Today's simple goodness

Finding blessing in the ordinary

2011-12-14T07:40:00.000-08:00

Today I read of an old friend who has published his first highly successful book. I was so excited for him. After that faded, I thought of my own life. I have not written a best seller. I am not well known. I have not accomplished anything extraordinary. I felt bad for a very brief moment, then deep within me, I realized I would not trade my life and my focus for anything. I find such great satisfaction in being present for my kids, to share a meal with my husband, to look deeply into the eyes of those I meet on a daily basis at school and work. I prepare soup for supper with care and eagerness for the hungry mouths to enjoy it. I hang out my laundry around my wood stove. I walk slowly through the woods with a friend and our dogs. I breathe in the moist warm December air. I slow down and enjoy my life.

My lesson for today

2011-11-15T07:24:00.000-08:00

God is faithful. This was my mantra to myself during Brian's absence for 10 days when I was filled with much anguish. I did not live into it. I suffered much. Only when Brian returned and we talked through some difficult issues and he gave apology did I realize God had been walking with me all along. Each and every one of those days of grief, God was there, and God was guiding the process. If only I could have understood it then, I might have suffered less. Today, a new day. I will be all right. God is faithful.

Making sacred the ordinary

2011-04-11T11:30:00.000-07:00

While speaking with a beloved friend, she asked me about my music career and how I felt about it's direction. I told her I was at peace with it for now. In addition to making music for healing and meditation, I have a passion for nurturing my children and simply being with them. The day before spring break, our school had a movie day, complete with popcorn and pajamas. Sitting there with my kids in this school with much noise and a little chaos, I felt such deep love and gratitude for spending such a simple time together. It was pure joy. This is as much of my calling as my love of music. I learn from the patients at the hospital that every day shared with a loved one is a gift. Praise God.

A day at home

2011-01-03T09:47:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year. Today we begin our routine after a wonderful holiday break of skiing, sledding, ice skating and Christmas cookies. It was wonderful to slow down as a family and play and simply be together. Today I have a day of quiet to catch up with the house, my work, my life, my soul. It is good to have the house all to myself to go at my own pace and to work in prayer. I found great joy in setting out a new, pressed table cloth, putting away some decorations, making butter and yogurt - in keeping house. Keeping house is a sacred act for me - I create beauty, simplicity and goodness for my self and my family. Ahhhhh, I breathe in the quiet Mother Spirit of God, I sigh contentment.

Family Fun

2010-11-07T15:40:00.000-08:00

Friday night is now Family Movie Night at our house. I rent a family friendly movie on Friday afternoon. I begin pizza dough. When the kids get home, we each roll out our own mini pizza and decorate it as we choose from a variety of items I have prepared ahead of time. Cheese, sauteed mushrooms, broccoli, pepperoni are a few of our favorites. This week I made baked squash from our garden as a side. I also splurged and bought the kids each a box of junior mints. We eagerly sat down on our large picnic blanket on our living room floor and watched Toy Story 3. We look forward to this moment all week. It is a celebration of completing a week of hard work and play and moving into the weekend of slowing down. Family time is a great gift. We are enjoying every moment of our time together. Love and blessings to you and your loved ones. Kathryn
www.kathrynchristian.com

Harp

2010-11-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

Today I played my harp at the hospital with a friend and music therapist. We played for a young woman in a lot of pain and discouragement. As my fingers ran over the strings and as I sang a simple song for healing, my soul felt transported to a deeper place of peace within myself. I play healing music because it is what my soul longs for. Meditative, slow, simple music allows me to spiral down into myself - that place where all is quiet and all is well. It is where God is. My hope is that it touches the patient as much as it touches me. Blessings on your night. Kathryn
www.kathrynchristian.com

My children

2010-11-01T04:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday for Halloween my children dressed up. My older as Princess Leia and my younger as Toothless the Dragon. This was their second year they were allowed to participate in this secular holiday. My husband and I have had mixed thoughts about it because of it's tie to dark and negative images and roots. However, to watch my children bring their wonder and joy to it was transformative for me. It was thrilling to dress up and become a character - a powerful archetypal transformation. I watched them look through their bounty of candy like a dragon over its lair. Sheer wonder! We eat healthy at this home and seldom see candy enter our door, so the enchantment was all the more powerful. Having children brings such love and goodness into my day - it is the greatest of gifts. I give thanks each day, even those days when parenting drives me to the edge. Each day, my kids are my greatest blessing. Kathryn
www.kathrynchristian.com

Today

2010-10-28T17:10:00.000-07:00

Today's simple goodness was having my cat climb upon my chest and purr this morning as I lay in bed while the rest of the family was still sleeping. The rhythm of her purring is very healing and I understand that the vibrations of a cat's purr can lead to physical healing within the cat's own body and others. Amazing! Bless you, Kathryn
www.kathrynchristian.com

Today's simple goodness surprises me

2010-10-27T08:54:00.000-07:00

I just arrived back from my Tae-kwon-do class. Today we put on protective gear which included mouth guard, chest protector, hand and leg protection. Then we paired up and used the skills we have been developing and sparred with each other. I sparred with two women, one a black belt and one older woman a blue belt. Before beginning I felt uncomfortable and silly. I have spent my whole life attempting to bring peace into my life and into the world. Here I was looking like a little woman boxer and yelling and kicking at my partner in between gasping for air and laughing like a kid. It was very exhilarating. It felt wonderful to get out some of my unwelcome and toxic emotions in an acceptable atmosphere. It was empowering. I began martial arts with my kids this fall. I wanted my daughters to feel strong and able to protect themselves. The gift to me is I am finally learning the same thing. What a contrast to my simple goodness yesterday which was playing harp and singing to an ill patient at the hospital where I am a chaplain. Learning to marry gentleness and fierceness is a great gift in my life. Blessings to your day. www.kathrynchristian.com

Monday, catching up

2010-10-25T10:31:00.000-07:00

A new day, a new week. I begin my day today with catching up. I hear my breadmaker working to knead my bread for me as I type. Earlier, I used my electric grinder to grind the soft winter wheat berries and spelt to make fresh flour. My kids still pine for store bought white bread but I imagine that some day they will look back on mom's fresh bread with love. I also made butter today from Shetler Dairy milk which I pick up at the little farm store near my house. The glass bottles feel cool and sturdy and remind me of the days when the milk man came to our house when I was a child. My food processor does a mighty and marvelous job churning my butter for me which I then blend with organic canola oil. Lastly, I made yogurt from more of that wonderful milk from grass fed cows which I have watched at the dairy lazily chewing grass. I am thankful. Monday.
from Kathryn at www.kathrynchristian.com

Today's simple goodness

2010-10-24T10:59:00.000-07:00

This is actually about yesterday's simple goodness since I did not get a chance to write. Yesterday I was gifted to meet with my women's group, Sisters of the Earth to discuss an important book we are reading together called "Half the Sky". It is about the oppression of women around the globe and the actions they are taking to overcome desperate circumstances. It is an important book and I believe every woman and every man should read it. The violence and sexual exploitation is beyond shocking. My question to myself is what can I do right now in my life? I begin with my daughters and will move out from there. We ended the day with sharing simple massage for each other. It was holy to give and receive with my women friends in such a tangible, physical way. We used warm stones to rub out tension in each other's feet, hands, backs. Women give so much. Women have such blessedness to give. How essential to receive it back from each other. It was bliss.
As for today's simple goodness, I believe it was to receive a simple favor from my husband offering to drive the kids today so that I could enjoy 30 minutes of solitude. To have a husband who is thoughtful and concerned about my welfare is beyond simple, but awesome. Blessings, Kathryn

2010-10-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

Today I begin my blog sharing. Friday's simple goodness began with waking up with my children and husband and watching the morning light creep into our house. A beautiful, rainbow like sunrise was on the horizon. Tonight is movie night at our school with popcorn and caramel apples. The movie is How to Train Your Dragon. My younger daughter suddenly wanted to be Toothless and we quickly searched on the computer and found a costume at Walmart. Modern technology continues to be a marvel to me, as well as a concern. I feel great delight in being able to buy my children a simple gift, especially because it does not happen frequently. What a joy to bless our children! How God must delight in blessing us as well. Sharing the simple joys of life as a family is such a gift. Bless your day.