WEDNESDAY ~ COME SING A SONG OF JOY

Welcome to Wednesday and a cooler day in my city today - breeze blowing and it certainly feels much cooler than when the wind howls in from the north.

I have been talking recipes and food this morning and I will confess up front that cooking is not my favourite pastime and that while I like to eat - I really like someone to do it for me or at least follow behind and clean up.

The discussion was about French Onion Soup and the sharing of recipes - I never mind sharing, but there are those who do mind.

The conversation somehow got diverted (what a surprise !) and we took a different path and discussed our Heart Recipes and this very beautiful recipe was shared with me.

Four pounds of Possibilities, three pounds of Life, Two pounds of Love, One pound of Caring, One pound of Kindness....Blend together, sprinkle laughter liberally, and there you have it. Joe's Heart!

We then discussed and decided that for today at least the garnish would be music.

How wonderful if we could all mix possibilities, life, love, caring and kindness and sprinkle with laughter and garnish with music.  Of course this got me thinking and I have tried to pull together a recipe for "ME" and this is where my path takes me.

Mix together equal amounts of :.....

• Love
• Life
• Laughter
• Possibilities
• Hope
• Care
• Kindness
• Trust
• Tenderness    
• Acceptance

Please decorate my heart with music, song, poetry and be sure to sprinkle liberally with compassion and joy.

What are the things that make up your heart  - I know at times mine has been a little tough when the following ingredients got in there - sadness, pain, bad thoughts.

I live in possibility and know that we can all improve our lives if we will take on board these ingredients and banish hatred, bigotry, malice, bitterness, spite, violence and anger.

 The prejudice that lives in so many hearts only leads to grief and pain - that's an ingredient I will not tolerate nor allow to live in my heart.

I want a heart that finds joy and pleasure in the people I meet, a heart that is accepting of all people, irrespective of race, colour, creed, sexuality or health condition.  Those things are part of who they are and can only enhance my life by the joy they find in living.

During my life I have had the privilege of caring for a young man whose own family couldn't and wouldn't accept him - I have cared for him, loved him and set him free and I am honoured by the lessons I learned on that part of my journey.

Take a look at your heart - write the recipe for how you want to live your life and if you would like to share it - I would love to hear from you - leave it as a comment or send it via email to linjoyan@gmail.com.  I would love to hear from you.  I have never liked my name, but I am learning to like the "joy" part of it.

Let joy be guest in your heart and at your table and I wish you a peace filled day.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of My Heart,  a heart open to feel the joy in living and sharing.


Come sing a song of joy!

Love and hugs,

WEDNESDAY @ 97 WEEKS AND I AM A DREAMER.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gV3LVSOV1bM

Beautiful Dreamer - Stephen Foster sung by Marilyn Horne

Welcome to a very warm and steamy Wednesday in my little corner of the world - there is a hot wind and my washing has been dry for ages, but I have yet to take the time and bring it in.

Today I celebrate 97 weeks of life post transplant and my days are filled with music, words and the care of friends and family.   Off to have dinner with younger daughter which will be lovely. She is cooking and I like that idea.

No a bit sure about the "beautiful bit" but dreamer I certainly am.  I really think that is half of my trouble with staying asleep because I often wake with dreams of new plans and schemes in my head.

I am sure I have the best back up and support network in the world.   I have a Transplant Support Team only a phone call or email away and if they don't know the answer they find it for me which is what happened today.   My new blood pressure medication has brought about swollen feet and a phone call quickly resolved the issue for me - I am to stop taking it and see my Doctor at the end of the month.

I am making dietary changes and have the support of friends - one of whom came in this lunchtime with a book for me

Thank you Raymond - there are some lovely recipes in the book and all promoting healthy choices and a certain brand of "cholesterol reducing spread"  - I shall certainly try some of the recipes and I am grateful for that sort of support.  Another lovely book to adorn my shelves but first of all to be read and some of the recipes implemented.  The recipes range from:

• Chili. lime and beef noodle salad
• Chicken, fennel, Orange and olive pasta
• Ricotta Veggie pies
• Smashed rosemary and garlic potatoes
• Peach crumble parfait
• Macadamia and chocolate wafers

I do dream - more so in sleep since transplant than I ever have before but I am a daydreamer and a dreamer of plans and schemes - some quite large that I have extreme doubts will ever come to fruition.  There are those gentle dreams, where with someone to inspire and encourage us, we can bring to reality.   It's when two dreamers get their heads together that everyone should watch out for the interesting times ahead. 

I was happy to speak with Adele at the Transplant unit today and to have her encouragement - life is good when a phone call brings resolution to an issue very quickly.   My other issue with the over payment of my RAA account

also had a good result with excellent service and the $747 over paid back in my account on Tuesday morning.,   Thank you Jeremy - a job well done. My bills are paid and all is well.

In my Facebook Group I am sharing so many stories that run parallel to mine and learning that things I thought peculiar to me are in fact quite common - we just don't talk about them.    Well, this group is talking and talking and talking.  They are sharing photographs of before and after transplant and we are learning to live with the limitations and to laugh at ourselves - it is a very positive experience and double so for me with the very special support of a lovely man who is only weeks out from transplant.

Time for me to check out of here and get ready for the evening - I hope your day is a good one and that on this wonderful Wednesday there is joy and laughter in your world.  I hope there is enough sunshine to chase away the shadows and that love is your companion.

Be sure that those you love know that you love them - tell them and reach out and hug them.

Thank you for listening to the "Musings from My Heart" - a dream filled heart today.

With love and hugs,

Linda.