Love getting things done

The 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!
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.
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!"
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?
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,
feeding my sense of mental well-being. I've been doing a lot of that lately.

Miele

Work scheduled already for this year!

The incredible mess of receipts.

Okay, the commercial break is over.....

Living in the basement

My 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.
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.

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.
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.
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.
I'm wanting the freedom of less.
And grateful for where I am today. I makes me happy to have less, give more, free it up, give it up.
Growing up.

What's going on now..

It's time to put away Christmas, well, the decorations, food, and visitors, anyway.

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.
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.

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.
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.
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.

Living in the moment and loving it. Realizing that now is always a little of the past and the hope of the future, too.

Now-one little word for 2013

Isn'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.
So "now" is my word of the year for 2013.
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.
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.

Prayer

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.

Pray 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.

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. 

Every week there are more added from those left at the alter the previous week. 

This week bells were added as a symbol of God's hearing our prayers.

And there was an opportunity to take a bell and or light a candle as a prayer.

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.

 The stick this week

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.

We each put a prayer concern on a card and take one of another's to pray for all week.

I'm celebrating the joy of a well practiced act with great meaning for my life.

What are you practicing today?

Is it something that brings joy to you and others?

This poem was a part of our worship and a reminder of my need to listen.

Praying

It doesn't have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch

a few words together and don't try
to make them elaborate, this isn't
a contest but the doorway

into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.

Mary Oliver 

Shrines and Icons

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. :(

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.

Here is a brief definition from Merriam-Webster:

Definition of SHRINE

1

a : a case, box, or receptacle; especially : one in which sacred relics (as the bones of a saint) are depositedb : a place in which devotion is paid to a saint or deity :sanctuaryc : a niche containing a religious image

2

: a receptacle (as a tomb) for the dead

 3: a place or object hallowed by its associations

****Artistic ability in NOT 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.

Here is my matchbook shrine

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.

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.

Again, a little glue, paper, paint - came together easily.

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.

Waxed paper hearts

Can you tell who the tribute below represents?

Here is my waxed paper shrine hanging on my back door.

Here is a closer, clearer view.

A bit more detail

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.


Here is a shrine that is for sale but I put it in as an example of how elaborate you could chose to be.

A simple cardboard shrine is lovely!

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.

For those who like thinking ahead and mulling things over,
ideas of things to bring, but not required, I will have a bunch of materials:

magazine words that describe your "sustainer" if you cut them out ahead of time (magazines will be there)

photo or drawing of the person

any ephemera you have that connects you to that person or event (i.e. maps, ticket stubs, etc)

any item that has meaning to you that you want to include

any alphabet letters, beads, etc from your creative stash (remember those baby bracelet letter beads?)

Perhaps, a letter or note from them or you to them

ribbon or trim
Possible containers:

empty matchboxes ( I have may two of these)

 cereal box

small shoe box or shoebox lid

altoid or other candy/gum tin (I'll have some of these)

part of an egg carton ( I'll bring one)

There will be plenty of supplies on hand- so come with an idea or desire only and everything else will be there for you to create something.

Just come!

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.

Some online resources are:

Matchbook shrines -ideas

Mirkwood Designs -for templates- I'll bring some of these

Another matchbook site -matchbook shrines- a personal favorite

The practice of Lent

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.

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.

What are you doing this Lenten season?