GIMP action

Thanks to my sis-in-law, Rhonda, I created this snazzy new trademark for my department's maps!

You Might Be a Hippie If....

Dave and I are occasionally accused of being hippies (although neo-hippie might be more accurate, see bottom)...

So here is my Jeff Foxworthy list of hippie-esque "might-be's"...all of which we can answer with a resounding "YES"!

You might be a hippie if....

-you have Kombucha in the closet

-you own more bicycles than cars

-you forget how to drive said car due to the fact that you walk or ride everywhere

-living in a commune would be ideal

-you have a garden that provides you with a summer's worth of produce

-you forage in the public spaces in your town (apples trees, plum trees etc)

-you don't own white flour or white sugar

-you feel passionate about politics and causes (and organize events for both)

-you plan on sneaking chickens into your yard (give it to the MAN)

-you brew your own spirits (libations)

From www.happyhippie.com (I'm so not kidding)

"Neo-hippies, some of whom are sons, daughters and grandchildren of the original hippies, advocate many of the same beliefs of their 1960s counterparts. Drug use is just as accepted as in the "original" hippie days, although most neo-hippies do not consider it necessary to take drugs in order to be part of the lifestyle, and others reject drug use in favor of alternative methods of reaching higher or altered consciousness such as drumming circles, community singing, meditation, dietary practices, and yoga and dance.

The neo-hippie movement also inspired festivals and workshops that advocated alternative lifestyles, clean and sustainable energy, and unadulterated foods. Nambassa is also the tribal name of a trust that has championed sustainable ideas and demonstrated practical counterculture and alternative lifestyle methods since the early 1970s.

The neo-hippie movement has also morphed into the 'Green Movement.' The Green movement is a political and social movement which advocates goals common to Green parties, including environmentalism, sustainability, nonviolence, and social justice concerns. Supporters of the Green movement, called Greens, adhere to Green ideology and share many ideas with the ecology, conservation, environmental, feminist, and peace movements.

Some simply advocate ecological living is a life philosophy. Proponents of ecological living aim to conduct their lives in such a way that they have an all-encompassing awareness of earth and its processes. Each choice made under such a way of life requires a consideration of the consequences of the choice, and the way that the decision will affect the environment and all living things within it. Ecological consciousness and care for the earth are of paramount importance in the decision-making process."

My Answer

Ephesians 3:14-21 (New International Version)

A Prayer for the Ephesians
14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Stopping at 76

Forgiveness. One of the central themes of Christianity. One I fully support, embrace, and am thankful for everyday. And oh how I love how it sounds, and how it feels to be forgiven and give forgiveness. I would be nothing without it in my own life, my God would be unapproachable.

But...there is one ugly black mark on my heart. One person who I can't forgive, one action unforgivable. And this is where it get's real, because forgiveness is easy, until it gets hard and when it comes down to it, this is something I don't want to forgive. I want to hold on, and be righteously angry, and indigently stew on it. But it keeps the past in the present, and it's a raw wound in my mind. Every time I get to the place where I think I've forgiven, and I'm healing and moving forward the scab is ripped off and I see the ugly black interior of me. So I'm walking down this road again, with so many others this has effected. God, I can't, but You can forgive 77 times, and then 77 more.

Matthew 18:21-35

²¹Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

²²Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.^f]">[f]

²³"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents^g]">[g] was brought to him. ²⁵Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.

²⁶"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' ²⁷The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

²⁸"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.^h]">[h] He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.

²⁹"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

³⁰"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

³²"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' ³⁴In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

³⁵"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Childhood

I'm not a person who lives very often in the past. I do enjoy a respite there now and then. Lately, I've been thinking on these bygone days...

hiding out from life a bit

I wish I could stand here for a day. Then maybe I'd be ready for the next step.

Little Notes

Dear Neighbor:

D and I sleep with our windows open. Your dog barks all night long. I'm sorry to be picky, but please buy a muzzle so that we can get a little shut eye.

Thank you very much!
Your Neighbor


Dear Summer,

Please stay a little longer. There are so many things that I still want to do! I hear that indian summers can be rather lovely!

Thank you very much!
Your Biggest Fan


Dear D,

I love you. It's that simple.

Love,
Sar


Dear Luna and Rufus,

Although you've been residing in our home for only a week, you've brought a ton of joy to our lives! Thank you for curling up beside us and purring yourselves to sleep. Thank you for welcoming us home every day. Please do not destroy the house.

Love,
Your Owner


Dear 5 Year Plan:

You're new to me. I'm not sure how I feel about you yet. I do like to have you as a goal, but help us keep in mind that flexibility, spontaneity, and adventure are not to be discounted now that you're tagging along. I will be keeping an eye on you though.

Sincerely,
S

Lazy Days of Summer

I loved, loved those old timey Country Time Lemonade radio ads. The announcer's voice, the background music, the word pictures created..."There is one less day of summer this year, one day less day of running barefoot through the sprinkler...." (PS I did a pretty intensive Google search to find a transcript but to no avail, not even a recording of an ad. Sad, sad.)


There haven't been many lazy days for D and I this summer. We seem to be rushing from one event to the next and then home to bed so that we can function at work. That's not to say we haven't had a lovely summer, filled with adventure and excellent memories. I just feel sad that I've only napped in our hammock once, no lazy walks by the river as we only have time to run and then on to the next thing. So here's to August, may there be a few days at home, sipping lemonade, listening to records, and doing nothing but watch the clouds wander past.