Took another hiatus but this time it was vacation...and a much needed vacation at that. Returned home in the wee hours of the morning today from Florida. Had a wonderful time with my friend. We walked on the beach (lots), shopped, lazed around, ate fruit and ice cream for dinner, had some wine and marguritas, and had wonderful conversations. What more could anyone ask for? The palm tree in this picture is the same one in all my pictures. 
The picture was taken from the patio of the beach house last Saturday before we left and headed back to my friend's house. Always difficult to leave the peace, serenity, and sheer awe of the beach. Every time I have been there I've had a significant revelation and this time was no exception. Nothing that most people would call earth shattering but it's always something that I find deeply profound - and for my "ears" only. There's a sacredness in that.I picked a great time to go weather-wise. It was sunny and warm - but not hot (that's coming there the end of this week, at least by this northerner's standards).It is good to be home and it was good to be there!
The week has been busy - work, meetings, etc. But I did find time to do a couple of stained glass pieces (included in the updated slideshow). Actually, other than working at crafting, the week has been quite draining - physically, emotionally, spiritually. Spring weather is not the kindest for those of us with RA, and we have been having lots of rainy days here in Wisconsin. Spring is also the time of year when it seems we get the most cloudy days in a row...not exactly a mood lifter. Thank goodness I do immerse myself in working on stained glass because that lessens the time I notice the lack of sunshine. Yesterday I got the news that my great aunt Grace died. She was the last of her generation in the family. There is something that smacks one right in the face when the realization comes that the younger generations just got older... Grace was my grandmother's younger sister. She had been widowed for many years and she had no children of her own. Two memories of her stick out right now. When I was a kid and visiting grandma and grandpa, sometimes we'd go over to see Grace and her husband, Immanuel. Grace had a huge garden (well to a kid it looked huge) and she always sent rhubarb home with us. The other memory was the smell of her house. It was neither sweet or unpleasant - just distinct. Grace is now reunited with her family - all together once again. Transformed into new life.
Yet another one of those sleepless sort of nights. Seems I've become a night owl once again. Know the alarm will go off way too early for me but...I do need to get to work early.Began another stained glass piece this evening. Think it will be a gift for my friend's birthday - the friend I will be visiting in Florida at the end of the month. We'll see how it turns out.I have a lot of comp time accumulated, so after tomorrow I'll be intending to take the rest of the week off. There will be lots of time for crafting. But I'll also have to attend to class work. I have hinted about school - that I'm taking classes again (or yet). Seems I've been in one school or another for the past eight years. First finishing my bachelor's degree, then getting my Master's degree. And now I'm in the middle of a formation program to become a spiritual director. This is something that I had not intended to do. But over the past several years some people at work have been urging me to pursue this tract saying that they think I'd be good at it. After trying to dismiss the idea many times over without success, I decided this was something I was being called to engage in. And am I ever glad I applied and was accepted. The coursework is wonderfully enriching and engaging. The people I have met and the instructors are absolutely fantastic. And the best part is that I'm transforming in a good way. Yet another pattern emerging in the life that is Brenda.Blessed be!
