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view from #catsmountain, 11.8.20, 5:17pm
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Hello friends! I had not planned to send a Grace Notes newsletter this weekend but am sliding this one in on a beautiful Sunday because the mountains are gorgeous and my spirit is light and there are so many good things to share.
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First, we're getting a puppy! This is big news which you may realize if you've been a long-time reader of The Daily Grace. Our precious dog, Little Bit, passed away 18 months ago and it has taken that long for Tim and me to get our hearts ready. Little was a rescue who had been my Mom's cherished companion until her sad move to a skilled nursing center. It was a very emotional time, needless to say, and in the midst of it I made a split second decision to put Little Bit into the car and bring her home to live with us in South Carolina. That little pup saved me, is what then happened, loving me in the kindest, gentlest, most reassuring way for the next nine years.
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Precious Little Bit, keeping me company in the studio, circa 2018
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You'll see and hear much more about the new little pup in the days and weeks to come, I am quite certain, as we both learn to live together. She, too, is a rescue, two months old, and as we've never met, I'm sure we're both hoping for the best!
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Until then---happy Sunday!
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Despite a lovely mood today, I might as well tell you my personal anxiety reached a new life level over these last two weeks. Between the nasty election and the mean, mean spirits and the it's-only-getting-worse pandemic that has knocked us all out of so many experiences meant to fill and lift—it all came at me hard and converged and congealed and left me IN A STATE. Thank heaven for sweet friends who held my hand, virtually speaking, and who talked low and slow with words of understanding and reassurance. Thank heaven for Dr. Mike Bragan and the Sunday sermon, "Anchored by Grace." You are not adrift, he preached and promised to his flock of Providence Presbyterians. And thank heaven for Dr. Brene Brown, who released the podcast message Strong Backs, Soft Fronts, Wild Hearts on Election Day. I clung to it like a life preserver then; I will remember and try to put it into practice always.
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Speaking of spirit lifting, my girl crush Jen Hatmaker is offering a free 14-Day Challenge called Free & Grateful. Jen writes, "I will dedicate exactly zero percent of my beautiful life to fury, resentment, bitterness, and regret. I just won't. I'm better than that. So are you." I'm so in. It starts Tuesday, so don't wait! Learn more and sign-up here.
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There's a lot of buzz right now about The Queen's Gambit on Netflix and I hereby announce my jump onto the bandwagon. We've seen four of seven episodes and I can hardly wait to get to it tonight!
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FROM THE DAILY GRACE ARCHIVES
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November's Promise
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Winter is fast approaching. But the Sasanqua serves to remind us that in every season, in every age, in every time—there is remarkable beauty.
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NOTE: So many of your are #teambuddy, in support of the lovable black bear with whom we've enjoyed spending the summer and fall up here on #catsmountain. It's bear hunting season, so we shudder every time we hear gunshot—which happens regularly. We did see her on our wildlife camera last Tuesday night, but there has been no sign of her since then. That's not unusual, so it's not cause for great alarm. But I did want to provide an update. Thanks for sharing our love of sweet Buddy!
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going gentle into that good night
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Wear a mask. Extend grace. Love your neighbors well.
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