Acknowledging...

Hurry, fast, fleeting thoughts, write them down. As I sit near the fire this Sunday morning, and read Paul’s words in Philippians, I am so reminded of a recent conversation I had with my friend Kay. While she has an incredibly busy life in North Carolina and I speak to her less and less each year, what I realized once more yesterday is the power of words, and more so, the power of acknowledgement. Let me flush this out. When we have a conversation with the people that are dearest to our hearts, and they fully listen and acknowledge us, the value of this experience becomes priceless.

We all have certain love languages. Love languages that we naturally express and want to receive. While ‘getting stuff’ is always fun, I learned long ago that ‘time spent’ with people and physical touch are my two love languages that I thrive in. I don’t need the people closest to me to provide me with things that will break and be outgrown, but what makes me smile for days afterward are the conversations of the deep and words truly acknowledging and understanding me. How simple, how easy, how amazing these are. And the question that comes to mind this Sunday morning is also, how often do we each do this?” Are we acknowledging and affirming each other, so similar to Paul’s words in Philippians.

I am reminded of what Jesus must feel, what our Heavenly Father must be reminded of when we earnestly, when we genuinely come to Him. Coming to Him, as we acknowledge who He is in our lives. God the Father does not need our acknowledgement, He does not need our love. He allows the most amazing sunsets and sunrises, wonders of nature of quake with the new dawn’s day and tends to the lilies of the valley and all of the living creatures. Surely He does not need His earthly children to acknowledge Him and say “Abba,” “Papa?” But, I think that He wants this. We get Jesus, we get to cultivate relationship with his Son everyday if we want to and we have the opportunity to constantly ask questions to Jesus that may not leave our lips otherwise.

We were given the opportunity for relationship because of Christ and I am reminded what God the Father must love so deeply, so profoundly, as one of His children simply acknowledges Him. Are we able to stop, and simply look around us each day, remembering what we have been given, in the midst of daily lives filled with families, responsibilities, stop and go traffic, lines at the gas station and chaos within the economy?

It must be like the prodigal son returning for the first time when we come back to Him, or stop and acknowledge Him that overflows His heart. It must be an awesome thing for a parent to have their children, regardless of age simply say “I love you,’ and acknowledge them truly.

Oh, the beauty in the simple things in life. What profound impact we have in the lives of people we love when we stop and acknowledge, love and listen to those we hold close to our hearts, regardless of age, distance and origin of relationship.

Sister E

The Abbey

03.07.10

Another Sister...

How is the Sisterhood formed? It is an interesting and complex process.. one which has and will continue to necessitate important formal measures and a great deal of common sense.
Many of you may have seen the plea on Facebook, or the add placed on Craigs list about our need for another roommate. The add read something about five women, a dog and two rats, (now adding a turtle...), all wanting one more roommate. Here is the replies I have gotten in the past few weeks:

1. Joy- a woman who is moving from London to be a Doctor. (why is her English terrible?)
2. Another woman moving from Mexico.. she wants to be a fashion designer..
3. Steve.. military guy..
4. Nick... mechanic and married??
5. Another woman.. fashion designer with REALLY bad English.. guess she doesn't smoke..
6. Rock Woman.. has a pit bull.. guess he's nice, but the picture just looked ugly.
7. High school student from Kansas.. misses AK...
8. Rob.. another mechanic? I am starting to see a theme.
9. Another fashion designer... also a model? Why Alaska?... I don't know.
10. Bob... DuDE!! Its a house full of women... seriously!!? Do you know what you are asking for?

The final conclusion being that we still have an open room, so if anyone wants to come and stay for the night.. we have a bed all made up!
Some times its worth it to keep things the way they are for a while.
Goodnight. S.C.

chaining...

Sista K. is chaining.. and making shells. With a bundle of "Aunt Fang" Yarn while I must sit and do my "homework" on the 6th floor of the Universities Library. How does this happen I wonder. She, my dear sister, sits enjoying her tea, crocheting a lovely hat while I painfully begin working on another semester of school. Making shells seems much more feminine and lovely.
Maybe I should reconsider the path of the successful career. Is it really worth the fuss?

Shells and Chains, Chains and Shells
A wonderful world it should be.
Little fluffs of winding yarn,
passed down from toothy lady.

Maybe, just maybe I will slip away.
NEVER more this work I say!
Hole me up in the woods.
Joy in such simple things.

Alas I go, again to filth
the mind afront with dying time.
The books the air chills me so.
A sister smiles and chains again.

S.C.

Moosing around

Upon walking across the yard this evening my eyes beheld a strange sight. A horse!
There it was in the middle of our driveway. I squinted my eyes. It looked up at me, then turned its head...It was not a horse. It was a moose!
The moment my concious recognized the shape, my faithful friend also realized our potential danger. Bold, Beautiful and Brave, our dear dog sped down the path. Barking and growling she charged the lanky moose.
The moose turned again, dropped its head and in turn, charged the speeding black dog! They collided and Dear Alli tumbled underneath the stomping legs of the moose. In the same instance I beheld another large form emerging from the woods. ANOTHER MOOSE! This one too joined in the attack on the small dark form which had managed to slip under the thundering hooves and into the ditch. The moose followed her fearful body into the woods as I began to call her back to me again.
Then there was stillness.
My maternal heart was beating more rapidly, until breaking through the underbrush I saw our heroine bursting into the yard and running to me.
Upon inspection D.A. seems to be physically sound, though her soul has been wounded and is now in recovery. Your sentiments are welcome.
Sister C.

New Year

One post right after the other. It's almost too much! But I know that all of us Abbey girls are going to look back at upon this blog with such appreciation that I cannot hold back my entry! Not when the Abbey needs me!

Besides, I have been waiting for this moment. Today is the fifth day of the new year. This is the moment where all I've learned from the past year comes flooding back. The picture organizing may have had a great deal to do with this. And not to mention my half-asleep brain which causes my mind to wander...

Ah-hem! Back to the fact of the matter...

Recently I have been...
1. Thinking of all my friends.*
2. Appreciating all of my friends.*

*Literally all.
Each of us has come a long way in the last 6 months since I got back. And all of it is due to ME and ME being back home and changing everyone's lives for the GOOD!

Just kidding. Actually I was thinking of how each one of us has come a long way in the sorts of growing up some more. Like how God teaches us Truth and we become mature so we can withstand anything. And I was thinking of how all my friends have really helped to establish Truth in my life. Like little seeds that have come to bloom in their own time. It's great! I am really thankful for all the good influences in my life!

Gracias Everybody!
Happy New Year!

Sistah K.

Abbey Jokes

S.K "why do women typically have smaller feet than men?"

S.C. "I don't know."

S.K. "So they can stand closer to the stove."


S.C. "What did one Nun say to the other Nun?"

S.K. "I dont know.. what?"

S.C. "Nunthing!"

S.K. "here are some yummy apple peals..."

S.C. "oh thank you!!"

a minute later... "OH!!! my... sour!!!"
"sistah K... was there some lemon in here!!???"

S.K.. "Oh, yeah there was..." snicker.. snicker from the kitchen tonight...

The "WOOOOO Chamber"

Every home... every Abbey for that matter has various rooms with all of their various functions.
There is the "Annex" which historically has been a cold and lonely room with stacks of sea shells and ski's. The "Shack" is secretly a lovely yellow cabin nestled in the snow.. and sistah K's room.
The "Office" is the sunny room with 70's flooring, computers and craft supplies filling the corners. The "Robin-Egg-Blue" room has served as a lovely bedroom for two of our sisters... the "Plum" room is Sister E's chamber, the "Chilly Tan" room is currently open and occasionally occupied by the returning and leaving sister K.S. Of course there is a kitchen, the "loo", the "sauna" (living room.) and now there is the "Woooo room". Sistah K and I decided that it needed a room.. all the Woooo type activities that often take place there helped to decide the new Abbey room name.
Sister C.