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Elizabeth Van Tassel

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Bubbles of Childhood Joy

May 19, 2016

I walked to school to get my boys at the end of a busy day, and in front of me a young girl skipped down the sidewalk. Then she returned close to her Daddy’s side, never going too far ahead. First she squeezed her Daddy’s hand, then she looked at him, tall above, and decided she couldn’t give up holding his hand. Yet, I could see her dancing a bit, and perhaps she wanted to skip once more. Dad wasn’t into skipping so she just took smaller steps, bouncing up and down while beaming a large smile up to her… 

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The Hidden Hearts

Apr 9, 2016

On a wonderful vacation recently I started seeing things. No, really. First, after swimming with the turtles, I was resting and taking photos when I felt one in particular might be special. Get it this direction, a little voice whispered. After I peeked at the frame, I saw why. As you gaze into the pool of water as it reflects the sky, you’ll see a shape. A heart. And its twin smiled at me through the windswept clouds as a slight drizzle began. Two hearts. The next day, on a boat tour around the island, a lush landscape came into… 

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Don’t miss the Christmas whimsy

Dec 2, 2015

The holidays are here and elves have appeared, ballerinas dance with nutcrackers that come alive, and all kinds of stories and historical tales find renewal underneath Christmas trees and other scenes. It seems like the child’s eye of life takes over once a year, briefly, and allows us all to relax into the memories of our youth along with them. How can we capture more of those moments this Christmas season? And what is the special magic of whimsy? Whimsy gives us an opportunity to recharge our batteries. During a very challenging day, with hours at the car dealer, more… 

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The Hidden Magic

Jul 22, 2015

Have you had a season of life where you felt bogged down, burdened by too many options and commitments? Look for that tinge of hidden happiness, and keep following it. There is a hidden joy that surprised me recently. It reminds me of watching a thorn-bearing rose bush come to life as the fragrant flowers suddenly unfold. I’ve been feeling nudges of creativity wanting to come to life, even in the midst of getting over a sprained ankle, and had been pushing it aside. Finally last week I started research for the next novel and I could instantly tell the… 

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The Heart Button

Jul 15, 2015

I have sons that I swear are part engineer. From a very young age they were curious about how things worked. At age two, Jonathan accompanied me to the mailbox and we stopped to say hello to the next door neighbor. Suddenly the neighbor grabbed my shoulder and stopped talking. “This has been nice and all but could your son please put together my light fixtures?” Jonathan had completely disassembled them. He quietly put them back together and smiled. Now he knew that was wrong to do. When about the same age, my second son was next to me at… 

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Right-turn The Blues Away

May 13, 2015

A Recipe For Abounding Hope A weekend of down moments punctuated with sick ones, sad news, and first my husband being far away, then my son going out of town with his class, left me a bit blue recently. My wonderful husband instantly suggested a right turn, which was so nice it felt like a day of vacation. We’ve been tackling serious topics in this blog for a while, and I thought you’d like to come on my most recent “right turn” or intentional change in direction with us. Whenever you need a boost, try dipping your fingers into intense… 

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Captivating Resilience

Apr 8, 2015

Part Five of the Lockout Series Moving into Freedom’s Fullness Every morning, a sweet hummingbird greets the day from the branches of our backyard plum tree. He is faithful to protect his territory. He is elegant in his stance, high above his grounds. He never leaves his watchfulness to others. He protects his domain from predators and keeps his mate in safety. He enjoys sweet delights and plays well. He is beautiful to watch, with his bright red throat and sweeping gestures. To me, he is resilient. It is both deeply centering and challenging to watch his dance in and… 

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Escape the Quicksand of Heartache

Apr 1, 2015

What is heartache? I’d define it as that sinking feeling when a difficult topic arises with a friend. It can be connected to relationships or experiences, but it’s that quicksand of loss and hurt that surrounds you when the topic or person comes up. So how do you transform your emotions after a season of loss? Let’s review the first three steps of this Lockout Series. First, look in your lockout, or virtual emotional storage unit, and see if there’s anything lurking in corners that needs to be dealt with. Discover your areas that need focus and attention. Second, discern… 

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Beautiful Moments

Feb 11, 2015

Valentine’s Day brings out mixed emotions for most people. At best, it’s a way to remind those you care about how special they are to you. But sometimes it can place unwanted pressure to be perfect or stir up difficult memories. If you are caught in the latter, I encourage you to seek out a beautiful moment either alone or with loved ones this weekend. Whether it’s trying a tempting new type of tea, going on an outing with loved ones, or doing something creative that reawakens old dreams, bringing beauty in can be so refreshing and peaceful. It dusts… 

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Gems Or Stinky Penguins? 10 Tips For A Resilient Christmas

Dec 10, 2014

“You’re going to love Christmas here!” One of my coworkers smiled broadly as we layered in ropes of South Sea pearls and artfully arranged displays of diamonds and broaches in the front windows. “But what you’ll remember most is that the penguins stink.” Another coworker chimed in. How right he was. When I was a gemologist in an upscale jewelry store, I not only experienced the dazzle of beautiful jewels, but our store also was situated right across from an indoor water feature. During the holidays it was filled with a display of live penguins. Let me just say, they… 

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