Blink of an eye

It doesn’t feel like it’s been so long and again it feels like forever- since I posted- connected. Something about this time makes me want to reach out and say Hi! Hmmm- quarantine maybe?
We have lived so much in the past year- illnesses, supporting those we love and those we pray for, losing my mother , welcoming a new child and now this era.

I’ve been spending time praying, cleaning, purging, singing, playing, chasing, working and painting again. I’ve always been drawn to landscapes and wildlife but recently discovered a connection to portraitures? Who knew?

I’m working on playing with flesh tones and capturing the look in the eyes ( the windows). My family thought my first attempt was “creepy” , not the feeling I was aiming for- 😂- what do you think?

Share the Day ~Eleni

Not drowning

Hello sweet friends- 

I'm still here and almost ready to fully return. Life has been a whirlwind(of sorts) and I'm amazed... at how fast time has passed.  I have been very reflective and have so many thoughts and things I'd like to share...soon. I'm also thinking of ways to retool and bring this little space up to date! My Twitter and Instagram are active and waiting for you to follow me there, in the meantime. As is, Pinterest. Any suggestions on ways to improve the blog are appreciated.  I pray you are all well. 

Until then,
Share the Day!

Still here

Hello dear friends... I'm still hanging around. 

It's been ages, as you can tell that I touched my blog and connected with all of you. I miss it and you. It is one of my favorite creative outlets and ways to connect with others. I love it when you send email and comment, it is such a sweet joy, likely other bloggers will understand.

Time, time, time. 

I had overextended myself these past few months and tried to catch up after falling very behind, for many and various reasons. It's so funny, when I ended my last post, I said "bring it on" and boy did the world do just that! I will likely share in due time. 

But for now... 

I am saying No...more, I am taking care of myself...more, 

I am simplifying...more (lol, that doesn't fit together right?) 

Retreat vs Vacation

Hello my friends...

It has been a long time and I am ready to be back! The hiatus was necessary on many fronts and the hand is feeling much better.  

I recently was blessed to attend the National Sisterhood of Presvyteres Retreat in Navasota Texas. Let me say Thank you to my wonderful community for making it possible and our hosts for all the southern hospitality! Presvyteres Renee and Anna certainly are quite a team and everyone in attendance had a wonderful time. 

So why a retreat as opposed to a vacation?

Pink and White

YES, it still feels and looks like winter,

spring will eventually be here.

We are almost there.

Our ladies society at church recently had a tea and I was given these lovelies.

They fill the kitchen with a beautiful aroma, sweet and full of spring.

Many are hoping for spring and renewal. In Greek, many times there are single words that encapsulate multiple meanings. The word I'm thinking of means patience, strength, perseverance, taking things in stride. This is something not only we all need for waiting for spring but also for many events in our lives. I think of recent events and I pray for...

EPOMONI

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, 

is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, 

and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27

The funeral arrangements have been made and there are several places, here and here,  to assist Presbytera Kate and the Baker family.

Share the Day

Thought for the Day

It's Friday, Yeh!!!!
Happy Name Day to all the Vasilios's, Vasiliki's, Vaso's, Vanessa's, Bill's, Basil's, Gregory's and John Chrysostom's today. And of course anyone else celebrating today for the Three Hierarchs, including all the teachers out there!

Share the Day

Resolutions

One of the best and sweetest gifts this past year. I was given a mug for my morning coffee from Agia Skepe Monastery. It has a delicate feeling in my hands. Just lovely. The verse on it also fills me with peace and a great reminder to start each day.

"Seek God daily,

But seek Him in your heart,

not outside it"

St. Nectarios  

So how are you starting your day and this New Year!
Happy New Year may it be filled with health and joy.

Share the Day

Embrace it.

If you have been following along, you know I have had a struggle with the lily of the valley taking over in the front garden pathway. It is in full bloom now.

I have decided for now to just embrace it. 

They are delicate and beautiful and filled with a sweet aroma.

There are more important things to struggle with, this does not need to be one.

But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. ( 1 Timothy 6.11)

Share the Day

Lent and being too busy?

I had the pleasure of hearing one of youth, a second grader answer a question this weekend during Church School that made every adult want to leap up and applaud. The question was, "what season are we in and what is it?"  The answer, "it's the 40 days of Lent and it's when Jesus was in the desert and was being tempted by the Devil. So we remember it by trying to stay away from stuff that tempts us." What a great kid!

Take time ( a minute or if you can even longer today) and a say a prayer, make the connection that counts.
It does make a difference!

Here's an easy prayer, not always to easy to say but powerful.

Jesus Christ, Have Mercy on Me, a Sinner.

I was introduced to this below over the weekend. It's very thought-provoking and I know not new but worth a revisit. Let me know what you think about it? Would love to hear from you.

Share the Day!

DEVIL'S CONVENTION

Satan called a worldwide convention.

In his opening address to his evil angels, he said,'We can't keep the Christians from going to church.'
'We cannot keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth.'
'We cannot even keep them from forming an intimate, abiding relationship experience in Christ. If they gain that connection with Jesus, our power over them is broken. So let them go to their churches; let them have their conservative lifestyles, but steal their time, so they can't gain that relationship with Jesus Christ.'

'This is what I want you to do angels ...

Distract them from gaining hold of their Saviour and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!'

'How shall we do this?' shouted his angels.

'Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds,' he answered. 'Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow.'

'Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles. Keep thern from spending time with their children.'

'As their family fragments, soon, their home will offer no escape from the pressures of work!'

'Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice. Entice them to play the radio or cassette player whenever they drive. Keep the TV, VCR, CDs, and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly. This will jam their minds and break that union with Christ.'

'Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards. Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogues, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes.'

'Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines so the husbands will believe that external beauty is what is important, and they will become dissatisfied with their wives. Ha! That will fragment those families quickly!'

'Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their recreation exhausted, disquieted and unprepared for the coming week'.

'Do not let them go out in nature to reflect on God's wonders. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts, and movies instead.'

'Keep them busy, busy, busy! And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotions.'

'Go ahead, let thern be involved in soul winning; but crowd their lives with so rnany good causes they have no tirne to seek power frorn Jesus.'

'Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause.'

It will work! It will work!

It was quite a convention. The evil angels went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere to get busier and more rushed, going here and there.
I guess the question is has the devil been successful at his scherne? You be the judge!
Does 'busy' rnean: B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?

Author unknown

Sharing with 
Coastal Charm

This was from Me...Repost

This is a repost from last January. It was read in church today and I got goosebumps. So I thought, what better way to enter Clean Monday tomorrow and leave Forgiveness Sunday. 

Share the Day and Be Grateful for it.

Pray without Ceasing.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

How do you handle stress? Grief? Joy? Good or bad fortune? 

This is letter that was written by St. Seraphim of Viritsa to a spiritual child who was imprisoned.  

Many years later, here we are, all prisoners of something, are we not?

Source

This was from Me

by St. Seraphim of Viritsa

Have you ever thought that everything that concerns you, concerns Me, also? You are precious in my eyes and I love you; for this reason, it is a special joy for Me to train you. When temptations and the opponent [the Evil One] come upon you like a river, I want you to know that 

This was from Me.

I want you to know that your weakness has need of My strength, and your safety lies in allowing Me to protect you. I want you to know that when you are in difficult conditions, among people who do not understand you, and cast you away, 

This was from Me.

I am your God, the circumstances of your life are in My hands; you did not end up in your position by chance; this is precisely the position I have appointed for you. Weren't you asking Me to teach you humility? And there - I placed you precisely in the "school" where they teach this lesson. Your environment, and those who are around you, are performing My will. Do you have financial difficulties and can just barely survive? 

Know that This was from Me.

I want you to know that I dispose of your money, so take refuge in Me and depend upon Me. I want you to know that My storehouses are inexhaustible, and I am faithful in My promises. Let it never happen that they tell you in your need, "Do not believe in your Lord and God." Have you ever spent the night in suffering? Are you separated from your relatives, from those you love? I allowed this that you would turn to Me, and in Me find consolation and comfort. Did your friend or someone to whom you opened your heart, deceive you? This was from Me.

I allowed this frustration to touch you so that you would learn that your best friend is the Lord. I want you to bring everything to Me and tell Me everything. Did someone slander you? Leave it to Me; be attached to Me so that you can hide from the "contradiction of the nations." I will make your righteousness shine like light and your life like midday noon. Your plans were destroyed? Your soul yielded and you are exhausted? 

This was from Me.

You made plans and have your own goals; you brought them to Me to bless them. But I want you to leave it all to Me, to direct and guide the circumstances of your life by My hand, because you are the orphan, not the protagonist. Unexpected failures found you and despair overcame your heart, but know That this was from Me.

With tiredness and anxiety I am testing how strong your faith is in My promises and your boldness in prayer for your relatives. Why is it not you who entrusted their cares to My providential love? You must leave them to the protection of My All Pure Mother. Serious illness found you, which may be healed or may be incurable, and has nailed you to your bed. 

This was from Me.

Because I want you to know Me more deeply, through physical ailment, do not murmur against this trial I have sent you. And do not try to understand My plans for the salvation of people's souls, but unmurmuringly and humbly bow your head before My goodness. You were dreaming about doing something special for Me and, instead of doing it, you fell into a bed of pain. 

This was from Me.

Because then you were sunk in your own works and plans and I wouldn't have been able to draw your thoughts to Me. But I want to teach you the most deep thoughts and My lessons, so that you may serve Me. I want to teach you that you are nothing without Me. Some of my best children are those who, cut off from an active life, learn to use the weapon of ceaseless prayer. You were called unexpectedly to undertake a difficult and responsible position, supported by Me. I have given you these difficulties and as the Lord God I will bless all your works, in all your paths. In everything I, your Lord, will be your guide and teacher. Remember always that every difficulty you come across, every offensive word, every slander and criticism, every obstacle to your works, which could cause frustration and disappointment, 

This is from Me.

Know and remember always, no matter where you are, That whatsoever hurts will be dulled as soon as you learn In all things, to look at Me. Everything has been sent to you by Me, for the perfection of your soul. 

All these things were from Me.

Share the Day!

Fields of Basil and Light

Today is May 21st, and it is the day, we celebrate Saints Constantine and Helen. Saint Constantine was victorious in battle after seeing the cross in the sky made of light, with the words, "NIKA," meaning "with this you will be victorious." Saint Helen, his mother and my own patron saint, raised her son in a christian atmosphere which was not popular at the time and set out to find the true cross. 

She found it in a field of basil. 

Source

This year as I was at vespers, I was blessed to be in a church of Saint Constantine and Helen. It  felt so  peaceful to me. During the service, I kept thinking about how beautiful it must have been, to be in the field of basil and to find the cross. This led me to thinking about how each of at times struggles in our lives, and how sweet it feels when that burden is lifted like the cross in the field, as it's lifted the sweet aroma wafts up and around you, encircling you like an embrace. The cross is one of sacrifice and love and each of us has our own to carry, but we can love each other and in those moments there is the beauty of the light and the sweet aroma of blessings. 

Sweet blessings to all celebrating today!

BTW, making this for the day.

Share the Day!

Forgiveness

Forgive Me.

Today is Forgiveness Sunday.
It is a time of re-examination and a time to repent and prepare. How is it different for a Christian than any other day? I suppose it's not, but the hymns of tonight are so beautiful and usher in an excitement, an awe, and a silence-all at the same time. To ask forgiveness of someone is taught when we are little. "Say, you're sorry," "Say, it's ok," "Now go on and play."  Playing nice in the sandbox, sharing and forgiving and even forgetting. It's something we expect of our children, so-why not when we are grown? Are we not all still God's children? Why is so hard for so many?

source

If there is someone who has done you wrong, say a prayer of forgiveness tonight, whether they are in front of you or not. Whether you can ask them or not.
Play nice-it's a big sandbox and there are big expectations.

Lord Jesus Christ, Have Mercy on Me a Sinner.

Share the Day.

A Plea to help protect Religious Freedom

This affects everyone. 

The Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) has launched an online White House petition urging President Obama to “Stand up for the rights of endangered Christian minorities around the world this Christmas season.”  The petition can be found at www.hellenicleaders.com/freedom.  According to WhiteHouse.gov rules, if the petition reaches the 25,000 signatures threshold, the White House has to issue a formal written response.  We have until January 6, 2013.

The petition language explains that:

Christians in the greater Middle East face extinction in their homelands. In Syria’s civil war, Christians who make up 10% of the population are targeted. Christians in Egypt (12% of that population) suffer social persecution and political exclusion. Christians in Iraq (1% of that population) face daily threats and violence. In Turkey, the number of Christians has plummeted to less than .1% due to systematic rights violations, including the oppression of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In occupied Cyprus, the Turkish military has essentially snuffed out Christianity to around 400 survivors. The administration should act now to protect the rights of these groups by calling on countries in the greater Middle East to protect religious freedom, especially that of their Christian minorities.

Endy Zemenides, Executive Director of HALC explains the timing of the petition: “As we wrap our gifts, Syria’s Christians are being attacked, Egypt’s Christians are being excluded from the forming of the new Egyptian state, and enclaved Greek Cypriots need to seek permission to celebrate Christmas in occupied Cyprus.  Turkey continuously lied about opening Halki throughout President Obama’s first term, and this Christmas, the future of the Ecumenical Patriarchate is as uncertain as ever.”

The rights violations identified in the petition were analyzed by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom which, earlier this year, downgraded Turkey to the list of “Countries of Particular Concern,” the list of the worst violators of religious rights in the world.  The grassroots effort of this petition can help turn the USCIRF recommendations into actions by Washington to protect the human rights of Christians whose very survival is at stake.  Christians can voice their support for the universal human right of religious freedom by signing this petition and by calling attention to the vulnerability of Christians struggling to survive in the ancient lands of Christianity. 

Visit 

www.hellenicleaders.com/freedom , 

or

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/stand-rights-endangered-christian-minorities-around-world-christmas-season/g1Dg26RG 

and do your part and help shine the light on the plight of Christians this Christmas.

Share the Day.

Pumpkin Centerpiece Revisited

Fall is here.

A pretty centerpiece for Fall and Thanksgiving was still needed, 

even though not a lot of time to put towards it.

I really wanted to carve this craft pumpkin into something similar to this sweet one.

Not quite what was planned

but still good.

Sometimes in life like crafts, it's not what you plan but what you make out of it.

"It's all good!"

Share the Day.

Happy Completion

What a great feeling when you have been making something and finally finish it!  Not in the way that it feels like it a chore, this doesn't.  When taking care of chores and even work outside the home, it can feel a bit monotonous.  Not to mention, sometimes you can clean something and moments later it's like you never touched it! The wonder of children.  It's a shared joy every mother can appreciate.  I actually don't look forward to the day when everything stays neat.

Anyway, with knitting and crochet, even if I only get a chance to add one line a day, it eventually will be done. It's that wonderful feeling of completion.  I started knitting and crochet for that exact feeling, the feeling of completion, I was hooked! (excuse the pun)

Back to the purses. Yeh, they are done!

You can see that I stitched in a little liner.

Next time I would add a little batting to stabilize it a bit more.

I have wanted to give these to my sweet little nieces for so long.

You might remember some of the progress here.

I'm so excited to have sent these to them!

They are shoulder bags for the early grade school crowd (size-wise).

Share the Day.

Hope

This time we got lucky and were  blessed.

Our area was hit hard last year, hurricane, floods, tornado.

This is a tree felled nearby then.

Look-the tree has sprouted again and another tree is starting to grow from the bottom of the rootball.

What this says to me is...

HOPE!

Share the Day.

Learning from Nature

A continuously happy life produces extremely unhappy consequences. In nature we see that there are not always pleasant springs and fruitful summers, and sometimes autumn is rainy and winter cold and snowy, and there is flooding and wind and storms, and moreover the crops fail and there are famine, troubles, sicknesses and many other misfortunes.  All of this is beneficial so that man might learn through prudence, patience and humility. For the most part, in times of plenty he forgets himself, but in times of various sorrows he becomes more attentive to his salvation.

St. Ambrose

Praying for all who are awaiting the storms ahead, or already being affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Lord Have Mercy.

Be Safe Everyone.

Share the Day.

Someone Special and Close to my Heart

September is Childhood Cancer Month

From the Curesearch website, did you know that:

+ More than 40 000 children undergo treatment for cancer each year.

+ Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15 in the United States.

+ Every day, 36 children are diagnosed with cancer.

+ Children's cancer affects all ethnic, gender and socio-economic groups.

We have our first guest blogger today, someone very special to many people.  She is a Mom of two beautiful children and part of a very strong wonderful couple and family.  

Please help this family and families like them.

Dear Family and Friends,

Last year, with your help, we raised an incredible $3700 for the CureSearch Walk, to help fund cancer research! This year, we look for your generosity again, as we are raising funds for another important organization, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. From the very first day of Anna’s Leukemia diagnosis in May of 2011, the LLS has been a vital source of information and support for our family, in so many aspects. Now, as we enter September, we look to spread the word about Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and to help give back to an amazing nonprofit organization that has helped us personally.

We have formed a team for the Light the Night Walk at Bright House Field in Clearwater, FL on November 3rd, and we hope you'll join us.  The Light The Night Walk is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's evening walk and fundraising event.  It is the nation's night to pay tribute and bring hope to thousands of people battling blood cancers and to commemorate loved ones lost.

By joining our team and raising funds for this important cause, you'll be making a real impact on the fight against cancer.  On Walk night, you'll join us with other teams and individuals from all over our community in the culmination of our efforts to find cures.  Walk night is a family-oriented evening in which participants carry illuminated balloons, raise awareness of blood cancers and come together as a caring community. For more info, here is a link to a YouTube Informational Video on the Light the Night Walk.  

Light the Night Video

This year, Anna has been named as the Honored Hero for the Light the Night Walk in Pinellas County! All those who have met Anna know she is full of personality and always let's you know what is on her mind. She is our little "Spunky Monkey" and that has become our team's name. Use the following link to go to  our team's home page  , and at the top and bottom of the page, there are links to join our team and walk with us.

There is no cost to register as a walker or to join the team.  Each registered walker will also have their own webpage to help raise funds should they wish, and we will all be linked through Anna's team. Everyone who raises $100 or more will be a Champion for Cures and will be recognized on Walk night with:

            - A Light The Night t-shirt.

            - An illuminated Light The Night balloon in red (supporters), white (survivors) or gold (in memory of a loved one)

            - A wristband which entitles the wearer to an array of food and refreshments.

Please join us, as we are trying to get as many of Anna's family and friends together on walk night, to show their support as Anna continues her battle against cancer. 

If you can't join us on Walk Night, we still need your help in raising money for this very important cause. Through The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night Walk we are searching for  better treatments and cures for blood cancers so patients can live better, longer lives. I'm asking you to help by making a tax-deductible contribution!  You will receive an email confirmation of your donation as soon as it is made. I thank you in advance for your support which will make a difference in the lives of thousands of patients battling blood cancers.

Please use this link  to donate online quickly and securely.  On the right hand side of our page you can make a donation to LLS on Anna’s behalf, either through the team or through a specific team member.

          Sincerely, A Hopeful Mom  

Thanks for Sharing the Day and we pray we will be sharing in joyful news one day soon.

Other ways you can help include becoming involved in your local LLS walk and joining a bone marrow drive near you and help Anna and others like her! Join and Be the Match!

Tree Roots

This past year has felt like a whirlwind to me.  Many changes and many things staying the same.  I love this time of season, the ecclesiastical new year, a real time for reflection for me as to what has happened in this past year and planning for what is ahead.  Forgive my lack of posts,  there have been many experiences, there is much being done and hopefully completed and much to share soon.  

"It's all good",(even when it's not.)

Thanking God for every good and perfect gift.

Where are they?

Ok, I'm very new to this bird-watching, and it shows.  

I have no idea where our sweet birds went? 

The robins are around but not much, no woodpeckers, no orioles, haven't seen the cardinals in over a week. Haven't heard our owls, heard a blue jay a couple days ago, and even the sparrows are quiet.
I can hear thousands of crickets and cicadas but during the day, so quiet, eerie.  

I went ahead and splurged on a new hummingbird feeder, as 'Hijinks' the squirrel took the other down and dragged it through the yard again.  We have seen both the female and male coming to feed a couple times already today.

Thanks to Kate St. John at Outside my Window, I feel a little better.

Maybe our friends are all on the nest again?

Here is one of our sweet doves, saying Good Morning.
I have seen them, but again, very little.

It's amazing how much you can miss them,
when most of us go through our day, not even noticing them.

How many other things do we miss?

Share the Day.

Eleni