to talk with her, ask her how she felt about things, I wanted to know the hardships she had endured in her life and how she over came them. As she walked away I was so pleased to have witnessed her kind spirit and thankful for the fleeting moment of endearment that my heart felt.
Life brings such wonderful heart treasures all we have to do is slow down and look, they are before us waiting to be taken in.... wonderful moments that give our hearts a pause in such a hurried "me first" world.
My spirit desires the peace that comes with lavender dresses, white neat hair buns, and comfy shoes.... a place of peace that comes from knowing that the things of this world are of little importance and that the things of the spirit are the most import of all.

Look For the Humor Watch For the Miracles

"Look for the humor, watch for the miracles"
This is a quote from a book on simple living that is
compiled of thoughts and sayings from people of the Quaker faith.
A simple phrase that holds so much truth... and a formula for a joyful day, or a joyful life.
You can't have a heart that is grumpy, sad, angry, disappointed , restless or anything similar to these if you are looking for the humor, taking things lightly, carrying a smile in your heart.
When you are looking for the miracles, the world around you becomes so awesome that it will flood your being with the spirit of amazement, anticipation for what is to come, hope, and faith.
So, look for the humor , watch for the miracles and make a joyful noise. It will happily lift you up like a dandelion seed on the wind.

Living by Default

When we learn to live by faith and not by fear, when we keep out eyes towards the light and not in the shadows and when we learn to do this the majority of our day then we can change our lives drastically.
The faith will make over our lives and our affairs.
Websters dictionary says that the word default means, failure to act or appear. When you are living outside of faith you are living by default.
Your life will be all hope one day and all fear the next.

Listening, Seeing, Living

If the sun came out after a summer rain would you notice how the rain drops on the leaves look
like tiny prisms?

If the wind blew apple blossoms from the trees along the walk way where you were stepping would you be grateful for the gesture that flowers were being laid beneath your feet.

If a child smiled up into your face from a mothers shopping cart would you realize the gift that the child ,not even knowing you ,chose your face to look into and offer up an unconditional greeting.

As you were hurrying into work in the morning did you look to your right and see the morning sunshine sparkling on the dew in the open field.

When you eat do you savor the flavor, the texture ,the aroma? Do you ever think about everything that had to take place in order for that food to be in front of you?

Do you ever sit in the quiet? Do you ever get perfectly still. listening to your breathing, feeling the chair beneath your body and not thinking of anything but the moment?

Do you ever hold a flower in your hand and breath in the fragrance, feel the softness of the petals, look into the center and notice its incredible design.

When you step outside in the morning do you breath in the morning air, taking in the freshness down to your toes, bathing yourself in glory?

Do you listen to the rain fall? Do you watch it dance in the puddles? Do you smile at the cleansing. Do you enjoy the melody?

When a bird sings do you stop for a brief moment and in your heart do you say thank you for the song?

Do you look up at the moon? Do you think about how many people it is shining on? How the glow is comforting and the stars are twinkles of joy?


Do you take in the laughter of a child, the smell of a cookie, the gift of a hello, your soft pillow, the sweet bliss of desert on your tongue, the kiss on a cheek or touch on your shoulder, the breath of a puppy, cool grass beneath your feet, sand on your toes, the smell of a baby, the sound of "I love you"
Do you ever walk through the day being profoundly grateful?

Do you live? Really really live?