Reclaim a Life of Joy

Hi friends! It’s been awhile. Seems a post on thanksgiving is an appropriate way to make my return. Ive soent the lady years in derp thought about so many tjings! It gas truly been an afbenrure into Adrianas witls! Lol

I’m thinking about gratefulness today hike cooking our feast. Most of all I’m grateful for my privilege it provides me freedom to be me. I’m acutely aware of those not so lucky. That said for me it’s also a time of year I remember and recall those who have made me ____ well me!

So this list is for them and how thier spirits come together to form my menu today and my life. I’m grateful for each one.
Turkey: my own design
Carmel apple pecan crumb pie: my own design
Grammy Radice: stuffing
Gramma Nicholson: mashed potatoes
SIL Theresa: Gravy
Green beans: Grammy R again

You see I don’t cook with recipes I cook with love and those who came before. My mother inlaw taught me that and so much more. That great bunch of strong females who have poured into me both as I grew and those who formed them. The link is there it continues on for generations in our food in gathering around the table. It’s life blood is the laughter, joy, tears and tastes that are offered, shared and passed on.

May you find peace and gratefulness in this day, in gathering with neighbors and family, old and new. May you be blessed with enough and offer grace to yourself and those you touch.

A reminder to myself that all are gifts from God!

“I will pour out my spirit on all flesh.”
—Joel 2.28

“The people you love
are not just there by quirk.
They are God's love breathed upon you.
All those you meet are vessels of the Spirit.
Everything that exists—the trees, the mountains—
all are emanations of the Spirit of Love.
Nothing, no one, not even your enemies,
are devoid of that Spirit.
It may be denied, silenced, opposed, defied—
but it is still there.
Sit by the pond and behold its holiness.
Listen to the stranger and hear the divine breath.
Be still, and let the Spirit pour over you.”
~~ Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light

As summer winds down and all of life turns toward fall I find myself out in the garden daily. There are weeds to pull, flowers to deadhead, garlic to plant, new gutter spouts to reroute and the list goes on! September is a busy month outside and in.

This morning I flash cooked a gallon of green beans for the freezer. Wish is fascinating given the 1st photo is of the over grown mess. I’m not always a neat gardener. I like a little chaos in my life and my garden. Lol Besides it’s a happy accident.

The tomatoes I grew in with the beans liked the weather so well they grew ginormous! They are over six feet tall and the fruit was so heavy they toppled over onto the beans! And still they have given us tomatoes in great abundance in size, flavor and number.

I went out to fill the bird feeder and quick check the beans and tomatoes to discover a plethora of beans ready to come in. I’d bet I have another gallon to freeze.

I feel very grateful to have such beauty and goodness in our small garden. It’s life giving and affirming to watch as it blooms sharing life and food under the watchful care of both the Creator and me. Later this winter when I cook those beans I’ll be reminded of the summer sun with its abundance will come again.

I haven't shared much here lately. I've been deep in my own world painting Gods wonder as I see it. Today I was catching up on reading and this blog post got me thinking about grief. Enjoy the read.

Like Us As long as we’re talking about squirrels, for the last few minutes I’ve been watching a pair glide up and down then up again along a hickory tree behind our house. I think it’s a hickory, I need to confirm. At first I thought they were chasing each other, but from my perch they seem to be side...

Wondering what I've been up too? Well tons of art, spirituality, faith and joy!!! if your in Charlottesville come out for this opening night art exhibit. 3 of my latest floral pieces will be featured. Hope you can join me and the other artists.

FRI | May 27 @ 5 pm
Fralin After Five: The Little Museum of Art Opening & Under Story Performance

Join The Fralin and Under Story for a collaborative celebration of art!

The Fralin will host a public reception for the opening of The Little Museum of Art’s “May Flowers” and the immersive performance, “Social Dance” by Shandoah Goldman’s Under Story. The performance will take place on Mad Bowl field at 6 pm, followed by a talk back with the performers at 7 pm outside The Fralin. We’ll have refreshments and music by DJ Abel Okugawa.

Link in bio to learn more about Under Story and to reserve a FREE ticket to the immersive experience.

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As I was picking my Asparagus beans this morning I was reminded of the first time I ever had the pleasure of eating them. Several years ago we had a first generation immigrant family living next door. They came from China and only the 2 children (5+8) spoke English. They were all friendly and kindhearted.

We shared a love of gardening which grew into more. We swapped food over the fence weekly to learn a bit about each other. I cooked Italian food for them and their grandmother made delectable dishes for us. Soon we even shared a few cooking lessons.

The first time beans came over the fence there were two types: yard long beans and poke beans. Thier little girl told me she liked the pole beans best. I asked why? She proceeded to tell me the long beans were very spicy and she didn’t like how spicy they grew! They were indeed spicy and we loved them. Later her grandma taught me to stir fry those beans using sesame oil and fried chili paste. That’s still how I make them. They are spicy and warm like I remember her family.

This year they have grown all summer. It’s been to hot for the pole beans to flourish. Now that it’s cooler they too will start to bear fruit. This story seemed important today as we begin to welcome new comers into our communities. There is much goodness to be learned and shared if we try.

Peace and much joy!
Adriana

Example journal painting for a retreat painting meditation this weekend. If your interested in painting as a way to experience sacred readings ask me. I love guiding people to use creativity to accent their spiritual practice. No experiences nessesary. 💜

Word and color play for meditation.

Are you looking to bring life into focus this spring? Grow or expand your spiritual practices? Do you long for someone to listen as you process the grief, frustration or trauma of the past year? Perhaps you just want to meet with a group to pray scripture/sacred readings and hear the Creators voice.

I offer Coaching, Spiritual Direction or counseling to assist in your journey towards clearness and wellbeing. Let’s talk about where you are and where you hope to be. The journey is always better with friends. Contact me for more information and start your journey to wholeness.

So it’s late February and I was doing yard work as always. This annual event goes back decades. It holds space in anticipation of what’s to come. This time also carries deep loss in its ritual.

In late February 1993 I was preparing the garden for spring when my mom became ill and died 5 days later. Then because The universe has this odd way of things happening on anniversaries, 12 yrs or so later I lost my second mom, my mother in law. Yes they died on the same day years apart from one another. Their memorial services were even held on the same day years apart.

I think it happened this way because God knew my heart couldn’t handle remembering their love and experiencing this sense of deep loss twice in a year. Yet this sense of loneliness is always filled with the anticipation of resurrection too.

That is where the gardening comes in. Each year it reminds my soul there is new life coming, it’s just around the corner. The sadness I feel will be replaced by years of memories, flowers, vegetables and sunshine enjoyed with both of them. The sadness is always swept away on a spring breeze. New days greeted by daffodils nodding their affirmation that all will be made new.

For lent I've chosen to dig into an Ignatian Prayer Adventure. These words caught me...
"You are mine, I have called you by name"
And: "This work is nothing other than a giving of the divine Self in love. The logical consequence for us must surely be that our part is to let ourselves be loved, let ourselves be given to, let ourselves be worked upon by this great God and made capable of total union with Him."

—Ruth Burrows, Essence of Prayer

Can I let myself be completely given over to this love, this One who loves me more than I can ever imagine? Today I begin this journey fresh, this walk back to myself, back to the God who knows me best, who says i am theirs, who calls me by name and loves me.

You can join me in this practice at

An Ignatian Prayer Adventure: Week 1: Love, Freedom, and Purpose An Ignatian Prayer Adventure Week 1 explores the themes of love, freedom, and purpose. Join this online Spiritual Exercises retreat.

I was introduced to Ann Voskamp recently by a directee friend. Often they gift my soul more than I do theirs! These words today caught me "In this polarized war over what is truth, what is reality, what is identity, what is Christianity, what is evangelicalism, what is wrong, what is right, what is left, all I’ve got is this:

Create your own alternate god, and you end up living in an alternate reality...

Live in a universe where the sun revolves around you, and eventually life as you want it will wither up and die.:"

I am a Jesus follower who sometimes questions my belief in God. Jesus is how I find and orient my life towards God. You may find a different path to God, God is bigger than our human constructs. For those of you who are Jesus followers take a few minutes, breath, read this post and press into who you are.

Questioning Believing in God? Me too. I’m Doing This Instead. - Ann Voskamp In these strange days: There is more than believing in God. There is enjoying living in God.