Lisa Overman

I’m returning from a great two week vacation. Actually, let’s call it a working vacation. I went to Louisville, Kentucky to visit my daughter Monique, her husband O’Farrell, and their 4-month old son, Baby.  He’s a Jr., but we’ve called him “Baby” since conception and haven’t changed it yet. In a few years I imagine he may be a little upset with us for referring to him as a “baby”, but until then, he’s my “Baby”.

My job was to relieve Baby’s parents as often as possible and give him a break from daycare. Talk about a labor of love. You know, according to me he is the cutest, smartest, child ever born. Don’t you just love how Spirit allows each mother, father and grandparent to feel that way about their child? Feeling this type of unadulterarted love for a child, your child, enables those around to love and nurture giving each child a wonderful foundation of love in which to build their life on.

So, when I wasn’t caring for Baby or cleaning house, I read. I wanted to read something I didn’t have to put my “thinking cap” on. It has been some time since I read for the pure enjoyment of reading. If you’re a Lightworker, you are constantly reading, absorbing and integrating into your life, that which we read for our highest and best.

The new novel I bought for the trip, and began on the plane, was completed in three days. That was fun, so I headed out to the discount superstore for another book. When I went to make my selection I spotted a novel written by Dean Koontz, one of my all-time favorite authors. How could a Lightworker not be enthralled with stories from the eerie, weird and wonderful, macabre, to downright “other worldly” genre?

I chose Life Expectancy as my next paperback, by Dean Koontz. “Before he died on a storm-wracked night, Jimmy Tock’s grandfather predicted there would be five dark days in his grandson’s life- five dates whose terrible events Jimmy must prepare himself to face…” The novel sounded right up my alley, so off I went to read.

This entertaining 476 page novel was not disappointing. I love a story line that I can’t anticipate what’s coming next, and there were a few good surprises. I won’t spoil the ending for you, but know it was worth the time, and it did offer a metaphysical question.

What would you do if you knew the date and time “something” life changing would happen? Would you want to know? Would you proactively try to do something about it? Or, would you stay in the bed with the covers pulled over your head thinking that would keep you safe? It seems there is always something to make you ponder. 

Before the summer is over I invite you to find the time to read, swim, sleep, travel, get out in nature, for the sheer enjoyment of just having fun for fun’s sake.

Namaste,

Makeda

Photo credit: Soles4Souls.org

Soles4Souls is a wonderful charity organization I recently learned of. This organizations gives gently used or new shoes to people in our country and around the globe who are in need. Most recently the Soles4Souls organization donated shoes for those affected by the Midwest flooding. According to the Soles4Souls website, they have a  simple mission: “To impact as many lives as possible with the gift of shoes.” They have given over one million pairs to those in need from the Asian Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

Soles4Souls website offers a place to put in your zip code and find the nearest drop off location in your area. Currently there are drop boxes in Finish Line Shoe stores, simply type in your zip code and you will see a list of local participating merchants where shoes can be dropped off. Their website is concise, easy to read and interesting. It gives a greater understanding of the good they are doing with this mission of providing shoes to those in need.

Another option is to purchase a pair of David Parrish honorary flip flops. For each pair purchased two pairs will be donated and sent to Africa for people experiencing hardship there. These shoes were designed by David Parrish and his sister before his death. For more on David Parrish click on the link above to learn about this amazing and giving young man.

As I become older and more reflective I also become more melancholy. Don’t get me wrong, I am not unhappy or depressed. Maybe wistful is a better word. Time has flown by so quickly. It seems like only yesterday I was the young mother of two small boys. What wonderful times we had growing up together. All my life I had wanted boys and God blessed me with two of the best.

I can’t say their childhood was great but I can say that they were the light of my life. After their father left when they were ages 6 and 8 it was just the three of us. I wanted to make their childhood memories happy ones so I got them involved in sports, music and camping. Robin was the sports guy and Tim the music man. I went to every sporting event and music concert they were involved in.

When Robin was 10 his Uncle Dick, who had become his mentor when his dad left, died of cancer at age 33. Robin was devastated and missed his uncle terribly. To this day he will tell you that Uncle Dick’s death affected him more than did his father leaving home.

After Dick’s death my sister, Linda and I started a family tradition of weekend camping. Our favorite place was the Peace River KOA. They had tubing, horse back riding, hay rides, Saturday night movies for the kids. There were several hundred acres of woodlands for hiking. It was also the historic site of the Chautauqua amphitheater ruins that had been quite the thing back in the 1920’s. There are some great pictures in the recreation hall of the theater when it was still operating. The old cars, the flapper style dresses, lanterns lighting the way to the theater. What a neat history.

We always had a great time; looking for shark’s teeth in the river, tubing, horseback riding, the Saturday evening hay ride, hiking, cooking over the camp fire. The kids were never bored and sometimes Linda and I actually got time to ourselves to sit back and read. We didn’t have much money but at the time a weekend camping cost us about $25 each including food. The kids still remember those camping weekends and when we are together we have the “remember this or that” discussions.

When I wished for boys as a young mother I never realized that usually when boys leave home you don’t hear much from them. Daughters are much better at remembering Mom. Thank goodness I have a daughter in law that calls me on a regular basis.

My sons will never know how my heart soars when the phone rings, I pick it up and hear their voice. Either one, it doesn’t matter. I love talking to them and just being around them, especially when they are together. I feel like I never want to leave because I don’t know when the next gathering might be.

When one or the other of them comes over to my house it seems like the house is alive again and when they leave they take the sunshine with them. The house becomes so quiet that I wonder if they had really been here or if I had just dreamed it.

At times it hasn’t been easy finding a comfortable fit in my life. My life remains unusual, unorthodox, complex and confusing to many that I love. The direct result of this is a lifetime of feeling like I never quite fit. I’ve learned to accept feeling odd, feeling like I don’t quite belong in my family. I love my family deeply and I always look forward to seeing them and reconnecting; yet most times I’m left feeling like the pieces of our lives just don’t match up.

At times it feels like I dropped off some alternate planet and there is no one quite like me in my family; at times it’s a lonely feeling, With decades of the same feelings surfacing again and again I’ve learned to try to find similarities and moments to build on, at times it is far from easy. Most times I’m left recognizing we live radically different lives. As much as I am loved I’m absolutely not understood. The years and decades have brought me a realization that I can only be who I am and I have come to accept the melancholy I often feel when visiting my hometown.

There are many reasons that my life and lifestyle are radically different from those I love. Our experiences, my grief, my losses and my years of living overseas have transformed me from a midwestern girl to an adventerous, spiritual, spirit driven woman determined to make a difference in the world. It isn’t an easy path, at times it is deeply lonely and strangely satisfying. I love my life; I love the woman I have become. I wake up each day truly grateful and absolutely joyful. I feel blessed and try each day to step forward in some way toward my goal of helping others heal.

It’s taken decades to come to grips with my life. To accept my losses and to really appreciate the woman I’ve become. In moments I still feel alone, yet I feel almost giddy with joy, abundance and the gifts of my life and my healing. It’s a blessing I hope to share with many. In the meantime I hold my own council and trust I will find the means to share the beauty of my life and my healing.

Last week my 25 year old daughter, Monique, called me from Kentucky, tired, overwhelmed, frustrated and worried. She was preparing for the “GRILL”, which was the test all employees have to take to move forward in her company. There were topics from “accounting” to “everything you think you might need to know”. You went from department to department being “grilled” about what that particular department did, and their relationship to other departments. The goal of the “griller” is to hit you and hit you hard. One in particular had a reputation of making the “grillee” cry. The pressure was on. As an employee she works an average of 55 hours per week, plus she’s a new mom with a three month old son. She and her husband share duties, but as most women know, we are usually the overall caregiver of the family. 

So, here we are two days before the “grill” and she’s a wreck. With both she and her husband as recent college grads they both found great jobs, she at a national car rental company, and he at a multinational company. They both make a decent salary, but with car notes, rent, baby everything, and huge student loans, they frankly needed the money passing this test would provide. Needless to say, a lot was riding on the outcome of this test.

The call came in, “Mom. You got to help me with this test. You need to call on somebody, people, spirits or anybody to help me!” Monique has grown up with a mother that wasn’t necessarily like other moms. I was always a “woo woo”. As a matter of fact she often calls me “Glenda, The Good Witch”, or “Harry Potter”. I much prefer “Glenda” she was such a kind, compassionate witch. But I digress, “What can you do Mom? We need the money now!”

Metaphysics is what excites me. I love the role of spiritual counselor and life coach, both offer me the opportunity to teach and inspire others by sharing my own life experiences and lessons.  I instantly thought of Doreen Virtue, PhD’s book, “Archangels and Ascended Masters”. I knew the information I needed was there.

Now I believe we all have a spiritual team around us. We have our departed loved ones, angels, guardian angels, ancestors, and various archangels and ascended masters around us at all times. The members of your team may vary depending on the particular circumstances. You can add anyone to your team that resonates with you. What about the Chinese goddess of mercy, protection and compassion, Kuan Yin?  Mother Teresa, a nun, dedicated her life to nurturing the world would be a good addition. What I wanted to do for my daughter is pull together the best team for this specific issue.

I settled on Lu-Hsing to take the lead on this mission. Lu-Hsing is the god of salaries, pay, success, career progress, investments, steady accumulation, wealth and employees. Lu-Hsing was a mortal man who was a high ranking royal court official in China during  the 2^nd-century B.C. According to Doreen Virtue, Lu-Hsing says, “The secret of financial success is the willingness to adopt a warrior spirit in attitude, grace and presence.” He goes on to say “…Warriors have an outlook of expecting a positive outcome, and a willingness to do whatever is needed to incur that outcome. It means not giving up, but allowing for flexibility, and to flow with the energy or chi as it moves along. Be strong, be vigilant for success, and be sensitive to the energy undercurrents, and you shan’t go wrong.”

This was exactly what I was looking for. Doreen Virtue goes on to say to invoke Lu-Hsing write, “Thank you, Lu-Hsing” on a piece of paper, fold it, and hold it in your palm during the applicable situations. I passed this information on, encouraged her to take her time, focus on her breathing and slow everything down if she began to feel overwhelmed or anxious. At the end of our call she seemed calmer and more in control.

Needless to say, Monique can through the process with flying colors. While she felt she did “O.K.” the next day her boss’s boss told all the other managers that, “Monique crushed the Grill”. It seems she did better than most other grillees. After that, she was flooded with calls and e-mails congratulating her on her accomplishments. Not only did she get an instant raise, this put her in the enviable spot of the managers all wanting her to work as an assistant manager in their branch. When she makes money, they make money.

I of course wasn’t surprised. I expected no less. I have worked with the archangels and ascended master enough to know they were the real deal, and if you want to make things happen, one just has to ask for assistance. I encourage anyone interested in learning more to check this particular book and to look over Doreen Virtue’s extensive list of books, intuitive cards, and other metaphysical material.

I got a call yesterday from my daughter asking for help once again. An assistant manager job vacancy has come open and she has received e-mails encouraging her to apply. I know without a single doubt that she will get the right position for her needs. All things are DRO (Divine Right Order). So she will again call on Lu-Hsing. I will be calling on Archangel Michael, Hathor, Ishtar, Mother Mary and other mothering goddesses and teachers to help guide me as I guide her.

Namaste

Suntouched 3 in 1 natural body candles are 100% vegan, all natural and free of animal testing. I’ve  personally tested the 3 in 1 Suntouched Body Candles and I’m incredibly pleased with the properties of this product and the integrity of this company using only natural ingredients. 

These candles are so much more than just beautifully scented candles, this candle melts into a sensual body oil that can be poured directly unto the skin. One can even dip a finger into the melting oil and feel nothing more than a warmth on the skin. This oil has a sensual feel on the skin and absorbs nicely into the skin with no residue. To read my more in depth review of this product you can view it at http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/blogs/hammockinparadise/ 

Photo Credit: Cote

Looking to incorporate a healthier, more spiritual consciousness into your household cleaning routine? This soap line has it hands down.

Available in multiple scents and forms, Dr. Bronner’s soaps are safe for the environment and aquatic life. Take it camping, bathe in the stream . . . no problem. You’ll be completely in harmony with nature. Bonus? If you haven’t had time to read scripture or inspirational sacred text, you can do it in the shower.

Think I’m kidding? Check out a bottle. Surrounding the product detail text on each bottle of shampoo and body soap are loads of inspirational sayings and spiritual quotes designed to make you think on a higher level of consciousness. It’s called the Moral ABC. An interesting read if you’ve never come across it before.

However, Dr. Bronner’s soaps are for more than just showering and shampooing. There are infinite possibilities for pet washing, mixing up in spray bottles with water and vinegar for household cleaning on the green and cheap, using the solid bars instead of the pump liquids for shower based scrub laundry at the youth hostel . . . you get the picture.

If you’re looking to incorporate social responsibility, spirituality and green living into your every day routine, checking out this product line could be just the ticket. My personal all time favorite pick is the peppermint scent in liquid, although I’ve heard great things about the multi-use purposes for the tea tree bar. Had an experience with Dr. Bronner you’d like to share? Sound off below!

It was a sunny, balmy, breezy day, just perfect for a walk with an owl. I was a volunteer for Boyd Hill Nature Preserve with the bird of prey program. I headed down to get Phantom, the barred owl I have been working with for the past 6-8 months. I was teaching her to perch on the glove so we can start using her in our educational programs. She had only been getting on the glove for about 6 weeks. This type of training takes a long time and much patience.

When I first started with her I just stood on the ladder holding the glove in front of her for several minutes each day so she could get acquainted with it and not be frightened when the time finally came for her to actually get on it. So far patience had been paying off and she was coming along very well. The first day I actually hooked up her jesses and pulled her onto the glove she was not happy and bated off the glove. Being a glove novice she did not know what to do to get herself back up onto the glove. I had to get my free hand underneath her and gently push her body back up onto the glove and hope that she would grasp it with her feet. She did not. Once again I pushed her back up to the glove telling her that it is not dignified to be hanging upside down from a long strap attached to her legs. She didn’t care about dignity. The lesson for that day was over because once the bird is stressed I could not accomplish anything by forcing her to continue.

Many sessions later perseverance finally paid off and she eventually got the idea that it was really OK to be standing on a glove. We did not go anywhere, just stood in the cage while she felt the glove, jesses and strap. I whispered to her the whole time to calm her. By this time she had also learned how to get herself back up on the glove when she bated. What a feeling of joy I had the first time I actually took her out of her aviary. We only walked down the trail for about 50 feet but it was a giant step for her to be out of her security zone. Finally, on this day we were going to take our first long walk. Things were great. She watched me as I talked to her; she looked down at my feet hearing my footsteps whishing through the grass. I would elevate her on the glove up into the air above my head so she could feel the sun on her body and have the breeze ruffle her beautiful feathers. I sang to her softly. She blinked slowly at me with her wonderful dark eyes. She was actually enjoying this walk. After about 30-45 minutes I headed back to the aviary by way of the back parking lot. As we were heading down the trail a car pulled into the lot. Phantom tensed and I tried to distract her from bating but it was too late. She just bombed off the glove and was hanging upside down and frantically flapping her wings. Because she only has one wing and the shoulder of the other wing, all this accomplished was for her to spin in circles. She was very effectively twisting the jesses and strap around her feet so when I tried to get her back on the glove it was like her feet were tied together and she could not get a grip. I was trying to untangle her but she was flapping so madly it was impossible to untangle her.

In the meantime the person driving the car came over to see if she could help. She is a new volunteer but had never handled a bird before so there was nothing she really could do at that point. After a few frantic moments I just put my arm around the owl and pulled her upright against my chest. That was when we noticed she was dripping blood. Quick inspection revealed that she had broken a blood feather on her amputated wing. If the bleeding is not stopped quickly, the bird can exsanguinate in a short period of time. The only way to accomplish this is to pull out the blood feather with needle nose pliers. This is not something I normally carry around with me and besides it is a two-person procedure, one to hold the bird still and the other to pull the feather out. All I could think of was to pinch off the feather to keep the blood from flowing so freely. This I did while I carried her back to the aviary. Now the bird is clinging to my chest with her talons, which are the most dangerous part of her body, but she never even broke the skin. She just blinked up at me as though waiting for me to make everything OK.

When I got her to the outside workbench I was able to untangle the jesses and strap. I tried to get her to sit on a perch but she instead jumped back to the glove. All the while I am pinching off that blood feather and trying to put some styptic on it as a temporary measure to stop the bleeding. The styptic did not work; the blood was just flowing out too fast. Pinching was the only thing that stopped it. By this time we both were covered with blood spatter.The novice bird volunteer tried to find the ranger in charge of the birds but she had gone home to go to her granddaughter’s graduation. The only other person who was qualified to pull the feather was our head volunteer Gabe but he was not due to come in until 5 PM. It was only 4 but Bobbie and I decided this was worth a call to him anyway. She called, I pinched.

Gabe got there in about 15 minutes. He got a towel and threw it over the bird’s head so she would not struggle when we worked on her. I held her feet just in case she decided to test out just how deep she could jab those talons into a hand while Gabe pulled out the offending blood feather. He then packed the wound with styptic after flooding it with peroxide. We watched her for about 15 minutes to make sure the styptic had done its job. Then Gabe took the bird and gently set her in the box in her aviary. We watched her for another hour and declared that the emergency was over.

The next day I went down to the park to see how she was and she was fine. She blinked, I sang “You Are My Sunshine” to her and she let me scratch her head. She got onto the glove for a short walk. What a trooper she is. I have a feeling that she will be one of those special birds like GHO (the great horned owl) who are just a dream to handle. What a blessing to be able to actually touch and love these magnificent birds.

HSUS MySpace Page | Stop Puppy Mills Website

Today I watched an episode of Oprah that broke my heart. This was the second time Oprah ran this recent episode. The first time I didn’t watch it because I felt it would be too painful. Today I felt a strong spiritual message to watch the show. As difficult as it was to watch I am glad that I did. Here is a link to the Humane Society’s page about Stopping Puppy Mills. Not everyone has the cash to make a donation as I did today. Nor does everyone have a website that they can add a Stop Puppy Mills Banner on. So what can a person do? There are many things that cost nothing and help tremendously. Check out the link above and save a dog of your own or at least take the steps to begin to create change in our country through contacting your state representatives or other useful tasks that make a difference in these animals lives.  Humane treatment of animals is essential, after seeing this documented show and the undercover camera footage of these animals I am a confirmed supporter of stopping this animal abuse and I hope you will join me in this support.

The house is warm and comfy. The living room has a fire in the fireplace. I can hear it crackle. Grandma Mom is in the kitchen baking something that smells wonderful. I smell cinnamon so it is probably apple pie or cobbler. She loves to bake and there are several fruit trees in the yard including apple, cherry and pear along with current and raspberry bushes. Grandpa Pop is in the kitchen with her, sitting at the small table and they softly talk to each other. If it wasn’t for the refuge I find being in this house I know my childhood would pass with little joy.

The house is a two story Dutch colonial that was built by Uncle Art. I didn’t know him but Mommy and Mom say a lot of good things about him. I love this big old house. It has three bedrooms and a sewing room on the second floor. There is also a large bathroom. A door in the sewing room goes out onto a small balcony. The stairs to the attic go up from Pop’s bedroom. The attic holds all kinds of treasure that I love to go through.

My favorite is an old chest full of movie stars pictures that my Aunt Joyce and Aunt Shirley have collected over many years. There are dozens of them. Shirley is married now but Joyce still lives here. She is only six years older than me. I am ten. Sometimes Joyce lets me try on her formals. She has such pretty ones with lace and taffeta, satin and light netting. The skirts flared out and I twirl around and Joyce laughs at my antics.

On the first floor is the kitchen, a large formal dining room, the living room with a fireplace and my favorite, the sunroom. The sunroom is small but it has windows all around the outside walls. There is a piano, a rocking chair and all of Mom’s plants on plant stands around the windows. Most of them are succulents.

The house also has a basement with laundry area, a commode stall, home canned vegetable room that we call the root cellar and a huge furnace. There is a ping-pong table in the front part of the basement. There is also a storm door leading outside. The main stairs go up into the kitchen. My cousin David likes the basement but I prefer the attic. Did I mention that I love this house?

 My favorite thing in the world is to sit in the rocking chair in the sunroom during winter and watch the snowfall under the streetlight at night. There are no words to describe the peace and beauty I feel at these moments. It is like being transported to a different time and place. I just sit there alone in the dark; rocking and watching the flakes drift slowly down. Every once in a while a small gust of wind goes through and the snowflakes will swirl before kissing the ground.

Photo Credit: Flickr “G” Jewels g is for Grandma

There are times when the snow comes down so thick I can’t see the street light, only its glow through the heavy curtain of snow. At times a car or the city bus goes by and the snow eddies wildly from the disruption of its descent and then once again floats peacefully to the ground. I love this house and all the joy that fills it. This is where my most precious childhood memories lay.