Fostering a new renaissance through creativity, authenticity, spirituality, and art
I found this quote by Umair Haique in the Harvard Business Review blog encouraging: “If America wants to create the future… it’s going to have to prefer to buy stuff that offers real benefits, to work on stuff of real worth, to invest rather than just speculate, to educate and dedicate its time, energy, and … Read more
I have studied the story of the tower of Babel before. To me it is a lesson about getting so ahead of oneself with one’s own abilities that you forget about God. It’s about being so full of yourself that you work for your own gain instead of for God’s glory. It is about pride … Read more
I am so grateful to have been to Creative Arts Camp this year! It was just what I needed and I want to thank everyone there for facilitating for me an “oil change” of a spiritual proportion. Let me explain. Many years ago now, I was working on a major church project that was an … Read more
One of the great things about Creative Arts Camp is the morning meeting where we start our day hymn singing, doing collective Bible Study, and sharing inspirations. Just entering the incredible space on that peninsula overlooking the lake on both sides with incredible music by Phoebe (cello) and Linda (piano) is profoundly uplifting. The Bible … Read more
Too rarely do adults get to sit with friends next to a bonfire that’s right next to a lake under a full moon on a gorgeous evening and laugh, play drums and games, dance, sing, be silly, and eat gourmet s’mores! These photos do not do the scene justice, since light was low and I … Read more
The people at Creative Arts Camp are awesome: fun and loving, while deep and soulful. Michelle (above) is the Director and she did a fabulous job facilitating a great time for everyone. I did not get photos of everybody…
My Father-in-law and brother-in-law were and are active Rotarians. James’ dad gave me a poster of their “Four-way Test” that I love, and it has an honored spot up in my office. This is a wonderful test for the things we choose to think, and say and do: Is it Truth? Is it fair to … Read more
For those LEGO enthusiasts out there, I had to share this. We saw it in the Hartford airport: Mark Twain’s house in Lego. Mark Twain won and lost several fortunes in his lifetime; this house was clearly from a winning streak! Imagine building it out of Lego!
Very timely for me, I read today the book of Ecclesiastes from the Message version of the Bible. Below I quote from the translator’s preface to the book and then a bit of the text. Interestingly, “Vanities” was repeatedly translated as “spitting in the wind.” I loved that. “Ecclesiastes is a famous witness to this … Read more
Many years ago we started having my youngest daughter’s birthday party in the summer near her half birthday, due to multiple cancellations and rescheduling due to weather of anything we tried to plan in February. So a tradition of an August Quarry Party has evolved… A good time is had by all!
“… And it is a strange thing that most of the feeling we call religious, most of the mystical outcrying which is one of the most prized and used and desired reactions of our species, is really the understanding and the attempt to say that man is related to the whole thing, related inextricably to … Read more
One of the great things about my job is having no commute; I often work at the picnic table in the summer. There is one squirrel in particular, that makes impertinent eye contact with me often. Sassy. While I’m in full view watching him, he jauntily climbs up the peach tree, chooses one immature beauty … Read more
This blog has totally been inspired by Carol Hohle’s Inspiration House site, which I highly recommend. Also check out the links below and my photos. And please start doing something to stop this craziness! Other links about this issue to explore: Beth’s Blog: My Plastic Free Life GRIST Dared Me to Make A Change Seven … Read more
I really enjoyed this book whose premise is that happiness can be cultivated. I give it five stars. Although slow going at times, I found it a thoroughly worthwhile read about one woman’s journey toward figuring out how to make choices that would garner more happiness. She ends up nagging less, de-cluttering more, laughing more, … Read more
I was reminded recently of something heard years ago in a Presbyterian sermon that has set me pondering over the years, and I realized that you may find it relevant to think about as well: “Tradition is the living faith of those now dead, traditionalism is the dead faith of those now living.” So, what … Read more
I thought most of you would know about Pandora Internet Radio, but apparently this is not the case. Oh, the leg up having teenagers gives one in the technological world! Go to their website at pandora.com, register your email to start a free account, and then type in a specific song, composer, or genre you … Read more
I’ve recently been speaking with some wonderful women about both parenting and homeschooling. This has underscored for me some differences in my approaches, which are serving me well. And while parenting three teenagers is not without its bumps and exasperating moments, I am not tearing my hair out, nor throwing up my hands, as some … Read more