Balance Act of Love

I have been pondering the balancing act of life of late. In fact, I have come to the conclusion that quite often LIFE gets in the way of LIVING.

I have even left this phrase as a comment once or twice this past week on articles published by friends. Yesterday I wrote myself a note to write about the topic of life getting in the way of living and loving.

Well, today, I have reason to pretty much table that article; rather, table the time frame of the writing as well as the reason for writing on the topic. Life is a balancing act, as most of you well know. We must often weigh work and responsibility against love and laughter. Today, I choose to balance the two alongside one another because of an article written by a friend which tipped the scales right over!

Balance Yin Yang Keychain by yarddawg
Design your own personalized cheap keychains at zazzle.com
 

Each Thursday, my friend Brenda publishes a blog post through her blog hop Pondering With A Purpose. Brenda issues a writing prompt and all are welcome to write their own blog post and link it up with hers through the blog hop.

The Pondering With a Purpose writing prompt for this week?

BALANCE

That word is linked directly to her post. Go ahead, click on it, read it! I did! And it touched my heart to tears when I did so.

On my list of ToDos for the day was to post my blog article for my own blog hop, SHARE the LOVE. When I weighed that responsibility with my work day it was plain to see that I could not in all good conscience write my blog post without love and laughter tipping the scales in Brenda's direction.

So today, I share the love with Ms. Brenda and I ask that you do same. Read her post. Introduce yourself. Leave her a comment to let her know she is loved or say something to give her good reason to smile.

And if you feel the need to commit a balance act of love for yourself or someone else--blog about it and link right up with SHARE the LOVE.

To Sow Love is To Know Love

Often my readers enjoy the background story that goes along with one of my poetic creations and, of course, I love to share the process. So, not only will I be sharing my latest creation but also the love which led to its creation.

Visiting a newfound blog friend's page on Facebook, 31 Days Early I Rise, I immediately saw that she shared a C.S. Lewis quote graphic. I instantly glanced at my copy of The Four Loves and shared with her it is my favorite book by C.S. Lewis.

Just a bit later I was sorting through incoming email and in popped a blog subscription post from an old friend, Brenda Youngerman.

Brenda hosts the weekly blog hop
Pondering with a Purpose
and this week's discussion prompt is:

Showing Love




Love is ... surely flowing as a topic for me to ponder today! Hmmm... Showing, led to words flowing in my mind, which then led to a bit o' sunshine glowing in a new greeting card design...

Love is...

Sow a bit o' love today!

I Thank You for the Sunshine

Thank you for the Pondering With A Purpose blog hop and this week's blog post topic, Brenda. Moreso, I thank you for your friendship and the occasional ray o' sunshine you send my way.

This week's Ponder:
"It wasn't that long ago that there was no such thing as an internet -- and there was no such thing as a blog.... how do you think your life would be different now if you didn't have your blog?"



Don't get me wrong here, but my life would not be much different without my blog. (Rather, all 4 of my blogs.)

My main objective has always been to spread a bit o' sunshine into the lives of others. I did such for years online, long before I began blogging. I did same for decades, offline, long before I began doing so online.

Still, I enjoy the fact that the internet gifted me with another dimension of sharing sol across the miles. I certainly enjoy the fact that I have crossed paths with many new visitors to my blogs. Too, I enjoy the fact that many of my friends from other web groups and forums have followed me to my blogs in search of another ray o' sunshine to warm the spirit.

All of these opportunities warm my spirit as well, beaming a bit o' sunshine right back at me.

To each of you I send...

Sunshine Blessings Button by abitosunshine
Learn how to make money as an artist online at Zazzle.

A Who and a Coo for You

Sharing my response to a prompt offered up by Brenda in her weekly blog hop Pondering with a Purpose.

The prompt: SOUNDS

Brenda further stated that she loves the word onomatopoeia.

I immediately thought of an owl's "Who" and a dove's "Coo".

Walk through the wood where many a man has walked before and you may hear the wise old owl screeching, "Who. Who. Who do you think you are?"

Montage, Owl, Forest, Oregon, USA
Buy This Allposters.com

Do you think just maybe his query is one of urgency? Beseeching us to learn and to listen to the love of the dove, "Coo-coo-coo..."

Peace
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Voices, Vices, Victory, and Values

of Vices and Values
by Ruth Cox

Upon my shoulder sits a wee dark devil in disguise whose whisperings in my left ear often cause me not to hear the voice of the light dwelling inside of me. Yea, though I wander in the valley of this evil one's vices, I rise to claim victory when responding to the sol of my soul burning the lobe of my right ear. I hear; and, I shall live well under the guidance of sol's values from now on and forevermore.

Angel and Devil

This poetic prose is written in response to a prompt offered up by Brenda in her weekly blog hop Pondering with a Purpose. This week's prompt: VALUES

Hop right along with us this week.

Share your thoughts on Values.

A Family Rules

One word: Rules

Upon reading Brenda's Pondering With A Purpose Prompt today, I had two thoughts. The first: I visualized a ruler in the hands of a nun ... never mind that one. Second thought: Earlier, I'd been blog browsing and I'd run across the most awesome sign and had bookmarked the blog for future reference in my wishful thinking for wish lists.

The sign is simply, but beautifully created, and is appropriate for Brenda's prompt today. It's a 4-foot by 2-foot custom sign of family rules. Head on over to the Between You & Me blog and take a peek!

You can ORDER A FAMILY RULES SIGN

~or~

There is A FAMILY RULES SIGN TUTORIAL

Please come back and let me know what you think of the family rules sign and which option you would choose. No doubt in my mind, the custom-made sign will find it's way onto one of my online wishlists!

Dare to Ruffle my Feathers

Do you often find yourself in the company of someone who dares to ruffle your feathers? Do you find yourself lacking in the patience department? Here's your chance to tell the world all about it!

Head on over to Brenda Youngerman's blog post "Pondering With A Purpose - Patience" and blog hop along!

This week's patience prompt from Brenda has prompted me to create a T-Shirt I've had on my ToDo list for some time.


Not being a very patient person, I've always had a quick retort to those who say to me, "Patience is a virtue." Now, I'll have the shirt to wear as a warning to all who dare to ruffle my feathers, ha!

Patience is a Virtue by abitosunshine

Start selling my art online with zazzle.

I chose this pretty pelican and her feathers for the design on the tee because it is Brenda who prompted me to cross this project off my list ... and the pelican is quite appropriate because Brenda collects pelicans! Brenda shares her love for pelicans on her Squidoo lens "Looks and Likes".

Hello Thinking and Pondering #3

"How do you say Hello?"

That question is this week's prompt for Brenda's blog hop, Pondering With A Purpose. Immediately upon reading the prompt, I penned the poem; however, I barely finished the poetry and design combined on time! Nonetheless, I share with you my favorite way of saying, "Hello," to old friends and new...

Thinking and Pondering #1

Blog Hop: Thinking on Thursday - Pondering With A Purpose

I am really looking forward to this new blog hop hosted by Brenda of Fiction With A Purpose. If you're a writer and/or a blog hopper, you'll want to check this one out and hop right along. Each week, Brenda gives us a writing prompt and we post our submission on our blogs, then, of course, add our post URL to the linky list on her prompt post.

This week's prompt: Word Association: from the list provided, select 3 of them and tell me what they mean to you.

My 3 words: riding, embedding, landscape. I chose to write a piece of flash fiction. In actuality, it's more like factual reality, as I do visualize this on occasion!

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Healing Heels
©Ruth Cox

Yearning for the oceanic landscape, I fantasize horseback riding the foot of the foam of the sea. I imagine the strength of animal and wave allowing me to escape reality.

With a subtle kick of my heels, my imaginary horse clicks his in tandem, and off we soar along the seashore. We're one with the ocean's roar, spirits in fine fettle -- blessed by the warming rays of a bit o' sunshine.

The salty balm of the breeze of the beach soothes my soul, embedding the fantastical scene in my mind's eye. Forevermore.
 
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Hmmm... wondering if I should purchase myself a pair of these phantastical Horse Heels to go with my fantasy...
 

Yay or Nay?