"A" pedestrian walkover in Michigan

Have you ever heard of 

the SKETCHBOOK PROJECT?

Neither had I until this past week.

They just started a new project called

THINGS FOUND... THE LETTER A. 

I'm participating in this one...

and thinking about another...

or 3.

Who says?

Who says acorns have to be brown

and lampshades are supposed to be white?

Who says chairs are only for sitting ...

and branches belong on trees?

Not I!

insatiable desires

Witnessing Wrists

Dear Sisters, Associates, Volunteer Corps members, Companions, Coworkers and Friends in Mercy: I was privileged to be able to attend our most recent Chapter experience in Chicago. The moments were filled with new connections and rich conversations, out of which grew a phrase that was repeated over and over again throughout the numerous configurations in which we assembled: communal witness. It seemed to capture the Spirit of many and continued to call me to something more, but what? On the final day of our gathering, I shared an idea for an experiment in which my base group agreed to participate. I have dubbed it Witnessing Wrists and it works like this:

I’ve designed and purchased silicone bracelets - like the ones everyone is wearing these days to call attention to different causes! My design is royal blue in color, debossed in white with a Mercy cross in a circular shape at the center, and the words MERCY and MISERICORDIA on either side. The experiment is to wear the bracelet for 365 days, and keep a running tally of how many times you are invited to talk about Mercy when someone notices it on your wrist. That’s it!

Because it was more economical to buy in bulk and the company was running an offer for 100 free with the purchase of 100, I have 200 bracelets ready to adorn some Witnessing Wrists! Everyone in the Mercy family is invited to participate and can speak to Mercy from her/his own experience…I have 3 colleagues whom have already made claims.

If you would like to participate, all I ask is that you 1) send me a self-addressed, stamped envelope; 2) keep a tally of the inquiries made within a 365 day period; 3) email me the results of your Witnessing Wrist at the end of your experiment. I will put bracelets in the first 200 envelopes I receive and get them in the mail.

In Mercy, Sarah

VOTE for Anita's Memory!

The Quilting Gallery is holding a weekly quilting contest

and I have entered one of my quilts.

Help me to win a $25.00 gift certificate

from The Fat Quarter Shop by voting for my quilt,

Anita's Memory,

here!

That time of year ...

It's that time of year once more!

When I prepare a family favorite ...

And gaze upon two, 

new,

Jesus-Children!

recycling old books

I had 8 of these MacMillan Pocket Classics that belonged to my Grandmother and Great Aunt. They were filled with penciled notes and comments from their high school days. I decided to recycle them in order to make them useable and gift them to each of my siblings. I removed the pages from each of the books to use for other ideas. Then I followed Cathi's tutorial to put a pocket on the inside of each cover. I then visited Dollar Tree and found some decorative pads of paper ... some with pockets and others with calendars ... and some cute little mini pens to finish each set.

creating with pages from an old book

I began with an empty salad dressing bottle,

pages from an old book,

and ModPodge (MP).

I covered the bottle with MP using a paintbrush, placed book pages over the wet MP,

and covered the pages with more MP.

I continued to place pages on the bottle,

twisting, turning and overlapping them until I was satisfied.

Then I covered the whole thing once more with MP and let it dry.

A black ribbon from an old pair of drawstring-waisted shorts made a cute bow.

Then I made some flowers with more pages using this tutorial,

attached them to some skewers hanging around in my kitchen drawer,

and placed them in the vase for a finished bouquet that you never have to water.

Hmmmmm, Christmas gifts?

Maybe I'll show you what I did with the cover of the book next time!

Creating ...

Recycling old magazines into picture frames and fun little vessels.

In my next life I want to be an artist ... FULL TIME!

something to be said ...

theresa, if the mind pictures words and the heart feels them, i suppose there is something to be said ... when with eyes closed you can be seen and felt with reminiscing warmth, i believe there is something to be said ... while i pray for your journey and love you from afar, i know there is something to be said ... thank you. sarah

I met Theresa, or "T.O." as we often called her, 25 years ago when she lived and journeyed alongside me as my Novice Director. We became friends in the years that followed and she walked and witnessed me through first and final vows. Yesterday morning she passed away and all I can do now is say thank you through the tears.

sitting with the Divine

can i tell you where i’ve been? what i’ve done and failed to do … can i tell you who i’ve loved? the risks involved; costs paid, the shame and the ecstasy … can you sit with me a spell? can you hold me till i can feel you? can you love me as i have loved another? can you teach me how to love you? can you rock me in your arms? can you satiate my desire? can you remind me who i’ve been, who i am and will become? can you take my hand in yours, guide me to a brand new day … tell me that you love me now more than yesterday; just as i am, no matter where i’ve been?

Remembering Dad

Last year at this time my father was quite ill and preparing to undergo a necessary surgery to restore his health. Because I was some 500 miles away and the surgery was deemed risky for his age and current health, I prepared to travel to visit him a week before he was to go into surgery. I knew I had only a couple of days to spend with him and that this could possibly be my goodbye. I wanted to leave him SOMEthing, but what? I decided to make him a card. I put a crayon in my nondominant hand and drew a picture of him with his eight children. He would be delighted with something made by hand, no matter what it looked like. I would take it with me and add a message to the inside before I saw him ...

the gatherer

I call her the gatherer.

As she walks through life

she gathers remnants of her experiences ~

some displayed with pride;

others with disappointment

Together they display her lived reality:

a bouquet of Life.

WHAT'S YOUR IDEA OF "COZY"?

This is mine!

As you can imagine by the title of my blog, I was intrigued when I stumbled upon Susan's blog a couple of years ago entitled The T-Cozy. At the time she had a marvelous little Tea Room which she has since closed, but she continues to write and show and sell things all about tea over at her blog today. Right now she is having a "Get Your Cozy On Contest" which runs through March 16th. To enter you can either make a cozy or share what "cozy" means to you.

Guess which one I chose?

Mijo, flowers and Life!

Yesterday Mijo turned 2 years old!!!

And I received these from a special group of friends!!

Today I am feeling alive with Life!

I hope you are also!

what i've learned this year ...

2009 was filled with learnings for which I am both Graced and Grateful:

• Beginnings and endings are equally difficult. • Each risk ventured results in some amount of freedom. • The “freer” I feel, the more I am able to trust. • The more I am able to trust, the safer I feel. • The safer I feel, the more I am able to risk. • Sometimes you have to act as though you’ve accomplished your goal in order to see the reality of its possibility. • I can be open and faithful to a process, even when it is uncomfortable or I disagree with a component, as long as I am able to use my voice and feel I’ve been listened to. • I don’t know how to ask for what I want or need but I am learning and practicing. • I am very hard on myself, holding myself to a high level of expectation; when I hold others to that same expectation, I am more often than not left disappointed. • When all is said and done, I am ultimately accountable to myself, who is the harshest critic I know. • I need to embrace and accept where I am in the moment, with all of the pain and discomfort that may entail, instead of wishing the past away and the future already here. • Feelings are just feelings, not judgments, and they do not make me right or wrong, good or bad. • Being overly concerned with others’ feelings and reactions can sometimes paralyze me from making decisions that choose life. • Intention alone does not equal effort. Good or healthy intentions cannot be successfully realized without honest will and desire. • Recognition is the first hurdle of the relay toward wholeness. • Behaviors give messages and have a purpose. • I often find it difficult and uncomfortable to accept the giftedness others see in me. • ART and CREATING are self-soothing forms for me to get in touch with what I haven’t words to express: my Inner Self. • My safe place is in the arms of God, regardless of whether or not I am able to recognize that Presence. • Because of God’s Presence, I am never alone in this process we call Life, no matter where it takes me. • It is the time spent concentrating on my goodness that makes my goodness recognizable. • Recognizing the good inside is a means of recognizing God and honoring the Divine within. May 2010 be equally Graced...

one year later ...

it is difficult to believe it's been a year since last i wrote

and yet much has happened in the moments in between ...

what i am doing in this moment ...

making one of my family's FAVORITE holiday foods! we call it canasta mix and it would put Chex Mix out of commission.

putting something together for our family gift-swap on

Christmas eve ...

LOVING this little Jesus-Child ...

MISSING greatly the earthly presence of this dear angel ...

(8/1/1927 - 6/15/2009)

The silent heart ...

The silent heart is a blessing heart Because it sees the Divine in all things The silent heart is a listening heart Because it seeks always to be increased The silent heart is a peaceful heart Because it has mastered the art of forgiveness The silent heart is a restful heart Because it has learned to be at home with itself The silent heart is a selfless heart Because it knows how to be truly grateful The silent heart is a timeless heart Because it lives in the moment,

ever in touch with the eternal The silent heart is a trusting heart Because it recognizes its sustenance as Providence The silent heart is a silent heart Because it has experienced the grace of contemplation

... heart of my heart ...

can i tell you where i’ve been? what i’ve done and failed to do? can i tell you whom i have loved? the risks involved … the costs which have been paid … the shame and the ecstasy? can you sit with me awhile? can you hold me ‘til I can feel you? can you love me as I have loved another? can you teach me how to love you? can you rock me in your arms? can you satiate my desires? can you remind me who I have been? who I am and will become? can you take my hand in yours? guide me to a brand new day? tell me that you love me now more than yesterday? just as I am? no matter where I have been? because … right now … i cannot.

Grace

Grace I spread my poncho wide And beckoned my soul take rest In a piercing gaze it held me Uneasy by the queer request Silently we remained in expectation Of that which neither one knew Like a work in patient progress Before its creator is through When slowly, cautiously my heart settled And courage made present its place The tear-stained words I uttered From shame transformed into grace A grace amazing and musical Its melody comforting and known Freely, in love unconditional I knew I’d finally come home