Camaraderie

I am one who enjoys being silly at times. I am one who has fun hanging out with friends. I am one who know that you can erase silly mistakes and brush away those mistakes.

I hope this doesn't mean I will be making silly mistakes all week! I love these girls! They are joyful and have a camaraderie that is apparent. They are willing to make mistakes and know that it will not be the end of the world if they do.

Cared for

I am one who is cracked, not completely whole. I am one who feels caged. I am one who is a bright spot in the bleakness.

Not sure how to read this card. I just found out my dad is taking a taxi to the ER because no one in town answered the phone. So things feel a little bleak to me at the moment. I do feel caged by the pain and the exhaustion. But I am a glass have full kind of girl, so I always look to the positive side of things. I have a great family (in-laws included) and my husband is very supportive of my physical problems. I am unable to do a lot of the things I would like to, but I am hopeful that I can change that by researching and trying new things. The biggest lifesaver for me has been the Paleo Diet. Without that I would be having more trouble with my Fibromyalgia. Perhaps I should look at this not as a cage, but an opportunity to be cared for by someone else!

Bursting Forth

I am one who is ancient. I am one who has been buried for centuries. I am one who is bursting forth. I am one who is using ancient knowledge to make my way down the mountain.

I am continuing to learn from others and am trying to use that knowledge to help me.

Yesterday I saw a man who works with the pain management doctor. He will test my tension levels and show me how to relax. That will be good. I got great feed back from him on my attitude toward the pain and he was glad to hear I had a great support system and am working on my spiritual self.

Stretching

I am one who is learning to take better care of myself. I am one learning to relax. I am one stretching to learn new things.

I really need to put exercise into my routine. I talk the talk but as yet haven't walked the walk. Which is amusing, since my job supports local walks for hunger relief! It is a vicious cycle, no energy to walk, but walking would give me energy! Of course the weather is a problem. 101 degrees is not good to walk in. I really need to just set my alarm and get out there and walk!

Reflections

I am one who is watching. I am one whose vision is reflected out to the world.

The library had a book by Jean Shinoda Bolen I hadn't read, Crossing to Avalon : a woman's midlife pilgrimage. I have just started it but the subject intrigues me. In my watching/reading. I hope to find my bliss and a new direction for my life path. Let's hope my bliss will be reflected to the world.

Uncut Jewel

I am one who is uncut, looking for ways to remove those parts of me that block the brilliance that is my being. I am one who is living in a barren place of pain.

I am tired and in pain. I as still looking for ways to improve my health through other means than pharmaceuticals. I am hoping that my search is not hindered by seriously bad health. I am trying to stay positive and keep positive people around me. I am looking to keep more joy in my life.

Tied to Pain

I am one who is tied to this tired, painful body. I am one who is looking for ways to release me from the pain and exhaustion. I am one who is looking forward to the time of freedom from the stuff that keeps me tied to resting and inactivity.

My energy levels have been extremely low and the fibromyalgia has been rearing its ugly head. It is all I can do when I get home from work to watch TV or read. I will soon be done with the training of the new person at the church. That will free up my mornings for more rest or if the energy is there to clear out the stuff in my studio.

Am I a Wildflower or Weed?

I am one who is spiritually growing like a weed. I am one who is able to nurture others, even those different from me. I am one who is cheerful but can also make some people cringe.

Dandelions can be either joy or scourge. But still a colorful part of nature. I think dandelions suit me well. I am colorful and cheerful and send out ideas to land where they can sprout and grow. Some people love my ideas, others not so much!

I am in the middle of long-distance support of an ailing father and step-mom. I can be positive and helpful from here but will need to get to Tucson soon.

Putting things in order

I am one who loves color. I am one who craves order. I am one who loves a sharp pencil.

This card comes up frequently lately. I am sure that means I still haven't gotten the message it is trying to send me. I am trying to get my studio in order, so I can clear out the stuff that I know longer need. My problem is the energy to do that. I seem to be getting back into the chronic fatigue stage, which means I have to be extra careful with my diet and hope that the fibromyalgia doesn't act up as well. Perhaps it will keep coming up until I do actually get things in order.

Going Around in Circles

I am one who is open to the world. I am one who feels like I am going around in circles. I am one who is finding ways to clear the clutter from my chambers. I am one who will follow the spiral to the center of what is the true me.

I feel like this card is telling me to start paying attention to my where my path is going. Not just go where life leads me. I need to be more intentional, find the center and go that way. Still on the letting go and clearing out the clutter. Maybe someday I will actually hear that and work harder at it.

Treasure of Life

I am one who is looking for the treasure of life. I am one who can see the value in everyday things. I am one who glows with an inner light. I am one who knows that you must work hard to achieve success. I am one who knows that all that glitters is not gold.

This is still about the process of letting go. Working hard to find the treasure, which is my spiritual self. Searching for what is true and right for me. I do need to keep my inner light glowing and not be distracted by the shiny stuff, the stuff that looks good but has no meaning.

Loved

I am one who feels loved. I am one who feels a connection to family. I am one who embraces the difference in people.

I am feeling very close to my family today. My oldest son took time out of his busy schedule to try to arrange a quick visit on Father's Day. They will be up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and will hopefully make a quick stop in Austin on the way home to Houston.

Repaint My Life

I am one who is changing my look. I am one who is repainting the walls of my life and giving them more vibrancy. I am one who is having fun anticipating the new me!

I started this process in October and have stalled due to some health issues. The process continues but at a slower pace that I had anticipated. I have begun the arduous task of sorting my studio. As I move from one focus to another I find I have too many things related to the old focus and am working hard to sort and toss things so I can sell or give them away. That is very hard as they have become a symbol of who I am/was and it is an very emotional process of letting go.

Our pastor intern, Aaron White, gave his last sermon on June 1. It was titled Hello, I Love You, I'm Sorry, Goodbye. (When the sermon is posted it will be at: http://liveoakuu.org/sermons.html) He really made me think hard about what is important to me and my family. And a lot of art supplies I will never use are not important, they just feel that way. It is all about letting go of the things that don't feed and nurture your life/soul.

So I will be clearing out my horded supplies. That is good news for my friends who are still in the genre of art I was in when I collected the bits and bobs mixed media collage artists and rubber stampers need. I may get back into it at some point, but then I will have the joy of collecting it all again if I need to later!

Light a candle for peace

I am one who lights a candle for peace in my life. I am one who is hopeful that my small light will make a difference. I am one who is trying to see the big picture.

This card makes me hopeful about the changes going on in my life and in the world. I know that peace is something that we all strive for, whether it is at home or work, out community or the world. I am hoping that the political process will move our country back into sync with the rest of the world. We seem to have gotten off track the last few years and have been a maverick nation. And not in a good way. I hope that our next president will implement some effective foreign policies and move forward to rescue the environment. Not to mention the need for national health care reform. I am looking forward to some positive news!

Give Praise!

I am one who is willing to stand up for what I believe in. I am one who is not afraid of being obvious in my beliefs. I am one who is joyful about my beliefs.

I am so lucky to be in a community where your beliefs are yours and unquestioned as to validity. My church will let me explore the world's vast spirituality practices and find what works for me. I am feeling a great spiritual growth working with the women of my church. Stand up and give praise!

Greener Grass

I am one who is looking over to see if the grass is greener. I am one who feels boxed in. I am one who is anticipating what is coming up.

This cow always makes me smile and "dream of England". I love the lush green countryside and the rural settings where you feel like you are the only one around, but you know that there is always someone close by. Texas is so not like that. When you feel like there is no one around, there probably isn't anyone around. And unless you happen to hit a rainy time of year, or are on the coast, there isn't mush lush and green to be had.

Don't get me wrong, I love Texas! But there is something to be said for lush and green and how it can feed your soul!

Dance Thru Life!

I am one who loves color. I am one who is dancing with abandon. I am one flows through life.

I love this card! It makes be think about where we would be without color in our life. And how easy it is to not see the beauty in life when we forget that life is a dance! And it is not about the mechanics of life, but about the joy!

Sunday night I went to a celebration of Oya, a West African Orisha (goddess), who is known as Goddess of immortality and women's changes. I decided that this card represents Oya to me.

Being watched

I am one who is watching. I am one who is unaware of being watched. I am one who is living my life happily without worrying if someone is watching.

Ok, so I am working on this. I am trying hard to let go of all of society's rules about how you should look. I am finding my own style. My sewing machine and serger are out and I am clearing space to cut out some cloth to make some clothes for the summer. I am almost done with the training of the new administrator and that will free up 20 hours a week!

Looking for Time

I am one who is looking for time. I am one who feels overbooked. I am one who is very aware of the time I have left in this body. I am one looking for ways to extend that time.
This is a card I made Sunday at my group. Everyone who saw it said it make their blood pressure rise! I have just finished updating my calendar with doctor visits and physical therapy sessions. It hardly leaves time for the fun stuff!