Reflecting On Our Words

My blog friends and I are posting again about our word and we have chosen this month to select a flower that we feel represents our word. It is the fall of the year and there are so many flowers to choose from. As I stroll through my neighborhood my neighbors have planted a plethora of colorful choices. The creative minds of my friends Julie, Peggy, AnneMarie and Roban have made mindful associations of their own about their word and their flower choice. Read below and discover what is in the creative minds of my very special friends.

Julie chose Excellence:

As my blog buddies and I continue through our Reflecting on Our Words project, I have been delighted with the number of ways my creative friends have come up with to bring imagery and metaphor to their guiding word for the year. This month, the theme was to choose a flower that exemplifies each of our words. It was a fun mental challenge to think through flora and fauna that would give example to my 2009 word, excellence.

I at first thought of flowers that have great beauty or hardy qualities or are rare. But what kept coming back to me is the flower that we see a lot of during this season, the blossom that someone decided is the 'birth flower' for November. And that would be the chrysanthemum. (The chrysanthemum illustration on the right is from the New International Encyclopedia from 1902, with the image url being hosted at Wikipedia.)

The chrysanthemum is actually native to Asia and wasn't introduced into Europe until the 17th century. It is often seen as a symbol in Chinese and Japanese artwork. In the U.S., it is a floral symbol of the season, a happy spot of color for the autumn.

Chrysanthemums are also used in a number of beneficial ways. The petals can be used to make a sweet tea. The blossoms make a natural insecticide that is not harmful or toxic to animals and humans. The plant is also used as an antibiotic and an antiviral agent. A potted indoor chrysanthemum has also been shown to be effective in reducing indoor pollutants in the air.

And now for the tie-in to my 2009 word, excellence.

True excellence brings with it the benefits similar to the chrysanthemum. When I operate in excellence, I can make life sweeter, more palatable for those around me. When I operate in excellence, I can help reduce the pests of procrastination and apathy. When I operate in excellence, I can help fight off the infecting agents of mediocrity. And when excellence is present in the room, the environment is all the cleaner for it.

 

 
Peggy chose Balance
 
The amazing flower I chose to represent my word is called "Hippeastrum Cinderella".

I took this photo in my hairdresser's garden last week. The complete beauty and balance of this flower called to me as I was leaving his house.

Flowers have always been a source of pleasure and happiness symbolizing love and friendship and since the dawn of time we have instinctively known that flowers can lift our spirits and make us feel well again. They play an important role in restoring or evoking a sense of harmony in mind, body and spirit of healing in its quintessential form.

AnneMarie chose Discipline
 
Thinking about discipline, I chose the orchid because of the amount of dedication it takes to care for this beautiful flower.


The orchid is considered to be one of four noble plants. Because it grew deep in the mountains, it was compared to scholars who had transcended the greed and fame-seeking of the secular world.

Orchid growth is effected by everything from elevation and light to humidity, air movement and nutrition. When I looked up how to care for this "delicate" flower, I realized that this is a flower I would probably kill in just a few days.

In my search for a more disciplined life, I came to an understanding about myself. I like my laid back life. I love that I am not always worried about menus and shopping lists. My children are healthy and happy. Yes, my house is less than tidy, and my flower pots outside are less than tended, but I am happy.

So as this year of searching for discipline is nearing an end, I will begin thinking about what it is that I would like to work on next year....I have two more months to think about it.

Roban chose Joy and Faith.

This year as I've journeyed through life contemplating faith and joy, I've been more aware of the beauty around me each day. Yet even though my focus has been on these two words, I've still had days when I saw the world through a darker lens. A busy schedule and seemingly constant demands have clouded my world at times. When my friends and I decided to choose a flower that reflected our words, my first thought was on finding a photo that captured the essence of joy. I thought of sunny buttercups and my mother's favorite flower, tulips. I also thought of flowers that connected to my word, faith.


When it comes to photography, there's no one better than Caroline Manrique of http://www.nowordz.com to capture the beauty of everyday life, so I asked if she would be willing to share one of her photographs with me. And she sent this....

The beauty of the flower against the muted tones of the background seemed to perfectly capture my feelings this month. Even when peering through the world in an imperfect fashion, there we find it. Beauty. It stands out against the backdrop of life leaving us with a more peaceful and joyful feeling.
 
I chose Abundance
 
I have spent the past ten months with an action plan to have the most abundant life possible. I have cultivated new friendships and renewed old ones. I have committed time to family and used social media to create more connections with people. I made efforts to use my leadership skills in my work and have encouraged countless families in their journey toward spoken language. I have meditated and prayed. I have listened to music that stirs my soul. I have set new goals for fitness and nutrition. Abundance has been all around me each step of the way. My chosen flower can only be the flower that is a personal favorite. I have chosen the poppy. I smile when I see an abundance of poppies scattered across a field as in a Van Gogh painting. The dichotomy is that poppies have a bad rap. They are associated with a shady industry that is the demise of many people, unhealthy, commemorate the death of soldiers in some countries and symbolize remembrance.
They were used in the Wizard of Oz to hinder Dorothy's journey down the yellow brick road. Even so, looking over a field of these beautiful flowers gives me a feeling of abundance and of gratitude. Abundance spread in the open for all to see and enjoy.
 
 

 

Abundance is....a spread of beauty for all to enjoy.

Thank you to Caroline at Whimsical Whispers who started it all!

Reflecting on our Words

We are here ending our 9th month of 2009 and my good friends AnneMarie, Roban, Julie and Peggy join me in meeting yet another challenge. The goal to select a video that defines our word. I would say the challenge this month is the technology. I was fearful of it yet excited to try something new!

The five of us have been a work in progess, each in our individual homes living our daily lives quite apart yet tied to the blog community and each other through posts and emails. So what is it that has contributed to our growth in love and friendship with each other, 5 women who have never met. (I do know Julie in real life) Is it a common goal, a shared experience, a commitment to a task? It may be all of these things but as I have read their blog posts, read their comments to others, read their emails of love and encouragement to me, celebrated the good and experienced care for each other in the challenges...we always know the other women are only a key click away. We all agree our lives have been enriched through this experience.

We actually have a 6th partner in this project, a woman who is the highest example of a work in progress...she is amazing in the way she uses her mind and her artistic talent to create an abundant life. Her blog inspires and causes reflection. She is our shining example and the inspiration for this project. Read more about Caroline here.

Join with me in viewing the selections of each women as we celebrate Discipline, Faith and Joy, Excellence, Balance and Abundance!

AnneMarie of So I Was Just Thinking (Discipline)

Roban of Moments in Time (Faith and Joy)

"When I thought of a video to express some of my thoughts on faith and joy, I immediately thought of the artist Akiane Kramarik. Her art comes from her faith, and her paintings fill me with joy and awe."

Julie of Octamom (Excellence)

"This is Kari Jobe, a really sweet girl who is dear friends with some of my dear friends. She has a gorgeous song out called I'm Singing and she had viewers add their experiences and included them in the video--and the result is just 'excellent'--really amazing people continuing to walk with joy, even in the midst of some tough times"

Peggy of Middle Age Ramblings (Balance)

My video is a lesson in what it might take in action to have and hold on to Abundance.

Abundance is .... knowing your friends are available.

It's My Birthday and I Feel Abundantly Wiser!

I was born in 1961 and September marks my 48th birthday. This is not a seemingly important birthday. 48 is not 45 or 50, typically the mark of major celebrations. But I have to say my 47th year leading up to 48 has really been one of my best years. I can say this primarily because I believe that it is the year of lessons learned and a wonderful journey toward a life of abundance.

Last year, September 2008 I met through blogging Roban. What a surprise to find another person who was born on the same day in the same year. See my post about our new found friendship here. This birthday we are posting about some of the major moments in our lives. I decided to take it by decade not of the tens but of the eights. Please visit Roban's blog "Moments in Time" and tell her Happy Birthday too!

I begin with a photo of me with my parents a year or so after I was born. We have few pictures because our house burned in 1963 and our family photos burned with it. Isn't it something to see our parents as young parents themselves.

In 1969, at 8 years of age we moved to Norman, Oklahoma and I remember this year as a year of starting over..a new school, meeting new friends, a new church.

In 1979, I was a Senior in High School. It was the tradition at my High School for all Sr. girls to have boas for their Sr. pictures for the year book. In high school I was involved in chorus and drama. Gotta love a boa!

By 1989 I had been married for 8 years and had two girls, 1985 and 1988. I had graduated with a masters degree in Speech Pathology and was working part time in a public school. At 28, it was a a challenge adjusting to parenting two small children, starting a new career, and serving a church with my husband. It was at the same time rewarding with activities in social clubs and community theater.

In 1999, at 38 I was learning lessons in patience as we entered the decade of parenting teens, moved to our 6th church and began a new adventure in my career serving children with hearing loss.

It is 2009, at 48 I am enjoying life in all aspects. A few lessons I have learned in this last decade:

• Think of each day as a do over.


• There is enough attention for everyone.


• Once a parent always a parent even when children are in their 20's.


• Yoga makes you bendy.


• It's easier to gain than to lose.


• It's always a blessing to tell someone what they mean to you.


• You will be happier if you learn to let go, give up control.


• Abundance will come to you when you encourage another.


• Reading expands your mind.


• If you need trifocals, get a cool pair of glasses and smile.


• As long as you can still remember your own name, memory loss is okay.


• Technology could be hazardous to your health.


• Call your parents often.


• Learn something new every year.


• Forgiveness is easier than resentment.


• It is okay to say nothing.


• Expect miracles.


• You have to work at living abundantly!

Abundance is....being grateful every day!

A Reflection On Our Words.

Life in the month of August is a "get back to" month. For my friends AnneMarie and Roban it is "get back to" teaching school. For Julie it is "get back to" a routine after a summer of traveling the country. For Peggy and me, it is "get back to" blogging and helping in the fundraising for our favorite charities. As a result of our "get back to" days, our reflections are short, sweet but a powerful WORD about how 5 friends from across the world are together still reflecting on our Words.

AnneMarie thinks: Discipline is setting your eyes on the prize, recognizing what you need to do to get there and removing all obstacles that will prevent you from finishing the race.

Peggy thinks: Striving for BALANCE between complexity and simplicity, constantly evaluating and re-evaluating the trade-offs I have to make to get there.

Roban thinks: I have found that JOY is all around me.... It just takes opening my eyes and heart to really see it and feel it!

Julie thinks: Excellence: A process and a discipline, not a destination.

In August, I recognized the ABUNDANCE of seeing old friends, listening to great music, feeling the cool mountain air, and having a real time phone conversation with a good mate!

This photo was taken this weekend at a winery in Oklahoma. The Plymouth Valley Cellars Winery hosted a fundraiser for Hearts for Hearing where I work and enjoy a passion for working with children with hearing loss. The winery is nearing the last day of harvest, we were lucky to see these sweet babes on the vine. Oh, and the wine is excellent I might add, I know from experience!

Rhythm of the Rain

I've always loved rainstorms. I love the thunder and the lightning. I love the sound of the rain. In Oklahoma we get our share of rain in the late spring. August has been unusual, we have had much rain.


When I was a little girl I always wanted to run out in the rain and play in it. Of course, with lightning around mommies do not let little girls play in the rain. Since then I have let rain curtail many a plan to do something fun outside. Getting wet was not an activity that I was willing to experience. In fact, I have been a maniac about keeping my umbrella with me so that I would be prepared.


I recently have begun to faithfully get up early and walk. My husband walks with me most mornings at five AM. He is a runner and unless there is lightning or extremely cold weather, he has not let the rain stop him from getting in that run. Over the last several weeks we have had a threat of rain early in the morning. The lightning would be only miles away with no drops of rain falling. We managed to get in our walk without a drop falling on our heads.


I learned a new lesson on vacation in Red River. I actually learned many lessons that you will read about over the next weeks. But on this vacation we committed to getting up early and walking. In the mountains, the storm clouds do not necessarily roll in to warn you of the rain. It may look relatively clear and suddenly begin raining. This happened one morning. During our walk, it suddenly began raining. It was a light rain and we settled in and continued our walk. We smiled and enjoyed the rain. Unlike the wicked witch of the west I did not melt!


Songwriters have really made their mark with lyrics about the rain. Rain for some denotes pain, sadness, bad times, heartache. Rain gets a bad name! I think we can learn to enjoy the rainy days of our lives if we relax, breathe through it and know that the rain will not last forever. It will pass and we will have experienced something profound. Lessons can be learned from the rain.


I have embedded a youtube video with 10 minutes of rain. Listen as you will and maybe meditate on your rain experience and think about how rain can lead to your own lessons learned.

Also for your enjoyment I have included many songs with a rain theme on my playlist.






Abundance is....Hearing laughter in the rain!

Come From The Heart

This is a most talented songwriter/singer Richard Leigh. You might know him most for writing the song "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue" made famous by Crystal Gayle. See his website for other songs that have been sung by countless artists.

He was one of the artists at the recent Red River music festival. The lyrics of his songs are so heart felt. He is really an amazing artist. I was touched by his lyrics and his performance.

My favorite song of his is "Come From The Heart". Kathy Mattea recorded this song in the 80's.

When I was a young girl, my daddy told me,

a lesson he learned, it was a long time ago.

If you want someone to hold on to,

your gonna have to learn to let go.

You have to sing, like you don't need the money,

Love, like you'll never get hurt,

You gotta dance, like nobody's watching,

It's got to come from the heart if you want it to work.

Now here is the one thing, I keep forgetting,

When everything is falling apart,

In life there's enough, no I need to remember,

There's such a thing as trying to hard.

You have to sing, like you don't need the money,

Love, like you'll never get hurt,

You gotta dance, like nobody's watching,

It's got to come from the heart if you want it to work.

These are beautiful words and if you want to hear the song here is the link to Kathy's Youtube

performance. There is no embedding allowed on this song.

What a risk it takes to really love, to grow relationships, to step outside of ourselves and create an abundant life. How many times in my life have I let fear hold me back from something really beautiful. As I have sought to have abundance in my life, I have really tried to let go of my fears. The September issue of Oprah magazine has some great articles about empowerment and letting go of fear. The front cover says "You're Stronger Than You Know, How to tap into your true power and really make it work for you. What a challenge this is. Putting my picture on this blog was for me "dancing like nobody's watching." In my relationships I am loving like I won't get hurt. I am expecting not to get hurt and I am getting outside of myself and initiating communication that is the most authentic I can be.

What is your fear and what is holding you back?

Abundance is...letting go and reaping all of the benefits!

Oh! My EasyShare isn't just an automatic!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

I have been so envious of all my blog friends with the great cameras that take the most amazing photos. I have been using a Kodak EasyShare Z730 and basically turning it on auto and shooting. Last week during our road trip I began messing with the camera and discovered a few new to me settings. I was happy with the way this little camera performed.

So, today for Photo Story Friday, I have a few photos to submit. No chuckling allowed! :)

This is Jed Zimmerman and Mike Addington, singer/songwriter musicians who performed last week at the Red River Music Festival. In this photo they are performing in "The Lodge" during an early morning breakfast concert. This is a very small bar with only a few tables. The full sun was shining in the window and my cool "backlight" setting completely blocked out the rays.

This is most obviously the "self-portrait" setting. I took this while riding in a moving car. You might notice how my life of abundance has had its effect, this would be one of the few personal photos I have shared.

Abundance is...47 and still learning something new every day!