I've been on vacation. And, now it's over. In spite of the beauty and rest, there's still no place like home.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Vacations
Labels:
family and life
Saturday, October 03, 2009
Gaze into the Preciousness
Need I say more?
Would you love to sit with this sweet gent and here his life story? How can you celebrate the elders in your life? What can you do to honor them? Here, I celebrate Betty. Just the other day, while sitting on the cliff overlooking Laguna Beach two older daughters brought their elderly parents to sit down and rest while they took a beach walk. I patted the seat next to me and invited them to sit while I told the daughters (I am presuming in their 40's), "Don't worry, I'll take care of them."
While sitting there I engaged in a bit of a conversation - or tried to - with both of them. I sensed they were Persian and knew that they'd have some wonderful story to tell. It was only the gentlemen that had enough English to chat. I had so many questions one being, "What do you think of the present leader of Iran?" With great sadness he shared and said Iran will be better when he is gone of which I asked how would that happen? I asked what he thought about the previous Shah of Iran and learned that this gentlemen was in prison during that shah's dictatorship rule. Interesting, though, was this gentlemen said he changed his mind now about that Shah saying he wasn't so bad - at least was progressive for Iran.
When the daughters came back I told them how much history their father has and asked them if they'd ever sat him down and wrote down his story and that of their mother. Nope, they'd not. I strongly encouraged them to do so and shared how I'd done that with my grandfather and that do so is so honoring of the elders in our life. I told them that I'd learned things about my grandfather that I'd never had known nor would it be passed on as part of our legacy had I not spent that precious time doing so.
Not too sure I'd convinced them, I repeated myself saying that it would give their parents great honor to do so. This precious Iranian man was understanding what I was saying at this point and something must have warmed his heart at my words because as I in honor kissed them and they me good bye - this elder man gently grabbed my head, kissed my forehead and called me his daughter. I'm still gazing into preciousness with that moment.
Don't neglect the littles or the elders in your presence. You don't know how much time they or you have left. Engage into their life space - putting your own aside. Get to know them - whether it be your little children or your parents or your grandparents. Get to know the stranger (cultural appropriateness, I understand) by listening and asking questions about their life and their thoughts.
I become a better woman because I seek to do that in those spaces and places that God puts me.
Go, love on an elder today and go love on a child today. If you neglect those faces in front of you the one you're really neglecting is yourself. For more beautiful ideas, visit Melissa's The Inspired Room.
Labels:
Celebrating Little Things
Friday, October 02, 2009
The Beauty of Pink
There's something that happens when women join hearts and hands for the sake of the cause of women who are hurting, abused, sick and neglected and this month women are declaring their support for one cause that effects all women - one way or the other - National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
In honor of my sisters and mothers and daughters that have been touched by breast cancer - I express my support with the beauty of pink.
Fall Is In The Air
One of my favorite garden spots is Rogers Gardens in Newport Beach and while here for a few vacation days I didn't have to ask but once that Michael would linger through the color spots here. Fall is in the air. What have you done to bring in those wonderful fall touches? For more beauty head on over here and here.
Labels:
The Simple Home
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Na-Da Farm Life with Anne Marie: Barter........from farm to city
This idea of bartering keeps coming across our minds. As a matter of fact just day, while on a little lunch date, Michael mentions bartering and what that might look like.
While sipping my afternoon cup of French Press, I perused Anne Maries Farm blog and - would you believe it - she's thinking the same thing too. I'd love to hear your bartering thoughts.
Your Kitchen: The Center of Your Home
It wasn't till I left home and had my own family did I realize the importance and value of the family meal table. Even though my mother worked many years while I was at home, there wasn't a time that I remember that a home cooked meal carefully prepared wasn't on the table. Driving through McDonalds for a burger was a "once in a blue moon" treat - not the norm. Pizza or sub sandwiches were also a treat on rare occasions.
The other thing I realized, in looking back at my home life, was just how much my mom loved her kitchen. To this day she still does. Dishes were washed, dried and put away. "Stuff" on the counter was kept to a minimum displaying those kitchen tools that were needed for cooking and baking. The kitchen was the center of our home. Life flowed from that place of nurture.
How do you view your kitchen? As the hub or center of your home? Or a place that you just have to continually clean? Is it a place to create and provide nurture or a place where you don't give much thought to?
For me, life flows from my kitchen. Here's one of my favorite comfort foods.
Labels:
From my kitchen
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