Month: December 2011

I often pray for a simple life, desire a simple life,  and talk about this simple life with others…

And yet, I find that it is also my choices that prohibit me from finding this that I so crave…

I have been reminded of that so wonderfully during these last few days of travel. I do believe that my blessed Iphone is one of those blessings and curses. I turned my phone off as I boarded the plane Thursday night. I have used the computer to check in each night before sleep and find that not being connected to Facebook and email all day really does allow me to enjoy life differently.

Now, when I am home, of course there is a different need for some connection, but I also realize that I have choices about how I live when I am going on about my day-to-day. I am not sure what living simply and living well will always look like or that it can be a structured decision, but I am aware I can make different choices that will facilitate that simple living lifestyle…

And so, as I take a new awareness home from England of life without my phone.  I am committed to taking a close look at where I am standing as a roadblock to how I am seeking to live.  (and am even bold enough to pray for!)

I wonder if you see any behaviors in your life that are counter productive to the life you desire. I have my 2012 vision and goals started. Anyone want to join me in living intentionally from 2012 forward….(not that you can’t start right now if you prefer!)

Live simply and live well!

 

That is what I realized today as we navigated through public transportation systems and traveled rural land by train. We watched people on the underground and enjoyed dinner at a great English Pub. There are similarities and there are differences to my every day, but perhaps what I notice most as I travel today is how curious and aware I am when I am on vacation.  As I  watch as a young man gives up his seat for an older lady, as I watch many cultures come together on a city street, as I wonder about the scents that fill the air and stories of those who I see, even interact with, and will most likely never see again, I feel stimulated and aware in my heart….and that is good!

I hope I remember this feeling of curiosity and wonder of people. I want to take that back to Michigan with me for sure!

Off to bed for a good 12 hours of sleep. Tomorrow is a full day and an early start.

So, this is the nursery rhyme that went through my memory as I was trying to quickly leave my window seat on the plane where there was not enough room for my oversized back pack carry on and my shrinking, but by no means small legs. And then again as we hustled through the Minneapolis airport, choosing to climb the stairs instead of using the escalators….

We have had a fun and uneventful first leg of our journey. Soon we will board and head to Harpendon England, to be greeted at the train by Janneke Ruth.

Arlene sent a text saying she is praying for us and to hug her girl tight. Hug her we will and delight in the stories she has to share of her experiences since September. We will hardly be there long enough to adjust to the time change but we hope to live fully each day and rest deeply each night. We will come home changed by yet another experience and invitation to live life fully.

I hope to have good internet connection in order to continue with my commitment to blog every day in 2011. But if I can not post, I will write and post when I am able.

Hoping you find adventure whether traveling or living life right at home….

I am a believer in stories. Your story shapes you as my story shapes me. I have been shaped by the stories of my parents and they by their parents. Stories carry such influence and I find that in each story, there is mystery, comedy, history, biography, tragedy and much more….

Sometimes I find myself wondering what themes of my story may be directly out of the story themes of my Dad and Mom. I can’t help but think about how they both immigrated from The Netherlands to Sussex,New Jersey and Hamilton, Canada in their pre-teen years. I can’t quite imagine the long boat ride with their family and many others to an unknown land. I can’t quite imagine the feelings my Opa and Oma or my Pake and Beppe must have had as they sold their belongings and set out to establish themselves in a land of opportunity.

I think of all the preparation, prayer and anticipation of the trip across the Ocean. And I do believe that because of my parent’s early experiences and family ties to Europe, I am very fortunate to have traveled to Europe before. I remember going while I was a student at Calvin for my parent’s 25th wedding anniversary. We went to learn more of their story. It was a wonderful trip and the experiences have shaped who I am today.

And so, for some, travel to Europe is but a dream and for others it is something dreamed of but not yet possible. I am heading to London for not even a week to see my niece Janneke. Janneke will be leaving her post in London and traveling to Ghana very soon.  Tonight it is amazing to me that I have the opportunity and freedom to pack up and travel over seas on an overnight flight and return home not even a week later. I am very thankful tonight for opportunity and for the unfolding of my story, which includes a recognition that the world is a big place and there are opportunities to explore the world in many creative ways. Sara Groves has a song that includes the words Free to fly free to go free to come back home…these words very much reflect a theme in our family story. And for the opportunity, the experiences, the memories and the wonder and awe of a different land, I am very thankful! Writing tomorrow night from London…..bon voyage!

We have always learned to say our prayers before and after dinner and before bed. But, we never did incorporate Barbie, Barney or Bandit into those prayers…

Although I often pass over links on Facebook, this one looked worth watching. It is short and quick, but definitely brings a smile!

Click on the link below and enjoy the 29 second clip!

Saying Grace

I wanted to share a picture of Big Blue, the 60 foot spruce pine in my front yard. I have to admit that I can feel a bit scroogey because I just do not decorate for the holidays. I enjoy Christmas with my family at my parents home, Christmas with my sister and brother-in-law and their five kids at their home, Christmas with my Sister and Brother in law and their three kids at their home and the Visiting Angels office  is wonderfully decorated for the holidays. When I think of all the different places I experience Christmas, I really don’t feel any sadness that I don’t decorate my home.

That is until I drive down my street and see the soft glow of Christmas lights in every home I drive by. All of a sudden, my house seems dark, empty and maybe even a bit lonely.

And so a few years back, I got this wild idea of lighting my outdoor Christmas tree. I have a neighbor who makes a living climbing trees and he has been a wonderful neighbor. I provide 350 feet of lighting and he comes with his ropes and climbing equipment and in a few hours, my house has some sense that a scrooge does not live at this address. And perhaps what I love the most is that Big Blue can stay lit for a good part of the winter. And I am hoping that very soon (come spring) I will say, it is time for the lights to come down…and it seems like just yesterday that those lights went up!

If you are not one of those people who adores this holiday season, I hope you have something around your home that reminds you that you are not a scrooge. I am praying that hope, joy, laughter and peace will surround you and yours this Christmas season.

 

 

A definite highlight of this past year, and likely my lifetime, was my Tapestry Party. (See my September 9, 2011 entry)

It is an idea I envisioned, mulled over, dreamed about and finally after almost five years, had the courage to implement.

Over the years, as I journeyed and explored my story, I began to realize that my life was a tapestry of many different threads. I began to recognize that the threads of dirty colors and rough textures were not my favorite and I didn’t care much for them. But they were woven in and I could not deny their presence.

I began the process of embracing instead of denying those threads and I began to explore stories that came out of those darker times. I began to search out answers to hard questions and found that there were threads of hope and brightness that ran along side of these darker threads. The threads of hope and brightness included faces of people who have been weavers in my tapestry.

As a gift for my Tapestry Party, I was gifted a beautiful wall hanging with the words from The Loom of Time:

The dark threads were as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
For the pattern which He planned.
Author unknown

During my journey of discovery, I grew in love and admiration of my tapestry (life).

And as I grew in love and admiration of my tapestry, I had a greater understanding of myself, my family, my friends, my community and my God.

In my 20’s I was running from the design and threads of my story…

In my 30’s I was sorting, sifting, grieving, and trying to make sense of all my tapestry held….

In my 40’s, I am enjoying the beauty of my tapestry. I am thankful for all the threads, even if they were painfully woven into the design. I am thankful for where I am today. I have deeply enjoyed being 40 and 41 and am eager to see what each day of 42 holds. I believe that my tapestry is still on the loom and there will be more threads that represent pain and sorrow, heartache and grief, of that I am sure. But I am as sure that surrounding those threads, will be the threads of hope and embrace, offered to me by my family, friends, community and God!

And so each day, I commit to embracing my story, seeing the beauty in the threads that comprise my tapestry and curious about what threads will be woven with each day or season of my life!

I wonder how you have done at looking that the threads in your beautiful tapestry design. I invite you to take some time and find a comfortable seat and look closely at the colors, design and stories that create your tapestry….I have found it to be a very valuable journey with much to marvel at and celebrate!

Today I am celebrating the birth of my nephew, Jean Marc Borgdorff. Jean Marc is the kind of kid that lives life fully at age 8….

It feels as if a picture alone may help you see the sparkle in his eye and passion in his heart. I wonder if you can see how his eye’s changed after he was embraced by a family who adores him!

Jean Marc was born in Haiti and joined the Borgdorff family just before his second birthday. He was left at the orphanage with his older sister Sonta. I know that in the time he lived at the orphanage Sonta speaks of how she would go and check on him at night in the baby room and make sure he was ok. The staff called on her if Jean Marc was crying and even in the absence of his parents, Jean Marc was deeply loved by his sister. That bond remains today. He now shares that strong relationship with Olivia and Noah as well.

Jean Marc is a funny, smart, caring, witty, sensitive, creative 8-year-old. He knows how to dance and has been often refereed to by Noah as a pebble star, but sure to grow into a rock star! 🙂

Jean Marc has an incredible memory of words spoken and experiences shared. He reminds me often of what I have said and remembers where he left that little green car, even if months have passed. I am grateful for his clear and crisp memory, because then he is sure to remember how many times we say we love him!

Jean Marc has experienced a life time of experiences in his short seven years. He knows what it is to be born, loved, abandoned and loved again. He knows the ache of much and the joy of more. He has tears that flow freely and laughter that escapes from his belly and eyes. He is a delight and I am so grateful to God for choosing our family to be Jean Marc’s family. I admire Len and Marcia for choosing to adopt Sonta and Jean Marc, allowing a brother and sister to stay together and expand their family in more ways than just the number of people who live under their roof.

Jean Marc, I love you so much and hope this 8th year is filled with lots of laughter, play and wonderful adventures. I love the way you live life and love people. We can all learn a bunch from you!

All my love coming your way,

Aunt Trish

PS. And in light of this time sensitive post, I will write more about my tapestry for tomorrow’s blog, as promised last night, for today’s blog!

I have a post that I planned to write tonight. It is about the story of my tapestry. The tapestry theme has really come alive in this past year. Even as I read the wonderful birthday wishes on my Facebook wall, I envision the faces and reflect on how our stories have crossed. As I enjoyed the faces of friends and family today at my surprise open house and felt the hugs of those who love me, I feel deep joy for those who have woven their being into my tapestry.

But at the end of a full and wonderful day, I am going to write more about my Tapestry tomorrow.

At the end of a long and wonderful day, I am going to simply marvel at the beauty…

At the end of a long and wonderful day,  I am going to close my eyes and rest while my heart is overflowing because I was loved and celebrated well today.

I am thankful and full of gratitude and tomorrow I will tell you more about my tapestry and what I hope for in this coming year.

Thank you to all who loved and celebrated me today. It is my hope I will be able to return the favor to you in the coming year!

 

If I had to name one of my favorite authors, I would quickly offer Henri Nouwen’s name. I find that his writing invites me to live honestly. Often I am nodding my head as I read his words. 

Tonight during our journey group, we read two quotes by Henri Nouwen. Our teaching was about the Prodigal Son (Luke 15: 11-32) and I want to share two quotes directly related to The Prodigal story…

“I am the prodigal son every time I search for unconditional love where it cannot be found. Why do I keep ignoring the place of true love and persist in looking for it elsewhere? Why do I keep leaving home where I am called a child of God, the beloved of my father? It’s almost as if I want to prove to myself and to my world that I do not need God’s love, that I can make a life on my own, that I want to be fully independent.”

“Now I wonder whether I have sufficiently realized that during all this time God has been trying to find me, to know me, and to love me. The question is not “How am I to find God?” but “How am I to let myself be found by him?” The question is not “How am I to know God?” but “How am I to let myself be known by God?” And, finally, the question is not “How am I to love God?” but “How am I to let myself be loved by God?” God is looking into the distance for me, trying to find me, and longing to bring me home.”

And if that was not enough to reflect on, I also wanted to share some of my other favorites:

“The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing… not healing, not curing… that is a friend who cares.”

“When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.”

“…..every time there are losses there are choices to be made. You choose to live your losses as passages to anger, blame, hatred, depression and resentment, or you choose to let these losses be passages to something new, something wider, and deeper”

Thank you Henri Nouwen for inviting us to live as honest people….