Community Effort

July 20, 2013

The Big Day finally arrived. For months, preparation for this even has been underway by so many different people. The training I received through the years of my childhood and teen years was brought back to life. The once used task of wiring flowers resurfaced. The memories of things I wished I had when decorating a reception hall blew in as I loaded my car. The whirlwind of the day took force as everything that had been so carefully thought through appeared with the help of so many hands.

While decorating for a friend’s wedding in North Carolina, I couldn’t help but remember all of the great wedding preparation memories for the Westbrook, Watson and Adams weddings in Michigan – the birthplace of my wedding knowledge.  Marcia and Judy, I gained a new understanding of what it felt like for you as I found myself surrounded by flowers waiting to be assembled into a bride’s bouquet just 12 hours before they were to be carried down the aisle.  I found myself grateful that the process of planning and preparing for a wedding was a community event where I could be involved along with everyone else who was willing to lend a hand along the way, even if it meant blisters from hot glue gun burns or sticky fingers from floral tape. Looking back, I realize how the community aspect of those experiences played an important role in shaping my life. I can only hope that I find opportunities to advocate that model in the future. 

So, I take this moment to thank Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy for letting me walk along with them through this process and understanding that, in my head, helping with both hands in any way that I can is the only way that makes sense.

 

The Three Sephtoneers

July 10, 2013

4:50am: I receive a text from my brother-in-law. The mid-wife has been called.

Note: With a girl and a boy already in the Sephton house, Hilary and Mark decided not to find out what the baby was until the first time they met face to face. My money was on the baby being a girl.

10:20am: It is almost time to push

Realization: I understand what it was like for the fathers back in the day when they weren’t allowed to be in the room for delivery.  

11:36am: Baby Girl!!  

Emotions: Relief that the wait is over, excitement that all went well, pride in my sister for making it through another home birth, satisfaction that I was right about her being a girl, and a wave of love ready to poor into my new niece, Eva Catherine. 

Servolution

July 4, 2013

Each year, the day that celebrates America’s independence serves as a landmark. Like pulling out a stake and hammering it into the timeline of my life, I always seem to be able to file away the events and great memories of July the 4^th. Last year, I was celebrating in the small, off-the-beaten-path town of McCarthy, AK. This year, I took a different approach to the holiday traditions.

The Servolution campaign has official begun.  The revolutionary idea that the gift of Christ’s love is free with no strings attached has inspired a list of events and projects that will come to fruition this month.  Changing oil in cars for single mothers, serving meals at the Durham Rescue Mission, creating a welcoming and safe atmosphere in the city’s pregnancy support services, and handing out 10,000 glow sticks at the fireworks event at UNC.

With my increased availability, I stepped into the moving current. One among many, I went to work attaching cards to glow sticks before they were passed to those entering the stadium. Before we knew it, our supply was gone and we had none left to offers those that approached us.

When the lights of the stadium where turned out to start the fireworks, there was a small moment in time when the only light filling the stadium came from the 10,000 glow sticks dispersed through the crowd. What seemed like a unique avenue to reach out to others reminded me how the little things do matter-- how a small light can pierce the darkness.  I don’t always see the effects, nor am I always paying attention.  In many moments my perspective seems the most important. I am thankful for these moments when I am reminded who’s view really matters.  

How Do You Fill Your Time?

June 17, 2013

A common question I have be asked since I started my leave is “What do you do with your time?”

My first three weeks were jam-packed with things that I have been wanting to do but didn’t have the time or the energy: clean out closets, purge unneeded things, update the blog. Then there was the laundry list of art projects I needed to try or make as gifts, projects for According to Aletheia, business card for Mrs. Sephton, logo for Talk Business, and bridal shower invitations. Then the ever-present doctor and physical therapy appointments plus the exercises I have to do at home.

I knew when I started leave that keeping my mental health was of vital importance. I had a strong sense that I needed to stay active and shy away from confining myself indoors. The two primary avenues I chose where the Duke Gardens (can’t beat free) and involving myself more at church. I signed up for a mentor, continued being involved in my small group, and made a goal to crochet three scarves a week. I made a habit of checking the weather forecast and scheduling time to go explore the gardens.

As items were starting to get checked off my list, I started offering my services to friends. One for my friends from church is getting married next month. I have always loved helping with weddings, so I volunteered my time. Now I spend my time making a variety of flowers out of coffee filters, crepe paper, and twine. This wedding has been a true blessing as it has required my planning neurons to come back to life.

Now as I have been unpaid for sometime, I have had to also use my time to make a little bit of money. I defaulted to my intern days at Duke and started to once again participate in research studies to earn a little cash. Studies don’t stop with the end of the school year, Many great opportunities still exist. A couple of them (the better paying ones) have required multiple visits making my flexible schedule a great advantage.

One thing that I didn’t really expect when I first started my leave was the most amazing sense of freedom. I moments of weakness I do freak out slightly concerning the lack of funds I have coming in, but I have decided to not let that stop me from giving cheerfully both with my services and with my finds. I just love giving.

Unemployment is not foreign to me. God has always taken care of me during those times. I know He will walk with me through this and every other aspect of my life. I have absolutely no doubt on that score.

Yes, my future is uncertain. Yes, my physical state isn’t 100%. But I can lay my head down every night knowing that even though I don’t understand everything, God knit me together and if I trust in that and in Him, He will make my path straight. 

Campus Tour

June 10, 2013

Northeast Quad - Duke West Campus

Wilson Recreation Center & K-ville

The White Garden - Duke Gardens

West Union Building Entrance

Baldwin Auditorium - East Campus

Duke Chapel

Duke Divinity School and Duke Chapel

Duke Chapel

Double Rainbow

June 3, 2013

Rainbows have been on my  “Things that I Love” list for many a year (Yes, I do have an actual written list). Whenever I see one, a pin is always placed in my memory map, as I can easily recall the place, the person/people I was with, and (after a few seconds) the year. I don’t know why this happens. One of the mysterious workings of the human mind I guess. It could also be the subtle way God continues to remind me of His promises during the times that visual reminder isn’t there.  I am glad that this time I managed to store this one outside of my memory.

As you might have guessed, I used the panoramic option on my phone to capture this one. 

Prezi

June 2, 2013

A call for reinforcements has continued myself self-administered education in the ever-changing technological world:

Patterns, All I Think About are Patterns

May 31, 2013

            

Two months ago I confessed I joined a knitting/crocheting group. This group was organized through my church, as the orphanage in Moldova is partnered with the church. Our goal is to make 1000 scarves by Christmas 2013. The leader of the orphanage is a big picture kid of guy and so we continue to stitch away toward the goal.

When I entered the group I knew how to make a chain. That was about it. So naturally, my first scarf was the most basic scarf you can get: single crochet in one color. My mind is not one that stays content for long. I would be creating my own system of torture if I just continued to make scarf after scarf in that same basic way. Through watching and listening during our meeting times and gathering valuable tips from what I lovingly refer to as Hook Up With Hilary (a.k.a.crocheting while skyping with my sister. I keep telling her is could be a PBS program.), my education and skill level have improved. So much so that I have started reading patterns.

For the longest time I avoided patterns because I thought they were too hard and you had to count and keep track of where you are. As I have begun to really enjoy the way crocheting frees my mind, I really had no desire to have to pay close attention to what I was doing. Plus I would see the pictures of the scarves and think there was no way I could do anything like that.

Then it clicked. This is just like the Sound of Music. Remember what Maria said:

“Now children, Do Re Mi Fa Sol and so on are naturally the tunes we use to build a song. Once you have these notes in your head you can sing a million different tune by mixing them up.”

Well, in crocheting, once you know the basic stitches (single, half double, double, triple, and slip) you can make a million different scarves (and beyond) by combining them in different ways. A pattern is just like a sheet of music telling you what note goes where and in what rhythm or mathematical frame work so that a linear design is produced.

Of course, patterns are too a progression. For the more difficult ones you do have to pay closer attention and check to make sure your count is right. When learning anything knew, it takes awhile to learn the abbreviations and figure out what in the world sc in ch-1 means. A little trial and error with a pinch of common sense mixed in with a helping of perseverance usually conquers a problem. And if that doesn’t work, there is always YouTube.

Now, I feel as if a whole new world of possibilities has opened up making each scarf a stepping stone in my new found crocheting education. 

New Found Options - Panorama

May 27, 2013

          

Thanks to my place of employment, I was issued an iPhone. For those that have had this device for a while, you are probably already aware of this feature. In today’s world, a camera is commonplace in every phone. However, lately I have been experimenting with some of the options available on the camera in an iPhone 4S.

The discovery: Panorama.

Yes, my phone has the ability to stitch multiple photos together. The fact that this is so easy to do actually makes me angry in some ways. Technology advances in the photography realm chips away at the value of my degree, as less and less skill is required to be a photographer.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t resist trying it out. Here are the results:

 

Flower Mystery

May 15, 2013             

Yesterday, at approximately 6:40pm, I walked out of my apartment door to find these:

1^st reaction: Confusion

2^nd reaction: Look for card

After failing to find any clarification for my confusion, I poked my head back into the apartment to ask my roommate if she knew anything about our mystery flowers. Her face reflected my first reaction. In a matter of seconds, we determined that they were left at the wrong door. 

As I excited the door once again, I declared that if they were still there when I returned, I would invite them in. 

And so, I was greeted this morning by a sweet, fresh aroma amazed at how the smallest thing can lift your spirit. Many thanks go to our mysterious benefactor. 

Mother's Day

May 12, 2013

             

On a spur-of-the-moment decision, my mom decided to come for a visit for mother’s day. Every time we would talk on the phone I would go on and on about how beautiful the Duke Garden was with all of the flowers blooming. 

With fabulous weather, everyone else and their mothers had the same idea. Still we had a wonderful time walking through the garden as she continued to build on my plant identification education. After all my education started long ago as every summer my mom and I would walk through the garden in our own backyard.

Oh Spring

April 10-16, 2013

The things that I love most I have discovered I can easily forget about. Until, that is, the moment I realize I am surrounded and engulfed by beauty. Spring is one of those times when I forget the memory of what it is really like because I am consumed by the heaviness of winter. Then my eye catches the first bud on a tree. Suddenly my senses trigger something inside me. I know something is changing; new life is about to emerge.

As the days pass, I remember to observe, to notice the slight changes that are happening all around me: the first dandelion sighting, the vibrant colors of the red buds peaking through, the opening of the tulips, the blossom of the cherry trees.

In a matter of days a barren world comes to life. As I close my eyes and breathe in deep the fresh fragrances filling the air, I feel an overwhelming emotion as I remember how much I truly love spring.

This year I am blessed with the time to immerse myself in the joys of spring. The Duke Gardens has been my comfort in this time of healing. Everyday that I go I see the great amount of changes that are occurring in a matter of days. Everywhere I turn I see another blossom begging to be photographed.

May this nature log by a constant reminder to never stop noticing the beauty in life.

Weeping Peach

Dawn Redwood

Dawn Redwood

Weeping Higan Cherry

Tulip

Fern

Alabama Snow-wreath

Bald Cypress

Eastern Redbud

Grace Allbritton - Japanese Camilla

Black Tie - Japanese Camilla 

Ashton's Pride - Camellia

Daybreak Yoshino Cherry

Dogwood

Chinese Fringe Flower

Kirishima Azalea

Fringe Tulip

Flowering Crabapple

Wisteria