So Much in Nature

There's just so much in nature...
more than enough for a lifetime of discovery!

by Marjolein Bastin

Birthday Meditation at Mother Cabrini Shrine

Yesterday, my husband and I went for a walk along the lake in the park.
The pavement was still covered with snow. It was so crispy cold.
While walking on the pure white snow, I felt I was purifying myself before receiving my next birthday.

Today was my birthday.
I am fortunate to have friends who sung a happy birthday song for me.
I am fortunate to have a husband who took a day off in order to celebrate my birthday with me all day long.





For my birthday today, I asked my husband to take me to Mother Cabrini Shrine.
I love to take a private medication and prayer moment on my birthday.

Starting New Year’s Eve Cleaning

It is a custom for Japanese to do a big cleaning on the New Year’s Eve in order to celebrate the coming New Year.

I have started to clean and organize my rooms for the coming New Year.
With careful concerns for 3Rs, I have tried not to just “dump” stuffs in order to clean up my mess.
I love to get practical but artful ideas for how to organize my spaces from magazine articles and books.

I have read a book written by a Japanese organizing and cleaning expert who recovered from depression through cleaning up the mess in his house.
It is true cleaning brings me a feeling that I have started to work on my mess inside of myself as well.
Even a little bit visual progress to clean up the disorganized house brings me a positive feeling to refresh my life.

Happy Cleaning!

Lair O the Bear Park on Thansgiving Day

Hope everybody had a nice Thanksgiving !