Monthly Archives: December 2011

Puzzle Perfect

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It was my first “grown up” two-week vacation, and I was staying with my very best friend. In London. It was the first time my travel required a passport! My flight was scheduled for Sept 12, 2001, and for obvious reasons, my whole itinerary was pushed back two weeks. But I did go, and I wouldn’t trade that trip for anything. It was the first time I’d seen my sister-friend in a few years, and we made the most it. 

Proper English tea. A weekend in Paris. Cheese and wine in a French museum followed by the most amazing Monet. The first time I’ve been moved to tears by
art. A beyond-words lovely day in Bath (no small thing for a Jane Austen fan). We had SUCH an adventure. So many new experiences. So much time together, celebrating
the moment and imprinting the memories.
~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~
For several summers, I’ve been part of my friend’s hot air balloon crew. This year, he started teaching me to fly. No one in this season of my life knows I’ve wanted to fly since I was 6 years old. Growing up, I dreamed of being a Navy pilot. I wanted so badly to fly aircraft off carriers. My junior year of high school, I started gathering the requisite recommendations for Annapolis. That summer, several family circumstances shifted, and I readjusted my college/career plans.
These many years later, to be learning to fly … I’m not sure there are words.
 ~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~>~<~
I’m certain Andrea didn’t know why that holiday and hot air balloons are so meaningful to me when she picked out a seemingly innocent Christmas present. It’s really not important. What matters is she listens between the words found a gift with meaning across several seasons of my life. She must have bribed the keeper of my sentimental bits. In any case, I couldn’t have picked anything more perfect.


My heart is full.  

Ode to popcorn and marshmellows

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O popcorn ball, oh popcorn ball,
you are so very tasty.
In winter time the corn is popped,
The bowl it’s filled up, it’s topped.
O popcorn ball, oh popcorn ball,
you are so very tasty.


Oh popcorn ball, oh popcorn ball,
You are a treat most loved.
Marshmallows melted down just right.
Such a tempting sight. Delight!
Oh popcorn ball, oh popcorn ball,
You are a treat most loved!

Oh popcorn ball, oh popcorn ball,
First batch wasn’t big enough
Too bad, but other stuff
Got in the way … gee, that’s rough.
Oh popcorn ball, oh popcorn ball,
Another batch I’ll make tomorrow.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year …

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Truly.  I love the Christmas season.

I love the twinkle of lights, the comforting smell of home made cookies, cinnamon and fresh-cut tree, and the tradition of cozy evenings tucked up with family, quoting our favorite Christmas movies like The Christmas Story, White Christmas, the Grinch, and all the other seasonal staples.

I love that shopping is sanctioned. But mostly, I love that giving, in whatever price range, is not viewed as gratuitous extravagance. Speaking of, I’m grateful for the ultimate gift Christ paid on the cross. A marvelous gift indeed.

On the flip side, patience, in the face of presents, is not a virtue. Giving, not getting.

I suck at waiting until a specific day to give said gifts. Which is why Christmas lasts all December in my world. Not so friendly to my pocket book, but, that’s why we work hard, right? I do my part to support the local economy.

Last weekend, my family and I went exploring (shopping trip with no particular destination), and found the Christmas Barn in Shedd. It’s literally a barn–stuffed to the rafters with fun, creative decorations like those in the pictures.

Yes, I did purchase a few things. Yes, those gifts have already been given, loved, and are now on display for enjoyment this year.

One of my favorite pieces of decoration is in the photo to the left. A Styrofoam ball, covered with scraps of sheet music, in a classic sorbet dish. The dish was $5, but I’m sure you could find it less expensive elsewhere. A candy dish could do just as well. Styrofoam ball, what, $1? Old sheet music could be found at nearly any garage sale or flea market. Cheap (but not tacky!), easy (and glue is involved, how great is that?) done.

Where do you find holiday inspiration?

 

Shirk-um-stances Rerun

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Last week, I noticed the iris on the north end of the house is trying to bloom.  In December. I mused about boundaries, limiting influences, and living out one’s assigned purpose. Here are my first take-away nuggets:

ignore the circumstances—do what you do
The iris is seemingly shirking its circumstances. It’s not allowing boundaries (the blooming season) imposed by some outside force (time of year/weather) to shift its focus from its core function: to bloom. It might not be quite the right time, but that iris is ready! And in the meantime, it’s producing a little unexpected joy.

change is not an option
In some fashion or another, and whether we choose to accept it or not, we must change daily. On the micro level, our skin cells regenerate. Hair grows. We age. Life happens. If we only operate within pre-defined boundaries, we risk missing great adventure.

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Lately I’ve been working on our organizational 3 year strategic plan. This exercise has forced me to be more objective and view it from the outside– the good, bad, and ugly—and be honest about what can be changed and what must be managed.  And I’m seeing two trends. We have some areas that, as the proverbial quip goes, “aren’t broken.” Yet I’m also seeing huge areas of opportunity. And in those areas of opportunity, we need to accelerate embracing the new way of doing things, even as we design on the fly. We need to start blooming now, or we may just miss it altogether.

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It’s unexpected to see this determined little iris in the midst of Christmas cheer. But just because something is unexpected, doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be celebrated.


Circumstances. Shirk-um-stances.

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The iris on the north end of the house is a reblooming iris: normally it blooms once in early spring and once in later summer.

Today is the first of December. We’ve had several nights already with temperatures hovering around freezing. I’m pretty sure this flower missed the memo that it’s now … winter. Or, maybe it simply doesn’t care about the calendar. Either way, it’s defiantly blooming when conventional wisdom says it shouldn’t.

An iris blooms, that its’ job.

And this particular iris obviously takes it’s job seriously. So seriously, it forgot to care about when. Boundaries can be useful, but they can also limit capacity. Because it forgot to watch the weather forecast, it will bloom three times this year instead of only two. When I took this picture, it struck me how productive I could be if I were a little more iris-like. If I were to pay less attention to circumstances and just go do what I’m good at doing … I could have a longer Done list.

This morning’s observation also has me thinking about how (and why) I sometimes let circumstances dictate the quantity of my accomplishment. I haven’t come to any actionable conclusions … yet …but I’m definitely going to keep mulling this over!