The Corner of Spirit & Brave - Pennie Hunt

LET THEM DANCE

7/6/2019

She is a four year old, blonde, blue eyed student of life.

The evening sunset was long gone and dinner had settled in our bellies. Just as most of us sat down to relax, she jumped in the middle of the room to demonstrate the dance moves she was learning in ballet class. She kicked off her worn pink western boots and transformed from a chatty whirlwind of activity into a seriously composed tiny dancer.

Her voice whispered,
“Tap, point, tap, point,”
as she awkwardly rotated through her toe points and pirouettes.

After several methodical demonstrations of her talent, the group began clapping. Her irritation was obvious when she loudly stated,
“No! I am still doing it!”

The clapping hushed immediately as the understanding was clear -- she was not done yet!

How often in life do we interrupt someone else’s dance?
We are so rushed, busy and preoccupied that we don’t notice their dance or take the time to let the moment unfold.

When we see a fellow soul loving life, enjoying the moment and singing their heart song, we should hold the space of delight with them. We should let it last for them (and for ourselves) as long as it can. We should stretch it into as much absolute pleasure as possible.

She may be a four year old learning her way, but for that space in time she was a teacher of life. The lesson was clear; the meaning was firm. We need to recognize another’s dance, whatever form it takes and celebrate it as much as we do our own. Allow it to last until the music of their heart stops and the dance is complete.
Don’t interrupt. Let them dance.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Every soul has a dance to dance.
Celebrate everyone’s heart dance.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
LET THE DANCE!

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to applaud everyone's dance. Let them dance for as long as they want. Be in the moment of JOY with them!
Let them dance!
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.

USE YOUR WORDS!

6/29/2019

USE YOUR WORDS!

The toddler was obviously distraught as he cried and thrashed his arms.
His mom, calmly said,
      “I don’t know what is wrong.
      Tell me what is wrong.
   Use your words.”

This scene echoed in my mind. It wasn’t the frustration of a two year old that impacted me. It was the wisdom of the mom to encourage him by saying,
     “Use your words.”

How often do we need to be told to – Use Your Words?

How often do we allow anger, fear, impatience, disappointment to bring us to the point of tears and outbursts? We don’t express what is at the core of the problem. We don’t share our experience out loud with others allowing our vulnerability to be shared.
  Use your words!

How often do we see others in the adult version of the toddler’s meltdown and push them away without encouraging them to share their feelings?

Use your words!
How often do we see something we agree with or enjoy on social media and find it easy just to click an automated button that expresses “like” for us without taking the time to write how much we loved it and how it touched our heart—and why?

Use your words!
How often do we pass strangers in our day’s journey without acknowledging their space in the world… not a “Hi,” “Hello,” or “Have a wonderful day?”

Use your words!
How often do we pass the opportunity without telling the ones closest to us that we love and appreciate them and just assume they must know?

Use your words!
From the moment a baby is born we begin talking to them and telling them we love them. When they are able to say their first word we are filled with pride and joy. We are given voices to interact on the most human level with others.

Use your words to acknowledge others. Don’t look at the ground as you walk. Look at the faces of those walking with you. Use your words to express kindness.

Use your words to express where your fear and hurt is coming from. Don’t lash out with a violent thrashing temper when you are frustrated or angry.

Use your words to tell people how you feel. If you love them, say it!
Don’t assume others know how you feel. Don’t sit behind a screen tapping an automated “LIKE” button allowing a machine to express your thoughts. Take the time to use your words!

Say them, speak them and write them down.
Use Your WORDS!
  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Don’t allow anger to explode or fear to silence you. Use your words to express your feelings!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
USE YOUR WORDS

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to communicate your feelings. Allowing them to fester inside will only cause an explosion at some point.
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.

WASH YOUR HANDS OF IT!

6/21/2019

How often do you wash your hands?
Most people wash their hands after gardening, before cooking, after using the restroom, and after shaking hands with someone who has a cold.
We’ve been trained to use soap and water, and create friction by rubbing our hands together for as long as it takes to hum the happy birthday song in order to remove all of life’s nasty germs.
I would like to share with you one of my nontraditional reason to wash your hands.

How often to do come home from work completely stressed?
Have you ever returned from grocery shopping or running errands feeling exhausted?
Do you drive to work mentally overloaded with family issues and home responsibilities?

This all happens because we absorb negative energy. For me, I feel the energy of other’s so deeply that it bogs me down to the point of feeling overwhelmed and at times physically ill.
So, I have created a ritual to address this issue. You have heard the phrase, ‘wash your hands of it.’ Do this literally and intentionally. Stand over the sink, use soap and water, create friction by rubbing our hands together, and visualize washing off all of the stress, exhaustion, responsibilities and negative energy you have absorbed. Choose your own theme or fight song to hum or sing if that helps. Create your own ritual.

When you come home stressed from work create a habit of washing your hands. Add this to your routine of changing from your work clothes to your comfy home clothes. James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, calls this habit stacking. His idea is that by adding a new task to something you already do it is easier for it to become a habit. What ever your after work routine is add washing your hands to it. Wash your hands of it! Clean your hands and your mind of your work responsibilities before you engage with your family, friends and home life.

After grocery shopping or being in large groups, if you feel exhausted from picking up all the negative energy from other people --Wash your hands of it! While you are humming your personal fight song, visualize all that dirty negative energy going down the drain.
When you arrive to work in the morning, if your mental backpack is overflowing with family issues and home responsibilities -- Wash your hands of it! Suds up those hands and intentionally allow the soap to cleanse and temporarily distance yourself from all of it, before you sit down to your desk or workstation.
There are so many times and situations you can use this technique to wash away negative energy. You may be surprised how such a simple ritual can clear your mind and energize your body. Remember – Wash your hands of it!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Wash your hands of it!
Visualize stress, fear, anger, and
hurt going down the drain!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to take control of the negative energy you pick up. You can 'wash your hands of it!'
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 Charlie Hunt 3 Strike Rule

6/15/2019

My Dad had a rule of giving businesses and people three chances.

He felt that anyone can have a day when things just don’t go right and shouldn’t be judged on one interaction or experience. So he would allow three times to get it right.

He wouldn’t discount a restaurant if he had a bad meal the first time he visited, or complain if a sales clerk didn’t treat him kindly, or judge a person by on misguided choice.

He would give them a second chance.

And a third.

But, if on the third chance they were still inadequate or unkind he would feel confident that he gave them enough of his time to show their potential before he decided they would not be a part of his life.

My Dad passed away in 2005. Now when I have an unpleasant experience I try to remember the Charlie Hunt 3 Strikes Rule before I immediately form an opinion.

The second or third pitch just might be a home run!

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
"Don't judge on the first experience
or the second
- the third pitch just might be a home run."

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to   remember that everyone can have a bad day, an off moment, a slip in judgment. What if you gave them three changes, before you judged 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 © 2013-2019 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.

REMEMBER TO REMEMBER

6/7/2019

Why do we hold certain space markers in time so close to our hearts?

The stars on the calendar that designate special days and moments are there to encourage us to remember to remember.

My husband and I just celebrated our wedding anniversary. As the day approached we planned a celebration dinner. Throughout the anticipation and planning of the celebration we talked about what we were doing in this space of time years ago as we designed our wedding.

We talked about how he proposed, the preparation and the ceremony.

But more importantly I was reminded of the feelings of that space in time.

I could FEEL the excitement again. I could sense the bouquet in my hands and the smell of the lilies. I once again was holding my son's arm as he walked me through the grass to ceremony site. I could hear the ocean as the waves crashed to the rocks just steps from our vows. I could feel the commitment as my husband stated, in front of our family, why he loved me. I could see the joy in the faces of the ones who joined us as we cheered with champagne, ate and danced.

I once again felt gratitude for the joining of us.

It was more than just saying "Happy Anniversary."

The most important part of this exercise is this— We are here to have joy.

By remembering not just with your mind, but through re-feeling the joy and bringing it out of the memory space and into your emotions here and now the joy will flow through you again. The more joy you can remember, the more joy you will live in, and the more joy you will make.

How can you use this daily? Remember that every moment is a future memory. Fill every day with joy worthy of a star on the calendar.

The next time one of your special days marked with a star come up on your calendar Remember to Remember - not just the day, but also the feelings, the sights, the sounds and the smells.
Re-feel the experience.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson- "Remember to Remember not just a memory,
but to re-feel the joy the memories hold."
   ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
REMEMBER TO REMEMBER

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to remember those special days in life - not just the date, but the way it FELT!
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.

WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE YOUR SUCCESS TO?

6/2/2019

Recently, I heard a question that made me ponder:

“What do you
attribute your place in life, your success, to?”

Of course I thought of defining moments in my life, graduations, marriage, and the birth of my children.
But this was asked in a deeper sense than that. It is one of those questions that should be given careful thought.

For me the answer came swiftly.

I was raised in a military family. When the word “ORDERS” was mentioned around my house it meant we would be moving. I remember waiting for my Dad to come home from work and running to see if he was carrying the yellow envelope; the one that held the name of the location of our next home.

He would walk in, cocooned in his military green uniform and black shiny boots, whistling and smiling as if he held the secret to the universe in his hand.

Once the location was revealed my small bare feet would jump on his shiny boots. He would dance me around the kitchen while the family chattered about dates and logistics of the move.

My Mom, a tiny powerhouse of a woman, was a working mom at a time when most moms weren’t. With every new set of orders she orchestrated movers, house sales, school transfers, 3 unhappy children and travel. She was tough, strong and not afraid to stand up for what she believed in.

For me, dancing with my Dad was the only fun part. Orders meant leaving friends and starting over. I thought for sure that this was child abuse. I remember cleaning out my desk at school; walking to the school office with my Mom to fill out separation paperwork; and saying goodbye to teachers and classmates.

I can still breathe the smell of the manila paper and packing boxes the movers used to wrap our belongs before loading them into the moving van.

I can still feel the place in my stomach where fear boiled as I walked into a new school, met new teachers and filled a new desk.
Yes, I was certain this was child abuse.

It taught me a valuable lesson--- make friends on the playground or stand alone.

I attribute the place I hold in life and any success I have to this lesson.

I may not have a best friend who has held my hand from preschool to midlife. I may not have a house to visit where I was raised with a wall chalked with my height measurements as I grew.

But, I learned that some lessons come wrapped in pain and discomfort.
I learned how to accept change with a whistle and a smile.
I learned how to be tough, strong and not afraid to stand up for what I believe in.
I learned how to talk and communicate.
I learned how to tell my story.
I learned that relationships are important.
I learned friend building.

Now here is the question for you to ponder:

“What do YOU attribute your place in life, your success, to?”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
"Make friends on the playground
or stand alone."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to remember those moments in life where you learned a defining lesson...one that added to your success in life. Is there someone you need to thank for that lesson?
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.

IT’S ONLY OATMEAL

5/22/2019

I remember the clock.
It looked like oak.
It wasn’t.
It was supposed to be a reminder of the time. Time to get up, time to eat, time to watch a favorite tv show, or time to go to bed.

But for my Dad, it was a count down.
A countdown of every hour, minute, and second that he continued to live. He would sit in his lazy boy starring at the clock as it ticked away what life he had remaining.

When you are dying and know you are dying big things seem small and small things seem big. He was grateful for a clean sheet on his chair and the way he felt after a shower - a small thing. But the process of standing, shuffling to the bathroom, and maneuvering his oxygen tube around him as he sat on the shower stool seemed big.

One day we were waiting for the doctor to arrive. A car ride to the doctor’s office had become more than he could handle. For the doctor to stop on his way home to check on him was a small effort, but big for my dad. The clock ticked.
My dad watched the clock.
I watched my dad.
My mom watched me.

The doctor opened the door and brought the fresh air of the outside in with him disrupting the stuffy stagnant smell that stillness, fear, and illness creates. He also brought a smile, compassion, and hope.
After listening to my dad’s lungs and heart, checking blood pressure, and asking the routine questions, my dad said he had something he was worried about.

With weak shaking hands my dad reached to unbutton his pajama top. The doctor helped him. Pointing to his chest my dad located a crusty scabby looking circle. Between the sound of the tube sucking oxygen, my dad explained that he didn’t know what the sore was, and it had just appeared quickly. He was concerned.

The doctor reached for the nearby reading light pulling it over my dad’s chest. My mom stood on one side of my dad’s chair and I stood next to the doctor. All three of us leaned in to scrutinize the mysterious growth.
What was it?
A new complication brought on by this disease?
Something more dangerous?
We all held our breath.

The doctor hmmmm’d and said,
“This is interesting.
It looks like.... it looks like.....”

Then the doctor put his thumb and middle finger together and flicked the mysterious mass as if it was a bug. It flew across my dad’s chest.
“It looks like oatmeal.” The doctor said.

For the first time in many weeks, laughter erupted.
My mom clapped her hands together. I wiped tears away as I held my stomach to stop the ache that comes from deep belly laughs. The doctor let his laughter roar and the oxygen machine was spastically trying to keep up with the strain of my dad’s sudden need for more as he struggled to laugh.

It was just oatmeal.
A small innocent dribble of oatmeal from my dad’s breakfast that had crusted to form a mysterious mass- a big mysterious mass.

Sometimes big things seem small and small things seem big and it may just be oatmeal.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“During the most intense, trying times of life big things seem small and small things seem big.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
I shared this with you to encourage you to think about how you see events in your life. Are they big or small? Important or simple?
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.

THREE WORDS

5/11/2019

Can you describe yourself in three words?
How do you see yourself?
How do you believe others see you?

When I was asked these questions I thought of words like Mom, Grandmother, wife, speaker, writer, but I wanted better words.
wanted words with more grandeur.
I wanted words that carried with them not just a superficial description of looks or my job(s) in life, but a feeling, a purpose and a mission.

After weeks of rolling this idea through every wrinkle of my mind and struggling to create a short list of three, I decided I wasn't the most reliable person to ask.

I wanted to know how I was doing and if others would give me a passing grade or if I needed to study harder and practice more in order to be described in the way I hoped.

So, I sent out this email:

Hello,
I am working on a project and wonder if you would take a second to help me out. It is easy - all I need you to do is send me a few adjectives that you'd think of to honestly describe me. You can send me three or twenty or as many you wish to share, but make it easy for you. No, this isn't one of the silly email "forwards" -- I really am working on a project.
Thank you so much in advance for doing this!
Pennie

This is not an exercise for the faint of spirit. As I hit the send button, bubbles over my head began filling with words I wouldn't like.
What if the responses were negative?
What if they were less than flattering?
What if no one responded; what would that mean?

But there it was, heading through the mysteries of the Internet and landing smack in the middle of 100 computer screens!

I sent it to close friends and to acquaintances.
I sent it to family members.
I sent it to people who see me daily and ones who hadn't seen me in 10 years.
I sent it to those who I was confident would say glowing things and I sent it to those who I feared might not.
From young adolescent friends of my son to legislators, they held my life image at their computer keyboards.

I waited.

The first response came in minutes, others came weeks later. They came in clusters of pings to my computer and in single messages late in the night. They came in short emails with just three words. They came in lists of adjectives depicting my impression on them with long elaborations of why they chose the words they did.

The fear of what would be given me as the mirror of myself became a life opening experience.

I was humbled by the response as an ultimate washing of appreciation and love came through in the words given to me. Some made me laugh.
Some made me cry.
Some made me cry more.
Only three people asked me why I wanted to know. It didn’t seem to matter.
They just responded.

I created a spread sheet to track the words. Repeated words were given a tally mark.
The spreadsheet grew with a list of 197 words.

Very quickly 13 words began creating a pattern of repetition.   The top three winners were
     Caring, Thoughtful, and Kind.
These were followed closely with   Compassionate, Honest, and Loving.

What a lesson I had learned!
These are simple words, but I realize these are my words of grandeur; my words of feeling, purpose and mission.
These are my words to live by.

Now, I have a standard to uphold.
This is how others see me and I don’t want to let them down.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
When you create a standard of compassion, kindness and love to live your life by- you will receive compassion, kindness and love from others.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
I shared this with you to encourage you to think about how you see yourself AND how others see you. Is it the vision you want?
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.

OH, FERN!

5/10/2019

In honor of Mother's Day, I am sharing this "Pennies From The Past" about my Mom.
I wrote this in 2013 when The Fernster was 82.
And now, at almost 88, my amazement, respect and love for my Mom grows with each year.
Happy Mother's Day to The Fernster!

Pennie and The Fernster May 2019.

I can still hear my Dad say, “Oh, Fern,”
as she began one of her stories.

He called her Fernie Annie.
Her nickname is The Fernster.
Elsie Fern Tutewiler Hunt – yes, that is her name. To me she is Mom and yet, she is more than any of those names.

Growing up I remember her as the family organizer, the child wrangler, the disciplinarian, and the choreographer of our life.

She was a working Mom when most were home watching soap operas and creating meals from the Betty Crocker Cook Book. She worked hard and expected the same from others.

Thinking about the Fernster, I began to wonder who she was before me, before the years of motherhood and responsibility wrapped around her.

I looked at some pictures of her in younger days. I saw the impish smile of a child and imagined her laugh. I saw the hair of a young woman flow around her physical presence – self-assured, happy and carefree.

I realized that stepping back from the Mom I've always loved I could look deeper to see a whole person. Years before her title of Mom, there was a woman filled with spirit, determination and dreams, eager to experience this world.

The Fernster is almost 82 now and slowing down a bit. Her eyesight a little less focused, her hearing and memory a little muffled, yet her spirit and spunk remain intact.

Now I see the whole person wrapped with memories of a life lived, people loved and experiences had. And yet, the spark of that young woman still burns with spirit, determination and enthusiasm for life ahead.

The Fernster.
Fernie Annie.
Elsie Fern Tutewiler Hunt.
Yes, to me she is Mom and yet, she is more than any of those names. I value her not only as Mom, but as a whole person she is.
I love her so -- the person she was before me and the person she is today with me.

Oh Fern, keep telling those stories.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
   “Step back to see the ones you
love  as a whole person!”
    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to help you see all the people in your life as much more than who they are now to you... look at all of their titles, their life experiences, their hopes and dreams. See them as the 'whole' person they are!
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.

SECRETS YOUR MOM NEVER TELLS YOU --ABOUT BEING A MOM

5/4/2019

At 19 I jumped in the front seat of the craziest, scariest most exhilarating roller coaster ride of my life. BAM! I Became AMom!

I was mature, smart and ready to take on the world. (Weren’t we all at 19?) Little did I know that being a mom would be the most rewarding, life changing, ride I would ever jump into.
And jump I did, not once but four times.

Everyone watched me do it.
And no one warned me about what was ahead – the ups, the downs, the jerks, the curves and the whiplashing shocks.
My own mother didn’t even hold up the“CAUTION PROCEED WITH CARE”sign!
She never told me the BAM of Being A Mom was a life jolt. She never told me the secrets.

She never told me that being a mom opens your heart to a love that you could never imagine. The birthing and cutting of a physical umbilical cord that attaches you human-to-human in no way cuts the invisible golden cords that attach you heart-to-heart. Their body may birth to the world an independent being, but a piece of this new soul is forever kept inside and connected toyou.

She never told me that being a mom makes you vulnerable in a way you have NEVER been before. You open yourself to being dropped to your knees by your child’s tears, broken hearts and disappointments.
Their pain is your pain.

She never told me that being a mom means you will never sleep again. Well, never the same way you slept prior to the BAM. You may be prepared for the first months of sleep deprivation caused by night diaper changes and bottles that will soon pass.
What you aren’t ready for is the rest of your life sleeping with one ear half open to hear their cries from a nightmare, moans from a fever and footsteps as your teenager sneaks in the house passed curfew.
What you don’t know is long after they have grown and moved out of your home you will sleep with a part of your heart open hoping they are safe, happy and loved.
You will never sleep fully again.

She never told me that being a mom is a 24 hour, 7 day a week, forever occupation.
No vacation days,
no sick leave and
no quitting!
Once you accept the position you are locked in heart, mind and soul – FOR LIFE!
**She never even whispered that it is a job you will love with all of your heart – and some days you won’t. On those days, you will peak at their sleeping faces and then wrap yourself in a cocoon of guilt and shame for allowing yourself to hate the job you love.

She never told me that being a mom brings you trophy words like Pride, Joy and Happiness that you can hang on your wall in an expression of motherhood.
It also brings you words like Anger, Hurt and Exhaustion that, in an attempt to hide your fear of inadequacy, you swallow and tuck in your belly hiding them so no one sees.

She never told me that being a mom makes you strong enough to endure the unthinkable.
You take on the risk of being told the baby you carry no longer has a heartbeat and you must be strong enough to walk out of the hospital carrying an empty blanket.
You take on the risk of birthing, nurturing and loving your child for years and then receiving the phone call that they are gone. In both cases holding tightly to the golden cords that now reach to your angel child.

She never told me that being a mom makes you understand that you will be joyous when your daughter is grown and has children of her own. You will watch through tears and laughter as she learns for herself, the unspoken secrets of being a mom.

Looking back I would tell that naïve, 19 year old girl, who thought she knew it all,
to jump.
Jump with all the love, anticipation and joy she has because through all the ups and downs being a mom is the most amazing ride she will ever be on.
And through it all she will learn the unspoken code of never saying out loud the secret lessons of Being A Mom.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Mom’s are the gentle holders of our hearts. Hold theirs in return.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to understand the ultimate love that goes in to being a MOM! Love yours today!!!
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 OTHER SIDE OF THE TABLE

4/28/2019

Years ago I heard a story about an executive who was called into the human resources department and invited to find success elsewhere.

The executive commented,

    “I have been on your side of the table and fired many people in my career. What I
     have learned is that there are two sides to
the table…. Today it is my turn to be on
     the other side.”

There are many tables in life.
We often forget there are two sides to each table. During our happiest experiences do we realize that at the exact same time it could be one of those moments of desperation for someone else?

A young couple I know brought a baby girl into the world a year ago. They were ecstatic to add the curly headed beauty to their family.
They were on the right side of the table.

Unfortunately, their sweet baby lived less than a month and they were forced to the other side of the table in the most devastating way.

Happily, this week my young friends rejoiced at the birth of a baby girl who shares the same curly black hair as her sister before her.
I join their friends and family surrounding them with love and well wishes.

At the same time a longtime friend of mine passed away due to cancer.
I join her friends and family clinging to the circle of support and love which surrounds them.

I received emails and phone calls from one family sharing joyous news, while at the same time I received the most devastating messages of grief and sadness from the other.

The table stood large before me as I saw the experiences of both sides.

Pain and grief on one side.
Joy and gratitude on the other.

How often do we forget that while we sit on one side of the table that there is always someone on the other side?

My young friends today hold their new daughter marveling at her perfection while the soreness of missing their first daughter lives in their hearts.
They know what it’s like to be on both sides of the table.

The ebb and flow, the natural order, the balance of good verses bad is part of our daily lives.
It takes the ebb to feel the flow.
It takes the bad to know the good.
It takes a backdrop of the darkness of night to see the sunrise in the morning.

Be sensitive.
Be grateful.
Be aware.

We never know when it will be our turn to sit at the other side of the table.

Pennie’s Life Lesson ~
“There's always two sides to the table. Be grateful when you sit on the sunny side and strong when you find yourself on the shadowed side.”

*************
Special thanks to Ms. Amara Beatrix Mitchell for allowing me to use her beauty shot in this post!
   *************

YOUR TURN...
I shared this with you to encourage you look at both sides of events in life- we will all be on both sides.
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.

BUSY

4/21/2019

“How are you?” –
“Oh, I’m so BUSY!”

“Hello there, how ya
     doin?” –
“I am swamped, I’m too BUSY!”

“What are you up too, want to …..
"No, no, no, I can’t I have too much going on- I’m too BUSY!”

“I’m busy” has become our response to any greeting.

Busy has become our natural state.
Busy has become a thing- a noun – like a dark shadow that circles our lives.

Do you see what we are doing to ourselves? When did we begin equating being busy with success?
Maybe it began as an attempt to seem important by verbally listing the engagements, meetings and commitments we have on our to-do-list…and ending with a sigh. Always a sigh.

At some point we began believing our own self talk. After all, our mind and brain will believe our own voice more than any other voice. And we were very convincing.

We began to believe that we had to have a list to keep up with everyone else. We had to be busy!

We began to believe that the level of busy-ness was the measure of our own self-worth. So the list became longer. We foolishly became filled with distracting details of our activities. The exchanged expression of ALL we have to do became expected. And exhausting.

But, we didn’t stop there. We began adding things to our lives.
Remember being busy = success!

Yes, life moves fast. New age electronics have increased this speed at an astounding pace. It is frightening to ponder. We all have work, families, responsibilities and commitments. Do we have to make ourselves even more overwhelmed with the continual documenting of our busy-ness to everyone we interact with?
Secretly we just want to scream!

What if we began answering greetings with,

   “I’m well, I’m happy and I am thrilled to
see you today!”

What if we greeted others with,

     “What is making you happy today?”

And then, shut up and smile.

Possibly, just possibly, the response may be more engaging than the level of overloaded activities filling the pack on their back.
They may just share a joyful story or expression of happiness. The way greetings are meant to be.

Here is mine to you:
“Hello there, how are you?
      What brings you joy today?”

And your response is???
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Stop telling yourself and others how busy you are. Instead speak of the joy and happiness that fills your life!”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
I shared this with you to encourage you think about how many times you tell others how busy you are.
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 IS YOUR BACKSEAT DRIVER?

4/13/2019

Are you letting stories that you repeat over and over again define who you are? Do you allow them to drive your life? If you don’t know what I mean read:
WHO IS CHAUFFEURING YOUR LIFE?

Maybe you have your stories under control but have another problem… other PEOPLE who want to (or you allow to) chauffeur your life. You know, that back seat driver that is always telling you where your life should go at every turn. As you read that, did someone immediately come to mind? Did you see their face and hear their voice? If so, you know what I am talking about.

Humans need human contact to survive. People need people. We need time. We need touch. We need connection.

What we don’t need is to feel like we are powerless or controlled. We don’t need to feel like our emotions and happiness are totally dependent on pleasing someone else. We don’t need to feel like our actions are being controlled by the demands of another person.

I do have a caveat here -- I am not talking about a mutually loving relationship where there is reciprocity of respect, kindness and love. It is healthy when we give of our self and do acts of love and kindness for others and in return receive feelings of love and self-satisfaction.

I am talking about the sponges that soak up all of our good intentions and acts of kindness without returning any level of thoughtfulness. Oh, occasionally they may throw a sweet gesture your way, but for the most part, they hold an expectation that you will always be there, always support them and always give, give, give.

We believe the control is created by the other person, but the reality is – WE create the situation by giving away our control. We allow the back seat driver to steer our life and control our actions. Let me say that again- WE create the situation by giving away our control.

By doing this we give away our happiness. We cheapen our value by letting others push our buttons. We feel tied like a puppet with no way to cut the strings. And yet, we are the only ones who can.

It is even possible that the other person is not aware of this situation, but it has been going on for so long that it has become a habit that holds no consequences or responsibility on their side. After all, they are in the cushy seat, the comfortable place, the receiving end.

We must create boundaries.
Boundaries around what we will or won’t do.
Boundaries around our self-inflicted guilt when we believe we are responsible for the other person.
Boundaries around our hearts as a protection from the invisible force of expectation we feel from the other person.
And boundaries around our minds that have been trained to create the illusion of obligation to this person.

Isn’t it time to put the brakes on?
If you are always giving family members or friends money to get them back on their feet, but never see them grow up and take control of their own life --Stop writing checks expecting this to change.

If someone is always late, wait an appropriate 10-15 minutes and then leave- they obviously feel their time is more important than yours. Don’t cheapen your value.

If you are the one who tries to make everything perfect for others in hopes of making them happy, but it is never enough-- it probably never will be enough and they will probably never be happy… and while doing this, neither will you.

If you are under obligation to continually take care of or give to a person, evaluate if the obligation is real or is it just your perception that you “owe” someone your time and talent. Evaluate the situation for codependency. Are you getting something from being a martyr? Even if you feel like you are being used and taken advantage of, have you become dependent on being needed?

If you are continually trying to stop giving your resources of time, finances, energy and control of your emotions and life to someone else, but only break free for short periods of time. Then you slip back into the old pattern again of one-way giving. Chart how long you have been doing this pattern. Where has it gotten you?

If you are following a life path because someone told you it was the road you should take, but you hate the scenery, you feel lost, or you know in your heart it isn’t the way you should be going, it is never too late to stop, make a U-turn and let your soul’s GPS recalculate to guide you on YOUR path. There isn’t time to be controlled by a backseat driver. Be your own navigator on this road of life.
Take control of your own steering wheel.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Take control of your own thoughts,
time and talent.
Don’t allow a back seat driver to
steer your life.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
WHO IS YOUR BACKSEAT DRIVER?

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 TAUGHT YOU HOW TO SMILE?

4/6/2019

I’m a natural smiler.
I smile all the time.
Some people don’t.

At 6’5” my husband’s size is intimidating. His natural serious expression adds to this intimidating appearance and can unintentionally make him appear angry, annoyed or uninterested.

Recently, when I was encouraging him to SMILE, he responded with,
     “I am smiling on the inside.
   No one ever taught me how to smile on
  the outside.”

As babies, we are taught to walk by repeatedly being stood in front of open arms and encouraged to move our feet in clumsy toddler fashion until we move across the room. If we don’t succeed, we fall and are reinforced that it “feels better” to walk than to fall.

Were you taught to smile in the same way? Were you taught how to raise the corners of your mouth to form one smile after another like putting one foot in front of the other to walk?

We aren’t taught that even the slightest lift of the corners of our mouths lessens the creases in our foreheads, removes the heaviness on our face, and allows our eyes to sparkle.

We aren’t taught that a smile is a gift we give ourselves and the easiest gift to give to others --It is almost guaranteed that if you give one you will receive one in return.

We aren’t taught that smiles have the power to change someone’s day; to lift a heart; and to share love in a spontaneous way.

We aren’t taught that a pleasant resting face with the hint of a smile creates a welcoming persona when others see you and a full out smile when you meet people makes them feel important and ‘seen.”

We aren’t taught that a smile opens doors, opens opportunities and opens hearts.”
We aren’t taught that it “feels better” to smile.

I am giving you the SMILE CHALLENGE. For one week practice smiling like you do any other health routine like exercise, brushing your teeth or sleeping.

Three times a day stand in front of a mirror and lift the corners of your mouth. At first you may have to use your two index fingers to push those corners up, but I promise you they WILL move!

Try variations of how you smile.
A pleasant grin.
A happy beam.
A full out show-all-your-teeth smile.
Then throughout the day, let yourself smile. Smile at strangers as you pass them.
Smile at the sunshine.
Smile to and for yourself when you are alone.
It just Feels Better to smile!
    ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“A smile opens doors, opens opportunities and opens hearts.”
  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
I shared this with you to encourage you share your smile with yourself and others.
It really does FEEL better to smile!
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.

ARE YOU MAKING WAVES OR SAILING YOUR SHIP?

3/30/2019

Do you argue just to be right when the outcome is of little importance?

Do you walk in happiness or do you live in the shadow of anger?

Do you demand for the sake of being in control?

Do you create kindness or cause cruelty?

Do you judge when you could observe and accept?

Do you force your opinion to prove you hold power or do you listen to all sides?

Do you feel jealousy or do you celebrate the success of others?

Do you take when you could give?

Do you spend more time being helpful or harmful?

Do you fear and hate when you should love?

What if all of these choices were guided by one magical thought?

Close your eyes with me now and see yourself as the captain at the wheel of a beautiful ship. The sun lays warmly on the side of your face while with every breath the crisp air circles your lungs with fresh energy.

The diamond sparkling water that surrounds you is the sea of your life. Your goal is to safely sail your ship, enjoying the sun, fresh air and adventure without causing danger or damage to yourself or others who are navigating their own ships.

Your navigation system tells you there are rough waters ahead. Will you increase the speed to aim towards them risking damage to your ship and the cargo you hold close to your heart or will you turn to search for a calmer, safer route?

The radar shows a small vessel to the left. Will you blow your horn demanding they move and then stay on your course causing a wake that is certain to overturn the small vessel or will you slow the engines and adjust your route to avoid making waves?

You see a flair rocket into the sky...a clear indication that someone is in distress and needs help. Do you set your course to help them and gently guide them to safety or do you steer the other way as quickly as possible-- after all what you don't see won't hurt you, right? And by doing so cover them with a spray of water as you avoid their cries for help?

Here is where the one magical thought comes in.
If you were the captain of a ship would you put more emphasis on making waves or would you concentrate your energy on the smooth sailing of the ship.

That's it!
The one magical thought that serves as the lighthouse flashing in front of us, guiding us through the storms, frustrations and challenges to reach the other side of life with ourselves, our ship and our cargo feeling safe, loved and honored.

There are times on the voyage that there is no choice but to batten down the hatches and go full speed ahead into the sea of uncertainty that life creates for us, but most of the time we have a choice. Do we want to make waves or smoothly sail our ship?

With every decision and action in life ask yourself this:
"Will this action I am about to take make waves or will it safely sail my ship?"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
"Every moment in life we choose to
make waves or sail our ship."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
ARE YOU MAKING WAVES OR SAILING YOUR SHIP?

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to think about your actions and how they affect you and others... use the concept above to gauge how you make your decisions.
Share 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.

BLOCKING YOUR BLESSINGS

3/29/2019

Have you ever noticed how people struggling with grief are in protection posture?

Protection posture is when shoulders curl forward, the back is hunched and often the hands are clasped together in front of the chest. They have been hurt so deeply that this stance feels like it is protecting the heart from feeling more pain. This kind of stance also blocks blessings that could feed healing.

Have you ever been in a sad space where you don’t feel good about yourself?

You stay home. You say no to invitations. You don’t return phone calls or emails. You isolate from the world believing that if you just rest and sleep you will feel better. You dread family dinners, birthday parties, and sporting events to the point of anxiety at the thought of being surrounded by people you care about and who love you.

This type of rejection of family, friends and activities creates rejection in return. When people hear, ‘no’ enough times they give up. The phone stops ringing. Invitations stop. By blocking the blessings of family and friendship you get what you want. You are left alone.

Have you avoided dating or meeting new people because you are waiting for the image of perfection you have created in your mind?

Days, months and years go by and you remain alone blocking the blessing of someone new coming into your life. Maybe you are too busy looking for the right person, and not trying to be the right person.

Have you turned down opportunities because you were afraid? Afraid to try something new? Afraid of embarrassment? Afraid of failing?

Fear is a powerful force that creates a barrier between where you are and where you want to be. When you allow fear to control your decisions and actions you are blocking blessings from your life.

Have you felt at times like all you want to do is hide behind a screen?

You can just sit on your couch in front of the TV, but that’s not living. When there is a screen of any kind, whether it is electronic like a phone, tablet, computer or an invisible energetic screen you put up between you and the rest of the world it blocks the blessings you could be enjoying and sharing.

Have you been in any of these spaces or know someone who is?

Practice straightening the back, opening the shoulders and allowing the heart to breathe again. This forces your head up to see the world and people around you. It forces you to open your heart so that you are not living internally but instead, feeling and living in the amazing wonderful world of blessings that is open to you.

Practice moving out of your comfort zone.
Practice saying, “yes!”

The world is full of lonely people afraid to reach out, take the first step or make the first move. Don’t be afraid to join in the adventure of life.

Pennie’s Life Lesson:
"Stop blocking your own blessings.
Open the gate to your heart allowing blessings to fill your life."

YOUR TURN...
How often do you block your own blessings?
My intent in writing this is to encourage you to open your heart and your mind to the blessings that are right in front of you.

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.

BREATH OF GREEN

3/17/2019

So often I hear people saying they are rushed, tired and overwhelmed.
They are running from one meeting to the next, stressed about paying bills and worried about keeping others happy.

What they are ultimately doing is living in fear.
Fear of being late.
Fear of not having enough money.
Fear of disappointing others.

And the BIG one -fear of not being good enough.

Do you see yourself in that scenario? If so, here is something that always works for me.

Your mind cannot live in fear and love simultaneously. Therefore, the answer is to increase love. You must begin by increasing the love inside of You!

Begin by understanding a new concept. Green is the color of love. Yes, Green! I know what you are thinking - wait a minute, what about red; the color of valentines, hearts and roses?

Chakras, or energy centers, are located at strategic points in the body and are aligned with a color value. The heart Chakra is Green and corresponds with unconditional love, compassion and healing. Imagine a beautiful glowing emerald Green circle that radiates around your heart.

To increase love in yourself, for yourself and for others, you must fill this energy center with love. This will in turn multiply and fill you with love. Love will then spill outwardly - to others and to every aspect of your life.

This is where my "Breath of Green" comes in. How often do you see green? Green is everywhere! When you see Green, take in a slow deep breath. As you do, visualize breathing in Green; breathing in love. At first you may even say out loud or to yourself,
"breathe in love."

As you exhale, imagine pushing out fear. Visualize fear as black, dirty, and ugly. At first you may even say out loud or to yourself,
"breathe out fear."

This only takes a few seconds. Breathe in fresh, clean love. Exhale painful fear.
With every breath you will feel calmer. No one will even know you are doing it, but they will notice a change in you.  YOU will FEEL a change in you.

Soon you will begin to see Green everywhere. Your eyes will begin searching for it.

A woman will walk into a meeting wearing a Green sweater.

A dog with a Green leash will walk by you on the sidewalk.

The menu at the lunch deli will have the special outlined in Green.

The junk mail you are throwing away will be in a Green envelope.

You will see a Green light as you are driving -Go Now- breathe in love!

Make an effort to try this for one week.   Once you experience the cleansing of fear and feel the new calmness of love take over, you will want to continue this practice.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie's Life Lesson:
"Love and fear are not compatible.
Fill yourself with love,  in order to
   diminish fear." (Click here to Tweet!)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
I shared this with you to give you a tool to relax and calm your busy life-- in a quick and easy way!
How many times did you see and think Green just by reading this. Tell us how this concept worked for you!

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.

I CAN SEE FOR MILES

3/9/2019

I hadn’t seen her in over 10 years. Occasionally her name would appear in a comment on my social media posts.
A smiley face here -A thumbs up there - Once in a while asking me to call her. When I tried to call the number she posted, it was incorrect, and I was met with a recorded message that the number had been disconnected.

Months went by and she again posted the correct number and asked me to call. I did and left a voice mail with my phone number in case she wanted to call me back. She never did.

A couple of weeks ago another familiar name caught my eye in a comment under one of my posts. This time from her sister that simply said, “I don’t know if you heard but….”
My friend had passed away.

I was stunned. I sat back in my chair reading the sentence over and over. The sentence that took me back to 7th grade when we were best friends. When we spent summers swimming at the local pool and talking about boys. The nights we would walk around our neighborhood and look at the stars. The shopping, movies, phone calls and giggles.

One day we were at a park and I climbed to the top of the playground slide. I held the sides of the ladder, looking out across the countryside and sang a song by The Who,
“I can see for miles and miles and miles
and miles and miles…. Oh yeah.”
She laughed and laughed – partly at my horrible singing and partly because we really could see that far across the never-ending field and that far into the lives we had ahead of us.

It was her laugh that I heard as I sat back in my chair not believing what I had just read.

Interestingly a month earlier, I had been contemplating how friendship can be deep and yet time, location, and so many circumstances can change the dynamic of the relationship. I wrote about the ebb and flow of friendships and how difficult it is to keep these deep connections through the years.
(Read that writing here.)

I regret not trying harder to call when she asked me to. I regret all the disconnected years since we ran through that playground.

I feel the loss. The loss of a person who knew my teenage secrets. The loss of the person who stood up with me at my wedding in 1976. The loss of a friendship. The loss of that laugh in my life

I hope my sweet friend is in a place where she can see for miles and miles and miles and miles and miles…. Oh yeah.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Make the phone call. It may be the last chance you get to hear your friend laugh.”(Click here to TWEET!)
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
**If you don't know the song make sure to listen tot he audio above- you will hear it.

Pennie Heart to Heart
I CAN SEE FOR MILES AND MILES

YOUR TURN...
How often do you communicate with your friends?
Do you ever have a little nag in your heart that is telling you to connect with someone?
Have you ever not returned a phone call?

My intent in writing this is to encourage you to make the phone call. Connect with your friends. Share stories, heartaches and laughter. Do it today. You never know when you won’t have the opportunity to do it again.
It happened to me.

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.

CAREFREE

3/3/2019

Where are you on the Carefree Scale? A quick dictionary search on the word carefree stated -
free from anxiety or responsibility, with the following words added: happy-go-lucky, free and easygoing, casual, relaxed, serene, cheerful, happy, merry, jolly, joyful, bright, sunny, bubbly, bouncy and breezy.
From 1 to 10 where would you rate yourself on a carefree scale?

Although I hope many of those words describe me, I don’t often
feel free from responsibility or carefree so I would rate myself low. In fact, I wouldn’t use the word “carefree” when describing myself. When I dig deep into my life backpack, I think there are many reasons for this.

I was raised in a family where productivity and accomplishing were expected. I think this may be a common trait in military families. Both of my parents worked and my siblings and I were expected to set our alarms, get ourselves up, dressed, fed and have the dishes done before we walked to school. All this at a younger age than would be acceptable today. There was no sleeping in, no laying around the house, no video games or computers.

I was the baby of the family and the ‘accident’ that was never planned. The joke of Pennie being an accident became a common family story. Although I felt loved and had a great family, I think in my very core I felt like I needed to prove that I was good enough to be here. I became a people pleaser, a peacemaker and never, ever, never said, “NO” to requests of my time.

I am also a Libra, the sign of the scales. I am always weighing what I should do when I should do it, if I am doing it right, if it is fair, if I should do more… to the point of exhaustion.

Recently I have been studying the Enneagram system and I am a 2- The Helper who is sensitive, supportive and fulfilled by giving to others even if it is at the expense of my own needs. Oh, and I am also a sensitive Empath. I can’t walk through the grocery store without feeling the emotions, fear, anger, and hopelessness of others- often draining my own energy.

Whew! When I look at the combination of all of this I wonder where would being carefree ever fit in.
Well, the answer is, it must!

I don’t think I am alone in this. You may not have the bucket full of situations I outlined above, but you may have your own unique list.

I talk all the time about the importance of self-care. The danger of worry and guilt and the damage it can do to your mind, body and soul. I believe a feeling of carefree bliss must be squeezed into the fiber of our lives. When was the last time YOU felt carefree? Even for an hour or an afternoon?

I believe we must first find our own definition of what the feeling of being Carefree means to us and then practice it like you would yoga, meditation or any exercise routine you do. Incorporate time to be Carefree into your life as a ritual. Give yourself breaks during the day to take a walk, watch the sunrise, sunset, (or both), without a mind filled with responsibilities or worry. Build your carefree muscle to allow the time and strength to be FREE of CARES!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson: “Practice being carefree. Work your carefree muscle into a ritual of being Free of Cares for a committed space and time each day.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to practice being Free of Cares. Incorporate time into your day as a ritual to give yourself a break from the responsibilities and worries of 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.

THREE ABILITIES THAT DETERMINE YOUR SUCCESS AND HAPPINESS

2/23/2019

Are you searching for the secret to happiness?

Do you wonder why other people seem to be more successful than you—even if you believe that you work harder than they do?

It comes down to three attributes.
Here it is 1 – 2 – 3!

1. The ability to accept and adapt to change.

2. The ability to believe you are Good
     Enough to love and be loved.

3. The ability to express gratitude.

Let me break these down for you.

I learned as a little girl growing up in a military family to make friends on the playground or stand alone. I learned that I needed to accept the changes that occurred when my father received orders that moved us to a new community and that I needed to adapt to my new environment, make friends and enjoy the new normal.

This has served me well through career changes, divorce and grief. While others live in the Who-Moved-My-Cheese stagnation unable to accept that their life has changed and unable to adapt to the new adventures ahead of them, successful, happy people hone the ability to accept and adapt. You may not always like the event that spurred the change, but cultivate the ability to bloom in the space you find yourself – no matter what!

We are bombarded with the message that we are Not Good Enough! We all protect that space inside where we believe we are not thin enough, smart enough, rich enough…the list goes on and on. The newest guilt inducers verified by the over 300,000 self-help books on the market are that we are not happy enough, healthy enough or holy enough.

Here’s the thing – WE ARE ALL GOOD ENOUGH!!  Just by the pure biological chance that we were created proves this –it is no accident! We were all meant to be here! I can tell you this all day, but YOU must do the work on this one. YOU have to believe right down to your inner core that YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH!

It doesn't matter what trauma you had as a child or what wrongs you have committed, you must come to a place of knowing that you are Good Enough to love and be loved. If you don’t believe it no one else will believe it of you. Relationships, love, happiness and success will avoid you—after all you are sending off the vibe that you aren't Good Enough and don’t deserve it!

Lastly, you must express gratitude. You will never receive more if you are not grateful for what you have. If all you have is a pair of shoes and a burger to eat, be grateful for that! Be grateful for every step, every breath, and every moment you are given and for all that your life is filled with.

Don’t just say, “Thank you,” feel gratitude with every cell of your body. Tell others why you are thankful for them. Write thank you notes, make phone calls, journal, pray, sing, dance – whatever moves you to a loving place, do it!

You cannot hold on to a negative like hurt, anger or fear when you are filled with gratitude. Practice the ability to express gratitude until it becomes your DNA.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie's Life Lesson:
“To be happy and successful cultivate these three attributes:
The Ability to accept and adapt to change; The Ability to believe you are Good Enough to love and be loved;
The Ability to express gratitude.”
      ~ Pennie Hunt
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to practice these three attributes until they become part of your daily living! Monitor how this positively affects 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.

THE BIG "W"

2/15/2019

It can run your life.
It can wear you out.

I am talking about the BIG “W!”
WORRY!

How often do you worry?
How much of your life do you waste?

A friend told me once that good people worry. Of course, we do. We have concern for our kids, family, friends. That is natural.
When occasional concern turns into manic worry, red flags should wave. Worry is really a negative form of meditation. Meditation is training your mind to let go and be open to a space of peace. When you fill your mind with worry, it fixates on negative thoughts- quite the opposite of peace.

Ask these questions about the situation you are worried about:
   Can I change it?
   Can I stop it?
   Is it mine to worry about?

If you can change something you are worried about, then change it.
If you can stop a situation you are worried about, then stop it.
If it is yours to worry about, meaning it directly involves you and only you, then give it deep thought as to how to do the above- change it or stop it.

But if the worry is about another person, or an event that does not involve you – then it is none of your business to worry about. You cannot control another person’s life path. It is not your place to interfere. It’s almost rude on a soul level.

When you have no power over the situation then all the hours of worry you are donating are hours of negative meditation that only damage and stress you.

When you are worrying about the “possibility” of what may happen - another red flag. What are the odds of something that isn’t even reality turning into the event you are conjuring in your mind? And if it did, would it be as bad as you are visualizing? Probably not.

Even worse - after a life event happens, do you stir your mind with the worst scenario of what “could have” happened? Do you relive the event, imagining a much worse outcome than what it actually was? Stop worrying about the ‘what if’s’ in life.

Here is a tip- find a “W”. Yes, a “W.” It can be wooden, plastic, gold or a “W” you cut from a piece of paper. Place it in a prominent spot in your home. By your computer, on your kitchen counter, in your shower or on your nightstand - wherever you see it often. This “W” will remind you that anything you have ever worried about in your life has been resolved. It may not resolve in the way you like, but it is in the past and you have lived through it.

The time you are giving to worrying is holding space that could be held by joy, laughter, fun, kindness, love or anything much more positive and productive than worrying.

When you see your "W"  take a deep breath and let go of the negative meditation on what you can’t control.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“Worry is negative meditation.
Everything you have ever worried about has been resolved and you have lived through it.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Pennie Heart to Heart
THE BIG "W"

YOUR TURN...
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to stop negative meditation. STOP WORRYING!
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.

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.

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