Mikell's Treasures

It's been almost a month since my last post. I've been retreating, hiding in my shell, the home I carry on my back, like a turtle. Since the flood, a year ago on April 16/17 http://mikellsgems.livejournal.com/2011/05/14/, I have slowly pulled back into the illusion of safety in my shell.


Vulnerable seems to be the word of the week. It was the title of our Easter Service at church - the best sermon I've ever heard. http://www.pinestreet.org/live-stream/  I've read several references to being vulnerable this week, and it was the common thread in tonight's tele-class. 

After class I began to work on the Prosperous Heart by Julia Cameron and found this quote.

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.

The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF GOD for his life and for his ministry. Because of his high respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to TRY to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact...It wasn't long before he realized how impossible it was to do so.

Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to recite the following poem...

Unfolding the Rose

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day.
I will look to him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me,
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.


~ © Darryl L. Brown ~

C. M.

Customer Service Manager

U.S. Small Business Administration

Processing and Disbursement Center

14925 Kingsport Road

Ft. Worth, TX 76155-2243

RE: SBA Disaster Case File No.

I am writing to attest to the fact that individuals affected by the flood waters of April 16, 2011 were never notified of any deadlines for filing of claims.

Those affected by the April 16, 2011 flood were told to attend a workshop at the Lower Allen Township building in early May, 2011.  I attended along with my neighbor, Mikell Worley.  We provided information but to this date never received anything advising us of the status of the grants/loans which would be available.  Actually, since we never received any information I thought that perhaps there was not enough damage to warrant any sort of help.

Mikell told me she contacted your office to inquire and was told the deadline was in July and the information was publicized.

I disagree that this information was publicized.  I receive the daily newspaper and I read it cover to cover daily and never saw any mention of any deadlines for filing.  I thought that after attending the meeting and signing up at the township building we would receive more information as to what our next step would be in the process as well as our eligibility.  I also looked back on the Patriot News website Penn Live to make sure I didn’t miss any notifications posted in the daily paper.  There is nothing on Penn Live either.

Mikell Worley was displaced and not allowed in her home.  She did not find out her home was uninhabitable due to structure issues until late Fall 2011.  She was recently given the okay from the township that she would be able to rebuild.

It is my opinion that in her case she should be given an exception to the deadline due to the fact she did not know what she would be allowed to do along with never receiving any notification of eligibility or deadline requirements while she was awaiting township approval.

Sincerely,

My wonderful neighbor

Ironically, the response from the SBA declining my request for a low interest loan as a result of the April 16 flood, nearly a year ago, was written on my birthday.  They stated that "the deadline had been well publicized.

I attended a meeting at Lower Allen Township in May and never heard anything further - in the mail, from any of the township staff, in the newspaper, radio, television . . . there was never any further mention. 

Three days ago  I celebrated my birthday. This morning a dear friend sent me a text that her husband had a heart attack. I felt moved to revisit this post . . . 

This list was started on January 1, 2011 - the flood came in April.  It may not be what most would have in mind as a blessing, but I am convinced that it will be Five Prayers Answered.  I've made a few notations below on changes as a result of the flood.

January, 2011 - This year my intention is to draw more of the things I LOVE into my life!!! There are so many blessings in my life and instead of focusing on what I don't have, my emphasis will be on what I have in my life and love dearly.  These will not be in any particular order - and I'm not including people in this list. You know who you are!!!! 

1. Taking a deep breath!!! Each precious breath.  And the breath of everyone I love!!!
2. Nature - all aspects of nature are abundant with treasures!
3. Watching the sunrise - how many glorious memories by just remembering sunrises!!!
4. Listening to my puggle, Zippy, snoring.  Yep!  Right now!
5. Watching my beautiful Maine Coon Rocky look annoyed at Zippy's snoring!!!
6. My sewing machine - and needle & thread, knitting needles, crochet hooks My sewing maching was ruined in the flood but thanks to Deb of Pine Street Presbyterian Church, I now have one to borrow for a year from Marla!!!
7. Then there are the fabrics, - brocades, satins, silks, linens, yarns of every texture and color
8. Zumba classes!!!!  Yay Zumba with Sherri!!! What fun!!! 
9. My PT Cruiser that takes me on so many grand adventures - often with Zippy! I'm so glad that I moved my "Monet Mobile" before the flood!
10. Journaling - every morning - Julia Cameron style.  3 pages a day since 2-2003!!! Still journaling daily - it keeps me grounded and sane!
11. Books!!! Oh, how I love to read!!! I could list hundreds of favorites.  Another list!!! I saved the ones in my office upstairs but lost so many on the ground floor . . . Thank heavens for those I saved! Some day I'll do an entire post on my favorites!!!
12. Travel! I've been SO blessed to travel!! I could make an entire list out of travel!!!
13. Helping people find their gifts!!!  People amaze me with their talent - and often they don't even recognize it!!!
14. Music!!!  Isn't there SO much to LOVE in this world!!! Think of it!! Another ENDLESS list!!!
15. Creativity!  The creative process as it relates to EVERYTHING! The way we live, think, eat, dress . . .
16. Art - enjoying the work others have created! Again - endless - from crafts to superlative workmanship to fine arts. Love Love LOVE it!
17. Making art - painting, drawing, dancing, singing, sewing, blowing glass, woodcarving, making collages . . . 
18. Loving that each thing i mention can be its own list!!!
19. Healthy Living!!! (see #8) I can decide every day how I'll eat and exercise!  What a blessed gift!!!
20. I'm a lover of FUN! JOY! BLISS!!!
21. Words!!! Oh, words just make me squeal with delight!!!  What we can do with them is endless!!!
22. The alphabet!  Wow!!! Only 26 letters 'can be arranged and rearranged to fill the Library of Congress! 
23. Hat!  Think of all the hats and all they've been used for - practical, working, PURE fun, over the top fashion!
24. Shoes. Oh, treasured shoes.  Shoe will I be today?  All depends on what I put on my feet!!!
25. COLORS!!!! Oh, my!!! From mango to sage green, teal to the color of his eyes!!!I LOVE color!!!
26. Play!!! Think of it!!!  All of the games - board games, track and field, playground games, antique toys . . .
27. Trees - to climb in, for shade, look at that luscious pear!!! A Christmas Tree.  Bonsai . . . another list!!!
28. Teeth.  Mine - oh, how I love to eat!!! Animal teeth - how about the snail, Floyd Super Reader? lol  Say Ahh! The Teeth Book!!!
29. Speaking of super heros!!! Wonder Woman, Bat Man, the Tick, Spider Man . . . make up your own! Who would it be?
30. Jewelry!! Symbolism - Commitment - Heritage - BLING!!! Beauty!!! Bracelets, Necklaces, Rings, Toe and Ear on and on . . . 
31. Wildflowers!!!  I adore finding wildflowers in the spring!!! Trilliums, Spring Beauties, Lady's Slippers!!!
32. Design!  Patterns!!! They're every where!!! On the sand, leaves in a tree, ferns, bark . . . 
33. Fairytales - The Princess and the Pea, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Happily ever after! 
34. Poetry!!  I grew up pining for Byron, Shelley, Keats, Tennyson - now my favorite poet is JASON MOFFITT!!!!!
35. Water!!! When we're thirsty, that is all there is!!! Then there are streams, lakes, the ocean, rain Lol!  And the flood . . .  God works in mysterious ways.  I truly believe that everything is for the best, even if we don't understand it at the time.
36. And snow, ice, gas, steam - water takes so many forms it should have TWO mentions.  Baths!!!
37. Sandy and Terry - the best neighbors on the planet!!! Having you to commiserate with about the flood gave me hope, strength and courage. You guys are the best!
38. Liz!!!! Wow! Wow! Wow! Not only have you opened your Healing Home to me, but also to my Zippy dog and Rocky cat!!! Thank you!!!
39. Elves, leprechauns, brownies, pixies - all the little people who help when we aren't looking!!! 
40. Laces!!! There's tatting, clunky cluny lace, crocheted lace, cotton, silk, on petticoats, hats, shoe laces!!!
41. Blogs!!! I can get lost for HOURS in all of those fabulous blogs!! Treasures? Oh, absolutely!!!
42. Keeping it all together!! Exquisite buttons, Chinese frogs, funky Zippers, 
43. Symbols!!! Imagine!!! The Cross, Om, dollar sign, logos, fleur-de-lis . . .
44. Herbs!!!  I adore herbs - cooking with them, drinking herbal teas, holistic medicines, herbal baths, potpourris, herbal crafts - those flavors, fragrances, herbal lore, medicines, tisanes, 
45. Humor!!! Laughter is so healing!!! Jokes, Comedians, Dave Barry! 
46. Take ANY shape - ovals - a face, an egg, an oval ring, perfume bottle,  - now try a square, triangle, rectangle, abstract, octagon and on and on . . . 
47. Weeds! A plant whose virtue HAS been discovered!  From Burdock to velcro, foxglove to digitalis, 
48. Stars!!! They are everywhere!!! Not just in the sky but in designs, inside an apple, and in their eyes
49. Musical instruments - guitars, pianos, the french horn, a harp, the harmonica, humming, a voice!!!
50. Stones!  "Indoor stones and outdoor stones", right Sandi?  from jewelry to fireplaces to palaces . . . and when we add all of the energies and symbolism . . . 
51. Birds!!! So much beauty - from herons to robins, ravens to eagles - singing, flying, on the wing!!!
52. Wings!!!! Angel wings, butterfly wings, dragonfly wings, bird wings, wing back chairs, airplane wings . . . 
53. Trains and boats and planes and skateboards and skis and buses, cars, cruise liners, sailboats . . . I went on my  first cruise with CARRIE for an art class from Michael's Crafts called Where Creativity Happens on the high seas - in October!!!
54. Hey you guys!!!!! I haven't even mentioned chocolate!!! I live minutes away from Hershey, PA, the Sweetest Place on Earth!!!!!! where my daughter Mycenea was born! Dark, milk, white, cocoa, melted, ice cream And where my dear friend Marion lives who let me 'house sit' for her sheep and llamas as an excuse for me to have a lovely vacation! Thank you Marion!!!
55. Or berries!!! Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, elderberries . . . 
56. The earth! It nurtures everything that grows!! And we can use clay to make pottery - there's another list!, the colors to make dye! Some of the most beautiful pigments are from the soil in towns in Italy - Burnt Sienna, Raw Umber . . .
57. My dear friends at Pine Street Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, PA! They have sent prayers, brought meals and extended thoughfulness, generosity and kindness in so many ways!!!! Thank you Pine Street Family!!! 
58. My online artist communities - MMM, ACT, Daring Dreamers!!! You have wrapped your arms around me and lifted me to a better place and I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

What a completely unexpected and delightful surprise!!!  What a wonderful way to begin 2012!!! Thank YOU, Jo!!!

E-mail from Jo - sent 1-6-12

In spite of the flood - or maybe because of it - as I look back on 2011, it has been one of the best years of my life!!!! I have been blessed with new friends,loving support from family and friends, great love and generosity, dreams come true and a new extended family!!! Wishing everyone a joyful and abundant 2012! 

Liz's granddaughter Olivia Grace arrived this morning! What a precious angel!!!!!

Sara and Michael met Clarence - the conversation was lively and the food was divine!!!!

Anbria celebrated her 21st birthday - a few weeks ago I wouldn't have believed she's live to see it. What a joy to see the family and our precious Bri so surrounded by love.

Anbria, Angela, Chandra, Nicole, Lillian, Maritza, Pat, Pearl, Phyllis, Brandi . . . how blessed I am to have all of you in my life.  You have taught me love, courage, compassion and faith. I love each of you dearly.