Day 272: 9/30/11- Create a Family Coat of Arms

Day 272: 9/30/11
New Thing: Create a Family Coat of Arms          

Inspiration: The Rainings              
Cost: $0
Time: About 30 minuets                                
Bottom Line: Wish I could show it to you all!

A little something for my fellow Arrested Development fans.

Reflection: When Ken and I were married, we decided to change our last names together. It was really important to us that we have a family last name in common and we didn't like the idea that only one person should have to take on a new identity. Since we see marriage as the creation of a new union--one where once two stood--it seemed incredibly fitting to put a new name to this entity. When people in the Bible entered into a new relationship with God, they would sometimes have their named changed to symbolize this new covenant (like Abraham and Sarah or Paul). Likewise, we were making a new covenant with each-other and God and taking a new name together has really helped us live into that. Rain has a very spiritual connection for us and "Raining" is also a pretty good combination of our previous last names.  Thus, "Raining" was a perfect fit for us. I honestly feel like this has helped to ground us as a family and I love that Delia is the first little Raining.

However, one of the downsides to this is that we do not have some of the traditional historical links that some families do such as a family crest. So, tonight, Ken and I made one on line at this website:
http://www.makeyourcoatofarms.com/app.asp. I wasn't able to save it to show it to you all, but here are some of the discriptions:

• Motto: God is Our Strength 
• Color: Purple (Our Wedding Color)
• Values: Faithful, Wise, Playful, Joyful
• Symbols: Celtic Cross, Holy Tree, Wings, Raindrop (if they had had one)

Day 271: 9/29/11- Celebrate Michaelmas

Day 271: 9/29/11
New Thing: Celebrate Michaelmas          

Inspiration: The Feast of St. Michael and All Angels, Ellyn              
Cost: $0
Time: About an hour                                 
Bottom Line: My will already feels stronger for the long cold winter ahead.

Reflection: Today was is the Feast of St. Michael and All the Angels. Here is the Wikipedia description:

Michaelmas is a day in the Western Christian calendar which occurs on 29 September. Because it falls near the equinox, it is associated in the northern hemisphere with the beginning of autumn and the shortening of days. Michael is the greatest of all the archangels and is honored for defeating Lucifer in the war in heaven. The Archangel Michael is one of the principal angelic warriors, seen as a protector against the dark of night, and the administrator of cosmic intelligence.

While I have certainly celebrated this feast before (especially at my wonderful internship parish of St. Michael's in Naugatuck, CT), I have never really treated it as a symbol of the changing of the season and the honoring of the light within us all vanquishing the darkness of sin. Well, Ellyn helped me see this Feast for all the rich layers of meaning it has.

She set up a table meditation for Delia, her best friend K and me to delve deeper into the story of St. Michael slaying the devil/dragon. She soaked some watercolor paper in water before slowly depicted the tale. As she told it, she helped us to see as how the light of God shines in all of us just like Michael. Then we got to do the same on our own paper. I had never used this technique of painting before today. I loved this and was totally mesmerized by this story. I can already feel my spirit being empowered for the long winter ahead!

Day 270: 9/28/11- Parsnip Cupcake

Day 270: 9/28/11
New Thing: Parsnip Cupcake           

Inspiration: Ellyn, Granny McCarthy's              
Cost: $5ish
Time: Lunch Desert                                 
Bottom Line: Even better then carrot cake

Reflection: Did you know parsnip cupcakes existed?! I didn't until today, but I would dare say that the world looks a little brighter with this knowledge in mind. Ellyn and I tried one today at our lunch meeting where we dined at Granny McCarthy's Tearoom which is a Bethlehem tradition and one of my all time favorite restaurants. They were delicious and I would eat it all over again if I could. I seem to do all my best eating with Ellyn!

Day 269: 9/27/11- New Gym and Deep Tissue Massage

Day 269: 9/27/11
New Thing: New Gym and Deep Tissue Massage           

Inspiration: Connie             
Cost: $0 (Thanks, Connie!!)
Time: About three hours                                
Bottom Line: Best. Massage. Ever.

Reflection: After the close of the clergy retreat today, Connie treated me to a trip to her gym, The Body Zone. She is always raving about this facility and I can see why. It is very spacious and has all kinds of equipment. Other then the Yale gym (which is one of the largest int he world) this was largest one I had ever been to. I tried a new piece of cadio equipment which was like an elliptical, but harder and then hit the weight room. The visit was capped off by a deep tissue massage! This was the first of its kind that I had ever had, and I loved it! My masseuse was also a Reiki master and I could tell that she had a intuitive sense of energy flow. By the end, I felt both relaxed and energized. Thank you, Connie, for making this awesome afternoon possible!

Day 268: 9/26/11- Clergy Retreat Day Two- Yoga at the Jesuit Center

Day 268: 9/26/11
New Thing: Clergy Retreat Day Two- Yoga at the Jesuit Center          

Inspiration: Clergy Retreat             
Cost: $0 
Time: Over an hour                                 
Bottom Line: Very beautiful and relaxing.

Reflection: The Jesuit Center has miles of beautiful grounds which are secluded and very peaceful. I decided to use our free time today to take a run and made my way out to a little-used part of the property where I did some yoga. This was a much needed reflection time for me since I was saying "good-bye" to many people on this retreat whom I have know and loved for years.

So beautiful!

Day 267: 9/25/11- Clergy Retreat Day One

Day 267: 9/25/11
New Thing: Clergy Retreat Day One            

Inspiration: Clergy Retreat             
Cost: $0 
Time: Several Hours                                 
Bottom Line: Chanting Evensong with a failing voice!

Mosaic over the Altar at the Jesuit Center

Reflection: Today was the first night of our Annual Clergy Retreat. I was blessed to chant Evensong, however, my voice was suffering from the cold and so it was not as big a treat for the congregation as it was for me. Yet, it is always lovely to be with my colleagues at the beautiful Jesuit Center in Wernersville, PA, and as an extra bonus, I got to ride down with the always charming Anne K.!

Day 266: 9/24/11- Morning Star 10k & Celtic Classic

Day 266: 9/24/11
New Thing: Morning Star 10k & Celtic Classic            

Inspiration: The Celtic Classic & The Rotary             
Cost: $50ish 
Time: Several Hours                                 
Bottom Line: Classic Celtic Fun

Reflection: We had a great day today celebrating the annual Celtic Classic--a Bethlehem tradition. I have loved going to this event since I was an undergrad and today was another great year at the fest. Here are a few of the things we did today:

• I started the day by running the Morning Star 10k for the Rotary Club to raise money for the Special Olympics. I did not have a great time since I am still getting over this cold. But at least I got the train that passed by us to blow its horn--a Dowling family favorite as seen here. 

• Then we headed to the "Showing of the Tartan" Parade to see all the bagpipes. Delia loved the Irish step dancers. 

• Then we hit the fest for some great music, delicious food (I had lamb stew and Irish soda bread!), and some light shopping.

Day 265: 9/23/11- Try an Online Contemplative Meditation

Day 265: 9/23/11
New Thing: Try an Online Contemplative Meditation           

Inspiration: http://www.contemplativeprayer.net/chapelPray.html            
Cost: $0
Time: 20 minuets                                
Bottom Line: I really have a hard time with this style of prayer.

Reflection: Contemplative Prayer (or Centering Prayer as it is also known as) has always been a style of prayer that has eluded me. For those who are new to this style of meditation here are some descriptions and rules found here:

Centering is a popular method of contemplative prayer or Christian meditation, placing a strong emphasis on interior silence. Though most authors trace its roots to the contemplative prayer of the Desert Fathers of early Christian monasticism, to the Lectio Divina tradition of Benedictine monasticism, and to works like The Cloud of Unknowing and the writings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, its origins as part of the "Centering Prayer" movement in modern Catholicism and Christianity can be traced to several books published by three Trappist monks of St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts in the 1970s: Fr. William Meninger, Fr. M. Basil Pennington and Abbot Thomas Keating.

Basil Pennington, one of the best known proponents of the centering prayer technique, has delineated the guidelines for centering prayer:

1. Sit comfortably with your eyes closed, relax, and quiet yourself. Be in love and faith to God.
2. Choose a sacred word that best supports your sincere intention to be in the Lord's presence and open to His divine action within you (i.e. "Jesus", "Lord," "God," "Savior," "Abba," "Divine," "Shalom," "Spirit," "Love," etc.).
3. Let that word be gently present as your symbol of your sincere intention to be in the Lord's presence and open to His divine action within you. (Thomas Keating advises that the word remain unspoken.)
4. Whenever you become aware of anything (thoughts, feelings, perceptions, images, associations, etc.), simply return to your sacred word, your anchor.

Ideally, the prayer will reach the point where the person is not engaged in their thoughts as they arrive on their stream of consciousness. This is the "unknowing" referenced in the 14th century book.

In other words, to truly achieve centering prayer, you have to be able to stop thinking--even thinking about God--and just sit in his Being. This is really ruff for me because I have a very hard time "shutting off" my mind. It is truly a practice that one has to cultivate, and one that I have never had the request patience for.

So, tonight, I tried a new tool to help guide me into this prayer found at this website: 

http://www.contemplativeprayer.net/chapelPray.html. Along with this 20 minuet timed meditation, there is also an audio introduction to this style of prayer for those who are interested. I started by saying my normal Evening Prayers and lighting a candle. I decided to stretch out on my yoga mat because I am always way more comfortable laying down then sitting.

My session started out alright, but as the time passed I got more and more frustrated by my thoughts and it just felt counter productive. I think that I will try to do this every night for a week to see if it ever gets easier. We will see.

Day 264: 9/22/11- Watch "Kundun"

Day 264: 9/22/11
New Thing: Watch Kundun          

Inspiration: Sick Day, Ken             
Cost: $0
Time: About 135 minuets                                 
Bottom Line: Lovely.

Reflection: I was in bed all day with a sinus infection today and really could not to much. So, I decided to watch the movie Kundun which Ken had recommended to me. Here is the description from IMDb:

In 1937, in a remote area of Tibet close to the Chinese border, a two year old child is identified as the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, the compassionate Buddha. Two years later, the child is brought to Lhasa where he is schooled as a monk and as head of state amidst the color and pageantry of Tibetan culture. The film follows him into adulthood: when he is 14, the Chinese invade Tibet and he is forced into a shaky coalition government; he travels to China to meet with a cynical Mao; and, finally, in 1959, ill and under siege, he flees to India. Throughout, he has visions of his people's slaughter under Chinese rule.

This was a beautiful film and I found it fascinating to see how someone who was considered both the incantation of Buddha and the head of the Tibetan state to his followers was still raised needing the same things that all children need. Definitely worth the watch.

Day 263: 9/21/11- Family Photo Session

Day 263: 9/21/11
New Thing: Family Photo Session          

Inspiration: Joel!             
Cost: $0 (He is awesome!)
Time: About 35 minuets                                 
Bottom Line: I can't wait to see the results.

Reflection: I have had the pleasure over the last few years to stay in contact with a friend of mine from college named Joel. He is a very talented musician who has come to play in a brass quartet at our church for several Christmas and Easter services as well as being a gifted photographer. You can find his website here and his blog here. He was looking to expand his family shoots in his portfolio and graciously offered a session to us! So, today was the day we all got dressed up and headed to beautiful downtown Bethlehem for some pictures of Delia acting like a ham, then Delia not want to be in the shots, and some actually nice family portraits. We are so happy to have these since we really do not have any lovely family shots. Joel was a pleasure, as always, and we are so grateful to him and his talent. Thank you, Joel!!

Day 262: 9/20/11- Pumpkin-Vanilla Ice Cream

Day 262: 9/20/11
New Thing: Pumpkin-Vanilla Ice Cream         

Inspiration: Ken's suggestion that we get ice cream            
Cost: $3
Time: About 5 minuets                                 
Bottom Line: Not bad....not great...but not bad.

Reflection: Today I tried fat & sugar free pumpkin vanilla swirl ice cream. It was o.k.- but not the best. Maybe if they put the fat and sugar back in it would improve the taste.

Day 261: 9/19/11- Make Homemade Play-Doh

Day 261: 9/19/11
New Thing: Make Homemade Play-Doh         

Inspiration: National Play-Doh Day          
Cost: $5
Time: A bout 20 minuets                                
Bottom Line: Homemade toy turned into a home-made mess!

Theses are more beautiful then mine turned out.

Reflection: September 16th is National Play-Doh Day and since I missed it, I thought I would do it today. Here is the recipe that I used from the blog "Hammer & Thread:"

Homemade Play Doh

• 1 cup Flour
  
• 1/2 cup Salt
  
• 2 tsp Cream of Tartar
  
• 2 Tbs Vegetable oil
  
• 1 cup of water dyed with food coloring

Mix everything together in a Non-stick pot (Seriously use non stick. Trust me) Stir over medium heat. It will look really soupy when you start but then suddenly it will come together. When it clumps into a ball dump it onto a cutting board to cool. 

I added a drop of lavender oil to Delia's to give her play-time a little aroma kick. It was definetly a hit, but very messy.

Day 260: 9/18/11- Pastry Chief

Day 260: 9/18/11
New Thing: Pastry Decorating Chief          

Inspiration: Trinity Reception, Gaby, Mo. Laura          
Cost: $0
Time: A few delicious minuets                                 
Bottom Line: Fun and yummy!

Reflection: Today, I was treated (pun-intended) to trying my hand at pasty decorating. We had a large reception to celebrate our new artiest-in-residence and, as usual, Trinity put on a lovely spread. As we were setting up for the party, Gaby and Mo. Laura helped me to learn a new skill--pastry decorating. Mo. Laura made these amazing little cakes and Gaby made an equally impressive cream topping. It was really easy and very tasty.

Day 259: 9/17/11- Volunteer to Help Flood Disaster Victims

Day 259: 9/17/11
New Thing: Volunteer to Help Flood Disaster Victims         

Inspiration: 2011 Floor, Ali          
Cost: $0
Time: Several Hours                                
Bottom Line: I only wish I could have done more.

A Tunkhannock Landmark

Reflection: On September 8th, the North Eastern part of Pennsylvania was flooded in a major storm that effected much of the East Coast. One of the towns hit the hardest was Tunkhannock, which is my hometown. Flooding is a pretty regular phenomenon there and I certainly remember having to muck out our church (St. Peter's) several times until the whole building was lost to another major flood. However, this time the Susquehanna swelled its banks at record highs and caused more damage then the area has ever seen. I have heard that some people are still looking for the remains of their homes which were swept away.

I have been heartbroken over this devastation and went back to T-Town last night and into today to help out in the the disaster relief efforts. The trip began with a nice visit with Mom last night (thanks for the awesome soup!) and would have included Ali the next day, but she took ill (missed you!). I first went over to the shelter where they still have many families living to see what was needed there. The Red Cross has set this site up in the high-school and this was my first time back since my graduation 10 years ago. It was a surreal homecoming to see the gym converted into a home for those who have lost everything. The good news is that they were well maned there, so I was sent over to the Interfaith clothing drive site which has grown so large in their donations, they have started to occupy a large warehouse in town. I spent the next several hours sorting, folding, and distributing clothes to those in need. The people there were wonderful and the woman in charge reminded me alot of our Deacon Liz who runs our daily soup kitchen at work. It was a blessing to see the whole community banding together to help one-another. I only wish there was more I could do to help out this wonderful town and her people.

A house floating under the Rt. 6 bridge leading into town.

Main St.

Main St.

Rt. 6

The Dietrich Theater on Main St. (Rt. 6)

Day 258: 9/16/11- Organic Care from Head to Toe

Day 258: 9/16/11
New Thing: Organic Care from Head to Toe         

Inspiration: Lux Salon, Yoga          
Cost: $45 (before tip--I know this is a little high, but there is a much higher priced non-organic one in town that I used as a comparison)
Time: About an hour                                
Bottom Line: Feeling great from head to toe.

Reflection: As I was stretching out today from a 10 mile morning run (yeah for cool fall weather!) I discovered something that may not be a big deal to anyone else, but is huge for me: For the first time in my life, I was able to touch my toes without bending my knees! I actually have an extra vertebra in my spinal cord which makes bending forward really difficult. I used to loathe the Presidential Physical Fitness Test in school because my teachers always thought I was being obstinate when it came to stretch portion and I could only go half as far as my peers. However, thanks to the yoga, I actually made it all the way to my toes today! Nice!

I also tried out a new salon today as part of my eco-stewardship challenge. I visited Lux: The Eco-Friendly Salon in downtown Bethlehem for a hair cut. Here is their mission statement:

Lux was created by fusing a passion for the beauty industry with a commitment to the environment. We can be beautiful and indulge in our shampoos, colors and polishes without endangering the planet with harmful chemical waste. Using CFL bulbs, organic cotton towels, recycled paper products and eco-friendly cleaning supplies are just a few of the other ways we’re staying on the path to be “green”. Lux is furnished with some recycled pieces as well as some that are made from sustainable materials. We’ll do everything we can to keep recycling, and keep you looking great. Lux is also an official sponsor of Matter of Trust. All hair clippings are donated to help clean up oil spills around the world. 

I was very pleased with the service and cut and the products smelled wonderful. They also feel much lighter on my hair. All this for a price that is actually less then my old place?! Awesome. 

Day 257: 9/15/11- Make Carrot/Apple Juice

Day 257: 9/15/11
New Thing: Make Carrot/Apple Juice         

Inspiration: New Juicer          
Cost: $45 (I got this at a HUGE discount!)
Time: About 2 minuets                                 
Bottom Line: Being healthy never tasted so good!

Reflection: A few weeks ago, I started researching juicing fruits and vegetables as a way to add more of these healthy foods into our diets. After I had sold myself on the idea, I found an amazing deal on a juicer (these can normally run any where from $150-$400) and decided to try it out tonight.

So, tonight, Delia and I headed out to the garden to pick some of our own fresh carrots which are really coming in nicely now. We juiced about 4 of those (they were small) with an apple which created a deliciously frothy concoction.The best part was that Delia liked it so much, she wanted to write a story about it. It is so cute and it really was amazing to us to see how much she is thinking about the move.It was like a toddler TAT. Here it is as dictated to Ken:

Making Juice

By Delia Raining

I am having fun making juice. I love Mommy and know she is my best. (Here she drew a little scribble mark.) I am having fun making juice with Mommy. Mimi (her stuffed sheep) is my favorite, and I know we are going to be in a new house, and a new church, and a new school with lots of friends and I am never going to bring my duckie and Mimi to school. We picked some carrots, then we mixed them, then we drank.

Day 256: 9/14/11- Make a Cross for Holy Cross Day

Day 256: 9/14/11
New Thing: Make a Cross for Holy Cross Day         

Inspiration: Holy Cross Day, Making Crosses by Ellen Morris Prewitt          
Cost: $7.50 (for the book)
Time: About 20 minuets                                 
Bottom Line: A tangible way to glorify the cross.

Reflection: Today is the Feast of the Holy Cross, otherwise known as Holy Cross Day. On this day, we meditate on the Glory of the Cross and the sacrifice that Jesus made for us. I thought it would be the perfect day to try out the book Making Crosses: A Creative Connection to God. This book contains a series of meditations that help guide you through making a cross as an artistic form of prayer. Mine was a very simple cross made up of two sticks I found on a walk around my house and a bit of yarn. Spending time making a cross was a very tangible way to stay focused on this instrument of salvation. Here is the Holy Cross Day prayer:

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to himself: Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting.

Day 255: 9/13/11- NYC Kayaking Adventure!

Day 255: 9/13/11
New Thing: NYC Kayaking Adventure!         

Inspiration: Kara          
Cost: $70 (or more)
Time: All day.                                 
Bottom Line: We had the best time--even with the smell (of Kara)

Reflection: We had an amazing day today! Ken and I went to NYC to have quite the adventure. Here is the breakdown of the day:

• We had lunch at the General Seminary of the Episcopal Church with Andy, Kim and Connie (who was in town for a meeting at 815). They literally had bus boys and long steamed water glasses. (One wonders how it is possible that they have so many financial problems.) Thanks for the delicious lunch, guys!

Lunch at GTS

The High Line

General in the Background

• Then we walked to the Strand Book Store (a first for Ken) taking The High Line (which is a walking park on an old elevated train line) which was beautiful.
• I tried coconut gelato which was great!   
• Then we met up with Kara a headed to the waterfront for our kayaking tour in the Hudson River around Manhattan! On our trip we could see the sky line all lit up, the GW bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and One World Trade Center. It was amazing (even though it involved Kara). It felt great to be out on the water paddling in the currents just taking it all in. I will never forget this.

Day 254: 9/12/11- Use Flying Wish Paper for the Moon Festival

Day 254: 9/12/11
New Thing: Use Flying Wish Paper for the Moon Festival        

Inspiration: The Chinese Moon Festival          
Cost: $0
Time: A few minutes.                                
Bottom Line: A beautiful wish.

Reflection: Today was the celebration of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. One of the traditions that is associated with this holiday are floating lanterns. Well, I didn't have any of these cool lanterns, but I did have some Flying Wish Paper from the Sunday School wing (thanks to Ellyn)! Here is Ken demonstrating his wish:

Day 253: 9/11/11- Attend a Benefit Concert for Trinity Soup Kitchen

Day 253: 9/11/11
New Thing: Attend a Benefit Concert for Trinity Soup Kitchen       

Inspiration: The 30th Anniversary of Trinity's Soup Kitchen, 9/11         
Cost: $-
Time: A few hours                               
Bottom Line: A wonderful way to celebrate this ministry and honor the 10th anniversary of 9/11.

Reflection: Today we honor the anniversary of 9/11. At Trinity, we spent the day in worship, prayer and service. This morning, Mo. Laura preached a beautiful sermon about forgiveness and Marcie and Deacon Liz have something very special planed for this afternoon: a benefit concert to celebrate the 30th anniversary of our Soup Kitchen. We will have four great local acts playing to help raise money for this cause and Delia and I are planning to go to the opening act, David Fry. All are welcome and tickets are at sale at the front doors which open at 4:00. Spend this day of remembrance helping other in need.

For Peace

Almighty God, kindle, we beseech thee, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with thy wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquility thy dominion may increase till the earth is filled with the knowledge of thy love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Day 252: 9/10/11-Explore Our New Home--St. David's in Wayne, PA

Day 252: 9/10/11
New Thing: Explore Our New Home--St. David's in Wayne, PA        

Inspiration: St. David's        
Cost: $0
Time: Several Hours                               
Bottom Line: Beautiful!

Delia in the Main Sanctuary

Reflection: Today was a pretty special day for our family. We took a trip down to St. David's Church in Wayne, PA which will be our new home and new church community beginning in November! I will be serving as an Associate Priest in this amazing congregation which has already made us feel very welcomed. We are very excited and feel very blessed to have this opportunity and have felt the Holy Spirit moving through out this whole time.

Of course, this move comes with mixed emotions for us since we love Bethlehem, Trinity and its people. We also know that this transition will be difficult for Delia who has many wonderful ties to this place. So, today we stated the process of explaining the move to Delia and took her on a tour of our new home which in in a beautiful rectory on the historic church grounds. We were also able to pick out some new paint colors with the help of an incredibly nice parishioner named Beth who is also a gifted interior designer and architect. Delia handled it very well and I think that she is starting to understand the concept of moving.

We are excited to be with you all soon, St. David's, and are treasuring the time we have left with you, our dear friends and family here in Bethlehem.

Delia found some books in the Church right away.

Mimi in the Church

The Master Bedroom

Delia's Room (we are changing the color, but she did like this right away. No surprise there.)

Attic chapel/exercise/meditation space.

The main church

The historical church and graveyard.