Wearing summer thankfulness all year round

(Image from Petco)

Last night while waiting for my daughter to get done with work, I heard a chorus of geese singing as they were flying overhead. They were working on migration practice runs over the lake.
This morning, I went out for my usual morning trek, and found that I needed to keep my sweatshirt on throughout the whole jaunt. The foggy chill this morning was one I haven't felt in a while.
In these bittersweet moments ( I love the sounds of fall as well as cosy sweatshirts), I realize just how quickly this summer has rushed past me - and I feel as if I did not have the opportunity to be outside enough to take it all in!

There are moments in life so sweet and full of warmth that come too quickly and are gone too fast - just like this summer. This Monday Meme is an opportunity to think upon what need to be let go of, and what need to be held close. If I could, I'd attach all the lovely things about this swift summer to my cosy sweatshirt, just so I can 'wear' those balmy, sun-filled days - even in the midst of February's-multi-layered-clothing-just-because-of-the-gray-chill. Yes winter is coming, but not before the beauty, color, and crunchy leaf walking fall has it's bold and glowing say. There are loves and dislikes to every season.

So summer, the things I'd not attach from your season to my cosy sweater are:
temps so high that sweat runs down the back of the leg and into the crook of the knee, days too busy to get outside and play, fear of the unknown, a month without rain and then weeks full of rain - a little variety is good, saying no to time at camp because other work needed to be done, no time to read good books, rolled ankles that keep jogging at bay, and tiredness that won't go away.

The qualities of summer I would attach to my cosy sweatshirt are: s'more making with white chocolate, having a weed pulling race with my youth group, family adventures in day trips to art parks, reading a few wonderful gems of books, time with new and old friends, hunting for and finding that winery I'd been looking for, floating in Gram's pool and gazing at the puffy clouds in the sky, courage to keep going, a dog that is just as happy with long walks as fast runs, scrabble with twizzlers, and tiredness that finally says 'Uncle' to a good nights sleep in a night just chilly enough for wrapping up in a comforter.

Seasons may come and go, but an attitude of gratefulness and recounting what to be thankful for has the power to warm the heart in all sorts of weather, especially with the right cozy sweatshirt to wear.

Pour me out

I'm a little teapot, short and stout
Here is my handle [one hand on hip], here is my spout [other arm out straight]
When I get all steamed up, hear me shout
Just tip me over and pour me out!
[as song ends, lean over and tip arm out like a spout]

I'm a clever teapot, yes it's true
Here's an example of what I can do
I can change my handle to my spout [switch arm positions and repeat tipping motion]
Just tip me over and pour me out

Here is my simple "tea pot" approach to the meditative meme this week...
What has emptied and filled your cup in the last few days? Had anything steamed you up or become obvious of how you are able to pour into someone life?

Psalm 62:7-9 (New International Version © 2010)

7 My salvation and my honor depend on God[a];
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

Go ahead and sing this little ditty and then tell us about it....

Dog dances and bread

Image from BBC.com

I spend some time every day taking my dog, Aggie that we adopted from the humane society in October, for a run or walk every day. Yesterday morning it was so cold (3 below zero) that for the first time she was not into the "walk" once we got out the door and down the street a ways. She took to picking up each paw, hopping around on three paws, switching the foot that was up in the air, and hopping around on the other three till she made it all the way around her too-cold paws. It took me a little bit to pick up on her hint to me that it was TOO COLD for a walk, but then again I have to admit that her one foot up, hop, hop, hop and other foot up, hop, hop, hop dance routine had me laughing very hard and very much out loud.

Today was much warmer, well at least it was in the double digits - so I took her to one of her favorite places to bound around. We took our morning hike today at the snow covered softball/soccer fields behind my son's middle school. There was what seemed to be miles and miles of untouched fields of snow. One trail had be broken by someone over the weekend with bigger feet than I, so I happily followed these boot tracks all the way around the glittering snowy field while Aggie herded, ran circle and hopped (with all four feet this time) through the drifts of fluffy snow.

It was obvious when comparing the two walks with my dog, on which one she felt more herself. On the first day, she was cold, uncomfortable but thankfully, I was eventually smart enough to know what she was trying to tell me; and I took her home and retreated to the warmth of my home. Today, Aggie was in her element of lots of space to run, her walking buddy to play tag with (me), and the conditions were well within her liking. She had the space and time to play like her canine self today.

How often do I take time to access what conditions or company help me to feel more or less like myself? Do I have people around me that listen to my hints, cues, and one foot up - hop - hop - hop dances when I'm just out of sorts? Ultimately, I know I have buddies that support and help me along the way in time of both comfort and discomfort. In addition, I know that G-d knows what is on my heart even before I show any physical signs of being out of sorts.

So like my canine friend Aggie, I hope you have good listeners when you are feeling most fully yourself as well as when you least feel like yourself. If ever you need more listeners, the crew of Sleeping with bread is here with our ears and eyes open and maybe will share in some laughter to help get past the awkward dances we sometimes find ourselves in the middle of.

So this week - When did you feel most fully yourself and least yourself? Did you have someone to dance with? Just in case you need to know it, you are not alone. G-d is with you, the bread is with you, and Aggie and I are standing and laughing with you in the snow doing the one foot up - hop - hop - hop - dance.

This is my snow buddy Aggie!
Much love,
Lamont

Isaiah 43
When You're Between a Rock and a Hard Place
1-4 But now, God's Message, the God who made you in the first place, Jacob,
the One who got you started, Israel:
"Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.
I've called your name. You're mine.
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place,
it won't be a dead end—
Because I am God, your personal God,
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you:
all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in!
That's how much you mean to me!
That's how much I love you!
I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for you.

How do you do Sleeping with Bread?

Sleeping with Bread is a Monday meme. You can participate in one of two ways: 1) Pick one of the above examen question sets and answer it in the comments section of my SWB post; or, 2) Create your own Sleeping with Bread post. You are welcome to right click on the Sleeping with Bread button and save it to your own computer before uploading into your post. Then, make sure you come back and put the link to your post in the automated Mr. Linky form at the end of the current SWB post. We hope you will join in with the fellow bakers as we Sleep with Bread on Mondays!

Joy in a take-away cup?

I don't know if you have a Mc Cafe' in your town, but I have one just down the street from my house. As if McDonald's didn't have the corner on the market on the drive-thru meal, they now are working on staking ground on all the sit in/take out coffee shops that many folks know and, despite the $5.00 a cup price tag, love dearly.



If you are a fan of the Starbucks Frappuccino, McCafe' is now trying to draw your business by offering their, somewhat cheaper, versions of the same coffee treats you've grown to love.

Coffee, or tea, is something that gets people moving as well as brings them together. It's warm, sometimes sweet and creamy, sometimes dark and bold. Coffee has a way of clearing away the cobwebs of the mind, while it's warmth brings comfort and sometimes I'd even say solace.

Somehow though, the warmth or comfort of a cup of coffee (wherever you get it from), only lasts as long as some remains in your cup - or you get a refill. The kind of comfort that we discuss on Mondays did originate from the giving of bread to children traumatized by the bombing and loss of WW2, but the comfort itself is not limited to the tangible things of life.

The kind of joy, comfort and contentment we search for in this weekly meme are the kinds that help us through the darkest and sometimes the most difficult of days. This comfort may start with a cup of joe, but it lasts much longer than what the largest Grande' cup could hold.

What warmth, hope and joy did you hold on to this first chilly fall week of October? Did the chill of life have a chance against the joys? How did those joys show themselves to you throughout the last seven days?

May your cup overflow with joy, comfort and hope for the days to come. Thank you for sharing your joys, for as you share them, they may be the one thing that helps someones cup slip over the edge into comfort too.

Lamont