Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Windy day musings


It is literally freezing cold - inside and out! My hands have been so cold from working on my computer. But I wanted to post some photos of my new SoulCollage cards. I used images from last year's Christmas cards to make a couple of them, which was really fun! It was good to take the time to make these, and I really need to make more, more, more.

The first card is named "New Life from New Life"; the second is "Seeking the Gift", and the third one is "Winter Wonderland."

Enjoy!

p.s. I'm typing with gloves on!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Weird...

Dear Friends,

Something strange happened with some of my posts...I accidentally logged in on my "other job's" email and the posts showed up there! Anyway, all of my posts are here now and not in the correct order. It doesn't matter to me! What matters to me is that my friends are following me here, and - hopefully - sharing their own sentiments about my sentiments.

So...where are your comments, my friends?

Love,
Mary

Eating Potato Chips

Thursday, November 19, 2009
I am eating potato chips. Everyone but me is in bed. The only sound I can hear is the crunch of the chips in my mouth. It's very loud!

Why am I eating potato chips? Well, mostly because my day was horrendous, and right now I am at the point of starvation...in my mind...

Yet, right now - when my mouth is empty of the crunching - all is very still. All is quiet, and it makes me think...about silence.

Do I really enjoy silence? YES!! Most of the time, I welcome it!

But there's something really soothing about the sound of these potato chips crunching in my mouth....hmmmm...let me try one more and see if I can express it better...

YES! That's it! I love being "alone" yet I love the sound of presence. Whose presence? That's the question.

Well, if you shop at BJ's, be sure to buy Archer Farms Traditional Potato Chips. They are the crunchiest, most awesome potato chips I've eaten...in a week or so.

What sounds are you creating in your mouth? What does that sound mean to you? Are they loud sounds? Are they comforting sounds?

Tell me about the sounds you hear in your head, created by your mouth.

Am I weird, or what?!

Advent

Happy Season of Waiting to everyone! I do love Advent...and might admit that I look pretty good in purple, too!

The wreath is hung on the front door, it's purple ribbon flowing in the cold breeze of late. The tree is still in its box in the cellar, awaiting fresh air - hopefully this weekend! The lights are on the mantle (well, year 'round because we love them so much!), and candles are placed for ambience. Tis the season! Online orders are in transit, and there is much wrapping of gifts and packing and shipping left to do and it really is exciting!

The Deacon at our church, Jane, has for the last two years sponsored a Advent E-Devotion. She invites anyone to share a reflection for one day during Advent, and it is so much fun to read the different styles of peoples' attitudes toward the daily readings! I thought I'd share my reflection for this year, which was for Tuesday, December 8, 2009.

Today’s Readings: Morning, Psalm 26, 28;
Evening: Psalm 36, 39

Amos 7:10-17;
Rev. 1:9-16;
Matt. 22:34-46


When I was asked to write the Advent e-devotion for today, my impression of the readings was fairly bleak, leaving me to ask, “What have I gotten myself into?” Sometimes, waiting and seeing with fresh eyes can be helpful.


Psalm 28:7 acclaims, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” Today, reading this for about the fourteenth time, I heard it! All this angst created by telling myself I have no business being here, sending a reflection to only Jane knows who! But today, after waiting and watching and – finally – listening, there was my message.


My heart trusts, so I am helped. My heart exults, and my song gives thanks. It happens every time I remember to put God first, then me, then everything else. And every time I do this, and it works, it makes me wonder what’s so hard about doing this every second of every minute of every hour of every day? Because I’m in too much of a hurry, because it’s too much about me.


It’s still Advent. If I slow down and listen and wait, it won’t slip away from me this year. “To thee, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not deaf to me…” If I slow down, I’ll hear and trust and exult and want to sing every day! For the Lord is so very, very good to me – all the time.