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This is the kitchen where we talk about food, life, and recovery—a spiritual path to healing and peace.

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You are invited to keep coming back to A Cup of Kindness to share your experience, strength and hope; fears, doubts and insecurities; and to pick up information, inspiration … and have a little fun!

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In January 2007, at the age of 51, I joined a 12-step program and began my recovery from food addiction, losing 75 pounds in the process. Read more…

In January 2011, at the age of 55, I began my recovery from a multi-trauma accident, 36 fractures, damaged lungs, and post traumatic stress. Read more…

I am deeply grateful for all the kindnesses, large and small, offered to me in recovery. Here I am... alive… still making progress … still not perfect … finding a new way forward in a growing community of women and men who share a lot in common around food and life.

I hope you'll join me in this kitchen and let me know what's cooking with you.

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Dwellers all in time and space

Hey, that's us! Note the orientation is turned nearly 180 degrees.

Day 31 of continuing recovery

This past weekend Gregory and I traveled with my mom and my brother-in-law’s mother to Lake Forest, Illinois for the wedding of our beautiful niece, Emily, and her beloved Tim. It was a blessed time accompanied by several celebratory gatherings that also joined our two extended families.

As our relatives met each other we, of course, found all kinds of connections and shared interests. There was lots of love and gratitude going around.

On the plane coming home on Sunday night I practiced my exercise of gazing at the lights below; looking for the geography of the planet; the outline of a community; recognizable landmarks; the activity of traffic; and intentionally noticing that each spot of light must be connected to at least one other human being — a person living their own life like I am living mine.

Then I imagined that I was at home in one of those spots of light below. One unique life among millions still bright, but soon to be extinguished like billions before and after me.

I have lots of 12-step work to do on humility. Every little bit helps.

From Hymn 410, “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”, one of the wedding hymns that Emily and Tim chose:

Angels help us to adore him; you behold him face to face; Sun and moon bow down before him, dwellers all in time and space. Alleluia, alleluia! Praise with us the God of grace.

Love & Light,

Valerie

 

3 Comments to Dwellers all in time and space

  1. Myra TAte's Gravatar Myra TAte
    October 17, 2012 at 5:12 pm | Permalink

    First, your wedding, which was so rich, so full of joy because you and GRegory have decided to unite as husband and wife in front of all of us who love you both. Second, it was wonderful to see the deep love Emily and Tim feel for each other, and to hear their commitment to each other in the presence of their families and friends, and to have the wedding performed by the very same priest who married Louise and Murray was an added gift to the couple. thank you and thank Gregory for the kindness and care you lavished on Doris and me. Your ever-loving ma

  2. Myra TAte's Gravatar Myra TAte
    October 17, 2012 at 5:14 pm | Permalink

    P.S. Your reading from the Songs of Solomon was so beautiful, as were you. mom

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