Focus on the Stars

Martin Luther King once said, "only in darkness can you see the stars."  However, when I did a little research, similar quotes go back as far as the mid-1800's. Then in the Psalms, King David referred to the moment when the night is at its darkest, that the brightest star rises.

All of these references indicate holding on to HOPE.

When we can't see the way forward; we must hold on for the wild ride, the tender ride, the sad ride and notice the brightest star shining in the darkest night. For love will guide the way.

I always associate a red rose to love. Let it be a symbol for us to love one another.

Never, ever give up. Always hold on to HOPE.

Keep your eyes open.

Light candles in the dark night.

And keep singing a joyful song.

One foot in front of another will lead to love.

Sending love,

Marilyn

 

Word Magic

 The word this week is ADVENT.

Definition:  the arrival of a person, place or event.  The first season of the Christian church year, leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays.   noun: Advent

 

The celebration of Advent takes place on the four Sundays prior to Christmas, follows four weekly themes; hope, peace, joy and love and ends on Christmas Eve.

Many churches in the Christian world celebrate Advent. As part of the Quaker community, since we don't have rituals, we don't do the formalized lighting of candles. We do, however, celebrate the words "hope, peace, joy and love". I thought about talking about each of those four words, but I can imagine each of those words would trigger your own stories. I will leave you to imagine a world with "hope, peace, joy and love".

For me, hope and peace sort of go together. I hope and pray every day for peace in the world. My heart is broken at the hurt. I pray daily for Ukraine and Palestine. Yes, I even pray for Israel and Russia. The minds of selfish, evil men must be cleansed and opened to love. I do say "men" because it most often seems to me to be men leaders that do evil. Now that is a generalized attitude on my part; but when I look I find so much greed/selfishness and evil in so many rich, white, old men. In my opinion I feel like they are panicked because even though at the moment they have power and money they can feel their grip on humanity waning. 

 

Now my word for this year is VOICE and I remind myself not to hide my light, but reveal my heart. Thus, at times this year, I have lit the candle so you see a glimmer of my heart.

Then joy and love in a way seem to go together too. When we feel and receive love, we feel much joy or happiness. What brings joy your way. I pray you are surrounded by joy and love each and everyday.

Are you anticipating the advent of the season, the arrival of someone special or a special event? Are you lighting the candles to welcome in the season of advent? 

My candles are lit with anticipation.

Have a most meaningful week, dear friends.

Sending love,

Marilyn

 

Related by Love

 

This is Myrtle. She was my grandfather's second wife and never had any children. I loved Myrtle. She was like a grandmother to me. My grandfather met her at an American Legion dance. He loved dancing. He fell in love with Myrtle and married her when I was going into the 4th grade.

Myrtle would have me come over for tea and a visit where she attempted to teach me how to knit. I have to say attempted because I just never quite got it. My knitting was always so tight I would need to rip it out and keep trying to relax and re-do. It just wasn't my thing; so I smile when I see my daughter knitting away.

When my mother fell and broke her knee Myrtle took my sister and I in for awhile so my mother had some time for recuperation. Myrtle didn't quite know how to get two young girls ready for school, but she did her best. We both had long hair; so though we had never worn braids, Myrtle would braid our hair and wrap it around our heads with ribbons. I am sure it was beautiful, but by the time I got to school I had taken the braids down and just told Myrtle they undid themselves. She would try harder the next day. Oh my, I guess I was a bit of a stinker; but Myrtle loved us. 

Here is Myrtle with a couple of her sisters and then again standing among the flowers.

I always said I was her favorite because I would go visit her and talk to her. The summer before I left for college my grandfather helped me get a job in the apple cannery for the summer and I stayed with Myrtle and my grandpa. When it was time to leave for college Myrtle opened a bank account in her name and mine and would put her dividends from an egg ranch into the account for me to use for college. Wondering what those dividends would be worth today? Hummm? They did help me pay for college for the two years I attended and then I got married.

When I was getting married she asked what I would like for a wedding present. I said I would love my grandfather's china. Her response was that if no one else voiced a desire for the china she would give it to me when she was finished using it. About 6 months before she passed she gave me the china, which I cherish still today. The picture just shows part of the china. It is Haviland and somehow my grandfather acquired it from the Burlington Railroad, as it was their china pattern of Daisies and Violets.

Reminiscing today, thinking of Myrtle. The fur coat inspired me to reminisce, as Myrtle offered to give me her mink coat and I declined it. Later I thought, now why did I decline a beautiful gift of that coat. I was sharing that story with my friend Emily, who sells the vintage clothes, and that was when she said she was giving me a fur coat in memory of Myrtle. So I am sharing this story with you. For one, accept graciously and always acknowledge the love of another even if not related by blood, but by love.

Have a blessed weekend, dear friends!

A Gift for You - A Flower and A Poem

Packages tied with a bow.

Stockings hung by the fire.

  “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Suess

…So he paused. And the Grinch put his hand to his ear.
And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.
It started in low. Then it started to grow.
But the sound wasn't sad! Why, this sound sounded merry!
It couldn't be so! But it WAS merry! VERY!
He stared down at Whoville! The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook! What he saw was a shocking surprise!
Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?"
"It came with out ribbons! It came without tags!"
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store."
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!”…

 

May you be surrounded with the love of the Christmas season

for that is all that is really needed. 

Sending love to each of you as you prepare.

A Gift for You - A Flower and A Poem

 

 I adore hydrangeas and roses together. The hydrangeas are finally beginning to show their color in the garden this week.

 

“Love recognizes no barriers.

It jumps hurdles,

leaps fences, penetrates

walls to arrive at its

destination full of hope.”

 

 ~Maya Angelou

 

This quote is what I must pay attention to right now.

Never give up hope, speak your voice, and vote like your life depends on it.

This comment is in response to what is happening in the world on so many avenues from the control one country tries to bare down on another, to men that fear losing control so put restrictions on others, and to the lack of love for one another.

Let's show a little love to one another

and hope for a better world.

Let's leap fences with our arms wide open.

Welcome, dear friends, to a new day, a new world.

Envision love surrounding the world with hope and love.
 

 

 

Prayer

  As a young girl I grew up in a church that prayed. When someone would get up to pray it was always all these "flowery" words of adoration and begging. I just didn't feel comfortable with that. I told myself I could never speak with words like I heard there; so I sort of rejected prayer and the religion stuff I grew up with. What I never rejected was that there was a God with me and I could just talk with my eyes wide opened to this "being". I didn't have to be how others thought I needed to be.

In my conversations I found the best time for me to talk to God was during my morning drives to work. For some reason those conversations always started with a song, which sometimes you could find me singing out loud in the car. It became my time of meditation and prayer. Amazing I could do that and drive to work, but it worked for me.

The song I would sing has the following words:

Lyrics

With my hand lifted up
And my mouth filled with praise
With a heart of thanksgiving
I will bless Thee O Lord

I will bless Thee O Lord
I will bless Thee O Lord
With a heart of thanksgiving
I will bless Thee O Lord

With my hand lifted up
And my mouth filled with praise
With a heart of thanksgiving
I will bless Thee O Lord

I will bless Thee O Lord
I will bless Thee O Lord
With a heart of thanksgiving
I will bless Thee O Lord

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Esther Watanabe

Now Lord indicates gender, but for me it isn't about gender. Lord is God in my heart. The one I can talk to when something is sitting on my heart both in sadness and in joy.

Once I quiet my heart with a song I can just speak plainly what is sitting there to share. Now that I am retired I find that suddenly this song will come to my heart as I sip my morning tea. I don't need to call it up, it is just there. It almost surprises me. I know it is time for a conversation or a few words from my heart. It is time to share with God.

I did find another church that sits well with my heart.

I hope you don't mind that I speak of prayer this morning, but this is a part of me. I think by sharing we can all know we need to follow our hearts and speak our words whether it is to God, a spiritual being, or to another soul. It lifts us up and heals our heart.

I wrote this yesterday, but the picture is my broken hands praying this morning for our broken country. There is great sadness in our world, may it be healed.

May love prevail!

Take care, dear friends!

Have a great weekend!

The Love of my Life

 I hope you will indulge me today. I don't share my love most often because his family prefers that. However, since my family doesn't read my blog I think I can get away with it for a little post.

Here are some pictures over the past 9 years of my sweet and one and only grandson, D.

We call him D on social media, but he does have a name that goes with that letter.  He calls me Mimi.

He once wore pink butterfly wings for a tea party I had in my backyard. Pink wings and a cowboy hat were perfect for the day.

I cherish my D and think often about what do I want to share with him as he grows up. What lessons can he learn from me. Though I have served him tea, made pie with him, make a gingerbread house every year, and take walks outdoors - what do I want him to know. I have been making a list.

1.       Choose Kindness and Love over Fear and Hatred.

2.       When there is a special someone in your life share beauty with them, including a good cup of tea and flowers. They will love it even if normally it is a rough and tumble life. It’s OK to add beauty in your own life too.

3.       Notice what you notice – pay attention, embrace and be mindful.

4.       Acknowledge how you really feel and just respond accordingly. If you really aren’t feeling OK, it is OK to say so. You don’t need to always say “I’m fine” or “I’m good”.

State you feelings clearly to those you love.

5.       Laugh out loud, Sing so I can hear you, Dance with your full heart.

6. Love and Kindness will always win the day.

I cherish his tender heart.

I love that he has learned to swim and ride his bike.

He has an adventurous heart, one I enjoy.

He is indeed the love of my life. I had given up the expectation of having a grandchild and when he came along it delighted my heart and tears filled my eyes.

I love being Mimi to this guy!

Do you have a love of your life that delights your heart?

Happy weekend, dear friends!

Go out and savor the time with your love.

A Gift for You - A Flower and a Poem

 

 

Apple blossoms from another year, just beginning to open.

The blush of new blossoms touch my heart and make me smile.

 

This poem was found just this morning on Facebook. It was posted by a high school friend that went on to become a published poet. Sometimes her poems and the ones she posts I don't quite get. This one intrigued me that we learn the language of sleep with our hearts half-opened flowers. 

Happy Valentine's Day, dear friends!