In Honor Of…….

Born February 7, 1975  in Albany New York

Died July 21, 2011 in Paktika, Afghanistan.

Master Sgt. Benjamin A. Stevenson of Canyon Lake, Texas died at age 36 in Paktika province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when insurgents attacked his unit with small arms fire. Stevenson was currently serving his 10th deployment overseas since the start of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

Highly decorated, Master Sgt. Stevenson received the following:  Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, Nation Defense Service Medal, among several others.  He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Defense Meritorious Service Medal.

He is survived by his wife, two sons, his parents, a brother and a sister.

Living In The Moment

Another week has past.  The events that came to each of us these last days were unique in their own way.  Although some of them may reoccur in the future, they will not be as they were this last week.

I often think about the chances that come to us each day.  The ones that we allow to go to the side and not act upon the opportunity that may be offered to us.  I know that in most cases it is impossible to act upon all such times that may come our way.  Yet I wonder at times if the ones that I do allow to go untouched were ones that possibly could have brought me an extra special blessing.  Some may say that such a wonder is a form of regret and I guess that in some way it is.  Yet each day as we venture out on our daily life we choose the events that we partake in or avoid.  It is in the question as to why we join in a cause or why also we may quietly walk by hoping that no one notices.

 

Sometimes our reasons are good ones.  At other times we justify the reason so that we can avoid and not feel too bad for doing so.  As I crawl out of the hole I feel I have resided in for the last few months, I wonder about all the opportunities I may have allowed to go by the wayside.  I wonder about the revelations and the blessings that I may have missed because I did so.  I am careful not to be too hard on myself as I also know that in doing what I did, I may have also avoided things that could have brought me the very opposite.

 

As the year winds down and the autumn calls off in the distance, I am only now coming out of my hibernation.  It may prove to be a very interesting time.  I have missed the interaction with the blogworld and am happy to be back.  Yet I know that there are other things that call me as well.  Although I felt that I reclused myself these last few months, in my own way I made my own choices.  It was a choice of subtle seclusion and retrospect.  Sometimes the times that comes to one can not be avoided and although we may wish to take a different path we are somewhat herded down the one we would not have necessarily chosen.  These times can be blessings as well.  It all depends on our attitude and how open we keep our heart and eyes as we travel down it.

 

Although at times I have questioned the why of a choice I may have made, in most cases I see the reasoning eventually.  Maybe not immediately or even shortly after, it comes to me in time.  What did I learn from my latest journey?  So far the lessons that have come are those of realization; that as quickly as something comes it can also go.  It are the moments of now that matter the most.  It is not the pain or joy one gains from looking at the past that is most important.  It is not the anticipation of what could possibly be that one feels as they gaze into the future.  The past will forever keep us in its grasp if we live only in it.  The future will bring us nothing if we gaze only at the possibilities and attempt nothing to reach the goal.  But the present… It is a means to have it all.  In the present we can deal with the happenings of the past and resolve the pain that may have been there and hold precious all the joys.  We can plan and act upon the path to reach the dreams we may have for the future and eventually in time reach the destination we desire.  It is in the present that we hold all of time and the power to manipulate it in the palm of our hand.

 Blessings,

Mother Moon

Friends for Breakfast

Although our weather has been overly warm this summer, if one rises early enough in the morning they may experience a brief time of lovely weather.  Before the sun rises high enough to start its hot walk across the sky, and if there is a slight breeze; the early morning can be quite nice. 

I learned this morning though that I am not the only one who also finds this to be a nice time to come out and enjoy the day before it becomes too unbearable.  Winston and I had just stepped off the porch when a movement caught my attention from the corner of my sight.  As I turned towards my little oak at the bottom of the yard, I noticed something jump from its branches.  Now the squirrels enjoy this tree quite a bit as there is a big feeder of sunflower seed that is nestled in the middle of it, hidden from most .  It is a treasure that is only there for those who know it is there.  Yet this did not appear to be a squirrel.  It was much darker in color, almost black.   Also if it was to be a squirrel I had somehow acquired monster squirrels as its size was a bit large.

I continued to watch not yet venturing to close as Winston was with me and the last thing I wanted was for him to catch sight of what I was witnessing and possibly take chase.   Just then a second animal jumped to the ground.  This time I caught a better view and again it was definitely not a squirrel. 

I could not believe that two animals of such size would be sitting up in my little oak and be so hidden from my sight.  They both crouched down at the base of the tree so that I still could not make out their true identity.  I ushered Winston into the house so that I could take a closer look.   As I ventured down a bit closer to the tree, a third animal jumped down from the oak’s branches.  Now a total of three animals hunkered down around the bottom of the small oak hidden only by a few sparse weeds .  Although the plants that surrounded the oak were few I still could not make out their faces.  Then one of them darted from their hiding place toward the woods nearby.  As it ran towards the higher grass and brush it drug behind it  a ringed tail.  Soon after the second followed and then the third.  Three young coons were enjoying an early morning breakfast of sunflower seeds nestled snugly up in the branches of my little oak.  

I still am a bit surprised that three of them could fit themselves up in the small tree.  Yet my little oak has been refuge for many a squirrel and bird.  His branches reach out accepting all who come to visit and sit a spell. I am sure that he would also welcome three coon siblings if they came his way.   I wondered after seeing my new visitors if I should attempt to trap and relocate them to a more fitting location then my back yard.  I have already done so with two others this summer. They had found my suet cakes and seed earlier at a feeding station closer to my house and were making themselves a bit too welcomed. After consuming a gross number of suet cakes and practically demolishing one of my feeders in an attempt to gain entrance, I had no other choice but to find them new homes.   I think as long as these three stay down by the oak  they will be fine.  It was obvious by their size that they were but young ones and the fact that they were three in number made me think they must be siblings who were likely born earlier this spring.  How could I possibly break up siblings. 

  I did spread cracked corn around the oak yesterday for the birds as well as the rabbits that sometime frequent.  A bit silly of me to think that nothing else might come and also partake of it. 

Blessings

Mother Moon

A Thought To Ponder

An interesting method

for dealing with negative and unwanted thoughts.

Don't let them possess you.

Don't assume you have to act them out.

On the other hand;

Don't struggle mightily to suppress them, either.

Instead, try this:

Bow to the offending idea.

Acknowledge and admire its power.

Express your gratitude and respect to it

For galvanizing so much of your psychic energy

Meditation teacher Jack Kornfield

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Monday Mumblings–Five months til Yule

As I rose this morning, I glanced at the calendar and realized that it was the 25th of July already.  Can you believe that it is only five months away from Yule.  I have to admit that I love the thought of that. To be honest it is mostly because of the cooler temperatures that I know will be present at that time.  The temperatures this summer have been brutal to almost anyone who lives in the States.  Oklahoma is well used to having an occasional “hot” summer yet some of the areas further north are way out of their comfort zone with the temperatures as well as the humidity they have been experiencing this year.

It does seem though that the uneasiness that I felt earlier in the year may be subsiding somewhat.  I find myself a bit more focused as well as energized.  It is probably the time of the year and the need to start gathering and preparing for the coming fall and winter is calling even though it seems to still be a ways off.  I have already started considering the treats I will bake and give away for the holidays as well as started my holiday gift shopping.  Last year I was able to complete all of this busy work well before and I was left with ample time to leisurely bake and cook to my hearts content.  It was quite enjoyable.

Although thought of cooler times are well on my mind, I still am saddened by the excessive heat.  The flowers have struggled so, as well as many of my bushes in my yard.  We have been without rain in some areas for so long that the ground has started to crack and buckle.  Many areas have mandatory water rationing and thus can not water their yards as they may wish too.  I am fortunate that we have a water well and thus I am able to water within reason.  Our pond once more has started to decrease in water yet it could be much worse.  Earlier in the year (May) we received a good rain which filled it to the brim.  If we had not gotten that, it would be no more than a muddy little hole. 

Last night I woke to the sound of rain drops on the skylight, a noise that usually does not wake me.  It did not rain much but enough to dampen things a little.  I in turn went out this morning and turned on the sprinklers for a bit so the birds could have a bit of fun before it became too hot today.

Here is hoping that this finds you all well and if by chance the heat has gotten you down, just remember…. Two more months until fall and only five until Yule.  Then we will have a whole new weather condition to complain about. 

blessings,

Mother Moon

The Cycle of Life

Grace

emerges in the ebb and the flow.

The waning reveals a different blessing

then the waxing.

As The Wheel Turns

Balance, according to Webster is mental and emotional steadiness. Although I do not feel that I have gone off the deep end, I do not feel like I have been very balanced as of late.

After my birthday last year, I had grand plans of all the things I wanted to accomplish and the manner in which I would do just that. Of course there is still a few more months left for me to chip away at the list I created, yet the lack of enthusiasm I have had as of late has not helped matters much. As many of us know when we plan to do something so many times something always seems to come up and "change" things.

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry"

Robert Burns

 So with that being said I guess I am in good company and should not be too hard on myself. Most definitely this year has turned out to be much different than I had expected it to be. Not necessarily in a bad way just in a different manner. It has taught me lessons and helped me to lose a little of my controlling nature. Something that I guess I needed to work on a bit. A good life lesson is always welcomed, although the tough ones sometimes make me whine a bit. Yet as I look around there has been difference in many areas of life. From the weather to politics there are times when I want to just throw up my hands and say what in the world is going on. Yet the wheel continues to turn as it always does and will. Change is something that will always be among us no matter how much we may cuss it or wish it away

Change is inevitable, growth is intentional

Glenda Cloud

Change is what makes us who we are. How it comes and how we choose to deal with it is what is most important. Do we react or do we respond? Reaction is sudden and often from our emotions. Such times are usually the ones we wish we could go back and change given the chance. The sudden release of intense emotions often feels good initially yet later we see the folly in our actions. Responding is often done over a longer period of time. We consider all that is involved and although we may not make the best decision the one that is eventually made is often a much clearer one.

I know from experience that reacting is usually not the best thing to do. Sitting back and thinking over all the options and all the feelings involved will bring one to a much better conclusion. Thus with this recent change I sit back and try not to over think the situation. I look at the opportunities that have come my way in place of those I had planned on and see that there were other things that needed to be tended to first. I also am able to see the additional blessings that have come my way on this different road. So many times when things do not go our way we jump to all the bad things about the situation and forget to look for the good that may have come from it. I have learned there is always some good in bad things. It may be hard to see let alone accept, yet it is there.

July is almost over and soon the Autumn will come. The circle will have taken its course and all that was to happen will have come to pass. We may not think that it was as it should be yet in its own way it will have been just as it should have been.

Blessings to you and yours

Mother Moon

In Honor Of .......

A soldier from the 101st Airborne Division of Ft. Campbell died Thursday of injuries he sustained while fighting in Afghanistan.

 

Sergeant Jeremy R. Summers was injured in small arms fire while on dismounted patrol in Paktika province Tuesday. Summers, 27, was from Mt. Olivet, Kentucky.

 

He was a fire support specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). He joined the Army in March 2005 and arrived at Ft. Campbell in August 2009.

 

Summers is survived by his mother, Laura Jo Summers, and father, Kenneth M. Summers, both of Mt. Olivet.

Changes

Good Saturday morning. The hot summer sun has risen to begin yet another wonderful day we have here on this big ball we call home. Because of mother earth's desire to give us a "hot" summer this year, I have already been up and done my daily yard work before the crack of dawn. One nice thing is that I do not need to mow as often as in previous years. I still have my little green sanctuary down under the tree house, where I water on a regular basis to keep at least a little corner of my world lush and green. The birds and other animals seem to appreciate the effort as well. They delight in their early morning baths to wash the dust from them as they play beneath the sprinkler and the cool welcomed water. The neighborhood bunny has also found me and has made my spot a stop on his morning jaunt. Green grass is hard to find this year and I have a special little patch that I keep a bit tall just for him.

I do miss the usual time I would spend working in the yard tending to all my areas, yet it is meant to be hot this year with little rain from the sky so I will search for the other things that life has for me to mull over. Last night I did venture out as well as the night before and gaze upon the beautiful full moon. The heat did make the sky a bit hazy yet she was quite beautiful as she rose last night. It never ceases to amaze me how she takes my breath away each time she comes out in all her glory. I love the glow she casts across the night. Natures night light.

As I sit here and comment on the intense heat that we have experienced (25 days of 100 plus temperatures) there are many who are dealing with an abundance of rain. The news last night reported cities in the north plains who were dealing with heavy floods. Such extremes seem to be taking place in our world these days. Last February we broke a record with a record low temperature of -31. As compared with the many highs we have had thus far this summer. The temperature has reached anywhere from 105 to 118 depending on which part of the state you reside in. I cannot help but sense that mother nature is attempting to get our attention.

I will be honest and say that I do not know much in regards to all the theories that go around to explain such phenomenon yet still it seems that something is occurring. The true explanation may not be fully clear to us as of yet. That does not mean though that we should not take heed and listen to what may be being told to us through such actions.

I hope that whether it be intense heat (fire), an abundance of rain (water), violent storms (air), or earthquakes (earth), that this finds you well and in good spirits. I have missed being here on a daily or even weekly basis. Like the weather I have been a bit different this last few months. Once again as in previous recent posts I hope to be able to make a more frequent return as before. Til then may all you have a blessed weekend.