Day 31

I start typing, 

then I backspace to erase it all.

Small pieces make a bigger puzzle. 

Serving as a Eucharistic Minister for the first time

and in awe of this experience, 

and reminded that each person has a faith journey that share similarities, yet is unique to them. 

Happy that my house is full this morning, 

as everyone makes their way to the kitchen for breakfast. 

Grateful that I had time to go to Yin Yoga with Grace,

and practice self-care. 

Taking advantage of the beautiful weather and taking the dog for a walk with Danny and Kayla.

Making a departure from our usual routine of cooking on Sunday afternoon, 

and calling for a pizza and salad as everyone gathered to watch March Madness, 

Yet continuing to abstain from pizza. 

Purchasing a new composition book to use for quarter 2 in my spiritual journaling quest. 

Sitting now and typing my the final entry for the March Slice of Life challenge.  

March Madness at its best. 

Writer's Thumb?

My thumb has been drawing attention to itself.

Every now and then.

Sometimes it is a whisper, 

"Hello, are you sure you need to have such a tight grip?"

Other times it is nagging, 

"Give me a rest." 

I have been trying to figure out what has changed.

Is it aging? 

Is it the dog pulling me in a different direction on our daily walks? 

Is it the grips during hot yoga when I squeeze my hands together tightly, 

thumb over thumb, and holding the pose? 

Is it the writing that I have been doing by hand? 

I just googled thumb grip, and I know it is not sore due to gaming. 

I am unsure of the culprit; however, I am listening to my thumb, 

and loosening my grip. 

Winner, winner

Walking into the meeting room, 

I was excited to see that there was going to be a raffle. 

I wrote my name and included an explanation point!

After lunch, 

it was decided to begin the raffle,

 as there were many goodies to be raffled off.

The biggest prize was going to go at the end of the meeting. 

Tickets were drawn and names announced.

Each time my name wasn't announced

I thought to myself, I am going to win the big prize. 

With six tickets left in the container, it was time to get back to the agenda.

At the very end, 

it was time for the big prize- a Bloxels kit. 

Finally, 

my name was announced.

It must have been the exclamation point! 

Simple Things

It has been 15 months since undertaking the no clothes shopping challenge. 

As I result the only store that I regularly shop at is the grocery store. 

The other day I was running errands with my daughter.

On her list was hangars. 

I began rambling about how long it had been since I had been in TJ Maxx, 

talking animatedly 

about the fact that I was about to walk in the store 

that I had not made any purchases in for over a year

and how I was prepared not to buy anything. 

I was there as part of her errand. 

She turns to me and says "It's for hangars mom. Don't get excited."

And I had to burst out laughing.

Brief

Keeping it brief. 

I don't think it is supposed to take 2 hours today, 

Plus another hour from the other day 

to write a two page brief. 

That is all I can muster, 

after wrestling with a brief. 

Melting

There is nothing better than scooping out a large spoonful of peanut butter out of the jar, 

placing the spoon in your mouth, 

and letting the peanut butter melt in your mouth, 

savoring the awesomeness 

and remembering days from your youth, 

when you used to do the same thing 

after a long day 

to melt your worries away. 

Finish Line in Sight

A couple of finish lines are in my sight,

a project that I am wrapping up, 

taxes,

a homework assignment, 

And the slice of life challenge. 

So close, 

yet, 

at this time is where I feel like I have nothing left to give. 

Too much noise.

I must take care

to listen to the voice inside, 

"You got this.

Slow and steady wins the race.

Chunk it.

Just keep going. 

Progress over perfection. 

Finish strong." 

Thinking about the races I have run, 

and the feeling you get when you see the finish, 

yet are still unsure how you will ever cross it. 

"Just put one foot in front of the other."

Trip to Rita's

The first trip of the season is always a trip down memory lane. 

Favorite flavors from the previous season are debated.

Spring is in the air and it is time for Rita's. 

What will it be today?

A large vanilla custard gelati with mango and wild black cherry ice.

Always Leaving Something Part 2

Popping my trunk,

I see my yoga bag. 

Still trying to solve the mystery of the breakfast left behind. 

The faint scent of bananas 

fills the air. 

Where is it coming from? 

Bringing the yoga bag into the house, 

I start emptying the bag of dirty clothes. 

The scent of bananas becomes stronger and then

Viola! 

Mystery solved. 

I assumed I left my breakfast from the day before at the studio. 

Instead, 

I left it behind

in the deep bottom of my bag. 

Now where is my mouse? 

Always Leaving Something

Once it was my yoga mat, 

then my Fitbit and watch, 

my coat, 

my conditioner, 

my towel.

Always leaving something. 

Trying to check 

and double check

before leaving class- 

Have I left anything?

Of course, today I should have triple checked, 

stomach growling, after

my breakfast

left behind

Always leaving something. 

What Is It That Makes You That Way?

"What is it that makes you that way?" 

Reading inspirational books, 

listening to the whispers between the pages, 

wrestling with the ideas and concepts

searching for the takeaway- 

the call to action,

the gentle nudge,

the heart imprint 

influencing the next steps of the journey.

God working through the words in the book.

That is what makes me this way.

The question was posed in today's Dynamic Catholic post: Necessary, Possible, Impossible. 

Educare

Educare...

to draw out

with

questions, 

example, 

stories.

Envisioning the drawing out 

as a thread, 

that when pulled,

keeps advancing,  

sometimes quickly, 

and at other times

more slowly-

tugging the thread gently

as the tangle releases.

Aha! 

Inspired by today's Dynamic Catholic reflection titled Virtuous. 

Underneath Everything I Own

Months ago I listened to the audiobook 

The More of Less, 

then passed it to my husband. 

Conversations around the content 

inspired minimizing- 

29 minutes,

a day, 

to tackle the mountain.

Today

taking a crack at the mountain, 

Having set the timer for 29 minutes

discovering a box 

of misplaced items.

Where did this come from?

Pulling out an item at a time, 

Ahh, this must be from the clean out of his car. 

And as I looked down at the audiobook, 

I realized that there was more to the title, The More of Less-

Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own.

Did I mention that the audiobook was from the library? 

Also...did I mention that when I received the overdue notice

I swore that the item had been returned? 

Still searching for the life I want under everything I own. 

Which picture

Which picture best represents...

...something you are grateful for?

As an opening activity,

this was the story card I chose. 

From the other photographs, 

the photograph of the donuts stood out,

for the photograph

told a story that

no one else could imagine. 

Celebratory donuts to celebrate an engagement.

The donuts have been eaten, 

the engagement continues to be celebrated. 

Spiritual Journal

Quietly writing 

in my spiritual journal. 

When I finish writing this morning's reflection, 

I read my entry 

from last year's spiritual journal.

The number in the left hand corner catches my eye. 

126. 

On March 17, 2018, 

126 was the total number of days

in the streak of writing in my spiritual journal. 

Quickly adding 365 to that number, 

the streak stands at 491 days today, 

reading,

reflecting, 

writing, 

reading, 

reflecting, 

in my spiritual journal. 

Celebratory Donuts

A typical Saturday, went to Bikram Yoga, ran some errands, came home, tidied up a bit, and then my son and his girlfriend came over. 

We hung out as a family, catching up on our week since we were last together.  As we sat in the kitchen, having just devoured a tray of Chik Fila chicken strips, my husband came home from visiting his mom. 

There was a box of Duck Donuts on the table.  Duck Donuts is a treat that we have when we are in the Outer Banks.  It is rare for us to have them any other time of year.

My husband bounds into the kitchen and yells "Duckie donuts!"

Danny says "They are celebratory donuts.  We are engaged."

There was so much going on at one time. It took a moment to register. 

"What did you just say?" I asked. 

Kayla held up her hand and and displayed the ring. 

I wish I had recorded the moment.  We all looked at each other and broke out into wide smiles, hugging each other. 

"I think I should say welcome to the family.  However, you have been part of our family from the beginning. I am so happy for you."  

At this Moment

This morning setting out on my intention walk. 

At this moment, 

aware of the sounds of the wind rustling through the trees 

and how it sounds slightly different when it rustles through the bushes. 

At this moment, 

aware of the slow-moving car making its way down the road, 

like it was sleepy and wanted to savor being the only car on the road.

At this moment, 

aware that the birds have started to sing, 

with one being louder than the rest, 

abruptly being woken up.

At this moment, 

noticing the light on at a neighbor's house, 

earlier than usual. 

At this moment, 

as I approach my house, 

noticing the feeling of home washing over me. 

At this moment has become my mantra today after being inspired by a post by dmsherriff from her blog Let's Observe. 

For whom do I write?

For whom do I write? 

Each morning I start my day reading

my daily email from Dynamic Catholic 

then

writing in my spiritual journal. 

During Lent,

watching and listening to the 

The Best Lent Ever,

then

writing in my spiritual journal.

For whom do I write? 

The spiritual journal calls me 

every morning and 

I answer, 

then put it back on the shelf. 

It is now calling me to share.

Shall I answer? 

Am I brave enough? 

For whom do I write? 

Choices

My husband and I finally decided after 2 years of having a bathroom that was not useable, to take the plunge and remodel. Today was the day to make all of the smaller choices on how we want the bathroom to look. 

I wanted to honor any opinions he had, and I even asked him to make some decisions.  So I would ask him, hoping he would choose what I would choose.  Some choices I was able to give over to him completely.  Others, I would subtly try to push him towards my choice.  And I recognize that sometimes I had to take back my offer of having him make the final decision.  

As we continue forward, my goal is to acknowledge his opinion and compromise more.

Home

It was as if I stepped back in time 

today.

Called upon at the last minute 

to teach an art class.

A number of years having passed since that room has been my 

home. 

Scrambling to find 

a dry erase marker, 

pencils,

and erasers 

within the room that was no longer my 

home.

Bringing a basket of Elephant and Piggie books

plus a few Pigeon

to a waiting group of first graders,

we began. 

Which character would be easiest to draw? 

Hmmm. 

Pointer fingers as pencils, 

watch me, then you

draw.  

Home. 

Supplies distributed, 

students read, 

asked questions, 

and drew, 

and colored, 

and added 

backgrounds, 

conversation bubbles, 

and other details. 

Home. 

As the day 

and the class 

ended, 

it was as though I was 

Home, 

already. 

Long Drives

Today offered a change in routine-

A different road to take.

Time to discover the blessings of a longer commute for just one day.

Time to become engrossed in an audiobook.

Remembering other trips down these roads, 

Different scenery to frame my daydreams. 

On the return trip, having processing time to reflect on my day,

then becoming engrossed again in the audiobook.

Grateful for routine busters. 

New to Me

A little background information. In the beginning of 2018, I read an article about a year of no shopping. I became intrigued.  Often I would go walk around the closest store to me and just browse for nothing in particular.  Sometimes I would buy something, sometimes not.  The whole concept of time wasted just browsing for something I didn't need hit home.  Plus I had enough clothes already.  So I clarified what the challenge would look like for me.  

I decided that I would not buy any clothes for a year, the effect being that I did not spend any time browsing. Instead I spent that time with my family, reading, decluttering, and being present.  

At the beginning of this year, I decided to extend my streak for another year. Thinking that as I start to notice items that need to be replenished, I would create a list and at end of year decide if I need to shop.

Today my son's girlfriend brought over 4 shopping bags filled with clothes she no longer wears.  Jackpot!  I have started to go through the bags and have selected a few new to me items. I am grateful for her thinking of me.  Now I know that I can continue the no clothes shopping challenge for probably two more years.  

Family Gatherings

Today I attended a family gathering celebrating my Uncle's 80th birthday.  Stories abounded, whether catching up or reminiscing, connecting or reconnecting. 

As I listened to my aunts tell stories about my parents, I was grateful that I still had them as a resource to learn more about my parent's, as they have been gone for a long time. 

I was reminded how fortunate I was to have them, as they were my greatest cheerleaders.  When I was younger, I became involved with swimming.  As I talked with my aunt, she shared with me how my dad would tell everyone that someday my sister and I would be in the Olympics.  He had such confidence that we would be successful in whatever we attempted-proud parents. 

So today as we gathered to celebrate my uncle, I also felt that through the stories that were shared, the lives of my parents were also celebrated. 

Friday's Blessings

TGIF! 

Brain fried. 

Today was a whirl of activity.

A few highlights stand out...

A parent donating 10- 24 inch monitors,

Training a group of third graders on how to video using SeeSaw,

Having a line of students using the curb to do a step run during the Daily Mile, 

8th grade students swapping out the small monitors for newly donated monitors, 

A student sharing how the Raspberry Pi component works, 

A student saying he heard Raspberry Pi tasted good, 

Students engaged and working on coding, 

Taking a class to Stations of the Cross, 

Snowing at dismissal, 

A student sharing an umbrella with me. 

At home now, emptying the contents of my brain, 

breathing, 

and grateful for the gifts of today. 

Patience

Today was one of those days at work where everything was a blur. I ran from one commitment to the next, with no time to reflect. 

Now that I am home, as I am waiting on the phone to speak to a representative (20 minutes and counting), I have been given the gift of time that I did not have earlier in the day. For that, I am grateful. 

Fasting

"What are you giving up?" asked a group of seventh graders. 

"Social media." I replied. 

Dead silence, then a long "ohhhhh".

What I didn't explain to them was that I have an exception.  I need to go to Twitter once a day to post my slice of life challenge.  Nothing more, no scrolling, no searching, no checking, no liking, no retweeting, no comments. 

In the meantime, after the "ohhhhh", they nodded their heads, considering if they too can fast from social media. 

Seed planted. 

Fat Tuesday

Pancakes, 

blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, 

and bananas.

Breakfast of champions.

Pasta, more fruit, and cake for lunch, 

with a late afternoon round of more cake, 

topped with a bowl of cheez its

and a bag of potato chips. 

Ending my day with a bowl of tomato stoup. 

After looking at my day, I can see were my waistline begins to expand, 

right in the middle.

Time squeeze

Can I squeeze anymore time out of my day? 

After a full day of work, I came home from work and began helping my husband sort through his thoughts as he was writing a speech.  Two hours helping him type and write were then followed by a video call. 

I hadn't allotted anytime for dinner, so I began the video call trying to scarf down my dinner.  I got creative with eating, by holding the book we were talking about in front of my face so I could chew.  

As I sit here, with four hours until the clock strikes midnight, I am contemplating how I can get my nightly gratitude walk in, meet my daily challenge of taking 29 minutes to tackle a spot in my house, and do a load of laundry.  

Time to try to squeeze as much as I can out of the remainder of the night. 

Sunday mornings

Sunday mornings 

begin with a before the sunrise walk with Smalls, 

listening as the birds begin to awaken from their slumber. 

Then it is off to church,

arriving early to pray,

fellowship, 

serve in ministry

and experience Mass. 

Upon returning home, 

I am greeted by family 

and drawn into an ever-evolving conversation. 

Today it's all things about Grace.

Usually a healthy breakfast is waiting. 

Today's breakfast-Rainbow Chip cake, tea, milk, and water.

Multiple conversations occurring simultaneously until everyone is full.

I set the timer for 29 minutes to tackle a space in the house.

The alarm singals that it is time to pause, and

prepare for Yin and 

as I travel to class, I reflect on my full heart 

and the time spent before class, 

grateful and pleased for a productive morning, 

 

Birthday Girl

Today is my baby girl's birthday. 

Well actually, my baby is no longer a baby and my students think she is my sister. 

As I drove her to brunch, listening to her and her friends chat about their lives, I commented that they should write down these moments. 

Why? 

Because the stories they were telling were not only entertaining, they shed light as to who each of them were at their core.  I was blessed today to hear their stories as they celebrated my baby girl's birthday.

Slice of Life Challenge

Quests, challenges, streaks. 

Manageable changes for periods of time-

Some short,

I can do anything for 29 days, 

to longer stretches, 

months, 

years, 

becoming lifelong threads 

of the fabric of me. 

Juggling two challenges, 

a quest, 

and two streaks. 

Challenge 1- Taking 29 minutes each day, 

For 29 days,

To completely give myself over to my house

And tackle a spot. 

Right now my closet has been the spot for the past three nights. 

Challenge 2- slice of life challenge for the month of March. 

In January I successfully wrote a post every day about a significant moment.  

Maybe the month of March entries will focus on moments well spent. 

Continuing into year 2 of my quest of 

No Clothes Shopping!  

Streaks I never want to end...

Writing in my spiritual journal every morning, 

Starting the day with and intention walk, 

And ending the day with my nightly gratitude walk. 

Quests, challenges, and streaks, 

slices of my life.