The Cusp of a New Year

Teetering on the edge of a year, 
on the end of another 365 days, 
a brisk glance back brings a few thoughts to mind;
some are simply musings.
Others, really essential.

1. It’s beneficial to record a list of the Books I’v read. For one thing, I surprised myself by the shear number of titles that I’v poured through this past year. 34 books, from several genres, on multiple topics, with faith, art, writing, and strong female characters being predominant themes across nonfiction and literature. Another benefit of the list are the cues offered in remembering titles and content, not to mention insight as to the ebb and flow of my interests, and finally, it makes recommending books easier. 
2. Fiction that taught me the most: Orphan Train and The Invention of Wings.
3. Memoir that made the most indelible impression: Lit by Mary Karr and The Sacred Journey by Buechner.
4. Writers greatly entertain me when they write about writing, such as The Memoir Project by Marion Smith and Pat Conroy’s, My Reading Life.  
5. Talking to my Pastor is something I’ll do more often. Especially when a well known, highly respected, Bible curriculum writer puts forth an interpretation that resonates badly with one’s heart. A good conversation on theology with a compassionate and learned pastor is enlightening, not to mention, good for the soul.
6. Being the Nana of 4 year old  twins is even better than being the Nana of three year old twins. Four year olds send you a hand signed Christmas card. Four year olds remember those swimming lessons that you and grandpa took them to. Four year olds ask their mother if they can call Nana (well, of course!). Four year olds ask “Can we make muffins?” and “What project did you bring for us to do together?”. 
7. Reflections are a second chance to see the wonder. I have taken to noticing the myriad of images that are reflected in our immediate environment. I wrote about it over here. It’s magical to consider the optical science at work in this often missed mirrored world that we pass through every day. It has become one more of those spiritual practices that I weave into my living in order to attend more closely to God’s complexity and awe.
8. Have no doubt. In the midst of wrapping worry around the world’s ongoing traumas and raging atrocities, I wrote here about those three words that rose to my attention last summer. Three words that remain bold within my heart, a bold proclamation of God’s Time regardless of what new year may be marked by mankind.
9. Time is rolling waves of blessed potential. Truly. Capture its gift with hungry hearts. This post last December recalled the words from the 90th Psalm. 
10. The New Year bells come faster across a lifetime; ringing out that snowy year in the seventies just old enough for the first toast with champagne, ringing out in ’81 with a newborn at my breast, ringing out in ’97 newly remarried walking home in the starlight and glitter of softly falling snow, ringing out in 2010 grateful for husband's restored health and the birth of infant grandsons, ...and here they are again, ringing out in 2014. 
11. God's blessings are abundant. Every season, every year. More on abundance over here. With vigilance the reward is sacred. Warm your soul in the abundance of God's grace this year and every year!

Linking with others pondering the New Year over at Emily's blog. Join us.
 We would be please to have you stop by!

Beaches

I linger over a photo of our precious little grandsons; 
standing side by side on the pristine beach, gingerly venturing out into the foaming surf, thrilled by the cold blue waves and the tickle of Gulf shore sand washing against their feet. 

In the way that thoughts wander, 
in my mind’s eye 
I travel across that same blue sea stretching vast across the planet 
to the Mediterranean shores where it is not safe for other little children to play. 
Places where wars rage.

Then I imagine being able to visually draw back from these beaches just as the satellites do; taking in more and more land mass until its the large curving surface of our living planet that is seen spinning endlessly beneath its cameras.

On that ever rotating mass of miraculous alchemy of water and earth 
there are billions of life incidents occurring. 
Billions of human actions taking place. Billions of actions enacted with mercy and compassion. 
And then there are the others. 

In seeking God’s peace
the response seemed to be, 
"Have no doubt."
All of it is enacted under the gaze of our Holy Creator God. 
And all of it will be redeemed by His incomprehensible power, 
in His good time.

"From heaven the Lord looks down

and sees all mankind;

from His dwelling place he watches

all who live on Earth –

he who forms the hearts of all,

who considers everything they do."

Psalm 33:13-15

                                                         ~

Linking with Emily, click here at Chatting At the Sky as we bloggers gather to muse over what we learned this summer and with Still Saturday where the gifts of Sabbath thoughts are shared.

April's Tender Spring

{Joining the online writers community at Chatting at the Sky in sharing the interesting, the joyful, the curious that flows through the course of daily life.}

April’s spring is a tender time of pale green feathering at the edges of every branch and spreading wide across warming lawns. Courageous color bursts from blooms of bulbs and tree limbs encouraging the winter weary hearts of we humans who long for the promise of more beauty to come. It's no surprise that April hosts Earth Day, or that it's the perfect season to celebrate Poetry Month. 

Do you marvel at the artistic displays seen at the Anthropologie stores? I do. Love them! Interestingly you can view a video of how one of the teams designed a display for April by visiting the Anthropologie blog post for their Earth Day window display. A creative tribute to the metamorphosis and migration of the Monarch Butterfly.Way fun for the artist in all of us!


Sabbath rest, so elusive, so essential. 
In my reading this month I learned that planning ahead to insure that the Sabbath day is a clean slate makes it more likely that it will be experienced  in ways that are restoring to you. I also learned to view the day as a celebration, as a day of activities that are out of the ordinary and therefore reviving and festive in nature. I was introduced to these key steps and others, for how to attain the restoring balm of a Sabbath retreat from writer Shelly Miller.

April is Poetry Month. 
Seth Haines writes poignantly about the power of poetry, about how it's unique elements speak to the soul of the human condition. And then there was this student's response to a writing test prompt. Clearly this young writer, a very reluctant poet, had poetry in his literate world, either through song, scripture, and oral story reading. He has internalized form, cadence, rhyme, and similes through the osmosis of being exposed to literature. Even if he hates it he has learned and retained its elements in long term memory. Which is the power of being read to and the expectation of well designed language arts education. He has no idea how his tastes may change in the decades ahead. Finally, among the favorite poems that I read this  month is the one below, written by Jane Kenyon:

Otherwise

I got out of bed

on two strong legs.

It might have been

otherwise. I ate

cereal, sweet

milk, ripe, flawless

peach. It might

have been otherwise.

I took the dog uphill

to the birch wood.

All morning I did

the work I love.

At noon I lay down

with my mate. It might

have been otherwise.

We ate dinner together

at a table with silver

candlesticks. It might

have been otherwise.

I slept in a bed

in a room with paintings

on the walls, and

planned another day

just like this day.

But one day, I know,

it will be otherwise. 

-By Jane Kenyon

During this season's Sabbath Sundays I'm tenderly mindful of April's celebrations of Easter blessings, Earth's spring splendor, and the beautiful words woven by the human hearts.

                           

        

A Passion for Words

{This post is linked to Emily Freeman at Chatting at the Sky. 

I don't examine too closely why a bunch of really talented women enjoy 'chatting up' about what we learned each month. 

I'll will say, reading what these women have learned goes really well with a cup of coffee and cookies. Join us at Chatting at the Sky.}

Lists catch my eye.

Word lists prompt my curiosity.

Naturally, when I came across 100 words Every High School Graduate Should Know 
my interest was peeked and then...
my pride was irked. 

I'm a reader, a word collector, and a writer; 
and yet, there are words on this list I. did. not. know. 

Working on that! 

~

Words like "just" and "thing" 
don't serve me well.

I've always been conscious of how our choice of words affect those whom we are speaking too. 
As an educator, my word choice was paramount to the learner's attention, understanding, and ultimate success. 
As a mentor to other women, being clear, maintaining the roll of faciiltator, the importance remains. 
As an artist engaging in self-talk it continues to have a personal impact. 

Writer, Emily Freeman, urges readers to be sensitive to the dismissive connotations of the words "just" and "thing"; I just facilitate the Bible study class or I devote time to a volunteer thing. 
I'm learning to give the respect due to myself or another by dropping words that demean, dismiss, and negatively frame the subject of being discussed.

~

Now that you understand my thinking about words it wont come as a surprise that the term intertextuality hooked my attention. As described by the post at The Write Practice:

 "Intertextuality denotes the way in which texts (any text, not just literature) gain meaning through their referencing or evocation of other texts." 

It's obvious how that is related to the general topic of words and all the other reading a person has ever done, right. Fellow readers out there, it's like gourmet menu when a good read references another good read, and your brain is thrilled by the gymnastics of the domino like, cerebral connections!

~

Lastly, can I state for the record that I prefer  real, hard copy dictionaries. 

I relish every word preceding the one I'm looking up and every word that follows it. Then of course, one could get distracted and end up chasing down a few other words... 

just since you're there.

Lisa

September Learning

September, a month traditionally associated with learning, did not disappoint.

School agers, educators, grad students, continuing ed adults, ballet, piano, even fall Bible study classes; nation wide, students of every phase and form, returned to endeavors of gathering knowledge. 

And then there are also those life long pursuits of deeper understanding and those serendipitous new ahas! that spark our daily lives.

Hence, this community of writers gathers over at Chatting at the Sky to rattle off what we’ve learned, some pearls of wisdom, or just plain whimsy that tickled our brains this month. Below, my notes on new wisdom and whimsy...

THE WISDOM:

I watched...

Seriously, with great admiration and learned the magnitude of courage, sacrifice, intellectual warfare, and God sustained determination that accompanied President LINCOLN’s passage of the thirteenth amendment that abolished slavery in our nation. I know this stunning movie  debuted last fall but its bound to be a classic worthy of every American’s attention.

I studied...

GIDEON, a moving Bible study that portrays human weakness as key designed to open something God has in mind specifically for you. Our weakness is meant to unleash the strength of God in our lives. Our weakness is the key God uses to unlock the door to His power. Gideon is written by Priscilla Shirer.

I read...

“...that when you pray, you are not starting the conversation from scratch, just remembering to plug back into a conversation that’s always in progress.” Anne Lamott, 

THE WHIMSY:

Husband taught me...

about Any List an app on our phones that allows us to share our grocery list. So honey does this mean you’re going to the grocery store?

Finally found the answer to...

Why God Made a Dog I promise, these photos and poem will make you smile.

And...
there was surprising personal learning that burst all around me during recent travels, and there was learning offered humbly through the stories of people whom I’m in prayer with, and there is learning that falls like rain as I walk in the morning.

This learning thing, its really very closely aligned with blessings. There is SO MUCH that comes our way that shapes our character, corrects our narrowness, expands our horizons, clarifies our insight; all that certainly qualifies as God’s good grace and blessing.
                                                              ~

Are curious about previous LEARNING posts? Just for grins here's the lists for July and August.

Summer's End, August Learning

August, its a milestone month. 

The final warmth of summer in some regions; 

the final weeks of vacation too. 

The last vestiges of free schedules, sandals, lingering morning coffee by the pool. 

Even we bloggers feel the shift in season and time as the writing glances back at summer's inspiration before stepping into themes for the season ahead. 

In that over-my-shoulder glance, I've noted some things I've learned  like...

Bold summer nail color is way fun... 
(specifically Unfor-greta-bly Blue from OPI)

... then I can link up with Chatting at the Sky 
'cause the community over there likes to share these things.

Things I Learned This Month ~

Gutsy female characters catch my attention every time...
Reading Geraldine Brooks' Caleb's Crossing, a  gorgeous and captivating historical story of a brilliant heroine, Bethia in 17th century Pilgrim New England. I totally curled up for the entire weekend to read this exquisitely written book straight through, that kind of good! Learned a lot, such as: Harvard, the new world's first university in 1650 had an original charter that describes its missions as "the education of the English and Indian youth of this country". Much food for thought in this riveting portrayal [in part] of 17th century education; who gets it, who doesn't, and to what ends.


Repurposed architecture fascinates me...
Fabulous new library rises from the bones of an abandoned Walmart. What do you think of that?


Still have a fascination with words...
Just let this one spill from your tongue, quotidian.  
A mere four syllables, but don't they sound like you must have some intellectual moxie?
Here's the irony. The word means "occurring every day; belonging to the every day; commonplace, ordinary. To my mind, so not ordinary.
Then I read Kathleen Norris' discussion of the "everyday" and this makes it all better:

It is a paradox of human life that in worship...it is in the routine and the everyday that we find the possibilities for the greatest transformation...what we dread as mindless activity can free us, mind and heart, for the workings of the Holy Spirit...  The Quotidian Mysteries, p.82

It appears that I'm officially an introvert...
Susan Cain's bestseller Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking...well it just rings true. And I'm humbled to join the good company of fellow introverts like Eleanor Roosevelt, Madeleine L'Engle, and Rosa Parks. And then the Huffington Post ran an article with this list. So really, I feel better about the strengths that folks like me bring to humanity, such as, in the hunter -gather era, being "geared to inspect" we were more likely to do surveillance, scan the field under cover while the extroverts brashly stepped out in the open, serving themselves up to predators. Thus the introvert's skills of keen observation and data gathering have survived evolution. Something empowering about that.

I love lively, dynamic conversations...
We met for coffee and more than an hour went by as we wildly gestured and parlayed back and forth probably running off more than one adjacent java soul. I'm still an introvert.

How to create Art from Words ...
This nifty site helps you create art work gifts from any collection of words that you like. There are dozens of applications. The one I have seen is a beautiful pastel handprint created from all the names of the staff at our church preschool and given to them as a Back to School gift. Delightful.

A new recipe... 
CLEAN {healthy} Prosciutto Chicken. Easy, fast, low fat, yummy...I'm in. 

September looms with all its seasonal tradition and glory! 

Really hope Emily continues this link up next month. 

Fall has such possibilities! 

Blessings,

Lisa

Curious about other posts in this Link UP? 

Here's the JUNE and JULY lists.

The Din of Chatter: Tell What You Learned

Coffee is brewed. The cup warm and swirled with vanilla creamer. 
Settled in the favorite wingback to join Emily's readers at Chatting at the Sky. 
Thanks to Emily for this midsummer link up to share what's up with her readers. 
And did you read last month's posts?I mean these women were talking. 
Everything form savvy techno pointers [lots of that], to the best books/films/music, and [always a favorite] tips on the best chocolate.
If we had been in a Fellowship Hall [because we're church women you see],
the din of chatter would have been heard all the way up the stairs to the chapel doors! 

Wondering what these women will come up this month?

Not to be left out, here's a bit of 
what I've learned in the last 30 days...

Risk and nervy ideas can pay off...

Decided to display one of my paintings in a local arts cafe. 
Great surprise, it sold! That's a first.


Solid wisdom gained ...
from Christian Songwriter/Singer Jason Grey's blog post about a father's intention to "foster kindness, grace, and intimacy in our home", not to mention how  Jason's music makes me sing at the top of my lungs!

Infant elephants play in the summer rain...
My southwest region has been deluged with rain that we NEVER get in July. So this bit of trivia was new on many levels. Ten day old (yet to be named) baby elephant at the Ft. Worth Zoo toddles about, gingerly experiencing rain for the first time; slips, slides, hunkers down under mama...too cute.


Even the well known list their learning...
Kathleen Norris writes in Amazing Grace, "..I have learned two things about my religious quest: First of all, that it is God who is seeking me, and who has myriad ways of finding me. Second, that my most substantial changes, in terms of religious conversion, come through other people." Still reading this book; absorbing the tangibly authentic, real living perspective that Norris portrays in a discussion of lofty, often difficult to grasp Christian concepts.

Daring Greatly author, Brene' Brown lists "the three lessons I learned about joy and light from people who have spent time in sorrow and darkness: 
1. Joy comes in ordinary moments. 2. Be grateful for what you have. 3. Don't squander joy. There's a mountain of wisdom to learn from this woman's research (!) ...the least of which, but oh so affirming,  in the last chapter, her family is typically late to church too.

New to me vocalist ...
Leigh Nash and her CD Hymns & Sacred Songs came to me as a gift. A gift I'm grateful for over and over as the lilting notes of her unique voice fill my ears with words of praise.



Fresh is best...
Real, juicy orange sections in my favorite summer salad is so much more flavorful than that from a can, makes the taste burst with the heightened sweet and tangy contrast to my honey-apple cider dressing.


CREATIVITY rises from unexpected places...
A children's orchestra rises from the slums. WATCH this, it will warm your heart!

Poetry preaches and heals...
and sounds very much like the Lord's redeeming hand .

"...sometimes

with the bones of the black sticks

left when the fire has gone out

someone

has written something new in the ashes of your life.

You are not leaving.

Even as the light fades now,

You are arriving."

Taken from "The Journey" by David White

Of course there was so much more. Not for public lists, no. But learning that stretched the heart, challenged the mind, strengthened faith... so much to learn from the opportunities offered everyday.

A Gathering of June Learning

June Gerber Daisy love!

Say!

I’m tickled pink about his linkup with Emily and the readers at Chatting at the Sky to share what we learned in June 'cause sharing with these women is like the highly energized "Ladies Coffee" events in small town churches everywhere. You know, real coffee urns, floral centerpieces, and a hive of women buzzing in conversation fueled by platters of lemon bars, apple coffee cake, and the best home made cookies.  My own June was fast paced, chocked full with a visit by toddler grandsons, belly laughing gatherings with good friends, and the best porch sitting weather of the year. Those thoughts are scribbled below.

So I'v got the favorite mug steaming with vanilla soy creamer enhanced Hazelnut decaf right here next to the keyboard. Ready for those Christian sisters to tell us what's what about June 2013.

Non Fiction Read: 

How God Changes Your Brain by A. Newberg. Fascinating report on neural research within the context of religious practices. “...when you see God as a benevolent force... the anterior cingulate within the prefrontal cortex is activated...[which] suppresses the impulse to get angry or frightened..and generates empathy towards others who are suffering or hurt.” pg.111. My margin notes are over the top. Amazing possibilities.

Hilarious Game App:

Remember “Heads Up”. Well play it with a new iTunes phone app. Laughter exhausted me when we played this charades/gestures take off one evening recently. Truly. It was hysterical!

Summer Fascination:

Fire Flies aka Lightening Bugs. I was spellbound by the late evening display of these critters under a small grove behind our home... just sit in the grass and witness the magic.

Cinema Cravings:

Visual people like me, we hunger for those gorgeous screen sets, lush locales, and exquisite cinematography. Renoir offered both, as well as thought provoking historical issues and social themes related to the pursuit of beauty and genius despite the suffering it costs.  

On the Stove: 

Discovered a tasty and oh so easy Skillet Sautéed Cod & Tomatoes. I use grape tomatoes and add extra veggies: diced yellow squash or chopped spinach. Great summer color. Prepared and done in less than 15 minutes without heating up my sultry, southern exposure kitchen. 

Artist Inspire: 

Another oil painting class for me at our local Community College. Inspired [and cool] studio environment. Best way to sooth my starved artist who seeks an escape from triple digit temps. A couple summers ago Hibiscus covered my canvas. 

Jamaican Hibiscus by L. Moreland

Summer Comfort: 

CLARK flip flops. I know. Flip flops have been the fashion informed rage for several seasons. Finally, these are comfortable ones! Also, chilled Watermelon wine pool side at sunset (I kid you not).

Pop Culture: 

Am I the only person on the planet annoyed by the chronic drinking, smoking, and sexism of Mad Men? I simply can not turn my back on the decades of h.a.r.d. change that had to be learned to get past these destructive behaviors.

Spiritual Aha Moment: 

I have no reason why I had never helped serve communion. Never the less the first the Sunday in June was that first. I'll have a full post to speak about the wondrous joy of that experience. ....broken and shed for you. Amen.

Photo Fav:

Grand twins Splash Pad fun after Water Babies lessons. YES, Nana did “go under”. I can report that this swim program remains as well designed as it was when their mama [my baby] and I did it together 30 years ago.

Toddler Grans: 

My little guys are typically into trains, planes, & cars but the glue stick (with supervision) is also a fascination. Pre cut pieces or random junk mail gluing: it was all good.

That’s it! 

Some of this month’s joy moments spread across the challenges.

To be followed, I'm sure, by another 30 days that I know will be equally 

blessed by our Lord in all His wondrous mercy! 
Lisa

Heading over now, to read your posts :-)