Circle of Trust

 

I remember a couple years ago making the statement, "I'm good. I don't want to meet anyone new. My circle of friends is perfect, just the way it is." Of course, at the time it was perfect. I really wasn't ready to let people into the protected, safe world, that I had created. It was created out of necessity, and perfect in it's simplicity. Plus, at the time it was all I needed. I had too much to handle and trusting new people was a challenge...potentially painful. I couldn't handle any more pain.

 But even when I said it, I knew or hoped that wouldn't be the case forever.

"Heal the past,

Live the present,

Dream the future."

I hoped for a future where people were kind.

A time when I could step out again
and be the Lori I once was.

I really liked being her.

She giggled, belly-laughed,
and even snorted a time or ten, at a joke.

She sparkled.

I really missed that in my guarded world.

So, what happened to make this guarded girl step out?

People.

The kind of people that knew kindness and gave it away, freely.

The kind of people that looked around them and saw needs to be met.

The people who greet you with a smile and accept you into their fold, nothing asked.

That was comforting.

These people created a new world for me.

A world where even if it's pouring down rain, scorching hot,

muddy, ground so packed with rock or clay that you can't dig, or a perfectly blue sky...you can't imagine being anywhere else.

They don't really know it, but they helped me trust again.

It happened quickly...they made me feel safe.

They gave me a new extended family.

I love them all and would help them with anything.

Because as my original "circle of trust" knows, once I let you in, you're in.

Man, that sounds a lot like a border collie I know.
Wonder where he picked that up from?

The only difference is that I don't growl...not often anyway. ;)

So, who are these amazing people? 

You've seen their pictures,
you may even know their names,

But you can be guaranteed that they are all a part of

Fences For Fido.

They don't just build fences.

They take a broken, battered hearts and make them whole again.
Like mine.

They made me sparkle brighter than ever.

They made me, well....a better me.

So thank you all, from the little pieces of my broken heart.

You may have not known, but with each fence, each smile, hug, and twist of the tie, 

you helped put the final pieces of my heart back together.

And even better than that...I see you sparkle bright with me.

Just follow that sparkling smiles and hugs in the pictures,

and feel the love that they give.
These people are experts at love.

Things that make me smile, today...

 Some days are easier to handle than others. 

Lately, I've had a few things that have tried to chip away at my sparkle.

Dampen it.

Life can hit you a bit sideways at times,

and in those moments I have to find little ways to bring my sparkle out.

It really doesn't take too much to make me smile.

In fact, my favorite things are so simple,

yet make a profound impact in my mood.

So here are a few of my smile sparklers!

Sparkle in unique locations

Comics in the newspaper

Baby Anything. Puppies, kittens, ponies, (otter) whatever it is, they are adorable and make me insta-smile.
Not setting my alarm clock.  Nothing says good morning like the sun rays slowly welcoming you to the day.

Two words...yoga. pants.

Fluffy bunnies-seriously.

First sip of coffee

Strutting like you're wearing sassy pants,

and Somecards.

 

A girl and her dog...her most trusted friend.

A tongue hanging out of an animals mouth and any adorable animal in sweaters. 

How cute are these mini's?!

And last but certainly not least, this little girl. 

She's so excited!!

Despicable Me-It's so Fluffy

Oh man, I almost forgot this one!

I definitely feel better now.

Sparkle in Progress-Year One

I am a work in progress...

Aren't we all?!

Sitting here I think about myself last year-
wanting to change something in my life, but scared to step out alone.
It's easy to make up an excuse to not do something when you're alone.
Especially when it feels uncomfortable,
because having a companion to drag along seems better. 

Really? Dragging someone seems better?!

Well, I used to think so. 

But it's really hard to sparkle while dragging dead weight.

Geesh! That just turns into fake sparkle. Pretend sparkle.
Putting on your moms makeup as a little girl, sparkle. 

It's all sorts on wrong.

Lipstick all over your face and your stuffed animals.

Eyeshadow plastered, caked,
somewhere in the vicinity of your eye lids, or cheeks, or forehead.

It doesn't sparkle...or does it?

That little girl had a few things going for her. 

She was a risk taker.

A bit of a rule breaker too,
because you know that her mom hadn't given her permission.
But that little girl, oh man, she was going for it! 

She was going to add her own kind of sparkle and prance around
like she's competing for Miss America.

She popped on those old tap dancing shoes that her great aunt had given her,
(way too big) and clickity-clacked her way into those judges hearts.

Click.

She danced.

Clackity.

She twirled.

Clickity.

She spun. 

Heck, she sang her own shows tunes!
"I'm a Yankee Doodle dandy. She's my Yankee Doodle joy!
A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam, born on the Fourth of July!"

Oh, and did she smile! 

Then when her performance was over,
she looked at the judges...Snuggles, Princess, Melinda the Bear...and...Mom?

She giggled nervously.

She knew that she was in trouble for the makeup.

But then...magic.

The judges applauded!

One was brought to their feet even!
Giggling too!

Oh, the little girl giggled a little too. 

And then, a jeweled crown was placed upon the girls' head,
by the best judge and told, "Lori, you sparkled!"

Ah. Finally.
Sparkle doesn't have to be perfect.
You don't even need a plan!
All you need is heart and determination to be the best you possible. 

I'm not there yet...not by a long shot, but I feel sparkly.
I feel it, not in the expected places like my heart (though it's there)...
I feel it in my feet after baking all day long.
I feel it in my hands after twisting ties on a fence.
I feel it in the people I'm with. 

Today as I reflect on my journey over the last year,
I encourage you to try something, anything really. 

Let that little girl (or boy) dance.
Sing and clickity-clack their way in the world.
And if you must, and I do, sing at the top of your lungs!
Mine will be some kind of show tune.
What will your song be?

Heck, I'll even sing with you until you break out on your own! 

But sing! Dance!

And above all else, let your sparkle out into the world. 

Together we can illuminate the good.

Sparkle on.

Sprinkles = Freedom & Joy

That might sound strange, but to many dogs in our community,
that's exactly what it means.
It means a life of freedom from being chained outside,
and pure joy on their faces as they run...
...run free around their newly fenced yard.





How's that for starting a new year off right?!?!




I mix sugar cookie dough to help dogs.
I sprinkle crystallized sugar to bring hope to those who need it.
I raise money for a cause, because it makes me feel connected to the world in a different way.
The holidays can be stressful,
so I put my stress into pounding on delicious dough
and shaping cookies for other families to enjoy.

Sounds perfect to me...

...so take a look into my sugary world of sparkly sprinkles.

I sure feel the sparkle...don't you?!

Happy Christmas to you

and all of my four-legged furry friends.

May your year be filled with joy, love, and so much SPARKLE!

Love you all~ Lori and Murphy

Happiness...the Pursuit of Sparkle

Happiness...the Pursuit of Sparkle

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"  ~Declaration of Independence~

I just finished a great documentary, entitled "Happy."

Fascinating. 
Intriguing really. 
It got me thinking about my happiness.

It's an interesting pursuit...happiness.  Sometimes I look around myself and wonder if the people around me are happy.  So much of our lives are stressful.  But is that stress necessary?  Or even real?  Do we add that stress ourselves?  Or is it thrust upon us? Do people actually like feeling that way?

Or...Do we just need to look at the situation in a different light? 
Or change our expectations?

What is happy anyway? 
Work? Money? Family? Friends? Nice House? Cars? Fancy vacations?

I guess it's different for everyone...but for me, the things that make me happy are really simple.  Always have been.  I'm not saying that more of those things wouldn't be nice.  But it's not everything to me.

Actually, it's a matter of perspective...

• I have a great job, that gives me sufficient money...
• Friends and family, well, they rock. 
• I love my little cottage house...totally happy there.  Sure it's little, but heck, I can clean the whole thing in a hour.  Boom! Done...and I really don't like cleaning.  I'd rather bake.  Actually, I clean so that I can bake.
• Car?  Eh....I don't really care, though I like my car just fine.  It provides me with a great drive and Murphy with enough room to ride in style...head out the window, tongue wagging the the wind....That's pure JOY!
• Ahhh...fancy vacations..."Hello, Darling...Spas, expensive dinners, elite shows, and exclusive resorts..."  Well, shoot...I'm not fancy, so there goes that!  Now, I'm not going to turn any of that down if it was given to me! But, give me a cool, sunny day on the Oregon coast, a scone with a vanilla latte', and I'm a happy girl.

I know... I'm pretty simple at the heart of it.

I face each day as a new challenge. A challenge to keep the elusive "happy" that seems to slip away from some peoples lives. What might cause me joy one day, may not bring me joy the next. Fortunately, I have many things that bring me joy, so I can change my focus numerous times to adjust my sight onto something that helps me gain perspective...insight...happiness...thus, SPARKLE.

Today, like most days, I found my sparkle in something simple. 

A pile of leaves and a dog looking for a mole.

Now, I challenge you. I want to know the simple things that make your world happy.  Send me a message, post a comment, but I want a sparkle list.  It's selfish really...I have a feeling that there might be a day when I need a new view...a new focus to bring my sparkle back.

So...Will you help me? What is your sparkle? Your happy?