Uphill idealist

My friend Kristen is good at reminding me about gratitude. In the last year she and her husband have changed vocations, had a new baby, cared for their active two-year-old boy, self-published a book called “Hyper and happy – 225 toddler activities that work” , and just six months ago relocated from Jamestown to their hometown of Nashville, Tennessee.  Earlier this week, she found a rare moment of quiet in her home and posted a photo that caught my attention. In the picture, I saw a few tree branches that had been collected from her yard that had been artfully placed in a vase, and had small paper leaves had been tied onto the makeshift tree. When I looked a bit closer, I noticed that the leaves were covered with writing. Each leaf was a statement of gratitude and thankfulness. The simplicity and beauty of her picture took me off guard. In the midst of the transition, challenge and hyper but happy atmosphere that Kristen was experiencing; she remembered to make a pr...

Today marked Jamestown's second annual "Out of the Darkness Walk" for the prevention of suicide. This walk is a fundraising effort of the American Foundation for the Prevention of Suicide or the AFSP . While it can be difficult to discuss loss as a result of a suicide, this agency and the people walking today bravely walked to lift up the need for greater support for and connection with mental health resources. It was a great honor to participate in this walk today with some members of True Sisterhood Jamestown , a women's fellowship group from First Lutheran Church of Jamestown, as well as many local agencies and individuals willing to speak up for those who have died as a result of suicide. This walk was filled with an atmosphere of hope, support and was a coming together of people from all walks of life - to honor those we miss and to work to help others who struggle to walk in the light. At the conclusion of the walk, balloons that ...

A prayerful response to Abby of the Arts blog and  Dustin O'Halloran's 'We move lightly' Waking, opening to the light that heals, clarifies and removes the fog. That cloud of worry, weight, and fear flakes off like dry skin. What remains is a heart, a little more open, a mind a little less fuzzy and an openness to breathe a bit freer. Why do I wander like I'm in a desert when Your Oasis is always within reach? T.L. Eastman/ September 2013

I have a toddler friend named Sailor who spends a good amount of time at my home on a regular basis. She has gotten the hang of navigating our wandering back steps with a little hand-holding help, she has no problem cuddling up on the sofa for nap time, and enjoys pointing at our 40-pound-beagle-cattle-dog and shouting with glee, "Aggie-Dog!". Sometimes we set up a gate to keep her in a play space of the living room and that usually works out just fine; but yesterday "Aggie-dog" decided to mix up the afternoon activity just for kicks. Sailor was happily playing with her baby, "Beba" when I came home and let Aggie-dog out for a bathroom break and dinner. Aggie was so happy that she began running and jumping throughout the downstairs. She was even so clever to effortlessly leap over the living room gate like a hurdle in a race. As the dog was leaping from side to side, Sailor would laugh uncontrollably and shout "Aggie-Dog", louder and loud...

Image found at Virtual Tourist Dan Dan the shoe shine man approached us in a crowd. He said, “I’m Dan Dan the shoe shine man. I’ll shine your shoes. I bet I can guess where you got your shoes.” From his demeanor and appearance, Dan Dan the shoe shine man seemed street smart and determined. He spoke quickly and smiled wide. He implored to my husband, “You need a shoe shine! I bet I can tell you where you got your shoes. $10.00 a shoe if I tell you where you got them!” My husband smiled waiting for Dan to tell us where his shoes were from as he bent down to spray and buff his sneakers. Dan stood up tall and proud and said, “You Sir has your shoes on your feet! That will be $20.00!” As soon as my husband handed Dan Dan the shoe shine man his $20.00 he was gone into the crowd. Dan was a few dollars richer and we both were a little more street smart. Dan Dan the shoe shine man (and his muscular buddy who was watching from a few feet away to assure he got his payment), were devo...

Over the last 6 months, I've been following Abby of the Arts in hopes of becoming more in step with their practices described as the "Monk Manifesto". While I don't always (or even often) seem to get the steps right, my heart is always uplifted when I stop by for a visit. These practices, first introduced to me in Christine Valters Painter's book, "The Artist's Rule" resound within me and shout,"This is lifegiving!". But, somehow, I continue to struggle, juggle and fret - when I walk away from this gentle, growing, faith. Maybe if we walk/dance together, I won't wander away so easily? Then again, each day - "Always we begin again." Shalom -  Tara The following material is from the website: Abby of the Arts . Now all I need is a badge to put here on my blog to keep me (and others) tagged in on the Abby. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  Mo...

There is a passage lush with moss,damp from morning dew that calls me to step across the threshold into something new. The things I've known catch on my sleeves and pant legs like prickers on already harvested black berry bushes. They pull, scratch, and demand I stay past the harvest; to only see glimpses of cool green just beyond gate. I've peeked over the wall to that garden, and it looks like a place I might want to call home; if only there was time to make it just that - home. It's no mistake that the grass is sometimes greener. I've seen that cool, restful plot and laid my hope in that space that separates me from what is and what is yet to be. The gate is unlocked, yet I keep thinking I'm left outside of this garden. Moving heart-heavy feet across the green to the greener can take some effort.  Just beyond that threshold is all the new, the in-progress, and not quite comfortable yet.  Inhale. Exhale.  Lift a left foot, then the right. Step by step, g ...