JoDee Luna's Blog, page 34

Promises to Keep

“…I have promises to keep.” This sentence from Christine M. Grote’s recent post, “Why do I Do This,” captivated me. I poured over her words and then sucked them into my soul as if nectar from heaven.

Here is an excerpt:

“This is one of those days where I wonder why I do this. Do you ever have a day like that? I start thinking about how much time all this blogging, commenting, writing, and promoting is taking, and it makes me wonder. Why?

Sometimes I think it’s the stats and the comparison to others that gets me down.

Then I think about how it might feel if I quit. I would have to face not only the opinions of people who might think I was a quitter, but also I would have to face the void of no writing. I don’t know how I would feel if I wasn’t writing, but I’m fairly certain I would regret giving up what I’ve started.

So I continue.

Do you ever have days like this?

Besides, I have promises to keep.”

Christine goes on to explain those promises she’s made to write the stories of others. This newly self-published writer continually encourages me along my self-publishing path. In fact, I’m currently reading her memoir about her sister titled, “Dancing in Heaven.” Her family’s story captivates me. I find it wonderful to read about people who value the gift of life given to them through a precious daughter/sister named Annie. This family’s courage and devotion in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles is truly remarkable.

Christine’s memoir infuses my writer’s life with hope. We live in a world that values striving for the New York Top Sellers List. Yet Christine writes to fulfill promises…those she’s made to herself, to her family, and to others. I like the way she thinks and lives.

As I’ve pondered Christine’s post, I’ve recounted the promises I’ve made. I’ve promised myself that writing would be a daily self-care tool for my mind, soul, and spirit. I’ve promised my daughter that I would write my story (a memoir that’s stalled at the end of the 5th chapter).

I’ve promised my students–past, present, and future–that I would teach them to read and write so they would have the tools for discovering their own unique destinies.

I’ve promised myself that I would not calculate creative success by blog followers.

After contemplating my promises, I left the following comment on Christine’s blog:

“There you go reading my thoughts again. I just had one of those ‘Why am I doing this?’ days yesterday. I like the way you put that, “I have promises to keep.” Today, I gave one of my students a signed copy of my book. This inquisitive teen has told me about her ambitions to become a writer and an artist. She was overwhelmed with appreciation and said, “Mrs. Luna, this is the first autographed books I’ve ever received.” Christine, I, too, have promises to keep. Thanks for reminding me of that.”

As I gave this student a signed copy of my book, two others gathered around us and said, “Mrs. Luna, I want to read your book.”

I have a sneaking suspicion I’d better buy a box of them.

As I ponder my creative path, I wonder when the conditions to continue began to include the following:

Monstrous book sales
Recognition as a painter
Money made from crafting

These things seem so diametrically opposed to the person I am when I’m with my family. I take photos at family gatherings because of a promise I’ve made to record those priceless memories we make together.

We treasure these reminders of times we’ve loved without measure. That’s pretty special in a world that values the accumulation of wealth, influence, and indulgence.

Today I wonder whether there are others asking the question Christine dared to ask, “Why do I do this?” I also wonder how many have made promises that they are struggling to fulfill.

What promises did you make?

Did you promise yourself you’d see the world?

Photo Credit: Elya Filler

Did you promise a child you’d take her fishing?

Did you promise your son he’d see the sights?

Did you promise yourself you’d grow old gracefully, enjoying the blessings that come from no longer having to pretend but merely to love?

Some of my parents’ greatest regrets are the times they missed spending with their grandchildren because they were propping up church programs.

Whether you’ve decided to buy a camera to freeze memories, start a blog to record travels (like Jennifer King), or write a book to share a part of yourself with others, I encourage you to persist. Persist whether or not the world looks at your photos, reads your blog, or buys your book. Persist because you “have promises to keep.”

 

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Saving the World One Painting At a Time

What is your passion? What is your dream?

When I was a little girl, I wanted to save the world. I didn’t know what that even meant at the time, but somehow I knew that it was my purpose in life. As I grew older, my dreams became a bit more specific. In high school, I wanted to be a public relations specialist for a non-profit organization. I planned on joining the Peace Corp directly out of college and then continuing a career in nonprofit work.

The first time I volunteered abroad in Cambodia, following my graduation from UCLA, I quickly became jaded. The evidence of millions of dollars of wasted UN funds lined the streets of Phnom Penh in hundreds of unused UN trucks. Our volunteer contact, Daniel Rothenberg, explained that in order to get the approval for the annual UN budget, the UN had to use their entire budget each year. As a result, millions went wasted on unused trucks when it could have been allocated to a much more needed purpose. There has to be a better way than this, I thought. READ THE ENTIRE POST…

 

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An Ache to Paint

Sunday evening before I drifted off to sleep, I had a scene from the movie, “The Notebook,” in my mind. In this scene, the main character, Allie, is sitting in the art studio that Noah, her lover, designed with her in mind. Joy radiates from her face as she holds a paintbrush to the canvas. Her sense of purpose from painting emanates from her entire being.

As I envisioned this poignant scene in which she connects with her true self, I cried. I cried because a longing to paint welled up deep inside of me until my emotions could not contain the force. I cried because I longed to paint, to create, in my own art studio where I can develop as an artist. As I wept, I imagined a time when nothing else would matter, when I entered my studio and brushed paint across the canvas.

Gina painting in her art room.

Sunday evening, I drifted off to sleep with an ache in my heart for art so intense that it tightened my chest. In many ways, this intense emotional scene from “The Notebook” stirred something in me that seemed to come from out of nowhere, until I wrote about it this morning.

Then I remembered that on Sunday my daughter gave her grandfather a painting. Elya’s acrylic of the two trees in the Garden of Eden ironically followed my morning post called The Tree of Life and the Hidden Element. Neither of us knew the other was crafting a piece with this theme: mine with words and hers with paint.

As I admired her painting, the images and message more than enchanted me. I felt drawn to the painting in another way. The painting stirred a longing in me to paint with abandon like Elya, my sister, Gina, and Allie do.

This morning I wonder whether a painter can pluck fruit from The Tree of Life and offer the miracle of faith to others. Can he or she receive a divine mandate to create an image, scene, or message? Does belief transfer from one creative soul to another through the development and sharing of artistic talents?

The longing I felt on Sunday night seemed “other worldish” in nature. And like the little girl reaching up for the apple in Elya’s painting, I, too, want to touch this amazing talent of painting. Who knows, perhaps I can pass on something eternal through a paintbrush, canvas, and dream of life that exists beyond this world.

Check out my daughter’s thought-provoking post that highlights her painting:

Knowledge and Naivete in The Garden of Eden


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The Tree of Life and the Hidden Element

There is a hidden element in finding God’s will. We never know for sure whether we’re heading in the right direction. We might feel confident about our salvation and even hold fast to God’s promise of eternal life; however, while we walk upon this earth, a certain amount of uncertainty remains:  

 

“Should I pursue this career path?”

 

“Is this person the right one for me?”

 

“Am I spending enough time with my children?”

 

“Should I allow my teenager to go to that concert?”

 

“Is self-publishing the right path for me as a writer?”

 

“Am I getting in over my head with this house payment?”

 

Questions barrage us like an automated pitching machine slings baseballs at a reluctant batter.

Sometimes we need to make quick decisions as to which opportunity we should connect with and which we should let pass on by.

Recently, my daughter and I had a discussion about the Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life.

She’s fascinated by the movie, “The Tree of Life,” and was asking questions.

I explained that there was another tree in the Garden of Eden.

God warned Adam and Eve not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, but Satan tempted them:

The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5

“But Mom,” my daughter asked, “isn’t it a good thing to know the difference between good and evil?”

“Temptation’s inception began in the garden.” I tried to explain. “The false idea that we can be like God, knowing the difference between good and evil, and therefore not need God.”

During our conversation, I thought about Adam and Eve’s decision to do what God warned them not to do. How God said now they couldn’t live forever because they couldn’t be trusted with such knowledge. In fact, after their disobedience, he kept them from eating from The Tree of Life so they wouldn’t live forever.

So maybe my daughter is right. It isn’t wrong to know the difference between good and evil. It’s just what you do with that knowledge that produces good or evil. And I don’t know about you, but it’s really difficult for me to get that right.

As my daughter and I talked, I went on to explain that not only is The Tree of Life found in the Garden of Eden but also in The Book of Revelation:

On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. Revelations 22:2 I’m not a theologian, but I do wonder whether the most insidious forms of evil can sometimes mask as good. Haven’t we all read those horrifying articles about upstanding people who are committing atrocities in secret?

We can also spend an entire lifetime doing good works, mastering knowledge, believing in our own moral code, and feeling certain that we do not need a Savior. Yet, He is the Tree of Life. While we sojourn upon this earth, there is going to be a certain amount of uncertainty: “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12

Until then, we must embrace the hidden element—trust.

 

A special thanks to the following posts that provided insightful information: http://www.churchisraelforum.com/a_tale_of_two_trees.htm http://www.creationtips.com/tree_of_knowledge.html

“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.”

Venture over to L.L. Barkat’s blog for more inspiration:

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Lazy Rivers of the Mind

Have you ever wanted to be…

a person of calm

someone who floats with,

instead of fights against the current?

Two summers ago, my best friend, Barbie, and I decided to do just that. During a visit with her in beautiful Colbert, Washington, we decided to float down the Little Spokane River that flows across the street from her home.

The only goal we set was to enjoy each other’s company and to enjoy nature. The image of a doe bounding through the river in front of us is still fresh in my mind. Giggles bubbled up inside as we swirled in the waters.

This morning I remember this delightful time and smile. When I took the time “to be,” present with my best friend, my problems seemed insignificant. Mountains became mole hills, as the saying goes.

Lake Tahoe

I sipped grace from cupped hands…drawn from the waters of surrender.

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Hold onto the Feather of Fate

I once found a little feather in my classroom. From out of nowhere, the feather floated down until it landed upon my desk.

I immediately thought about the movie, “Forest Gump,” and the little feather that floated around him as he sat on the bench. I understood the floating feather to be symbolic of the strange quirks of fate in which he found himself. The joy of the movie is to watch him somehow manage to flourish in the oddest of situations. Viewers marvel at his child-like nature that believes anything is possible.

I think about the little feather whenever a day of teaching troubles me. The feather reminds me that I can have a positive influence on some of the students that seem to enter my classroom by some quirk of fate. Oddly enough, the little feather somehow manages to float around to different areas of my classroom.

In fact, I’ve even found the feather in the computer center where the READ 180 program accelerates students’ reading skills.

Perhaps this is because of the winds that rush through the outside door as students exit.

Recently, I found another little grey feather in my art room. Without much thought, I set the feather next to a jewelry embellishment, a heart enclosed with a silver-colored rose. They seemed to fit together—the odd quirky nature of destiny and what the heart longs for.

Background of photo: K&Company Photo Album ancestry.com

The next morning, I awoke from a dream with the words, “Remember the little grey feather,” floating through my mind. I wrote this post and then set it aside.

A couple of days later, I was in my classroom when I saw the little feather again. From seemingly out of nowhere, it had landed on a report of my students reading increases. My heart quickened. Apparently, my student assistant had decided to tidy up my desk and when he closed the draw, the feather floated up and out of the desk drawer and then landed on the report.

So this morning as I sit and finish this post, I’m thinking about the little feathers of our lives. As much as we might try to figure out our future, the purposeful life is often like a floating feather. If we relax and let the mysterious side of life happen, we, too, will find our path of flight crossing with just the right people, the art forms that caress our souls, and the purposes we were meant to grace the world with.

 

 

 

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Leoness Vineyard Part II

This is the second post about the Leoness Vineyard in Temecula California. You can read the first post by accessing this link: Leoness Vineyard, Temecula Wine Country.

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I wanted to post a few more photos of this amazing place and the delectable food.

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The restaurant is under a covered roof but doesn’t have any walls so you feel close to the surrounding beauty.

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The embankment next to your table will mesmerize you with the lush foliage and breathtaking flowers.

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Laura (my future daughter-in-law) and I feasted on a panini…

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breads and spreads…

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and garlic, bacon, and parmesan fries.

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So if you’re looking for an enjoyable weekend away, consider the Leoness Vineyard in Temecula’s wine country.

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Leoness Vineyard, Temecula Wine Country

A travel excursion to the picturesque Temecula wine country is a wonderful way to recharge your creative battery and manage your malaise.

Last weekend, my husband and I enjoyed a weekend exploring some of Temecula’s tantalizing hot spots. While he and his son, Jason, played golf, Jason’s fiancé, Laura, took me to a quaint vineyard called Leoness.

We walked around the grounds, and I snapped photos of the enchanting atmosphere.

This is a delightful place to have a wedding or other celebratory event.

Leoness features several picturesque areas where you can gather with family and friends.

Wine tours stop under this pergola to hear about the vineyard’s history.

We were fortunate to visit in spring when wild flowers flourish around crisp, green grapevines.

The beauty of Leoness cannot possibly be captured in just one post…so stay tuned for tomorrow’s post, which will feature the fabulous food, restaurant, and other beautiful scenery photos.

 

You can read about the Leoness in this photo.

 

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Finding your Floral Fancy

If you are a garden lover like me, then I have a couple of suggestions for finding your floral fancy, items you can display inside your home all year long:

Pinterest – A delightful website that enables you to create visual boards for pinning images you find online. This application is quite easy to use. Just follow the set up directions and start pinning. Follow your friends boards or explore the enchanting boards of others. The exploration is endless. I like to organize my boards topically so I can revisit my favorite photos. Each photo you pin leads you back to the original website.
Kate Coury’s Farmhouse – My best friend, and floral designing wonder, Barbie Knoop, creates enchanting wreaths for your home. Select this link to peruse her wreaths. 
Plant lots of flowers and make your own – If you are a person who likes to create, then try to preserve some flowers and make your own florals. Here are a few posts on my website that feature florals and floral designing: Creative Projects. Here is a link to a video lesson: Floral Preservation and Design.







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Ruffled Feathers

 

A red-breasted robin builds her nest in a rusty metal light covering outside. I’ve perched my chair next to the sliding glass door so I can snap photos.

Morning dew dances upon blankets of green grass and pine trees stretch their branches into the blue sky.

My husband and I are on a hotel finding adventure in Temecula, California, where his son will get married in June.

Yet this morning, he is off playing golf with his son, and I am watching a robin nest.

When I grow discontented with my present circumstances or become anxious over my future ones, I remember this scripture from Matthew 23:37:

“How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings…”

My features get ruffled when life doesn’t go my way, but His feathers ruffle so we can nest under them.

The act of nesting under God’s wings does not mean our pain disappears or our unanswered questions get answered.

It doesn’t necessarily mean our circumstances change or our anger completely dissipates. We just get to rest our minds, hearts, and souls for a few moments while enveloped in His ruffled feathers.

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