"Remember the Sabbath. Keep it Holy.": Sibling Assignment #133

Raymond Pert gave Sibling Assignment #133. "Reflect however you'd like upon the idea of the sabbath and your practice of it." Silver Valley Girl's words of wisdom are here and RP's will be posted when he finds wireless again.

About five years ago I read a book about honoring the Sabbath and loved the idea of chosing a day during the week-end that we would keep holy and rest.  This was during a time that I was exhausted most of the time and had a therapist reminding me every session that I needed to slow down and rest. Week-ends were my catch-up time. It was the time we shopped, I did laundry, worked outside, cleaned, and caught up on school work.

A guy I taught with discussed his ritual one time when we were sitting together at lunch. Every Saturday he slept in, didn't use a clock, rested the whole day, prayed and fasted. I loved the idea of a day of rest, but didn't know how I could do it.

Slowly I tried to make changes. JEJ and I tried to set aside time on Sunday after church for ourselves. We would rest, take a hike, go for a drive, or do something other than work. We weren't consistent about it though. Spring would come and I would want to do yardwork. During the fall I would want to rearrange the living room. In December I would want to decorate the house for the holidays.
Last year I set a goal not to do school work on week-ends. Dragging home work always got in the way of honoring the Sabbath. It was a big step for me, but I enjoyed the quiet time at school on Friday afternoons. Everyone else left early on Friday. I stayed and organized myself and planned for the next week. That moved me closer to honoring the sabbath.
Arriving home after church, taking time for a nap, then enjoying our surroundings is how we like to spend Sunday honoring the sabbath. We just need to make it a habit, a ritual. It sure makes the work week start off on a much better note.
I am glad Raymond Pert had me revisit the idea of Sabbath. I do want to rest, reflect, rejuvenate, and keep  it holy. It is the best thing I could do for myself during the week.

Moving Into Winter

Our seasons have a natural rhythm that is determined more by temperature, length of days, and precipitation than the dates on a traditional calendar. When the days grow shorter I feel like winter is quickly approaching.

Moving into winter means not seeing the gardens during the week. It is dark when I leave and dark when I arrive home. Even if many plants are done blooming and the trees have lost their leaves, I like the stark beauty of the bones of the garden. It gives me something to look forward to on the week-ends. There are always images to capture on a cold winter day.

Moving into winter also means beginning a natural hibernation. I wrap up in warm blankets as the day moves into night. I take more naps.  Winter is the time to rest the gardens and rest the body and soul. We need winter like other animals for our own hibernation. We need our own sabbath.

Moving into winter also means sipping hot soups, craving comfort food like meatloaf and macaroni and cheese, and enjoying a warm drink at the day's end. Winter is pumpkins, squash, and apples saved from the tree mixed up into a homey crisp while sitting by the fire.

Moving into winter means tackling that pile of books that have been waiting to be read. It is time to find those writing inspirations in a journal lost during the fall, time to organize photos, and get things in order. Winter is wool socks, warm sweaters, flannel pajamas. Winter is cats each finding a spot to curl up and sleep and the dogs quietly snore in front of a fire.

Each season draws me in for different reasons. This year as winter is approaching, I am reminded to slow down, rest, reflect, revive myself, and be warm. 

November 8: I Am Thankful for Quiet Time

Yesterday after an inspirational church service I had chores I wanted to get done before the week-end was over. I always set my goal to honor the sabbath, but sometimes weather or time dictate what needs to get done first.

 After some indoor and outdoor chores I grabbed the camera and found just the right light to capture some leaf pictures. Then the sky clouded over, the rain poured down, and JEJ built a fire in the gazebo.

 I was done for the day. I bundled up a bit, grabbed a cold drink, and enjoyed some quiet time with JEJ and our furry family. It sure helped prepare me for greeting Monday head-on today!

The Garden Valley Church : No Lovelier Spot in the Dale

Our church has been around for almost a hundred years. It sits on the Lake Ellen Road off the Inchelium Highway and has served the families around the area I live faithfully. Behind the church is the Garden Valley Cemetery which has sections for many pioneers from the area.

The church has needed some repair for some time. It is difficult to take a historical building and do an extreme church makeover. I loved the look of our church the way it was. It sat on a hill along the country road and has always reminded me of the Church in the Wildwood.

The church board hired a contractor to put on siding and a new roof. I am so pleased to see the historical look of church remained. Marty, a church member designed a steeple which was also built and placed on the roof. It now plays music that can be heard as church members drive up on Sunday. We still have our beautiful wood pews inside, but have new beams on the ceiling. The sounds have changed inside the church. We were used to some echoes that made it hard to hear.I learned this song as a child and although our church is white and we hear music instead of bells, it is still a fitting song.

There's a church in the valley by the wildwood
No lovelier spot in the dale
No place is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale

(Oh, come, come, come, come)

Come to the church by the wildwood
Oh, come to the church in the vale
No spot is so dear to my childhood
As the little brown church in the vale

How sweet on a clear Sabbath morning
To listen to the clear ringing bells
Its tones so sweetly are calling
Oh come to the church in the vale

(Oh, come, come, come, come)A few years ago a Sunday School was built next door.
Also a ramp and new porch had been added a few years ago.

Garden Valley Community Church: History Restored

This is the church I attend for Sunday worship. It was built in the early 1900's and provided a gathering and worship place for the farmers and community members around the Lake Ellen area. It was closed when I first moved to the area. On Easter Sunday eight years ago the doors were open again for worship. We do have electricity, but no water inside the church. We added a building next door for Sunday School and meetings, but we still use portable bathrooms. There is an old piano a friend of mine played when she attended the church as a child forty-some years ago. Now somebody brings in a portable keyboard.
I love the historic feeling of the church. I love the old, wooden, polished pews. I love the big crosses in the front of the church. I also love hearing stories told by the people that homesteaded around the area. There is a cemetery behind the church that tells more stories of families and friends that are a big part of our area. The first time I came to the church I was reminded of a hymn my mother taught us as children. Here is an excerpt:
Church in the Wildwood
There's a church in the valley by the wildwood,
No lovelier place in the dale;
No spot is so dear to my childhood,
As the little brown church in the vale.

How sweet on a clear Sabbath morning ,
To list'n to the clear ringing bell ;
It's tones so sweetly are calling,
Oh, come to the church in the vale.
-William S. Pitts

I look forward to attending Easter services tomorrow at my own church in the wildwood. We are surrounded by tall pine trees, wildflowers in the meadow close by, and mountains as you look north and west. My husband and his friend will sing " The Old Rugged Cross". The congregation will join in the singing other traditional hymns. I will be reminded of Easters, hymns, and churches from childhood.
Have a blessed Easter Sunday in your corner of the world.