Step Two

Step Two - Understand the Surf/Prioritize


Ok! You've slowed down and your ready to assess the situation. The first lesson in wave navigation begins on the beach. Never venture into the surf without first checking conditions for at least 15 minutes. It is not that uncommon to arrive at a beach and find it devoid of waves, only to swim out and be confronted by a "set" (sequence of three or four larger waves). I can't even begin to count how many times this has happened to me! The conditions on any given day will be governed by wind direction and velocity, swell direction and size, tides and bottom conditions - good grief!

Got a tough day ahead of you? Never venture back into the craziness without first checking the conditions.

Here's what to do:

Make a list of items that you need to accomplish and list them in order of importance. Putting your thoughts down on paper will help clear your mind. Let's face it, there are some days that ocean seems just too rough to go out on. If the waves are over 2 to 3 feet you may want to consider waiting for a better day. But, if you do decide to brave the surf, it is a good idea to study the wave pattern before you go. The breaking waves almost always come in sets of 6 to 8 followed by a calmer period. This is when you want to make your break for it.

Are you "braving the surf" today? Give some considerable thought to the day ahead. . . find the calm . . .take a deep breath. . . and go for it!

Overcome Being Overwhelmed

In today's hectic and fast-paced way of life, wouldn't you agree that it sure is easy to become overwhelmed? Let’s face it—most of us are trying to squeeze in something in our lives.

For those of us in the military we are usually juggling our normal family commitments on top of all the military ones, and very often filling in the gap left by a deployed spouse. Most experts will tell us that the best thing we can do for ourselves and everyone around us is to just slow down! Sounds simple, right? Ha! It’s not unlike the experience of having a big wave completely engulf you while playing in the surf at the beach.

When I was a young girl living in San Diego, I learned by trial and error to float in the calm water beyond the breakers and body surf on Southern California beaches. But getting to the calm water on the other side of the waves was tricky part! Surfing skill comes first from watching and understanding a wave as it breaks, so you are able to position yourself in the perfect spot to catch the wave or dodge it - whatever the case may be. After endless weekends, with hours and hours of observation and treacherous practice, I began to understand the power of the ocean. After many years, I found a rhythm. Not going against it – but working with the wave– it all became so much less overwhelming!

The dictionary defines “overwhelm” as “to become overwhelmed by a superior force.” Without a doubt, the point at which we become so overwhelmed by the heavy demands of life that we want to scream, cry with frustration or give up, comes from the buildup of pressure. How do we reduce this anxiety level? With a few simple steps:


Step One - Slow Down


This is the most important step of all. When stress crashes down on you like a wave, walk away from it to a place of safety, get your breath and assess the situation. Just getting out of the water can quickly calm you down and help you to get your thoughts in order so that you can start fresh. Away from the beach? Take a walk, meditate, or simply shut your door for a few minutes and listen to soothing music. At work? Sit in your car and do the same thing.



log on again in a few days (while I think about what to write) to read the next installment

Treasures

Someone said that grandchildren are God's way of compensating us for growing old. Well, there is no doubt that this is true. These precious treasures light up a room and bring more joy in a single moment than I ever thought possible!

Here are some recent pictures taken of our three grandchildren. And just think . . . they all live within 100 yards of me. As someone put it to me the other day - a little bit of heaven!

Scroll down the page to view the pictures from Fr. Philip's Ordination

Saint Valentine

St. Valentine is a martyr from before the year 312, commemorated on the 14th of February. He was probably martyred on that date, but nothing else is known of him. (A Valentine, priest of Rome, and a Valentine, bishop of Ternia (Interamna), are both commemorated on 14 February, and now generally assumed to be the same person.) In many parts of Europe, it was once said that birds began to pair off for the nesting season in mid-February. Since our forebears often spoke of a given day by naming a saint connected with it rather than by giving the month and the number of the day, we find them saying that birds choose their mates on St. Valentine's day.

Historians have speculated that St. Valentine came to be given this title because his feast day fell around the time of Lupercalia, a pagan Roman festival of carnal love that later took on a more Christian character as well as the saint's name. For this to happen – if it is true – St. Valentine must have been highly regarded by the early Roman Christians. The saint is described as a brave, righteous and wise man and a kind and conscientious friend to those in need.

According to tradition, St. Valentine also cared deeply for the young: He taught lovers to read and write letters to one another, presented flowers to newlyweds and helped married couples in difficulties. As a priest in the third century, and according to legend, St. Valentine ignored Emperor Claudius’ decree that no more marriages were to take place. Claudius had forbidden marriages because he believed that they cut down on his potential crop of soldiers. Valentine, viewing this as unjust, continued to marry people, and was caught in the act and sentenced to death. It is said that a girl, whom Valentine had healed of blindness fell madly in love with him and visited him every night in prison. Before his execution on February 14th, he sent a note to the girl and signed it “From your Valentine.”

Burning, but not consumed

Beloved, the goal of our lives, believe it or not is to burn! Yes, burn, you heard me! Now I know that’s kind of weird because the preacher is supposed to teach you how “not” to burn. What I’m getting at is that we want to be “burning” with the fire of the Holy Spirit, but not be consumed in the process!
Resistance is what causes the heat to overwhelm us. Like the little electronic component of the same name, resistance brings overheating and “consumption;” …a “burned out circuit.” That’s what we don’t want. But if we’ll give ourselves to Him, without reservation, we’ll instead be like the three Hebrews who gave themselves to God in the face of evil Nebuchadnezzar, and were thrown into the fiery furnace for it. They so completely trusted God in obedience and utter submission, that instead of a place of pain and torment, the furnace became a comfort to them! They became like that bush, “burning, but not consumed.”

This is the reality of our calling. We have been called to receive Christ into our hearts, minds, souls, and into every aspect of or very being, and to actually “participate” in His divine life. Doing that as we pray, worship, and partake of the sacraments ignites a flame in us that burns so brightly that it actually begins to show on our faces, and unlike Moses, nothing can extinguish it. It will not fade away! In fact nothing can obscure it. Nor does He want us to obscure it, but rather wants us to let it shine to all those around us. We’re not to hide it under a bushel basket, but are to be as a shining city on a hillside, much like that burning bush, so that all who pass by, who turn aside to see this great thing, will come into contact with God Himself in us, and hopefully begin to see the possibility of they themselves being transformed as well!

(Part of a message from Fr. Philip last August)

Scroll down to view the pictures from Fr. Philip's Ordination

Family Traditions

I read an article recently that explored how family traditions cultivate the connection between immediate family members and between generations. It talked about the “we always" of families, like "we always make Spaghetti on Valentines Day" or "we always have games and popcorn on Saturday night." Because such traditions have special meaning to the family unit, they create feelings of warmth and closeness. By spending time together in a fun and special setting, family members grow closer.
The gaggle got together last Saturday night for a big spaghetti dinner at John & Rondi’s house (which for those of you who may not know is directly behind our house. We share the same back fence as you can see in the picture. . . our deck looking at John & Rondi's house) 13 of us all-together: Jesse & Elina, Misha, Elijjah, Gami & Grandpa, Papa & Mimi, Rondi & Karis, and just-arrived-back-from-a-two-and-a-half-month-vacation, Stephanie, Gabriel & Michael (who live in the same neighborhood a block away). In a few short months the family will be complete when daddy's Johnny and Brad come back home from Afghanistan. As the family has moved close to each other for the first time in many years, we are looking forward to establishing “we always” traditions of our own; traditions and practices that we repeat regularly with the intention of encouraging feelings of deep happiness and family unity. These will be more than run of the mill routines - everyday activities that require no special behavior and involve little emotion - I’m talking about the kind of traditions that are handed down from one generation to the next and that cultivate feelings of emotional closeness because the family isn’t neglecting one another.
Do you think it’s even possible to have too many family traditions? Is it possible to say “too often we do this or that?” I don’t really think so! But I guess if there were too many traditions it could water down the importance of each one; although, I think I might like to tackle such a problem as “You know those Pelikans? They have TOO MANY FAMILY TRADITIONS!” Ha!
I know that establishing new traditions will take preparation and effort, but I’m so glad to even have the opportunity of being able to try it. I’m especially interested in “Orthodox” family traditions that bring our family closer to God.
Please share some of your favorite family traditions with me in the comment box. I look forward to writing more about them in the near future.

Living in the Present

Living in the Present:

Certainly, it comes as no big surprise that I was reflecting today about our lives and the circumstances we find ourselves in recently. It's been an amazing and fairly long journey to get to this point in life - yet in many ways we've only just begun. Yet again, as far as Church goes, I'd like to go on record as saying that this is most definately our last beginning. We have finally come home to Orthodoxy!
Unfortuneatley, my mind has a long established habit of looking a bit too much at the past with varying emotions or dreaming a bit too much about a future that seems so far away . . . and wondering. The weight of these thoughts can be too heavy to bear at times.

But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha (insert our own name), you are worried and bothered about so many things." (Luke 10:41)

Our/my ability to live in the here and now has no doubt been diminished by all of this musing. But times they are a changing and I would like to propose a new thought: The present is the present! And what should we do with a present? Well, open it of course!

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matt 6:34)
"And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?" (Matt 6:27)

A Smile For Your Day!

I recieved this in an email from Maureen today, and it did exactly what it was supposed to - it put a smile on my face! Hope it does the same for you.
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Oridination Slide-show

Scroll down to view the pictures from Fr. Philip's Ordination

Can't Take It In!

Since my husband's ordination, I'm having a difficult time finding words to express my feelings. Until I find words again, (at least for today) I offer these lyrics instead.

Can't Take It In (From Chronicles of Narnia)

"Can't close my eyes
I'm wide awake
Every hair on my body
Has got a thing for this place
Oh, empty my heart
I've got to make room for this feeling
It's so much bigger than me
[Chorus:]It couldn't be anymore beautiful
I can't take it in
Weightless in love...unraveling
For all that's to come
And all that's ever been
We're back to the board
With every shade under the sun
Let's make it a good one
[Chorus:]It couldn't be anymore beautiful
It couldn't be anymore beautiful
I can't take it in
Laaaaaaaa . . . ohhhhhhh I can't take it in
Laaaaaaaaa. . . ohhhhhh I can't take it in
Woahhhhhhh . . . It couldn't be anymore beautiful
It couldn't be anymore beautiful
I can't take it in
More that I wonder . . . More than I ever needed
Woahhhhhh . . . More that I wonder . . . Oooooohhhhhh