Softly Sunday

I've had a difficult time entering back into the blogging world since our trip to Wyoming.  I don't know if I will be posting every day.... I don't know if I will be posting every week... I am simply taking some time to discern.

As for today, I pass along a message from Richard Rohr.  I hope to be back on board soon.  Love and peace to you all.

 Yaya

How can we look at the Biblical text in a manner that will convert us or change us? I am going to define the Bible in a new way for some of you. The Bible is an honest conversation with humanity about where power really is. All spiritual texts, including the Bible, are books whose primary focus lies outside of themselves, in the Holy Mystery. The Bible is to illuminate your human experience through struggling with it. It is not a substitute for human experience. It is an invitation into the struggle itself—you are supposed to be bothered by some of the texts. Human beings come to consciousness by struggle, and most especially struggle with God and sacred texts. We largely remain unconscious if we avoid all conflicts, dilemmas, paradoxes, inconsistencies, or contradictions.

The Bible is a book filled with conflicts and paradoxes and historical inaccuracies. It is filled with contradictions and it is precisely in learning to struggle with these seeming paradoxes that we grow up—not by avoiding them with a glib one-sentence answer that a 16-year-old can memorize. If I had settled for the mostly one-line answers to everything from my Fr. McGuire’s Baltimore Catechism, my spiritual journey would have been over in the third grade. And for many people, otherwise educated in other fields, that is exactly what happened. We created people with quick answers instead of humble searchers for God and truth, which never just falls into your lap, but is only given as a gift to those who really want it and desire it.

From A Teaching on Wondrous Encounters, by Richard Rohr, (webcast) (CD/DVD/MP3

Being With Each Other

He-man's brother passed from this life early Saturday morning.  He had endured a long-term illness, but developed a gall bladder infection that led to hospitalization then to surgery, then to life support, then to surrender.  

We will be traveling to Wyoming today to be with family and to attend the memorial service. We will be gone five or six days and I don't know when I will be able to publish a post.  If I get an opportunity to be in the vicinity of Wy Fy I will post something from the chilly northern state.  But if I don't, know that I will be back in full force soon with lots to report.

Love and Peace to you all. 

Yaya

Softly Sunday

The Greeks have given us one of the most beautiful words of our language: enthusiasm.  The word enthusiasm translates to "a God within."  Within you is an infinite passionate soul that wishes to express itself.  It's the God within you, urging you to fulfill a deep sense of what you were meant to be.  All of our acts are measured by the inspiration from which they originate.  When your acts display the faces of intention [creativity, kindness, love, beauty, expansion, abundance, receptivity], they spring from a God residing within you.  This is enthusiasm.  When you emulate the power of intention [love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control], this is where you'll feel the passion you were intended to feel and live.

- The Power of Intention pg. 125, by Dr. Wayne Dyer

Babysitting Safety

I babysat for my son and his wife on Thursday while they took in a matinee and early dinner.  I hadn't seen their children in a while so I was excited to spend time with them.  I took my babysitting essentials: knitting, camera with a fully charged battery, a bottle of water, a bag of pretzel rods and valentine candy for the little ones.  I like to take a special peace offering in exchange for the obnoxious amount of camera clicks they endure.

I was surprised to see Little Miss Boo solidly sitting.  She would bounce in one spot and then launch herself forward in pursuit of a toy or dog or stray crumb dropped from the path of a passing Tornado.

She smiled widely, showing me her big girl teeth.  I felt like she had grown months in a matter of weeks.  

She seemed so much older.  So when I gave her a pretzel rod to gnaw on, I thought she could handle it.

Handle it she did.  She slobbered it smooth until no salt remained and then she bit off a chunk that snapped me from behind my camera lens into baby sitter quick response mode.

She was not hurt but a bit miffed that I would not let her eat the piece I had to dig out of her mouth.  She wasn't keen on giving it up so I gave in and let her slobber on the pretzel rod a while longer before I took her to her highchair to indulge in some quick dissolving especially-made-for-baby snacks.

Once in her chair she was all smiles again and the pretzel was but a faint memory.

Meanwhile Tornado snuggled with his big sister on the sofa hoping to push a button or two on her ipod.

Dreamer was content to lay with Copper while watching a movie and munching on oreos.  Oh, how I love saying yes to snacks... since I spent so much of my time as a young mother saying no to the sweet, non-nourishing goodies.

Tornado sweet talked his way (yes, he is talking) into a chocolate treat which at least allowed me to snap off a few shots while he was sitting instead of swirling.

Pretty as a little girl, isn't he.  And he has the curls to support it!

Before I left I persuaded the two little ones to sit on the sofa together for a picture.  I shot these before anyone took a tumble or the doorbell rang or Copper barked to go outside.  A purely miraculous moment!

 

66. I am grateful for sweet things.

I hope this day is one of rest, recreation, and rejoicing.  I hope you allow yourself at least one sweet indulgence.  I hope you spend time with people who make you smile, and sing you songs, and slobber their sweet goodness all around.

Yaya

What A Blessing

Years ago I was married to Sunshine and Dreamers dad......Big B.  Our children spend time at their fathers house and time at JD's and my house.  We have all gotten used to the drill and the kids love to be able to spend special time with their father. It's great. 

As soon as the kids burst through the front door after a visit with dad they roll in there little suitcases and immediately tell us about their weekend. This past summer when the kids would come home from Big B's I noticed a little change in them. They were both full of stories, excitement and happiness. 

"Jennifer this and Jennifer that," was all I would hear. The whole time they were bouncing up and down I was praying inside. Praying that she was as awesome as they were telling us she was - praying that she would be easy to communicate with - praying that she would love my children as much as I do - praying that she would be there for them the way that Joe, Big B and I are.  I prayed that she would join our team of parenting and that we could all love the kids and watch them grow. THESE WERE MY PRAYERS, HOPES, DREAMS AND WISHES!!! 

Well, let me tell you, every prayer was answered. Words can't describe how awesome Jennifer is. She has three children of her own and they are beautiful. And now she has my two. I feel that she is more than just a part of our team......I feel that she truly loves Sunshine and Dreamer.  For that I am very grateful. 

Joe and I recently went on a trip to Las Vegas and missed Sunshine and Dreamer's first basketball game. Normally I would have been upset about missing it, but Jennifer videoed both games that JD and I watched when we returned home.  We got to watch them make there first baskets because someone who cared about them as much as I do was there to capture it on film.  

I realize what a blessing Jennifer is to our lives. We are all a family connected through Sunshine and Dreamer and its only getting better and better.  My children are fortunate to have two sets of loving parents.

If you are a blended family with children that go back and forth between homes, maybe they will come home one day bouncing with joy like mine did.  Maybe the new person in there life will not only be a blessing to them but to you as well. 

Have the best day!!!! 

 Tara

Playful Practice

I was asked to be the photographer at the conference I attended over the weekend.  On Monday when I plugged my SD card into my computer I had over 300 photos to view and edit.  Whew!  Surprised me because I really only used my camera on one of the three days.  

One of the many photo tips given to me when I first became interested in photography was, "Take lots and lots of pictures, because out of the one hundred shots you click there will probably be only twenty-five that will meet your standards."  That tip certainly proved itself true for me last weekend.  

I have spent the last three days filing through photos, adjusting, deleting, grouping and choosing those that I think should be given to the conference committee and dumping those that didn't make the grade.  It was a much bigger job than I ever expected.  

I am sharing some of my conference photos with you today.  Please don't judge me too harshly.  The shots were taken in indoor canned lighting which does little to enhance photo subjects.  And I am not experienced enough yet to adjust the manual settings on my camera at every new shot. 

65.  I am grateful for opportunities to practice.

I hope this Thursday offers you an opportunity to practice something you have been wanting to do better.  I hope you find time to play too.  I hope you enjoy both.

 Yaya

Wordy Wednesday

Before we get to Wordy Wednesday, I want to thank our readers for going with the flow of this blog over the last few days as I have posted late and pithy -- pressing a few keys here and there on my way out the door.  

The conference I attended was a life-changer that I am still processing and hope to post about in the coming weeks. 

The super bowl party we hosted was a total blast and the team I was rooting for won.  Yeah!! 

I continue to mourn the loss of the thousand of pictures I had tucked away to use on future blog posts.  I didn't realize how much my photos were connected to my blog writing until they disappeared.  I've been experiencing a bit of writer's block lately.  But as I am told, this too shall pass.  

Now let's check out the quote for Wordy Wednesday.

Today I have chosen a familiar quote from Mother Teresa.  I'm sure that many of you have heard it several times.  But today I am asking you to choose one stanza and focus on achieving what Mother Teresa encourages today.

64. I am grateful for patient readers.

I hope your Wednesday is a great place to pause in the middle of the week.  I hope you experience something or someone so special that the pleasure lasts for days.  I hope your day ends in perfect satisfaction and contented rest.

Yaya

Its the small stuff

I have a busy household. So busy that sometimes I think to myself, "HOW DID I GET EVERYTHING DONE?"  Everyday is different even though we try to follow a routine. 

I have learned to be very flexible......plans change fast.  JD can get called into the fire station for overtime or get a call to change someone's tire at any given moment. So my life is very busy and constantly changing.  But one thing remains the same...... the joy that my husband and children bring to my heart. Its the small stuff and lots of prayers that get me through my crazy, busy day. 

Here are a few....

• Joe telling me I'm beautiful when its the end of my day and all my makeup has rubbed off and I have spit up all over me

 

• Boo panting like a puppy

• Dreamer telling me that he has his whole life planned out, that he is moving to California and going to be a basketball star and have two children (he then starts to cry and tells me how much he will miss me)

• Tornado singing twinkle twinkle little star (tinkle tinkle is how he sings it)

• And last, but not least, watching Sunshine with little Tornado. She is amazing. 

 sorry, no matter what I tried, I could not get this picture to load at the right angle for viewing

What small stuff gets you through your day?

Have the best day!!!

Tara

Softly Sunday

Honor The Sabbath

We see in the Third Commandment a very basic understanding of the relationship between God and humanity.  The Hebrew's said that on the seventh day, the Sabbath, they would rest. Everything would stop.  "This is the day the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice in God and be glad," sings the psalmist.

The Lord says, "I have to teach these people that I'm their power, that I'm their lover, and that I'm their life.  So just one day a week, a seventh of your time, stop proving yourselves, stop achieving, stop accomplishing,  Stop doing anything that is task oriented.  Let me do the saving, the loving, the liberating."

That was the meaning of the sabbath rest: to wait upon the Lord, to rest in the Lord.  And in order to allow the Lord to prove himself, they would not sow their fields every seventh year.

We find out that it is not we who are doing the loving.  
Someone is loving through us.

Radical Grace, Daily Meditations, by Richard Rohr, pp.72

A January Sunset

While preparing dinner, I happened to glance out the kitchen window to see the sun moving below the trees.  I quickly lay aside my parring knife and grabbed my camera to try to capture the moment.  It was the last day of January.

I will be attending a three day conference on "Transforming Life's Traumas (Large and Small), with James Finley Ph. D..  

I have heard Dr. Finley once before and must tell you that I was not only moved by the sharing of his story and his work, but by being in his surrendered presence.  

My hope for this weekend is to be enlightened and realigned with my intention to be a healing presence in the world.

63. I am grateful for courageous teaching.

I hope your Saturday is food for your soul.  I hope you ponder your intentions.  I hope you are inspired, directed and supported by the courageous authenticity of another.

Yaya

What Season Is It, Anyway?

Yesterday was Ground Hog's Day.  I don't know if there are ground hogs in Oklahoma, but if there are, I am certain they saw their shadow more than once yesterday.  Good Grief!  They were probably sunbathing half the afternoon away. 

Up to this point, our Green-Country-Winter has felt more like Green-Country-Spring.  Sixty and Seventy degree days with only one light snow that lasted less than twenty-four hours.  I have watered the lawn and gardens nearly as much as I do in early Summer.  My plants are warmed by daily sunshine, dried by South winds and totally confused by both.

Although I appreciate not freezing when I go outside, I'm not entirely convinced that we could go through a Winter in Oklahoma without at least one big ice storm.  It's like it's too good odd to be true.  I find myself waiting for Mother Nature's to drop the bomb (or sleet, or snow or some form of frozen water).

I am wanting to protect the new life that is beginning to emerge under the fallen leaves that continue to blow into the flowers beds no matter how many times I clean them out.  I've been asking the little green sprigs to stay tucked under ground a bit longer.  But they are not listening!

I took a peek around my gardens yesterday and was surprised to discover many plants in the vibrant mode of green and growing - not resting under Winter's coat.

Purple Heart responding to the sun, like little birds reaching for their breakfast.

Red buds filling the branches of my rose bushes, thriving in the warmth of the day and the cool of the night.  They are eager to produce dark green leaves without the over-watering of Summer's humidity.

I am completely baffled.  Is this a sign of global warming?  Is this my paranora?  Or is it a gift to behold?  Maybe all of three.  Sounds strange to consider global warming a gift.  But sometimes gifts get our attention -- awaken us -- inspire us to act  (I don't know..... I'm just thinking).

All I know is I love all kinds of green growing things  ..... and yellow growing things  .....and red growing things .... and purple growing things .... and especially PINK growing things.

62. I am grateful for warm days, emerging life and the color pink.

I hope your Friday is a day of unexpected pleasure.  I hope you notice something emerging underneath what you thought was only wind-blown remains.  I hope you can allow it to grow as it will and find delight, or awakening, in it's gift.

Yaya

Where oh Where Has Yaya Gone?

Who is this person called Yaya?  She used to be the responsible, level headed, organized, save-for-a-rainy-day, everything must be perfect fanatic. 

Now she does impulsive things ------- like buy herself a pricey new camera lens.  

Oh my goodness!  What ever is to become of her?

I'm thinking she will continue to indulge herself from time to time.  Maybe even buy a third lens someday.  Who knows? Any thing's possible when guilt gets thrown aside.

**************

Now I didn't make the decision to purchase a super-duper zoom lens without first considering all my options.  

Option number One:

A baby growing at the speed of light with rounded cheeks and an even rounder middle.

Option Number Two

Soft long curls on a hard-rolling boy who one day may shave his head clean and stand taller than me.

Option Number Three:

A brown-eyed boy who is forever contemplating his next adventure, whether it be a buzz hair cut or a day spent on the road with grandpa.

Option Number Four:

A bundle of red curls, silly jokes, and happy smiles whose hugs are as sweet as his middle-child nature.

Option Number Five:

The first-born becoming an older, wiser sibling who continues to teach us how to live softly on this planet.

Option Number Six:

A smart and funny lad with dreams of becoming the new Michael Jordan and whose feet grow faster than his hair cut changes.

Option Number Seven:

A not so long ago little girl now turning toward adolescence and talking more and more of the things of teens.

Options Eight, Nine and Ten

Moments too far apart to capture every day in film, but capture them I must whenever we are together.

Option Number Eleven:

The anticipation of a grand daughter from China and all that should be documented at the receiving and rearing of such a gift.

Considering all my options it's quite possible that He-man and I could be attending...

•     76 Christmas programs
•     22+ Graduations
•     350+ Sporting events
•     30 Dance recitals
•     25+ Baptisms
•     20+ Weddings
•     10 Talent Shows
•     45 Gymnastic Meets
•     Countless Awards Ceremonies

According to my calculations a zoom lens is anything but a splurge.  It is an outright necessity!

61. I am grateful for the many avenues we have to share in each others lives

I hope your Thursday is preparing you for the weekend ahead.  I hope that you can do something for yourself without suffering any quilt.  I hope your options for joy are abundant.

Yaya