I'm a coffee lover. I like my coffee in the morning. I also like finding new ways to enjoy coffee. One thing I've never considered putting in coffee is butter, but that's what they put in it in Ethiopia. It sounds delicious and I'm going to have to try it.
According to Marcus Samuelsson the coffee is roasted and then brewed. After it's brewed a dollop of spiced butter is added. I don't know where I can find coffee like this in Las Vegas, I know it's not on the menu of any coffee house I've ever been in. I might have to find a recipe for the spiced butter and make the coffee myself. I'll have to buy some Ethiopian coffee beans and grind them here at home. This is definitely a coffee I have to try.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Saturday, September 29, 2007
An Abudance of Coffee Mugs
4 Mashiyyat 164 B.E. - Saturday, September 29, 2007 about 7:35 PM PDT
I am rich. I am wealthy. I have an abundance of coffee mugs. I have so many coffee mugs that my cupboards won't hold them all. So what happens, I picked up a box of kitchen stuff off freecycle the other day and there were coffee mugs in it as well. The difference here is that it is a matching set. The rest of my mugs aren't matching sets.
So what am I going to do? I'm going to keep the matching set and take the rest of the coffee mugs to the garage. I'll put them beside the Tupperware tumblers I took out today. I didn't say there were real glass water glasses and juice glasses in the box of kitchen stuff. The glasses were matching sets as well.
Now I have matching sets of coffee cups, water glasses and juice glasses. I can now get rid of the plastic tumblers and the mismatched coffee mugs. I'm not sure what I'll do with them yet. Probably offer them on freecycle and if no one wants them then I'll take them to a second hand shop or one of the local charities. Somebody must want them, they're still good it's just that I prefer to drink water, juice and soda out of real glass.
I grew up drinking water, juice and soda out of real glass. I like the taste of ice water in a glass instead of a plastic tumbler. The water feels colder in glass than in plastic. All right, so there probably isn't any real difference in the temperature. Any more than coffee tastes different in a set of matching cups than in mismatched mugs. That doesn't matter, it's the idea of drinking ice tea or water out of a glass. It's the idea of drinking coffee out of a matching set of cups.
Drinking coffee out of matching cups brings back memories of my childhood. My grandmother had matching coffee cups. She had real glass water and tea glasses, not crystal mind you but ordinary glass. When I was a child we drink out of them, they weren't just to look at they were to use.
My grandmother had two sets of dishes. She had a set that she used during the week and a "good" set that she used when we had "friends over", on holidays and on Sunday. I'm getting nostalgia, next I'll be talking about the "good old days", which by the way probably weren't all that great unless you were a kid and didn't have to worry about anything but playing.
I am rich. I am wealthy. I have an abundance of coffee mugs. I have so many coffee mugs that my cupboards won't hold them all. So what happens, I picked up a box of kitchen stuff off freecycle the other day and there were coffee mugs in it as well. The difference here is that it is a matching set. The rest of my mugs aren't matching sets.
So what am I going to do? I'm going to keep the matching set and take the rest of the coffee mugs to the garage. I'll put them beside the Tupperware tumblers I took out today. I didn't say there were real glass water glasses and juice glasses in the box of kitchen stuff. The glasses were matching sets as well.
Now I have matching sets of coffee cups, water glasses and juice glasses. I can now get rid of the plastic tumblers and the mismatched coffee mugs. I'm not sure what I'll do with them yet. Probably offer them on freecycle and if no one wants them then I'll take them to a second hand shop or one of the local charities. Somebody must want them, they're still good it's just that I prefer to drink water, juice and soda out of real glass.
I grew up drinking water, juice and soda out of real glass. I like the taste of ice water in a glass instead of a plastic tumbler. The water feels colder in glass than in plastic. All right, so there probably isn't any real difference in the temperature. Any more than coffee tastes different in a set of matching cups than in mismatched mugs. That doesn't matter, it's the idea of drinking ice tea or water out of a glass. It's the idea of drinking coffee out of a matching set of cups.
Drinking coffee out of matching cups brings back memories of my childhood. My grandmother had matching coffee cups. She had real glass water and tea glasses, not crystal mind you but ordinary glass. When I was a child we drink out of them, they weren't just to look at they were to use.
My grandmother had two sets of dishes. She had a set that she used during the week and a "good" set that she used when we had "friends over", on holidays and on Sunday. I'm getting nostalgia, next I'll be talking about the "good old days", which by the way probably weren't all that great unless you were a kid and didn't have to worry about anything but playing.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Feast of Mashiyyat
1 Mashiyyat 164 B.E. - Thursday, September 27, 2007 about 10:55 AM PDT
I attended the Feast of Mashiyyat last night, this was the first of the decentralized feast we held in the an individuals home. The feast was spiritual and intriguing. It's been several years since I attended a nineteen day feast in someone's home. I volunteered to do the reading s for the feast on the evening of October 15 and I'll write more about this in a later entry.
Mashiyyat is looking to be a busy month. Today is Thankful Thursday in the yahoo journal writing group and I haven't considered what my Gratitude journal entry will be yet. On the first sign-ups for NaNoWriMo begin, I'm going to enter again this year, but rather than write a novel without a plan I'm planning. Planning for the novel begins on October 1 and NaNoWriMo begins on November 1. Also the firs of the Interfaith Forums 2007 is held in Mashiyyat (at the moment, I'm not sure what I did with the flyer so I'll have to find it before I post any more about the forums).
I attended the Feast of Mashiyyat last night, this was the first of the decentralized feast we held in the an individuals home. The feast was spiritual and intriguing. It's been several years since I attended a nineteen day feast in someone's home. I volunteered to do the reading s for the feast on the evening of October 15 and I'll write more about this in a later entry.
Mashiyyat is looking to be a busy month. Today is Thankful Thursday in the yahoo journal writing group and I haven't considered what my Gratitude journal entry will be yet. On the first sign-ups for NaNoWriMo begin, I'm going to enter again this year, but rather than write a novel without a plan I'm planning. Planning for the novel begins on October 1 and NaNoWriMo begins on November 1. Also the firs of the Interfaith Forums 2007 is held in Mashiyyat (at the moment, I'm not sure what I did with the flyer so I'll have to find it before I post any more about the forums).
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
The Only thing I want to do
19 'Izzat 164 B.E. - Wednesday, September 26, 2007 about 3:50 PM PDT
After seven months of stress, tests and difficulties, I've come to one conclusion. There is only one thing I like to do and that is write. That is the reason I joined writing.com and that is the reason I have four blogs. However, I'm not sure anyone is reading any of my blogs. So for the next nineteen days (September 27 to October 15) I'm going to research and implement ways to increase my blog readership. I'm a writer and a writer without readers is like a song without someone to sing it.
I haven't had comments in this blog in a while, part of the reason could be my slip shod method of entries. I don't make entries for days at a time, that's changing. In fact, there is a lot of things going to change in my life, but I won't go into everything in this entry. I might or I might not in later entries. The focus of this blog is writing about transformation and the spiritual experience from a personal point of view. If anyone is reading this please leave a comment and let me know what you think.
After seven months of stress, tests and difficulties, I've come to one conclusion. There is only one thing I like to do and that is write. That is the reason I joined writing.com and that is the reason I have four blogs. However, I'm not sure anyone is reading any of my blogs. So for the next nineteen days (September 27 to October 15) I'm going to research and implement ways to increase my blog readership. I'm a writer and a writer without readers is like a song without someone to sing it.
I haven't had comments in this blog in a while, part of the reason could be my slip shod method of entries. I don't make entries for days at a time, that's changing. In fact, there is a lot of things going to change in my life, but I won't go into everything in this entry. I might or I might not in later entries. The focus of this blog is writing about transformation and the spiritual experience from a personal point of view. If anyone is reading this please leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
A Good Book
16 'Izzat 164 B.E. - Sunday, September 23, 2007 about 9:27 AM PDTIt's amazing what you find when you open a book and leaf through it's pages. I found the book mark in one of my personal library books. I don't remember starting to read the book, but lately the stress level has raised to a rash so it's possible I started to read the book before March 12.
The book I found the marker in is The Purpose of Physical Reality: The Kingdom of Names by John S. Hatcher. This book suggest an answer to the question: Why did God ordain spiritual beings (humans/human soul) begin their lives in the physical world?
The book is divided into four (long) chapters. Chapter 1: The Search for Divine Justice in the Physical World. Chapter 2: The Baha'i Paradigm of Physical Reality. Chapter 3: A Guide to the Physical Classroom. Chapter 4: The Eternal Consequence of the Physical Experience. These chapters are further subdivided into sections. In the book Dr. Hatcher backs up his assertions with quotes from various scriptural and non-scriptural sources.
When it comes to reading this book, I think I'll just start at the beginning again, using the book mark to keep my place.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Hot Coffee on a Cold Morning
15 'Izzat 164 B.E. - Saturday, September 22, 2007 about 6:55 AM PDT
There is nothing like a hot cup of coffee on a cold morning or even a chilly morning. It feels cold to me especially after the rain last night. I didn't go to bed until after 1:00 AM, then I got up and turned the alarm off about 4:00 AM and then I sit down on the couch and dozed until about 6:30 AM. I said my morning prayer and made coffee. The coffee smells and tastes good even if I did make it myself.
It's cloudy outside so I expect it will rain again sometime today. That's all right though because I have plenty to do around the house. I didn't get the trash taken out this morning and the garbage trucks have already gone through the neighborhood. I heard them about 6:55 AM. Sometimes they don't pick up the trash until late morning or even afternoon, but this morning they're on the ball and getting it done.
I hadn't planned on taking the trash out anyway. The wind blew so hard yesterday that I didn't get it taken to the curb last night and I was up too late (or perhaps I should say early) to get it out this morning. That's all right, I'll get the trash out Wednesday. Next Saturday I have to be on the ball with the recyclables. I've just about gotten all of them out of the garage, one more load to the curb and my garage won't be backed up in recyclables. That will be one thing I've finally gotten caught up since March.
My mother's been in and out of the hospital since March 12. I'm still trying to catch work up that can only be done quickly and effectively by two people. Mom still can't do a lot of things, so I'm doing most of it, but eventually I'll get it caught up. Well almost everything anyway. I beginning to think there's no such thing as getting the laundry caught up or even completely done. The best that one can hope for with laundry is just to stay ahead of it.
My grandmother did laundry once a week. She washed cloths for herself, my grandfather and four grandchildren. Saturday was laundry day at my grandparents house. She washed the cloths and hung them on the line to dry. She didn't use an automatic dryer, even after automatic dryers came out she still hung her cloths on the line to dry. She did change from a wringer washer to an automatic washer, but she all ways hung her cloths on the line.
Hot coffee, cold or cool mornings and a silent house all ways bring out fond memories from my childhood. I'm not sure why that combination works so well, maybe now that I'm 60 and going on 61 the good memories are coming to the surface. Not that all the memories from ,my childhood are good. I have bad or unpleasant memories as well, but this morning the good memories are surfacing. Perhaps it's because I said my morning prayers, perhaps it's just that the weather reminds me of fall in Oklahoma, or perhaps its a combination.
I have wakened in Thy shelter, O my God, and it becometh him that seeketh that shelter to abide withing the Sanctuary of Thy protection and the Stronghold of Thy defense. Illumine my inner being, O my Lord, with the splendors of the Day-Spring of Thy Revelation, even as Thou didst illumine my outer being with the morning light of Thy favor.
There is nothing like a hot cup of coffee on a cold morning or even a chilly morning. It feels cold to me especially after the rain last night. I didn't go to bed until after 1:00 AM, then I got up and turned the alarm off about 4:00 AM and then I sit down on the couch and dozed until about 6:30 AM. I said my morning prayer and made coffee. The coffee smells and tastes good even if I did make it myself.
It's cloudy outside so I expect it will rain again sometime today. That's all right though because I have plenty to do around the house. I didn't get the trash taken out this morning and the garbage trucks have already gone through the neighborhood. I heard them about 6:55 AM. Sometimes they don't pick up the trash until late morning or even afternoon, but this morning they're on the ball and getting it done.
I hadn't planned on taking the trash out anyway. The wind blew so hard yesterday that I didn't get it taken to the curb last night and I was up too late (or perhaps I should say early) to get it out this morning. That's all right, I'll get the trash out Wednesday. Next Saturday I have to be on the ball with the recyclables. I've just about gotten all of them out of the garage, one more load to the curb and my garage won't be backed up in recyclables. That will be one thing I've finally gotten caught up since March.
My mother's been in and out of the hospital since March 12. I'm still trying to catch work up that can only be done quickly and effectively by two people. Mom still can't do a lot of things, so I'm doing most of it, but eventually I'll get it caught up. Well almost everything anyway. I beginning to think there's no such thing as getting the laundry caught up or even completely done. The best that one can hope for with laundry is just to stay ahead of it.
My grandmother did laundry once a week. She washed cloths for herself, my grandfather and four grandchildren. Saturday was laundry day at my grandparents house. She washed the cloths and hung them on the line to dry. She didn't use an automatic dryer, even after automatic dryers came out she still hung her cloths on the line to dry. She did change from a wringer washer to an automatic washer, but she all ways hung her cloths on the line.
Hot coffee, cold or cool mornings and a silent house all ways bring out fond memories from my childhood. I'm not sure why that combination works so well, maybe now that I'm 60 and going on 61 the good memories are coming to the surface. Not that all the memories from ,my childhood are good. I have bad or unpleasant memories as well, but this morning the good memories are surfacing. Perhaps it's because I said my morning prayers, perhaps it's just that the weather reminds me of fall in Oklahoma, or perhaps its a combination.
Morning Prayer revealed by Baha'u'llah
I have wakened in Thy shelter, O my God, and it becometh him that seeketh that shelter to abide withing the Sanctuary of Thy protection and the Stronghold of Thy defense. Illumine my inner being, O my Lord, with the splendors of the Day-Spring of Thy Revelation, even as Thou didst illumine my outer being with the morning light of Thy favor.
Prayers and Meditations by Baha'u'llah, p. 250
Friday, September 21, 2007
Fall Approaches
14 'Izzat 164 B.E. - Friday, September 21, 2007 about 3:46 PM PDT
Fall approaches, the weather is getting cooler, the sky is covered with clouds and the wind is blower. I watch the wind moving the limbs of the stone pine trees in my front yard. I think of the upcoming events in my life. The next feast is on September 26, the Feast of Mashiyyat (Will). Then in October there is the Feast of 'Ilm (Knowledge) on October 16 and the Birth of the Bab (October 20). I celebrate joining writing.com on October 31.
November is NaNoWriMo and the idea is to write a 50,000 word novel between November 1 and November 30. Also in November are two Feast and three Holy Days. The Feast of Qudrat (Power) is on November 3 and the Feast of Qawl (Speech) on November 22, these feast are held in the evening because Baha'i follow a solar calendar and the day begins at sunset. The Holy Days are the Anniversary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah on November 12, the Day of the Covenant, November 26, and the Ascension of 'Abdul'l-Baha, November 28. At the Feast of Qawl I celebrate becoming a Baha'i.
Fall approaches, the weather is getting cooler, the sky is covered with clouds and the wind is blower. I watch the wind moving the limbs of the stone pine trees in my front yard. I think of the upcoming events in my life. The next feast is on September 26, the Feast of Mashiyyat (Will). Then in October there is the Feast of 'Ilm (Knowledge) on October 16 and the Birth of the Bab (October 20). I celebrate joining writing.com on October 31.
November is NaNoWriMo and the idea is to write a 50,000 word novel between November 1 and November 30. Also in November are two Feast and three Holy Days. The Feast of Qudrat (Power) is on November 3 and the Feast of Qawl (Speech) on November 22, these feast are held in the evening because Baha'i follow a solar calendar and the day begins at sunset. The Holy Days are the Anniversary of the Birth of Baha'u'llah on November 12, the Day of the Covenant, November 26, and the Ascension of 'Abdul'l-Baha, November 28. At the Feast of Qawl I celebrate becoming a Baha'i.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
It's Raining Now
14 'Izzat 164 B.E. - Thursday, September 20, 2007 about 7:54 PM PDT
the blessing of God are descending upon the earth
each drop carried by an angel.
It's raining now
the verses of God flow from the Garden of Paradise
and the Nightingale of Revelation calls to humanity.
It's raining now
the planet is receiving the water of unity
from the clouds of love and faith.
It's raining now
and all the thirsty people are drinking their fill
of the verses of God's promised one.
It's raining now
and the voice of the Nightingale
intones prayers of praise and thanksgiving.
It's raining now
and the Glory of God proclaims
earth as a single tree and humanity it's leaves.
It's raining now
step out of you houses
and feel the rain of God's love.
It's raining now
dance beneath the clouds of faith
and drink your fill of life's water.
Daily writing prompt for September 18, 2007 from yahoo group Daily Writing Practice.
I am dedicating this poem to Baha'u'llah
It's raining nowthe blessing of God are descending upon the earth
each drop carried by an angel.
It's raining now
the verses of God flow from the Garden of Paradise
and the Nightingale of Revelation calls to humanity.
It's raining now
the planet is receiving the water of unity
from the clouds of love and faith.
It's raining now
and all the thirsty people are drinking their fill
of the verses of God's promised one.
It's raining now
and the voice of the Nightingale
intones prayers of praise and thanksgiving.
It's raining now
and the Glory of God proclaims
earth as a single tree and humanity it's leaves.
It's raining now
step out of you houses
and feel the rain of God's love.
It's raining now
dance beneath the clouds of faith
and drink your fill of life's water.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Hot Java
12 'Izzat 164 B.E. - Wednesday, September 19, 2007 about 6:44 AM PDTI went to and read in the 9th Annual Las Vegas Ladies Poetry Night at the reJAVAnate last night. This event hasn't always been at the reJAVAnate, it's been held at several different coffee houses over the past nine years. The title for this years event was Hot Java. My mother read last night as well.
The house was packed and I saw several people I haven't seen in a year. Actually I haven't been to a lot of poetry readings in the past year or is is seven months (it's possible I attended an open mic either in February or March of this year). I went to men's night last month and then read in women's night last night. Other then that I haven't participated in or been to reading in a while. You'd think I'd remember the last time I attended a poetry reading, but the last seven months have been stressful to say the least. I think things are looking up, they appear to be looking up.
Last night's reading was fun. Mom and I had two different drink, when I got there I bought us a hot chai latte and then we got a large Mocha Java. There was also birthday cake there so we had some cake. I haven't had a slice of birthday cake or any type of cake in some time.
Monday, September 17, 2007
'Izzat is half over
10 'Izzat 164 B.E. - Monday, September 17, 2007 about 7:23 AM PDT
'Izzat (Might) is half over, there are precisely nine days left until the next Feast and the next month. The next feast is Mashiyyat (Will). I'm slowly approaching the Feast that marks the anniversary of my declaration of faith in Baha'u'llah. I didn't declare my belief at the Feast of Qawl (Speech) on the evening of November 22, but that was the first Feast I attended after declaring some thirty years ago.
I began dating my journal with the Baha'i date some time after that, but I'm not quite sure when I begin dating the journals that way. I'll have to check my earlier journals to find out. Right now most of those journals are in my bedroom in a trunk. I think I'll start going through the old journals to see what I have that I can work into poems, essays or stories. There are, also, poems that need rewriting.
I'm not sure when I start keeping a journal on a regular basis. However, I don't think I started until after I became a Baha'i. In high school or junior high (middle school) I kept a diary, but that's not a journal. I don't know what happened to it; I don't think it got to Las Vegas, Nevada, from Blackwell, Oklahoma with me.
It's interesting the things we remember and the things we forget. I can remember my first Feast and when it was, but I can't remember precisely when I started a journal. I'm thinking it was after I became a Baha'i and the it had something to do with a class at CCSN (Community College of Southern Nevada) I took. I think the class had something to do with writing and the journal was part of the grade. I'll have to look for my old journals and see.
This year the Feast of Qawl occurs on the evening of Thursday, November 22, and Thanksgiving falls on that day as well. I'm supposed to go to my nieces for Thanksgiving Dinner that day and Feast occurs at 7:00 P.M. I'm not sure whether there is a conflict here or not, I won't know until I contact my niece and see what time she is planning on serving dinner. I there is a conflict then I'll go to my nieces, I've already accepted the invention and I think that it's God's will that Mom and I spend Thanksgiving with her and her family.
'Izzat (Might) is half over, there are precisely nine days left until the next Feast and the next month. The next feast is Mashiyyat (Will). I'm slowly approaching the Feast that marks the anniversary of my declaration of faith in Baha'u'llah. I didn't declare my belief at the Feast of Qawl (Speech) on the evening of November 22, but that was the first Feast I attended after declaring some thirty years ago.
I began dating my journal with the Baha'i date some time after that, but I'm not quite sure when I begin dating the journals that way. I'll have to check my earlier journals to find out. Right now most of those journals are in my bedroom in a trunk. I think I'll start going through the old journals to see what I have that I can work into poems, essays or stories. There are, also, poems that need rewriting.
I'm not sure when I start keeping a journal on a regular basis. However, I don't think I started until after I became a Baha'i. In high school or junior high (middle school) I kept a diary, but that's not a journal. I don't know what happened to it; I don't think it got to Las Vegas, Nevada, from Blackwell, Oklahoma with me.
It's interesting the things we remember and the things we forget. I can remember my first Feast and when it was, but I can't remember precisely when I started a journal. I'm thinking it was after I became a Baha'i and the it had something to do with a class at CCSN (Community College of Southern Nevada) I took. I think the class had something to do with writing and the journal was part of the grade. I'll have to look for my old journals and see.
This year the Feast of Qawl occurs on the evening of Thursday, November 22, and Thanksgiving falls on that day as well. I'm supposed to go to my nieces for Thanksgiving Dinner that day and Feast occurs at 7:00 P.M. I'm not sure whether there is a conflict here or not, I won't know until I contact my niece and see what time she is planning on serving dinner. I there is a conflict then I'll go to my nieces, I've already accepted the invention and I think that it's God's will that Mom and I spend Thanksgiving with her and her family.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
I Bought a New Mop
9 'Izzat 164 B.E. - Sunday, September 16, 2007 about 1:21 PM PDT
I bought a new spaghetti mop last week, but when I bought it I wasn't thinking ahead. I didn't get any Pine Sole (which Grandma Newland) always put in her mop water. So when I mopped the floor I had to use bleach and laundry detergent. That will be all right for a while, but I'm going to have to get something else within the next week or so.
The mop is one of those that you wring out by hand. My grandmother used this type of mop or a rag mop all her life. I don't remember her ever using a sponge mop even when her arthritis was acting up. I don't like sponge mops myself, the don't work like I think they should. The new mop I can get a new mop head for when I have to. It's a wonderful mop, it works like a mop should work especially on the difficult spots. True sometimes I have to use a little "elbow grease" (that's how Grandma referred to getting hard dirt up), but the mop works much better than a sponge mop.
I think I can get a mop bucket to wring the mop out, I'll have to check on that. I didn't see anything at the grocery store I bought the mop at, but I'll probably have to go someplace else to get that. Right now I'm using an old cat litter bucket as a mop bucket. It works even if I have to wring the mop out by hand and wash the mop bucket out periodically.
I think I've all ready put the mop in my gratitude journal, but I think I'll do it again. I'll also say a prayer of thank from the prayer book. Things have been bit bit difficult lately, lots of tests and difficulties. I need to learn thankfulness in adversity. I think that was one of the reasons I started my gratitude journal. Lately I've put something in it every day. Sometimes I put only one thing I'm grateful for and sometimes ten things, but I put something in it everyday.
I bought a new spaghetti mop last week, but when I bought it I wasn't thinking ahead. I didn't get any Pine Sole (which Grandma Newland) always put in her mop water. So when I mopped the floor I had to use bleach and laundry detergent. That will be all right for a while, but I'm going to have to get something else within the next week or so.
The mop is one of those that you wring out by hand. My grandmother used this type of mop or a rag mop all her life. I don't remember her ever using a sponge mop even when her arthritis was acting up. I don't like sponge mops myself, the don't work like I think they should. The new mop I can get a new mop head for when I have to. It's a wonderful mop, it works like a mop should work especially on the difficult spots. True sometimes I have to use a little "elbow grease" (that's how Grandma referred to getting hard dirt up), but the mop works much better than a sponge mop.
I think I can get a mop bucket to wring the mop out, I'll have to check on that. I didn't see anything at the grocery store I bought the mop at, but I'll probably have to go someplace else to get that. Right now I'm using an old cat litter bucket as a mop bucket. It works even if I have to wring the mop out by hand and wash the mop bucket out periodically.
I think I've all ready put the mop in my gratitude journal, but I think I'll do it again. I'll also say a prayer of thank from the prayer book. Things have been bit bit difficult lately, lots of tests and difficulties. I need to learn thankfulness in adversity. I think that was one of the reasons I started my gratitude journal. Lately I've put something in it every day. Sometimes I put only one thing I'm grateful for and sometimes ten things, but I put something in it everyday.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Make the Soul Strong
8 'Izzat 164 B.E. - Saturday, September 15, 2007 about 3:03 PM PDT
A list of things that make the soul strong:
A list of things that make the soul strong:
- Tests and difficulties
- Prayer
- Daily reading of the scripture
- Meditation
- Writing in a journal
- Laughter
- Tears
- Joy and sorrow
- Faith
- Spiritual attributes
- Trust in God
- Fear of God
- Knowing that the Creator always keeps promises
- Living by the golden rule
- Going to spiritual services
- Looking for the answer to a prayer when the answer you want doesn't come
- Smiling at others even when they scowl at you
- Searching for truth independently
- Daily work
Friday, September 14, 2007
Noticing the Essential
7 'Izzat 164 B.E. - Friday, September 14, 2007 about 12:06 PM PDT
Love is noticing the essential,
the little thing that unit humanity
into a single race.
Faith is noticing the essential,
the golden thread that run through
the tapestry of religion:
the Golden Rule.
Noticing the essential
bring the scattered segments of humanity
together through love.
Noticing the essential
is searching for truth independently
and judging for one's self.
Noticing the essential
encourages the soul to search
through the darkness for light.
Love is noticing the essential,
the little thing that unit humanity
into a single race.
Faith is noticing the essential,
the golden thread that run through
the tapestry of religion:
the Golden Rule.
Noticing the essential
bring the scattered segments of humanity
together through love.
Noticing the essential
is searching for truth independently
and judging for one's self.
Noticing the essential
encourages the soul to search
through the darkness for light.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Thankful Thursday Gratitude Journal Entry
7 'Izzat 164 B.E. - Thursday, September 13, 2007 about 8:33 PM PDT
Dear Glory,
Today I am thankful for the wind that blows through to olive and stone pine trees in my front yard. When I am outside the wind makes soft music that whispers through the olive leave and pine needle.
Today I am grateful for the bucket of laundry detergent that I bought at Food 4 Less last week. I can wash 150 loads of laundry before I have to get another bucket.
Today I am thankful for the fabric sheets I got at Albertsons' on Monday (maybe I should start making a grocery list before I go to the store and I wouldn't for get anything). I can dry 160 loads of laundry before worrying about getting more.
Today I am grateful for coffee warmed over in the microwave. It taste as good as it did when I first made it this morning or was it yesterday morning. I pour the left over coffee into a Tupperware container and then warm it over in a white microwavable coffee cup.
Today I am thankful for having enough gas in the car to last until Saturday before worrying about where the money for another few gallons will come from.
Today I am grateful for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I had my first peanut butter and jelly sandwich in two years on Monday. I still remember the taste of it and the pleasant memories of my grandparents that came to mind.
Today I am thankful for the mourning doves that eat the olives that fall of the olive tree.
Today I am grateful for the neighbor's cat that walks through my yard everyday and pauses to look through either the living room window or the screened in patio windows.
Today I am thankful for having completed the iVillage course on business before the close of class on September 14.
Today I am grateful for the prayers for praise and gratitude in the Baha'i Prayer book.
Thankfully yours,
Prosperous Snow, Poet 999, Neva F. Darbe
Dear Glory,
Today I am thankful for the wind that blows through to olive and stone pine trees in my front yard. When I am outside the wind makes soft music that whispers through the olive leave and pine needle.
Today I am grateful for the bucket of laundry detergent that I bought at Food 4 Less last week. I can wash 150 loads of laundry before I have to get another bucket.
Today I am thankful for the fabric sheets I got at Albertsons' on Monday (maybe I should start making a grocery list before I go to the store and I wouldn't for get anything). I can dry 160 loads of laundry before worrying about getting more.
Today I am grateful for coffee warmed over in the microwave. It taste as good as it did when I first made it this morning or was it yesterday morning. I pour the left over coffee into a Tupperware container and then warm it over in a white microwavable coffee cup.
Today I am thankful for having enough gas in the car to last until Saturday before worrying about where the money for another few gallons will come from.
Today I am grateful for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I had my first peanut butter and jelly sandwich in two years on Monday. I still remember the taste of it and the pleasant memories of my grandparents that came to mind.
Today I am thankful for the mourning doves that eat the olives that fall of the olive tree.
Today I am grateful for the neighbor's cat that walks through my yard everyday and pauses to look through either the living room window or the screened in patio windows.
Today I am thankful for having completed the iVillage course on business before the close of class on September 14.
Today I am grateful for the prayers for praise and gratitude in the Baha'i Prayer book.
Thankfully yours,
Prosperous Snow, Poet 999, Neva F. Darbe
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
To Go To Bed or Stay Up
6 'Izzat 164 B.E. - Tuesday, September 12, 2007 about 11:01 PM PDT
To go to bed or stay up that is the question. I'm sitting in front of the computer dozing off. Before I started this entry I was reading e-mail and taking surveys until I started to sleep sitting up. The problem is that as soon as my head hits the pillow I'll be wide awake again. This has happened several times in the past week or so.
Monday night I sit on the patio with my prayer book and prayed. I found myself dozing off. In fact, I actually went to sleep sitting in a patio chair. I woke up and went to bed, I laid there looking either out the window or at the ceiling. The view out the window was a lot better because I could see Metro's helicopter flying over the neighborhood.
It's going to be this way for the next month and a half. As soon as I get up and go to bed I won't be able to fall asleep, but if I stay up working at the computer I'll doze off. I wouldn't mind staying up in November because that NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) I'm going to sign up again this year. The sign ups start on October 1, Novel Writing Month starts on November 1. Then I wouldn't mind getting up again and going back to the computer.
Now, however, I'd like to get a little sleep and sleeping in a chair isn't restful. Tomorrow I'm taking Mom in for another blood test. This is the second on this week and I can tell you she isn't happy about it. I'm not all that joyous about it myself. Fortunately we have a handicap permit because of Mom's inability to walk long distances. Still waiting in the line and then in the Quest waiting room is tiring.
To go to bed or stay up that is the question. I'm sitting in front of the computer dozing off. Before I started this entry I was reading e-mail and taking surveys until I started to sleep sitting up. The problem is that as soon as my head hits the pillow I'll be wide awake again. This has happened several times in the past week or so.
Monday night I sit on the patio with my prayer book and prayed. I found myself dozing off. In fact, I actually went to sleep sitting in a patio chair. I woke up and went to bed, I laid there looking either out the window or at the ceiling. The view out the window was a lot better because I could see Metro's helicopter flying over the neighborhood.
It's going to be this way for the next month and a half. As soon as I get up and go to bed I won't be able to fall asleep, but if I stay up working at the computer I'll doze off. I wouldn't mind staying up in November because that NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) I'm going to sign up again this year. The sign ups start on October 1, Novel Writing Month starts on November 1. Then I wouldn't mind getting up again and going back to the computer.
Now, however, I'd like to get a little sleep and sleeping in a chair isn't restful. Tomorrow I'm taking Mom in for another blood test. This is the second on this week and I can tell you she isn't happy about it. I'm not all that joyous about it myself. Fortunately we have a handicap permit because of Mom's inability to walk long distances. Still waiting in the line and then in the Quest waiting room is tiring.
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Evening Thoughts in September
2 'Izzat 164 B.E. - Sunday, September 9, 2007 about 7:10 PM PDT
The sun is slowly setting behind the western mountains. Of course, I can't see the sunset because my garage hides the view. It's early September and I'm doing laundry. I've did laundry everyday for the past seven months. I'll probably be doing laundry for the next seven months. I bought a enough laundry detergent to do 150 loads, so that ought to last for a while.
It's less then four months to the end of 2007. It's less then four months to my birthday. I'm a Christmas Eve baby. I'm a baby boomer, I'll be 61 my next birthday. This has been a stressful year and while I don't normally attend or commemorate December 31 or January 1 New Year celebrations, I might make an exception this year. I usually celebrate the Baha'i New Year, Naw-Ruz, on March 20/21.
Of course I could just as easily celebrate my birthday. I usually don't go out on Christmas Eve if I don't have to, but this year is different. I get the feeling that all the stress and difficulties I've encountered have more to do with birth then anything else. I'm emerging from my cocoon. I'm seeing the world through new eyes. I actually find doing laundry and scrubbing the floors on my hands and knees spiritual experiences. I'm also getting a new mop tomorrow and it won't be a sponge mop.
In October I celebrate becoming a member of writing.com. In November I celebrate declaring my faith in Baha'u'llah. Each of these are important mile stones in my life. The most important of the two is my Declaration of Belief in Baha'u'llah and the attendance of my first Feast as a Baha'i. Finding Baha'u'llah was the most important thing to happen to me since my birth into this world. I'm not sure how I'm going to celebrate this event this year, I probably won't know until a few days before I'm planning on celebrating.
The sun is slowly setting behind the western mountains. Of course, I can't see the sunset because my garage hides the view. It's early September and I'm doing laundry. I've did laundry everyday for the past seven months. I'll probably be doing laundry for the next seven months. I bought a enough laundry detergent to do 150 loads, so that ought to last for a while.
It's less then four months to the end of 2007. It's less then four months to my birthday. I'm a Christmas Eve baby. I'm a baby boomer, I'll be 61 my next birthday. This has been a stressful year and while I don't normally attend or commemorate December 31 or January 1 New Year celebrations, I might make an exception this year. I usually celebrate the Baha'i New Year, Naw-Ruz, on March 20/21.
Of course I could just as easily celebrate my birthday. I usually don't go out on Christmas Eve if I don't have to, but this year is different. I get the feeling that all the stress and difficulties I've encountered have more to do with birth then anything else. I'm emerging from my cocoon. I'm seeing the world through new eyes. I actually find doing laundry and scrubbing the floors on my hands and knees spiritual experiences. I'm also getting a new mop tomorrow and it won't be a sponge mop.
In October I celebrate becoming a member of writing.com. In November I celebrate declaring my faith in Baha'u'llah. Each of these are important mile stones in my life. The most important of the two is my Declaration of Belief in Baha'u'llah and the attendance of my first Feast as a Baha'i. Finding Baha'u'llah was the most important thing to happen to me since my birth into this world. I'm not sure how I'm going to celebrate this event this year, I probably won't know until a few days before I'm planning on celebrating.
Saturday, September 08, 2007
A Place I Long For
1 'Izzat 164 B.E. - Saturday, September 8, 2007 about 4:53 PM PDT
Daily Writing Practice Prompt for September 7, 2007: Write about a place you long for.
I long for a garden on a mountain. A garden with fountains and steps to ascend the mountain. Steps that have water running on either side of them.
I long for a garden that is a holy place. A garden with trees and flowers, where the children of God gather to celebrate His praise.
I long for a garden with memorials and places to pray. A garden on a mountain. A mountain with building on the top and terraces that steps ascend.
I long for a garden, a place in nature where I can sit and pray. A place in nature where I can sit and write poems. A place I can describe in my journal and then transpose to a blog.
I long for a garden, that is a place for my soul and mind to rest. A place my mind can meditate on the beauty of the world. A place where I can sit and rest while the world and history walk by for a little while.
I long for a garden on a mountain, with steps that I can climb to the top. A mountain where I can rest half way up and kneel to pray in a shrine holding the dust of a Manifestation of God.
Daily Writing Practice Prompt for September 7, 2007: Write about a place you long for.
I long for a garden on a mountain. A garden with fountains and steps to ascend the mountain. Steps that have water running on either side of them.
I long for a garden that is a holy place. A garden with trees and flowers, where the children of God gather to celebrate His praise.
I long for a garden with memorials and places to pray. A garden on a mountain. A mountain with building on the top and terraces that steps ascend.
I long for a garden, a place in nature where I can sit and pray. A place in nature where I can sit and write poems. A place I can describe in my journal and then transpose to a blog.
I long for a garden, that is a place for my soul and mind to rest. A place my mind can meditate on the beauty of the world. A place where I can sit and rest while the world and history walk by for a little while.
I long for a garden on a mountain, with steps that I can climb to the top. A mountain where I can rest half way up and kneel to pray in a shrine holding the dust of a Manifestation of God.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Approaching the end of Asma
18 Asma 164 B.E. - September 05, 2007 about 8:10 PM PDT
The end of Asma 164 B.E. is approaching. The Feast of 'Izzat in on the evening of Friday, September 7. I've decided I need to make some changes to the way I do things. I'm setting up a daily schedule so that I can get other things done besides housework and stuff like that. I'm working on line, so I need to work at least 40 hours a week to increase my income. This will give me a chance to have a "day off" if I want to take it.
My problem is I get focused on one thing and don't want to stop or let it go until it's finished. However, this doesn't always work because if I get stuck on something I have to get away from the project. Interruptions don't always come when you want them to. I'd like interruptions to occur when I'm "butting my head against a wall", when I encounter a difficulty that needs "day dreaming" time to resolve. Unfortunately, I'm a bit stubborn, take after my father on that one, and I attempt to stick it out getting "no where fast". I'm hoping this new approach will help.
Anyway, as I said the end of Asma is approaching in a couple of days and a new month starts. I'm going to attempt the schedule in 'Izzat and see how it works. I've attempted schedules before with varying results. The problem with schedules is something usually interrupts them. I found where I went wrong on that. I didn't allow for the interruptions. For the getting in the car and driving all the way across town to take care of a bill or some other item.
Driving across Vegas is an experience. It takes time and nothing is convenient, which takes gas. I'm not sure what I'm writing makes sense or has anything to do with the end of one month and the beginning of another. I'm working the schedule so that it officially starts in 'Izzat. It will start on Saturday, September 08, I'll see how it works for 19 days then redo it if I have to.
The end of Asma 164 B.E. is approaching. The Feast of 'Izzat in on the evening of Friday, September 7. I've decided I need to make some changes to the way I do things. I'm setting up a daily schedule so that I can get other things done besides housework and stuff like that. I'm working on line, so I need to work at least 40 hours a week to increase my income. This will give me a chance to have a "day off" if I want to take it.
My problem is I get focused on one thing and don't want to stop or let it go until it's finished. However, this doesn't always work because if I get stuck on something I have to get away from the project. Interruptions don't always come when you want them to. I'd like interruptions to occur when I'm "butting my head against a wall", when I encounter a difficulty that needs "day dreaming" time to resolve. Unfortunately, I'm a bit stubborn, take after my father on that one, and I attempt to stick it out getting "no where fast". I'm hoping this new approach will help.
Anyway, as I said the end of Asma is approaching in a couple of days and a new month starts. I'm going to attempt the schedule in 'Izzat and see how it works. I've attempted schedules before with varying results. The problem with schedules is something usually interrupts them. I found where I went wrong on that. I didn't allow for the interruptions. For the getting in the car and driving all the way across town to take care of a bill or some other item.
Driving across Vegas is an experience. It takes time and nothing is convenient, which takes gas. I'm not sure what I'm writing makes sense or has anything to do with the end of one month and the beginning of another. I'm working the schedule so that it officially starts in 'Izzat. It will start on Saturday, September 08, I'll see how it works for 19 days then redo it if I have to.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Happy Birthday Writing.com
17 Asma 164 B.E. - September 04, 2007 about 11:12 PM PDT
In September writing.com is celebrating its 7th birthday. This year I'm coming out of my cocoon and entering into the festivities. I wrote a poem The Best Gift and entered it into one of the birthday contest. I'm reviewing new writers on the site as part of the birthday celebration. I'm enjoying myself.
I like writing.com because it helped bring me out of my cocoon. The reviews I receive help me improve my writing. The reviews I give help me improve my writing, I know that sounds strange because reviews are supposed to help the person being reviewed. Reviews help improve my writing by showing me examples of both excellent and other types of writing. I, normally, review items rated 18+ or lower. However, sometimes I review the higher ratings, especially if a piece I've reviewed is the first in a group of short stories or poems.
My handle on writing.com is Prosperous Snow. My portfolio is located at http://Writing.Com/authors/nfdarbe and my blog Snow Melt (rated 18+) is http://Writing.Com/authors/nfdarbe/blog.
In September writing.com is celebrating its 7th birthday. This year I'm coming out of my cocoon and entering into the festivities. I wrote a poem The Best Gift and entered it into one of the birthday contest. I'm reviewing new writers on the site as part of the birthday celebration. I'm enjoying myself.
I like writing.com because it helped bring me out of my cocoon. The reviews I receive help me improve my writing. The reviews I give help me improve my writing, I know that sounds strange because reviews are supposed to help the person being reviewed. Reviews help improve my writing by showing me examples of both excellent and other types of writing. I, normally, review items rated 18+ or lower. However, sometimes I review the higher ratings, especially if a piece I've reviewed is the first in a group of short stories or poems.
My handle on writing.com is Prosperous Snow. My portfolio is located at http://Writing.Com/authors/nfdarbe and my blog Snow Melt (rated 18+) is http://Writing.Com/authors/nfdarbe/blog.
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