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Thursday of the Second week of Lent
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
2nd Sunday of Lent - Transfiguration
What a busy week it has been! We spent Friday with my parents and drove up to Mille Lac, which is north of the Twin Cities about 100 miles. We went in search of the albino deer that live in Father Hennepin State Park. We didn't see them while driving through the park but then went in search of a geocache and Bill and I actually saw 5-6 of them with the rest of the herd. It was pretty spectacular. The deer are very unusual and to see them was a thrill! We also saw sand hill cranes on the way up and a coyote running across Mille Lac on the way home. It was a lovely day to be out and to spend the day with Bill and my parents.
My Lenten goal was to spend thirty minutes a day in quiet time. I am glad perfection isn’t required because there are days it has worked and others where it has remained only a goal! I have read my daily books and maintained the Liturgy of Hours reading of the Office and morning prayer, as well as the daily Mass readings but it can be very challenging for me to set the time aside for the silence, especially when my husband is home. I will keep trying…
I love the readings for Mass today, especially the gospel reading of the transfiguration of Jesus. I read the Magnificat (a monthly publication with morning and evening prayer, the daily Mass readings and a short meditation reading) and I like the meditation today written by Pope Benedict XVI. It comes from his book, “Jesus of Nazareth”.
The meditation is called “Graces of the Transfiguration” and reads, “Once again, the mountain serves—as it did in the Sermon on the Mount and in the nights spent by Jesus in prayer—as the focus of God’s particular closeness…The mountain is the place of ascent—not only outward, but also inward ascent; it is a liberation from the burden of everyday life, a breathing in of the pure air of creation; it offers a view of the broad expanse of creation and its beauty; it gives one an inner peak to stand on an intuitive sense of the Creator...” There are several more paragraphs but I really like the metaphor of the mountain as the place of ascent.
Yesterday, Bill and I were geocaching in River Ralls, Wisconsin, climbing up this never-ending path, to try to reach our 800th geocache. While we were making the ascent—our boots and pant legs completely soaked from a day of trekking through snow and puddles, I happened to slip (not surprising because the path was super slick) and while I was pulling myself up, I noticed a moving shadow on the ground. I looked up to see a beautiful red-tailed hawk soaring above. I yelled to Bill to look up and we watched in silence for a few minutes as this hawk gracefully rode the thermals and soared over this “mountain”. I don’t know if I would have seen his shadow if I had not slipped and slowed down enough to notice the movement. We were focused on reaching this last cache so we could finish the day and in our haste, almost missed the beautiful hawk.
How often do I miss the things happening around me because I am so intent on “climbing the mountain” or reaching the milestone of the moment? A simple slip caused me to slow down and look up. I love red-tailed hawks and actually have one tattooed on my right shoulder (much to my husbands dismay!) J. I often spot them on the road or see them soaring.
About five years ago, after a particularly difficult night on call at the hospital as a chaplain intern, I was pacing in my Minneapolis city backyard at 8 am, talking to a friend and sobbing. I had spent the night with a young woman who had just died of ovarian cancer. I was really have a tough time dealing with all the emotions, both my own and watching her family—parents, husband and also the medical staff, suffer through this grueling death. I was telling my friend that I just didn’t understand why this stuff happens—when all of the sudden, a huge red-tailed hawk flew into my backyard and landed on the fence post, turned and just looked at me. I said to my friend, “Oh my God, there is a hawk in my city backyard—just looking at me.” I watched this hawk and felt it was a sign—some kind of comforting sign to me that all would be okay. We just don’t see too many hawks landing in the heart of a city yard, hanging out on a fence post with a sobbing semi-hysterical person pacing back and forth.
It was another reminder to stop, and like yesterday, just take a breath. As Pope Benedict XVI writes, “it is a liberation from the burden of everyday life, a breathing in of the pure air of creation; it offers a view of the broad expanse of creation and its beauty; it gives one an inner peak to stand on an intuitive sense of the Creator...”.
May this week provide opportunities for us all to stop and pay attention to our own inner ascent and breath in the pure air of creation.
Blissfully, Susan
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
The Season of Lent begins
Today is Ash Wednesday, the day when many in the Christian tradition remember that you are dust and from dust you will return. I love the season of Lent...of waiting, fasting, prayer, almsgiving - dying to some of my desires and waiting for God to be with me in the wilderness.
My desk is covered with a number of books related to Lent: "Biblical Meditations for Lent" by Carroll Stuhlmueller, "Woman, Why are you Weeping? Daily Meditations for Lent" by John Timmerman, "Life Conquers Death: Meditations of the Garden, the Cross and the Tree of Life" by John Arnold, "Lent and Easter with Mary" by Thomas J. Craughwell, "Days of Deepening Friendship for the Woman Who Wants Authentic Life with God" by Vinita Hampton Wright, and "Lent and Holy Week - Bridges to Contemplative Living with Thomas Merton" edited by Montaldo and Toth. I am a book junkie and LOVE reading about how other people walk their spiritual path. These are just the books sitting on my desk! I have often joked that I would spend every hour reading and studying if I could but alas, this is not the life I have chosen--or have been given--so I will do what I do, see where the Spirit moves me and walk daily with what seems to draw me.
As much as I love to read and study, I also know that listening is where I yearn to rest as well. For my Lenten practice, I will try to spend a half an hour in silence every day, listening and seeing where God is calling me --or as the Benedictines say, Listening with the ear of my heart.
Richard Rohr has a book called, "Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent" which has not yet come out in hard copy but I have uploaded it to my ipad. I receive a daily email from the Center for Action and Contemplation that contains daily meditations from Richard Rohr. Rohr is a Franciscan with the New Mexico Province, a retreat master, speaker and writer. He has written a number of books and I find that his writings inspire me to think outside of the box.
Today, in the readings for Ash Wednesday in "Wondrous Encounters" he reflects about desire, suggesting that "Today, you must pray for the desire to desire! Even if you do not feel it yet, ask for new and even unknown desires. For you will eventually get what you really desire! I promise you. It is the Holy Spirit doing the desiring at your deepest level. Therefore, you will get nothing less than what you really desire, and almost surely much more."
I believe this - Ignatius of Loyola tells us to seek our hearts desire but I often have trouble knowing what I desire. I can think of the cosmic desires for world peace, ending world hunger, etc., but on a personal level, I am not always sure. I am like a hummingbird zooming from thing to thing, resting a bit here and there! But to really stop and listen, listen with the ear of my heart to what I desire--this is tough.
So, for this Lenten season, I will sit and listen. Richard Rohr has a starter prayer which I think is perfect for me today: "God, give me the desire to desire what you want me to desire."
The journey begins...or continues...
Blissfully, Susan
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Marti Gras - Saint John of God
There are a number of things we celebrate today, the day before Lent begins. We have Marti Gras, which according to Wikipedia refers to events of the Carnival celebrations, beginning on or after Epiphany and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. Marti Gras is French for Fat Tuesday, referring to the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season, which begins tomorrow on Ash Wednesday.
Today is also the feast of Saint John of God who is the patron saint of firefighters, booksellers, printers, heart patients, hospitals, nurses and the sick. He was a rather impulsive child who left his family when he was eight upon hearing a visiting priest speak of adventures waiting with the new worlds opening up in 1503. He ran away from home with this priest and never saw his parents again but led a very interesting life--seeking adventures and always returning to God in some form or another. He was far from perfect and at one point, was committed to the Royal Hospital where he was confined to the mental hospital, enduring the treatment of the day which included being tied down and a daily whipping.
John of Avila came to visit him and told him his penance had gone on long enough--forty days, and had John of God moved to a different part of the hospital. He then began to minister to the other sick people and the hospital was not happy to have him released--but he felt called to begin his own hospital. He was loving to all, welcomed anyone in need and was a rare model of unconditional love for the needy.
One final story (which is sited on Catholic On-Line) - The Royal Hospital was on fire and upon hearing the fire bell, he ran to help, discovering people watching the hospital--and its patients--go up in flames! He rushed into the blazing building and brought out patients and when all were rescued, he began throwing blankets, sheets and mattresses from the windows. He fell through the burning roof and all thought they had lost their hero until John of God appeared miraculously out of smoke! For this reason, John of God is patron saint of the firefighters. He died on March 8, his fifty-fifth birthday, after catching pneumonia while trying to unsuccessfully save a drowning boy.
I really love the stories of the saints. I didn't know anything about Saint John of God before I checked the calendar today. I enjoy reading the stories of those who have gone before us and often find comfort learning about their various adventures and perils. Reading about the life of John of God makes me think of my work as a chaplain volunteer in the hospital.
Saint John of God began his own hospital so all would be able to access care and medical treatment. He did not about ones social status, means or character, which for this time in history, was very important. He reportedly said, when questioned about the character of one of his patients, that the only character worthy of being questioned was his own. He was clearly a very humble man as well. I wonder what he would do in our current insurance driven world?
Tomorrow Lent begins. As often as I wrestle with my faith and tradition--which happens on a regular basis--I am always comforted by the liturgical calendar. I LOVE Lent. I find comfort thinking about the time we spend in the desert, being drawn closer to God, regardless of our faith tradition. Today on Twitter there were a lot of people commenting on what they were giving up for Lent and I was intrigued to read the various tweets. Everything from soda (which for years has been on my list) to alcohol and sex! One of my favorites was the person who was giving up alcohol for Lent but giving up Lent on St Patrick's day--just for the day! Although there are years where I too have fasted from something, I feel like I am being called to a different understanding of Lent this year.
Rather than give up something, I am going to add something. When I think of Lent, I think of the time in the wilderness--time where we are drawn to the silence and a season of reflection. I remember writing a homily while at the seminary about being called to fast. I discovered that people were called to fast in anticipation that God would answer their prayer and needs. People fasted knowing God would be there and respond. With this in mind, I am going to fast in a different way and add time for silence to listen. My goal will be to spend a minimum of a half an hour listening--listening for the spirit and listening to where God is calling me in this season of my life.
I am such a "thinking" person, my strong ENTJ who loves to learn and process, so for me to spend time in silence just listening, really requires an intentional commitment. I am rather terrified at the thought of putting this in writing and am tempted to just resort to giving up diet soda, but frankly, I haven't been having soda on a regular basis and it would be much of a sacrifice!
So my lenten journey will be to listen, to anticipate that God will respond to my silence and be with me in my own wilderness experience. I will also follow a few Lenten medications and reflections--and now that my website appears to be up and running, I will try to blog on a regular basis, however often that turns out to be.
I am still discerning what Embracing Your Bliss will be and how it will evolve but in the mean time, Lent begins tomorrow! Blessings on your journey as we continue to explore the ABC's of Embracing Your Bliss: Awakening to the Spirit, Bringing Joy to Others and Creating from the Heart.
Blissfully, Susan
Today is also the feast of Saint John of God who is the patron saint of firefighters, booksellers, printers, heart patients, hospitals, nurses and the sick. He was a rather impulsive child who left his family when he was eight upon hearing a visiting priest speak of adventures waiting with the new worlds opening up in 1503. He ran away from home with this priest and never saw his parents again but led a very interesting life--seeking adventures and always returning to God in some form or another. He was far from perfect and at one point, was committed to the Royal Hospital where he was confined to the mental hospital, enduring the treatment of the day which included being tied down and a daily whipping.
John of Avila came to visit him and told him his penance had gone on long enough--forty days, and had John of God moved to a different part of the hospital. He then began to minister to the other sick people and the hospital was not happy to have him released--but he felt called to begin his own hospital. He was loving to all, welcomed anyone in need and was a rare model of unconditional love for the needy.
One final story (which is sited on Catholic On-Line) - The Royal Hospital was on fire and upon hearing the fire bell, he ran to help, discovering people watching the hospital--and its patients--go up in flames! He rushed into the blazing building and brought out patients and when all were rescued, he began throwing blankets, sheets and mattresses from the windows. He fell through the burning roof and all thought they had lost their hero until John of God appeared miraculously out of smoke! For this reason, John of God is patron saint of the firefighters. He died on March 8, his fifty-fifth birthday, after catching pneumonia while trying to unsuccessfully save a drowning boy.
I really love the stories of the saints. I didn't know anything about Saint John of God before I checked the calendar today. I enjoy reading the stories of those who have gone before us and often find comfort learning about their various adventures and perils. Reading about the life of John of God makes me think of my work as a chaplain volunteer in the hospital.
Saint John of God began his own hospital so all would be able to access care and medical treatment. He did not about ones social status, means or character, which for this time in history, was very important. He reportedly said, when questioned about the character of one of his patients, that the only character worthy of being questioned was his own. He was clearly a very humble man as well. I wonder what he would do in our current insurance driven world?
Tomorrow Lent begins. As often as I wrestle with my faith and tradition--which happens on a regular basis--I am always comforted by the liturgical calendar. I LOVE Lent. I find comfort thinking about the time we spend in the desert, being drawn closer to God, regardless of our faith tradition. Today on Twitter there were a lot of people commenting on what they were giving up for Lent and I was intrigued to read the various tweets. Everything from soda (which for years has been on my list) to alcohol and sex! One of my favorites was the person who was giving up alcohol for Lent but giving up Lent on St Patrick's day--just for the day! Although there are years where I too have fasted from something, I feel like I am being called to a different understanding of Lent this year.
Rather than give up something, I am going to add something. When I think of Lent, I think of the time in the wilderness--time where we are drawn to the silence and a season of reflection. I remember writing a homily while at the seminary about being called to fast. I discovered that people were called to fast in anticipation that God would answer their prayer and needs. People fasted knowing God would be there and respond. With this in mind, I am going to fast in a different way and add time for silence to listen. My goal will be to spend a minimum of a half an hour listening--listening for the spirit and listening to where God is calling me in this season of my life.
I am such a "thinking" person, my strong ENTJ who loves to learn and process, so for me to spend time in silence just listening, really requires an intentional commitment. I am rather terrified at the thought of putting this in writing and am tempted to just resort to giving up diet soda, but frankly, I haven't been having soda on a regular basis and it would be much of a sacrifice!
So my lenten journey will be to listen, to anticipate that God will respond to my silence and be with me in my own wilderness experience. I will also follow a few Lenten medications and reflections--and now that my website appears to be up and running, I will try to blog on a regular basis, however often that turns out to be.
I am still discerning what Embracing Your Bliss will be and how it will evolve but in the mean time, Lent begins tomorrow! Blessings on your journey as we continue to explore the ABC's of Embracing Your Bliss: Awakening to the Spirit, Bringing Joy to Others and Creating from the Heart.
Blissfully, Susan
Sunday, March 6, 2011
March!!
The month of March is finally here and I realize I have not been doing much on my blog! I posted a lengthy blog a few weeks ago about a woman and two babies I worked with at the hospital but then had to delete it because it may have been possible to identify her...and since that posting, I have been trying to ponder what I want this blog to represent. I find it really challenging to NOT post my work as a chaplain but also respect the HIPPA laws surrounding privacy...but what to do with the amazing stories and miracles I experience on a regular basis. I am not sure...
So, with that in mind, I am going to keep things short and wait to see what my website looks like in the coming weeks because the blog will be integrated right on the website--if that is how I even explain it!
I am excited to begin Lent this coming Wednesday and hope to have some regular postings once the website is complete.
In the mean time, enjoy the loving changes in the weather as we move toward spring and remember the ABC's--awaken the spirit, bring joy to others and create beautiful things!
So, with that in mind, I am going to keep things short and wait to see what my website looks like in the coming weeks because the blog will be integrated right on the website--if that is how I even explain it!
I am excited to begin Lent this coming Wednesday and hope to have some regular postings once the website is complete.
In the mean time, enjoy the loving changes in the weather as we move toward spring and remember the ABC's--awaken the spirit, bring joy to others and create beautiful things!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Sunday afternoon...
Rarely does a week pass by as fast as this past week seemed to go! It has been very cold here in wonderful Minnesota but the sun has been shining. I had plans to work on creating beautiful things on Friday but ended up dealing with house issues. We spent Saturday looking for eagles and enjoying the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, MN, and managed to get some great pics!
We really enjoyed seeing the eagles in the wild and in the National Eagle Center. Very beautiful and regal birds.
Today we had the typical turkeys in the yard but then I noticed this odd misfit off to the side and discovered it was a ringed neck pheasant! First one we have seen in our backyard.
I just LOVE seeing birds in our backyard, especially when they are unusual!
I have done a bit of art today, trying to keep the sketchbook challenge moving forward.
I really wanted to play with putting red and pink on the background of my sketchbook, wondered where it would lead. I had NO idea I would end up with Fly and Sing but so it goes! Fun to just be able to play with art and not have to have any scripted outcome.
Often it seems that the work we do, the conversations we have and even the simple little activities we engage in seem to have to lead to something greater - either a accomplished agenda or a yearned for prize or recognition. I am working to Embrace my Bliss--focusing on the ABC's - awakening my spirit, bringing joy to other and creating beautiful things. Some days it is really easy to feel like I have been intentional about the ABC's but other days, I feel out of touch!
I was "chaplaining" at the hospital on Thursday and met with three pregnant moms who are all on bed rest. I was really struck by the strength of these women. They are vastly different and yet each is finding their way to make peace with their lack of control in their circumstances.
One woman has a husband and three other children out of the country and yet she was quoting bible verses to me about how God doesn't give us more than we can handle and that along with the suffering, we are given the strength to endure.
Another woman was telling me how grateful she is for skype because she can say good night to her 18 month old who is 2 hours away with her husband. She was tearful as she described how hard it has been to spend the last 2 months away from her son and husband but knows their future depends on her ability to be in the hospital and "allow this baby to grow."
The third mom was a teen and was going outside for a cigarette when I stopped in her room. I asked if she or her boyfriend needed anything and they requested a King James bible. I was stunned! I don't get too many requests for a bible and certainly didn't expect these teenagers to want a King James version! The dad says he finds encouragement and strength in reading the bible and wasn't able to bring his to the hospital. Coincidently, one of the other mothers had an extra King James version which I gratefully passed on to the couple.
I once heard someone say that "coincidence" is when God decides to remain anonymous. Once again, the people I visited brought ME joy and for this, I am grateful.
On a different note, I am registered in the state of Minnesota to marry people. I have presided at one wedding for a couple 5 years ago in the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) who wanted to be married in the presence of their son who was not expected to live. I am happy to say that their son will turn 5 this spring! It was a lovely ceremony and the only marriage ever held in the NICU! I felt very honored to have presided at their marriage.
I was recently asked by a woman if I would marry her and her fiance. They are having a "destination wedding" out of the country but have found it too difficult to legally be married in that country so they want a simple ceremony here first. I met with the couple today at our house and will preside at their wedding ceremony on Tuesday, 1-11-2011. Pretty cool day to be married!
To see the hope and joy this couple expressed was inspirational! I was also struck by how different they are from Bill (my husband) and me who just married 11-04-10. Many of the details are so very different from us and yet the same commitments are made: to love and respect one another. I am honored to be presiding at their wedding this week. It is also my mothers 67th birthday and she is celebrating with my dad on a trip to Las Vegas!
I made her this card and gave it to her when we dropped them at the airport:
Torn paper, inked edges, stamping on a tag and a tied ribbon--a birthday card!
Wishing everyone a week of embracing your bliss! May you have time to awaken your spirit, bring joy to other and create beautiful things!
Susan, Blissfully!
We really enjoyed seeing the eagles in the wild and in the National Eagle Center. Very beautiful and regal birds.
Today we had the typical turkeys in the yard but then I noticed this odd misfit off to the side and discovered it was a ringed neck pheasant! First one we have seen in our backyard.
I just LOVE seeing birds in our backyard, especially when they are unusual!
I have done a bit of art today, trying to keep the sketchbook challenge moving forward.
I really wanted to play with putting red and pink on the background of my sketchbook, wondered where it would lead. I had NO idea I would end up with Fly and Sing but so it goes! Fun to just be able to play with art and not have to have any scripted outcome.
Often it seems that the work we do, the conversations we have and even the simple little activities we engage in seem to have to lead to something greater - either a accomplished agenda or a yearned for prize or recognition. I am working to Embrace my Bliss--focusing on the ABC's - awakening my spirit, bringing joy to other and creating beautiful things. Some days it is really easy to feel like I have been intentional about the ABC's but other days, I feel out of touch!
I was "chaplaining" at the hospital on Thursday and met with three pregnant moms who are all on bed rest. I was really struck by the strength of these women. They are vastly different and yet each is finding their way to make peace with their lack of control in their circumstances.
One woman has a husband and three other children out of the country and yet she was quoting bible verses to me about how God doesn't give us more than we can handle and that along with the suffering, we are given the strength to endure.
Another woman was telling me how grateful she is for skype because she can say good night to her 18 month old who is 2 hours away with her husband. She was tearful as she described how hard it has been to spend the last 2 months away from her son and husband but knows their future depends on her ability to be in the hospital and "allow this baby to grow."
The third mom was a teen and was going outside for a cigarette when I stopped in her room. I asked if she or her boyfriend needed anything and they requested a King James bible. I was stunned! I don't get too many requests for a bible and certainly didn't expect these teenagers to want a King James version! The dad says he finds encouragement and strength in reading the bible and wasn't able to bring his to the hospital. Coincidently, one of the other mothers had an extra King James version which I gratefully passed on to the couple.
I once heard someone say that "coincidence" is when God decides to remain anonymous. Once again, the people I visited brought ME joy and for this, I am grateful.
On a different note, I am registered in the state of Minnesota to marry people. I have presided at one wedding for a couple 5 years ago in the neo-natal intensive care unit (NICU) who wanted to be married in the presence of their son who was not expected to live. I am happy to say that their son will turn 5 this spring! It was a lovely ceremony and the only marriage ever held in the NICU! I felt very honored to have presided at their marriage.
I was recently asked by a woman if I would marry her and her fiance. They are having a "destination wedding" out of the country but have found it too difficult to legally be married in that country so they want a simple ceremony here first. I met with the couple today at our house and will preside at their wedding ceremony on Tuesday, 1-11-2011. Pretty cool day to be married!
To see the hope and joy this couple expressed was inspirational! I was also struck by how different they are from Bill (my husband) and me who just married 11-04-10. Many of the details are so very different from us and yet the same commitments are made: to love and respect one another. I am honored to be presiding at their wedding this week. It is also my mothers 67th birthday and she is celebrating with my dad on a trip to Las Vegas!
I made her this card and gave it to her when we dropped them at the airport:
Torn paper, inked edges, stamping on a tag and a tied ribbon--a birthday card!
Wishing everyone a week of embracing your bliss! May you have time to awaken your spirit, bring joy to other and create beautiful things!
Susan, Blissfully!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
More Art stuff...
I decided to add a couple of the sketchbook challenge pages I made yesterday.
I have been reading about the Noodler ink that is bulletproof, meaning you can paint and such over it and it won't bleed. I am falling in love with my fountain pens and inks! I just started with a circle and added whatever came to me, various doodles and such. Randomly added acrylic colors and viola! My little mandala. I know there are guidelines for mandalas and this may not fit the bill, but it sure was fun making this and using all the great acrylic colors. I am wondering why I waited until age 46 to try acrylic paints?? They are really easy to use.
I also added a page with a photo:
DH Bill and I were down at the Mississippi River last week and we were engulfed by all this snowy mist. It was pretty amazing actually. He took this pic of me sitting on a bench looking over the River--which you can't see because it is so misty snowy. We also did a video where I stood in one place and turned 360, you could not even see beyond a couple feet. It was pretty magical actually. We did manage to see a few bald eagles when the mist cleared for a couple minutes and then poof! They were invisible again. We have some awesome photos from this day and I will post more of them in my flickr album but I wanted to add this pic to my sketchbook because it reminds me of serenity. Peaceful even though I can't see very far and yet "warmed" by the sun (of course this day was probably 5 degrees so warm is relative here but the concept is good!).
Happy Tuesday everyone!
I hope you have a day filled with awakening your spirit, bringing joy to other and creating beautiful things!
Susan, Blissfully!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Glitter is Glam Challenge in the Moxie Fab World
I have fallen in love with boxes! I saw the posting for the Glitter is Glam Challenge and thought about fairies! I glitter embossed the top of this box, punched the edges with a Martha Stewart punch, added an edge of ribbon with glitter, embossed the die cut starts and embossed the fairy stamp with gold glitter. I thought it would make a great tooth fairy box or a make a wish box! I haven't seen any boxes entered for this challenge --but I am new and just thought it would be fun to play with glitter.
Susan, Blissfully!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year~
The time seems to be flying by these last days of the year! Here we are at January 1 and it seems like it was just Christmas. We took down our decorations today and the house looks so different without all the lights and holiday stuff! Feels like it is back to simplicity.
I am busy getting my Embracing Your Bliss business details put together, working to finalize a logo, ordering business cards and preparing for the website to launch. Very exciting to see it begin to come together. I have also decided to participate in the Sketchbook Challenge! The badge is on my blog.
I am sitting in my studio typing this entry and just looked out to see a beautiful bald eagle soaring through the back yard. I am a bird nut and it is so rewarding to be able to see all kinds of birds right through the window in my room! There is nothing as majestic as a lovely bald eagle gracefully passing by. Wow...I also watched this solitary turkey hang around our feeders today. Typically there are 15, 12 females and 3 males but today, there was 1 all alone. I wondered where the rest of the flock was? Did she just need some time alone? Was she cast out by the others? Did she get lost? I will never know but I enjoyed watching her strut around peacefully. Often the turkeys are scurrying around trying to get the piece of corn before the others but this lone turkey moved with grace and peaceful often missing with the rest of the brood. Maybe she is a good model for the coming year...Here is her pic:
As I thought about this post, I was wondering what I have done this last week to move forward the ABC's of Embracing Your Bliss: Awakening your spirit, Bringing joy to others and Creating beautiful things. It often seems easiest to find examples of Creating beautiful things!
I took a making Vintage Valentine cards class this week at our local scrapbook store, Archivers. We made four cards and it was really fun to learn new techniques and to get new ideas! I have been away from scrapbooking and paper crafts for the last 5 years and am just overwhelmed at the amount of new techniques that have emerged! Here are the cards:
The sketchbook challenge involved getting a new journal and decorating the cover so I created a new sketchbook cover for the challenge:
I was also playing around with acrylics paints for the first time and decided to experiment on the first pages of my sketchbook. I took a lovely card that my daughter Charlee gave me for Christmas, attached it with Golden polymer to the page and then mirrored the drawing she did with acrylics. It was really fun to use this medium and to see how they worked. I have only worked with watercolors in the past so this was a new adventure for me but I am glad to have preserved this lovely card she gave me. I also did a more typical Susan journal page talking about Christmas, the new traditions we were creating - using a bit of torn paper, embossed rubber stamps and some inking of the edges of torn paper. What I realized is that I need to have two journals! I have been avid journal writer since my early teens and the purpose of a sketchbook journal feels different than my typical rant and review feelings journal! So I opted to buy a simple clairefontaine lined journal! I also bought my first fountain pen, a lamy. Boy did I have fun picking out various Noodler inks, learning how to change the ink cartridges and use the convertors. I had no idea that there was a whole fountain pen using community out there! Amazing.
This is also a time of year when I spend thinking about my spirit and what I want the next year to look like for me. In all honestly, 2010 was a very tough year for me. A lot of loss and even though I got married and had a lovely honeymoon, there were huge disappointments in my family and work world--and my community of faith. So as I look to this new year, I can't help but wonder where I am being lead and what the universe has in store for me. Joseph Campbell has a great quote about bliss. He wrote, "Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls." I have seen and run in to a lot of walls in 2010 and I welcome new doors opening! Embracing Your Bliss is the beginning of a new journey for me and I look forward to opening more doors in the coming year!
Bringing joy to others! This can sometimes be the most challenging of the ABC's for me. I try to do things on a daily basis, sometimes as simple as making sure my husband's towel is on the sink so he doesn't have to reach across the bathroom when he finishes his shower--to the volunteer chaplain work that I do in the neo-natal intensive care unit at one of the local hospitals. Last week I had a chance to meet this young couple who had a baby with some genetic anomalies (gentler way of saying defects). This couple was so grateful to be sharing time with their baby. They are in their teens and to look at them from the outside without any data, one could really think they "have some issues" but in fact, I felt so blessed to spend a few minutes watching them love their baby. They asked if we could pray for her surgery the next day, asked to pray to be good parents and went on to tell me how excited and grateful they were to have this child. I was deeply touched at their sincerity and amazed at the maturity they displayed in dealing with a very difficult situation. Often I find in my chaplain work that it is not me who brings joy but rather the people bring ME joy. This couple was truly a gift of love and joy!
So the new year begins - and it is my heartfelt intention to really work to Embrace my bliss this year by focusing on the ABC's - awakening my spirit, bringing joy to others and creating beautiful things!
Blessings on your new year and I hope you journey with me--Embracing Your Bliss!
Susan, Blissfully!
I am busy getting my Embracing Your Bliss business details put together, working to finalize a logo, ordering business cards and preparing for the website to launch. Very exciting to see it begin to come together. I have also decided to participate in the Sketchbook Challenge! The badge is on my blog.
I am sitting in my studio typing this entry and just looked out to see a beautiful bald eagle soaring through the back yard. I am a bird nut and it is so rewarding to be able to see all kinds of birds right through the window in my room! There is nothing as majestic as a lovely bald eagle gracefully passing by. Wow...I also watched this solitary turkey hang around our feeders today. Typically there are 15, 12 females and 3 males but today, there was 1 all alone. I wondered where the rest of the flock was? Did she just need some time alone? Was she cast out by the others? Did she get lost? I will never know but I enjoyed watching her strut around peacefully. Often the turkeys are scurrying around trying to get the piece of corn before the others but this lone turkey moved with grace and peaceful often missing with the rest of the brood. Maybe she is a good model for the coming year...Here is her pic:
As I thought about this post, I was wondering what I have done this last week to move forward the ABC's of Embracing Your Bliss: Awakening your spirit, Bringing joy to others and Creating beautiful things. It often seems easiest to find examples of Creating beautiful things!
I took a making Vintage Valentine cards class this week at our local scrapbook store, Archivers. We made four cards and it was really fun to learn new techniques and to get new ideas! I have been away from scrapbooking and paper crafts for the last 5 years and am just overwhelmed at the amount of new techniques that have emerged! Here are the cards:
I was also playing around with acrylics paints for the first time and decided to experiment on the first pages of my sketchbook. I took a lovely card that my daughter Charlee gave me for Christmas, attached it with Golden polymer to the page and then mirrored the drawing she did with acrylics. It was really fun to use this medium and to see how they worked. I have only worked with watercolors in the past so this was a new adventure for me but I am glad to have preserved this lovely card she gave me. I also did a more typical Susan journal page talking about Christmas, the new traditions we were creating - using a bit of torn paper, embossed rubber stamps and some inking of the edges of torn paper. What I realized is that I need to have two journals! I have been avid journal writer since my early teens and the purpose of a sketchbook journal feels different than my typical rant and review feelings journal! So I opted to buy a simple clairefontaine lined journal! I also bought my first fountain pen, a lamy. Boy did I have fun picking out various Noodler inks, learning how to change the ink cartridges and use the convertors. I had no idea that there was a whole fountain pen using community out there! Amazing.
This is also a time of year when I spend thinking about my spirit and what I want the next year to look like for me. In all honestly, 2010 was a very tough year for me. A lot of loss and even though I got married and had a lovely honeymoon, there were huge disappointments in my family and work world--and my community of faith. So as I look to this new year, I can't help but wonder where I am being lead and what the universe has in store for me. Joseph Campbell has a great quote about bliss. He wrote, "Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls." I have seen and run in to a lot of walls in 2010 and I welcome new doors opening! Embracing Your Bliss is the beginning of a new journey for me and I look forward to opening more doors in the coming year!
Bringing joy to others! This can sometimes be the most challenging of the ABC's for me. I try to do things on a daily basis, sometimes as simple as making sure my husband's towel is on the sink so he doesn't have to reach across the bathroom when he finishes his shower--to the volunteer chaplain work that I do in the neo-natal intensive care unit at one of the local hospitals. Last week I had a chance to meet this young couple who had a baby with some genetic anomalies (gentler way of saying defects). This couple was so grateful to be sharing time with their baby. They are in their teens and to look at them from the outside without any data, one could really think they "have some issues" but in fact, I felt so blessed to spend a few minutes watching them love their baby. They asked if we could pray for her surgery the next day, asked to pray to be good parents and went on to tell me how excited and grateful they were to have this child. I was deeply touched at their sincerity and amazed at the maturity they displayed in dealing with a very difficult situation. Often I find in my chaplain work that it is not me who brings joy but rather the people bring ME joy. This couple was truly a gift of love and joy!
So the new year begins - and it is my heartfelt intention to really work to Embrace my bliss this year by focusing on the ABC's - awakening my spirit, bringing joy to others and creating beautiful things!
Blessings on your new year and I hope you journey with me--Embracing Your Bliss!
Susan, Blissfully!
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