SJT and SOS: My OLW Reveal for 2022!

Margaret at Reflections on the Teche is hosting 

Spiritual Journey Thursday for January. 

We're gathering to share our OLWs for 2022.

I have a list of words I love to revisit when it's time to choose a new word. But my word for 2022 chose me in December. Some of my words have been "being" words (my favorites), some are "doing" words that ask more of me and challenge me, but most are a wonderful combination of being and doing. Several years ago, I penned this poem using my OLW for each year as the lead for each line. But I stopped after year 7. And since this is year 10, I wanted to finish this second stanza. And so I add years 8 and 9 to the second stanza:

Listen to the stillness,

Savor the present moment,

Stretch to grow, and always 

Abide in His love to 

Nourish my soul and reach out in love. 

 

Delight in small moments and simple pleasures,

Try, a gentle word inviting growth and change.

Light becomes a beacon during difficult times,

Comfort wraps me in a year of coping with loss,

(I'll wait until year's end to add my line about this year's OLW...)

Each year, I peruse my list of unused words from previous years (gather and connect were definitely in the running for this year). but the call from clear was urgent and one I couldn't ignore. Initially it chose me because of the physical challenges I face of clearing clutter. We know that one of these days we will downsize and now seems a perfect time to focus on clearing spaces in our home. 

However, I also look forward to  letting "clear" become a way to find focus for my days. I love this quote I found: "Clear your mind. Your heart is trying to tell you something." (Unknown) And that takes me back to my very first word, listen. I look forward to my clearing journey for 2022 so that I can listen more often to my heart. I spent some time learning to meditate last year with Headspace. I look forward to getting back into that routine.

And now, I'm off to read the posts of my fellow bloggers at both Spiritual Journey Thursday and Sharing Our Stories. What a perfectly delightful focus for the next bit of my morning!

 

I love to join my friends at Sharing Our Stories on Thursdays!

Slice of Life: Using my OLW to Look Back at 2021!

It's past time to put 2021 in the rear view mirror! Writing reflectively is not something I do easily. But as a way of honoring my OLW for 2021, I offer up this list (in no particular order of importance) of 21 ways I received comfort in 2021:

friends

 family

 phone calls & Zoom gatherings

 hot chocolate

 naps

 in-person church

 walks

 writing

 books

 blossoms

 Jesus

 poems

 sunshine

family getaways to Lincoln, OR & St. George, UT

 a special birthday plant

 my blue cozy blanket

 a birthday in Texas

 calendar inspiration

 a quilt in process

 grandchildren

 faith!

First Meanderings of 2022

I'm thrilled to see 2021 in the rear view mirror and to face 2022 with renewed faith and hope and optimism that things will be better.

I've started the new year in my favorite way by reading!

I discovered a New Yorker interview with Lois Lowry in a link from a Gretchen Rubin post. I've been fortunate to have heard her speak twice: once in Seattle (2008) and once in Washington DC (2012) at the National Book Festival. I love her book, Gossamer, and she mentions it in the interview.  Put it on your WTR (TBR) list if you've never read it. (And here I must digress and explain my use of WTR versus TBR. "To be read" just sounds like an assignment, like something that needs to be done. However, "want to read" captures the joy and the passion of diving into a book that calls to you. So I have a WTR list, not a TBR list.)

Then, I popped over to FB, planning to search SOS (Sharing Our Stories) in search of recent posts. 

I immediately forgot to do that and lost myself in Christy's collage of pictures from 2021. Just viewing them made me think about images and decide that I'll do a retrospective 2021 post by collecting 21 of my favorite images. 

And then I discovered these words from T.S. Eliott that Linda shared in her new year post: “For last year’s words belong to last year’s language, and next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.”  

And of course, that quote makes me think of last year's OLW and how I still haven't written my reflection on comfort which I simply must write before I share/unveil my word for this new year.

And so I begin 2022 with a meandering post of my early morning ramblings. And ideas for several future posts. And a resolve to mark this new year with more words on my blog. 

Happy 2022! 

Spiritual Journey Thursday: Waiting

Chris is hosting Spiritual Journey Thursday this month. She provided a one word prompt for us, "waiting" with a side of "hope".

I did not grow up in a spiritual tradition that observed Advent. But I'm interested in learning more from my friends. I've intentionally forced myself to "wait" to read your posts until I've written mine (with one exception). I did read Chris's post, our host for this month. What a gift Chris gave us with her lovely poems!  

I read an article I found on the internet, "Three Characteristics of Advent Waiting" by Marina Berzins McCoy. Her explanation of the special ways that we wait during Advent was simple, to the point, and provided room for reflection: "1. Advent waiting is expectant. 2. Advent waiting requires making space.          3. Advent waiting is hopeful."

When Chris mentioned that she was reading Henry Nouwen's essay "Waiting for God" in the book Watch for the Light, I remembered that I had this book on my shelf of Christmas books. As I read Nouwen's essay, I was touched by his observation that all the people in the early pages of the gospel of Luke are waiting: Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary, and Simeon and Anna. Mary and Elizabeth came together creating "...space for each other to wait." Nouwen goes on to say that he thinks of this coming together as "...the model of the Christian community.  It is a community of support, celebration, and affirmation in which we can lift up what has already begun in us."

I feel blessed to participate in Spiritual Journey Thursday with a community of fellow believers. I am grateful for the support I feel in this community as we write together and explore spiritual topics each month. I celebrate our coming together and affirm that I always learn from each of you. And now I'm off to read your posts and learn more about waiting during this season of Advent. I'm sure to be lifted up!

Slice of Life: Thanksgiving Week!

I haven't posted much recently, but Thanksgiving week was filled with love and laughter and sweet times. We met our son and family in St. George, UT for a few days of fun and sun before Thanksgiving.

Snow Canyon State Park on Sunday

 

Zion National Park on Monday

 

 

Swearing-in of our newest NPS Junior Ranger!

And then it was back home to celebrate Thanksgiving with daughter and her family. Sara loved finding time to work on a quilt and doing a 500 piece puzzle on Friday. Both are rare treats for a mother of three boys, ages four and under.

Grandpa managed to celebrate his birthday twice during his birthday week, 

once in Utah and once in Washington.

He had help blowing out the candles on both occasions.

Both visits included a trio of sweetness filling our days and laps with joy.

Truly there's nothing grander!

Our Utah grands!

Our Washington grands!

Sharing Our Story & Slice of Life: Sweet Words

I was absolutely positive that they had a new person penning the quotes. I used to love opening a Dove chocolate and reading the quote on the foil wrapper. When I was teaching, I kept my favorite foil quotes on a bulletin board near my desk. When I retired, I put them into a little photo binder.

However, for quite a few years, each time I purchased Dove chocolate and eagerly unwrapped the foil wrapper, the words failed to resonate or touch me or delight me like they used to. And so I quit buying Dove Dark Chocolates since they weren't delivering words that lifted me, only words that disappointed me. The chocolate was still good, but I yearned for the soul satisfying words that left me filled with chocolate and sweet words. 

I remained disconsolate until a couple of weeks ago. I was in Target after Halloween and picked up some florescent M&Ms and a package of Dove Dark Chocolates shaped like pumpkins at rock-bottom, after-Halloween, sale prices!

Here's the first quote from my package of pumpkin Dove Dark Chocolates.

 "It's time for bright leaves, bonfires, and blankets." 

Almost perfect, but I would have to add books to the litany: "It's time for bright leaves, bonfires, blankets, and books." I loved it! Maybe it's because I adore fall that I continued to find quotes I loved on the foil wrappers of my daily Dove Dark Chocolate.

• Never be too old for jumping in leaves.
• Chocolate is a fall color.
• Prefer piles of chocolate or piles of leaves?
• This isn't a foil. It's a costume.
• Relax for a "spell."
  
• For now, falling leaves. Soon, falling snow.

It's true that I may be re-addicted to Dove Dark Chocolates . . .  all because of after-Halloween, rock-bottom sale prices (and I suspect, a new quote writer). Way to go, Dove!

Spiritual Journey Thursday, Poetry Friday & Sharing Our Stories: Gratitude

Denise Krebs at Dare to Care 

is gathering our gratitude posts 

for Spiritual Journey Thursday. 

 

 Mary Lee Hahn at A(nother) Year of Reading 

is gathering all things poetic for Poetry Friday

.

Fall is a favorite time of year for me and November is one of the best months of the season. I proudly call myself a fall fanatic. You can see my 2020 collection of favorite fall photos here. November's slower pace (before the rush of December) gives me pause to reflect on my many blessings. The rains have settled in (and we celebrate rare moments of sunshine), the cozy season has arrived (sweaters, blankets, good books, hot chocolate), and fall colors continue to enliven our gray palette (for a bit longer). 

 

The first two poems are an attempt to try my hand at a new-to-me form, the hay(na)ku, a form introduced to me by Denise Krebs. Here's Denise's explanation of the form:

"Traditionally, Hay(na)ku have:

• 3 lines
• A total of 6 words – 1 in the first, 2 in the second, and 3 in the third
• No syllable, rhythm, or meter constraints.
• You can also write reverse hay(na)kus." 

Red 

and green

prelude for December

My daughter and her husband have a Pie Night each year in November (at least they used to before the pandemic). They bake many pies and invite other families over to eat pie and visit. I love this pic I snapped two years ago of siblings who couldn't wait to return to the world of words after their pie.

Enchanted 

words bewitch

to fantastic worlds

 

My final poem is a "free-from-form" poem.

No syllable counts or words of gratitude, 

just leaving you with a touch of whimsy! 

NOVEMBER'S BOUNTY

The table is heaped

and every chair is filled.

Come, my friends, to share our abundance.

BYOR 

(Bring your own rake)!

Enjoy this John Rutter composition of a virtual choir from Georgetown University Music Ministry singing one of my favorite hymns, For the Beauty of the Earth. 

Ever grateful for "..friends on earth, and friends above.." (especially friends online) who enrich my life each day. Happy November!

I love to join my friends at Sharing Our Stories on Thursdays!