I've had the luxury this summer of having a lot of down time. This feels like the first summer for a long time that this has happened. Not having to take classes, not preparing for a new job, not getting married -- these things are what I've done the last 3 summers, so this summer it is very nice to have free time.
There have been many things I've wanted to do during this time away from school: work on my quilting stash, keep the garden better, go to a yarn shop and pull any yarn I want to and start a small project, start running again. I've done better with some of these things than others, I must admit. (But I actually *have* run!)
Yet, I have to keep watch on myself so that I stay present with what I AM doing, so that I don't get so caught up in what's coming up that I lose track of what I'm doing in the present moment. Whether it's enjoying sewing on one of my quilt projects that have been tucked in my cupboard for however many years, or spending a fun day with my nieces, or working in the garden, it's hard for me to keep my mind from racing. And can it ever race: from what else needs to be done, to what's coming up, to what happened the other day.....you get the picture.
But, with God's amazing grace, every once in a while, I do have the sense to just pause, and breathe in, and "check in" with myself, with Him, with what He's given me. When I am able to be present, I'm able to appreciate greater the incredible blessings my God grants to me every day, and I'm able to share those blessings with others with a more cheerful heart and more willing spirit. And everyone appreciates that!
Friday, July 12, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
Five Minute Friday: Beautiful
Today's Five-Minute-Friday word is: Beautiful
GO:
I am blessed to be surrounded by beauty. I realize this as I see it everyday.
Not everyone would agree with my perspective of beauty.
We have a beautiful home, but none of it, nor any of our belongings, have been designed or decorated by well-known designers. Well, OK, other than the "named" purse I've been fortunate to have for the last month or so. But our home is beautiful, and welcoming, and it's home.
I look out the windows of our home, and I see waves of green flowing in the fields. I believe the mountains are beautiful, I love the beach for it's beauty as well, but, there is beauty to be found in the Midwest too, believe it or not.
I look in the mirror, and I don't always see beauty. In fact, more times than not, I see flaws, imperfections, things I'd like to have different. But when my husband sees me, he sees beauty, and that's important to me. And I treasure that. Immensely.
When Christ sees me, I realize He created me -- flaws and imperfections and all. But He created me in His image. I view Christ as beautiful -- broken, and beautiful. Which means, if I am created in Christ's image, I am beautiful.
And that's the most important way I choose to view myself. Beautiful, not in my eyes, nor in my husband's eyes, but in Christ's eyes.
DONE.
GO:
I am blessed to be surrounded by beauty. I realize this as I see it everyday.
Not everyone would agree with my perspective of beauty.
We have a beautiful home, but none of it, nor any of our belongings, have been designed or decorated by well-known designers. Well, OK, other than the "named" purse I've been fortunate to have for the last month or so. But our home is beautiful, and welcoming, and it's home.
I look out the windows of our home, and I see waves of green flowing in the fields. I believe the mountains are beautiful, I love the beach for it's beauty as well, but, there is beauty to be found in the Midwest too, believe it or not.
I look in the mirror, and I don't always see beauty. In fact, more times than not, I see flaws, imperfections, things I'd like to have different. But when my husband sees me, he sees beauty, and that's important to me. And I treasure that. Immensely.
When Christ sees me, I realize He created me -- flaws and imperfections and all. But He created me in His image. I view Christ as beautiful -- broken, and beautiful. Which means, if I am created in Christ's image, I am beautiful.
And that's the most important way I choose to view myself. Beautiful, not in my eyes, nor in my husband's eyes, but in Christ's eyes.
DONE.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Five Minute Friday: In Between
Today's prompt: In Between
GO
I don't know many people who enjoy being in between. It's a place I think all of us find ourselves at one time or another. And from what I hear from other people, they don't enjoy it anymore than I do.
There's always some level of in between going on. In my family, I was in between siblings: 4 older, 2 younger. I loved it. That, I guess, was - and still is - one case of in between I don't mind.
But at the same time, there are other in betweens going on:
I'm in between school years.
I'm in between loads of laundry.
I'm in between efforts to get back in shape.
I'm in between being content with my job and wanting to do something different.
A good friend of mine went through an incredible trial a couple years ago when their daughter was diagnosed with cancer at 23 years of age. Her daughter, Melissa, was a first-year teacher, taking graduate classes, working a part-time job, enjoyed exercise and healthy living, so it came as quite a shock to her family. My friend, Maggie, told me during one of their in between treatment times, that although they were encouraged, it was tough being in that "holding pattern". She said to me: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window, but sometimes, it's hell in the hallway."
Now, thank heaven, I'm not dealing with anything that critical in my life right now. But it's not comfortable to be in between.
I know in my heart, though, it CAN give me a chance to practice patience, practice relying more fully on God. I will pray to focus on that rather than my discomfort as I work through the in between.
STOP
GO
I don't know many people who enjoy being in between. It's a place I think all of us find ourselves at one time or another. And from what I hear from other people, they don't enjoy it anymore than I do.
There's always some level of in between going on. In my family, I was in between siblings: 4 older, 2 younger. I loved it. That, I guess, was - and still is - one case of in between I don't mind.
But at the same time, there are other in betweens going on:
I'm in between school years.
I'm in between loads of laundry.
I'm in between efforts to get back in shape.
I'm in between being content with my job and wanting to do something different.
A good friend of mine went through an incredible trial a couple years ago when their daughter was diagnosed with cancer at 23 years of age. Her daughter, Melissa, was a first-year teacher, taking graduate classes, working a part-time job, enjoyed exercise and healthy living, so it came as quite a shock to her family. My friend, Maggie, told me during one of their in between treatment times, that although they were encouraged, it was tough being in that "holding pattern". She said to me: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window, but sometimes, it's hell in the hallway."
Now, thank heaven, I'm not dealing with anything that critical in my life right now. But it's not comfortable to be in between.
I know in my heart, though, it CAN give me a chance to practice patience, practice relying more fully on God. I will pray to focus on that rather than my discomfort as I work through the in between.
STOP
Friday, June 21, 2013
Five Minute Friday: Rhythm
This is a new experiment for me. It's called Five Minute Fridays, and I learned about it on Twitter. Given a prompt, I write for five minutes straight. That's it. Well, then I post it and link it up (which I hope I can figure out!) and my free-write is out there for everyone to read. So, here goes.
Today's prompt: Rhythm.
GO.
My house is quiet right now, and yet I hear patterns and rhythms.
I'm a pattern-ish type girl. I like order, I like having a plan. So I seek this out. I like finding the rhythm of life.
At times during my teaching career, I've taken students on a "rhythm walk" or "nature walk". (OK, yes, part of it was just to get outside during nice weather!) But I would encourage them to notice things that have a specific rhythm to them. The things we would notice were interesting and varied: trains, car tires going over bumps, birds, the wind.
I still notice some of these things now. At night, well, and sometimes even during the day, I hear the bullfrogs on our ponds croaking away. There are times when they croak together, then at other times, they are at odds with one another. Once in a while they join their rhythm together, but not always. Other times there is that ongoing tension.
I find this in other things too: the washing machine -- ahhh when it's balanced, but boy howdy when it's not. The dryer. The clocks ticking.
I find it in my spiritual life as well. When I am listening to God, spending time in His word, things are in sync. I have that "ahhh" feeling. When I think I'm too busy to schedule quiet time in, when I haven't spent time with Him in prayer, I feel that tension mounting. I need that balance. I need that relaxation, that release, when I am back in line with my Lord.
As a music teacher, I thought of the song, and changed it up: I got rhythm, I got music, I got my *Lord*, who could ask for anything more?!
END
Today's prompt: Rhythm.
GO.
My house is quiet right now, and yet I hear patterns and rhythms.
I'm a pattern-ish type girl. I like order, I like having a plan. So I seek this out. I like finding the rhythm of life.
At times during my teaching career, I've taken students on a "rhythm walk" or "nature walk". (OK, yes, part of it was just to get outside during nice weather!) But I would encourage them to notice things that have a specific rhythm to them. The things we would notice were interesting and varied: trains, car tires going over bumps, birds, the wind.
I still notice some of these things now. At night, well, and sometimes even during the day, I hear the bullfrogs on our ponds croaking away. There are times when they croak together, then at other times, they are at odds with one another. Once in a while they join their rhythm together, but not always. Other times there is that ongoing tension.
I find this in other things too: the washing machine -- ahhh when it's balanced, but boy howdy when it's not. The dryer. The clocks ticking.
I find it in my spiritual life as well. When I am listening to God, spending time in His word, things are in sync. I have that "ahhh" feeling. When I think I'm too busy to schedule quiet time in, when I haven't spent time with Him in prayer, I feel that tension mounting. I need that balance. I need that relaxation, that release, when I am back in line with my Lord.
As a music teacher, I thought of the song, and changed it up: I got rhythm, I got music, I got my *Lord*, who could ask for anything more?!
END
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Ideas and wonderings
Something strange happens to me during these lazy days of summer.
I so appreciate that I've had a few days to do some things I enjoy (sewing, mowing the yard, etc.), and taking care of things that need to be done (weeding the garden, laundry, etc.)
But when I have time to let myself just "be", I start getting all these ideas. And wondering about things.
Ideas like: I'd really like to be a successful blogger.
And: I would like a speaking engagement or training for 8 to Great to do.
And: I would love a fun adventure to come up to enjoy!
I wonder about things like: Could I make a living sewing? How about crocheting?
And also wondering: Why can't I keep my office/workspace neat? Or the rest of the house, for that matter?
I spend alot of time thinking about the coming school year and my students. I pray for guidance in decisions to be made, I pray for my students, I pray for the other teachers and workers at school. (I know, it's summer - quit thinking about school!)
I think about my friends. I have great ideas to get together with them, plan adventures together...but most of the time, this is where I fail. I figure everyone is busy with summer plans, and it's too hard to try to schedule time together, so I let it go........I let my mind wander on to other topics, and never get in touch with my friends, and sadly, don't even let them know I was thinking of them.
With Dave out of the house most of the day during this summer time, I'm left alone with my ideas and wonderings much of the time. Sometimes it gets a little goofy and silly. But sometimes it serves me well.
I've got a little time before Dave gets home for the day. I think I'll try to set up a "play date" with a friend.
Friday, May 31, 2013
Perspective
This week has been a stormy week weather-wise. We have needed the moisture, so the rain has been good. The way in which the rain has come has also been good. If it rained too hard, too fast, the ground wouldn't have had a chance to soak in all the goodness, and that wonderful moisture just runs right off. But we have been fortunate this week, because generally, our several inches of rain has come in rainfalls of .30", or .50" at a time. This is an amazing gift.
Yes, there were some more intense rains, particularly the other morning when we got an inch of rain in almost an hour. That caused some tension. Some of our beans have been in the ground right about a week, so a rain too hard would cause them to wash out. If the beans hadn't taken hold yet, re-planting is usually needed. But, after a drive around some of the fields yesterday, my amazing husband is pleased with how things look with this much rain with such young plants.
Last night, there were some wicked-looking clouds around here, and we spent the majority of the evening in a thunderstorm warning. This is not unlike how most of the week has gone. Dave and I spent quite a bit of time watching the sky, either from the open garage door, or out the front window. We have a unique opportunity, as our living room and garage face west, so we are able to see the storms coming in, but our kitchen and deck are on the east side, so we are able to see when the storms are past. Sometimes we have some fun with this, saying, "I like the east side better, it's still raining over here," or "Ohhh - look over here - it's done raining already" if we're in the living room.
As the storms progressed past us last night, Dave called to me from the kitchen, commenting on a rainbow. It was a full, complete rainbow, which is really cool. But better than that - it was a complete, full, double rainbow. I couldn't get the whole thing in one camera shot -- but here it is in two.
So this morning, when I woke up at 3:45 (don't ask -- I don't know why!), I started thinking about last night's storm, and the rainbow. And it struck me how our perspective makes all the difference. We can be going through an incredibly difficult time -- feeling we are in the middle of a storm, feeling alone, feeling betrayed, feeling abandoned -- even by God. Wind blowing all around us. Rain pelting down. Gray clouds and wicked skies surrounding us.
But eventually, it passes.
The wind dies down.
Rain stops.
Gray clouds part to an amazing, peaceful, beautiful sky.
It doesn't always happen right away. Sometimes it takes hours. Days. Weeks. Months. But God is faithful. He will see us through our difficulties. He will not leave nor forsake us.
When we are in the middle of our difficulties, it's often hard for our limited human-sight to see what good can come from a situation. But when we get on the other side of the storm, we can see God has been working all along.
Fields become green. Trees grow. Flowers bloom. Rivers and lakes and streams flow more freely.
We are refreshed.
We can choose to focus on the storm, or we can choose to focus on the rainbow.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Funerals
I attended a funeral yesterday for a wonderful 96-year-old lady. I didn't know her well, but her daughter-in-law is a friend with whom I work. It was interesting to hear of her life, she was a delightful woman who worked hard during her life, raised three wonderful children, loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and loved the Lord. There were many people in attendance, there were beautiful flowers (she loved flowers!), beautiful music (Patti can play for me anytime!!), and a great message of eternal life. Did I mention the flowers? :)
But I was a bit distracted with my own thoughts. Actually, I was a bit distracted with thoughts from previous funerals.
My sisters and I have been honored to provide special music for many, many funerals over the past however many years. We've been part of incredibly sad, mournful services, and we've been to a couple services where it was hard not to keep the smiles off our faces due to the joy everyone felt for the deceased. After watching a loved one suffer, and/or after a long, well-lived life, there is a sense of joy and relief the family and loved ones feel when their burden of living is released.
My mentor, Fr. Frank Hoelck, always said funerals are more for the living than they are for the one who has died. How true. The person we are remembering has passed into their eternal glory - WE are the ones left with sadness, loss, emptiness. WE are the ones who need to gather and comfort one another. I love Fr. Frank's words of wisdom when they come back to me.
One of my sisters had a co-worker who commented one time how remarkable funerals are. He explained by saying that you can plan a gathering, send invitations, plan food, etc., and people will find reasons and excuses why not to attend. But for funerals, people go out of their way to make plans, rearrange schedules in order to attend. He has a good point.
Probably my most favorite thought of funerals came, I believe, from a relative of mine when we were planning our great-aunt's funeral Mass. They said, "Funerals are so much like weddings. There's alot of people. Everyone dresses up. There's alot of flowers. There's food afterwards. They're alot alike." We all laughed at the truth in that statement.
And that's much of what I was pondering yesterday through much of Viola's funeral. I thought of this as I listened to the minister talk of Viola's faith and her life. As I relefected on Patti's angelic singing. As I admired the amazing floral arrangements - the lilies, the roses. (Can you tell I'm a flower person too?!)
Why do we wait until someone is gone to celebrate life? Why do we wait to say the good things about them when they're not present to hear them? Why are all those beautiful flowers all at the church at the same time? Why don't we send those gorgeous arrangements throughout the life of the person so they can enjoy their beauty? Why do we have to wait for someone else to tell how they saw Christ in the way we lived?
I thought about these things. And I decided the following:
I want to celebrate life every day. I want to remember to let people know what I appreciate about them. I want people to know what they mean to me. I want to enjoy beautiful flowers every day. I want others to enjoy flowers while they can enjoy their beauty. I want to live my life so others see Christ through how I live every day.
Yes, I'd love for other people to say nice things about me when I'm gone. But more importantly, like so many other faithful followers of Christ, I want to be greeted with the most enormous embrace when I pass through Heaven's gate, and hear the amazing voice of Jesus greeting me with, "Well done, good and faithful servant....." The thought of that makes me cry. And smile. What an amazing reward, and what an amazing welcome into eternity it will be.
And I bet the flowers will be unbelievable too!
But I was a bit distracted with my own thoughts. Actually, I was a bit distracted with thoughts from previous funerals.
My sisters and I have been honored to provide special music for many, many funerals over the past however many years. We've been part of incredibly sad, mournful services, and we've been to a couple services where it was hard not to keep the smiles off our faces due to the joy everyone felt for the deceased. After watching a loved one suffer, and/or after a long, well-lived life, there is a sense of joy and relief the family and loved ones feel when their burden of living is released.
My mentor, Fr. Frank Hoelck, always said funerals are more for the living than they are for the one who has died. How true. The person we are remembering has passed into their eternal glory - WE are the ones left with sadness, loss, emptiness. WE are the ones who need to gather and comfort one another. I love Fr. Frank's words of wisdom when they come back to me.
One of my sisters had a co-worker who commented one time how remarkable funerals are. He explained by saying that you can plan a gathering, send invitations, plan food, etc., and people will find reasons and excuses why not to attend. But for funerals, people go out of their way to make plans, rearrange schedules in order to attend. He has a good point.
Probably my most favorite thought of funerals came, I believe, from a relative of mine when we were planning our great-aunt's funeral Mass. They said, "Funerals are so much like weddings. There's alot of people. Everyone dresses up. There's alot of flowers. There's food afterwards. They're alot alike." We all laughed at the truth in that statement.
And that's much of what I was pondering yesterday through much of Viola's funeral. I thought of this as I listened to the minister talk of Viola's faith and her life. As I relefected on Patti's angelic singing. As I admired the amazing floral arrangements - the lilies, the roses. (Can you tell I'm a flower person too?!)
Why do we wait until someone is gone to celebrate life? Why do we wait to say the good things about them when they're not present to hear them? Why are all those beautiful flowers all at the church at the same time? Why don't we send those gorgeous arrangements throughout the life of the person so they can enjoy their beauty? Why do we have to wait for someone else to tell how they saw Christ in the way we lived?
I thought about these things. And I decided the following:
I want to celebrate life every day. I want to remember to let people know what I appreciate about them. I want people to know what they mean to me. I want to enjoy beautiful flowers every day. I want others to enjoy flowers while they can enjoy their beauty. I want to live my life so others see Christ through how I live every day.
Yes, I'd love for other people to say nice things about me when I'm gone. But more importantly, like so many other faithful followers of Christ, I want to be greeted with the most enormous embrace when I pass through Heaven's gate, and hear the amazing voice of Jesus greeting me with, "Well done, good and faithful servant....." The thought of that makes me cry. And smile. What an amazing reward, and what an amazing welcome into eternity it will be.
And I bet the flowers will be unbelievable too!
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