Uphill idealist

"It is important to tell good stories. You can tell stories even if they are not huge, epic, and wonderful. You can still take the responsibility for being a scribe of your tribe."   Ajay Naidu In less than a week I will be spending some time with the amazing tribe that is Inhabit , a meeting place for souls looking for practical and applicable ways of following God by  and with our practice,  presence, and the place we abide. To learn more about Inhabit check out Parish Collective's website here:  http://www.parishcollective.org/ T his tribe is one that has some scribe worthy stories to tell. More to share soon...

I've been a tea drinker for quite a while now. But I think my strong connection with a good cup of strong tea came when my brother came home from college with a box of tea called "Earl Grey". When I smelled the fragrant tea brewing, I first thought it smelled like "Fruit Loops" Cereal. I was drawn to the sweet smell of the tea, sat down to conversation with my older brother - who I'd been missing, and became attached to a spot of tea whenever I needed a reminder of sweetness and comfort in life. Sitting down to a cup of tea is a time for refreshment and rest that has become something of a habit. Since my brother introduced me to a tea beyond Lipton all those years ago, I've acquired a taste for many different kinds of tea: black tea, herbal tea, Oolong tea, and a recent find - Darjeeling. As I opened a new box of tea recently, I noticed the very specific directions on how to brew this tasty blend. 1. Pour boiling water (as pure as possible) over ...

Image found at "Kings English" . John 13:13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. These words have been rattling around in my mind since the Maundy Thursday worship service last night. Especially this part of the reading: 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. In Jesus time, washing someone's feet was the job of a servant. Because of the dirty and dusty conditions and the open sandals that people wore, people's feet would get very dirty walking around all day. When someone came to your home, it was good manners to...

Dear Friends and Family, I wanted to share this bit of good news with you - I will have three articles published in a new online magazine this month. Here is the link to the first one: Finding solitude in a Car Wash The magazine is called B.L.O.G. - Beautiful Ladies of Grace. Feel free to check out my article and visit the blog...and please comment if you like! Grace and Peace - Tara

Image of my painting, "Ripples" . When taking classes at my local college a few years ago, I noticed a sign on my mentor's wall with the sketch of a rolling river on it. The quote on it was in Polish, so I had to ask him what it said. He would smile and say, "You can't push the river." This phrase has stuck with me since then. There are currents in life that can help progress move along or halt it; depending on if you work with the flow or fight against it. It's not that this quote is calling for us to flow aimlessly with whatever current you happen to be swimming in; but to think creatively about how to work with what you've got to get where you want to be. Earlier today, a friend shared another quote with me. She said, "You can always turn over the stones." If you put these two quotes together, I think you find a statement to live by. "You can't push the river, but you can always turn over the stones." Move with creativity a...

Family friendly devotional activities for Holy Week Make these cookies with your kids and use the cookies to help talk to them about Jesus Resurrection! My mom was terrific at making any holiday season special. We would color Easter eggs, prepare a fantastic meal, make up thoughtful and fun Easter baskets and help to make wonderful memories in my childhood. One of our Easter traditions was to make "Overnight cookies". These cookies are simple and tasty recipes that help to tell the story of Easter. Once they were prepared, cooked and left in the oven overnight, my Mom would tell the story of Jesus' Resurrection with the help of these hollow treats. (See recipe below.) In preparation for holy week I collected some scriptures, activates and devotional resources to share with the families at my church, and was happy to share them online too. I hope these devotions help you to pause and take notice of God throughout this busy holiday and make some great family memories of you...

Image found at sfk.co.uk "If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." ~Vincent Van Gogh There are voices that try at times attempt to dissuade us from the hopes, dreams, and joyful things in our lives. Sometimes I call those voices "gremlins" to help remind me not to play into, feed or water them too much. Don't let those voices (internal or otherwise) keep you from what you are called to do. Stopping them is as simple as taking Van Gogh's advice. Go out and do what the voices say you can't - and you win. The world wins too. And - as it should be - the gremlins loose. (Or at least you get them out of the drivers seat.)