Retreat, Renew, Respirit - A service announcement for this Sunday

This Sunday I am leading fellowship services for what seems like the first time in a very long time, and for that I am grateful. It wasn't that long ago that the work of preparing services and leading them on Sunday was a part of my regular routine. It has been good for me in some ways to step back and take some time off from this task, but taking that time away has also left my spirit a little empty.

I learn so much when I put a service together. I reflect upon my life and what is is meaningful to me. I must step back and consider what I have, know, cherish, seek, or find refuge in that could also be meaningful to others. I take a risk in putting some of myself out for the world, or a handful of friendly congregants, to witness and reflect upon, but it has always been worthwhile.

Sunday, I will reflect on my experiences at a UU women's retreat, and also my week leading up to that retreat. Things have been tough for us in these last few months and my spirit has suffered. I have a longing to feel spirited again, to feel the excitement of life and to embrace all that it offers- even in the face of these days, days in which those I love have died and are dying, in which the air is turning cold, the sky is turning dark, and illness seems to be lurking around every corner. I try and keep my kids healthy, my house cleaned, and my art flowing. I try and be a source of love and hope for those I love, and a gentle caretaker for myself.

I opened myself up to that idea- that I needed to be respirited, rejuvenated, refreshed, renewed, rewhatevered. I stepped back, and reflected- I retreated a bit from what was happening around me. I meditated on the Akan symbol of Sankofa from Ghana, a bird that flies forward while looking back, a symbol that says we can go back and retrieve the knowledge that we already have in order to move forward. This week, I feel confident and capable and excited about the possibilities waiting for me. I have been able to see outside myself, and have taken the time to feel spirited, spiritual and hopeful. I feel blessed and open to the idea of moving forward, but not without looking back.

If you are in my town, I hope you come to fellowship on Sunday. If you do come, please bring a candle from your home to use in prayers for peace that we will participate in together as a congregation. If you are not in my town, please take a moment on Sunday to pray for peace, in our own lives and in the world at large.

Trevor Hall with Matisyahu performing Unity

Blessed be!

Cookie Dough Hell Week Redux, and how to make an awesome Wild Thing Mask, sort of.

I am sitting here,

EXHAUSTED,

blogging to you from hump day of what is now officially known as

COOKIE DOUGH HELL WEEK ONE.

COOKIE DOUGH HELL WEEK TWO will be the first week of December when 440 tubs of cookie dough will be delivered to my son's middle school. If you are someone who is present in my life, that might be a good week to call me just to say you love me. (Please?)

I see the benefits to being an active member of my son's school's parent organization but really, as I have mentioned before, I am just not the cookie mom type. In fact, by rights, I am not even the PTA mom type. Honest! You might think I am- but trust me. I am not.

But PTA mom I am. President no less. Sigh. How the heck did that even happen? Excuse me while I cry into my gin and tonic. (Should a PTA President not say that online? oh well) But, I digress. The cookie dough hell week paradigm isn't as bad as I make it sound.

First, we didn't make 500 cookies this year so that helped. We didn't hold a big assembly of students to kick off the fundraiser. We tried to do it in a casual, stress free way. Unfortunately, this technique didn't help sales as we were down over 50% for profits this year. Hmm. Maybe they won't re-elect me for president next year? If only. But I am rambling again aren't I? Maybe you should just look at this picture. Click it to make it bigger.

But you know what cheered me up? Getting to show up for work today.

I love that I work on Wednesdays, the infamous hump day.

I love making art with kids. I love these masks.

I don't have time to post a full tutorial. In fact I am forcing myself to blog as it is as I really don't want this blog to slip into nothingness, as it seems to be doing these days, but I will give a few quick mask making tips, just in case some one out there is reading.

1. First, find a mask template online. I am sure there are more than a few of them. Short of that- grab a paper plate or an oval piece of cardstock. Make sure there are slots for the eyes; punch holes by the ears.
2. Second, use markers to color designs on the mask. Think color, line, texture, pattern.
3. Third, add embellishments: stickers, paper strips, ribbon, etc.
4. Tie ribbon or yarn through the paper punch slots by the ears and tie behind head.
5. Let the Wild Rumpus Begin!

Had we more time, we would have blasted some music and actually had a wild rumpus (taken from the book Where the Wild Things Are in case you live under a rock). My own boy made one tonight and I hope for many a wild rumpus in our future.

But for now, the rest of that gin and tonic, a good book and comfortable bed are all that I see in my future! Blessed be to all of you!

another gratitude list

being in love. reading books. learning together.

a song I love. being with friends being yourself. comfortable bed.

smiling faces. breakfast. tea. goodbye hugs.

quietness. solitude. tea. Sankofa. paper. scissors.

leftover beans and rice. plain yogurt. reggae music. tea

five minutes of yoga. a nap. chocolate and peanut butter.

losing track of time. old friends. new friends.

getting something off your chest. more quiet.

having your morning coffee at 4:00 p.m. trees. light. painting.

guilty pleasures. a good night's sleep. sunshine through the windows.

hot showers. slow mornings. a visit with Saribenne.

making lists like this.

gratitude.

acceptance.

alzheimer's disease casts a dark shadow sometimes, so we have to work that much harder at loving our lives each day

Sunday.

Hot Coffee.

Cinnamon Rolls. Health Care Reform.

Sunshine. Fresh Air. Brown Leaves. Pink Zinnias. Nasturtiums.

Green Beans. Pine Cones. Dogs. A Morning at Home. A Phone Call. A Cluttered Table.

Public Television. Facebook. The Artful Parent. Lunch Outside.

Back Yard Creeks. Paper Boats. Muddy Boots.

Taking Pictures. A Nap. Connecting.

Fresh Food. Favorite Skirt. Family Story Time.

Friends. Art. Taking a Walk in the Woods.

More Friends. Sunset. Beans and Rice. Family Music Time.

Chocolate Ice Cream. Scooby Doo. Embroidery.

Another chance tomorrow.

Another chance tomorrow.

Yes.

Again, tomorrow, we have another chance to love our lives,

even when someone we love is grasping for theirs.

But mostly, we just have to notice those things that we have to be grateful for.

Happy Halloween!

We're just clownin' around over here tonight!

I hope you are healthy, happy, and safe tonight :)

Life in Fellowship: The Millennium Development Goals

I haven't posted much about my little fellowship lately, so here is a little glimpse of one of the little projects we are participating in right now via our newly formed Social Justice and Action Taskforce.

We recently decided to help the teens from a UU Fellowship in Florida with their goal to help the U.S. meet its promises to help end poverty through the United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

This little table is set up to collect food to fight poverty in our county, and petitions to be sent to our local legislatures asking them not to forget the Millennium Development Goals. My boys and I made the poster together, and I must say I especially love the little one's cut out person with the seven food items (6 tomatoes and one banana).

I didn't have the heart to tell him that this was a NON perishable food drive.

The quilts I love, and a home made memory game.

Like many of my friends and loved ones, my family has been feeling more than a bit under the weather this week, which has driven us under the blankets and quilts we love the most.

I myself come from a pretty creative family, but not one of us is much of a quilter.

However, I was lucky enough to marry into a family rich in heirloom quilts that have kept us warm together all these winters. I love the quilts more as each year passes.

Each of these quilts was lovingly created by my husband's grandmother

and handed down to us by his father when he passed away four years ago.

The toddler art curriculum I am designing for work this month focuses on quilts, fabrics, shapes, and patterns. I took these pictures this morning for a home made memory game and thought I would share them with you. If you would like to use these pictures for your own memory game, (or even better take pictures of your own quilts!) simply print the images out twice and mount to a sturdy piece of card stock- voila! a home made, non commercial memory & matching game!

Have a peace filled and healthful day!