Julanne's Village Jewels

  CONNECTION Yesterday, I had an experience that is life changing! I was on a 'Zoom' call with the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding group, including several brilliant women who spoke about the crisis in the Ukraine. It was monumental for me because for the first time, really, I got in my soul and my gut that we are ALL CONNECTED. When any of us look up at the beautiful clouds, they are for all of us.  These people shared such wisdom, pathos and meaning in such a way I realized I was part of it all. It was particularly meaningful because I actually have met 2 women from the Ukraine (one was on the call) a few years ago when they came to work with my son and daughter in love at the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding. They both have left the Ukraine now. One woman took her child but had to leave her husband there.  This whole experience is quite significant for me because I very often have been quite ostrich like in not wanting to face what is really going on in the worl

                                                                                          FRUIT TREE           SPRINGTIME Even though it isn't officially SPRINGTIME, I wanted to share a photo of my son's fruit tree in California. I don't even know what kind it is but it doesn't matter, it is so gorgeous!   I love  SPRINGTIME for a variety of reasons; first, the weather is warming up, buds are opening everywhere, especially tree buds that show that incredibly gorgeous 'spring green' color are popping forth. Flowering plants are showing off their new spring frocks. When I was an (avid) gardener, I would revel in getting my hands in the dirt. I loved pulling weeds and preparing the soil for new little seedings to sprout. A trip to the nursery was so exciting and inspiring, I would linger over the plants usually having a hard time choosing what I wanted to bring home to nurture and care for. I was like a kid with a new toy! Then  nursing them along, watching them gr

                                                                                       ANGEL TRUMPET GUIDANCE I have long been a firm believer of following my INTUITION, LISTENING, and following  my inner GUIDANCE. I have been accurate and 'right on' more times than not so I feel I can TRUST myself to make decisions for POSITIVE outcomes. This was the case with an incident that I experienced this week. I was looking for a movie to watch and came across one about an young acupuncturist in Korea. This was very interesting to me that I would even consider  this movie. As I began watching it I had a REVELATION sweep over me that I indeed needed to see  an acupuncturist myself! It was like being struck by something other worldly! I knew  I had to PAY ATTENTION to this message so the next morning I did some research for an acupuncturist in town.  Sure enough I found one whom I had actually gone to 7 years ago. (I recalled how much I liked her and the only reason I didn't continue

                                                                                                                                                                AZALEA COMMITMENT The past week I have been watching the OLYMPICS in a mesmerized state, marveling at each athlete's prowess for their particular sport. I'm completely captivated by their ABILITIES, as well as realizing (although not fully grasping) their DEDICATION and DETERMINATION to win ! Many of these athletes have come back every 4 years for 2,3,4 th OLYMPICS in order to not only win but to compete. I am not an athlete but I love to watch athletes participate and give their all in which ever sport they choose. I can't even imagine the dai ly regimen they honor in order to stay in 'shape'. There is a drive in each athlete to succeed, if not win, that is beyond me. I do realize that most of these athletes have been practicing in their sport since they were very young. They thrill to the tune of loving PAR

  EGRET ANNIVERSARIES ANNIVERSARIES are something we all have, everyone of us. Our birthday is one we celebrate each year as well as other meaningful events in our lives. One very special ANNIVERSARY for me is February 5, 2012, the day I wrote and sent my first blog! Yes! Ten years ago! It feels like a few years to be sure, because writing them is such an important part of my life. I also have had other events in my life that are ANNIVERSARIES as well. I'm sharing them because each one has significant meaning to me. It is an example of LIFE'S events that can happen to all of us. January 26, 1959 my favorite aunt and uncle died in an automobile accident. January 30, 1958, I gave birth and lost a baby boy. February 2, 1958 I was married. February 5, 2012 I wrote my first blog. Each ANNIVERSARY can creep up upon us each year and causes some kind of emotion or vibration within us that needs to be honored. As I grow older I am experiencing more COMPASSION for others that have experi