Mindfulness

I'm back from a wonderful long weekend away with my family, completely refreshed by the pleasure of their company, lovely weather and a relaxed pace.
Now, as we start a new school year, a new program year at the church, I am grateful for renewed energy. A friend at a women's luncheon read a Sarah Ben Breathnach quote about September resolutions and about how sensible they are. She writes elsewhere that "Gratitude is the heart's memory."

I have been mired in grief for so long. I know others who are, and healing takes a lot of time. I am, however, finding it so helpful to pray and I see all sorts of good things springing from prayer and keeping track of that for which I am grateful.

I am grateful for much. I have wonderful, healthy children who are thriving. I have a supportive and loving spouse who has meaningful work. I serve a wonderful community of faith and have remarkable colleagues. I am grateful to have the opportunity to befriend myself, and I am grateful to Jon Kabat-Zinn for that phrase.

Long Weekend Celebration

DH and FBC have birthdays this week. We're celebrating those and the long Labor Day weekend by resting from our labors (we're so glad that we have labor from which to rest!!) and from school work (SBC has had a very impressive first two weeks of 10th grade) by heading to see these folks (and our girl) at their first home football game (FBC is one of the marching band managers):





Have a wonderful weekend!

An important read

I think this post by Brian McLaren is a timely and important read.

Friday Five: Affirmations

Singing Owl at RevGalBlogPals writes:

Lately I seem to be encountering many people who have a very difficult time finding anything good to say about themselves. They are able to extend grace and forgiveness to others but find it difficult to extend that same grace to themselves.
With that in mind, let's share some healthy affirmation today! Tell us five things you like about yourself!

1.I'm a good listener.
























2.I'm a quick study.








3.I'm emotionally flexible. (Physically, not so much.)















4.I am good mediator.


















5.I make a fine cup of tea.











Images from here,here,here,here,here, and here.

Friday Five: The Rules

Jan offers today's thought-provoking Friday Five on rules and expectations. As a parent raising teenagers, I'm reminded on a daily basis of the norms, spoken and unspoken, of family/communal life.

Here are her questions and my thoughts:

"...how about writing about rules in your families and workplaces? Choose one or more for each category, especially if one seems odd or funny to you now."

1. Formal rules in family of origin
I grew up in a family full of women. My mother, aunt and grandmother raised me. We made lots of mistakes, certainly enabled some less than desirable behaviors, but mostly lived by the rules "Don't let the sun go down on your anger" and "Love makes room" and...
Put your napkin in your lap.

2. Unwritten and unspoken rules in family of origin
Don't be passive-aggressive. It's unattractive and unloving.
Call before you visit.

3. Formal rules in current family or workplace
Come have fun at the February staff Christmas party. (We work for the Church. Who has time for a Christmas party in December? Or January, for that matter?)

4. Unwritten rules in current family or workplace
In my workplace, all of our office doors are open, unless we're in a private meeting. Either way, always knock and pause before entering an office.

5. When was a time that you became aware of different rules in different places/families than your own?
The family into which I married lives by drop-in visits. That was new to me.
I learned to like it... (kind of...)

Responsibility vs. Blame

A number of women authors keep me honest about work-life balance--- or a phrase I prefer: work-life harmony-- and I am grateful for their sensitive, warm and humorous observations.

I've already written about my admiration for Patti Digh. I enjoy Jennifer Louden's writing and Victoria Moran's as well.

For about a month now, I've been attending to nutrition and exercise diligently and with good results, some behavioral and some physical. I'm losing weight like crazy, I'm working on the Couch to 5k program, and best of all, I feel so much more sane. I am happier, have more energy,and am far less prone to mood swings.

In one section of Moran's book, Fit From Within, she writes of the importance of taking responsibility rather than placing blame and the profound difference between saying, "I take responsibility for my life" versus "It's all my fault." I'm thinking a lot about those words as I consider my own habits, newly forming and reshaping, as well as the difference blame and responsibility have for our society and our world. At home, at work, in our communities of faith, in our interfaith conversations, in the political realm...oh, such a difference between responsibility and blame.

It's food for thought...and prayer...and dialogue.

Great graphic from here.

The Last Day of July

Summer feels like it's galloping by. Our kids are busy (work and mission trip), a giant three day concert comes to town in two weeks and they are psyched, and then it will be time for FBC to head back to college. DH completes his first full week of work (again, we give thanks)and I have a wedding for a delightful couple tonight.

I've read some terrific books lately: Autumn Gospel and Winter Grace by Kathleen Fischer and Sin Boldly by Cathleen Falsani have all made me think. I could not put down The New Jew by Sally Srok Friedes, her memoir of converting from Catholicism to Judaism. Right now I'm reading purely for fun: The Wildwater Walking Club, Home Safe, and Prayers for Sale. I'm hoping for some quality time this weekend to sit outside and read.

Hope you have some dog days of summer time on your calendar, too.


Image found here.