That's What Friends Do

Love is not:

jealous,
envious,
boastful,
arrogant,
selfish,
rude
or irritable

Does not demand it's own way
or hold grudges.
It's never glad about injustice.


Love is:

Patient,
Kind,
Always protects,
trusts,
hopes,
perseveres

It rejoices in the truth
Love never fails,
Keeps no record of wrong
Love Lives on

The Gospel according to philosopher Lauren James.
My dear friend, Lauren James, is a truly amazing person and everyone who knows her deeply respects and admires her. See her on post (scroll down) June 16. Lauren is so global minded and progressive but also knows and appreciates the bible on a level most people can't even imagine, myself included. We have been through some pretty high water together and made it to the other shore. Her understanding and insight in my world is golden. So, in this post today- she is my "guest" blogger! As we discussed modern expression of certain phrasing in these scriptures she remained the final say as to it's truest intent. My first concept of forming an easy to read list of what love is, and what love is not, laid the basis for this. Thank you Lauren, for sharing your insight and passionate care in these interpretations.

Prayers of the people

This is my new little prayer candle block. It's set up in the living room and my way of reminding myself to pray for those I've told I will! You can see strips of tapes with names written. These names represent the people I am now praying for as a result of my online travels. I will be adding strips with new names over top of these. . .as time goes on.

Prayer is such an amazing concept to me. It truly is miraculous. I've found that when I surround any problem with prayer, the energy in it, of it, changes. Significantly. Quietly. Often very quickly. A bigger space is somehow created for unusual change. I've seen it happen far too often to think otherwise. And, believe me, I've been stuck in long stages in my life that were filled with raging disbelief, anger, incredible feelings of being misunderstood and invalidated. And, being told to be positive, for it's own sake, just seemed like a lie to me and an oppressive tool. But bringing prayer and a dogged determination to love is different. I just think it takes a loving creator to build what we've got here. Love seems to be the only thing that endures, and produces life. Anytime I can, through love, give any life producing benefit, then I am assisting in a miracle.

Held

I saw this cross at a church I frequently attend in Rogue River. There is wire covering the shells, holding them in place. The wolves were an unexpected element that seemed right for the day. Sometimes this is how it feels when we're left alone with our sorrow and fear. Wolves circle about in their primitive urges, but they aren't malicious persay. My own ignorance about the extent of God's love makes me feel like there are wolves surrounding me, when really there are not.



click on picture for shells and wire detail
Thank you Nancy Nibblett. The most awesome sunday school teacher ever!!

Falling slowly into you dear

I'm feeling a new wind blowing even though I'm a little reluctant to post anything other than summer things. Summer just never lasts long enough. Lately our August breezes are bringing a decidely September feel. O the coming season of Fall...leaves will soon swirl to the ground, children will be in school learning new things, and people will enjoy homes without the worry and noisy distraction of keeping safe & cool.

I love fall for all it's beauty and for this reason I may be rushing things a little. Still, the loveliness of fall is starting to weave it's magical mossy little fingers around and through my heart compelling me to fall in love with it all over again. And, I am. I am.

Distill

"Distill"
This has been my word lately. Perhaps I could distill the definitions...:)

1.to subject to a process of vaporization and subsequent condensation, as for purification or concentration.
2.to extract the volatile components of by distillation; transform by distillation.
3.to concentrate, purify, or obtain by or as by distillation: to distill whiskey from mash.
4.to remove by distillation (usually fol. by off or out): to distill out impurities.
5.to extract the essential elements of; refine; abstract: She managed to distill her ideas into one succinct article.
6.to let fall in drops; give forth in or as in drops: The cool of the night distills the dew.

verb:
7.to undergo or perform distillation.
8.to become vaporized and then condensed in distillation.
9.to drop, pass, or condense as a distillate.
10.to fall in drops; trickle; exude

Sea of Mercy

If I could only swim it's tide,
be washed upon it's waves,
and feel the grace inside,

feel the grace inside.

If I could only know no judgement,
find my sweetest peace,
wander to the shore,
and find myself in the sea.

If I could only feel the cloudy lift,
revealing a little blue sky,
Somehow the water would find me,
wash me and give me an alibi.

The lessons of my past,
wouldn't be so sad,
spilling out to tell on me,
and point to all I never had,

the promise of my future might be left for me,
If I could only swim the sea,
engorge myself in the mystery,
. . .the sea of mercy.

I will know the sea of mercy,
when it's passions find my feet,
I will step upon it's waters,
and find my sweet relief.

I will feel it's healing hand,
and though I did not earn it,
be carried there by another man,
and throw myself in it.

I will walk upon it's waters,
to show it can be done,
a multitude beside me,
all waiting to come,

Swim the sea of mercy,
I will find my soul within,
part of me,
comes back to me again.

colette george c 1992

Buffy Point

This picture from the other day was taken very near a place where a young local girl died in the river resulting from a car wreck. I didn't know the little girl personally although my son did. The picture preceeding reflects a brighter perspective but this morning I was feeling a little more grief for Buffy and her family and friends. There are always little commemorative things along the highway but it just seems so little can be said or done at times to signify the loss of someone so young and full of promise. I picture a mother and father's heart breaking. I imagine the grief of losing a daughter would only seem magnified by a loss of the enjoyment of the river as sanctuary and repose. (It's been mine for so long and I suspect many others around here.) I have a friend that was also involved in a sniper shooting at a river north of here. The river had always been her sanctuary but after that she just didn't feel safe. Horribly tragic since she is one that had turned to, and found, great solace in the river for so many years until then. It grieves me to this day for her.

River of Dreams

Taken yesterday about 10 minutes away from home. This picture is shot from the bridge just past Buffy point. (May she rest in peace.) Love this spot and about a million others along the way up Cow Creek. We've been spending so much time in the pool we thought it was high time we took Pearl to the river!

Removing labels...

Anyone identify with label removal? Writing the latest set of instructions for Krylon right now and as I was reviewing some of the pictures for references I came across this picture. There just comes a time when removing labels is necessary. If we want to paint a masterpiece we've got to start off clean and begin to add the brush strokes of our lives.

Watershed moments

After posting these pictures may just have to head back out there! And, we got the pool up!!! YAY!! I'm now nursing a sunburn but it's all good and I don't have a single complaint. Life is good. I told someone the other day that I felt like I was on drugs; my body was so light and my legs were so rubbery. weird. This was simply because I was so relieved that June (well june and a half) were over. It was just too much. It's good to think about what's realistic to take on and get real with my schedule.

See yourself Sainted

What I'm dreaming of. . .

I'm dreaming of being in the water right now, can hardly wait to dip my toes then fully immerse myself in the river. I've made a vow to myself that I'd do that this week. When I was a kid, like so many others around here, we'd spend so much time outside fondly holding leaves and branches in our hands. We'd drag them behind us making tracks in the dust. We'd pull moss from trees and catch little frogs or bugs for the wonder of their tiny little worlds. I'm missing those slow uncomplicated moments. I'm also reminded of how dirty we were at the end of each day convinced that most of our dirt was a tan until mom proved otherwise. I remember being barefooted so much that the skin between my toes would crack and that I could run on rocks and hot pavement and not feel the heat too much or the sharp points from the rocks. I do remember, however, getting stone bruises- those were no good.

ahhhh. the good ole summertime. The river takes me back, as though I'd never left.

this is from my book-a project called "A walk along the Oregon Coast vacationscape"

Grandma's sweet little June bugs!

Gabe celebrated his first birthday June 26th. (Hazel was born on the 5th, & we'll be doing this next year with her!) Gabe's little cake was so cute with little bees trailing all over it in the Winnie the Pooh theme. Our local Rays made them both but Gabe's little cake was made with less sugar and with a banana filling. They also dialed down the sugar in the frosting with real whipped cream. Thought that was so neat since he eats only blended fresh fruits and veggies that Ty and Amanda prepare. I wanted to share that new option with others here.

Hazel has no idea how much she is being protected here!!!...Ted is holding Gabe back from climbing right in there to investigate his first little cousin, this little person of interest! Gabe loves to grasp and squeeze things right now- not good for Hazel! ^g^

Analogy of a butterfly

Undaunted by the party: Granddaughter Hazel.

And look- she already has the remote. She's a true George.

A new day. . .

Marianne Williamson: Lean into your future. Allow the parts of you that need to die, to die. An actual discontinuity, an actual phase shift occurs when a butterfly breaks free of it's cocoon. Become "that you" that you are capable of becoming. Out of our imaginal selves- the caterpillar dies, the butterfly is born. We used to cling to the earth, and now we will FLYYYY throughout the skies. We are moving from good to great.The universe is infinitely merciful, infinitely forgiving, is infinitely ready at any given moment to begin again."Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us."
-Marianne Williamson

Channeling Grace

I hope this will be the next book I read:

Channeling Grace: Invoking the Power of the Divine by Carolyn Myss

"Grace is the breath of God - an invisible essence beyond intellect that moves swiftly amongst us," teaches Caroline Myss. Is it possible to become a living conduit of this powerful force? "Not only is it possible," suggests this bestselling author, "but grace is immediately accessible to you and the courage to follow divine guidance." Ascend to what Myss calls the "altitude of the mystics" and invoke this expansive energy in your life."

Myss explains how to recognize grace in your life by describing some of the countless ways we experience it - both internally as a sudden insightful voice, and externally as synchronicity in the world. In Session 2, she offers a full set of specific invocations to contact grace directly, navigate your path in times of chaos, gain clarity and direction in your life, and heal yourself or others."Grace is as real and tangible as sparkling sand on the beach," teaches Myss. "It's ready to dramatically transform your life at any time - if you are willing to acknowledge and embrace it."

Anniversary and Changes

Well today marks mine and Ted's anniversary. We've both been so swamped I don't know that we'll really get to see each other much and that's why we had dinner out together last night...

A nice dinner, quiet.

Create & Decorate Picture (link below)

6/19 post

If I could paint one word
I'd paint for the Rose
all I've been taught
while watching you grow
Me and you
I'd do it for two
I'd do it for me and the Rose

Just found out that a Vintage Collage design has been published in August Create & Decorate. Here's a link to the picture. span>
http://www.createanddecorate.com/issues/2009/august/paper.shtml

Pink Book Red Lips

Project for a book Red Lips 4 Courage/ Eileen Paulinn

Leaves of Grass, Repurposed Candle table runner

I'll let you know where you'll be able to find instructions for these projects designed for Krylon as they become available to me. I also need to get a picture of the table runner that is the over the door sign (deleted the use of the candle cups and placed letters behind- PEACE)

Photography by Rossi Studio