1000 times Yes!

Fred and Noah, sleeping head-to-head

The other day my son Tom and I were discussing Christmas plans and he told me that he and his brother (my youngest son Matt) wanted to host the family Christmas gathering at our house, and that they wanted to do the menu planning and most of the cooking. If you could have seen me, I’m sure that I would have looked like one of those cartoon characters doing a double-take, as my first thought\reaction was, what?! You two?! Really?!

It was so far out of the range of possible scenarios for our holiday gatherings that my mind couldn’t process it. I didn’t even know that they could (or would want to) take charge of an event like this. I said yes because it sounded like a big adventure (one that I would get to be a part of, but would not have to orchestrate) and I felt an odd sense of excitement, not dissimilar to the day I committed to go sky-diving.

Over the past week, as we firmed up plans, I had a most enlightening conversation with my future daughter-in-law, Lindsay. She and Tom met in Jackson Hole (Matt was also living there at that time) and she told me that during their time there, Tom and Matt used to plan incredible parties, even down to setting a dress-code. She went on to say how much everyone enjoyed these events.

My sons are both in their 30′s, and I never knew this about them. I am so glad that I said yes.

Over the next 72 hours, it is going to be my intention to say Yes (quietly, and to myself) 1000 times. Care to join me?

(a favorite prayer of mine is below)

“I am now willing to accept the unexpected, unusual, and amazing happenings in my life. There is but one Presence in this universe, and I am one with that Presence.There is but one Power, and that Power is good, loving, and benevolent.

Knowing this, I am ready to experience the wonders of life; the new adventures that contribute to a greater understanding of the mysteries of the cosmos.

I am prepared to hear the inner voice, behold the phenomena of hidden hands, and welcome the work of angels on my behalf. I am open to the truth that nothing is too good to be true. Yes!”

 (the final prayer in the book, Nothing is Too Good To be True, by John Randolph Price)

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twinkle

Fred on the rug, and Eleanor on the new (old) velvet chair in the kitchen

I would really like to be more relaxed and enjoy this holiday season in a new way. Lately I’ve been thinking about looking at life with a “twinkle in my eye”….taking every opportunity to smile (at both myself and my quirky family!)

Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops. Cary Grant

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Getting REAL

Noah helping to wrap the presents

I woke up at 1 a.m. feeling somewhat tense, and decided to read a little from a book by Neville Goddard, that I have at my bedside. I opened to a random page and read,

“What you are inwardly saying and doing is far more important than what you outwardly know or express. …most of the things that you whisper (think to yourself) are negative…” (pp. 169-170 Immortal Man).

I put the book down, closed my eyes and imagined the day that had just happened. Even though it was so much fun; laughing and eating with my family, I found I was thinking critical thoughts about myself. Often, I will catch myself doing this during the day, and try to replace the negative thoughts with positive ones, but when there is a lot going on, I can be unaware of my inner critical thoughts until I go to sleep and wake up in the night feeling bad.

This is a very old pattern, and it doesn’t help (at all) to start criticising myself for still struggling with this, it just makes it worse. So instead I thought, “What affirmative words could I say/think to improve my feelings about myself NOW!?” I wanted something simple, that I could remember in a pinch, and the thought to use affirmations that spell out the word REAL,  just popped into my head. I started thinking the affirmations below, and fell into a peaceful sleep and woke up happy!

I am Respected, I am Emanating happy vibrations, I am Appreciated, I am Loved.

Remember to be kind to yourselves today everyone, and maybe give this affirmation a try. Also, if you would like to post an affiirmation that you like and one that has helped you, please do!

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How are we doing?!

Fred taking an afternoon nap

I am very glad that I wrote a post, several days ago, about staying calm, peaceful, and enjoying holiday preparations, because it has given Jack the opportunity to say (multiple times), “Remember, you talked about doing this year differently Mary, and having a good time instead of getting stressed out.”

I was headed upstairs to vacuum and mop the hallway (where the kitty beds are) yesterday and saw Fred sleeping with his head sticking out of one of the cubes. It stopped me in my tracks. I love this cat. He is the epitome of flexibility; if the cube is too small, sleep in part of it. No big deal. I decided to take a picture of him to share with you today, instead of mopping that hallway.

Sending you all blessings of peace and happiness and fun…and if you get a little nutty, we here at White Feather Farm will love you anyway!

“A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same“. Elbert Hubbard

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Surprise

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a treat for Luke

I like to treat myself at this time of year. One thing that I particularly like is Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, so I bought a pint of Cherry Garcia the other day, ate a bowl full (picked the chocolate and cherries out of the rest of the container) and then gave it to Luke. I figured that he could have a little treat over the next 3 nights. My plan was to let him lick the ice cream for 5 minutes, take it up and put it back in the freezer, and give it to him again the next night.

It seemed like a fun little plan to me. Last night, I went to get the carton out of the freezer and it was gone. Jack doesn’t like cherry anything, so I couldn’t figure out what happened to it until I asked him. He said, “I was having such an ice cream craving that I ate the Cherry Garcia, but it seemed strange, like it had been partially melted.”

Jack is a man who can laugh at himself. I love that about him….love that about people in general. We are supposed to be enjoying this trip called life. Maybe over the next few days, we can choose to laugh at something that in the past would have made us upset. The holidays give us lots of opportunities to practice this!

“God is a comedian, playing to an audience too afraid to laugh“. Voltaire

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The Season of Love

Christmas 1959 (from left to right, Bob, Dad, me, Jayne, Mom, Anne)

A friend sent me a wonderful commentary on the holiday season the other day, which basically said, I don’t care what religion you are, or I am, if you extend to me a holiday greeting, I will wish you one back; that expressing love is the important thing, not what we call ourselves. I could not agree more. No group of human beings has a monopoly on God or an “inside track” to the Divine.

I was raised as a Catholic, left the church in my 20′s and spent a number of years, first rejecting the idea of God altogether, and then searching for a concept of God that was unifying not dividing, accepting not critical, uplifting not condemning, available to everyone not exclusive.

It was a long road for me….from my head to my heart.

“Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair.” Gilbert K. Chesterton

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a new way

Christmas 1959, Jayne, me, Anne and Bob

My siblings and our families gather once a year at my house for a Christmas Eve party. I love the holiday season and almost everything about it; buying and wrapping presents, the music, lights, the feeling of good-will in the air, decorations, the excuse to eat rich food, even the snow (for a few weeks!). It is a deeply spiritual time for me. I always thought that my love of the season would naturally spill over into having a big party on my favorite day of the year, Christmas Eve, but that has not been my experience, and yet I didn’t admit this, even to myself, until a few days ago.

We have a tiny house, and as much as I would like to be relaxed about squeezing 20 people in for food and games, the thought always makes me tense. I am also really particular about the food. I like unusual and festive gourmet selections and lots of variety, served on platters and plates with gold trim; over-the-top perfection was what I was aiming for, but my wanting everything to be “perfect” was also exhausting. I was taking on the role of party planner/caterer, not a family member celebrating.

My brother Bob hosted an 84th birthday party for my mother on Saturday. I noticed how relaxed and comfortable he and his fiance seemed. They served salad, rolls and meatballs in sauce. The food was simple and good. My sister Jayne brought the dessert. It was nice. It felt in pretty big contrast to the way I orchestrated our Christmas. I told my brother how much I appreciated his approach and he said that he loved doing it, and an idea hit me; I wonder if he would want to host the Christmas Eve party? I asked, and he did. It turns out that Kim (his fiance) had always wanted this too.

As Jack and I were driving home from the party he said, “You are not going to believe this, but I had been thinking about asking Bob and Kim if they would host the Christmas Eve party. I almost called him up a few weeks ago, but I felt that you needed to be the one to “hand it over”. I cannot tell you how happy I am about this, and I didn’t need to say a thing!”

I am happy about it too. I am ready for new experiences, new ways of doing things, seeing things….very fitting for the upcoming season I think!

Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth, shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

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