Ruminations from the Temple

Margaret 'Maggie' Anne Dexter Jones and her young daughter Elizabeth Jean How can I describe my mother? She was loving, tender, sensitive, caring, compassionate, smart, intuitive, witty and sarcastic... she was a willing listener, an avid wisdom giver, and a champion for the underdog... she was a beautiful woman, an endearing mother and a faithful wife... she was a smile to strangers, a friend to many, and invaluable to those that knew her. She was, and always will be, my hero. The phone call telling me that she is gone leaves me in as much of a fog as the gray, misty fall morning.  And a piece of me died with her. What am I going to do without my Mom? Well, I'm gonna get out of bed every morning... breathe in and out all day long. Then, after a while I won't have to remind myself to get out of bed every morning and breathe in and out... I miss her already.  More than I could ever say.

fallacious , adj. , a)  containing or based on a fallacy, b)  deceitful: intended to deceive, c)  based on an incorrect or misleading notion or information. That's just not true.  No really...we do get a lot of rain here in the Pacific Northwest! But, I do not want to be fallacious, after all.  I found this article by Andrea Thompson that will dry up any falsehood about the rainiest cities in the United States.  And while Ms. Thompson's findings may measure actual inches of rain, that somehow doesn't account for all the gray, overcast, drizzly days here in the PNW.  That drenching drizzle really doesn't add up to much in comparison to the famous cow-peein'-on-a-flat-rock Louisiana rain, now does it? Do you think Seattle is the rainiest city in the United States?  Well, think again. Mobile, Ala., actually topped a new list of soggiest cities in the contiguous 48 states, with more than 5 feet of rainfall annually, according to a stud...

The first time I heard Hebrew being canted in the synagogue I cried.  "I'm home," I thought to myself, discreetly wiping the tears crawling down my face.  I certainly wasn't expecting that response, but there it was.  Home. Not too many years earlier, I had a similar experience.  I was standing in the choir loft in a large assembly giving my whole heart and soul to worship and fellowship.  I remember thinking happily to myself, "If I were to die right this moment, I will have fully lived."  The feeling of belonging and the complete contentment it brings might define home. Recently, I heard another speaking in the same tone, expressing their experience in finding their community 'home'.  It made me stop and ponder; what is home and what prompts, what I call, the 'I'm home" response? “Home is not where you live, but where they understand you.” ~Christian Morganstern The feeling of being "home" is not speaking about a plac...

I'm having a bit of a time thinking of something to be grateful for this morning, actually.  It's not that I'm not appreciative for all that the LORD has provided for me, it's just that I'm a little down.  We are in the middle of festival season, and well, I wish I could feel a little bit more...celebratory.  Instead, it feels like a swan song.  All things change, people let you down, and the Master moves us along our path.  For His purposes, I'm sure; I am thankful for His guiding hand in my life. I will be eternally grateful for the tender souls that He has placed in my life that build up; the cheerleaders that not only encourage me, but any they meet in need.  Those special people that are tasked with loving and caring for the hurting.  Compassion is a sweet thing, and I'm thankful for all those that have ministered to me by showing love and concern during difficult times.  (They most certainly know who they are!) I'm grateful that I have m...

I love my hobbies.  Star Wars, letterboxing, photography...travel.  But there is one of my favorite pastimes that I don't know that I would categorize as a hobby, but I do find myself thinking about it often, and that is the search for the perfect boot. I appreciate all types of boots, believe me.  I have many pairs of boots for all occasions in my closet, to be sure.  But I'm not just looking for any boot, mind you...I'm on the hunt for The Perfect Jedi Boots. The burning question is this:  does The Perfect Jedi Boots exist? Please, someone tell me they do. Annie's tall boots The Perfect Jedi Boots would first and foremost be tall boots.  And not those mediocre, two inches shy of the knee that the fashion boots try to pass off as tall.  I mean all the way to the knee tall .  No pullin' them up to pretend tall.  And, not over the knee, either.  That would be too tall. Obi-Wan's Ep III version replica Next, they need t...

Defamed, characterized as undesirable and tainted, our poor Word of the Week is one of those negative words that no one wants to claim. STIGMATIZED , v., (past tense) , to accuse or condemn openly or formally; brand as disgraceful. Ouch!   You certainly don't want to be ostracized from your peers by attaining that label, that's for sure.  The houseboats of Seattle had earned that reputation early on, but have since regained quite a reputation.  Seattle's Lake Washington and Lake Union are lined with these pricey residences.  The houseboat used in the sweet and popular movie Sleepless in Seattle only confirmed their fame and put the high-end houseboats on many a lake-cruise tour itinerary. Sleepless in Seattle houseboat, yours for only $2.5 million...

I am grateful for the opportunity to spend time with some really fun-loving people, some of my favorites, at the Fair yesterday.  We had so many laughs - I really needed that! I'm grateful for all my wonderful hobbies and the interesting, intelligent and witty people I have met through them. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.  (Phil. 4:8) I am thankful that the LORD made me who I am. As I get older, I think I am finally growing into the 'features' he gave to me. I will always be grateful to Him that I can give comfort, real comfort, to a hurting friend when it is needed. Yesterday, I had that opportunity.  (I pray the LORD gives me a whole lot more of these opportunities to be His hands, feet and heart to those that are hurting.) The leaves are starting to turn. I'...

  With the Days of Awe* upon us, I thought it a good exercise to meditate on some things that Scripture says about loving one another. Yeah...love. Not like. Not being polite. Not pretending, but honest love. Can I love those around me, even those who hate me, with the love that is expected by the Master? You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the LORD. Leviticus 19:18 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 1 John 4:20 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love , it profits me nothing. 1 Corinthians 13:3 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 1 John 3:18 'Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against an...

the supervisors, Marilyn & Lisa It's time to think about putting up the sukkah for Sukkot...even if it's raining. Sukkot is a week-long fall festival. The sukkah, the non-permanent outdoor hut, is meant to recall the time the Israelites spent wandering in the desert. Sukkot was also once a holiday of agricultural thanksgiving, and this is celebrated with the holiday's other great ritual items: the lulav and etrog.

I hate buying jeans.  Every time I shop for jeans, I start out optimistic.  This time, I tell myself, I'm going to find the perfect fit, the perfect feel, the right price.  I load up my arms with several sizes of various brands and head for the fitting room.  I'm ever hopeful that the cheaper, store brand will be the ones I take home triumphantly.  However, as we all know, it is a rare time that I come away with jeans that I'm happy with...more often I leave empty handed and discouraged.  Is my body shape that different that the clothing manufacturers don't see the profit-potential for making jeans with smaller waistlines and curvier, wider hips?   Ugh. I guess I just have to accept the situation as it is...frustrating. But as frustrating as my jean shopping can be, there are more pressing issues of acceptance that claim my attention.  There are people in my life that will inevitably dislike me for whatever reason.  This is a sad ...

Alright, now that I have my coffee and I'm waking up a bit this morning, it's more than time to enjoy our Word of the Week. A most unfortunate affair to be found in a touchy situation, I think.  Hazardous and chancy, our word is... PRECARIOUS threateningly insecure or unstable; perilous; depending on the intention of another. Sometimes you are surprised by finding yourself in a precarious predicament, but other times you know full-well that you are walking into an unsafe environment.  It would be good to be prepared for those times, especially if you are forewarned. All progress is precarious , and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem. ~Martin Luther King, Jr . Existence is no more than the precarious attainment of relevance in an intensely mobile flux of past, present, and future. ~Susan Sontag * * * * * *  ps. Inquiring minds want to know!  It would seem that the writers of these cards we are enjoying have made a bit...

As shocking as it may be, there are some folks that think dressing up as Star Wars characters is just plain silly...perhaps even sinful.  *gasp*  I have been asked often times, "Why in the world would you want to do that?  Don't you have better things to do?"  Well, I suppose it depends upon your definition of better ... Today was the first Sunday of our Western Washington Fair, otherwise known as the Puyallup Fair.  This is our third year at this large fair and it is tons of fun.  In exchange for a donation to a local children's charity, the 501st and Rebel Legion agreed to arrive in costume to thrill the crowds.  I always wonder at these events how many photos are actually taken - hundreds, easily.  As I share some of the pics I snapped, I will try to enumerate why anyone would want to dress as a Star Wars character... ' 1.  You get to know really cool people like my Jedi friends here.  And who doesn't want more opportunities f...

I will never forget the phone call to turn on the television that morning of September 11, 2001. I will never forget screaming in my kitchen at the horror of our country being attacked by terrorists. I will never forget all the lives that were lost in that nightmare. I will never forget who did it and why. May the G-d of all comfort be with the loved ones of those who have perished, all over the world, due to that act of evil. I refuse to forget.

This week I took a dear friend from our congregation to an early morning medical test at the hospital. Why they schedule them so early in the morning, I don't know, but she had to be there at 7:30am. Doesn't sound so early until you factor in getting ready and drive time.  Anyway, I'm so thankful that the hospitals have wi-fi internet! Selfish, I know.  (And, I'm grateful that I'm not the one needing the tests; I never take my health for granted, as I know it can deteriorate quickly.) I'm always grateful for coffee, too. I'm also grateful that I had a day yesterday to work quite a bit in my craftroom and it was our first day of school around here. The kids did well...I'm so grateful. I'm thankful for all that I have learned during my time of sitting under one of the most gifted Torah scholars in the country.  I thank the LORD for him.  I pray that the LORD bless him and his family abundantly. I'm grateful that I got to dance a bit at our ...

click on the card to view it larger I love words.  Amusing words, juicy words, descriptive words, even 25-cent words - they are all wonderful to me.  So, when I found this most interesting set of flashcards in the used homeschool bookstore, I instantly put it on the 'purchase' pile.  A bit of Seattle history and interesting words?  Well, for this Seattle-ite, it doesn't get any better than that! Today is the first installment of a new series of posts called 'Word of the Week', taken from this most interesting collection of words.  I took a sneak-peek at all the words and history tidbits; they are wonderful words that I know you will enjoy pondering and savoring with me. The first word:  INTREPID Fearless, one without fear.  The dictionary defines it as: audacious: invulnerable to fear or intimidation; "audacious explorers"; "fearless reporters and photographers"; "intrepid pioneers" Yeah, I like that word.  Say to those wi...

I'm grateful for my parents; the older I get, the more I realize how awesome they are.  This weekend my Dad surprised me by bringing me one of my favorite dishes prepared with kosher meat - how do you like that?  Now, that's love! my beautiful daughter is in the green plaid I'm so thankful that my daughter had an absolutely wonderful time at camp this summer.  I am grateful that we are able to send her and that there is such a great place such as Miracle Ranch.  I pray blessings and prosperity for the ranch and all that work there that it can continue to be a place that creates lifelong, sometimes life-changing, memories for so many young people. I'm thankful for comfy sweats to wear around the house on a drippy, gray day.  And, I'm grateful that I'm not 'on duty' to anyone today, either.  Just a quiet day at home with all three of my children.  How 'bout that?  It's more than enough to be thankful for! I'm thankful that I have hobb...

Periodically, I receive anonymous comments on this blog that are of the debating nature, sometimes seen as 'open dialog', of a topic I have featured.  Frankly, I'm not sure a blog is the best forum for this type of communication. First of all, we all know the computer is not the best way to converse.  Conversation is not only words, but opinions, expressions and feelings portrayed through body language and tone of voice.  Unfortunately, the computer takes all the human element out of conversation and makes us all sound like a droid - flat and expressionless.  I find that I have to work diligently to make my computer writings 'sound' warm and friendly.  But for most correspondence, it's flat and expressionless...even cold (yes, even with "lol!" stuck on the end).  Also, the timing of normal, natural conversation is lost with the back-and-forth of computer debates.  This leaves comments 'hanging out there' without response until the other party...