"Thank You", she whispered.

It's habit now to whisper "thank you" when I feel grateful. It comes as naturally as "bless you" when I hear a sneeze, and I'm thankful for the moment, in and of itself.

Just as creatures great and small are gifts from Heaven, so too are the blessings that come with daily living.


1. The ice cream man, every day at 3:30 sharp,
2. Hot pads,fresh brownies, and vanilla ice cream,
3. New friends...and old ones who re-appear,
4. Ethical businesses (and yes, there are still many),
5. Jeans that fit perfectly, 3 weeks out of each month, and for the pair that fit during your "off" week,
6. Comfortable shoes...
7. Ice water.
8.Good news,
9. "Bad news" that you can find a way to appreciate anyway,
10. Compliments, as awkward as they can be to accept. Accept them; they're a gift to you.
11. Cookbooks,
12. Heart shaped clouds,
13. Random acts of kindness, and the poor and humble who assist me in setting the best example possible.
14. For appreciation and compassion, the closest Sisters to Love.
15. And, for LOVE itself; Our driving force.

No power is greater, no force is more powerful.
Love IS the answer.

What is love? Love is appreciation and compassion.
Even for the little things.

Count your blessings, Sister.



(Ask not where not begin; love knows no beginning, and no end.
Simply give thanks.

Love is to the Process, what Gratitude is to your Heart.
One in being with the other).

Do not be afraid...

When the rains come, and clarity disapates, do not be afraid. Give thanks to God; He trusts you know the way.

When night falls, and it feels like you'll never see the sunshine again, do not be afraid. Give Thanks to God; He will never leave you in the dark. Not ever.

When it feels like no one on Earth understands and your cries fall on deaf ears, do not be afraid. Give thanks to God; He will always hear you.

The road might be long, and the nightfall can be scary; people will come and go...

But do not be afraid.
God will never leave you.

xo
Your sister under Him,
Elle

Bless Them.

I sneezed, just as soon as I stepped outside the Cafe this morning; I smelled the Orange Blossoms in the breeze, and sneezed again once more. I felt someone....and I turned around.
"Bless you", said a tall male stranger, heading inside...

"Thank you", I said. And, I meant it.

He didn't have to say anything; he could have just kept walking. He wasn't obligated in any way to say a word, never mind "Bless You", and besides that, all I did was sneeze...

But, I felt that man. Before he said I word to me, I felt him there. When eye contact was made, he offered me two of the kindest words you can offer in the human language. "Bless You".

The only thing that even comes close, is "Thank You".

♥
Bless Them...
And Bless You, Sister.

xo
Elle

It's Perfect.

My life is perfect.

When I was five years old, I conned a neighbor into removing my training wheels, since my father had refused.

It was perfect.

Later that day, my friends Big Sister, Christy, took me to the top of a hill, and let me go. She was teaching me.

To take my time…the scar on my knee is my constant reminder.

It really was perfect.


I am perfect.

My hair is dry since the second Baby was born, and the cancer came and went. Oh, yes… and the ass of my pajama pants tore open after a stressful few weeks. (Beer has more calories than you’d think, and they add up quickly). Also, I can’t find my cleavage.

Oh, wait…perfect.

It’s sitting politely here in front of me…just below my belly button…good to know where THAT came from!

I am now more approachable than ever before, and the people in my life love me exactly the way I am.

It’s so perfect.

This life is perfectly mine.

Your life is perfectly yours.

The entire thing, for all that it is, all that it was, and all that it has the potential to be…are perfect.

XO
Your Sister,
Elle

Power and Possiblity (AKA: Free Gifts)

Twice this week, I've found myself with hopes up high, saying out loud, "Well, all they can say is "NO". I said it once to my Real Estate Agent regarding a Lender, and another time to the principal of a Private School I hoped to get my son into (but missed the two week cut off period for enrollment).

Neither of the "deals" I wanted ended up materializing...because I CHOSE for them not to happen.

"ALL they could say was NO".

So, of course, with all other options off the table...

Clearly, I offered no alternative in either case.

As disquieting as this lesson seemed to be at the time, it's actually one of the MOST empowering, and IN YOUR FACE examples, of my personal power that I could possibly have displayed for myself! This disallowing attitude in my spirit has not served me well these last few days.

From now on, "ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE".

"All they can say is NO" is GONE forever...unless you ACTUALLY want a NO. Then, fire away, Sister...

BUT, if you want it - NO MATTER WHAT IT IS - if you REALLY want it, then SMILE BIG, let your light shine, and say...

"ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE".

Because, Sister...it IS your choice, and ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

(We'll keep reminding each other,OK? It's what sisters do).


xo
Your Sister,
Elle

Survive or Thrive; It's Your Choice

Pick one, then, take the other one OFF the table. It will be eliminated, and no longer be an option for you. My girlfriend and I had a conversation the other day that will not stop replaying in my mind...

The conversation went something like this:

Lanie: "We're survivors, Elle, and we're still surviving! I really have hope that things will only get better".

Me: "I cant own, "Surviving", Sister..I just cant. I survived already; that means I whooped that storms ass, rather than the other way around..I made it; now, I'm ready to Thrive".

We sat quiet for a few...Lannie and I both come from similar backgrounds, and truly, I do consider us to be survivors; aside form the biggie that both of us spent the second half of our childhoods in the foster care system, both of us have been sexually abused, both of us have had physically abusive partners, both of us work in the same field, both of us have parallel feelings towards change, the process, and the NOW...

In our NOW, and in our silence, we realized that we really are not surviving anything; We're thriving...

TO THRIVE:

: to grow vigorously : flourish

: to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances.

♥

When the cashier asks, "How are you today"?

There will be no more, "Eh, survivin'".

Now respond with "Thriving, thank you, and you?"

Make eye contact..OWN WHAT YOU'VE JUST SAID ..

Allow this.

(Remember, there's not a single other option on the table...)

This is your process, your experience, and your NOW. Make this statement yours, and THRIVE.

Regardless of your circumstances. (Thriving is your birth right).



Abundant love and peace,

xo
Your Sister,

Elle