Looking for something to read in 2015: What's on my Autograph Shelf?

One of the highlights of 2014 was getting to attend one of Christine Valters Painters's retreats and have her autograph several of her books.

Christine and I in Cape May NJ at St. Mary's by the Sea,  my autograph shelf features her books, Desert Fathers and Mothers: Early Christian Wisdom Sayings, Eyes of Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice along with the Artist's Rule: Nurturing your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom - a twelve week journey. 

Tennessee Authors - 

Making Life Matter:Embracing The Joy in the Everyday - Shane Stanford 

Finding Balance: Loving God with Heart and Soul, Mind and Strength  - Becca Stevens 

The Distance to Nightfall - Patricia L. Hamilton 

Chainsaw Preacher and the Chicken Whisperer - Timm Hammer Jonson 

Authors - I have heard speak or attended a retreat/class led by them - 

A Wing and a Prayer: A Message of Faith and Hope - Katharine Jefferts Schori 

Seven Scared Pauses: Living Mindfully through the Hours of the day - Macrina Wiederkehr 

Hildegarde of Bingen - Carmen Acevedo Butcher 

Startled by God :Wisdom From Unexpected Places - Joe McHugh 

Five Practices of Fruitful Living - Robert Schnase 

Making Choices: Discover the Joy in Living the Life You Want to Lead and Gift of a Letter - Alexander Stoddard 

When We Talk about God...Let's Be Honest - R. Kirby Godsey 

Autographed Books Passed Down to Me - 

California Mission Days - Helen Bauer - autographed for mother in 1951 

Prairie Poets II : An Anthology of Verse - gathered by Pasque Petals and the South Dakota State Poetry Society autographed by Adeline M, Jenney, poet Laureate of South Dakota for mother and grandfather in  1966, my grandfather was her mother's pastor from 1932-1936 in Valley Spring South Dakota 

The Secret Life of the Soul and The Taste of New Wine - J. Keith Miller - my  mother attended a retreat done by him in 2007 

Hostage Bound Hostage Free - Ben and Carol Weir with Dennis Benson - I had this autographed for mother and gave it to her as a birthday gift in 1987

Brillant Idiot:An Autobiography of a Dyslexic - Dr. Abraham Schmitt as told to Mary Lou Hartzler Clemens - autographed in 1992 with a message to my mother, my sister and me 

Collections - 

 The Broad River Review - the literary review of Gardner-Webb University Boiling Springs, North Carolina - autographed by featured poet,  Patricia L. Hamilton 

Preaching God's Transforming Justice: A Lectionary Commentary, Year B - autographed by commentator L. Susan Bond 

Naked, And You Clothed Me: Homilies and Reflections for Cycle A - autographed by homilists - Michelle FrancL-Donnay and Christine Valters Painter 

Check out my pinterest board: http://www.pinterest.com/sayaming/cant-wait-for/ to see what I am looking forward to reading in 2015. 

Day 18: Finally Home: The Love of My Life, My Adorable Kitties and My Favorite Places in Jackson TN

Allan and me 

I awake early and get on the road only stopping when it is absolutely necessary. While I mentioned in the beginning that overall I focused on eating healthy especially when I was in the car by myself; I declared this day junk food and caffeine day.  I ate chocolate, drank coffee and played on the radio whatever I needed to do to stay awake.  I came back to Jackson to be greeted by my husband and my two precious cats; thankful for the trip but so grateful to come home to my family.  While in many respects Jackson will not be home; it is not where I grew up nor it is where my spiritual and cultural legacy was formed but it is where I am called to minister as a spiritual director and where Allan and the cats whom I love deeply are.  It is where I live for this season of my life.

Macademina (Mac for short) being her playful and curious self 

Saya Ming doing what she loves best sleeping

Favorite Places in Jackson TN : 

West Tennessee Farmer's Market - http://www.cityofjackson.net/farmersmarket/main.html
Cypress Grove Nature Park - http://www.jacksonrecandparks.com/leagues/custom_page.cfm?clientid=3046&leagueid=0&pageid=558
UT Gardens at West TN Research and Agricultural Center - http://west.tennessee.edu/ornamentals/
Alba Coffee and Cafe - http://www.albacoffeetn.com/
LIFT Wellness Center - http://www.liftjackson.com/
Rock'Dough Pizza - https://www.facebook.com/rockndoughpizzaandbrewco

Days 16 and 17: Homeward Bound

It is Monday morning, I load the car with more than I came with(can't escape my mother-in-law's getting rid of stuff although this time I did get a piece of luggage which will prove useful) and then say good-bye.  Scranton, Wilkes-Barre,  Harrisburg and east to Gettysburg, no time for touring but I stop at the outlet mall and walk around.  I find some slippers for Allan and also buy him some pumpkin cookies from Gertrude Hawk's store.  Back in the car and over to I-95 to meet up with the rush hour traffic and enjoy another night with Allan's brother and his wife.

Eat, sleep and then it is down west through Central VA and then down I-81 to Johnson City where I enjoy a friend's generous hospitality including a delicious Japanese dinner at one of the new restaurants.  She enjoys hearing about all of my adventures and then I listen to her tell me about her upcoming trip to Haiti.

View from a Virginia Rest Stop 

Day 15: Holy Mystery: St. Cyril's and Methodius Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church Olyphant, PA

It is the seventh Sunday after Pentecost and the First Sunday of Luke for this church.  The Epistle reading comes from 2 Corinthians 6:1-10 and the Gospel comes from Luke 5:1-11. The focus of the service and homily are on the Jesus'calling the disciples and the call to us as disciples in the 21st century.

When I go to visit PA and attend this 125 year old church where my in-laws were married, where my husband and all of his brothers were baptized, where my niece was christened, where my father's-in-law's funeral was held and where I have celebrated several Christmases and an Easter; I always feel like I am walking into Holy Mystery.  The icons, the candles, the incense and the liturgy echo the faith not only of early Christians but of the faithful immigrants and ongoing generations who continue these ancient forms of worship.  This is a picture of the area on the right side of the church where you can light a candle, kneel and pray.  It has been become my custom when I visit to light several candles and intercede on behalf of others.

On this particular Sunday;  it was just my mother-in-law and me.  We attended the 11:30 a.m. mass and I was thankful that I could take her.  She does not drive and thus does not attend church very often now.  There is no music at this mass; only the divine liturgy; the prayers, the Eucharist(for members only), the reading of the gospel and the Homily.  It is all in English now most of the time but I have heard some Ukrainian from time to time in the masses I have attended.  The choir only sings at one of the masses.

After church, we go to visit the church's cemetery; where my father-in-law and where Allan's maternal grandparents are buried.  It is also where the past priests of the church are buried including the most recent who past away earlier this year at the age of 102, Monsignor Stephen Hrynuck. Monsignor Hrynuck had served the church for over 70 years.  He was the priest who married my in-laws and who presided over the church during my husband's growing up years.  I had the privilege of visiting several times when he presided over mass before his retirement in 2008.

Allan's father's grave 

The icon of Jesus at the top of the tombstone where the priests are buried

The rest of Sunday was a quiet simple day with lunch at Olive Garden, some shopping and hanging out with my mother-in-law as tomorrow I would leave and begin my journey homeward.

Bottom - symbolizing Jesus as the Alpha and the Omega

http://www.ukrarcheparchy.us/ -  Visit this link for more information about the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church in the USA; it not orthodox but an Eastern Rite church in the Catholic Church:The Eastern Catholic Churches^[1] are self-governing particular churches in full communion with the Pope. Together with the Latin Church, they make up the Catholic Church. Their liturgical, devotional and theological traditions are shared with other Eastern Christian churches with which they were once associated, such as the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches.(from Wikipedia). 

Days 13 & 14: On to PA and Family Play Day

This is a downloaded image from the Internet of the Delaware Water Gap during the Autumn season. 

It is Friday September 26th now and time to head to PA.  So I do laundry, have another  NJ diner lunch; one more fill up of gas at a Full-Service Station(all they allow in NJ) and then I am on off crossing the Delaware Water Gap and driving through the Poconos on I-81.  I get to my mother-in-law's in time for a lasagna dinner and conversation before bed.  Saturday is a full day with my niece's soccer game, lunch in downtown Dun more and a trip to Ritter's Cider Mill.  From Ritter's cider mill, we head to a church bazaar where they are having a raffle and have many Christmas items for sale.  I buy several crocheted towels and then its on to one local ice cream shops for ice cream cones.  Believe it or not; it is warm enough outside for the ice cream to melt quickly; I have the mint chocolate chip.   Back to my mother-in-law's for  rest and dinner before heading to my brother-in-law's and playtime with my one year old niece.  It was a packed but fun day in North Central PA.

Find out more about Ritter's Cider Mill at:  http://www.ritterscidermill.com/

Day 12: Diner Day in NJ - Fun with friends and family

Missional, Relational & Incarnational - This sums up what this day and all of my pilgrimage has been about. 

Present from Kelly;  So Beautiful:Divine Design for Life and the Church by Leonard Sweet 

Had fun staying up late talking; so the day got a late start with a diner breakfast that included getting to visit with 89 year old Aunt Catherine which was a blessing.  Filled up on pancakes; all I had room was hot tea when I went to meet my Twitter friend, Kelly for the first time.  It was so fun; we talked for 2 hours practically non-stop.  Kelly's and mine meeting is a testimony that God is alive and well on social media and that you can meet up with a total stranger who is not a strangler.  It is also a witness to the United Methodist Church connection and its presence on social media.  We connected through a UM conversation on twitter.  Then it was time for a quick nap and a drive to visit a friend from Jackson who had recently moved back to NJ.  We enjoyed great diner food, wonderful conversation and got to tour the beautiful campus of Ramapo College of New Jersey.   Then back to the cousin's house and another night of fun watching Derek Jeter's win his last home game for the Yankees and more great conversation.  Great day with family and friends.  

Links to visit: http://www.ramapo.edu/ - Ramapo College of New Jersey 
http://www.plaza46dinernj.com/  - Plaza 46 Diner 
http://www.statelinediner.com/  - State Line Diner 
http://mlb.mlb.com/players/jeter_derek/ - Derek Jeter 
http://www.drew.edu/theological/ - Drew Theological School at Drew University 
http://www.leonardsweet.com/ - author and professor, Leonard Sweet 

My awesome Twitter friend  and I meeting for the first time.

Day 11: Saying Good-Bye; Time to journey onward

It is Wednesday morning; the last day of being with my sister dancing monks in Cape May, NJ. We eat, do yoga, affirm, dance, celebrate and say good-bye.  We take photos and some of us linger to walk just a longer on the beach. I have laid aside my judgment and expectations of myself and others. I take with me the sacredness of simply being and embed in my memory: waves crashing, feet pattering, wind blowing,  eggs cracking, and the rocking of the rocking chairs.  I think about the birds, the butterflies, the sand between my toes, hot tea, the warmth of the mush and the beauty of the dance. I remember licking ice cream, feeling the grass between my toes, drinking hot coffee and playing like a little girl in the sunshine with 19 other women.  As I imprint in my mind the holiness of this place, the voices of reassurance, affirmation and calmness remain with me also.

http://www.empmamas.com/about.html

The perfect place in Cape May for dancing monks to eat!!

 One of the gals from the group needs a ride to the Cape May-Lewes Ferry so some of us go to lunch together and then go to the ferry to say good-bye. At the ferry, I buy some post cards and salt water taffy. I remember riding on the ferry once and getting seasick.  Such a long time ago; riding the ferry and visiting Cape Henlopen State Park.

http://www.kohrbros.com/

On the boardwalk in Wildwood,  I always loved the Orange Cream Twist Soft Serve when I went to the shore. 

 http://www.destateparks.com/park/cape-henlopen/
http://www.capemaylewesferry.com/

 I linger longer and have some fun with a sister monk who wants a little more adventure; we go and walk the boardwalk in Wildwood interchanging laughter with deep thought.  Finally one last good-bye and then northward on the Garden State Parkway then to the NJ Turnpike and onto I-95; all new territory to me as I pay tolls and leave behind the familiar Jersey shore area.  I exit just before the George Washington Bridge and head to one of the Trently cousin's home.  Somehow I make it without getting lost and they are even impressed with how quick I got there; I said well I just went with the traffic.  I speak with two friends I am looking forward to seeing the next day one for the first time and the other whom I have not seen in months.  We laugh, catch up and enjoy bantering the way two women do so  I go to bed way late.  Yet it is nice to be free of structure and schedule for a few days.

I leave the beach to the seagulls taking with me only a few shells but lots of memories of this Sacred Retreat.

Links for you to explore:

Movement and Dance

http://www.5rhythms.com/

http://www.mwoodmanfoundation.org/body-soul/intro

http://consciousfemininity.com/

http://www.interplay.org/

http://www.contactimprov.net/

http://dance-alchemy.org/

http://soulmotion.com/

http://www.dancingmindfulness.com/

https://nianow.com/

http://www.authenticmovement-bodysoul.com/authentic-movement-body-soul-center/authentic-movement/

http://www.girlonfiredance.com/

As someone who has been disconnected from her body for many years - the movement, yoga and dance components healed and created much space for God to move in a new way in my life. 

I go from St. Mary's by the Sea as an artist who is free to: 

 Create and enjoy the process

 To turn off the phone 

Say no 

Allocate space and resources for my creative play 

 Utilize technology to continue to deepen and find connections

Explore new possibilities

Move through in courage 

Remain fallow

Accept my body and embrace my sexuality 

Tend to my soul and allow the light of Christ to embody me 

Maintain an enlightened structure 

Live Life in a productive, supportive nurturing rhythm 

Stay with and trust the process 

Most awesome part of last day was getting Christine to autograph two of her books I have purchased ; I invite you to read - 

Desert Fathers and Mothers: Early Christian Wisdom Sayings-Annotated & Explained and Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice

Christine also is one of the writers in the Homilists for the Homeless series I mentioned in an earlier post so she signed that one too.  Visit http://clearfaithpublishing.com/homilies/ to learn more. 

Also check out the writings of Anne Lamott: http://barclayagency.com/lamott.html

Natalie Goldberg: http://nataliegoldberg.com/

John Fox: http://poeticmedicine.org/bio.johnfox.html

Pat Schneider: http://patschneider.com/pat/

Mason Currey: http://masoncurrey.com/Daily-Rituals