Friday Five: Here Comes 2011!

Singing Owl at RevGalBlogPals says today: “I'm not a big fan of New Year's resolutions, but it does seem a good time for some reflection and planning. For the last few days I keep thinking of Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Among other things, that seems to say that reflection is in order if we want to learn and grow.

For some of us, this has been an incredibly difficult year; for others it has been a year of many joys. For all of us, there have been challenges and questions and there have been blessings and--maybe even an answer or two! As we say our goodbyes to 2010 and look towards 2011, share with us five blessings from 2010 along with five hopes or dreams for 2011.”

Hmm, Singing Owl, that sounds like a Friday Ten to me! But I’ll play anyway.

First the blessings:

1. Being part of my daughter’s ordination this past October. I might say with the Grateful Dead, “What a long, strange trip it’s been.” I’ve heard ministers say that they felt their call very early in life; I don’t think this was the case with Cordeliaknits, but I do know that spiritual matters have always been a concern of hers from earliest childhood. I’m grateful that after exploring other ways, she returned to the path we raised her in for her ministry, but I know she would have served God and her fellow humans one way or another.

2. Celebrating the centennial of the church we belonged to for nearly 30 years. This was a wonderful mixture of old and new. It was great to see old friends and past ministers, but it was also heartening to see the changes in the five years since we left for Maine: a beautifully renovated sanctuary, a new young minister settling into his pastorate, and best of all, active new members. Of course, the highlight of the celebration service for me was the premiere of an anthem and hymn composed by a friend with text by Onkel Hankie Pants, and the warm reception it got.

3. Now for something more mundane: seven months of work with the Decennial Census, in the office in Portland. Not only did it help pay for the travel to #s 1, 2, and 4, but we met a lot of interesting people and enjoyed listening to audiobooks during our daily commute. It did cut into the blogging and reading time, though.

4. A yearly blessing that I hope will continue for years to come was my week at the beach with my oldest friends in May. Sun, shrimp, strawberries and good talk; watching the sun rise while listening to birdsong; and a week with a very UN-full agenda – priceless.

5. So many more I can’t count them! My family and friends; the town I live in, with all its troubles, yet filled with hope for the future; my town’s great public library, in walking distance; year-round farmers’ markets, a great local meat market, fresh seafood; the theatre of seasons; the rich cultural life of Midcoast Maine, including the chance to see OHP in a few productions every year; public suppers and good restaurants when we don’t feel like cooking; yes, even the dog.

Hopes and dreams:

1. That our younger daughter Sisterfilms, who’s moving in with us next week, will find both paying work and her creative voice here, and not get too exasperated with her aging parents and their unruly dog. (And that her 16-year-old cat will find some accommodation with said dog.)

2. That I live life more intentionally each day. This doesn’t necessarily mean a daily to-do list, but I would like to end each day feeling I’ve accomplished something. For me this would include some blogging, some reading and reflecting on what I’ve read, some genealogy research and, more important, sharing that research with my family. I’m not planning on checking out any time soon, but I’d like to leave something behind when I do go.

3. Health. This is one of the things I really need to be intentional about: checking blood pressure, remembering to take my medicine, exercising, more careful eating, making doctor, dentist and vision appointments, etc. I’ve got a lot yet to accomplish and need good health to do it.

4. Divesting and simplifying is an ongoing process with which we’ve had some success before, during and after the move from Minnesota to Maine. We’re not completely there yet, though, and I know Sisterfilms is going to help us with this.

5. Rudolph Day! I’d like to spend at least a day each month preparing for Advent and Christmas. Recording stories, picking up or making little presents, organizing, just so I can concentrate more on the spiritual aspects of Advent and still enjoy and share the traditions of Christmas in 2011.