Hygge up

First snow of the season, and I am hygge'ing it up. Morning started with a stroll in the peace of the falling snow with the dog. No one else out in the neighborhood. I could breathe. Slowly. And now I have my homemade cuppa joe, dark roast and french pressed, splash of almond milk, dash of cayenne and cinnamon, with my candle lit and acoustic indie christmas tunes in the background. This past week, I have had a couple of opportunities to reflect on this season of cozying up and how hope shows up in our lives. 

Pastor Shannon at Lord of Life, where I work, invited me to share my reflections on hope. It was definitely an opportunity to stretch my courage as it has been a long time since I have been in front of a crowd, let alone an older white one which pushed me a bit beyond my comfort zone. 

Reflection on Hope 
If you are inspired by Psalm, tune in at 20:00. Otherwise, start at 22:00.

The next morning, it was my turn as a staff member to lead our weekly devotion (meditation). Would not consider myself super Christian, definitely spiritual and connected to the values of kapwa (internconnectedness), social justice and healing (wellness). So we hygge'd it up with the first Advent candle, and I am reminded that even the slightest glimmer gives us cause to hope amidst our personal struggles and global chaos. 

The beginning of the holdiay season is always wrought with bittersweetness. Longing for those moments with those who are now beyond the stars. Especially miss my Dad savoring the turkey's butt and innards after we have all had our Thanksgiving eats and all the roasting our family does of each other around the table as we refill our wine glasses. 

At your next holiday meetup, I wish you a moment of hygge -- a heartful breath, a thoughtful pause. May you soak up an intentional moment of cozy.

Parent's lament

When I'm inside my own head about what I might be doing wrong as a parent, I search for literature to support my stance or hunt for inspired wisdom. Parenting is only hard for the fully engaged, overly invested and deeply loving parents (so they say). And sometimes . . . 

parenting a teen
feels like
falling up a mountain 
-- upside down

Summer's pause

when my foot 
pauses
between rocks
in the creek
arms flail and
i plunge --
exhilarated
by the cool depth 
of Nature's tears
like the Natives whose feet
kissed the path along this creek
their courageous connection
no bothersome breeze 
just unbounded, blessed glee
in the valley within the valley