Gratitude: A Season of Mindfulness Day 3

  I've decided to join up with Taryn at Wooly Moss Roots for her Gratitude Blog link-up. (thank you, Momto5 at A Family's Journey for introducing this blog to me through your lovely blog!!)   G r a t i t u d e * S u n d a y {Sunday's heartfelt tradition. A time to slow down, to reflect, to be grateful. A list of gratitudes.}   I had begun my own Gratitude link-up a while ago, not knowing that this one existed. Sharing gratitude is so much more inspiring when it's captured with others........I'm thankful to be joining up with others today xo   * Angels, seen and unseen   * Walking away from what could have been 2 really nasty car accidents (in one day)   * Waking up early with Seraphina and being grateful for waking up at all   * Having lots of special, alone moments with each of my children this week   * My continued work for finding ways to not feel less than when I'm surrounded by people who live very radical lifestyles   * The steadfast love and support of my Dad and Sister   *Apologizing and meaning it   *Being excited about change   * Knowing I have time to just be this week and focus on cleaning and our continued Advent preparations   * Knowing deep down that some days, it's OK to resign.   * Friends! Friends are amazing nourishment for the soul.  

   

 

A Season of Mindfulness; Day 2

As it usually happens, things don't always turn out as planned. My day today was all about learning to let go and give it over to { God, the Universe, Spirit }. I expected to experience things in order for me to put into practice the higher parts of myself, but........just not so quickly!

I had my monthly full day of class today. This requires me to drive 45 minutes from home. Now, we are big proponents of purchasing 2nd hand cars ( or 3rd, 4th etc.)!! Our beloved Honda Odyssey has been giving us clues that her end was near but no clue has been more clear than today's!  

It was snowing this morning when I left for school. I drove slowly down dirt road to the main road, about 1 mile or so. As I was nearing the end of the road I began to break as I normally do but there was nothing but ice under me (snow was covering it, the roads seemed fine, I must have just hit a slick patch!!). My car wouldn't stop. I slid the whole way down the road........had a quick thought for a moment that "Oh, gosh......there could be a car coming." I could barely get myself to look to see if I was going to get hit by an on-coming car. I cringed as I slid into the main road, quickly turned the wheel to get the car straightened out and........then........nothing. My ears were buzzing. My heart was pounding. And I was driving; as if nothing had happened at all.

I got to school and had a lovely day. Gave and received two massages in preparation for our midterms next week. I left school early today as I was meeting family up North for a fun little family outing. My instructor stopped me on my way out and asked if I would be willing to hook in, energetically, at 4:15pm as our class would be sending some light and love to a classmate of ours who has been having a difficult time. I was glad to be asked and said that I would hook in as I was driving. I hopped in the car, stopped at the nearest gas station, and pulled up next to a pump. I got out of the car and noticed my pump number........13. I chuckled at myself as I was about to get back in my car and pull to a different pump (I'm a bit superstitious). I went in, paid for my fuel, came back out, and proceeded to call my husband as I pumped. We chatted, checked in about whereabouts. I remembered he had mentioned to me earlier in the week about needing to replace our front right tire. I checked in with him about that. He believed that all would be well. I agreed and was on my way. As my exit lay before me, I noticed a strong calling in me to be very aware of my surroundings. My eyes and ears became very keen to everything; lights, sounds, and other distractions. I proceeded to pull off my exit and head down the ramp. At the bottom of the ramp I noticed it was 4:14pm. I took a deep breath, pulled up to the next stop light, stopped, closed my eyes, began to sink in to the swirling energy about and out into the Universe. I opened my eyes, pulled through the stop light and............

I am so thankful for all the Angels that were with me today; the ones that shielded me from on-coming traffic, the ones that held my car together until I was in a safe place, the ones that whispered to me to be ever present. I am thankful for the Angels that made it their promise to get me to all the loves of my life tonight.........

There are so many more photos I wished I had to include ALL of my beloveds.......you know who you are.

On this second day of my Season of Mindfulness, I am utterly aware of how much we don't have control over what happens in our life. We can control our actions, our decisions. We cannot control the outcome. I understand more deeply how every moment counts, every second we are awake means we are to be listening for the subtle whispers of our Angels. Don't get lost in the mire, swim above it all. Breathe deeply and fully. Honor what is being asked of you and DO IT with passion and love. Return to your loves everyday, without fail and give them your heart, all of it!

Smile. Breathe. And go slowly xo

A season of mindfulness: Day 1

December 1st is tomorrow; most Advent calendars begin on that day. Most churches recognize Advent's beginning on the Sunday 4 weeks before Christmas Day. I am starting today.

My heart has been called to do some deep house cleaning; body and soul. I am reaching out for that golden ring as I ride this merry go round, as we do everyday we live on this Earth. I know I won't ever hold that ring in my hand but I can, at the very least, touch it with the tips of my fingers. Lately, I've been feeling as though my efforts have been deteriorating......I've been less excited about my spiritual health. I've been guilty of just trolling along, walking in the same rut I always do, hardly deviating from my course. This isn't who I am, I am so much more than that. Granted, I have been a bit busy; Mama to 5, wife to 1, student, caretaker, Community member........I'm finding that I've been giving less and less of myself because I've been trapped in the quagmire of monotony. This changes today. I'm not taking on more. I'm simply heading inward and listening to the needs of my soul; the messages I ignore everyday as a result of putting out so much.....I need to fill up my vessel. Don't get me wrong, I am truly satisfied with my life, in fact I am more than satisfied. I have amazing children, I love my days and nights with them. My husband is so loving and kind. I have wonderful friends and family. I love my school and all that I'm learning. That being said, I still feel less connected to self. I don't really remember so much about what makes me.......me, spiritually. Life's pace is moving along at warp speed......I desperately want to slow it down.

For this Advent season and into Epiphany I will be working deeply within myself.......honestly fulfilling my desire to be completely mindful and attentive to my Spirit and those I walk with on this Earth. Like the Elementals that have returned to the Earth, I will return to myself.  Follow along here on my blog if you feel called to do. You can also follow along on Facebook as well as Instagram. I will do my best to post daily, if only a picture or poem that has inspired my regeneration. Other ways I will honor my Spirit daily will be to go on as many walking meditations as I am allowed (weekly if not daily), I will get back into daily journaling, and allowing myself 15 minutes of quiet time in the morning before the house wakes in the morning. I will continue to feed my soul by doing the things I love the most but doing them more often:: creating with my littles, playing the piano, finding ways to connect deeper with my older children, getting back into yoga/pilates, finishing off my Reiki certification, singing, dancing with my husband and praying.  This little list serves as a reminder that I am headed in the right direction. This truly is just more about giving me to myself.  Seeking out that inner peace that I strive for in my waking moments in all the roles I play. In what ways do you give you to yourself?

For today I am beginning by holding onto this meditation from White Bison::

**"Someone must speak for them. I do not see a delegation for the four footed. I see no seat for eagles. We forget and we consider ourselves superior, but we are after all a mere part of the Creation."
~ Oren Lyons, ONONDAGA
Whenever we make decisions, we need to look around to see who would be affected. If we change the course of a river, who, what will be affected? If we put poison on the gardens, who, what will be affected? If wee cut the trees and too many are cut, who, what will be affected? We need to become aware of the consequences of our actions. We need to pay attention to our thoughts. We are accountable to our children to leave the Earth in good shape.**     What decisions are you making? How will they effect those around you? Have you taken responsibility for your actions, honestly and fully? How will you make better decisions during this season of Advent? After Advent? I challenge you to honor your Spirit by committing only to what is honest and true, be humble, don't be more or less than you are right now xo

Wintery Watercolors

Kiki woke up at 1:30am this morning not feeling well. We ended up getting out of bed around 2:30am and having a little party in the living room. I made a big nest on the sofa with lots of blankets and towels; for the inevitable yuck :(  We got all snuggled in and watched a movie. Time passed by slowly as Kiki went in and out of sleepiness and feeling terrible. I held her close, rubbed her little back, and just wrapped her in all the love I could give in hopes that she would soon find comfort and drift to sleep.

Around 4am, that finally happened. I sat watch as she slept soundly. I sat quietly, looking around our darkly lit home, then it dawned on me; this time would be the most alone time and quietness I would experience all day, so I took advantage of it! I made a cup of coffee, wrapped myself in a woolly blanket and caught up on recent blog posts that I had been wanting to read (and Instagram photos!) while crafting some homemade goodies for the children for their St. Nicholas treats.

One post I read was by Joy at You know how we're an art family...... She listed some Advent activities and one caught my eye from passengers on a little spaceship. I thought that activity would make lovely holiday cards and at 4am I was feeling pretty darn ambitious! Sleep deprivation or otherwise known as slap-happy!!

Soon enough the house began to wake up. Charlotte came out in a flurry of words. She had this wildly impressive dream, there was a bear and he was blue like the ocean and sparkly. And there was this little boy who he was friends with who was also blue and had hair like a mountain! My head was spinning from the crazy antics of these two little sprites who visited her in her dreams. As we sat together I realized I had seen a similar vision, a bit less dramatic, but nonetheless, blue, sparkly, and beautiful.

I told Charlotte what I had seen in the early morning and we agree we should get right down to it. Here is a little photo op of our early morning creative expression.......

 

Here Charlotte is drawing her picture with some painter's tape

 

 

Now, she is painting over the tape with some blue watercolors

 

 

 

Charlotte is sprinkling some salt (coarse and fine) all over her painting

 

 

This is her finished painting!

I love how the colors fade and deepen because of the way the salt pulls the paint to and fro.

 

We were both quite pleased with the outcome and Charlotte especially felt like it was a perfect representation of her dream. Awesome way to begin our day!

 

On the flip side, Kiki is pulling through. Her eyes are sparkly and she's playing. So all in all, if I had to be up all night it was definitely worth it for so many reasons........although I am my most certainly looking forward to an early bed night!

 

Blessings to you on this colorful day xo 

 

Do you hear what I hear?

 

 

"At time's turning point
The World's Spirit-Light
Entered the stream
Of Earthly Evolution;
Darkness of night
Had held its sway
Day-radiant Light
Poured into human souls.
Light,
That gave warmth
To simple shepherd's hearts;
Light,
That enlightened
The wise heads of kings.

 

O Light Divine,
O Sun of Christ,
Warm thou our hearts,
Enlighten thou our heads
That good may become
From what our hearts
We would found,
What from our heads
We would purposefully direct."
     ~ Rudolf Steiner

The silence and reverence that sets upon us at this time of year is palpable; all of our senses can hear, see, and feel that a shift is near. For me, it happens every year at this time. The little child inside me awakens from a year of deep slumber (or hushing probably as I'm distracted by the other children in my life xo). I allow myself to unfold and give all of myself over to the many profound possibilities of this special time. The light, the love, the welcoming of the energy of the Christ Child, all of these pulse through me, rejuvenate me cell by cell, I am more forgiving of myself and of others. I wish I could bottle this feeling up and carry it with me all through the year. I try, boy do I try. I am human, after all.....

This week has been a week of looking very deeply inward. I have been challenging myself to see where I fall short, were I expect too much of myself and others. I have looked at those places where I've stored up anger and resentment, sadness and loneliness. It's not pretty.......it's hard and sometimes painful. Looking in the mirror and seeing, nay, feeling as though I've failed is a sorrowful place to start the Advent season. On the contrary, I couldn't imagine starting anywhere else.



Me and my special Birthday girl! Kiki was my 30th Birthday gift xo

 I turned thirty-three this year; the Christ year. I've heard many a story about ones trials and tribulations to seek and discover a deeper sense of self. I experienced it through my husband and his Christ year. I began preparing for these experiences last year; hoping to do much needed inner work to alleviate any tumult and suffering and more in the way of celebration and joy. Well, you can't really prepare for that kind of thing, so, I feel like as long as I've been immersed now for a full year, I may as well get down to the nitty-gritty. What better time than at Advent?!

This emotional and spiritual quest only propels me to dive deeper into the celebrating at hand. Every plan, every activity, every beautifully placed decoration is done with much attention to being mindful and full of spirit and foremost.....how will my children feel, see, or hear this little piece of magic?  My heart is directed toward creating that unique mood of Christmastime not just for me, but for my children. Inside, as I struggle to find my spiritual side of wife/mother/homemaker/sister/daughter/friend/student/neighbor (sigh) I am overwhelmed not by feeling spread thin, but by realizing my great fortune to have so many meaningful roles in this lifetime. How grateful I am to hold those wee ones in my arms, day after day. How grateful I am to love and kiss that amazing man who chose me above all others. How grateful I am to love and cherish each person in my life, hopefully enough so that they know how much they mean to me when we part ways. It's these little reminders that allow me to hear the peace sinking in.......my heart and mind are quiet. I am holding that spirit of the Christ Child in my arms. *breathe*breathe*breathe*

"The gift of the light
We thankfully take,
But nothing may be
Just alone for our sake.
The more we give light
The one to the other
It shines and spreads life
Growing still further;
Till every spark is set aflame.
Till every heart Joy shall proclaim"
     ~ M. Tittman (from the German)

 

As you wait for the Christ Child and as you wait to hear/feel your peace sink in; how do you honor the spirit in your life? Do you have any special ways that you give presence to your inner peace? What special rituals does your family have that helps to honor these shifts in yourself and in your family culture?

 

Wishing you peace and quiet, in your heart and mind,  this Advent season xo

Advent Stars

"Above the cloud with it's shadow is a star with it's light." ~ Pythagoras

 

 

Advent is upon us. That holy, quiet time where we all take stock of ourselves; look deeply

 inward, bring less judgement to others, open our hearts more to the idea that we are all along this journey together, no one against the other. We are all that much closer to an inner peace that we are seeking. We are all closer to really feeling that stillness, that inner reverence to all who cross our path.

 

Advent is a building up, a gathering of precious moments to lighten our days (and nights) leading up to Christmas. Beginning on the first Sunday in December we begin our yearly ritual  of creating that sacred space to honor this time of year. Our nature table is ready to begin our first week, with a chalk drawing of an Advent wreath with these words by Rudolf Steiner "The first light of Advent is the light of stones. Stones that live in crystals, seashells and bones." We've changed our silk color to blue and have a little porcelain dish with some shells and beautiful quartz rocks that we've found on many of our adventures. A few years ago the children and I went to the ocean and we collected some beach sand and shells. I put them into an old canning jar and have held on to it, not knowing until we really started to dive into Advent celebrations that that jar would be essential in representing the mineral world during the first week of Advent.

 

We've also dedicated a large cupboard top as our Advent Garden. Our creche stable stands empty, waiting as the days progress for the addition of animals, shepherds, Joseph, Mary,the Angel and then the baby Jesus on Christmas morning.  A light colored cloths drapes across the cupboard top with some lights glowing beneath to create the illusion of snow sparkling beneath the star light. A star covered blue silk is the back drop of our little landscape and a beautiful paper star hangs above, reminding us to allow all that we know and feel to guide us along our Earthly journey.

 

Stars are so beautiful and magical. We as human beings have such a deep connection to these heavenly lights. They've guided many centuries of explorers, including the Wise Men. We lay on blankets and marvel at their beauty and wonder....we even wish on them. We've decided to use this star energy as our way to count the days/night in our Advent season. Each night, when the littles retire to bed, I will hang another star above our Advent Garden so that when they wake in the morning, they will find another star shining above. Each star will represent an activity for the day (bake and bring cookies to Grammie and Poppy, make our homemade hot chocolate, learn a new Christmas carol, bring some treats to our friends at the Humane Society; just to name a few!) 

 

Here is how we made our stars::

 

You will need::

 

2 pieces of square paper- I used colored card stock in this instance

This is a great way to use up some of those paintings your children have made!

Scissors

hot glue gun

Or other glue that you have on hand or prefer.

I like hot glue as it dries quickly and needs less attention to holding the flaps down

Needle and thread

 

You can use any size square paper. Just make sure the two pieces you use are the same size!

 

 Fold the paper in half along the diagonal.

 

Turn the paper on the opposite diagonal and fold in half again.

 

Fold the paper right sides together in half, horizontally.

 

Turn again, and fold horizontally. You should now have a square with folds forming 8ths.

 

Cut a little less than half way up the straight folds.

 

Now, bring the edges of each section together to form a point.

 

This is what it will look like with all sides folded.

 

Overlap the edges of each point and glue them together.

 

This is a finished piece of the star.

 

Now, repeat these steps again on your other piece of paper.

 

Attach the two stars together with some hot glue. Using your needle and thread, bring it through

one of the points, tie the thread together to form a loop that you can to hang your star from.

 

 

 

"As your bright and tiny spark,

Lights the traveller in the dark-

Though I know not what you are,

Twinkle, twinkle, little star."

 

How are you preparing for Advent?

 

 

Thankful

If during the first period of life we create an atmosphere of gratitude around the children, then out of this gratitude toward the world, toward the entire universe, and also out of thankfulness for being able to be in this world, a profound and warm sense of devotion will arise.....upright, honest, and true. ~ Rudolf Steiner

Today, with the anticipation of Thanksgiving on our minds, we felt called to make something for each person who would be joining us for our holiday festivities. Nothing too involved, just something simple and from the heart. I saw this post on Pinterest from Woodside Kitchen. It is a dough ornament, but not just any dough ornament.....

 ** It's made with 1/2 cup of cornstarch, 1 cup of baking soda, and 3/4 cup of water! Combine all the ingredients in a cooking pot, cook over medium heat until the mixture begins to thicken and takes on the appearance of "smooth mashed potatoes". Pour into a bowl and cover with a damp cloth until the dough is cool enough to handle. Knead the dough, adding more cornstarch as necessary to keep the dough from being sticky. Roll out to about 1/4 of an inch or so on a lightly cornstarched surface, cut out using cookie cutters, decorate using rubber stamps or other stencils. Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment and bake at 175 degrees for about an hour (flipping them over after 30 minutes).**

So simple. So pleasing to work with. So beautiful and clean looking. It was a breeze to make and took well to painting and other decorating. The only thing I would recommend is to be mindful of the time in the oven (varies by size, I think). Our ornaments were quite small in size so they baked up really quickly. I didn't have that thought in the forefront of my mind so I over baked them a bit. The sides curled up and they browned a little on the bottom (I also didn't have any parchment). BUT, all is well. We painted them and/or sprayed them with a clear acrylic and sprinkled some glitter all over them

 

 

There is so much to be thankful for. Everyday I am reminded of the many blessings I have received. These little ornaments will serve as a little token of our gratitude for those we love so dearly and their presence in our life. It is hard to imagine our days without the smiles, love, and laughter of our dearest friends and family, those we see often and those we only see once in a while. We have big hearts for those we are missing and keep their legacy there.

 

This time of lessened light and inward process begs me to remember that although are days are full to the brim with moments that may seem more than we can handle, it's important to remember that we are surrounded by angels, seen and unseen. Those that hold us up and walk with us through our darkest times and those that quietly keep that spiritual space through the veil. We can honor them in this lifetime by living a life of gratitude, for all of those who have touched our lives in one way or another. Who and what are you grateful for right now?

 

I am, humbly, honored that you have chosen to walk with me in this space. Thank you.

 

Enjoy your holiday with those you love so much. Blessings to you and yours xo