November 6-- In Tears

In youth we learn; in age we understand.  --Marie Von Ebner Eschenbach

   

    I am embarrassed to be a U.S. citizen. 

        Leta

November 5--VOTE!!!

Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself. 
--George Bernard Shaw

    Well, the big day for the U.S. is here. Election Day.

    What kind of country are we creating? One based on revenge, greed, injustice, and discrimination or one based on freedom, opportunity and care for all? 

    We can do better!

        Leta

November 4--We Have Had Some Help Along the Way

Sometimes the worst thing that happens to you, the thing you think you can't survive... it's the thing that makes you better than you used to be. 
--Jennifer Weiner

    A couple days ago I put together several "puzzle pieces" of my life that have happened in the past couple of years. The assembly finally made a very clear picture of why this time has been one of great angst, grief, and disappointment. Seeing that completed picture, my first mental exclamation was "no wonder I was depressed!!!" I don't know if all this is making me better than I used to be--the jury is still out on that one!

    In "Every Day Spirit" on November 2, Mary Davis writes about how every person we have known who has passed on has changed our lives in some way. She offers these thanksgivings to those who have departed:

• Thank you to our parents, who gave us life, who loved us the best they knew how and taught us the lessons we needed most;
• Thank you to our children, gone too soon, who broke our hearts by their absence, only to transform us into something new, richer and deeper for having shared the beauty of their love;
• Thank you to our spouses, the one who walked with us, the one who left first, the soul mate who lives in our hearts;
• Thank you to our friends, who were companions on the road of life, who supported us through the joy and sorrows; 
• Thank you to our ancestors, who braved the challenges of their lives so they might pass on a better way of life for us;
• Thank you to the brave men and women who gave their lives willingly in protection of our beliefs and freedoms;
• Thank you to our teachers, guides and mentors who expanded us and enlightened us with their wisdom. 

    So many folks have touched us with love. Bless them all!

        Leta

November 3--Sewn with Love

Pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can walk with love and reverence.  --Henry David Thoreau

    Many decades ago, when I was still single, I created a pattern and sewed a Christmas stocking for myself. Being quite the lover of Christmas back then, I made it big so that it could hold a lot of goodies. When I got married, I made my husband a stocking of the same size. Then we had kids, and I made a stocking for each of them. Going through the stockings was traditionally our first Christmas morning "opening." I acquired a daughter-in-law and made her one of the stockings. I made one for grandson Luca's first Christmas. As of yesterday, new grandson Remy has his own stocking as the newest member of the family. It is pictured below. 

    Choosing the fabric is part of the fun. I have to go with "I'll know it when I see it." I looked at the fabric store a couple of different times for the "right" Remy fabric, and finally settled on the avocado snowmen and Santas because we are an avocado-loving family. That was one of the first "real" foods the parents fed Luca, and I'm sure such will be the same with Remy.  

    Grateful for creativity!

        Leta

The name is embroidery, which 
my mother taught me many
decades ago. 

November 2--No Quitting

Never give up on yourself. Then you will never give up on others. 
--Pema Chodron

    I've already enjoyed a 30-lap swim this morning. Going to the YMCA was an adventure because they are resurfacing the parking lot and much of it was blocked off. Parking was chaotic. So I parked on the street near a "No Parking Any Time" sign. 

    I'm thinking of blessings this morning, maybe because we have arrived at Thanksgiving month. I've been reminding myself upon waking and settling toward sleep to review five things I am grateful for. I try to do uncommon as well as more common things like health, family and friends. Here are some:

• The sewer system
• Rain
• A working furnace and air conditioner
• New dryer
• Our dog Barney
• Ability to move comfortably
• Multiple pool options for lap swimming
• Creativity
• A hard freeze 
• Pickleball
• My sewing machine and the know-how to use it
• Ability to read
• Right to vote
• Our neighbors

    My mind can run off into terrifying territory. Making these lists pulls my attention back to where I want it to be. 

    Be blessed this Saturday!

        Leta

Ain't he a cutie!?!?!

November 1--Growth

We accept the love we think we deserve.  --Stephen Chbosky

    November's theme in "Daily Love" is growth. 

    We could rewrite the quote as "we accept the ________ we think we deserve," and fill in the blank. Abundance? Abuse? Opportunity? Health? Inspiration? Job?

    Today I am grateful for puddles and ice cream. There is a window in the woman cave that looks out on our backyard garden. On Wednesday, we received much-needed rain that created puddles under the deck outside my window. Puddles make me so happy. More rain is predicted for this weekend and more puddles will make me even happier. 

    My "bestest niece ever" sent me, her "bestest aunt ever," a belated birthday present of six pints of Graeter's super premium ice cream. What a treat to get a surprise box of ice cream!! So far I've had the one pictured below and it is excellent. 

    Life is tasty!

        Leta

Graeter's most popular flavor--for good reason!

October 31--Do I Have To? YES!

True love is not so much a matter of romance as it is a matter of anxious concern for the well-being of one's companion.  --Gordon B. Hinckley

    In his October 30 Daily Meditation, Richard Rohr offers these thoughts on Jesus' commandment to "love our enemies:"

Is there anything happening in America today that would make you think we believe we should “love our enemies”? If Christians do not decide to finally be like Jesus, then let’s just give up on this whole Christian thing. It doesn’t mean anything! If it’s just going to church on Sunday, then we have to stop pretending we’re following Jesus, because we’re just like everybody else—we are into power and money and deceit and war. If we do not preach the gospel, if we do not begin to live the gospel now, then let’s stop pretending that we care about Jesus or about following Jesus.

We are in a very scary position in the United States, and the whole world sees it. We are called to engage in a great mobilization, recognition, conversion, and transformation, because now the issues are too big, too real, and too right in front of us every day.

We cannot be silent any longer. Do not expect me to be silent, and I won’t expect you to be silent, either. It’s going to take courage. It’s going take each of us making little decisions in our little worlds to love, not just our neighbors, but even to pray for our enemies, to pray for our president, to pray for our country. If we can’t do these little things, what does it all mean?

    Loving is a daily choice and practice!

        Leta