Possibilities

I went to bed later than I wanted and didn't wake up rested. I hate that feeling. It is bitterly cold today and not the kind of day where you enjoy public transportation. Work is tremendously busy. I like my work. A lot. Feeling needed is a wonderful feeling to be graced with and most of the time I feel blessed (but sometimes I feel overwhelmed).

I got to work a little early this morning and grabbed some hot coffee before delving into emails. I saw him there, all bundled up in his warmest clothes, selling StreetWise and trying to make some meaningful conversation outside the coffee shop. I fished out a dollar before heading back outside. The magazine was two dollars. I immediately fished for another dollar... while he offered to hold my coffee. He.Offered.To.Hold.My.Coffee. I felt like a complete snob. He was amazed that I took the time to get out my wallet in the cold. I told him it was too cold for him to be out here. He excitedly said he was going to be featured in next week's magazine. How great, I said. Then we smiled and went our separate ways.

I thought about that exchange all morning and happened to come upon this quote...

Each day comes to me with both hands full of possibilities, and in its brief course I discern all the verities and realities of my existence; the bliss of growth, the glory of action, the spirit of beauty. ~Helen Keller

The bliss of growth,
The glory of action,
The spirit of beauty.

I think I was supposed to be right there at that moment in time. It was humbling to say the least. I needed that... more than the coffee.

Eating Local

My church has organized a Speaker Series and the first one of 2011 was Farmer Vicki, our CSA farmer. This will be our fourth year as shareholders and the third with Vicki. I'm the CSA organizer for our neighborhood drop-off site and it's a 9 month/3-season volunteer gig. Which let's be honest, easy work compared to her daily chores! And over the last three years, we've become friends. I may live in Chicago but I really enjoy the weekly farm reports.

My college roomie lives on a farm. My brother and his family farm. B's uncle farms. I appreciate knowing where my food comes from. And I love that "my farmer" is featured in this wonderful book.

New {professional} adventure!

I'm starting a new job next week! Though I went in yesterday to get my feet wet before the director left on a business trip. The organization is a great combination for me: architecture/historic preservation, community development and interfaith relations. So excited.

{San Francisco No. 18}

Matisse, The Beatles and Coco Chanel

I very much enjoy roaming the Art Institute of Chicago by myself. We have a membership pass and whenever I'm in the area, I try to squeeze in time to wander around the museum- even if it's just for 20 minutes. I don't mind the company but I'm also quite content exploring on my own. I like to people watch and overhear conversations. After an appointment on Friday, I wandered over to the museum to check out the Matisse exhibit.

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Our neighborhood church organized a "Beatles Mass" last night. I'd say it had a rather progressive theme: Celebrate peace and love - ancient Christian tradition with a Sixties spin :) Big turnout...

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When Brad and I were still dating, we saw "A Hard Day's Night" at this dumpy movie theater in Old Town. They had two movies playing that weekend: The Beatles & "Requiem for a Dream." Both films ended @ the same time. Half the movie goers were giddy and chatty... the other half looked pretty depressed.

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I rented "Coco Before Chanel" last night. It was a bit of a departure from The Beatles... haha. I liked it, didn't love it. There were two Chanel movies that came out about the same time. Rent this one- the French one. Audrey Tautou {Amelie!} stars as Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel.

appreciate {the little things in life}

{appreciate / green and gray / letterpress print}

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Do you ever listen to The Story on public radio? I went to the chiropractor this morning {sooo stiff from a weekend migraine} and couldn't walk into my apartment until I heard the end of the program.

The first piece was a real life story comparable to the movie 'Up'! ... On a dare from his work mates, Jonathan Trappe took his first balloon-powered flight two years ago, in his office chair. Hoisted by over 50 giant helium balloons, he sailed up to 14,000 feet, floating across the North Carolina countryside for over 4 hours. ...

The second story made me think about the first architecture office* I worked in while still in high school. ... Jami always had an interest in typography, and that's how she found herself visiting a small print shop in town called The Sherwood Press. The owner, Jocelyn, would change the way Jami saw her career and her life. ...

*I don't quite remember how I came to work in the office. The office was within walking distance from my house and I think I just showed up one day wondering if they would hire me as an intern; they did. Fred and Adelaide were a husband-and-wife team and were easily in their mid 70s by the time I started. They had thirteen children and welcomed me into the fold like family. I haven't worked with Fred in years but I still remember his vocational instruction and his stories. The office was tiny. I remember everyone gathered for a holiday party once and we had four religious backgrounds at the table: Catholic, Evangelical Christian, Buddhism and Hinduism. To this day, I've never had a boss treat me with as much respect as Fred did. I don't think I really appreciated it at the time.

Spring cleaning

{"to make lines and wait" - original mixed-media encaustic painting}

(15) Ways to Simplify Your Life
a repost. source.

1. Decide what's most important to you. What do you value most?
2. List your current commitments and evaluate them in light of these values. What do you want to be doing with your precious time?
3. Simplify work tasks. Focus on the essential tasks and eliminate the rest.
4. Do one thing at a time. Multi-tasking is more complicated, more stressful, and generally less productive.
5. Sort through your stuff. Pick a room or a closet or a work area and do a thorough purging. Separate into three piles: keep, give away, and trash.
6. Simply your wardrobe. Give away things you haven't worn in the past year.
7. Limit your purchases. Buy less stuff. Ask yourself if you really need this and if you really need to own this before purchasing it.
8. Have a place for everything.
9. Limit your communications. Decide when and how much time you will devote to email, IM, phone calls, etc.
10. Eat slowly. Slow down to low weight, improve digestion, and enjoy life more.
11. Exercise. It helps burn off stress and makes you feel better.
12. Spend time with the people you love.
13. Spend time alone. Learn to meditate.
14. Slow down. Live life more deliberately.
15. Always ask: Will this simplify my life? If the answer is no, reconsider.

Prayers for the people of Chile

... and those evacuating due to tsunami warnings.

The Lord’s Prayer, New Zealand Prayer Book

Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen.

Abundance

"Authentic abundance does not lie in secured stockpiles of food or cash or influence or affection but in belonging to a community where we can give those goods to others who need them- and receive them from others when we are in need."

~Parker J. Palmer, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation.

{image}

Prayers for the people of Haiti

The Lord’s Prayer, New Zealand Prayer Book

Eternal Spirit,
Earth-maker, Pain-bearer, Life-giver,
Source of all that is and that shall be,
Father and Mother of us all,
Loving God, in whom is heaven:

The hallowing of your name echo through the universe!
The way of your justice be followed by the peoples of the world!
Your heavenly will be done by all created beings!
Your commonwealth of peace and freedom sustain our hope and come on earth.

With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and test, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
From the grip of all that is evil, free us.

For you reign in the glory of the power that is love,
now and for ever. Amen.

Brad drew this doodle a couple days ago and for some reason, gave it to me. What is it? I asked. "The planets. But I only drew in Mercury." clearly.
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It's been a challenging week. Not in the adrenaline infused sense of finishing say, your thesis project. Lots of prayers on my mind this week. A good college buddy was laid off December 23rd. Another college friend had to contemplate filing for unemployment. My brother, the farmer, is looking for work to hold him over until spring.

I have a cold that turned into a sinus infection.

snow!

And... my job took an interesting turn.

I haven't mentioned my job too much on the blog. I work as a nanny for two {delightful} children- a little girl (ten) and a little boy (eight). I would like to keep their affairs private. They need to sort some things out. I've had to answer some tough life questions with the children this week. If you're a spiritual person, the family could use some prayers at the moment.

Despite craving a job in my field of study {architecture/community development!}, I need to count my blessings. Times are tough. I was needed this week. A lot. And for that, I am grateful.
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I'm reading another Donald Miller book. Its been the perfect sort of text to read this week. some laughs, some cries. He really makes you think.

I'd like to post some Year End/Year Beginning goals & observations.

But for now... I only drew in Mercury.

Warm holiday greetings... Merry Christmas.
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And here's a sweet recitation of Luke chapter 2.

merry, merry

On Saturday, I ventured downtown and had lunch with an old friend. Joslyn and I met in first grade. We met at the Chicago Cultural Center- easily one of my favorite buildings in the city. An all-city youth ensemble played live jazz music for an hour. Later that evening, Brad and I walked down the street to a church gathering. Potluck.. games... white elephant exchange... roaring fire. You know, typical winter festivities in the Midwest. :) Last night, we had some family come down to the city for Thai food and the Redmoon Theater's Winter Pageant. {Brad and I attended another Redmoon production over the summer.} The Winter Pageant was very entertaining- quite odd!- but a lot of fun.

"Redmoon Theater creates theatrical spectacles that transform streets, stages, and architectural landmarks into places of public celebration utilizing an original language capable of speaking across cultural, ethnic, and generational boundaries."

Nonfiction

I realize I'm late to the buzz about "Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality." I had a long, boring jury duty summons to get through today and spied it on our bookshelf. {@ the Criminal Court building. Stayed 6 1/2 hours and got sent home} My girlfriend, Alyssa, gave it a good review. I read A LOT today; I like Miller's style.

"I never liked jazz music because jazz music doesn't resolve. But I was outside the Bagdad Theater in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never opened his eyes. After that I liked jazz music. Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can love it yourself. It is as if they are showing you the way. I used to not like God because God didn't resolve. But that was before any of this happened."

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I read "Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology" around Labor Day and I'm still thinking about the story. I mailed the book down to my brother in the north Georgia mountains. He lives in a rural community and his little sister lives up in Chicago and yet we overlap with an interest in farming/CSAs, sustainability and ways to live more simply. On a similar topic, I added this book to my Secret Santa list (that we do with my husband's immediate family)- "The Plain Reader". As we near the end of the year, I think we all tend to do a little mental cleanse. Refocus...

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Side note, Rick Steves' book 'Travel as a Political Act' came recommended to me at Thanksgiving. Brad's aunt and cousin attended a reading out in Seattle. I'm a huge fan of Rick Steves' travel/ guide books. I'll have to check my local library stacks. {Thanks Aunt Marilyn}

Ways to Simplify Your Life

We walked to church a few minutes late this morning, per usual. During the announcement portion of the service, I flipped through the bulletin & printed on the last page... (15) Ways to Simplify Your Life. I appreciated the refresher.

1. Decide what's most important to you. What do you value most?
2. List your current commitments and evaluate them in light of these values. What do you want to be doing with your precious time?
3. Simplify work tasks. Focus on the essential tasks and eliminate the rest.
4. Do one thing at a time. Multi-tasking is more complicated, more stressful, and generally less productive.
5. Sort through your stuff. Pick a room or a closet or a work area and do a thorough purging. Separate into three piles: keep, give away, and trash.
6. Simply your wardrobe. Give away things you haven't worn in the past year.
7. Limit your purchases. Buy less stuff. Ask yourself if you really need this and if you really need to own this before purchasing it.
8. Have a place for everything.
9. Limit your communications. Decide when and how much time you will devote to email, IM, phone calls, etc.
10. Eat slowly. Slow down to low weight, improve digestion, and enjoy life more.
11. Exercise. It helps burn off stress and makes you feel better.
12. Spend time with the people you love.
13. Spend time alone. Learn to meditate.
14. Slow down. Live life more deliberately.
15. Always ask: Will this simplify my life? If the answer is no, reconsider.

{Source: Cowley, The Society of Saint John the Evangelist, Vol. 35, No. 2, Spring 2009}

Treats

Weird find: American Science & Surplus shop. The mission: Christmas gifts for the nephews. What a bizarre place- it was a mix-match of an army surplus store, an old hardware shop, the Dollar Tree and a Goodwill. Hmm.

{1904 German Postcard; St Nicholas Center} Collection}

Last Sunday, our little neighborhood church added a twist to the traditional Lessons and Carols. We celebrated the Feast of St. Nicholas. Our pastor wrote a special service with readings from Scripture, newspapers and poems mixed with hymns and anthems, to tell the story of St. Nicholas. We learned the origins of gifts in stockings and gifts down the chimney. Parishioners {young & old} were invited to leave their shoes by the church door. By the end of the program, chocolates, nuts and clementines *appeared* in our shoes. The evening concluded with a festive dinner.

{shop} ~ Have you ever walked a labyrinth?? My first walk was on a sandy beach in Chicago- with church acquaintances. It was a summer evening and you could see heat lighting over Lake Michigan. Pretty neat.
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I've been a bit distracted this afternoon/evening. I am upset... worried... and joyful. Three dear friends. Three different pregnancies. Three lovely ladies. God works in mysterious ways. I can't even begin to contemplate their thoughts and feelings right now (what a mix of emotions).

A prayer for those we love... {Book of Common Prayer}
~
Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy
never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come,
knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we
can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Dwelling

{lovely print found here. Bonjour!}

I found this image by doing a word search on Etsy... home. We thought about dwellings quite a bit in architecture school.
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What's on your mind this Thanksgiving Eve???

You friendships ... family ... your health ... baking ... cooking ... traveling ... which board games to play {Brad???} ... ? Happy Thanksgiving.
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O God, in the course of this busy life, give us times of
refreshment and peace; and grant that we may so use our
leisure to rebuild our bodies and renew our minds, that our
spirits may be opened to the goodness of your creation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. {from the Book of Common Prayer}

Earth Festival~ take two

Additional commentary on my fall, Earth Festival project. :)

My aunt is in the hospital with severe dehydration due to a nasty case of food poisoning. My friend has a bad case of E-coli that spread into her kidneys. I dealt with food poisoning this summer and Brad dealt with it last fall. NOT FUN. I hope this isn't a common theme. If you're a prayerful person, please say a kind thought for them. {thanks}

Green fete

My big fall project wrapped up today. {I took a 2-hour nap this afternoon as my reward}. I was the project coordinator for my church's Earth Festival. I didn't do all the work; I did have some wonderful volunteers helping me out. It was a casual gathering on a cool and cloudy day. I was hoping for more foot traffic but beggars can't be choosers.

I didn't take too many pictures at the gathering. I left those up to our church photographer. My good friend Alyssa was a vendor and her treasures looked lovely. Vana's boys dropped by as did my architectural mentor. {I'm sorry we didn't get a picture together, Joslyn}

The silly bag hanging from the tree is supposed to be an "eco-balloon." haha! It wasn't my idea but the other ones looked more like "green" lanterns. :) Our CSA farmer donated the delicious fruits and vegetables & colorful flowers. A neighborhood cat joined in on the festivities and at one point, decided the CSA box looked cozy.


All in all is was a nice day... Live folk music. Homemade tamales, fresh salads, yummy pie, hot coffee and locally made gelato & apple cider sorbet. Interesting vendors. A bike donation drive. Our emphasis was more on fellowship with our friends and neighbors rather than church fundraiser. We also wanted to create an opportunity for interfaith dialogue- particularly on the topics of sustainability, social justice and community development.