Welcome to Friday.
The trees have begun flowering, the flowers are timidly peaking out from their slumber, and the birds are all back and full of conversation these days. The last month has been filled with so much rain and warm weather, interspersed with a day a week of freezing weather. Hard to know what season it is, but the birds know. And the robins and goldfinches have all returned. I do hope that, in the midst of deep suffering that surrounds us at all times, you are able to see the joy that also lives side by side with us. Whether that comes from seeing search dogs trained to find people in deep rubble, the incredible amount of people from all over the world willing to help people they will never know, pansies peaking out from their Winter sleep, a little baby girl’s survival against incredible odds, the hope that life can always be better, friendship, and love, and even….the simplicity of a good cup of coffee or tea.
May you know rest this weekend and do your part to share joy and comfort right where you’re at.
https://pipdecks.com/, these card decks look fascinating! They are “unique, confidence-boosting business toolkits: practical step-by-step recipes, coaching videos and templates that instantly upskill you and your team.”
https://vegogarden.com/, “Our mission is to make gardening as accessible and sustainable as possible, while encouraging gardening to be an avenue for personal and community development. It starts from a seed, but grows into so much more.” This looks so great!
The mysterious doodles hidden in a 1,300-year-old book - BBC Future, how fascinating! One thing, I am sure I have mentioned it before, that always baffles me about historians…is their need to attach some deep meaning to everything they find from history. Sometimes….you can be bored listening to a sermon or a talk and start doodling in your notebook or Bible or whatever is handy. And 9 times out of 10 people doodle their names or houses or flowers or animals or random symbols….and I can’t imagine that people several thousand years ago would have been so incredibly different as to not doodle their name on a sacred text.
Turkey-Syria earthquake: Newborn baby pulled from collapsed building - BBC News, amidst profound devastation one bright, happy light….Aya, “miracle” in Arabic.
Turkey-Syria earthquake: Thousands offer to adopt baby pulled from the rubble - BBC News, not so much posting this for the offers of adotion…but that the doctor treating her has a 4-month old and his wife is able to breastfeed Aya along with their own daughter. Another miracle indeed.
Burt Bacharach: 12 of the legendary composer's greatest songs - BBC News, Burt died at the lovely age of 94 this past Wednesday. He has an incredible list of music he has written. Here are 12 of his greatest songs, according to the BBC. “I Say a Little Prayer” is definitely my favorite from this list.
Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria | Charity Navigator, here is a list of charities that are helping in Turkey as well as Syria. The Charity Navigator shows highly rated charities that are providing aid. I honestly don’t know enough about a lot of them, but you can go on the website and do your own research. If you know of more charities, please share!
Menu: Starbucks Coffee Company, unfortunately I cannot find it on the menu but our local Target Starbucks is offering two Valentine’s drinks. And I tried one this past Tuesday that may be my new favorite. It is a strawberry crème frappucino with java chips and mocha syrup drizzled on it. I am a huge fan of strawberries and chocolate together! Also, apparently people have been adding espresso to the drink to make it a bit stronger. I added a bit more mocha to mine.
Here's the link to our most recent newsletter, Getting Ready to be Uncomfortable : A challenge, a book list, quotes, and a number of fun things. Definitely worth a look-through.
I’m not afraid of storms, for I’m learning how to sail my ship. Amy March, Little Women
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