Beyond the Horizon

The sound of the ocean has always called me!  Whether it is the gentle rhythm of the continuous waves or the intensity of the crashing surf, the intrigue is there and simply pulls me in.

Even as a little girl the mention of going to the beach brought instant excitement and joy.  There was nothing more I could think of that meant more.  Playing in the sand, giving in to the lure of the water touching my toes…….or simply running free, I could feel the difference within myself.  The entire experience reached a depth inside of me I didn’t understand at the time……and maybe still don’t…….but I just knew I felt lighter and a pure sense of joy.

To this day I am drawn to the beach whenever I am tired, stressed or simply in need of a break.  And, if I happen to hit it just right when the sun is out and it is warm with no wind……..well, that is about as close to heaven as one can get!!   Just sitting on a blanket or a log and staring out over the water I am able to breathe a little easier, reflect, and feel a sense of contentment I cannot get anywhere else.  It is like I am reaching beyond the horizon to a home I have yet to know but is calling to me.

Don’t  get me wrong,  I love to go to the beach when it is stormy, too, as there is a wonder about that as well.  The strength and power of the water boiling and churning has a meaning in itself.  The rhythm continues to be present, but more robust and forceful in its presence.

I will never forget the time we took our four children and their families to a house overlooking the beach during a Christmas holiday.  The weather was stormy with the wind and rain pounding against the picture windows all night long.  About three in the morning the electricity went out and all the adults and the children one by one appeared from all corners of this huge house to stand together by the windows in wonder, experiencing the intensity, the darkness and these most unusual and impacting moments.  In the darkness you could feel the command of the surf and the incredible control of the weather outside, almost like God was revealing HIS dominance and mastery…..all in awe!   It was a bonding and a spiritual feeling all in one.

Every single time as we travel toward the beach I strain for the first view of the ocean as we get close.  It is like medicine for the soul……and I never tire of it.  And, it is different every time.  Sometimes the waves are small and gently rolling and other times the foam from the turbulent pounding is scattered to the wind.  Recently there was snow on the beach and  jellyfish that had washed ashore.  Logs and driftwood are continuously changing the landscape, sea creatures are beached and several years ago I recall a ship that had gone aground.  There are times when sand dollars and sea shells can be found or where sand has shifted to create less or more beachfront for walking. It is never the same……. the colors, the smells, the sounds and of course, the weather.   I am reminded of the magnitude of what God has created and am amazed by the beauty of it all.

Whenever there is a chance to take a break, get away with loved ones, or just a retreat with friends, the destination is a “no brainer”!  The beach is where I am headed.  It provides the atmosphere that projects peace, tranquility and space to breathe.  Some of my best sharing of feelings, with those who are most close to me, has taken place just peering out over the water or watching the sun set just beyond the water’s edge.  There is just no other place that fits the bill!

I don’t have to always  touch it……I just need to be there and feel it around me!

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Proud Moments !!

What an exceptional year this has been!  Not only has the world seemed to have shifted in a multitude of directions, so have we.   I have been told “Change” is the constant in our lives, for sure, so we must always be ready to meander and travel in alternate paths and meet new challenges.  So this has been the case in our precious family these past months.  The vein that travels through our genes  propelling us to “Make a Difference”  continues to thrive, generation after generation.

It all began this last summer when our son, Matthew, agreed to design and create a new reclaimed wood piece for the Clackamas County Fairgrounds here in Canby.  He is always taking on new projects and challenging himself with new ideas as his creative juices work overtime, so I just sort of took his latest draft in stride.  Little did I know the magnitude of what he was doing!  Upon attending the Clackamas County Fair with him and his little family in August I was overwhelmed when coming face to face with his vision of this over-sized permanent fixture.  In front of me was this approximately 20 foot by about 12 foot reclaimed wood backdrop with a laser cut steel map of the world secured to the top of it.  There were small “dime-sized” magnets in a metal pocket at the bottom of it, which were available for all attendees of the fair to place on the map reflecting from where they came.  This, then, provided a  demographic overview of the fair’s visitors.  When this story hit the front page of our local newspaper, I knew he had really done something special.

When our grandaughter, Ashtin, signed with Sacramento State to play volleyball, all we could think about is how far away she would be and what big shoes she had to fill.  As a setter and key position on the volleyball team, the responsibility was daunting, not to mention adjusting to the expected load of academics.  Thankfully she “red shirted” her freshman year,  giving her an opportunity to view from the sidelines at each game what her role would be…..while carrying the weight of classes she needed.  When she stepped into the shoes as setter this year it became obvious there was another level of expectation.   Not only was the backup setter out for the season with a serious injury, the previous setter had received numerous awards, both from her team, as well as the conference, for her accomplishments.   Within the first stretch of games Ashtin won “Offensive Player of the Week” from the conference for her incredible efforts.  This did not surprise me as I knew when she set her sites she would “do or die”!  That is just part of her makeup.  However, it wasn’t long after that she went down in a game with an injury to her knee, leaving her with an uncertain future.  As we waited to hear from the medical examiners we weren’t sure what was ahead for her.  As it turned out it was a minor injury and she was fitted with a sturdy brace and back in the line-up.  As she fought her way through this “ripple”, dragging the cumbersome brace with her while adjusting her technique, she remained steady and solid in her approach to each game.  She was there for her team and stayed on course, no matter what!  Her job was to get to each ball that was served and somehow set it to a hitter.  Even though the standings revealed ups and downs Ashtin’s contribution stood strong.  When she was awarded a place on the second team all league at the end of the season it became evident her commitment stood strong.  It was almost unheard of that a beginning setter would receive that status in her first year on a team.

Lorin, our oldest grandaughter, wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember.  Even in elementary school she would help out with the primary classes whenever she could…..and later when she reached high school would even travel back to assist the teachers.  She became a fixture in that school.  Upon completing college and receiving her teaching degree, she began applying for a position in several school districts.  However, in the end, the school that won her heart all those years ago came through and offered her a 4th grade teaching position.  She was ecstatic to say the least, rolled up her sleeves and, with the help of her Mom (our daughter), designed and decorated that classroom like no other with learning tools and fun artwork.  She put her stamp on it and her domain was established, wanting to make it a fun and inviting learning environment.  In the first few years she had a few challenged students, which little by little, she learned to help the best she could through diversion and a steady “no nonsense” approach.  Then came this year, a hurdle like no other!  The ratio of “needy” children rose to a level almost beyond comprehension.  There were days she wasn’t sure she could continue but through dedication, support and help from those who believed in her she not only has been able to make it through but received recognition from her peers.  We were so excited to hear she had been nominated  for the CARE award in her school district for outstanding accomplishments.  As we watched her being presented with this prestigious recognition and heard the testimonies of those in the trenches with her, it was confirmed, “she has a “gift”!

So proud we are of those who have been honored in our family…….but also those who have not.   As I watch each and every one of my children and their children find their place in the world, their values, dignity, compassion and commitment is present in their approach to life.  What greater reward is there?

Lobster and Friends

What could be better than meandering through six New England states, in all its splendor, except sharing it with special and dear friends?   Not only were we side-by-side every step of the way but each turn in the road brought a new experience and memory to be cherished forever.

As we trekked together through Boston, Hyannis, Martha’s Vineyard, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine and back to Boston there was beauty and history everywhere.  It was like taking Paul Revere’s ride but with different side trips…..checking out the site of John F. Kennedy’s White House, sailing over to Martha’s Vineyard, visiting “The Vanderbilt’s estate,  touring Mystic Seaport then on to experience Norman Rockwell’s Museum and Calvin Coolidge’s birthplace.  As we wound through the White Mountains and tasted pure maple sugar and on to the seashore of Maine, seafood was on the menu everywhere.   We were told that Maine’s rocky coast, strong wave action, and cold, nutrient-rich waters help create the world’s sweetest and best-tasting lobsters.  We got to taste lobster rolls, which were popular everywhere, and even had our own fresh lobster dinner before we headed home.  For a seafood girl like me, this was heaven on earth!

It was like a continuous picture postcard everywhere we went.  The lush green, the gorgeous flowers, when combined with so many profound destinations, made our journey one to cherish for sure.  Yes, I knew much of our country’s heritage and foundation was rooted in New England but to experience it up close and personal….well, this was beyond words.  And, when surrounded by picturesque landscapes, just punctuated it all.

Of course, the best of all, was the memories we made with such dear friends.  The happy hours in our rooms at the end of each day…..all cramming into the family pew at the Old Church…….seeking out the Cheers watering hole…….sharing the Blah Ba Blah Ba Blah of Greg, our tour guide………our lime-green girls’ day on the water……..getting lost in the Casino….Clare’s maple cookies…….and the sing-a-longs on the bus……..and of course the numerous photo opportunities, these we remember fondly as they celebrated the special bond we all have with each other.

This is was a time that will be tucked away in our hearts as most precious because of the personal connections we had that were already in place.  What a gift to one another…..and to ourselves!

 

 

Aloha, Mom!!

Once in a very great while there passes someone through your life that makes a lasting impression.  They may not command center stage and prefer to be in the background, but they make a profound and lasting  difference in one’s life.  Such was the case with our mother.  She stood strong as the wind but gentle as a breeze.  She never complained.  She was always “there” to lend a hand, never wanting anything in return.  Even in her last days she worried about her six “very adult” children taking time out of their lives for her.  That is just the way she was.

As we were removing the last of her things from her house my sister found a significant amount of cash that had been stashed in her bathroom vanity……I am sure stowed there in case of an emergency,  which was so in line with her thinking.   Now, we were faced with a dilemma….what should we do with it?    I called a meeting and presented three scenarios.  We could “divide and go”……….we could allot a chunk toward our annual beach getaways for the next several years…….or we could all jump in, applying it toward a trip as a family to Hawaii.   To my surprise…….it was voted to “go for the gusto” by celebrating Mom through an Hawaiian memory.

I believe Mom was cheering us on from afar.   I think she was secretly wanting this for us……as was evident once it played out.  She loved the ocean and seafood……. and had traveled to Hawaii with some of us years ago and we remember how much she enjoyed it.  It wasn’t by coincidence that I had traveled to Maui the previous year with my daughter and family to find the perfect location.  A small condominium complex my husband and I had stayed in many years ago had been beautifully remodeled with ocean front units side-by-side.  The water was no more than 35-40 feet from our patios, making it easy to interact and “simply breathe”.  The added bonus was the turtles!  These amazing and massive creatures would greet us in the afternoons as they would “beach” themselves for a rest in the sun.  What an unbelievable experience to be a part of it all!!

As the six of us, along with our spouses, ventured out here and there throughout the day…….or just hung around ….we felt this is where we were meant to be.  It was confirmed when we decided to celebrate Mom with a Hawaiian  feast one night.  The twelve of us took over the barbecue area steps from the water, pulled together a seafood feast (that was her preferred choice of food always) for kings, and saluted our Mom.  Don, my brother-in-law shared a poem he wrote, “Hat’s Off to You”, which brought us all to tears as Mom was toasted.  We knew she was in our midst when the most beautiful sunset of sunsets culminated our gathering.  It was a moment in time that will never be forgotten by each of us.   We had no doubt that she was there!

How fortunate we are to have had Mom for as long as we did.  In her 97 years she reared us, she formed us, she was there for each of us and she was an example for us all….always taking the “hind seat”.  She was the “Salt of the Earth” for sure but now hovers forever just beyond the horizon.  Never will I look at a sunset the same as she will be smiling at us as it so vibrantly glows then quietly rests as the light is extinguished to burst into light again the next day.

We thank you, Mom, for this treasured and most precious memory.   We feel your presence each day and hold your essence within.  We promise to hold you close and stay forever connected to one another.  May we each pass it on and keep your spirit going.  Aloha !!

 

“Wrapsody”

Never did I realize how much fun I would have making custom wrap bracelets!!  What started out as a hobby to support my creative nature has evolved into branching out in all directions.  As I explore and attempt new designs I realize I  have simply tapped the edges of what could be.  Each time I pull out my leather and beads and come up with something new, I want to try yet another application.

                                 

As the requests come in it meanders me in so many new and exciting directions.  I love it when someone says, “Can you add a personalized initial or charm.”  It is then that I feel I am really producing something special and meaningful.   When I made the favorite color of a little girl for a mom soon I was making more children’s designs.

And, when someone asked, “Can you make something for an Oregon Ducks or Seahawks fan?”  away I went with new ideas bouncing around in my head.  When I received pictures of new bracelet or necklace ideas from my daughters and friends,  I immediately searched for new applications.   That just spurred me on to push my boundaries!

Who knows where this will lead, but so far it fills my head with new and fun ideas each day.  It feeds my “artistic gene” as well as brings a sense of accomplishment.   Sharing my creations, and realizing they provide something special for others as well, is what it is all about.  I would be happy to be a part of your vision if you are looking for a unique and personalized gift…….or just want something for yourself!

What Makes Christmas so Special?

Every year as the holidays approach I wonder, “Why is everything such a big deal?  Why do I scurry around finding the most perfect special gift for those that I hold most dear?   And, why does tradition play such an important part?”  After the dust settles and things slowly return to what is normally routine I find myself reflecting on this whole process.  

As the layers are peeled back within our own identities what stands alone and becomes most vulnerable is who we are and what we stand for. Since the holidays are a time to connect with our loved ones, I believe therein lies the reason we bring things to a new level.    It is a time to celebrate the importance of our relationships and the “reason for the season”!   Not only is it a time of spiritual affirmation of our beliefs and values, it is intertwined with the emotional foundation and connections in our lives.

When things are good, this time of year can soar to ecstatic heights but if things are unstable or hitting a “rough patch” things can be even more stressful and gut wrenching for those who are struggling.  We need to be aware that not everyone looks forward to the emotion of the season…..it can be a reminder of personal disappointment or heartache.  As  more focus is put upon the personal side of life and emotional levels are revealed, vulnerability can be simply waiting to engage and spring to attention.  Also, there seems to be an urgency during this time, driving our lives to decorate, shop, bake and connect with each other.  Adding these tasks to our daily duties, along with the heightened focus all around us can be exhilarating, but can also add to the mix when we are stretched to the max.  As we extend ourselves we must also continue to be reminded of our own emotional barometer……. and of others as well.   

For sure, we learn as youngsters about Christmas from what came before us, ……and then it evolves into repetition……or not!!  Sometimes traditions can emerge out of new relationships as well, or part of a transition or shift in our lives.  But, at the  core remains the same motivation…….who and what is most important to us personally!  Whether meeting new people down the street or family is extended what doesn’t change is “change”…..it is ever constant and the way it was meant to be.  

 

My goal is to keep everything in prospective and embrace each day in a positive manner.  I savor each moment that the holidays bring as it provides an opportunity to honor precious and invaluable relationships…..or open the door to new connections.   It warms my heart to watch my grandkids continually thumb through all my endless photos, recalling special memories that have been made, which I hope adds another layer to cement their foundation.  And, for me, there is also an exhilaration when paths cross during this time and a new friend is made.  Christmas time will always be most special and treasured to me as memorable moments are captured while we reconnect and interact with those that we hold most dear, but also the possibility to welcome into our circle another player as a neighbor, friend or family member.    This is life as it is meant to be……..how fortunate we are!!

And Then They are Gone !!

In this crazy busy world that we lead one doesn’t realize how quickly it flies by, sometimes missing opportunities to savor precious moments and times with the ones who have been the foundation of who we have become.

Recently my Mom passed away and now, as I reflect on her last years, I know that she savored every moment we were able to carve out of the whirlwind we live in day to day. I know there is a predestined cycle that we all are apart of and it sometimes seems like it is roaring past us faster and faster each day.  But what I think we don’t stop to think about is that when you are unable to care for yourself and must depend on others, days drag on and on with every day looking the same as the day before.  The highlights come randomly as extended family and friends stop by to share a few moments…..or even more basically, simply looking forward to the next meal.

As I would visit Mom each week it became apparent as I walked the halls of the care facility that very few had regular visitors, which broke my heart.  Residents were just watching the world go by as they sat is their recliners, sitting in the hall, or even confined to their beds.  These were people who were vital and played an important role in society earlier in their lives.  As I would stop and greet them on my way through I could see a spark that emerged just to be recognized.  It became obvious to me that the caregivers became their family in so many ways as they had the most personal contact with them on a regular basis.  So many were drawn to the caregiver field just to make a difference in these people’s lives…..and I admire them so much.   The difference they made in my Mom’s life was so huge, and I will never forget the way they touched her life.

It is inevitable that someday there will come a time when we will be unable to take care of ourselves and we will be the ones sitting in those recliners and wheelchairs awaiting for someone to interact with us.  My hope is that we can keep our interests going as long as possible and fill our time now with something that feeds us so our quality of life stretches as far as possible.  Also, we need to work a little harder on taking time to visit those who are special to us and need it the most right here and now…..!!   Where else can you receive such a high sense of reward for a few special moments that mean so much to someone?   Before a blink of an eye it could be too late….don’t let that happen!!

I know what it meant for Mom to see her family and take part in it in any way.  She loved just spending a few hours with her kids at their houses even if it was just watching my sister make cookies, be present as she babysat her little granddaughters or took part in a family function.   She would just say, “I just love to sit and watch everyone”!  It simply made her day.   She was always ready to GO whenever anyone asked her.  She told me that you should always go if you can…….the alternative was more of the same over and over.  Her gratitude was steady and solid…….and she appreciated every effort anyone made.   What impressed me the most is that she took hold and made the best of the situation she was in.  Sometimes when I would visit her she and her walker were not to be found as she was well known for walking all the hallways, working on finding the fit for the right puzzle piece, playing cards, working on a craft project or participating in whatever the activity of the day was.  She was one amazing lady.

I wished I could have spent more time with her but I treasure in my heart all the wonderful conversations we shared and know she loved every moment as well.  She was always quick to thank me for taking the time I did but it was pure joy.  I pray that I will be able to live as she did…..with grace and gratitude.  I just know that we all need to take those extra little efforts to enjoy those who are in their twilight years as their time becomes shorter and shorter and more limited…….and it cannot be taken for granted.  I miss Mom every day…….and am reminded of her every time I turn around and in all I do. Because of our special bond and the time we spent together she has become a part of me……..and that brings me comfort.