Men...

Growing up there weren't a lot of positive men in my life and then when I married my former husband he introduced me to one awesome man, his name was Father Eugene McCreesh. He was a Jesuit priest and just a very compassionate man. He uses to go to the beach with us every year and came up to the house on every occasion. My middle son was named after him. I was missing him a lot today, missing his quiet words, his big bear hugs, and his loving presence. But I am forever grateful that I have such kind and wonderful memories to remember!

Pumpkins...

The other day I went to Trader Joe's and they had this sign outside and I couldn't resist taking a picture. The sign pretty much sums up the fall season for me... Pumpkin everything!! I love pumpkins, the color, the taste, the happy memories they remind me of and most of all - their a sign it's fall.

I might even attempt to make these - http://onceamonthmeals.com/gluten-free-dairy-free-pumpkin-cinnamon-rolls/

License Plates...

As I was headed down the road yesterday, I started noticing license plates. It reminded me of a time in my childhood when my sister and I would read license plates on our travels to go spend the summer with my dad's family in Florida. Then it made me smile thinking that each person or group of people must be going to visit someone or headed to a new or old familiar place to vacation, but wherever their going it's probable ( you hope) a place to connect with each other, and a place that will offer joy and lasting memories.

Mimosa...

This is the season for the Mimosa Tree to be in bloom. With it's beautiful flowers and fragrant smell... the memories rush in. Many a summer my sister and I spent in Florida where my dads family was from. And that is where I was introduced to the awesome Mimosa Tree. I just thought the flowers were so pretty and delicate, and the leaves were light in texture. It kind of has a lingering smell like the honeysuckle, you can smell it from a distance. The Mimosa tree will always make me smile.

Making Memories...

Each present moment is filled with memories. Today I filled my day with friends, love and laughter - memories to last a life time!

Gingerbread...

For many many years I baked gingerbread for the holidays and for those years my kids knew the house would smell like gingerbread for months. But this year is the first time I didn't bake any for anyone! So as the holidays came and went my daughter started craving gingerbread. So tonight after dinner I finally made her and my son a small batch of cookies. Oh the memories...

Fall Haiku...

Fall leaves drip there color

 The Autumn sky drinks it in

Leaving memories

Season...

I love this picture and didn't really have anything to go with it other then "noting" the JOY it brings me. Since fall in my favorite season, there are never enough picture, painting, real life memories that I grow tired of seeing,when they pertain to fall. Hope it brings a smile to your heart and lightens you day as it has mine.

The Dock...

Years ago my kids and I use to go sit down on my former in-laws dock and watch the sun do down. We would kick our feet in the water and savor the present moment. It left us with " good memories!"

Sunday Meal...

Sunday has always been one of those days I use to set aside extra time to make that meal, the one that you wouldn't ordinarily make during the week because it's very time consuming. It provides an extra touch to the start of the busy days ahead, as well as making the little "extra's", like banana bread, sweet treats, something different I've been wanting to try, or that special request from one of the kids! I LOVE being in the present moment with all the smells and colors that cooking provides. I LOVE the memories that only food offers. 

Library...

My son and I went to the library yesterday and we each walked out with a huge stack of books. It was so much fun. When my kids where growing up, the library was like our second home. They had a limit of 100 books you could check out, and between the four of us we almost always reached that limit. Most days now I just run in and get my book on hold and run back out, so it was nice to just take the time with my son to browse the rows of books and hang out in an old familiar place, filled with good memories.

Morning...

"Life just is. You have to flow with it. Give yourself to the moment. Let it happen."

 ~ Jerry Brown 

   American politician

This picture looked like a good place to start my day. The ocean holds great memories, old and new. It relaxes me to look out over the vast ocean, listening to the waves and let "life flow, letting it happen." I always offer such resistance to life and I need a constant reminder to "give myself to the moment." I will breath deeply and "let it happen."