Sacred Life Sunday - January 20, 2008

A walk with the Divine... sharing my day in less than 5 minutes. :)



Open My Heart - Lisa Thiel

Open My Heart...

Sacred Life Sunday January 13 (a few hours late)

I don't really know where to begin after a very full weekend with so much still processing.
The above pics are from Evergreen Cemetery in Santa Cruz. It is one of our oldest cemeteries in CA and I go there from time to time to honor those who've crossed, find peace, and visit the beautiful guardian trees that seem to twist and shelter and reach the sky.
It's another sacred place where I find answers, sometimes to questions that I many not realize or sometimes don't necessarily want to hear the answers for. You have to love the universe for her wit and pokes... which in all honesty, I am truly grateful.

I spent some time with a good friend who is suffering a great deal of pain with fibromyalgia. She's taken the past several weeks off to rest and also because for a short while, she had no choice. Walking a very short distance can be a challenge let alone the common everyday things I take for granted. That said, what's probably hardest is she is very independent and just the thought of having to depend on others or asking for help is like a mountain to her. A mountain I can relate to.
I made a large pot of rustic meat and veg stew and we spent a good amount of time in awe of the past year and what we'd like to see manifest. She had mentioned that we were alike in that we push too much at times and ignore subtle messages to slow or rest... or to say no. She said, "It's not those subtle pokes that get me... it's those semi trucks!" which we both laughed at - probably not so much out of the humor but the recognition of it. She's doing much better and on the road to recovery though it is a slow one - we are enjoying good days and making the best of the not so good days. I hate - hate - hate seeing people in pain, especially loved ones yet we both spoke of how there are lessons to be learned and that they aren't always apparent right off - especially when you're standing shoulder deep in it. I love her. I love her spirit. I love her heart. We ended our time with slices of berry pie and vanilla ice cream.
I am so grateful for my health, mobility and ability to move. I don't really spend much time thinking about that... but wow - it's an everyday miracle that I need to be more aware of and acknowledge.
I suffer from migraines and though they can knock me out of the game for a few days, I don't think I will be so quick to complain going forward.
It's amazing how our bodies, minds, spirit... and Divine remind us in so many ways with so many messages - if we only listen.

I have another friend whose family are going through such a difficult transition. His Mother has been battling cancer for a short while and in that time, the transitions have been swift. The last update was quite grim and the family have been told that she has hours left. I can't imagine. I'm happy that her pain will be over as she's suffering. I know she will be at peace but my heart aches for her family, my friend. I pray that her transition is as peaceful as possible.

Instead of lyrics to a song, I wanted to share some more quotes that move me.

There are incalculable resources in the human spirit, once it has been set free. - Hubert H. Humphrey

Everyone has in them something precious that is in no one else. - Martin Buber

Could a greater miracle take place than for us to look through each other's eyes for an instant? - Henry David Thoreau

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. - Mother Teresa

What do we live for if not to make life less difficult for each other? - George Eliot

You cannot do a kindness too soon for you never know how soon it will be too late. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. - Mother Teresa

Whatever your past has been, you have a spotless future. - Melanie Gustafson

Encourage one another. Many times a word of praise or thanks or appreciation or cheer has kept a person on their feet. - Charles Swindoll

Nobody should move faster than their guardian angel can fly. - Anonymous

There is in each of us so much goodness that if we could see its glow, it would light the world. - Sam Friend

There are many wonderful things that will never be done ifyou do not do them. - Charles D Gill

Determine that the thing shall be done, and then you shall find a way. Abraham Lincoln.

Gizmo goes Whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Coconut Macaroons
Ina Garten

14 ounces sweetened shredded coconut
14 ounces sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 extra-large egg whites, at room temperature
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

Combine the coconut, condensed milk, and vanilla in a large bowl. Whip the egg whites and salt on high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment until they make medium-firm peaks. Carefully fold the egg whites into the coconut mixture.

Drop the batter onto sheet pans lined with parchment paper using either a 1 3/4-inch diameter ice cream scoop, or 2 teaspoons. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden brown. Cool and serve.

Cheesecake in the oven...


PHILADELPHIA New York-Style Strawberry Swirl Cheesecake
http://www.kraftfoods.com/kf/home.htm

Ingredients:
* 1 cup HONEY MAID Graham Cracker Crumbs
* 3 Tbsp. sugar
* 3 Tbsp. butter, melted
* 5 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
* 1 cup sugar
* 3 Tbsp. flour
* 1 Tbsp. vanilla
* 1 cup BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream
* 4 eggs
* 1/3 cup SMUCKER'S® Seedless Strawberry Jam

# PREHEAT oven to 325°F. Line 13x9-inch baking pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan. Mix cracker crumbs, 3 Tbsp. sugar and the butter; press firmly onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 10 min.
# BEAT cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, the flour and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust. Gently drop small spoonfuls of jam over batter; cut through batter several times with knife for marble effect.
# BAKE 40 min. or until center is almost set. Cool completely. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight. Lift cheesecake from pan using foil handles. Cut into 16 pieces to serve. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

Heaven Lyrics
The Psychedelic Furs

heaven
is the whole of the heart
and heaven don't tear you apart
yeah heaven
is the whole of the heart
and heaven don't tear you apart
there's too many kings
wanna hold you down
and a world at the window
gone underground
there's a hole in the sky
where the sun don't shine
and a clock on the wall
and it counts my time
and heaven
is the whole of the heart
and heaven don't tear you apart
yeah heaven is the whole of the heart
and heaven don't tear you apart
there's a song on the air
with a love-you line
and a face in a glass
and it looks like mine
and i'm standing on ice when i say
that i don't hear planes
and i scream at the fools
wanna jump my train
and heaven is the whole of the heart
and heaven don't tear you apart
yeah heaven is the whole of the heart
and heaven don't tear you apart
yeah heaven
ah heaven
yeah heaven

Giving never moves in straight lines - it always moves in circles. - Dr Robert Schuller

The easiest thing to be in the world is you. The most difficult thing to be is what other people want you to be. - Leo Buscaglia

Every Spirit builds itself a house, and beond its house a world, and beyond its world a heaven. Know then, that the world exists for you. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

and shared with my by Gaelan:

Traditional Chumach Blessing

Just as the soft rains fill the streams,
pour into the rivers, and join together in the oceans,
so may the power of every moment of your goodness
flow forth to awaken and heal all beings--
those here now, those gone before, those yet to come.

By the power of every moment of your goodness,
may your heart's wishes be soon fulfilled
as completely shining as the bright full moon,
as magically as by a wish-fulfilling gem.

By the power of every moment of your goodness,
may all dangers be averted and all disease be gone.
May no obstacle come across your way.
May you enjoy fulfillment and long life.

For all in whose heart dwells respect,
who follow the wisdom and compassion, of the Way,
may your life prosper in the four blessings
of old age, beauty, happiness and strength.

Kindred Spirit
Cyndi Lauper

If you think you're hearing something
And you can't think what it is
If you feel a quiet longing
Lift your heart into the wind
There you'll find my kindred spirit
There you'll meet me as a friend
It is just a kindred feeling
And a song to let you in...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!