Well, I did it.

Last night I made the announcement at yoga class that I was changing things. gasp. I had decided that the evening classes at CCPC just weren't popular. CCPC is a very busy congregation, they have meetings and more meetings and the congregants are tired from being out of their houses every night. So, I worked all day and agonized over how can I serve them? And I came up with a new schedule and was really excited about it. I announced it to my first class-- they were happy. Next class starts rolling in. Biggest class at CCPC that I've had in a while. Rut Roh. Where have these people been? I instantly start feeling really guilty. Considering this is the class that is disappearing... this class has been going since February 2004.... I REALLY didn't want to give up this class. But the few who come to it regularly have been murmuring about how empty it feels..... and I told the "boys" I would make changes so they could play softball and not miss yoga....

ARRRRGHHHH

This is what keeps me stuck. Trying to please everyone all the time. Truth is: The changes I have made will give most people more opportunity to keep up their practice. In fact, those who do yoga regularly will be able to do it 2 or 3 times a week now which is much better than just once and infinitely better than occasionally. To really get the benefits of yoga it needs to be consistent and regular....

Linda, you did the right thing. People will make time if they want to. You have tons of offerings, it isn't as if you don't try. Okay. Deep Yoga Breath.

I don't like to let anyone down. This all means the world to me. Obviously.

I really am excited about my new schedule. And almost everyone was too. And I am always available for private and semi private classes. It will be fine.

I'm also really excited about my new Intenders offering...I'm gonna start a group that uses the law of attraction, meditation and positive energy to effect change in their lives and in our world. I mean honestly, what could be better than that?

New Schedule:

Mondays 10:30am Yoga @ WG
Mondays 1:30pm **Yoga @ CCPC
Wednesdays 10:30am Yoga @ WG
Thursdays 5:30pm ** Gentle Yoga @ CCPC
Thursdays 7pmAll Level Yoga @ CCPC
Fridays:9:30am-11:30am ** Yoga, Meditation & Discussion@ Linda's Spirit Center

**New Classes**

There, see, that wasn't so bad now was it?

Just a song before I go...

Have been busy, busy. Got the wild idea that we had to have a yard sale this weekend since it's the only weekend in the next 2 months that we would be home. Unfortunately, I didn't get that Idea til last Thursday. Trying to get a yard sale together in 2 days when I also had an event Friday night was.... well.... I don't want to say stupid because I don't like to be mean to myself, so I'll just say ambitious. Probably crazy is the correct word but it seems overused in my world lately.

Being present in the moment is a wonderful experience. The more I do it, the more I love it. I've spent more moments in the present in the last 5 years than I did in my first 30. (think about that statement for awhile) So much stress, so much ambition, so much baggage gets thrown away in the present moment. No past, no future, just now. Until your gaze focuses on a calendar. YIKES! The present became the future!!! And I wasn't ready! LOL!

So, we somehow threw it all together. We were not very profitable. And even the yard salers were unimpressed. Digression: Aren't yard salers a different breed altogether? Eternal optimists. Searching for gold in other people's cast offs. It was so interesting to chat with them and see the stuff of mine that's been sitting in an attic for years that they want to have sit in their houses. Or attics. Or sell at their next yard sale.

Anyway, the good news Feng Shui wise is that we got rid of a ton of baggage. Not just by selling it which frankly, I don't like to do, usually just give it away but with this whole college thing looming.... but we threw out a bunch and were happy to see the trash pickers take off a bunch and we got a notice that Purple Heart is coming and they can take the rest. Still a bit of stuff we would like to sell so:

Anyone need a large dog crate, garage door, truck cap, unused basketball hoop, ice cream maker, 10 gallon fish tank, gas grill or 4000 books?

Just let me know. I can leave the price tags on if you'd like to skip the middle and just put it straight out for your yard sale.

Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to work I go.....

Dear Reverend Miller,

When we got home from yoga Tuesday night, 2 of my favorite people in the world were waiting for me. They had just recently gotten engaged and I was very excited to see them and congratulate them and see the RING!!! These two kids hold a special place in my heart because they were instrumental in making some of the plays I've done extraordinary. I became really close to them when doing "Children of Eden". Matt's portrayal of God was inspirational-- and Jaime's Yonah was a work of art. That whole cast became so close but I really felt a strong bond with Matt since he had just directed Joseph for PGSTT and this was my first REAL Directing gig. I had done a lot of back seat directing and art directing and producing but was stepping out on a limb and taking a front seat... Matt would come by and put his hand on my shoulder when things went just the way we wanted them to and he would nod in his knowing God way and let me know that it was going to be good. We worked together as co-directors on "Into the Woods" and later did "Love Song" and he and Jaime were just so willing to help and do & be all that I asked-- I just love working with them!

We've spent many a "Miller Movie Night" with them and gone to their plays and they just feel like family, you know? Jaime is just so sweet and loving-- an extra daughter, I am so excited for them that they are going to be married. And I was so thrilled when Jaime texted me and let me know right away, it's so cool to feel a part of it. Little did I know...

So, after all the hugs and oohhs and ahhhs, Matt & Jaime ask if they can speak with me alone in the Spirit Room. I'm thinking uh oh, there's something bad about PGSTT doing JCS... or ... well, I don't really know what I was thinking but it seemed really bad... sort of like being called to the principal's office...

We sit down.

Matt: Linda, you know we hold you in very high esteem, right?

Me: gulp, Yes?

Jaime: Would you do us the honor of marrying us?

Me: WHAT??? OH MY GOSH!!! REALLY???

And then of course, YES but wait a minute, I'm not a Reverend. Well, I wasn't....

They had done some research and found out in the state of Maryland that an online ordination is legal and since Matt is Catholic and Jaime is Jewish and their own churches/synagogues won't marry them (how silly) they want to create their own sacred space and have me do the ceremony and vows. Me. I don't mind telling you, I was completely touched. Like to tears. Like even now. Talk amongst yourselves. I said to them, "are you sure you want me? you know I'm gonna cry" They both just laughed and assured me that was okay. "we know". Of course, they've seen me cry many times before... I feel things deeply OK? Sheesh.

So, I went online and applied for ordination from the Universal Life Church (seems fitting) and received this email last night:

Dear Rev. Miller ,

This is to confirm that

Linda Gail Miller

has been ordained as a minister of the
Universal Life Church, Modesto, California.

Date of Ordination: 04/23/08
by Kevin Andrews, Pastor

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I like that they didn't even spell out Reverend. I'm more like a Rev. I did a bit of research myself and found out that not only can I perform marriage ceremonies, I can do baptisms, renewal of vows, and even funerals. It seems a bit crazy. But if GOD asks you to become a Reverend.... I mean, how are you going to say no?

I hope I do them justice. I hope I don't cry my eyes out. I hope they know how much I love them both. And I hope they have a happy life together.

Since I'm a Reverend now, does that mean my prayers have a more direct line??? Just kidding. And don't worry, you can still call me just plain old Linda. LOL!

One last thing: why am I overcome with the desire to do a play now?

Happy Earth Day!

I would plant a tree but I don't think I have any more space... in fact, did I tell you BGE was here the other day and they are taking out a bazillion trees in my back yard? A humongous poplar!! How in the heck are they going to take out a poplar? If I knew anything about estimating height, I would say it's 500 feet tall! Course I don't know anything about it so you'll just have to use your imagination. Barry says it's probably at least 100 years old. Wonder if he knows anything about estimating age?

I digress.

He was at work when they came by and I knew he would freak out so I sent him a video of which trees they marked to cut but it wouldn't send so I had to put in on my xanga. (Blogger...ugh.) If you would like to be bored to tears...or outraged if you're a tree hugger like us....you can view it here:

http://video.xanga.com/YoLinda

It's sort of funny, seems like Big Foot will appear at any minute...but alas, nothing but the sound of other trees being cut down in the distance. And my feet crunching the leaves, but my feet are small.

Again I digress.

At first I was really upset about them cutting down this tree. In fact, I still am. When we first bought this house 25 years ago, BGE came out and started butchering my trees. I had a big ole argument with them and ended up coming out with my german shepherd and making them get out of my yard or else!!! Now that I have grown up (sort of) I can understand why they want to cut them, they have been under all sorts of heat around here with people losing power and being really upset that it's not turned on immediately, people round here hate to be inconvenienced for a minute of their lives. It's a double edged sword cause we want the trees but trees get old and fall down. And we want power. Especially since we are paying out the butt for it.

Total digression: OMG Have you seen the price of electricity lately???? We are going to end up living by candlelight and cooking over a fire... JEEESH!!! How do they expect people to pay THAT?

Anyway. I don't want them to cut the tree because it's a living thing and it shouldn't be ours to cut. But I don't want the tree to come down on our house either. And they are willing to do it for free. Well, free in that our electric bills will probably skyrocket even more. It's hard being a grown up who understand that idealism doesn't pay your bills.

Tell that to Cory who went running out with a large knife when he saw the orange tags to cut them off. Sigh. Course he's never paid an electric bill in his life. Yet....

Go on out there today and hug a tree. And don't forget to recycle. And for goodness sakes, don't throw your trash out your car window-- were you raised by bears??? What is up with that?

Namaste' Earth!

And Happy Birthday Jami!!!

Think we should start building an ark?

Secrets Revealed

For years I have had my own little chuckle in my garden. I have always planted parsley, sage, rosemary & thyme in a row, either in planter boxes or sometimes in the ground. When people ask for the "grand tour" (or should I say when I badger them into taking it) I just sweep my hands across them ala Vanna White and say, "oh these are just some herbs", all the while secretly hoping that someone would get my little joke. Sometimes I can't resist and will tell good friends but for the most part I just chuckle to myself or begin whistling Scarborough Fair....

I know.... I am easily amused.

Yesterday I had the best time. For my Restorative Yoga Retreat Day I gave each of the attendees a clay pot filled with my little chuckle. I was positively giddy about it. I made a little sign since my seedlings are really small and it's very early in the season yet for anyone to be able to identify what's in them.... unless you know what to look for.... It's pathetic how much fun I have thinking of these people having my chuckle on their patios. Will they tell? Or will they whistle and see if anyone gets it? Course the little sign is a dead giveaway....

It was a beautiful day yesterday, warm and relaxing....ahhhh....I love my job. I love that people want to come and play in my back yard. Mmmm....

Are you going to Scarborough Fair.....?

Thoughts from the last week

Yesterday I planted my birdhouse gourds, cilantro and some cosmos that I started way too early and that needed desperately to get in the ground. We aren't past the last frost date but I'm gonna have to take my chances. The Mammoth Sunflowers that I stupidly began in February (what the heck was I thinking?) have already bit the dust. Thank goodness I didn't plant all my seeds--will just stick them in the ground, they will be fine. Got a ton of planting left but am trying to contain myself so my guests actually have food and a clean place to eat it tomorrow. :)

The wisteria is going to bloom again! It has buds all over it. Right now the dogwoods, redbud, still some daffodils, candytuft, bleeding hearts are in big bloom. Coming up are the snowball, climbing hydrangea, tulips, clematis, and the azaleas.... It's so hard to do anything but stick my hands in dirt right now.... but it has to be outdoor dirt... not indoor dirt. Hence the quandary of Spring at the Miller's.

The dog is shedding. Again. And OMG, we are going to kill the cat. Seriously. She is almost 17 years old, usually around this time we keep her indoors because she has always been a mad killer type cat (part Maine Coon) and the bunny babies are everywhere. We figured that she's so old now, she wouldn't be able to catch them. We figured wrong. One minute she's laying by the pond all innocent like (even let a titmouse land right on the branch over her head) and the next minute I hear that dreadful squeal of a poor animal that crossed her wretched path. We all spring into action! I run for her, yelling to scare the animal away... too late of course, she already had it in her mouth. The minute she sees me she jumps up the fence and is standing there looking at me with this baby bunny who's as big as her dangling out of her mouth. Rhia joins the hunt and we start trying to save the bunny. The cat jumps onto the roof with the bunny still intact! So much for old age. She looks at us triumphantly. We call her names I won't repeat.

So not to be outdone, Rhia runs up the stairs into Cory's room (who is oblivious) and climbs out his window while he's yelling at her "whaaaaaaaat the ?????" Standing on the roof, pointing her finger sternly at the cat "DROP IT!!!!! DROP ITTTTT!!!!!!" Ever the dutiful mom, I hand her a stick to poke at the cat with.

If you were one of the 50 people who almost crashed as you drove by our house yesterday wondering what in the heck that girl was doing on the roof poking at a cat with a bunny it's mouth and a woman wringing her hands on the ground saying "just leave it, no get it, is it alive?, I hate that cat, that's it we are killing her, can you get the bunny? no just leave the bunny alone and let her finish it I don't want it to suffer anymore than it has to, here's a bigger stick ooooo I hate that cat!!!!!" We apologize.

This did not end well. And of course, the dog was freaking out. "want me to get her, do you, do you, cause you know I been wanting to, I'll get her, let me at her, let me at her, hey is that bunny, mmmmm bunny would taste good right about now..."

This is Springtime at the Miller's too.

We have two frogs though. And about 5 new fish. Oh and a Great Blue Heron showed up the other day. Another round of screaming and running around "where's the camera OMG is that a heron or a crane, wow look at that, wait are the fish okay? did he poke a hole in the pond liner AGAIN?"

So much for peace and quiet. Gotta go-- it's warming up. I apologize in advance to my restorative guests....

Have you been outside yet?

It's beautiful. It's sparkling. Get out there. Now.

(Just tell your boss I said it was okay)

Everything is soooooo green!

Wild, Wild Life Part Two

This is the college my daughter is going to in the fall. We just got back from a whirlwind mini tour of the whole area. The campus is lovely, tucked away in the Black Mountains of North Carolina. The college is very liberal arts based, the professors are awesome, the curriculum is great, worship is AMAZING, everything is perfect. Cept the whole her leaving me thing. That sort of become a tad too real....

`

It's beautiful there, quiet and peaceful. The students look you in the eye and smile. Some even talk to you, without any hesitation. It's like another world. No wonder she wants to go....

After the Open House we went on a whirlwind tour of North Carolina searching for waterfalls.

`

We found some. Alot. I would show you all of them but Blogger is really temperamental to me when I download pics and frankly, I just don't have the patience to deal with it... So here's a few.

`

This is the bottom of Whitewater Falls, it reminded me of my favorite falls in Oregon, Proxy Falls. It's very large (411 feet) and we got to walk right down to it.

This is Bridal Veil Falls. You used to be able to drive your car under it but fortunately they closed the road so we got to get out and walk under it. It was really cool, as you can see we had a ton of fun playing in it.

`

We spent hours trying to get to the top of Mount Mitchell on Saturday but the roads were closed so we got good and lost and found so many cool little streams and places to climb rocks...

The next day, Barry was DETERMINED to reach the top of Mount Mitchell since it's the highest point on the East Coast so on our way home he had mapped out a new route to get around the closures. Talk about the long and winding road! It's a little scary with all the twists and turns and ear popping but here we are, almost there....notice how balmy it is...and if you look out in the distant you may see the snow squalls on the peak....

We made it! The temperature dropped to 23 degrees and there was a swirling 50 mph snow storm but we made it! Brrrr... It was exhilarating!

`

There was a mile or two hike to get to the actual peak but we were frozen so we decided this was close enough.

It was beautiful there. Silent. Still.

`

Mmmm. Deep Breath.

`

No sound but the wind through the frozen branches...

`

We took the long way home (13 Hours!) Found another waterfall (Linville Falls) that we had to hike back in the woods another mile, fortunately it was a balmy 40 degrees at that elevation. It was awesome.

`

Didn't get home til after 1am. Exhausted, elated and wondering how in the heck we covered all the mileage we did in just 4 days-- I'm sure Barry can tell you the actual but it was something like 10 hours getting there on Thursday, we left the open house early on Friday to do a bit of sightseeing so about 4 more hours there, All day Saturday-- about 12 hours then and of course another 13 on Sunday getting home. Our butts hurt from sitting in the car. And our calves from climbing mountains. It was so fun. Saw Lake Lure Hotel, the site of Dirty Dancing. (it was dirty.) Saw Looking Glass Falls, Chimney Rock, Thomas something Falls, played in the streams, wow.

`

Came home to a broken water heater so no hot water. Had Meditation Night last night so had to get the house back in shape. Bathed outside my hot tub... but that's another story. It was a great night, met some new people who were wonderful. I'm a bit sketchy now though dog. Gonna go sit by my own little waterfall and feel the stillness of the mountains that I brought home with me. It was quieter there than any place I've ever been. I can still hear it.

`

Listen.

Latest SoulCollage

I made this card at the last SoulCollage Card Play Party. I really love this woman. The strength in her face. The hands that are large and strong and have made many a quilt, held babies and Lord knows what else the woman has had the strength to endure in her lifetime. It's on her face. Faith and Acceptance. She hasn't come up in a reading yet so I'm not sure what she has to tell me but I sense it will be powerful. I'm sure the slice of moon is significant....

If it were YOUR card, what would it say? Start with: I am the one who....... and let her speak. I'm sure she has much to say.

This is the other one I made. The energy is much more playful. I particularly like the monkey swinging off the Tarzan and Jane people. Again, I have no clue what this one's about. Hanging from a thread? Holding on for dear life? Running from a crazy monkey? I dunno.

Maybe it's this one that speaks to you: I am the One who....

It's always really interesting to hear what other's see in your cards. The ladies at the card play thought this one was all about strength and the other about sadness and I see them as the opposite.

I have a card I made a long, long time ago that came up in a reading yesterday and all of a sudden there was a face on it clear as day that I never saw. Took my breath away.

SoulCollage has a way of doing that.

Now why didn't I see that before? "When the student is ready, the teacher will come" Oh yeah. Duh!

World Turnin'

There's a Zen saying:

Before enlightenment, I chopped wood.

After enlightenment, I chopped wood.

Or maybe it's cut vegetables or breathed in, breathed out. You decide. Either way it's the same. The point is that enlightenment is pretty much who you are as opposed to what you are. I don't know that enlightenment is even anything more than those flashes of insights that come after a lot of hard work on your inner space or just the place we live before we add a ton of baggage in our minds and after we remove the baggage.

Now I don't know that I'm any more enlightened than the next guy (or any less for that matter) but I do know that I have had marvelous moments of enlightenment. And then I go back to cutting vegetables. I mean, really, what else can you do? The cutting of the vegetables is what brings you to the next moment of enlightenment. It's funny how that works.

I have recently suffered a large let down consciously. I had to make some very mature decisions based on my enlightened self and my refusal to let ego rule. It was very painful and very necessary and I feel like I did the right thing. Sort of. I could have done more but am not quite there yet. So for the me I am now, I did the best thing. I sat with sorrow. I sat with anger. I took clear action based on reality and fairness. Yep, I did all that. Things have come full circle and the problem revisited and I was able to experience it consciously and without ego emotion and from a witnessing standpoint. Woo... big enlightenment. And you know what?

It's still very sad. And I still feel ..... I don't know, like I'm chopping wood. It just is what it is. There's a finality to all of it. An inevitability. Sort of the yin to the yang. Non-action vs. Action. When you realize that no action on your part will create the action you want. That there is nothing you can do to help the suffering of others sometimes. Sometimes people are determined to suffer. No matter what. And the bigger picture is that their suffering is necessary. Just as you watching it is necessary. Sometimes. And when you take action to end suffering, it doesn't mean the suffering necessarily ends... just your involvement in it. Your playing of the game.

Like my good friend Kim once said, "you just pull up your big girl pants and go home." Kim the Zen master... LOL! But that really does capture enlightenment in a way. When you realize the ego is enjoying the game, enjoying the suffering, sometimes you just have to cut your losses and stop playing. That's exactly what I did. But the game goes on. And the ego really wants to play-- it says things like, "how could you be put through all that and it not even matter?" Silly ego.

Makes me sad. So I go back to chopping my vegetables. In the Light. Suffering is inevitable. If you fight it, you just stay stuck in the mud. As Eckhart Tolle says, "First you have to accept that you are in the mud." Then you can get out.

I'm out. Sometimes it's hard to get it all off you though. Mud is clingy.

My Prom Pic

Here you go, Greeny. My Prom was my wedding.... 28 years ago. I was 18, Barry was 21...the exact same age as our children right now. YIKES!

Do we seem a bit YOUNG to you? And they said it would never last....

I look like I'm 12 years old surrounded by giants... the bridesmaid in the middle is Patty Holmes, Debbie Hoppe's sister... Those hairy men are Barry's brothers...that's his sister beside Patty on the left, Annamarie, my best friend from childhood on the right.

Dodd's Hall before the Sanctuary was built... I love the stained glass, we have crosses made out of it from when our whole family was baptised at CCPC in 2002? I dunno, don't make me search for the baptism certificates, took me an hour to find the wedding photos...

If only we knew then what we know now....we proly still would have done it. LOL!

Anyone else wanna share their prom or wedding pics? Come on!!! I dare you!

Springtime in My Yard--Click for a better view

Sorry, sorry, sorry....

The "evil yolinna" has been banished and this is Linda here to say sorry bout yesterday's prank.

But you know, it could have been worse....

At least you weren't ric-rolled. Or worse, did you know that yesterday Blogger had a new update? And that anything you clicked on sent you here?

See? Could be worse....

I was just vision boarding....

sorry :)

Some News

So, Barry & I have put our house on the market. We will be moving to North Carolina as soon as it sells. Rhia has received a full scholarship to Montreat and Cory has been accepted into the Coast Guard Academy. There is nothing holding us to Bowie anymore.

Do know that we will miss each and everyone of you. Please feel free to come and visit anytime you want.

Don't worry, I'll keep writing. We will be buying a bed and breakfast that is also a combination nursery/yoga studio. You'll be able to still purchase my herbal products anytime you'd like.

Love You Guys! Thanks for being you....