The Butterfly Effect

 When you feel powerless or insignificant...just remember that every thing you say, do, and think has an effect upon the world!  Each time you have kind words to say, a smile for someone, or a positive thought about yourself or someone else...you've changed the course of the world!  How powerful is that?

I took these photos at a Butterfly Exhibition yesterday and decided to research the history of butterflies.

 According to Wikipedia, The Butterfly Effect is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions; where a small change at one place in a nonlinear system can result in large differences to a later state. For example, the presence or absence of a butterfly flapping its wings could lead to creation or absence of a hurricane.

Rather than feeling helpless during difficult situations in our lives and of those we love, we need to remember that we have more control/power than we've ever imagined.  Realizing that we can't and shouldn't control others...only ourselves is the key!

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And wisdom to know the difference."

 

 Sending thoughts of peace, love, and joy!

Bundle of Joy!

We have a new bundle of joy…Jake! He’s a Brittany Spaniel and three months old. The previous owners had him for a month. The husband is in the military and is being deployed to Iraq on Monday. He got him for his wife so she wouldn’t miss him so much while he’s gone for a year…but they have three children and another dog and it’s a bit too much for her.

I’ve had dogs most of my life and have missed having one for the past few years in some ways and have enjoyed the freedom of not having one also. I have been jogging him two miles each day for the past three days that we’ve had him. I read that this breed of dog can become destructive if not exercised enough…so this is the perfect place for him. We have an invisible fence that encompasses an acre of the five acres of land, but I need to research how and when to train him. His favorite games are me chasing him and playing tug of war. He’s already a mama’s boy - following me everywhere. He was living in an apartment…so he’s almost on sensory overload out in the country…with the new sights, sounds and smells. He’s a hunting dog and has already pointed a grasshopper. He loves to drink out of the KOI pond and it’s fun to watch the goldfish swim over to where he’s lapping up water and for some reason congregate there. He’s fallen in a couple of times.!


The neighbor’s cat…who was here all of the time…has been scarce lately. I’ll miss the presents the cat was leaving for me at the back door almost every day…dead mice and a half-eaten squirrel (yuck)!

This is a photo of the lane that leads to our house…we’re the last one down the quarter-mile road…

This is our neighbor’s barn…he has sheep, alpacas, dogs and cats!

He says, I'm pooped!

P.S.  I've been seeing my mother every 2-3 days and have established better boundaries!  I quit smoking 5-6 days ago...with the help of the patch...and feel much better!

Missed You

I returned from the three week whirlwind European trip on June 21st and had two days to unpack, do laundry, go through mail, pay bills, etc. etc. and pack for a four day boating/camping trip in Kentucky.  I returned Sunday from that and realized I forgot my password for getting into my blog.  I tried resetting the password, but "they" would send the info to the account I couldn't remember the password for...but I finally remembered!

I'm up to date on what's going on with most every one...just haven't had time to comment yet.  I can't remember if I mentioned I decided to sell my house.  I bought the house when my husband and I were divorced.  I put it on the market two days before I left on the trip and there has been much activity.  I received a good offer yesterday and signed a contract...so now we'll be looking to possibly rent a place or buy.  Ultimately, we'd like to move to the Carolinas or somewhere?

J is doing great!  He was in his two week assessment through the courts while I was gone and they assessed that he just needs an out-patient program.  He goes to a class Monday through Thursday, 9-12noon and then works from 2pm-10pm.  His boss agreed to let him only work until 10pm, instead of 1am for the two months that he is attending.  Then he will only go twice a week 9-12noon for a few months and then once a week.  In between showings of the house, I've been driving about 2 1/2 hours total per day to get him to everything.  It's a small price to pay for having my son back!

He had his last court appearance last week and his attorney was very excited that he was able to be granted "Treatment in Lieu of Conviction" in two different counties.  In his 34 years of handling these cases, he's never seen it happen.  I've been praying for all of us almost every day...even on the trip.

Here are a few pictures of the 888 that I took...

In Lisbon, Portugal

Cinque Terre, Italy (We hiked 1 1/2 hours from one town to the next, along the Italian riviera)

Venice (this was on my birthday...took a Gondola ride)

The trip was amazing and I am blessed in many ways.  I'll post more later!

The Woods

These are photos I took...except for the one of me...the past few days from three hikes I've gone on.

I'm grateful today for nature, my "Vasque" hiking boots, and cameras!

"Quit hanging on to the handrails . . . Let go. Surrender. Go for the ride of your life. Do it every day."

Melody Beattie, "Finding Your Way Home"

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we really are, far more than our abilities."

Albus Dumbledore in one of the Harry Potter books & movies

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."

Judith Kelman

"All of us have been dying, hour by hour, since the moment we were born. Realizing this, let all things be placed in their proper perspective. . . . Remember, it is always later than you think."

Og Mandino in  "The Greatest Success in the World"

"That whisper you keep hearing is the universe trying to get your attention."

Oprah Winfrey