This Lenting

Breakthrough

This lenting
 
is a longing, looking,

isolating and locating process,

a passing of the time between

what has to be, what may become,

a late, last, solitary lingering

among the soiled and crusted snowbanks

of deep-drifted hurt and disappointment

seeking out those tender-tough new shoots

that pierce the calloused surface

of all losing with the agony

of life becoming green again.

by J. Barrie Shepherd.

Imagine for 1 Minute

Friday Five: Take a Breath!

Deb brings today's Friday Five to RevGalBlogPals:

It's the week before Holy Week. Even if you are the non-preaching type, there's plenty going on in most of our homes religious. I think we all need a collective deep breath. :)

This week's Friday Five is simply a moment to BREATHE. Stop and tell us five ways that you "catch your breath" and then move on in the work God calls you to do.

Are these five things people? places? music? hobbies? chocolate? Or perhaps a memory?

 1. Look at my blooming daffodils, which are a rare sight in Corpus Christi, TX.

When I see them, I feel like the "stones shouting out" (Luke 19: 40); LIFE bursting out! I also feel my daughters love as they sent this little note with the daffodils:

"Thinking of you from rainy Seattle (with love)"

Love bursting out if I only look!

2. As the whale spouts up above: Take a deep breath!

Long ago, I was taught that panic attacks would be avoided or diminished through deep breathing. Taking some deep breaths, which must be done slowly, brings a sense of peace.

I am glad I no longer have panic attacks. However, deep breathing is helpful in everyday life.

3. Practice the piano--or play the little I have learned since September. I am surprised at how I forget everything else when I start "playing." This would especially apply to better musicians than I!


4.  Pet our dogs and sometimes our cat.

The three dogs are always willing, but the cat only likes her head scratched at her discretion.

5. Laughing with friends in person or via social media like Facebook. Also, looking at my label of CARTOONS that I have collected on this blog since it was started in 2006.

Blooming!

My daffodils from my Seattle daughters are fully blooming and are beautiful! Chuck reminded me that in the northeast they call them "jonquils." However, people don't always recognize them here in south Texas. My housekeeper didn't know what they were when she arrived this morning!

Daffodils!

I love daffodils and took pictures of them during our recent trip to Washington State. And then tonight, I was totally surprised by my daughters from Seattle--they sent me a box of daffodils! Daffodils in Texas seem odd, but I am happy that they are here for a few days.

Here is a picture I took of my friend Terry by some daffodils in Seattle. I never thought to ask her to take a picture of me with them; now I wish I had.

Friday Five: Technology

Although you won't know this, I am pre-posting this ten days ahead of schedule, because my husband and I are going to be in Washington State during his spring break (from teaching at a local community college). His parents have very recently moved into a senior living facility. We will be staying at their home, which will not have some of the furniture and supplies like we are used to. What I am dreading is no computer, tv or telephone, which also means no wifi connection. This is showing my dependence upon these technologies.

For this Friday Five, let us explore our use of and desire for such items.

1. What types of technologies, like cell phones, computers, tvs, etc., do you routinely use? How frequently?
I have an old-fashioned sliding cell phone that seems archaic nowadays. I like using the desk top computer at home, which has been unavailable while we traveled to WA State. I most frequently use it and the Kindle Fire various times during the day, since I am retired.

I don't text. My phone makes it difficult, and we don't pay for texting. I am thinking I need to add this to my phone, as my grown children text more frequently than call, especially our third son who rarely ever calls. Maybe this is a way to say better connected.

Use of the Kindle Fire was radically reduced while we were in Bellingham, with no wifi available. It is nice to be back at a desk top computer (See how old I am??) at our friends Terry and Dennis' home. 

2. What social media and/or games do you like to play? How often? On which device do you occupy yourself? Which method of social media do you prefer?
I am addicted to playing Words With Friends, though I am usually the low scorer in each game. I love that "ding" when someone has played, and I need to go and take my turn! This is on my Kindle Fire.

I like Facebook and to a lesser extent Pinterest.

3. Do you separate online activities between home and work? Or is it all the same everywhere?
Since I don't work, I am separated only by access to wifi.

4. Do you have a smart (or I-) phone?
No.

5. What do you wish you had--or do not have--in relation to these devices?
I halfway desire a smart phone and/or an Ipad, but I have the Kindle Fire. The only thing I don't like about it is lack of internet availability in areas where I cannot access wifi. I guess that's where my desire comes in--I'd like to have internet connection everywhere! But since I don't work, that seems silly.

Bonus: What is the difference between your attitude towards these means of technology and a generation older or younger than you?
An obvious difference between my grown children and eventually grandchildren is the use (or non-use) of texting. My children are between the ages of 33 and 23 and are proficient users of technology. I can already see that my 2 year old granddaughter Avery is adept at finding pictures on her dad's Ipad. They'll have to instruct me for future uses, which I may not "get." 

Chuck and I are able to use a desk top computer well, but that seems to be heading to non-existence. Hope my learning ability continues along with the patience of my children in instructing me!

Thursday in Seattle

I am writing this with my Kindle using one finger to type, so this will probably be short.

• One week in Washington State today.
•  First four days in Seattle: with daughters AE and KA and with  friends Terry and Dennis. Good company and yummy food!

• In Bellingham, Chuck and I stayed at his parents' house, which they left for a retirement community days before. We cleaned some, hopefully helping a little bit, as Chuck's sisters and brother must prepare the house to be sold. 

• We were there for 3 1/2 days and came back to Seattle this afternoon (in the rain).
• One more day here before we fly away on Saturday morning. Chuck goes back to Corpus Christi, and I go to Salt Lake City to visit MJ for two days. 

•  If all goes well, I will return on Monday night and be ready to start the newest Richard Rohr book "THE IMMORTAL DIAMOND" at the Wisdom Class on Tuesday morning. It is such a good book!

The Guest House

This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.

Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorable.

He may be cleaning you out
for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from the beyond.

~~Rumi

Mindful

Every day I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight,

That leaves me like a needle in the haystack of light.

It was what I was born for--to look, to listen,

To lose myself inside this soft world--

To instruct my self over and over in joy, and acclamation.

Nor am I talking about the exceptional,

The fearful, the dreadful, the very extravagant--

But of the ordinary, the common, the very drab, the daily presentations.

Oh, good scholar, I say to myself,

How can you help but grow wise with such teachings as these--

The untrimmable light of the world, the ocean's shine,

The prayers that are made out of grass.

~~Mary Oliver

From You

It is when we are still
that we know.
It is when we listen
that we hear.
It is when we remember
that we see your light, O God.
From your Stillness
we come.
With your Sound
all life quivers with being.
From You
the light of this moment shines.
Grant us to remember you at the heart of each moment.
Grant us to remember.

"Praying with the Earth" by John Philip Newell

If. . . . .

If we are to take risks,
to be free,
in the air,
in life,
we have to know
that when we come down from it all,
we're going to be caught,
we're going to be safe.
The great hero is the least visible.
Trust the catcher.

~~Henri Nouwen

Lint as Lent

From Roberta at Spiritually Directed. . . is this darling story:

WHAT IS LENT?
On the way to All Saints

"Lent Event 2009"a mother

listened to the conversation

between her two children.

One child wondered aloud:

"What is Lent, anyway?"

The sibling responded:

"It's the stuff on your clothes."

taken from here.

What is sticking to you like lint sticks to clothes?

Happy Birthday to AE!

Today is my daughter AE's birthday! And I will get to spend all day with her as she is graciously taking the day off from work so I can see her before she and KA leave for Ohio tomorrow.

Leaving on a Jet Plane!

This morning I am leaving on a jet plane, hoping that the second jet plane (from DFW) will get to Seattle on time this afternoon!

Then I will have the adventure of finding the light rail station which is a long walk from the airport. I will take that new contraption to meet my daughters in downtown Seattle! Yay!

Then tomorrow Chuck will fly here. He and I will spend Friday, which is AE's birthday, with her and then we'll spend the weekend in Seattle with our friends Terry and Dennis. We've known Terry since high school, which was over 40 years ago.

Then next week we'll be in our hometown of Bellingham, WA while two young men take care of our pets. We will be seeing Chuck's family, especially his parents who moved into an assisted living facility only a few days ago.

Chuck and I will be staying in the newly-departed family home, with its depleted furniture and other items. We're not sure what we'll find there, though we know there will be beds! Sadly, there will be no tv or internet available.

The Soul Wants to Love

Look how the Creator
in the form of a mother or father
can then love the created, a child,
even more than themselves.

Look at the salvation and purpose
a person can find
in that devotion of caring.

A day is too great a force to bear 
without the heart open.

Time will slay your body
no matter what,
but with love,
the impetus of your final movements
will make eloquent your demise.


Could God care for the created
more than He cares for Himself?
The soul, and I think any being,
really wants to love, 
more than be loved.

  -- Hafiz

With thanks to Diane Walker at Contemplative Photography.

Problems!!

We have been thrown into a tizzy with an email this morning from the friend who always house-dog-sits for us when we travel. She cannot be here for us during the upcoming trip to WA State, even though we asked her months ago. In three days we need someone taking care of our pets, because Chuck will depart. (I am leaving the day before, which I have already pre-posted for Thursday.)

Chuck reserved spaces at our vet's kennel, which is expensive and not our first choice for our dogs. We'd prefer someone staying at our house. Calling people and friends today brought frustration and worry. What to do?? Finally, we found the sons of church members who are willing to help us out.

They just left after getting to know our dogs, including leaping Maisie (our Lab/hound mix). One is in college and the other is in high school, and they will take care of the dogs in partnership. They may even sleep here. That makes it nicer for our dogs and for our cat, who will not indicate her pleasure.

Chuck and I feel great relief. Whew!

Avery Pictures

DC and Avery

Avery and AA

Avery and Chuck

Avery and Jan

 Chuck and I went to Austin this past weekend. We had not seen Avery and her parents since Christmas. Avery has grown taller and much more talkative in the past two months. She sings songs and talks in almost-sentences. Chuck loved finding her each morning when she called, "I want get out!"

Wealth Inequality in America

My daughter KA shared this on Facebook, and I keep thinking about it. Please watch:. Then you can tell me what you think.

Excuses for NOT Going to Church!

Well, today we probably won't go to church because we are visiting our oldest son DC, his wife AA, and our wonderful 2 year old granddaughter AVERY!

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