I may be the luckiest person on earth. I realize that currently, there are many close friends and distant forum folks who are currently reading this, but bear with me as I post here for my children every once and a while. (That is of course, unless the internet has gone by the way-side like 8-track by the time they are old enough to appreciate the time and effort we put into this... maybe we'll all be communicating telepathically... or we'll revert to writing with quills dipped in ink being delivered by pony express.. who knows) I think I still have an old "Bat out of Hell" 8-track! (Yes, I'm easily distracted... oooh, something shiny...............)
What was I sa... oh yeah. Allow me to gloat a little.
I am feeling incredibly grateful lately. The friends that surround my life truly lift me up and fuel my hope. Kids, you probably know by now that some friends are truly forever. Others will stay for a while & go. Some will return again. There is a saying about how some people are in your life for seasons, reasons or lifetime etc., I'm not really sure how it goes or even if I understand it or agree with it completely. Regardless...
I hope you have learned the most important thing, is to take care of your relationships. It matters. It requires humility & sometimes, hard work. It always gives you joy & passion. Regardless of how long someone is, was, or will be in your life... fostering that relationship, that person, that soul, is the most important thing you can give. Even if nothing else you do in the world amounts to anything, the goodness of your soul shows in how you treat those you love.
Ask many people they'll tell you, I was late in learning this. Very. How did I miss it?? It is a typical "life lesson" in that it sounds so logical and obvious, but... daily, I have to remind myself over and over: "In the end, it is how we treated our relationships that mattered".
I am abundantly grateful for the friends that God has sent into my life. I am filled with gratitude and humbled by their generosity, kindness, patience, compassion and love. They are contagious!! I pray that one day I’ll be able to offer them all they have done for me. Thank you!! To each of you… LOVE YA!! HUGS
"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." ~Buddha
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Autumnal adventures...
This time of year is always quite full of social opportunities. Today as I write this, I'm in hope that my children, years from now, will read this and will be able to see a different side of their mom. One that they may not have had the opportunity to understand, thus far. And to know, that through all my adventures, desk jockeying, long drives, bunco games, walks, prayers and excursions, my thoughts are with you. This past week brought:
Bunco, in Old Town, ME
Lobstering in Owls Head, ME
11 hour drive West through the Berkshires
Along the Erie Canal
To Rochester, NY and 11 hours, back home
(I had pictures, but files were too big...)
Finally, a Trek on own 2 feet
And Harley's 4
Bunco, in Old Town, ME
Lobstering in Owls Head, ME
11 hour drive West through the Berkshires
Along the Erie Canal
To Rochester, NY and 11 hours, back home
(I had pictures, but files were too big...)
Finally, a Trek on own 2 feet
And Harley's 4
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Happy Days...
This has been a good week. I have no material evidence to verify, or words to explain why. “Why’s” have no real answers, they are just truths and gifts from above I guess. This week is a gift.
One great picture my children should have is this one. I met your friend Feleke today!! Today he is 2 and a half years old and very happy! He and his family have been together for only a month now and it looks like all joy, giggles rainbows and cheerios for them. Feleke loves his mom and doesn’t like to leave her side for too long, but didn’t panic when they were separated shortly. Feleke and I hit it off, as I can still be a bit of a small human magnet. Plus I bribed him with a lolly! He was in Heaven loving it... as was I watching him.
Feleke’s mom was so kind and generous to come visit and share their trip to Ethiopia. She was so good to offer some great traveling trips. Although I have many questions, I was too distracted by making faces with her son.
It was a good day. This was a good week. Thank you
One great picture my children should have is this one. I met your friend Feleke today!! Today he is 2 and a half years old and very happy! He and his family have been together for only a month now and it looks like all joy, giggles rainbows and cheerios for them. Feleke loves his mom and doesn’t like to leave her side for too long, but didn’t panic when they were separated shortly. Feleke and I hit it off, as I can still be a bit of a small human magnet. Plus I bribed him with a lolly! He was in Heaven loving it... as was I watching him.
Feleke’s mom was so kind and generous to come visit and share their trip to Ethiopia. She was so good to offer some great traveling trips. Although I have many questions, I was too distracted by making faces with her son.
It was a good day. This was a good week. Thank you
Friday, September 5, 2008
ETH 101- Beginner Ethiopia
Meskel (Finding of the True Cross)
(Full discloser: I'm stealing this from one of the forums. I found it very interesting and a possible recurring theme here...)
Meskel is celebrated by dancing, feasting and lighting a massive bonfire known in Ethiopian tradition as "Damera". Meskel commemorates the finding of the True Cross in the fourth century when Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, discovered the True Cross on which Christ was crucified.
The feast is celebrated in Ethiopia on September 17 Ethiopian calendar (September 27 Gregorian calendar), 6 months after the discovery of the True Cross. The celebration of Meskel signifies the presence of the True Cross at mountain of Gishen Mariam monastery and also symbolises the events carried out by Empress Helena.
According to tradition, Empress Helena lit incense and prayed for assistance to guide her. The smoke drifted towards the direction of the buried cross. She dug and found three crosses; one of them was the True Cross used to crucify Jesus Christ. Empress Helena then gave a piece of the True Cross to all churches, including the Ethiopian Church. This piece was then brought to Ethiopia. According to the Ethiopian legend, when people get close to the piece of the True Cross it made them naked by its powerful light. Because of this, a decision was made to bury it at the mountain of Gishen Mariam monastery in Wollo region. The monastery of Gishen Mariam holds a volume of a book which records the story of the True Cross of Christ and how it was acquired.
(Full discloser: I'm stealing this from one of the forums. I found it very interesting and a possible recurring theme here...)
Meskel is celebrated by dancing, feasting and lighting a massive bonfire known in Ethiopian tradition as "Damera". Meskel commemorates the finding of the True Cross in the fourth century when Empress Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, discovered the True Cross on which Christ was crucified.
The feast is celebrated in Ethiopia on September 17 Ethiopian calendar (September 27 Gregorian calendar), 6 months after the discovery of the True Cross. The celebration of Meskel signifies the presence of the True Cross at mountain of Gishen Mariam monastery and also symbolises the events carried out by Empress Helena.
According to tradition, Empress Helena lit incense and prayed for assistance to guide her. The smoke drifted towards the direction of the buried cross. She dug and found three crosses; one of them was the True Cross used to crucify Jesus Christ. Empress Helena then gave a piece of the True Cross to all churches, including the Ethiopian Church. This piece was then brought to Ethiopia. According to the Ethiopian legend, when people get close to the piece of the True Cross it made them naked by its powerful light. Because of this, a decision was made to bury it at the mountain of Gishen Mariam monastery in Wollo region. The monastery of Gishen Mariam holds a volume of a book which records the story of the True Cross of Christ and how it was acquired.
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