Spring Snow

Scroll down one blog post and note the picture of Cinnamon. See the bare ground on which he stands? (we'll ignore the possible puns) - This morning that same ground is covered with up to 6 inches of snow and the thermometer reads 18! brrrr

On the positive side - blue skies abound, white clouds are retreating, and the weather report is for sunshine for as far in advance as the report goes. Spring is almost here. ~ with blessings

Cinnamon is out of hibernation

Cinnamon, the 600 lb bear in whose territory we live, strolled across the yard Saturday morning. This is our first sighting of 2010, so he is out of hibernation and stretching his legs. He stopped for a moment to say hello and observe the people taking his picture. Sort of like a movie star making a cameo appearance on the red carpet. He (or maybe he is a she) is a very special bear ~ laid back, slow moving, grounded. And totally amazing. I always feel So Blessed when having a chance to say hi and view up close and personal this magnificent being. ~ blessings to you too, even without the bear

Yay Today

I am feeling So Good!! Sciatica 2 - Tahoe Mom 2 -- I'm gaining and by next week I will be the Winner!! Good chiropractic, good massage therapy, good healing energy work and even an Ibuprophen or two along the way. Quite a healing combination. And in between, I keep moving, stretching and using the sauna.

It is a lovely day. We have had clouds and snow for the last three days and today it is supposed to be in the 60s - same for the next several days. It still amazes me that we can have 30 degree temperature swings between noon and midnight. And while the sun is out it is warm and wonderful.

Looking forward to the gathering of a business group tonight and over the weekend. We will have about 10 for dinner tonight. I have ordered their delicious lasagna from an Italian restaurant and will add a salad bar and warm bread (from a deli down the street). The meeting begins in the morning. My responsibility: help Dean facilitate, make reservations for meals eaten out and in general make the meeting as hospitable as possible. This time we will have 4 folks staying with us. That means muffins for breakfast so I need to go face the making of the batter. I love it actually because I throw in all sorts of goodies hanging around the cabinet. They also bring me Huge compliments. :D

Time to face the "work" - if all work could be such fun - with blessings

Decisions

Have you ever thought, "no matter what decision I make, it will be wrong"?

What if we thought, "no matter what decision I make, it will be right"?

It helps to have someone to say, "I will support whatever you decide for yourself." Although we don't Need that permission, it is helpful and gives a sense of affirmation and validation to what we are about to do.

And so with a sense of whatever I decided being ok, I decided to stay home from the retreat. That decision was So Right! It has not been an easy two days. This morning is better. I am So Grateful that I was home, in my own bed, close to my own kitchen and supported by a loving husband who had been the one to say, "I support you". He said it, and he has done it.

All is well, all will be well. I am grateful ~ with blessings

Disappointment and Reality

I am not going on the retreat. This time was to be my time, to be for me. And if that can be on retreat, it can be at home too. My sciatica is still alive and well, and I do not want to spend a night like last night any where but home.

If you are in a hotel room, on retreat or vacation and get sick, you live with it. When you Know you are not doing well, why go and put yourself through that?

So I am home. I will get some things done of course -- and I will read the books I bought to read on retreat, do the crosswords, do my own meditations and be - in my own space, in my own time, in the comfort I need to get through this thing. And I will get in 2 extra appointments with my chiropractor! :) Yay!

May your choices be for you, helpful to you, and allow you your time ~ with blessings

Going on Retreat

Some of my women's group are going on retreat for three days. We are going to a lovely yoga, meditation facility where we are free to participate or not as the spirit moves us.

Right now I am thinking I will probably hang out, read, visit with my friends when they are around, walk, write and do an occasional crossword. I may change my mind and do some yoga and attend meditations. Or not. One of those definite maybe things.

And - I am looking forward to being - being with my friends - being in a supportive space for whatever I want and need - having someone else cook for me - and just being present. I have bought a very small journal as most of my journal writing is now done on computer - ergo, I need something to write in. I am Not taking my computer. This is time away and the computer and FB and email and even crosswords on line are not getting away as far as I am concerned. So - back to a handwritten journal. I also have a couple of new books - one of which will go along for the ride whether it is ever opened or not.

I will take a cell phone because I use it for a lot more than phone - the ringer will be turned off. And I won't check blogs or emails or anything like that - mainly just the time and be available in case. It is really nice to have the life that allows me to walk away like that. I know that some people don't. And almost all of us can if we just will - and let's face it, this is not for that long. Monday morning through Wednesday afternoon. Not very long to be disconnected. I am looking forward to it for lots of reasons ~ blessings and I will "see" you when I get back

Home again and other thoughts

We traveled well, safely and uneventfully back to the mountains. We had missed the snow and there had even been two days of sunshine by the time we were home so the snow is melting. It is still quite chilly though.

I have someone who follows my blog and comments occasionally in Chinese. Very interesting and just a tad frustrating because I like to reply to those who comment. At first I thought it was my Chinese friend - and then when I realized it wasn't her, I realized she could translate for me. :D Now I know what is being said, and I can reply with relevance. Communication is a lovely thing.

I have often wondered how ancient peoples came to really understand each other. How did one know that when the other pointed up and said a word that they meant sky and not blue? We have enough trouble communicating and understanding these days when we know languages. It must have been very hard in the beginning of human speech. ~ with blessings

the Beach

I went to the beach today. We drove along, stopped at a huge rock and looking down watched dolphins make their way up the coast, stopped and watched the water just because we could, had lunch on the top deck at Ruby's on the end of the Malibu pier, watched pelicans swoop down next to the water and patient surfers wait for those perfect waves. It was a glorious amazing day in the presence of the healing power of the surf. I do love the ocean. And it was Warm! ~ with blessings

Easter ~ Eostre

Christ is Risen!

He is risen indeed!

Ancient words of an ancient blessing evoked to remind us of the miracle of resurrection.

So powerful was this image that long before Christ came, died and was resurrected people had celebrated Eostre, the goddess of fertility and rebirth. Her resurrections were seen in the greening land, the blossoming flowers, the warming air, the new lambs bleating on the hillsides. Her name became the basis of the name of the most important day in the Christian liturgical calendar.

May you see resurrection in whatever your belief you hold and may your day be a grace-full one ~ with blessings

Holy Saturday

This was a day of darkness, confusion, pain and death. Those folks who sat at the foot of the cross had no idea what was coming. We do. And yet it is good to recognize this time so that the Joy of Easter has even deeper meaning for us.

However ~ we do live beyond the event. I woke this morning to an email from a friend in Japan telling me what a glorious Sunday morning it is and wishing me a Happy Easter. Yes, it felt "early" ~ and it was also a reminder that no matter how bleak and dark things seem for us, somewhere there is resurrection and it is already Easter. ~ with blessings

Good Friday

I have been in and involved in the church all my life . . . and sometimes I am still amazed that it works like Jesus said it would.

Last night I set aside 30 minutes to pray. Intentional time for intentional prayer. Absolutely amazing. My 30 minutes turned into 45 without any sense of time passing. Open to prayer, people, places, issues just arrived to be lifted to God. I didn't pray "for" anything - just raised an awareness of these folks and let them move on. I read some scripture and a hymn appropriate to the night. I prayed a couple of Psalms. I stayed very present, in the moment.

This is not a new process for me. Maybe it was because I was praying with a circle of friends who have been praying like this every Maundy Thursday night through Good Friday afternoon for years. Maybe it was because I was so ready to pray. I don't know. What I know is - this time was special and that every time of prayer can be just this special if I/we will let it be so ~ with blessings

Maundy Thursday Prayer Vigil

Tonight I am joining my church in Virginia in their annual prayer vigil. They will come, one by one, to the church at 30 minute intervals to pray throughout the night until 3 Good Friday afternoon. This is a long and lovely tradition at that church.

Tonight at 9 my time, midnight theirs, I am joining whomever is praying there. Candles are lit and I have created my own altar and will read and meditate and pray as part of a circle of prayer that extends far beyond the confines of that particular church sanctuary. ~ blessings