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spiraling return
out and in lovingkindness
toward HAMAKOM home
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The photos at the top are from the silent retreat I returned home from on Thursday. Our practice was primarily "chessed blessings" you may know this as "metta practice" from the Pali language. The poem above honors the blessed memory of my Great Aunt Bella Bender. My daughter Belin Regina, my first child is named for her and her sister, my Nana Reggie. Both women helped to raise my mother (along with Great Aunt Rosie and many other family members), as her father died when she was only five years old. When my Nana (who lived with us) passed, BeBe was with us children because my parents were traveling at that time. This was the first significant death I experienced as a child and Aunt Be became a surrogate grandmother to me from that moment on. Purple was her favorite color. In reading back through this I awakened to the wisdom of her nick-name: Be. Be.
May we remember and honor too our veterans who have returned and those who have not, will not, with gratitude for their sacrifice on our behalf.
May we remember and honor too our veterans who have returned and those who have not, will not, with gratitude for their sacrifice on our behalf.
I hope you will join me and participate in the Gratitude Quilt this year. From my experience, there is something or someone to be grateful for every day, perhaps every moment if we pause and search our hearts. Close your eyes exhale, inhale, ask yourself "what am I grateful for in THIS moment?" exhale again and without thinking write whatever words flow from your heart and send them to me laura@shinethedivine.com with Gratitude Quilt in the subject line. The quilt of our words will be unfolded on the morning of November 22nd. Please return to my blog to experience the beauty of gratitude on Thanksgiving Day in the United States.
Linking to:
moving, poignant and deeply heartfelt.
ReplyDeleteThis is beautifully written !!!
ReplyDeleteA lovely post .... I adore the black&white image. So creative!
ReplyDeleteIrene
Laura, the second photo is amazing. The colors and the spiral just look so beautiful together,
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures and words, Laura. This time, for me, the words especially.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
I love the rustic feel of the spiral.
ReplyDeleteLovely - all around!
ReplyDeleteAwesome pictures and touching words!
ReplyDeleteBeautifully written and your photos are amazing!
ReplyDeleteLaura, lindas imagens e pensamentos...estarei enviando minhas palavras para que acrescente ao seu post de Ação de Graças. Um abraço!
ReplyDeleteO mirante da imagem
Wonderful photos, I love those beautiful spirals, excellent poem.
ReplyDeleteI love the ironwork. For once I like the colour version a bit better - I like the look of that touch of rust.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful thoughts and words.
ReplyDeletesomething there is, that loves a spiral
ReplyDeleteAloha from Honolulu
Comfort Spiral
~ > < } } ( ° >
> < 3 3 3 ( ' >
><}}(°> ~
Gorgeous photos as usual. And a beautiful, heartfelt remembrance.
ReplyDeleteAmazing post ~ fantastic words and love the spiral photo symbolic of transformation and life ~ (A Creative Harbor) ^_^
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful poem - the tender remembrances of kisses and blessings, of holding her as she spiraled to return, the bit of song/prayer - it all moved me so deeply. BB - Bella, B - Belin - family linked through the generations.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful b&w.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful tribute--very well done. :-)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful words and photographs. Love how you were able to capture the rustic beauty of the spiral.
ReplyDeleteOh Laura, I love this poem so much. I always love stories of those women who have been our mentors and our beacons - our nurturers and our believers. Your Aunt BeBe was one of those, for certain. Bless her. Lovely that your daughter carries her name - and her light!
ReplyDeleteLove your pictures!
ReplyDeletePretty design and composition created through your lens. I also think your header image would be super for a macro shot!!
ReplyDeleteHope to see you stop by and pay a visit sometime soon. Have a glorious week ahead.
It is so inspiring to read your words written in honour of a treasured relative. I was very touched by the tenderness of your words.
ReplyDeleteLaura-Your words a blessing bring full circle your love. You are like those in your life- unable to be contained or stop glowing. A post full of blessings unwinding, they illuminate and bring the light closer in. I have just today written my gratitude piece. Shortly I will post and link it to the proper place. Stay well, stay bright. With love, teri
ReplyDeleteLoved you photos & your story
ReplyDeleteof loved ones
remembered...
me??
i am ~~Auntie BB~~
myself...
Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteCalling by from Macro Monday, I like your spiral compositions very much.
ReplyDeleteIf only everyone could be remembered this lovingly and poetically. B is also for Beautiful. Thank you for this, Laura.
ReplyDeletethis is something very touching, and only personal experience could have brought such emotions.
ReplyDeleteGreat poem, nice photo!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tribute and photos!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Laura, and to have our soul touched by the love of another is a great gift indeed.
ReplyDeleteVery cool photos and wonderful verse.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I love how you describe the soul as bigger than the frame. Too many times we don't know this until after someone dies.
ReplyDeleteVery exhaustively and cleverly done! Great tribute and wonderful pics! Nicely Laura!
ReplyDeleteHank
Such beautiful words and your photos are stunning.
ReplyDeletewow this is absolutely beautiful....i love your story telling in it and you give us a real sense of this beautiful person...what a lovely memory you have created....
ReplyDeleteand got your email...cant email from work, but i have an idea...smiles.
I loved the poem, the history behind and the images. Many thanks. That was a beautiful act of remembrance.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
Oh, Laura this is so moving, heart-warming... a lovely tribute to your great aunt... nice to know there's a little bit of her in your daughter.
ReplyDeletebeautiful words and tribute...your soul your heart bigger than your small frame could
ReplyDeletecontain...love this..
Poignant and heartfelt.
ReplyDeleteSuch a moving piece--filled with love and sadness
ReplyDeleteA wonderful post, and really I like the b&w spiral detail!
ReplyDeleteHave a great week:)
lovely words and I enjoy the gratitude quilt concept. ~ Rose
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful, dear Laura. This poem, your family loyalty, you...Thank you for filling my spirit with a joyful feeling today:) You are truly a wonder.
ReplyDeleteMuch love always,
Deb
Beautiful, beautiful loving tribute.
ReplyDeleteThe images are fabulous and the poem very moving. I will consider the gratitude invitation, thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo, what an interesting spiral structure and symbol for returning "home." The poem is a lovely tribute to your great aunt :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a truly beautiful story, and it is told with poetic grace.
ReplyDeletelovely and heart rending poem.
ReplyDeleteLove this.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute to your aunt. I like your interpretation of her name. How talented you are Laura. Though I probably won't include this in my gratitude entry, I am grateful to know you and witness your soul through your art.
ReplyDeleteyou do bring peace - bless you
ReplyDeleteA heart-felt and beautiful tribute. It is full of love and kind remembrance. I wish I could be so lucky and giving, for I am not—not allowed somehow to show as clearly and evocatively my emotions and feelings. Reading this and experiencing it helps understand these sorts of contradictions better. Thank you, Laura.
ReplyDeleteLaura, your blog is a blessing. I do intend to add to the guilt. I've been on the road but kept the e-mail with the info. Home tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteThe spiral is gorgeous!
ReplyDeletei've missed you friend. and i agree with ollie--you do bring peace. bless you.
ReplyDeleteOh my - utterly amazing shots!
ReplyDeleteAwersome.. From beginning to end, just awesome.
ReplyDeletePeace
Lovely, Laura. Be. Be.
ReplyDeleteLove the way a spiral inspires the sense of being embraced.
ReplyDeleteThe spiral is great!! It makes for such a interesting subject.
ReplyDeleteyou have kept her memory alive and your daughter will, too.
ReplyDeletecongrats on your POTW.
this is so beautiful
ReplyDeleteso thoughtful and kind and loving
brava on POTW