Ruminations from the Temple

Well, the trip home was rocky, at best. The weather was horrid. The truckers were insistent and obviously behind schedule. There were way too many rude drivers flashing their lights and pushing others to go faster than they wanted to in the inclement weather (no, not at me, but the blatant selfishness still made me angry). And, to make matters worse, my traveling companion was sick. So, did I find any sanity? Well...I made some decisions, does that count? I decided that there are are a lot of judgmental, selfish people. Unfortunately, you can find them easily. I decided, clearly, that I will continue to make every effort not to be one of them. I decided that it is easy to take the strong and capable for granted. I decided that I don't want to take anyone for granted, ever. I decided that I don't have anything to prove...to anyone. I decided, once again, that self-righteousness is a poisonous, egregious sin that results in that judgment I mentioned before, leaves...

I couldn't have said it better myself. Please, take the time to watch and absorb this woman's research. I believe if she was an empathic, she would have started with the conclusion and worked backward to substantiate what she knew what was true. However, she is a researcher, which makes her conclusion even more interesting and poignant. “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” ~C.S. Lewis

Well, the weather couldn't be more opposite from yesterday. It started off overcast and dry, but quickly turned to rain coming down in sheets, wicked wind and a surf that is powerfully dangerous. Amazing. We simply drove up along the coast marveling at the awesome waves as the tide came in. We then decided it was just as good to hunker down in our room and relax. Before I kicked my shoes off, though, I shot a bit of the show that is just a few steps from our hotel room door... Reflected in nature is every nuance of the human soul, but more so is the imprint of the very character of G-d.

Miles driven: approx. 285 in Cannon Beach photos taken: 92 Number of times Padawan had to re-tie her shoes: at least three at Pizza a Fetta Strange sight you don't see everyday: man on a bicycle pulling his dog in the kiddie-cart Best time to change your clothes: when the maintenance guy says he'll be right back...better be quick! So, yesterday our room was absolutely freezing (58 degrees), then we got a space heater from the very nice maintenance guy. After that, our room was a sweltering 80 degrees. Yikes! Today, we arrived back at our hotel room and it was just cookin' hot. Unfortunately, we couldn't budge the window...back came our sweet maintenance guy to save the day! He needs one of those yellow super-hero capes, I think... Padawan! Sweet elderly souls in the Tillamook Fred Meyer: three and a really cute couple love taking pics of younglings! CDs listened to: at least 5 - a good vocal workout and Hebrew review... caught'ya,...

Wish you were here!

Miles traveled:  approx. 400 miles Price of gas in Florence:  $3.69/gallon Number of CDs sung to:  at least 5 Wildlife spotted:  2 elk, 3 eagles, 4-ish hawks and one rather strange guy pumping gas Hotel cost per night: $56/night, with a coupon and a canned food donation :-) Pictures taken:  108 Forgotten items:  one cell phone, one iTouch and the hot pot Cool new place found:   Newport Bay Candle Co. Snide comments:  too many to count Different weather encountered:  snow, rain, drenching drizzle and an interesting sun patch that followed us for a bit... Nice people encountered:  6, I think (not counting Lisa) License plates spotted:  British Columbia and Pennsylvania Seagulls talked to:  3 Number of scenic pull-outs utilized:  4 Destination and home-base for three glorious days on the coast:  Yachats, Oregon The Fireside Inn is located right on the beautiful 804 Trail - we are truly blessed...

"What's your opinion? What will somebody do who has a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away? Won't he leave the ninety-nine on the hillsides and go off to find the stray? And if he happens to find it? Yes! I tell you he is happier over it than over the ninety-nine that never strayed! Thus your Father in heaven does not want even one of these little ones to be lost. "Moreover, if your brother commits a sin against you, go and show him his fault -- but privately, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he doesn't listen, take one or two others with you so that every accusation can be supported by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to hear them, tell the congregation; and if he refuses to listen even to the congregation, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax-collector." Pretty famous and oft-repeated words of the Messiah, Himself. As I have contemplated these words, a different perspe...

Gratitude, thankfulness, gratefulness, or appreciation is a feeling, emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive. For each new morning with its light,  For rest and shelter of the night,  For health and food,  for love and friends,  For everything Thy goodness sends. -Ralph Waldo Emerson I am grateful to have a place to lay my head at night, food readily available and clean air to breath and water to drink. I'm grateful for language which enables communication and the expression of love. I'm grateful for electricity, gasoline to fuel my vehicle and all that it takes for our electronics to work. I'm grateful for all these provisions, and so much more, which all come from the kind and loving hand of our Creator. Let us be grateful to people who make us happy;  they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. - Marcel Proust I'm grateful for Rob and for Lisa and Kevin. I'm grateful for Netanya, Barb, Chan...

Before I say anything, I must reveal that this movie is my favorite of the saga. Yes, I know...Jar Jar Binks. Yes, Yoda looked kinda strange and bug-eyed. Yes, Jake Lloyd was rather difficult on the set. Regardless, I thrill every time I see Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan make their appearance, and laugh when Jar Jar makes a fool of himself. I love the costumes, the philosophy, the dialog and the story. I love it all...and have to admit that I have probably watched/listened to this movie at the very least 50 times, or more (that may be a bit of an underestimate). Having said all that, you may be thinking, "why in the world review it, then?" I want to tell you how exciting it was to see it on the big screen once again - 3D, no less! The pod race was beyond thrilling for me. The space battle was even more epic than before. In fact, I turned to my companions several times and said, "this is a completely new movie!!" For me, it was. The details of the costumes, the detai...

photo credit: Morgan Henderson It's what each of us sows, and how, that gives to us character and prestige.  Seeds of kindness, goodwill, and human understanding, planted in fertile soil,  spring up into deathless friendships, big deeds of worth,  and a memory that will not soon fade. ~George Matthew Adams

Oh so grateful today! Spending some wonderful time with a friend who is visiting from Louisiana, along with the Chaverim - what a treat! I'm grateful, always, to show a visiting friend around town - it's like being a tourist in your own city. I'm grateful for funny looking ducks, my camera (of course), great recipes and wonderful conversation. I'm grateful for a new furnace - the house is actually warm now - wow! I'm grateful that my hubby gets to take a mini-vacation to the coast with his best bud. I'm grateful for wonderful theological discussions. I'm grateful that Sarah's bat mitzvah came off well. I'm grateful for my dad - he is the best! I'm grateful for good medical insurance. I'm grateful for my comfy bed at the end of the day - sometimes it just is nice to stop and lie down. I'm grateful for the music of Django Reinhardt . I'm grateful for the Life Center choir, for their welcoming attitudes and for t...

The Snowdrop ~Alfred Lord Tennyson (1809-1892) Many, many welcomes, February fair-maid, Ever as of old time, Solitary firstling, Coming in the cold time, Prophet of the gay time, Prophet of the May time, Prophet of the roses, Many, many welcomes, February fair-maid!

I'm grateful for the re-lease of Star Wars, The Phantom Menace today - how fun! My favorite on the big screen, with theater sound and 3D... sweet!  I'm grateful that we are afforded time and provision to enjoy entertainment such as movies, concerts, theater, fairs and carnivals, theme parks, hobbies and outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking and boating...etc., etc., etc...we are most fortunate to live in this time of history, for sure. I'm grateful that the taxes are done for this year and that it doesn't take the six to eight weeks to get the refund (like it used to years ago). I'm grateful for happiness, growth, life and confirmation from HaShem Himself. I'm grateful for mornings that I can be lazy in the bed because there is nothing pressing going on. (What a luxury!) I'm grateful that my children get to sleep in, rather than having to rush, rush, rush out the door every morning going to school. (Actually, I wonder how many times they...

I have had the distinct pleasure of standing on the 'Mount of the Beatitudes'. Yes, reported to be the very place Messiah stood, sat, and taught those who gathered to hear what He had to say. I was with a tour group of devout Christians, most of whom were pastors and their wives, interestingly. At every place we toured, one of them would say a 'few words'. Immediately following a topic-specific prayer, our tour coordinator, who is a beautiful vocalist, would lead the group in the chosen and appropriate hymn. So it was on the Mount of the Beatitudes. As I listened with half an ear to the pastor chosen to speak, I looked out over the expanse that gently descended from where we were gathered down a grassy slope, ending in a banana tree grove. Beyond that was the Kinneret itself, the Sea of Galilee, in all it's sparkling glory, the Israeli sun glinting off the surface like so much diamond dust. Lost in my own thought, I contemplated the words of Yeshua spoken to both...

Our celebration of Tu B'Shvat was, in a word, fabulous. Excellent company, lots of great things to eat, wine to toast with and the Scriptures - for me, it doesn't get any better than that! Tu B'Shvat , traditionally known as the birthday of the trees, is a time to think about relating to the natural world. This holiday can be celebrated by planting trees, eating fruits, and having a Tu B'Shvat Seder, a ritual that began with the kabbalistic masters of the 15th century. ~myjewishlearning.com While I don't have kabbalistic leanings, I have always loved this minor feast. Our halachah  (tradition) has always been to remember our beloved and abundant Land of Israel and our LORD who brought us to it so long ago. This year, I changed it up a bit and went for a more traditional presentation of all the elements of the seder. What an impressive spread! As we made our way through the Tu B'Shvat hagadah, similar to Pesach (Passover), we said blessings, tasted what t...

Art is the only way to run away without leaving home. ~Twyla Tharp I was born an artist. When I was a kid, I sketched. When I was a touchy teen, I sang. When I was a young woman, I danced. When I was a homeschool mom, I constructed and crafted. And now...I paint. I paint with words and photographs on the inconceivably giant canvas that is the internet. Painting is just another way of keeping a diary. ~Pablo Picasso Some would like to think of the internet simply as a tool for their business.   I suppose that can be true. Others would like to mock social utilities, blogs, chat rooms and forums. That's their choice, I guess. So many use the internet to announce family functions, food choices and bedtimes. That's cool - doesn't bother me. But, myself? I'm an artist and take every internet opportunity to artistically communicate. Using human emotions, wordie tendencies and my ever-present camera as brush and...

I'm grateful for photos that inspire me... I'm thankful this Friday for words ...letters strung together to make sounds that actually mean something when we say them to each other. I'm thankful for words like passion, soar, create, reach, strive, change, live, great, reach, chance and hope. I'm thankful for communication and I'm thankful that communication can happen in music. It doesn't get much better than words put to notes that convey emotion so eloquently. Yes, I'm thankful for words. I'm thankful for frozen meals that actually taste good. I'm thankful that the Ruach HaKodesh is teaching me about unconditional love more and more. I'm thankful for my facebook friends. I'm thankful for Speeder (aka my car). I'm thankful for good vitamin supplements. I'm thankful that my kids are old enough to go off by themselves and that I can trust them to do the right thing. I'm thankful for local pubs, opportunities to he...

A glass of wine, a little piano, a bit of guitar. Sweet strains of voice, the simple sentiment of a friend pulls the desperate out of a constant grip. Stay strong, little one - the Master must have a plan. The taste on the tongue, a whisper in the ear; what would it take to do the righteous thing? To give comfort to the hurting, to find grace and mercy and compassion from deep within... Appointed to roads that are difficult to walk. Paths wrought with danger and stones set to stumble. Be careful little feet where you go, for brutal callouses form when arrogance is worn. And we have all heard that sin wraps tight as a garment. A peek here and a glimpse there; and the sound of laughter from across the room. Last time to listen, of that it is clear - pain cuts like a knife for the ear that can hear. Understanding is at hand, truth now clear as crystal. Everything is revealed in it's time, as has been thoughtfully written. Glass pieces fall in place, ...