It Looks BIG

It looks bigger than the plans! Today I look at this photo and think ... Oh my! I just wanted something simple! At this time of life, I want to have less, simplify, give things away, downsize. OH MY! I pray that this decision to build in these economic times ends up being a good decision. You see, there are different philosophies about money and security. I am from the old school. SAVE for you may need your money for a rainy day. This is in my DNA. My father was a saver and he taught me to watch every penny ( back when a penny had some value). So I learned to make 3 meals out of one chicken.

However, there are those who think about money in a diffierent way. They would rather risk their money either for more or to use it for an asset that provides pleasure. They think of money as a tool to be used instead of hoarding it.

Our economic times are very different now than when I was alittle girl. In those days, you saved, paid for everything in full with cash and delayed gratification. I am trying to understand that the old way may not be the best way for today and to find a balance. Today, with low interest rates, uncertainty in the job market, housing failures, banks closing, and a long standing bear market, why would anyone build a home?

So, here's why. Knowing my DNA, this is stretching me. And so I ask, would I rather have money in a bank account? That is, realizing the bank could fail, it collects no interest to speak of and it provides no pleasure as I watch the money and stock market falls. Why not put it in a physical asset that we can enjoy for a time? You see, no one knows the day or the hour that we will leave this earth therefore I want to keep my attention on what is most important to me: God and Family. So at the moment, it makes sense to give my time and attention to build a gathering place for my family to pray and play together. I pray that this home be valued by my family and used to relax and retreat from daily stress, to feel God's presence as they feel the wind, sun and rains, feel love and support as their individual families grow and gather to spend time together. AND, if by chance, this home is not something our children want to keep in the future, I believe it will be an asset that could provide each of them with money to live/build their own dream.

In short, I am not attached to this home for any reason accept that it be a sacred, comfortable, loving, gathering place for us for as long as my family wants it to be. In the meantime, it beats losing money in the stock market...smiling!

My Name Day

Now some of you are probably wondering what is a "name day". In the Greek Orthodox faith tradition, it is the special day which honors the Saint of whom you are named. Today, August 15th, we honor St. Mary. It is the day the Greek Orthodox's say that our blessed Mother fell asleep: Assumption Day.

Now, to diverge a moment to tell you how I was named. Once again, in the Greek Orthodox faith tradition, a baby is named by their Godmother, a very important relationship in a baby's life. My Godmother wanted me to be named after her: Mary. However, when I was still in the hospital with my mother, my Godmother's sister, SOPHIA, came to see me. When she asked my name, my mother told her "Mary". She smiled and said " she should be named, Maria. It is more beautiful and fits her well". So SOPHIA named me MARIA....smiling.

Hence, the importance of names. O'Mesa is our name for the beautiful property we were blessed to find in the middle of Willow City. Naturally, there's a story behind the way we found our beautiful home site, however today I want to share with you how O'Mesa was named. We were trying to come up with a name that was easy and yet represented our family property well. Many folks got involved trying to come up with names and ideas. We kept saying we are going to the "Mesa". Bill L'Heiux from Toronto was visiting with his wife, Janet, and we kept saying we want to show you the "Mesa". He blurted out "We are going to the O'Brien's Mesa, O'Mesa". We all laughed and said we like that, Bill! It just rolled off his tongue with ease and we all agreed it was a good name for this unique property. It is simple and fits like a fine leather glove. And so it was named O'MESA.

Isn't it interesting that when you try to be creative or problem solve, it doesn't seem to happen easily? BUT when you relax and just let things happen, that some of the best ideas and solutions seem to form. "Let Go, Let God". Hmmm...I am finally learning to get out of HIS way!

The August Heat

The summer heat in Fredericksburg finally reached 100 degrees and my thoughts drift to the workers who wear wet towels around their necks and no shirts as they frame our home. I sit in the grove of trees with my cool drink as I listen to their conversations, country music, jokes, stories and tall tales. One worker's wife is having a baby this weekend. Another worries that the bank is not open when he gets off and he needs some money for groceries this evening.

Here I sit remembering the years that I too worked to serve others. The years I worked in a factory in order to make enough money to attend The University of North Carolina. The years I rode my bicycle to professors homes so that I might clean for their wives or ride my bike in the dark to my night job where I cocktail waitressed til the middle of the morning and rode home by the moonlight. How is it I am a lady of privledge today? I so understand the minds and hearts of these laborers. My parents labored in factories all their life to give my sister and me the simple bare necssities. One worker will come for a glass of cold water and graciously address me...with respect and courtesy. I address him the same way for I am deeply grateful that he amoung others is working to build us a dream home. There are times I don't understand how I got to this place in time, that is , short of a miracle. Do I believe there is a God? Like Carl Jung, " I don't believe there's a God, I know there's a God".

and so, today is a hot summer day in August. My mind and heart are as clear as the sky. The native birds pester each other and fight for water at the few watering holes available and I am in heartfelt gratitude for everything....everything good and not so good that is...thinking "in everything we are to be grateful". And so today is one of those good days. One of those days that I have the time to see what is before me, time to contemplate the experience, time to just BE. Tomorrow is another day....