Ramblings from the Homestead

True friendship exists simply for its own sake. It is cemented by two who equally value friendship simply out of a desire to do so and can exist across cultures, and genders, and time, and distance. It is the easiest of the three to form; it is the most rare to find. Indeed, the greatest thing I can do for my friend is to simply be their friend. __________

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Daybook today... Outside my window – a perfect spring night... peepers I am thinking - of the time I have left in my life to make it my own... Carpe Diem I am thankful - for every little blessing that comes my way unexpectedly... today's rain on the roof made work almost a pleasure. I am wearing – black slacks, black and white print blouse with butterfly sleeves, and big fuzzy house slippers! I am remembering – to keep fighting I am creating -a huge genealogy database I am going – to sleep soon I am reading - just finished March by Geraldine Brooks I am hoping – for good camping weather the next few weekends On my mind - two sisters, two sons Pondering these words – Acceptance and surrender ( but keep fighting) From the kitchen – black beans and turkey and rice a la David Around the house – spring cleaning is needed~ One of my favorite things – my snuggly cat, Fester A few plans for the rest of the week – one more day of work... then a weekend to putter to my heart's content he...

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Tell the bison not to go where they have always been, instruct the elephants to read and yield their ancient memories of where the water is. Force wolves and bears to learn the boundaries that have never been- the ink that lies unseeable between this tree, that blade of grass. Teach them all to read the maps that are invisible. Make them know what is not real, does not exist to moon or stars, and stubborn as they are kill them for not learning what we will not share. © February 3, 2010 Carol Snyder Halberstadt

Daybook today... Outside my window – dark, cool and breezy... I am thinking - about a lot of things.... my sister and how I miss her, my sons and my husband who is off tramping through the woods for a week I am thankful - for a long conversation with an old friend I am wearing – black cords, pink sweater, pink socks I am remembering – Nancy I am creating -a baby girl gift I am going – to work today I am reading - Sand Creek Massacre by Hoig I am hoping – for mercy and healing On my mind - my sister, my sons Pondering these words – Letting go From the kitchen – peanut butter sandwiches Around the house – craft room is ALL organized, now I can enjoy it! One of my favorite things – this coffee bucket filled with hazelnut A few plans for the rest of the week – Work and relax My picture posting: Yellow Hair, Sioux -- just love this picture

Daybook today... Outside my window – dark, cool and breezy... fall-like weather after the rain last night I am thinking - about what I am thankful for... dear friends and family I am thankful - for so many things... but today for my church and my God I am wearing – black sweats, black socks, and white 3/4 sleeve pullover I am remembering – Thanksgiving a year ago... we went to a Pow Wow~~ awesome I am creating - haven't started the new creation yet... just finished the baby blanket I am going – to finish this and go to sleep I am reading - Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel I am hoping – for safe travel and lots of time with family On my mind - my sister, my sons Pondering these words – Christ, the King From the kitchen – cranberry pecan bread and chicken soup Around the house – oh we are so messy! Yarn is organized, though, so at least I know what I have.... One of my favorite things – my dog, Peanut, and my cat, Fester A few plans for the rest of the week – Work one day, then back on the...

Daybook today... Outside my window – dark, cool and breezy... fall-like weather and a full moon I am thinking - about change and feeling stuck I am thankful - for my sweet husband and for time with family when I can get it I am wearing – work clothes… black slacks, olive green shirt I am remembering – past World Series when the Yankees won I am creating - a baby blanket for a new little boy coming to the world soon I am going – to work on paperwork and organize my desk I am reading - Reading the Mountains of Home by John Elder I am hoping – for doors to open and for healing miracles On my mind - my sister, my sons Pondering these words – Be still, and know that I Am. From the kitchen – sausage and peppers Around the house – books everywhere~! One of my favorite things – this weather A few plans for the rest of the week – tomorrow is Friday, oh the weekend hallelujah!! My picture posting: Dancing with my Grandson, Mason

Nothing can fill the gap when we are away from those we love, and it would be wrong to try and find anything. We must simply hold out and win through. That sounds very hard at first, but at the same time it is a great consolation, since leaving the gap unfilled preserves the bonds between us. It is nonsense to say that God fills the gap. God does not fill it, but keeps it empty so that our communion with each other may be kept alive, even at the cost of pain. Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Letters from Prison

For today - Monday, November 2, 2009 Outside my window - Sunny , cool and breezy... fall-like weather on the Gulf Coast. I am thinking - about feeling better physically, mentally and spiritually... I am thankful - for my sweet husband and for being aware of the small gifts each day I am wearing - navy sweats and sage green tee shirt (home from work) I am remembering - that my birthday is next week I am creating - a baby blanket for a new little boy coming to the world soon I am going - to the recliner to rest, maybe to the chair in the sunshine to pray and rest I am reading - Reading the Mountains of Home by John Elder I am hoping - to get some letters in the mail On my mind - my sister, my in-laws, and my sons Pondering these words - For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord; plans for good, and not for evil. From the kitchen - cracking pecans, leftover turkey chili for supper tonight. Around the house - messy~ I need to feel better so I can putter around and do what I do......

There comes a time when it is no longer important to prove one's point, but simply to live, to surrender to God and to love. ~Thomas Merton~ The Road to Joy

To Live by Faith By Fr. Dominic Rover, O.P. To live by faith is to live peacefully, prayerfully, hopefully, hopelessly, outside myself. At peace with myself yet outside myself. Not leaning on myself, old rubber-legs, but leaning on God Who stands up straight and begs us, almost, to lean on Him, God with His daily gift of hard rocks and white flowers. To live by faith is to live outside myself. To live by faith is to be at home and yet a stranger in my own house. It is to be sure about God yet unsure about everything that is not grounded in God yet sure about everything because everything can be grounded in God. To live by faith is to stop justifying myself to stop frowning to stop whimpering like a cropped poodle on Pablum To live by faith is to stop wondering why things don’t turn out right. To live by faith is to stop talking –– when talk is fear or frenzy or a giddy cover-up, when talk is all about setting things right, my way. Dear God, to stop talking! To live by faith is to be si...

Look deeply... I got lost in his eyes today.

Directive by Robert Frost Back out of all this now too much for us, Back in a time made simple by the loss Of detail, burned, dissolved, and broken off Like graveyard marble sculpture in the weather, There is a house that is no more a house Upon a farm that is no more a farm And in a town that is no more a town. The road there, if you’ll let a guide direct you Who only has at heart your getting lost, May seem as if it should have been a quarry— Great monolithic knees the former town Long since gave up pretense of keeping covered. And there’s a story in a book about it: Besides the wear of iron wagon wheels The ledges show lines ruled southeast-northwest, The chisel work of an enormous Glacier That braced his feet against the Arctic Pole. You must not mind a certain coolness from him Still said to haunt this side of Panther Mountain. Nor need you mind the serial ordeal Of being watched from forty cellar holes As if by eye pairs out of forty firkins. As for the woods’ excitement over yo...

Wandering through fall colors, crackling dry underfoot...and then it slows me... and I see right away that no one lives here. My heart beats a little faster as my steps take me to stand at the base of the porch stair. I push the dried leaves with the side of my foot, and see that the wood is good, it will hold me. One foot, then another, and then I am close... close enough to peer through grimed windows. Bones of old houses and leavings of sad lives... I spot an enameled cookstove, covered with newspaper, oilcloth, mouse droppings, a tipped mug. Immediate wonder at who left their life behind for strangers to find. What illness, crisis, or calling led to the last locking of the door and the resolute walk away? What knarled hand slid down the old banister for the last time, or watched as the trees waved farewell? No one lives here.

Thought for the Day A great deal of virtue and piety is simply the easy price we pay in order to justify a life that is essentially trifling. Nothing is so cheap as the evasion purchased by just enough good conduct to make one pass as a "serious person." --Thomas Merton-- Conjectures of A Guilty Bystander: 195.

Our vocation is not simply to be, but to work together with God in the creation of our own life, our own identity, our own destiny. We are free beings and sons and daughters of God. This means to say that we should not passively exist, but actively participate in His creative freedom, in our own lives, and in the lives of others, by choosing the truth. To put it better, we are even called to share with God the work of creating the truth of our identity. ...To work out our own identity in God, which the Bible calls "working out our salvation," is a labor that requires sacrifice and anguish, risk and many tears. It demands close attention to reality at every moment, and great fidelity to God as He reveals Himself, obscurely, in the mystery of each new situation. Thomas Merton. New Seeds of Contemplation (New York: New Directions Press, 1961): 32. Thought for the Day We do not know clearly beforehand what the result of this work will be. The secret of my full identity is hidden ...

In a couple days, I will head off to Florida. Please keep me in your prayers as I travel and visit with my family. More posting soon.... I promise!

It has been a Lonnnnnnnnngggg time since I posted anything... bizzy bizzy in a tizzy all the time. Work, play, clean, run on the treadmill... work, play, clean, run... you get the picture.