Tea

Mango Ceylon Black tea, to be exact, from Republic of Tea.

I've got a serious sore throat right now and it's nice and soothing to drink!

Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. ~Thich Nat Hahn

Parijat

He plays such beautiful music. I came across Parijat on Myspace about a week ago. He categorizes his music as healing/easy listening and it certainly is that!

It is so relaxing and gentle and always keeps me in a calm mood when I listen to his CD. I downloaded his CD, titled Buddha Garden, from New Earth Records (http://www.newearthrecords.com/). I enjoy this CD, not only just for listening to throughout my day, but for practicing yoga and meditation. If you are like me, and enjoy beautiful, peaceful music that will help in allowing you to turn inward - Buddha Garden is for you!!!

Namaste'

Parijat:
http://www.parijatmusic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/parijatmusic

Music is the wine which inspires one to new generative processes, and I am Bacchus who presses out this glorious wine for mankind and makes them spiritually drunken. ~Ludwig van Beethoven

having a brain!

Because I need it to process all of the wonderful information that I am learning during my yoga training... and through all of life's lessons, too! It's taking in A LOT of info that it hasn't had to do since my college days. Thank goodness it hasn't burst... not yet, anyway! :) Something one of my yoga teachers said this past weekend has really stuck with me, "You don't practice yoga, it practices you." Strangely enough, I'm finding that to be true little by little each day...

*i missed a few days of posting due to my travels to austin for school*

An educational system isn't worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living but doesn't teach them how to make a life. ~Author Unknown

Daily Word

I receive Daily Word everyday through email. It is a wonderful way to start my day!! I thought today's was especially beautiful. I do pray for world peace and envision it!

Today's Daily Word - Wednesday, July 18, 2007

World Peace

God’s harmonizing love encircles our world, establishing peace and understanding.

Attuning ourselves to God’s love, we naturally live and work in harmony with others. We share endless possibilities for mutual kindness and cooperation.

Understanding and appreciation flow from one person to another and then still more people. What began with only a few people now moves out to embrace communities, countries, and then the world. As the love of God moves throughout humanity, a beautiful spectacle of synchronized, harmonious activity takes place.

In oneness with God and with each other, we participate in a global exchange of love. Aligning ourselves with God’s love in prayer, we place ourselves at the right time and in the right place to share love with others. This outpouring of God’s love unites us and harmonizes our world.

“Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”—Romans 14:19

I gather much inspiration from Unity: www.unityonline.org

If you live in the Nacogdoches area: www.unityofnac.org

Recipes!!

I grabbed a recipe tonight for Minestrone soup from www.allrecipes.com and is what y-u-m-m-y!! I think it was the rain. It gave me a craving for something warm and hearty. I've been enjoying cooking a lot more these days and I've had quite a bit of success with this site... especially on the days when I'm not able to conjure up my own delectable dish. I welcome recipes, especially healthy ones.

Here's the link for the Minestrone Soup: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/30-Minute-Minestrone/Detail.aspx **I made a couple of changes to the recipe to suite my taste. Plus I like my food spicy!!

Strawberries are the angels of the earth, innocent and sweet with green leafy wings reaching heavenward. ~Jasmine Heiler

Morning Glory Yoga Studios

The yoga studio re-opened today with Amy as the new owner!! Yay!! I sure missed going to the studio since it's been closed the last 2 weeks!

And I met the gal that played Mrs. Kelly in the Annie Warbucks play at class today!!! Isn't that funny? I love the way the world works!

If I'm losing balance in a pose, I stretch higher and God reaches down to steady me. It works every time, and not just in yoga. ~Terri Guillemets

Snapshots

Sometimes it's just fun to point & shoot!

A good snapshot stops a moment from running away. ~Eudora Welty

Music

There's something about music that can transport me to a different time, a different place. I love just about all types of music. Today, I came across an artist that is going to make a wonderful addition to my yoga/meditation collection: Parijat. I downloaded his CD, Buddha Garden, and I love it. Actually, I'm listening to it right now!!

Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness. ~Maya Angelou, Gather Together in My Name

Annie Warbucks

I bought my ticket today to watch the sequel to Annie!! Yay!! I had no idea someone had written a second part to Annie. I'm going to see it on Sunday at the Lamp-Lite Theater (it's a local venue in Nacogdoches) and I can't wait!!

An artist cannot fail; it is a success to be one. ~Charles Horton Cooley

My Eyes

...for seeing the world's beauty,
...for capturing moments of time with my camera,
...for reading,
...for gazing into the eyes of a loved one...

I am thankful for the gift of sight.

It's easy to understand love at first sight, but how do we explain love after two people have been looking at each other for years? ~Author Unknown

Seeing old friends

Oops! Missed posting yesterday. Blame it on tunnel vision. I was so into editing my photos. I'm like a kid at a candy store when I get my photos back!!

So, this post is for yesterday...

Had dinner and a drink last night with an old friend from high school whom I haven't seen in years. It's always so nice to catch up!!

Thanks for calling, Lisa!

Friends are those rare people who ask how you are and then wait for the answer. ~Author Unknown

Rain

I do love to watch and listen to a really strong shower of rain. It has such a relaxing quality about it. It's just the BEST day to stay home and curl up with a good book. We've had so much rain lately that it was nice to see the sunshine today. I took this picture over the weekend. The shower didn't last long, probably just about 20 minutes. I had just been next door picking up a package left at the neighbor's house. As soon as I shut my front door the rain came down. Talk about perfect timing!!!

Let your love be like the misty rains, coming softly, but flooding the river. ~Malagasy Proverb

"Pamkin"

Photo copyright of Jennifer Chua Photography, 2007

Pamkin, oh my gosh!!! Dad, you crack me up!

My dad is notorious for "creating" his own words. I love it! I call them Dadisms and I do keep record of them. This is such a wonderfully funny example! My brother and sister-in-law have the cutest cat named Pumpkin, but Dad, bless his heart thought it was Pamkin!! Tsk tsk! (They've only had her since October 2006; hence the name Pumpkin)...

Love you Dad and yes, you're what I'm thankful for today, too....and every day!

The problem with cats is that they get the exact same look on their face whether they see a moth or an axe-murderer. ~Paula Poundstone

Sunshine

After all of the rain we've been having it was GREAT to see the sun today!!

If you're photographing in color you show the color of their clothes - if you use black and white, you will show the color of their soul. ~Author Unknown

Massages

Ah, serenity....

I used to think that I would be totally weirded out by some stranger touching me, but let me tell you, after my first ever massage.... that thought totally went out the window!! I had a massage today because my neck and shoulders were pretty tense. My therapist loosened me up completely!! Thanks, Christel! I'll definitely be going back! I'm seriously considering the Ashiatsu massage and want to treat myself to the Hawaiian Lomi Lomi!!

Yay for massages and soft, gentle fingers!!

This is where I went:
www.omshantimassagestudio.com w/Christel Patel

Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. ~Mother Teresa

Vacations

Jamaica (view from the cruise ship)

I love going on vacation...and cruising is the absolute BEST way to go! Oh, Italy, I'll make it over there one day...

Where are you going on vacation this summer?

Fudgesicles!!!!

There is just nothing better than a nice, creamy chocolate-y fudgesicle on a hot and steamy day!! ...and eating the sinful treat as it begins to melt is the most fun because I try to catch the drips before they hit the ground. Yummy!! and you just can't beat all that fun for only 100 calories a pop!

...yes, I have a love affair with food!

"Like Jesus we belong to the world living not for ourselves but for others. The joy of the Lord is our strength." ~Mother Teresa

Flowers

photo copyright of Jennifer Chua Photography

...because they're pretty...what a girly thing to say!! who doesn't enjoy a beautiful bunch of flowers?! i love to keep fresh flowers in the house. they're such an expression of beauty and of life...and well, they put a smile on my face.

gotta do the things that make us smile!!

"We need a repeated discipline, a genuine training, in order to let go of our old habits of mind and to find and sustain a new way of seeing." ~Jack Kornfield

My Voice

i am thankful for that part of me which allows me to express myself from within and out into the world. i began this year with an intention of finding my true voice (everyday is a practice in finding her) and always speaking to all of those that cross my path from a place of love. i'd like to think i am accomplishing this goal day by day...

namaste'

"Want what you have and don't want what you don't have. Here you will find true fulfillment." -Jack Kornfield