Judgement...

My kids and I went on a little road trip recently to visit family about 7 hours south of here.

The drive there seemed unusually long.  Partially because it was raining most of the way, and partially because my Learner-driver daughter was driving for several hours.  In the state that we were in, she is limited to travelling at 90km/hr when the speed for full licensed drivers is up to 110km/hr.

By the time that we arrived at our destination, I felt very tired and just kind of blah.  I was aware of a lot of judgment when I got there.  Not directed to me at first, but when the conversation is full of judgement about other people, then I know that there has also been judgement towards me and us.  I found that I was started to get defensive, and as a result, I also adopted some judgement.

It didn't feel good.

But I felt stuck there in that mindset.  On top of that, and having our entire rhythm messed up, it was also very cold and windy.  I have never liked the wind...it agitates me.  Same with the cold.  To have them both was like putting lemon juice in an open wound.  

I became very focused on the external and all of the things that I didn't like.  Then I internalised all of that to a judgy, mucky mess inside of my head.  I felt even worse.

Thankfully, I was also witnessing all of this.  The witness whispered "there is a lesson here".

I started to listen, and to look, and to feel what that lesson might be.

I started feeling that it was related to the judgement that I was feeling, but it was more than that.  I reached out and sent a message to a dear friend.  She read through the lines and gave me some tools to use.  She reminded me of my true essence, that of Love.

What she said opened the door for me to remember.  I remembered that sometimes, those that are trapped in fear, who judge others, have forgotten that they too, are Love.  If I would see them as Love, then I simply could not play into the mode of Judgement.  I remembered to stop squashing my Love.  I remembered to fill myself up from the inside out.  As I did that, and as I focused more on the internal process, the external wind and cold weather bothered me much less.

And with that, I was free to just enjoy every moment.

New YouTube channel!!!

I did it!  I worked through the frustration and got the result that I wanted!  I moved my videos onto my new youtube channel.  Now I've got all of the fiddly business out of the way, I can get back to vlogging and video editing.   Yay me!

Da da da daaaaaa.....  click on the link below, and please subscribe to my channel if you like it!

https://www.youtube.com/c/AnnetteLove

Madness!!! And Power!!!! And Vlogging!!!

I thought I'd take my blog to the next level and try vlogging.  Hahahaha!  I am going slightly bonkers!  

Am I the only one that goes around in circles with Google?  I was trying to set up a new channel which took me to setting up a Google plus account and somehow I managed to make several of those!  Trying to figure out which G+ account was the right one to link to the You Tube channel sent me around in circles again.  I felt like I was in one of those mazes that has too many dead ends and you feel like you'll never get out!  I think that 'Google Circles' is supposed to be like groups of friends or something.  But secretly, I think it refers to the madness of the way that it's set up!

I thought I had it all figured out.  I got my YT channel active but then I realised there's another YT channel in there somehow.  The other one is linked to my email address, and the one that I've been posting on is linked to this blog address.  I couldn't change the current YT url to something simple like 'AnnetteLove' to help people find it and it was stuck on YTQR3684PE9E or something equally impossible to remember.  Trying to change the url had me going around in circles again and I kept hitting the same dead end that told me that I couldn't change my url until I had 500 subscribers.

I joined a lovely little Facebook group for people growing an online business and a lovely lady there suggested that I delete the existing channel and start again.  I just started a new channel, and was automatically given a url with my name in it.  I don't know how that happened as I didn't even have any videos on it, or a single subscriber.  sigh.

After all of this, making the actually videos is the easy part!  I actually feel comfortable chatting away in front of the camera now.  I'm still very new at doing this.  Before I start the camera, I have a theme in mind and honestly, I don't always know what is going to come out.  I just get my mind out of the way, and let my heart lead.  I don't want to be one of those "rah rah...you have to live life exactly how I say...eat what I say...workout like me...rah rah" type.  I like to tell a little story, and inspire others by what has worked for me, with tools and tips that I have learned and used in 50 years of life experience.

It's been a huge area of growth for me as I get to see myself up close on camera.  Recently I was doing a video overlooking a beautiful...no, an absolutely magnificent area of the coast.  My words weren't flowing and I realised that my mind was too involved and I needed to get that out of the way.  Once I did, the topic of that day was totally different to what I had planned.  I thought that what I said was awesome, the background was amazing....but when I got to editing, all I could see was my wrinkles and my aged skin.  I got so down on myself, thinking that youtube is a young person's place, that I should just keep my old self hidden in the safety of blogland.

Then I saw this on Facebook, posted by one of my friends:  "Today, I embrace my body. Focusing on what I love about myself I create a confidence that permeates my aura. When I feel good about me, it gives you permission to feel good about you. And so, I practice this. When I look in the mirror I say thank you and put down the critical self harm. I say this affirmative prayer with gratitude. Amen."

And I realised that I had to get back in front of the camera.  It is a part of my message to talk to people about getting bolder (not just getting older!).  I will not hide my wrinkles or freckles!  I will present myself in my Power!  My message will attract the people that it is meant to.  My focus is to have fun, to talk about the kind of stuff that I talk about on here, but deeper, and exploring the shadows and the strengths and the corners and the cobwebs and the fucking craziness of this life! (I know that I rarely swear, but sometimes, it just feels right to do so!)  I want to talk about parenting, children, homeschooling, connection, love, health, relationships, truth, energy, Spirit, living simply and deeply and all that crunchy kind of stuff!

I'm slow getting into it because life happens you know?!  There's people to feed, and places to go and I'm not always in the mood to make a video.  My family will always be my priority.  I refuse to make a video every day for x amount of days, because that doesn't feel authentic to me.  I'll make one when I feel like I have something that I really want to say...and I have a fair bit to say lately!!  I totally understand why people do those challenges, but my focus isn't on creating a 'following', or making a ton of money from YT.  My focus is on sharing my story in the hope that it inspires or helps others.  Along the way, I learn more about myself.

Everything that I do has to come from my heart.  After years of people pleasing, and suppressing my Power and my voice, I have a lot to chat about, but I won't force it.

I have to reload the three current videos (I told you I was having a slow start, and besides, it's quality, not quantity from me...yeah, that's what I'll tell myself!) to my new channel, then I'll post the new channel link here.  This might take a while as it's sooooooo slooooowwww to upload videos here in Backwater 'Straya (that's Aussie-speak for Australia!).

I've been having fun learning lots of tips on video editing, setting up channel art and youtube thumbnails (picmonkey is totes amazeballs!)....'scuse the kid-speak, I've been learning from watching too many videos from 8-15 year old youtube superstars!  I'm enjoying the creativity of this whole experience, getting to know more about myself, going deeper and getting clearer on what my Truth is.  It really is totes amazeballs!

What do I want?

I feel like I am on the right path.  I feel grounded and more sure of myself...stronger and more determined.  However, I can't say for sure exactly where I'm going.  I just know that I'm getting to where I'm supposed to be, in the way that I'm supposed to.

Some people may find that statement very vague.  Others will totally get it.  It's okay either way, because I am feeling peaceful and grateful to be where I am right now.

I've not really been one for setting materialistic goals.  My goals have come from instrinsic motivation by the feelings that I want to achieve.   My priority has always been harmony, love, joy, balance and peace within myself.  Why would I ever want external 'things', if I didn't have the deeper things that give this life meaning?    

A house doesn't mean anything to me...it's the people and the connection they have within it.  I'm not impressed with fancy clothes or jewellery or cars or degrees.  That's just not my focus.

In the past, I've tried 'goal setting' in the usual way...listing the material things that I wanted in 1 year, 5, 10, etc.    I wasn't very good at it, as those 'things' didn't really mean anything to me.  

My focus is on the feelings.  The external has changed so many times, often as a reflection of what is happening within me.  Maybe that's why I can adapt to change so easily, because I'm not attached to the physical. ... "Move to the USA - sure, why not!... Move to Las Vegas - sounds like fun!....Move back to Australia...yeah!"

I have a strong feeling now that 'Something Wonderful is about to happen!'

I want to get clear on my feelings and the direction that I feel called to go.  So I was thinking "what do I want?".   To get clearer, I quickly wrote the first five feelings that came to me:

Love

Connection

Peace

Joy

Compassion

What are the most important ways for me to express these:

Family - my own, my extended family, my friends, all living beings on Earth (that last one kind of surprised me when it came out, but okay).

Interacting, Connecting with Love, Peace, Joy and Compassion.

I would like to help the world return to Love, away from fear and conflict.

How can I achieve those more deeply?  Again, the first few things that came to me:

By doing the things that maintain harmony within my body and mind (fitness, rest, nutrition, sunshine, friends and feeding my mind with inspiring reading, videos, conversation or contemplation every single day)

By focusing on Being the Change that I wish to see in the World.  There is SO much unrest, it would be easy to get into a conflict mindset.  But that does not feel authentic to me.  I need to maintain a place of peace.  We cannot fight for peace...we can only BE Peace to create Peace.  It seems huge and unlikely....maybe that's what Gandhi thought as well.  

By remembering to be Grateful for everything even the "not good" things that come my way.  It's all part of the journey and has a reason.  

By Trusting that I will continue to be guided to the right people and places and information.

By Watching my thoughts to ensure that they remain in alignment with my main focus, aiming to avoid judgement of myself and others.  

By Reminding myself of all of this!

This feels so good to me!  

EmPowered!

So, I'm 50 years old.

Somehow, in a very quiet, deep part of me, I allowed a little belief to take hold.

One that said that at this age, I was just a bit past being Powerful.

One that said I didn't need to be Sexy or Strong.

One that said that "hormones" were responsible for my low libido, low energy, headaches, weight gain, moods, etc...

No.  No more.

I didn't even know that those thoughts were there, until I started turning that around, and I felt the difference.  They had crept in, despite my desire that I could bypass them.

They can go and take a flying...leap.  I refuse to accept that.

Going to the gym consistently has been a big part of the turnaround.  Especially now that I'm really seeing results.  I don't work out as hard as I used to years ago, because my body, and my mind, are not what they used to be.   But as my body gets stronger, so does my mind.

Other things that have helped is having some awesome friends, my amazing family, getting back to reading something inspiring every day, being on social media less often, being a part of some wonderful community groups, and of course, my husband, who always encourages me to pursue and create what I most desire.

I'm feeling my Wild Woman rising!!

I'm feeling like I could do anything!

I love this quote below, it's one that has driven me for half of my life.  A few times I've forgotten it, but it always comes back to remind me.

What about you?  Are you feeling your magnificent strength and power?  Are you holding back from sharing your Light with the world?  You don't need to anymore.... give yourself permission to live without regrets!

Forgiveness...

To all of the people out there that I have hurt along my journey, whether directly or indirectly, with my words, actions or thoughts..... please know that I am truly sorry.  By hurting you, I also hurt myself and delayed love.  I hope that you can find a way to forgive me, as I am finding ways to forgive myself.

In Love,
Annette

Progress report...

One of my other blogs was about "my personal journey back to vibrant health".    I like feeling healthy and strong and in balance - mentally, physically and spiritually.  As a kid, I was always pretty active.  Not in a sporty way, but in a "let's get out of the house so that Mum doesn't make us do chores" sort of way!  My brother and I, and sometimes my sister, would go for long bush walks or bike rides or go to the golf course close to us to look for stray golf balls.  In the warmer weather, we would spend hours playing in our pool.

As I got older, my pendulum swung between party girl and health nut.  At times, the two tried to co-exist, but that didn't work.  Eventually though, the health girl won out!  Twenty years ago, I was even working in the health industry as a personal trainer and aerobics instructor, while also working as a Reiki practitioner.

Since having children, it has been my priority to stay at home with them and this is the best 'job' I've ever had!  I love our unschooling life!  Having young children, it's impossible to Not be active!  When my youngest one weaned about 5.5 years ago, my body started to change and I've had an ongoing quest to try and balance it and regain my vibrant health.  Peri-menopause was also thrown into the mix so it's been an interesting time!

I've tried tweaking my vegan diet and all kinds of different exercise plans, but my body has not been responding the way that it used to.  I stopped trying to get to a specific number on the scale, and just put dedicated effort into getting fit.  Four months ago, we joined the local pool / gym.  I started going, but it took my body a little while to get used to lifting weights again.  I'd get headaches and muscle aches and not go back for a few days.  I didn't realise just how out of shape I'd gotten!  I almost felt embarrassed that I used to work in the fitness field and had allowed myself to get like that.  But I decided to be gentle with me.

Slowly, slowly, my body started adapting, and getting stronger.  I now spend more time running than just walking on the treadmill.  I am adding in some of my old tricks in the weight room.  I used to do up my belt on the third hole, now it's on the fifth one!  My clothes are feeling a bit looser, my energy is picking up, my moods are more even.  I can do a handstand and hold it for 60 seconds!  Okay, so my feet are against the wall, but my arms are strong and holding me up!  I decided to weigh myself today...In the past four months, I've lost four kilos, dropped body fat, increased muscle and I am well on the way to shining with vitality!  I love this feeling!  It's not about how I look, it's about how I feel!  Once I remembered that, the way I look started to change anyway!  Onward onward!

Move aside .. Free Spirit Life...

I like blogging.  I don't do it often, but I enjoy it.  I like it so much that I created a bunch of different blogs for my different interests...including Spirituality, Reiki, the search for Peace, and Health.  I like setting up a new blog, the designing and the whole excitement that comes with a new project.  But that wears off.  Then I find myself with a list of blogs and starting to feel that I "should" do something with all of them.

As this blog is my main one, I'm just going to lump it all in here.  Simplifying my creative mess into one random, 'free-spirited', jumble of ramblings.  I might transport some of the posts from other blogs into this one, so I can close them down.  I'm also changing the name of this blog from 'Free Spirit Life' that it has been for the past 10 years, to simply Annette Love.

The term "free spirit" can mean different things to different people, some people associate it with the hippie, free-love, bohemians / artists.  But there's a whole other side...

* It's the quiet ones (or the loud ones or any in-between) that are true to themselves, however that presents in the moment.  Even if it's totally different from one day to the next.  It's not being afraid to live that truth whether it's the way you dress, or what you listen to, or the people you hang with.   It's being comfortable with going with "your" flow.

* It's about not getting attached to any one particular way of thinking or doing or being.

* It's about experimenting and following inspiration and taking chances.

* It's about letting go of the things that hold you back from pursuing passions.  Not just physical letting go, but also that of the mind - conditionings and patterns that block you and keep you thinking small.

* It's about respecting other people's rights to live how they want, without imposing your own beliefs on them.

* It's about living in the moment, making the most of Now... really feeling it and being present.  Connecting to life more deeply and feeling the Joy of authentic alignment.

Those interpretations of a 'Free Spirit' will always ring true for me, but I'm also much, much more!  Letting go of that name is liberating, and it gives me a focus on one place, instead of scattering bits of me all over the place.   So I'll be putting more of 'me' in here.  My life, family, love, health, food, ...my journey.

I like this outlet.  Writing helps me process and clarify stuff that's going on for me.  Maybe I've said the same thing over and over in here, but maybe I needed to.  I like to think that overall, I'm evolving.   I do feel a deeper strength emerging within me.  I like it!

Slow Down!

I keep hearing the message "slow down".  It's very insistent and comes to me at random times.

I'm listening.  

My happiest times have been when I've "slowed down" and been in touch with what is happening within me and around me.  When I've not been rushing to get to the next thing on the "to do" list.

I've been busy lately....who hasn't?!   Ask anyone what they've been up to...most people say "I don't know, but I've been really busy!"  Or maybe they do know, but they just don't have time to stop and have a conversation about it because they're itching to move on to the next thing.  Let's keep moving forward people, no time to stand still!   (I'm laughing at myself for doing these things.)

I've got a major project that I need to be working on, but I keep myself distracted and busy so that I don't have time to get to it.  It's the kind of thing that I really have to do, but I just don't enjoy doing it.  I've been having a lovely time doing loads of other interesting things...meeting up with friends, doing fun activities with the kids, going to the gym, and the list goes on.  Even doing housework and cooking is a good distraction from working on what I need to be doing.

When I think about the project, I start to feel stressed and overwhelmed.   When I think about it after a "slow down" message, I see how I can break it into little chunks in order to get it done.

I think that the "slow down" message is more than something to help me to focus and manage my time.  It's much deeper...it feels more urgent, like a reminder that life is rushing by and I'm going to miss some important things if I keep cruising by on the surface.

It's a reminder that the important things in life are the things that are felt with the heart.  It's not the material things.  It's the connection with other people, with nature, with Spirit, and with our Selves.

It's a reminder to really feel each moment...be there with my heart, not just my head.  

I'm grateful for receiving the message.  I'm applying it as much as possible.  I would like to be able to live it 24/7 as it's so important.  Simple, beautiful things like sunsets help me to remember.  Getting my "to do" list and scrunching it up and throwing it away works too!

We have got to stop the glorification of "busy"!

Nothing is more important than this moment. Right here. Right now!

In Joy!

Responsibility...

I observed a long time ago that:

If I don't expect anything, then I cannot be disappointed.

It worked well, but back then, it came at a cost of personal detachment and aloofness, when deep down, I wanted to be able to get close to people, I just didn't know how.  Probably because I didn't know how to be close to myself first.  Sometimes I'd go to the other extreme and get too attached and would give myself to someone to the point that I relied on them for how I felt.  I'm talking about family and friends as well as romantic situations.  I'd get hurt and jealous and disappointed.

As my personal journey has evolved, I feel these things much less often, but when they do pop up, it's a great chance for me to look at why... Had I attached expectations to something? Did I communicate my needs clearly?  Did I feel that I should have to?

I found myself getting disappointed recently.  I had originally posted here some of the details surrounding that feeling, the events and who did what... but that just felt gossipy and unnecessary.  The thing is, I had not been in alignment with myself, or with Love.  I had stopped doing my Love Meditation every morning as I had been jumping out of bed as soon as I woke up so that I could go to the gym.  My body has been getting stronger, but I have unbalanced my Spirit.  So the source of my disappointment, really comes back to me.   I had not communicated clearly, I had gotten stuck on thinking that I didn't need to, but ultimately, I had lost connection to myself in the process and somehow, the little "I'm not worthy" started to creep back in.  What to do about that?

Personal responsibility is the cure for disappointment.

I cannot expect anything from other people.  I don't mean that to sound bitchy, but seriously, when I take full responsibility for how I feel, then it's really up to me as to how I react to life.

I have tried being a cold, heartless bitch in the past, but it didn't feel right.  Being too open and trusting isn't exactly the right place either as it can leave me feeling like a doormat.   I feel the best when I have a balance where I feel strong and connected to myself first, then others.

I'm taking action and empowering myself!  I'm figuring out how to do things that I haven't done before.  Of course I am Worthy!  I'm also strong and smart and all-round amazing!  So are you!

I'm not going to complain about things I want done.  If I want something done, then that's MY priority.   It's not just physical things either, it's the emotional and spiritual side of life too.

I am responsible for my own happiness!!!

Once I truly own that personal responsibility, then I am more connected to myself, and that joy can be contagious!  I was thinking back to my recent birthday....when I didn't expect anything, and I was clear about a couple of things that I wanted to do.  I assumed responsibility for ensuring that "50" was going to be a fantastic celebration, no matter what happened, because it was already fantastic in my mind. And it really was.  Every day can be that.  It IS that, when I stay focused in Love.

By taking responsibility, I lose the mindset of "expecting" anything from anyone other than myself.  That whole source for disappointment only ever ends up in my court.  I own that, and every other feeling that happens within.  There is something liberating about that!  And it definitely leads to healthier relationships with all of the people in my life!

When I take responsibility for my own happiness, then I allow others to do the same.  We all need to know that we are Worthy of Peace and Love and Incredible Joy!

Fifty!!!

When I was younger, I thought that 50 was 'old'!  Ha!!!  I just turned 50 and I decided to have fun with it rather than being depressed.  Why should I be?  Not all people get to see this milestone, and I am grateful for it!  

My silly mood was infectious!

In recent years, my body has gone through some very interesting changes which I find fascinating!  As both a participant and an observer of this dance...the band is changing mid-song and there is an awkwardness amongst the players (hormones etc) as they try to find out where they are supposed to be sitting now.  It's as though the sheet music has blown in and landed skewiff on the music stand.  It's sometimes loud and bold, sometimes soft, sad, light, lovely and/or playful or deep and thoughtful.  I never know what to expect, so I just go with whatever is playing, learning more about acceptance along the way.

Like a river, I'm flowing with it.  All of it.  The wild rapids and the still ponds.

I believe that my body knows what to do.  It's survived everything else in the past 50 years, including the chemical shitstorm that I threw at it in my teens and twenties.  It's known how to build, birth and feed three beautiful babies.  I figure that it knows how to handle this next dance as well!

In my acceptance of these physical changes as well as the fact that I am no longer physically young, I am free to live with more Joy!

My Grandfather, who lived into his mid-90's, used to say "I'm just a day older than yesterday!"  I've integrated that mindset and I've had the best, happiest, and most fun birthday ever!

I've observed that every decade of my life has just gotten better!  Each has had its own set of wonderful highs and crushing lows.  But with time, my ability to ride those waves has improved.  I know that I won't be stuck in the troughs for long, and I know to deeply appreciate the crests when I'm there.  Over all though, I have a sense of inner calm which was definitely missing when I was physically younger.  It's a place that I keep returning to, even when the band starts playing out of tune.

This, right here, is such a good life!  I love this wild, crazy, beautiful, graceful, absolutely lovely dance!

So, on my actual birthday, all that I wanted to do was to go to the beach and watch the sunrise (5:53am).   Then I wanted to dive into the waves at the same time that I was born (5:55am).  It was handy that the two things were so close together!   

What I didn't know though, was that Cary had arranged for my Mum, sister Ros and brother-in-law Bob, to come up the afternoon before my birthday to start a three-day celebration of ME!   It was such a thrill to come home the day before my birthday and find them making a lot of noise in the holiday-rental-townhouse right next door to ours!   I looked out from my bedroom balcony to the pool area in the neighbours yard and I saw my Mum and Ros blowing those celebration blower thingys,  and Bob and this in the pool:

I just had to dive right into that!  (Not from my balcony though!  I did walk around and hug and cry on everyone first!  It was good that the kids and I had just come from Wet n Wild so I was still in my swimmers.)

One of my favourite aunts and her partner came to visit that first night and we all went out for dinner that night at a local vegetarian restaurant.  The next morning, my actual birthday(!), my family, my Mum, Ros and Bob all got up around 5am and started getting ready to go to the beach.  We got there as it was getting light.  I wrote a big 50!!!!! in the sand and we danced around, or sat and watched the sky as we waited for the sunrise.  

After basking in its magnificence for two minutes, we held hand and ran into the water before I let go and dived into a beautiful breaking wave.

Mum and I

Oh wow, it was such a happy, fun, joyous time!  The whole weekend went too fast!  After playing on the beach, we went for a walk, then out for breakfast at this place in the photo below, overlooking the ocean, watching the amazing show put on by the combination of clouds and rising sun:

After getting changed, all the girls went out op-shopping and came home to find my brother and his wife on their way to stay for the night!  My sister and Mum had prepared a slideshow of my life which was lovely but quite long...well you know, it was 50 years worth!!!... so we needed a long intermission in between watching it!  I made pancakes for everyone the next morning and we went to some markets after a swim.


Not only was the weekend with my family wonderful, but some very lovely friends had done some special things to help me celebrate my birthday.  I am so grateful for them!  They have become my extended family here!

I feel so loved!  And I am so deeply grateful to Cary for arranging the surprise and so many other details of the weekend.  I am grateful to my children for helping with the planning and keeping the surprise!  I am grateful to my Mum, Ros and Bob, for driving all the way up here to spend this time with us, and for so many other wonderful things that you did to make the weekend truly magical!  They went above and beyond and I am so honoured and amazed and still on a high, though I miss them like crazy!

Vegan Pumpkin Pie

A sweet pumpkin pie is traditional in the USA for Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.  I have been making this pie for many years, at any time of the year, and it's always very popular.  We haven't quite decided if we prefer it warm out of the oven with some vegan vanilla ice cream melted over the top, or cold out of the fridge.  Both ways are great!   It's easy, cruelty-free and delicious!  In Joy!!

VEGAN PUMPKIN PIE

Crust:

1 1/4 cups flour (I like wholemeal spelt, but use what you like)
1/4 tsp salt
~ mix these together then add:
1/2 cup vegan shortening (in Australia, I use Nuttelex)
~ rub together, mixing well, then add:
1 Tablespoon water (use a little more if you need to)
~ knead for 1-2 minutes to form a ball of dough.  Wrap in greaseproof paper and chill for 30 mins.   Roll into a pie plate.  Prick holes in the bottom before adding filling.  (no need to pre-bake)

Filling:

340g (3/4lb) tofu
1/3 cup coconut oil
1 teaspoon salt
~ put these into a blender and blend until smooth.  Then add:
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 Tablespoons flour
425g (15oz) cooked pumpkin (I steam mine; you can use canned)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon powdered ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons vanilla
~ blend well

Pour into pie crust.  Bake at 180 C / 350 F for 40 minutes.

Enjoy!

Love Meditation...

Before I get out of bed in the morning, with my eyes still closed, I imagine warm light coming down into the top of my head and I say to myself

    I am aligned with Love

I continue to move that light feeling slowly down my body, filling each area.
At my forehead, I say

    I think with Love

At my eyes,  I see with Love

At my ears,  I listen with Love

At my nose,  I inhale Love... I exhale Love

At my mouth, as I exhale   I speak with Love
                       as I inhale    I eat with Love

At my heart, as I inhale  I feel with Love
                     as I exhale  I radiate Love

At my solar plexus,  my strength is Love
                                    my power is Love            

At my naval,   I move with Love
                           I create with Love

At the base of my spine,  I am safe in Love
                                            I am secure in Love

to my feet,   I am grounded in Love 

then..
           I am surrounded by Love
               I am filled with Love
                 Love is all that I am
                     I Am Love


~ At night time, I say the meditation in the opposite order as I am going to sleep.  If I make it all the way through, at the end, I repeat

       Love is all that I am.... I Am Love