A "Welcome to Fall" Friday Five

As this vivid season begins, tell us five favorite things about fall: I love EVERYTHING about fall!!!

1) A fragrance: I love to get out the fall candles... apple cider, cinnamon stick, spiced pumpkin and more.

2) A color: My favorite colors are orange and brown, and I have already decorated for fall using both of them.

3) An item of clothing: I bought a brown button-down sweater and a brown fleece pullover. I'm not sure which one I'm most excited about wearing. I also plan to get some orange pullovers. Yum! :)

4) An activity: I love to take walks and feel the breezes, commune with the trees, but during the stifling heat of summer, can hardly stand to be outside! Same thing with hanging out on the balcony. So as the temps cool, I am looking forward to both fave activities.

5) A special day: Well, I guess that would be Thanksgiving. Sweet potato casserole, anyone? :)

Wade in the Water

Wade in the water
Wade in the water, children
Wade in the water
God's gonna trouble the water

Sigh. What an awesome, super-duper fantastic service we had today!

The themes were sacred circle, water and inclusion.

My cutie-patootie son joined the other Creative Kids to sing the introit.

There was a baby baptism and a memory jogger for the grown-ups. While we sang "Wade in the Water", there was a "remembering your baptism" experience. Our pastor and other ministers dipped feathers into water and reminded us of God's love, and grace, and forgiveness.

The sermon was about letting go of the past.

He talked about forgiveness and said...

1) Refusing to forgive is like taking poison and hoping someone else dies. I'd heard that before, but what a powerful reminder!

2) It's not the offense you forgive, it's the person! Well... I'd never quite thought of it that way before.

After the sermon, and before we actually sang the song ourselves, liturgical dancers waded into my soul with a very funky version of the song.

I loved the whole service today and even though I am feeling just a wee bit under the weather, I am so glad I went!

Back-to-School Friday Five

It's time for a Back-To-School Friday Five!

1. Is anyone going back to school, as a student or teacher, at your house? How's it going so far?

Since I am homeschooling my son, I would say we both are back in school! It's going okay, but we are both still getting adjusted to the early hours. There have been more than a few naps, for both of us, in the past couple of weeks.

2. Were you glad or sad when back-to-school time came as a kid?

I was always really excited! Couldn't sleep.

3. Did your family of origin have any rituals to mark this time of year? How about now?

Well, before school started again, sometime in August, we'd go to the mall for new clothes. That was always fun!!

I think the big thing for my son and I is taking a "back to homeschool" picture on our first day of school.

4. Favorite memories of back-to-school outfits, lunchboxes, etc?

Can't remember the lunchboxes, but I do remember a "first-day" outfit or two! Those were fun.

5. What was your best year of school?

I think my best year was my first year of college. I fell in love with all my new friends, loved being away from home, and began to enjoy thinking and learning and being smart in a way I hadn't before.

Friday Five: Being Vulnerable

So I bring you this weeks Friday 5:

1. Is vulnerability something that comes easily to you, or are you a private person?

I am pretty open and honest. Authenticity is very important to me! But I have to admit, I don't like to cry in public. I end up doing it anyway, but I usually fight it at first.

2.How important is it to keep up a professional persona in work/ ministry?

In my work as a healing practitioner, I have found that it works better when I am real, down-to-earth, accessible and connected.

3. Masks, a form of self protection discuss...

I was taught to hide as a child. Remember that commercial, "never let 'em see you sweat"? I used to tease my mom that that was written about her. She seemed to equate vulnerability with weakness so eventually, I got good at hiding my feelings, even from myself. People would comment on how peaceful I always seemed.

I'd tell them I felt anxious or upset, etc., and even those closest to me would say that they had no idea. When I was in grad school for counseling, I realized that that couldn't be healthy and decided to work on it.

Now, people tell me that what I am feeling shows on my face whether I say it or not! Mission accomplished.

4. Who knows you warts and all?

My wife. God. Me.

And one of my friends from church, I think. He apparently has taken things I have said, remembered them, mixed them all together, and come up with things I didn't say but that are nonetheless true. He surprises me regularly with that ability.

5. Share a book, a prayer, a piece of music, a poem or a person that touches the deep place in your soul, and calls you to be who you are most authentically.

There have been many books, songs, and people who have done this and I am grateful for them all!

Lately, or most recently, I have been reading Nepo's the Book of Awakening, which helps connect me to myself.

6. I thought of another bonus question: if there was a quality you wished to show to the world, that you don't think you have, what would it be?

For me, I think it's a kind of fearlessness when I am interacting with others. Think Sophia (from the Golden Girls) with wisdom.

I am an introvert who thinks before she speaks. And I am quite self-conscious at times. If I'm nervous, I will even stumble a bit over what I am trying to say.

So, at most, I can only resemble this quality. When I am at my best.

The Secret Life of the American Teenager

I'm no stranger to teenage angst, or maybe I should say, to the memory of it. So I am sometimes a sucker for teen drama on TV. Dawson's Creek, Gilmore Girls, 7th Heaven...

And once again, I am completely in love!

The Secret Life of the American Teenager is exquisitely well-written. I've adored it almost from the very first episode. And hey, it's timely! It's about teenage pregnancy!!

If you are reading this, and you've never seen it, ABC Family is going to have a marathon of all the previous episodes on Monday beginning at 6pm. Then, the show's season finale will air on Tuesday night. I can't wait to see what happens!

Back 2 Homeschool

Early this morning, in pjs and robe, my son and I went back to homeschool. He was very excited to be a second-grader! And I was excited about the school year ahead. In addition to the regulars, he and I have plans for some great explorations...

yoga for kids

eco-spirituality

conversational Spanish

ballroom dancing

science club

cooking

etc.

Today, we focused on reading, art, cooking and a little about the presidential election. I've shared a little of his artwork.

We had a great day!

Broccoli Cheese Casserole

I tried one the other day. It was okay, but I doubt I put in enough cheese.

I was following the recipe from last Sunday's Big Daddy's House, which seemed really simple, except he used chunky cheese and I had the shredded kind. But today, I had it again, finishing up the leftovers.

I put it in a saute pan and covered it with cheese and let it melt. Then, I added a little butter on top and that fixed it right up. So next time, I might put butter in the pan when I cook the broccoli and I will definitely add more cheese.

Second time around: yummy!