The little unexpected treasures in life are magical...

Opening our front door I crinkled my nose, saying aloud "What is that smell?"  Didn't take my nose long to hone in on where that smell was coming from.  A clogged and smelly dishwasher.  My husband took a trip to the local ACE Hardware store, added Drano, and Clorox Ultimate Care Bleach to that stopped up drain.  After letting the Drano do its work I turned on the dishwasher to clean the inside.  I was standing with my back to the dishwasher when I felt a wet coldness on my heel.  I turned, looked downward then twirled around and started laughing!  Drano + Clorox Ultimate Care Bleach = BUBBLES.   YIKES!!!  It took me hours to clean up after running hot water (no choice) through the cycles several times until there weren't any suds left.  What I was, and still am amazed at, was the color of the tiles, they came alive!  I thought the coloring within the ceramic tiles was wearing off, looking worn.  Now my floor is revitalized!  I always believe there's a reason for everything...no more clogged drain, no more smell and a beautiful tile floor.  Woooo Hoooo!

Next morning I started hiking again mainly to get back into shape.  Sometimes out of no where my body looks like it had never had any exercise of any kind, YIKES!  Yep, gotta hit the road and whip this body back in shape.

So now I'm back to exploring, one of my favorite things to do.

I used to drive out to McDowell Mountain Park 8 miles from home, park my Jeep Rubicon Unlimited (did I tell you I Love My Jeep!), strap on my backpack, with trekking poles in hand, boots crunching on the Sonoran Desert floor I'm ready for discovery, and to take pictures.  I'm not out hiking in the McDowells these days, instead I'm discovering my home town.  So if you see me hiking around on the roads or washes with backpack and trekking poles smile and give me a wave.

Closing the front door to our magical retreat in Fountain Hills, AZ, I started walking on asphalt roads turning here, turning there, another turn here and before I knew it I was in the same wash I walked with my grandson when he was a little guy, bringing back joyous memories of finding golf balls!  His five year olds face gleamed with excitement as we found nearly 30 golf balls filling a bucket and using Grandma Willy's skirt.  Wow, that was fun.  That little guy just started driving and now lives in the state of Washington.

So there I was reaching under prickly pear cactus, at the base of a saguaros, reaching in the creosote bush, under a  palo verde tree finding many golf balls laughing with the delight of a five year old.

Heading home I notice a dirt driveway, a new sign and four parking spaces including a handicapped space.  Hmmmm.  Curiosity and exploration takes over as I cross the main road stepping into the area and seeing the dirt trail.  Hmmmm.  Before I know it I'm long down that trail where I had never been. The 1.2-mile trail was built with the help of volunteers from the Sonoran Conservancy of Fountain Hills.  There were signs describing a variety of plants including saguaros, cat claw, desert lavender, Mormon tea and chuparosa and tiny pincushion cactiI.  Ended up hiking 8 miles that day, not a bad start.


What Magic are you seeing through your eyes?  I'd love to hear.


Living Passionately,
AriZona

Good Morning...it's actually 75.9 degrees here in the Phoenix area

SAY WHO YOU ARE WITHOUT UTTERING A WORD...

To thine own self be true...

Finding Your Gift

By Ken Schuman and Ron Paxton from The Michelangelo Method

Knowing Your Values

"Is there anyone you've studied about or met who has left a deep impression on you?" the coach asked Susan.

"I know it sounds odd, but I would have to say Gandhi. Not for the reasons that you might think, though, like his belief in nonviolence. It's because he understood who he was and stood up for himself and what he cared about. You couldn't push him around. Deep down, where it mattered, he stood his ground. He said what was true, without any pretense, no matter what the consequences. He was from the spirit, from the soul. He was authentic."

"And authenticity is what you value?" the coach asked.

"Well, of course," Susan responded with conviction. "If you can't be who you really are, then you're just pretending to live your life. You have to be able to honestly express what you believe - in your words and actions. Gandhi knew this. He was the genuine article."

____________________________________________________________________________

Every now and then we need a little reminder to listen to that little voice inside that's trying to guide us. Live everyday as if it were your last. Here's how I feel:

"Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting..."Holy Shit...what a ride!" ---- Mavis Leyrer of Seattle, age 83

Woo Hoo!

Live With Passion! -AriZona

I NOW GIVE 100% TO EVERYTHING I DO!

I recently had another life changing occurrence!

My Warrior Name: VIBRANT WOMAN

Recently I spent four and a half days with 353 people in northern California, acquiring more tools to change our beliefs and thoughts. From Trainer's who passionately believed what they were teaching, enabling us to give 100% to everything we do!

When was the last time you gave 100% to everything you did? Most of us do when we have a goal to achieve, like Christmas shopping. Having a particular gift in mind, searching until you find that perfect gift. You gave 100% to finding that gift. When was the last time you gave 100% to each member of your family, co-workers, work, play, creating? How about giving 100% to yourself? Whatever it might be for you, how often do you give 100%?

Throughout life, our thoughts true or not, ours or not, became our belief system. At birth, we came into this world an empty vessel, gathering information along the way until we became the diamond in the rough. It takes years, chiseling away at that diamond to find the brilliant soul that might be covered up. Having such thoughts as: What is my true essence? Are my beliefs mine, or do they belong to someone else? Do these beliefs fit anymore? What are you waiting for? Let the world see your brilliance!

You can choose to release anything that doesn't fit or belong to your way of thinking in the present. Becoming more you, more yourself. This is your life! As long as you're kind and loving you can become what you choose, throwing out what doesn't work.

After my experience with "Enlightened Warrior" my spirit has resurfaced! Coming home I went into my closet and came up with one creation after another of pure feminine essence. It's driving my husband wild! The sex has been off the charts! And me, I feel different, exuding feminine energy, loving myself inside and out. My husband I've realized, is there to love and protect me, to adore me as I adore him. I had taken a role of 'survival' for many years and sometimes that role is evident. I carried that role of survival into this relationship. I didn't think he would protect me for some reason, and that I needed to protect him. A belief that does not serve me, so I let it go. It's a loving and mutual relationship. He is my King Arthur and Sir Lancelot and I/we give our relationship 100%!

As I drive my orange Jeep Rubicon Unlimited, with the windows of my soft top off, wearing my baseball cap, my feminine spirit connects with the wind and swirls all around me in the extreme temperatures of the hot Arizona desert. I am quite balanced and there is more to me than meets the eye.

Since coming back from "Enlightened Warrior" I am more confident than I have ever been, standing 10 feet tall, a "VIBRANT WOMAN", more loving, feeling more powerful, having an even stronger presence. I've realized I haven't given 100% in many areas of my life. I haven't given 100% of my attention to my family. I haven't given 100% to life.

I am now giving 100% to everything! A-HO!

Living Passionately,

AriZona

P.S. A great man passed away today...

Go to: Dirty dancing final Patrick Swayze

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xzgv4_dirty-dancing-final-patrick-swayze_music

P.S....P.S. There is an envelope icon at the end of this message for you to share with all your friends. Thank You....sending lots of love into the world

Hello there!

It seems I haven't written in my blog for over a year, yikes! So much has happened in the period of time following how will I ever catch up? Maybe I don't try to catch up and just start from today.

39th Day...Phoenix!

Hello Everyone-

 

Yvonne & I arrived safely in Phoenix on July 1st, Tuesday, at 7:30 pm, where two very handsome and charming husbands were awaiting us with roses, hugs and many kisses.  Wow, we are two lucky women!

We had an exhausting, fun & magical journey.  One we are delighted to have experienced, and joyful to be home.

Stay tuned for my next journey to Montana.  Marc & I leave July 2, 2008 (Thursday) to celebrate Hobson, Montana's 100 year Celebration!  Take a peak at:  http://hobsonreunion.com/regnews.pdf

All My Love to Everyone...AriZona at home in Phoenix, AZ

June 29th...Back in Santiago

This morning Yvonne and I took a bus back to Santiago for the day. This evening we will take another bus to Oporto (airport), Portugal.

After arriving in Santiago around noon, we came straight to the Cathedral to see if any of our pilgrim friends were arriving. We saw several people we´ve formed a Pilgrim kind of bond with (the short life bond, you won´t see them again, but for awhile they were in your life). Life Is Good.

It seemed every narrow (2x4 mason laid stones) street we turned on there was someone else to hug, ask when they made it to Santiago, if their bodies were okay, more hugs and I would wish them Buen Viaje (Good Journey) then add...in your life. It´s been good today.

It´s now 5;:40 pm and soon (8:30 pm) we´ll be taking our last walk out of Santiago to the bus station. For me, it´s just for the moment...I´ll be back.

There is a web cam in front of the Cathedral for you to watch...Yvonne and I will stand in front of the web cam (our time: 8 PM)........your time (11 AM PDT).


http://www.caminosantiago.com/web/webcams.htm



We are wearing: Yvonne has on green pants, black top with a white cap. AriZona is wearing tan pants, black top with a blue cap.

We hope you can catch us. I Love All of You...AriZona signing off in Spain