2017 - A Personal Reflection

I sit here in my favorite orange chair gazing on the grasses gently moving in the December breeze and the texture of the water as visiting ducks glide past my window. Reflecting on the pattern of the year that passes at midnight tonight, I see the texture the events of 2017 has wrought in my life.

A rough and weathered landscape ever so slowly being rearranged; shift some sand over there, a little less here, churn those pebbles a little more, see what rises to the surface.  Gouge out a whole section there and dump it up the beach aways! Pile some logs and debris up the bank a little more!

Yes, that describes the constant change in life over the last year. Yours, too, I imagine as we share the fact of being human. 

Always questioning...

Am I really in the right profession?
Can I make it through this evaluation process?
Teaching is far more complex than it used to be...
Dig in and just do the hard work - study, read, take notes, change perspective, go to meetings, plan, toss whatever is not absolutely necessary (whether real or imagined).
What?! Still stuck in those sabotaging patterns?!
Panic!!! Help!

Yes, as a matter of fact, I am in the right profession, though I could say a lot about the state of it at this juncture. Yes, I can make it through successfully! Doing the hard work is what it takes, and, yes, it is worth it as I am a stronger and better for it. Yes, I still get caught in old habit loops; who doesn't? What I do about it is what matters - stay stuck or mindfully examine and make the necessary changes that promote happiness and healthier relationships.

Really, this past year has been a tough one personally and professionally. Last school year ended on an unfinished and not-so-positive note, but due to hard work and the love and support of Liz and Chuck, I'm turning that around. Learning more about mindfulness practice and actually doing it, bit by bit, is having a profound impact in me, too. It is the single most successful practice I have found to change thinking patterns and behavioral habits. 

Highlights of the year:

• Liz graduating! And, she and Chuck moved to the beach for good!
• Short road trip to visit my mom in Idaho and hanging in Couer d'Alene for a bit.
• Beach walks and agate hunting.
• Reading... prolific reading both professional and personal.
• Bike rides on the less windy days.
• Gardening - love our lavender and rosemary and making our yard pretty.
• Sitting in the swing in the sunshine.
• Hosting a 'free' garage sale!
• Lunch with Jacob!
• A day in Poulsbo with Kris!
• Terra Cotta Warriors in Seattle.
• Liz and Chuck's invaluable help setting up and volunteering in my classroom (I've never had it so good)! 
• A group of 19 funny third graders.
• Each moment of complete awareness of what is actually happening now (sounds ethereal, but it isn't really!).
• Sunrises, sunsets, beautiful drives, street fairs, burgers at the Grizz, laughter and intellectual conversation with the best of friends!
• Discovering the value of my bullet journal (Bujo)! Thank you, Liz!
• The Last Jedi, Episode VIII!

My wish for the new year:

Let understanding triumph over ignorance,

Let generosity triumph over indifference,

And truth triumph over falsehood.

Family Time Road Trip!

This past week, I had the pleasure of traveling with my sister, Pattie, to celebrate our mother's 95th birthday. Mom recently moved to a nursing facility in Grangeville, Idaho (a very nice place, I might add).  It was our first ever road trip together! Here are few pics of our travels:

Mom's church put on a potluck party for her. Here we are with our brothers who traveled up from California to attend the festivities - from left to right: Myself, Mom, Hugh, Pattie, and Tom.  (since this time, Tom has passed away)

*photo courtesy of Pastor Bob

A rainy view of downtown Grangeville

The sidewalks were lined with these hearts - it was a friendly place.

On the way home, we stopped to visit this still working monastery of the Benedictine sisters. Religion has always been of interest to me - in the past as an very active participant; more lately, as an observer and armchair learner of the history and its effects on our world (thanks to the studies of my besties). 

There were several birdhouses placed in the gardens - this one occupied.

A scale-down castle replica drew my attention...

... as did this church. They were maybe 2 x 3 ft.

The canola fields in bloom

The back highways have frequent historical markers.

Pattie and I have always liked trains and trestles as Grampa worked for the Union Pacific.

A Trip to Mom's

Just last week, my friends, Liz and Chuck, and I traveled to Lewiston, Idaho. Driving the southern route through Walla Walla, we enjoyed the wheat fields - what is it about miles and miles of wheat that fascinates us so? 

We stopped at the Whitman Mission Nat'l Historic Site as we all enjoy checking out historical stuff, especially when it's about religion. We found the visitor center display to be pretty neutral in the view presented of the massacre of Dr. Whitman and several others by the local Cayuse tribe that took place back in the 1840s. I was surprised to read that the government was responsible for encouraging missionaries to go out and save those 'heathens'. The view that the average American seemed to have of the Native tribes was extremely arrogant, in my opinion. 

A very old tree still standing on the original site of the mission.

A view of the original site of the mission from a nearby hill.

We arrived at our hotel, dined and were glad of the air conditioning in the hotter-than-we-are-used-to weather. The next day, I rented a car and went to visit my 94 year old mother in nearby Kamiah while Liz and Chuck explored Lewiston in the 100* weather (I cannot even begin to say how grateful I am they accompanied me on this trip!).

The Clearwater River (a tributary of the Snake) on the way to Kamiah

 While they braved the heat, I took Mom to lunch and for a drive onto the high prairie above her little town. Again, miles and miles of beautiful wheat.

We had a great visit - the first time I've ever visited her alone, I might add. We poured over old photos of our family for most of the day. She enjoyed them so much!

I headed back to Lewiston in the evening to meet up with my friends again, debrief our day's activities (they found some cool stuff at an antique store) and sleep in the lovely artificial coolness once again. The next day found us heading up the apparently famous Lewiston grade, a rather steep hill taking us out of the Snake River valley into the wheatfields of Washington's Palouse area on our way home.

We stopped in tiny Uniontown and found more cool antiques for the garden, then in even smaller Colton to look at historical St. Boniface, built in 1904. I found myself intrigued by the life experience and perspective of the three of us as we meandered through the sanctuary - I was raised in Roman Catholicism and spent most of my life in organized religion, Liz as a scholar, and Chuck as one who finds it interesting historically.

Obviously, we arrived home safely and had a successful, enjoyable trip!

Time With Friends

Taken at Red Butte Gardens, Salt Lake City

Activity: Road Trip

Destination: Laramie, Wyoming and Salt Lake City, Utah

Route: Through southern Washington, northeastern Oregon, southern Idaho, northern Utah, and straight across the bottom of Wyoming, then back veering off along the Columbia Gorge.

Goal: To enjoy time with my besties with wonderful conversation, laughter, seeing new sights, and generally enjoying life.

Memories:

~ reading and discussing fascinating books as we traversed miles and miles of highway.
~ learning new life-changing insights
~ poking around antique stores finding cool things to buy
~ finding better than usual restaurants, especially in Salt Lake
~ enjoying then drying up in the heat!
~ exploring beautiful gardens and the beautiful Wasatch mountains
~ walking Temple Square with somber thoughts
~ meeting a Facebook friend for real!
~ snapping dozens of photos and losing some.

End result: Another set of beautiful memories to add to my collection!

Here are the rest of my favorites (click on it to see it bigger!):

Visit With a Friend

Last week Liz, Chuck, and I had the distinct pleasure of a visit with our dear friend, Kev. She hails from Louisiana where we met her on our first road trip back in '08 - you know, that "Biggest Field Trip Ever" when my bestie and I traveled with four kids, three of them teens. Prior to that, we only knew each other through a favorite website, AtlasQuest. Since then, we've continued to enjoy a growing friendship.  

Anyway, she got to fly out here and spend a week with us. Most of our time was spent at the beach house relaxing (it's awesome!), visiting other friends,  along with side trips to Tillicum Village for an awesome salmon dinner and performance, and Mt. St. Helens. So, I gathered my favorite pics from our time together:

View from Johnston Ridge

We could see the tip of Mt Rainier off in the distance! Love the zoom feature!

2013 in Photos

2013 was a memorable year - here are my favorite pics from our many adventures (in random order)! I am so amazingly blessed and grateful!


This sums up my year:

"This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, love to complete your life."  ~anonymous

*To see them not in a slide show, click in the middle - it'll take you to Fotki where you can see them slower.

Thanksgiving 2013

We had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend at Ocean Shores - a little sunshine, a little rain, a lotta rain, spiced wine, Hanukkah candles, beach treasures, rousing conversation, and beach walks.  G-d is good!

the middle rock stack was buffeted by the waves overnight...

Beach Time!

A day at the Washington Coast with me besties!

"Once your feet have touched the warm sun drenched sand of the seashore you will never be the same."

Sasha - A Series

Sasha thinks she's pretty cool up there on the banister...

2012

Another year has ended. A year that has brought about an amazing amount of change as I look back and reflect.

~ relationships ended with sadness and hurt.
~ relationships maintained and strengthened as we stayed together through difficult times.
~ relationships renewed as dear friends and family came alongside.
~ relationships that grew as lives intertwined.

Adonai, our G-d, we give thanks and recount Your praise...

~ increased awareness of my past and what lies within.
~ laying pain and sorrow before the Holy One repeatedly.
~ breaking free of old patterns, destructive patterns.
~ growing pains as maturity comes.

... for our lives that are committed into Your hand...

He guides my every step be it easy or challenging.
He provides times of refreshment and laughter amidst the tough times.
He heals as only He can.
He places my feet on a path ordained by His hand, a sure and secure path.


... You are the G-d and King who heals, the G-d Who is faithful and merciful.

I am grateful...

~ for friends who have humbled me with their love and care.
~ for sisters who remind me of what I had neglected and that make me laugh.
~ for a beautiful home filled with light, peace, laughter and love.
~ for provision from the hand of the Master.
~ that I spent the time to earn my education degree.
~ for travel opportunities and times at the beach.
~ for small furry friends that bring comfort.
~ for feathered visitors that make us smile.

Now, I look to the future...

~ for wholeness of mind, heart and body.
~ for emotional strength and confidence in who I am.
~ that relationship might be restored.
~ that joy will replace the sadness that lingers.
~ for travel opportunities with my besties.
~ for time with family.
~ for gainful employment.

Blessed are You, Adonai our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has brought me to this time and place with a far brighter future than I could ever hope for. May His Name be blessed and glorified in everything I do.

In Remembrance

He Who makes peace in His heights

may He make peace upon us and upon all Israel,

and say Amein.

Blessed be the G-d and Father of our L-rd Yeshua HaMashiach

the Father of mercies and G-d of all comfort,

who comforts us in all our afflictions

so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction

with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by G-d.

Today marks two years - losing an entire family... Having them shamefully and cruelly harm one of HaShem's righteous servants is devastating. Walking through that  immense darkness and betrayal with her has been an honor.

"But as for you, you thought evil against me; but God meant it to good..." ~Genesis 50