Anniversaries

May/June seem to be the months of celebration for marriage. It is true that in USA that births are at the peak in August/September (do the math), but it is unknown to me if May/June are the peak wedding months (and I'm unwilling to do the necessary research). So many of my friends are celebrating marriages of duration -- how can it be that I can easily list 20-25 peers with marriages of 25+ years. It is AMAZING.

My marriage began June 7, 1975, it was the 2nd weekend after college (I wish I could lead you to believe it was high school--every year counts!!!) graduation that Mark and I pledged our troth. (Look that one up).

Thirty-five years is a long time. I remember when I thought 25 YEARS was old. Lots has happened since that night to remember.

Three children, now a blessing to behold. All three have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (all I ever really wanted). A re-location to mid-America, a tad of an adjustment for this rocker chick, but one of the best decisions we made.

Lots of life ... lessons, ballet, wrestling, Pioneer Girls/Boys, cello, piano, basketball, softball, etc.

Domestication--although I knew how to cook I needed to learn what family life was all about. Canned ravioli, green beans and white bread resulted in the praise, "You are a good cooker." Not by my standards.

Camping. Good Lord, camping. The last tent camping experience was 4th of July in the Rocky Mountains--it snowed that day. Yes, snow. I announced I was done with this pleasure in this lifetime. (Although I have camped since then --NM with LOTS of Corona--I reluctantly say I hope I never see a tent again--only because that usually means I will).

The good life.

What matters now? Tan feet. A good Pinot Noir. Sunrise--yes, rise. A shared life with the one you love even if the Pacific Ocean and half the continental USA are currently between you.

God is good and He continues to bless me, abundantly, beyond what I can imagine or even believe.

Ciao

In 2 1/2 hours we depart the homestead for paradise. Korea has been a mixed blessing. I am not yet able to write a post that accurately describes my feelings, impressions and beliefs about this 2 month sojourn. I do not have words to express the deep emotions -- emotions of love, isolation, faith, service, hardship, and joy. But they will come.

On to the North Shore. Aloha.

I STILL Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

"I hungered for a spectacular life of extraordinary triumphs, and I don't think I understood anything really about obedience or humility in terms of this sort of life. The idea for me was to be exceptional, to be great."

"Generally when people spoke to me they had something to say to me and it was about my work. And that meant it was about my mind--this genderless and oversensuous mind. I didn't realize this immediately. I've never realized anything immediately in my life. But in truth, my life had changed. Personhood had come at last. The goal of my life had been obtained."

"I don't belong anywhere. I don't come from any particular milieu. No group embraced my family."

Quotes from the Anne Rice memoir, Called Out of Darkness, A Spiritual Confession.

It is worthy to note that oversensuous AND personhood are words not recognized by spell check.

I REALLY don't belong.

Happy Birthday

Yesterday I was walking the streets of Daegu and the first Koreans to speak to me said, "You were probably very beautiful when you were young."

It can only get better, right?

Just another beginning ...

So it’s Monday morning January 11, 2010. In one week I will be in Taegu, South Korea to beginning a new adventure. Leah and Brian have increased their family to 4 in a very short time span and since one of them (Miss B) is still in ET they have asked me to join them in their adventure. Mark will stay in the States to take care of the house and finish his business with the organic farm in Oregon. We will share the same abode sometime later this year

This is a BIG change for me. The first 25 +/- years were spent in SoCal setting up my life, school (CSUN), marriage and the start of family. Then our move to Colorado in the late 70s began the phase of building on that foundation, educating our children, establishing careers, growing in our faith in Christ. Now after 30 years later another phase begins.

There is less to be sure about in the details of life and more about which to be comfortably secure. I will use this blog to capture my impressions, observations, and musings as well as a photograph or two.

Here’s to saying yes and deserving the adventure ahead.

Just back from a weekend at the Ranch

Mark and I went to Las Vegas, NM to visit Patricia and family at their new home in NM. The property, the home are BEAUTIFUL.

We left about 3pm and did not run into any traffic in Denver or Colorado Springs. In the city of CS the traffic did pick upbut there was no congestion.

The obligatory photo of Walsenburg was accompanied by a text to PJ and she texted back with LOL. (This is story that I give PJ the privilege of sharing as it is her story to tell!)

The best part of the trip was THE BOYS. Cody greeted usand showed us around his new house.

Tyler was sleeping but when he woke up at 2am we brought him into bed with us for a late night milk bottle. He wasn’t sure who we were but a milk bottle is a milk bottle.

Mark took Cody for morning walks, finding all kinds of treasure—golf balls were a big hit. But they are for throwing outside.

Since it rained we did not have a chance to enjoy the newly constructed fire pit—Jason did a GREAT job. This is a future activity that will be relished.

Jason and Lenny participated in a gold tournament (Dwayne’s business partner runs it) while we went to Santa Fe to check out the campgrounds for Jamboree 2010. Check out the Monkey Blog in a day or two for that update. Suffice itto say it is perfect for young families.

While in Santa Fe we hit the Children’s Museum. This is the best child ren’s museum I’ve ever been to, bar none.

Kids have a great time and older kids do too.

Patricia cooked for us all weekend and it was good from the pastrami sandwich for lunch to the beef enchiladas for dinner. Breakfast had special treats too—yogurt parfaits ala McDonalds-style.

One evening we joined Dwayne and Tracey (and Kellie) on the deck outside their home. It was a beautiful evening. Beautiful time.

It was sad to say good-bye to my boys. But PJ will be here for her birthday and I’m sure Las Vegas will be in our travel plans before the end of the year. The quick 5 ½ hour drive is pleasant and doable.

I won’t have to miss my boys very much.

Musings

So one week down on the new adventure of working at The Mental Health Center. No comments, please on hiring from the "customer" pool. Actually that is increasing the view, hire from within.

When you think about mental health or recovery it makes sense if you believe in what you are doing to "main stream" your clients.

It so reminds me of my friend Melinda. She and her husband Tim pioneered many programs and processes to help not only their daughter, Miller, but all people with "special" needs. EVERYONE has a place. Sometimes you need to make some accommodation but all are welcome, needed.

Under the category of: One of the funny things about work. Since I began my adult "working" career as a wife/mother of the stay-at-home variety where I did not work outside the home, it continues to be difficult for me to easily adapt to the "we are friendly, not friends" mentality of the work environment. In the past, my work was entirely relationship focused. I did not have to work with people I did not like--I was a volunteer. I picked the team I worked with--I was a volunteer. I was in charge--this was MY ministry. Hmmm. It was a good life but did not prepare me for the real world. Now, I work for others, do their bidding with others I'm not personally connected to.

I used to think I did not like working with women. Not true. Women as a groupof people are lovely. I no longer have a need to compete or compare. I have a man that loves me, cherishes me. My children despite all their attempts otherwise, respect me. Friends, true friends surrounds me. The kind you can call at 2 a.m. and their response would be, "I'm there for you; how can I help." What else in life really matters.

Under the category of musing: Women are allowed to be more expressive emotionally which I did not like in my youth. This was probably due to the women's movement -- we thought we had to be more like men to be seriously considered in the marketplace. With the hindsight as the guide we might better have considered changing the standard to include the feminine perspective which would include a more compassionate, personal, tenderness. How different the world might be if we (women) wanted to be more womanly. Hmmm.