The Corner of Spirit & Brave - Pennie Hunt

LOVE NOTES

2/9/2019

I send Love Notes. Some say,
“Thank You.”
Some say,
“I’m Thinking of You.” Some say,
“I Am Grateful To Have Met You.”
And, some just say,
“Hi.”
They all say – “I Love You.”

You see, I'm a conversationalist;
A communicator. I love to talk. I love to write. I love words and the way they somersault out of my mouth and into the hearts of those who receive them. I love to give pieces of myself to others by sending a gift that carries with it my heart thoughts.

Life may be too easy for us today. We simply type a note through our emails or texting and it is magically in the hands of the receiver within seconds.

I remember the magic of writing a letter to my Grandmother asking for my favorite peanut butter cookie recipe and waiting in anticipation for the postal service to deliver her response.

I remember waiting two weeks for a letter from my sister with the much awaited pictures of my newborn nephew and then hurriedly writing her back to say,
“Send more! Send more!”

Today we have immediacy and instant gratification. But, there is magic in holding a note created with love; Tracing the swirl of the handwriting with your finger; Seeing the smudges of the ink or noticing the faint smell of the perfume or cologne of the sender; and knowing the message has traveled across the country or even across town to arrive in your hand.

When I put pen to paper I spill my thoughts and emotions with the intent of someone else holding them. My love and my energy travel with my words. From my hand to their hand, I want them to hold the gift of me.

Heart to heart communication cannot be generated by a machine. This is personal.
I send Love Notes.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Take the time to write a love note to someone you care about– make it personal.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to get personal! Send a handwritten note to someone you care about. Share your thoughts. Share your feelings. Make it PERSONAL!
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2019 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information.

THE BEAT OF MY HEART

2/2/2019

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
This story happened to me several years ago - but I am re-sharing it in honor of Heart Health Month!

I watched the clock as I walked on the treadmill.
I had intentionally scheduled the stress test appointment for 6 am, planning to drive the hour to my office and attend a 10 am meeting.

Suddenly I found myself laying on a hospital gurney with wires connected to a multitude of spots on my body and surrounded by a cardiology team.
One doctor repeatedly asked me how I felt. I didn't feel bad until one of them said,
     “What your heart just did could be deadly
   and we want to take you upstairs.”

Confused by that comment and glancing at the clock once again I knew I needed to be finished soon or I would miss my meeting.
       “What is upstairs?” I asked.

The explanation came quickly,
     “The rhythm your heart just did can be
     caused by one of two things- you have
     blockages or your electrical firing system
     is not working correctly.”

Another voice jumped in with,
     “The only way we can rule out blockages is
     by doing a heart catheterization and we
     need to do it now!”

I explained that I was an hour from home, I had come to the hospital alone and oh, by the way I had a 10 am meeting to get to.

Once again the two doctors played tag team with their responses, telling me I needed to get my husband there and that there was little chance of them letting me leave the room with this type of deadly rhythm. It was the third time I heard that word deadly that I asked them toplease stop saying it and that I indeed wanted to call my husband.

The group left me alone to make the call. One cardiologist stood guard in the doorway watching me with a look of intense concern. The minute I put the phone down the group returned.

The speed at which I found myself swept upstairs into a private room with two nurses monitoring me swirled my confusion even more.

I laid there watching a different clock tick the minutes away until my husband would arrive. Feverishly clicking away on my phone I sent emails to my staff as I typed meeting cancellations and directions for the day. I sent texts to my children telling them the situation - at least what I knew.

Then, I noticed that both nurses were constantly monitoring me and the machinery I was connected to. They never took their eyes off of me or left the room.
I knew this wasn’t good.

Finally I asked one of them
     “What happened to me?”
She placed one hand on my arm while keeping her eyes on the machine.
     “You experienced VTach - Ventricular
   Tachycardia.  For most people who do
     that we have to bring them back with the
     paddles - if we get them back.
   You are very lucky.”

My phone slid out of my hand.

I vaguely remember the big screen which showed the dye running through my body and the doctor saying,
     “There it goes... that is beautiful...
      not one blockage.”

The rest of the day, the follow up appointments and the new heart monitor, that I learned to wear like an accessory to my daily wardrobe, is a blurred memory.

My new “Electric Guy,” as I call him, is the Cardiologist that keeps me, my heart’s electrical system and my crazy rhythm controlled to avoid the mysterious fainting, bouts of weakness and blood pressure drops like I had experienced over the years.

While researching VTach, I learned a few things about exercise, staying hydrated and avoiding stairs. Then I came across the meaning of heart. Scrolling through the many medical definitions of this magical organ that pumps blood, I stopped on this:

      Heart - noun \ˈhärt\: the central or
   innermost part of something;
   thought of as the place where
     emotions are felt

This is it!
The heart is more than the organ that pushes blood through our bodies. I believe it is the innermost part of us. It is the place where emotions are created, felt and shared.

I believe that heart health goes much deeper than changing your diet, lowering salt intake and counting 10,000 steps per day.
I believe the heart has the power to push not only physical blood, but the lifeblood of love, kindness and joy through our bodies.

The care and health of our heart begins with feeling these emotions in order for the heart to pump them through our bodies and out into our lives. We must learn to respect these emotions, nurture them and grow them into feelings that help our heart function to its highest capacity.

Instead of worrying, I prefer to believe my heart has an eccentric rhythm... maybe not the same as everyone else’s, but it is unique and it is mine.

In addition to the list of heart healthy ideas we have all heard about, I support its emotional health by feeding it love, joy and kindness every chance I get!

I try not to watch the clock anymore and the most important meeting I have is one where I am kind to someone, love someone and through joy feed my innermost self- my heart, the place where emotions are felt.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“The foundation for good heart health begins with expanding kindness, joy and love in the innermost self - our own heart.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to pay attention to the messages your heart sends you; the power it holds in "feeling" the true rhythm of your life.
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2019 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU MADE A NEW FRIEND?

1/27/2019

When I was a child, my friendships were created by walking together to school, sitting next to each other in the cafeteria, and being chosen for the kickball team at recess.

Later in my life, I remember having coffee with my friends as our babies played nearby and I wouldn’t think of going a day without talking to my friend on the phone.

I made friends sitting next to other mom’s as our children played soccer and baseball. I have had coworkers that became close confidants and soul connections.

Now in our fast-paced world do we know what having a close friend is? Do we confuse friendship with acquaintance? Is friendship defined by a blue thumbs up on social media? Do these cartoon thumbs really represent a person that touches our heart or are many of them there for self-acknowledgment – the more the better.
I asked the question- “What is your definition of a Friend?” to a progression of ages.

A 6- year old answered, “They are nice, funny.”

A 9-year-old responded with, “They are nice and they like who you are, not for how you look but for who you are.”

A 12-year-old reacted with, “Best pal, your forever buddy, someone who will be there if times get tough.”

Another 12-year-old replied, “Friendship is a bond that can’t easily be broken. Friends know what you’re going to say/do before you do it. They know what you are feeling.”

A 17-year-old quickly reacted with, “Friends are people that are loyal to each other.”

A 47-year-old answered, “Friends are people who make your problems their problems so you don’t have to go through it alone.”

A 69-year-old said, “Someone I am always there for and they are always there for me.”

An 86-year-old said thoughtfully, “I tend to like people I have always been friends with. If you live to be old and can count your friends on the fingers of one hand- great! If you have more, that’s a bonus!”

An 87-year-old answered – “Somebody that you can rely on to ask personal questions and she won’t tell anyone else and you do things together.”

I would agree with all these definitions.
My definition would be someone that I hold mutual support, encouragement and trust with. Someone I can laugh with and cry with. Someone, the first one, I would call
at 2 AM to tell good news or bad.

Friendship morphs, grows stagnates, and disintegrates during different stages and circumstances in life. There are many reasons for the ebb and flow, closeness or detachment of a friendship.

Location plays a huge role. As a child moving across town changes the dynamic of friendship. For me, growing up in a military family moves across the country plunked me into new schools and new populations. I learned how to make friends on the playground or stand alone.

Divorce will create a situation of dividing property, belongings and yes, friends.

As we age, death and illness become a reality of life. Friends may pass away before us or become physically or mentally unable to participate in a friendship.

I have lived many places and I have had many friendships. Some are lasting like my oldest friend in life – shout out to Kristi. Some have faded due to relocation. Some have been shattered from broken trust. Some have been lost through division of divorce and separation of death.

I wonder if, as our friend circle shrinks, should we be trying to make new friends? Or is my small inner circle of trusted friends enough.
No matter where you are in this cycle of life or what your definition of a friend is my hope for you is that you have at least one.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson
“When you find a friend hold them close to your heart. A true friendship should be valued and honored.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU MADE A NEW FRIEND??

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to note who your friends are. How many do you have? Are they real friends or acquaintances?
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2019 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information.

WHO ORDERS THE PIZZA?

1/19/2019

This is the way the conversation went...

“Who orders the pizza?”
“Well, she calls and orders it.”
“No, I mean who decides what kind of pizza to order?”
“We always have sausage.”
“Does she like sausage?”
“Sure, I guess.”
“But you are not sure.
Maybe she is conceding to you.
Maybe she is resenting it.”

Later he asked me,
“What kind of pizza do you like?”

I had to think about it and it took me a while to answer. I had picked sausage off the pizza for so long I didn’t remember what kind of pizza I really did like.

I don’t think this is an uncommon scenario. Many times it is easier to concede and let another person have what they want.
We do it out of love for them.
We do it out of avoidance- we don’t want to argue.
We do it because it really doesn’t matter that much to us.

On the other side, it is easy not to notice that someone is always giving in to our needs. That their needs may not be being met. That resentment may be building under the facade of agreement.

What is the “pizza” in your life - in your relationships? When we begin paying attention to this kind of give and take.... Or "give and give" situation, it becomes obvious that there are solutions.
Simple solutions.

My husband and I now order two pizzas. One sausage for him. One chicken and pineapple for me. Yes, I LOVE chicken and pineapple on my pizza. Preferably with extra sauce and extra cheese. The solution was so easy.

Now we both get what we want. There is no conceding. There is no resentment. And there are always leftovers for lunch the next day.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson ~
“Pay attention to “give and take” vs “give and give” situations in life. Don’t be afraid to order your own pizza!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
WHO ORDERS THE PIZZA

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to pay attention to when you are involved in a give and give situation. What solutions are there?
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2019 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information.

To My Angel Son

1/13/2019

When I was pregnant, I wrote love letters to my babies. After they were born, I continued this on their birthdays, Christmas or other days that I felt I had something to share with them. Some were ushy, gushy with words of adoration. Some were letters of frustration when I felt like I was failing and flailing in the world of motherhood.
This week is my son, J.T.’s 34th birthday and the 12th year he has celebrated in heaven. Every year I write about him to celebrate his creation. I thought this year I would write a letter “TO” him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My J.T.,

I have written you many letters beginning when you were part of my body. I knew you would be the last soul that would share my human space. I wanted to feel every kick, every roll and every heartbeat. I continued writing to you until you passed from this world.

Today it is time for me to write you one more letter.

Thank you for the sparkle in your eye when you were born that lit my heart and frightened me at the same time. Thank you for choosing me to be your mom for the 22 years that you were given on this earth.

Thank you for the bliss of nursing you in the middle of the night when the silence was magic and the world consisted of only you and me.
Thank you for the joy of watching you dress like a little cowboy and play with imaginary friends, hit home runs and witness your daredevil skateboarding. Thank you for the laughs, the hugs and the experience of you.

Thank you for your patience with me as I stumbled through the journey of motherhood. My attempt was not always pretty, not always right and far from perfect. Thank you for understanding that being a mom is a learning process where I hold pride for the times I was successful and regret for the moments I can’t do over.

I am sorry for any moment of your life that I (or anyone else) didn’t make you feel accepted, loved or cherished. You never deserved to feel anything less than the special gift you were. You were Good Enough! You were more than that… you were extraordinary!

It took years of trying to get you to understand the correct way to live before I realized you were teaching me that there is more than one path to follow in life. You taught me that not everyone needs to follow the societal expectation of going to college, getting married, having 2.5 children, driving a minivan, owning a house and a 401K. I came to realize that if you can buy your own lunch and are happy then who am I to insist on what trail to take?

Thank you for filling my life and my home with music. When J.T. & The Basement Boys played downstairs my house shook with the vibration of joy. And when you sat alone on my patio playing your guitar and singing, my heart melted with the depth of your talent.

Thank you for your daughter. When you told me you were going to be a dad at such a young age, when you weren’t doing a great job of taking care of yourself, I was afraid for you. When you came out of the surgery room carrying that tiny bundle with the same sparkle in her eye that you had she lit my heart and freighted me at the same time. She was nine months old when we said goodbye to you. I held her tightly then and continue to do so now- grateful to have a glorious piece of you. Thank you for teaching me there are no accidents in life. Your beautiful M&M is supposed to be here because you aren’t.

Thank you for the hard lessons in patience, acceptance and forgiveness. Thank you for the wondrous lessons of joy, gratitude and love. All of which you and I must have agreed to accomplish in a space and time prior to being joined in this life. This bound us together so deeply that I felt what was happening (good and bad) in your life before you told me. Our hearts shared thoughts and a mystical silent language.

Thank you for understanding my meditation, my thoughts on the Universe, life, death and everything in between.

Thank you for our last in-person conversation when we sat in IHop eating pancakes and doodling pictures of ourselves on scrap paper. Not drawings of our outward looks but our inner souls. You were so intent when you listened to me explain how we shouldn’t look at how tall or short, how large or thin a person is – that we should look deeper at their spirit and their soul.

You laughed when I drew a star for myself and put sparkles on it because I like stars, diamonds and sparkly lights. We watched the people come in and out of the restaurant and described their souls.

The conversation was about life, God, and love. It was deep. It was strong. It was powerful. You were introspective in a way I had never felt before.
You knew. You knew you were leaving.

Thank you for the dreams, the manipulation of music, electronics and license plates that you use to send me delightful messages from the magical space you are in now. At times I feel you brush by me and stop to give me one of your unmistakable glorious hugs that only you could share – and I thank you for that.

I believe souls are joined to help us understand the value of love. My love didn’t stop on the day you left. My love has grown every day from the first moment I knew you were part of my body and continues to grow with every breath I take. The golden cord that I believe connects a mother to her infant is not severed at birth. Nor is it disconnected at death. The thread that connects my heart to yours holds strong.

The tattoo that says, “Love, J.T.” in your writing that I carry over my heart reminds me of what I always told you – we are joined at the heart.
Always have been.
Always will be.

I Love you so,
Mom

Jameson Tanner (J.T.) 1985-2007 (Photo taken 2007)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
"Write love letters to those you care about."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to write a letter to someone you love - whether they are alive or not.
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2019 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post.  Please keep the entire message intact, including  contact, logo, and copyright information.

MY LETTER OF CONFESSION

1/5/2019

Dear Special Friend,

I have struggled with the concept of being Good Enough my entire life. I have written about it and it is one of my main speaking topics. I order my Good Enough cards by the case and have given hundreds away.

Yesterday was one of those days that I felt FAR FAR from Good Enough!
It began by me trying to sew on my sewing machine. I hadn’t used it in several months and I immediately plugged it up with thread. I had to take it to the sewing center to have it fixed and receive a lesson on how to use it.

Then I looked in the pool room and a plant had fallen over and there was dirt everywhere! So, I think well, while I clean that up, I will multitask and put bleach in and add water to the pool. I put the hose in the pool and turn the water on too fast. The hose quickly reared up like a cobra snake flopping around striking at me and soaking me while flooding the room. Now I had 2 messes to clean up. And a load of towels to wash when I was done. Also, during the chaos of chasing the hose monster, bleach splattered all over me ruining the new top that I was wearing.

Later, things settled down and I was telling my husband about my crazy day.
Then, I almost killed us!
I had the Instant Pot on the ceramic stove top warming up the leftover roast I made the day before. I had turned a burner on to make gravy. We were sitting at the table eating salad, when I began smelling something. Thinking the gravy had boiled over I jump up to see smoke bellowing out of the Instant Pot. I had turned the wrong burner on- the one UNDER the Instant Pot! It totally melted the bottom off the Instant Pot. I unplugged it, grabbed it and ran to the garage.

It could have blown up as the entire bottom was melted off and all the electrical insides were exposed. Melted plastic covered our stove top and I thought it was damaged beyond repair. Our entire house filled with smoke - probably toxic from melted plastic- so now I am sure we all have cancer. Every window in the house was open and all fans were on for hours. Our dogs hid in our bedroom far away from the craziness.

I wrapped the Instant Pot in a green yard bag and plunged it to the bottom of the garbage can while my husband worked for an hour on the stove top. He scrubbed and scraped until he had removed all the melted plastic and polished it like new again - he is a miracle cleaner!

We ate a bowl of cereal and I went to bed with a blazing headache.
~ ~ ~
Today is a new day.
Although, I am still beating myself up for being stupid, not thinking, doing dumb things.... yes, self-talk is devastating!
As with most of my life experiences this has turned into a shareable moment in the form of this writing for all to see. I realize how lucky I am and that many people would love my life even on one of my worst days, but yesterday I felt like a loser and far from even close to feeling Good Enough.
I want you to know that no one has a perfect life. Stress, frustration and accidents happen to everyone.
Even I have days that I am challenged to still Love My Life- NO MATTER WHAT!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson: “We all have times of stress, frustration and feelings of not being Good Enough. – Love yourself and your life anyway!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to admit that my life is not perfect. I am not perfect. I am just like you! I have days where I am challenged to love my life!
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2019 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information.

THE GRATITUDE JAR

12/29/2018

THE
GRATITUDE JAR
In January I came across an idea of documenting a year’s worth of gratitude. I found a jar- actually it was a flower vase that I perched smack in the center of my fireplace shelf with a sign that read, “Be Grateful.” I purchased a notepad and every Sunday night I wrote down what I was grateful for that week.

My goal was to fill the jar and read them at the end of the year to remind myself of how gratitude filled my life.

Sometimes it was simple things and sometimes splashy memorable experiences. I wrote notes of gratitude about lessons I learned. I wrote notes of gratitude about things I shared and taught to others. I wrote notes of gratitude about people, places and things I love.

A year goes quickly. As the weeks and months went by my jar filled higher and higher with gratitude in the shape of folded paper. The end of December has arrived and as I dump the jar out to read each grateful memory I relive the tasty morsels of my year.

Reading through my jar of gratitude I realize all my notes revolve around the three reasons I believe we are here in this life….to learn, to teach and to love. I rarely wrote notes about material things. It was learning, teaching and loving that I was the most grateful for.

As I look to the bright and shiny new year ahead of me, I do want to exercise, eat better and improve my health. I also will hold a special ‘word’ for the year as my theme for the next 12 months, which I have done for many years.

What I won’t do is set myself up for broken resolutions that revolve around things, money, or unreasonable expectations. My plan for the year ahead is simple… to learn more, to teach more and to love more. With this plan I know my life will be full, my heart will be bursting and my gratitude jar will once again overflow.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Learn more, teach more and love more. That is why we are here.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

PENNIE HEART TO HEART
THE GRATITUDE JAR

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about how you can track your gratitude in the coming year. It is worth the effort!
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below. And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2018 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information.

PEPPERMINT SLIME AND MARSHMALLOW SNOWMEN

12/16/2018

PEPPERMINT SLIME AND MARSHMALLOW SNOWMEN

Every year I make name card holders for the grandchildren’s Christmas table. It makes dinner special as they find their assigned seat and what is holding their name.

This year I had a grand idea of using snowman ball ornaments on top of three candy canes and the loop of the candy cane would hold the name card. My grandson, Riley, is sooo excited about the holiday decorations, so I asked him if he would like to help me make them.

After a visit to Hobby Lobby in search of small candy canes, scouring the lights and decorations and a stop for lunch we went home to create!

We found the photo on my IPad of a similar idea and started unwrapping candy canes.
I thought it would be awesome.
Riley was skeptical.

It didn’t take long to realize that Elmer’s glue on candy canes creates something like peppermint slime. Who knew candy canes and glue don’t mix
My mind quickly began thinking of what I had in the house to improvise and save this disaster!
What will look like a snowman?
What will not melt with glue?
What will make me look a little less loser–like in the eyes of my grandson?

Well, when all else fails bring out marshmallows!
Big GIANT marshmallows!
I thought it would be awesome!
Riley, who by now had eaten enough candy canes to have rosy cheeks and watery eyes from a little too much peppermint, was still skeptical.

By the end of the afternoon we had used toothpicks and glue to attach the bodies, stood them on a base of red and green felt, gave them ribbon scarves and buttons. It wasn’t until I broke a toothpick in half and pushed arms in the first little puffy man that I saw Riley smile.
“Now, that is CUTE!” he said.
Wahoooo! We had snowmen!

Once again I had received a lesson in acceptance. My idea of the perfect card holder failed. It took a little flexibility to improvise a new concept.
They aren’t perfect.
But by the time Christmas dinner is ready the marshmallows will be hard as stone, standing strong with the name tags sitting in front of their fat bellies while my grandchildren laugh and compare who has the funniest snowman.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson- Holidays don’t have to be perfect. Flexibility in the process may turn out to be the best part of all.
  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to release the expectation of perfection during this holiday time.
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below . And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2018 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information.

I HELD JOY IN MY HAND

12/9/2018

***In preparation for the new year ahead, I thought I would remind you to be thinking of your "One Word" for 2019. Here is a revisit to the word I picked in the past. I will let you know what my "One Word" for 2019 is the first week in January.

  I HELD JOY
IN MY HAND

I purchased holiday door hangers that said, “JOY” for my friends and delivered them with notes that held my wish for them to have Joy in their lives for the New Year.

I found a special ornament that said “JOY”during a shopping adventure, brought it home and hung it in a prominent place on my tree.

I even read the popular book that taught me how to declutter my closet by keeping only things that bring me “JOY.”

Every year I choose a word. A word that will guide my life for the next 12 months.
This is different than a resolution.
It doesn’t cause me guilt or shame when I give up the diet I promised myself I would maintain or the exercise program that typically lasts a month.

This is a word I try to live by for a year.
I begin thinking about it around November. Some years I struggle to find the perfect word.
Last year it came to me during a meditation.
This year it slapped me right in the face. Over and Over and Over again.

It took me a while to catch on.
Why did I decide to read the book in November that caused me to begin really thinking about what does bring me JOY?

Out of all the thousands of ornaments for sale in the stores, why was I drawn to the one small JOY ornament to bring home for my tree?

Why did I choose the JOY door hangers for my friends?

While shopping a few after-Christmas sales it flashed before me like a beacon guiding me to open my eyes. Everywhere I turned in the mountains of left over holiday items covered with words, sentiments and greetings - JOY jumped at me.

One piece pulled me closer with intentional force. I reached through the crowed isle to pluck the simple glittery word from the shelf.
I stood in the middle of the store holdingJOY in my hand.
At that moment the golden statement sunk into my heart.

THE WORD IS JOY!

JOY had been trying to reach into my life in small and quiet ways. It had been whispering to me,
  “Wish ME to your friends,
     bring ME into your home,
     allow ME to fill your heart!”

The in-my-face synchronicity was not to be ignored.
THE WORD IS JOY!
  MY WORD IS JOY!

I brought the golden JOY home and hung it in my office as a reminder to live the New Year in JOY.
To only bring things into my life that bring me JOY.
To seek experiences that bring me JOY.
To share JOY with others in every way and every day.
To be mindful enough to learn what really does bring me JOY and love myself enough to settle for nothing less than a JOYOUS life and a JOY-filled year!

Feeling very satisfied with my decision, I moved on to my daily routine of opening the mail. The last envelope was a holiday card that had most likely been delayed in delivery.
I reached in the red envelope.
The silver glitter covered card reflected the sun magnifying the message into a blinding validation.
The card had one simple word on it- JOY!
Of course it did….
THE WORD IS JOY!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Love yourself enough to know what brings you JOY and welcome it into your life!”

     ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to experience JOY in the new year and share it with others. What is your word for the new year?
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below . And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2018 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information.

THE SLED

12/2/2018

It held my children, grandchildren, cousins, neighbors and dogs. It has been a rocket sliding down a hill, a snow wagon and a photo prop.
It caused laughter, delight and joy. It caused fights, bruises and tears.

I am not even sure if I remember the day it arrived in our home. Most likely it was delivered in a sleigh by a man in a red suit. I do know the sled has been around for decades.

I ran across it in my garage propped in a corner. The runners once bright and shiny red looked rusty. The wood worn, the original twine colored rope long ago replaced by a red version.

With the outside temperature too cold to turn on the garden hose, I did the next best thing – I brought it in the house.
I gave it a shower.
Leaning it against the tile I took the shower sprayer down and began cleaning off the years of neglect.

As the cobwebs ran down the drain I saw my children – dressed in snowsuits, hats, mittens and boots. Hardly able to move due to the layers of protection. The only skin showing was their faces with the glow of their cold blushed cheeks.

The water poured brown and dirty as years of memories flashed through.

The year it was taken to the lake while the men ice fished and the kids would take turns having sled rides across the frozen water.

The hill that seemed Alpine-big and served as the daredevil challenge for those days when the sled was ridden until little fingers were frozen and the draw of a warm bath and hot chocolate waiting at home became strong enough to end the fun.

The year my brother’s St. Bernard pulled the sled filled with squealing kids across Grandma’s yard.

Drying the sled off, I rubbed the runners to polish every inch while memories continued to reach every corner of my heart.

The way I felt as I watched my three most important loves, hearing their squeals of delight as I held my breath hoping they would reach the edge of the snow safely.

The way I ran to them when an unseen rock would derail their speed causing a tumble, a spill and tears.
The arguments over who would get the next turn.

Tying greenery and a plaid bow around the wooden slats, I remembered…
The day my daughter perched her babies on it to snap the perfect holiday card photo.

The Sled.
Now instead of the dirty corner of the garage, it stands in a place of honor next to my antique sewing machine surround by twinkling lights.
The red and green bow a crown of appreciation for work well done.

I walk by it and see those chubby snow kissed faces.
I hear the squeals of joy.
I think of how my children are grown and their children are taller than me.
I wonder how time has slid by so quickly --
year by year,
snow by melting snow,
and one quick ride down the hill at a time.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Pay attention to the little things in life
– they slip and slide by quickly.”

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about the special memories in your life...what object spurs them?
Share your thoughts and experiences relating to this post in a comment below . And please feel free to email me at:
PennieHunt@gmail.com.
Thank you!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2013-2018 Pennie Hunt
This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post. Please keep the entire message intact, including contact, logo, and copyright information.

PLEASE NOTE: This page does not provide medical or legal advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment or services to you or to any other individual. Through this site and links to other sites, Pennie Hunt provides general information for inspiration, encouragement and educational purposes only. The information provided in this site, or through links to other sites, is not a substitute for legal, medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit, call or the advice of your lawyer, physician or other healthcare provider.

Copyright © 2012- 2019 Pennie Hunt - All Rights Reserved
Photographs by Pennie Hunt and Materpiecebysarah.com