Enter His Gates with THANKSGIVING,Enter His Courts with PRAISE!
It's MAY!
It's time to turn the page . . . from sorrow and weeping . . . to JOY and THANKSGIVING!
EUCHARISTEO!
"We give thanks, almighty God, for all the gifts you have given to us . . . "
May 1 Tis a merry month
I'm reminded of English poems and folk tales.
Sweet little lambs grazing the greens of the country estates.
A slower pace.
Taking time to smell the freshness of new life piercing through the ground and ebbing from tree branches and flying forth and burrowing in holes and peaking out of crevices.
Ahhhhhh . . . can you feel it?
Well, soon then.
We are still very 'south' but the day is cool and breeze light.
Ocean waves, softly rolling into the very extended beach, remind me that we have a full moon.
Tide is low.
Waterway behind us shows off the urchins that cling to sea walls and boat docks . . . gray, jumbled, yet still full of life.
Boats are being stored at this 'end of season' as too many to count head to cooler climate.
This is our favorite time to enjoy emptier streets, plenty of room in restaurants and visits with dear friends.
I breathe deep.
Time to begin spring cleaning . . . arg.
Oh, but how our little abode will sparkle with just a bit of cleaning and purging of that which we really do not need.
Nice.
May 2 The New Normal
What is normal?
I'm suppose to be retired.
These past six months have been glorious due to the warm air, clear skies, beach walks and serving at church at least three days a week.
That is the clincher.
Excluding pastoral visits to two hospitals and a senior care center, I volunteered to lead worship weekly in two different places.
Then there are Sundays when I don't return home until mid-afternoon due to pastoral visits.
It's all good.
My soul is filled to overflowing.
Yet, there is also 'hubby' time, which is precious and wonderful.
. . . and cooking and laundry and errands and . . .
Massages!
Hubby, throughout these months, has given me 'gift cards' for my much needed kneading of the body.
Oh, how I feel renewed after each time.
They're expensive, though, so I've scattered them as far apart as my body will allow.
Nice.
And then there is the 'Illumination' class and my Icon class . . . what a JOY!
I'm finished . . . with all my classes, responsibilities and massages . . . for now.
We are transitioning . . . preparing to move North for the summer.
It's hard to let go of friends, though.
I've already said my forever-goodbye to one of them.
We will return but separation all that I love is still difficult.
Yet, I know when we arrive at our 'summer' place we will embrace the new normal up there with gusto.
We love change but saying goodbye to friends and routines is a challenge.
The Lord is our constant through these changes.
The Lord will always be our 'normal'.
May 3 Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary
Finally!
We take a little trip.
We've stepped back from our highly energized volunteering over the past several months so we can enjoy some exploring.
"Season" is technically over.
Streets are relatively usable.
We can GO, SEE, DO without the hassle.
So, Audubon Corkscrew Sanctuary is the place to go.
I know it is the 'dry' season but we usually have rain at night.
Needless to say, the past few days at Corkscrew lakes have become puddles.
The ground is still moist in this everglades-like haven where, when there is water, it moves at about one mile per day.
A red-headed woodpecker greets us as we park the car.
[You'd think I'd take a picture but I was in the car, camera not yet in hand and . . . oh well . . . Kodak moment is gone.]
Plenty of people were lingering on the winding boardwalk.
Guides, dressed in their kaki - long pants, long-sleeved shirts, were plentiful and ready to answer any questions or point our eyes into the trees for a unique bird.
Long pants on a hot day? The yellow spotted fly is looking for prey and we humans are their goal.
The bite is extremely painful and lingers long.
I'm so glad I have long pants and long-sleeved shirt (not pictured)
Hubby, on the other hand, is blessed to never be bothered by bugs.Guides point high.
Time for the binoculars.
Vortex, 8X42 binoculars are the best, we hear.
A steal at only $300.
Of course, we could get the Schwartzkoff ones for $2,400.
I listen as I enjoy my fabulous 'rentals' [$3] hanging around my neck.
They are Vortex, 8X32 and impressively better than the old ones we left at home.
Irma leveled so many rotting cypress that some areas were 'gated' closed.
Nevertheless, this was still a wonder-land as we wander through two miles of one of the last places that 'stands' of Cypress grow.
Tall, thin, strong, impervious to burrowing bugs, they provide a canopy of shade on this hot day.
Wonder-filled.
May 4 I Forgot!
Yesterday was a delight but in the swirl of adventure I completely forgot to attend my weekly 'Grouping' group.
I'd just read about a woman who, after forgetting to drop her baby off at daycare and leaving her in the car all day, is on a campaign to prevent this from ever happening to other busy parents.
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| Today, in the sky! Windswept words, "Jesus 4-gives you." |
I was aghast at how she could forget her own child but, if one thinks about it, how often have we forgotten something that sat in the back seat because we were focussed on the next board meeting presentation?
A baby, sound asleep, could be forgotten.
This is not unique, I hear.
This woman and her husband, both deeply intellectual and dearly loving their child, were regular hard working parents.
Yet, she forgot.
The very same day I read this article, I also forgot!
This group I meet with weekly is very dear to me.
They are not simply a meeting.
They are my dear sisters who study God's Word, and pray and serve the Lord with gladness and lift my soul with their weekly discoveries.
They are a group I only get to see for six months a year now that we have moved North.
My dear girlfriend called me from the meeting place.
"Are you all right?"
I was walking on the beach!
I forgot?
Laughing, she said, "Enjoy your walk. See you next week."
We are human. We fail.
I remember the time I was dropped off for a flight and left my bag with all my ID and everything in the back seat.
No cell phones then.
Needless to say, I was wearing my ID.
I got to my destination and returned home unscathed but with a greater understanding of "always look in the back seat."This woman is now getting the word out.
Place your purse or briefcase in the back seat with baby.
You won't forget.
Well, I did.
And I forgot my meeting with my dear sisters in Christ.
What a blessing that I have another week to see them before we head North.
May 5 Progressive Lunch
Hubby and I have been just-right busy these last several months.
Yet, it seems that when I have 'down' time, he is off and running.
When I'm in the throws of a complex schedule, he has free time.
We love that we both feel satisfied by our individual schedules.
Yet, we manage an evening walk or dinner together at home most nights.
During 'season' I'm in no mood to fight the crowds in the restaurants.
Today was perfect.
We're post 'season' and we've emptied out our schedules so that we can take time to have a mini-adventure before we leave.
So hubby finds a restaurant his friend recommended highly.
We loved the Italian atmosphere with strings of large clear lights, beautifully painted walls and some lattice work to make us think we are in the middle of an Italian piazza.
The menu looked great and we were in the mood to linger awhile in our little "Italian" haven.
The pleasant Chinese waitress seemed pre-occupied.
Hubby said he saw hispanics in the kitchen (great cooks but I was hoping for 'mom and pop Italians' from the old country.)
The overcooked chicken was flattened to a pulp and the side of pasta left much to be desired.
Oh well.
But that was only the beginning of our day.
We decided to explore another restaurant up the pike a bit.
This time we actually sat out on a little piazza as we watched
The weather was warm but breezy.
A glass of wine and some appetizers topped off our previous meal.
Mellow music, people-watching, great wine and delicious bruschetta along with a few other Italian tastes made our day.
Hubby's stories of his childhood drew us into a delight-filled moment of memories.
We pretended we were sitting in 'grandpa's back yard' where hubby remembers home grown tomatoes and sauce cooking for hours.
The long table, filled with relatives every Sunday, was filled with delicious home-made dishes.
We then remembered our own trip to Italy years ago.
We enjoyed a 'progressive lunch' as we lingered even longer in these environs, making memories.
Wonder-filled.
May 6 "Love one another as I have loved you."
Easier said than done.
That's all that Jesus asks of us.
Just one problem.
Perhaps I don't choose to receive that incredible amount of love Jesus has offered us.
Perhaps I have reasons to fend off that incredible love.
Some people reject even the smallest act of love from another.
"I don't trust your intention," I heard one say.
"How do I know there is not something attached to this act of kindness," another would say.
I was reminded today, as I heard words at church, that some who reject acts of kindness or who do not trust the meaning behind
If that is the case, how can anybody accept the love for us that caused Jesus to die on the cross, to be the final blood sacrifice for our sin . . . the sin of all humanity . . . past, present and future?
It's really a catch-22.
How can I love another if I do not understand God's love for us?
How can I love another if I choose not to receive this unconditional love from God in that he sent his son to die on the cross for us?
How can I love another if I do not believe that God loves me, myself and I . . . just the way I am . . . warts and all?
I am reminded daily of God's eternal, infinite, incomprehensible love for me.
If I can just give one drop of that love away to another, I'm heaped-full with blessings.
Hard to fathom.
Hard to do.
The more we know God's love for us, the more we can give it away.
The more we try to give God's love away to others, the greater heap of loving we receive from God.
Amazing . . . LOVE.
May 7 Response-able
I watched a short video that was sent to me via email.
The one speaking was a Vietnam vet who was recollecting his life.
It got me thinking.
If he could understand 'Respons-ability' when he was fighting the vietcong and in a no-win situation, this experience must have carried him through his entire life.
Indeed, he is now 66 and he and his wife just adopted 4 little girls because "they could not see them separated."
He said, "Am I able to adopt these four girls?"
His response was, "Yes."
When God places us in any situation and we are given the choice, the two questions we can answer for ourselves are, "Am I able to do this, complete this, try this . . .?"
If I am able, what is my response?
Am I able to pull someone out of a burning car?
I am physically able at this point.
If I am able and if I can respond, than I must DO.
Each day tasks are set before me that must be accomplished sooner or later . . . from making meals, laundry, running errands, having a quiet time, relaxing with a cup of tea etc.
I am 'able' to do any and all of these tasks.
However, must I respond to each of them with a 'yes?'
I have options.
Whom do I serve?
Joshua in the Old Testament responded as I would, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
In order to respond to God to the best of my ability, I choose to do those things that build myself up in a way that I can serve others.
I'd rather sip a cup of tea and enjoy a quiet time before I do anything else each morning.
I find it best to first fill my soul and prepare myself for each day.
Then I am more able to respond, according to God's will for me, to any situation presented before me.
That's what I think of as being response-able.
May 8 It's in the Bag!
We've begun to pack.
I decided that we will only take a few things . . . enough to fit in
You've got to be kidding!
Where was I coming from?
Hubby has few clothes and just a few shoes but just packing his shoes took up half a suitcase.
Try again.
Bag it!
All shoes go into bags.
They fit in those odd spaces between suitcases.
Grocery bags.
White bags.
Black bags.
From small to very large, from full bags to very flat bags, for niches, crannies, corners, that three-inch space above the suitcases.
It's amazing what we can do by simply packing in bags of various sizes.
Each year we simplify a little more but I'm not quite down to the 'two suitcases only.'
Since we're driving the car, we have plenty of room.
It's just easier to put everything . . .
in the bag.
Love it.
May 9 Clean it up.
It's that time of year.
Spring cleaning.
We are very serious about this.
Every nook and cranny is cleaned.
It's that three inches that I never want to get down on my hands and knees and scrub with a Clorox wipe.
It took three seconds!
I'm so lazy.
But that's not much different than taking time to really glean the true meaning from a passage of scripture.
I've spent decades swallowing the stories of the bible in every version possible.
Yet, if I take just three minutes to dig a little deeper every day, I seem to find a deeper understanding for my own life.
By taking three minutes each day to clarify a word or passage I've skimmed over, I'm cleaning my cloud of misunderstanding.
It's those nooks and crannies, stuffed with knowledge, that, when scrubbed up a bit, glow with new wisdom.
Spring cleaning.
Good for the house . . . good for the soul.
Three minutes here, three minutes there.
I need to 'clean it up' on a regular basis throughout the year.
Yes!
May 10 Ascension Day
It's always on a Thursday, ten days before Pentecost, which we celebrate on a Sunday.
For protestants, it's almost forgotten in the busy-ness of the week.
A day set aside to remember this phenomenon should be an obligation for all denominations.
After all, it was a turning point for Christianity.
Without Jesus ascending, physically leaving this earth forever, we would never have received the Holy Spirit to lead and guide generations throughout the centuries.
The church where I served, and from which I retired, is called Ascension.
It's nice to know that the people chose to returned to the tradition I began when serving there - actually celebrating Christ's Ascension on Thursday instead of waiting until the convenient time on
We are too many miles away from that sweet place now but I received the notice.
The whole town is invited as well as members from "sister" churches.
All the choirs blend music together.
Preachers and readers and all other participants come from these other churches.
We celebrate, we share a meal, we send up balloons (biodegradable, of course) to reflect the ascension of our Lord.
Jesus ascended into heaven forty days after he was resurrected from the dead.
Jesus told the small crowd who was with him at the time that he would send us an advocate, one with the same divine power to change lives that he had, the same love that he gave us, and so much more.Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to reside in the soul of any and all who dropped their sin at the feet of Jesus, and accepted Jesus as the One God sent for us, to be with us, to be the One who would direct our lives according to the God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Three in one, yet each has a specific role.
Our One God.
Jesus, God's son, ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God, the Father, and sent us God, the Holy Spirit.
We who choose, by faith, to follow the Lord, our God, through his Son, Jesus Christ, have the Holy Spirit, our advocate, to direct our path 24/7/365.
Thank-full
May 11 Dear friends
Nothing beats a four hour conversation with a dear friend.
We see each other weekly at our group gathering.
We share stories of how God has grown us a tiny bit more over the week . . . or how we've ignored God's nudges.
We've become dear friends over the decades.
This particular day we took extra time over lunch to enjoy conversation that wound a circuitous path around our hearts.
A girl friend is nicely different than hubby-friend.
Our little group of women do not attend the same church and actually run in different social circles.
Yet, we feel the empty space of our dear 'sister' who just died.
The group has also become smaller because of 'season.'
Some of us are going North for the summer but will return in the Fall to share our stories and reflect on God's blessings among us.
Although we have built a bond of love and trust in the group, there are two with whom I've taken extra time.
Perhaps it's because we live in the southern part of town.
Or, perhaps it's because we enjoy digging deeper into our own journeys and find solace in one another's challenges.
One dear friend is very special only because we can discuss any topic on earth, turn it upside down and backwards, look at both sides, dig out various perspectives and still love each other in the end.
We fascinate ourselves with the journey.
We've built up such a loving trust that, even when we disagree about a possible outcome, we remain fast friends.
Her life and mine are very different.
Yet, our common ground is our faith.
Comfortable, trusting, energizing, close.
Our husbands also enjoyed each other but now she is a widow.
Sometimes we are a three-some but she and I prefer 'girl' time together.
"We have to do this more often," we both said to each other.
Next year . . .
We really mean it this time.
We are aging.
Our friends are dying.
We will 'schedule' more time ...
"Girl Time with a dear friend."
May 12 Time's Up!
Sometimes I wonder if I am in a contest to see how much I can do at the last minute before 'time is up'!
But, there are always those last minute details.
After all, who throws out the breakfast cereal before the day one leaves?
That last 'vinegar in the drain' task, the final check: water off, electronics unplugged, thermostat set, drawers checked, rooms inspected, [just in case one bag did not get packed into the car] counters clean, fridge empty . . .
You'd think we were leaving forever.
I figure more than a month is forever.
At our age, anything can happen.
In fact, that's what is so sad about leaving.
I know I will not see some friends again.
We are grabbing those wonder-filled joys as long as our bodies can still grab.
Simply traveling to cooler climate is a joy-filled adventure.
But it takes time and energy and planning and energy - - - did I say that again?
LOL
We're off and running: looking behind with sadness, looking forward with gladness.
It's all good.
I praise God we are still able to do this.
Time's up . . . and we're off and driving.
May 13 Happy Mother's Day glitch?
We took the auto-train north and it was full to capacity.
Most of the mothers who were traveling might have expected to arrive in their northern destination at least by noon.
Only one glitch.
Through the day our ETD lengthened greatly.
Our scheduled 4pm departure was delayed until half-past midnight.
Other 'unscheduled' delays along the way dropped us further behind schedule.
Needless to say, we arrived about 6pm, waited for our car until 9pm (we were almost the very last car of over 300 to disembark).
No problem.
Right?
Wrong.
Fortunately, the expressway through the city was well lit.
We recalled the area as we drove even though it has been almost twenty years.
We got nostalgic as we remembered wonder-filled explorations during our tenure in this grand city.
Alas, we had well over two hours further to drive - in good weather.
Of course, the rain came softly at first but then turned into a torrent.
Slow we go.
"Keep safe," we told each other.
Fortunately, hubby was wide awake as he drove up and down hills and around "s" curves in construction areas.
We made it!
Mother's day had passed by the time we reached our lovely abode.
1:00am . . . not one neighbor was awake.
We quietly drove into the garage, unloaded our two suitcases and three boxes, and slipped into bed.
Glitch and all, we had a very good day.
Just another 'mother's day' adventure.
May 14 Ascension Day?
Did you notice that I said nothing about this most incredible celebration?
Jesus' ascension is almost like a national holiday to the Amish.
The world stops.
The disciples said their final goodbye to Jesus after his resurrection when they saw him ascend into heaven.
Jesus promised that an 'advocate' would come to them . . . and us . . . the Holy Spirit.
Just wait.
Be patient.What an incredible chain of events: Resurrection, Ascension and, ten days later, Pentecost.
We were so focused on saying goodbye to friends and expected to celebrate with most on Sunday, when we arrived in our northern 'port.'
Due to the 'glitch,' hubby and I celebrated in our own way - by sharing the story through scripture.
A time to remember a VERY special moment.
May 15 Unload, load-up
Unload, un pack, put away, dump in wash, pull out what was stored, assess what's needed and shop til we drop.
We were a well honed machine, the two of us.
We got organized quickly and then went to the store to pick up groceries and other items we'd need for our six months up here.
1-2-3
Just like that, the day was over.
So much to do in plenty of time.
We meandered through the farmland, marveled at the beauty of our blooms in the garden, enjoyed chatting with neighbors and felt we'd accomplished a mountain of chores in this short day.We'd had little sleep over the past few day.
So, early to bed.
We slept well and breathed in the cooler air.
Love that fresh smell.
We unloaded stress and loaded up on fresh grass smells and birds' soft tweets and even a rain storm at the end of the day.
It's always good to . . . . unload . . . and load-up . . . on that which gives rest to the soul.
May 16 Back to the Garden
It's the one constant of the summer - weeding, pruning, digging.
This winter was harsh.
My rose bushes froze - the top two-thirds.
Clip, clip, clip.
Two huge bushes are now only inches tall.
Not all bad.
They'll grow fast and hardy with magnificent blooms.
Mounds of branches, twigs, refuse.
Fresh air, movement, heavy lifting, perseverance . . . Six hours later the wheelbarrow is full with some on the side . . . and I still have several more bushes to cut back.
What a great feeling to dig and cut, to pull and push, to grab dandelions hiding deep beneath Russian Sage that is now getting cut back to stubs.
In another couple weeks we will see thriving plants.
It's amazing how pruning, cutting the dead parts of a plant is much like my life.
God has been doing the same throughout my life.
The parts of my life that were growing dry and dying, the parts of my life that were not growing well, God has slowly pruned.
Instead, I have new 'branches' that are blooming.
I'm stronger over the years and am able to withstand life's storms a bit better.
Just as my garden is always challenged by gusty winds and piercing rain, so am I.Just as my garden is well tended - pruned, nurtured, fed . . . so am I.
I know I am part of God's garden.
I know that, as long as I seek the Lord's best for myself, I will be assured of God's nurturing love.
As long as I feed on God's presence in my life, through prayer, scripture reading and Holy Eucharist, I will remain strong and healthy as I serve him.
As I work in my little garden, I am assured that I am part of God's infinite garden.
May 17 Norwegian Independence Day!
It feels like I'm in Norway today.
Chilly, rainy and blissfully green as far as the eye can see.
This cool spring has allowed those new buds to linger before opening.
Years ago, when I lived where there were scads of Scandinavians, we would enjoy the festive dances, the special foods and lovely Scandinavian crafts for purchase.
"Bunads," or costumes, were a sight to behold.
In almost every state we've lived in, except where we now reside, we've been able to join the celebrations through the Scandinavian society.
One can't beat celebrating . . . especially as we wait for Spring to turn to warmer days of summer.
So, I vicariously celebrate with a festive meal for hubby and me.
A special krumkake-like dessert is always a delicious treat.
Ah, the memories.
Sometimes they are better than the real thing.
May 18 Done!
We have a crazy schedule tomorrow so I thought I'd get ready today.
Laundry . . . done.
Vacuuming . . . done.
Dusting . . . done.
Words for Sunday . . . sort of done.
It's amazing how much I'm able to get done inside when outside is soggy, drizzly, cold . . . which I'm not yet use to since returning from southern heat.
I can't complain.
I'm getting things DONE.
It's a good feeling.
I'm still looking for things I 'put away' while we were were gone.
Getting back to our routine may take awhile but at least, in the mean time, done are the daily tasks. . . for now.
Now I just need to stop 'doing' and BE.
NICE!
May 19 A Royal Day Propelled in Love!
What can I say!
I'm a Royals Groupie.
Have been since my job took me to Australia when Charles and Diana married and seemed, to the world, to be in marital bliss for a couple years while having two wonder-filled boys.
I have Australian magazines filled with 'what Diana wore today,' including her wedding dress . . . which I loved!
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| Peonies are Megan's favorite flower |
Volumes of fabric were all the rage back then.
Decades later, with William and Kate happily married and enjoying their third child, I'm glued to the TV.
Harry, the wild one, has been tamed enough to meet the most delight-filled Megan.
Always thinking outside the box to bring the world together by God's Love, as 'one family' under God, according to Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's sermon.
Harry and Megan fill the ticket.
I get up way too early and snuggle on the couch as I watch the event unveiling five hours ahead of our time zone.
"I do," says the couple.
"We Will," say the guests.
We will what?
We will help this couple stay married and do what God has called them to do.
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| Of course I have tea for breakfast. So English! |
But these two, like William and Kate, have what it takes to forge through the constant barrage of cameras scrutinizing every instant of their lives to do good and love others and love themselves just as God loves them.
The Most Reverend Micheal Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the U.S.A., spoke in love with a fiery zest that reached a world of onlookers.
His Pentecost spirit poured out to the world that, with God, we all can love one another as much as God loves us.
We just need that 'fire' . . . the fire that ignites a jet engine . . . that fire that ignites our soul, through the power of the Holy Spirit within those baptized in Christ.GO and BE what God wants us to be . . . in places where it's hard to love those who are hurtful.
Bishop Curry gave renewed motivation to Harry and Megan to GO and BE what their hearts have already propelled them to be.
God be with them as they go out and change the world in LOVE.
May 20 Pentecost Sunday
For Christians, this is a grand day of celebration.
Many celebrate this day as the birth-day of the church.
With the power of the Holy Spirit speaking through the Apostle
Yet, they stopped to listen to Peter and heard God's words in their own language . . . believed and were baptized in Christ Jesus.
Shavuot, feast of weeks, feast of the first fruits . . . celebrated 7 weeks plus one day after Passover.
When the temple was destroyed much later (about 70 AD) the Jews celebrate the giving of the Law from God to Moses after the Exodus.
God carefully 'overlays' significant moments on top of each other for those who are 'grafted in' with the people of the Old Covenant.
After all, we could not be Christian unless, Jesus, a devout Jew, became the last sacrificial lamb to be slaughtered for God's people in order that our sin be cleansed by the 'blood of the Lamb.'
God intended Jesus and then the coming of the Holy Spirit for his Chosen People, the Jews.
Thousands of Jews came to understand this expansion from the Abrahamic covenant of the 'old' covenant to the Messianic covenant we see as the 'new' covenant.
As we celebrate the coming of the power of the Holy Spirit upon thousands in Jerusalem ten days after Christ Jesus' ascension, we look back to what this means in our own lives.
I'm leading the service and sharing God's words to an energized congregation about an hour from our home.
We love this group of enthusiastic people from young families to very elderly.
They are a great mix.
They listen intently.
Sixteen children are at my feet, eagerly trying to understand why everyone is wearing red and learning about their own baptism when they were infants.
Only when we are baptized in the name of Christ Jesus, will the Holy Spirit be called upon to reside in us.
The Priest then says, "and you are sealed as Christ's own forever."
The Holy Spirit is invited to 'reside' in each of us.
Yet, we have to personally 'confirm' this action when we understand.
That's what confirmation is all about.
We say 'yes' to Jesus on our own.
We ask the Holy Spirit who is residing in us to PRESIDE over our lives . . . daily, hourly, in every instant of our lives.
We make that choice daily.
It's our own choice.
The Holy Spirit will comply to whatever we ask.
We just need to ask.
"Come, Holy Spirit, fill my heart as your faithful one and kindle in my the fire of your love . . . "
Say it daily.
The Holy Spirit will comply.
Blessed Pentecost!
May 21 SUN!
Since we arrived in these northern environs we have seen 1 1/2
Today was another ONE WHOLE DAY of sun!
I had my work cut out for me.
Another day in the garden finishing up what I could not a week ago.
Clip - clip, prune-prune, saw away.
Done!
Five hours later I finished all my cutting, trimming etc.
I see a garden with more open space and lots of green.
Now we wait for the flowers.
I missed the Forsythia but the Allium (see May 15 notes) are beautiful.
Robins flit about with straw in their beaks even though they should be sitting on their eggs by now.
Early morning chatter means birds are busy flitting here and there, eating their fill of bugs etc. as they sip plentiful drops of water on plant leaves.
My garlic onions are so plentiful that I harvest gobs and fill bags of sliced 'scallions' . . . easily accessed for salads.
My hope is that we will have more of these days but I know better.
"Praise God from whom all blessings fall . . ."
Today we have SUN for any and all.
May 22 All Good
Of course we need the rain.
But my heart of hearts says, "I want sun!"
Impatient me.
It deluged last night and continues to sputter wet all through the day.
Oh Well.
The little flag can easily withstand water.
My sister gave this to me years ago.
It tells the world, "come on over to the garden while we are here."
Nice.
At least I have time to write.
These next few days are going to get really busy as we take a couple days to see hubby's aunt and cousins.
Always a joy.
I linger a little longer today while hubby is gone for the next several hours.
I'm listening to symphony music.
This is rare because I simply forget.
My soul embraces the beauty of the garden from our window. . .
The beauty of lingering, of ambling through words, of sharing my simple days in blog-notes, in preparing more words for next Sunday.
If this is as wild as my days get, I am in bliss.
All Good!
May 23 Trinity
I've been called to write words for Sunday.
Since we are traveling tomorrow, this is the day to write.
Trinity
Memorial Day
Both are important and need to be stressed.
Trinity Sunday: Completion of God's presence in our lives.
God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
When we say the Creed each Sunday, we hear the words of the Trinity expressed.
Read, mark, learn, inwardly digest and enjoy . . .
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
May 24 Gettysburg Address
Lincoln gave us words in November of 1863 that express the battles we continue to face.
We are fighting a great civil . . . or international . . . war.
We've been fighting within our nation as just a few choose to be at war with mankind.
Life is a battle.
His address to those in Gettysburg says it all.
[Four score and seven] {242} years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.
We are met on a great battle-field of that war.
We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
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| Part of Scenic view as we came into town. |
The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great
task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
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| Susquehanna River winds into Williamsport, PA |
Abraham Lincoln in Gettysburg
November 19, 1863
November 19, 1863
May 25 Family
It's always nice to visit extended family.
She is up there in years [90] but so sharp of mind and quick of wit.
She laughs at everything and remembers stories from decades ago.
It's the stories that we try to glean from her.
"Oh, I remember that," she says.
And off she goes.
Each time we visit her and hubby's cousins and their children we glean more stories.Hubby's dad even brought the family together in the city's vast grave yard.
A major road divided the family so entire sites were moved to
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| Three still-born babies remembered. 2 Angelos and 1 girl. 1914, 1915, 1917 |
All we have to do is visit one area and we see everyone's headstones.
Of course I forgot to take a picture of the 'perpetual flowers' [plastic holds a bit longer] we placed on his dad and mom's site - red, white and blue for Memorial day.
After many tries to locate the cousins distant family members, we found that part of the family.
Someone had all the headstones cleaned so these decades-old stones look brand new.
What a discovery.
May 26 Millionaire Row
Gorgeous weather prompted us to walk this street of old
Most remain divided into 4-6 apartments and are still a bit run down.
It's a college town so perhaps many students live in these remnants of history.
Some homes have been purchased and redone.
I cannot imagine the work: knob and tube wiring to new standards, galvanized pipe to PVC, scalloped slate roof tiles now replaced with standard roofing (sad), new paint, replaced wooden trim . . . and those are simply the basics.
But how glorious they look now.
A perfect day for a walk.
I felt like a millionaire!
The most amazing is the house below.
Notice that the front of the house is beautifully painted.
Yet, the side of the house was left untouched.
The most interesting observation is that the 'new' paint on the front is now deteriorating from age.
Perhaps the owners got tired of 'fixing' about ten years ago?
I don't blame them.
No AC, rented to 4 tenants.
Overgrown on the outside.
Who knows what it looks like inside.
I bet it was the talk of the town in 'the day'.
Love the victorian look even though my style is far more simple.
The doorway to the left shows the magnificent detail in so many of these homes.
Difficult to see the stained glass on top and beside the door.
It's a single residence so I did not want to get too close.
It's side yard is large enough to host huge parties, which they may well have.
May 27 Trinity Sunday
It's a special day in the church year where we transition into another period of walking with Jesus.
Easter to Ascension day [40 days later] to Pentecost [10 days more] is full of 'Eastertide' celebration.
Alleluia!
We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, His ascension to be with the Father, and the sending of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said, "I will send you an 'advocate' to be with you always and who will never leave you nor forsake you and will guide you in all you say and do if you call upon him to help you." [my interpretation]
I shared words with a joy-filled, attentive congregation.
We celebrated with a red-white- and blue lunch afterwards.
This is the day that the Lord has made.
We well rejoice and be glad.
And then we met our dear 90 year old friend who had not seen us for six months.
[Time with two 90 year olds in a week. . . . like.]
Two hours of conversation over a lovely meal brought satisfaction to all of us.
Nice.
May 28 Memorial Day celebrated
This special day gets moved all over the place in order to accommodate a 3-day weekend.
Too often our memories are buried in vacation treks, weddings, or family reunions.
In fact, three wedding parties were present where we stayed.
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| Best painted house - single residence |
That's a whole other set of blog notes.
Hubby and I feel blessed that we can age together through all our creaks and cracks.
Yet, today is another type of celebration . . . sort of sad.
Remembering those who died for our country, for our safety, for our freedom, for us.
So many brave ones.
Stepping into harm's way for US for THE U.S.
The stresses we obsess over seem silly compared to one who has actually died so that we may vociferate as we please.
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| Stately, well cared for, single residence. |
The freedom we have brings responsibility that few understand.
Instead of speaking, blasting, accusing, demeaning . . . why not simply DO?
This weekend reminds me to stop talking and help the others who are trying to drain an ocean of malcontent one teaspoon at a time.
If we all pick up our teaspoons and help, there would be less talk and more action.
That's what we should remember regarding those who died so that we might do just that.
May 29 Routine is Good
I find it invigorating to maintain some sort of morning routine.
I wake at an early hour, bring in the newspaper, drink lots of water and begin my workout.
I eat the same breakfast each morning and wait to join hubby for oatmeal as our 'second' breakfast.
We each like to begin the day differently but we take a break together for oatmeal.
I do much of my reading on the computer and then take time to enjoy the daily news from our favorite, WSJ.
I love routine.
I don't have to think.
I know exactly what I must do before I swirl in multiple directions the rest of the day.
I'm just talking about a couple hours of routine.
If I don't accomplish a simple set of habits early in the day, my routine is dropped for that day.
We've been traveling and changing gears so much the past couple of weeks that my routine has been less than stellar.
My body feels it.
Hmmmm
I figure, if my body goes tilt due to lack of this simple routine, I'd better get back on track.
I can't explain it but my day goes so much better when I stick to my simple morning routine.
May 30 May Flowers
I think the poetic stanza goes, "April showers bring May flowers."
I think the April showers have pressed well into May.
In fact, it's well past the time I should have purchased a few herbs and annuals.
Alas, I found out how late I am.
I could not find Basil anywhere.
Geraniums are tall, full and leggy.
I am blessed that the gardens surrounding our house are bursting with perennial blooms.
I just need a little color to add some spark until the garden is in full bloom.
I'm blessed that the Iris are just now blooming and the roses popped just yesterday.
Who cares if I purchase 'May flowers.'
Next year, I will find my Basil when it is still cold and rainy.
Lesson learned.
May 31 Cookie Time
Last day of May.
I should be out in the garden plucking dead foliage or planting the annuals I purchased yesterday.
Alas, it is raining . . . once again.
Yet, I shall not complain.
We spent six months in glorious sun . . . every day was a wonder.
Living in the mountains during the summer is breezy and nice once the sun begins to scorch the earth.
And so, I linger a little longer at the window as I drink in the beauty of wet on roses.
It's time to bake cookies!
We have a huge 'garage sale' in our community of 200 homes and almost everyone gets into the action.
I usually help out at the hot dog stand but this year I changed jobs.
I'm helping with the bake sale.I figure, if I'm helping to sell goodies I might as well make some.
Baking Cookies!
A wonderful end to the month of May.
YUM!
