Thursday, May 14, 2020

Cultivating Peace, right where I am

Good morning Folks ~ Hope you are all doing well and that your hearts are leaning toward thankfulness in all things. Each day is a gift. It is so easy to get caught up in fear and anxiety, IF we listen to/watch too much negative info. I have found that when I go outside, even just for a few minutes, I relax, I breathe deeper, my heart becomes filled with joy and peace.  Yes, there are tons of things I could be doing out there, but for the moment, I just want to 'be' not 'doing'.

Yesterday I felt more at peace and more energized to live and that was such a blessing. I don't know 'why' but it stayed with me all day.

I've been a tad stressed about getting a new phone as mine is having issues. It is 4 1/2 years old. It's an LG VS985 4G LTE. I have enjoyed it, especially the camera, but the battery keeps getting the life sucked right out of it, especially when zooming. I want one with great camera capabilities, and believe I've found the one I want to get, BUT, it is expensive. I can make payments, which would be nicer than forking over the lump sum. Right now with all of this isolation, I won't be going to the store to delve into getting and setting up a new phone just yet. So, I am learning patience. The phone I'm interested in is the iPhone 11. I've watched quite a few videos, read reviews and this looks to be the one for me.  It also is great for video making, so I may try my hand at that. I am praying and waiting for this to all work out, if it is meant to be.

Yesterday I visited a lovely blog I've just started following, 'It's a Beautiful Life' by Brenda. In her post yesterday she mentioned and showed a book she is reading, 'Placemaker: Cultivating Places of Comfort, Beauty, and Peace'  by Christie Purifoy.  I googled and found it several places, but the best price was at christianbookbag.com  

Here is some info about the book.

" In Placemaker, Christie Purifoy invites us to notice our soul's desire for beauty, our need to create and to be created again and again. As she reflects on the joys and sorrows of two decades as a placemaker and her recent years living in and restoring a Pennsylvania farmhouse, Christie shows us that we are all gardeners. No matter our vocation, we spend much of our lives tending, keeping, and caring. In each act of creation, we reflect the image of God. In each moment of making beauty, we realize that beauty is a mystery to receive."

"In Placemaker, Christie Purifoy has given the world a deeply beautiful and profound work of art. Encircled here are stories of loss, and grief, hope, and resurrection, that though rooted in both natural history and Christie’s own history, make room for us and  manage to transcend the earthly world. Here we are reminded that Placemaking is a vocational invitation from God for all of us—regardless of where we live or how we make our way in the world." ~ Kris Camealy,

"Christie’s words are lyrical beauty, an ode to place and peace. This book is a gentle call to all, no matter where God has us, to make place and cultivate hope." ~ Hannah Queen



Then I saw this other book by her and ordered it also. 




Here is info about this book.

“This is not a book. This is a sanctuary. Step inside and breathe again.”–Jennifer Dukes Lee

“When it comes to finding God in ordinary places, no one does it better than Christie Purifoy. Somehow her personal journey to find home turned into a spiritually informative pilgrimage for my own soul.”–Emily P. Freeman

“An astonishing, rhythmic work of unmatched artistry. There is no doubt: this book is a must-read for the lover of the quiet, contemplative, and beautiful.”–Seth Haines



These two books just seemed so right for me at this time of isolation. Prices were very good and I am looking forward to being inspired, encouraged and blessed by them.

Well, that's it from Plum Cottage, my stomach is saying it is time for some breakfast.

May you all have a lovely, peace filled day ~ FlowerLady

 




 

11 comments:

Cheryl said...

I just read about that book on Brenda's blog and it appeals to me too. Glad that you are feeling more at peace . . . a gift from the Peace Giver.

firefly819 said...

i saved a lot of money by buying a brand new in the box IPHONE but last years model. I purchased mine in January. The camera is fantastic and the battery life is great. THIS IS BRAND NEW and not refurbished. I bought mine at a Verizon store. Please be advised, i did a lot of research and the iPhone II is costly and salespeople will try to push it on you. I was determined not to spend a fortune. So I told them so and also what I needed and wanted in a phone. The salesperson was very helpful and understanding. I told her that I was on a very limited income and she helped me with not only the phone but also a vey modest plan. There are kind and helpful people out there. Since the pandemic, a lot of stores will be stuck with stock and also try to push the larger profit models. Also a good time to buy is when a new design comes out. The previous model is greatly reduced in price. Hope this helps. I love your blog and your photos are always glorious. We have had snow, frost and now torrential thunderstorms here in Michigan. I am so jealous of your weather.

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Hello Firefly819 ~ Thanks for your iPhone input. Before my nap I was starting to think about not buying new phone until after the new iphone comes out in the fall. Your story just encouraged me to WAIT, not be in such a rush. I didn't see a way to contact you so hope you see this. ~ FlowerLady

Ann said...

I've been wanting a new phone although mine isn't really that old. I scratched the lens on the camera though and it takes horrible pictures.
Those books both sound like good ones. Enjoy reading them

Ruth Hiebert said...

I know that the iPhone is a good choice. I have a iPhone 10 and really like it. The camera is great. Hope you can upgrade soon and enjoy the fun of photography.

Terra said...

I am sure you are the one who told me about the book Beholding and Becoming, which I bought and it is delightful. The two you describe here sound good too. I bought my first smart phone 2 years ago, an iPhone8X and find it very useful. If you buy the iPhone11 you can report on it for us. I see you like Terry Hershey, I sent him a contribution yesterday from my stimulus check.

Anne Payne said...

Both books sound good. Thanks for sharing the info about them. I've been out watering and trimming some this morning before it gets into the 80s today. I'm not a great gardener by any means but I do enjoy it when success happens! :-) I have several struggling plants right now and I'm not sure why. :-(
Have a joyful weekend, Rainey!!! ((hugs))

pilar said...

Hello! These books sound wonderful, Lorriane. I especially love the concept of EVERYONE being a gardener. Gardening is on my bucket list and although I'm making no moves towards making this a reality, I dream with it constantly. I pray that it's in the cards for me! These books look like worthy reads, I hope you enjoy them. The weather is warming up, ever so slowly, just in time with the city of Ottawa beginning its Stage 1 of reopening the economy. God bless you, Lorraine! Hope you stay feeling peaceful <3

Vee said...

How good that you found Brenda. Her blog is beautiful and she writes as well as the authors she features. Anxiety...blah...but it is no wonder that some of us are feeling it after this assault on everything we have ever known. May God hold us fast.

Cheryl said...

So thankful you are finding peace in the midst of such a turbulent time! God's peace surely does pass all human understanding. He is ever faithful!

Rebecca said...

Sounds like you're doing good research re. your new phone! The camera is the post important thing to me, as well.

The books sound great! Let us know what your favorite parts were when you're finished!