Life is a Puzzle

Even though it's been awhile since I've done it, I LOVE putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Always have, always will. The excitement when you get down to those last few pieces is hard to be beat!

But when it comes to putting together LIFE'S Jigsaw Puzzle...let's just say I'm still looking for the pieces, or maybe just finally finding them?

It's been a month since I last posted here, noticed by some of you. Thanks for your concern. The short story is that Donica and I are splitting up and I've been putting the house in order for the market...and getting Donica's stuff packed up. The house is now For Sale in this, yes, terrible economy, but it is as it is and we still wish for the stars. Donica closed on her new condo closer to the airport today and will move out when she comes back from her next trip in early March. I will remain until the house sells.

Remember all those Boyds' figurines from Donica's collection? Every single one of them had to be boxed up, so seek-and-find Nicholas spent another two times helping me find the pieces to the puzzle!

The figurines were in different places on 3 different floors of the house, so it really was seek-and find! Donica paid him $.25 a box, which ended up being $10/hour, more than I made at Starbucks, I told him. HA! One lucky boy.

See what I mean about a puzzle? There's not only a box for each figurine but a special way to fit into the box once you find it. That was my part of the job and I actually liked it. I told Donica later that I wouldn't mind making $10/hour doing a mindless job like that part-time. Much easier on the body than making coffee, I guarantee you!



And that began the next part of the puzzle, filling up half of the garage with boxes and boxes of everything Donica owns. After all her things are moved out the first week in March, I'll start packing my own boxes. Another piece to the puzzle!

So as you see, Life really is a puzzle and has kept me quite busy of late! But I'm alive and well, full of mixed and bittersweet emotions...wondering exactly what and where and when the next piece will be. The good thing is that God has always been bedrock for me. There IS a next piece and that's all I need to trust for right now!

Sedona and Her Vortexes

If you didn't yet get enough of it, please go back with me to Thanksgiving weekend when we were in Sedona, Arizona. Little by little I'm getting all the photos sorted and put into albums. YAAAY! Here's the Sedona Album.

We stayed at this adorable Sea Pines Resort outside Sedona where there seemed to be hundreds of these tiny "cabins," just perfect for a week's stay. From that point, it was an easy drive to anywhere we wanted to go.


We went to Sedona mainly to see/feel the vortexes for which it is known. I'll get to that in a minute but we had a chance also to visit the Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village in the city. I'm always inspired by the artistic imaginations of people that create incredible pieces of art.

And as always, I'm so curious about the flora and fauna of places I'm not used to...like the desert! And even if we have our own version, like the cattails.



Now, the Sedona vortexes! There are 7 of them in the Sedona area that are considered biggies.

"In Sedona vortexes are created, not by wind or water, but from spiraling spiritual energy. The vortexes of Sedona are named because they are believed to be spiritual locations where the energy is right to facilitate prayer, mediation and healing. Vortex sites are believed to be locations having energy flow that exists on multiple dimensions. The energy of the vortexes interacts with a person’s inner self. It is not easily explained. Obviously it must be experienced."

For me, the Chapel of the Holy Cross, built in 1956 between two natural red rock pinnacles was one of the best.

Inside the chapel was where we both felt calming energy. It brought tears to my eyes!

From the Airport Mesa (above) at sunrise, we climbed high enough to get a spectacular view.

Cathedral Rock (above) is probably the most well-known and photographed of all the vortexes because it's such a picturesque place along the Oak Creek.

Courthouse Butte (above).

Schnebly Hill (above).

Bell Rock (above).

Boynton Canyon is the only vortex of the 7 we didn't quite reach because, well, truth be told, you need a jeep! After trying to get there, driving about 2 mph (if that), we decided to turn back and not risk tearing up the rental car. But 6 out of 7 isn't bad, right?!

OK, now here's my theory. Spiritual energy is within us. Sometimes we feel it more than at other times. That's my take on the Sedona vortexes. It's become quite a tourist business, of course, which diminishes some of the effect. But if/when we are in tune to Spirit, I believe the vortex can be wherever we are. Some places, especially those in Nature, like what you see in these images, can definitely make us more receptive to spiritual powers. I believe it.

Do I second-guess the trip? Not for one second. It was a very beautiful and powerful place on many levels, for which I am thankful and still in awe.