Today I read the sweetest post on Facebook.

It really tugged at my heartstrings!

I just had to share.

.

Our 14-year-old dog Abbey died last month. The day after she passed away my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so, and she dictated these words:

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.

I hope you will play with her. She likes to swim and play with balls. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies.’ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help and I recognized her right away.

Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I’m easy to find. I am wherever there is love.

Love, God

 

 

I am in love with the person who took the time out of their busy day to make a family’s  heart feel better.

(and the cynic in me understands that this might be a made up story just for the internet– if it is– let’s have a few more like this!)

Find the beauty in life!

Hugs

Do you find it easy to Love what YOU love?

Recently reading about various peoples happiness projects, several have spoken about how hard it is to really know ourselves. Because to take a good hard look,  do you  find you are doing what you love or are you doing what others love?

Are you always doing for others before yourself?

I certainly know that in my younger days that certainly what my every day life was totally about and often I feel guilty now because now it’s all about me.  I believe in serving others but not to the expense of loosing who we are.

Don’t get me wrong, I love stretching and pushing and growing.  I am very excited that I can still learn.
 I love Black and White old photos.  It seems that the depth of the stories are enhanced when the colors are gone and the simplicity is laid bare. 

I am recently working on some projects turning colored shots into Black and White and it is not as easy as I thought it would be.  Vintage black and whites are so fun to study.

In coming weeks I am going to focus on what I know I love… 

Tell me a little about what you love and how you focus on it. 

Hope you find the beauty in your life!

Have a great week.

Claudia
PS– be sure and visit Mary at Little Red House for other Mosaics.

Realizing that my outdoor PINK opportunities were fading just as my Summer began slipping quietly away… I took a much needed drive to one of my favorite spots. Le Chaille, a French inspired Chateau and Gardens. Nestled at the base of the Cottonwood Canyon, I drove up the winding brick lined lane.

I am often asked about where I took the shot of my “header” (Top of my blog page) It is actually the shot of the Le Chaille front gate that I took when I was on my first trip several years ago — in mid May if I recall correctly. I fell in love with the peace that was there. The grounds keeper gave me permission to wander as I pleased.

This is how the grounds look in late August. Isn’t the entrance breath taking? Even at times a bit over whelming visually. Take a moment to really look at all their details.

Definitely the French inspiration…

When the cold and bitter winds howl this Fall and Winter I am sure I will dive into my Le Chaille folder for a touch of Pink pick me up.

Have the happiest of weekends– Visit Melissa at the Inspired Room (with her Beautiful things gathering) as well as Julia at Hooked on Houses where she celebrates things that make us happy… don’t for get to see the LONG list of Pink celebrators with Bev at How Sweet the Sound.

TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ ♥

Meet Mr. Flop– I am guessing a distant cousin of Peter Rabbit… you know, of Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit and Friends.

Just recently I re-watched Miss Potter, with Renee Zellweger.  Sincerely one of the most delightful films of late. It is a love story, not only of the human kind but of her love of her beloved Peter Rabbit, who was a naughty little bunny that steals vegetables from Mr. McGregers garden despite his Mother’s advise. My suggestion would be: watch it with someone you love; I did. (**waving hi to my Mother)

I suppose, after watching this divine visual inspiration, that was the reason my Serendipity road took me along a path that had me meet up with many of Peter Rabbits friends.

I’ m serious as a heart attack when I tell you these colorful creatures heard me walk around the corner and up they swam to swiftly say hello! I suppose they might be used to 2 legged creatures such as myself feeding them– I had nothing which lead to a stern scolding from Mr. Black Bill.

He really sqwaked at me for some time — then turned on his heels and told the other’s I was not their early morning meal ticket as they had hoped.

I did tell the lovely ladies I thought their bright orange wadding boots  looked stunning, nothing like a great pair of shoes!– none the less they turned waving their little feathered hinnies towards me hardly saying a good-bye!

Samantha Swan was enjoying her morning bath and reflection. (I personally like bubbles)

If you look very carefully to the right, you can see Benjamin and Adam and Brittni  not far away from their burrow.  When I walked a bit closer ! In they went… just as their mother had told them. GOOD little Bunnies!

Sometime ago, I shared a previous visit with Mr. P (click here to see other Post about him) 

I am not sure if this was my original Mr. P — or his step-brother Phil (note the not so full tail feathers) but none the less he gave me a handsome side profile pose as he walked away from me.

It was just another PERFECT day… living a beautiful life, walking down my Dipity Road.

Visit Melissa, with her gathering of A Beautiful Life celebrators; and Julia at Hooked on Houses where both of these ladies share with the blogging world fun gatherings to inspire one another.

Ohh! This week at Pink Saturday Bev challenged us to each “spot light” another blog we enjoy in the Blog-o-sphere… So I am sharing simply one of the most creative Blogs I have come across. Karen is a true artist… but more important her blog is MAGIC– her music is perfect and her watercolors and imagination sublime.  Visit her at A Scrapbook of Inspiration.  Below is one of her MANY originals… such a beauty isnt it?? Ohhh and PINK! 

Have a wonderful end of the week!

TTFN~~ Claudia ♥ ♥

Traveling another Serendipitous road… took me with a  friend up into the North East mountains of Utah.

Tucked up into the Rocky mountains we visited a Cistercian monastery. The tree lined entrance was breath taking.  A group of Monks who grow crops of alfalfa and barley; 7 times during the day gather for prayer and chanting. The reverence I felt the moment we left our car was amazing. Such a simple life they lead. The chants were lovely and uplifting but it was meeting Father “Joseph” that made my day.

This darling man touched my heart. He eluded to his age; approximately in his 80′s and he told us that Monks don’t get buried in caskets but only in what he was wearing that day. With the biggest smile told us his “bags were already packed” and he patted his robe.  Would you just look at that lovely smile and those twinkling eyes!

My  friend who had driven us up,  recently lost her job. He softly said that he knew she would be employed shortly but that he would also say a prayer on her behalf.  Neither of us were Catholic, but this man of God, was so simple and pure. He said something that I will never forget as we were leaving. We told him to have a great afternoon and then  he replied, “I always do, I haven’t had a bad one yet.”  and you know what? I am sure he hasn’t.

I asked him if I might take a picture of his hands and  he laughed softly at me saying that about 50 years ago he could’ve understood why I wanted to photograph them, but now he didn’t understand. I thought his hands were glorious. They brought to mind an excerp  of one of my favorite lyrics by Kenneth Cope.

His Hands…

his hands would serve his whole life though
showing man what hands might do
giving, ever giving, endlessly
each day was filled with selflessness
and i’ll not rest until i make up my hands what they could be
’til these hands become like those from galilee

Perhaps this post might have been better, had it been posted on Sunday, but I could not wait to share this delightful day with all my friends and dear ones. I sincerely loved visiting the Monks – (thanks so much Miss Pam) Please stop by and see what others at Its a Beautiful life and Hooked on Fridays have in store for you all. Also, a new party on Sunday … visit Ginger at Spiritual Sundays.

TTFN~~Claudia ♥ ♥

As far back as I can recall I have romanticized beds,

bed linens and simply bedroom decor.

The Bed~~ where at the end of a long day we bring our weary bodies to be refreshed.

Big fluffy textures beckon us to lay on them– to rest– to read– to relax…

Our senses enhanced by soft music , fragrant perfumed pillows and dimmed light, lull us to slumber

Satins, Velvets, Cottons and tassles become  friends

Don’t you think any guest would feel welcome in this retreat?

May the end of this week be a lovely one, where you can enjoy your Beautiful Life(visit Melissa) and as you can see I am definitely Hooked on Pillows and beds. Visit Julia at Hooked on Houses… and of course Beverly at How sweet the Sound for Pink Saturday.

Grab your favorite book and glass of ice tea and enjoy a soft day– at least for a moment.

TTFN~~ Claudia  ♥ ♥