Healing

I don't consider myself especially articulate, and this analogy will only stretch so far, but here goes.

Last June, an intensely windy thunderstorm swept through our area, causing huge amounts of damage in just a few minutes.  We lost power for more than three stifling days, and our beloved sour cherry tree suffered a split down its main trunk.

 This tree and its harvest are family touchstones--dear to me.

There was no way to bandage or hold the trunk together.  Taking the advice of a tree expert client, Len roped together branches from opposite sides of the split to minimize the strain.

We waited and hoped. 

This spring I was thrilled to see blossoms and leaves on both sides of our tree!

 The split is still there.

 We will never climb this tree again.

 But it is alive and beautiful

 And fruitful. 

We are again anticipating the harvest.

I have a wonderful life, but have been through trials, too.  I have needed (and in most cases received) healing.  Haven't we all?

I'm reflecting on the idea that healing isn't necessarily about complete wholeness.  Our cherry tree has a split that will be there for the rest of its life.  It's scabby and a little scary to look at.  The tree can't be climbed again--that would be too much strain for it.

But it is alive.  It is healthy.  It is fruitful.

Our lives can be like that.  We may not be the same after a trial, but we can still be fruitful.  We can be happy.  We can live lives of joy and beauty and peace.

God can bring good out of evil if we let him.  I'm not saying God sends all our trials (don't get me started!)--we live in a fallen world full of people who have free will.  Our cherry tree isn't fruitful because it has undergone a trial.  The healing is bringing the harvest.

Co-op Craft

On Monday I led our small co-op in creating this Tiffany style art project.  I was efficient enough to gather all the materials, but unfortunately not so with-it that I brought my camera.  Thus, there are no pictures of the process or any finished artwork besides Rebecca's.

 

 I followed the instructions on Kids and Glitter--visit there for the details.  The children drew simple designs on cardboard and glued yarn onto the outlines.  The yarn was covered with foil, then colored with permanent markers and outlined with black Sharpies.  If the cardboard is cut to the suggested 6 1/2" x 9" it can be attached to colored cardstock to frame the picture.

We followed the suggested Lenten theme, but this technique can be used to make all sorts of beautiful images.  Enjoy!

Today's Motto

From today's morning prayer:

Teach us to be loving not only in great and exceptional moments,
but above all in the ordinary events of daily life.

 This year's Christmas puzzle

Comment Change

Previously, a commenter here needed to have a Google account.  I've changed my settings so that is no longer necessary.  I'm moderating though (to keep spam out), so your comment won't show up immediately.

Anniversary Cake

For Lauren's roommate/bridesmaid's parents' 25th . . . a surprise party!

Inside:  almond cake and raspberry jam

Outside:  French buttercream with chocolate ganache

Baker's details:

• The tiers are 6", 8", and 10" in diameter.
• In previous cakes, my 8" layers have been noticeably shorter than the others.  I put in the recommended amount of batter, but it wasn't right.  This time I calculated pan volumes and scaled back the batter for the 6" and 10" pans.  I'd say the overall proportion is the best I've made.
• The Cornelli lace design is simple (learned from a Wilton yearbook ages ago):  randomly squiggle the icing without letting it cross over itself.  (That doesn't mean it's quick to do--just simple!)
• I've used the lace in color to accent cakes before, but this is only the second time I've piped it with ganache.  I love the look--sophisticated and elegant.  Last time I used it just on the side of a cake, but I love how beautiful the lace looks when it drapes over the top edge.
• Lace bonus:  the under-icing doesn't need to be perfectly smooth.  Of course, mine is . . . cough-cough.
• A and I had planned to set a picture on top, but once all the chocolate was installed, the cake really needed a pop of color.  Spray roses to the rescue!

 Before:  elegant, yes, but don't you agree it needed the roses?

The Power of Habit: A Book Rave-view

The Power of Habit:  Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business is a fantastic book!  After hearing just a smidgen of a radio interview with the author, I put myself in the library queue.

Charles Duhigg, a journalist, has written about the habits of individuals, organizations, and societies.  He explains scientific research about craving, the structure of habits, and how habits can be created or changed. 

This might sound dry, but it definitely was not.  Mr. Duhigg told story after story after story--about research subjects, anonymous individuals, and well known people and companies.  I actually considered this book a page turner.  As each vignette ended, I wanted to read the next little section.  And the next.  And the next.

Although The Power of Habit is not a self-help book, it explains enough (in the text and a short appendix) to give the reader tools for analyzing and transforming her own habits.  I'm in the process of changing one of my keystone habits right now.  The early results are good--hopefully I'll share more soon.

Advent: Love Comes Down

I love this song by Matt Maher, and it always reminds me of Advent and the Incarnation.  The chorus is so joyful:  "Isn't it beautiful?  Isn't it marvelous?"

An excerpt:

I'm searching for a king and kingdom

Here among the beggars and the weak

The broken and redeemed

I'm finding grace beyond all measure

In flesh and blood He hides his majesty

Inside of you and me

Why would a King

Do such a thing?

Isn't it beautiful?

Isn't it marvelous?

The God of the universe

He became one of us

We cry out and then

Love comes down again

Hope is found in him

Alleluia!

 

My Favorite Birthday Gift

Presented to me a few months ago by Lauren and Adam:

Our whole family is thrilled, of course.

And we were informed yesterday that it's a boy (due in May)!

Thanks for your prayers and good wishes.

Delayed Gratification

Over the past few seasons, Len and the boys have taken out some ugly bushes.  Len moved the compost pile to an easy-to-dump-into-from-the-deck location.  Most recently, he and Becca fenced in another spot and planted . . .

seedless Concord grapes!

Seven or eight years ago I read about the recently developed Thomcord, a hybrid of Thompson (seedless green) and Concord (delicious, super-grapey flavor with huge seeds) grapes.  At that point they were only available in California farmers' markets, but the article speculated that they would gradually spread nationwide.

I still haven't seen them in a grocery store, but Len found some planting vines (twigs?) on line.  If they survive our weather and deer, we could harvest our first grapes in two years.

Mary Consoles Eve

 

O Eve!

My mother, my daughter, life-giving Eve,

Do not be ashamed, do not grieve.

The former things have passed away,

Our God has brought us to a New Day.

See, I am with Child,

Through whom all will be reconciled.

O Eve! My sister, my friend,

We will rejoice together

Forever

Life without end.

— Sr Columba Guare © 2005 Sisters of the Mississippi Abbey

 

I found this image on the internet a few years ago (most recently here and here), and have never forgotten it.  It is deceptively simple, yet so beautiful and profound.

 

Created by a sister at Our Lady of the Mississippi Abbey, the picture and poem have been made into matted prints as well as greeting and Christmas cards.  My print is propped up in the family room, beautifying the space and encouraging meditation while it waits for a frame.

Thank God for Aunts

My children are blessed with some wonderful aunts.  They love my kids, pray for them, offer treats and cousin time, and accept them unconditionally.  I'm so grateful to them all.

 

Len's sister lives nearest to us, and is a champion example of aunt-awesomeness.  (When I grow up, maybe I'll be as good as she is.)  She comes over regularly (even though most of the children are too old to be baby-sat) and spends quality thought, time, and resources on gift-giving occasions.

 

For example, to celebrate Joseph's birthday, she took him out to eat (twice in one day--those teen boy appetites!) and then to a rock-climbing class.

MA bought Rebecca a Sculpey starter set and project book for her birthday.  She took her out to eat, then came home to work with the clay.  The ladies created

colorful pony-tail holders (with a button kit)

 and twisted bracelets.

 Thank you, 'sters, for your gifts of time and love.

Oh, Good Saint Joseph . . .

image source

 

A few Lents ago I began praying daily for particular pairs of fathers and sons.  Many of the boys were entering the adolescent stage of questioning or resisting God and religion.  Only a few of the dads are men of faith.  My original three sets have expanded to include seven father/son groups!

 

I've prayed a separate Hail Mary for each pair nearly every day until recently.  I wanted a more masculine and intentional prayer; it's not always easy to stay focused through the Hail Marys.  Looking to St. Joseph, I've been developing a request that works better for me.  The first line brings up an image that stays with me as I focus and pray.  Here's the current version of my new prayer:

Oh, good Saint Joseph, put your arms around the shoulders of ______ and ______; turn them towards your son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.  As the head of the Holy Family, inspire and empower ______ to be a good and holy leader of his family.  As the foster father of Jesus, inspire ______ to open his heart in obedience and love to his father and God our Father.  Amen.