Greatest Gift of All: #Story

Posted on December 2, 2014 by Pat

Ah, it’s December and officially the time when we turn our attention to giving and the holy magic of love. Once again, in the spirit of Christmas, I’m honored to be Susan’s guest over at “Finding Our Way Now” with my final contribution of this month’s story.

I hope it will warm your heart and tickle your soul as I remembered a childhood gift of long ago and a special Christmas. Enjoy!

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Greatest Gift of All

In the U.S., we’re in the heart of the holiday season having just enjoyed the festivities of Thanksgiving. Now, it will soon be Christmas. The hustle and bustle is beginning as families around the world prepare to celebrate their special traditions.

Make no bones about it, somewhere in the middle of it all, no matter the culture, there’s bound to be a gift or two.

That got me thinking about gifts and the ones I’ve received down through the years. As hubby and I were talking about it, I tried to remember the gifts I received and only a couple came to mind from long ago. (read more)

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Thank you and I hope you’ll go over to Susan’s site and spread the love.

Pat from the ol’ kitchen table

Time to Give ― Be Grateful ― Reflect

Posted on November 24, 2014 by Pat

Time to give, time to be grateful, time to reflect ― it’s almost Thanksgiving in the U.S. and, like most, we’re busy planning and preparing. But, this year will be a quiet celebration for hubby and me. We’ll be hanging around home eating, watching football games and old Hallmark movies ― just the two of us.

Sounds traditional, but not really, I can already feel the closeness of home and energy of gratitude. I cherish these times together and remember it was just last year when hubby took ill suddenly and was in and out of the hospital a couple of times between Christmas and New Year’s. Continue reading →

Acknowledgements: John Koenig at "The Dictionary of Obs more...

Poppies Honor Lives They Would Have Led

Posted on November 11, 2014 by Pat

Every year, on the 11th Month ― 11th Day ― and the 11th Hour, we pause to honor and pay tribute to those who now serve and those who have paid the ultimate price for keeping our countries free and safe.

Poppies I Photo by Charlotta Wasteson (https://www.flickr.com/photos/46202322@N03/5108010636)

It is fitting that some 4 million people have visited the Tower of London to view a sea of 888,246 erected ceramic poppies, one for each fallen British soldier of World War I. It was supposed to be the war that ends all wars.

From the NBC National News comes a report by Brian Williams on “Tower of London Poppies Honor ‘Lives They Would Have Led’” Continue reading →

Little Things: #Story #Poem

Posted on November 4, 2014 by Pat

Fall colors in the Rockies — © Pat Ruppel

We’re moving right along into the heart of the holiday season not being too far removed from Halloween. With gratitude and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I’m honored to be Susan Cooper’s guest at “Finding Our Way Now” with the contribution of this month’s story.

I hope it will bring you home to the things that are important in your life. Please enjoy:

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The Little Things

What is one thing that you still remember to this day that warms your heart and puts a smile on your face? I’ll bet it was something spontaneous and incidental but you still remember it as if it was just yesterday….where you were, who was with you, the sounds and smells.

It’s not anything big – you tune into the little things. It may be a twinkle in the eyes of a loved one as they tell you some exciting news or read something to you that inspired them.

My husband wrote a poem years ago that is one of those special little things that means a lot to me. I have it hanging on the wall.

He was taking some classes in college at the time and not long before we had left our roots in Toledo and Cape Charles, VA and headed west.

It was 1969 and our trek was similar to a modern-day wagon train except we were in our Volvo station wagon with 2 dogs pulling a U-Haul. . . (read more)

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Thank you, Susan, for the opportunity to share my story with your readers. It is my hope this will kick off the month with love and gratitude and carry throughout the holidays.

Blessings ~ from Pat at the ‘ol kitchen table (also see “You Were There“)

You Were There

Guest Post: Boo! What Scares You? by Pat Ruppel

Posted on October 31, 2014 by Pat

Two Pumpkins carved into Jack-o-Lanterns for Halloween

Hi everyone — I’m honored to be John’s guest over at “John Cali and Spirit” with my contribution of “Boo! What Scares You? by Pat Ruppel“.

This holiday and time of the year always reminds me of spooky times and of loved ones that have passed.

Here’s a little story I posted a year ago and begins like this:

It’s October and today we celebrate Halloween, where we see scary costumes, cornfield mazes and spooky ghost houses. It’s a fun time for kids and adults to let go and pretend.

It’s also the season when we’re more acceptable of the world of the paranormal. Perhaps we’re even open to tune in and listen for something beyond what we normally hear and see.

Our bodies feel the subtle energy shifts, as Nature begins to slumber. The trees drop their leaves and the plants die with the cold temperatures. There’s a bite in the air and the sky takes on a different hue, as the sun slowly alters its path around the earth.

Underneath it all there’s a fascination with death and the unknown. Otherwise why would zombies, Dracula and once-upon-a-time fairy tales be so popular these days?

Does it scare you to talk about ghosts or entertain the idea of loved ones still being with you, energetically, on a different plane? Maybe that’s what both fascinates and scares us, the unknown, the invisible and the obscure.

I hope you’ll drop by John’s site, leave a comment and share the love.

Thank You!

Pat at the ol’ kitchen table