A Word, The End of a Year

 

As you know if you have been following me for a while, I have a word I embrace each year. I have done this for much longer than I have been blogging because I realized resolutions just didn't work for me. But focusing on a single word, I could do that.

This year (2025) my word was HOPE. At the beginning of the year, I just knew I would have to hold on to hope because I felt strongly it was going to be a rough year in our world. It has been and continues to be rough, but hope has helped me persevere. 

Often when I embrace a word I start the year out with good intentions, but sometimes throughout the year I sort of set it aside. I don't think of it every day. The word I choose is usually for me alone to do the internal work and then I get distracted. 

Hope did hold my attention and often I would post on Instagram to hold on to hope in the dark night. For I do believe we are in dark times.

Now I have come to the end of the year and surprising to me I am still learning about my word. Like I said, it is usually internal work; but interestingly just a couple days I was reminded it also can be external. I came across a post on Instagram that said many things it hoped for others. The more I have thought of that the more my heart has grown, for I do hope also for others.

I hope for you that life is always "enough".

I hope for you that you will have peace.

I hope for you that your heart will feel joy.

I hope for you that you will be well.

I hope for you that you will always feel safe and cared for.

and

I hope for you that you will always have a full cup of tea.

The song that comes to mind is "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me". Hope soothes the rough edges and can give peace.

The picture above is a hint to my word for next year, which I will post on another day. It was taken at Multnomah Falls, a tributary, just this week.

Do you choose a word, or do you make resolutions for the new year?

Sending love,

Marilyn

Focus on the Stars

A tea tasting just today. There were eleven teas we sipped. Some teas I liked and some not so much. The ones I liked I wanted to just sit in quietness and savor each and every sip, wrapping my hands around the warm cup, feeling the warmth travel through my body.

I am asked why I use this word, SAVOR. What does it mean to me? Is it something good to know and use? Yes, those questions sit unsaid at times, but I see them in your eyes. Is savor a word you like to use? It isn't one I hear often.

For many of you seeing my teatime utensils probably are not as familiar as seeing an English teapot and cup. Yes, I do sometimes have my tea English style, but then sometimes I have Asian style too. Most of my friends tend toward Asian style; thus you see that style here today.

One English style teacup just to give another view.

 Savor tells me exactly how the warmth feels in my hands. It tells me of the joy of God's creation as I sit in the early morning hours and watch the sun rise. It tells me of the feeling I have when I wrap myself in mothers warm embrace or feel the sticky juice from a freshly picked peach as it runs down my chin or walk hand in hand slowly through a snowy day.

Savor is a good word, a word that creates so many images of JOY for me. It is a bit romantic in its feel.

Is there a word you cherish and love to use that is out of the ordinary?

Happy new week, dear friends!

Love,

Marilyn

Focus on the Stars

 Winds of Hope

Do you like the wind blowing on you as you walk a country lane?

Or at the seashore with your toes imbedded in the sand?

As a young girl I absolutely loved the wind blowing on me.

Secret be told, I still do.

The wind feels like it just washes all worries away.

It lifts my spirits and makes me smile.

I feel like I can fly away over the sea and trees,

a bird with no cares.

The trees sing a special song just for me.

They sway to and fro saying "come hither".

Walk with me, let the winds blow.

Allow it to sing a new song just for you and smile.

For each day is a new day, wiped clean by the wind.

It's as fresh as a baby's scent when nuzzled close.

Embrace it, savor it, and let the stars shine for you.

Hold on to HOPE.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Words of Kindness and Joy

 Today was the first day of advent. I opened worship at my church with the following. It only once mentioned kindness, but Hope is a part of kindness. They can both be healing to our hearts when they are hurting. Remember to never let go of hope and kindness.

 

A quote tea nerds may have come across, “Where there is tea, there is hope”.  The quote is taken from an Arther Wing Pinero play, which takes place during the First World War. Tea was a staple part of a soldiers living. They took a break each day, even in the trenches, to have a calming cup of tea. It gave the soldiers hope during a time of struggle.

Today we celebrate the first day of Advent. Matt (my pastor) will be sharing words of hope at advent time today.  

For me hope comes with the morning light. The light allows me to see the path forward.  On Social media this year I have focused on Kindness and since the election kindness has turned to hope. I must focus on the small glimmer of hope in darkness. In noticing the small glimmers of hope, we will see the way forward. Those glimmers are like the stars at night and the star in Bethlehem that lead the way for Joseph and Mary.

Quaker’s say, “I will hold you in the light”.  Many churches today are lighting the first advent candle. Light shines in the darkness of winter, even if only the glow from one small candle. As we approach the darkest time of the year we find hope. Hope is waiting in anticipation while focusing on the light. This Quaker spiritual practice of holding someone in the light is praying for someone in silence and through imagery. It is the way to support another through a difficult time. Imagine surrounding that person with the warmth and glow of light, allow the light to lift them up, care for them, and heal the hurts. Hope wraps them in the warmth like a quilt hand stitched with love, surrounding them in that light, it holds them in the arms of God.

As a child waiting to see Santa, we anticipate delights. Dreams come true at Christmas time. Waiting to open the gifts under the tree, we hope for our hearts desire.

In today’s world of immediacy, we can hardly wait weeks or even days for something, let alone generations or centuries. But the story of God’s people shows us that waiting in hope isn’t a “sit back and do nothing” kind of a waiting. Advent hope is active; it is always listening to God, always learning from God, always walking with God and embracing the light. Very few immediately recognized the Messiah when he first came, a mere baby. And then he steps forward into the light and they knew they were in the presence of the light.

So for today and every day, let’s shine the light wherever we go, hold others in the light, and embrace Hope.

Sending love,

Marilyn

 

Puddle

 Puddle

Do you ever come across a word that already resides in your mind in one way, but then you see it in a book used in a way you hadn't thought of? In reading A Thousand Feasts by Nigel Slater with my morning tea, I keep coming across the word "puddle". 

Now for me when I hear the word "puddle" I picture a child with red rubber boots on stomping through water on a rainy day. It is such a pure picture of delight and laughter that I have never thought of it any other way. Now Nigel Slater comes along and he is writing about food with puddles of gravy or a gorgeous red sauce sitting on the plate just waiting to be soaked up by a piece of bread or savored with a pudding or ice cream. It shakes up my thinking on a "puddle". I want to delight in that gorgeous puddle on my plate like a child stomping through it in my red boots. Yesterday was Thanksgiving, there actually was a puddle on my plate of turkey gravy, but no picture of that puddle. It was gleefully devoured.

Then I begin wondering about words that create images in my mind and shake up my thinking. This book with his gorgeous, descriptive words does just that. Here is one line, "To smell steaming rice in the early morning is as comforting as being a baby swaddled in a cashmere shawl". Isn't that imagery amazing? Don't you just want to be "swaddled in a cashmere shawl"? Do we pay that much attention to a particle of food placed in front of us?

The closest I could get to a puddle in my own backyard is sitting in the birdbath. I imagine the birds think of it as their own personal puddle, a place to stomp their feet and splash about while washing their food or their feathers.

We must have rain to make a puddle. With bad times we can make something beautiful. There is a quote that says, "Into every life a little rain must fall".  So let the rains come and in the morning after the rain has passed, the sun will shine and we can dance in the puddles.
 

Find your own personal puddle today and dance.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Women Holding Things

 

"From the critically acclaimed artist, designer, and author of the bestsellers The Principles of Uncertainty and My Favorite Things comes a wondrous collection of words and paintings that is a moving meditation on the beauty and complexity of women’s lives and roles, revealed in the things they hold.

“What do women hold? The home and the family. And the children and the food. The friendships. The work. The work of the world. And the work of being human. The memories. And the troubles. And the sorrows and the triumphs. And the love.”

In the spring of 2021, Maira and Alex Kalman created a small, limited-edition booklet “Women Holding Things,” which featured select recent paintings by Maira, accompanied by her insightful and deeply personal commentary. The booklet quickly sold out. Now, the Kalmans have expanded that original publication into this extraordinary visual compendium.

Women Holding Things includes the bright, bold images featured in the booklet as well as an additional sixty-seven new paintings highlighted by thoughtful and intimate anecdotes, recollections, and ruminations. Most are portraits of women, both ordinary and famous, including Virginia Woolf, Sally Hemings, Hortense Cezanne, Gertrude Stein, as well as Kalman’s family members and other real-life people. These women hold a range of objects, from the mundane—balloons, a cup, a whisk, a chicken, a hat—to the abstract—dreams and disappointments, sorrow and regret, joy and love."

 

I have had the above quote sitting here in an unpublished post since March. Last night as I lay in bed unable to sleep I thought about what women hold. It isn't always beautiful, like a balloon or a bouquet of flowers. Sometimes holding things is messy. I may be holding together a broken heart or being the strength for your family when things are falling apart. It isn't easy. I wanted to share beautiful pictures of women holding things, but all I could think of was the messy part of what we as women must hold.

What encouraged the thinking last night was seeing a cartoon of three men in suits and three women dressed for the office getting ready to run a race. In the tracks where the men would run it was clear sailing. Where the women were to run there were hurdles of such things as doing the laundry, cooking meals, caring for the children and much more. They took on the challenge, yes; but the way was cluttered with detours and obstacles. Yet, they persevered.

 

I know, this is a lot to read; but it is to say sometimes it is hard for me to even be here at Delights of the Heart. I keep persevering, even though the hurdles are great. I get so weary. So right now I am weary, but thank you for being here to encourage me to focus on delights, joys and kindness. Looking back at my pictures of the past week the only thing I could see is flowers and one dear grandson with more cats in the city. We found 7 cats yesterday. There are sorrows and regrets, but I am going to keep on focusing on those delights.

How are you doing, dear friends? Are you holding an armful of messy? Hoping that there are a few beautiful, delightful things popping up in your week.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Words of Kindness and Joy

 A Kind Reminder: Ocean waves flowing to shore are the way the moon sends warm embraces to the earth. So too, distance is relative, and care can bridge perceived chasms within. Likewise, should we care for ourselves and others who need a kind reminder that they are not forgotten. Shiloh Gastello

On Saturday my dear Joey for Joy left me for heaven.

It was a very hard decision. After talking to him earlier in the week he told me it was time. He refused to eat. I even tried force feeding him and he spit it out. He was my companion for 15 years and is missed dearly.

I didn't realize how much he was my companion cat and most often nearby. When I would have my breakfast he was always right under the table. He often laid on the baby quilt behind me when I was on the computer.

And sometimes he was right by my feet.

He was always curious to see what I was doing.

This picture is rare since most often he wouldn't look at me when I wanted to take a picture.

 He was a quiet cat, but loyal.

My Marmalade Cat.

I think he was rather smart too; but maybe that was the mom in me. When I was sitting and said "jump" he knew it was time to jump into my lap. When I said "eat" he knew it was time to eat. And when I said "nite,nite" he knew it was time to curl up on his blanket.

Joey was named Joey for Joy because he was my Joy.

He will be missed.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Words of Kindness and Joy

Wow! The day is almost over and I realized I missed my Monday words of kindness and joy. Some days just fly by and my mind is focused somewhere else. Can you believe it, but I was working on ideas for the tea festival in 2025. I am already excited for drinking tea in the tent with attendees and there is still over 11 months to go. A lot needs to happen along the way, well after all there is still an election coming, then Christmas and more adventures too. There are more opportunities just to think about being kind. More smiles and kind words and maybe a little laughter along the way.

 

"You don't have to understand people's experiences to be kind. 

Kindness doesn't require logic, it requires grace."  

The Multiple Mom

 The two pictures of me with others was tea time in my gardenhouse last week. The young woman was Lily and the top picture was with Lily's mom. If you have followed me for a long time I had a Christmas tea for Lily and her family every year starting from the time she was 4 years old. I hadn't seen Lily since she graduated from high school and now she is a nurse. It was so special to see Lily and her mom.

 

Each person's experiences of kindness may be different, but none is less wonderful than just that of sharing a word or smile, helping someone that needs a little help along the way, or just saying "hey, let's take a break and maybe have a cup of tea"!  It was wonderful to have a cup of tea with Lily and her mom a few days ago.

Sending love,

Marilyn

Words of Kindness and Joy

 

 A prayer by Laura Jean Truman

God, 

Keep my anger from becoming meanness. 

 Keep my sorrow from collapsing into self-pity. 

Keep my heart soft enough to keep breaking. 

Keep my anger turned towards justice, not cruelty. 

 Remind me that all of this, every bit of it, is for love. 

Keep me fiercely kind. 

Amen.

And definitely keep our hearts and our behavior "fiercely kind". Yes, "fiercely"!!!!!

There is so much sorrow, so much anger, so much maliciousness in the world today, keep me kind!

 Sending love,

Marilyn

First Word - Repair

 Occasionally I share in my church what we call "First Word", which is 2 minutes shared by someone in the congregation. Recently I shared these thoughts on our word of the year, which is repair. The following is what I shared.

Being a visual person when I visited Lan Su Chinese Gardens last month they had an art show on Japanese “Mending”. It hit me as I viewed the show and read the description that it was a form of “Repair”.  In a way it reminded me of the hippy form of repairing jeans with patches and visible stitching. I remember doing that when my son was little and he needed holes on his overalls repaired.

 

This piece of artwork is by Limei Lai, it refers to each piece as “Mending” or repair. Isn’t it beautiful? The technique is also called Sashiko, “Sashiko is a Japanese stitching style that was originally used by working class people as a means to mend used clothing and household items. But it is so much more than that! The even, geometric patterns of sashiko create a beautiful decorative effect, so that they go beyond being purely practical.

 A friend of mine, you might know Corey on her French La Vie blog, finds beauty in broken china. Here is one piece repaired with staples and hanging on her wall. She has a whole wall in her apartment to display the beauty of broken china.

In Japan they have a technique called Kintsugi.  “Kintsugi — which means “join with gold” — it is the Japanese art of repairing broken objects, often ceramic pottery or glass. Traditionally, gold lacquer is used to piece shards together again, creating a more beautiful object through the acts of breaking and repair.”  

A messy garden can heal or repair the earth. It puts nutrients back into the ground.

The complexity of intergenerational communication brings difficulty in understanding. Conflicts cause fragmentations. In ceramic art, there is gold repair to make it functional and beautiful again. In fabric there is the mending stitch that is even and decorative. It is beautiful in its own way. What if relationships or a government could have sweet repair?

If we have the mindset of doing repair as a daily practice, then beauty and joy can be found daily.

There is beauty in embracing the beauty of human flaws, of something that needs repair. Embrace imperfection and turn weaknesses into strengths. Notice the small things, the hearts that need repair and surround them with love, for they too are beautiful.

 

Hope you enjoyed my thoughts on "repair".

We are all a work in progress and beautiful in our own way.

 Sending love,

Marilyn