charlie and steve smooching
Residents of surrounding areas of Dupage County have been bombarded with severe and dangerous weather. The month of July has proven terribly treacherous and causing misery to most homeowners. It was exactly a year ago that we were cleaning up the messes from floods so my prayers are for those being affected today. It is literally draining to deal with flood damage. pun intended here. The most difficult thing about weather damage is it is unpredicable and uncontrollable and there is nothing we can do except pick up the pieces after the wrath of weather incidents. We decided to commiserate by attending the Dupage County Fairgrounds to appreciate our area.
monster and steve
We began our journey by visiting Wayne at his office in Wheaton. He was to host a table at the fairgrounds to inform residents of all the services offered to the community. We began checking out the other booths and were so excited about all the offerings. We locked into some colorful jackets and healing crystals. I already soaked them in salt and will let the sun kiss them today before hanging them in the windows. What a great deal we got on all the goodies. Afterwards we surprised Danny as he was tending bar at Maggiano's in Naperville. We dined on pasta and took plenty home for a repeat treat.
juggler and steve
We stopped by some pretty interesting booths pertaining to the Baha'i Temple in Wilmette. This was so timely as we were recently told we are going to hell if we don't believe in the same religion as a friend does. Having found this booth that all religions brought together under one roof to offer devotion and prayer in unity really clicked for us. Whew...that was a close call. LOL Honestly, we honor all faiths and never judge or ram religion down another person's throat, so to speak, and believe God loves everyone, no matter what formal religion one chooses to believe and follow, or not. No coincidences here ~ it is not easy to have another person make jabs and hold judgement but somehow finding this provided confidence we are on the right path, and the message was quite clear. We gathered up the pamphlets and will make a field trip to this dwelling. Funny thing is Wayne and his buddies went there over 30 years ago so he is no stranger to it. I suppose enlightenment can be in the strangest places!
Wayne and Joanna
As they worked together, we made pit stops to drop off our packages and offer them lemonade and little treats. This fair was reminiscent of the Walworth County Fair we attended when we had our home in Wisconsin. There is a feeling of familiarity watching the farm animals win awards and perform races ~ we witnessed the tail end of the duck races but missed the piggies. The bunnies and chickens are so big and beautiful, but I did not like the cows being huddled so tightly together as they were. :( I kept revisiting Charlie the sheep. There was something about her that clicked with me and she let me get up close and personal. Steve said the paparazzi surrounded us. The owner came by and mentioned Charlie is 18 months old and will compete today. I must have been a farmer in one of my past lives for I felt so at home with all of them. Or perhaps I was one of the animals :)
reiki garb
The jackets are loaded with variations of healing symbols and the widened sleeves sealed our selection. Look at that amethyst healing stone! This will surely bring protection and positive energy around here. July is almost over ~ thank the Lord. We have endured record breaking rainfalls set by storms, 3-digit temperatures, golfball-sized hail, 68,000 lightening strikes in a 12-hour period, numerous power outages causing ComEd to heroically restore power swiftly, flash floods and the demise of centuries-old trees from severe winds and lightening. And this is only Mother Nature's wrath! July brought terrorism in Norway, US governmental bickering about our financial follies, sports squabbles between owners and players, news of various family dramas and heartache; and an overall heaviness in the air. One more day. Mercury will be retrograde next month, but something tells me is will be more bearable than this one.
Hope heals. xo
On the appearance of fearful natural events
call ye to mind the might and majesty of your Lord,
He Who heareth and seeth all, and say
"Dominion is God's, the Lord of the seen and the unseen,
the Lord of creation."
Thy name is my healing, O my God,
and remembrance of Thee is my remedy.
Nearness to Thee is my hope,
and love for Thee is my companion.
Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor
in both this world and the world to come.
Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful,
the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
O God, guide me,
protect me,
make of me a shining lamp
and a brilliant star.
Thou art the Mighty
and the Powerful.
Baha'u'llah