Second Sunday in Lent- 2016 – Imagination

Imagination is the ability to image, picture, conceptualize, envision, and dream. In order to change conditions in our mind, body and affairs, we must first transform the pictures we are holding in mind.  If we don’t like the conditions we are attracting, we can change them by building new images with the eye of mind, our faculty of imagination. We imagine the life we desire and focus our thoughts and actions to bring it into manifestation.  

When I think of the word imagination, the first the first things I think of are dreams, imaginings, or made up things.  But it is much more than that.  It is also using our minds to create realities.  This year my Cadettes (6^th graders) in my Girl Scout Troop are working on an anti-bullying patch called the BFF Patch (Be a Friend First). The goal is to help them feel safe in school, online and everywhere in between; build confidence to deal with mean girls and cliques; and develop healthy, positive relationships.

For their homework (because we don’t have enough time during the meetings), I’m asking them to consider what the world would look like if all girls treated one another with kindness and respect and no one was bullied – at school, online, or out in the world.  They love making videos on their phone; so I want them to create a public-service announcement (PSA) video that tells us what that world could look like and how we can get there.

This is going to take imagination and they will have to reach deep down into their consciousness by answering some serious questions about what bullying is before they can create their videos.  I think they are up for it.  After all they are Girl Scouts and say at each meeting the Girl Scout Promise and Law.  They have the training and qualities to be resourceful and creative.

GIRL SCOUT PROMISE:

 

On my honor, I will try:

to serve God and my country

to help people at all times,

and to live by the Girl Scout Law.

THE GIRL SCOUT LAW:

I will do my best to be,

honest and fair,

friendly and helpful,

considerate and caring

courageous and strong, and

responsible for what I say and do

and to respect myself and others,

respect authority

use resources wisely,

make the world a better place, and

be a sister to every other Girl Scout.

 

This is my 24^th year as a Girl Scout.  My life would not be the same if I had not been a part of the Girl Scouting experience.  When I was young girl growing up, it was the one constant that kept me strong.  As a teenager and young adult I never imagined that I would accomplish so much including earning the highest award at the time, The First Class. Later as a young mother, I enjoyed being my own daughter’s Girl Scout leader and now I’m in my sixth year as my granddaughter’s leader.  Using creative and imaginative ways I serve my highest good and that of others.

“Long live Girl Scouts.” ~ Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts, 1912

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Letter P

“In order to be able to really SEE we must train ourselves to look beyond the grey familiarity of our every-day world.”  Thank you to Susannah Conway, again, for challenging me to explore my senses.   After meandering through my house, I found things that were red, purple, and yellow.

I got a bit side-tracked in my search for my initials and heart shapes.  It’s not that I didn’t look, but I think I just didn’t look hard enough.  This is because Girl Scout cookie season and a trip to beautiful South Carolina to celebrate my granddaughter Emery Kate’s birthday have taken precedence over my exploration of my senses.

Cookie season is a two-and-a-half month season of training, pre-order sales, delivering cookies and collecting money, booth sales, and believe it or not reorders which can be huge.  This year I will have over 2,500 boxes of cookies in my garage before all the girls pick them up.  That’s about 200 boxes more than last year.  The troop makes .65 cents on a $4 box of cookies which we use to send girls to camp, go on day trips, and buy supplies including all their books, badges, patches and awards.  We always donate cookies to places such as the Ronald McDonald House, the Salvation Army Café, and the Chambliss Children’s Home, to name a few.  Cookie sales are a business, an experience unlike any other, and it teaches the girls valuable lessons in life.  But for the leaders/cookie chairmen it is all-consuming those weeks.

 

My husband and I traveled to Beaufort to visit our granddaughters and celebrate Emery Kate turning five years old.  We had planned to stay longer but cookie sales interrupted it, but we squeezed in a lot of hugs and kisses and birthday wishes while there.

 

She had her party at a local Christian based bowling alley.  The couple who bought the bowling alley a few years ago converted it, cleaned it up, and since this is the third party my daughter has held here, I can see that it is a huge success.  Classes were going on for a group of children; families were bowling together and two other party tables were set up for later that day.  Emery Kate invited seven little girls and one boy who happens to be a family friend, not a school mate.  Two of the little girls and the boy showed up.  None of the others RSVP'd; so my daughter had to assume everyone would come.  That meant buying enough pizza, cake, ice-cream and favors.  That seems to be the norm these days.  Sadly, parents don't respond to invitations anymore. The good news is the smaller group meant the parents got to enjoy the delicious pizza, Bluebell Ice cream cups,  and cupcake cake.  It was a "My Little Pony" party.  Her big sister Lexi painted a ceramic My Little Pony for her little sister and kept it a secret for a long time.  Both were very proud.

Later that day, I sat on their front porch.  The wind was brisk and I could have sworn that I could hear the waves two blocks away splashing on the beach at Port Royal.  Warm temperatures were not enough to withstand the wind, but I found a few minutes to sit in the sun and quietly think.  When I opened my eyes I saw a recent painting by my granddaughter, Lexi, a blooming artist as seen from the eyes of one with Autism.

Here was my first P:

 

 

 

 

With my first P tackled, I’m ready to find others.  Today, I will open my eyes and see with my heart and remember to sit quietly and be grateful for all my senses.

Exploring the Senses - Yellow

Today while exploring my senses, I traveled throughout my home in search of things either yellow or shades of yellow.  By far yellow is my favorite color with green a close second.  I tend to decorate and collect things in blue, however, and use my favorite colors as accents.  On my journey seeking out the color yellow, I came across many different objects, all of which tickled my fancy and called me to look deeper into their presence.

 

From left to right the first box pictures a piece of my husband’s grandmother’s “good” china, Havilland & Co. Limoges from France.  At one time I had almost eight place settings; unfortunately most of the pieces were chipped.  I saved a few to decorate with to remind me of the generous gift from his mother of her mother’s china.  Sitting on the plate is an antique china vase, a gift from long ago from my brother, which is signed by the maker but unreadable.  I have always been drawn to light, graceful paintings especially those with shades of yellow.  A tiny ceramic dish with legs and removable top holds my P.E.O. pin.  The top is adorned with a marguerite, the organization’s flower.  This was a gift from one of my chapters after serving as president for two years.  I served as president of a chapter seven times; so I’m not sure when or where I got the box.

Helen Halverson
 

In front of the box is another oval-shaped china box, also yellow.  On top is a petit point original needlework designed and made by Helen Halverson who was a founding member of P.E.O. Chapter AB in Winston-Salem, NC.  She gave me two china compotes, this one and another much larger one upon my leaving North Carolina and moving to Tennessee in 1996.  Helen published eighteen books of her needlepoint creations as well as left all the beautiful creations she herself made when she passed away in 2013. Next to the plate is a yellow luggage tag I used when I traveled for P.E.O. while serving on the State Board in the early 90’s.

 

The yellow bar on the insignia tab with my Girl Scout pin, First Class Award, World Association Pin, and membership pin – 25 years and counting signifies that I am a current volunteer leader.  It reminds me that being a leader now to my granddaughter’s troop is more important than earning my first class pin, which at the time was the highest award a girl could earn.  The yellow lemons in this picture and the dinner plate in the bottom right picture were part of a collection my mother-in-law had and which I received when she passed away in 1997.  Under all these pictures is a yellow flower printed cotton napkin which I handstitched along with 49 others in assorted colors for my son’s wedding rehearsal dinner.

The next picture is one of a water color painting made by Elaine Bryan a friend and artist when I lived in Houston, TX. She had painted a picture of a Brownie Girl Scout which was gift to me from the local GS neighborhood in Kingwood - (999 – girls, yikes) - and I loved it so that when I saw this magnolia at an outdoor arts festival, I bought it.

The top right-hand picture of the three pears is a painting I did with my daughter-in-law Laura and her dear sweet mother Carol Crouch.  Laura treated us to wine and art at a studio in Roswell, GA on one of her mother’s visits in 2013.

Underneath the pears is an unfinished patchwork quilt that was made by my husband’s great-grandmother, Annie Ardis Richardson.  We were visiting the home of my husband’s grandmother, Rachel Richardson Metcalf in the ‘80’s.  She and her twin sister, Leah Richardson Duvall had passed on but Leah’s son Bobby Duvall still lived in their home.  His only claim to fame was father of actress Shelly Duvall.  On this trip, he invited me and my sisters-in-law and my mother-in-law to go outside to the garage and look in some old trunks.  Here we found some old quilts and popcorn squares already finished but not connected.  We each came home with three of the popcorn squares and I came home with two huge quilts.  I had every intention of quilting them one day.  That never happened but still they hang in every home I’ve lived in since that weekend.  They remind me of times gone by and the love it took for my husband’s great-grandmother to stitch the pieces together.

Ralph Shartle, far right, sitting in his green chair

The picture on the bottom top is a botanical print I bought in Winston-Salem to hang in my blue living room.  A friend who was an interior decorator came to my house and helped me pick out the colors of my drapes and upholstery of the chair pictured in the next picture.  The chair was originally green Naugahyde and was my father-in-law, Ralph Shartle’s favorite chair.  I had it covered in a heavy yellow silk flowered pattern which has endured without stain or problem these past twenty-two years.  But I still see him sitting in the chair when I walk by it, remembering he was gone before we knew it.

The last picture is one of ceramic yellow roses in a milk glass vase which was given to me the day my second son, Daniel was born, from my parents.  My mother wanted me to have something permanent to remember that day.  It was a crazy funny day and very quick delivery with almost no problems.  Delicate and hard to clean, I’ve never let them be put away and today they stand next to a picture taken by my brother-in-law, Kenny White at that same son’s wedding in April 2001.

Now I’ve opened my eyes to my senses and experienced feelings of contentment, joy, sadness, beauty and especially love.  Thank you, Susannah Conway for giving me the push to explore.  Now one with the next step – looking for my initials and heart shapes!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

November 5th - Day 5 of the 30-day Challenge and Journey of Gratefulness

I dedicate myself on this fifth day to focus on all that is nourishing, advancing, and promising! PNS

Today's Daily Word Magazine from Unity affirms the importance of starting each day in a positive manner.  To be an inspiring presence of peace in kindness is a grand way to start the day, however keeping that vow can be challenging at times.

Yesterday, I got caught up in a conversation about life being not fair.  It is very hard to watch when a student is given special privileges by teachers and their actions result in my grandchild being hurt.  She is learning a lesson on life, and we are encouraged that she is taking a positive attitude about the situation.  Today, I am reminded to follow suit and let her wisdom guide me.

It is said that giving is not about duty, religion or manipulation; it's a spiritual practice that is intended to be the natural state of being.  It is an extension of our consciousness.

We are encouraged to "take action" or to do a service project for all badges and journeys provided by the Girl Scout Council.  Our Service Unit, which is a collection of troops in our area celebrated our founder's birthday recently.  Each troop donated a "Birthday-in-a-Bag" for a homeless child.  My husband, granddaughter and I took the bags to the homeless shelter a few days after the celebration.  There was only a receptionist behind a locked door to receive our donations.  She was grateful.  And we left knowing that a homeless child's birthday may be a little bit better because of our actions.

To nourish my body I tried a new "clean food" recipe.  I first made from scratch a pesto hummus which I can use for dipping fresh vegetables.  But this time I tossed it with cut up cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, chopped red onion and black beans and served it on my beautiful homegrown beet leaves.  I had two leaf sandwiches, a bowl of unsweetened natural applesauce and a cheese stick and left the meal satisfied!

From the Science of Mind, we read: "The wave in the ocean will never be a wave by itself.  It Will be the ocean as a wave."



In the same way, I can do nothing alone, but with the presence of God I live and breathe.

Thank you, God.  Thank you God!

Walking in Our Shoes

I am not unfamiliar with conferences having attended my fair share over the years as a delegate for Presbyterian Women, Early Childhood Education, Girl Scouts, P.E.O., and as a visitor to the CAC’s conference “Walking in Our Shoes” yesterday. Whether it’s a group of 500 or 5,000, I always leave feeling empowered.  And yesterday was no different.

My daughter-in-law, Debbie and I attended four of the five workshops choosing to spend time in the exhibiter’s room which was filled with valuable information.  Both of us came home with goodies to share with Lexi and her parents.  I could write a book on what I learned in the three sessions I attended and what amazed me is that some of the lessons were applicable to all children, not just special needs.

One story I will share hit home dearly.  I attended the “Helping Your Child be a Successful Writer” led by Jacinta McGavock, EdD.  As a writer, this was a subject close to my heart.  I learned so much especially when she got to the part about the steps to finalizing a story and the presentation.  For months now I have been meeting with our Junior Girl Scouts working on their Bronze Award.  This past Sunday we meet, planned, discussed, and brainstormed fundraising ideas.  We did a lot, or so I thought.  Upon leaving, Paige said, “Well, that was a waste of time.”  I had to laugh.  But it didn’t occur to me until Dr. McGavock’s session that I’ve been documenting every one of our meetings (as required) but the girls have not seen the pictures, notes, and list of what we accomplished at each meeting.  Thanks to the lesson, I’m going to collect all my documentation, give it to the girls and let them start writing their presentation to the Council by using video cameras, power point presentations, scrapbooks, or whatever they can create.

I am so grateful for the Chattanooga Autism Center for this opportunity.  I could not close without adding that the highlight of the event was the keynote speakers, Gina Gallagher and Patricia Kojoian sisters and co-authors of the book “Shut Up About Your Perfect Kid.”  Creators of The Movement of Imperfection invite “parents of ‘non-perfect’ kids to come out of their messy closets and talk about the accomplishments of their children.” We laughed and cried as we heard their journeys and reflected on how all of us with imperfect children and grandchildren were walking in the same shoes.

Finally, before leaving I was able to purchase one of their books for my daughter Jennifer.  Gina signed the book with a personal message to my daughter.  And WDEF interviewed me asking me how I felt about my granddaughter Lexi.  In my four seconds of fame, I said how much I love her gift of joy and inner spirit. ~ Pris

Becoming Ageless

One of the most humbling experiences for me right now is being a Girl Scout leader, at my age.  My physical body is not what it was thirty years ago when I camped with my daughter’s troop in Houston or even fifty-six years ago when I started camping out with my troop or at Camp Marydale in Louisiana.  I have to laugh at myself because I do follow the rules and wear socks over my ankles with close-toed shoes.  I don’t wear make-up, or blow my hair dry, or worry about how I look. How I look is not important; it is how I feel.  When I’m at camp with our troop, I am ageless.

 

That’s why I am able to dress up in a vintage uniform for a fashion show, play statues in the garden to help the girls kill time waiting for supper, dive into a cold mountain-top swimming pool, hike forty-five minutes through the woods on a small trial dodging horse manure, just to get to the barn to see the horses, and accidently taking the “short cut” to Shelter Rock for the Scouts Own ceremony which made us a bit late.  But doing so bonded our troop by hiking in silence and reaching the a point where we had to climb down damp and slippery boulders requiring each of us to help the next until we all made to the fire ring only to learn that the easy path was to go around the lake and come in from the back.  Another reason was standing in front of the entire camp, at dusk, closing the ceremony only to be visited upon by a flock of bats flying all around us taking center stage.  How surprised and delighted I was to see our girls see the bats in wonder and not scream or shout in fear; building memories for a life-time!

 

It’s also why I was able to dance with the girls at the Alien Ball, to hear one of our new little girls tell me she was so happy to be in our troop, and finally watching our youngest, a five year-old Daisy Scout keep up with the girls and keep us smiling with her great attitude.  It doesn’t hurt that I was surrounded by some amazing women who shared the experience with me including one who had never been camping.  Their support and love for the girls made it so much easier for me.  What better way to honor my ageless nature than by living with enthusiasm and gratitude. ~ Pris

Lake Adahi

 

I AM WHO I AM - THE WOMAN WHO WRITES THESE WORDS AND LIVES THE LIFE SHE IS INTENDED TO LIVE WITH JOY, PEACE AND LOVE.