Purple Pleasure

Notice the little visitor hiding from the rain inside the luscious-smelling petals of this gift from God?

I LOVE lilacs!

Civics 101

Spur of the moment. Excitement can live there. And fun. And good lessons.

Cassie and Caroline agreed to drop a school friend off at the Tea Party on tax day. The crowd was colorful and lively so they decided to hang around for awhile. It wasn't long before someone handed Cassie a picket sign to carry. Checking out its message and deciding she agreed with it, hoist it she did. Energy ran through her young veins. "I'm protesting! I'm speaking my mind! I'm engaging in the democratic process." It felt good.

Both girls were inspired by all the different types of people there. Not just old, crabby Republicans. 

An old ('she was even older than YOU, Mom!') hippie woman in hippie attire, beads, long gray hair, a big big smile, a picket sign, and encouraging words approached my daughters expressing her joy at seeing young people exerting themselves in the cause of freedom and democracy. The kids LOVED her and thanked her and were inspired by her.

Cassie and Caroline were not surprised that there were - shall we say demonstrative - opponents driving by with upraised fingers and hollered expressions of disagreement. No surprise there. What DID surprise them was the oft-shouted word, "Racist!!" 

"Why did they call us that? I mean, what were we doing or saying that was in any way racist?" 

The Eugene crowd yesterday was simply protesting the wild use of government spending and encroaching governmental power into the lives of Americans. All Americans. I explained to the kids the media's recent splashing of the epithet 'racist' against Tea Party types because of a still undocumented instance during the signing of the health care bill. It was a good lesson in the power of the media to distort, label, and thwart people and their efforts. Sometimes perseverance wins out, sometimes the media does.

Civics 101.

This Easter Thing

From as far back as I can remember I've always known heavy sadness when thinking of Jesus' torture and crucifixion. How much sympathy can a six year old experience? A lot. And a fifty-three year old? Even more. Yet, I only sense a whisper of his suffering.

Those Romans knew how to exact pain and humiliation. Crosses? I still cringe when I see that instrument of torture around the necks of people as jewelry or inked into their skin. Would they sport a guillotine or hypodermic needle should Jesus have died in another century? As a child I used to imagine Jesus walking down a busy street only to see crosses displayed as beauty on the people He loves. I imagined him recoiling from the assault, the reminder. I saw him violently shudder, run away, ask why.

Today I realize many people wear crosses for remembrance. It's important not to forget that Jesus did, in fact, die in a plea for mercy from God the Father. The Father accepted the sacrifice. Three days later He breathed new life into the son of His love. In that moment of amazing grace Abraham's spiritual seed likewise triumphed over death. Good to know! Just as grave markers engraved with crosses express resurrection to come so do empty crosses here and there symbolize the same.  

In that regard, for me, the most joyful reminder of that pivotal point in history is the empty tomb. Jesus the Resurrected walked away from death to life eternal, the first human to do so. His victory leads the way for the rest of us. It is a non-disappointing hope, a promise for those who are compelled by its truth.

I don't wear crosses. I don't have them in my home. They make me weep. In their place I carry a Savior in my heart, a triumphant elder brother who could and did save my soul from darkness. In His honor and in gratitude I live my life as best I can because I believe Him.

And more importantly because I love Him. 

31/31 The End of March Daily Posting

Beautiful day of making others happy and letting them return the favor.

Husband. Daughters. Friends.

Pretty weather.

Baking, walking, tutoring, making yogurt.

Kissing my husband good-bye.

Looking forward to kissing him welcome home in a little while.

Lord willing.

It is always Lord willing.

Good to remember who holds the world in His hands.

30/31 - Of Vikings, Greenland, and Colossal Buildings

Found this excerpt in an article I read last night:

"The Vikings discovered and settled Greenland around A.D. 950. Greenland was then so warm that thousands of colonists supported themselves by pasturing cattle on what is now frozen tundra. During this great global warming, Europe built the looming castles and soaring cathedrals that even today stun tourists with their size, beauty, and engineering excellence. These colossal buildings required the investment of millions of man-hours -- which could be spared from farming because of higher crop yields."

Food for thought, that's for sure.

From H. L. Mencken:

"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed -- and hence clamorous to be led to safety -- by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary." ~~ H. L. Mencken

Getting stuffed - and sort of feeling sick - on all this food for thought?

28/31 - Stillness

"Stillness can be a powerful answer to the noise of others. It can be a way to push back against the buzz of the world, to take control. It can remind you of what’s important.

How to Practice

Stillness, oddly, doesn’t come naturally to many people. So practice.

1. Start your day in stillness. Whether it’s sitting with a cup of coffee as the world awakes, or sitting on a pillow and focusing on your breath, stillness is a powerful way to start your day. It sets the tone for things to come. Even 5-10 minutes is great.

2. Take regular stillness breaks. Every hour, set an alarm on your computer or phone to go off. Think of it as a bell that rings, reminding you to be still for a minute. During this minute, focus first on your breathing, to bring yourself into the present. Let the worries of the world around you melt away — all that is left is your breath. And then let your focus expand beyond your breath to your other senses, one at a time.

3. When chaos roars, pause. In the middle of a crisis or a noisy day, stop. Be still. Take a deep breath, and focus on that breath coming in, and going out. Find your inner stillness and then let your next action come from that stillness. Focus on that next action only.

Let stillness become your most powerful action. It could change your life."

~~Leo Babauta

27/31 Employed

Cassie worked her first day at her new part time job. She was nervous before she left the house but you should have seen her at work. So calm. So friendly. She was a demo girl for Essential Baking Company which is an organic, artisan bakery. The best bread ever! It's partially baked, you bring it home, bake it for 10 minutes and it comes out hot and crusty. So good!

I digress.

Tom and I went into Market of Choice to shop and to see our girl at work. She was surrounded by people chatting with her just as calm as if she were here at home entertaining friends at a party. She sold so much bread that the store had to open up its last box of 'store bread' which is the bread for the shelves for the rest of the week. She burned through the bread for the day in record time. Amazing! I even overheard one clerk tell another that 'that new girl is really good!'

She is!

Her first paycheck is in the mail.

Sorry for the cheerleading.

Cassie really is a marvel.

26/31 Family

Missed a day on my 31 day March to the Sea or whatever it is. March through March? It's more like frolic. We're having such fun.

Fun. Pure fun. Real fun.

There needs to be more fun in the world.

And more hugs.

My daughters tell me so and they are correct.

Yesterday I made lasagna. Served it with crisp apple wedges and roasted asparagus. All four kids joined Tom and me. The lasagna vanished. Everyone ate and talked and ate. Chocolate Hazelnut Biscotti for dessert - made fresh right here after our hearty meal.

It contents me to know I am serving wholesome, nutritious, real food to my family with the freshest ingredients. Love goes from my hands into the food into the people who enjoy it.

Simple pleasures really are the best!

24/31 - Wine Country

Tom, Cassie, Caroline, and I continued our Spring Break fun by visiting wine country on this gorgeous blue,Wednesday. Several vineyards opened their gates to us for wine tasting, relaxing on verandas and patios in 70+ degree weather, dinner, even a tour of the winery. Most interesting.

23/31 Beach

Husband, daughters, pup, and I drove to the beach today and played. All day. In the sun. In pretty shops. By the sea. On the sand. 

The girls wrote Spring Break in the sand with their toes.

Couldn't stop the hair from blowin' in the wind.

We are Loving Spring Break!

22/31 Squeaking By

Almost forgot to post here today.

We are enjoying Spring Break immensely. As the Italians say, the sweetness of doing nothing.

Tom is loving it! So good to see him resting and playing.

The girls attended a party at a friend's house this afternoon.

I had a good long talk with my sister on the phone - we are so alike, it's easy to speak with her. Heard from my best friend, too. Soothing conversations full of life, laughter, seriousness, and love.

For dinner Tom, Cassie, Caroline, and I hopped into the car in hot pursuit of the best pizza in town. Found it at Sy's over on Alder Street. New York Pizza. Fresh ingredients

And tonight all four of us had a marshmallow fight. Great stress reliever! Try it sometime. You can hurl the little sweeties hard and not hurt one another.

Spring Break. Gotta love it!

21/31 Smiles

 "I love friends. I want more friends. I love smiles. That is a fact. How to develop smiles? There are a variety of smiles. Some smiles are sarcastic. Some smiles are artificial - diplomatic smiles. These smiles do not produce satisfaction, but rather fear or suspicion. But a genuine smile gives us hope, freshness. If we want a genuine smile, then first we must produce the basis for a smile to come." ~~ The Dalai Lama

          

20/31 Sunny Day

While it is only 35 degrees and dark as I write, the forecast calls for brilliant sun and warmth.

This first full day of Spring Break brings with it energy, promise, and hope for refreshment.

Eagerness to embrace this day - this week - fills me.

Sun, sun, sun here it comes.

Happy Spring Break, Everyone!

19/31 Lucid Dreaming

I lucid dream.

My dreams are sometimes very helpful to me. Many a solution or problem has been solved while lucid dreaming.

And sometimes my dreams take me away to places lovely and perfect. While lucid dreaming I can banish the blue meanies of my life and pursue loveliness.

I went to bed last night with wet hair and woke up looking like Lady Gaga. Well, my hair did. I bet she'd pay a pretty penny for my style. But it's mine today. I'm keeping it. I feel funky. If I go out I'll 'fix it' because I'm sort of a coward.

Controlling dreams and knowing I'm dreaming and remembering my dreams. It makes the idea that all that time spent asleep is not wasted after all but used to good purpose. A whole other dimension.

For today, I shall take my Gaga and enjoy the sun, roast a turkey breast, cash my tax refund, walk my dog, hug my kids, kiss my husband - a good long kiss - and smile all day because Spring Break has begun.

See you in my dreams - if you're lucky!

18/31 - Afterglow

There were leprechauns here yesterday.

Lots of them!

And Irish food, Irish dancing, Irish laughter.

One guest stayed behind waiting for his mom to pick him up. His sister came to the door. The leprechaun hat was quickly placed on her head, she ran back out to the car, grabbed her mom, and through the front door they came.

What happened can only be attributed to leprechaun magic. Mom Patti, sister Christy, and lingering Reid joined Cassie, Caroline, and Cherie in playing Rock Band - which the guests had never played but have long wanted to. Patti was new to us but we can see she'll be a fast friend. And Reid has never been to our home before yesterday.

We carried on until after ten, smiling, laughing, and making music!

On a school night!

Fun, Irish style!

Was it really magic - or too many root beer floats in funky green glasses?

17/31 - Irish Blood

Got enough Irish in me to feel extra jolly this Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Awakened to peppy - and haunting - Irish music and party plans already under way.

My daughters are having a get-together. Not a big party, just a chance to hang out with friends, watch a movie, eat Irish food.

Laughter. Play. Merriment.

Decorations are going up, cleaning has begun, everyone is wearing green. (Thank goodness my bathrobe has green on it or I'd be bruised in triplicate right now. No mercy.)

I have rooms to clean, food to make, walks to take, joy to hold.

Even the dog is getting his Party Bath.

Happy St. Paddy's to You!

Lighten up, join in, have FUN!

15/31 - Kindness

Yesterday I received kindness from a stranger. What was offered was an exception to a rule but it made a huge difference in my life.

Not only for today but for many tomorrows to come.

Today I wish for everyone to experience such human kindness, the kind that looks past policy, past money, past procedure. The kindness that sees the person and the pain and chooses to help rather than take.

"Thank you!"

15/31 Outrageous Use of OUR Money

Have you heard about the new Beltline name change?

It's outrageous.

For anyone who doesn't know, the Beltline is a major east/west freeway in our fair locale. It connects Springfield and I-5 to west Eugene and all points in between. As far back as I can remember it has been called Beltline. And I can remember back pretty far.

Our idiot Governor Ted Kulongoski has decided he needs to honor a now deceased businessman who played a major part in Oregon's transportation system. So, he's going to name a major freeway to the tune of $250,000 (think quarter of a million dollars!) plus a ceremony. The money goes to replacing signs! Huge signs, many signs. For what??

Excuse me? Aren't we in a recession? Aren't state, city, county employees being laid off or furloughed? Excuse me, aren't we always whining about and being overtaxed because we don't have enough - MONEY!

Plant a tree, stick a statue somewhere, name the new pedestrian bridge after him. Name a star, or a day, or a child after him but please, leave our money alone.

14/31 Clock Change

If you've been a reader here for awhile you know I am not a fan of changing the clocks back and forth, back and forth every two seasons. Pick one and stick with it people!

But do it I must or I will be late, be late for a very important date.

Thankfully the sun is shining today and I have fun and meaningful activities to pursue.

**guttural sigh**

13/31 Too Nice a Day

Had a brooding post here about money but deleted it.

It's too perfect a day.

Cassie and Caroline are out taking homemade pudding to a friend who had her wisdom teeth pulled. Pudding makes everything better.

Tom is filling the car with gas so he and I can go out together later and have some fun.

Joe is coming over soon for Cassie's Saturday Cook/Bake Day feast.

Me? I've been soul searching all morning.

(Anyone seen my soul? Can't find it anywhere! :)

Have a great Saturday everyone!