I feel peace in a few different places: on the patio, in my house, on my bike, and in the celestial room of the temple (but when no one else is there - I love to do initiatories and sit in the celestial room in between endowment sessions because I can usually be in there alone; or when I am cleaning the temple and I'm alone and it's quiet).
But I will just pick one of these places to describe by senses.
I love love love my back patio. I'm so grateful Kate talked me into following my dream and getting it put in last year. I especially love being out there when the sun is warming up my body while I lay in the hammock. But really any time that I spend outside in that place - thinking, praying, mediating, pondering, and resting. It's my sanctuary. I want to go there when I feel grateful and want to express gratitude to Heavenly Father. When I feel sad and want to be alone with "room" or space to feel what I am feeling. I go there when I am feeling content and want to rest. I go there when my head feels too loud with all my thoughts and worries and question.
The patio is filled with light. And under the cover its a very soft and peaceful light. I love the blue sky and the green grass in my backyard next to the white and gray of the patio. I have lots of little color everywhere in the windchimes, pillows, and flowers. And that makes me happy.
It's remarkably quiet, given that I live in a neighborhood with lots of dogs and kids. But really, it's almost always quiet when I am back there (regardless of the time of day). I always hear birds chirping, and the leaves rustling when there is a breeze. If there is a breeze, I can also hear my windchimes sing - there are three of them. occasionally I will hear a car go by or a dog bark.
The patio is pretty clean - I sweep it off each week when I do the rest of the house cleaning. So it doesn't feel dirty on my bare feet. I really like laying in the hammock or on my couch. The hammock feels weightless and it's glorious when it's not too hot but the sun is straight above me. The couch is pretty comfy too and I have a lot of pillows out there. I like to read on the couch outside.
I don't know that I can describe a smell. Sometimes I can smell the grass if it's been cut recently. Or I will get a whiff of my flowers. Sometimes I put a vase of fresh lavender on the side table. But usually it just smells clean and fresh like the outdoors do.
For taste - sitting on the couch with a friend and a diet coke is like living the life!
I love a clean house when the kids are asleep. Most Saturday nights after they go to bed, I finish washing the dishes and countertops, and then I mop the whole downstairs. I did that when Emi was born. I was feeling a few contractions the day before her due date, so I asked Mom to take the kids, and then I went home and mopped the floor. I wasn't sure if I would go into labor, but I knew it would be much more likely if I could relax in a quiet, clean house. That evening, sure enough, Emi arrived :-)
I also feel at peace early in the morning before the kids wake up. That's my time to read the scriptures, journal, and exercise. I always read scriptures and journal, and sometimes I get carried away with journaling so I'm not finished with exercise when the kids wake up. But that's okay. I love having that time in the morning to ponder, receive inspiration, and put my thoughts on paper before the demans of the day begin.
One other place I feel peace is on a hike. I love walking on a mountain trail, especially near water. This past year we went on a gorgeous hike in the Tetons to the Darby Wind Cave. The year before that, we hiked along the mountain creek across the road from Upper Payette Lake Campground. In 2020 we went to Yellowstone, perhaps my favorite place on earth, and that year was especially nice because it wasn't crowded. Hopefully this summer we will get back up to Deadwood Reservoir where we can relax on the beach and float peacefully in the water.
I don’t think I have a specific spot that is peaceful to me. Is that weird? I think it’s the season of life that I’m in. Being a working momma means there’s not a lot of physical places that I can find peace; there’s loud chaos everywhere (but I love it, for now). Instead of locations, I find peace in situations.
Touch- wrapped in the perfect blanket or sitting in the sun. Warmth = peace
Smell- a yummy meal baking for my family
Sight- when my house is clean. I mean sparkling clean, gives me so much peace.
Hearing- music, my kids being best friends, conversations with my besties
Seems like all of us find our peace at home and outside. For me, like Annie, it’s both: on my porch, from about April to October. After the sun goes down. The stars and airplanes are bright and I can let my mind wander, thinking, meditating, praying. It’s usually silent, but I can her an occasional dog bark or kids plyaing in the distance. Sometimes in the spring I can hear a soft “honk” and when I look up I can see hundreds of snow geese. They are almost silent, but they fly pretty low and in the dark their white bodies are ethereal. It’s very cool. I don’t often pay attention to the smell, but if I think hard enough about it I can smell the heat of a July or August evening as the land slowly cools – I can smell the sagebrush and the mountains not far off – it’s more of a sensation than a distinct smell, like the earth is exhaling in relief from the scorching sun of the day. I’m not usually tasting anything, but maybe a glass of ice water, beads glistening on the outside of the glass.
Outside wins!! Someday we’ll have a nice outside and then that’ll probably be my fav, too. Right now our backyard is a pool construction zone. Ha. Not very peaceful 🤪
One place I feel peace is kayaking on the 'Meanders' in McCall. As soon as I am in the kayak and the paddles hit the water, I feel all my stress start to melt away. The scenery is gorgeous-never get tired of it.
Oops, wasn't finished. The smell of the pine trees is intoxicating. Often we are able to get there when there aren't too many people around, and the quiet and sounds of the paddles splashing in the water are so soothing. If it is noisy, it's just people having a happy time. The warm sun is soothing-rarely hot, just comfortable. The anticipation of maybe seeing a moose or other wildlife is exciting, too. But mostly just being in nature, in a beautiful place, with Tom and or family or friends, is so relaxing because it's always a happy time. Like others of you, I also very much enjoy puttering in our backyard or on the patio with Dad, especially in the evenings, just "being". It's the simple things that bring me peace.
I wanted to add something about a place we visited in Scotland on the Isle of Skye called Armadale Castle. There are beautiful grounds there covered with all kinds of trees and shrubbery-many had plaques telling what the species are and what countries gifted them. I just had this overwhelming sense of peace, calm, and belonging that I've never forgotten. It was so different from what I felt visiting all the other interesting places we went--I would have been content just staying there. I would have loved to have my whole family there to experience it.
I feel peace in a few different places: on the patio, in my house, on my bike, and in the celestial room of the temple (but when no one else is there - I love to do initiatories and sit in the celestial room in between endowment sessions because I can usually be in there alone; or when I am cleaning the temple and I'm alone and it's quiet).
ReplyDeleteBut I will just pick one of these places to describe by senses.
I love love love my back patio. I'm so grateful Kate talked me into following my dream and getting it put in last year. I especially love being out there when the sun is warming up my body while I lay in the hammock. But really any time that I spend outside in that place - thinking, praying, mediating, pondering, and resting. It's my sanctuary. I want to go there when I feel grateful and want to express gratitude to Heavenly Father. When I feel sad and want to be alone with "room" or space to feel what I am feeling. I go there when I am feeling content and want to rest. I go there when my head feels too loud with all my thoughts and worries and question.
The patio is filled with light. And under the cover its a very soft and peaceful light. I love the blue sky and the green grass in my backyard next to the white and gray of the patio. I have lots of little color everywhere in the windchimes, pillows, and flowers. And that makes me happy.
It's remarkably quiet, given that I live in a neighborhood with lots of dogs and kids. But really, it's almost always quiet when I am back there (regardless of the time of day). I always hear birds chirping, and the leaves rustling when there is a breeze. If there is a breeze, I can also hear my windchimes sing - there are three of them. occasionally I will hear a car go by or a dog bark.
The patio is pretty clean - I sweep it off each week when I do the rest of the house cleaning. So it doesn't feel dirty on my bare feet. I really like laying in the hammock or on my couch. The hammock feels weightless and it's glorious when it's not too hot but the sun is straight above me. The couch is pretty comfy too and I have a lot of pillows out there. I like to read on the couch outside.
I don't know that I can describe a smell. Sometimes I can smell the grass if it's been cut recently. Or I will get a whiff of my flowers. Sometimes I put a vase of fresh lavender on the side table. But usually it just smells clean and fresh like the outdoors do.
For taste - sitting on the couch with a friend and a diet coke is like living the life!
Can’t wait to see your patio someday! 😘
DeleteI'm so glad you got your beautiful patio, Annie!
ReplyDeleteI love a clean house when the kids are asleep. Most Saturday nights after they go to bed, I finish washing the dishes and countertops, and then I mop the whole downstairs. I did that when Emi was born. I was feeling a few contractions the day before her due date, so I asked Mom to take the kids, and then I went home and mopped the floor. I wasn't sure if I would go into labor, but I knew it would be much more likely if I could relax in a quiet, clean house. That evening, sure enough, Emi arrived :-)
I also feel at peace early in the morning before the kids wake up. That's my time to read the scriptures, journal, and exercise. I always read scriptures and journal, and sometimes I get carried away with journaling so I'm not finished with exercise when the kids wake up. But that's okay. I love having that time in the morning to ponder, receive inspiration, and put my thoughts on paper before the demans of the day begin.
One other place I feel peace is on a hike. I love walking on a mountain trail, especially near water. This past year we went on a gorgeous hike in the Tetons to the Darby Wind Cave. The year before that, we hiked along the mountain creek across the road from Upper Payette Lake Campground. In 2020 we went to Yellowstone, perhaps my favorite place on earth, and that year was especially nice because it wasn't crowded. Hopefully this summer we will get back up to Deadwood Reservoir where we can relax on the beach and float peacefully in the water.
Good ones! Y’all should come visit and we’ll take you on an incredible hike 😘
DeleteYes Chelsey, we would love that!
DeleteI don’t think I have a specific spot that is peaceful to me. Is that weird? I think it’s the season of life that I’m in. Being a working momma means there’s not a lot of physical places that I can find peace; there’s loud chaos everywhere (but I love it, for now). Instead of locations, I find peace in situations.
ReplyDeleteTouch- wrapped in the perfect blanket or sitting in the sun. Warmth = peace
Smell- a yummy meal baking for my family
Sight- when my house is clean. I mean sparkling clean, gives me so much peace.
Hearing- music, my kids being best friends, conversations with my besties
Taste- carbs!! 🙌🏻 Right??
I love that response Chelsey! And a good reminder that we can find peace in situation and moments, not just in places. Beautifully said.
DeleteI love that idea of finding peace in situations rather than places ♡
DeleteSeems like all of us find our peace at home and outside. For me, like Annie, it’s both: on my porch, from about April to October. After the sun goes down. The stars and airplanes are bright and I can let my mind wander, thinking, meditating, praying. It’s usually silent, but I can her an occasional dog bark or kids plyaing in the distance. Sometimes in the spring I can hear a soft “honk” and when I look up I can see hundreds of snow geese. They are almost silent, but they fly pretty low and in the dark their white bodies are ethereal. It’s very cool. I don’t often pay attention to the smell, but if I think hard enough about it I can smell the heat of a July or August evening as the land slowly cools – I can smell the sagebrush and the mountains not far off – it’s more of a sensation than a distinct smell, like the earth is exhaling in relief from the scorching sun of the day. I’m not usually tasting anything, but maybe a glass of ice water, beads glistening on the outside of the glass.
ReplyDeleteOutside wins!! Someday we’ll have a nice outside and then that’ll probably be my fav, too. Right now our backyard is a pool construction zone. Ha. Not very peaceful 🤪
DeleteOne place I feel peace is kayaking on the 'Meanders' in McCall. As soon as I am in the kayak and the paddles hit the water, I feel all my stress start to melt away. The scenery is gorgeous-never get tired of it.
ReplyDeleteOops, wasn't finished. The smell of the pine trees is intoxicating. Often we are able to get there when there aren't too many people around, and the quiet and sounds of the paddles splashing in the water are so soothing. If it is noisy, it's just people having a happy time. The warm sun is soothing-rarely hot, just comfortable. The anticipation of maybe seeing a moose or other wildlife is exciting, too. But mostly just being in nature, in a beautiful place, with Tom and or family or friends, is so relaxing because it's always a happy time. Like others of you, I also very much enjoy puttering in our backyard or on the patio with Dad, especially in the evenings, just "being". It's the simple things that bring me peace.
ReplyDeleteOoh, I do love the smell of pine trees!
DeleteI wanted to add something about a place we visited in Scotland on the Isle of Skye called Armadale Castle. There are beautiful grounds there covered with all kinds of trees and shrubbery-many had plaques telling what the species are and what countries gifted them. I just had this overwhelming sense of peace, calm, and belonging that I've never forgotten. It was so different from what I felt visiting all the other interesting places we went--I would have been content just staying there. I would have loved to have my whole family there to experience it.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds so beautiful. I’m so glad you got to experience this trip. It’s on my list! 😍
Delete