December 2011
It’s the end of an Era. The home I grew up in on Hamlin road has been sold. Five of my brothers have worked hard to clean out 57 years of living there. Kudos goes especially to Mark and David who have fought clutter, dumpsters, and other wild things such as rat nests in the process. My Mom’s only home now is her home in Hemet. She is part of an exclusive book club there which she enjoys and she passes a lot of good books my way. I picked her up for Thanksgiving and we did our bonding over eating and shopping. We had a great Thanksgiving here with her, Don’s Dad and sister Janet. We had a 24.4 lb ham (we got a good deal on) and the leftovers live on.
I am still substituting but did some tutoring last year working 16 extra hours a week at student’s homes and am signed up to do the same for a company which pays better. My biggest accomplishment this year was finishing writing a book that I started as a student at the U.W. (One, which had never seen the light of a computer.) I participated in National Write a Book in One Month for November. I actually finished the first draft on December 9th. Now the editing begins and guess what you’ll all get for Christmas next year? I cannot tell you the joy that writing again has given me.
Don has not only been formatting my manuscript into a book, he has been working with his sister Janet on basic information books on Orchids. She and Don’s Dad, Hal, are part of the OC Orchard Society and have most of their backyard dedicated to growing orchids.
Like teaching and most businesses Don and Janet’s business is going slow, but Don and I were finally able to get Health Insurance for which we are grateful.
John turned 19 this year and was the most employed one this summer working at Office Depot where he now works part time. He is finishing up his second year of college and has sent out applications to UCLA, Berkley, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara. He loves his Math and Physics classes and has a huge whiteboard where he writes out long equations (his homework) which look like hieroglyphics to this English Major. He is part of the Engineering Club where they are building a robot.
Benjamin is now 13 and an 8th grader. He is beginning to get taller. He won an Outstanding Award for 7th grade English last year, quite surprisingly to us since he is in Honors Math and Science. He loves Woodshop, Science, and Band where he plays trumpet. It’s hard to think of him entering High School next year.
It has been a year where we have lost a lot of great people. Many friends have lost loved ones or are going through rough times. So in this season of Advent we may not have an abundance of money but we have the love of all our friends and families along with hope in the love and peace of Christ which will pull us through any cold and dark winters of our lives.
Love to you all and may you find joys in the little things, the moments of grace and blessings our God of love brings to you this New Year and,
Have a Merrijoyful Christmas!
MJ for Don, John, and Benjamin Buist
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Monday, December 27, 2010
Buist Christmas Newsletter 2010
As I write we in Southern California we are having the Seattle version of” I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas”, which is I’m Dreaming of a Wet Christmas ,just like the ones I use to know.” As the rain pelts down a “dry” Christmas would be nice. Last year, I talked about going for a year of joy. Well it’s a good thing that I write these yearly letters to give my aging, forgetful brain a chance to recall the joys 2010 brought to the Buist family.
In March my dream of showing my sons one of my most beautiful places was accomplished when we went camping to Big Sur. Hats off to Don for the long drive. Life came full circle as John wore my Eddie Bauer jacket that I wore in Europe and probably on my many trips up the coast in my skinny single days. To hear my video game sons awe at the beauty and insist on stopping to see the seals was priceless. Cooking outdoors at the campground does food taste any better? We even had French press coffee. John and Benjamin enjoyed climbing trees and breathing in the beauty of the waves at the beach I first discovered and took numerous pictures of over 25 years ago.
It was Senior year for John including the prom. I commend all you mothers of daughters since getting together his matching tie and suit exhausted me. To see all the kids he grew up with all grown up was quite a sight.
It was graduation year for both boys. Benjamin graduated from 6th grade and is now a 7th grader at Santiago Middle School wearing uniforms every day. He is playing trumpet in the band, is in Honors Science and Pre-Algebra and loved his Wood Shop class. He turned 12 this summer with his annual water balloon fight.
John graduated from Elmodena High School and Grandma W was able to attend along with Grandpa B and Aunt Janet. He is attending Orange Coast Junior College and another joy is that he has free tuition. The books, however, are a different story. He took American Government, Western Civ, Economics and Calculus. In his spare time he reads Physics textbooks he has downloaded off line. These Math traits are obviously not from me as my boys remind me daily.
A highlight for me this year was being in charge of the Fathers’ Day Service at my church. I not only preached but ran the entire service, even singing a solo with the choir. My joy of the day was singing the offeratory with John who sang Stephen Sondheim’s, “Not While I’m Around”. Ever since then I’ve been known at the church as “John’s Mom.” It has been a joy sitting with John at church. Another joy was dedicating my sermon, “Stories of Our Father” to the memory of my earthly father, Dick Wennerlind with my Mom attending. Attached is a copy of the sermon I preached.
One of the strangest things this year is that my nondrinker husband Don bought a bottle of vodka. It is a project he and his sister Janet are doing to make authentic vanilla extract. So if you want to place your order now please contact him. (He is also making soup with Italian sausage – what Alien has replaced him?)
As friends are losing loved ones this year, and dear ones are facing health challenges, I am thankful that our extended families are doing well with the exception of my youngest brother David who has been diagnosed with MS and is on medication. We’re all praying for him and would appreciate your prayers. We are happy that Grandpa Hal B is healthy at 88 and Grandma Shirley W. is turning 83. We were blessed with having her stay the summer in Hemet so she was able to attend Don’s Fourth of July birthday party. She did go to the Richards family reunion in Texas for Thanksgiving so my brother Dan’s family got to spend it with her but we look forward to having her for Christmas.
I will be starting a new group called Empowering Our Sisters (EOS) where we read about global needs of women and how we can help support them to bring change. The book we will be reading is Half the Sky, Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Kristof and WuDunn. I encourage you all to read it
The Business front for both Don and I has been rough due to the Recession. Teacher jobs are not to be found but I am grateful I’m keeping busy substituting. In these tough financial times I am grateful for the health of my family, the joys that continue to come our way, and how we are blest with the love of family and friends.
We wish that you find joy even in the midst of life challenges this New Year.
MJ. For Don, John, and Benjamin Buist
PS Teaching in Santa Ana for so many years I find myself enjoying my flan singing O Come O Come “E”mmanuel with the Spanish pronunciation “A” manuel. But lest we forget Benjamin’s spelling of the reason for the season it is Je “A” sus!
In March my dream of showing my sons one of my most beautiful places was accomplished when we went camping to Big Sur. Hats off to Don for the long drive. Life came full circle as John wore my Eddie Bauer jacket that I wore in Europe and probably on my many trips up the coast in my skinny single days. To hear my video game sons awe at the beauty and insist on stopping to see the seals was priceless. Cooking outdoors at the campground does food taste any better? We even had French press coffee. John and Benjamin enjoyed climbing trees and breathing in the beauty of the waves at the beach I first discovered and took numerous pictures of over 25 years ago.
It was Senior year for John including the prom. I commend all you mothers of daughters since getting together his matching tie and suit exhausted me. To see all the kids he grew up with all grown up was quite a sight.
It was graduation year for both boys. Benjamin graduated from 6th grade and is now a 7th grader at Santiago Middle School wearing uniforms every day. He is playing trumpet in the band, is in Honors Science and Pre-Algebra and loved his Wood Shop class. He turned 12 this summer with his annual water balloon fight.
John graduated from Elmodena High School and Grandma W was able to attend along with Grandpa B and Aunt Janet. He is attending Orange Coast Junior College and another joy is that he has free tuition. The books, however, are a different story. He took American Government, Western Civ, Economics and Calculus. In his spare time he reads Physics textbooks he has downloaded off line. These Math traits are obviously not from me as my boys remind me daily.
A highlight for me this year was being in charge of the Fathers’ Day Service at my church. I not only preached but ran the entire service, even singing a solo with the choir. My joy of the day was singing the offeratory with John who sang Stephen Sondheim’s, “Not While I’m Around”. Ever since then I’ve been known at the church as “John’s Mom.” It has been a joy sitting with John at church. Another joy was dedicating my sermon, “Stories of Our Father” to the memory of my earthly father, Dick Wennerlind with my Mom attending. Attached is a copy of the sermon I preached.
One of the strangest things this year is that my nondrinker husband Don bought a bottle of vodka. It is a project he and his sister Janet are doing to make authentic vanilla extract. So if you want to place your order now please contact him. (He is also making soup with Italian sausage – what Alien has replaced him?)
As friends are losing loved ones this year, and dear ones are facing health challenges, I am thankful that our extended families are doing well with the exception of my youngest brother David who has been diagnosed with MS and is on medication. We’re all praying for him and would appreciate your prayers. We are happy that Grandpa Hal B is healthy at 88 and Grandma Shirley W. is turning 83. We were blessed with having her stay the summer in Hemet so she was able to attend Don’s Fourth of July birthday party. She did go to the Richards family reunion in Texas for Thanksgiving so my brother Dan’s family got to spend it with her but we look forward to having her for Christmas.
I will be starting a new group called Empowering Our Sisters (EOS) where we read about global needs of women and how we can help support them to bring change. The book we will be reading is Half the Sky, Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Kristof and WuDunn. I encourage you all to read it
The Business front for both Don and I has been rough due to the Recession. Teacher jobs are not to be found but I am grateful I’m keeping busy substituting. In these tough financial times I am grateful for the health of my family, the joys that continue to come our way, and how we are blest with the love of family and friends.
We wish that you find joy even in the midst of life challenges this New Year.
MJ. For Don, John, and Benjamin Buist
PS Teaching in Santa Ana for so many years I find myself enjoying my flan singing O Come O Come “E”mmanuel with the Spanish pronunciation “A” manuel. But lest we forget Benjamin’s spelling of the reason for the season it is Je “A” sus!
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Stories of Our Father
This is the sermon I preached for Fathers' Day. Sorry it took so long to post.
Stories of Our Father
By MJ Buist
Diaconal Minister
June 20, 2010
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you God our Father and to the memory of my earthly father, Dick Wennerlind, Amen
There’s a funny story we like to tell about my own father. It involves a mug, chicken and stars soup and a bad dishwasher. You see my mother likes to drink her soup out of a mug. Now those of you who have ever had Chicken and stars soup know that it has noodles shape like little stars. Now combine this with a not so thorough dishwasher and my father grabbing a mug and pouring himself a cup of coffee. Looking into his cup he saw the stuck stars on the bottom glowing back at him. So he began to shout, “There are stars in my coffee!” My mother and I realizing what had happened decided to play along with both of us looking into the cup saying, “I don’t see any stars, do you see any Mom”. The story rings with a bit of irony since in later years my father died of Alzheimer. At his Memorial service all 9 of us –yes count them – 9 of us siblings took turns telling stories of our father.
My brother Mark told how my father on a family vacation could keep a station wagon in perpetual motion for 3 days. My youngest brother told for the first time how my Dad had been kicked out of one of his basketball games for getting in the referee’s face and how he had begged my brother, to not tell your mother. I told how my father by being a teacher and a deacon at the church had taught me servant leadership. We all told about the ways our father had always been there for us over the years. People at the church told how he had ministered to them and for weeks later my mother would receive letters from his former students saying how his influence had helped to change their lives.
My father took us to church each Sunday where we learned the Bible Stories about God our heavenly Father. The Old Testament is full of stories of God the Father. The lectionary reading from the Old Testament for today which we didn’t get to, is the story of Elijah running for his life from Jezebel. It tells how God sends his angels to feed him and provide a place of rest.
Hebrew is a much more emotion felt language than the cognitive Greek of the New Testament. The Hebrew Scriptures have the Psalms which praise God for the work he has done. The Psalmists remember how God has delivered them and even when the Psalmists are asking where God is, they still express confidence that God will provide for them. The Old Testament ends with the prophets who tell it like it is while prophesizing about the Messiah to come who will put an end to the law.
In our Galatians reading today you have the apostle Paul who was once a zealous Jew who sought to destroy Christians. But a funny thing happened on the road to Damascus, he has a conversion experience where Christ calls out to him and Paul realizes that the Messiah has come in the person of Christ. So in this passage Paul tells about how we are no longer ruled by the law but by faith through Christ which is opened to all whether Jews or Gentiles. It not only belongs to the biological descendants of Abraham but Paul declares that if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs to the promise. So through Christ we are all children of God the Father and we can all share in telling stories about how God our father has saved us.
I love the song, So Many Times which the choir graciously allowed me to sing with them because it is somewhat of a modern Psalm. I love the part where God welcomes her home not asking where she’s been – like the father in the Prodigal Son, I choose to view God in this loving way versus an angry punishing killjoy. The writer tells how God has been there for her, for so many times. Along with St Julian of Norwich’s mantra,” All Will Be Well” this song, has gotten me through many nerve racking times. I would sing it over and over again every time I had to face a stressful situation like my Diaconal Interviews, claiming like the Psalmists claimed, that no matter what the outcome, God would pull me through.
In our Gospel Reading we have the Messiah Jesus Christ driving out a legion of demons from a man. Now while many of you were enjoying the sunshine of the weekend I have been studying about demons and the abyss. It reminded me of doing research for papers in the 2nd basement of the Fuller Library nicknamed the dungeon. In this passage demons were known as unclean spirits who would dirty up your own spirit. They were called noxious spirits which could be spirits of delirium or my favorite spirit of melancholy that enter a man. Demons were always cast out by claiming the power of God the father. Well here you have Jesus who the spirits recognize as the Son of the living God. And they beg him not to torment them. Very strangely Jesus doesn’t just zap them but he asks them their name. After telling him they beg not to be sent into the abyss. This is translated into “the deep” meaning a bottomless, unfathomable deep or underworld which is mentioned in Revelation where it is opened up and Satan gets locked up there. Christ show compassion here by allowing them to go into the pigs, note he didn’t send them into them but allowed them to do so. Now my whole life the big emphasis on this story was not only the miracle Christ performed but also how Christ was somewhat punishing the Jewish people who were violating the Levitical law by raising pigs. Thus the angry pig farmers asked him to go. But in verse 37 it says they ask Christ to leave since they were seized with great fear. They were terrified at his power. He gave them the hemi gimmies. Due to these preconceived notions, I wondered how this passage could work into a Father’s Day sermon until I noticed the last verse. This is where I believe the true emphasis should be. The cured man begs to stay with Christ but Jesus sends him away telling him to go home “and declare how much God has done for you” So it ends with this man proclaiming throughout the city over and over again how Jesus had saved him from the demons.
I have just fallen in love with the musical Sweeney Todd who they call the demon barber of Fleet Street. Sweeney has earned this title by the terrible deeds he does in the musical. What I found most interesting, however, were the demons within him. Sweeney had been falsely arrested and thrown in jail away from his wife and baby daughter so years later after breaking out of jail he returns to London with the demons of revenge and vengeance for how unfair he has been treated. It got me to thinking about all the modern day demons we have in our own lives. Exterior and internal issues that dirty up our spirits. It’s easy to come up with addictions such as alcoholism, drug addiction but what about other demons that keep us from living a life of wholeness. Demons of unforgiveness, resentment, jealousy, fear, and unworthiness. You probably know your own demons. In AA addicts call to a higher power who can pull them out of the bottomless pits of despair. Another one of the 12 steps is to name you addiction, name your demon, like the man in the story. Numerous now sober people will talk about how God gave them the power over the demons of their addictions. Christians believe in the power of Christ helping us to name the demons in our lives. We believe in the Holy Spirit who will overcome and cleanse our unclean spirit. We join then with the Jewish people, the Apostle Paul, and the man Christ delivered from the demons in sharing the stories of salvation that God our father has brought into our lives.
I close with a story about my own children which started in this very church. My husband and I were attending a Wednesday night class and our children were in the Childcare, John was 7 and Benjamin 4. Well I got delayed in picking them up since I was gabbing with some people, whom my children will tell you is one of my demons. So their father picked them up and when little Benjamin asked where Mommy was his older brother teasingly said, “Oh the aliens got her”. Now I who have worked hard on making my children feeling safe in “God’s house” was not happy to hear that my oldest had created aliens in the church yard. When I finally got to the car Benjamin hugged me and started telling me this elaborate story about how I had been abducted by 5 aliens who took me to their spaceship. He had raced after them and he went into great detail how he had body slammed the first alien shouting you’re not getting my mommy and how he fought all the rest to rescue me. I wish I would have put it on tape. But the story didn’t end there. Each day of the following 2 weeks he would still tell his story embellishing it more and more. He would tell it to classmates, friends, and even strangers in the supermarket. Till finally I was getting a little tired of it and I asked him, “Benjamin– why are you telling this story over and over – why is it so important to you?” To which he simply said, “Cause Mommy, I saved your life.”
We love to tell the story; will be our theme in glory, to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.
_____________________________________________________________________
Song John sang:
“Nothing’s going to harm you
No one’s going to dare.
Others can desert you not to worry
Whistle I’ll be there.
Demons will charm you with a smile
For a while but in time
Nothings going to harm you
Not when I’m around”
Stephen Sondheim
By MJ Buist
Diaconal Minister
June 20, 2010
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you God our Father and to the memory of my earthly father, Dick Wennerlind, Amen
There’s a funny story we like to tell about my own father. It involves a mug, chicken and stars soup and a bad dishwasher. You see my mother likes to drink her soup out of a mug. Now those of you who have ever had Chicken and stars soup know that it has noodles shape like little stars. Now combine this with a not so thorough dishwasher and my father grabbing a mug and pouring himself a cup of coffee. Looking into his cup he saw the stuck stars on the bottom glowing back at him. So he began to shout, “There are stars in my coffee!” My mother and I realizing what had happened decided to play along with both of us looking into the cup saying, “I don’t see any stars, do you see any Mom”. The story rings with a bit of irony since in later years my father died of Alzheimer. At his Memorial service all 9 of us –yes count them – 9 of us siblings took turns telling stories of our father.
My brother Mark told how my father on a family vacation could keep a station wagon in perpetual motion for 3 days. My youngest brother told for the first time how my Dad had been kicked out of one of his basketball games for getting in the referee’s face and how he had begged my brother, to not tell your mother. I told how my father by being a teacher and a deacon at the church had taught me servant leadership. We all told about the ways our father had always been there for us over the years. People at the church told how he had ministered to them and for weeks later my mother would receive letters from his former students saying how his influence had helped to change their lives.
My father took us to church each Sunday where we learned the Bible Stories about God our heavenly Father. The Old Testament is full of stories of God the Father. The lectionary reading from the Old Testament for today which we didn’t get to, is the story of Elijah running for his life from Jezebel. It tells how God sends his angels to feed him and provide a place of rest.
Hebrew is a much more emotion felt language than the cognitive Greek of the New Testament. The Hebrew Scriptures have the Psalms which praise God for the work he has done. The Psalmists remember how God has delivered them and even when the Psalmists are asking where God is, they still express confidence that God will provide for them. The Old Testament ends with the prophets who tell it like it is while prophesizing about the Messiah to come who will put an end to the law.
In our Galatians reading today you have the apostle Paul who was once a zealous Jew who sought to destroy Christians. But a funny thing happened on the road to Damascus, he has a conversion experience where Christ calls out to him and Paul realizes that the Messiah has come in the person of Christ. So in this passage Paul tells about how we are no longer ruled by the law but by faith through Christ which is opened to all whether Jews or Gentiles. It not only belongs to the biological descendants of Abraham but Paul declares that if you belong to Christ, you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs to the promise. So through Christ we are all children of God the Father and we can all share in telling stories about how God our father has saved us.
I love the song, So Many Times which the choir graciously allowed me to sing with them because it is somewhat of a modern Psalm. I love the part where God welcomes her home not asking where she’s been – like the father in the Prodigal Son, I choose to view God in this loving way versus an angry punishing killjoy. The writer tells how God has been there for her, for so many times. Along with St Julian of Norwich’s mantra,” All Will Be Well” this song, has gotten me through many nerve racking times. I would sing it over and over again every time I had to face a stressful situation like my Diaconal Interviews, claiming like the Psalmists claimed, that no matter what the outcome, God would pull me through.
In our Gospel Reading we have the Messiah Jesus Christ driving out a legion of demons from a man. Now while many of you were enjoying the sunshine of the weekend I have been studying about demons and the abyss. It reminded me of doing research for papers in the 2nd basement of the Fuller Library nicknamed the dungeon. In this passage demons were known as unclean spirits who would dirty up your own spirit. They were called noxious spirits which could be spirits of delirium or my favorite spirit of melancholy that enter a man. Demons were always cast out by claiming the power of God the father. Well here you have Jesus who the spirits recognize as the Son of the living God. And they beg him not to torment them. Very strangely Jesus doesn’t just zap them but he asks them their name. After telling him they beg not to be sent into the abyss. This is translated into “the deep” meaning a bottomless, unfathomable deep or underworld which is mentioned in Revelation where it is opened up and Satan gets locked up there. Christ show compassion here by allowing them to go into the pigs, note he didn’t send them into them but allowed them to do so. Now my whole life the big emphasis on this story was not only the miracle Christ performed but also how Christ was somewhat punishing the Jewish people who were violating the Levitical law by raising pigs. Thus the angry pig farmers asked him to go. But in verse 37 it says they ask Christ to leave since they were seized with great fear. They were terrified at his power. He gave them the hemi gimmies. Due to these preconceived notions, I wondered how this passage could work into a Father’s Day sermon until I noticed the last verse. This is where I believe the true emphasis should be. The cured man begs to stay with Christ but Jesus sends him away telling him to go home “and declare how much God has done for you” So it ends with this man proclaiming throughout the city over and over again how Jesus had saved him from the demons.
I have just fallen in love with the musical Sweeney Todd who they call the demon barber of Fleet Street. Sweeney has earned this title by the terrible deeds he does in the musical. What I found most interesting, however, were the demons within him. Sweeney had been falsely arrested and thrown in jail away from his wife and baby daughter so years later after breaking out of jail he returns to London with the demons of revenge and vengeance for how unfair he has been treated. It got me to thinking about all the modern day demons we have in our own lives. Exterior and internal issues that dirty up our spirits. It’s easy to come up with addictions such as alcoholism, drug addiction but what about other demons that keep us from living a life of wholeness. Demons of unforgiveness, resentment, jealousy, fear, and unworthiness. You probably know your own demons. In AA addicts call to a higher power who can pull them out of the bottomless pits of despair. Another one of the 12 steps is to name you addiction, name your demon, like the man in the story. Numerous now sober people will talk about how God gave them the power over the demons of their addictions. Christians believe in the power of Christ helping us to name the demons in our lives. We believe in the Holy Spirit who will overcome and cleanse our unclean spirit. We join then with the Jewish people, the Apostle Paul, and the man Christ delivered from the demons in sharing the stories of salvation that God our father has brought into our lives.
I close with a story about my own children which started in this very church. My husband and I were attending a Wednesday night class and our children were in the Childcare, John was 7 and Benjamin 4. Well I got delayed in picking them up since I was gabbing with some people, whom my children will tell you is one of my demons. So their father picked them up and when little Benjamin asked where Mommy was his older brother teasingly said, “Oh the aliens got her”. Now I who have worked hard on making my children feeling safe in “God’s house” was not happy to hear that my oldest had created aliens in the church yard. When I finally got to the car Benjamin hugged me and started telling me this elaborate story about how I had been abducted by 5 aliens who took me to their spaceship. He had raced after them and he went into great detail how he had body slammed the first alien shouting you’re not getting my mommy and how he fought all the rest to rescue me. I wish I would have put it on tape. But the story didn’t end there. Each day of the following 2 weeks he would still tell his story embellishing it more and more. He would tell it to classmates, friends, and even strangers in the supermarket. Till finally I was getting a little tired of it and I asked him, “Benjamin– why are you telling this story over and over – why is it so important to you?” To which he simply said, “Cause Mommy, I saved your life.”
We love to tell the story; will be our theme in glory, to tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.
_____________________________________________________________________
Song John sang:
“Nothing’s going to harm you
No one’s going to dare.
Others can desert you not to worry
Whistle I’ll be there.
Demons will charm you with a smile
For a while but in time
Nothings going to harm you
Not when I’m around”
Stephen Sondheim
Sunday, February 28, 2010
A Movie You Have to See
The wonderful book called "Half the Sky" which is named over the idea that women are half the population tells about ways we can help empower women all over the world by sending micro loans to help women start businesses to get out of poverty and have a better life for their daughters which hopefully includes education.
This book is coming to the big screen on Thursday March 4th at 7:30 at a local theatre near you. It will show success stories of women who have been helped through micro loans. Check out their website at www.halftheskylive.com for more information.
Some friends and I are looking for somewhere we can give a group donation to help women overseas. We look forward to viewing this movie which will show how the little money we spend at the movies and/or Starbucks can change the life of a woman overseas.
I encourage you all to attend and share your comments regarding what the movie inspires you to do. I myself will share with you all what I learn and where we decide to donate our group's money.
Continuing to live out Susan's and Elizabeth's mission of equality for all women, wherever they may live.
MJ Buist
This book is coming to the big screen on Thursday March 4th at 7:30 at a local theatre near you. It will show success stories of women who have been helped through micro loans. Check out their website at www.halftheskylive.com for more information.
Some friends and I are looking for somewhere we can give a group donation to help women overseas. We look forward to viewing this movie which will show how the little money we spend at the movies and/or Starbucks can change the life of a woman overseas.
I encourage you all to attend and share your comments regarding what the movie inspires you to do. I myself will share with you all what I learn and where we decide to donate our group's money.
Continuing to live out Susan's and Elizabeth's mission of equality for all women, wherever they may live.
MJ Buist
Monday, February 15, 2010
Happy Birthday Susan B. Anthony!
Today has been marked "Presidents' Day" combining George and Abraham's birthdays. If you are a woman who has voted in any Presidential Election you have Susan B. Anthony to thank and guess what? Today is her birthday, Susan B. Anthony Day.
Ken Burnes Series called, "Not for Themselves Alone" tells the wonderful story of not only Susan but her sidekick, Elizabeth Caddy Stanton. I love the story because these activist women who were trying to get the vote for African Americans realized that they had no political power to do so until they themselves got the vote. I loved the example they set of what women working together can do. Women from all walks of life joined the movement. Elizabeth a wife with many children was the brains while Susan who was unmarried, refusing to be a man's doll or drudge, was the feet to get out the message. Elizabeth, a bit of a radical along with Susan's political savy and organizational skills, made great strives to get women the right to vote.
Sadly, they didn't live to see the day when the 19th Amendment named after Susan B. Anthony was passed by many of who were called Susan's nieces in the movement. Women who brought their own skill sets to accomplish the vote for women.
She reminds me of what we as women, forgetting our differences, can accomplish working together to make this world a better place for the next generation. As I look into issues such as Health Insurance for all, education for girls all over the world, and stopping the violence to women in the Congo; I hear Susan whisper in my ear to continue her work for total equality for all women.
©Buist 2-15-10
Ken Burnes Series called, "Not for Themselves Alone" tells the wonderful story of not only Susan but her sidekick, Elizabeth Caddy Stanton. I love the story because these activist women who were trying to get the vote for African Americans realized that they had no political power to do so until they themselves got the vote. I loved the example they set of what women working together can do. Women from all walks of life joined the movement. Elizabeth a wife with many children was the brains while Susan who was unmarried, refusing to be a man's doll or drudge, was the feet to get out the message. Elizabeth, a bit of a radical along with Susan's political savy and organizational skills, made great strives to get women the right to vote.
Sadly, they didn't live to see the day when the 19th Amendment named after Susan B. Anthony was passed by many of who were called Susan's nieces in the movement. Women who brought their own skill sets to accomplish the vote for women.
She reminds me of what we as women, forgetting our differences, can accomplish working together to make this world a better place for the next generation. As I look into issues such as Health Insurance for all, education for girls all over the world, and stopping the violence to women in the Congo; I hear Susan whisper in my ear to continue her work for total equality for all women.
©Buist 2-15-10
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Those Gaggy Valentines are Back
So today is the big day. A miserable day when I was single but now that I'm married it's just another day - an excuse for chocolate. I'm so happy that this is the last year my 6th grade son will have to buy and address those cheap tear and fold Valentines for his class. My students as well as my husband shopped at the 99 cent store for me this year. I considered buying my husband a valentine at one of these dollar stores and was horrified with what I found. The covers were cute but I would turn the page to find some truly not only "gaggy" but untrue statements. One card had a cute teddy bear but the inside read, "You are my world!", not, "you make my world" or "enhance my world", or "glad you're in my world." I consider myself a whole person. My husband and I at our wedding did the traditional lighting one candle with both of our candles, yet we kept our individual candles still burning. So you see nothing is my whole world, not my faith, my job, my children, my husband, or my friends. My world is made up of all these things and more for which I am thankful, but none of these by themselves is "my world." Other cards had beautiful words and pictures on the cover but again the insides read, "You fulfill all my dreams", or "my life didn't begin until you". I wondered if it were the cheap store I was at. Were Hallmark cards more truthful? My favorite Valentine my husband ever bought me, though he's gotten so many of those glossy 7-11 ones over the years, was one with a heart shaped ditch which was being dug out and it said something like "our love is a work in process but with you it's worth the work."
Let me tell you about one of my favorite Valentine's Day. My family went out for an early Valentine's dinner (We had money then.) Afterwards I went out for coffee with some of my single friends and I got them each a pretty bag of chocolates. Driving home I found myself upset that Valentine's day had hit on a Thursday-Trash Night and I dreaded taking the trash out. I got home and found it already out. My son had helped his Dad take out the trash. I was ecstatic, at that moment this simple act was the greatest Valentine's gift and from that year on I never had to take out the trash.
So call me an easy, cheap date, but little acts of love bring Valentine's Day to me all year long.
So how do you feel about Valentine's Day. Is it "Ba Hum Lady Bug" day or a day you truly treasure along with all the heart and chocolate wrappings? What have been your favorite Valentine's cards or gifts?
Let me tell you about one of my favorite Valentine's Day. My family went out for an early Valentine's dinner (We had money then.) Afterwards I went out for coffee with some of my single friends and I got them each a pretty bag of chocolates. Driving home I found myself upset that Valentine's day had hit on a Thursday-Trash Night and I dreaded taking the trash out. I got home and found it already out. My son had helped his Dad take out the trash. I was ecstatic, at that moment this simple act was the greatest Valentine's gift and from that year on I never had to take out the trash.
So call me an easy, cheap date, but little acts of love bring Valentine's Day to me all year long.
So how do you feel about Valentine's Day. Is it "Ba Hum Lady Bug" day or a day you truly treasure along with all the heart and chocolate wrappings? What have been your favorite Valentine's cards or gifts?
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Our Train Still Runs
“This train still runs, though the baggage weighs a ton
We carry on, No one is forever young, I’m not done,
This train still runs”.
Janis Ian, This Train still Runs©1992
I was flipping the channels the other night and ran into a beautiful white haired woman singing folk music and was surprised to find it was none other than Janis Ian. Her hit, “At Seventeen” was one of my favorites in my college days. But this was not the timid nervous teen singer with afro hair, but a confident white haired woman with a beautifully mature voice and a face glowing with wisdom. Some complain that singers’ voices aren’t as good when they age, but I found hers so much more mellow and developed than her younger years.
I found her Autobiography at the library which told about the years of struggles that brought her to such inner beauty. I bought her Essential Hits and loved the poetry in her music with some of her songs reminding me of Joni Mitchell of whom I have been a die hard fan.
Then I heard her song, “This Train Still Runs” written in her midlife and it reminded me of the midlife women celebrated in WomanSage. WomenSage is an organization started by Register columnist Jane Glenn Haas which is a non-profit, membership organization dedicated to educating, empowering and fostering mentoring relationships among women at midlife.
In the past women were forced off the “train of life”, retired into the role of Grandmother. Thanks to groups like WomanSage, another car has been added to this train of life where women come together to continue the ride together, discovering new destinations and helping one another and the world with the grace and the wisdom born of maturity. This is something that Janis Ian, who hasn’t had a hit since 1975, is doing.
We admit with Janis that no one is forever young and though we may carry baggage from our life experiences, we have survived the bad and celebrate the good. We still carry on refusing to jump off the train since we are not done. We have plenty to contribute still and we will, since our train still runs.
Buist©2-7-09
Sunday, February 7, 2010
There ought to be a day for......
Last year I bought myself at half off in January an Embracing Your Inner Bitch Calendar. I know many are appalled at this word for women, but being the nice, good girl all my life hasn’t gotten me far. It is truly a Self Assertion Calendar for those of us people pleasers, co-dependent, submissive women or any other name of women who don’t stand up for their own needs and wonder why they never get what they truly want.
I miss it this year but I remember reading on April 19th that it was “National Talk like a Pirate Day”yet there was no national holiday honoring a remarkable woman. It reminded me of the old comedy roasts where such and such never had a dinner in his name. Now I know we have Mothers Day a day to honor one’s role as chief nurturer to your own children but what about teachers or Aunts or Uncles?
So I’ve thought of a few women who should have their own day. There’s Betty Crocker who I will start with in my, “There Ought to Be a Day For…” themed Blog. Others include Erma Bombeck, whose writing I could never match, who helped crazy mothers and all women survive their crazy lives with her gift of humor. Susan B Anthony is a no brainer but whoever put her on a difficult coin was clueless. I discovered that she does have a day on Feb. 15th which is President’s Day too along with the day after Valentine’s Day. So I have next weeks topic decided for me. There’s Elizabeth Caddy Stanton Susan’s dearest friend and partner in the Vote for Woman who is sadly unknown.
So perhaps we can make our own appreciation day for all the amazing women who have not only affected our lives but changed us for the better.
As promised my tribute to Betty.
There ought to be a day for Betty Crocker.
Before there was Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray or the Internet there was Betty Crocker. Sure there was that French chef Julia Childs, but the all American expert on cooking and baking was Betty Crocker. Many say that she was just a creation of the General Foods Company, but my Uncle Bob Richards, who used to be on the Wheaties’ box before Bruce Jenner - woops Michael Phelps, said he had met her and that her real name was Mildred something. Whether or not she was real, she was a real person to me. Hers was the cookbook my mother used and I still have to this day. I especially grew fond of her when my Home Ec. teacher (yes they had them back then) told us how much she hated Betty Crocker since she never sifted her flour in baking. I hated that teacher, which endeared Betty to me more and more.
I learned to cook from her book and you can tell which of her cookies I made by looking at the oil-and-flour stained pages of the dessert/cookie section. When others went on to The Joy of Cooking I stayed faithful to her. Though I rarely bake anymore, I still consult Betty whenever I have a question. Every Easter she reminds me how long for to boil eggs, and every Thanksgiving I sense her presence at my elbow, assisting me with the turkey. Whenever I need to substitute something, like that expensive cream of tarter in her Snickerdoodles recipe, she would tell me what to use. Her equivalent page has saved me many a time. She has rarely failed me.
My old cookbook is like my Bible of Cooking, and to Mildred or whoever the real Betty Crocker is out there - I am forever thankful.
Buist©6-8-2009
PS Wikipedia confirms that it was Marjorie Childs Husted who created Betty Crocker. General Foods had so many people asking for recipes that they gathered together a staff and Marjorie made up the icon Betty Crocker. Needless to say she is still real to me along with the thousands who received her cookbook for wedding presents. In fact I used her International Cookbook last night.
I miss it this year but I remember reading on April 19th that it was “National Talk like a Pirate Day”yet there was no national holiday honoring a remarkable woman. It reminded me of the old comedy roasts where such and such never had a dinner in his name. Now I know we have Mothers Day a day to honor one’s role as chief nurturer to your own children but what about teachers or Aunts or Uncles?
So I’ve thought of a few women who should have their own day. There’s Betty Crocker who I will start with in my, “There Ought to Be a Day For…” themed Blog. Others include Erma Bombeck, whose writing I could never match, who helped crazy mothers and all women survive their crazy lives with her gift of humor. Susan B Anthony is a no brainer but whoever put her on a difficult coin was clueless. I discovered that she does have a day on Feb. 15th which is President’s Day too along with the day after Valentine’s Day. So I have next weeks topic decided for me. There’s Elizabeth Caddy Stanton Susan’s dearest friend and partner in the Vote for Woman who is sadly unknown.
So perhaps we can make our own appreciation day for all the amazing women who have not only affected our lives but changed us for the better.
As promised my tribute to Betty.
There ought to be a day for Betty Crocker.
Before there was Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray or the Internet there was Betty Crocker. Sure there was that French chef Julia Childs, but the all American expert on cooking and baking was Betty Crocker. Many say that she was just a creation of the General Foods Company, but my Uncle Bob Richards, who used to be on the Wheaties’ box before Bruce Jenner - woops Michael Phelps, said he had met her and that her real name was Mildred something. Whether or not she was real, she was a real person to me. Hers was the cookbook my mother used and I still have to this day. I especially grew fond of her when my Home Ec. teacher (yes they had them back then) told us how much she hated Betty Crocker since she never sifted her flour in baking. I hated that teacher, which endeared Betty to me more and more.
I learned to cook from her book and you can tell which of her cookies I made by looking at the oil-and-flour stained pages of the dessert/cookie section. When others went on to The Joy of Cooking I stayed faithful to her. Though I rarely bake anymore, I still consult Betty whenever I have a question. Every Easter she reminds me how long for to boil eggs, and every Thanksgiving I sense her presence at my elbow, assisting me with the turkey. Whenever I need to substitute something, like that expensive cream of tarter in her Snickerdoodles recipe, she would tell me what to use. Her equivalent page has saved me many a time. She has rarely failed me.
My old cookbook is like my Bible of Cooking, and to Mildred or whoever the real Betty Crocker is out there - I am forever thankful.
Buist©6-8-2009
PS Wikipedia confirms that it was Marjorie Childs Husted who created Betty Crocker. General Foods had so many people asking for recipes that they gathered together a staff and Marjorie made up the icon Betty Crocker. Needless to say she is still real to me along with the thousands who received her cookbook for wedding presents. In fact I used her International Cookbook last night.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Re-gifting or Sharing the Wealth
My neighbor knocked on the door last night with a barely used airpopper popcorn popper. He was planning on throwing it away unless we could use it. Now in many ways I wish he would have taken it straight to Goodwill but my husband who can refuse nothing took it to keep it from becoming trash. (Actually it saved him from dumpster diving - don't ask me about the drum set he pulled out of the trash last week.) Anyway it got me wondering about a phone call I had from my sister-n-law after Christmas. Actually my husband was conveying her message to me asking if I could use some tea she had gotten for Christmas. I replied that I wasn't sure but I could probably find someone of my tea-loving friends who could use it. Somehow this got translated over the phone to I would re-gift it, to which she replied she would just drink it up herself.
So I asked my husband how the popcorn maker was any different than the tea I would have passed on. Was it regarded re-gifting? Neither our neighbor or I planned on wrapping these items and giving them as a gift to someone. You see I have the Robin Hood philosopy of "sharing the wealth."
My son says even if you don't gift wrap it, it is still considered re-gifting. Yet it was quite ok to give it to Goodwill where it could be sold and raise money for those in need.
Now I have been guilty of re-gifting, these are new items that don't mean much to me but I know others would enjoy more. I think that sharing the wealth by passing things on (just think of hand-me-downs) helps ecologically by keeping folks like my neighbor who just want to trash it along with helping others economically by helping them save money in this economy.
So what do you think? When does "sharing the wealth" become re-gifting?
I would love to hear your comments.
PS Team Buist made a delicious fajita dinner tonight. I cut the meat. John seasoned and cooked it, and I fried up the veggies which my husband got pre-cut at the 99 cent store. My son's thinking of culinary school now.
So I asked my husband how the popcorn maker was any different than the tea I would have passed on. Was it regarded re-gifting? Neither our neighbor or I planned on wrapping these items and giving them as a gift to someone. You see I have the Robin Hood philosopy of "sharing the wealth."
My son says even if you don't gift wrap it, it is still considered re-gifting. Yet it was quite ok to give it to Goodwill where it could be sold and raise money for those in need.
Now I have been guilty of re-gifting, these are new items that don't mean much to me but I know others would enjoy more. I think that sharing the wealth by passing things on (just think of hand-me-downs) helps ecologically by keeping folks like my neighbor who just want to trash it along with helping others economically by helping them save money in this economy.
So what do you think? When does "sharing the wealth" become re-gifting?
I would love to hear your comments.
PS Team Buist made a delicious fajita dinner tonight. I cut the meat. John seasoned and cooked it, and I fried up the veggies which my husband got pre-cut at the 99 cent store. My son's thinking of culinary school now.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
A Year of Intention
Hooray I've gotten in the back door of cyberspace and my computer is allowing me to post. So lets begin with my now favorite word - intention. I have always hated the word goal, it's too cranial for this creative, intuitive, feeling person. On the Meyers Briggs test I always score 0 on the thinking part. So intention has a much deeper heart gut thing going for it. If you really want it you will go for it. I did a dream board since I couldn't cognitively come up with what I wanted. Who knew that by clipping magazine pictures that appealed to me would show my deepest longing where intentions come from. I had an entire board on beautiful clean houses and right then and there I set my intention to get the clutter out of my house.
You see I'm a baby of a depression baby so nothing gets thrown out. I still have the first pair of shoes I bought in High School. Needless to say they are older than most of the teachers I work with. My father was a hoarder and I married one.
Funny thing was 2 weeks after I discovered/acknowledged it, my son decided our house needed cleaning up, his motivation being his girlfriend visiting. One of the quotes I had put on my dream board was not doing it all yourself. Well you see I among 4 people - 3 messy males- have been the only one cleaning. To get anyone to work took screaming,conjoling,threatening, bribing and the martyrdom of it all led me to resentment. So I who have done it all by myself for too many years, have started "Team Buist" where all 4 of us conquer a room for the evening.
I was going to do a drawing system but we decided to all work together. However with my son forging the way some of his priorites were different than mine. The VHS tapes of course were taking over, yet they had a place but my son decided to take all of them off the shelf. I of course had to go throught all he was tossing to look for tapes such as my Wedding, Ministry Consecration, his ultrasound etc. I didn't realize that my husband had gotten lots of used VHSs at garage sales to tape over. To my horror I discovered Russ Limbaugh recordings that had no place in my home. After sorting them all out my husband insisted that I count them for income tax purposes - so again I went through them. It was 210 VHSs later that I took to Goodwill.
Dishes are still the job no one wants to take. My sons complain that Dad doesn't do them and when I ask him he'll say, "Well I cooked one night this week." This was the night I shaped the burgers, got all the ingredients together and he barbequed needing my son to assist him.
Well enough for now. We have spent three days working on the garage and have taken loads to Goodwill. My kingdom for a dumpster.
More Team Buist later.
MJ.
You see I'm a baby of a depression baby so nothing gets thrown out. I still have the first pair of shoes I bought in High School. Needless to say they are older than most of the teachers I work with. My father was a hoarder and I married one.
Funny thing was 2 weeks after I discovered/acknowledged it, my son decided our house needed cleaning up, his motivation being his girlfriend visiting. One of the quotes I had put on my dream board was not doing it all yourself. Well you see I among 4 people - 3 messy males- have been the only one cleaning. To get anyone to work took screaming,conjoling,threatening, bribing and the martyrdom of it all led me to resentment. So I who have done it all by myself for too many years, have started "Team Buist" where all 4 of us conquer a room for the evening.
I was going to do a drawing system but we decided to all work together. However with my son forging the way some of his priorites were different than mine. The VHS tapes of course were taking over, yet they had a place but my son decided to take all of them off the shelf. I of course had to go throught all he was tossing to look for tapes such as my Wedding, Ministry Consecration, his ultrasound etc. I didn't realize that my husband had gotten lots of used VHSs at garage sales to tape over. To my horror I discovered Russ Limbaugh recordings that had no place in my home. After sorting them all out my husband insisted that I count them for income tax purposes - so again I went through them. It was 210 VHSs later that I took to Goodwill.
Dishes are still the job no one wants to take. My sons complain that Dad doesn't do them and when I ask him he'll say, "Well I cooked one night this week." This was the night I shaped the burgers, got all the ingredients together and he barbequed needing my son to assist him.
Well enough for now. We have spent three days working on the garage and have taken loads to Goodwill. My kingdom for a dumpster.
More Team Buist later.
MJ.
Monday, February 1, 2010
I'm Back - Team Buist
I have so many ideas of what to blog yet my own computer does not allow me on my edit page so here I am at the library.
I would like to tell you about Team Buist. My family is actually working together to clean our home and attack the clutter. I hope to present a diary of how together we are working together to attack years of neglect.
We had a family project over Christmas when my son decided to add to all the details of the holiday by making a stuff octopus for his girlfriend. So I had the joy of teaching my son to sew and my husband the Engineer even made a prototype for it. It turned out great but turned into a family project with Grandma helping him with the sewing like she had done so many times with me and my sewing projects.
Anyhow along with working on various rooms in my house each night my youngest decided that Friday night should be a family game and movie night. My husband who bought an official popcorn maker makes popcorn. Anyhow I've been so surprised how much closer our family has become since doing these mini-projects together.
Well the next time I return to the library I will bring my posts on USB to transfer. Until then does anyone know how to get your computer to not say, "Site not found". Thank you all for your patience with me and I intend on doing a consistent blog.
MJ.
I would like to tell you about Team Buist. My family is actually working together to clean our home and attack the clutter. I hope to present a diary of how together we are working together to attack years of neglect.
We had a family project over Christmas when my son decided to add to all the details of the holiday by making a stuff octopus for his girlfriend. So I had the joy of teaching my son to sew and my husband the Engineer even made a prototype for it. It turned out great but turned into a family project with Grandma helping him with the sewing like she had done so many times with me and my sewing projects.
Anyhow along with working on various rooms in my house each night my youngest decided that Friday night should be a family game and movie night. My husband who bought an official popcorn maker makes popcorn. Anyhow I've been so surprised how much closer our family has become since doing these mini-projects together.
Well the next time I return to the library I will bring my posts on USB to transfer. Until then does anyone know how to get your computer to not say, "Site not found". Thank you all for your patience with me and I intend on doing a consistent blog.
MJ.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Buist 2010 Newsletter
2010 Embrace the Joy
My theme for last year was the theme of hope which helped pull a lot of us through this rough economic year. This year I’ve decided that my theme is joy so I will embrace the joy.
I’ve had a lot of joy to embrace this fall. I was able to have work every day as a substitute and was allowed to fill in for my friend still re-cooperating from cancer treatments. Her class was the 3rd grade GATE class with students who blew me away daily by speaking in complete sentences and knowing what an adverb was. It is a wonderful class that I grew to love, but I am happy that my friend, now free of cancer, will return in January. The most joyful thing was going to the same school everyday with a wonderful staff which I’ve known since student teaching days and a wonderful new principal. So I was so happy when the Principal offered me the Intervention job for 4th and 5th grade. This will focus on students who are low in Language Arts and will train me in a new field. I am enjoying my Writer’s Club and have done Open Mike and have begun to send out my writing. I also began a blog and a website.
What has truly brought joy into my life has been my oldest son who is now 17, a High School Senior maturing into a nice young man. He has gone from horrifying me to making me proud. So those of you with teenagers there is hope. The biggest change is that he is in love and so am I with this beautiful girl who is getting my agnostic, fish-hating son to go to church on a Friday night after enjoying a fish dinner. It has been wonderful having coffee and even tea with my son but - even more exciting - I am teaching him to sew. He is making a present for his girlfriend. It has become a family project with Engineer Don doing a prototype and Grandma W. helping him with the sewing machine. It brings back memories of my Mom staying up late to help me with my sewing projects, the simple joy of working together. John has finished his last year of Marching Band where they went to State finals in November. He will be taking Calculus classes at a community college which he can take for free and get college credit for. We were hoping that he would stick to the “community college and then transferring” plan but he has also applied to Cal State Fullerton and Cal Poly Pomona, so we shall see.
I have two years to rest before Benjamin, 11 hits the teenage years. I will have two graduations this year with him graduating from 6th grade. He broke his arm the first week of summer vacation when we were off on a bike ride. I had to spend the night in the hospital with him after he had surgery. Trust me he was not a good patient. He has been to Outdoor Camp in the mountains for a week in November and had a great time. Last spring he went to Catalina with his class. He is enjoying Spore video games, Bakugan, and Lego Bionicles and has an interest in animation. He is quite talkative to the point at which John and I have made up the expression, “Is he still talking?” Wherever did he get that from? When I see someone I know at the store, which can be frequent with all the students and teachers I’ve worked with, his line to me is, “Don’t you even start talking.”
Don’s been building a new computer since his old one died. My laptop has been continually in use by all, so I’m thankful that all computers are up and running. We had a wonderful Christmas with my Mom. We went up to my Father-in-law and Don’s sister‘s for Christmas Eve and had a delicious Mexican meal.
The greatest loss of this year was the passing of Evelyn Hegge, my spiritual mother who led me to the Lord. My other family was the Hegge family and I spent numerous times at their cabin. Her daughter Ruth was my Matron of Honor and has always been a dear friend. Evelyn leaves a legacy of Sunday school, and Child Evangelism children whose lives she touched.
New Years’ is a time people make goals and resolutions but goals never seem to work for me. My Transitions group has been talking about setting intentions. I went away for a day to make a dream board, a poster that depicts what I want my life to look like. I clipped magazine pictures that appealed to me and made a collage. I kept running into pictures of nice house interiors and a quote that sometimes you need to let others help you. Soon after without me even asking (begging or cajoling), the boys, led by John began cleaning up the house and getting rid of clutter. I went out one day and returned to find the Christmas tree setup by Don, John had put on the lights, and Benjamin had decorated it. Don made Christmas dinner with my Mom this year and I have discovered the joy in stepping back, “not doing it all.”
So here’s hoping that you will embrace all the joys, especially the little ones, and that you will achieve whatever intentions you have for your lives this year.
MJ for Don, John and Benjamin
PS If you can read this newsletter, thank a teacher and my editor, Wendy Danbury.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Waiting for the Phone to Ring
There was this hysterical card we passed around when I was single. It showed a single woman lounging on her couch saying how much she enjoyed evenings alone when she could reflect and listen to her favorite music. Then when you opened it, you saw her staring at the phone with the bubble in her head saying, "Ring you miserable hunk of plastic!"
Now the phone I listen for is actually a recording of the subfinder calling me about available substitute jobs. Last year it rang off the hook and I was picky. If I heard it was a middle school I would hang up. I would turn down jobs that were more than 10 minutes away. But oh what a change in the economy will do. With the huge amount of displaced teachers the Santa Ana district is giving top priority to these pink slipped teachers. Thus I can't even listen for available jobs to choose - No they call me and I grab that miserable piece of plastic and dive for Middle School Boys PE miles away, Advance Math, and Special Ed.
I can still be proactive with the Orange School district and look for available positions but again they prioritize the displaced of which I am one from last year, so the calls do come but I can't afford to be choosy - I just took a High School job teaching history since it was 2 days and I'm Middle Schooling tommorrow unless the other district comes through with one closer.
They called me at 8:30 this morning for a job that started at 8:00 but I was happy to work - in many ways I am a day laborer. At the beginning of September I took a mystery job at a High School praying that it wouldn't be Math and was ecstatic that it was Science - something I could bluff - well it turned out that I was basically babysitting a new teacher waiting to sign his contract.
Anyway I feel like I'm dating again, scared to leave home lest the phone ring. I can transfer it to my cell but it's still that being at the mercy of that miserable piece of plastic.
Now the phone I listen for is actually a recording of the subfinder calling me about available substitute jobs. Last year it rang off the hook and I was picky. If I heard it was a middle school I would hang up. I would turn down jobs that were more than 10 minutes away. But oh what a change in the economy will do. With the huge amount of displaced teachers the Santa Ana district is giving top priority to these pink slipped teachers. Thus I can't even listen for available jobs to choose - No they call me and I grab that miserable piece of plastic and dive for Middle School Boys PE miles away, Advance Math, and Special Ed.
I can still be proactive with the Orange School district and look for available positions but again they prioritize the displaced of which I am one from last year, so the calls do come but I can't afford to be choosy - I just took a High School job teaching history since it was 2 days and I'm Middle Schooling tommorrow unless the other district comes through with one closer.
They called me at 8:30 this morning for a job that started at 8:00 but I was happy to work - in many ways I am a day laborer. At the beginning of September I took a mystery job at a High School praying that it wouldn't be Math and was ecstatic that it was Science - something I could bluff - well it turned out that I was basically babysitting a new teacher waiting to sign his contract.
Anyway I feel like I'm dating again, scared to leave home lest the phone ring. I can transfer it to my cell but it's still that being at the mercy of that miserable piece of plastic.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
I'm back
I didn't realize that it's taken this long to rebuild my computer to get the viruses off. So I hope to be more faithful in my blogging. Please someone leave a comment. I need to know you're out there. I tried to comment on the blog page of my new niece but it was quite a hassle to do so. Is it hard to do so on this one?
The newspaper was gloomy today talking about all the teachers who have not been hired back. I have been requested to sub for my friend yet the SA district is not letting teachers choose their own subs but will place the displaced in these jobs. The other district is calling me so I know I'm still on their list but was only able to get one 1/2 day job.
So I'm feeling success challenged, wondering what other career to pursue.
The newspaper was gloomy today talking about all the teachers who have not been hired back. I have been requested to sub for my friend yet the SA district is not letting teachers choose their own subs but will place the displaced in these jobs. The other district is calling me so I know I'm still on their list but was only able to get one 1/2 day job.
So I'm feeling success challenged, wondering what other career to pursue.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
The Good Child vs the Screamer
My sister was a screamer. She always got her way. I remember her kicking a lot. She was born when I was 3 ½ so my tenure of being the only girl after 4 boys was up, I wasn’t the princess for long. Then by some miracle there was a 6 year gap before another boy came, followed up by 2 other boys. So I have figured out that she had 6 years of being Queen B.
She would never open her mouth for a dentist – so she got sent to a children’s specialty dentist who gave out prizes. I, however, was the good girl who would do what I was told including opening my mouth for the dentist. I unfortunately haven’t done well with this “good girl” persona; my needs are easily neglected since I tend to go along with the screamers to keep the peace. Yes, I am a people pleaser so I take great solace in my new, “Embracing Your Inner Bitch” calendar which teaches you to be more assertive and to rid “toxic niceness”.
As a parent I have discovered that this is not just a female dilemma. My sons reflect my sister and me. My oldest will sit quietly while he’s given a shot with one tear rolling down his cheek. His younger brother by 5 ½ years is the screamer, the one who hides from the doctor during shot time. When my oldest broke his arm nobody knew until he cried washing his hands 4 hours later. When the other broke his arm the screaming was heard throughout the world. He cried OUCH, OUCH in high decibels adding, “It hurts so bad, somebody just shoot me!” My oldest would wait until I woke up to say, I’ve been hurting since 5:00 AM, while the youngest wakes me at all hours of the night. If he’s in pain – he lets you know it.
So I wonder who will do best in life – or get what they want more – the good quiet one or the demanding screamer? What are your thoughts?
©Buist 2009
She would never open her mouth for a dentist – so she got sent to a children’s specialty dentist who gave out prizes. I, however, was the good girl who would do what I was told including opening my mouth for the dentist. I unfortunately haven’t done well with this “good girl” persona; my needs are easily neglected since I tend to go along with the screamers to keep the peace. Yes, I am a people pleaser so I take great solace in my new, “Embracing Your Inner Bitch” calendar which teaches you to be more assertive and to rid “toxic niceness”.
As a parent I have discovered that this is not just a female dilemma. My sons reflect my sister and me. My oldest will sit quietly while he’s given a shot with one tear rolling down his cheek. His younger brother by 5 ½ years is the screamer, the one who hides from the doctor during shot time. When my oldest broke his arm nobody knew until he cried washing his hands 4 hours later. When the other broke his arm the screaming was heard throughout the world. He cried OUCH, OUCH in high decibels adding, “It hurts so bad, somebody just shoot me!” My oldest would wait until I woke up to say, I’ve been hurting since 5:00 AM, while the youngest wakes me at all hours of the night. If he’s in pain – he lets you know it.
So I wonder who will do best in life – or get what they want more – the good quiet one or the demanding screamer? What are your thoughts?
©Buist 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Self Serve Check In
My son broke his arm in late June and we both survived our trip to ER and night in the hospital after his late night surgery. The horror came in when we had to return to the clinic to have his real cast put on. I was holding his lunch and way too much paper work when I saw these lines that looked like the DMV. I got in one and people told me I had to check in on the computers. It was one of those screens that you use that little stylus which of course did multiple strokes and I with my one hand, then being helped by my son with one hand as I had to review numerous pages for mistakes and had to sign all those legal forms. After this nightmare you have to stand in line where they have to copy your insurance card and have you sign one form, I guess approving all you did on the computer. I at this moment reached out for one of the stylus only to be told it wasn't a pen and I'm thinking is this efficient? Then they give you a beeper which will beep you when you can go in. The waiting room was packed and of course we waited an hour and a half . Benjamin during this time asked me why we had to wait so long and I told him that since we had cheap insurance we had to wait with everyone else to which he replied, "Why do only the rich people have the good insurance?" I told him that President Obama was working on it and his response, couldn't he have gotten it yesterday?
Now I am grateful that my son is covered and for this I will wait. Many would use this example as what might happen with a government run program for all. I think not, but with the option of going bankrupt over medical bills, I will wait and read my book but this self serve check in needs to somehow be overhauled.
I went in this week to have him X-rayed and had to encounter the same check in. I brought a big bag to put all my papers but still the machine was awful and when I had to correct the spelling of my name the editing features were limited to backspace. I truly wasn't "Merri joyful" about it. Then they had me feed his insurance card into this machine to scan, only to find out it wasn't working that day.
I was hoping this would be my last visit to self serve but they put another cast on my son making us return to this system in 2 weeks. Doing self-serve again is worst than Benjamin having to cancel his birthday party for the second time. Everyone in line was cranky with this self serve and our only voice came in at the end when they asked if we found the "EZ" Checkin easy to use. Of course I had to hit the no button several times for it to register.
So for our next visit, it won't just be my son on pain killers.
Seriously, Please make your voice heard for affordable insurance for all. We are fortunate to have Healthy Families and fortunately the governor hasn't taken money from it though I know there is now a waiting list to get in. I am looking at letting my own coverage cease due to the large cost of my cobra. Let's pray that Congress can get together and pass something soon.
Now I am grateful that my son is covered and for this I will wait. Many would use this example as what might happen with a government run program for all. I think not, but with the option of going bankrupt over medical bills, I will wait and read my book but this self serve check in needs to somehow be overhauled.
I went in this week to have him X-rayed and had to encounter the same check in. I brought a big bag to put all my papers but still the machine was awful and when I had to correct the spelling of my name the editing features were limited to backspace. I truly wasn't "Merri joyful" about it. Then they had me feed his insurance card into this machine to scan, only to find out it wasn't working that day.
I was hoping this would be my last visit to self serve but they put another cast on my son making us return to this system in 2 weeks. Doing self-serve again is worst than Benjamin having to cancel his birthday party for the second time. Everyone in line was cranky with this self serve and our only voice came in at the end when they asked if we found the "EZ" Checkin easy to use. Of course I had to hit the no button several times for it to register.
So for our next visit, it won't just be my son on pain killers.
Seriously, Please make your voice heard for affordable insurance for all. We are fortunate to have Healthy Families and fortunately the governor hasn't taken money from it though I know there is now a waiting list to get in. I am looking at letting my own coverage cease due to the large cost of my cobra. Let's pray that Congress can get together and pass something soon.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Spelling and Theology or Satan vs. Satin
Now I'm an English major with a Masters in Theology thus I was totally blown away when my son read my Satin Dental Floss asking me why I was buying Satan floss. Is this my failure , his school teachers, or his Sunday school teachers?
Now he did this before at Christmas while we were playing hangman. It was Christmas Hangman so we had to use words on the themes of Christmas. So he put out 6 spaces and as we guessed letters we ended up with JE_SUS. We were baffled and then he put an A in the spot saying, "Haven't you heard of JEASUS?" We all got such a laugh over this - wondering if he had been watching the religious channel but I'm sure that my mother who was with us wondered what kind of heathens raised him. All we could do was say Praise the Lord for Je (long A) sus!
Now he did this before at Christmas while we were playing hangman. It was Christmas Hangman so we had to use words on the themes of Christmas. So he put out 6 spaces and as we guessed letters we ended up with JE_SUS. We were baffled and then he put an A in the spot saying, "Haven't you heard of JEASUS?" We all got such a laugh over this - wondering if he had been watching the religious channel but I'm sure that my mother who was with us wondered what kind of heathens raised him. All we could do was say Praise the Lord for Je (long A) sus!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Modern Day Bag Ladies
When I was publishing NEWletter I started a column which was WRWL standing for Where Real Women Live. I asked for people to comment on the column but a few literalists thought it was a real radio show. Fast forward Blogging. Now is your chance to respond to my first article in this series, Modern Day Bag Ladies, which again isn't literal and with the economy now, we definitely pray not to become, but here goes.
"This is where Real Women and Real lives are talked about; we will voice this on WRWL Talk Radio Where Real Women Live. None of this Martha Stewart, PTA and church-volunteer-of-the-year stuff. No, this is where the worn-out tires of our lives hit the roads we are forced to drive on as we navigate our ways through career, marriage, and carpool in our attempts to appease our cultural dictates. This will be a listening post just like a call-in radio station where everyday women - not just celebrities or those who have “arrived”- share how they survive the everyday crazy lives that we are “supposed” to live. Women are encouraged to comment on their own view on a topic or article written and to share their wisdom on living an authentic life."
So in our first airing of WRWL we are calling all:
Modern day Bag Ladies!No I’m not talking about the poor women on the streets whom we pity or even secretly dread becoming someday, but of the everyday woman who cannot leave her house without packing at least one bag for herself and others before they leave home to start the day. Now, let’s see - this could include packing your husband’s lunch in his briefcase, packing a diaper bag for an infant, packing lunches and backpacks for your other children - and yet we forgot packing our own bag.
You see I myself the other morning took the term self-nurture to heart and packed in my bag a complete lunch, reading material, and even a breakfast to eat during break (since I fail at taking the time to sit down and eat mine with or before the kids eat theirs). Then I packed the backpack for my 3-yr.-old with pull-ups, lunch, snack, tippie cup and a blanket. Then I packed my 4th grader’s lunch putting it in his wheeled backpack, verifying that his homework, permission slips, music book were all there, and oh yes - it was Monday so we had to take the violin for music.
Now some of you saints have more children to pack for, along with a sports bag or two. (Oh, for the days before children when I, too, packed a sports bag for my own workout! Now getting the kids off to school and me on time for work constitute my daily workout.)
But do you see? Do you add it up? All these bags of things – forget room for passengers - we drive minivans to hold all the bags! We are modern day bag ladies and if by chance alas, one bag does not appear at its destination, guess who is the responsible one destined to go back for it? You got it – the bag woman. I’ve even heard of some women who go beyond bags, carrying boxes. And where, pray tell, do we put our purse?
One day I had purposefully packed my bag first, with the complete breakfast and lunch in it, yet that bag never saw the light of my car. My 3-yr.-old insisted on being loaded first and in the midst of going back 3 times for a different juice filled tippie cup I got on the road, kids strapped in, only to discover at my child’s daycare that my bag was missing. I was driving without a license and didn’t have my wallet to buy anything to eat at break. I knew I wouldn’t have a chance until lunch to go home and get it. So I got to work rattled and hungry, like a chunk of me was gone. Ever since then, my son reminds me, “Did you pack your bag Mom?”
How many bags do you pack in your life? Have you found any ways to simplify it? How are you letting others take more responsibility for the bags in their lives? Any suggestions on surviving the shuffling of the bags each morning?
MJ. Buist
©Buist 2002
"This is where Real Women and Real lives are talked about; we will voice this on WRWL Talk Radio Where Real Women Live. None of this Martha Stewart, PTA and church-volunteer-of-the-year stuff. No, this is where the worn-out tires of our lives hit the roads we are forced to drive on as we navigate our ways through career, marriage, and carpool in our attempts to appease our cultural dictates. This will be a listening post just like a call-in radio station where everyday women - not just celebrities or those who have “arrived”- share how they survive the everyday crazy lives that we are “supposed” to live. Women are encouraged to comment on their own view on a topic or article written and to share their wisdom on living an authentic life."
So in our first airing of WRWL we are calling all:
Modern day Bag Ladies!No I’m not talking about the poor women on the streets whom we pity or even secretly dread becoming someday, but of the everyday woman who cannot leave her house without packing at least one bag for herself and others before they leave home to start the day. Now, let’s see - this could include packing your husband’s lunch in his briefcase, packing a diaper bag for an infant, packing lunches and backpacks for your other children - and yet we forgot packing our own bag.
You see I myself the other morning took the term self-nurture to heart and packed in my bag a complete lunch, reading material, and even a breakfast to eat during break (since I fail at taking the time to sit down and eat mine with or before the kids eat theirs). Then I packed the backpack for my 3-yr.-old with pull-ups, lunch, snack, tippie cup and a blanket. Then I packed my 4th grader’s lunch putting it in his wheeled backpack, verifying that his homework, permission slips, music book were all there, and oh yes - it was Monday so we had to take the violin for music.
Now some of you saints have more children to pack for, along with a sports bag or two. (Oh, for the days before children when I, too, packed a sports bag for my own workout! Now getting the kids off to school and me on time for work constitute my daily workout.)
But do you see? Do you add it up? All these bags of things – forget room for passengers - we drive minivans to hold all the bags! We are modern day bag ladies and if by chance alas, one bag does not appear at its destination, guess who is the responsible one destined to go back for it? You got it – the bag woman. I’ve even heard of some women who go beyond bags, carrying boxes. And where, pray tell, do we put our purse?
One day I had purposefully packed my bag first, with the complete breakfast and lunch in it, yet that bag never saw the light of my car. My 3-yr.-old insisted on being loaded first and in the midst of going back 3 times for a different juice filled tippie cup I got on the road, kids strapped in, only to discover at my child’s daycare that my bag was missing. I was driving without a license and didn’t have my wallet to buy anything to eat at break. I knew I wouldn’t have a chance until lunch to go home and get it. So I got to work rattled and hungry, like a chunk of me was gone. Ever since then, my son reminds me, “Did you pack your bag Mom?”
How many bags do you pack in your life? Have you found any ways to simplify it? How are you letting others take more responsibility for the bags in their lives? Any suggestions on surviving the shuffling of the bags each morning?
MJ. Buist
©Buist 2002
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
All About Self-Nurture and Stuffing your own stocking
“Self Nurture is more than pampering.
It is about becoming powerful.”
Jennifer Louden,
The Comfort Queen’s Guide to Life.
Our topic of the month is Self-Nurture and since we take the first part of our name from the word Nurture, I’d like to tell you NEW’s definition of it. Lately “Self Nurture” has become a “self help” buzzword for women which promises when achieved to miraculously take away all problems and bring total happiness. Self Nurture books tell us, who feel terribly taken for granted as we thanklessly take care of everyone else’s needs, to treat ourselves to a massage, mud bath, facial, cheesecake or some other reward for surviving a lousy day or week.
But is this the definition of nurture when we apply it in use with our husbands and our children? I hope we go beyond the back massages and Hostess cupcakes when we nurture them. Isn’t it that we take care of their basic needs, including cooking nutritious meals they like, cleaning up after them and making sure they are clothed correctly for the elements? This is the everyday non-glamorous nurture that we provide for them without even thinking.
Problems arrive, however, when we take care of others’ needs at the neglect of our own needs. How many times have you fed everyone breakfast and arrive at work hungry? How many times have you packed three other lunches to discover you forgot to do one for yourself? Thus you can end up being a woman running on empty, giving out of lack which can lead not only to burnout but also to resentment.
The sad truth is that if we don’t take care of ourselves no one else will. Sociologist Martha Beck in her book, Breaking Point tells how women being the last to be liberated are stuck having no one left like a wife or a mother to take care of our needs. Whether this is fair or not, it becomes clear that since we don’t have someone to take care of us, we have to nurture ourselves. This is the self-nurture I’m speaking of: taking care of yourself first so that you have something to give, to nurture others with. Why are we, who are taught to put ourselves last, considered selfish, bad mothers, demanding spouses or spoiled princesses if we put ourselves first? If we do succumb to a massage or pedicure it is because we have neglected our own needs for so long that we try to make up for it with other indulgences.
Jennifer Louden in her book, The Comfort Queen writes that “Self Nurture is not a reward for the crap you go through in life, it is the ground of your being that you create your life with – your attitude.”
What does the way you nurture or don’t nurture yourself have to say about you and your feelings toward your own worthiness? Is it that everyone else is more important than you, or that you are not worthy of good treatment? Do you have to be a good girl and take care of everyone else first, and only then can earn or deserve some good treatment for yourself? Have you noticed that most men after a long day at work are not questioned about vegetating on the couch watching TV after they get home or about going out for golf or a sporting event with the guys? Yet when Mom wants to go out with the girls the first question asked is, “Who’s going to watch the kids, do their homework, and get them ready for bed? Yes and who is going to feel the guilt about neglecting these needs? Even when a woman has a “day to herself” it is sometimes more work because she feels the need to make sure that the kids’ clothes are laid out for the clothing-challenged spouse, diaper bag is stocked, and car seat in Dad’s car before she dares venture alone outside the door.
Some of my favorite activities at Christmas time are finding stocking stuffers and filling Christmas stockings – something I definitely like better than wrapping gifts. Each year, however, I noticed a strange phenomenon occurring. Everyone else would end up having a plump stocking stuffed with all kinds of goodies that I had put in, catered to their individual liking. But not so my own stocking. It remained flat and empty. In order to solve this dilemma and the resentment which always followed, I tried to drop hints, and do the martyr co-dependent routine of bemoaning my flat stocking state - but to no avail. Fed up one year, I bought myself one of my favorite German chocolate bars and slid it in my stocking. Wow! My stocking was beginning to take a little shape. Each year I got brave enough to buy a few more treats along with equalizing the Christmas candy I put in each stocking, finally including my own and, tah dah! No more flat stocking.
What a perfect example of self-nurture. How can we give whole-heartedly without expectations of appreciation or approval returning, if we are giving out of an empty stocking, secretly hoping and praying that others will reward us for our generosity, and stuff ours in return. We need to love and respect ourselves enough to take care of our own nurture, so that we have a full stocking upon which to draw.
What are some ways that you truly nurture yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually -how do you stuff your own stocking?
The Comfort Queen’s Guide to Life.
Our topic of the month is Self-Nurture and since we take the first part of our name from the word Nurture, I’d like to tell you NEW’s definition of it. Lately “Self Nurture” has become a “self help” buzzword for women which promises when achieved to miraculously take away all problems and bring total happiness. Self Nurture books tell us, who feel terribly taken for granted as we thanklessly take care of everyone else’s needs, to treat ourselves to a massage, mud bath, facial, cheesecake or some other reward for surviving a lousy day or week.
But is this the definition of nurture when we apply it in use with our husbands and our children? I hope we go beyond the back massages and Hostess cupcakes when we nurture them. Isn’t it that we take care of their basic needs, including cooking nutritious meals they like, cleaning up after them and making sure they are clothed correctly for the elements? This is the everyday non-glamorous nurture that we provide for them without even thinking.
Problems arrive, however, when we take care of others’ needs at the neglect of our own needs. How many times have you fed everyone breakfast and arrive at work hungry? How many times have you packed three other lunches to discover you forgot to do one for yourself? Thus you can end up being a woman running on empty, giving out of lack which can lead not only to burnout but also to resentment.
The sad truth is that if we don’t take care of ourselves no one else will. Sociologist Martha Beck in her book, Breaking Point tells how women being the last to be liberated are stuck having no one left like a wife or a mother to take care of our needs. Whether this is fair or not, it becomes clear that since we don’t have someone to take care of us, we have to nurture ourselves. This is the self-nurture I’m speaking of: taking care of yourself first so that you have something to give, to nurture others with. Why are we, who are taught to put ourselves last, considered selfish, bad mothers, demanding spouses or spoiled princesses if we put ourselves first? If we do succumb to a massage or pedicure it is because we have neglected our own needs for so long that we try to make up for it with other indulgences.
Jennifer Louden in her book, The Comfort Queen writes that “Self Nurture is not a reward for the crap you go through in life, it is the ground of your being that you create your life with – your attitude.”
What does the way you nurture or don’t nurture yourself have to say about you and your feelings toward your own worthiness? Is it that everyone else is more important than you, or that you are not worthy of good treatment? Do you have to be a good girl and take care of everyone else first, and only then can earn or deserve some good treatment for yourself? Have you noticed that most men after a long day at work are not questioned about vegetating on the couch watching TV after they get home or about going out for golf or a sporting event with the guys? Yet when Mom wants to go out with the girls the first question asked is, “Who’s going to watch the kids, do their homework, and get them ready for bed? Yes and who is going to feel the guilt about neglecting these needs? Even when a woman has a “day to herself” it is sometimes more work because she feels the need to make sure that the kids’ clothes are laid out for the clothing-challenged spouse, diaper bag is stocked, and car seat in Dad’s car before she dares venture alone outside the door.
Some of my favorite activities at Christmas time are finding stocking stuffers and filling Christmas stockings – something I definitely like better than wrapping gifts. Each year, however, I noticed a strange phenomenon occurring. Everyone else would end up having a plump stocking stuffed with all kinds of goodies that I had put in, catered to their individual liking. But not so my own stocking. It remained flat and empty. In order to solve this dilemma and the resentment which always followed, I tried to drop hints, and do the martyr co-dependent routine of bemoaning my flat stocking state - but to no avail. Fed up one year, I bought myself one of my favorite German chocolate bars and slid it in my stocking. Wow! My stocking was beginning to take a little shape. Each year I got brave enough to buy a few more treats along with equalizing the Christmas candy I put in each stocking, finally including my own and, tah dah! No more flat stocking.
What a perfect example of self-nurture. How can we give whole-heartedly without expectations of appreciation or approval returning, if we are giving out of an empty stocking, secretly hoping and praying that others will reward us for our generosity, and stuff ours in return. We need to love and respect ourselves enough to take care of our own nurture, so that we have a full stocking upon which to draw.
What are some ways that you truly nurture yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually -how do you stuff your own stocking?
I have tried to go away by myself once a year and have been at Bed and Breakfasts in La Jolla and Temecula. Last year I went local - or in order from keeping me being local I spent two nights in Laguna Beach with a jacuzzi tub, pool, and the remote all to myself, all this plus the beautiful beach. This year with the economic situation I will limit myself to daily excursions. Anyone have any ideas?
MJ Buist
NEW Ministries
MJ Buist
NEW Ministries
Whoever is MJ?
(Oh my gosh, there’s another acronym)
MJ Buist is the founder of New Ministries and chief writer for NEWletter. MJ. is short for Merrijoy. She is married with two sons ages 16 and 11, and currently supports her writing as a substitute teacher. She is a Diaconal Minister of the United Methodist Church. Diaconal Ministers are those called to bring love, service, and justice into the world. MJ feels especially called to bring nurture and wholeness to women today.
NEWletter comes to blog
This is our NEW letter blog where we discuss topics of interest for today’s woman and tell of reading, learning, and support opportunities. It is a friendly letter of encouragement and inspiration, showing you that you are not alone, and that women coming together with ideas can help each other through the daily challenges we all face as women today.
What NEW stands for:
New Ministries is an organization by and for Women founded by MJ Buist Diaconal Minister
that helps to bring “Newness” in one’s life by:
N – Being a Network of Nurture and Nudging where we support one another by listening, caring, and sharing our own life stories.
E - Where every woman is Encouraged and Empowered on the road to Wholeness by the supportive encouragement of others, learning to draw on our own inner power through education, growth, and awareness of one’s potential.
W-Women Working towards Wholeness, piecing the scattered pieces of our lives together into balance and joy with a restored sense of purpose where we can truly make a difference in the world. Where we can share our goals and discover our destinies. Where we can learn to pursue our potential, supporting each other and holding each other accountable for achieving our dreams.
NEW is an ecumenical outreach where all are welcomed no matter what their faith or belief system.
This was published as a newsletter but I am excited about having an interactive forum. Please bear with me as I learn the world of blogging. It is definitely NEW to me.
MJ. Buist
What NEW stands for:
New Ministries is an organization by and for Women founded by MJ Buist Diaconal Minister
that helps to bring “Newness” in one’s life by:
N – Being a Network of Nurture and Nudging where we support one another by listening, caring, and sharing our own life stories.
E - Where every woman is Encouraged and Empowered on the road to Wholeness by the supportive encouragement of others, learning to draw on our own inner power through education, growth, and awareness of one’s potential.
W-Women Working towards Wholeness, piecing the scattered pieces of our lives together into balance and joy with a restored sense of purpose where we can truly make a difference in the world. Where we can share our goals and discover our destinies. Where we can learn to pursue our potential, supporting each other and holding each other accountable for achieving our dreams.
NEW is an ecumenical outreach where all are welcomed no matter what their faith or belief system.
This was published as a newsletter but I am excited about having an interactive forum. Please bear with me as I learn the world of blogging. It is definitely NEW to me.
MJ. Buist
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