One year ago today we rescued Foinn.  

He settled instantly with us and has brought much happiness to every member of our family.

The bond between man and dog in inextricable, if you are open to it, it will come.  With Foinn he has become firm friends not only with every member of our family but with our cats, my brothers dog Roxy and our friends. 

What a great wee fella he is, what a blessing to our lives.

We are thankful for him everyday.

If you are thinking about getting a dog - think about rescuing one.

That's it for now ...

Nics

Salt & Sparkle = Life Remarkable

Sometimes putting songs like these on REALLY LOUD,

reminds me not to stop,

And, that others can only steal your dreams, if you let them.

SOMETIMES JUST BELIEVING IN YOURSELF, IS ALL IT TAKES

What songs remind you not to stop, that the world needs your voice?

That's it for now ...

Nics

Salt & Sparkle = Life Remarkable

Today I am writing here, about the power of living from a place of grace, I hope you will join me

What is most important to you about the place of grace?

That's it for now ...

Nics

Salt & Sparkle = Life Remarkable

When we allow bitterness, jealousy, envy, racism, lust, greed, & arrogance to fuel our souls, we create an environment within us to be agents of violence.

We live in a time when the most terrifying bomb is not a nuclear one, but a human one….
When there is a vacuum of love within your soul, hate, bitterness, envy, & racism rush to fill the empty space….

Love embraces and leaves no room for violence.”

Erwin McManus 'The Danger of Loving Nothing' (Soul Cravings, entry 5)

That's it for now ...

Nics

Salt & Sparkle = Life Remarkable

Life can be tough.  It certainly has been for me of late, but it is at times like this, when strength seems to ebb more than flow.  I know I for sure, the need to remember, death has not won and we have someone to look to. Tonight I spent some time listening to excerts from Whitney Houston's funeral, and these words from Bishop TD Jakes spoke to my heart, it is my hope they will encourage you too.

Death has not won. Love is stronger than death. And, I know some of you today feel death has won, but that is not true. 2000 years ago love rolled into the ring and said 

'Wait a minute death, you have been bullying people for a long time, but I want to set the record straight. Love is greater than death.' 

He rolled up his sleeves and they fought all over Jerusalem, and wrestled all through the cross, and the fight went down to the grave 

and death said 'See I did to you, just like I did to the rest of them.' 

And death started having a party on Friday night. It was one of those weekend parties, lasted all the way through Friday night, and all through Saturday. It looked like death had won.

But early. Sunday morning love rolled up his sleeves and said 

'wait a minute, wait a minute, wait a minute, and he snatched death and took the sting out of death and the victory out of the grave. 

Death has not won. Your tears may flow, your pain may come, the flowers will wither, don't you dare think death has won. Death has not won. People that you love may leave you outwardly, but they never leave you inwardly.

May the love of God and the peace of the Holy Spirit and The sweet communion of knowing you are a child of the King keep you through in this period of life when it might appear as if death has won, but it is a lie.

LOVE WILL LAST FOREVER FOR GOD IS LOVE.

BISHOP TD JAKES, at Whitney Houston's funeral, February 2012.

How does it make you feel to know death has died, and LOVE HAS WON?  I for one know it is something I stand and hold onto.

That's it for now ...

Nics

Salt & Sparkle = Life Remarkable

I shook Buddy Miller's hand on a cold Irish summer afternoon.

He'd been singing with his wife Julie in the middle of a field in County Armagh for Summer Madness Festival.

His music / their music sent chills down my spine.  I knew I was in the presence of greatness.  

It was years before I knew just how important he was in the music scene.  But that day, this music touched my soul and nearly two decades later it still does.

That's how I got to Memphis ... what a song ... I wonder how I will get to Memphis.  How did you get there?

That's it for now ...

Nics

Salt & Sparkle = Life Remarkable

That's it for now ...

Nics

Salt & Sparkle = Life Remarkable

That's it for now ...

Nics

Salt & Sparkle = Life Remarkable

Native American Proverb