Butterfly in the Wind

  Ready, set, go.... Most of us are ready to see 2020 in the review mirror. I wanted to spend some time this afternoon to reflect on, "Only the Good Stuff" that was my 2020. The Best of 2020 Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ   January~  After completing hours of orientation I was accepted in the ASPIRE program at Simpson University. From January to May I completed 12 university units and retained my 3.5 GPA. Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ February~  A quick trip down the Sacramento Valley During my President's Break I snuck down to see my grand-girls and their lovely Mama. These girls bring everything: Princess, Giggles, Serious talks about knee high observations, and Cuddles to Grammie.  This picture touches all my senses Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ  March~  Little Miss Molly One night in mid-March I was in a Zoom class and the world shut down. I suppose like the moment Ronald Regan was shot and the 9/11 that moment is imprinted into my brain. The next day I called my daughter, Mary, and she said, "It is about time, Mom." I h

This last week of Advent and the passing of Christmas has brought me to the reason I love the season. On Christmas Eve I was blessed with the task of placing the Christ Child in the manger at church. On Christmas Morning we sang "Joy to the World the Lord has come, let earth receive her KING." We sang "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem", and "We Three Kings." We sang "Oh Holy Night.." No year in my life time has our weary world needed to have hope and rejoice more. I love to sing the Christmastide songs.       Music is a language to me like French or English. I have been singing in church since I was a young child and performed solos beginning at age eleven. There was a choir director at church who later became a Judge in my hometown. He fostered my talent and allowed me into his home to sit with his children at the dinner table. This family was what I wanted to have someday for my own children. A home filled with books and music of all kinds.    

  Rose Sunday Tomorrow is the third Sunday in Advent also known as Rose Sunday. The third candle is rose colored and represents ~Gratitude. The past two weeks since Thanksgiving we have been in a season of cleaning our inward shelves to create space for the Gratitude of Christmas.  Rose Sunday is also called Shepherd Sunday and I need to sneak in before Morning Prayer and add the shepherds to the Creche.  Shepherd Mary and Joseph have been alone in the Creche these past two weeks with only a donkey, cow and sheep for company. I haven't put out my own nativity sets this year as Molly seems to think most decorations should be on the floor. On my Facebook there was a memory of Christmas 2015 when I first moved into The Nest .  Nativity I made in the 1970's Life was still too painful that year to write about, but I was glad that I put some memories on Facebook. Today I posted what Molly has been up to... ...prowling and sleeping After having her knock down any decoration that she c

Wednesday Night Pray Advent I The season of advent began on the tail of Thanksgiving Break. For the past 24 years I have lived on the "School Calendar". A year ago I added the Ordo Calendar . This calendar is used by the Clergy and Altar Guild to know what Saint Days are when and what colors are used on the Altar. I am the altar guild at my church currently and the Ordo Calendar has become my best friend in the sacristy. (That is the little room next to the platform where all my tools are kept.) The Saturday after Thanksgiving a group of us met at the church and "Greened the Church". Social Distancing is not a problem when I am on the ground and the Deacon is on a 20 foot ladder. For over 10 years I had a cleaning business beginning in 2001. Every year I would help my clients decorate for Christmas and help them take down all the decorations at the end of the season. As I decorated the church tree in the foyer I had found memories of these wonderful Saints in Glory.