wishing you a cozy Christmas!!!

happy T H A N K S G I V I N G 2016

 i am THANKFUL for...

(in 2 minutes or less...ready...set...GO!!!)

1. Jesus' unconditional love for me 2.my incredible husband and kids 3.Tuesday night sleepovers with mom and our Wednesday's together 4. lifelong friendships that grow deeper each day 5.the way my heart dances when I hear my daughter's laugh 6. long chats and laughs with my oldest son 7. that far away look in my younger son's eyes when he's making magic on his guitar  8. my husband's hilarious e-mails...such a funny guy 9.watching and playing volleyball 10. soft sheets and a warm bed to sleep in 11.my hubbie's warm feet when i sneak late into bed 12.long walks in the woods or by the river 13.the sound of water...rushing, crashing, trickling, splashing, lapping, rippling 14.morning mochas on the front porch listening to the birds or the rain, or the silence 15. good health to enjoy this life 16. our worship times at church...just gives me goosebumps to enjoy God's presence in this way 17. writing in my journal or re-reading old ones 18. favourite authors...books, words, poetry 19. watching my kids hug and laugh with one another 20. morning prayers all huddled in a hug at the front door 21.my sister and brother 22. car rides in the malibu with the whole family and the top down 23. scented candles and long baths with a breeze blowing in the window 24. soft jazz  on the piano or saxophone ...and big band music 25. impromptu parties with great friends and delicious food 26. everything artistic...i love when creativity just spills out and you can't do anything but surrender to it all 27. the respect my family shows one another...what a gift 28. times out on the boat with friends and family 29. long hugs...especially from husband and kids...the kind I have to reach up for now! 30.capturing magic with my camera 31. keeping gratitude lists around the house so that I can add to them any time I like....and then re-reading them

and so on, and so on, and so on....

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Canadian friends this weekend. May your own list of thankfulness grow throughout this coming year...and may your heart lean closer into the One from whom all blessings flow.

xxoo

~melody~

P.S. Come join me over on instagram:  whisperingsoulstreams  and take a moment to spread the love by clicking on the "share" link below.  

words and images © Melody Armstrong 2016

spilling with delight

there are days

i am especially aware

and spilling with delight

days i can barely get enough

of the beauty

and all the joyful taking in

beauty

to inhale

to strain my ears towards

to gaze at

to lose myself in

and oh....those 

moments of simplicity

and dailiness 

 - tiny hints of heaven -

to celebrate

with a dear friend

or truest love

those unencumbered moments

when joy springs fresh

teasing me into the chase

to capture 

with heart and soul 

and even sometimes 

with a lens

my heart is spilling with delight.

words and images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2016

:: quiet moments ::

a few quiet days lately

(between spurts of high-energy

spring cleaning projects in january

such as pantry reorganizing, fridge cleaning, 

closet sorting, purging and donating, 

and basement painting ) 

to breathe

to be alone 

to be still enough 

to recognize the yearnings

of my heart

and willfully choose

to let my days 

be shaped by them

and so...long walks in the woods

luxuriously long soaks in the bath

immersed in favourite words

peaceful hours of creating.... 

a journal cover

 a few pages of random thoughts 

plastered in mixed media

unmeasured moments 

of thought and 

contemplation and prayer

sitting in my dreamy bedroom 

letting my eyes be washed 

by the soft light of these grey winter skies

i am seeing clearer

and what do I have to show

for this solitude

but a 

few pretty pages

for

the fullness of my heart 

can neither be measured

nor displayed.

words and images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2016

September Rain

there's nothing like a few rainy days 

to inspire 

the shrugging on of a cozy, oversized hoodie 

and the rare indulgence 

of back to back episodes of a favourite show 

with anyone who's in the mood to watch

we've only a few evenings left 

that are gloriously unscheduled 

so perhaps we should just snuggle in

give ourselves over 

to the moody, grey clouds

and drizzled skies 

and enjoy this quiet, lazy pace 

borrowed, it seems, from a season that has 

quietly made its exit.

words and images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2015

fall is in the air

My toenails are shiny pink -- too shiny for August's fresh-off-the-beach toes -- and the cool, dewy grass is still lush and green, but something has shifted within and without.  It feels like fall and I'm not sure I will comply just yet.  Perhaps my favourite jean jacket and boots can wait just a little while longer and I'll choose my white linen top and flip flops instead.  

There are still summer weeds in the garden yet to be pulled, and last night, after three hours of digging weeds, turning soil and planting tulips, we barbecued hamburgers and enjoyed them together on the front porch beneath the warm, low slanted rays of sun (dirt under my fingernails, and all!)

Here I am, friends.....practicing living in the moment -- whatever it brings.  For the time being, I am perfectly content to share another meal outside and give thanks for a day that began with a morning walk in the fog with a dear friend and came to a close with a stretch and one last sip of ice water from a muddy glass.  Ah....life's treasured moments.

Happy easing into fall......

words and images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2015 (except where otherwise cited) 

summer gifts & dreamy spaces

my heart smiles contentment

and spills gratitude 

for the gift of this lovely lake space

a dream that really came true

a place

that is peaceful

and filled with the love we share 

dreamy blues and whites

and candlelight

and sloped ceilings

and bathtub in bedroom

sparse decor

of driftwood and rocks 

white birch branches

and garage sale trunks 

and creamy sofas and papasan to sink into

and lots of spots

to nap in the sun 

or snuggle under blankets

to watch the lightning 

to listen to the rain

to daydream

to sip wine or extra hot moccachinos

or G2's or iced tea

to luxuriate 

in the laughter of those we love

or share a tear

or be alone

this place is about

solace

 nourishment

and freedom

to Be and to become

to simply relish

whatever the moment may bring

a ski, a surf, a crazy flying tube ride

a paddle, a midnight swim off the boat

a movie on the hammock

or the drive-in

a dip in the river 

a walk in the sand

or a float on the boat

to gaze 

and be amazed

 at meteor showers for hours

this is a place for favourite foods

with favourite people....

ribs in the smoker or steaks on the grill

salads and fruit and pie 

Demille's cheese buns

Enderby cinnamon buns

and D Dutchmen chocolate milk

and, and, and.....

summer

in this place

with these people.

LOVE.

words and images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2015

feeling blue...and loving it

some shots from my lving room and the old & new blue accents that I’m loving

images © copyright Melody Armstrong 2014