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With Dusty 
SUNSHINE by Sunny Patten Won't you come in, sit a spell, and let me share my thoughts on living life lightly? Daily awareness brings instant rewards. Do you wait til the sun comes out, til you have more money, time or whatever, to enjoy yourself? Or, do you find something else to do when your plans fall through and have fun anyway? The daily rewards are there. Whether we are aware of them or not is our challenge. We need willingness to be happy, aware, and to count our blessings daily. The blessings (rewards) are always there. Sometimes we may get more attention from griping, complaining and so forth, but the attention gained from negative feelings doesn't feel good after we get it. It, therefore, doesn't satisfy any need in us to achieve and excel. On the other hand, positive attention brings about happiness. We can't pick apples off a lemon tree is something that has been expressed down through the ages. I believe that still applies. I believe that life is what we make of it. We can be happy along the way with awareness and acceptance. When you start a project, do you wait to see how it turns out before you enjoy it? Or, do you do your best and move on to something else? We hear a lot about goal setting these days. I believe there is something to be considered in doing the planning, working out our part and leaving the results to God, as we go on about our business. Farmers and mothers know how fruitless it would be to wait for results before moving on to what comes next. This brings to mind a picture of my mother baking biscuits. When Mom made biscuits and put them in the oven, she didn't wait for the results (rewards) before she moved on to something else. She was very busy stoking the fire in her wood stove, setting the table and numerous other things. She did peep at them from time to time to check their progress. Her little rewards were to see them rising, browning, just right. She was usually starting dinner (our noon meal), as well as cooking breakfast. She would turn her biscuits out of the cast iron skillet onto a plate, checking to see they were evenly browned and breaking one open to see if they were "white." She liked her bread "white." Her big reward came when Dad broke open his biscuit (to see if they were "white" or if she had used too much soda). He would turn then to us kids and tell us that our mom made the best biscuits he'd ever eaten. This happened most every morning. Mom's face would beam just as brightly as the day before. I don't need to know what tomorrow will bring to count my blessings, (be aware of the little rewards), along life's way. An added bonus is that this takes the pressure off the outcome. I have all the happiness I can wish for in my life today. I see obstacles are just God's challenges. I like challenges; do you? - copyright Sunny Patten
Dusty’s Sharing – Spring Cleaning My opportunity in spring cleaning was to overcome my concern about what others might be concluding when they came to visit. It is about not doing immaculate house cleaning. The outcome of raising children usually produces plenty of clutter. How does one deal with the situation? I read something the other day in a magazine. The suggestion was to have a cleaning parade. While Mom is cleaning, the child could do his room and maybe dress in a big apron or something fun and different, maybe Dad's shirt. It can be a fun project, defining specific areas and maybe giving small prizes for cleaning each of those certain areas. For myself, I wrote a special cleaning list. There are myriad nooks and crannies that never get touched. A general list of activities with some specified rewards, such as taking a walk, lounging in a bubble bath, or whatever soothes one's body and soul, could provide accomplishment more often. I did some fun furniture rearrangements and cleaning. The facility cleaning took place between the fun things so seemed effortless. A specific declaration or a thoughts of a desired trait can be consumed while cooking supper, washing dishes or cleaning house. Listening to enjoyable music, repeating affirmations or communing in prayer can embrace listening as well as talking. When I make constructive declarations, I am accomplishing something within my mind, cleansing my outlook. I discovered letting go happens in completion once I allow it to be immersed in the cascade of love. That is what letting go is. I will continue in awareness of letting go with a cleansing with love, as necessary. When one focuses on cleansing the mind with love, it fills to overflowing with positives so there is no room for anything else. More love replaces less love. Taking concern for special needs of each family member, doing little extra deeds and favors, and providing a clean and cozy home environment are general concerns. We each have specifics that fit our particular situations. Commitment to God, family and one's self is a beautiful concept. There is a difference between a commitment to the future and being committed right now. Setting fond hopes and intentions for events of the future does not insure commitment to the present. At the center of each created being is the God-self, the self that was created in God's image. This is the pure Love-self. The first overlay is what defines the unique personality of each person. This sometimes remains hidden. It becomes tainted as it seeps to the surface. The outer layer, which builds up the "stuff" of humanity, is made up of character and choices. Many only observe or experience this outer layer without searching deeper for the unique personality and loving God-self. My responsibility is to get my outer layer cleaned up and in submission with the Holy Spirit. This keeps the glass clean so others can see my God-self. Symbolically, one can gather up every particle in his or her life right now. It can all be put into two different collected stacks: one material and one spiritual. Every material thing that has no purpose can be sorted, tossed or given away. This project begins with organizing the items to be kept so they may serve to their best capacity. One's spiritual collection may include habits, hopes, dreams, desires and a personal relationship with the Lord. Strengthening faith, love and fellowship with God will allow Him to do the rest of the sorting. This includes anything the Lord sees fit to clean out of one's inner house. Experiencing the joy in each moment is simply a matter of letting go of concerns to do so. There is no effort involved to find this joy. The only thing that some might consider effort would be the act of turning from the shadow to face the Light. We do not have to fight the shadow, condemn it or try to make it go away. There is great opportunity in remembering this. We simply turn to the Light and accept the energy and cleansing. We take another step in life with the Light revealing our path. The decisions that come to awareness will help bring the unexpected into a smooth flowing household to be cleansed quickly, easily and with peace of mind.
Some interesting sites: Ms Sunshine’s Garden Self Improvement Angel Valley Spirit Link Church Within
Enjoy every moment to the fullest! - Dusty
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