5.08.2011

B.Y.O.B.

Now, don't go gettin' all excited; Graceful Chicken is not having a drinking party. But you see, today is Mother's Day and it was a year ago on Mother's Day that Kurt and I realized that (oops) we were going to be blessed with a fifth child. So, to commemorate that blessing, we are going to do something a little different, something I hope you will all enjoy.

Back Story:

You see, I have this lovely friend, (one of life's greatest gifts) whom I have told you a little about. Her name is Kim and she somehow managed to have a third child while simultaneously teaching me how to not break my sewing machine and actually use it correctly. Anyway, she does this really great thing: every Friday she dedicates her blog to a single picture. To quote her: 'There are points in time I wish I could capture with pictures.  They fade before I realize their passing and life has changed in a second.  I've decided to dedicate every Friday post to one, still, quiet moment from where I sit.'

I was so excited about this concept, a single picture to try to capture life's blessings. I wanted to figure out a way to do it myself without completely stealing her thing. So, I found the perfect picture for this week and then another perfect picture and another (and then realized I would just have to blog about that Farm Field Trip...stay tuned) and then I thought, who am I kidding? I can't post a single picture and not comment on it! Kim is good at doing/being quiet whereas me, not so much..not even in Bloggerville!


So, while jogging on the treadmill today, I was reading an article focused on insights from a new book by Pema Chödrön, an ordained Buddhist nun. Now first of all, I had no idea there was such a thing, but have already added it to the long list of things I'll never be (see above statement on quiet). Secondly, well, actually there is no secondly but in the article, author Brian Johnson explains that we can increase our happiness by practicing things that, as Chödrön says, "incline our minds to joy." At the end of the paragraph, Johnson asks, "So, what can you celebrate today?"

And there was the "Ah-ha!" moment. Of course! We must be intentional, not only about inclining our minds to joy but also in celebrating with each other. Soooo, you are all invited to The Graceful Chicken's B.Y.O.B. party:

Bring Your Own Blessing (B.Y.O.B.): Each Sunday, starting right now, I am going to share one single blessing that I experienced in my life over the last week. And then (here's where you come in and the party starts), then I am going to ask you to do the same. Simply click on 'comments' underneath the post and share a blessing of your own from the week. It can be anything you want: a single word, expression, idea or story. (I'll try to keep it short if you do!) Each week we will share in one another's joy, thereby increasing our own. Even in life's most troublesome storms, blessings present themselves. Where have you found yours this week?



 


(Here's me struggling to NOT tell you all about the blessing in this photo: :{ Or is that me with a mustache.....hmmmm....)

p.s. Happy Mother's Day!

5 comments:

  1. My daughter completed radiation therapy this week for an abdominal tumor. She's feeling lousy, but her spirits are great.

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  2. Thanks for being the first responder! Your daughter will be in my prayers. The completion of radiation is a big milestone! Hope she gets to feeling better soon!

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  3. Good medical report...one year anniversary.

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  4. This is a good idea. The blessing I wish to share is that our family had a good time together, celebrating my husband's birthday at a baseball game.

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  5. I'm late, but I'll play!

    I got my boy back! Wiliam's back after two weeks on the farm with Grandma and Grandpa.

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