tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40540877913024654432024-03-14T01:27:56.821-07:002013-A Year in Pursuit of Nowan exploration of the art of living.Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-19197712698921564482013-03-09T16:08:00.001-08:002013-03-09T16:10:59.778-08:00Here and NowI'm enjoying my word this year! Really, is there anything better than now? It's what it's all about. I used to wallow in the past and hang everything on hopes for the future. Maybe it's a sign of maturity? There ought to be <i>something</i> fabulous about getting older. My cracking bones certainly can't be it-ha!<br />
I've been having great fun being involved in church in a meaningful way again. I was just attending for quite some time at my previous church and I didn't even know how much I missed it!<br />
I've been doing a take home for the congregation each week of lent and also sharing those with the women I meet with on Wednesday mornings for prayer and breakfast. This week's is a set of beads to use as prompts for prayer this week. I printed a poem and prompts and they can choose a set of beads. The group of beads is beautiful (thanks Sue for the beads- I used all of the ones with larger holes).<br />
Just an FYI- spilling a Christmas tin full of beads of all sizes is a lot like finding pine needles endlessly after Christmas.....<br />
Are you being fully present in the now? Even when it's painful it makes for meaningful living. On not so good days I try to be fully present in the not so good so I can let it go when the good moments come along. Let it filter in and feel all of it, then you can place it somewhere for safe keeping. Maybe hand it over to God- that's what I'm learning to do in the wilderness of Lent.<br />
I'll leave you with the take away for church tomorrow and some pictures from the new walkway at the Big Four Bridge I spent time on today.<br />
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<br />Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-5619556224887098802013-02-27T15:17:00.001-08:002013-02-27T15:17:29.666-08:00Staying in the "now"I'm doing something arty with my one little word this year. I joined in a class on Big Picture Classes (link in my sidebar) for One Little Word with Ali Edwards. There are prompts every month. True to myself- I'm a tad behind but not much. I still need to do my visioning board which is February's prompt but I plan to do it Friday- so really only a couple of days late, right?<br />
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So here is my overview of the year I put together using 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 cards and sleeves for an 8 1/2 x 11 inch binder- I chose red! I wanted gray but there wasn't that size in gray. Every color in the rainbow is available in 12 x 12 but my choice was lime green, red, brown or black. My nature leads me to green. I carried the black around a bit and went back for the red it seemed "now".<br />
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I'm also doing Praying in Color with my lent calendars and they are looking pretty. It's been a meaningful, fun and different way to do prayer.</div>
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So, lots of creativity going on NOW.</div>
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<br />Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-78957904771886077502013-02-15T13:26:00.000-08:002013-02-15T13:26:08.659-08:00LentNow is Lent! I've been visioning on the Worship Committee at church for this season and have had the best time. Like teaching- I'm getting the most out of it I'm sure!<br />
I've found great ideas for kids and adults and adapted them for my personal use and for use at church.<br />
First let me say that being on a worship committee had me a bit intimidated- awesome task to feel responsible in any way for others' worship experience. But, I was reassured when in our first meeting our focus began by remembering who we were planning for- the congregation- and calling them by name. I'd say we remembered just about every single one- now let me say, it is a <u style="font-style: italic;">small church.</u> But that was powerful and I knew all would be well.<br />
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So here are a few of the things we have on tap! Oh, and I should tell you I come prepared with lots of visual aids to meetings so: the first thing I brought was this photo I saw on Pinterest! I just loved it and it summed up what Lent was to me this year.<br />
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So we are using burlap up the aisle and also down the front wall flowing onto a table with rocks.</div>
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Our theme is different aspects of Journeying in the Wilderness.</div>
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We are also doing a Wilderness Packet with several items, which will be added to each week or mostly each week with more the first week:</div>
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A small square of burlap for texture and reflection, a smooth stone, a finger labyrinth (above)-also <a href="http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/finger-labyrinths.html" target="_blank">adapted from the internet</a> which I think may be our bulletin cover, some questions to ponder -this week's are :When have you been invited into the "desert"? What one thing would you like to take with you? What surprise would you hope to find there?, and a Lenten path to follow, one for adults that I hope they will journal, color, or do something with besides x off and one for kids also adapted from the internet. The o<a href="http://catholicicing.com/2011/02/printable-lenten-calendar-for-kids/" target="_blank">ne on the internet </a>only had 40 days and didn't count Sunday on the calendar. That just didn't make sense to me so I had to redo it with the 46 days and one for Easter! There will be some poetry, and I got little peat pots and seed tape. Ooo I'm excited already!</div>
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I'm so excited about Lent and think that doing these things is accomplishing my goal of getting closer to God in a way different from what I envisioned but successfully none the less.</div>
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Enjoying Lent NOW.</div>
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I'll update you on my rocky path journaling soon.</div>
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Hope you are enjoying the moment.</div>
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<br />Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-72494992623694098642013-01-27T10:15:00.001-08:002013-01-27T10:15:15.704-08:00The good feeling of not procrastinating <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I own my own business in addition to being a part-time dental hygienist. The great thing about dental hygiene is that you don't take any work home. The bad thing for me is that it ruins my hands that I like to use for fun art projects. </div>
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My least favorite part of business ownership is bookkeeping. UGH. Math is my worst subject and I get no pleasure out of balancing and comparing figures at all. Did I make enough to do it another year? Great-that's all I need to know.</div>
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But, my CPA insists on bookkeeping and not anything simple. She wants double entry blah blah blah.</div>
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So I do it. Every year I put it off until I can't live with myself anymore because the 4/15 deadline is looming large.</div>
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I start off the year well enough- folders, stuff appropriately put in folder but at the end of the year it looks like the above photo. All the stuff in the front is receipts that are not in the proper folder. </div>
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UGH again.</div>
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I also pay a lot of business expenses with my personal main credit card which sometimes I pay off with my personal checking and sometimes with my business checking. So that requires separating everything out at the end of the year. I should have one credit card for business and one for me. But, of course not.</div>
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This year I decided to start early, rewarded myself with a latte and went to Day's Coffee shop with computer and file folders in hand. I organized and balanced my checkbook, went through all of the credit card statements and separated business from other and then sat down yesterday and did all the double entry bookkeeping starting with March- I had the good sense to keep up a little at the beginning of 2012.</div>
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Today- I'm done. Everything is ready for the CPA except for two items that haven't arrived yet.</div>
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I'm going on a trip next week, leaving Jim in charge here and I go with a sense of peace knowing that task is behind me.</div>
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Living in the here and now and happy for not procrastinating!</div>
Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-12384524325298560042013-01-13T05:55:00.001-08:002013-01-13T19:58:30.225-08:00For love of a baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Babies are so sweet and mysterious, almost magnetic and yet for some, unreachable. I love any reason to celebrate, it is a kind of fun that is almost transporting to me. I like planning events so this weekend's baby shower for Robert and Da'quisha at church was super fun but a little bittersweet for me.<br />
I got to recycle my ideas from <a href="http://artcricket2.blogspot.com/2012/06/gee-where-to-start-vacation-artand-two.html" target="_blank">April's baby shower</a> (scroll way down this LONG post) and use up some party favors, too!<br />
We party-planners hoped for about 20 church folks to come, which for our sweet little church is a pretty substantial turnout. So most of my plans were with that in mind. To my great joy Robert and Da'quisha practically brought their own party in family members! There was plenty of punch and cake, mints and nut, to go around but I was little shy on activity sheets. But, maybe God knew how many little blessing beads I needed for the mother's necklace and I had just the right amount. Perhaps they were multiplied in that little bag like the loaves and fishes when the number of guests were counted!<br />
I bought a little blanket zipper pouch that goes over baby already dressed in sleepwear for everyone to sign with blessings or well-wishes.<br />
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There were little paper buttons for baby blessings to go in a box and we wrote motherly and fatherly advice (I'm so old that most of my baby showers are female only- how nice that this one had several males!) and a favorite childhood memory of an adult in our life on little cards. Da'quisha and Robert read a card before opening a gift.<br />
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There were lots of gifts of diapers and wipes, you think you will never use this mountain of supplies but they will be gone all too soon I imagine, books, bottles, a pack and play, a gender neutral diaper bag (loved this for Robert!), but, who can resist adorable, sweet, baby girl clothes? There were plenty of them. Miss Eryn will be quite the baby fashionista.<br />
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Judah brought paper good and tablecloths, Sue made a deliciously simple punch, Cindy brought a sweet baby cake, and Sandy had us well-supplied in nuts and mints. Old-fashioned refreshments-I loved it! My former MIL supplied the punch bowl and cups.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aren't they just the cutest couple?</td></tr>
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Our last activity was to take a bead and give the mother a blessing for her delivery which could be made into a necklace or bracelet to take to the hospital. It was a sweet time with a sweet young couple.<br />
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I enjoyed every minute of the planning, prep and party!</div>
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But as I drove home my heart was breaking for my sweet girl and her partner who want a child so much they've spent years and lots of savings trying to have one with no success. No countries outside the US (and only private adoption here) offer adoption to same sex couples. Single-yes, heterosexual-yes. Openly gay, committed partners need not apply. Many states do not recognize two parents in a same sex couple family, only one so my girls are continuing to live in a state where a gay couple can both be legal parents hoping for this to be a reality. My state does not allow for it. Shame, shame, shame.</div>
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I hope the universe has a sweet child for them somewhere and that the three of them will be wrapped in this kind of community love.</div>
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Living in the juxtaposition of celebration and heartbreak.</div>
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Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-20439200752008492582013-01-11T10:15:00.002-08:002013-01-11T10:16:58.360-08:00Love getting things doneThe beginning of the year brings thoughts of business, record keeping, taxes and the like. I'm Miss Organization in January and by April I wonder where she went!<br />
So, true to my nature I'm at it making sure clients have scheduled training, I have accurate records of that schedule, reminding ones who need a nudge and staring at the mountain of receipts that need to be organized to attempt my bookkeeping for 2012.<br />
My accountant- yes, I need one even with my tiny business- was in my office for other purposes yesterday. I stuck my head out of my operatory and said "My books will be ready in a couple of days!"<br />
To which she responded "Really?" "Nope, of course not!" was my reply. But, she actually thought I might have turned over a new leaf! That's encouraging to both of us as I'm an April 1st-get my books to the accountant -kind of girl. Maybe this will be the year I can follow through. It would certainly make my Januaries so much merrier to sit down monthly and do bookkeeping. Can you tell I really don't like that aspect of being a business owner?<br />
So today, because I promised myself I would, I'm spending the best part of the day inside at my desk with a mountain of paperwork, a good cup of coffee- (have you had a Miele?- latte with honey and cinnamon) and even on a record breaking warm day, doing what I need to be doing,<br />
feeding my sense of mental well-being. I've been doing a lot of that lately.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miele</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work scheduled already for this year!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The incredible mess of receipts.</td></tr>
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Okay, the commercial break is over.....<br />
<br />Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-51547568002812492022013-01-08T16:46:00.001-08:002013-01-09T15:02:12.330-08:00Living in the basementMy heavily cluttered basement has been weighing me down mentally. There are a lot of reasons for the amount of stuff I walk around downstairs. There was a family fire over a year ago and I've been hanging on to a table, chairs, kitchen wares and linens to help furnish a new living space for them.<br />
I have a lot of hobbies and interests and since a lot of them include artistic stuff, I can envision a way to repurpose just about anything! So, it's hard to turn loose of some potentially fabulous piece of creativity.<br />
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I buy things ahead of time for my classes I teach and you gotta put them somewhere. I love clothing. I wish I didn't. I wish I just looked at clothes as something that's needed to cover my body.<br />
Thankfully, I come across a lot of clothes for free or at goodwill. I also buy more clothes than I need. Since I have a terrible time staying at any one weight, there's a range of sizes, too. There's a computer that I don't know how to wipe clean that needs to exit that space and a huge monitor that I will never use. What to do? There is a color printer that I replaced with a wireless one. Do you need it? It's yours. I took a rocker to Goodwill and because the veneer was off some of it they didn't take it. I put it at the street- thank you, someone- it is gone. Now will someone take the 13 inch TV with a built in VCR that still works but I don't need? It, too, is at the curb. I hauled a truck load of goods to Goodwill and I hope someone enjoys the things that were just hanging out in my basement. Threw out a garbage cart full of trash and have overflowing recycling at the curb tonight. I'm feeling lighter, easier, and enjoying the task. It isn't done and in truth probably I will never look at the basement and go "Ah, finally perfect" but for now it's a-ok and I'm not tripping over the rug in the middle of it- I listed it on Craig's list along with the oak chairs that need a new home. My hope is that in the next moment of temptation to bring anything into my home, only something truly beloved and potentially cherished will be allowed.<br />
There was a time I was quite poor and I think I hang on to "things" because they seemed so important and out of reach for a time.<br />
I'm wanting the freedom of less.<br />
And grateful for where I am today. I makes me happy to have less, give more, free it up, give it up.<br />
Growing up.<br />
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<br />Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-53286734982145536902013-01-06T16:58:00.000-08:002013-01-06T16:58:06.161-08:00What's going on now..It's time to put away Christmas, well, the decorations, food, and visitors, anyway.<br />
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Dropped my sweet daughter at the airport so she could do some homework while waiting for her flight and I was grateful to have church to go to as a distraction. Missed her the moment I pulled away.<br />
My stamp I carved for Advent was on the bulletin again at church. I was sad for a moment that I wouldn't be carving on it weekly anymore but excited to what Lent will bring in a few weeks.<br />
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I spent the afternoon dealing with a stack of Christmas items that was piled on the little table my dad had as a child where the Fisher Price Nativity set lived during the holidays.<br />
Christmas plates I bought at Target in 1996 and have used every Christmas morning since-tucked under the stairs. Tree- in the garage. Wrapping paper, ribbon and bows tidy in a box. Tomorrow the rest of the sweets will go to work for co-workers to have or throw away.<br />
I'm enjoying clean surfaces, a tidier kitchen, a healthier refrigerator, but also appreciating the photos and sweet memories of a busy, fun Christmas season.<br />
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Living in the moment and loving it. Realizing that now is always a little of the past and the hope of the future, too.Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-27699214403991781802012-12-26T10:09:00.001-08:002012-12-26T10:09:23.697-08:00Now-one little word for 2013Isn't that what it is really all about? Now? Serenity, mindfulness, practice... maybe what I really want to explore is NOW. Living in the moment, not projecting, not regretting but really being present in the present.<br />
So "now" is my word of the year for 2013.<br />
2012 was a stress-filled year, so I'm realizing more and more that dealing with stress is really about dealing with my response to it. There will always be stress, always be problems, people I don't agree with. Really, they aren't the problem- ever. It's my response to things that are different from my norm that creates a lot of the stress.<br />
I'm looking forward to seeing where trying to live in the the now takes me. I was reminded that I bought a necklace last year with that word stamped in it. I hope I wear it a lot and carry it's reminder with me even when it's not around my neck.<br />
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<br />Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-79561971904448362452012-03-13T07:17:00.001-07:002012-03-13T07:20:34.027-07:00Prayer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I realize that one thing I do practice fairly regularly is prayer. One thing I'd like to add to my prayer life is more listening.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AAH5b8v7-4A/T19TqwYbKvI/AAAAAAAAFmA/fYCCExsjs7A/s1600/IMG_0169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AAH5b8v7-4A/T19TqwYbKvI/AAAAAAAAFmA/fYCCExsjs7A/s320/IMG_0169.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i><b>Pray</b></i> was our lenten theme Sunday. Jeff Street does worship is such deeply meaningful and tangible ways. I'm always touched and I've learned to skip make-up when there. I cry it all away from the tenderness of it all. Individuals shared prayers that have been important parts of their lives.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The symbol of our sustenance in the desert theme has been a walking stick to which has been attached words of sustenance of the congregation. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Every week there are more added from those left at the alter the previous week. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This week bells were added as a symbol of God's hearing our prayers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">And there was an opportunity to take a bell and or light a candle as a prayer.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I did both. I put my bell in the little middle compartment between the front seats of my car. I like it there. When I stop, it rolls and rings and triggers a quick prayer for something or someone, or perhaps just to listen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> The stick this week</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another prayer habit I have had for more than 20 years is to meet with other women over breakfast and share our concerns and joys and lift up those of others in prayer. We also send cards to those we know of who could use a word of hope, encouragement, wellness, or joy.</div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">We each put a prayer concern on a card and take one of another's to pray for all week.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vL4RFit6AKk/T19U54_-cLI/AAAAAAAAFmo/0dH9HKFmHgg/s1600/IMG_0048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vL4RFit6AKk/T19U54_-cLI/AAAAAAAAFmo/0dH9HKFmHgg/s320/IMG_0048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm celebrating the joy of a well practiced act with great meaning for my life.</div><div style="text-align: center;">What are you practicing today?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Is it something that brings joy to you and others?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This poem was a part of our worship and a reminder of my need to listen.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Praying</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">It doesn't have to be<br />
the blue iris, it could be<br />
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few<br />
small stones; just<br />
pay attention, then patch</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">a few words together and don't try<br />
to make them elaborate, this isn't<br />
a contest but the doorway</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">into thanks, and a silence in which<br />
another voice may speak.</div><div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Mary Oliver </div><div><br />
</div>Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-78302951027812154882012-02-28T07:31:00.007-08:002012-03-04T12:27:01.143-08:00Shrines and Icons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JDbGjX_S8lY/T0zka8Zz_QI/AAAAAAAAFiw/dSeDlDpnA-s/s1600/lens1859718_1212000419matchbx6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JDbGjX_S8lY/T0zka8Zz_QI/AAAAAAAAFiw/dSeDlDpnA-s/s400/lens1859718_1212000419matchbx6.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>First my apologies to the matchbox shrine artist to the left- I closed the window before uploading the link-now I can't find it. :(<br />
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Since part of my goal in the year in pursuit of practice is more art- I'm leading a workshop March 11th at Jeff Street on making shrines or icons with the theme "Witness". Our Lenten theme is Sustenance in the Desert and one Sunday we will be sharing about those who have been a source of sustenance for us and these shrines will be a part of that service. Don't we just do the coolest things at church? So I decided to write a post with ideas that folks could come visit for ideas in preparation for this event.<br />
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Here is a brief definition from Merriam-Webster:<br />
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<h2 class="def-header" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.merriam-webster.com/styles/default/images/reference/hardrule-background.jpg); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: repeat no-repeat; color: #7b7b7b; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; padding-right: 15px;">Definition of <em style="font-style: normal;">SHRINE</em></span></h2><div class="KonaBody" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="sblk"><div class="snum" style="color: black; float: left; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">1</div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px;"><span class="ssens"><em class="sn" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">a</em> <strong>:</strong> a case, box, or receptacle; <em>especially</em> <strong>:</strong> one in which sacred relics (as the bones of a saint) are deposited</span><span class="ssens"><span class="break" style="display: block; height: 10px;"></span><em class="sn" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">b</em> <strong>:</strong> a place in which devotion is paid to a saint or deity <strong>:</strong><a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sanctuary" style="color: #1122cc; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-variant: small-caps; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;">sanctuary</a></span><span class="ssens"><span class="break" style="display: block; height: 10px;"></span><em class="sn" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">c</em> <strong>:</strong> a niche containing a religious image</span></div></div><div class="sblk"><div class="snum" style="color: black; float: left; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold;">2</div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px;"><span class="ssens"><strong>:</strong> a receptacle (as a tomb) for the dead</span></div><div class="scnt" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> 3</span><strong>:</strong> a place or object hallowed by its associations</div></div></div><div class="learners-link" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"></div><br />
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****Artistic ability in <b>NOT </b>needed to make a great tribute about someone who's sustained you. You can cut words from a magazine, include a photo, or trinket, ticket stub or receipt-anything that reminds you of what made that person so important. I will show you ways to incorporate those into a simple icon.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sF4PipTo-Vc/T1PGhDFrJpI/AAAAAAAAFjg/dpGESRKuHOQ/s1600/IMG_0161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sF4PipTo-Vc/T1PGhDFrJpI/AAAAAAAAFjg/dpGESRKuHOQ/s320/IMG_0161.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is my matchbook shrine</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HlK7dSqwL4Y/T1PGpjf89QI/AAAAAAAAFjo/8u2Oj8hM0GU/s1600/IMG_0163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HlK7dSqwL4Y/T1PGpjf89QI/AAAAAAAAFjo/8u2Oj8hM0GU/s320/IMG_0163.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ollie was a friend who came to Women's Prayer Breakfast with me for 20 years. She died a few years ago at 93 or 94. She was a wise, faithful, knowledgable woman who's faith inspired me. She was a 40+ year breast cancer survivor who loved Billy Collins' poetry and gave me an extra copy of Picnic Lightening. She read aloud from it and other works of poetry from time to time. I have a recording of one reading that is a super sweet memory.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For this matchbox, I painted the box pink, glued a metal word, shrunken book cover, little wax thread pink ribbon, added a cross sticker and stamped the word pray on a tiny jeweler's tag which I attached with a tiny brad. The sleeve is covered in paper and I had some baby bracelet beads that I strung with her name.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Again, a little glue, paper, paint - came together easily.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We can do something so simple as ironing words and pictures or drawings between waxed paper hearts. Beautifully effective! I can see a whole string of these beauties hanging as a lovely tribute.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LLvtWhKtUro/T0zflgMmF-I/AAAAAAAAFiY/EKVkS6-mfW0/s1600/6a00e5528309ac88340134866fa003970c-500wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LLvtWhKtUro/T0zflgMmF-I/AAAAAAAAFiY/EKVkS6-mfW0/s320/6a00e5528309ac88340134866fa003970c-500wi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://blog.crescendoh.com/gallery/2010/08/hanging-hearts-by-becky-shander.html" target="_blank">Waxed paper hearts</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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Can you tell who the tribute below represents?<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5FPI1gxE_c/T1PEO_uubyI/AAAAAAAAFjI/xgoVMYlJeJU/s1600/IMG_0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C5FPI1gxE_c/T1PEO_uubyI/AAAAAAAAFjI/xgoVMYlJeJU/s320/IMG_0166.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is my waxed paper shrine hanging on my back door.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SddxMrDHJlo/T1PEjbIt_3I/AAAAAAAAFjQ/XkehWcn_da4/s1600/IMG_0167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SddxMrDHJlo/T1PEjbIt_3I/AAAAAAAAFjQ/XkehWcn_da4/s320/IMG_0167.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a closer, clearer view.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qISG4wYc1-0/T1PE1lzofUI/AAAAAAAAFjY/9iP6hFJqSsI/s1600/IMG_0168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qISG4wYc1-0/T1PE1lzofUI/AAAAAAAAFjY/9iP6hFJqSsI/s320/IMG_0168.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit more detail</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
This was simple to put together. I printed out an image of a gift given to me by this person, glued it onto a background cut out in the shape of a house, stamped the words "inspire" and Hope" which I will bring, cut out part of a sticker and added that along with another piece of paper with the definition of the word "cherish". This person used to collect fortune cookie fortunes so I included part of one. I scraped some bits of crayon onto the waxed paper avoiding the house so it wouldn't smear it. I sandwiched all of it between two sheets of waxed paper and ironed on a low setting with no water in the iron. Cut out the heart shape and I sewed around the edge with some waxed thread and added a charm at the bottom.<br />
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Here is a <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/74733636/woodland-fairies-altered-altoid-tin/" target="_blank">shrine</a> that is for sale but I put it in as an example of how elaborate you could chose to be.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3G--FbEFZzQ/T0zkHr2p3EI/AAAAAAAAFio/u_4-fCYdjOQ/s1600/162059286560661518_2tOgZTE4_f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3G--FbEFZzQ/T0zkHr2p3EI/AAAAAAAAFio/u_4-fCYdjOQ/s320/162059286560661518_2tOgZTE4_f.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">A simple <a href="http://islandwench.blogspot.com/2008/01/how-to-make-portable-cardboard-prayer.html" target="_blank">cardboard shrine </a>is lovely!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-22laH9Sk2BE/T0zvVpLXwDI/AAAAAAAAFi4/EFmMFc9HaYk/s1600/haiku+shrine+400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-22laH9Sk2BE/T0zvVpLXwDI/AAAAAAAAFi4/EFmMFc9HaYk/s320/haiku+shrine+400.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Another thought would be to bring a photo of the person, we will make a construction paper or fun foam frame that you can embellish with words or items.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>For those who like thinking ahead and mulling things over,</b><br />
<b>ideas of things to bring, but not required, I will have a bunch of materials:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">magazine words that describe your "sustainer" if you cut them out ahead of time (magazines will be there)</div><div style="text-align: center;">photo or drawing of the person</div><div style="text-align: center;">any ephemera you have that connects you to that person or event (i.e. maps, ticket stubs, etc)</div><div style="text-align: center;">any item that has meaning to you that you want to include</div><div style="text-align: center;">any alphabet letters, beads, etc from your creative stash (remember those baby bracelet letter beads?)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Perhaps, a letter or note from them or you to them</div><div style="text-align: center;">ribbon or trim<br />
<b>Possible containers:</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">empty matchboxes ( I have may two of these)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> cereal box</div><div style="text-align: center;">small shoe box or shoebox lid</div><div style="text-align: center;">altoid or other candy/gum tin (I'll have some of these)</div><div style="text-align: center;">part of an egg carton ( I'll bring one)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>There will be plenty of supplies on hand</b>-<b> so come with an idea or desire only and everything else will be there for you to create something.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Just come!</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><b>PS-I love serendipity, on my walk I found a shrine! How crazy is that? Marilyn Monroe on an old tin top. It was in the first alley I turned down.</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jrZVsH4BI-w/T00C1cc-ZuI/AAAAAAAAFjA/rWErZOmocKQ/s1600/IMG_7163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jrZVsH4BI-w/T00C1cc-ZuI/AAAAAAAAFjA/rWErZOmocKQ/s320/IMG_7163.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some online resources are:</div><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/matchboxshrines" target="_blank">Matchbook shrines</a> -ideas</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/mirkwooddesigns/matchbox.htm" target="_blank">Mirkwood Designs</a> -for templates- I'll bring some of these</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.art-e-zine.co.uk/matchbx.html" target="_blank">Another matchbook site</a> -matchbook shrines- a personal favorite<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-25491881419311471232012-02-24T08:32:00.002-08:002012-02-24T08:36:35.314-08:00The practice of Lent<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yM6XFnrLZo/T0e7ZiTXEKI/AAAAAAAAFhg/FvnMOn2YiGY/s1600/IMG_7118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--yM6XFnrLZo/T0e7ZiTXEKI/AAAAAAAAFhg/FvnMOn2YiGY/s320/IMG_7118.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>To be honest, I've never been one to sacrifice something for Lent or, since I'm not Catholic, to eat fish on Fridays. Probably, for me Lent has been more about devotionals or reflection and sometimes, sadly, it has been nothing at all. This year it seems a perfect time to incorporate "practice" into the Lenten season.<br />
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So, I'm still thinking about what it will be, perhaps a journal or photo journal, perhaps a word a day.... but the thinking about it is always the beginning of a practice. Today, I am emptying to prepare for the journey.<br />
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What are you doing this Lenten season?Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-5765202313365787252012-01-15T15:46:00.000-08:002012-01-15T15:50:34.021-08:00Leo Babauta on PracticeI read Leo's blog, <a href="http://zenhabits.net/conscious/">Zen Habits</a>, fairly regularly and have found it inspiring. One thing I like about Leo's blog is that it has no advertisements, is reader supported, uncopywrited, worker-owned, and hand-made. Fabulous! Zen Habits has been an encouragement to slow down my life a bit and really be present in the moment. He has a nice article on Practice that I just read and a link in it to <a href="http://us1.campaign-archive1.com/?u=f12cbd6aabad2fe71f38a8209&id=7da4d9ec57" target="_blank">Ali Edwards'</a> musings on practice as well. I had read Ali's before, but it was nice to revisit. A reminder that my artistic pursuits need a little practice as well.<br />
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I can pack a lot into a day and have let art slide a bit while I got to absorb a little of other aspects of my life, but I'm ready now to put art back into the practice cycle. I have been doing my photo a day, for the last 15 days.<br />
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I'm going to do some art with those soon. I'm still working out the inability to upload directly to the computer so it requires more effort like printing (remember doing that?) photos and scanning to upload. I feel like I'm in the dark ages and hoping Canon and Apple catch up soon.<br />
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Along the lines of Leo's list of practices, a fellow dental hygienist shared with me a little nugget she took away from a continuing education course once- "Only touch it once". I have adopted that in many ways and it has lead to a real peace and order to my daily living. I could create chaos dropping stuff here and there and never being able to find what I was looking for. I was spending incredible amounts of time looking for things. Dealing with whatever I touch all the way to where I really want it to be is fabulous! Mail, especially. It is sorted, shredded, recycled and dealt with immediately when I get home. I do still have a small stack of things to go up or down the stairs occasionally but that, too has some order to it.<br />
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Practice has a lot of payoffs.<br />
And because I'm a visual person- here's a little sidewalk art I did yesterday.<br />
My wish for you.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-el2K2QWhY1w/TxNmOAXMQgI/AAAAAAAAFYw/Cut3ORwFU48/s1600/Image+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-el2K2QWhY1w/TxNmOAXMQgI/AAAAAAAAFYw/Cut3ORwFU48/s400/Image+10.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-47468169329719462842012-01-07T15:06:00.000-08:002012-01-07T15:08:41.367-08:00It's an art form..<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PQtWf3FyGyE/TwjKmHUPzUI/AAAAAAAAFXg/wFcaATtJaaA/s1600/Image+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PQtWf3FyGyE/TwjKmHUPzUI/AAAAAAAAFXg/wFcaATtJaaA/s320/Image+1.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>Practice, that is. I've tried not to take on too many new ones all at once though that would be more my style. To go wild with new goals and throw them all out in a day or two.<br />
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I am still taking a photo a day. Practicing with my new camera. And even when it isn't with me, I use my phone to have something to document the day.<br />
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This was my first day's photo. Holy Moly! This is the little Baby Jesus that is in front of the rectory in the neighborhood. The Holy Family sit atop a knoll and one has to climb over a wrought iron railing to get this grand view, thank goodness for small children, who like me might have been horrified or at the least, perplexed, to see Baby Jesus in a half-eaten manger secured from thieves by a wire across the neck and ankles! Surely there is a better way, Father ____, (whoever you are).<br />
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I discovered Thursday, that to my delight, Baby Jesus lights up! I was in too much of a hurry to get a shot before work, but promised myself a photo op on Friday. Drat- a day late! Baby Jesus had been returned to where ever he lives during the rest of the year. Hummm...something to look forward to.<br />
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I still cannot upload photos from the camera, which is a real shame because you are missing some good ones! I may experiment with using Jim's computer and see what happens there.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ScqYZVBBVls/TwjKpaGokJI/AAAAAAAAFXo/-24xwYEF44A/s1600/Image+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ScqYZVBBVls/TwjKpaGokJI/AAAAAAAAFXo/-24xwYEF44A/s320/Image+2.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is my winterscape for the piece in the dining room. I change it every season or whim. I knew Richey, who helped me decide last year that I needed somethings with height on that chest, would appreciate the blue theme- her favorite color. She detests green, which is one of MY favorite colors.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3xDNgdI2z40/TwjKuH2A4jI/AAAAAAAAFXw/XEMBxDTY2c4/s1600/Image+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3xDNgdI2z40/TwjKuH2A4jI/AAAAAAAAFXw/XEMBxDTY2c4/s320/Image+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And this is a not-so flattering photo of some of my bridge pals at our 1st Thursday of the month game this week. These women are important to me- I've played cards and more importantly shared life with them over 20 years.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm enjoying shooting a little more and recording a bit of daily life-sometimes surprising, often routine, always interesting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">One of my other practices is drinking water as soon as I get up, which I am doing daily-I'm so pleased! And I've been trying in general to drink more water. We are mostly made up of water so I needed to be hydrating more. Not to mention that my caffeine consumption in the morning doesn't help and is very dehydrating.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a habit that I'm taking to though I have to admit, I do find water a little boring so I am focusing on the benefits.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Practice has its rewards. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-56536082549962823332012-01-01T16:18:00.000-08:002012-01-01T16:18:36.900-08:00PracticingHappy New Year, all!<br />
I've started doing a little towards practicing already. I got a camera for Christmas and hope to practice with it daily. I took my picture of the day. Unfortunately my new camera doesn't talk to my computer yet, you'd think I'd have looked at that but they should come out with updated software in the near future. But I also took one with my phone, too, and will upload when I get my computer back tomorrow.<br />
I'm practicing drinking more water and trying to start my day with a glass of that before coffee. I have terrible dry eye problems and water can't do anything but help that!<br />
We will see how these two practices go. I love the bizarreness of my photo today can't wait to show it to you!Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-72853677576276223682011-12-30T04:58:00.000-08:002011-12-30T04:58:42.402-08:00Practice- definition from Oxford Dictionary Online<h1 style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #d15211; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 2.8em; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="pageTitle" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">practice</span></h1><div class="cssBaseOne" id="entryPageContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Palatino, 'Palatino Linotype', Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="pageDividerTop" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 8px; width: 746px;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: #cccccc; background-image: url(http://oxforddictionaries.com/external/images/section_divider_left.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 1px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://oxforddictionaries.com/external/images/section_divider_right.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; display: block; height: 1px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden;"> </span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="pronunciation" style="clear: left; color: #333333; height: 25px; line-height: 1.6em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 484px;"><strong style="display: block; float: left; font-family: arial, 'helvetica neue', helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: 25px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">Pronunciation:</strong><span style="display: block; float: left; font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Arial Unicode MS', arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.083em; line-height: 25px; margin-left: 6px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-right: 35px;">/ˈpraktɪs/</span></div><div class="senseGroup" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><h3 class="partOfSpeech" style="color: #333333; font-size: 1.167em; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.714; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="partOfSpeech" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">noun</span></h3><em style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><h:span class="neutral" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">[</h:span>mass noun<h:span class="neutral" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">]</h:span></em><ul class="sense-entry" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li class="sense sense-type-core scrollerBlock" style="line-height: 1.667em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -2px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 1px !important; padding-right: 6px !important; padding-top: 1px !important; position: relative; text-indent: 0px;"><a href="" name="practice__1" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;"></a><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="iteration" style="font-weight: bold; margin-right: 3px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">1</span><span class="definition" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it:</span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak" style="display: block; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><em class="example" style="display: block; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.417em; margin-left: 22px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">the principles and practice of teaching</em></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak" style="display: block; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><em class="example" style="display: block; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.417em; margin-left: 22px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">the recommendations proved too expensive to <strong style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">put into practice</strong></em></span></div></li>
<li class="subSense scrollerBlock" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://oxforddictionaries.com/external/images/bullet_gray.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 31px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; clear: both; line-height: 1.667em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -2px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 42px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px;"><a href="" name="practice__2" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;"></a><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="definition" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">the carrying out or exercise of a profession, especially that of a doctor or lawyer:</span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak" style="display: block; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><em class="example" style="display: block; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.417em; margin-left: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative;">he abandoned medical practice for the Church</em></span></div></li>
<li class="subSense scrollerBlock" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://oxforddictionaries.com/external/images/bullet_gray.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 31px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; clear: both; line-height: 1.667em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -2px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 42px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px;"><a href="" name="practice__3" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;"></a><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><h:span class="neutral" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">[</h:span>count noun<h:span class="neutral" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">]</h:span></em><span class="definition" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> the business or premises of a doctor or lawyer:</span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak" style="display: block; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><em class="example" style="display: block; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.417em; margin-left: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative;">Dr Apps has a practice in Neasham Road</em></span></div></li>
</ul><ul class="sense-entry" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li class="sense sense-type-core scrollerBlock" style="line-height: 1.667em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -2px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 1px !important; padding-right: 6px !important; padding-top: 1px !important; position: relative; text-indent: 0px;"><a href="" name="practice__4" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;"></a><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="iteration" style="font-weight: bold; margin-right: 3px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">2</span><span class="definition" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">the customary, habitual, or expected procedure or way of doing of something:</span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak" style="display: block; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><em class="example" style="display: block; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.417em; margin-left: 22px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">product placement is common practice in American movies</em></span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak" style="display: block; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><em style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><h:span class="neutral" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">[</h:span>count noun<h:span class="neutral" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">]</h:span><h:span class="neutral" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">:</h:span></em><em class="example" style="display: block; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.417em; margin-left: 22px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">modern child-rearing practices</em></span></div></li>
<li class="subSense scrollerBlock" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://oxforddictionaries.com/external/images/bullet_gray.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 31px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; clear: both; line-height: 1.667em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -2px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 42px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px;"><a href="" name="practice__5" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;"></a><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="definition" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">an established method of legal procedure.</span></div></li>
</ul><ul class="sense-entry" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li class="sense sense-type-core scrollerBlock" style="line-height: 1.667em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -2px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 1px !important; padding-right: 6px !important; padding-top: 1px !important; position: relative; text-indent: 0px;"><a href="" name="practice__6" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;"></a><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="iteration" style="font-weight: bold; margin-right: 3px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">3</span><span class="definition" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill so as to acquire or maintain proficiency in it:</span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak" style="display: block; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><em class="example" style="display: block; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.417em; margin-left: 22px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">it must have taken a lot of practice to become so fluent</em></span></div></li>
<li class="subSense scrollerBlock" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: url(http://oxforddictionaries.com/external/images/bullet_gray.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 31px 8px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; clear: both; line-height: 1.667em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -2px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 42px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative; text-indent: 0px;"><a href="" name="practice__7" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;"></a><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><em style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><h:span class="neutral" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">[</h:span>count noun<h:span class="neutral" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">]</h:span></em><span class="definition" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"> a period of time spent practising an activity or skill:</span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak" style="display: block; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"><em class="example" style="display: block; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.417em; margin-left: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative;">daily choir practices</em></span></div></li>
</ul></div><div class="senseGroup" style="clear: both; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><h3 class="partOfSpeech" style="color: #333333; font-size: 1.167em; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.714; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 1em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="partOfSpeech" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">verb</span></h3><ul class="sense-entry" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li class="sense sense-type-core scrollerBlock" style="line-height: 1.667em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -2px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 1px !important; padding-right: 6px !important; padding-top: 1px !important; position: relative; text-indent: 0px;"><a href="" name="practice__8" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;"></a><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="definition" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;">US spelling of <a class="word crossRef" href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/practise?region=uk" style="color: #333333; font-size: 1em; font-variant: small-caps; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;">practise</a></span></div></li>
</ul></div><div class="subEntryBlocks gradientified" style="background-color: #e0ebd4; border-bottom-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative;"><img class="gradient" src="http://oxforddictionaries.com/external/images/gradient_white.png" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; height: 290px; left: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 724px; z-index: 0;" /><div class="gradientInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><div class="subEntryBlock phrasesSubEntryBlock" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 9px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><h2 style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;">Phrases</h2><dl style="margin-bottom: 0.417em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><dt style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.667em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><a href="" name="practice__9" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; text-decoration: none; z-index: 1;"></a><div class="scrollerBlock" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><h3 style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;">in practice</h3></div></div></dt>
<ul class="sense-entry" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><li class="sense sense-type-core scrollerBlock" style="line-height: 1.667em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -2px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 1px !important; padding-right: 6px !important; padding-top: 1px !important; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; z-index: 1;"><a href="" name="practice__10" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; text-decoration: none; z-index: 1;"></a><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><span class="iteration" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.667em; margin-right: 3px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-right: 0.25em; position: relative; z-index: 1;">1</span><span class="definition" style="line-height: 1.667em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; z-index: 1;">in reality (used to refer to what actually happens as opposed to what is meant or believed to happen):</span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak" style="display: block; line-height: 1.667em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><em class="example" style="display: block; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.417em; margin-left: 12px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; z-index: 1;">in theory this method is ideal—in practice it is unrealistic</em></span></div></li>
</ul><ul class="sense-entry" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><li class="sense sense-type-core scrollerBlock" style="line-height: 1.667em; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px !important; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: -2px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 1px !important; padding-left: 1px !important; padding-right: 6px !important; padding-top: 1px !important; position: relative; text-indent: 0px; z-index: 1;"><a href="" name="practice__11" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; text-decoration: none; z-index: 1;"></a><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><span class="iteration" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.667em; margin-right: 3px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-right: 0.25em; position: relative; z-index: 1;">2</span><span class="definition" style="line-height: 1.667em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; z-index: 1;">currently proficient in a particular activity or skill as a result of repeated exercise or performance of it.</span></div></li>
</ul><dt style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.667em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><a href="" name="practice__12" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; text-decoration: none; z-index: 1;"></a><div class="scrollerBlock" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><h3 style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;">out of practice</h3></div></div></dt>
<dd style="line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><a href="" name="practice__13" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; text-decoration: none; z-index: 1;"></a><div class="sense sense-type-core scrollerBlock" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><span class="definition" style="line-height: 1.667em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; z-index: 1;">not currently proficient in a particular activity or skill through not having exercised or performed it for some time:</span><span class="exampleGroup exGrBreak" style="display: block; line-height: 1.667em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><em class="example" style="display: block; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0.417em; margin-left: 12px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; z-index: 1;">he was out of practice at interrogation</em></span></div></div></dd>
<dt style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.667em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><a href="" name="practice__14" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; text-decoration: none; z-index: 1;"></a><div class="scrollerBlock" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 12px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 1px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><h3 style="color: #333333; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;">practice makes perfect</h3></div></div></dt>
<dd style="line-height: 1.333em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><a href="" name="practice__15" style="color: #3a8bd4; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; text-decoration: none; z-index: 1;"></a><div class="sense sense-type-core scrollerBlock" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><div class="senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 150px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><span class="definition" style="line-height: 1.667em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; z-index: 1;">regular exercise of an activity or skill is the way to become proficient in it.</span></div></div></dd></dl></div></div></div><div class="etymology gradientified scrollerBlock" style="background-color: #e0ebd4; border-bottom-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(242, 242, 242); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: both; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 20px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 10px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 9px; position: relative;"><img class="gradient" src="http://oxforddictionaries.com/external/images/gradient_white.png" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; height: 57px; left: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 724px; z-index: 0;" /><div class="gradientInnerWrapper senseInnerWrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><h2 style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;">Origin:</h2><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><span class="dateGroup" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><span class="date" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; z-index: 1;">late Middle English</span></span>: from <span class="definition" style="outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; z-index: 1;"><a class="word crossRef" href="http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/practise?region=uk" style="color: #333333; font-size: 1em; font-variant: small-caps; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; text-decoration: none; z-index: 1;">practise</a></span>, on the pattern of pairs such as <em style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; z-index: 1;">advise</em>, <em style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; position: relative; z-index: 1;">advice</em></div></div></div></div></div>Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-29231114213886586912011-12-29T19:16:00.000-08:002011-12-29T19:16:38.551-08:00A new year- a new wordI'm welcoming a new word for 2012. Practice. It isn't the word I thought I'd choose, perhaps it found me in my desire to live life more fully (yes, I hear some of you who know me best laughing hysterically because you think I live a pretty full life as it is!). Perhaps living more fully in the sense of more authentic, finding my voice creatively, pursuing things I say I'm interested in instead of just wishing I would. I like the idea of practice rather than discipline. It has a more positive energy to it. I like the idea of identifying things I would like to practice more, physically and spiritually. So, I'm pretty excited to see where exploring practice takes me. I plan to start slowly so that my practice is enjoyable and so that I look forward to it.<div>It may be like my mindful year in 2010 but with more intention and less observation. </div><div>There are some things I'd like to change about myself and some things I'd like to explore.</div><div>Maybe practice is one way to accomplish that.</div><div>Do you have a word for 2012?</div><div><br />
</div>Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-55211812929628354522011-11-23T17:02:00.000-08:002011-11-23T17:02:54.083-08:00Somehow I just didn't choose wellMy life has been anything but serene this year. Less so than most, really. I'll be listening for a more appropriate choice for next year. It seems this was just out of my control. At least "mindful" was something I could work on or be aware of.<br />
I could make a list, a long one really, of why this year has been less than serene, but really, what is the point?<br />
So, I'll spend the days remaining of 2011 listening for the word. Listening. Maybe that is the word.?Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-42513536120566365032011-09-09T09:38:00.000-07:002011-09-09T09:45:36.554-07:00Still cloudy but I found a ray of sunshine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6fpUyeh3zDw/TmpAwwv4CgI/AAAAAAAAE10/8GVLhadoPBw/s1600/Image+24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6fpUyeh3zDw/TmpAwwv4CgI/AAAAAAAAE10/8GVLhadoPBw/s320/Image+24.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a peaceful descent</td></tr>
</tbody></table> in cleaning out that mind cluttering basement. 9 1/2 hours, 5 bags of trash, a carload-and I do mean load of stuff to Goodwill, and a large plastic tote of things to try to sell or give to someone I know, and a big pile for the recyclers has left me with a basement that is at least somewhat organized, maneuverable and really has given me a little serenity for this no-work Friday. I'm going to do some art, cooking and reading. I already went to Day's for my celebration latte by Chris who makes me a pretty design and a latte that taste like a toasted marshmallow. Super good. Oh, and because I couldn't go to the bank without walking pass <a href="http://www.kizito.com/">Kizito</a> I was rewarded a hard to come by unless requested Apple Ginger Muffin. Ah, the little rewards in life.<br />
Ironically, I read <a href="http://zenhabits.net/un/">this post</a> today which reminded me, I really need less stuff and then I wouldn't need to reorganize. So true.<br />
Here are the before and after pics of basement. Keep reminding me I need less stuff.....<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ICBDFFfSkaw/Tmo3LZdup_I/AAAAAAAAE0k/L6GCKzse1QU/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ICBDFFfSkaw/Tmo3LZdup_I/AAAAAAAAE0k/L6GCKzse1QU/s200/Image.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a right at the end of the stairs</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"></div><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2iuoT-fdIGo/Tmo3PWYXcLI/AAAAAAAAE04/whw5W1zpW-8/s1600/Image+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2iuoT-fdIGo/Tmo3PWYXcLI/AAAAAAAAE04/whw5W1zpW-8/s200/Image+7.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view at bottom of stairs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VqyN_G-1nxQ/Tmo3QCOm1cI/AAAAAAAAE08/AN59NoNgDc8/s1600/Image+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VqyN_G-1nxQ/Tmo3QCOm1cI/AAAAAAAAE08/AN59NoNgDc8/s200/Image+6.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was by the door to garage</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">after toward garage door</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0RTcX8eRSY0/Tmo8gJtuc4I/AAAAAAAAE1g/uyAgQ4w_wwg/s1600/Image+26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0RTcX8eRSY0/Tmo8gJtuc4I/AAAAAAAAE1g/uyAgQ4w_wwg/s200/Image+26.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">path to closet</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AUmC8FpGL4Q/Tmo3VyAi7OI/AAAAAAAAE1U/LcZVXX5O6TA/s1600/Image+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AUmC8FpGL4Q/Tmo3VyAi7OI/AAAAAAAAE1U/LcZVXX5O6TA/s200/Image+13.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That area at the foot of stairs now</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-REJaCs-6IcA/TmpCZ7G7iaI/AAAAAAAAE14/eyPu85YziTg/s1600/Image+27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-REJaCs-6IcA/TmpCZ7G7iaI/AAAAAAAAE14/eyPu85YziTg/s200/Image+27.jpg" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> latte</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-82827858389549811802011-09-06T06:23:00.000-07:002011-09-06T06:23:39.106-07:00Lessons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P3HeFkCzr54/TmYex-5F77I/AAAAAAAAE0c/pYCh_oq1TEY/s1600/Seven_Circuit_Color.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P3HeFkCzr54/TmYex-5F77I/AAAAAAAAE0c/pYCh_oq1TEY/s320/Seven_Circuit_Color.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I'm learning the hard way that Serenity is very much a state of mind. It's sort of the "love the one you're with", "bloom where you are planted" scenario in which you get to make some choices, but for the most part you learn to find peace in the moment.<br />
It has been a challenging year. Lawsuits from neighbors, aging parent, adult children finding their way, business ownership....<br />
But, so far it has also been a wonderful year and I am learning to focus on the wonderfulness. I have found a new church community that is diverse and interesting, led by an inspiring woman. It is creative and loving but perhaps what I like most right now is how accepting it is of people, whoever they are, wherever they are and they love celebrations. I'm all about celebrating anything and everything!<br />
My former church is far from home and as I get older I am finding peace in staying close and discovering new things about my community, being a better steward in a way. I'll maintain my Wednesday morning prayer group in the east end, as it has been a source of strength, comfort, inspiration, and love for many a year. The women there are wise and I wouldn't have known them any other way, and really, they have been my "church" for several years.<br />
My farewell to the other church is bittersweet. My best friend still goes there (thankfully on Wednesday AM, too) and we won't be coming up with high jinks togethers as one of the BRAS-back row altos any more, my children were raised with the help of some of those folks as I was a single mom-which was the main reason I stayed there, one less change for them, and I felt a sense of duty to serve there in gratitude. So, it is sad to let go of that but the gratitude will always be there. But, it has some not so fond memories associated with it as well and it is freeing to let go of those.<br />
I've had two weeks with very little work to do in my business, which is a little scary when it comes to paying bills, but has afforded me a great time of rest and fun in preparation for the last quarter which is always my busiest time of the year. I've had serenity to enjoy it as the beginning of the year was busy and there is money in the bank for this slow time. Joy, joy!<br />
My plans for play today have been thwarted by the clouds. I wanted to experiment with my new light reactive dyes and it is the cloudiest day we've had in months! But, peace will come from a few hours spent in the depressing basement of JUNK, making it less depressing and more mind freeing, so really in the long run it will be a boost to serenity spending some time down there. If I'm brave enough, I'll take some before and after pictures. Just try not to faint from the horror of the original condition.<br />
Still pursuing....it's a journey. Isn't it always?Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-48795093327669460552011-06-26T17:52:00.000-07:002011-06-26T17:52:12.080-07:00And another quarter year has passedThis year has been anything but serene on many fronts. And rather than write about all of the ways it hasn't been and all of the ways I wish it had, I just haven't written. But, I have tried to incorporate a little serenity into the beginning of my day. I spend a few minutes in bed thinking about loved ones, whispering prayers for each of them and hopes for the day which is a nice alternative to shutting off the alarm and hoping out of bed and into the shower. So a slower pace has led to a little slice of serenity. The year is just half over so perhaps the next 1/2 will bring more thoughts and realization of serenity.<br />
Still seeking....... I may have just not been in tune with myself this year. I have been doing a lot of self-discovery, oh, maybe that was supposed to be my word?Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-83298857030035706262011-01-07T16:44:00.000-08:002011-01-07T16:44:08.938-08:00Starting slowly<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TSeyUzKt2-I/AAAAAAAAENw/fKU_fb-fqpQ/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TSeyUzKt2-I/AAAAAAAAENw/fKU_fb-fqpQ/s200/photo.jpg" width="146" /></a>I got started right away but my progression is slow. I'm really feeling the need to streamline for serenity. I'm trying to be serene during the process and not do it like a mad woman.<br />
<br />
My first step has been to have a glass of water every morning when I first get up. Sounds weird, I know. But, I tend to rush into the kitchen, make coffee which is dehydrating and skip what my body really needs.<br />
So, I am finding it calming to have a glass of water and think about the day ahead.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TSex8C3HzsI/AAAAAAAAENs/FaTKKyhSlmc/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TSex8C3HzsI/AAAAAAAAENs/FaTKKyhSlmc/s200/photo.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><br />
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I've started organizing. Preparing for the holidays had me digging into my built-in storage cabinet in the dining room where platters, candle holders, vases, etc. are kept. It is a tumbling down place where I want to scream every time I need something. <br />
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I saw the massive amounts of storage containers at Target this week and picked out a few co-ordinating, cheery green and clear containers for this cabinet. I absolutely love it! I can access things I want-easily and move aside what I don't to get to what I do-easily... Yea, yea, yea!<br />
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I moved out the silver accessories, sadly in need of polishing because they are used infrequently, to the basement. Oh, woe is me when the basement day arrives, but- I don't live in the basement. I do live in the dining room. Remaining are platters and glass serving pieces, a soup tureen I love but don't use often, vases (all together), my iron and spray starch (which oddly are most convenient here), and then my bins of candle holders, candles, tea lights, some seasonal decorating accessories. Not a heaping pile of things that tumble over as I try to retrieve something.<br />
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In the process I put several things in my donate bag, threw several things away and found a handful of items that I thought friends would use and gave them to them last night. They were thrilled and so was I.<br />
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I'm happy just opening it up and looking at it.<br />
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Ah.....Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-57592311500322649412010-12-31T19:13:00.000-08:002010-12-31T19:23:15.958-08:00New year, a new word<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TR6c3aGu_2I/AAAAAAAAENo/93HTZdgXCA4/s1600/Peaceful_Season%252C_near_Hirzel%252C_Switzerland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TR6c3aGu_2I/AAAAAAAAENo/93HTZdgXCA4/s200/Peaceful_Season%252C_near_Hirzel%252C_Switzerland.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TR6c3aGu_2I/AAAAAAAAENo/93HTZdgXCA4/s1600/Peaceful_Season%252C_near_Hirzel%252C_Switzerland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.</span></i></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">-</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">T.S. Eliot </span></i></span></div><div><br />
</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love a new year, it gives one reason to reflect, review, anticipate... So it is again. I decided that the word that best summed up the desire of my heart was <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6fa8dc;">serenity</span></span></i>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I want to streamline my possessions. I want to take more time for inner exploration which may leave less for more visible pursuits, but maybe not. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's see what a year in pursuit of serenity looks like and where it leads.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What's your word? Where are you wanting to go?</span><br />
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</div>Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-30760134037832015662010-12-29T09:47:00.000-08:002010-12-29T09:50:44.653-08:00The end of a mindful yearI think mindful was a good word for 2010. I've had plenty to be mindful of and I do think it has helped me accomplish what I hoped and that was to be more aware of my life and not let it pass me by. I realize a difference in my perception of time as I get older. It goes by a lot faster now and before I know it another year passes so fast it was a blur. So, my goal was to just soak it in a little more. Not to be a member of the human race who was literally-racing.<br />
It is a hard thing for me because I love doing and trying new things, new recipes, new crafts, new challenges, new work. It is stimulating...... and exhausting at the same time.<br />
So, I <i>was</i> more mindful even though it still sped at a pretty good clip, mindful that a few themes like, love, gratitude, justice came up over and over again<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">.</span><br />
But, mostly it was all about the love.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><br />
</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for journeying with me!</div>Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4054087791302465443.post-18009834510430097542010-12-15T18:36:00.000-08:002010-12-15T18:36:54.868-08:00Gratitude and it is almost Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TPJlQ8m3uiI/AAAAAAAAELY/3dPndYoAuWo/s1600/photo+3-53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TPJlQ8m3uiI/AAAAAAAAELY/3dPndYoAuWo/s400/photo+3-53.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>(I started this on Thanksgiving!)<br />
I probably need to do this daily, (the writing part) so I thought it would be time well spent to actually write down some of the many thing for which I give thanks. I've been in a bit of a ditch lately and I know from experience the best way out is gratitude. So in an order not reflective of importance but more one reflective of my current state of mind, here goes:<br />
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I am grateful for:<br />
good health and realize a lot of that depends on me-that said after a week of indulgent eating and a definite need to get off the food train and on the exercise wagon to feel good and to feel ready for the food fests that are ahead this next month. Food is a great pleasure in life for me- I love the way it taste, I love to buy it, look at it, talk to the people who grow it, which brings me to more on my list<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TPiM29IdZSI/AAAAAAAAELs/wBuOloDkT6o/s1600/44394_498513858344_813518344_6921501_5416280_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TPiM29IdZSI/AAAAAAAAELs/wBuOloDkT6o/s200/44394_498513858344_813518344_6921501_5416280_n.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>my husband, who is the primary cook of the food I enjoy. I could and may list him many time for many reasons, but while we are on the subject of food, I am grateful for every day I don't have to think of what to cook, shop for it in a grocery store, or prepare it. He is my safe place to be and I love him for it. I hope he finds having a housekeeper a fair exchange and equally rewarding. And speaking of rewarding<br />
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my work, I am so lucky to enjoy the work that I do. I have to say most days are wonderful at work, whether I am seeing patients, some of whom I have know for more than 30 years, or, as one friend said about owning my own business, "living the American Dream". Each year my little business has grown and while it was one of the scariest things I ever did, it has been one of the most rewarding. My clients have encouraged, affirmed and referred new people to me to grow this dream. I thank them so much. On to more thankfulness<br />
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I'm thankful to have had the joy and sorrow, bliss and despair, and so many other emotions that come with being a parent. I wish I could remember each moment and hold it in my hand and look at it from many angles. When was the last day I picked my child up and put them on my hip? They outgrew it without the noting of the day. When was the last bath I gave or story I read in bed to them? Each child, in their own way, has owned a part of me that no other does, a love all their own. I hope they know that above all else.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TQl6MUX--0I/AAAAAAAAEMU/vQPJGjTnQ7E/s1600/photo-306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TQl6MUX--0I/AAAAAAAAEMU/vQPJGjTnQ7E/s200/photo-306.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I'm thankful for a renewed relationship with my younger sister. We weren't particularly close and I almost missed out on this really terrific relationship. I hope we have many years ahead.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TQl6wa-is_I/AAAAAAAAEMY/R-QLyBgbzJo/s1600/october+2010+158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_hNpjGACLB2w/TQl6wa-is_I/AAAAAAAAEMY/R-QLyBgbzJo/s200/october+2010+158.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I'm grateful to be a grandmother, such a special thing. I've gained wisdom over the years that hopefully my grandchildren benefit from that my kids missed out on. Don't have to be a disciplinarian, just a gentle guide and creator of fun, example (and any inconsistencies will be pointed out), cookie making, movie watching, nature exploring, so much to do-so little time! I try to do NO chores and play, play, play-the luxury of a grandmother.<br />
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I'm grateful for friends, what on earth would we do without them? The family we get to choose!<br />
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So much more to say but if I don't end, there won't be time for Christmas mindfulness! And then there is the new word of the year for 2011.... what will it be?Beth Akinshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13013090647070151013noreply@blogger.com1