Renew Your Spirit Sunday with Autumn

According to my calendar, it's fall now. We've passed the magical day of the autumnal equinox, and the days are continuing to shorten as we work our way toward winter.

According to our electric bill, it's still summer. The weather continues to hover around the upper 80s and into the 90s, and it's rather humid.

Autumn is when I miss the Midwest. It gets chilly earlier in the year there than it does here, and I'm always eager to make the switch from the sweltering heat to the coolness of fall.

And the trees aren't as pretty here. There are trees with leaves that change, but because it stays so much warmer here than in the Midwest, not all of the leaves fall. And there are lots of palm trees, too. It's just not the same.

Autumn is my favorite season. There is just something I love about stepping outside to feel that little bit of a chill in the air and needing a jacket in the evenings and seeing the brightly colored leaves all over. There's nothing quite like snuggling into your favorite sweater or hoodie and wrapping your hands around a hot cup of coffee on a cool morning.

I'm not a big fan of pumpkin spice everything, but I can look past it for everything else.

There's still a little bit of time until I'll feel like autumn is really here. Until then, I'll keep looking longingly at my autumn clothes, waiting somewhat patiently until I can start dressing a little cozier.

Does it feel like autumn where you are?

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with Family Fun Days

Usually we try to do "family fun day" on Saturdays, but this week it worked out better to be on Sunday. Mostly due to the weather forecast.

So this morning after breakfast, we took the kids to a park nearby to play and let Puck drive his remote-control car on a big slab of pavement.

It was fun. There was a playground, and Puck conquered some of his fears of being up high and jumping down from being "too high"*, and the munchkins made a new friend in a boy named Vincent. It was fun.

This afternoon has been spent watching Disney movies and cartoons.** It's been a good day, and I definitely feel renewed. I'll miss the munchkins while they're at Monty's this week, but I feel ready for the new week to start.

How has your weekend been?






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*With quite a bit of gentle, parental pushing from me.

**The kids are allowed to watch TV on Friday afternoons, and all day Saturday and Sunday, but not during the week.

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with wine and chocolate

Yesterday Bo and I went over to Dantielle's for a Dove chocolate party.* We tasted chocolate (paired with wines), then stayed for dinner and conversation. There was also talk of playing Cards Against Humanity, which I've never played, but I had to get home to meet a deadline, unfortunately.

It was a fun evening, and a good opportunity to spend time with Bo's sister and brother-in-law. I adore having family so close for support and friendship, and the more I get to know Bo's family, the more thankful I am they're in my life.

And if they ply me with wine and chocolate, well....that just means they know me.

We're going to plan a night just for games soon, and in the meantime, we have a delivery of chocolatey goodies to look forward to.






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*Yeah, this is a real thing. And it's just as awesome as it sounds.

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with art

Bo and I had a wonderful day. After breakfast at a nice little diner (where our server tried to ignore us and the other diners stared unapologetically*) we went to the Orlando Museum of Art.

It was quiet and peaceful and I loved the contemporary art exhibit. As always, wandering around looking at other people's creativity made me want to explore my own creativity in new ways.

We took our time and wandered, so we ended up going backwards through a few of the rooms. (Is there a backwards in an art museum or gallery?) We saw everything, then took a quick walk through the gift shop on the way out (I love a little shop), and decided we will likely be back. The contemporary art exhibit runs through September 7th, and when the next exhibit is installed, I'll be ready for my next reflective walk through the museum.

In the meantime, I'll have to do some searching to find out what other galleries are in Orlando that I might want to wander through. You can never have enough art.






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*More on that in an upcoming post.

Renew Your Spirit Sunday

I used to post Renew Your Spirit Sunday with some regularity. I got away from it, but I think it would be good for me to return to it, not from a religious point of view, but from a mental/emotional spiritual point of view. So it's back.

This week I want to talk about incorporating meditation into my life. While I'm by no means hardcore at meditating, I've been trying to incorporate it into my lifestyle more and more.

I've found that, in the instances in which I do meditate, I feel better and more present in my life. I'm able to let go of the stresses and obstacles that make me clench my jaw throughout the day.

I don't feel quite ready to sit and not think for twenty or thirty minutes at a time, so I'm beginning by doing yoga, and trying to concentrate on my movements and breathing during the yoga sessions. (Plus, I can use yoga to be working toward my health goals.) This will, essentially, be an introduction to meditation for me.

I think once I feel more comfortable with the meditative aspects of yoga, I will continue by doing more traditional meditation (at least when the munchkins are asleep or with Monty). I would like very much to be able to simply sit and be still, and I think meditation will be one path toward that goal.

Hopefully, the yoga, along with other positive steps I'm taking in my life, will help me be much more at peace.

Centering and grounding

Image courtesy of dan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I used to use Sundays as a "renew your spirit" day here on the blog. I used it for that in my life, as well. Most Sundays I went to worship services at my UCC church and sang in the choir, and used the sermons as inspiration to refocus, center myself, and prepare for the week ahead. It was valuable to me to use that time to let go of frustrations from the week before.

Now, however, I don't attend church services. I know I don't need any kind of community service (although there is a nearby Unitarian Universalist congregation [is that the right word?] I may visit), but I do want to find some way to continue that refocusing each week so I don't get mired in some of the frustrations I'm going through right now.

That being said, I've decided to restart a yoga practice, as well as start meditating regularly. In addition to the physical health benefits of yoga as exercise, I think these two things will help me in the same way worship services did, but allow me to stay focused inward (knowing what I need to do to accomplish my goals) rather than outward (I can't do it without god). Sundays will still be a day for me to focus myself for the week to come, but in a different way. In my opinion, it will be a better way.

If I feel the need for a sense of community that once came with the UCC services, I'm sure I can find another community that meets regularly to get that same feeling of support and belonging, whether it be at UU meetings, in a secular reading/poetry/yoga/meditation group, or even among parents at an activity for the munchkins. There are always sources of support for people who need them. It doesn't have to be a church.

How do you center and refocus yourself each week? Where do you get support and community?

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with Your Mountain

Yesterday I went to a family dinner to celebrate my mom being done with school and having passed her boards. Tomorrow she starts her orientation for her shiny new job as an RN on the hospice ward of a hospital. It's the job she wanted, o frabjous day!

I say this as a prelude to the real intention of this post (and it does relate to the post).

During the family dinner, I had a really great conversation with my brother. Chronologically he is younger than me, but we're close in age, and we've always had a big brother-little sister kind of relationship. We watch out for each other. I know that he's always there for me. And that has never been more apparent than it was last night.

We were talking about some upcoming changes in my life. My brother knows I'm worried about some things that are to come and how it'll all play out.

My brother has had some really rough patches. I won't go into details, but he's had a hard life, and he's fought his way out of it to where he is now. He's got a good job, a beautiful family, and he's on his way to where he wants to be. I'm incredibly proud of how much he's grown and changed.

He told me that one thing that he was able to hold on to every step of the way was that it's going to be okay. Every time he hit bottom, he knew he would be able to pick back out of it, and that, ultimately, it would be okay. He told me he knows that with these changes in my life, it's going to be okay. It's going to be a hard transition, and there will be some rough spots, but it's going to be okay.

He told me that everything that's happened to him has gotten him to where he is. He's gone through the swamps and forests and now he's standing at the bottom of the mountain, ready to climb. This is where he's supposed to be.

He told me that these changes in my life are to put me at the bottom of my mountain, to set me on my path. It's going to be hard, but this is where I'm supposed to go.

Last night was one of those incredibly significant conversations in my life, the kind that I'll remember for a long, long time, and refer back to when I need inner strength or peace or just something to hold on to in order to get me through to the next bright spot.

I have an awesome brother.

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with a Peaceful Path

As you may or may not know, my life is generally chaotic. There's been a lot going on in my personal life, and I've had some difficult decisions to make.

The good news is that today, I've come to a major decision about how to move forward with something, and I feel very much at peace about the path I've chosen.

Today I'm thankful for the incredible love and support I have in my family and friends, people who support my journey no matter where it takes me.

I don't know exactly what's to come in the future, but I know that where I'm headed is a good place, and that I'm strong enough to take this journey.

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with Music

Today is a special day. This afternoon, I have the privilege to be in a choir performance celebrating a friend's 35 years in music ministry.

Music is a big part of my spiritual walk, and I am blessed to get to sing with Sean every week at church since he plays piano and organ at my home church. His music helps bring my heart to a quiet place for services, celebrate and praise, and sends me to a busy week with a spirit centered right where it needs to be. He may not know it, but Sean's ministry at church is important to me. I'm so thankful to be able to sing with him every week, and especially in the church choir.

Music is like that, isn't it? It has a way of touching souls, connecting people, and moving something in us that no other art form can. Music is special, and people who dedicate their lives to music--like Sean--are special, too.

In an article for the local paper, Sean mentioned that when he was little, an organist introduced him to the organ. She showed him how it worked and let him sit beside her. It was her patience and care in fostering curiosity that led to Sean pursuing the organ.

I would like to note that it's Sean who introduced my son to the organ. We were in church one Sunday, sitting close to the front on the organ side of the sanctuary, and Puck realized that the music he was hearing was coming from the organ pipes, but that Mr. Sean was making the music off to the side. He became completely entranced by the music.

After the service, while Sean was still at the organ, I took Puck up to show him, and explained that Mr. Sean played the keys and pedals, and the music came from the pipes. So Sean showed Puck how it worked, showed him how to adjust the volume, and told Puck that when he's tall enough to reach the pedals, he can learn, too.

I don't know if Puck is going to learn to play piano and organ or not. If he does, I'll make sure he knows that it's thanks to Mr. Sean that he started.

And in the meantime, we'll continue to share in Sean's ministry and celebrate with him.

Congratulations, Sean, and thank you for your beautiful ministry to the community.

Renew your Spirit Sunday with family

 

Today is Mother's Day. I am blessed to be able to spend the day quietly at home with Puck and Tink. They're napping now, which is good since they didn't exactly sleep last night. When they get up, we'll continue a quiet day at home, interrupted later by a trip to the store for a few grocery necessities and a trip through the car wash, which Puck has been begging me for since he got back from Monty's house.

Mother's Day is weird to me. I read numerous blog posts today that say that today emphasizes the stereotype that a woman's life is not fulfilled without children, and that mothers are somehow better than other women in society. I don't necessarily disagree, and while I love the opportunity to remind my mother how thankful I am for her, and for our incredible relationship, I think it's much more important to instead celebrate families, whatever that term means to you.

Not everyone is a mother. Not everyone knows their own mother. That doesn't make family any less significant. So today I am celebrating my children, my parents, siblings, cousins, aunts, uncles, and the friends I consider my family. I would not be where I am without each and every person in my life, and I love them all. I celebrate them all.

Happy Family Day.

Renew your Spirit Sunday with a party!

Today we're celebrating my mom's graduation with her BSN (from my alma mater, in fact). She's worked long and hard, and truly earned her degree.

So we're getting together at Granny's house for food and congratulations.

I love getting together with the family. It's a chance to catch up on everyone's lives, spoil the munchkins a bit (Granny always has sweet treats!), and renew your spirit. Being surrounded by people I love and who also love me is just what I need to feel re-energized for the week ahead.

In past years, I was far from my family, and felt alone. Now that I'm back home, I want to be sure to be with my family as often as I can, and be sure that Puck and Tink get plenty of time with their aunts, uncles and cousins, too. Family is very valuable to me; I want the kids to understand that value, as well.

How are you renewing your spirit today?

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with light in the winter

Yesterday was the winter solstice. The longest night of the year. And today (which existed because the end of the Mayan calendar was not actually the end of anything except that particular calendar), marks the beginning of the return of light to the world. The days are starting to get longer again.

You know, that's something I love about winter holidays: the light.

In Christianity, Christmas marks the birth of Christ, bringing light and hope to the world. The Advent wreath (pictured to the right) is lit in preparation for the birth of Christ. The lights represent love, peace, joy and hope, which are brought by Christ's birth and ministry on Earth. Some Advent wreaths also have a white candle, which represents Christ, and is lit on Christmas Day.

According to the Bible, Christ's birth was marked by light in the form of a star guiding the shepherds and Magi to Bethlehem to welcome the little one.

In Judaism, Hanukkah is also known as the Festival of Lights, celebrated with actual light in the form of the Menorah. In Jewish tradition, the story is told of the Maccabees who were to purify a Temple by burning ritual oil for eight days. There was only one day's worth of oil left in the Temple, but the menorah miraculously burned for eight days.

During Hanukkah, candles on a menorah are lit each day for eight days, representing the menorah that burned in the Temple. Hanukkah is really a minor holiday in the Jewish calendar, but has gained popularity because of how close to Christmas it falls.

And in Earth-based spiritual traditions, Yule (the winter solstice) is the celebration of the turn of the seasons, and light beginning to return to the days as spring approaches. It, too, is a festival of light. Many people burn a Yule log in their homes to bring light back into them, just as the solstice itself brings light back to the Earth.

I've seen adaptations of the Yule log in which it is a candle holder (similar to an Advent wreath) for homes that don't have a fireplace, but the intention is the same: to bring light into our homes and lives.

I need light in my life, especially with the transitions I've been going through over the last year. So even though Puck and Tink won't be home until closer to New Year's, I'm excited to celebrate winter with them, to bring light into our lives together, as a family.

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with Joy

For those who practice Christian traditions, today is Gaudete Sunday. It's the third week of Advent, and the Sunday in which we celebrate joy.

That's a difficult concept for me today, for many of us this week, especially for those affected by the tragedy that occurred in Connecticut.

I know that I could never ask others to find joy in the midst of what they're going through this week. But I must find joy this week, especially since my true joy--Puck and Tink--are with Monty for another couple of weeks.

I don't know how to really make sense of what has happened, and I can't even imagine what the people of Connecticut are going through. I haven't written about it here because I don't know what to say. I don't feel that any words are enough, so all I can do is pray, and find joy in my own life, to try desperately to cling to joy for those who are unable.

Today I found joy in music. I sang with the choir at morning worship, and I think the song was incredibly fitting for today. So I share the lyrics with you here.

Hope, Peace, Joy and Love

Words and music by Joseph M. Martin (BMI)

Hope is like a candle burning in the night.

Hope paints every shadow with its gentle light.

Glowing like a promise till our faith is sight.

Hope is like a candle in the night.

Peace is like sweet music sounding pure and strong,

Singing songs of comfort when the night is long.

Turning drums of hatred into heaven's song,

Peace is like sweet music pure and strong.

Joy is like a flower blooming in the soul,

Sending forth its fragrance to heal and make us whole.

And when bitter winds are blowing, when birds refuse to sing,

Joy can turn our winter into spring.

Love is like a diamond wrapped in purest gold.

Nothing is more precious, nothing bought or sold.

Pearl of heaven's glory, wondrous to behold,

Love is like a diamond wrapped in gold.

Joy is like a flower.

Peace is like sweet music.

Hope is like a candle in the night.

May the people of Connecticut find peace and hope so that they may find joy.

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with Freedom, Beauty, Truth and Love

Those who know me know 2012 has been a difficult year. I've had personal and professional challenges, and while things are significantly better than they were (especially in comparison to this time last year), I know there are still a lot of challenges ahead of me.

And yet, I am in a better place than I have been in a long time.

Despite these challenges, I am doing well, I am happy, and am continuing to move forward to achieve my goals. 2013 is going to be a good year.

I didn't always feel this way. For a while I really felt I wasn't making any progress, and that anything that could go wrong did. It was frustrating, and the longer it went on, the more frustrating it was. And the more frustrating it got, the longer it seemed to last.

But, thankfully, things are different now. I know a lot of it has to do with changes I made in myself. I have a much better understanding of who I am now, what I want out of life, and where I'm going. I'm actively working to focus on the positive aspects of my life. Call it hippie-dippy if you will, but it's made an outstanding impact on my life. Sure, there are still days in which I struggle. Though I strive to be positive, I also look at the world realistically. There will always be bad days, but the way I react to those days is different.

Life is too short to waste my energy on anxiety and anger. So instead, I use my energy on things that matter.

There is a cliche that says "Attitude is everything." While I don't necessarily completely agree, I do think attitude makes a big difference. And I've noticed that, in my own life, if I take the effort to smile and laugh on bad days or when facing a particular challenge, eventually I forget about the negative feelings I had and I'm able to carry on with a good day.

Only I am in control of whether or not I have a good day. And if I'm going to have a good day, I won't let anyone take it from me.

I strive for freedom, beauty, truth and love. And in striving for those qualities, I managed to find myself full of peace, and in harmony with the world around me.

Viva la vie Boheme.

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with Discovery

My family and I are definitely renewing our spirits today! After church service this morning, we're spending the day full of discovery and childlike wonder. We've talked to Puck a little about what we're going to do, but he doesn't know what it is, so it's hard for him to really understand and get excited about it. No matter--I've been excited enough to cover his lack of excitement.

I've wanted to take the kids to this place, and it worked out well to be able to today. In fact, Nanny, EddaMae, and Bug are able to go, too! It's sure to be a great family day.

Puck and Tink will be spending the bulk of December (including Christmas) with Monty, so I'm thankful to be able to spend some time on an adventure* with them. Not only will this be a great opportunity for Puck and Tink to play and discover new things, but they'll be getting some quality time with Bug, too. Since I'm not Bug's daycare anymore, Puck and Tink don't get to spend as much time with her as they'd like, so days like today are precious for the cousins.

How are you renewing your spirit today?











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*Anytime we do something fun, from going to the park to a big trip like today, Puck calls it an "adventure."

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with quiet days

My calendar has been busy this month, both for work and my personal life. November is already looking just as busy. So today I'm taking advantage of being able to have a quiet day at home.

I like being busy, especially when Puck and Tink are visiting Monty. It helps that time pass more quickly, and I like feeling productive. That being said, everyone needs downtime. That's the point of having "Renew Your Spirit Sunday," after all. It gives you the chance to prepare your mind for the coming week.

I am singing in the choir at morning service, but when I get home, I may just put my pajamas back on and snuggle under an afghan to watch movies and drink coffee (or tea) all day. (Netflix is a wonderful thing for movie days!)

Next Sunday, Puck and Tink will be back, and while we may have a quiet day at home, it will be of a very different sort. But for today, afghans and hot drinks should be perfect.

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with Music

This morning, my church celebrated our music minister's 25th anniversary serving as choir director. I'm in the choir at church, and since joining the choir, I've been reminded of how important music is to my spiritual life.

I was told once that music is a form of prayer, and that has always stuck with me. And I've found that, when I feel the need to pray but I don't have the words, my mind turns to familiar hymns I know by heart.

Music can encourage, inspire, uplift, and let you escape--even briefly--from whatever has been bearing down on you throughout the week. Generally, you can find music to fit any mood, or to speak to you in exactly the way you need, regardless of what you're going through. So I encourage you to turn to music if you need to renew your spirit. Turn on Pandora or set your iPod to shuffle or pick a favorite song. Whether you like to listen to hymns or classical or trance or country, let music touch you today.

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with Autumn

I love fall. It's probably my favorite season. I love that the weather is cooler, and it's time to start pulling out the cozy clothes and blankets. I love watching football games, finding warmth in my morning cup of coffee and the leaves changing colors on the trees.

It's been a hot summer here, and I've felt bad that the kids haven't been outside as much as I would have liked. Now that fall is here, the weather is getting cooler, and the kids can be outside more. We can play at the park, go on walks, have picnics, and all the other fun, outdoorsy, let's-be-in-and-among-nature stuff I like to do with the kids.

Puck is noticing that things are different now, too. The other day he noted that it was "cold," and that the leaves were starting to fall off the trees. Autumn is fun with a toddler who's noticing the sudden change in the seasons. I think we may have to jump in a pile of leaves when there are enough to rake up.

How are you spending these cooler days and evenings?

Solitude

Puck and Tink are safely in Florida, and I am in central Illinois. It's strange being without them, and I'm told that while visitations get less strange, it will never be "okay" that the kids are not with me. Perhaps doubly-so because they're so little.

However, I'm trying to stay positive, so I'm using this time--especially today--to be alone.

As a mom of two--and a newly single mom--I don't have a lot of time to myself. In fact, I haven't had significant time to myself since 2007. (I remember it, in fact. Monty and I had just gotten married, and he helped escort a group on a cruise for his mother's travel business. He was gone five days.) When I do get more than a few minutes here or there, I never know what to do with myself. I always find things to do, of course. A mom's work is never done. But this time is different. This time I'm facing two weeks without Puck and Tink. I'll still be watching my niece, Bug, while Sisi is at work, but in the evenings and on the weekends, I'll have the apartment to myself. In addition, I'll have some extra days over the next couple of weeks to myself since Bug will likely spend a few days with Granny (my grandmother).

In the weeks leading up to Puck and Tink's visitation, I was nervous about the time alone. So much of my daily routine revolves around the kids that I envisioned myself scrubbing baseboards and power-washing the outsides of my windows to keep busy. I even made a list of 50 things I'd like to accomplish over the next couple of weeks. And I very well may get to nearly everything on that list. If I don't, it's okay. Because I need to spend some time in solitude, too.

Some time ago, I tried to start meditating regularly. Unfortunately, it didn't stick. Something about kids who weren't sleeping through the night. But now that they do both sleep through the night (and since they're gone right now, anyway), I may start taking time alone to meditate again. Maybe it will be the quiet moments I need to refresh myself, even if it's not a Sunday.

For someone who's always busy and surrounded by people, having time alone like this can be disquieting, despite the quiet of solitude. But I know it's important for me. I need time alone. So I will take the next two weeks and get things done as much as I can. And I will take the next two weeks to enjoy the time I have to myself to renew my spirit in solitude.

Renew Your Spirit Sunday with Music

I don't listen to as much music as I used to. I used to listen to music while I was working, while I was driving (especially when I was driving all over the state as an admissions counselor), even throughout the day while I was cleaning or cooking or whatever else. That's not really the case anymore. Now that I'm the single mom of two munchkins, there's less time for music. And the music I do listen to is usually from Disney or Baby Einsteins (which I think is also Disney).

But every once in a while I'll have the opportunity to drive on my own, or the kids are asleep, so I'll turn on music I want to listen to. Sometimes it's classical, sometimes new age-y, sometimes it's something I can dance to. No matter what it is, it's something that renews my spirit. It touches me emotionally, and gives me the burst of life I need to keep on keeping on.

What music do you listen to when you need to be renewed?