So much for empty space!

So we begin the season of Lent.

Forty days in the wilderness does not need to be a hardship.

If we let go of something, we then leave an empty space.

We can either let this space remain empty or fill it with our favorite things.
I like the idea of making empty spaces in my day.
I can linger at the window and watch the wind whip up the scant snow that fills our little wilderness below.

I can drink in words I wrote in my journal about this time last year.
Or, I can simply sit by the fire and sip a nice hot cup of tea.

When I have done enough of that, I do seem to gravitate toward 'doing'... at least reflecting.  I am not much for leaving my 'head-space' empty ... although that is not a bad idea ... to stare blankly at nothing for awhile.
It's refreshing.





Yet, I still like my piles.  They seem to surround me.
 I like to fill empty spaces with things I love ... like my journals.
 I have several and want to fill each of them differently.
 Thoughts, wonderings, pictures, prayers, insights . . .
 Look at this mess!
  My eye catches what I want to see and lets go of the rest.

My journal for the book of Acts that I teach.
The Book of Common Prayer helps me with a lenten devotional.
My other journal fills up with words that flow from my mind after reading scripture.
Everything jumbled on top of mail and articles I "must-read-soon." 

I gravitate away from my studies.  Ahhhh, time for a delicious book to melt away the hours of cold wind that batter the eves of our house.

"Abba" and "The Fruit of the Spirit" are annual reads.
Tiny books packed with powerful thoughts.

Piles of books.  Most are not yet read and await completion during these winter months.  The little books on top are re-reads that I pull out each Lent.
It takes me nearly all of the forty days to chew on the words inside.

I linger too long at the window.

  I sip my tea slowly.  

One of these days I will finish this pile. 

 I WILL empty this space . . .  only to fill it again with more to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest.

So much for empty spaces.

The Empty Space

Time = Space
Time takes up space.  We cannot have space without the presence of time.  Therefore, when we extend our EMPTY time, we extend our EMPTY space.  That said, you have noted the empty space over nearly a month.

I have been remiss to the say the least.  A bit of traveling, filling in for another who was sick for a month, busy-ness, lack of time . . . equals an empty blog-space.

So, we begin again .
I will try to fill the space with something interesting but not today.

This is a 'cairne' ... a marker.
It marks a space that needs nothing more.
Each rock sits atop another, precariously.
It tells me to stop, EMPTY myself.
BE ... life is precarious ... enjoy the moment.

We are entering a new season . . .  a season of preparation . . .  a season of reflection  . . . a season to empty ... ourselves ... BE ... reflect.

Today is an interesting event in this neck of the woods.
They call it Fasnacht Tuesday.  I've always called it Shrove Tuesday.
We eat Fashachts.
Since I did not take a picture of this tasty treat, I must leave you with an empty space.
It looks like a donut and tastes much richer.
 It's heavier.
 It's fabulous.
I only eat one a year.

Whoever celebrates this day is trying to EMPTY the cupboards of rich delights or EMPTY ourselves of that party spirit.  For tomorrow, we begin six weeks of fasting ... an emptying time ... a time to search our souls ... do penance of sorts.

We are asked to fast from something but this 'fasting' is actually finding a way to EMPTY a time or space or habit in order to GIVE to another, DO for another.  We give up something that we might give more abundantly in an area that we may have neglected.

In other words, I might give up time to satisfy my own needs in order to give that time to another in need.
 I might spend a little less so that I can give away a little more to a charity or someone in need.
 I might eat fewer foods that I really do not need in order to add to my health.
 I might eat less each week in order to give more to the food bank.

To EMPTY one's self of bad habits simply leaves SPACE to build new ones.
Not a bad idea.
The most difficult part of this season called LENT is just to do it.
I can 'say' whatever I want but to DO it?
That is something else.
I leave now . . .  to fill up on words that I will EMPTY out to others tomorrow as we celebrate ASH Wednesday, an EMPTYing time.

It's Time for Tea

I remember reading a little book several years ago called, "First We Have Coffee."  It was a simple story about a scandinavian woman who took time for coffee in the middle of a crises.
I remember the essence of her words.
 Stop.
Give frantic thoughts a rest.
Let's mull over this crises a bit before we run around in circles.

Whenever life seems to swirl about me a bit too fast and thinking becomes fuzzy, it is time to stop  . . . and enjoy a moment of reflection.
Sip something soothing to the senses and rest from whatever is causing this chaos inside my soul.

I need to linger awhile and sip something hot on these cold winter days.
Since I choose to drink coffee infrequently, I now drink tea.
Having a tea set in the bedroom has yet to prompt us to sip tea before we get dressed and ready for the day.  All too frequently this tea set remains as it is ... a delightful reminder to take a quiet moment to linger by the window and let the world spin without us.

My mother began this tradition of placing a tea set
on a pretty table in the bedroom.  

Lately, commitments and events seem to whirl about me at a faster pace than I had planned.
I thought these winter months would allow me to read through my huge stack of books.
I dream of spending long days sitting by the fire.
Yet, there are classes to teach, preparation for Sundays, meetings and commitments to attend to.
Some days I feel like I am a spinning top.
I need to slow down and chew on each moment.
I need to take some time for tea.

To remind us to take a moment, I placed tea sets around the house.
Most were given to me as presents and were tucked away for that 'special occasion.'
 Well, now is a special occasion ... it's time for tea.

This Brambly Hedge tea set is ready for tea
and a little something to go with it.  

My hubby thinks it is a grand idea to set tea cups at each place at the table.  We both need a reminder to unwind later in the day.
I also need to remember to take "T" time.
My hubby's first name starts with "T."
Sometimes we get so busy with our own schedules that I need to stop, fix some tea and simply listen.
We both enjoy 'lingering' with each other for a moment.

The mantel above the fireplace has a new look.
It's time for tea!

We have a set of shelves with treasures from my mother
 and wonderful reminders of our travels.

I found this miniature set somewhere.  I so love the
tiny bouquet and tiny wax candle with tin holder
 ... sitting on my grandfather's favorite math book.
 It's time for tea . . . and reading.

And so, today, I took time to write and reflect.
 "T" and I enjoyed a lovely lunch on this chilly, windy, snowless day.
    Ahhhhh, we take the chill out of our bones, watch the billowing clouds turn black, sigh as another snowless sky throws out soggy drops and sip a nice hot cup of tea.
And then we are off, again, at our frenetic pace, attending meetings and swirling through the commitments of the day.
 Yet, I need to remember to make time for tea.

All roads lead to . . .

I have been walking a crazy road lately.
 I move one direction and then I am pulled in another.
Actually, I love the challenges of quick change.
 I don't mind changing direction on a dime.
 It makes life interesting.
This crazy road I am on is not stressful but feels like this quilt looks.

              

                   I saw this at a quilt show and fell in love with it   
                 The bumpy road seems to 'topple' all the homes ...
                            except the last building.

I was at a quilt show and lingered at this quilt for a very long time.  The colors popped.  The whimsy, the movement and the silliness kept me riveted.  Yet, it took my eyes a long time to get to the end of the road.  What a story I see!

Even if I don't mind a bumpy road, it might become a bit exhausting if I remained on it too long.  If I look for a focal point, I can endure the bumps more easily.  I look as far ahead as I can . . .  which may be no more than a day.  Then I find a goal, a purpose, a reason to be on that road.  Sometimes I can see a hint of the end-game.  Most of the time I simply have to trust the path and keep moving until a smoother section appears. 

This quilt says it all.  There is one place that seems stable, unaffected by the bumps and rolls of life and a final destination for many.  I chuckle as I see all the cars jumbled together at a house of faith.  This particular place looks balanced and unaltered by the bumpy road.  This quilt tells me that one's faith  provides a stable place in the bumpy road of life.

One small quilt says more than I could ever write.
Here are a few more pictures of challenging paths.  A friend sent me these pictures with no captions, no credits, no photographer stated.   Perhaps they were collected from various places in the internet.
They tell a wonderful story.

 Rickety, uneven, hard to navigate.
What a fun challenge.  

A beautiful structure.
It looks like a challenge to navigate.
I would not want to be on that little blue bus.

It's Epiphany!

Epiphany
A new beginning.
A new insight ... seeing ... an ahaaaaaa experience.
We begin celebrating the Christmas season on the Eve of Christmas.
Epiphany is suppose to end the season . . . but how can we 'end' a new beginning?

Although we have seen this before,
Epiphany is the day we celebrate the arrival of the magi.

I don't want the season to end so I linger at the Creche and wonder about the story of the magi.  My other blog goes into detail as I recall the story.

 Every year I gain greater insights into God's new beginning for us.
God's sacrifice for us seems to loom brighter on my radar.  Perhaps it's because I just became a year older that I linger longer with my thoughts.

New beginnings, new insights, new thoughts . . . a perfect time of year to seek to understand more, chew on more, experience 'aha' moments.

I take a moment to enjoy some points of beauty . . .

My eyes grab this quilt at a show so I took a picture.
The bright color and wild movement captures my imagination.

My eyes move from bright color and 'controlled chaos' to the stark simplicity of white on white.  Nice.

This bonsai at the botanical garden caught my fancy.
These tiny sprouts look like a forest!
New insight: I could garden in the winter even if it is a mini-project.

Ahhhhh.  My eyes settle on a nice combination of light and dark.  I wonder if that is Lupine in the back of those Narcissus?

We have been smelling Paper Whites at home for the past week or so.
We saw ... and smelled ... dozens of these at the botanical garden.
A JOY to the senses.

Now I wait . . .  patiently . . . for just a little snow.  I might be crazy but I love to watch new patterns as the flakes settle, pile up and drift among the cat tails.  This is from last year.  Maybe I will make a print and put it on my mantel.

Snow creates a sense of wilderness in a very small space.

Another Day

Now that all the hoopla is over, its just another day.
Yet, something seems new.
Perhaps it is new resolve.

I am determined to expand my horizons.  So, I created another blog that will post more of my 'wonderings' that spur me to teach others.
I'll post notes, questions, my personal insights and wonder out loud as I study.
Just go to: wonderingswithgail.blogspot.com

And then there is the chore of tucking away Christmas.
We keep the manger up through Epiphany to celebrate the 'aha' experience of the Wise Men when they found the Christ child in Bethlehem.  We take the entire year to walk with Jesus through His 'seasons' of life as we embrace each season of the liturgical year.

Grandpa A.J. brought this home with him when he returned
from Germany after WWII.  It is not fancy but has so
many memories.  We put Jesus in the crib on Christmas Day.
The Wise Men technically do not arrive until January 6,
so they should be out of sight.  I wanted them in the picture.

I go through the house picking up 'memories' that we pull out each year. Some trinkets are generations old and not worth much but we love 'em.

The tree comes down tomorrow.  Everything comes into
this room and gets carefully packed in plastic containers
for next year.  It takes longer to pack it than to unpack next year.

The Advent candles went here.  The space filled quickly.
The red peppers are drying nicely and the dried apples
are ready to eat.  Yum!

In the mean time, I need to get digital.
The Christmas card list was greatly revised as many friends sent new addresses.  I made labels for next year so I just might get our annual letter out on time.  We can always hope.

There is always a card or two that goes out late.
I think I will do better next year.

And then there is the box!  So small yet holds so much!

We tuck this little box into a corner of our hutch and no one knows
the treasure that lies inside.  Years of amended notes on index cards,
torn pieces of paper, stickers and calling cards.  

I finally transfered all the information from my card file of addresses to the computer.  I am trying to be more computer-organized but I still linger longer than I should with pen and paper.   I will always love the feel of paper and the whimsey that comes out of my pen.

Some of these cards are more than thirty years old!
Everything is now on the computer ... and backed up!

Two blog sites may take more time than I choose to give.
We will see what happens.                   I had better be ORGANIZED!
Happy New Year!

Let's Celebrate the END of the year

It's December 31st!
We barely unwrap Christmas presents and send our thank you notes and it's the end of the year!  Many of us look forward to New Year celebrations and all that is ahead of us.  Yet, do we take time to linger over the past year?
  Do we take time to CELEBRATE some notable events, changes, blessings and challenges we have overcome?

 First, wouldn't it be nice to celebrate with cake?
                        Why not!
            Those "healthy diet' resolutions are for NEXT year, right?

We saw this in the bakery and could
not resist.  It is just right for the two of us.

Notice the size of the cake next to the teacup.
I could eat this myself but I will share it with hubby.

Brew a cup of tea, sit down and enjoy.  Periodically I bring out my very favorite cup that says, "It's good to be Queen."  Every now and then I have to remind myself that I am special ... wonderfully made ... with gifts and talents.
 We need to CELEBRATE them!

List your talents and those things you love to do.
You might be surprised.
Are you volunteering where you love to help?
Do you feel like you have made a difference?
What about an artistic flare?  It is amazing how creative we are and don't even know it.
The simple act of blogging is a creative challenge for me but I enjoy it.
When I teach I seem to bloom.
 I love to find creative ways to motivate others as we all grow in our Christian walk.
Creating 'beauty spots' around the house is another way to express the JOY of our creation.

Fabric and Blooms bring JOY to my heart.

Nothing beats a 'beauty spot.'
 I plant Paper Whites every year to bring the garden inside.
 Ahhhhhh, the smell floats through the air and grabs my attention when points of green burst into bloom.
When I sit in my favorite chair I notice the perfect white flowers ... each the same ... bursting with perfection.  Six petals with a little cup in the middle that holds three tiny yellow stamens.  The light dances on each petal as I marvel at their beauty.  So delicate to the touch, so fragrant, a sight for aging eyes.  

I am actually sitting in that chair now.  I try to focus on the past year but get distracted by the beauty of the flowers in front of me.  Today is a time to rethink the blessings and challenges of the past year.
         The weather, always a conversation piece up here, did affect so many of us.  Our small town is still suffering from the flood of September.  Soggy ground refuses to give way to cold weather.  One of these days we will get snow and the ground will freeze beyond surface frost.
      To focus on self ... that is the toughest challenge of all.  I survived a challenging year.  I even thrived.  God brought out the best in me creatively.  We cannot complain about our good health . . . nice home . . . no real needs.
     I sign off on many emails . . .  God is good, Life is good, We are good.
Each day is a gift and whatever comes forth in each 24 hour period is a reminder of God's precious presence.
                             And that reminds me of presents.
Add all the reminders of God's presence in my life  and I have received plenty of gifts this year.  In fact, today I happened to open some beautiful gifts.
No matter how a gift is wrapped, I like to set it out and look at its wrapping.  Sometimes, when we find a challenge in front of us, all we need to do is step back and see how it is wrapped.  Often, the wrapping hides a very precious gift inside.

Cake and gifts.  What a way to end the year!

 A present and God's presence are two different things.   Or are they?
Each is a priceless gift.  When we acknowledge God's presence in our lives, He shows us how He loves us in so many ways.
 Someone who takes the time to give of themselves also shows us love in so many ways.  These presents, below, are a priceless gift from my sister . . .  a botanical artist.  She shared her artistic gift with me.  She did all the work.  I simply find JOY in them.  What a treasure.

Gifts of beauty to enjoy forever.

 So, by now you might wonder . . . why am I lingering over cake and gifts?
IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!
I get to recall all the blessings of the past year while celebrating precious presents ... or is that our precious present?
      Phone calls, cards and emails offer gifts of love and remembrance.  I am surprised that so many have acknowledged my birthday!  Today my friends remind me that they are a precious gift and have filled this year with numerous blessings.   I am now ready to dive into the new year.
May your New Year be filled with blessings . . .  CELEBRATE this precious present.