Go

The time has come for us to go out and bring peace to everyone.

Where you go and what you do is your choice. But in order to make the world a better place, wouldn't it be nice if we each took the time to share peace? And not just share it with those we know and love, but to share peace with those we don't know.

It's not always easy. In fact, most days it's a pretty big challenge for the average person, but we have to try. We have to go and do. Sitting here, complacent, will do nothing and things will continue to degrade.

Go is my benediction for this journey. It's not the end, it's the sending forth with a mission. Go and reach out to help each other. Go and love one another. Go back and read each word from the last forty days and insert it after, "go…"

Go on, what are you waiting for?

Peace

It's been awhile since I wrote a haiku, so what better time to share one? Here you go, enjoy.

I sit in silence.
Peace and quiet surround me.
Peace I share with you.

Love and Peace

Yesterday's post was about Hope and Joy. Today's post is about the experience I had volunteering with the Gift of Giving.

Like I said, I helped drive parents home. I drove home one mom. But I had another job. I had gifts for another mom in my trunk. I went to her house on Thursday and helped her wrap.

This mom has been ill and couldn't get out of the house to come wrap her children's presents at the church. Jer had asked if I could take them over to this mom and of course I was willing to do that.

While at the church on Wednesday, Jer loaded me up with everything I needed to help the mom wrap the presents.

The mom and I connected and made arrangements for me to come over. I got there about noon. Her sister was there to help too. The three of us wrapped presents like Santa's elves. It was so nice to talk to both of them, to learn about her kids, her family and her dogs (they were so cute!).

I was not prepared for the gifts. I wrapped presents for one of the boys. She told me that she could tell they are growing up because she asked them what they needed for Christmas and the kids were all practical (the younger boys are 10, the girl is 13 and the older boy is 15... I think). They asked for gloves and boots. They asked for warm blankets. They asked for clothes. They got all of those things and more. The three of us were having fun going through the gifts and showing them to each other.

We finished by 1:15pm. She wrote her thank you note and I was on my way.

I read her note.

It was so kind and full of love.

She had us write "from: Santa" on all the gifts so that her kids would know that these gifts came, not from her, but from the generosity of others. She included that in her letter, and it's clear that she's teaching her kids a lesson in love and giving.

What a gift for all of us.

crafts and joy

Last year, I went to a fellow Quotarian's house and made ten holiday cards. She hosts a "Stampin' Up" card making party. It was fun. It was creative. I was very proud of the cards I made. I brought them home and took pictures to eventually post on my blog.

Except I never put the pictures on the blog. And then my laptop was stolen.

Oie. Sometimes it still gets me right here.

*sigh*

Moving on. This year, I went back to her house and made ten more. I brought them home and took pictures of them. Then I dug out the leftover ones from last year (I didn't want to send them because they were so pretty, but I realized that is not the point of making them) and took pictures of those.

Then I sent them.

I know you'll all be waiting to see if you get one. If you do, count yourself very lucky. And if you do, please thank your mailman.

The cards are bulky.

They may be sent back for postage due.

In the meantime, I'm going to post about holiday joy and amazing friends.

I put out the call for some of my creative friends to make something for me to hang in the house. I had realized I needed to be surrounded by positivity. One of the things that made me think of this, is a set of Christmas decorations I have. They are fuzzy letters. They are glued together and they spell out "Peace" and "Hope". I would love to leave them up year-round, but they have been deemed Christmas decorations, and are deemed to be put away at the end of the season.

One of the other things that sparked this idea was a gift from one of our former students (now away at college). She made this for me at the end of the summer.

Part of my request was for the creativity to flow using words such as Hope and Peace. Compassion and Love were a few other words. I didn't want to be restrictive. I wanted to see what would happen.

My wonderful friends Greg and Shannon were the first to respond.

Here's what they came up with:

 Greg is a collage-maker. This face is covered with words. Specifically Bible verses with the above mentioned words.

Shannon is a graphic designer. She made this. It's a verse from Galatians. (I bought the frame for it.)

I have one other piece that my friend Dana gave me last week. I have to take a picture of it in daylight so you can see it clearly. It's a watercolor and it's also beautiful.

I made a few thank you cards (since I was inspired by the card-making class). The first one was for my sister who gave me a pair of warm fuzzy socks.

(Sorry, this post went astray. I mean, the idea is still there, but now I've written it over a couple of days. I know it's disjointed, but I just want to publish it. Go with it.)

Then I made this (actually, I finished it). I had started it back when we lived in Jersey. Since I started it for Shannon and Greg, I finished it and sent it to them with the thank you card shown below.

I took a picture of the house from the outside with our wreaths (thanks Mom and Dad!) so I'll post those tomorrow!

the best in people

This story has been in our local news and it just keeps growing. It gives me goosebumps when I hear it. This story is why this time of year is so great. It brings out the best in people.

Then there's the story on our Quota blog, written by our President. What a gift! It always makes me think outside the box and try to find a new way to give a gift to someone.

What's the best gift (non-material) you've ever given? What's the best gift (non-material) you've ever received?

Even though yesterday's post suggested it's all about the material things, it most definitely is not. One of my favorite things is our Christmas Eve service. The darkness of the sanctuary, the stillness throughout, that is what makes it Christmas for me.

My wish for you this Christmas is that you are looking beyond the presents and will find hope and peace.

Peace on earth

Merry Christmas

"Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace, good will toward men."
Luke 2:14

this is why...

Today is why this was a bad idea. Blogging every day. ugh. I got nothun'. I had a luncheon which the past two years I've gone have been the definition of Joy in my holiday season. You can read about that post here. But this year, I wasn't feeling it. Now I'm sort of bummed. The joy of the day was going to be my post. So, instead I urge you to remember those who fought in World War 2 and Pearl Harbor Day. May our freedom bring you peace today.

We are never alone

I think I can begin to understand why people have taken Sabbaticals, vows of silence, or live like hermits. As an extrovert, I first conquered working from home. I have a full life outside of work, volunteering through Quota and the church. I get re-energized from those gatherings.

Then I had to overcome Bill's new job which has him working in Detroit. It has been almost two years now. And when he comes home, I find it a little difficult to adjust my life to having another person in it.

Who knew as an extrovert I would enjoy being alone the majority of the time.

When those who have gone away to reconnect with themselves, return to "life" I wonder how they readjusted to the commotion.

I have had plenty of time to explore this world of loneliness. Quite frankly I am getting bored. I know when Bill does return home that it will not be easy. I will have a lot of adjusting to do. I am ready for that. In the meantime, I wanted to share with you the journey I took yesterday.

First I visited the Celebration of the Arts. This is an Art Show that our church hosts every year before Lent begins. The last day for the show is today, Ash Wednesday. Here are a few pieces that were on display.


The banner


"From the Lowly..." maple burl, Fred Bivins


"Bamboo" steel, Russ Baker


"In the Beginning ~ God Created" scrap metal, Lane C. Cooper (1st prize)


"Celestial Harp" forged & welded iron, David Holtslander
(photo taken from the hallway, through the window in the door, I'm not sure of the piece in the background. I just liked the way that piece had the iron gate in the foreground...)


"What Have I to Offer?" high relief, Terry Arseneau

There were a lot of watercolors, oil/canvas, and photography entered in the show as usual. Over 125 artists had pieces displayed, many had two! Our church always gets to chose a piece to add to our permanent collection. We have about four choices. The congregation votes for their favorite and whichever piece receives the most votes is purchased! Voting took place on the 7th and 14th. They have not yet announced which piece won.

I do love this city and its celebration of the arts through so many ways!

From the church I headed to Meijer Gardens. I wanted to get some photos of my favorite spots covered in snow. I've been there once before when there has been snow on the ground, but did not venture outside. We stayed inside to see the Christmas trees (I thought I had a post about it, but I can't find it if I do). This time I ventured outside to take some photos. When I came back inside I headed straight into the Tropical green house to warm up. For future reference, don't try to take pictures. Your camera will fog up from the extreme temperature change!


The greenhouse from outside


A little bit of color, spring is coming!


The waterfall
(it was actually very cool, you could still hear the water rushing underneath the ice)


My most photographed sculpture. The dull sky behind the shiny steel. It's winter and everything is asleep...


except for the butterflies! They are emerging!

Through my last couple of days of loneliness I have remembered that I am not alone spiritually. And through technology I am connected with many friends. But here in my house, I am alone with the cat. Juliette is a quiet companion.

Spring is coming.

December

If I had my way, it would be Christmas every day of the year.
The constant reminder that we are the receiver's of God's gift.
The idea that we should "follow the star".
The "newness" of the day.
All of these things are what make Christmas special to me. As I've grown older, I've had to accept that it is no longer about the presents. That giddiness of being a child and waiting to see what Santa has brought is gone. Now it is about experiencing God's love. I'm the receiver of His gift everyday, but I'm most reminded of it at Christmas time.

I hear the bells on Christmas day. I need to listen to them everyday. This is why, if I had it my way, it would be Christmas everyday.
For that reason and simply because I love the colors. I love the decorations that adorn the house. Reflecting on that, it is this time of year that makes these things special. If I left them out to rejoice in Christ's birth everyday, would they lose their special meaning?

Maybe next year I'll fill every room with Christmas items, to remind me of the importance of the season. For now, sadly, it is over. It is time to clean up the pine needles and put the ornaments and decorations back in the attic. Where they will lie peacefully until next year. Until then, I need to remember my gift. Everyone is a receiver of the best gift of all.

Peace.