Liberation from dust and chaos

As the weather warms, I've started cleaning out cupboards and closets and finally, today, the pantry. It's not totally done, but four of the six shelves are re-organized and I find myself tempted to just open the door to look at it's orderliness. It is pure liberation from disorder, chaos and a layer of dust that had fallen on some unused items. I can open the door and immediately see the ingredients I need -- rather than pass a minute or two, first trying to remember what I opened the door for since the chaos has confused me and secondly trying to actually find it. Spring cleaning used to be a custom linked around Easter. We clean away the old to get ready for the new. I enjoy reading Sarah in NYC's blog and most recently it has been some of her careful preparations to get ready for Passover. Her reflections are very beautiful. They have prodded me in my own Christian practice. In the Lenten time we have moved from the frailty of Ash Wednesday -- those ashes reminding us that we are dust and to dust we will return. Frail beautiful creatures of God for whom life is short and for whom we are to live in God to the fullest. Yet so often I fall into habits that become life-draining. As I clean, I reflect on the in-balances of life, simple overwork and stressing about that work, that have led to the shelf getting into such a state and that I closed my mind to that chaos again and again. In a short time, a pantry shelf is tidy, made new again.If a pantry can be made livable again so can my life in what God offers to me. This is a busy week of service preparation for me so the spring cleaning may extend into the Season of Easter that begins on Sunday. But this cleaning is one meditative way to prepare for Easter and the results are, at least in this household, celebrative!

South before North

Well the proverbial cat or should I say, "puppy" is out of the bag. Mom told Dad they're getting a new family member. And they are definitely coming to get the puppy first -- although a few days after April 23rd. However, Mom told me I could NOT pick up the puppy for her. It was supposed to bond with her not me! : ) Here's the latest photo from the local breeder. Isn't he cute??!!
And yes, you guessed it. I also would love another maltese. But for right now, we'll stick with Sneaker as the family dog.

Surprise for Dad! Shhh!!

Yesterday morning my brother called. Our parents live about 13 hours away from where my brother and I and our respective families are. We both know that they are driving out for a visit towards the end of April to visit us and attend an anniversary party in Edmonton on the May 1st weekend. My brother spent last weekend with the folks and told me that they would head to the anniversary party before visiting us. I said I think they've got some things to pick up before going to Edmonton. Well, my brother told me, since he was the one to most recently visit our folks surely he would know their plans.
Right. Except.....Mom wouldn't have told him in front of Dad the surprise that she's arranged and that's due to be picked up around April 23rd in our area. The Maltese puppy lying in the middle is Mom and Dad's.
So, Bro, I'm betting you a Star Bucks Latte or equivalent that they'll come visit south before they head north. If I lose this bet, it's no loss since it just means I get to play with the puppy for a few days.

Happy Birthday Sneaker!

It's nearly a year since we adopted our family dog, Sneaker, and according to his records, yesterday was his birthday. Normally, a dog's birthday passes almost unnoticed but when there's a five-year-old in the house, these dates warrant, at the very least, a cake. J woke me yesterday by coming into the room singing happy birthday to Sneaker. We decided Sneaker would be most happy if he had a friend at his party, so we invited his pal, 11-year-old Gillian and her human family, Beryle and Fred for cake in the evening. Sneaker was ecstatic when the door bell rang and his friends were at the door. He obviously wasn't too sure what singing with a cake was about but having a friend around was super. Only the humans got to enjoy the cake, however. Sneaker might have got at least a taste but, when I came home from work earlier I discovered he'd polished off the kitchen garbage and I had a mess to clean up. Enough "Birthday" treats for Sneaker!

In the Eye of the Beholder

My cousin passed on two bags of hand-me-downs for J and it was Christmas all over again in our house. J was so excited as we went through the clothes. She quickly found this long dress with apron and then because it was cold in the house, pulled on a sweater and a toque -- just because she loves hats! (thanks to the influence of Purple fingers' grandsons!) The fan was in with the clothes. My Mom was horrified I took this photo of J like this but I was so taken with her excitement over the new-to-her clothes.
A few clothes needed mending -- including a pair of leotards with a picture of a bear on the bottom (get it? Bear-bottom!!). I set to work darning the toe and heel on the leotards only to discover that the other toe needed repairs also. 'I am surely crazy to waste my time on this,' I thought, as I started into the second toe. Except I was watching the Olympics and the handsewing was relaxing. This morning, though, as I sat at the kitchen table going over Sunday's service one last time, J ran up beside me, clutching the bear leotards in her hand, her face one big smile. Indeed, yes, the time spent extending the life of those leotards was well worth it.