A great little holiday

Image by urzzz via Flickr

Most regular readers here know that I engaged a Life Coach this year and that I've found great delight in shedding some of myself:) as well as discovering a great deal about the energy and creativity I have to give and that I am offering to others.  Today on Tonya's site, she offers a reading regarding the "10 most important minutes of your day" as well as inviting readers to submit their ideas for "ruling your own little holiday season."  I decided I'd share with you my short first take on ruling a great little holiday here in the Pacific Northwest -

What a great idea "ruling one's own little holiday!"  I'd be in the company of my beloved spouse, my sister, my brother, my in-laws, my outlaws, (divorced but still family)my beloved children and grandchildren.  We'd all be laughing around a gorgeous decorated tree and telling stories of where we've been, where we are, and where we want to be in 10 years.  We wouldn't be counting regrets.  Some of us would be slimmer, some might even have gained a little weight but we would all be living with thankful hearts and the blessedness of knowing what it means to be the best we can be in God's plan for our lives.  We'd acknowledge the power of self-awareness in our lives - of what joy that brings to us personally and the joy it is to share that gift of self-awareness with others!  We'd know that we didn't DO or bring about our style, our homes, our material goods all by ourselves.  There were others who encouraged us, who shared the best of themselves to give us a hand, a boost, a hug when we needed it.  We'd feast on fine food, lovingly prepared and presented, again all the while remembering those in this world who have not yet found or been given that boost that they need to find themselves, their place, their own little world!  That would be an amazing little holiday for me!

So my little story would make for an amazing holiday, yet, my imagination cannot make all of the story above actually materialize as I would have it.  It seems the holidays are sad times for many, many people as they wonder WHY they are NOT experiencing a perfect holiday season like everyone else is?  Well, the sad truth is that everyone else is NOT necessarily celebrating a perfect holiday season.  Life is sad, life is not the way we want it always to be as in our imagination, but LIFE is good, it is a GIFT, it is to be loved, appreciated and celebrated.  I pray that your holiday season, though maybe not as perfect as you imagine, may be filled with the realization of your own life, your own gift - and with just that bit of knowledge, your holiday will be celebrated!

One Small Town's Labor Day Parade

I haven't been to one of our small town parades in a number of years and today I actually was a marcher.  Yes, today I was marching with a group of women representing the YWCA  and its mission of enriching the lives of women and their families.  It's a great cause one that encompasses many aspects of that enrichment.  As one of our signs today stated, "the Y helped out in 645 cases of domestic violence last year in this small town of ours."  Heaven only knows how many women were not helped in their situations of fear and oppression.

As the announcers along the parade route stated, "here comes the YWCA helping this community 's women and families since 1913."  It was rousing to hear the applause and see the smiles from the crowds lining three major streets of our little town.  Of course, many of the onlookers were kids responding to our smiles and to our waving back to them, unaware of the Y's mission and not needing to understand such a subject at their young ages. I know there were those viewing the parade who have experienced first hand the Y's involvement in their time of need.  They know the terror of leaving their homes in the night, seeking shelter from an abusive husband, father, or boyfriend.  Such a sad note to consider in the euphoria of a small hometown parade.

Of course, there were lighter things to consider - one being a local plumbing company's float with potties and toilet paper adorning its truck.  Kids sitting on the closed appliances and waving like crazy to the smiling crowd.  There were dogs with cowboy hats, roller derby women in their fishnet stockings, tutus, and fancy hair colors - the women rolling along the edge of the crowd high-fiveing every little person that bravely put out their hands.  The marching band, the cheerleaders, the  drum majorettes, the Harley-Davidson hog riders, the Democrats for Patty Murray, the Republicans for everyone alive who isn't a Democrat, the rodeo princesses, the classic cars, the ponies pulling small wagons, the "Onion Mascot" of our new Walla Walla Sweets Baseball team, and lastly, blessedly lastly for all of those on foot, the beautiful horses brushed and shined to a polish pooping their way down Main Street with dignity and stature.

    

Yes, it was a beautiful day for a parade and for happiness and for all the good stuff of the last weekend of summer - a wonderful small town gathering!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Image by mugley via Flickr

To all my wonderful friends, family, and even total strangers who dropped by the MindSieve in 2008 and 2009, thank you so much for taking time to visit and to post a comment here! It seems in my day to day way, I have managed to rack up 403 posts during the past 2 years; I think that's because I like speaking out on this page and because I like hearing from you - again, thank you and Happy New Year!

Early Thanksgiving Homily

Image via Wikipedia

Today MindSieve features a guest writer*; a very special young woman, age 14 who wrote and delivered this homily in her church on Sunday. Enjoy!

"Waking up at 6:30 for school is not always pleasant nor is it easy but then the hard part really begins. I stand in front of my dresser wondering what I want to wear, what I should wear, and slowly the minutes tick by making me even more rushed then I was before. I could have picked out anything easily and that task would be finished…but what matches, and what’s the temperature outside? With the constant pull of fashion magazines, and what’s in and out, the pressure for people to buy things, whether necessary or frivolous, is unending. I am pretty sure when we all look in the mirror, we are not thinking whether or not God would like the way we did our hair that morning, and he probably doesn’t care if that shirt matches those pants. Matthew says in the Gospel this morning, “Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Birds are fed, plants get their needed sunlight, and bugs still buzz whether or not our outfits match. And more importantly, God will still love us and protect us.

Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in the lives we live, as we are driven by our constant worries. As a freshman in high school, a day of school is never finished without the regular reminders of homework, tests, quizzes, project deadlines, and other due dates. The amount of work may not compare to a college student’s, but staying up until eleven just to finish the necessary work for the next day is exhausting. Not only is it exhausting, but also it is distracting. One cannot fully appreciate the life they are given when they are constantly complaining about the workload. Every day I hear my peers say, “I hate my life, or, this is a boring town”. However, when we compare our lives to those around us, or those abroad, can no one realize or see how good our lives truly are? It is more important to look beyond the clothing… beyond our list of things to get done… beyond our individual struggles… and find out what truly matters. When thousands of people are starving and running around barely clothed, are our day to day worries all that bad? When people are worried if they are going to live another day due to the Genocide in Darfur, should we really hate our lives? It is important that on this Sunday, and as we approach Thanksgiving to remember what is really important, and what we should, in actuality, spend our money and time on. This does not mean that there are times when we do not have real worries, real sorrow; and it does not mean that we shouldn’t want nice things for ourselves, or be frustrated with our lives every once in a while. We are human and we are all God’s children. If we were all perfect, there would be no need for a god to guide us.

All through my elementary school life I remember making paper turkeys by tracing my hand and then writing what I was thankful for. Of course this included the more conventional things such as: “I’m thankful for my friends… or family… or my dogs… and every now and then you would hear a kid say, “I’m thankful for my GameCube.”

However, as I’ve grown up I have realized that there are many more things that we, as young children, were shielded and protected from. And as I grow, I find that I have a better grasp on what I am truly thankful for, what family truly is, and what friends truly are. Everyone has their own definition of family, but mine would be - A group of people who love you no matter what you may do. And my definition for friends is - people who will stand by your side no matter what. Now…. nobody on those little paper turkeys ever puts church as something they are thankful for. Maybe they take it for granted, or maybe we, as young children, have just spent the whole church service asking our mom or dad when will this be over?! As an acolyte I have been able to experience church fully, and by doing this I have experienced an entire new meaning of family, friends, and church. When we are down, we need somebody; when we are sick, sad or depressed, we need somebody. And because of this church environment, we have somebody.

In this time of thanksgiving, it is important to remember what thanksgiving really means, which is: the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits, or favors, esp. to God. This Thanksgiving, truly appreciate the lives you are given, the family and friends that surround you, the community of church that you are in, and God, who gave his life for you.

This year if I were back in elementary school and had the opportunity to make a little thanksgiving turkey, I would be sure to include my church, and our God who made all of this possible. Amen

*Writer is the eldest granddaughter of Sunrise Sister

So many turkeys

Last Thursday the basted, stuffed and roasted turkeys of the world were honored guests all over the United States. (I'm meaning the birds we gathered to eat - not the eaters of the birds.) Families, friends, strangers, gathered in dining rooms, shelter kitchens, church halls - fancy tables, fold up banquets and card tables all groaned under the feast prepared by cooks of every kind and color.

At the gathering I was fortunate enough to attend, I marveled at the love shared, the angst that might have been present but well hidden, the pasts to be remembered fondly, the pasts to be regretted - though unspoken, the futures to be cherished. We were a group of 12 from teen years to almost the 80's and for whatever reasons we felt it was a good thing to gather. We shared stories, memories, aspirations, compliments, laughing and delicious food. Many of us knew a lot of the history around the table, some of us knew little of the history represented there. But from wherever we came or knew about each other, we found ourselves suspended in the "turkey time" of good will and thanksgivings.

I like to think Thanksgiving might be one holiday where families and friends gather with ease rather than anxiety. I have not always felt that way. It took me many years to shed the anxiety part and to be comfortable with everyone pitching in with whatever contribution they wanted to make and to not feel slighted or worried if something was missing from the menu or the place settings! To accept everyone's input as special, to accept everyone's side-dish as delicious, to accept everyone's presence as the very reason we were gathered to share and give thanks.

I hope your Thanksgiving was one of warm bread, smooth mashed sweet potatoes and sincere thanksgivings for all of those at your table or in your heart.





Photo - SS Before the Feast

The Thanksgiving that keeps on giving

In November of last year, I wrote about the fabulous Thanksgiving feast we had been experiencing with church family for, then, 6 years. I wrote of how I had come reluctantly to the idea of Thanksgiving "at church" but had found the blessings of breaking bread together as such a joyous event that after the first year, I never looked back or thought of any other kind of event.

This year with my husband retiring as Rector of the parish, we have voluntarily (a custom) been attending "other" churches in the community in order for the parish to grow accustomed to #1. the idea of a new rector, and #2. the actuality of a new rector, along with his family recruited, hired and in place.

We have been absent but, of course, not unaware of how the parish is progressing, the new family's arrival, changes taking place in worship and scheduling, etc. When the idea and tradition of the Thanksgiving feast being once more in the parish hall was mentioned in the parish newsletter and in subsequent announcements, there seemed to be little interest in continuing the custom and certainly no one was prepared to come forward, cook the turkey, etc. The turkey was always pretty easy to pull off - it was the stupendous side dishes that needed to be provided by the feast participants that was on unsteady legs.....maybe, maybe not?

So, with the worst in mind, my middle of the night thoughts went to many folks who would NOT have a communal feast without the custom continuing. Middle of the night thoughts again - I thought perhaps we could have those particular folks here in our home. It would seem natural as we had eaten together for 7 years and if no one wanted to do it anymore at the church, well we would start a new tradition. My husband suggested, in the light of day, of course, to me that IF the tradition was important it would be continued and if not, it wasn't up to me to "save the day."

Well, guess what! They have a bigger than ever feast attendance planned. Folks will have a wonderful time, God's bounty will be shared and we are free to make our own plans with family and friends "somewhere else."

I've written about giving up martyrs' crowns here before and I do pretty well most of the time. But, I do admit my grand gestures, or at least thinking of them, to "save the day" seem ever so clear when I am dreaming them up. My small angst about "not being missed".....I think that's human - now's the time you should all be nodding yes, thank you. But my husband's steadfastness in assuring me that Thanksgiving will keep on giving even without my able assistance is sound advice. But just to be sure that I do "save the day" in somebody's house I will arrive carrying food, wine, and who knows what:) The day won't need saving but I want to prepared, just in case!

In the meantime, I wish you, to whom it is appropriate, a grand tradition this coming weekend of a Happy Thanksgiving .....and letting you know I've re-packed my martyr's crown into a deep, dark closet and marked it - "only to be used in extraordinary cases of emergency:)


Photo - SS

Out of comfort zone.....

I don't know whether to be surprised, happy, or annoyed, for I've stepped, or I should say I was dragged into, once more leaving my comfort zone to attempt something new.

While in Honolulu and out for a relaxing afternoon sail and snorkel with family members and new friends, the skipper of our vessel decided that those of us least familiar with sailing should learn the thrill of this sport! I fully expected that he would honor the "cowering comfortably in the corner" position that I had assumed, that I would not be one of those called upon! Wrong!

On my feet, shaky, embarrassed, and somewhat just ticked off.....I soon found that the mystery of the wind in the sails was NOT such a mystery, that the boat would actually respond to my hands on the wheel and that my miserable deckhands (while snickering a bit) would also respond as I heartily (well, maybe not quite heartily) announced the actions I expected them to perform on my command! I could go on.....however,

The lesson is not lost on me that after all of these years of adamantly lobbying against the sport of sailing, that sport being one which my spouse finds totally alluring, I believe that I now could actually be persuaded to venture onto a LAKE, or a small body of water - a BAY - in order to learn more about sailing without the dread fears that I've harbored all of these years.

So, chalk it up to - the timing was right, I'm too stubborn for my own good/fun, I'm a show off, I can be intimidated into "service" or what - it was a grand day for me on a sailboat and I look forward to the next sailing event.

That being said, you might remember some time ago I posted words about that "comfort zone" thing....so how are you doing on stepping out of your comfort zone these days? Any good reports?

I'm now listing swimming and snorkeling in the ocean without my trusty life preserver, surfing, sailing, entering 3 art shows - being accepted into two.....let's hear some good reports for you steady readers!

Photo SEW Kanehoe, HI

Romantic Maui - Valentine's Day 2008

God provided the "set" for us today -

A beautiful, sun-filled day
A hike in a Maui forest along a rushing creek
Five waterfalls with clear pools for swimming
Foliage and beautiful rounded stones reflecting time and eternity
Some muddy paths from recent rainfall....

The true gifts from my true love spouse to save my fainting heart today were
- Kristin a knowledgeable sure-footed guide/naturalist to lead the way for us and hike friends
- a handful of almonds when lunch seemed distant
- a walking stick to balance on slippery surfaces
- and his NOT taking part in climbing slippery, steep rocky slopes to reach rope swings for plunges into the water! He took the others’ pictures, I was so grateful!
- and for dining this evening - a plate of delicious Maui goat cheese and crackers - accompanied by a "mean" well-shaken martini

Sometimes the best gifts are the least expected☺

Happy Valentines Day!


photo by Sunrise Sister

Breathe in - it's Maui Upclose and Personal

photos by Sunset Sister and her IPhone

Aloha from Maui

Yep, we're back on Maui. It's been two years since we were here with 3 of our children, a son-in-law to be that we were all falling in love with, and two marvelous grandchildren. Last year we were on the Big Island, sans children, etc. and this year we are back on Maui. Our youngest daughter and and yet another favored son-in-law with 2 more grandchildren will be joining us this year for a few days. We are truly blessed to be able to enjoy these wonderful days with our children in a paradise-like setting.

We will be here for 3 weeks and then we will venture over to Oahu to visit my husband's sister and family and to celebrate a big birthday date. All in all, we have a wonderful month planned for ourselves to celebrate both of our retirements and to launch yet another phase in our own lives and in our lives together. We give God great thanksgiving for this time together and for the time with our families.

What special blessings and thanksgivings will you be celebrating in 2008? No day should go without giving thanks - what are you most thankful for today?

A baby goat "gift" - a flock of chickens "gift"

Heifer International

Whoops, blink, it's here again - holiday season in full swing - early Thanksgiving - black Friday - Hanukkah - you know - holiday tunes flood the stores and bright, twinkly lights adorn front room windows and lawns. "Merry and bright" - right?!

So, what is "merry and bright" going to be for me this year? Am I going to assist the Grinch in taking "m&b" from me? Will I try too hard for "m&b", is it only for children and not for us adults? Well, no the Grinch isn't capable of destroying "m&b" - the people of WhoVille taught us that - along with Charlie Brown and his little pals.

I might lose sight of "merry and bright"if I give in to fretting too much about finding the perfect gift, when I schedule too many tasks into too little time, when I'm certain that I'm responsible for keeping everyone in my little world's circle - "m&b." You see, don't you, that I'm preaching to myself right now. I've sort of finished my shopping, I'm poised to hit the post office early, and I think my family will enjoy their "just right" gifts..... my family will have "m&b" or at least as much as I can "control" that:) (Like I can control anything...when will I learn?)

But this year, I'm going for some extra "merry and bright" - that "m&b" has to do with the food pantry delivery that is in the back of my car, the list of items for the teenage foster child/children that have had no one searching for the perfect gift for them, the donation to Episcopal Relief and Development and the choice between chickens or goats from the Heifer International catalogue. I think I'm certain to find extra good "merry and bright" in these places.

Here's wishing your holiday season is filled with your own special "merry and bright" wherever you seek and find it! I know that all of us reading these blogs have experienced "m&b" sometime in our lives. This year maybe we can all think about spreading "m&b" to persons who may just need that extra that we can give.

We invest a lot in holidays - we remember them as they were for us as children. The luckiest of us have warm, wonderful remembrances; for some the holiday is not warm and fuzzy.


Six years ago as we settled into a new community to live, in a new church family in which to worship, my husband - who happens to be the Episcopal priest in this small town - suggested to me that the newly founded tradition in the parish over the past few years had been a Thanksgiving Feast at the church. At the church??? - what does that mean? What about the family and the turkey and the whatever? Oh well, how bad could it be?


Bad would not describe the event - that's right, bad would never do - only fabulous would describe the event that has grown over the past few years from 16 to 52 this past Thursday. This year we cooked 4 turkeys in the church kitchen and then the greatest potluck ever began to arrive dish by dish - person by person - a true feast.


But the feast was not only the food - the joy of table fellowship with some Christians and some NOT, some young, some not.....well, let me give you a little rundown on the "cast" that gathered to feast together and to give thanks for our blessings - 2 college professors, a fraternity chef with 3 of his young men who had stayed on campus for the holiday, 2 gay men - not together, 1 lesbian woman (at least that we know of) who sort of "came out" in the shared conversation during lunch, at least 2 schizophrenics - on their meds:), one 7 member family of parents, children and grandchildren, one couple with their sib and in-laws, a couple who refused to attend the cold feeling country club luncheon and found 5 new friends with an amazing amount of life in common, a beautiful freshman female reunited with her family after her first semester away - the young college men made sure she was comfortable during the afternoon, a young widow and her 4 year old son celebrating their first holiday without their husband and dad, a single business owner who had never suspected she would be spending Thanksgiving Day in a church hall eating turkey - you see what I mean about the feast?


Where else could such a diverse group of people yearning for a memorable, special day trust their precious "memories to be" go - well, this year it was to a small church hall with the smell of fresh turkey, pumpkin pie, and prayer lingering over it all.


For those of you whose holiday might not have been as memorable as you would have liked for it to be, try to remember that the feast is sometimes not where you would expect it; but in order to find it, you may need to step out and take a chance. Sometimes it's really worth the effort! Happy Thanksgiving weekend!

Spurred on by a thought from Tess about 7 things that happened today - I'll change the rules again slightly and revert to yesterday, Thanksgiving Day:)

1 Woke up early, made a pumpkin pie and an apple pie. (The pp was made with condensed goat's milk in consideration of my lactose intolerant hubby - was delicious.)

2. Started the stuffing....that's another story.

3. Went to church to set up tables for pot luck Turkey Day; good little elves had already started 3 big birds in the ovens - place smelled delicious.

4. Came home to greet my beautiful sister, brother-in-law, nephew and niece; they drove 5 hours for the celebration.

5. We all returned to the church and greeted the other 51 people who arrived bearing their pot luck dishes; what a grand feast!

6. Waited in line; tried not to sample every dish on the banquet tables - quite a temptation.

7. Did not eat too much....helped clean up the kitchen and went home to a clean kitchen there:)

8. Personally voted my sister's pumpkin cheesecake and my apple pie as the best two items of the day:)

There's more to this Thanksgiving story.....You'll have to tune in to the next post:)