Sunday, January 09, 2011
Quick update...
Still working with behavior disordered kids in a group home. Still playing organ for weddings at church when they happen. Still serving on the worship & music committee at church. Still serving as mama-taxi driver, cell phone master (talk, no text!), homework monitor, and cook-it-quick queen for the 4 bear cubs and papa bear! DD1 is a freshman and busy with a myriad of activites, including fundraising for a People to People trip to Europe next summer! (Your prayer support is needed, and financial if you feel so led). DD2 is in 5th grade and quickly wrapping her elementary years. She's also in several different activities, including working towards her Bronze Award in Girl Scouting. DS1, also in 5th grade is in many of the same activities as his twin. He's nearing completion of his Arrow of Light in Cub Scouting, which will be conferred at next month's Blue & Gold Banquet. DS2 is doing all the things that a toddler-fast-turning-preschooler should be doing...coloring, Lego & block building, racing trains, trucks, and tractors across various paths, and generally being a good natured little man. DH is currently a SAHD and is doing some volunteering for various activities that the kids are in. Look for me to be around a bit more, as I need to do a better job of communicating, and I need to follow some blogs better, especially DD1's P2P blog! HUGS and sorry it's been soooo long! Now, if I can figure out how to link the blog and facebook, we might get somewhere faster! Or at least to Yahoo... Leah, do you know can I transport my blog ID, which started with my setting up a gmail account, to my Yahoo account exclusively...it's too much to follow more than 2 e-mails?!
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Thoughts on connections, lessons...
Wow! It's been forever since I've written anything in this space. It's early morning, and I'm up after a fussy boy woke me up, but then settled right back down after snuggling in with Jessie. So, I tended my farm (Farmville) and zoo (Zoo World) at Facebook, checked in on a few friends, and asked to become friends with a few more college friends I "found."
This cyber world can build so many connections. But I notice at times the disconnections too :( A friend that I used to call at least once a month or so as been relegated to sharing life on the farm and reading each other's wall posts. I'll be calling tomorrow. How often do we lose touch with people that we care about by letting technology take over? For that matter, even the phone can be problematic, when it gets in the way of the people we're with IRL...in real life! Losing my cell plan for several weeks provided an important lesson that I needed. I was so controlled by its ring, that I ignored the people I most needed to be connected to...my family. My kids complained that I was always on the phone, but it didn't register...I got defensive and didn't get the message that they NEEDED me. :(
Now, I have phone friends that sometimes get frustrated that I don't answer when they call, that I forget and leave my phone on silence. But those that truly love and care about me KNOW that I'm focusing on the most important people in my life. They know that if I'm able to answer and focus on them, I will...they're begining to recognize and appreciate that my time isn't so divided. That when I talk to them, I'm focused on them and not splitting my attention 20 different ways at once, like I used to. Sometimes, it seems odd how lessons come. But then, it shouldn't. God takes us where we're at, and uses the people and things in our lives to teach us what we need to learn. I'm so thankful I got this message now, be it ever so painful and hard to hear. My kiddos NEED to KNOW that I'm listening to them, now, not when I get off the phone. That doesn't mean that they don't need to learn patience and to wait sometimes, but given our circumstances, they need to be heard. And that will pay out big in the long run, I pray!
And with these meanderings and musings, I'm back to bed...I'm yawning and looking at a clock ticking away, all too soon it will be buzzing for me to get up, to begin a new day!
This cyber world can build so many connections. But I notice at times the disconnections too :( A friend that I used to call at least once a month or so as been relegated to sharing life on the farm and reading each other's wall posts. I'll be calling tomorrow. How often do we lose touch with people that we care about by letting technology take over? For that matter, even the phone can be problematic, when it gets in the way of the people we're with IRL...in real life! Losing my cell plan for several weeks provided an important lesson that I needed. I was so controlled by its ring, that I ignored the people I most needed to be connected to...my family. My kids complained that I was always on the phone, but it didn't register...I got defensive and didn't get the message that they NEEDED me. :(
Now, I have phone friends that sometimes get frustrated that I don't answer when they call, that I forget and leave my phone on silence. But those that truly love and care about me KNOW that I'm focusing on the most important people in my life. They know that if I'm able to answer and focus on them, I will...they're begining to recognize and appreciate that my time isn't so divided. That when I talk to them, I'm focused on them and not splitting my attention 20 different ways at once, like I used to. Sometimes, it seems odd how lessons come. But then, it shouldn't. God takes us where we're at, and uses the people and things in our lives to teach us what we need to learn. I'm so thankful I got this message now, be it ever so painful and hard to hear. My kiddos NEED to KNOW that I'm listening to them, now, not when I get off the phone. That doesn't mean that they don't need to learn patience and to wait sometimes, but given our circumstances, they need to be heard. And that will pay out big in the long run, I pray!
And with these meanderings and musings, I'm back to bed...I'm yawning and looking at a clock ticking away, all too soon it will be buzzing for me to get up, to begin a new day!
Friday, March 07, 2008
Rev. Gals Friday Five
What have you seen/ heard this week that was a :
1. Sign of hope?
The dawn of morning approaching the horizon as I drive to work at 5:45am...it's so encouraging to see just a wee bit of light to the east! It's a reminder that we are not abandoned in the dark place!
2. An unexpected word of light in a dark place?
My little boy saying "Mommy, you know what? You're the best" for no reason, and at that, after a really rough evening in which he definitely didn't think I was the best and told me so.
3. A sign of spring?
Hmmm...see number one! Also, hearing a friend that lives elsewhere in town talking about her early spring flowers starting to poke through the snow. Mine are still well buried. My tree isn't even budding yet!
4. Challenging/ surprising?
A 19 year old student at Loras College dying suddenly from bacterial menengitis...it was one of my husband's student workers girlfriend's best friend. Both his student worker and the girlfriend had spent last weekend hanging out with this girl...there are now 60 people on antibiotics who had close contact with her over the prior week. It's hard to hear of such tragedy.
5. Share a hope for the coming week/month/year....
That my pregnancy continues to go smoothly, that the house cleaning can be more tolerable and feel less overwhelming, and that my family is able to adapt to this huge change sanely!
Bonus play... a piece of music/ poem guaranteed to cheer you?
Anything by Rich & Trish Bruxvoort-Colligan
Also joining in the Poetry Parties at Abbey of the Arts!
1. Sign of hope?
The dawn of morning approaching the horizon as I drive to work at 5:45am...it's so encouraging to see just a wee bit of light to the east! It's a reminder that we are not abandoned in the dark place!
2. An unexpected word of light in a dark place?
My little boy saying "Mommy, you know what? You're the best" for no reason, and at that, after a really rough evening in which he definitely didn't think I was the best and told me so.
3. A sign of spring?
Hmmm...see number one! Also, hearing a friend that lives elsewhere in town talking about her early spring flowers starting to poke through the snow. Mine are still well buried. My tree isn't even budding yet!
4. Challenging/ surprising?
A 19 year old student at Loras College dying suddenly from bacterial menengitis...it was one of my husband's student workers girlfriend's best friend. Both his student worker and the girlfriend had spent last weekend hanging out with this girl...there are now 60 people on antibiotics who had close contact with her over the prior week. It's hard to hear of such tragedy.
5. Share a hope for the coming week/month/year....
That my pregnancy continues to go smoothly, that the house cleaning can be more tolerable and feel less overwhelming, and that my family is able to adapt to this huge change sanely!
Bonus play... a piece of music/ poem guaranteed to cheer you?
Anything by Rich & Trish Bruxvoort-Colligan
Also joining in the Poetry Parties at Abbey of the Arts!
Friday, February 29, 2008
Here's my latest post to Christine's Poetry Party . She posted a neat picture taken in Austria many years ago of her ancestors feeding pigeons in the town square. It reminded me of being in Milano, Italy on an American Music Ambassadors band tour. We had several hours to roam, but several of us stayed near the town center, drawn by the thousands of pigeons. Another participant in the Poetry Party made a comment questioning whether the people were feeding the pigeons, or the pigeons feeding the people. I echoed her sentiment, as my time in Milano was truly re-energizing...I was fed by the experience of being flocked by pigeons, some sitting on my arms and shoulders!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ASHES TO ONE
Ashes to Ashes
Dust to Dust
Of ashes you were born
To ashes you returned
One circle
One family
One body
The blood, sweat, toil
The heartfelt prayer
My gift to you,
for your gift to me
A blessing
A sacrifice
A memory
Connections…
Future and Past
The family constellation
A line of strong women
A line of strong men
Numbered like the stars
Inifinite in wisdom
Inifinite in grace
Inifinite in love
That love that connects
You to me
And me to you
Forever bound as one,
And as thousands.
As thousands of ashes
Floating above the flame
Fanning out to return to the earth
To fertilize new life
New generations.
We are one
Ashes to Ashes
Dust to Dust
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ASHES TO ONE
Ashes to Ashes
Dust to Dust
Of ashes you were born
To ashes you returned
One circle
One family
One body
The blood, sweat, toil
The heartfelt prayer
My gift to you,
for your gift to me
A blessing
A sacrifice
A memory
Connections…
Future and Past
The family constellation
A line of strong women
A line of strong men
Numbered like the stars
Inifinite in wisdom
Inifinite in grace
Inifinite in love
That love that connects
You to me
And me to you
Forever bound as one,
And as thousands.
As thousands of ashes
Floating above the flame
Fanning out to return to the earth
To fertilize new life
New generations.
We are one
Ashes to Ashes
Dust to Dust
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Shimmering in Ashes
Here is poem I created in honor of Pam, a "sister" at Abbey of the Arts, who is beginning a journey through breast cancer. She had surgery on Monday (yesterday) and we are holding her in prayer through our poetry. If you'd like to join in, just click on the link and scroll down to the Poetry Party, posted Feb. 4th, 2008.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From ashes we are created
In ashes we shimmer and live
To ashes we shall return
From Glorious Mother we are birthed
In the sacrifice of Her Son we are saved
In Abba Father we rest in glory at His side
The shimmer of this world
Begets a light we can not comprehend
The shimmer of this world
Point to the dark ridges between
Loving, living, hoping, praying
Singing, dancing, crying, paining
These are all a part of the shimmer
Though the shimmer of hope
Shines brightly in our hearts
For this dear sister
This one in our circle
Who needs our strength, our love, our care
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pam,
May you be blessed with all that you need in these coming days. May you feel our arms surrounding you, holding you up. And may you know that in this journey, you are not abandoned. Some of us have walked closer to your path than others…but we all care! --Karla
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From ashes we are created
In ashes we shimmer and live
To ashes we shall return
From Glorious Mother we are birthed
In the sacrifice of Her Son we are saved
In Abba Father we rest in glory at His side
The shimmer of this world
Begets a light we can not comprehend
The shimmer of this world
Point to the dark ridges between
Loving, living, hoping, praying
Singing, dancing, crying, paining
These are all a part of the shimmer
Though the shimmer of hope
Shines brightly in our hearts
For this dear sister
This one in our circle
Who needs our strength, our love, our care
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Pam,
May you be blessed with all that you need in these coming days. May you feel our arms surrounding you, holding you up. And may you know that in this journey, you are not abandoned. Some of us have walked closer to your path than others…but we all care! --Karla
Friday, February 01, 2008
The River
I posted this today at the Abbey of the Arts Poetry Party! I'm so inspired by Christine's images and everyone else's poetry and art! It's beautiful, breathtaking, and amazing! I'm so blessed to be in this circle of creativity!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The river will run
The river will turn
The river will swell
The river will dwell
Upon this river will I launch my vessel
Upon this river will I lunch and dine
Upon this river will I find my time
Upon this river will I dwell in peace
For here, amidst the rushing waters,
Is safety in the deep.
Though danger may lurk around the next bend,
I shall not fear, for my Lord is here.
The movement is calming,
exhilarating,
inspiring,
and always deepening.
My heart longs
To be back on the river,
the river of my childhood.
Where crickets chirped,
birds sang,
and leaves swayed in the breeze
Above the always moving water.
And so, in my minds eye,
in my heart,
in my memories,
I am still on the river...
At peace and forever inspired.
--Karla
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The river will run
The river will turn
The river will swell
The river will dwell
Upon this river will I launch my vessel
Upon this river will I lunch and dine
Upon this river will I find my time
Upon this river will I dwell in peace
For here, amidst the rushing waters,
Is safety in the deep.
Though danger may lurk around the next bend,
I shall not fear, for my Lord is here.
The movement is calming,
exhilarating,
inspiring,
and always deepening.
My heart longs
To be back on the river,
the river of my childhood.
Where crickets chirped,
birds sang,
and leaves swayed in the breeze
Above the always moving water.
And so, in my minds eye,
in my heart,
in my memories,
I am still on the river...
At peace and forever inspired.
--Karla
Fog
Here's something I posted at Christine's (Abbey of the Arts)Poetry Party a little over a week ago. It's a poem about the fog that's been so very present over Iowa this winter! Enjoy!
January 17th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Christine,
Sorry I’m so late in sharing, but have been pondering and playing with words for over a week, since Leah encouraged me to create again! In the midwest, over the last several weeks, we’ve had many school delays and cancellations because of the fog, so this hits closer to home right now. –Karla
+++++++++++++++++++++++
“Mommy, if it’s froggy again tomorrow, will we have school?”
“I hope so honey, you’ve already missed so many days!”
And the fury of planning for the unwanted inevitable drives the night into stress,
Into restless sleep, until the fog takes over and takes me deep, deep into my dreams.
Frog - That thick, oh so dense air, that one could cut with a knife
That mist which settles upon all things
Below 32 degrees, a winter wonderland of beauty ensues.
(But just don’t drive!)
Above 32, a damp, sometimes dreary, always calm aura arrives.
(And still don’t drive!)
This thick breath from heaven encircles me in silence
And in solitude
A reminder to “slow down”
To love that which you can, and can’t see
To contemplate the mysteries of the Holy
And wrap my eyes on the certainty that guides me
Foggy, froggy winter morns
Filled with sighs
Filled withwonder
Filled with moments to be still
With my God
To hear Her wonderous beckonings
To behold Her beauty
And hold, as the nursing mother, the gift She has bestowed
Gently rocking in the still quiet dark of Fog.
Thank you for this moment, Holy Mother.
Thank you.
January 17th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Christine,
Sorry I’m so late in sharing, but have been pondering and playing with words for over a week, since Leah encouraged me to create again! In the midwest, over the last several weeks, we’ve had many school delays and cancellations because of the fog, so this hits closer to home right now. –Karla
+++++++++++++++++++++++
“Mommy, if it’s froggy again tomorrow, will we have school?”
“I hope so honey, you’ve already missed so many days!”
And the fury of planning for the unwanted inevitable drives the night into stress,
Into restless sleep, until the fog takes over and takes me deep, deep into my dreams.
Frog - That thick, oh so dense air, that one could cut with a knife
That mist which settles upon all things
Below 32 degrees, a winter wonderland of beauty ensues.
(But just don’t drive!)
Above 32, a damp, sometimes dreary, always calm aura arrives.
(And still don’t drive!)
This thick breath from heaven encircles me in silence
And in solitude
A reminder to “slow down”
To love that which you can, and can’t see
To contemplate the mysteries of the Holy
And wrap my eyes on the certainty that guides me
Foggy, froggy winter morns
Filled with sighs
Filled withwonder
Filled with moments to be still
With my God
To hear Her wonderous beckonings
To behold Her beauty
And hold, as the nursing mother, the gift She has bestowed
Gently rocking in the still quiet dark of Fog.
Thank you for this moment, Holy Mother.
Thank you.
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