What are you grateful for today?

Growing up in a Military household required many moves through the years.  In the early 70s and 80s, I did not have the internet and social media, so it was much more challenging to keep in touch with old friends.  I wrote letters and sent postcards while at the same time, I made new friends and learned about new cities, countries, and cultures.  Most of the time, I lost touch with friends. Life, like this, is exciting and sometimes overwhelming.

The advent of Facebook allowed me to reconnect with these old friends in a new way.  While some people are critical of the time we spend on social media; I have found Facebook to be a rewarding experience.

As I began painting again, after twenty years of raising children, posting my artwork on Facebook allowed me to gain confidence, refine my skillset, and receive positive feedback from many people who have known me much of my life.

One of my dearest friends came with me to my first "show," this past weekend, The United Methodist Annual Conference in Collierville, TN, allowed me to showcase my prayer journals and my gratitude journals in addition, to my artwork.  I recognized a man, and his wife, who had a significant impact on my life some 40 years ago.  There is so much joy in reunions such as these. I felt such support and kindness from these friends and everyone around me.

I am grateful for great friends and the relationships I have had, I am grateful for my new friends, and I am grateful for social media.

What are you grateful for today?

Balboa Park and the Butter Cup

It is no surprise Balboa Park in San Diago, California, is a National Historic Landmark and named after the Spanish explorer Casso Nunez de Valvoa Balboa. The 1,200-acre land makes room for 16 museums — the San Diago Zoo, The Park Carousel, and a host of attractions and venues.  

The Japanese Friendship Garden, one of 17 gardens located on the land, began with a new idea. In Balboa Park, you will find a Japanese garden outside of Japan.  San Diego and its sister city Yokohama have a unique friendship. Together they provide a beautiful experience. It is here you find a quiet space and elegant beauty. The natural climate of California offers conditions for a coy pond. The flowers, walking paths, and waterfalls add to the daily delight. 

Buttercups bloom among these gardens. It's bright yellow petals, are a sharp contrast to the green grass and leaves growing on the brown dirt below. It causes us to catch our breath. We are captivated by its beauty, reminding us of our friendships and the joy of new friends. We remain grateful!

I tend to like a well-coordinated look. I love my shoes and purse to match.

I tend to like a well-coordinated look.  I love my shoes and purse to match. I want to coordinate, match napkins, placemats, and candles with the dinnerware.  I prefer that my house has a cohesive look.  But I do not live alone.  There are four other members of my family, and I have five cats and a new kitten.

My husband and children have distinct personalities. One French teacher put it, after teaching all three of my kids, "It's hard to believe that they are from the same family."  I am proud of this distinction, and it gives my home a vibrant personality.  Sometimes a compromise is hard to achieve. Arguments ensue, making amends can take time, but, there is a lot of love and friendship.

The mixture of personalities, tastes, desires, and goals can be exhausting. Especially if I am in the mood to coordinate a picture-perfect moment. If I do not have every member of my family on board with my purpose.  To avoid these issues, I try to simplify.

This 4th of July we plan to grill hot-dogs and hamburgers, we will have potato chips and paper plates.  I will not stress about the dining room table today. I will not concern myself about place settings or insist that the desert has a red, white, and blue, theme.  I will not try to get the DJ of the family to find patriotic songs to play. while showing a patriotic movie, with the sound off on the Television.  Nor will I try to put a red, white and blue bow on the cats!  This year I will focus only on the fun and joy of living.  I will celebrate and enjoy what each member of the family brings to the table.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!

Is Your Friend like a Ranunculus Flower? 8 Ways You Can Tell.

She is a crowd-pleaser!

She like cool nights or a sunny location when the weather is not too warm.

She brings brilliance to any occasion! 

She grew up wild but is charming and attractive.

She is consistent, and you can count on her to bring you joy year after year.  

She soothes your spirits after a long hard day.

She is comfortable in formal or informal settings.

Rose Elaine's work found on Fine Art America, Amazon.com, Facebook and her website roseelainepublishing.com.