Cyndi-ella

Monday, March 25, 2024

Montessori roots...music and practical life

From playing music at German festivals to building fences on the farm, Ella B gets the job done!

Follow the child…and watch her light the way!

Sunday, November 26, 2023

ADVENTure

"In the beginning" versus "Once upon a time" is where our ADVENTure begins, and it is a story far greater than any fairy tale ever told because...it is true!

Every year as Christmas nears, we anticipate and celebrate His birth through our homemade Jesse tree ornaments and/or a precious Advent wreath made by Ella during her early Montessori days.

https://cyndi-ella.blogspot.com/2011/11/celebrating-advent-from-creation-to.html

We welcome this period of waiting, even more so since we are surrounded by a world of people who can't seem to wait for much of anything. Our desires for instant gratification is ever-present with the rise in online shopping (Amazon), fast food, video games, etc.

"Waiting is the hardest work of HOPE." Jesse in the Bible experienced the miraculous impossible when his family tree (that looked more like a stump from failing God) eventually sprouted a new shoot of Hope.

Waiting is where God prepares us for our next ADVENTure; growth is in our struggles. It is when we become impatient and try to write our own story, that the ending falls short.

This morning, we lit our candle of Hope, as a reminder that God's promise comes true, and He sends His son as a light in the world.

We're thankful for men like Isaiah and Micah, who were faithful in their waiting for the light, when all around them was dark.

"And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in YOU! Psalm 39:7

Monday, September 25, 2023

Monday Zen Day

Zen

The past is over.
The future may never be.
The present is all that exists.
Live each moment to the fullest.

After a crazy busy but oh-so-fun weekend of music, today Ella drew inspiration from her beloved childhood Buddha Board water painting set.

Through this board, a zen garden, book of meditation, and yoga, Ella learned at an early age (thanks to the Montessori Method of "following the child") how to quiet her mind and body. She learned to listen to her own needs, live in the moment and grasp the concept of letting go. That's big for a 13 year old...I still struggle.

Sometimes the noise of each day clouds our thoughts and minds. Sometimes we need to be still. I could tell today was one of those days when she pulled out her Buddha Board. We were all feeling pretty zen, enjoying her creation coming to life and then watching it magically disappear..until...I walked out for a bit, came back in and heard Charlie Daniels blaring on the Victrola😜

All of the creating and disappearing reminded me of another Creator who came to life, disappeared into heaven, and left us with a clean slate.

With HIM, each day--each moment--is a clean slate.
Be still and know that I am God
Psalms 46:10

Sunday, August 27, 2023

War and Peace

After spending hours of total history immersion at The Battle of the Bulge WAR museum in Belgium, it was wonderful to stumble upon the Woods of PEACE forest.

Four thousand trees in the park, each tree representing a person. This is the spot of sacrifice, solemn intent to win at all cost, no matter the weather or other conditions. It is absolutely silent. There is no way to know what it was like to be a soldier who served here. Because of these brave soldiers, and their sacrifice, Europe is free.

For all who served, we honor you!

Friday, August 25, 2023

German Biergarten

Ella has been playing in German Biergartens since she was six years old. Tonight, she actually played at a Biergarten (Hafen 55) in a quaint port area of Wenner, Germany.

Our musician friend, Randy Floyd, saw a post I made on Facebook. When he noticed we were in Germany, he messaged we should contact his musician friend, Hermann Lammers Meyer, so Ella could play fiddle with him.

The contact was made, and off we drove 2.5 hours north to meet this legend. He has played/recorded with Willie Nelson, Johnny Gimble, Johnny Bush, Randy Floyd, and the list goes on and on.

A little translation mishap landed us in Wenner on his acoustic night with premade, back-up tracks instead of tomorrow night with his full band (which would have been awesome). I told him not to worry…it will be what it will be. He replied, “it will be what Ella B;)”

Despite the mishap and torrential downpour, they shared the stage and played some good old country music in Germany to a dedicated crowd of beer drinkers and toe tappers. Prost!