Just Counting My Blessings Here - Friends

I've often thought that blogging is much like having a scrapbook, holding many of our dearest moments, memories, and thoughts. It can be an eclectic little book that if we held it in our hands, it would be like a memory chest, with bits of fabric, theatre tickets, book markers, recipe cards, love notes. Just tangible evidence of what was dear to us.

Yet, these personal parts of ourselves is shared...online, for a whole world to review. People, getting to know other people, sharing the details, finding commonality and honoring diversity. Showing what gives meaning and purpose to their lives. Celebrating! Feeling grateful!

By the time you get to be my age, so much of life is behind you - raising the kids, working, learning many of the important lessons of life. You see many of the larger truths of life, such as the power of positive thinking, and of working together to achieve what you couldn't have done alone.

You slow down so that you can appreciate everything more deeply, like the lovely invitation to Tim and Debbie's Naw Ruz breakfast, (pictured above) and the cookie nest with candied eggs.

People become more precious for many reasons. With our family, it is due to inherited genetics (temperaments) that, when manifested, unfold in new and distinctively different ways - much to our surprise and delight. One universal trait: Hunger.

With community, there are shared interests, learning together, and building something that will serve future generations when we are gone...a parting gift. This photo was taken Saturday morning at our Cluster 19 Reflection Meeting. It was held in the American Legion Hall.

People become so treasured, especially when filled with warmth, compassion, sincerity, and light. People who are skilled and organized, like Ilham, who sings and tells funny stories.

Children like Raul, only 10, whose sweet smile makes any moment special. I think Raul is on a baseball team, because he often wears a fancy uniform and a baseball cap. Here he is ready to share his stories about Direct Teaching with his mom over the weekend.

Our dear Therese, Megan's mom, who served two wonderful brunches and two dinners over the weekend. (I've never had a club sandwich on a croissant before....fantastic!)

Jeff, on the left, who teases that he was at Western State Mental Hospital for 19 years, pauses, then admits that he was on the staff, as a psychiatric nurse practitioner.

Shadi, whom I've known for over 20 years, always grins, chuckles, then curls up into a ball, riddled with laughter.

And Nabil, an American with Philippino heritage, who came down from Seattle with some of his friends. He is one of Rahmat's friends.

Over the weekend we had the enjoyment of spending time with our family and friends, and even meeting a few new friends as we shared the teachings of the Baha'i Faith with our neighbors in the Hilltop area of Tacoma, not far from our home.

I'll post a few photos here on Flitzy Phoebie, but I will post the bulk of my weekend photos in our Flickr account.

Taraz and Megan, and three of their friends from Colorado spent Friday evening with us. I served them a leisurely breakfast, then they took the ferry over to Vashon Isand where they spent the day exploring beaches and backroads. (When I took this photo their friend Sam was wedged helplessly inbetween bags in the car, so we told her to stay there!)

Our friends Tim and Debbie hosted a Naw Ruz brunch in their home, with about 45 guests attending, many of whom we've gotten to know over the years. (I don't know what those spots are, in my hair and on my shirt! Reflected light from a window? They don't show up on any other photos.)

We spent the weekend with many of the Baha'is of Cluster 19, enjoying fellowship, food, and instructions on Direct Teaching in our neighborhood, an event that will last nine days.

We had a special guest, Jacqueline Left Hand Bull from South Dakota, an infinitely sweet, gentle, and intelligent woman. She came to offer support to our Institute program. Jacqueline is Chairman of the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States.

By the end of the weekend we had the pleasure of connecting with all of our dearest friends, enjoying such wonderful conversations, sharing stories, laughing, singing, praying. I can't think of a more joyous way to celebrate the new year, sunshine and spring. ( Naw Ruz hostess Debbie, with Elrico and Tosca, Baha'is from Kent.)