7th day of Chalica

Light your chalice today for respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
I am again listening and watching to Peter Mayer's "Blue Boat Home" as a YouTube Video. 
Today I will end my celebration of Chalica with evan austin's first Chalica song - "The Chalica Song" some people put the song down because it uses Adam Sandler's original tune but the words are evan's and it makes me remember that there are others out there that were Unitarians and/or Universalists. 

As usual we share this day of caring for our earth with The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting.

I have my ritual for Chalica and when it is 7pm I light my candle "for one hour to honor the memories of the sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and grandchildren who left too soon." For our family especially this is our nephew, Tyler Joel Rudy, our dear friend Robert, and Chris' twin (a son of our hearts) Steven Carpenter and for the families that have been left behind. We have to remember that we were lucky that these children have been in our lives even for such a short time. 

Some people have asked "what will happen to Chalica if there is an 8th principle?" If this happens I would like to hope we would start on the Sunday of December as day 1 with the following Sunday as day 8. But as I always say its in the future and lets live in today.

Blessed be,

Kathy

Peace to the world, we hold it in our hands!

6th day of Chalica

It has been a long and busy week!  I would like to say I now know all there is to know about the 2018 tax laws, but sadly I don't.  The good news is that I have a number of tax books to refer to when I have a question.  The good news is that the standard deductions have gone up a lot this year. And there are no longer exemptions and for most it will take away the need for itemizing for Federal Income taxes, unfortunately here in Iowa those that have itemized in the past may still want to collect their receipts for their State taxes.  

As I write this I am listening to Dan Flores 2010 "Infinite Light" - after all these years this still is a WOW to me! In my line up is 

Peter Mayer's "Blue Boat Home", "One More Circle" and "Holy Now", and "My Soul", the Unitarian Universalist Hymn "May Notheing Evil Cross This Door" and will finish with the 2010 "Light A Chalice" by evan austin

I have had a hard time getting into the holiday spirit this year. I don't know if it's because there is just so much going on around me in the world, or just in my country.  I have wondered for years how things slide backwards in this world - equality, acceptance, tolerance and love.  But I just look around in my own country and state and hear words that come out of some people's mouths.  

I think what would have happened to my ancestor if they had to go through what immigrants have to go through today.  When as a world have we become so fearful that a peaceful world is not our goal.

Please light your chalice today for the goal of world peace, liberty and just for all.

Blessed be,

Kathy
P.S. If you are wondering why I listen to many of Peter Mayer's songs go to his website, in his Biography look at his picture and see his necklace, I have the same one.  

Day 3 of Chalica

We are free to learn together is a very good title for my last three days! I have been going again to training sessions on the new tax laws and the tax program Tax Slayer. I will again be a volunteer for AARP this upcoming tax season. I really enjoyed the experience i had with it last year.  Here in the Cedar Valley we have a number sites where the volunteers do taxes for people for free. Since it is with AARP our goal is to give free tax preparation to those over 65, but as I found last year we also have younger clients. There is no better feeling than the one of giving of yourself to help others.  

What are you doing today to promote learning? 

Happy Chalica

Blessed be,

Kathy

Monday, Dec. 3, 2018

Happy Chalica 2018!

If you are celebrating Chalica this year, please go to our Chalica! facebook page, or comment below and tell us about your experiences. Welcome back to returning visitors and welcome to our new United States visitors from Mountain View, Sherman, Germantown, Port Saint Lucie, Tallahassee, Boise, Baton Rouge, Perryman, Mount Prospect, Houston, Albany, Garberville, Ashland, Levittown, Fredericksburg, Anchorage, Omaha, Dallas, Cary, Tampa, Amarillo, Ventura, Portland, Cotati, Dover, San Ramon, and Pfafftown. Welcome also to our visitors from Canada (Cranbrook, Calgary, Vancouver & Toronto) and Orenburg, Russia!
I’m going to start something new this year. I’m going to put up my daily post a day in advance so that those on the other side of the world can see them.
Tomorrow is the first day of Chalica. So….
Happy Chalica!
Here’s what I posted 8 years ago when I first started this blog so that there was a place where everyone could find information about Chalica. .

“Well it is finally here, day 1 of Chalica 2010. What have you planned? Will you tell people Happy Chalica? Or will you be like my husband Leigh, he likes to say, "Cheerful Chalica!" Will you remember to listen to everyone today? Will you value the people around you? Are you going to try to forgive anyone? Have you noticed that a lot of holidays do have a day for forgiveness? If you can't think of what to do click on Monday of Just Do It! and follow it.”

I am a member of the Cedar Valley Unitarian Universalist here in the Midwest. Our Social Action Committee is having a Mitten, Scarf and Hat Tree. They are asking our congregation to please bring new or clean, gently used hats, mittens, and scarves for the “mitten tree”.
The drive will start December 2nd and at the end the donated items will be distributed to local people in need of warm clothing this winter. So for the 1st day of Chalica I will be collecting mittens for the tree. What will you do?
Please let me know how you are celebrating Chalica or just that you are celebrating it this year. You can post in comments below or email me at klinkzeitz@hotmail.com

Happy Chalica! 2018!!!

Kathy