Soul: Spirit's Springtime

A new day has dawned,
Now is the time for renewal
The weary may have yawned
They now work to polish each jewel

The blossoming tree
And the wilting flower
Abide in harmony
Shaded by the same tower

Those that seek direction
Look within first
And find truth in reflection
For more, they thirst

Roots spread out and deep
Into that which grounds them
Quenched and nourished, clarity they reap
Once a stone, now seemingly a gem

And whilst they were turned within, with care
The sun still shone radiantly down
And although that flower may not have been aware
It's petals no longer did frown

To harvest, one must sew
A crop so fruitful, one may find
To reap, one must hoe
Must love, be patient and kind.

Mind: Spring into Action

A blank piece of paper
Bright crayons within grasp
Images crisp and clear
A mind does clasp

A new day, a new dawn
Sky blue, grass green
Signs of birth and renewal
A vibrant scene

A bird's tweet at dawn
Children playing in the playground
Tunes energetic and upbeat
A hopeful and optimistic sound

A kite in the sky, a ball on the field
Bare feet brushing through grass
Tokens of joy and recreation
A smirk, a smile, some sass

A mother fills her pot with plants
Fathers tune up bikes and get out tools
Emblems of love and anticipation
A warmth felt as the wind cools

A farmer prepares for the annual yield
Accountants plan and forecast
Efforts intense and concentrated
A fish is caught if the line is well cast

A list of goals and steps to take
Excitement gleaming in eyes
Skills honed and strengthened
A vision of soaring through skies

Body: For the Love of God

No Really...We do it for the Lord. When you lift, when you run, when you lunge -- your spirit and mind are filled with energy as you test your body beyond it's capacity. During the fast, I urge you to continue to push your body beyond the limits of comfort -- you may be surprised what what you are capable of.

"Grant, O my Lord, that this fast may become a river of life-giving waters and may yield the virtue wherewith Thou hast endowed it. Do Thou accept all that we have done for love of Thee..." —Bahá’u’lláh

Please share your workouts during the fast in the comments below.

With Him, all things are made possible -- wishing you wellness and fitness for many days, months, and years to come.

I will start us off -- last night the hour of fast breaking was around 6pm, having had no drink or food since 6:45am, I took a sip of water at the fast breaking hour and headed to Boot Camp for 45min, then 30min Elliptical Interval training, and then 30min Kettlebells routine. I then drove home, put my daughter to bed, and broke the Fast with a vegetable soup at 8:35pm. -- For the Love of God.

Soul: Gift of Cheer and Virtues

Jamilah brought gifts to her school for Ayyam-i-Ha... those gifts were:

A Radiant Smile of Joy and Cheer
A Mom to Read
A Book about Ayyam-i-Ha
Crowns and Virtues to Adorn them With
Playdough Tubs for Each Child
Description for the Parents

For Books about Ayyam-i-Ha, please visit http://www.enablemetogrow.com/2012/02/18/ayyam-i-ha-books/

We used a version of Isabella Ruiter's book and would definitely recommend it. After reading the story, we talked about how God gave us the gifts of virtues which are like jewels on the crowns of our hearts. We then  decorated crowns -- for this project, you just need the below mentioned crowns, virtues, sequins, glue sticks, plates for the sequins and virtues, and masking tape to secure the crown in the correct fitting around the child's head once they have decorated it. As we taped the crown, we read the virtues the child had selected to them. When the crowns were complete and  each child was proudly wearing their virtues, they lined up to receive gifts from Jamilah since her holiday is a gift-giving holiday. She gave each child a play-dough to take home. We then slipped the descriptions for the parents into the childrens' take-home folders -- also included below.

For the Crowns:
I took posterboard and cut 4-5" strips along the 22" side so each strip was 4-5" x 22".
I then cut the zig zags down the middle of each strip to make two crowns. Each posterboard makes 12-14 crowns depending on how tall you would like the crowns. The 22" width of posterboard is perfect length to fit toddlers and preschoolers' heads.

For the Virtues:
I printed the following onto colorful cardstock and cut out each virtue/jewel.

Description for Parents:

HAPPY AYYAM-I-HA!

Ayyam-i-Ha (Days of Joy) is a Baha’i holiday and gift-giving time that is celebrated Feb 26 - Mar 1^st. The Baha’i calendar is composed of 19 months of 19 days in each month. To align with the Gregorian calendar, there are 4-5 ‘intercalary’ days (5 if a leap year) that bring the total number of days to 365. Baha’is celebrate the holiday by providing “good cheer for themselves, their kindred and, beyond them, the poor and needy.” They also use this time to prepare for the 19-day fating period beginning Mar 2^nd. Jamilah’s family wanted to share their holiday with their friends at Sunshine Valley. We hope the kids enjoy the gifts and crowns!

Body: Firms The Abs

Ayyam-i-Ha, the days of Joy
The days of Ha, Time to enjoy
We are called to "provide good cheer"
And most certainly without wine or beer

Enjoy a cookie, share a smile
Wear confidence with style
Turn to the Lord for He is good
May his light shine o'er your 'hood

The sound of joy can be heard for miles
Laughter rings out veiling life's trials
It warms the heart and firms the abs
Transforming those confronting the drabs

Squat and stand your ground
Breathe, tranquility found
Laugh, stretch, and release
You may have found inner peace

Mind: Perfection

Today is Mon, Feb 27, 2012 or in the Baha'i calendar it is Kamal (Perfection), 2nd Day of Ayyam-i-Ha, 168BE -- and on this day of Perfection, I will share briefly some reflections on this word/characteristic.

Perfection is a virtue of God
Then why does it cause frustration?
Virtues open hearts and open doors
Then why does perfection create barriers?

This morning, my daughter sat at the kitchen table.
Marker in hand, ready to take on the paper
(or the back of a Junior Youth Group book as the case may have been)
She was to draw a girl -- a very specific girl
With a specific curve to her chin and forehead
Very straight hair that had a specific curve in her ponytail
With a very specific glance in her eyes
And the very first girl face she drew... she was pleased with
She called me over with such excitement in her eyes
She had drawn the outline of a girl's face of which she was actually pleased
There was one problem, she had drew this girl on the back of a Junior Youth Group book
I gently suggested that she try to recreate the girl on a piece of paper
Not knowing at the time, what a test/challenge I was presenting her with
A few minutes later I returned to that same daughter
That had been so filled with joy a few minutes ago
Completely distraught and frustrated
With about 15 or more imperfect ovals and attempts to draw hair
Spread across the page like lilypads on a still pond
Disappointment and frustration filled the air
These attempts to draw girls were far from perfect
And this child strives for perfection
Act, reflect, encourage, encourage, encourage.
Sound familiar? Perhaps to some.
Now came my test, it was so very important that I demonstrated patience
Perseverance, encouragement, and the waiver to failure
She asked me if I could draw a girl -- I told her it would't be perfect, was that ok?
And at first, she stated that it wasn't --  it was not ok to not be perfect...
But she came around and allowed me to 'do my best work.'
And a few minutes later, she did her best work also
Still disappointed, still somewhat sad.
I encouraged her to cut out the one she had put so much hard work into
And she instantly got a rush of joy in thinking she could gift it to someone at school
She eagerly cut out that little girl, wrote her name on the back,
And proudly took that imperfect girl to school with her
Having planned to hand it to a teacher that would come to school later in the day
She noticed the new girl, Lucy, playing on her own,
And decided to give it to her instead.

Perfection was not attained, but progress was made that morn.

Soul: Fast

Today, on Ash Wednesday, for many Christians around the world, begins the fasting period of Lent.
Next week, on March 2nd, following the joyous days of Ha (Ayyam-i-Ha), for many Baha'is around the world, also begins a fasting period.

Regarding fasting, ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, has written:

"Ye had written of the fasting month. Fortunate are ye to have obeyed the commandment of God, and kept this fast during the holy season. For this material fast is an outer token of the spiritual fast; it is a symbol of self-restraint, the withholding of oneself from all appetites of the self, taking on the characteristics of the spirit, being carried away by the breathings of heaven and catching fire from the love of God."

I pray that those fasting receive the bounties and grace of God as a result of their sacrifice, obedience, determination, and love for God.

Body: Twists and Turns

On sister, on brother
Strands wrap
Around one another

Each going in different ways
Amassed
Progressing as one with few strays

Individually a strand
Together strong
Halts a combing hand

Twists and turns
Life’s road meets
Thorns and ferns

A breeze rustles through
With a lift and a bounce
Personality shines true

Sitting patient and proud
Formed and shaped
Definition both tame and loud

Each day different than the one before
But one thing for sure
The same dimples, the same smile to explore

You may glance, you might stare
Story of life can be found
In the twist and turns of that hair

Soul: What is Love?

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION:

What a power is love! It is the most wonderful, the greatest of all living powers. Love gives life to the lifeless. Love lights a flame in the heart that is cold. Love brings hope to the hopeless and gladdens the hearts of the sorrowful.

In the world of existence there is indeed no greater power than the power of love. When the heart of man is aglow with the flame of love, he is ready to sacrifice all—even his life. In the Gospel it is said God is love. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Paris Talks, pp. 179-181)

Know thou of a certainty that Love is the secret of God's holy Dispensation, the manifestation of the All-Merciful, the fountain of spiritual outpourings. Love is heaven's kindly light, the Holy Spirit's eternal breath that vivifieth the human soul. Love is the cause of God's revelation unto man, the vital bond inherent, in accordance with the divine creation, in the realities of things. Love is the one means that ensureth true felicity both in this world and the next. Love is the light that guideth in darkness, the living link that uniteth God with man, that assureth the progress of every illumined soul. Love is the most great law that ruleth this mighty and heavenly cycle, the unique power that bindeth together the diverse elements of this material world, the supreme magnetic force that directeth the movements of the spheres in the celestial realms. Love revealeth with unfailing and limitless power the mysteries latent in the universe. Love is the spirit of life unto the adorned body of mankind, the establisher of true civilization in this mortal world, and the shedder of imperishable glory upon every high-aiming race and nation. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 27)

The love of God has brought us together, and this is the best of means and motive. Every other bond of friendship is limited in effectiveness, but fellowship based upon the love of God is unlimited, everlasting, divine and radiant. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 442)

It is He Who created you from a single person, and made his mate of like nature, in order that he might dwell with her in love. (The Qur’án, 7:189)

In short, whatsoever thing is arranged in harmony and with love and purity of motive, its result is light, and should the least trace of estrangement prevail the result shall be darkness upon darkness…. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 88)

…The love which exists between the hearts of believers is prompted by the ideal of the unity of spirits. This love is attained through the knowledge of God, so that men see the Divine Love reflected in the heart. Each sees in the other the Beauty of God reflected in the soul, and finding this point of similarity, they are attracted to one another in love. This love will make all men the waves of one sea, this love will make them all the stars of one heaven and the fruits of one tree. This love will bring the realization of true accord, the foundation of real unity. But the love which sometimes exists between friends is not (true) love, because it is subject to transmutation; this is merely fascination. As the breeze blows, the slender trees yield. If the wind is in the East the tree leans to the West, and if the wind turns to the West the tree leans to the East. This kind of love is originated by the accidental conditions of life. This is not love, it is merely acquaintanceship; it is subject to change. Today you will see two souls apparently in close friendship; tomorrow all this may be changed. Yesterday they were ready to die for one another, today they shun one another’s society! This is not love; it is the yielding of the hearts to the accidents of life. When that which has caused this “love” to exist passes, the love passes also; this is not in reality love. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Paris Talks, pp. 179-181)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. …Love never fails…(The Bible: 1 Corinthians 13:4, 5, 8)


MY REFLECTION:
Love is...
Turning towards God and seeking to do that which is right
Chanting prayers in times of joy and in times of pain
Giving hugs and kisses with praise and with compassion
Striving to better one's self, family, and community
Lending a hand selflessly to aid others
Smiling at strangers that cross your path
Taking a moment to reflect and appreciate
Looking for the positives in each and in all
Seeking the blessings in times of tests
Listening with understanding and empathy
Expressing with tact and sincerity
Sharing a meal or a heart-warming treat
Encouraging loved ones with wisdom to act or to yield
Thinking of others before oneself
Prioritizing love and unity before all else.

Mind: Creative Valentines

 

Materials needed:

Template (below) 

Card Stock - Red, Green

Red Tissue Paper

Scissors

Glue Stick

Lollipop
Pen for writing name

Instructions:

HEART

1. Print Template on Red Card Stock -- 6 per page

2. Cut out each heart Template, fold in half, and cut a 5mm slit in the grass, open the heart back out

3. Child's name is written below the From: 

LEAVES

1. Cut Green Card Stock lengthwise into 2" wide strips.

2. Fold each Green Card Stock strip in half and cut leaf shapes -- make sure that 2-3mm of the leaf shape is on the fold to allow for each leaf to be able to fold around Lollipop stick -- set leaves aside

ROSE

1. Cut Red Tissue Paper into Circles (2-3" Diameter depending on size of lollipop)

2. Cut small curved slits all the way around the circle to make petals

3. Fold Red Tissue Paper circles in half and make a little cut in the middle 

4. Insert lollipop stick into the middle of two circles (adjust one of the circles around so they are not exactly aligned on top of each other)

5. Fold a green leaf (pre-cut above) around the lollipop (about 1" from bottom of stick) and glue leaf together 

ASSEMBLY

1. Insert Rose into the slit in the Heart

2. Glue leaf to the Heart -- be careful not to cover any of the writing

CHILDREN CAN THEN ENJOY SHARING THESE WITH THEIR FRIENDS!

EXAMPLE:

ALSO SEE FOLLOWING LINK FOR THE 2013 VALENTINE IDEA:
http://fastfunfit.blogspot.com/2013/02/mind-creative-valentines-2013.html