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All content on this blog is copyright protected.~ask permission to use my content (including re-blogging)Margaret Barry Settlement House
I am a perennial optimist
I Am Becoming the Me I Was Born To Be
As I journey through this part of my life I have discovered my next mountain. The key is to be the me I want to be in the world, as my gift back to God.-
Recent Posts
- The path less traveled
- Does a new year make you want to change?
- Begin Each Day With a Grateful Heart
- Good Wednesday to you
- wishing you porch swings and compasses
- Pause with me
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was right
- I fell in love with the ocean
- H2O therapy
- Get out there …
- Stay in grace
- Sometimes You Just Have to Have Popcorn
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February 2023 S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Archives
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Category Archives: God
The path less traveled
There are so many ways to find your next path in life. I have been reflecting on the various paths I have taken throughout my life. Some paths turned out to be oh so true to my heart. Others worked … Continue reading
Begin Each Day With a Grateful Heart
I don’t know about you, but in my life I have always gleaned wisdom from those around me. My faith in God and my desire to live a life that He wants underlies it all. Sometimes i notice things i … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship, God, optimism
Tagged Faith, hope, teachers and friends, wisdom from elders
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Pause with me
Happy Saturday. How are you doing today? Do you feel the need to pause and collapse this weekend?To pause to restore and regroup is a comforting way to put it. For me, striking a balance between stepping back to pause … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, God, Nature, stress
Tagged destress, Faith, pause, regroup
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I fell in love with the ocean
I grew up in Minnesota and Chicago. I loved the rivers and lakes. Beach time was precious. In my adult life I have lived within about an hour and 15 min from the ocean. Oh, boy, that is incredible. My … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship, God, Nature, stress
Tagged happy place, ocean, self-care
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H2O therapy
Anyone else feel de-stressed around water? Yesterday afternoon, I headed to our community pool and went for a quick swim. Being in the water works like a charm for me. My favorite, of course,is the ocean. But, a river, lake, … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life and Issues, God, Nature, optimism, stress
Tagged beach therapy, relaxation, stress
2 Comments
Stay in grace
Good morning! Here we are at the start of a new week. I was thinking about direction for this week, as I had my morning coffee and watched the birds in my yard.. Does watching nature calm you?youth? Need calm … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, God, optimism, stress
Tagged faith; grace; hope
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Wait …. ok, let’s go
Monday night –> how are you doing? I am feeling grateful tonight. I am grateful for people who care and people who post things that remind me of the good and kind way of doing things….I have been on SO … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship, God
Tagged Faith, kindness, trust, walk each other home
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The Great Depression & my parents
Did your parents grow up during the Great Depression? My parents grew up during that time. It affected how they lived their lives. It made them very careful with their money. It made them wise. They knew the importance of … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life and Issues, God
Tagged empty shelves, family, Great Depression, pay it forward, wisdom
5 Comments
Not just a chore: a chance for gratitude
I hope your Thursday goes well. What is on your mind and heart today?Are you filled with wonder at God’s creation? When I hear the birds singing in the trees in my yard and see the sunny sky, I try … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, God, Nature, optimism, Positive Thinking
Tagged cascade of thankfulness, chore, gratitude
1 Comment
The need to feel at home
Roofs – by Joyce Kilmer ‘The road is wide and the stars are out and the breath of the night issweet,And this is the time when wanderlust should seize upon my feet.But I’m glad to turn from the open road and … Continue reading
Posted in Family Life and Issues, Friendship, God, Nature, stress, time management
Tagged de-stress, self-care
1 Comment
Be steadfast
I go through phases. Do you do that? I find that in stressful times, especially prolonged stressful times, I became emotional and reactive instead of proactive. I am driven by circumstances, rather that “believing anyway”. Is my faith weak? Not … Continue reading
What will you plant in your soul
“Every moment and every event of every man’s life on earth plants something in his soul”. ~ Thomas Merton Our days are filled with a series of moments and hours. Sometimes they fly by, sometimes they move slowly, and sometimes … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, God, optimism
Tagged Faith, Friendship, God, inspiration, Joy, Optimism, prayer
2 Comments
God Can Heal A Broken Heart, but He has to have all the pieces.
There are times in my life when it has felt like my heart did most definitely break. I know that is true for every single one of us. It can be hard to work through heartache and heartbreak. It takes … Continue reading
“If you don’t climb the mountain, you can’t see the view.”
I lift my eyes to the mountains from whence cometh my help Harvey Mackay wrote “If you don’t climb the mountain, you can’t see the view.” Phoenix is completely surrounded by mountains. So as I drive about on any given … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, God, Nature, optimism
Tagged facing challenges, Faith, hope, Life, nature, Optimism
12 Comments
When you walk through a storm, hold your head up high
We all go through storms and glorious moments in our lives. Sometimes those moments are all in the same day. Sometimes we are going through so many different things in our lives ~ perhaps because of the stage of life … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, God, stress
Tagged Faith, God, inspiration, Life, Optimism, stress, when you walk through a storm
2 Comments
TGIM ~ Thank God It’s Monday
So here we are, my dears. It is Monday~ and we have the rest of the week in front of us. Does that fill you with joy, anxiety, or dread? For me, it varies. I am restored after a weekend … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, God, stress
Tagged Faith, faith muscle, giving your week to God, how to handle Mondays, prayer, TGIM
2 Comments
Is that all there is?
My husband is hearing Peggy Lee singing “Is that all there is?” in his head. Work is stressful for him, and the long, long hours are difficult. For me and my tutoring, the school year is already underway. The summer … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, God, Positive Thinking
Tagged Faith, God, Life, Optimism
8 Comments
Unchartered territory for me: new mindfulness
Gosh it is Saturday already! Yesterday was my birthday… it was wonderful. If you missed my birthday post and want to see it, the link is right here. https://believeanyway.wordpress.com/2014/07/25/my-day-is-now-yup-its-my-birthday/ Oh how the years have flown by. It is likely that I … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship, God
Tagged birthday, Faith, Friendship, God
8 Comments
My day is now: yup it’s my birthday
Today I entered a brand new decade. I turned 60. Yep. Just like that, I left my 50s. This past decade was a time of questioning the meaning of my life and the paths I walked. There were so many changes. … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship, God, Positive Thinking
Tagged birthday, Faith, family, Friendship, God, Life, memories
25 Comments
What are you dreaming of today?
I have been feeling reflective. Of course, as my regular tutoring schedule evolves into my summer tutoring schedule, I often do feel reflective. But this year I have been feeling even more reflective than usual. My birthday is in the … Continue reading
Even a poor tailor is entitled to some happiness!
If you have seen “Fiddler on the Roof” you may recognize the title of this blog post as a line from the movie. It was said by Tevye’s oldest daughter Tseitel’s true love Motel (pronounced “mottle”)Kamzoil the tailor. Now why am … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Friendship, God
Tagged acceptance, Faith, friends, hope, Joy, Love
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Do you feel like you are drowning?
Do you hit a point now and then when you feel like you are swimming in a stormy sea, with no dock or safe spot in sight? I think everyone feels that way at some point; we get worn out and … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, God
Tagged God, Jesus, overwhelmed, things to do lists
2 Comments
Are you wallowing today?
The thing is, at times we draw our meaning from our role(s) in life and from our associations. What do I mean by our associations? For example, from our immediate family we have ongoing connections. From our extended family we … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, Family Life and Issues, Friendship, God, Positive Thinking
Tagged Faith, Friendship, God, hurt feelings, rejection
4 Comments
Let it shine
Whether you feel drained or energized, you can give. What can you give? You can give your love, faith, belief in others, hope, steadfastness. Ella Baker said, “Give light and people will find the way.”. Jesus tells us not to … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, God, Positive Thinking, Scripture
Tagged compassion, Faith, God, Godspell, inspiration, Joy, Life, Optimism, This little light of mine
7 Comments
Feeling afraid or lost today?
Are you overwhelmed by circumstances or happenstances today? Is it hard to quiet your racing mind? Believe me, I have been there frequently. We can get so wrapped up in what has to be done that we cannot move. Remember … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, God, Scripture
Tagged Faith, God, inspiration, poetry, Scripture, stress
12 Comments
To sleep, perchance to dream
This morning I awoke feeling refreshed and well rested. Saturday morning I was dragging because I could not sleep a wink on Friday night. I attribute my wakefulness to a big cup of iced coffee while I tutored early Friday … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, God, Scripture
Tagged Faith, God, inspiration, prayer, relaxation, stress
14 Comments
Follow me
So many times Jesus said “follow me”…”come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”…(Matthew 4:19). “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also my servant will be. The Father will honor whoever serves … Continue reading
Posted in faith/courage/miracles/hope, God, Scripture
Tagged Faith, God, inspiration, Joy, Life, Optimism
3 Comments
God Never Takes His Eyes Off of You: Not For An Instant.
If you are feeling low, lost, overlooked, or even lonely, remember that in this vast world God is always with you. You may, or may not, sense His presence during the course of the day. But you see, He is always there. … Continue reading