Rain

The rain patters down in that perfect early morning way, covering each blade of grass, each glistening rock, each blooming flower. The sound of the rain lulls me, tempts me back into bed, into a book, into my journal - something quiet and introspective. I love the rain, I love what it does for the colors of fall, what it does in my heart, calming me, soothing me, bedding down for a season my should-dos, hectic days, scurry here and there mornings. As long as the rain lasts, I will relax, be calm and rested. Lovely!

September 11

What a day to remember! This is the Kennedy assassination of our generation - we will all remember where we were when it happened. I was in my kitchen, making pancakes with friends, one of whom was to return to France that very day. We watched speechless as those terrible events unfolded.

I'm not exactly a screaming patriot. I'm not someone who will defend the U.S. even when she's wrong. I can even understand, to a certain extent, why those terrorists did what they did. But I thank God for the protection our country has had, the peace we've experienced for so many years, for the safety in which we live our lives. 

As another election approaches, I know who I'll vote for.  I have lots of reasons for this. No matter who is elected, let's each live our lives with integrity, honesty, hard work, and all the things that have made America a safe, powerful, politically free country, the first place refugees of war, oppression, danger come to. Sanctuary for the world. No matter where we're from, who we follow, or what we believe, let's each be a sanctuary of peace and love to all we know. 

Happy Birthday...

...to me! Epiphany last weekend that I am quite self-critical, so this year I am going to only focus on what I did accomplish this year. 

took a trip to Jordan and spent lots of time with lovely family there!

sewed beautiful curtains for my sun room

went on several lovely hikes and bike rides

had tons of fun at a family reunion

quit my job

made a couple of new friends

made a giant leap forward in how I trust God

threw a couple of fun parties

did not buy very many new summer clothes :-)

made some progress in my house management

started landscaping my yard

Pretty good list just off the top of my head! Happy birthday to me and all the other September birthdays out there. Make your own list of what you've done this year. It will make you smile!

No pity

I just have to say that the worst thing about these damn migraines is the way it wears me out emotionally. Not only do I wake up with an idea of what I'd like to get done in a day, and then can't - after these several weeks of frequent painful days, my heart becomes so fragile that the slightest thing sets me crying. Yuck! Despite my lovely friends, my great companions, I feel lonely, falsely abandoned, as if I have no one in the world. 

Sidebar: Granted, three of my best friends are many miles away (Julie, Naomi, Kimberly). And...this week I have the additional sadness of having recently said goodbye to some new but deeply felt relationships (Jessica, Tara, Wiwin, Brandi) - being reminded of their distance. I guess I do have some reason to cry today.

But have no pity on me! Life is too short for that kind of nonsense. The truth of the matter is that my pain is a small thing compared to that of so many other people. It doesn't negate it, but certainly puts it in a good perspective. I know this sad self is temporary, that tomorrow I'll wake up and feel much better - physically and emotionally. I'm not writing for pity - I'm writing to vent. Isn't that the purpose of this forum? To be honest and transparent even when what I write and what I want might seem contradictory? (I.e., why write that I'm having lots of migraines unless I do want pity, when pity is not what I want? If pity is not what I want, why write the migraine part? Hm, I have no answer to that...today.) 

Anywho, there it is. This is where I am today - feeling sad for not very significant reasons. And writing this for no reason at all, except to put it out there. Take no pity on me, but smile if you read this and it touches you somewhere. Then be encouraged - the sun is shining, fall is coming with its cool days and beautiful colors, and somewhere, even if far away, we're loved. That I know.

Gray day

I woke up this morning to gray skies, low clouds, and decidedly cooler temperatures. Feels lovely, actually! Fall is coming! 

All our company has left, it's back to our usual routine, and that's just fine with me. Oh, I have had a wonderful time, though, with Wiwin - an old friend from Indonesia who was just here visiting for three weeks. We hiked, talked, laughed, shared our hearts, and just had an amazing time. I'd forgotten what it's like relating so closely with someone from my home country! There's something just a little different - brings out the Indonesian in me. :-)

So back to life. Time to clean the kitchen (which has been sadly neglected...again), catch-up on some laundry, housework, mail, etc. I'm looking forward to it, though. September and October are 2 months of non-scheduled time...finally. Days and days with not much going on. Oh, an occasional event here and there, but mostly just time for me to be at home and work on some projects, both big and small. Yes! Feels very good. 

On with my day, and this next season, both literally and figuratively in my life. The summer is over, traveling, whirlwind time management is over. On to the calmer, more peaceful pace of autumn. We'll see what that means in a month's time. Meanwhile, the kitchen calls!