Blog Archives

HOPE FOR TOMORROW- Great is His Faithfulness

4/6/2020

THERE'S STILL HOPE FOR THE MORROW... A Year Later
March 1, 2021

GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS!!! Greetings, It's Lent 2021. Wow. Time to renew those things in our lives that have been diminished and to claim new growth in every aspect of our being.
This website corresponds with my NessDoor FB and #'s on Instagram, but this site has much more info than you would care to want. Mostly a log of my last 6 years!
Some of you may be new to NessDoor, (FB page, Instagram: #nessdooropenyoursoultorest) so welcome. It's a place where I muse about the seasons of the church year, prompt thought and journaling to grow our relationship with Jesus.
NessDoor is also a physical place next door to our home: art studio, meeting space, Spiritual Direction space, retreat house...occasional lodging space. READY TO RESUME!!!
The concept began when I acted on the call to study Spiritual Direction and Soul Care beginning in 2015 to 2017. Until Covid, I had monthly 4 hour day retreats at NessDoor and since have communicated those retreats via email for self process. If you are not on my mailing list, and would like me to add, just let me know.

Covid continues to interrupt going to church, have gatherings, and mask free wanderings. and then recently, Texas experienced an Artic Storm-a-gedon which totally compromised infrastructure, downed power, froze water, emptied grocery stores in sub normal temps! The above photo was a rare sun day during the white-out. Christmas extended to December 47th due to Covid quarantine, illnesses and schedules. No Christmas party, no retirement/birthday party for Jody, no formal retirement ceremonies for 28 years on the bench. I think we can all agree Covid 19, 20,21 can take a hike.

I saw an appropriate date: 2020-Won! Our wins include adding granddaughter 2 in April! Jody is officially retired. We spend time between our home and our farm. I'm ready to win back freedom of movement, meeting and motivation. How about you?

March - April 2020
Has there ever been a month of days in the lives of most of us that has this perpetual cloud over it? How to cope? (Of course, our lives have felt perpetually oppressed with an illness/death etc. I'm talking about this perpetual grief of pandemic!)
We must keep our eyes looking up, toward the hills or sky or clouds! From where does our help come? Our Lord God Almighty, who made the heavens and the earth, alone will bring us through this epic period of living.
On Facebook, I've created a NessDoor page where there are ideas for prayer and craft, but it is also a place of hopeful messages and encouragement. Friend me.
I will say with all certainty that this is HARD. Not being able to see my granddaughter, kids, friends, have Day Retreats, go to church, go to retreats, freely and openly go to the grocery store! I HATE to go to the grocery, but today I long for that freedom. Jody, as a public servant, goes to the Courthouse daily, sees 1 or two people, but that even that little exposure concerns me. He goes to feed horses twice a day... now a Bronx Zoo tiger has the virus....

Do not hesitate to reach out to someone if despair grips you. We are ALL dealing with similar feelings. Live in the moment, 15 min. at a time. Work the Grief steps.

ENTER HOPE! Amidst our angst and anguish, our Lord shows us that through His angst and anguish all awhile begging for the cup to pass, He endured all we are feeling; He died and ROSE!
As we are dying to self and sacrificing, please know I believe we also will RISE! HOSANNA! Blessed be the Name of the Lord. Amen. Selah.

November - December 2019
There's a lot going on in the life of NessDoor and Life! (Babe Finley Claire and fam have moved to Austin; we are getting out-buildings at the farm repaired.) NessDoor continues to be a sacred place of prayer, solitude, retreats, and creativity.
Please, if you are on FB, look for the NessDoor page with this photo (left), Friend me and join in.
There are words of wisdom passed along from scholars and friends, authors and artists.
NessDoor: Open Your Soul To Rest.
Spiritual Direction is available. Just contact me.
Space is also available for prayer/meeting groups. There's even a bed if you want/need to nap! The Lord continues to open up opportunities for the house to be used.

NESSDOOR RETREATS HAPPENED EVERY 5-6 WEEKS:
Here are some photos of retreat creative expression from August, September, October, and November and December. Retreats follow the liturgical year of the church. Ordinary Time ends the Sunday after Thanksgiving and the season of Advent is now!

The following photos are from NessDoor retreats and studio time at Laity Lodge. Enjoy the possibilities of Creating!

July 10, 2019: Happy 1st Birthday, Finley!

Finley's (reluctant) art!

It's been a full, very Blessed year of being a grandmother, Nessi, to our sweet granddaughter. Trips to Denver to keep Finn have been a rhythm I could not have imagined. I'm so in LOVE! I have a wonderful daughter in law and son who allow me to spend as much time as I can with her. I suppose I need to add a page to this site: Life Loving Experiences all about being Nessi!
Personal creative endeavors slowed down, but NessDoor has flourished with lots of meetings, prayer, and day retreats: Unmasking- Living as the One and Only YOU; Advent Quiet Day- A Soul Day just for you; Epiphany- Follow Your Star, See the Wonder; Lent- Rhythm, God's Beat for you; Approaching Ascension- Forgiveness. (Ck the NessDoor page)

Now that I'm about to embark on another Cody Center art offering at Laity Lodge, Dale Bruner, July 18-21, I'm preparing to spending time with people in the studios for two afternoons. While I always leave the door open for any creative expression, my focus will be on Painting with Paper. Other options will be PwP on cedar cuts, wood burning, and limited jewelry/Anglican Prayer Beads. The Cody Center has it ALL!

Last June 2018 I had a grand time at the Studios at Laity Lodge during the Earl Palmer retreat. Aside from just the wonder of the teaching, the people gathered there made the afternoon art offering truly rich. Here are some of the creative expressions from that time: