Last week I reorganized my boxes of books that I had packed and unpacked over the last year as we await the sale of our place. The boxes keep coming out from under my bed and then going back into hiding as I need whatever book I am looking for. I realized, after standing in the chaos for a while, that my books have been what I have constantly been going back to. My garden books, my cooking books, my Bahai books, my most reliable self care and spiritually inspiring books, all of them. The photos above are from our visit to Minneapolis to see our kids in 2019. One wish I had was to visit the beautiful indiginous book store, Birch Bark Books, owned by one of my favorite authors, Louise Erdrich. Web site attached. https://birchbarkbooks.com
This past week has been exhausting and relentless in its energy grabbing pressure points, as the planet alignments at this time drive us into new awareness and higher and higher levels of self care. I have always had an awareness of these types of collective growth patterns now over decades of my life. I didn't always know what to do with what I was feeling however. Hence the need for my books. So...It's really and always been about my books for me! When my girls were young I made a large canvas bag, not unlike a military traveling bag, to carry my books (and theirs). As sometimes moving was also very mush about traveling and my books were never left behind. Of course now it would be impossible to travel with my books in such a way. They have always been my companions. I give them away as gifts, I buy new ones, I buy used ones. I give them to the second hand store when I'm over loaded with them and come back with more. I love the library too of course! And so do all of our six grandchildren! Gratitude for the courageous writers who bring joy into our lives through precious books.
This past Sunday, April 19th, Chuck and I really needed a break for the day so we took a drive to the Bellingham Ferry Terminal. They have delicious chowder and fish and chips. We walked from there to a little park down the street where we enjoyed the Bellingham Bay. It was a lovely sunny day. Photos are attached.
And oh speaking of books! These last several months I have been working with Chuck and our friend, Susan Christenson, on a project we are working on together. As a writer and publisher herself, Susan had asked Chuck last year some time if he might be interested in putting some of his poetry and music into a book format for publishing. He accepted her invitation and as his editor she has been extremely helpful. His book is almost ready to go live. Chuck has been working day and night for several months now preparing material for the contents of his book. I have been helping him edit all along as well. We are very excited to come to the point of a final draft for Amazon Kindle and printable books, which will be offered for sale on Amazon and in local book stores. The attached photo is from Monday the 20th of April when we met with Susan. They are reviewing some of the last stages of their work together in the photo.
On Tuesday April 21st Chuck and I attended a Ridvan celebration with our Baha'i community. If you are curious check out the Baha'i web site at https://www.bahai.org On this same day we were also confronted with some very complicated and necessary choices to make regarding our plans for selling our home. We want to live with our family in an intergenerational home and have been working on that plan for a year now. Our home has been on the market for one year. Our realtor called early Tuesday morning to say it's time to either take it off the market or move the price down significantly if we want to sell it. On that same day we had a meeting in the late afternoon with our condo association board. We told our realtor we would make a decision after that meeting. Sooo...After the meeting we consulted wth our family and the realtor again. We came to a consensus to make the decision to keep our place up for sale and reduce the price. We are now on a new clock.
On Wednesday April 22nd, I was fitted for hearing aides. I knew I needed to be tested because I have trouble hearing folks when I am in a group setting, as well as hearing the voices of my grandchildren for sometime. Everything is very load now when I am wearing them. I'm sure I will get used to hearing what I haven't been able to for some time.
New sounds! New book! New home on the horizon! Life keeping us busy in a good way as we try to work together through the tragic chaos of our times!
My book and my stories are right here in the pages of my blog that began in 2010. I have written about all of my self care practices and mentors over the years, starting with the foundational breathing exercises that are essential to aligning with the balance within. The chaos is part of life, breath into it! Now let's see, which box is that recipe book in!
As always. Continuing Prayers daily for peace in the world and for the safety and nurturing of all of our children.
Immeasurably exalted art Thou, O Lord! Protect us from what lieth in front of us and behind us, above our heads, on our right, on our left, below our feet and every other side to which we are exposed. Verily, Thy protection over all things is unfailing. https://bahaiprayers.org
