Different Approach

I thought I would take a different approach to my journal...

Summer is here, it has been so warm

we had a day of 39 degrees celsius

to hot for the month of November and it is still

only the 10th...

I wonder what the summer is going to bring.

Birthday Weekend

What a wonderful weekend I have had this weekend.

It actually started on Friday, when I received 3 wonderful floral arrangements at work. Two from family being Mum & Dad, Liza, Tony, Jenny and their families with gifts attached. Even though they were not here, they were in my heart and here in spirit.

On Friday evening we went out for a birthday tea for Aliki as she also celebrated a birthday this weekend. Happy Birthday Aliki.

On Saturday, we attended a birthday lunch for our dear Koumbara Leanne as it was her 50th Birthday also (on Friday). Happy Birthday to you Leanne. I had a lovely time sitting and talking with friends and koumbari.

At 4.30 it was time to leave and go home to get ready to go out to my birthday tea - we went to Sorrelle's a Italian Restuarant here in Renmark.

Family and Koumbari helped my celebrate a 5oth Birthday. I had a great time.

On reflection I visited my five last decades of my life, from the first to the fifth.

Time passes so quickly.

The first decade,

I remember my childhood - such a great time, of days passing and enjoying the whole day and being in the moment. Playing for endless hours, enjoying the company of my siblings and school day friends. Of starting school and orienteering the passage of school, school friends, and childhood relationships. Learning and forming. Being in a loving family, feeling loved, protected and safe.

The second decade,

Working my way through teenagehood - not quite an adult, but being so sure of what I wanted to do and what the world was like. School years coming to and end and the start of earning a living or wage. Of helping my family in their business - we learnt so much as we were given the responsibilities of the business.

The third decade,

A trip to Greece, being introduced to my families homeland getting to know my extended family on both sides and visiting the birth place of my parents. Off feeling connected to another part of my self. Loving the place my parents had been born in and touching the linage in our blood.

Returning to Australia, meeting my future husband Jack - marriage. Moving away from my family home to create my own home with my husband. Bringing two beautiful children into the world who are from us but not us. The most precious aspect of my life - being a mother, nuturing and guiding my children. My children who have become their own person.

The fourth decade,

Raising my children, being with my husband and having our own home. Life goes on.

People come and people go out of ones life, but the nucleus stays the same and the love grows strong for the family around one as experiences and events unfold in ones life, our experiences and those of our families - always learning and growing - no matter what age.

The love and strength of the family is the most important.

Thankyou all from the depth of my heart.

I am so greatful to have all these wonderful souls around me.

One has to learn to understand all experiences.

Take the time to listen and be still with all.

The fifth decade,

The children are growing and coming of age and coming into themselves and their experience of the world. Ones relationships grow - on their journey and one becomes stronger and fuller in lifes experience.

Again I say thankyou with gratitude for all that comes my way.

For the learnings and experiences.

For all the wonderful people who have come into my life.

I have learned from all - some people I have known for a few moments - and others for varying periods of time, - but most important are those who have been with me for the longest.

My love and blessings to all and thankyou.

Enjoyable Weekend

I have just spents a wonderful weekend by the sea. I do love the sea, the water, the waves, the colours and most of all the sound of the sea.

We had a wonderful house - called Baileys Beach House right on the beach. It was great to wake up in the morning to see what the ocean had brought for the day. I loved sitting watching the sea while having my coffee in the morning - so relaxing.

Another, great sight was watching the whales and Seaford Bay. We drove out there on Sunday afternoon, the tide was coming in late in the afternoon and there was a swell. The afternoon light filtering through the clouds and spreading a veil of softness on the surroundings. Just of the bay were five whales it looked like 3 adults and 2 younger ones - what a majestic sight. The calm of the end of the day and the presence of others all sharing the sight was so wonderful.

The reason we went was that my daughter and nephew participated in the country soccer championships - they both did very well.

It was great being there, supporting and cheering on the children - teenagers. The atmosphere at these events are great - with parents, grandparents, sibblings all there supporting their children. One must not forget to mention the comamandrie of all the team members as they compete against other teams. Unfortunatley, this time has come to an end after some 12 years - as both children partook in these events.

All blessings in ones life.

Poppy

New Beginnings

What exciting times we live in with all the changes to technology. It amazes me that we can sit in our home, and be able to talk and view someone at the other end of the world, just by being on the computor.

In the last week I have been able to connect with family and friends on the other side of the world and catch up with what has been happening in their world. I actually enjoyed and felt connected to them.

I have talked to nephews and nieces (actually the children of cousins) how wonderful. To be able to get to know them - the younger ones have so much to teach us. I feel blessed to have made their acquaintace. Thankyou to you all.




In a earlier post I wrote of communion with others - of sharing our lives with others . How wonderful that we are able to do this and be able to share our lives with others even if it is over the internet. It opens many possibilities.



Blessings to you all!

Poppy

Autumn Eve

As the weather gets colder and autumn has arrived - the summer harvest has all been picked. The seasons grapes have been turned into wine.

Easter has come and gone and we are travelling into winter.

The autumn colours have arrived the yellowing and mellowing of the leaves, the vines and trees are loosing their leaves and soon the pruning will begin - when the crops are dormant and have gone to sleep.

So as to prepare for the next years harvest. Will they awake too soon as the seasons have been so erratic we no longer get the longer winters - they are shorter and not as cold.

And nature is she not finding her way, as the seasons have been erratic. Do the daffodils flower too early, there is such confusion when in one day we get all the seasons.

Or is this the cycle we are progressing to - has human kind had it too well over the last thousands of years - may be this is another cycles on earth. Will there be a turn around.

Will winter come and bring the rains that are so needed in this dry place - we have not had very much rain and it is needed so.

The days are warm and the evenings cooler.

For this we give thanks.

What a lovely evening we have had, a good meal, good wine and good company.

Be present

"When our minds are no longer fragmented by the illusion of our separation from each other,

but healed by the truth of our oneness,

we are awakened to a new dimension of compassion.

Within the mantle of that love, there is literally nothing we cannot do.

We have remembered who God is.

We have remembered who we are. Finally, we are whole at last."

We are all one eventhough some of us don't know it. There is a spark of our creator in all of us, and we come from there. Each on our own - but connected. It is our lifes mission to enflame this spark with all our thoughts and deeds and in love. For love is the answer to all. Love be open to receive and give - let it flow from within and without - be open and receive.

Love is empowering and compassionate.

Thus,

Be in your divine presence of self

To be our divine self is the greatest gift we can be

and give to one other.

To be present to our divine being

That which is holy

Which uniquely connects us

to one another and the supreme.

So,

place my divine presence in front of all

and let it be my guide

On this path called life.

"When we start at the center of ourselves,

we discover something worthwhile extending toward the periphery of the circle.

We find again some of the joy in the now,

some of the peace in the here;

some of the love in me and thee

which go to make up

the kingdom of heaven on earth."

So, with these words I aspire

to reflect and start afresh,

to leave the past behind.

the new year of new beginnings

living within my truth.

The truth of my soul.

With love and blessings,

Poppy

Eve of Epiphany

Tomorrow on the 6th of January, the "twelve days of Christmas " come to an end. This day takes a special meaning in the Greek custom, there is a special ceremony of the blessing of the water and the vessels that ply them.

There is a service and the priest blesses water, which people then can take home. The water has special healing and protective powers associated with it. Then the priest and the congregation will go down to our river where the waters are blessed. A cross is thrown into the water and young men/teenagers dive in to retrieve it.

Were does this come from - it is said that Jesus was baptised on this day and this is where the day's association with water comes from. Plus it is the day that the three Magi came to visit Jesus bearing gifts to reveal and acknowledge him as king.

Today was the day that our Parish Priest "Father Demitrios" visits all our homes saying prayers and blessing them for the coming year.

God bless you all,

Poppy

Welcome 2009

Welcome to 2009 - what a wonderful start to the new year.

Merriment with a party to see the old year leave and the the new year come in with Family and friends.

It has been a special time for me and I have enjoyed the festive season - I wish to keep the spirit of the festive season with me for the rest of the year. The love, happiness and wonderment of the days.

Thank you to all who have been part of this - my family and friends.

We visited Mt Gambier as it was my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary. What a milestone to reach two people sharing their life and creating a family full of love, growth and learning. Together with what ever comes during the passage of time.

In the Greek Orthodox Wedding there is a part of the service where the priest places crowns on the heads of the couple. The crowns are linked together by ribbon, symbolising the joining of two souls and the couple is prepared to establish thier own kingdom as king and queen of a new family. The Koumbaro or Bestman then switches the crowns back and forth tree times, symbolising that two are now one.

After the crowning there is a reading fro the epistle and the Gospel. The reading describes the marriage of Cana at Galilee, which was blessed by Christ and where he performed his first miracle. The miracle converted water into wine, the couple is offered the wine from a single cup and they drink from this three times - this symbolises that they will share every joy and sorrow from the cup of life together.

On reflection my parents established their own kingdom and raised a family of four and there have been many good and tough times in their life. But, they have been able to overcome all t0 have had a good life together.

It is a time to reach out to those I love and for me to send my love to them with my thoughts and wishes.

For those who I cant be physically with, I send my love through the mists of mystery and essence and remember them forever in my heart.

In the new year I hope to be the best that I can be and to grow in all areas of my life - in my communication with family, friends and all who touch my life. For in the end we are answerable only to ourselves and the pact that was made before entering this life with our creator - our one.

God bless and may the angels guide you - all you have to do is be open and receptive.

Poppy