Saying Goodbye

Today I joined with family, old friends, and strangers to say goodbye - and wish a peaceful journey to - my godmother, Connie.  Connie was one of those people who shined her bright inner light onto everyone around her.  I will miss her as will all of us who were lucky enough to have had her in our lives.

Connie and I on my first birthday

At her house this afternoon I read this poem for the first time.  My mother, her best friend from childhood, had written it in calligraphy for Connie nearly two decades ago when her mother passed away.  I don't have words of my own to share, so I share these instead.


"I am standing upon the seashore.  A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the ocean blue.  She is an object of beauty and strength.  I stand and watch until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.


Then someone at my side says; 'There, she is gone!'  Gone where?  Gone from my sight.  That is all.  She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as when she left my side and just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.  Her diminished size is in me, not in her.


And just at the moment when someone at my side says, 'There, she is gone,' there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad shout; 'Here she comes!'  And that is dying."


~Henry Van Dyke

Winter Solstice - Celebrating the Return to Light

In an effort to be mindful of the changing seasons and the rhythms of darkness to light in the world around us, we made and lit beeswax candles this evening after I returned from a peaceful and meditative Winter Solstice service.  (I will take the kids to walk the labyrinth tomorrow - their energy and the mood of tonight's labyrinth walk were not in alignment.)  The last time we made these candles was two years ago and the kids and I missed it last year.  In fact, I was surprised by how many times they've mentioned it and asked when we would make candles again.  I believe that this is an example of a family ritual in the making although it was not necessarily intended to be.  Sometimes these just call to our spirits, don't they?

Wishing you a bright Solstice from our family to yours on this longest night of the year!

"Long, these nights of Winter, rain dancing in the shadows lit by stars of wonder,

this light born anew...

Joy,

a seed in my heart, kindled by this deep rest, when all is silent, all is holy, all possible...

Wake,

from dreams of slumber and live this gift of life, this path of twists and turns unknown...

Be the sound that is you...

a precious spark singing into the coming dawn..."

~Lea Goode-Harris

This Moment - Hibernating at...um...the beach

{this moment} - A Friday ritual inspired by SouleMama.  A single photo capturing a moment from the week.  A simple, special, extraordinary moment.  A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  If you feel so inspired, please share your moment here, too!

"I don't think it is possible to make up for years of sleep deprivation in one week, but you sure are making a valiant effort."  ~(My) IronMan