Hope

My father was stationed in Germany during the Korean conflict.  It is the hope of any soldier who is stationed far from home to be able to be back in the arms of loved ones.  One can only imagine how this hope and yearning is particularly heightened during holidays.

I don’t know that my father is writing to my mother, but it would be nice to imagine.  “Hoping all is well.  Hoping to see you soon.”

My father was overseas when my mother was expecting my oldest brother.  An expectant mother…full of hopes for her child…and full of hope for her loved one to return safely.

Parents hoping for the safe return of their son.

*Thank-you to all the men and women serving our country, with hopes for your safe return.*

- Best wishes from the wife of a retired sky watcher.

Candle Lighter Award

I received a surprise today about my blog!  I was nominated for, and gladly accept the Candle Lighter Award created by Kate Kresse.  Here is a link to Kate’s blog where she explains more about this award.
http://believeanyway.wordpress.com/2011/12/18/creation-of-new-blog-award-the-candle-lighter-award/

Thank-you, Kate!

Take a moment to give someone support.  Be encouraging.  Edify…not only when you blog, but as often as you can…every day.

 

Simple

 

My maternal grandmother at the beach.  The 1920’s…I love the simplicity of what she’s wearing.  At that time many of the gadgets we now take for granted didn’t exist.  A reminder that some of the things we think are simple were considered marvels at the time.

This is one my favorite pictures of my maternal grandfather. He’s enjoying a book in the backyard of the house where I grew up. Nothing fancy, just a basic lawn chair and some sunshine. It brings back some great memories of simpler times.

My paternal grandfather.  The timeframe is probably the late 1920’s, maybe the early 1930’s.   Those in my family who have a musical bent inherited this from him.  He made complicated music sound so simple.  I can close my eyes and still hear it.

I absolutely love this picture of my paternal grandmother. She looks so lovely with her simple white hat.

Forward to this weekend.  A plant that I’ve had for a few years bloomed this week. I had no idea it would flower! My grandmothers would laugh as they knew how to keep a garden!  One simple elegant flower just made my morning and made me think of my grandparents.

I made a simple cup of tea as I usually do.  It’s been good to reminisce about simple things and simpler times.

Peaceful – Part 2

Thank-you everyone for your comments on my previous post Peaceful.  I am very grateful for all the comments and support.  I also discovered how diverse and talented all of you are as I got to explore your posts!

This is my view of peaceful…or one of them.  It had been a while since I’ve strummed and picked a few chords.  I took a break for a number of reasons.  Recently I felt a stirring.  I knew I needed to play again.  Whenever I run into certain people they say to me, “Don’t stop singing…please…don’t stop.”  It’s part of who I am…and it is one thing that beings me peace.

I also enjoyed watching my husband as he relaxed and listened.  I know he’s missed this as well.

Peaceful…

p. s.  On a different note (no pun intended!) I admit I’m also posting a similar photo to Cathy’s Crochet Corner as the fingerless gloves are a recent creation.   It was fun to test them out while I was playing.  Enjoy!

Peaceful

Peaceful…Through my daughter’s eyes…

I thought about this for a while.  There are some photos I’ll probably post later that are more related to my own view of this.  In the meantime, I kept coming back to the way my daughter expresses herself.

Since my daughter is not verbal, I don’t really know how she would define “peaceful.”  As I was considering this I began to think about the way she views the world.  Like many people with autism, she is compulsive about the way her belongings are ordered.  It’s important for everything to be in a particular place.  This makes her calm.  Perhaps you can say she’s at peace.

The front part of our house is her domain.  Even though she is a teenager, the space consists of stuffed animals, bins with lots of small toys, crayons, inflatables of all sizes and a brightly colored mat where she hangs out.

Her best pal is a giant stuffed gorilla named Nejo.  It’s short for conejo, rabbit in Spanish.  He got this name because he looks like the small gorilla my grandmother gave Mija.  My grandmother was in her nineties; her eyesight was failing.  She kept saying to give the conejo to the baby.  We finally realized she was talking about the little stuffed gorilla a volunteer in the nursing home gave her.

When Mija was smaller she would pounce against him, or lean against him when she watched TV.

At the moment Nejo lies on the floor with a toy on top of him.  We don’t know why the toy is there except that it makes Mija happy.  That’s what counts.  I wouldn’t dream of moving it.  For some reason this toy and Nejo belong together.

Mija orders the world in ways that don’t always make sense to me.  That’s okay.  It’s her world and it’s important that I learn to live in there with her.  Too often she is asked to live in ours.  That isn’t always easy for her.

When Nejo and all the other stuffed animals and toys are in their place my daughter is content.  She could spend hours “fixing” everything if so inclined.

The picture at the start of this post is one of the piles of stuffed animals that she arranges and rearranges until they are just so.  This set sits on the floor between the toy bins.  Across the room she also has inflatable beach balls and a pile of crayons that she doesn’t use too much any more…but don’t try to move them!  She enjoys the pile just where it is…

It’s her space, her world.  She put everything in it’s place the way she thinks it should be.

…and that is fine with us…it is the way it is meant to be.

Letter to a (Former?) Bishop

This week the Los Angeles Archdiocese announced that a well-loved bishop resigned as he has fathered two children; they are now teenagers.

The announcement was brief but powerful.  It acknowledged that this is sad and disappointing; it recognized that the reaction and impact will be widespread.

I have been debating about writing this post as it is not my intent to start a debate about Catholic priests and marriage; nor is it my intent to start a debate on the history of scandals in the church.  That being said, I’m aware these comments may still be made.  I respect that.

The shock, sadness and dismay expressed throughout numerous communities are completely understandable.  My personal take on this may be different than some.  I have a short note to express to the former bishop. (Is that the right terminology for a bishop who has resigned?)

I met you before you were ordained.  We called you Gabby. I imagine that fewer people call you that now, but the part of me that is speaking to you is the young person from a parish in East Los Angeles.

You were a deacon in the parish where I was both a music minister and an active leader in the youth group.  Over the years I’ve recognized that I have my shortcomings.  There have been times when I fell and fell hard.  I struggled with the impacts of mistakes that I’ve made…but after reading the announcement of your resignation and why this has happened…well, this is very difficult to fathom.

I reflect back on those times, more than 30 years ago.  You typically had a smile on your face and a warmth that people appreciated.  You were excited to fulfill your vocation.

I have no doubt that back then you saw a road that was full of promise and opportunity to do good.  It’s difficult to comprehend the road that has led to this announcement.

Gabby, what happened? Can you help us understand this?

After your ordination you were assigned to another parish.  We met again briefly about 10 years later.  I had a lot on my mind and you listened intently to what I had to say.  That is my last personal memory of you. 

I am saddened that the work you have done over the years and the causes that you championed may now be called into question.  It is my hope that this can be placed in some type of perspective.

As much I have have been confused and disappointed, I wish you peace.  I pray that you have peace.

Such promise…

Gabby, what happened?

Start of 2012 – No New Year Resolutions Here

I just read a Facebook post by my sister.  Looks like she has a lot of milestones ahead and much to do in 2012.  She has a lot of energy and is very vibrant.  Good for her! Looks like her year will be filled with a lot of activities.

Funny how siblings can sometimes be so different!

I started the year quietly and slowly.  I would like to ease into the new year, but I know better.  I was away from work for the last week of the year.  It was been extremely relaxing.  I couldn’t have asked for more.

I know the moment I get back to work everything will take off very quickly.  My calendar will be full and I will be extremely busy.  I savor the moments of quiet whenever I can take them.

Years ago I decided not to make resolutions for the new year.  It turned out to be a significant decision.  I came to the realization that resolutions are not just for the new year. There is responsibility in this as decisions to improve one’s self are on-going. They can be made any day and renewed every day.

Sure, there are some things that I would like to do in the coming year.  I used to play music on a regular basis.  I stopped a couple of years ago.  I had lost the desire to play.  I had to let that part of me go for a time.

That part of me is stirring again.  It’s something that I suspect I will explore.  It doesn’t mean I’m inclined to play publicly as I had in the past; however, the fact that I’m sensing this part of me is important.  I need to listen to that.

There are also areas in my life where I could use a bit of a push.  I don’t need to make any resolutions.  These hurdles are staring me in the face so I just need to get moving! No surprises there.

I started this blog as one means of being creative.  I’m enjoying this expression.  I know I’ll continue.  I don’t expect to post every day, but weekly is do-able.  *Thank-you to all who follow my journey.*

I can’t predict what the new year will bring.  I’m okay with that.

You can call it a trust walk, or a faith walk.  It’s important for me to acknowledge this.  It’s at the center of who I am.

No matter what, when I wake up every morning I intrinsically know that I have one more day to bless and to be blest.

Have a safe and prosperous new year.  Make it a good one, no matter what you resolve to do.