Uphill idealist

Starting today begins a 14 day challenge to post images that inspire courage. For the next two weeks, I'll be posting one image a day to participate in this visual adventure in courage. If you would like to join in the challenge, just follow the guide for themes and add the hashtag #14DaysofCourage. Have courage! Day one image: Your Inspiration Title: Emmanuel "God with us"

It's been quite a long time since I've posted a Monday Meme of "Sleeping with Bread" . Every Monday a lovely group of bloggers would gather to post reflections of thanksgiving on the bread that God had given for the week as well as the bread that was needed for walking the week ahead.  Over the weekend, I have been working ahead for some bread to share this coming Sunday (Oct. 5th) at my home congregation at First Lutheran Church in Jamestown NY. What you find below is also a message that is part of my studies for an online Preaching class with Wartburg Seminary facilitated by Professor Samuel Giere  . All this said, I am thinking that the message below, connected once again with the "Sleeping with Bread" Meme  may be a good combination for conversation and encouragement to consider this question... "What do I need to let go of, and what do I need to hold on to in the week ahead?" If you like, take a few minutes to watch the vide...

At age 22 I didn't have a clue but had my husband and baby too. Lived inside an old business school, which was really cool and big too. My heart was full of optimism, energy and hope. Drove a used Omni car, it got us here and there; but not too for too long by far. I did what I could to love my baby, husband as I best could.  My friends were so close: next door, upstairs and a stroller walk if I needed to see them and should. Now at 42 I know enough to say I probably still don't have a clue. Living in a house full of life and promise and time. I drive my days and hope to stretch them to last just a little bit longer and fuller. How about you? Doing my best, knowing I'm blessed and thankful for grace to start again. My heart is open to what's just round the bend and beating with the hope that brought it to life way back then... at  age 22. How about you?

Image found at:  herecomesthestork There is a distinct difference in what I actually need and what I want. And if I'm honest, I know that all the seeking after the 'wants' can prevent me from digging into the needs I actually have. The last week has been a whirlwind of want/needs. When I pause to look at what I'm most grateful and least grateful for - I'm pointed to the spaces of need and the thin residue of want that often gets in the way. So, if you will bear with me - I'm going to do some thoughtful sorting this week in SWB. It may be a process that will take more than this one post. But the sorting has to start somewhere, right? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you have ever watched those remodeling shows on TLC - you'll recall the keep, throw away, and donate piles that are necessary to come to a place of elbow room and change to whatever space is being reworked. If I were to remo...

It's been a while since "Sleeping with Bread" was a regular practice for me. A while back, there was a sweet little community of bloggers that would share in this Monday practice but over time, pressing schedules, and life's movements  - it was a practice that sort of fell away. One of our community posted this to his blog a while back to explain more of what Sleeping with Bread is -  So here are some thoughts from Unfinished Person... During the bombing raids of WWII, thousands of children were orphaned and left to starve. The fortunate ones were rescued and placed in refugee camps where they received food and good care. But many of these children who had lost so much could not sleep at night. They feared waking up to find themselves once again homeless and without food. Nothing seemed to reassure them. Finally, someone hit upon the idea of giving each child a piece of bread to hold at bedtime. Holding their bread, these children could finally sleep in peace...

It is the summer's great last heat, It is the fall's first chill: They meet. – Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt As Summer bids farewell, puts on her sweater and kisses Autumn loving "Salut."on her way out the door, what are you saying farewell and hello to this season? Photo taken in Jamestown NY on that first chilly morning that Fall arrived... Farewell to: Stacks of novels to read, sundresses, going sock-less, sunblock, swimming in Grams pool, trying to grow bed lettuce and bottomless glasses of un-sweet lemon iced tea. Hello to: Stacks of text books to read, Sweaters, jeans, Merrell boots (with long colorful socks), Milk and honey lotion, long hikes in fallen leaves, hot lentil soup for lunch and pots of rich-bold-coffee-with-honey or Earl Grey of course. Happy Fall Solstice! How about you? What transitions do you begin to make as you reach for your comfy fall sweater?

"Where some see weeds, some find beauty." (Me) Where do you find beauty, that is missed by others? Where do you miss beauty, and others find it? What do the commonalities and differences say about us as individuals and as groups of people? Here are some quotes to help you ponder these ideas more from, the 'Quote garden'. Which one is your favorite? : A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows. ~Doug Larson A weed is but an unloved flower. ~Ella Wheeler Wilcox But a weed is simply a plant that wants to grow where people want something else. In blaming nature, people mistake the culprit. Weeds are people's idea, not nature's. ~Author Unknown Weeds are nature's graffiti. ~Janice Maeditere (I like this one!)

If you could open a newspaper and look in the want ads and find your perfect job, what would it be? You could choose something you wanted to be when you were little, or what you've wanted to do for a vocation your whole life - please post what it would be and why in the comment section. Go ahead, dream vocationally a little for the fun of it!

Image found at Carla's Blog. Over time which medium, do you think, has the most impact on the world: music, art or the written word? Please let me know your response to the question in comments. Be sure to add the why as to the reason you choose a specific medium. Feel free to add why a specific medium is particularly impressive to you.

Photo from uncommon pics. Bits and pieces Isn't is funny how sometimes in a time of crisis or action it can seem that we feel more whole? I think perhaps what happens is that in the midst of concern for someone else, people shift gears into "taking care of business" mode. There is a sense of focus in those times; taking someone to the ER, helping a friend get to a doctors appointment, kissing bo-bo's of a child and so on; that this focus takes over. This seems to be very true for me. All the distractions that normally float in my mind are swept clean and I intellectually know what to do next. Right now I wish I could transfer some of the crisis focus into my daily un-crisis life. Everywhere I look, I see something that needs to be attended to - on the inside and out. I need to see one thing at a time and take a steps towards calm focus on a daily level. I remember asking an old friend one time where I should start in a certain situation. She replied, "The beginni...

Image found at University of Bristol Sarah Louise tagged me yesterday for a new 20 random things meme so here's my go at interesting randomness. 1. When I was a kid, classmates used to tease me by trying to come up with some nice and nasty nicknames for my somewhat unique name - Tara. Unique for growing up in western Pa anyhow. I was called "A rat" ( my name backwards), Tigger (by my Dad for my 24- 7 energy) and "Tara the terrible" (can't remember who started that one). It's weird that recently at my new office, my co-workers have started calling me "Tara the terrible"too. At first I thought of telling them of the not so great association, but I had a second thought. They call me "T the terrible" out of liking me, not for anything else. So with no connection to the origin, I am again "Tara the terrible." :) 2. Sometimes buying a new eyeshadow or lip gloss is all I need to cheer up. 3. I am a sucker for babies and dogs and t...

My friend Amanda made a great review of 2008 in her blog, "Life in a suitcase" and so decided to follow suit with an adapted review of my own. Here goes 2008... 1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? I finished my BA degree. I was laid off for a few months. I wrote, recorded and printed my first album. I had an article published online and a poem printed in a book. I ran a 5k and went to California for the first time this year too. One full year with book club and the friends that attend it - thanks for the time and thoughts you share on Tuesdays! 2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions and will you make more for next year? I resolved to make some improvement on my health and followed through. That is a road I continuing to go further on. 3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My friend Brian's wife had a baby girl a few months ago and I had the pleasure to meet the baby this last week. How do kids grow so fast? 4. Did anyone close to you d...

So far two of my blogging friends ( Da Youth Guy and Marko ) this week have participated in the "Six random fact about me" writing exercise, so in the pace of writing everyday for a month I thought I'd jump in on this meme . Join in as well and fill the blogging world in on 6 random facts about you too! 1. My middle name is Lamont. There has been a great deal of question concerning why and how I ended up with the middle name "Lamont". I was not named after the TV show, Sanford and Son. My Mom tells me that she had a friend in high school who was either from France or her parents were and her name was Lamont. Apparently, my Mom was impressed with with her kindness, sophistication, and uniqueness of coming from somewhere other than Irwin, PA. My first name was given for the song, "Tara's theme" from Gone with the wind. What a mix of culture, the American south and France. Now I just need to get to Paris. 2.My favorite foods are Greek. Baklava, Greek...

What have you done with your life so far? Bold ones are done! 1. Started your own blog 2. Slept under the stars 3. Played in a band 4. Visited Hawaii 5. Watched a meteor shower 6. Given more than you can afford to charity 7. Been to Disneyworld 8. Climbed a mountain 9. Held a praying mantis 10. Sang a solo 11. Bungee jumped 12. Visited Paris 13. Watched a lightning storm at sea 14. Taught yourself an art from scratch 15. Adopted a child - through World Vision! 16. Had food poisoning 17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty 18. Grown your own vegetables 19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France 20. Slept on an overnight train 21. Had a pillow fight 22. Hitch hiked 23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill 24. Built a snow fort 25. Held a lamb 26. Gone skinny dipping 27. Run a marathon - ran a 5k! 28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice 29. Seen a total eclipse 30. Watched a sunrise or sunset 31. Hit a home run 32. Been on a cruise 33. Seen Niagara Falls in person 34. Visited the birthplace of...