Fireside I
It is to the Village Square that the townspeople come to exchange views and thoughts on their beloved spiritual philosophy, learning from each other in kindness and wisdom. Then when their minds have been filled, they retire to the tavern on the western side of the square where they share in social discussion, learning of each otherās events and challenges, happinesses and sometimes sadnesses, too. With a mug or glass in hand, they collect in front of the great Fireplace that dominates the long wall. Benches and chairs are often filled on market day with those who have come from farther away, bringing news of events and views the local people delight in hearing.
If you are feeling disoriented by all the philosophical talk by the fountain in the Village Square, then come sit down on the bench here with us for a while just to soothe your mind and share a mug of tea or coffee. Let’s all make sure the conversation is quiet and simple, caring and thougtful, exactly the kind of talk you might have around a warm hearth, the only light filling the room coming from the fireplace.
My skype address: bernardgroom. If you have a skype account, all you need to do is add me to your list and you can join in the Fireside Get-together. If you want to remain on the sidelines listening in, that’s okay. I’ll just ask people to say a little hello and if you don’t want to, you don’t have to, and no one will know you’re there. Just a quiet lil observer. Of course, if everyone does that, well, um, hmm, you see, it’ll be a bit of a strange monologue. So I’m hopin’ someone is gonna say hello.
So what time is it in France right now? I’m at just after 8 am and I’m figuring you are at least 7-8 hours ahead. Afternoon tea time or something? I don’t mind sitting and listening to you read the yellow pages with your Aussie/French accent. Now I’m so curious as to how you sound?!!
I’ll see about getting a headset and then an account. This will be interesting / fun. XD
Off to go by me a headset today š I want a tour of the farm Pam!!!
Thanks Bernard for all this idea, it sounds wonderful and fun. Preparing to meet all my dearly friends at the Village. I liked all the idea of an informal meeting just to be together and share our ongoings on our daily life, and also very interesting we would also share ideas about KenĀ“s workshops and our practices about the path we chose to return Home.
Donna so nice and wonderful to see you here at the Village. You left your stele of love all around the Village. A big hug.
{{{Nina}}} Hope you are feeling better today.
Annie, no doubt we are all one, many times I had that dream of doing something and never end, or trying to arrive,for example, to an airport for a flight and never arrived. Really frustrated when I awoke. Happy to see you and all the Village residents soon, in voice!!
Hugs and much love to all, waiting for you all at the Fireplace.
Lisi
Bernard – i’ll definitely say hi (:
Lisi, Annie, Pam – looking forward to joining all of you on the spoken (or silent (: skype tavern session. hope the time works out when i can be at a computer. i think we’ll have some logistical challenges since we span all the way from la through europe and into asia. but we’ll make it work.
See ya’ll soon.
a
ps. reading Ken’s “The Stages of our Spiritual Journey”. Anyone else read that ?
Like our Annie, i’ll go check out headsets, too. This is a big move to edge up against my ‘social anxiety’. My sisters have been riding me for some time to get skype. They said i need to get a camera. Hmmmm, research to do. At least i think skype is reasonable in cost.
Maybe we can have a plan b for a related discussion in the Village Square, also — to make up for time zones and work schedules, etc. Then skype live participation will be the ‘gravy’. i sound like i’m accumulating my ego enemies and counting them, preparing for a forgiveness lesson. That ego i think i am is standing off to my right on a little stage, tossing herself about on the floor looking to any onlooker like she is in dire straits. But a flash just crossed my mind of how great the Mark Knopler concert was on his current ‘get lucky’ tour. We may just Get Lucky’!
I support KatrinaĀ“s idea. We can begin with the Fireplace meetings but afterwards if it is quorum we can also meet in the Village Square.
Hugs to all.
Incidentally, i thought i’d clarify for you young’uns, the connection that made me think of Mark Knopler (and his current tour) is that he was the lead/writer for the old group ‘Dire Straits’. You may not think you remember them, but i bet you know a ditty called ‘I want my M-TV.’ Money for nothin’, and the chicks for free.
hugs from a now freer chick.
Yes, we’ll also start something up in the Village Square, great idea. I’ll just have a look at the different options for something we can work on together. Any specific preferences? I think I’m favoring the idea of a transcript of one of Ken’s workshops (available at facim.org), maybe “The Inner Voice”.
Some of you might not need to buy separate headsets. A lot of computers these days have microphones incorporated.
Anil, we’ll certainly try to work something out time-wise, although it might be a bit of a stretch for someone either in Europe or Singapore. “Stages of the Spiritual Journey” is great.
And maybe we’ll call these skype sessions “Tales at the Tavern” or “Fireside Follies” or… any other suggestions (perhaps a little less frivolous?)?
yay…I’m into this skype meeting up…..way cool. I have an account already. a bit embarrassing my name, but I wanted it to be anonymous:
teachonlylove4
(teachonlylove was taken) kinda cool that it was
and katrina…i totally love that line and the refrain will often go through my mind “thats the way you do it….money for nuthin and the chicks for free”
at my bocce games when someone makes a good throw i sometimes say that
oh and you don’t “need” a camera for skype…yes i understand your sisters would dearly love to see you as well as hear you
Ummm I guess I feel the need to be the voice of caution. I think Bernard had it right when he said to send him your skype address. Posting it for all to see here in Paulo’s world might set one’s self up for unwanted attention or is there an ignore function to skype like there is for e-mail?
Bernard re.#910 FACIM’s excerpt series sounds good to me.
Logistics time – I’m trying to work out time zones for the US folks. How many who wish to participate live NOT in a Pacific time zone? I can’t remember where everyone is, so it would just be a little handier if I had an update. Summary of the current situation: I’m working with four basic time zone areas (Paris, Singapore, US Pacific and US East Coast), I then crossed out for each time zone from 11 pm to 7 am, and I looked at what was left. What’s left isn’t much! We have the choice between LA 7 am, NY 10 am, Singapore 10 pm and Paris 4 pm. Or if Anil doesn’t mind staying up till midnight, then we could all come in one hour later (to give those sleepy heads in LA time to wake up).
The only other alternative isn’t very good for those in the US (Paris 7 am, Singapore 1 pm, LA 10 pm and NY??)
Another suggestion for our first meeting, we could look through the recent notes Jamie put up on his site from the Ken workshop. That couldn’t be too scary, eh? We could have fun with that, and it would be a logistically easier to get through than a transcript.
Dire Straits is the best. Sultans of Love… Love Over Gold… Lady Writer…
Meeeecheleeeee how could you be embarrassed by such a lovely name. We are all teachers and that would be the perfect anonymous name…it identifies the One person-One purpose we all strive 4.
So this veil is getting thinner and soon we can peer into each others eyes…I told Bernard I was a bit shy in group settings. Love one on one cuz of my ADD. I can get distracted so easily and for me to corral all my thoughts and come up with a meaningful sentence takes me hours so I can sound pretty wise if given enough time. This can be very humbling for me and because I feel a bit scared its probably the right thing to do to help me get over myself.
Knowing that some time and logistics are involved will probably make it all the more *special*. May I suggest that at least once a month as many try and participate. I think the perfect first introduction to each other would be at a party setting …I’m thinking October 17th. It’s a Sunday and it also a very *special* day for two Villagers. This would keep the conversation lite and playful the first time no books or transcripts required. BYOB and just enjoy each others presence.
Loving you all and wishing that today is an awesome day!
p.s. learning French, Spanish, Norwegian, etc. is all the more realistic with Skype.
p.s.s. Never left the house yesterday so I didn’t pick up a headset. Tomorrow for sure. š
Hey Bernard, Laura and I live in Central Time. So does Tex Anne unless she lives in that itty bitty far west coastal corner of Texas around El Paso.(-:
Plus a heads-up about the insanity of Day Light Saving Time. It ends for the USA on November 7th 2010, (fall back) so the clocks will be turned an hour back. Then it begins again on March 13th 2011 (spring forward) )-:
Hi all – I’d like to share some thoughts about the new form of get together on Skype – just as it is seen from my view – just would like you to know how this thought is for me.
I see that what I really love and enjoy in the posting in the village, is that I can take as much time as i like to respond to a post – or not respond. Freedom. No expectations.
There is also a difficulty in communicating on Skype if we dont have all our faces up on the screen – and I also find that I LIKE that I can’t see you – no forms to be caught up in to project my likes/dislikes on. I like that the gravatars are small, and that many of us only have symbols: all of this give me the feeling of freedom: less possibility to judge and be judged. My ego loves to spin up stories about everybody, and most of it is only bs.
I find that I am scared of loosing the wondrous relationships I have with everybody here. If I partake in the group and don’t like it, that will color my further participation in the Village. I I don’t partake, I may feel left out when ya’ll will discuss stuff i havent participated in.
So the first I will do is to forgive myself for these believes, and ask H.S to share His perception.
And it feels good to share with my friends, too.
Sheesh I feel afraid of loosing this community again – now i feel what I felt when Jamie closed the Monastery.
love and hugs
Nina
dear Bernard –
since most of us live in the us and europe, i think we should choose a time that works for everyone in these two places. (also i travel a lot, sometimes on short notice, so best not to plan on a time for me – i really, really want to join in, and i hope the timings works out, but logistically, i’d suggest we plan for just two continents first (:
that being said, i love annie’s idea of a sunday, and oct 17th, and weekends shobha and i are usually up late, so it’s likely easier that i will be able to use her skype account then !! (: (i don’t have a skype account yet)
dear Nina – our realtionships here, are, hopefully, a kind of unconditional friendship and at least for me, regardless of how this all develops, my feelings for our fellow villagers will likely never change in their most fundamental level. (there may be ups and downs, i’m sure, but the basics are safe in my heart…
take care, all…
a
ps. Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler (sp?) – love their music.
Bernard my time is Mountain time, one hour more than Pacific time. Unfortunately for me is absolutely impossible on Monday, Wednesday and Friday the morning schedule, but the rest of the week is perfect. The evening schedule is little bit late for me, one hour before should be great, but if it is very difficult to change that hour I will try to manage it. In my case it is easier in the morning, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday. But the last word is yours because I know you have to see when the majority of us could be free. I could try to adapt to any schedule but Monday, Wednesday or Friday in the morning.
Anil I read the stages about 4 months ago and it is a strong and very helpful book for me.
Hugs and lots of love to all the Village,
Lisi
Nina, I’d like to address your concern because I think it’s probably one we could all have. In fact I had the idea to do these skype meetings some time ago but didn’t think it was the right time, namely for the reasons you mention. There is always the potential that our egos will come along with us into the discussion. It is certainly reasonable to think that this might even change our relationships forever – a bit of a one way street, as you say. But I’d like to reassure you that I don’t think that’s going to happen now, and I think the time is right. I think we need a little movement here at the Village, something to push us along just a little more. Not a lot, not a huge change, but just a little push to get us thinking and working again.
This is a place we come to in order to be together, but also in order to undertake some inner work, to learn to practice a spiritual philosophy which is quite difficult to put into action. I know you all do this on a daily basis in your lives, but my chief work is this place I have created and I would like to make it one where we learn and grow together.
I will add quickly that I don’t think we will have video contact in these meetings, but just verbal/vocal contact. The reason is that video contact slows down the communication a lot. So when we accept an invitation to speak, we’ll just click on the reply button without video. That will give us a lot of contact already, and also a lot of potential for making judgments! And that’s quite okay – we’ll learn to deal with that. We know we’re a family now, which means it’s okay to judge. That’s what we do in families. We don’t stay with our judgment, but we accept that that’s what’s going to happen, and we know in advance that we can deal with it. It’s only judgment, it’s only hate – no big deal. We’ve dealt with all that before, and we’ll deal with it again… and again… and again. And it will get easier, and lighter, and less cumbersome every time. And we’ll all learn to smile and laugh and to take things less seriously. We’re all sensitive – that’s just our natural ego nature. We can’t pretend to be otherwise. But we have made a commitment to learning to look at these sensitivities differently, and remember that what’s really bothering me is always something else, and is never what I think is bothering me. No matter what someone says or implies during these meetings, something that we think is inappropriate or hurtful or insensitive, we’ll know that the real bother is not his or her words – No. It’s always having dropped Jesus’ hand and having taken the ego’s. That’s all. No biggie.
I’m also quite sure that if anyone decides not to participate, then this will really not affect the communication at the Village. I really don’t think there is going to be a division between those who skype and those who don’t. I’m just hoping that this will give us all a little more to talk about at the Village. And as has been suggested, these meetings will probably only be once a month anyway.
Thanks, Anil, for putting your requirements down the pecking list. We’ll come up with something, or perhaps we’ll simply have two different times on different weekends. I do think we’re looking at a weekend date right now. Maybe we should stick with October 17th, although it’s a little further away for a first time than I had planned.
NinaĀ“s post reminded me of my fears. When I had the first session with Jamie I was very joyful but at the same time I was really anxious and worried because as I am not an English native speaker obviously I am not going to be as fluent as I would want. The love and kindness of Jamie really melted down all my fear and the session was great to me and wanted to have more sessions. When Bernard suggested the Village live, at the beginning I felt really happy, but then, again, I remembered, Oh, what if I canĀ“t be as fluent as the rest of my folks? What if I say something wrong, or my pronunciation is inadequate, or someone does not understand me? What if every English word erase from my mind in the moment the meeting begins? I was really anguish, but in that moment the memory of JamieĀ“s kindness and patience made me recover my sanity. And I thought: I think my ego does not want to meet my friends, but I do, and if I am not as fluent as a native speaker, so what? I am not a native speaker and it is okay. Now I will have the opportunity to learn more whenever I make a mistake and I will be very happy to join with all of you at the Fireplace. I donĀ“t know if this is NinaĀ“s problem, as she is Norwegian, or another one, but she is an integral part of this Village and in skype or here at the Village she is always in my heart as the dear sister she is for all of us.
I think BernardĀ“s answer is great, we are free to assist or not because all the Village will love us the same.
Lots of hugs and much love,
Lisi
dear Lisi;
you are such a sweet heart. look forward to talking/hearing/being silent, whatever transpires, as go we live on skype.
love,
a
Hello To Everyone…
Speaking of silence…I’ve been so for several weeks…maybe it is post wedding syndrome? Thank you all so much for keeping me with you. I see my name mentioned now and again. Such dear, dear ones you are.
Brief report on the wedding: The bride was radiant, the groom was dashing, the venue was elegant, all related and unrelated gave hugs all around. Not one person misbehaved, I’m glad to report…not even me!!!! Why have I lurked lately and not posted? Mostly, it’s because I’ve just been snowed…up-to-neck-demanding job, elderly parent issues and a personal relationship issue. Do I hear cheering from you? Thanks! You are so right…I’ve hit a gold mine of forgiveness lessons.
Well, anyway, I’ve been following the latest thread about the Skype meet. Such tenderness with which you all consider each other. It is so good to bask in the glow of your love. I’m feeling the views of just about everyone who has posted about it. A part of me says, “I want to do that!”
Another part says, “What do I have to contribute?” The thing I’m excited
about is the words about some may choose to be silent (which might be me)…
but I’m excited about the idea of “joining.” Been reading the Psychotherapy
pamphlet lately. The joining parts remind me of this group.
Thank you for giving me a home to come back to…you are precious.
Nina,re#917 I have had some of the same concerns as you about my ego running amuck with this skype thing. But then again my ego has run amuck with just posting as we have been doing anyway. I expect that each and everyone of us is going to have ego foibles in one way or another. What makes me mostly O.K. with this is that all of us do “work” the Course and we all have our ups and downs with it and that is normal. We still support each other.
Lisi mentioned fear of not speaking English very well. Here’s my ego opposite of that; Why, oh why can’t I speak another language? Wait till you hear me mangle certain foreign words that are common in English also. Like most any romance language words that have the double ll’s that make the Y sound sandwiched between two other vowels. Tortellini, I eat this stuff no clue as to how it is pronounced. Tomatillo pronounced this as tom-ah-till(L sound)-o for years until I found out it is more like tom-ah-tea-o and I’m still not sure I got that right.
Anyway, I’m sure elation or angst we will forgive. (-: Luvs to all.
Hugs Laura. Welcome back! Here have a cup of tea and relax.
dear Laura –
Welcome back. And what a lovely message you come back with. I’ve been thinking of you every few days since our travels to the Western Hemisphere – i “owe” (: you the story of how my parents came to live in KC,MO. (will certainly get to it at some point)
this Skype thing feels like it will be a good thing. and i agree, Bernard, voice alone is what we need. (video will probably be better after the 2011 Temecula trip (: – or the 2012 one (:
Wow – sleepy now. ‘night all.
a
Voice is all you get with me anyway. My computer is very old. Started out as a 2000, have to plug the mike into the back of the tower. Still have a floppy disc slot fer cryin out loud.
BTW as for my voice I have a deep voice for a girl. My grandmother even would mistake me for my brother on the phone and tele-marketers call me mister alot. LOL
{{{Welcome Back Dearest Laura !!!}}}
Great update on the wedding and you. BTW…which part of Kansas do you live in?
Re skype timing…I’m Pacific Standard time and fine with the suggested 7am on Tues or Thurs or the 10pm time which I think I’d prefer, but happy to go with what works for the majority. Maybe we can alternate?
Thanks for your concern Pam about where we leave our skype addresses’.
Hey Michele, I worry about saying things like that for fear of being taken as a bossy mother hen. Yet, I had my e-mail hacked once and they were sending sex toy spam out in my name. Embarrassing. Found out when they sent to defunct address and it bounced back to my account.)-:
Pam ~
I felt taken care of and saw the wisdom in what you suggested. Way cool you have a low voice and people said mister. Long ago I’d get them asking for my mother.
I’m borrowing a friends Kayak and going out in the full moon tonight. The one that was “mine”, I stowed on pilings in front of my house. No one used it except me & it dissapeared a few months ago.
Way cool a moonlight float.(-:
Okay, I think I’ve found a really good Kenneth workshop for us to begin with. It’s “The Meaning of Judgment”, and it should give us some really interesting stuff to work with. I’m going to create a separate page at the Village for this, and then post summaries (Jamie-style) of each section, of which there are seven. We’ll discuss them in writing via the ponderings, and we’ll also discuss the ideas and principles presented during the “Village Fireside Discussions”. That way there should be something for all of us, for those who just want to write and for those who would like to interact orally. I’ll get to work on the page, and then we’ll set a date for the first group meeting.
Link to the transcript:
http://facim.org/excerpts/s6series.htm
Introduction from the FACIM website:
The Meaning of Judgment
The topic of judgment is at the heart of Jesus’ teachings in A Course in Miracles, and so it should be at the heart of our practice of the Course. As Jesus points out early in the text, the choice to judge is the cause of our loss of peace, and therefore when we meet ourselves and everyone else without judgment we will experience a release and a sense of peace so deep that it will be beyond anything we could possibly imagine (T-3.VI.2:1; 3:1).
So, anyone interested in “something so peaceful it is beyond our imagination”? Sounds okay to me.
Pam…you make the best cup of tea!!! Ahhhh, the kind that feels like a
hug going down…:)
Yes, Anil, you still owe me the story of how your parents have come to be in KC?
Michele…I’m located smack dab in the middle of Kansas. I want to hear the moonlight story from you about the trek onto th water. Any chance?
Bernard…thank you for the opportunity to talk judgment. This is so key to our work. Does anyone else start the day really trying to watch all the judging thoughts and sometimes they come so fast and furious that my watching gets tangled up? Usually, I end up settling for the one I can remember the clearest out of the three or four. Between you and me, I think this just might be an ego trap or sabotage. You have to give it to ego…its got so many tricks…and most of the time I fall for them.
Anyway, going to enjoy the discussion.
Hugs!
LOL Laura…”my watching gets all tangled up.” I resemble that remark! (-: Glad you like the tea.
Bernard, I think you made the perfect choice. And about our study here of KenĀ“s workshops, beginning with the Meaning of Judgement, I think is going to give us a real push in our practice of our beloved path. I think joining all around KenĀ“s teachings– that in reality are JesusĀ“ teachings– will be of great help to all of us to at last find: “something so peaceful it is beyond our imagination.” It sounds okay to me, too.
Ah! and what is perfect is your idea of having the discussion either way we feel comfortable. Live or by ponderings here at the Village. By the way, did you receive my skype address? I invited you and I guess they sent you my address.
Laura and Michelle, it is really a pleasure to have you here again and to know you are going to be part of this new adventure at the Village.
A great Sunday for everyone,
Lots of hugs and much love,
Lisi
Just for the record – Dallas!
Central time!
Me, too. Yes, Bernard, peace beyond my is exactly what i am going for. i’m also thrilled to find that some of Ken’s workshops have transcripts! i didn’t realize that — whoa, great reading ahead.
Good to hear from Michele and Laura! Don’t you love that our chairs are always open and pulled up the fire, no matter where we’ve been off to, or how long we thought it took?
Hugs, katrina
I look away one minute, and look back, and there’s Anne sitting on her chair. heh, heh, i liked that.
Great pic, Anne! And welcome back, Laura. Your chairs are always pulled up here by the fire, whenever you want, as Katrina says.
Michele, gotta find out how that midnight kayak trip went. That sounds too cool for words. Remind me where you live again, so I can picture the surrounds.
Will get to work on the new page, hopefully tomorrow. Been a bit busy.
I’d like to propose a first meeting of the “Village Fireside Chat” this Sunday, October 3rd. This will just be an initial meeting to see if the technology works, to have a chat, and read through some notes. I would then suggest a following meeting two weeks later on October 17th to start work on the “Meaning of Judgment” workshop of Kenneth’s, for those interested. And the only time that really works for everyone is:
LA 7am
Mountain 8 am
Central 9 am
NY 10 am
Paris 4 pm
Singapore 10 pm
I know it’s short notice, and that some of you perhaps won’t be able to make it, but I think it would be good to get things moving, even if it’s just to make initial contact.
Hope your week is starting out well, everyone. Have a great Monday!
Paris time is Oslo time too- I can attend for 20 minutes(maybe in silence after introducing myself) – then I must leave for another date. I am excited about the structure, and hope you will do the necessary leading, Bernard!
Nina, great! I was wondering how you were doing. I promise I will do my best to steer our little boat across the waters, and I know I’m joined by the greatest team of sailor boys ‘n girls.
ay, my Captain!
The timing works for me Bernard. I can’t seem to find anything to type about lately…maybe I’m just getting lazy. Talking might be easier š
I can do that time, if some already schedualed but up in the air plans don’t go through. Only a small chance of the plans landing on that time and day.
Good morning, Annie, i’m sipping coffee with half and half, enjoying the cool morning part of these end of summer scorchers. You, too?
Nina, i got ‘long time not see’ by Carrie Triffet, and am enjoying her honest and open style, as well as all the steps on her journey. i wonder if most Course students are wounded healers. Also picked up a slightly heretical Jacob Glass – the Crabby Angels Chronicles. He is hilarious in his speeches, but the book is more serious. Enjoying both as i prepare to dive into Ken’s Meaning of Judgment.
i’ve got ‘skype’ on my gotta-get-done list for this week. i’m on Pacific daylight time, and i should be up at 7 am next sunday. Bernard, i think i recall that Michele is in Stinson Beach just north of San Francisco. It is a magnificent long white beach strand with the Pacific on one side and Bolinas Bay on the backside. i’m thinking that ‘moorings’ for a kayak are in Bolinas Bay. (Michele, my daughter did her externship for Calif Culinary over at Smiley’s in Bolinas.) Hope your midnight float was serene, AND exciting.
Bernard: Sunday at 8 a.m.– I am on the Mountain time–is okay for me. I am sure it will be a very joyous meeting. We are at the Fireplace and it is a cozy, warm and loving place for all of us.
Hugs to all, Lisi
A new article in the Village Journal on the home page. Many thanks to a particular resident for her open and honest participation in an exchange of emails that gave rise to this article.
I’m really glad that a number of you seem you’ll be able to make our first international Village ‘rendez-vous’ on Sunday. So look forward to it!
I still have to get around to putting up the notes from the Judgment workshop. Ah, if time were only an illusion…
Good morning friends. Bernard I wanted to comment on your new article but it took me to a previous post so I didn’t want to leave a comment there. So I come to my favorite place where my thoughts feel safest (next to the light of the fireplace).
I wanted to say what a labor of love you extended this morning! Thank you. Who of us doesn’t have this issue to some degree and what a perfect place to start for honest dialogue. I have been very aware of hateful thoughts lately. My sense of lightheartness has taken a back seat and just seems to be watching this tantrum playout. I was hoping it would pass quickly but I see now that the expectation adds to the drama.
I think my hateful thoughts are closely associated with my own father issues and how interesting to be openly discussing this topic at this time. (We must be more synchronized than we know) I once wrote my father a letter that was the most honest and bravest dialogue I ever had with him. It didn’t really change our relationship but I felt so much better doing so. I should go pull it out and reread it. If it seems appropriate I will share it with you.
Lots of love to all as we learn to receive as easily as we give.
I am glad you are long winded in the journal and thanks to the sister that gave permission to use her letter.
P.S. The comment link went to a different entry hence my comment here at the fireside. feel free to move later if appropriate.