Mom's Red Book

This morning I am inspired to bake. I ponder hmm....and I start to look through the beautiful red binder our mother made for each of her 9 children.  A wonderful gift so many years ago. The red book is filled with recipes, ideas for living, even the beatitudes for being a good housewife. It includes how to host a carnival party, a halloween party and ideas for Christmas Eve program and even prayers and poems. Our family every year did a beautiful and cherished Christmas Eve program and party.  I cherish this red book as in every recipe and prayer and clipping I recall our beautiful lives we shared. Our mother created our family culture filled with creativity, adventure, warmth, inspiration, hospitality and love.  She and my father shared a deep love and modeled that love as parents, spouses, neighbors and Christians.  I am forever grateful to have been born into this family and to have this red book filled with memories that inspire me this early morning  to bake the famous Plain Cookies, a recipe passed down from Grandma Van and tucked safely in the sleeve of mom's red book. #culture #family #baking

My Yardstick for Life

 So many stories about how to live fully and successfully. Often the measurement of successful and full living is based on money in the bank, the neighborhood you live, clothing you wear, who you know, what you have accomplished in your career and other outward signs of financial success. Others have written that being  successful is having happy children, finding calm amidst life's pain and struggle and still others write about success as a measured by enlightenment.  All of these seem  valid ways to measure success.   Beyond these measurements of success, I developed some thoughts around another idea or theme for myself.  My yardstick is one that measures moments of presence. Moments that I am here and now, and in this moment, touching my keyboard, looking at the letters that become words, stopping to breathe and then a blog post.  PS writing this blog about presence takes my mind that is worried about our broader world's turmoil and brings me back to this moment. 

The JOYFUL Use of the famous Ginsu Knife…

 

The JOYFUL Use of the famous Ginsu Knife…

Bridget Lott, my beloved sister, used my Ginsu knife about 30 years ago to cut some wooden dowels as she was building a doll house. After a successful cut, she then tested it to see if it would still cut tomatoes with ease. Yes, to our great delight, the Ginsu worked well for both sawing through the wooden dowels and slicing tomatoes with ease.  Here we are 30 years later, using the same Ginsu knife, my beloved husband Joseph Romano needed to do a quick project. Joe needed to trim a wooden drawer that was not quite fitting into a new bathroom vanity due to the configuration of the plumbing pipes.  Following the quick trimming of the wooden drawer using the great Ginsu, we then cleaned the Ginsu and used it to slice some crusty french bread.  I don’t usually write about products, however, the Ginsu was a gift from my beloved brother Patrick Lott who had bought it at the LA County Fair in  Pomona, CA circa 1985.  It has been the most useful gift I have ever received and has brought much joy to our family since we often test it’s touted benefits. “But wait! There’s more!” This expression “But wait! There’s more,” was introduced as part of the Ginsu marketing campaign.   First ever product recommendation from me - YES buy the Ginsu, But wait! There's more.... you will be able to use it forever and in many practical ways and find joy in the use. #ginsu #barrybecher #butwaittheresmore

God wants to pamper us

 God wants to pamper us. Are we open to God's JOY, ABUNDANCE and LOVE?  2022, a new year, a new beginning and a clean slate for JOY, ABUNDANCE and LOVE.  Say YES, accept invitations, live fully, and discover how God pampers our very existence. Life has struggles and disappointments and grief.  Do we remain in those struggles, disappointments and grief or do we allow our neighbors, friends, family, our God to heal.  What we resist persists. What we say no to, closes doors.  When we open our hearts and minds, life opens doors unimaginable.  I have never been the martyr type, more of the taker type and yet.....in accepting the gifts of humanity and of God and Nature, the gifts of JOY, ABUNDANCE and LOVE multiply!!!! Let God pamper you this year for in God's softness, generosity and love, we gain wisdom, understanding and courage to pamper others.

Compassion and Responsibility

It takes great courage to live and especially in 2021.  Compassion and responsibility are the virtues that have come to mind as I explore ways to step into helping others.  Often, my first reaction is to say it will be ok, or you are good as you are, however, lately the inspiration to be more direct with others may in fact be what they/we need. Have I coddled others/myself too much at the expense of not enabling others to live up to their potential or my fear of losing friendships? As a 32 year veteran of the St. Vincent De Paul Society of San Mateo County, compassion for the poor is a basic tenant of my faith and our society. Equally as important as compassion is responsibility. Responsibility includes helping people take steps to improve their situation. It is easy to be compassionate but takes hard work to be responsible.  It takes real commitment to go from providing food to providing training, sharing access to a network of services and following up with those we serve to help them move forward with skills, education, job applications and consistent contact.  This effort is to ensure that they move in a direction emotionally and physically to create a better life for themselves.  Socialism, as I am beginning to more deeply understand, takes that responsibility away from people with the notion that someone else will take care of them. Until we step into what we can do for ourselves we are not aware of our human potential. Socialism robs people of the opportunity to become all that they are intended to become.  Even as good Christians we know that we are make in the image of God. God is all good and capable. My question for myself is "do I hold people up as able?" or "do I give a bag of food and run from my own responsibility to really help people?" Another way to say....do I give the poor a fish or do I teach them to fish.  We are all capable of more than we think, we must step into our potential and push all others to do the same or we will die!

All In One

Today, as I was praying before the noon mass started, I pondered a phrase "All In One."  All In One or AIO, as my nephew Conor calls it, is a term he was using to describe a computer that had everything, eg., monitor, keyboard, etc., essentially all in one.  I loved this term so much I quickly adopted it for a yoga pose we do called Downward Dog.  Downward Dog, also known as Adho Mukha Svanasana, is a foundational yoga posture.  Downward Dog Pose tones the arms and legs, opens and strengthens the shoulders in flexion, lengthens the hamstrings and stretches the calves, and prepares the body for heating. Because it’s a combination of stretching, flexibility, balance, and strength, practicing Down Dog can help to balance and stretch your whole body, hence why I like to call it the All In One pose.  

Back to praying today, I also considered my husband, Joe Romano, an All In One husband as he seems to love everyone, move with ease and grace to accomplish all my to do's and everyone else's to do's too and loves me and people so beautifully.  The more I thought about this term All In One, I realized that the One to whom I was praying may also be called All In One. I smiled, looked to heaven, essentially glancing upward, and realized All In One was smiling too.  Who is your All In One?

Night Time

 The evening is here. The time is 6:29pm Tuesday. I will be joining a 7pm Bible Study zoom call and so I have time.....before that starts. I sit here at my desk in my home office/guest room and think what shall I write about tonight. I connected with my friend Carol Bagley, I wrote an email and text to my nephew James Heath inviting him to join the bible study too. I have my book next to me I could read and the Holy Bible too. Alas, I just want to put my thoughts on paper, in this blog so that have my daily blog posted. A statue of Mother Mary and Jesus adorns this beautiful desk where I sit along with family photos, a small box, and my art supplies oh yes a pretty beer stein turned into a lamp by my father circa 1955. Night time for me tonight is very quiet as Joe is Fresno with the boys and I stayed here in Burlingame since my schedule did not permit my travel this week. As I look at the words I wrote, I am grateful for this quiet, my husband, these photos, the Mother Mary and Jesus statue from Grandma Van. In this quiet I am feeling  my breath breathing me and experiencing a sense of good health and the joy of knowing I will connect shortly to a bible study with friends from St. CAtherine's Catholic Church in Burlingame, CA. I am grateful for night time and the gift of quiet and prayer.

Vincentian Friends

 Yesterday we met, our local conference of St. Vincent De Paul. We call ourselves Vincentians.  We had not been in a meeting together, in a room, close and seeing each other eye to eye, heart to heart in a long time. It was wonderful and it brought joy to each of us. I could see and feel and experience the love we share for one another and for those we serve.  Susan D. wanted to do a turkey give away for the many families we visit throughout the year. Sue G. hosted us and there we met, discussed and interjected ideas and approaches on how we would make this all happen. The end result is we created a great plan. Everyone has a part in the plan.  I am discovering that our little Vincentian group really goes way beyond service to others and has become deep and loving friendships for us.  Our 5 virtues that we strive for in our SVDP society include: Simplicity, Humility, Gentleness, Selflessness and Zeal. Yesterday, during our meeting, I saw all of that in each member. What a blessing. I am thankful to have found this vocation and these wonderful friends.  #svdp, #stvincentdepaul, #service, #love, #friends

5-7-5 Haiku

 Sometimes when I write

I can't think of what to say

I write anyway

The Children's Moon

 

The sunny moon was an expression that Conor said one day approximately 11 years ago at age 4. I recall he looked in the sky on a beautiful morning and saw the moon shining, pointing with his finger he exclaimed, "the sunny moon."  I have never forgotten this moment in time when Conor was so present in the moment delighting in God's creation....the "sunny moon."  Today as I listened to Kristen Tippet's podcast, she was in conversation with two amazing human beings: Contemplative and Story Telling Poet Marilyn Nelson and Poet and theologian, Pádraig Ó Tuama. At the end of the conversation with Kristen and Padraig, Marilyn read her poem The Children's Moon and it moved me to tears. It made me recall Conor's observation and exclamation of the sunny moon some 11 years ago when smiles came easier and life was pure joy. The way children see the world is beautiful, no wonder God calls us to become like the little children. #MarilynNelson, #PadraigO'Tuama, #onbeing, #kristentippett

The Children's Moon

Elegance

 Welcoming an idea a new way for me....elegance. As a rough around the edges gal, recently I am desiring to have elegance. Elegance as defined in Google Dictionary search: the quality of being graceful and stylish in appearance or manner.   My youngest nephew always takes good care of his hair, clothes, and general appropriate behaviors. I realized he seems to be inspired to present his best self. I noticed it at dinner last night, he uses good manners and is never crude at the dinner table and does not like it when I or his brothers do crude things e.g. burping etc.  He inspires dignity.  His elegance even at age 12 inspires me to think about putting my best elegant foot forward in every way. Maybe this is where we have broken down as a society or at least for me I have allowed myself to be a little to rough around the edges in some of my habits around dressing and behaviors at dinner. In being rough around the edges I react instead of being thoughtful, I am crude instead of being appropriate, I am lazy instead of hardworking, I am negligent in my hygiene instead of maintaining my hair cut and colored, nails polished and clothing stylish.   Today I will practice a new way... elegance. I am hoping that in the process, I become my best self.

All Saints Day

Today we celebrate the 34th anniversary of my sister Anastasia Lott's final vows into the Maryknoll Sisters. She is fondly called Sr. Sister by me.    Happy Anniversary Sr. Sister!

Speaking of saints, on November 1 we recognize all of the saints of the church who are deemed to have risen to heaven. The day is celebrated by holding a festival to remember the holy saints - a tradition thought to date back to the 4th century. All of the saints are remembered - even those who have no formal holiday.

Feeling a bit tired at this moment, however, wanting to keep up with the blogging.  Why is my energy low...maybe the overcast day, maybe the global concerns, maybe my career that is more administrative than value add, maybe my attitude.  I shall recall the saints in heaven and here on earth and be inspired to love, serve and be happy. I smile and I already feel better....thank you saints.  #maryknollsisters, #anastasialott, #commitment #love

Happy Halloween

 October kicks off the final quarter of the year and the beginning of the holiday season. We begin with the beauty of fall, the season of letting go, of warm colors, of pumpkins and of decorating. Here in Fresno, homes are adorned with fall flags, freshly planted mums, pansies and other brightly colored annuals. In Burlingame, the same, there are porches that have many pumpkins and season decor.  Today is Halloween and being here in Fresno, I feel the joy of pumpkin carving, thinking about costumes and something warm and easy for dinner.  I also recall fondly, when I was young, our mother and father making chile and easy to eat meals so that we could go out trick or treating and also eagerly return home to give out candy.....I wanted to do both. Sometimes I also experience the mad dash in the Holiday season, trying to get it all done: decorations, shopping, finishing my year strong for my career in sales and wanting things to be perfect.  In this moment, I let go of tomorrow, I sip my coffee, enjoy the quiet of JP's home and breathe in gratitude. Happy Halloween.

Let It Be

 Let is be is a common mantra I say to myself when I am here in Fresno.  Often my brother has one way to do something and I might do it completely different, let it be.  I ask the boys a simple question and they choose to roll their eyes or seem irritated and I say to myself let it be.  This morning as I was making the bed and seeing all kinds of candy wrappers on the floor and wondering of the eating choices,  my mantra popped into my mind, let it be. Shirley, my beloved mother, must have thought that so often with 9 children.  So many things, personalities and ways of being that may be different than our own, let it be.  The Beatles' song, Let it be was more true than I ever realized, there will be an answer sometimes it is to just let it be.

Let It Be, Let It Be and in the letting it be there is peace. #letitbe, #peace, #acceptance

Healthy Habits bringing Light!

 Today is the day to practice healthy habits to bring light to my life. 

So far so good. Reading, meditation, restorative yoga, water and oatmeal topped with pomegranate seeds ....coffee too.  Now my continued desire for daily blogging/online journaling and more water.  Awakening this morning my mind, body and spirit into the oneness, wholeness, and healing from within. Letting my light shine today in this moment so that the light in me becomes the light in thee. 

The rain has stopped

 The rain has stopped, the air is clear, the damage unknown and life goes on for those unaffected. My friend Diane lost power and so to my delight she came over yesterday to power up her generator and download some movies. Today, still no power in some areas, and Diane will work with me here in our little cottage. California has not had rain in 200 days and even the rain 200 days ago was not sufficient to water the earth. Then, the earth was so dry, the water "sprinkles" could not penetrate the parched land. However, this past weekend, 10 inches in a short time can penetrate and wreak havoc.  Trees down, power down, mudslides, flooding and yet I am sure the earth is singing! I too sing alleluia to have Diane join me as we work together - she in the living room and me in my guest room/sewing room/office. The versatility of our cottage, that too a reason to sing.

The games we play

One of the great joys of my life, is purging.  My family fears when I come to their homes as I often want to purge other people's stuff too.  Well, it is fun for me.  I find it to be satisfying to create space from giving things away.  Another joy of mine is a game I play: my objective is to use up everything in the fridge, freezer or from friends' gardens. I do not like waste.  I create meals from what I have in the fridge and cupboards and what I forage from neighbors with gardens, in this case my friend Susan.  Susan's garden has been a blessing this whole summer. She has shared lettuces, tomatoes, basil, peppers, squash, pomegranates, lemons, limes, figs, carrots, onions, shallots, garlic, beans, and soon it appears she will have yams and persimmons.

Where do I start - the game of living off the land, off the random leftovers in the fridge, the joy of creating using only what you have?  It is all fun and play for me.  Joe left on a golf trip Friday and I made up my mind that I will enjoy the week with no grocery shopping- using only what we have on hand....which is not much since I secretly been playing this game for some months.  Joe and I travel between Burlingame and Fresno and I do not want any food to be wasted and therefore we buy just enough.  With the slim pickens in the fridge, freezer and cupboard with and Susan's prolific garden I have been able to have friends for dinner on Friday and more than enough to have another friend on Saturday. In this game that I play, not only do I practice moderation in eating, I have found great joy in creating delicious menus for my friends. Below I have made using dad's homemade redbud and grape jelly, thumb drop cookies. With Susan's spaghetti squash and kales, I created a pasta dish. Enjoying her lettuce, carrot, herbs and tomatoes in a salad and figs are part of the appetizer. Yummy and fun.

Here are some photos for your enjoyment. The one at the beginning of this blog is my little home office aka guest bedroom/office where I write my blog, sip my coffee and this morning enjoy the tulips from Di on Friday and the roses from Melanie on Saturday night and blended together beautifully. 

Shout for JOY!

 Shout out for joy as it is raining in Burlingame, CA.  The air will clear, the leaves will dance, the grass will grow and all will be shouting alleluia.  We have not had rain in so long it is a welcome gift. These tears from heaven to heal our tears on earth.

I am so happy, Joe is so happy we opened our back door early this morning just to listen to the falling rain. It was gentle, just right to soften the earth so that the water might slowly penetrate the parched earth. Today, in this moment, hearing the rain, I shall sing alleluia and shout for JOY!

We are healed

Together, Daniel and I went on his first St. Vincent De Paul home visit. This was years ago as Daniel has now been our conference president for several years and before that a new member. Maybe it was 10 years ago when we had the occasion to go to see two men who had just left a group rehabilitation or halfway home to live together in an apartment that was provided by their program. They called our St Vincent De Paul's local office requesting some pots and pans. Our protocol for a home visit is to go in pairs, to be with those in need and to help them. I don't recall their names, I do recall their love. I often recall their love as a reminder of my own vocation in St. Vincent De Paul "SVDP" as I am sharing this morning.

Daniel had just joined us, signing up during our St. Catherine's ministry drive. Daniel was maybe 30 years old at the time and he along with several other young new members was refreshing and life giving to our aging conference. (Conference is how we refer to our local parish community that participates in our SVDP.)  I wanted our home visit to these men to be exemplary and follow the training I had received/learned during the SVDP Ozanam Orientation. So before we went to meet with these two men that had been assigned as roommates and whom had requested pots and pans, Daniel and I met at the church, obtained the voucher for household goods and then drove over to the apartment. Before leaving our vehicle, we prayed together. In our prayer we asked to be compassionate to be present, generous and to be open to their needs.

We prayed the beautiful Vincentian prayer

Prayer before a Visit

Father, we ask you to provide
all that we need
as we do the work you have given us to do. 

Fill our hearts with your love;
help us to listen with compassion
and to speak with kindness and confidence. 

Jesus, we pray for the grace
to go without our preconceived judgments
so that we can be true peacemakers. 

Stir in us the fire of your love
and guide us with discernment. 

Fill our hearts with wisdom, generosity
and kindness.

Holy Spirit, inspire us
with joy and patience.

Be at work in us
so that we will
bring good news to the downcast,
healing to the brokenhearted,
hope to the destitute,
love and compassion to all who are suffering.

Amen.

 We walked up the stairs, and knocked on their door. They both came to the door and we all introduced ourselves. They invited us into their humble and empty apartment. These men had nothing and they had only requested pots/pans.  We saw that they needed furniture, beds, dishes, sheets, towels, household goods....they only asked for pots and pans. These men we not young, they had years of suffering, addiction and experience beyond knowing. With nowhere to sit, I suggested we just sit on the floor and discuss their situation and also maybe pray.   The older man, with white hair and beard had piercing blue eyes looked at all of us and said, gently and quietly, "I know the Confiteor." He then immediately led us in this prayer that is from Catholic doctrine, meaning to Confess, or acknowledge.

Here is the prayer he said:

I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers [and sisters],
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers [and sisters],
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

I know that in that moment, I was healed, I was forgiven and I was in the presence of God. It is this home visit that continues to fortify my commitment to the service and love we provide as Vincentians, a name used for members of SVDP. I have come to know that in my personal struggles, God heals through one another ...open your eyes and hearts to the other and be healed. #stvincentdepaul, #love, #service, #healing

Daily Inspirations

 St. Benedict's life has been an inspiration to how I want to live. Not too many years ago, Matthew, one of my nephews went to boarding school at Subiaco, Arkansas. While Matthew was attending this beautiful school in the Ozarks of Arkansas I became intrigued by the Benedictine Order. "The Rule," is  essentially a guide to holiness and happiness.  Much of what I took from reading a book by Sr. Joan Chittister OSB,  "Wisdom, Distilled from the Daily, Living The Rule of St. Benedict Today." In her book she describes the way of life practiced by the Benedictine Order which includes a balance of:

Listening

Prayer

Community

Humility

Monastic Mindfulness

Work

Holy Leisure

Giftedness

Hospitality

Obedience

Stability

Monastic Practices

Peace

Monastic Vision

While I continue strive to be a better person, the above lists helps me see areas in my life that need improvement "practice" and balance.  I also find in the writing of this blog post, that just reflecting upon each of the above helps me to recall what is most important, experience this moment of peace and mindfulness on this list.  This moment  I have peace, stability, prayer and am listening to God.#joanchittister #subiaco #benedictineorder

https://stellamaris.nsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/benedictine-way-of-life.pdf