Day 14

Day 13

Harry's Shoe Repair 

Downtown McKinney

Day 12

A candle cannot light itself. It needs to receive light from another.    God of light, thank you for the light that Jesus brings to us and the light we can pass on to others.

A candle when lit can give away its light without losing the light it has.     God of abundance, thank you that you give us so much love that we can give away love to others without losing what we already have.

A candle burns as bright when it is new, as when there is only a small amount of the original candle left.      God of the ages, thank you that whatever age we are, we can still be used by you to be a light for you to each other.



A candle’s light is sensitive, reacting to the slightest movement of the air around it.      Loving God, thank you that you pick up every little thought and feeling that we have because you care about us. Help us to be sensitive and kind to others.

A candle’s light is the same whatever the size, shape or color of the candle.     Creator God, thank you that we all matter to you and are of equal value to you even though we are each very different.     Help us to see the light of your love burning in everyone we meet.

A candle’s light is designed to be seen and is best placed high up so that it can give light to all; it is not for hiding away.     Ever present God, help us not to hide our light away, keeping it to ourselves. May we be lights that bring light to as many people as possible.

Unless the candle’s light is passed on, that light dies when the candle itself comes to an end.     Eternal God, you wanted your light to be passed on to others. You are the light of the world and you call us to be lights to the world.  May your light shine brightly in and through us wherever we go in the days ahead.

Adapted from http://www.barnabasinschools.org.uk/candle-prayers-for-reflection/

Day 11

lovely

little

details

Day 10

Welcome Maura and Antonio!! This post had to be postponed a bit, because they made a sneaky layover in Texas before surprising her family in MN!  Moving from the Dominican to Minnesota in the middle of winter.  This. Is. Love.  :)  

Day 9

Because it's 11:57 and I procrastinated much too long before entering my report card grades and comments....

And because I have tired eyes....

But because I can't not take a picture on day 9 of 90....

Also because my eyes are so tired.....

Oh, I already said that. Maybe my brain is really tired, too.

A blind selfie-panoramic.  It's harder than one might think. :)  You can't do the little flip-camera thingy.

Day 8

My favorite thing about my Christmas tree is actually the tree skirt underneath it.  I got it at a fair trade market at Triennium Youth Conference when I was just out of college.  I couldn't afford it, really, but I instantly fell in love with it.  I looked at the detail, the intricately stitched nativity scene and surrounding life.  I imagined the hands that crafted it, their family, their home.  It was from Guatemala. At the time (don't judge, geography buffs) I could not even tell you where Guatemala was, and did not know that years later it would become a part of my very heart.  Now, I don't have to imagine the hands, the family, the home.  I can visualize it.  Hear their voices.  I know it.   I love it, and so I love this dear little tree skirt even more now.  Reflecting on it, it reminds me to take time for the details... to save room for the spirit... and to be fair. 

In Guatemala, it seemed that there was always enough time. (Just pause and let that feeling soak in, North Americans.)  Not that there actually was...but efficiency and productivity aren't valued more than creativity and quality.  So, you get precious works of art of like this.   Time for details. 

It is also a reminder of what the season is really about. Here, I can't exactly smack a present right on top of baby Jesus, Joseph and Mary!  It would be covering up the most beautiful part of my tree.  But isn't that what happens so often with the consumerist craze of Christmas?  We cover up what is truly beautiful about the season--the softening of our hearts to those in need, the importance and gift of family,  and the presence of everyday miracles taking form in unexpected ways.  

Save room for the spirit. 

Finally, it's good to be fair.  It's good that it made me (and my account balance) a little uncomfortable to have this prized possession, so that others could experience relative comfort.   With that in mind, I want to  fill  surround this tree skirt with gifts that didn't just get me the most for the least amount of money possible, that don't just fill this strange gift 'quota' that we have created, but that will be treasured and will honor the spirit of this 

beautiful, 

gift-giving, 

life-giving

season.  

  

Day 7

My diet today:
tea
water
Gatorade
water
chicken noodle soup
water
tea
hot chocolate
KOLACHES!!  

Day 6

What does this picture say to you?  

It should say "teacher, during cold and flu season".  My days of bragging on my 

"robot-like immune system" seem to be coming to an end. 

And for additional captioning...
*

*Names have been [removed] to protect the innocent.

Day 5

Oh man, today I totally missed a photo op.  In science we were doing a simple experiment pouring water, corn syrup and oil into a container to compare the density of the liquids.  Each table had their own cup.  There was much surprise and jubilation when that tricksy oil floated to the top!  After everyone had recorded their observations, one students asked if we could pour the liquid from all 5 cups into one to larger container. Love it.  So, a student from each table brought their cups and combined them into one.  "Woah!" "Awesome!" "Look at that huge bubble!" I heard as I started shuffling papers on my desk, getting ready to move on to the next lesson.  (I love when kids get really excited about the little things...makes me think this world is gonna be alright after all.)  So, my moment--my mental picture-- was when I turned around and realized that all of my students had trickled out of their seats, and were surrounding their new experiment.  All huddled together.  Just watching molecules rearrange themselves.

Day 4

Dear Cacti Friends,
I apologize.  Let me say that it is with deep remorse that I moved your discolored, soggy stems inside after abandoning you in the cold.   I'm sure you're asking yourselves, "¿Qué idiota no se puede mantener vivo un cactus?"  Well, let me just say that I used to tell friends and family that I couldn't (or wouldn't) have children until I went a significant amount of time without losing my dog. (Stay with me.)  I felt that would be a pretty good measure of civic and maternal abilities.  Well, it's been over a year since the Jefster wandered off under my forgetful watch. Huzzah!  However, the new requirement of myself will be to keep a cactus alive.
Regretfully yours,
La idiota

Day 3

Advent.  A season of hopeful waiting.  Joyful anticipation.  Focused on something you can't yet see.

Day 2

Day 2.  (Day 3 of Icemaggedon)  Cabin fever has fully set in, kindled by my 'aha' iced tree moment yesterday. I have embraced the fact that I am not (and perhaps will never be) one of those women who can throw together whatever ingredients one finds in the pantry or refrigerator and voila! a magically delicious meal ensues.  Oh, no. I am a "make a list of the ingredients in whatever I'm cooking the one night a week that I cook and go to the store to get it" kind of gal.   I have GOT to get out of here.  Why didn't I think of this earlier?  I live blocks away from downtown, which is stock full of delicious restaurants, inviting pubs, and cozy cafes.  They turned out to truly be a sanctuary this day. I spent hours in a cafe, followed by hours in a pub.  (The walk home was strangely warmer than the walk there...hehe)  What warmed me most were random, extended conversations throughout the day.  New connections, seedling friendships.

This sign caught my eye on the way home.  Not only because I was walking in the middle of the road-- on one of the two non-icey tire paths that had been carved out--but because the entire day I had given myself permission

to use the full lane.

Day 1

This is the eve of Day 2 of Icemaggedon.  I had stubbornly holed myself up for 2 days while a (cliche) winter wonderland was right outside my warm door.  Having just signed my creativity contract, I ventured out, looking for beauty.  (Disclaimer: These pictures are all taken with my phone, so the time of day/flash ratio was difficult.)  Here I was actually standing under a big, frozen tree.  It sounded like an old wooden boat, stubbornly departing from the dock.  The tree was literally groaning.  I felt it's pain, but it also made me smile.  Everything else was silent, all around, which I decided is what is possibly the most beautiful part of these frozen days. Silence.  Stillness.   The tree's limbs were weighted down all around me, with its new winter coat uncomfortably constricting its movement.  I couldn't quite capture its beauty, so I turned and caught this last bit of light to document the place where I was standing.

So, this picture isn't an image of importance, it is a moment.  A softening to the still and silent beauty of winter.  

The Pledge/Promise/Vow

I've just completed 12 weeks of a spiritual path to higher creativity with The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron.  The book was recommended to me while I was in college by the singer/songwriter/pacifist/profit David Lamotte.  A few years ago, I made it through week 8 or 9.  A bit more recently, I was at a point in my life where I was feeling a little 'stuck' (while, oddly enough I felt like I was simultaneously flailing about and couldn't get my footing) so I decided to dig in to myself and my creative side.
I didn't do everything right---a big part of the journey is committing to "morning pages", 3 pages a day, uncensored, boring or inspired, listlike or poetic, 3 pages a day.  You don't go back and read them until you get so many weeks into the practice, and then you might see patterns emerge that are quite telling.  I didn't write my morning pages probably as much as I did and my weekly "artist dates" with myself were sometimes a stretch and/or I completely stood myself up.

But, I made it through the 12 weeks; I'm better for it, and I'll do even better next time.

To conclude and commemorate the 12 weeks, you write a Creativity Contract at the end, in which you commit yourself to more days of morning pages (See?  Already a chance to redeem myself!) You also commit to more fully explore one creative area.  I chose photography.  So, the plan is to take one thoughtful picture every day for 90 days.  I was on Day 3 when I decided that sometimes I might want to write about those pictures as well.

Enter blogster.

So, you are welcome to accompany my on the second leg of this journey.  I promise not to fill these pages with selfies and duck faces.  I pledge to be vulnerable, but remember that this is not, in fact, my personal diary.  And I (wish there was another p word that meant 'pledge or promise' because that would be ppperfect) vow to complete the 90 days, even when I'm busy or bored with myself, knowing that self-discipline is not my strongest suit.  Imagine me now crossing my heart, kissing the pad of my thumb and pressing it to the screen.  (AM I 14 years old??) It is sealed.

Welcome.