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    Two weeks ago I decided to free my lilac bush from the encroaching laurel branches. I took my large shears and started to lop off sections. I caused a robin to make a racket. he seemed to be chiding me. I continued. After a while I spied a tiny nest in a cross section of limbs. I knew I had unveiled this tiny sanctuary.

   Glued to my kitchen window I've observed a family. Their home seems less than secure but they are ever present and fulfill their duty. As the babies have grown the two parents are constantly feeding the brood. The two fledglings are getting big enough to shake the nest. I worried about them when the rain pelted the branches all night. To my relief they were still there in the morning. What a great example they are to me. Family is vital to God. He gives us many examples. The parents are needed together to feed their children. Even though only 40% of robin babies make it they keep to the plan. Build your nest. Hide your young from danger. Keep them warm. Mother and Father both do their part. Help your babies learn to fly.

     It seems risky and fool hardy sometimes. Not all parents survive together. Many babies struggle. But, the plan is good. I am comforted by this fine nature lesson.

 I write on Fridays with a large group who inspire me. Only five minutes and without much thought to perfection. I write, prompted by one word that sends my thoughts to the keyboard and hopefully make sense.

Picturing My Word

     It is April and this month I'm playing with photography to show my relationship with My One Little Word, Ribbistrate. This certainly is a word that can be pictured better than it can be explained. For a definition click here. For some weeks I shot pictures of my grandkids jumping on my mini trampoline. Using the slow motion setting I filmed them ribbistrating with abandon. When I played back the video I used a screen shot to catch them in mid-air.

               Making my word visible included seeing others ribbistrating around me. Online, in movies, at events, even in small groups I became more aware of the feeling and physical demonstration of My One Little Word.

   
As Spring arrived I noted how nature ribbistrates with unsurpassed enthusiasm. My peony bush pushing out one inch a week, the flowers bundles at the florist all showed me how to ribbistrate.

   
 There were some lasts coming up. The last time our Relief Society Presidency met together before it dissolves was an important ribbistrating experience. These women have inspired me with their resolve to help others. Mondays have always been special because of our time together but so were the work parties and fun parties. I am a little melancholy at the project of their moving away from the island. Certainly, as summer arrives there will be more pictures to take as I see my One Little Word showing up everywhere.

Tomorrow

    There is a false faith in tomorrow. Sometimes when I lie awake at night I pray that tomorrow things will look and feel different. Or the opposite, I hope that tomorrow things will be the same. In reality, tomorrow never comes, it only exists in my hopeful mind.

         Swimming, One Day In August

by Mary Oliver

It is time now, I said,

For the deepening and quieting of the spirit

among the flux of happenings.

Something had pestered me so much

I thought my heart would break.

I mean, the mechanical part.

I went down in the afternoon

to the sea

which held me, until I grew easy.

About tomorrow, who knows anything.

Except that it will be time, again, 

for the deepening and quieting of the spirit.

 I write on Fridays with a large group who inspire me. Only five minutes and without much thought to perfection. I write, prompted by one word that sends my thoughts to the keyboard and hopefully make sense.

Relief

   Just considering the word relief is causing tension in my body. When I contemplate what brings relief I also think about what causes pain. Here is a small list.

1. Bad alignment of my neck during exercise
2. Burning my finger while cooking
3. My heart breaking over a bad relationship
4. Walking too long on arthritic knees
5. Sitting too long at my computer (LOL)

   So if this list is pain then what would a list of relief look like?

1. A massage from my kind husband
2. Lavender essential oil on my burn
3. Hope that change will improve my relationship
4. Resting those knees
5. Finishing this post (LOL)

   I belong to a Relief Society and as a women's organization we desire to bring relief to those we serve. Sometimes that means doing complicated things but most often it means a touch, a phone call, a smile, or a meal. I feel honored and relieved that these women serve well and without much thought to who knows of their service.

Sharing Art

    This year has brought so many firsts to my life. My first online art class. my first art show, and now my first chance to teach what I know, the limited amount that I know, to others. Courage to experiment was the theme I picked up among these students. No words of comparison were heard by my ear.

   This was not a project where everyone copied the teacher. This was a process class. Every piece was different and reflected individual thought. I loved that!

     Many new words circulated, such as gel medium, integration, texture, and heat tool. I learned tons about giving instructions and guiding towards the next step on their artwork.

    What focus I had to have to roam around to see where everyone was and what they possibly needed next.

   Mistakes were made but solutions were handy. Mixed Media offers a wide array of opportunities. Opportunities to see and feel with sensory eyes. I like the opportunity it offers me to find meaning and purpose for the simple things in my life. Bravo ladies and kind gentleman!

Good

    While reading Psalms I encountered a scripture.
        "They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy, there is none that doeth good, no. not one." Psalms 14:3
        It was on a day when I just was not feeling good enough. The scripture pricked me. Was God letting me know I did not measure up? I prayed for understanding. The thought came very clearly. It is not about you. It is about Jesus. He is the only one good enough. He is the only one whose good is enough to make me acceptable before my Heavenly Father. Look to him.

   I share the belief that Jesus was most likely born in the Spring around Passover time. All the important events of his life happened during Passover. If this is his birthday week, the week of his Crucifixion, and the week of his Resurrection then truly this is a good week.