When I bake, time feels softer, slower, loving, kinder. It waits for me. Allowing me the leisure to measure ingredients, yet in the end tweaking to my senses. A dash here, a pinch there. Reading and reading again, a recipe, the story of the creation waiting to be formed. One of the few places, I get to own the end of a story. The slow gentle glow of the oven, culminating in a sustained, deep heat. Purposefully creating chaos, a mess, knowing the sweetness that would be devoured in the end. Lost in the attention. The feel of sticky dough. Shaping, molding, kneading, inhaling, tasting. Fingertips dancing, hands speaking. The anticipation of goodness. The excitement and sometimes exhilaration. Patience in its sweetness and art, slowing me down. A gentle, quiet lesson in trusting and hoping. Letting go of control, trusting... A new found love for uncertainty, made sweeter by the fullness and deep content within, when a creation comes together. The courage and persitence to try again when it does not. The joy. Oh, the joy when bellies are full and lips sing of laughter when the creation is tasted, touched, shared, devoured...

The freedom of it all.

This is my meditation...

The thing with acceptance...

It is.

A grace filled space

Where control softens.

Humility speaks

Gently.

Kindness beckons

Goodness meets us

And

Surrender, hugs.

Gratitude pours

Into movement.

The giving begins...

Gratitude today...a washing over. Grace filled moments. Of light, bliss and thankfulness.

Scattered, recurring. Of love, friendship and abundance. Of spirit, God, guidance, peace, joy and grief.

Of countless blessings

Of wisdom....

Of those who forge a way for us. Of their courage and bravery. For creating space and holding it.

Of hope, renewal, possibilities.

Of being human.

A soft heart, a surrendered heart.....to grace, grace and grace.

Quiet. Peace. Still. Be. Clarity. Acceptance. Deep glow and warmth. Inhale. Gentle exhale. Serenity.

A new year, a fresh page of tomorrows. I strolled in the snow this morning, looking around at the white, peace and calm. There was turbulence and an ache within. 
Capturing random images of what spoke to me. The stillness around me...the acceptance of "what is" by nature. Each humbly obeying and gracefully accepting. 
A slow quiet peace meandered into my soul...be still..hold..bear..with grace  
Mary Oliver once wrote " Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed." 
Today, I stand..holding, bearing ...ready to be blessed.     
                                                                                  

                                                                                 

Winter rain... 
Gentle drops of  power 
Strength in softness
Warmth in intensity
Glowing tenderness
Memories..