Oh, the places you'll go...

I have so much mundane goodness to tell you about. No surprises, but just sheer joy of living. But today, I'll just leave you with a few thoughts.

Like this little man. And how he kicks my butt at Memory. No really, after he procured 14 pairs and I looked down at my one measly match. I thought. Hmmm, this little man. He's going places.

Speaking of going places. We all are, aren't we? Going places? What if going somewhere was nothing more than learning how to be happy, content, fufilled where we are. The place of home guides us. And that place is right inside us.

Perhaps we just need to sit down and play Memory. It's not the winning that's important to my little man. It's just the playing. Together.

40 Days of Diligence: Resources

We got nine inches of snow yesterday. Nine. Needless to say I finally got to use my Christmas-given snowshoes. So awesome!

I was crunching along from my work the 1.4 miles gave me a little time to think and process my day. Earlier in the afternoon I had been traveling down a set of stairs in the knee deep snow and I took a hard fall. But here I was hours later in waist deep snow in some places gliding above it. The only difference was the equipment. I was fully equipt-- the regular coat, hat, gloves, boots. But added to that snow pants, head lamp, face mask, snowshoes. With all the proper equiptment I was warm and I could journey on towards home with ease.

And that got me thinking about Lent. It waas so much easier to journey thorugh nearly impassable snow with the right fittings. Shouldn't I be practicing diligence with some resources too? With some encouragement from Henri Nowen, Richard Rohr and Ann Voskamp, among others.

Just like we wouldn't venture into deep snow with out equiptment. Or into freezing temperatures without warm clothing. Let's not go into lent without a guide book.

 Ann Voskamp from A Holy Experience has an Easter Devotional download. 

Praying Lent with Creighton University

Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent by Richard Rohr


Show Me the Way: Daily Lenten Readings by Henri Nowen

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Solstice

  

This night, last year I was with these people.

Tonight, we are celebrating again, family, food and perhaps a Mary Oliver poem. And this day starts a week of celebrating.

I'll be here a bit sharing some projects and traditions. I'm glad we are going to be warm and well on this longest night of the year. 

May your family have a warm and calm, refreshing and simple holiday week. 

Do you have anything special planned?

Lent Discussions

I cannot believe that lent has come and gone. It moved so quickly, but I did not feel like the time ran through my fingers. I feel like for the most part, I was in the moment, appreciating it for what it was.
As you may remember, I gave up time wasters, including facebook. And though I was clearing mental and physical space in my own day to day life. I really wanted to mindfully look at each activity, evaluate it as time enriching or time wasting. Asking my self a few simple questions: As this enriching for me? Am I investing in my family, my friends or myself? Is this relationship building?

This has been an amazing journey. Surprisingly, I didn't miss facebook or my computer at all. Yes, I missed my family and my girl-friends. But I made real time for them in other ways.

I spent my weekends mostly computer free, taking time to do other things I love. I finished reading 5 books and I'm halfway through a 6th book. I've knitted/crocheted/sewed, we've cooked and shared many meals, made cards, spent meals and quality family-time together... and the list goes on.

I felt like my spirit was full and ready to share with others.

This year, I was prepared for Easter, in my own heart.

I didn't think that I could make more time in my day. But an extra 20 minutes here or there quickly adds up. And my kids loved an extra book or song at night, the absence of intense hurrying in the mornings (not every morning but most).

And the things that I've learned, I'm going to continue. Mindfully choose my tasks, continually asking myself good questions.

What did you learn during this season?