The end of March madness

3-31-09 onward thinking brain
Last day of March: I was going to blog a summary of the month, but for some reason I don’t feel like revisiting the last 30 days. Not that it was such a bad month….. I have a sense of closure and completion on many fronts. My Dad is going better this month; Greg is moved out of the KC apartment and into a nice manageable house; Several house projects were accomplished at the DM house with the help of my nephew; all in all…. I guess I’m ready to look forward to April rather than to spend too much energy on reflection today.

I’m reminded of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which I remember learning in nursing school. This month of March ends with my lower needs being met (for the moment) and I’m ready to deal with higher needs.

Diagram from Wikipedia

I’m ready to create some art, enjoy some nature, plan my garden, and contemplate the meaning of life and my purpose at this stage of life.

I remember well the last time I saw my father-in-law. Greg and I were visiting Ohio, October 1993, for Greg’s 10 year class reunion. Greg and I had been married only a year and I had only spent time with his dad, Albert, on a handful of occasions. Greg’s dad was suffering from pulmonary fibrosis and over the 3 years I knew him, he was pretty much home bound and on oxygen. As Greg and I were saying our goodbyes and heading back to Iowa, “Bert” rose out of his chair and wanted to pray for us. We stood in a circle holding hands along with Greg’s mother. I don’t remember all of the short prayer, but I remember the last words he spoke, telling Greg and I to…. “Glorify God with everything you do”.

I had never heard before in my Methodist upbringing that to “Glorify God” was a purpose of life. Greg’s dad was raised Amish, and was number 7 out of 14 brothers and sisters. Greg’s father and family have a wonderful strong faith, in which I have enjoyed learning about and learning from. Since that last time with Greg’s dad, from time to time, I have wondered IF the way I live my life and the activities I choose to do actually “Glorify God” …..

I think in the month of April I will take time to consider this again, along with creating some art, enjoying some nature, planing the garden and contemplating the meaning of life.

Greg’s Dad died 3 weeks after that Ohio visit and I’m grateful for the effort he took to pray with us, since today Bert still touches my heart.

Fixing the Economy

3-30-09 patriotic brain

I don’t write much about “politics” yet in my blog, probably because I was burnt out from all that went on last year. In Iowa, the Presidential campaigning really started in 2007 as candidates spend time in Iowa preparing for first primary run off which was the Iowa Caucus held Jan 2008.




I was deeply involved even back in 2007 when Greg and I hosted a John Edwards campaign worker (Heather) for December 2007 up to the Caucus.

Heather was a very intelligent and interesting gal who we fell in love with. Heather is my “six degree of separation” link to many well known people. She even drove Kevin Bacon around Iowa as he was campaigning for Edwards at that time. She then went on to work for Obama.

I’m leading up to an email (humorous? or serious? or both?) sent by my cousin last week concerning the big news story of the day: "Fixing the Economy". What I found amusing were some of the responses I got back when I forwarded this one to others.

The original Email was:
This was an article from the St. Petersburg Times Newspaper on Sunday. The Business Section asked readers for ideas on "How Would You Fix the Economy?"

Patriotic retirement:
There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force. Pay them $1 million apiece severance with stipulations.
1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed.
2) They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered - Auto Industry fixed.
3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing Crisis fixed.

Responses I receive back were:

This is good! (from KRD)

He has forgotten one very small detail. Most of us will need that money just to REPLACE the money we have lost in our IRA's that we used to have and were planning to use for retirement anyway. That aside, not a bad idea. Why don't you forward it to Nancy Pelosi. She seems to like to spend our money.

An even better thought just occurred to me. I wonder how many Congress people are 50 or over? That would also be a grand way to wipe that slate clean and start over. (from TM)

Who’s doing to pay for my health insurance if I retire early? Will I get Medicare early? (I wrote that)

Then my witty and wise husband wrote:
So let me see if I get this right...The Baby Boomers -- one of the most privileged generations in the history of the world -- now each deserve $1M each to retire early. The 'Me' generation certainly has not broadened it's perspective over the years. GSB (a Gen-X'er, obviously)

Greg’s reply got me thinking about something I read last night, and MAYBE as Boomers, we need to start thinking of others more than we do. Can we re-learn and teach the next generation about SERVICE? or is it too late us?

I slept and dreamt that life was joy,
I woke and saw that life was service.
I acted and behold,
Service was joy.

Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941)

Spring snow & Earth Hour

3-29-09 sabbatical brain

The snow in Kansas City is worth mentioning, if only for its beauty!


Seven to nine inches were predicted, but the rain didn't turn over to snow immediately. Leawood area only received 4 inches of wonderful wet snow which adhered to every tree twig. Other parts of town received more. Today, Sunday we are left with a bright, sunny day.... perfect to make a snowman, which I will go do soon.






Here is picture looking west down our street.








Last night, Greg and I participated in Earth Hour.




This was a global effort started in Australia a few years ago. For ONE hour, individuals, cites, states, countries participate by turning off your lights from 8:30- 9:30 p.m. Saturday March 28th. In the newspaper today it said that ten times as many cities took part in the event this year compared with 2008. 88 countries participated.

I was hoping this year at 8:30 to be able to take an evening walk down to street to see if anyone else in the area had turned off all their lights at that time. Unfortunately, with the the snow Greg and I just stayed inside most of the day and at 8:30 we turned the lights off and went to bed.

Simple mind

3-28-09 tongue-tied brain

I have decided I need to take an absence from blogging on Wednesdays and Sundays..... as an attempt to free up some time for my creative R brain and find more balance.... unless of course something important needs to be documented, then I will make an exception. The spring weather and sunlight after work is making me want to be outside rather than sitting in front of a computer any longer than I have to.

PLUS, I want to start working on a new art project. I have been on a sabbatical from art classes since November. I have a hundred projects in brain..... but I think I will start on one for the KC "sleeping chamber"...... A large painting of a country landscape with big fluffy clouds. This maybe the only object to get hung on the wall of this room.

This is our KC "sleeping chamber".... I want to call it that, instead of a "bedroom".... since we are striving to keep our bedroom a relaxing place- NO TV. Now in the new house there is only the bed and a dresser with bare walls and I have found this to be really relaxing. No busy bookshelves, desk, or no nick-knacks to clutter up the room.

As my life gets more and more complicated, I find it refreshing and necessary to have a living space which is NOT complicated. Simplify!.... is my new motto, or "sparse-a-ticity " a new word I made up! I hope Greg will be on board with me on this. Next I have to work on making the DM "sleeping chamber" a more relaxing, sparse place as well.

I stand corrected!

3-27-09 misinformed brain


I had not taken the time to walk around the yard and look at everything this week upon my return to Des Moines, since it was raining for two days and now turned cold. However, this morning I had to walk over to the grocery store and I was surprised by some of the discoveries I made.

I was wrong in my post yesterday. Even on this cloudy day, I discovered that some of my daffodils are progressing to have their blooms. All they need now is a warm sunny day and I believe they will be in full bloom.



Unfortunately, I also discovered a dandelion well on its way to new life.






This time of year, changes can happen faster than one can keep up with. I have noticed how the sunlight has changed on how it comes into the bathroom which indicates to me the equinox. This officially happened last Friday. I appreciate both the spring and fall equinox since the morning light now shines straight into the east window and in the evening the light shines into the west window.




I’m happy that in our house addition, done in 2000, included so many windows in our master bathroom. This is a cheerful place to start and end the day.

Blooming in adversity

3-26-09 homage brain

My daffodils have pushed themselves up out of the ground…. No yellow blooms yet, but I love seeing these bulbs point the way towards spring. Daffodils are also a special symbol for cancer research. The American Cancer Society for more than 35 years has had a fundraising program called “Daffodil Days”. Each spring in March the Society offers daffodils to donors in appreciation for a contribution. Bunches of daffodils can be sent to friends, family members, and people touched by cancer to share the message of hope and raising funds and awareness to help defeat cancer.

My friend Molly lost two friends to cancer this month, so she is not feeling so great about March this year. However, Molly did brighten my day last weekend by bringing Greg and I a vase of daffodils for our new home and we put them on the fireplace mantle to be admired.



I have loved doing several paintings of daffodils over the years…… This one is a pastel from 2008….. but the most special one I created was during some of my first art classes around 1998.... for my friend Robin and the story that I wrote from this is still one of my favorites. The picture was just a sketch using white conte pencil on a dark green paper… it never did photograph very well….. but I hope you get the idea.



“Blooming in Adversity”
~Celebration of Cancer Survivors~
(Inspired by, and dedicated to Robin)
by Judy Sebern Beachy




A SIMPLE SKETCH FOR MY FRIEND: My hand offering a bouquet of daffodils; An extended hand reaching to express my love and support for her; A trembling hand fearful of touching her pain. My friend is struggling with aggressive and advanced breast cancer diagnosed at age 40 on her initial baseline mammogram. Chemotherapy, surgery, radiation treatments and possible bone marrow transplant awaited her.

Sharing life’s struggles and pain is not always easy. We tend to hide it from others. We want always to project strength and control over difficult situations. Allowing ourselves to feel another’s pain and watching them struggle is equally difficult. We don’t like being clumsy with words and feeling helpless or worthless when we can’t solve the problem, clean up the mess, or cure the ailment.

However, sharing life’s adversities is a gift we can give each other. If we fail to do so, then we miss experiencing the beauty of the struggle, the beauty of being human, and the beauty of love. We also miss seeing the beauty blossom when courage and hope grow out of the fear and pain.

MY FRIEND IS A CANCER SURVIVOR: So this simple sketch, my hand extended with these vibrant spring flowers, is also offered in gratitude, for the sharing, for the inspiration and for the hope my friend is giving to me, by allowing me to watch as she BLOOMS IN ADVERSITY!

Peace sisters

3-25-09 peaceful brain
I had dinner with Carolyn and Sue, my two “best” Allison Ave neighbor girlfriends last night. This was good timing, we not only were able to finally celebrate Sue’s birthday which was last week, but this was also good to ground me and to connect me back with Des Moines. This will be important as I continue to live my life split in two.

I’m glad I don’t have to give up my DM house and neighbors…. for the time being. I’m so blessed to live in a close knit street. Our neighborhood, the stretch of Allison Avenue between Beaver Avenue and 44th Street, is made up of about 40 houses. There are 21 houses on the north side of the street and about 17 houses on the south side since Westminster Church is on the corner of the south side. I know everyone who lives in each of these houses, of course to varying degrees. We have several social activities throughout the year and this helps us get acquainted. It started out with our annual block party in the fall, which has been doing on before Greg and I moved here….. then over the years we have added others, such as an ice cream social in the summer, or a Margarita deck party, or a progressive wine & dessert party, or a Christmas Caroling party. The Allison Avenue ladies also find other occasions to get together such as Silpada parties, or Pampered Chief parties.

There are so many interesting neighbors I enjoy spending time with, but over the 16 years Carolyn, Sue and I have bonded to be my closest friends. We all belong to Westminster, the Presbyterian church on the corner and we have been very active in many committees there. We started calling ourselves the peace sisters… starting when Carolyn put a *peace sign on her door and gave one to me, then we gave one to Sue. So as people drive down our street, they may think it weird to see the same door decoration on three houses.

Carolyn and Sue were such a godsend in helping care for our diabetic cat Missy whenever I was away from home over the last 2.5 years. Friendships like this are precious! The three of us are committed to taking care of each the best we can. This has ranged from supporting Carolyn through her breast surgery and Sue through her divorce and me through my split KC/DM adventure..... and many other difficult times.... and GOOD times was well.

I LOVE MY PEACE SISTERS!

(Picture from 2005)

*For those of you interested in your own copper peace door sign: shop at http://www.acaciacatalog.com/ It comes in two sizes: large for $32.95 item #51077 and small for $12.95 item #51076