zena musings

Sacred Life Sunday: Mother's Day

I asked my Mom what she wanted to do for Mother's Day, and she requested dinner at my house. I fixed spiced chicken thighs with barley, asparagus and for dessert fresh strawberries drizzled in balsamic vinegar. I never thought I'd move back to my hometown, but I'm glad I did for many reasons, mostly because I LOVE living near my parents and getting to share more of life with them.

Happy Mother's Day to ALL mothers! I believe if you're a woman, and in some cases a man, you mother something or someone -- dogs, the planet, your creative projects, other humans. Here's to sacred mother love.

Sacred Life Sunday: Writer's Block

Never have I had less of a desire or ability to write. The word well is dry, has been for some time. Occasionally I'm able to scrape together a few phrases, but it feels like the slow burn of exercise after sitting on my ass for months. My effort is leaden, strained and I'm easily winded. Unless I keep at it, I'm afraid I'll never regain my strength or improve.

I have also neglected adding new Sacred Life Sunday participants to the current list. Please accept my apologies. I promise to catch up this week!

Blessings to all...

Sacred Life Sunday: Life Is Full of Itself

Lately my life has welcomed and experienced (some grudgingly) . . .

Sisters of the heart and soul. Laughter. The ocean. Rain. Sandy feet. Salt water taffy. Flirting. My sweet dogs. Candles. Questions. Listening. The SUN! The Tudors. Prayer. Expectations and disappointment. Tenderness. Fear. A friend's death. Mystery. Daffodils. Community. Yahtzee. Long roadtrips with David Sedaris and Anne Lamott books on tape. Courage. Forgiveness. Grace (thank you, Mike). Dog farts. Lust. Faith.

Sacred Life Sunday: Rebirth

I am grateful for this life. For resurrections, rebirth and healing. For new pink shoes, Easter dinner with my parents and the Emdes, tired dogs, my brother, March Madness, Sister Cathy's voice, and my upcoming Spring Break road trip to visit Sister Kathryn and Lisa and a beautiful woman in Portland. For laughter and soft skin and rainy Sunday afternoons and really sweet spine-tingling good kissing. (Yessiree, for the first time since 1994 I am officially dating! My year-long sabbatical is over. I made it 11 months and one week. Yay me!)

For more Sacred Life Sunday participants, click here. (I'll be updating the list this week.)

(Photo by suika*2008.)

Sacred Life Sunday: Goodness

   

This morning I made breakfast for my parents, my brother Bob and his girlfriend Monique. Huevos rancheros and real bakery bread from Great Harvest Bread. I love my family. I also love hot buttered toast with jam.

I'm in an extended blogging slump. Just not much into it right now. Where my creative focus and passions are going (in no particular order)...

• My 365 Days self-portrait project on Flickr
• Enjoying Lucy and Silas (as I write this, Lucy is sleeping beside me snoring like a sailor)
• Savoring life as my days unfold
• Filling orders and creating new candles
• Training for July's triathlon
• Flirting, exploring, connecting and emailing with women I'm interested in flirting, exploring, connecting and emailing with :)
• College basketball's March Madness -- good luck to WSU, Stanford, UCLA and of course my beloved Gonzaga -- GO ZAGS!

For more sacred lives, click here.

Sacred Life Sunday: Dog Is God Spelled Backwards

Yesterday was one year since my sweet boy Elliott passed. I thought yesterday might be extra hard, but honestly it felt like every other day since last March 1st. I miss him. I love him with all my heart and soul. I talk to him. I feel his presence. I wish he was still in his body. My grief doesn't hurt as much as it did, but it still hurts a lot. I am beyond blessed to have had him nearly 17 years! I wish death didn't happen. I hope when my body dies we're together again. That is my prayer and my belief.

My intention for today's post was to take a shot of my living room altar with a framed picture of Elliott and the candle I'm burning to honor him. But Elliott never liked having his picture taken unless treats, trickery and/or restraints were involved!

So instead, Silas got suckered into model duty. I love my babies. Whether they're still in their bodies or not, they're my babies forever.

Elliott, I know you think it's funny that Silas is getting kissed rather than you! Silly punkinhead fuzzy bear. I love you.

For more sacred lives, click here.

Sacred Life Sunday: Listening

Sometimes I pull a Tarot card or an angel card to see what message or guidance the Universe has for me. This week I pulled The Star:

You are entering a blessed time of new hope and its best companion: fulfillment. You will be awash with inspiration, and the best news is that your sense that all will be more than well is not simply wishful thinking -- it's the kind of wishful thinking that will materialize. You will feel more energized than you have for some time, will enjoy the magical simplicity of life: nature, the stars at night, the dew on flowers, the sweet smell of new blossoms, the musical calls of birds, the beauty of an eggshell-blue sky after rain, the operatic drama of an orange and scarlet sunset. Nature will make your soul sing. This time can occur after you have been tested in some way by the Universe: allow yourself to revel in this time of rebirth and joy. Delight in life -- it is as the Universe intended it to be for you.

All I have to say is, YAY! The message feels right on. For more sacred lives, click here.

Sacred Life Sunday: My Touchstone

A difficult day. I pulled out this stone as a reminder that Spirit is my source, my strength, my touchstone. This truth is the one permanent, unwavering, neverchanging stability in life.

For more sacred lives, click here.

Sacred Life Sunday: Puppy Love

My workerbee Kaitlyn showed up today with her new puppy Gemma. Sweet 3 months-old Gemma, who wanted to be held and cuddled and carried at all times. My other workerbee Colleen and I were too happy to oblige! We're all in love with Gemma. Yes, productivity took a big nosedive, but my God was it wonderful. So wonderful that I forgot the significance of today until just a little while ago.

One year ago today my now ex-husband announced our marriage was over. Before today I was anxious today might be emotional or difficult, but it was perfectly fine. In fact, today was terrific!

It's been an emotional rollercoaster this last year but the true blue fact is my life is way better than it was a year ago. I live in the house of my dreams, I'm closer to my parents, I have more friends and love and support than ever before, I'm totally free to pursue my heart's desires without compromise or explanation, my business is thriving, there is ZERO stress in my home, I'm beginning to flirt -- wheeee! (no involvements until my 1-year relationship sabbatical ends 4/14) . . . and I got puppy kisses today! PUPPY KISSES!

Life is good when I focus on the good.
Life is great when I sink into God's lap and trust.

For more Sacred Life Sunday participants, click here.

Sacred Life Sunday: Joy

There is joy
in all:
in the hair I brush each morning,
in the Cannon towel, newly washed,
that I rub my body with each morning,
in the chapel of eggs I cook
each morning,
in the outcry from the kettle
that heats my coffee
each morning,
in the spoon and the chair
that cry "hello there, Anne"
each morning,
in the godhead of the table
that I set my silver, plate, cup upon
each morning.

All this is God,
right here in my pea-green house
each morning
and I mean,
though often forget,
to give thanks,
to faint down by the kitchen table
in a prayer of rejoicing
as the holy birds at the kitchen window
peck into their marriage of seeds.

So while I think of it,
let me paint a thank-you on my palm
for this God, this laughter of the morning,
lest it go unspoken.

The Joy that isn't shared, I've heard,
dies young.

~Anne Sexton

Some of my recent joys:

• Taking the above photo of my tummy with a towel wrapped around my waist after getting out of the shower this morning (part of my 365 Days project on Flickr)
• Chasing Lucy in the snow
• Laying in a sunbeam with Silas
• Getting out of my own way by honestly sharing my struggles with friends and getting love, support and hugs (not surprisingly I've felt heaps better and lighter ever since)
• Fresh squeezed orange juice at breakfast
• Feeling single -- makes me feel really good!
• Cheering for the Gonzaga women's basketball team
• Today's bright blue sky
• Hot rice
• Filling orders
• Your comments

What are some of your recent joys?

See other Sacred Life Sunday participants here.