Julanne's Village Jewels

AFRICAN VIOLET UNACCEPTABLE I had a conversation with a loved one about several subjects. The one thing she said that was so meaningful to me is when something in our lives is UNACCEPTABLE we don’t know what to do with the feelings about it. I dare say we have all had something happen in our lives, either personally or to someone we know or we don’t know that we can’t ACCEPT. We just ‘live’ with the feelings, and feel quite helpless as to know what we can do. I have felt that way, both personally and about happenings in the world. I have learned to pray for any person who is affected by such feelings. We often lament that there is nothing we can do. In our conversation, we discovered that there is indeed something we all can do, or at least INTEND to do.   This may seem intrusive to your spirit but I feel it is a gift to know something useful. We mull things over in our minds, I call it ‘chewing’ on something and come to no solution. We can better use our mu...

BLUE HYDRANGEA WRITING I have fallen in love with WRITING! Clearly it is my PASSION and I simply cannot do without it.   I have been writing a BLOG since February 2012. It ‘fell into place ‘ for me when a friend suggested I write a BLOG (instead of a book about my experiences) Bingo! That was my answer after months of anguishing over what to do. I have not been drawn to writing a book , since books take forever to write. I am too impatient to wait that long ( for most things), but a one page blog was very do-able for me. I love writing about an idea or a point I want to make and may not feel brave enough to say, but I can WRITE it. It is very liberating. It is said that the best way to be a WRITER is to be a reader . I do love to read, although rarely a novel. I much prefer real life stories of real life people and historical novels. I seem to crave learning something, not just being ‘entertained.’ Even if the book is sad or ‘ realistic’ , I still want to se...

SUCCULENT EXPECTATIONS This word, EXPECTATIONS has been rambling around in my mind the last few days. It is a very powerful word because it is so ever present. I think I can speak for all of us that we wake up in the morning and go through our day with EXPECTATIONS of how we want something to be or don’t want something to be. Sometimes I find myself EXPECTING, that is in ANTICIPATION of something exciting or rewarding to come about. However if ‘it’ does not feel the way I would like, I feel disappointed and let down. The only EXPECTATION I can count on is that the sun ‘rises’ each day even if I can’t ‘see’ it. We all experience EXPECTATIONS everyday. When we go for a meal, go shopping (for anything), go to a movie or a performance . . . it’s all in the ‘looking forward to’ that is half the fun. It is all a matter of ATTITUDE and DEGREE.   A friend and I enjoy a Saturday having lunch together and then we play BINGO. This game is so amazing in that it provides s...

REFLECTIONS ANGEL TRUMPET After my jaunt to the pool this morning for some gentle water aerobics, I got some coffee and sauntered back toward my apartment. It is a glorious day, blue skies, not too hot and very quiet. I fed the ducks on my way to my favorite bench by the Lake. I can’t seem to walk past this particular bench without stopping to gaze at the beauty there. The majestic oak trees, moss, shrubs and the fountain sing out to me to stop and enjoy the view. As I look out at the Lake I practically swoon over the simple beauty, I see a view that is ever changing and yet the same; the constant lullaby of the fountain, happily shooting upward and outward every second; the slight ripple of the water from the splashing of the fountain. The ever so pale pink cast on the water in the early morning. I love the wavy REFLECTION of the water on the trunk and leaves of a tree. What I marvel at is the REFLECTION of the trees, bushes, birds and ducks on the Lake. It is amazi...

PINK ROSE PHOTOGRAPHS The other day, I opened a box in my closet and found several small picture frames I had displayed in my home with cherished PHOTOS. I had removed the PHOTOS, but I couldn’t quite part with the frames. I decided on the spot to give them away. It was a huge relief to not have to think about them anymore. I put the PHOTOS in albums I had been filling over the years. It is such a consolation that I tackled the big job of sorting through boxes of pictures from eons ago. It was one of the most satisfying tasks I have ever done. I made a 12x12 inch scrapbook type album of my life and 6 – 9 inch albums for each of my 4 children, their dad and myself. The task seemed daunting at the time but as I perused all the photos and carefully selected the ‘best’ ones, it was a delight. To remember the look on my kid’s faces as they opened their album was worth all the effort. Looking at any PHOTO can bring up untold emotions, anywhere from sadness, tears, fear...

ACKNOWLEDGMENT WREN'S NEST I have long known the VALUE of ACKNOWLEDGMENT, both kinds . . . GIVING and RECEIVING ACKNOWLEDGMENT. I know what it feels like to experience both kinds and it is one of the most satisfying feelings I can have. It is an experience I have that is positively visceral. My whole body feels elated. I experienced that feeling many times last week with phone calls, birthday cards and well wishers ACKNOWLEDGING me and my birthday in such special ways. It made me realize, once again, the IMPORTANCE of recognizing and PAYING ATTENTION to someone we think of fondly and care about. How else can we communicate and make it known how we feel? Many people seldom if ever received ACKNOWLEDGMENT growing up or after growing up from important people to us in any way. The theme for ‘growing up’ children seemed to be criticism and harsh words, certainly little praise or compliments. Even more reason that we need to ACKNOWLEDGE ourselves for every single t...

BIRD MANDALA BIRTHDAYS TODAY IS MY 84 TH BIRTHDAY! It is amazing to me to write that age number! I woke up this morning in complete gratitude and wonder that my life is, has been so meaningful! A year ago I had no idea I would be living here at the Village and happily so. These past 8 months have been filled with surprises and delight! There are a few reasons for this experience; my living situation (apartment and surroundings), the people I have, am meeting and enjoying, the activities and perhaps most of all the inspiration and the support to express who I am and what is vitally important to me, writing and teaching. What a blessing and it is so effortless here with all the encouragement. BIRTHDAYS are very special events. It is the one day out of the year when we can claim ‘our day’. I grew up with acknowledgments and gifts of various assortments. I always made sure my children were recognized in a special way as well. It’s important to me to acknowledge all for...