Our Piece

We spent a couple of days at my Dad's cabin at the end of last week.  Our visits always include rest, family time and the beauty of God's work.  I love the thought that this is the part of His creation he chose for us.  Just as my Dad is always encouraging his children to stay at the cabin in the few months of the year we can, our Heavenly Father encourages us to stop at times, take in and appreciate the gift of our surroundings.  In our daily lives we have a square 1/4 of an acre of land to live our lives, seek His will, work hard, and find peace and joy, ....here in this cabin we are given the gift of rest, family and His beautiful works.

I find it fascinating that He gave us this portion...and I am thankful!

 

enjoy your piece today,

Down by the Sea

Today we spent a full day at the Aquarium.  Jellyfish, sea horses, sharks, penguins, sea urchins, star fish, and the playful sea otters.  We learned the unique opportunity here in the Monterey Bay to reach the DEEP OCEAN in a matter of hours instead of days (as on the East Coast).   A deep canyon on the ocean floor (larger than the Grand Canyon) is habitat to many amazing deep sea creatures.   

We enjoyed visiting the newer Sea Horse exhibit awed by their gentle nature.  

It was a gift to learn more about this vast, mysterious, colorful part of God's Creation.  (that yellowish crab on the left had a hold on the smaller Sea Horse for some time, luckily she got away)

1. cooking more - pasta bake with grilled asparagus
2. trying to be more healthy - roasted chicken and vegetables
3. clearing and brightening - cheery daffodils
4. enjoying the yard - Jae's tree-art near the playhouse - girls love the playhouse in Spring
5. creating - letters to decopage
6. using what I have - sewing an apron
7. keeping my thoughts focused - first knitted scarf - learned at knittinghelp.com and this video.

{also having fun in Photoshop with photos and elements}

New Year's Resolutions

I have some.  I've been inspired reading the resolutions from other blogs.  Heidi Swap has a quote for the year, Ali Edwards picks a word for the year to inspire, and many others bravely and openly list their resolutions for the new year on their blog.  More than one seminar, self-help book, infomercial, and blog entry to improve myself has caught my eye and interest.  Believe me I need help, need to improve, and be a better person.  I worry some of these easy self help plans may be empty, even if you complete every step, do they lead to the right direction?  Discerning this is a very important step in picking the right resolution.  

I'm looking for the right path, even if it be rocky, I need to be on the right one.   I have to then start from the Source and remember where I'm headed in the first place.  God has not left me without seminars, self-help manuals, or bold messages.  It's just He didn't promise it would be flashy, easy, or help me to focus on myself more.   Take for instance the biggest of all self-help topics - diet.  There are so many things to try but do they really lead to health?  Last year my sister Lisa wrote this post about struggles with weight after being inspired by someone who connected overeating with the sin of gluttony.  After I read this it made more sense to me than any other thing I've come across on weight loss.  It led to the Truth.  

So, this year with my resolutions, I am trying to seek what is really true, what will honestly HELP me to overcome the multitude of ways I come up short.  At the end of 2009, I know I won't be reviewing this as a thin, unselfish, meal providing, giving, and positive person, but I may be reviewing this as a better person with confidence that I walked the right path and struggled the right way- that is my resolution .  This is the quote I chose for this new year to inspire me.  It is words of Pope John Paul II during a visit to Chili to beatify a saint I have come to admire, St. Teresa of the Andes:

Do not be afraid of the 

demands of the love of Christ.

On the contrary, be afraid

of being faint hearted,

of taking things lightly,

of seeking your comfort,

of being selfish:

of everything that seeks to 

silence the voice of Christ"

~John Paul II

April 2, 1987

St Teresa of the Andes

this is her message:  only in God can one find happiness; 

God alone is infinite joy.

I'm One of Those

{It all started at a young age.  Rememer the crying Indian from the pollution ads?  Yeah that did if for me!}

Not an Indian...one of those people who seem to be drawn to the heart wrenching story.  Rod is forever reminding me to watch or listen to something more cheerful.  Although I do get sad, I'm not an easy crier, it just sits inside for too long.  Last night I sat at my computer and really had a hard time watching this touching video about a baby with Trisomy 18, Eliot Mooney.  Although it physically makes me sad, I feel better having known his story.  

I've always been drawn to the tear-jerking movie, captivating news coverage, or the personal story that brings out all my support, thoughts, prayers, and attention.  I'm in their moment wishing it would've never happened, praying for a miracle, and thankful for love.  I'm currently listening to the audiobook, The Story of Edward Sawtelle (sidenote:  for me, listening to an audiobook makes some chores a little more enjoyable).  Before downloading the book I read the reviews which said it was a sad tale, dry at times, too much detail about the dogs, melancholy...hmmm, sad? too much detail? dogs? sounds like a story for me.

Sometimes though I think I need to find the light-hearted, humorous situation to brighten my spirit.  The other night after watching Nancy Grace and negative news coverage of the election, I turned to Samantha Who?  I never watch it but seeing the silly, overexaggerated antics of Christina Applegate's fictional character was welcome relief.  

Opposites attract right?  If Rod can deal with my attraction to things like Nancy Grace, movies like The Piano, and watching hours of breaking news coverage on a major event, I guess I can put up with things like Dumb and Dumber, Knight's Tale, and ESPN News.  Although both of our viewing choices don't have a MAJOR impact on our lives, I do think there is something at our core that draws me to the heartwrenching and Rod to comedy.  God in His wisdom, changed that for an instant to bring us together so we could balance each other out.  (sniff, sniff - Rod would have come up with a joke here)