First day home

First days home after a trip are always a little challenging. So many little things that need to be done - going through stacks of mail, unloading the car, and trying to get a handle on the home routines. Today was a little different as one of my good friends was having major surgery today. One of her other friends (who loves and cares about Jeanette as much as I do) called off and on to see what if anything I had heard. While I can't say I was worrying exactly, as the hours dragged by with no word, it did make me a little nervous. Fortunately, she is now out of surgery and it seems as though while it was a difficult surgery, apparently the doctor is pleased with the results. Now, I'll be praying for a swift recovery.

Special Events

Today I got to give a presentation at my friend, Jane's PEO club. Someone thought up a very nice theme for their year - based on Donna Reed's 1950's TV show where she always wore her pearls. My talk was about putting on pearls that reflect our inner spirit - and finding those in nature. I'll be blogging some of my talk because I hope it is worth sharing here.

But getting up and making a presentation is a lot of fun for me. I always enjoyed teaching Ladies' Bible Class as well as being part of that group when I was just a member of the class. It is especially pleasing when you learn at the end that what you said has connected with your audience. I had printed some of my photos to share with the group as I told my stories. I had enough so that every lady could leave with one. It amazed me that several of the ladies found a photo that had a special connection for them.

My friend has been part of this group for a long time, and these ladies are very special to her. I'm glad I got to meet them. I was also glad to get to do the presentation. One of my long term goals is to be a motivational speaker. So today was very special to me . . . very special indeed. I hope God will send some other opportunities like this in my direction.

Christmas Letters

In my morning reading:The Plot Lines of our Lives.

Being a self confessed hoarder (I'm working on it . . .) I save Christmas cards. Occasionally I do go back and read them and these Christmas letters provide a lovely history of the joys and struggles we've all faced as we walk through life.

While I can understand why some people may not like these letters - I have found over time that I do, because it allows me to keep up with what is going on with people I care about who live far away.

(P.S. The talk of mimeographed letters in the article - I now do mine using photoshop and a faded version of my Christmas card-hoping this adds a touch of elegance and specialness to my Christmas letters.)

Keeping Connected - The Christmas Card Tradition

From the time I left home, I've sent out Christmas cards. Out of the last 37 years there have only been a couple where I did not send out my cards. I keep a big list. You see . . . if you get on my Christmas card list, you almost never get taken off. I lose people when they move and don't leave a forwarding address. And, yes, sometimes people drift off my list as I like to send cards to people I'm doing things with, and so as my activities change, there are changes to "the list."

But Christmas cards are important to me. I grew up in Amarillo, but moved to the Austin area after my first year of college. I had good friends in high school - both through the school and through my church. I wanted to keep up with them. I met new friends those first years in college. I've kept up with several of them as well.

I've automated my system over the years. Instead of hand addressing them, I now use computer generated labels. And I finally started added a Christmas letter . . . but that only goes into the cards that I think the people would enjoy hearing our news. People I see all the time know what is going on. But I still take time to write notes into a very few of the cards for people I really don't get to see that have been special in my life.

As the years have gone by, we've lost people on the list as the generation ahead of us died. And we've had some casualties in our own age group as well. I used to use a Christmas Card Address book - I ended up marking it as these older relatives died. So as I addressed my cards . . . I would have an opportunity to bring them back to mind. With the computer generated list, I try to update it each year. But this year, I have several cards that I'll need to hand address - we lost friends and family again this year. Plus, I've got a few names to add that did not get added before I printed out the labels.

But my Christmas cards help me remember those special people. And I look forward to hearing from them, getting their Christmas letters that keep me aware of what has happened with them this year.

The last few years, I've been doing my own cards from photographs I've taken.

So for my readers who have not yet made it on my Christmas card list: I wish you an old fashioned Christmas filled with love, joy, and peace!

A Church Home

We had the blessing of taking both my inlaws in to church this morning. Due to ill health and the natural concerns about getting out in cold weather, they had not been going as regularly as they did in the past. But what a greeting they received this morning. As people saw them, they came from all over the auditorium to greet them literally with hugs and kisses. As she visited with her friends, my mother-in-law's face was the brightest and happiest I've seen it in a long time.

Having lived a long life, we've had several church homes, but I have permanent friends from all of them. These are people that you can go years without seeing and pick up right where you left off. These are people who are there for you when times are rough. And it is reciprocal, we are there for them when life's storm clouds hit.

Most of my closest friends come from the congregations we've been apart of. They are priceless in my life.

Oasis

America has a culture of productiveness. We value ourselves by what we accomplish. "Busy-ness" is part of our culture. Many things compete for our time.

My life has always had its hectic times. Currently trying to juggle starting a photography enterprise, the care for aging and ill relatives, finishing a Bible study book, and trying to attain and keep order in my home compete for my time. Stress is unavoidable.

But today, I have arrived at a life oasis. I left yesterday for the traditional birthday celebration with two of my closest friends. We are in Salado at a wonderful bed and breakfast on the creek.


This morning I got to spend time by the creek. Herons fished, birds sang, and little fish jumped out of the water. I closed my eyes for a different form of meditation and I felt the cool breeze on my face and even caught a whiff of the gentle smell of the creek.

My reading in my abundance book today:
"Take time to pamper yourself. This is especially important if you spend a great deal of time nurturing others. Your well will run dry if you don't give yourself permission to fill it. Your body needs rest."

I will have two days here in Salado. Time to sit by the creek, soak in the serenity, and center myself. A time to think of other things besides the things that are worthy of grief in my life right now.

Yes, I brought my computer and hard drive so that if I have some time, I can be "productive" while I am here.

But more important, is to fill the cups of serentity and peace - so that I will be ready to return both home and to Amarillo, re-equpped for the tasks God has laid out for me.