Finding Contentment in Every Situation
Finding Contentment in Every Situation
By JM PerezGorgeous and lovely weather today in the High Desert. What a pleasant surprise to see one of the two Agapanthus ‘Storm Clouds’ in my front yard in bloom. Such an attractive evergreen perennial.
Happy Gardening!
By JM Perez By JM PerezLast Fall, my Son went on his first field trip to the Pumpkin Patch. When I picked him up later from school, he proudly showed me a small pumpkin he received as a souvenir from the trip. After a couple of weeks, the tiny pumpkin started deteriorating and he allowed me to plant it (I just dug a hole and shoved the whole thing in it). Winter went by and so did Spring. Up until last week I believed it was a lost cause until I saw the first sprout.
The Harvest of Life process reminded me of the Harvest of crops.
I once shared bulbs from the same bag with a friend; hers germinated and bloomed long before mine. For a while I wondered what I did wrong and wondered what I could do to have better results in the future. After trials and errors, I realized that while some seeds will germinate in warm soil, others will not and vice versa. Some crops will be ready to harvest in no time; others take a very long time. There’s a time and season for everything. How slow or quickly it takes a seed to grow is not up to us. The good news is that we can control the quantity of our crops by following the necessary steps (watering, fertilizing, getting rid of weeds and using pest control) to encourage a healthy growth. Regardless of the methods/techniques used for planting, harvest season always comes.
Just as with plants, some things are in our control and others, not so much.
The cycle of life is to be born, to grow up, to grow old and to die. But it never happens in that exact order regardless of Technology, Advancement in Science as well as other natural remedies (healthy diet, healthy lifestyle, exercise) to help us live longer. The choices we make in life will determine the outcome of our fate.
“Whichever season you’re in, rejoice and celebrate your life as you might not experience it twice.” – Joan Ambu
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die.
A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.
A time to kill, and a time to heal.
A time to break down, and a time to build up.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh.
A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together.
A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.
A time to get, and a time to lose.
A time to keep, and a time to cast away.
A time to rend, and a time to sew.
A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate.
A time of war, and a time of peace.” ― Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (KJV)
By JM Perez By JM PerezThe days of the week have gone by slowly, allowing me to start and finish some little projects.
Yesterday was a joyful and heartfelt day for me. After talking to my Dad, I happened upon an old friend’s number. Had seven years really gone by since I last spoke to this awesome being? I asked myself. Sure, we kept in touch through emails. How could seven years go by without verbal exchanges? I had no time for my mind to wonder. I was thrilled to talk to one of the amazing individuals who stood tough with me during my times of need.
I met Blanche in High School and she instantly became my best friend. She was always in my face and my business. She was my eyes when I couldn’t see clearly, my voice when I couldn’t speak and she had my back. We celebrated our birthdays together as hers is a day prior to mine. We had so much love, admiration and respect for one another and I thank God every single day for placing her on my path through life because she helped me remember how sweet Life was and how joyful I was prior to loosing my sister. She stood by me and walked me through the other side of grief. We were birds of a feather, and naturally, we flocked together.
As I dialed her number and patiently waited for the connection to be established, my heart leapt with joy when I heard a familiar voice on the other end. As soon as she heard my voice she said: Please tell me it’s you Joan, I’ve prayed for this moment.Yes, it is I, I jokingly replied. We laughed and picked up right where we’d left off as if time and space never existed. We spent over an hour catching up on each other’s life and in the end, we made the promise to talk to each other at least once a month.
“True friends are the ones who never leave your heart, even if they leave your life for a while. Even after years apart, you pick up with them right where you left off, and even if they die, they’re never dead in your heart.” ― Unknown
I haven’t forgotten those who comforted me and genuinely cheered my successes and happiness.
By JM Perez By JM PerezFor Earth Day, my son was given a round shaped pantyhose filled with sod and grass seed. All he had to do was place it next to a window for some warm Sun light, water and watch it grow. I stored it somewhere in the Patio and forgot about it until this morning. It’s a really fun and easy activity for kids and adults alike. This Grass Pet is almost similar to the Chia Pet, remember those?
Today, we will turn this plain round shaped ball of sod and grass seeds into a cute face.
Materials/Tools Needed:
How to proceed:
How about some Shoes for your Grass Pet? Click here.
I hope you enjoy making your own Grass Pet and watching the hair grow.
By JM Perez By JM PerezEarly this afternoon, the mail man delivered a special package. Inside this package were some souvenirs Mom brought back from her recent trip to Cameroon and France. I have been looking forward to seeing its content, even though I wasn’t sure how I would react and how it would impact my current state of mind. One is never too prepared for what to expect in life. Today, after fifteen years, I got to see my sister’s beautiful face before her final rest. I remembered all the little details on that treacherous Saturday morning of May 2nd, 1998.
For the first few days following her burial, I looked at her pictures every night after prayers and before going to sleep. I couldn’t find peace and rest the night I skipped the routine. Her still images were a tremendous source of comfort and I was so grateful that she could bring so much peace within my grieving heart. Some days I would be at peace with the facts and during others, a flow of sorrow would come upon me unexpectedly.
Going through a damaged and incomplete album this afternoon, I was overcome with anger. How could those entrusted with its safekeeping allow it to be exposed to the elements and others, since there are pictures missing. I had to calm myself down and remember that everything I need is indelibly imprinted on my mind. Nothing and no one can take away the memories of a loved one or the truth I’ve come to know. Today I wept, felt anger, laughed and experienced once again the peace that comes from acceptance and letting go.
My heart goes out to my Mother and I will live the rest of my life doing right by her, God being my helper.
We must all face loss at some point in Life. When it happens:
“Give sorrow words; the grief that does not speak whispers the o’er-fraught heart and bids it break.” — William Shakespeare
By JM Perez
