With all this snow outside, I thought I would share my first Christmas photo shoot with you! Thank goodness the sun was outside because the snow is very cold! Unlike my older brother, Chert, I DO NOT love sitting in the snow! He, however, would just sit in it for hours, as I was told! I wish that I had met him, but that defeats the whole reason I am here, doesn’t it? Because I am Chert’s Gift to the family he left behind when he went home to be with his Master. The children in the neighborhoood Chert grew up in used to call his Master “Mr. John” which made him smile and fill his heart with joy. Children have a way of doing that, as I so love when the piano and art students come to visit!
So, my first Christmas was fascinating as the artificial Christmas tree stood positioned between the living room and piano parlor entryway. This cut my running route off, so I had to learn to scoot through the sides of the tree! I thoroughly enjoyed sliding on the tree skirt positioned underneath the tree atop the wood flooring! The ornaments and lights became fascinating to look at, and staring at them for any length of time began to mesmerize me! I must confess I did bat at a few of the ornaments, but much prefer my catnip toys! When gifts were opened, I enjoyed playing with all the ribbons, tissue and wrapping paper – not to mention the boxes were fun for jumping in and hiding inside!
My most memorable experience that first Christmas was the beautiful music, colorful lights and warm feeling of pure love surrounding and enveloping the season. As a natural wayshower myself with born intuitive instincts, I feel this intoxicating love and kindness within me and surrounding me and enveloping me with such joyous, peaceful tranquility. We angelic animals are here to assist in transmuting and transforming these man-made, inconsistent and damaging thoughts, words and actions into joy, peace and love. Chert knew it. I know it. We have to assist in being the light and doing the work to bring about restoration to our world one loving thought, word or action at a time.
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” Dalai Lama
“You are a child of the Universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.”
Max Ehrmann
OK, so the joke about this cover photograph has to do with the beginning of sharing the original manuscript with friends and family, with the first draft completed September 2010. My good friend, Debbie Standard, arrived at Arrowhead Parable Christian Center with her first copy of the story in manuscript format and traded it in for the published book! You gotta love it!
My cousin, Michelle Michalek, arrived early for her copy of Chert’s story. The book signing had a tremendous outpouring of my extended family which warmed my heart and soul! So very thankful for their encouragement and support in this labor of love!
So here is the real “synchronicity” about the dress I am wearing. The top beaded neckline of the dress that I made is taken from a party dress of my Grandmother Marge’s. She was my first editor of the manuscript. As a word lady and Scrabble, Upwords and Crossword Wiz, she also had the married name from her first husband of Margaret Mitchell, the author at the time of “Gone With The Wind.” Her use of words has been a strong influence in the building of becoming an author in my life. Thank you, Grandma! Ya Ti Muc Muc Muc Lubiem!!!
As Aunt Kathy Stolarcyk walked in and saw me, she smiled ear to ear and asked me if that was Grandma Marge’s dress, as I told her it was the collar from her dress. The beaded dress is what Grandma Marge wore to Aunt Kathy and Uncle Mike’s wedding! I could feel wedding energy in the dress, and now know where exactly she had worn it!
Quilted Painting of Hummingbird with beadwork
As some of you have seen from a previous posting, I painted a hummingbird on the yellow dress of my Grandmother Marge’s and utilized all the beadwork from the hemline of that dress to frame the picture. Interestingly enough, my hummingbirds have been coming back around to the feeder this week and I am reminded of my beloved Grandmother Marge whose first anniversary is on the Blessed Mother’s Assumption. Ironically, my Grandmother Susie Marchell also passed on that sacred day as well, with Mom’s anniversary being Easter Sunday, so I have been very blessed with such spiritually strong, powerful and loving women figures in my life!
“The color PINK represents caring, compassion, unconditional love and understanding.”
“The color YELLOW symbolizes friendliness, warmth and honesty; displaying light, hope and encouragement.”
My cousin Michelle Stolarcyk arrived as we shared our stories about Grandpa Stolarcyk and his crazy wild pants that he would wear as well as Chert’s love of Battaglini Bread from my Uncle Joe and Aunt Carol’s bakery, where no dogs are allowed!
Now here is another “synchronicity” story about Becky Tinker, a previous co-worker with my Mom who happened to move across the street from me a few years ago! We have great fun together and always feel my Mom’ Joyous Spirit hovering around us when we go for our walks around the neighborhood! I offered Becky the manuscript, but she wanted to book instead!
Thank you to Craig Hall at Arrowhead Parable Christian Store, to all the people who came to visit and hear about Chert’s story and purchase a book for themselves or family and friends! I hope that Chert’s story warms their hearts and gives them some insight into the short and purposeful lives of angels in furry clothing!
“My Father’s Greatest Gift: Life Lessons from a Black English Labrador Retriever” is available online through Barnes and Noble, Amazon, etc., as well as my website:
From Chert Dog’s perspective, “Doghead is pretty easy to learn, you just have to speak from your heart.” This velvety Black with Chocolate accents English Labrador Retriever came…
Throughout the creative process, I paint pictures, write stories, take photographs and compose music which all interweave into the tapestry of my life. Though viewing the process from the underside with all the loose threads it appears to be quite a mess, the passion within is determined to interweave all the colorful threads to behold a brilliant gift from the Universe!
This copyrighted piano composition is inspired by 1 Corinthians 13 and spans my life journey. When my beloved Mother passed, Dad had this engraved on their stone:
“A hug, a smile, a kiss, fond memories of a lifetime”
(Posted on You Tube as well as on my blog’s Piano, Art and Photography tab, with some of my artwork, photography and family photos to go along with the music).
Brrrrr, is it ever cold and windy from this high vantage point! All I can remember, really, is somebody took me for a long car ride and when the vehicle finally stopped, I was thrown out of it into a very dark and scary night. I am so thankful that I have excellent night vision because it helped me negotiate my unfamiliar surroundings. The side of the country road had pieces of rock salt which went in between my “20 paws and 22 claws” and I let out a squeak as I attempted to find some soft snow to wash away the sting. Yep, I was born with five toes on each of my paws and two extra claws which are located nicely between my “thumb” and four toes on my front two legs. Do you think THAT is the reason why they left me here? I know I have really big paws, but that’s what makes me unique!
Then, this really LOUD truck went chu-chugging along by where I had been soaking my paws and the bright headlights startled me as I ran away from the roadside into the pitch blackness of the slopping field below. There were rocks and clumps of snow together with prickly bushes and a barbed wire fence. Somehow I negotiated through the midnight maize towards some dried grass and welcoming brush. This seemed like a reasonable spot to take a rest for a bit, or so I thought. All of a sudden, some type of wild animal came out of the blindness of the night running right towards me! I must say my heart skipped quite a few beats as it felt as if it had jumped up into my throat as I sped towards the closest tree I could find. I climbed up as high as I could because I am still very young and don’t weigh very much yet so the very tiny limbs can support me.
Well, do you remember me telling you about how many toes I have? Now I know why God equipped me with such gargantuan paws. For what seemed to be an eternity for me, I held onto those fragile branches atop that big old oak tree. The wind picked up and the tree began to sway in the wind as I trembled and clung even tighter to the tiny branches. Then, the sun began to rise up over the hilltop as the sunlight shed some warmth on my nearly frozen body. Some chickadees flew up to see me as they sang their morning tunes. In different circumstances, I would have been dashing after THEM up the tree, but in my current situation, I was gladdened by their company.
Once the sunshine began to allow me to see my predicament more clearly, I literally wanted to take my one paw and place it up over my eyes in disbelief. What in heaven’s name was I going to do to get myself out of this situation? I had climbed so far up this friendly oak that my only solution would be to attempt to turn around and climb DOWN the tree. That’s about when the hypothermia began to set in. I hadn’t slept all night. I was hungry and dehydrated so I did what any logical person would do in a similar situation – I began to cry. What happened, though, is that I couldn’t stop crying. I’m sure you’ve heard this expression before: HAULT – don’t let yourself get too hungry, too angry, too lonely or too tired. Well, I had reached full-tilt on all four of those topics and then some!
As I cried deliriously, the most amazingly wonderful thing happened! A woman had been walking alongside the road and heard my calls. She climbed over the barbed wire fence and was underneath the tree looking up and talking to me. When I finally took a few deep breaths and subsided my almost hiccup crying reaction I was having, she began walking around the bottom of the oak’s trunk as she attempted to climb up a few branches. Then she motioned for me to jump down to a bigger limb which was quite a caper from my perspective. I just couldn’t let go. She then climbed back down the tree and went on her knees and prayed. Now, these past twenty-four hours have really encompassed the full spectrum of emotions for me, to say the least. Here I was last night being discarded by someone who didn’t appreciate me to this gal who not only tried to climb the tree to get me, but is now praying for me?
That was the “ah, ha” moment for me as I took my “first of many quantum leap of faith” to a lower limb and my enormous claws and paws grabbed onto the tree’s bark firmly. She encouraged me as I knew I would have to jump one more time before she could climb up to reach me. So, I literally closed my eyes when I sprang the second time and landed on the side of the trunk with pieces of the oak’s rough outer layers and small branches falling away. It was then that I truly learned what unconditional love really is. As she reached for me, I felt this amazing calmness come over me because I knew I had been saved.
Enveloped in her comforting and warm embrace, she wrapped her rainbow-hued fluffy yarn scarf around me and held firmly onto my paws else I decide to spring out of her arms. At this point, that was the last thing on my mind! Trembling and exhausted, I kept dozing off on our walk down the road and up the hill to where her home was nestled. As we approached our destination, a neighbor met us and offered a few cat toys, litter box and comforted me as I welcomed her kind words.
When we walked down the driveway to her home, a loud ruckus of several dogheads barking startled me as I almost sprang out of her grasp. Gladly, these friendly but very talkative neighbor’s pets were contained in a large fence surrounding their property. Whew, thank goodness for that! I’m sure they are friendly as they were my older brother’s girlfriends, but just the same, I am a kitten – not a doghead.
“You can develop good judgement as you do the muscles of your body – by judicious, daily exercise.”
Grenvile Kleiser
My favorite reference book is Roget’s Thesaurus for the various meanings behind the proper usage of words. Under the word judgement are five separate meanings!
Intellect
Discrimination
Decision
Condemnation
Sentence
Through our lives lessons we learn to access intellectually the power of sound judgement in arriving to conclusions in decision-making in our lives.
The use of discernment in terms of discriminating what serves the highest and best for all concerned is utilizing another aspect of sound judgement in our lives. This can also be used towards spiritual discernment.
Our freedom and power of choice comes into play when we are calling upon utilizing out tool set in making decisions based on judgement.
Criticizing and lower vibrational fear based thinking is involved in condemning others acts, beliefs and behaviors without compassion when judgement is used in this context.
And then there is the legal system associated with controlling and manipulating others in sentencing them due to the judgement ascertained upon their actions.
“I love when things are transparent, free and clear of all inhibition and judgement.”
Pharrell Williams
It became apparent to me this morning that the summons I recently received to serve on jury duty placed me in an awkward state of mind. Who am I to pass judgement on someone else? Have I lived their life, was I raised in their environment, have I experienced the social, moral, mental, spiritual and emotional influences that they have had and walked a mile in their shoes? And even then, who am I to judge? The log in my eye requires much more attention than the speck in my brother or sister’s eye.
“Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others.”
H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
It also became apparent to me when someone commented on something inadvertently directed towards me, it made me dig deeper in questioning myself to find the meaning to the feelings which were conjured up within me.
We all know that we are not to take things personally, yet there was a hidden message in what was said that made me “chew” on the concepts as I kept asking for a deeper understanding as to be clear about the message this messenger brought to me.
“Judge not lest you be judged. For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?”
Matthew 7:1-3
Worthiness and self-love are core issues of the heart which are oftentimes disregarded in our early growth and learning process which eventually catches up to us.
“What is not fully exposed earlier in life is revealed and made up for in development.”
Author Unknown
So the truth of the emotionally charged comment revealed an insightful level of understanding for me that was two-fold. First and foremost, when someone is unfairly judged, they unconsciously direct that towards others. Secondly, by it “affecting” me, it shows that I still have more inner self-healing to work on in that area of my life. It’s always about the refining and improving of yourself on this personal path of enlightenment, as all messages are a present to open and reveal the gift of inner growth.
So I am forever grateful for this message, for it has revealed a much deeper appreciation of conscious awareness towards others as well as teaching me what is most important in taking care of myself. It all comes down to compassion, unconditional love and forgiveness.
“Circumstances and situations do color life but you have been given the mind to choose what the color shall be.”
John Homer Miller
The conclusion to my summons? It is clear that I will most probably not be selected for jury duty as it is not for me to judge – it is, however, essential to be compassionate towards all as our life is a journey of the heart.
“When sparkles dance upon the water, our souls twinkle like stars in the evening sky.”
L.D. Marchell
“Nature’s infinite palette splashes vibrancy upon the autumn day.”
L.D. Marchell
“We are drawn back to Mother Gaia, connected with her compassion and ever-constant love for all; in our returning back, we become one united with her; calling us to love her as she has unconditionally given infinitely and ceaselessly to us.”
L.D. Marchell
The breath of life, passionate, rapturous, invigorating, revitalizing; Let us welcome God’s love with open arms.”
L.D. Marchell
“All roads lead home to where the heart is.”
L.D. Marchell
“Friendship is two spirits allowing each other to soar and fly.”
L.D. Marchell
“Take time to travel apart for the answers you seek are within.”
L.D. Marchell
“Faith is believing in things not yet seen but felt with the heart.”
Hebrews 11:1
“Walk ever softly, tenderly taking in the wonderment of the present.”
L.D. Marchell
“Wherever your heart is, there also is your home.”
“Synchronicity is always on the move, and is dynamic. depending on how often you listen to intuitive potentials that are given to you. There will always be people for you to meet. There are always good things available. Synchronicity is a benevolent energy that is designed to help you.”
Kryon, Book 14 “The New Human: The Evolution of Humanity
As a charm of birds flew together in unison yesterday afternoon swaying with the wind, their surreal chorus brought me right back to the day that a similar gathering of birds embodied the same sound to the core of my soul. The last time that feeling occurred was the evening I went to say good bye to Grandma Marge as she prepared for your transitional journey of the soul. Sure enough, after the birds embarked on their flight, I looked over to the western sky to behold a crystalline sun dog beaming boldly in the sky! Grandma Marge had referred to me as her rainbow, and somehow this prism of light waves had brought her “NOW’ loving spirit rushing back into my life! What a glorious and amorous feeling to welcome her loving presence into my heart!
Loriginal Designs
“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:10
In the wavelengths and prisms of crystalline vapor trails in the sky, the bending of the path of light or sound passes through between dimensions to reveal various mediums with different characteristics encompassing all of our senses. These “weaknesses” in the angularity of radiant light manifest brilliant variations of colorful light and sound. It is symbolic to the twelve strands of DNA within our own human structure and how they connect quantumly to Gaia. Kryon speaks about this in moving the Kundalini energy and our relationship with Mother Earth in the procreation of wisdom on the planet. We are on a journey of discovering the potential elegance of what our DNA really can do for us!
Loriginal Designs
“Blessed is the Human Being who feels they are part of this compassionate change on the planet.”
Kryon, Book 14 “The New Human: The Evolution of Humanity
“Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of Eternal Life.”
John 6:68
There are many “spiritual bouquets” that remind me of Grandma Marge, with PINK being her trademark signature in everything that she touches. The above scripture was her favorite for she understood the vastness of our spiritual life. Isn’t it interesting that her daughter Connie’s (my mom) signature color is YELLOW and together they symbolize UNIVERSAL LOVE and HAPPINESS. Perfect messages from two spiritually active angelic essences doing all that they can to shift this energy to LOVE BEING THE FIRST RESPONSE. No longer are we giving energy to the fear based old stories. We are being given a gift on August 21, 2017 with the Solar Eclipse bringing in the 2,000 year cycle of Aquarius. (Yes, I am Aquarius).* The essential message that we are here to convey to all of you is that the pain and sorrow and poverty consciousness thinking is an old, worn out paradigm which no long will have any power after the Solar Eclipse which will be bringing in a whole new paradigm of existence. Christ Consciousness, Love being all that there is. The new thought process is that of conscious awareness utilizing the pineal and dropping our intellectualism into the heart for compassionate living with all humanity!
In Perpetual Memory of Connie and Grandma Marge (Aries and Pisces)*
“You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord, Who abide in His shadow for life, Say to the Lord, ‘My Refuge,’ My Rock in Whom I trust. And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings, Bear you on the breath of dawn, Make you to shine like the sun, And hold you in the palm of His Hand.”
On Eagles Wings by Michael Joncas (Psalm 91)
This is the last in The Three-part Romeo Series of oil paintings inspired by Tofino Photography. My eternal gratitude for the empowering photographic compositions which bring one to a place of such beauty, tranquility and peace!
As I took a break from painting the second layer of oils onto the canvas yesterday, I went outside to walk barefoot in the lush, soft grass. As I walked around my prolific blooming garden, I knelt in the grass next to my Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue that I have placed in front of my white with pink-tipped flowering Peony plant, whose buds are just beginning to form. The statue is with Jesus dressed in his white robe with the red over shawl, as some of you have seen in my photographic image of the setting sun in my posting entitled Jesus Walks Among Us. If you look into the setting sun over Highland Lake, you see an image of what appears to be an individual wearing a white robe with a red shawl. It also appears that this image has an individual alongside him as the red material seems to be wrapped out around another image. When my Dad was alive, I recall him sharing with me a dream he had which impacted him for the rest of his life. It was a vision of Jesus, shining in his glory in a purple glowing cloak with his ethereal eyes gleaming compassionately to envelope ones soul with peace. So I ended up repainting the Sacred Heart of Jesus Statue’s heart and his wounds in red and the cross, chain and shield in gold and the collar of his cloak in gold.
I do believe that the Romeo Eclipse is an important message for us all, that we are to be living heaven on earth now, and that the lion shall finally lie down with the lamb.
“Let there be a world to see, Let it be of Inspiration, Let there be a world to be, Let it be of God’s Creation.”
John V. Marchell (My Dad)
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the suffering and afflicted. He has sent me to comfort the broken-hearted…Beauty for ashes; Joy instead of mourning; Praise instead of heaviness.”
“Now it is time for you to forgive *(him/her) and comfort *him. Otherwise *he may become so bitter and discouraged that *he won’t be able to recover. Please show *him now that you still do love *him very much.”
2 Corinthians 2:7
Have you ever wondered why certain lessons keep appearing in your life, especially when you have done all the clearing out, cleansing, releasing, burning and letting go rituals? Might you take a new perspective on this message that keeps appearing from the messenger – these “thorns in your side” are very well the weaknesses which will make you strong. The apostle Paul spoke of this as he pleaded to be removed from these deeply intense challenges placed upon him during his ministry. Yet, through these weaknesses he rejoiced, for it is through being on his knees he opened himself up to receive strength within from the Spirit that gives us life.
Everything surrounding us desires to be loved, nurtured and embraced, especially the briars with which we may be become entangled in our lives. At these times on our journey, it is wise to pause and reflect on how these spindles need to be welcomed into our realm of forgiveness within ourselves. A close friend of mine told me that sometimes all an individual has left to give are snakes (i.e. hurtful things because that person is hurting and that’s all they have left to give). Everyone is doing the best that they can given the circumstances presented to them (i.e., you don’t know the burdens of another unless you walk a mile in their shoes). That is why it is so very important to have compassion towards others and encourage and support one another. It then makes the journey full of Light radiating from within. For to love and to be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.
“Forgiveness is my function as the light of the world.”
