tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18544894904774607532012-01-26T21:17:23.302-05:00We all need a pair of traveling shoes on this journey called life. JOIN ME ON MY ECLECTIC JOURNEY...........jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.comBlogger781100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-48044485276536309352012-01-23T11:30:00.001-05:002012-01-23T11:34:48.753-05:00

MYSTERY is one of my favorite words pertaining to my spiritual life. When I first became a Christian all the blanks were filled in for me. Thought I had all the answers. It was all black and white. Through life experiences and struggles, I have come to believe that there are many gray areas and I have more questions then answers. As I grow I realize that my questions become better. This is a poem

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-61478505189791425402011-12-29T19:20:00.001-05:002011-12-29T19:23:31.829-05:00

Every December 21st for the last 7 years we have been part of an ecumenical celebration of the Winter Solstice at the beautiful Jubilee House Retreat Center in Abingdon, VA. We have a lovely meal together and enjoy some music, poetry, and reflections of the year  ending and what we'd like to leave behind. We share a fire and several different meaningful rituals such as "Praying in the Four

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-36178510876650047402011-11-21T18:27:00.003-05:002012-01-02T11:20:26.925-05:00

In 1990, I found myself in a very difficult place. I was leaving a Ministry/Intentional Community where I had lived and worked for twenty years. I’d invested my youth, creativity and all that I was and had in this work, but the fact remained that I had come to a place of growth and change that did not allow me to continue to be part of this organization. Yet, the people of this community were

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-12935713386552868012011-10-26T21:36:00.003-04:002011-10-27T11:00:07.058-04:00

I have really enjoyed walking the trails where I live and biking some as well since we moved here four months ago. It warms my heart to see the ducks walking their little babies down to the river each day. The river even in this short time has expressed many a mood. Most times it is gentle, quiet, sweet and deeply serene. Then at other times fast, turbulent, noisy and swelling as it displays a

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-11759871894279210532011-09-05T17:26:00.002-04:002011-09-05T17:49:21.603-04:00

I am learning it is NEVER GOOD to compare myself to others. It isn’t necessary to compete with others either. I am coming to understand that it is best to compare and compete only with myself. Am I improving? Am I making progress? This appears to be the best way to grow. It seems when we compare ourselves to others we either end up putting ourselves down or place ourselves above another. Neither

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-50077526146932705382011-08-14T20:09:00.001-04:002011-08-14T20:12:33.890-04:00

For a very long time I have been drawn to the idea of becoming more positive in my thinking and living in the present moment. Our lives can overflow with activities and it is so easy to get preoccupied with the past or to feel anxiety about the future. We are all a work in progress but what a glorious work it is. It really is a work of love, a love for God, for the gift of life and a love for

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-57634274834160225272011-07-02T18:56:00.000-04:002011-07-02T18:56:34.168-04:00

Last Wednesday we moved to Damascus, VA. We landed in such a beautiful place. We are so happy to be here with the river, natural beauty of the trail and mountains. The town is quaint with a lot of different Bed and Breakfast places and cottages throughout the town and along the trail. It is lovely. Sitting on my front porch every morning I see a family of geese making their way to the river.

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-10171476986432692992011-05-13T19:57:00.000-04:002011-05-13T19:57:15.187-04:00

 Yesterday evening I walked home from work. It was rather warm and I was carrying my purse, lunchbox, and briefcase so I was glad it was just over half a mile. As I passed the service station I glanced at the creek that runs along the side of it and saw the prettiest colored flowers along the bank there. I decided to go home and get my camera and take a few photos of these flowers. As I did I

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-63802741947336155112011-05-01T23:20:00.004-04:002011-05-02T09:51:09.468-04:00

Agnes Repplier says, "It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves and it is not possible to find it elsewhere." I think in many ways this is true. Like that saying, "Wherever you go there you are" which I believe originated with Confucius. If we are to find peace, joy, happiness it will be within our own souls. Even though we have a personal faith in God and practice spiritual disciplines

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-63514579005039597882011-04-22T00:24:00.001-04:002011-04-22T00:30:40.576-04:00

The month of April has been so busy for myself and my family. We have been in the process of being transferred to another town in Virginia where my husband will serve one church full-time and I will serve another part-time. This will mean a move for us. So we have been busy meeting with the boards of the churches, showing the parsonage to the new folks taking Jim’s place and going to see the

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-90917534235897288522011-03-06T22:05:00.002-05:002011-03-06T22:24:02.705-05:00

 I’ve been thinking a lot about home this week. Throughout the years I have come to learn the importance of loving, honoring, and respecting myself and as a result learning to be at home with my self. Why wouldn’t a person feel at home with themselves? In seeking to answer to this question I have discovered some the things that have caused me to feel an estrangement from myself. First of all, I

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-77800878007166287492011-02-25T15:21:00.017-05:002011-02-26T02:03:24.809-05:00

Last year my son Jamen and I heard the song “The Ghost of Tom Joad” written and performed by Bruce Springsteen.” The words to this song are powerful and the melody haunting. Jamen had read the novel Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck whose main character is Tom Joad. He had also seen the movie. He told me just enough to whet my interest. So I decided to read The Grapes of Wrath and watch the

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-25012921761448492382011-02-17T22:09:00.001-05:002011-02-17T22:10:33.960-05:00

There is one thing in this world you must never forget to do. If you forget everything else and not this, there is nothing to worry about, but if you remember everything else and forget this, then you will have done nothing in your life. It is as if a king has sent you to some country to do a task, and you perform a hundred other services, but not the one he sent you to do. So human beings

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-80846703343995306342011-01-18T21:46:00.011-05:002011-01-18T22:26:26.324-05:00

One of my favorite radio shows is "Tapestry" . It is broadcast out of Canada on Radio One and hosted by Mary Hynes. I always listen to the podcast since I can’t pick it up on my radio. It is broadcast once a week. I love this radio show and never miss it. I enjoy the subject matter and I am very inspired by the folks they choose to have on the program. Mary Hynes does a wonderful job leading the

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-62883237747432656122011-01-09T12:12:00.001-05:002011-01-09T12:18:17.074-05:00

As the assistant to the Cataloger of our county library, my favorite part of my job is receiving all our new books and preparing them to go out to the three libraries we serve. This week we received a book called BONHOEFFER: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas. I knew of Bonhoeffer years ago and read a few of his books. I was impressed with the story of this interesting man. As a

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-19878939274427853862010-12-21T13:13:00.002-05:002010-12-22T14:46:35.902-05:00

My favorite movies are the old Classics. I love the simplicity of how they are filmed especially that they are in black and white. I am intrigued with the stories and getting to know these characters of long ago. I enjoy seeing the styles, fashions, décor of the homes and models of the cars. These old films easily hold my interest. I particularly love the films with the music of the 20’s - 40’s.

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-76721467581603680002010-12-12T17:38:00.005-05:002010-12-13T16:24:31.317-05:00

No wonder we all connect with characters like Lucy as in I Love Lucy, or Jerry and the other characters of Seinfeld and many other similar comedies. I don’t know about you, but some of the things that happen in my life could easily be part of a script for a sitcom. Last Friday night our band was playing at a Restaurant/Bar. It was a great evening. After we were finished with our last set, I

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-57017094796943626092010-11-21T17:05:00.006-05:002010-11-22T09:50:33.980-05:00

When I was growing up, my cousin Vicki was almost exactly one year younger then me. She was my closest friend. We were just naturally drawn to one another. We both were looking for an adventure and had big imaginations. We played dolls, climbed trees, were Tarzan and Jane, pretended to speak in other languages, played with marbles, swam, played games and formed clubs. We did all kinds of crazy

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-83527054237814903052010-09-25T15:04:00.000-04:002010-09-25T15:04:01.500-04:00

The last few weeks of my life have been very full, busy and at times hectic. Between work, family birthdays and playing with Wise Old River there has been little free time. As a result of my rushing around, I couldn't help but notice that the plants on my little front porch were beginning to look more like dried flowers then the lovely flowers I had recently purchased at the store. Thursday

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-78900501840012165732010-09-16T07:49:00.004-04:002010-09-16T10:16:20.244-04:00

We all have responsibilities. Most of us work hard and try to make the world a better place. Some of us are fortunate in that we have careers or jobs that suit us perfectly and this can make life a lot more pleasant. As for me,  being the wife of a United Methodist pastor, well we usually are relocated every 3 to 5 years which means I begin searching for a new job with each move. I love variety,

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-67505450405519553632010-08-21T13:07:00.004-04:002010-08-22T10:41:48.623-04:00

Lately I have struggled with “letting go” of situations where I obviously have no control over how someone thinks, feels about or even perceives me or those that I love the most. When there is some kind of upset, I feel a bit of a wound and struggle in wanting to “fix” the situation or make it better in some way. Life’s experience has taught and is teaching me that sometimes its best just to “

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-53605604070271545792010-08-14T19:27:00.001-04:002010-08-14T19:36:51.919-04:00

It is amazing how people that you might interact with for just a few days can have a profound effect on your life. This is a picture of my maternal grandmother's fourth husband whom I knew for only a few days as Grandpa Hill. Grandpa Hill was one of those important people for me. He had raised four daughters who were grown when I met him. He obviously loved his daughters very much. Grandpa Hill

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-18537649563587621992010-08-12T09:32:00.002-04:002010-08-12T09:33:26.147-04:00

O God of light, from whom all life flows, may we glimpse the shinings of your presence in all things. In the darkness of our world, in places of fear and terrible wrong, and in the darknesses of our own lives, in times of confusion and doubt, may we glimpse the shinings of your life-giving presence. ~Celtic Treasure Daily Scriptures and Prayer by J. Philip Newell I love this book and this

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-14038764346406164022010-08-08T11:10:00.005-04:002010-08-08T11:45:32.976-04:00

There is a quote by Anne Lamott that I came across the other day. I just loved it and shared it on my Facebook. She says, "Laughter is carbonated holiness." I love that. Laughter has always seemed magical, mysterious, wholesome, wonderful, healing, freeing and now holy. I went through a period of my life where I found that my laughing was getting pretty scarce. I even wondered what was

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-75513965900213060812010-07-28T12:01:00.002-04:002010-07-28T12:04:22.381-04:00

I heard this song a number of years ago and every word rang true in my heart. These words fit my experience of turning to Christ when I was 19 years old. From that moment,  the path I chose turned my life in a completely different direction. This path would bring joys and sorrows but deep healing and happiness. The path I had been on would have destroyed me. I will always hold this song as a

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-55979059202209279572010-07-27T13:34:00.002-04:002010-08-14T16:56:12.759-04:00

As sure as I share this something will spew out of this mouth that might best have been left unsaid. We are all so human but, its something surely worth working toward. I often end my e-mails or messages with PEACE, because peace is so important to me. It starts within my own heart and mind and then hopefully it will effect my loved ones, friends, community and acquaintances and as each of us

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-3685302407053954952010-07-19T20:12:00.003-04:002010-07-19T20:36:05.249-04:00

The title of this song is Roseless Thorn and its message is about recovery. One of my favorite lines is "How Sweet it is"... which of course is referring to the joy, peace and grace a person can experience when they seek help and begin the work of recovery.  Also, it relates to the families that suffer as their loved ones with an addiction struggle with this disease...and rejoice as the addict

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-44450924247103801302010-07-01T11:39:00.001-04:002010-07-03T12:48:56.428-04:00

It is very dangerous to go into eternity with possibilities which one has oneself prevented from becoming realities. A possibility is a hint from God. One must follow it. In every one there is latent the highest possibility, one must follow it. If God does not wish it then let God prevent it, but one must not hinder oneself. Trusting to God I have dared, but I was not successful; in that is to be

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-41238650421520064832010-06-26T12:36:00.004-04:002010-06-26T12:42:03.613-04:00

I'm learning to play the ukulele, had it for about a year but haven't played it as much as I'd hoped. I am seeking to spend more time with it and began writing this little tune. Thought I'd share the words with you now and hopefully by the end of summer get a video of me singing it. Hope you like it. Thanks I want to live my life from my heart Seems like a good place to start I want to live it

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-53906479471888248362010-06-07T00:06:00.005-04:002010-06-18T08:29:14.866-04:00

For 20 years I lived as a minimalist. From the age of 20 to 40 I was part of an intentional community/Christian ministry where we did not own much of anything. The money we made in our businesses was pooled to care for us all and to support our programs to feed the poor and provide shelter for homeless women and children. We also had various other ministries. We were provided for in a very

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-3673051696987449502010-06-02T08:20:00.001-04:002010-07-13T22:11:29.761-04:00

It was the body of unforgiveness I carried with me. Visions of an enshrouded corpse, the smell of death permeated my every step. It was a heavy burden to carry, but it had been with me so long I didn't know it was there. A paradox of vision, duplicity of soul, obscured identity, beneath the agony of this load. My muscles were taut, always working to carry it. It was not strange. And yet, ond

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-9157038929144455342010-05-26T08:44:00.000-04:002010-05-26T08:44:37.711-04:00

Today I want to live from my heart. What does that mean? I want to seek to be genuine, secure in myself, confident and open to love, learn and grow. I want to live from my intelligence, intuition and talents. I want to be centered in God with a peaceful heart and mind and seek to spread joy and not pain. I love you God, I love you Jeanne, I love you family. I love you world. What will make me

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-2493742031725239472010-04-16T10:55:00.000-04:002010-04-16T10:55:35.609-04:00

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-48528375894195061502010-04-02T11:53:00.000-04:002010-04-02T11:53:12.408-04:00

This free picture slideshow generated with Smilebox

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-12088652416137302582010-02-11T23:05:00.003-05:002010-03-07T12:00:16.672-05:00

Once when I was studying to be a Spiritual Director, we were asked to take some time and meditate on Psalms 23:5a "You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies:" and to then prayerfully and thoughtfully list the enemies in our lives. I was blown away when I got done, because in doing that exercise I came to realize that the majority of enemies in my life were truly things within my

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-11327315873158104032010-02-06T11:57:00.061-05:002010-03-07T12:02:20.265-05:00

Rainer Maria Rilke (4 December 1875 – 29 December 1926) was a Bohemian-Austrian Poet and art critic. He is considered one of the most significant poets in the German language. His haunting images focus on the difficulty of communion with the ineffable in an age of disbelief, solitude ,and profound anxiety: themes that tend to position him as a transitional figure between the traditional and the

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-9059426450111069762010-01-30T12:35:00.004-05:002010-02-07T15:32:22.086-05:00

Last Sunday on the CBS Sunday Morning Show: (CLICK ON THIS LINK BELOW) http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/24/sunday/main6136473.shtml?tag=contentMain;contentBody hosted by Charles Osgood, there was a segment about a popular new jazz singer named Melody Gardot. Incredible story, great talent that all came about through a terrible accident where at the age of 19 she was bicycling in

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-24621990473297117822010-01-18T15:34:00.005-05:002010-01-18T15:49:36.520-05:00

This is a painting that my son Justin did. He is a wonderful artist. I love to look at art and ponder what is being expressed. He calls this " The Idea of Me." Subjectively, I feel this painting might express coming upon our true selves, small..often forgotten and unheard. As we seek to listen to our own hearts, spirits and minds...we often find that we are very different than the life we live.

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-19488275323297960672010-01-13T13:21:00.002-05:002010-01-13T13:25:15.218-05:00

I love this prayer. There was a time that I thought things were very black and white and simple in my walk with God. The Years have shown me different. I do know that God holds us, loves us, and no matter what - will be with us and teach us through all of our lives. Seeking God with all our hearts, we walk in faith, trusting God to show us the way to grow and deepen. This prayer says it all!! A

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-49094864383241407102010-01-07T13:24:00.004-05:002010-01-07T13:31:57.600-05:00

It is a beautiful thing, the connections we experience in life. Whether it be with people, animals, music , art, literature...somehow that connection can be such a life changing experience. The encounter we have can give us such depth and insight. It is all important. Sweet Pea is a kitten born outside my home. I feed the ferrel cats in my neighborhood. Unlike most of the cats, she was always

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-77307484220609873342009-12-31T14:53:00.003-05:002009-12-31T15:58:45.377-05:00

It's New Year's Eve and I am thinking about 2010. I'm gathering my hopes and goals for this new year and thought it would be a good way to embark on this new leg of my journey. So, I decided to make 10 goals for myself to be conscious of throughout the coming year, improving as I am able each of these areas of my life: 1) I will seek to develop my relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-16113572515978220512009-12-04T23:08:00.001-05:002009-12-04T23:12:20.290-05:00

A Friend of mine from Facebook sent this to me. Wanted to share it on my blog. It sounds quite insightful and I will definitely be watching it. Thought YOU might be interested as well. Peace, Jeanne

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-33139115154444386262009-11-18T22:47:00.006-05:002011-05-03T15:46:22.650-04:00

Victims of CircumstanceCould there really be just one chance?How narrow is the way, If it’s paved with grace? Transcending time and spaceTruth cannot be held in a boxConstantly changing shapeA moving paradox. Judgments come so easyBut what do we see?Hearts, motives, purposes,Only God knows these. Searching Souls they do aboundMaking God in our own imageEmpty words fall to the groundFalling to

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-39646053103205605312009-11-09T00:36:00.005-05:002009-11-09T00:52:17.561-05:00

http://www.myspace.com/wiseoldriver

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-68050805940149921822009-10-25T21:12:00.006-04:002009-11-29T11:03:27.874-05:00

This is a poem I wrote December 26, 2001.  This poem is dedicated to all children everywhere who have been physically, mentally, or sexually abused. There is hope. A cross upon the forehead A whispered prayer, unsaid A heart that aches for freedom One lies upon the bed Sleep comes to this one slowly When the nightmares cease Truth holds this one closely The shadows, they will flee In dream,

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-56915701300545473252009-10-13T20:45:00.006-04:002009-10-16T10:59:36.783-04:00

If you cannot read the caption in the above picture, click on to see the larger version and then you can read it! I love the music and lyrics of Bruce Cockburn. I took this picture one night along the Virginia Creeper Trail. Anyway...let me say this....Hello! I'm back. Thanks for praying for me. Well, I am feeling pretty good these days. Adjusted to my diet and getting back my energy more and

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-50043116753753561242009-05-23T08:38:00.001-04:002009-05-23T08:41:31.835-04:00

For over a year now I have had symptoms of fatigue, unexplained rashes, and infections (one weekend I had five infections at the same time.) The rashes which appeared to be an allergic reaction were treated with prednisone about five rounds this year. The infections were treated with antibiotics. Toward the end of this all the antibiotics and prednisone also resulted in terrible rashes. I

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-32613522798792194622009-05-22T09:22:00.003-04:002009-05-23T08:51:06.702-04:00

Haven't been on here for a while. I have been ill. More about that later. Today I just wanted to quickly post a song I heard that really touched me. This song is all about gossip. It gives us another way to deal with those we have difficulties with. Gossip is prevalent everywhere. We have all partaken. Mississippi John Hurt tell us, "If you don't like your sister, don't carry her name abroad.

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-43184128465473221302009-04-26T10:47:00.004-04:002009-04-26T11:19:56.945-04:00

It was YOU who thought of meIt was YOUR creativityIt was YOU who gave to me all the many possibilitiesYOU were there all the timeWish I'd known, but I didn'tI was lost from YOUR loveAnd YOUR thought of me was hiddenI was gray, cold inside, full of painNot what YOU had in mindThen one day, in despairOn my knees I turned to YOU in prayerYOU took my hand and we walked awayEach step, my disguise is

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-6063512343264869972009-04-05T11:30:00.011-04:002009-11-29T11:26:57.001-05:00

I wanted to share two powerful quotes that I came across this week. They are wonderful reminders for all of us...to be true to ourselves and to continue to dream and own our visions. Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly. Hold fast to dreams for when dreams go life is a barren field frozen with snow. ~ Langson Hughes To be nobody but yourself in

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-568893856645438972009-03-29T20:27:00.005-04:002009-03-29T20:53:51.225-04:00

Yesterday, I had the great pleasure of going with my husband Jim, my youngest son, Jamen and his child Noah to an afternoon movie. Noah is only three and always brings such light and life into the house when he comes to stay. We stopped at the bank to get some money on the way and while Jim went in, Noah noticed a handicapped sign on the wall next to where we were parked. Noah asked what the man

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-67246520734495515522009-03-19T19:58:00.008-04:002009-04-02T09:38:52.214-04:00

One of my absolute favorite books that confirms much of my own understanding about ART is entitled: Creativity: Where the Divine and the Human meet by Matthew Fox. I have found so many of his ideas about creativity to be valid. I feel that when I am being creative, I am most alive. I feel that my creativity is very linked to my spirituality. I'd like to share a few excerpts that are close to my

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-62182549352842827902009-03-18T13:35:00.001-04:002009-03-18T13:36:41.063-04:00

One of our favorites!! We love them all, though!!!!

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-35269083999862216382009-03-18T13:27:00.001-04:002009-03-18T13:31:14.544-04:00

Dan Zanes is revered in my home. All of us, Moms, Dads, Meemaw (me) and Papaw (Jim) and Noah, Tyler and Charlize adore him and his friends and the amazing music that they make. If you haven't been introduced to him then you are missing out. Please take a look. He is wonderful!! I found this video on youtube and thought it would be great to share. I'll probably also post one of his videos. This

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-13200441219951358922009-03-16T23:34:00.005-04:002009-03-17T00:03:40.572-04:00

This piece is a favorite of mine. It is a beautiful reminder of God's great love for each of us. It was written by Soren Kierrkegaard. Hope you have a lovely Tuesday. Thou who first loved us, O God, alas! We speak of it in terms of history as if Thou has loved us first but a single time, rather than that without ceasing Thou hast loved us first many times and everyday and our whole life through.

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-21451790771284678032009-03-15T19:58:00.006-04:002009-03-15T20:34:10.585-04:00

All through my childhood and the first eighteen years of my adult life, I thought that I had to seek the direction of my life outside of myself, through those wiser and stronger then myself. Due to poor self-esteem and false teachings from my Christian leadership, I was taught not to trust my own heart. Scriptures such as "Our hearts are deceitfully wicked, who can know it" were used out of

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-48742129122198806972009-03-12T01:59:00.006-04:002009-03-12T10:08:38.256-04:00

I saw this somewhat recent interview with Ryan Adams and was very glad to hear that he no longer drinks, smokes or does drugs. I had heard that he was having some problems with these. Maybe that was just a rumor. We have lost so many extremely gifted singer- song writers and musicians to overdoses, etc. What a sad waste of a life. I am truly happy for him. I loved this little song that he sang in

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-50236880699265413912009-03-11T13:13:00.004-04:002009-03-12T09:47:53.452-04:00

Such a lovely little song. Had I known the words and melody of this tune when I met my husband...I'd have been crooning this song lol....Had to post this cuz I just heard Ruth Etting for the first time:) I think she is awesome....Enjoy!

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-88804897187306662009-02-18T13:14:00.002-05:002009-02-18T13:22:58.893-05:00

Taimane Gardner is an amazing young girl from Hawaii..who has mastered the ukelele. She is very inspiring! Enjoy!!

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-60392345501297954902009-02-15T12:13:00.004-05:002009-02-15T12:31:28.435-05:00

I have a new interest/hobby and that is learning to play the ukelele. To be honest I have tried to play a few instruments but am very intimidated. Love music. Love to write lyrics and sing harmony. I am in a family of very talented musicians, my husband and two sons. I just seem to shut down and a wall comes up. Well, recently I saw a young lady whom I love to hear sing in a video and she was

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-62221906257588459772009-02-14T12:43:00.003-05:002009-02-14T13:06:50.797-05:00

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-31115545294150591452009-01-28T21:17:00.003-05:002009-01-28T21:32:51.501-05:00

The following is written by a wonderful Catholic Nun who is an author and activist. I am so moved by her insight and depth. I love what she shares in this piece. I wanted to share it. ~ Peace I DON'T FEAR QUESTIONSAs a young teenager, kneeling in a dark cathedral one night, with no illumination in the church but the sanctuary lamp, I had an experience of intense light. I was thirteen years old

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-81536799057352181332009-01-15T09:41:00.003-05:002009-02-14T12:50:16.701-05:00

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-43086496474232796512009-01-13T06:55:00.010-05:002009-01-15T10:15:24.849-05:00

Happy New Year! I've been very busy at work. We are ordering lots of beautiful, interesting new books at our library. So, while I am busy guttering, receiving them on the computer, adding title page labels, barcodes and stamps...I often listen to Pandora Radio. Yesterday they played a song I've never heard by Ella Fitzgerald called, "Stairway to the Stars." Whoah! Knocked my socks off. I can

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-30387867519064105042009-01-06T21:07:00.004-05:002009-01-06T21:58:37.834-05:00

I first starting reading books by Thomas Merton about twenty years ago. I fell in love with his understanding of God and Spirituality. Reading Merton changed my life. His work has affirmed my own understanding and opened me to new ways of seeing and thinking. I have a book that I use for prayer times throughout the day. It is called Thomas Merton A Book of Hours edited by Kathleen Deignan. This

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-27606668813861012192008-12-25T12:40:00.004-05:002008-12-25T12:53:04.016-05:00

Last night we had a Christmas Eve service at our church where my husband, Jim is pastor. We had a lovely service, short and sweet. My husband shared this from a book called The Hungering Dark by Frederick Buechner. Buechner has a beautiful way of looking at the meaning of Christmas. Enjoy.Those who believe in God can never in a way be sure of him again. Once they have seen him in a stable, they

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-81164771245252318152008-12-24T21:15:00.002-05:002008-12-24T21:18:19.833-05:00

Make a Smilebox greeting

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-68790506997813953972008-12-13T08:27:00.003-05:002008-12-13T08:49:19.556-05:00

"Nothing can work damage to me except myself; the harm that I sustain I carry about with me and never am a real sufferer except by my own fault." ~(Ralph Waldo Emerson:Essay on Compensation)He that respects himself is safe from others; he wears a coat of mail that none can pierce. ~ Henry Wadsworth LongfellowIt seems some of my worst enemies are those that lie (yes lie!) within me. My critics.

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-53531943024115069172008-12-08T23:45:00.008-05:002008-12-10T09:20:12.220-05:00

Well, we trimmed our Christmas Tree. Love the smell of the pine. The minute you come in the front door you can smell that lovely scent. My grandson, Noah helped us trim our tree and my cat Jada really was enjoying this new space, warm, glowing and well...a tree in the house.. She got quite cosy underneath it. Warmed my heart to see this because Jada is very shy and skiddish. Usually, anything or

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-41404245564678871132008-12-07T21:43:00.006-05:002008-12-07T22:15:44.384-05:00

This morning I read a quote and it was exactly what I needed to hear. These words are the words of an Indiana poet named Max Ehrmann, dated 1927. It is entitled : Desiderata"Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; listen to others, even

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-69725036680646617122008-12-05T22:03:00.005-05:002008-12-06T17:07:57.528-05:00

Love this painting. Thought it was perfect for this wonderful time of Advent.

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-57868446761857536032008-12-04T08:14:00.007-05:002008-12-05T21:21:50.925-05:00

Perhaps you've noticed that I set this blog up last November and only blogged five times. I'd like to continue this blog now and I feel I'm at a better place for making the time to write. I've journaled a great deal of my life, its just so different writing with pen and book and well, publishing what you write to the public is a whole different matter, isn't it? I'm 57 years old now and look

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-950183711012496842008-12-03T18:41:00.012-05:002008-12-13T22:59:42.822-05:00

When I was around nine years old my mother had an album by Dinah Washington and I loved to listen to it. I loved to sing but I was very shy. One day for a moment I forgot myself, thinking no one was listening or close by, I was singing with Dinah's record as loud as I could. Little did I know my ornery brother, Jody came in laughing at the top of his lungs with my oldest brother Dub, Mom and Dad.

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-69009336377700828092007-12-06T20:57:00.002-05:002009-12-31T16:25:09.158-05:00

This morning I had to drive an hour and a half to a workshop on "Repairing Books." I had to drive over a mountain. It had snowed the night before which made me a little apprehensive of the road conditions. On top of that, a beautiful ferrell cat that I feed outside my house, I call "the bearded lady" ran into my nice warm house when I opened the door this morning. This cat sits on my window and

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-65988349251662495812007-12-01T15:22:00.013-05:002009-02-02T09:53:55.658-05:00

Today is WORLD AIDS day. I am thinking much about my brother Jody who died as a result of AIDS in 1990. About the time Jody was finding out that he was infected with HIV, I was living and serving full-time in a Christian ministry. My brother and I had little contact for about sixteen years. At that time I had very conservative beliefs and had tried to “save” my brother several times. I was

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-40811739363458934052007-11-26T21:29:00.002-05:002008-12-04T10:02:33.695-05:00

I painted this picture last summer. My husband, Jim and I were out late walking. We passed a line of trees that were facing the moon and it looked and felt like this painting. I called it a family of trees. In the past few years I have become more senstive to nature. There is someting very special about trees.If we want to find out who we are and what we should be doing with our lives then we

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-79007460693286365902007-11-25T16:18:00.001-05:002008-12-04T09:59:41.072-05:00

I took this photo outside my window early one morning. I wasn't ready to get up, it was my day off and the night before I had stayed up late. But, nature calls and I had to go to the bathroom. I was going to barely open my eyes and take care of business and get back to bed as quickly as possible. The sun was coming up and there was a lovely mist. I knew I had to go out and take this picture. So I

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854489490477460753.post-66276207514474364702007-11-24T15:56:00.001-05:002008-12-04T09:55:37.660-05:00

Many years ago concerning my faith, I thought that I had many of the answers. I lived a life where so many things appeared to be black and white. It seemed simple. All of my beliefs fit into a nice little package. A package that I held onto. It made me feel secure. Through several crises that box got blown to smithereens. I now know that what I had believed as true, which I felt brought a sense

jeanne leighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15186354079320565977noreply@blogger.com1